of unbelief that I may not depart from thee the living God Deliver me from tentation Accept of Jesus Christ for me Teach me to improve all Providences To live upon the Promises Let Christ be my life O Lord let me never shrink from thee For the good of the publique Lord turn the heart of this Nation and all our hearts Turn the heart of the King Sanctifie the Parliament and make them faithfull Blesse the Assembly and make them faithful and upright with thee Let not the Army do unworthily but what thou would have them to do Blesse all the Ministers For other Nations Lord do good to Scotland and the Churches in France Blesse new-New-England and forrain plantations For the places to which he was related Lord provide a faithfull man for Queens-Colledge A faithfull man for this place New-Church in Westminster A faithfull Pastor for those in the Countrey For Friends and those about him Lord remember all those that have shewed kindnesse to me and have taken pains with me and recompence them Thou hast promised that he which giveth a Cup of water in the name of a Disciple and he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward Afterwards having forgotten to crave a blessing upon somewhat given him to take he prayed Lord pardon my neglect and forgetfulnesse of thee and deliver from tentation and the evil of tentation Thou art holy if thou shouldst forsake us Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered Lord glorifie thy name in my poor spirit and let none of thy people ever see me shrink from thee for Jesus Christ his sake Being spoken to to cast the burden of his sicknesse and pain upon God he answered I should do very unworthily if when I have preached to others that they should cast their burdens upon God I should not do so my self In these and many other the like Christian expressions he did manifest the same savour of holinesse even to the time of his death which had been constantly discovered in the time of his life He departed this life Anno Christi 1647. and of his age 46. having served God faithfully and painfully in his generation being a very great Instrument of much good and an excellent pattern for imitation His body lieth interred in the New-Church at Westminster and his memory yet liveth in the minds of those that knew him The Life of Gaspar Colinius Great Admirall of France GAsppar Colinius or Coligni was descended of a very Ancient and Honourable Family his Predecessors had Kingly Priviledges in their own Country as the Power of Life and Death of Coining Money Imposing Taxes and Tributes c. His Father was Gaspar de Colonia or Colinius who lived under King Francis the first and had to Wife Ludovica Monmorancy the Sister of Annas Monmorancy Great Constable of France When in the year 1522. the Admirall Bonivet had taken Fontaraby in the Confines of Spain as soon as he was returned into France the Spaniards came and besieged it with a great Army The siege lasted twelve moneths whereby the Inhabitants suffered much extremity by reason of Famine King Francis hearing of it commanded this Gaspar to raise an Army and relieve Fontaraby which Army he presently Levied but in his march he fell sick and died at Ax August 4. Anno Christi 1522 leaving three Sons behind him Odet Gaspar and Francis Ludovica his Widow was made one of the Ladies of Honour to the Queen of France and was very carefull of the education of her Sons and lived a most chaste and vertuous life all the remainder of her daies dying in Paris Anno Christi 1547. Pope Clement the seventh seeking to increase his Authority in France made the elder Brother Odet a Cardinall knowing that by reason of the eminency of his Family he might be very usefull to him By which means the Inheritance fell to this our Gaspar the second Brother who was born Feb. 16. Anno Christi 1517. whose ingenuity and towardlinesse appearing in his childhood his Mother was very carefull of his education and for his Instruction in Learning she made choice of Nicholas Beraldus to be his Schoolmaster a man famous in those daies in France She also provided him Tutors to instruct him in Military Arts of such as were most skilfull therein This Gaspar being thus furnished both for Peace and Warre when he came to the age of twenty four the Dolphin of France the Kings eldest Son besieging Baion at that time Gaspar went to serve under him and to put in practice what he had before gotten in the Theory In which Service he shewed much alacrity and courage and in advancing near to the enemies Trenches he was wounded with a Bullet in his throat The same year also the King having intelligence that his and the enemies Army were ready to joyn battell in Insubria Gaspar obtaining leave hastened thither and in that battell gave great proof of his Valour and Prudence so that shortly after K. Francis dying and his Son Henry succeeding to the Crown he advanced him to great honour and whereas his Uncle Annas Monmorancy was Generall of the Horse he made this Gaspar Colonel of a Regiment of Foot In which Office he carried himself so well that in a little space he gat much repute for his Justice Valour and Prudence and thereby became very gratefull to the common people For whereas the Souldiers formerly by their rapines and plunderings used much to oppresse them this new Colonel kept them in awe by military Discipline especially he severely punished them for incontinency swearing and blasphemy and his Orders were so generally approved of that shortly after the King put them amongst his Military Laws The same King also advanced him to greater honour taking a great liking to him making him one of his own Horsemen which vulgarly are called of the Kings Order And whereas contention arose about that time between the King of France and King Henry the eighth of England about the Town of Bulloine which a little before upon conditions of peace had been pawned to the English the King of France distrusting the English made this Gaspar Governour of all that Countrey who presently going into Picardy whither King Henry of France had sent an Army to besiege Bulloine He with admirable art and diligence built a Castle near to it which was such a shelter to the French and did so hinder the Sallies of the English that in a short time they were forced to treat about surrendring of the City For the finishing of which Treaty the whole businesse was referred by the King of France to our Gaspar and his Uncle Rupipontius which being ended and the Town surrendred Gaspar returned to the King and was shortly after made the Great Admirall of France which amongst the French is counted the greatest honour in the Kingdom having the command of the Sea and
the Kings Navy He was also made Governour of Picardy and of the Isle of France and Captain of a Troop of men at Arms and one of the Kings Councel Anno Christi 1554. Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany and Queen Mary of England raised great Armies against the King of France and to resist such potent Adversaries none was thought so fit by the suffrage of all as our Gaspar and therefore he was chosen by the King to that place who presently raising Forces hasted to the Confines of France towards the Belgick Provinces to secure them against the approach of their enemies At this time France was in great fear considering the conjunction of such potent adversaries and the King of France his want both of Money and Arms to resist them so that many thought that the ruine of France was approaching Whereupon our Admirall perswaded the King to treat of Peace which counsell was so gratefull both to the King and his Nobles that the charge of it was presently committed to the Admirall which within few daies he effected to the incredible joy and rejoycing of all the Orders of France and he was looked upon as an Instrument of saving his Countrey especially considering upon what honest honourable and profitable conditions he had concluded the Peace About this time it fell out that the Guises who were Lorrainers by extraction and pretended a Title to Sicily and Naples which they said the King of Spain had injuriously taken from their Ancestors perswaed King Henry of France that for divers years they had held correspondency with a great part of the Neapolitane Nobility so that if the King would but assist them with some competent Forces they doubted not to make an easie conquest of that Kingdom By this their counsell they violated the Peace which was made a little before with Spain and solemnly sworn to on both sides which was a great grief to our Admirall who sticked not to say that such perjury proved alwaies as dishonourable so fatall to Kingdoms and that God in all ages had been a severe revenger of it Yet the King would not hearken to him but commanded him to raise Forces in his Province This was the first cause of that deadly feud which arose between the Guises and him There were some other smaller causes which further kindled that fire which for brevity sake I omit The Emperour hearing of these preparations in France thought to be before hand with them and therefore raises an Army in the Low-Countries to invade France which the King being informed of and knowing that the first storm would fall upon Picardy he presently dispatched away the Admirall for the securing of it and before he he had marched two daies journey he was informed by his Scouts that the Spaniards intended to besiege San-Quintan in Picardy He also received Letters from one Captain Brullius that as soon as the Citizens of San-Quintan heard of the Spaniards intention they were seized with such a Pannick fear that many of them left their houses and fled into the woods with their Wives and Children Our Admirall hearing these things dissembled the matter before his Souldiers as well as he could and shewing much alacrity by great journeys hastened to San-Quintans Whereupon two of his Captains Gernacus and Lusarcius endeavoured by all means to disswade him from it telling him that the City was not fortified neither provided with food and other necessaries to sustain a siege and that the enemies would beleaguer it before he could furnish it with such things and therefore they told him that it was better and more for his honour to disturbe the enemy in the open fields then by shutting himself up within the Walls to expose himself to such danger But he considering of what consequence that place was and what advantage the getting of it would be to the Spaniards adhered to his first resolutions and having by the way adjoyned to himself about two hundred and fourty Souldiers he hastily flies to the City and sets all hands on work for the fortifying of it The Spaniards being informed hereof presently begirt the City with a siege and began to draw their Trenches about it and possessed themselves of the Suburbs whereby by rolling Trenches they approached the Wals. This our Admirall taking notice of Sallied out upon them and firing the Suburbs drave the enemies further off yet when he had throughly viewed the City and found the weaknesse of it he began to suspect that he could not long hold out against so potent an adversary Yet considering that Gods Providence had cast him upon these straits he resolved rather valiantly to die then to give the enemy so great an advantage against France by surrendring that Town to them And therefore he laid out all his care labour and industry for the defending of it and for the greater incouragement of the Citizens and Souldiers he laid his own hands to every work that was to be done Whilst he was thus busily imployed a Messenger brought him word that his Brother Andelot was gotten safe into the City with about five hundred Souldiers the remains of a greater Army which the King had sent under the Constable for the victualling and relieving the City which Army was encountred by a great party of German Horse and Foot who in the incounter had routed the French slain many and dispersed the rest only in the time of the medly Andelot with his five hundred men had slipped into the City As soon as this defeat of the French was known to the Souldiers and Citizens they were possessed with so great a fear that the incouragements of the Admirall were little regarded Hereupon he calls them all together makes a Speech to them and shewed them that the safety of their Countrey should be preserved before their lives and thereupon caused them all to take an Oath that if any one spake about the surrender of the City he should lose his head for it himself also took the same Oath In the mean time the Spaniards being elated with their former victory presse upon the City harder then before and for twenty daies together continue their battery against the Wals whereby they beat down a great part of them The Admirall seeing this and perceiving that they were approaching to give a generall storm he encouraged his Souldiers stoutly to make resistance telling them that if they did but withstand the first stroke the enemy would not be forward to attempt a second Where the greatest breach and danger was there himself stood armed to resist in the very face of danger Other places he commended to his Brother and his other Captains But whilest he was valiantly fighting in the breach word was brought him that the enemy was entred in two other places of the City Whereupon taking some of his trustiest Friends with him he ran thitherward to oppose them but before he came he found that
THE LIVES Of Two and Twenty English Divines EMINENT In their Generations for Learning Piety and painfulnesse in the Work of the Ministry and for their Sufferings in the Cause of CHRIST Whereunto are annexed the LIVES of Gaspar Coligni that famous Admirall of France slain in the Parisian Massacre and of Joane Queen of Navarr who died a little before By Samuel Clarke Pastor of Bennet-Fink London Qui sanctum virum imitatur quasi Exemplum aliquod intuetur seseque in illo quasi speculo prospicit ut adjiciat quod deesse virtutis agnoscit Minus enim seipsum homo considerat sed dum alterum intendit id quod minus est virtutis addidit Isiod de summo bono LONDON Printed by A. M. for Thomas Vnderhill and John Rothwell in Pauls Church-yard 1660. The Names of those whose Lives are contained in this Part. Dr. Collet p. 1 Bishop Coverdale 4 Dr. Sands 7 Mr. Richard Greenham 14 Mr. Thomas Cartwright 19 Mr. Paul Baines 27 Mr. William Bradshaw 32 Mr. Richard Stock 78 Mr. Richard Rothwel 85 Dr. Preston 95 Mr. Arthur Hildersam 144 Dr. Thomas Tailor 157 Mr. Hugh Clarke p. 160 Dr. Sibs 166 Dr. Chaderton 168 Mr. John Ball. 171 Bishop Potter 182 Mr. Richard Sedgwick 184 Mr. Julines Herring 188 Mr. John Dod. 198 Mr. Robert Balsom 213 Mr. Herbert Palmer 218 Gaspar Coligni Admirall of France 243 Ioane Q. of Navarr 297 To his loving Friend Master CLARKE upon his Lives of these eminent DIVINES SAMUEL CLARKE Anagr. Make us recall MAke us recall the lives of Worthies dead Herein thou art blest soul our learned Clark In suffering times thereby to hold up head And live their lives Herein thou art our Mark To soare aloft their Glories to ascend And sing such Praises here thou art our Larke To live when we are dead and so to end Our Pilgrimage and enter Noah's Arke Thy paines and pattern Make us to recall Their Graces Glories and their Lives withall John Herring Mr. of Arts and Minister of Gods Word The Life of Doctor Collet Dean of Pauls who died Anno Christi 1519. JOhn Collet was born of Worshipfull Parents in London his father Henry Collet having been twice Lord Maior of London by whom he was carefully trained up in learning In his younger daies he travelled into France and Italy whereby he much improved his learning At his return into England he went to Oxford commenced Doctor of Divinity and began to read publickly upon Pauls Epistles instead of Scotus and Tho. Aquinas which before were only in request in that University When he came to London he Preached often and had a very great Auditory both of Courtiers and Citizens His diet was very frugall his life upright and unblamable In discipline he was very severe in so much as being made Dean of Pauls his Canons complained that they were held in too much by him He alwaies preferred the honest and honourable estate of Matrimony before the unchast single life of Priests At dinner time he used to have some portion of Scripture read to him either out of Pauls Epistles or Solomons Proverbs He used no supper at all He was no friend to the irreligious religious orders of Monks and Friars He was an enemy to the barbarous Divinity of the School-Doctors as of Scotus and Thomas Aquinas insomuch as when Erasmus highly commended Aquinas for his learning and acutenesse Doctor Collet answered What tell you me of the learning of that man who unlesse he had been of an arrogant and presumptious spirit durst never have taken upon him to discusse and define all things so boldly and rashly as he did And except he had rather been worldly minded then heavenly he would never so have polluted Christs wholsome Doctrine with mans prophane Doctrine as he hath done The Bishop London at this time was Fitz James who of a long time bore a great grudge to Dr Collet and therefore joyning with two other Bishops they entred an action of complaint against him before Dr Warham Archbishop of Canterbury The Articles exhibited against him were three First For preaching against the worshipping of Images Secondly About hospitality for that he preaching upon those words in the Gospel Feed feed feed having expounded the two first for feeding by Doctrine and example the third he expounded for feeding by hospitality yet not so much for feeding the body as the soul by good counsel and conference The third was for speaking against such as preached bosom Sermons declaring nothing to the people but what they bring in their Papers with them This the Bishop of London used to do and therefore took it as spoken against himself which much irritated him against Dr Collet But the Archbishop more wisely weighing the matter and being well acquainted with the worth of Collet so took his part against his Accusers that at that time he freed him out of trouble Another design of Fitz James was to make him an heretick for translating the Pater noster into English but the Archbishop holp him out of that also Yet the Bishops malice was restlesse for when he could not prevail against Dr Collet before the Archbishop he laid a train to accuse him to the King and the occasion thereof was this About this time King Henry the eighth was preparing War against France and the Bishop with his complices took advantages against Dr Collet for that in one of his Sermons he had seemed to preferre Peace before any kind of Warre though never so just For this they inveyed against him in their Sermons and traduced him also before the King Yet on good Friday after Dr Collet preached before the King at which time he treated upon the Victory of Christ exhorting all Christians to fight under Christs standard against the devil adding moreover what an hard thing it was so to do He shewed also that all they who upon private hatred or ambition took weapons against their adversaries one Christian to destroy another they did not fight under Christs Banner but under Satans He exhorted therefore all Christians in their Wars rather to make Christ their Prince and Captain in fighting against their enemies then to imitate Julius Caesar Alexander c. The King hearing this and fearing lest the hearts of his souldier should by these words be withdrawn from the Wars took him aside into his Garden after Sermon and had much private conference with him Bishop Fitz-James and his a associates seeing this were now confident that they should see Collet presently sent Prisoner to the Tower and therefore they waited for his return out of the Garden But contrary to their expectation the King used him very courteously bad him put on his Cap much commended him for his learning and integrity of life and agreed with him in all points that he had taught onely he desired him lest the rude Souldiers should misinterpret that which he had said that in his next Sermon he would
Herring and Master Nicolls before mentioned who died at this good Ladies house were of chief worth Oh! what pathetical Blessings with Exhortations Encouragements and Prayers did this worthy man of God bestow upon this and the Families of other choice Friends before he took his last farewell of his dear native Countrey This Narrative would swell too big if report should be made of generals only in reference unto them who were naturally nearly related unto himself and his gracious Consort besides such who were very dear unto them both in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Some who beheld the last greetings betwixt him and Reverend Master Ball of Whitmore professe that they stick too deep in their breasts to be forgotten for after they had spent together well nigh one day and one night in conference they did like Jonathan and David frequently fall upon one another with mutual embracings they parted and closed again a third and a fourth time and when Master Herring was on horseback and Master Ball on foot they went together often shaking hands over the hedges and upon the finall salutation they comforted each other with this consideration That though they should never see one another again on earth yet they should meet in heaven And Master Herring was so deeply affected with those passages that he said to some of his company Two or three more such parting 's would hinder my journey beyond Seas and yet adding withall Master Ball hath conquered my passions In his passage out of England he with warm affections and heavenly benedictions took his leave of his own and his Wives Sisters with their Husbands whose dwellings were in divers Countries Those two eminently worthy Reverend Divines Master Oliver Bowles of Sutton in Bedfordshire and Master Barry of Cotsmore in Rutland who had married two of his Wives gracious Sisters as they had Brotherly respect in his bosome so they had special visits in his journey towards Holland He was necessitated secretly to take shipping at Yarmouth whither his Brother-in-law Master Bowles did accompany him because the then Arch-bishop had given order that no Scholar nor Minister should passe without License from the Councel-table Now whereas in his journey he had often prayed that God would yet further clear his call into Holland by two special Providences viz. 1. That he might not be examined whether he was a Minister for he professed that he durst not deny his holy calling 2. That God would strengthen him at Sea and grant him a comfortable voyage He had answers of singular grace returned in both He landed at Rotterdam September 20. 1637. and went aside from company so soon as with conveniency he could to blesse the Lord for his safe arrival and for all other favours vouchsafed unto him who had never before been upon the Sea The next day he went in a Waggon to Amsterdam and was met on the way by his dear Colleague with the Elders and Deacons of the Church and many of the English Merchants who expressed much joy for his safe coming unto them By them he was accompanied to the house of his good Friend Master Whittaker where he continued till his removal unto his own house upon the coming over of his Family into Holland His first Sermon was upon Psal. 24.1 The earth is the Lords c. wherein he much insisted upon this consideration That Gods Children still tread upon their Fathers ground whithersoever his Providence doth remove them and he preached with such satisfaction unto the hearts of his hearers that thereby way was made for his future acceptance and service The week following he was presented first unto the Honourable Lords the Magistrates of Amsterdam who kindly accepted him and gave him a gratuity towards the charges of his journey and afterwards to the Reverend Classis where he was lovingly received into that Society and thanks were given unto God for bringing him safe unto them Whereas it was his custom to pray every night before he went into his bed the night before a fasting day appointed by the States to seek direction in their Counsels and successe upon their Armies now before Breda he spake thus to his Son who attended him My heart is more fit for a thansgiving day and it would be so unto me if God would bring over my dearest Christian for that was his Wives name thy tender Mother with her company Come let us pray for them And the next morning when he was ready to go to the Congregation he heard that his dear Wife was come unto Amsterdam by which Providence his spirit being raised unto holy astonishment and admiration he uttered these words Oh what a God do I serve How exceeding mercifull is my God unto me What his prudent and pious coversation was and what high estimation he had in Amsterdam may be understood by the testimony of Master Rulice written by his own hand March 2. 1650. which is as followeth How acceptable and dear Master Herring my once Reverend Colleague was to us all Church Classis Magistrates yea to all who knew him it is publiquely known How faithfully he employed those excellent gifts which God in a large measure bestowed upon him in publique in private in his Sermons in his Advices in Consistory and Classes c. what need I mention for all well know For his private conversation what sweetnesse and inoffensiveness yea exemplary godlinesse did not he shew upon all occasions His sicknesse was lingering his death like a sleep As in his life so in his sicknesse and to his last breath he shewed that his heart was truly stored with patience faith love to God and his People heavenly-mindednesse zeal to the honour of God and with intire love to his Wife and Children But I must break off I hope that Reverend man who undertakes to publish the life and death of my most dear Brother and Colleague will so set it out that it may be a spurre to provoke the living to follow such a worthy Pattern and be a means of quickning many not only to walk faithfully in the way to heaven but also in that great function of the Ministry Thus farre Mr. Rulice The strangenesse of Independent Brethren of England when they came over into Holland was a great trouble unto this reall Saint and his constant Prayers were that they might neither be deceived themselves nor do any hurt unto the Government of the Reformed Churches He often said that those men had need of much caution because the devil in the times of purest Reformation would be a more subtill Angel of light then he was in Luthers daies When his Son returned into England he warned him to take heed of joyning with any part against the Presbyterial Government of the Reformed Churches For I am sure said he it is the Government of Jesus Christ. When the Scots first came into England it was his constant and affectionate Prayer that they might be instruments of
spake to them to this purpose Friends I wonder at the providence of God in bringing you hither at this time for otherwise I must have sent for you And so declaring to them what had hapned to the afflicted man he desired them to spend some part of the night with him in seeking God for him which accordingly they did The next morning Master Balsom going to visit him again found him in a comfortable condition and asking of him how he did He answered Through the goodnesse of God I have overcome and am now as full of comfort as I was before of trouble And so continued all that day cheerfull but in great weaknesse and the next morning died no disease appearing upon him After some time of Master Balsom's abode there he was earnestly intreated to return into his own Countrey to which for some important reasons he was inclined but was as earnestly importuned by many of the inhabitants of Barwick either to abide with them or to return again to them And after many other Arguments as he was just parting with them as their last Argument to perswade him to stay with him they presented him with a list of about threescore that had been as they were verily perswaded savingly wrought on by his Ministry during the time of his continuance there He left them but with a mind of returning to them again if providence crost it not but his return was prevented by his death which hapned about two year after as he was endeavouring to get himself free from the place where he then was to return to them In which space of time he did much good as in converting many so in reducing many that were drawn away by Sectaries The Life of Master Herbert Palmer B. D. late Master of Queens-Colledge in Cambridge who died Anno Christi 1647. HErbert Palmer was descended of an ancient Family of that name allied to divers other Families of note of the Nobility and Gentry His Father was Sir Thomas Palmer of Wingham in East-Kent about six miles distant from Canterbury His Mother was the eldest Daughter of Herbert Pelham of Crawley in Sussex Esquire He was born at Wingham and was there baptized March 29. 1601. He had the happinesse of a prudent and pious Education His Father beside his Piety being a very wise man and of a more then ordinary understanding as well in State-affairs as those of a more private concernment His Mother beside her Prudence and other accomplishments more then ordinary in her sex was also eminently religious and both of them exceeding carefull of his education Himself also being even from his infancy much addicted to the serious study both of Religion and Learning in both of which he had made more then ordinary Proficiency in a short time and continued the exercise and improvement of them afterward The Symptomes of Grace and Piety began betimes to put themselves forth to the view and observation of others as soon almost as the exercise and use of reason so that we may not without good ground esteem him sanctified even from the Womb. When he was about the age of four or five years he would cry to go to his Lady-mother That he might hear somewhat of God So soon had these her Religious discourses made pleasing impressions on his apprehension Neither did these and such like expressions of affection to good things soon vanish away as childish apprehensions use to do but continued and encreased according as his years and the use of reason increased Mr. HERBERT PALMER He was early acquainted with the Book of God which he much delighted in and read with great affection insomuch that while he was but a child little more then five years old he wept in reading the story of Joseph and took much pleasure in learning of Chapters by heart And here was laid the first foundation of that great exactnesse in the knowledge of the Scriptures to which he did afterwards attain He had excellent natural parts both intellectual and moral which as they were soon capable of being imployed so they were soon set on work his Parents vigilancy being such that they suffered no time to be neglected He learned the French tongue almost as soon as he could speak English even so soon as that he hath often affirmed he did not remember his learning of it And he did afterwards attain so great exactnesse of speaking and preaching in that language together with a perfect knowledge of the state and affairs of that Kingdom especially of the Protestant Churches amongst them that he was often by strangers thought to be a native French-man and did not doubt but to entertain discourse with any person of that Nation for some hours together in their own language concerning the affairs of that Kingdom who should not be able by his discourse to distinguish him from a native French-man but judge him to be born and bred in France so well was he furnished with an exact knowledge both of the Propriety and due Pronunciation of that language and of the persons places and affairs of that Kingdom and the Churches therein A thing not often seen in one who had never been out of England When he learned the Latine tongue with such other parts of learning as younger years are usually imployed in at School his diligence and proficiency therein was such as produced both commendation and admiration And while others at vacant hours were following their sports and recreations he was constantly observed to be reading studiously by himself taking as much pleasure in good imployments as others in sports and counting that the best Passe-time wherein the time was best passed His carriage towards his Parents was dutifull and obsequious not only during his Minority but even afterwards which was very evident in that honour and reverend respect which he continued to expresse to his godly aged Mother to the day of her death which hapned not long before his own being also a special helper to her in the waies of holinesse And what he thus practised himself he did frequently commend to others being alwaies though himself unmarried a great asserter of Parental authority as well from that great emphasis which God puts upon it through the whole current of Scripture as from those remarkable judgments which in Scripture and in his own experience he had observed to be inflicted on disobedient and undutifull children whom as he was wont to say he had scarce ever known to escape some visible judgment for it in this life though possibly otherwise godly persons as also from those unavoidable mischiefs which do frequently ensue in Civil Societies where the authority of Superiours is vilified or contemned and which if well considered will be often found to take their first rise and original from the contempt of Paternal authority He was about the year 1615. admitted Fellow-Commoner in Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge
meeting of the godly where there was a Sermon and the Sacrament to be administred after Sermon he requested those that were present that they would not be offended at his weaknesse but that they would pray to the Lord for him and then requested the Minister that he would a little more explain himself about the Sacrament which he willingly did and having by sundry texts of Scripture shewed that Christ is received only Spiritually and Sacramentally therein he concluded with that of St. Augustine Manducare cibum qui non perit sed permanent ad vitam est credere in Christum Et Quid paras dentem ventrem crede manducasti Item Nolite parare fauces sed cor Christ is to be fed upon not with our mouths but with our faith c. Our Admirall being much satisfied with this discourse gave thanks first to God then to that Minister and Congregation and shortly after was himself partaker of that holy Sacrament the same whereof when it was once spread abroad in France it cannot be believed what joy and consolation it brought to the Churches of Christ for though till that time the true worshippers of God had many Laws made against them by the Kings and Parliaments though they were daily dragged to prisons torments and death so that they were forced to hold all their meetings in secret yet was true Religion after a wonderfull manner dispersed through all the Provinces of France and the Popish party found by experience that the more they sought to suppresse and extinguish the light of Gods Word and the Professors of it the more it daily encreased Not long after fell out the tumult at Amboise and the conspiracy of the Nobility against the Guises whose pride and insolency the Princes of France could no longer bear with Of this number was the Prince of Conde and the King of Navarre his Brother Whereupon the Guises procured an Edict from the King whereby a meeting of the Nobility was appointed at Fontainbleau especially to treat about matters of Religion and when the day came which was Aug. 24. 1560. the King requested those that were present to deliver their opinions Whereupon the Admirall rising out of his seat humbly presented the King with two Supplications under this title The humble Supplications of those who in severall parts of your Majesties Kingdom do truly and purely serve God These Supplications were delivered to Albespine the Kings Secretary who publiquely read them This bold fact of the Admirall was much wondered at considering the Kings bitter enmity against that Religion and the great power of the Guises The summe of those Petitions was this They which purely and sincerely serve God taking this fit opportunity do humbly beseech your Majesty that of your clemency you will be pleased to pity a great number of our Subjects who unto this day are miserably afflicted tormented and wasted for the cause of Religion in all your Provinces We humbly beg of you that you will not be grieved to take cognisance of our cause and to appoint that the Scripture may be the judge in these great controversies whereby it will easily appear how much we do abhor heresie which hitherto hath been laid to our charge as also how falsly we have been charged with sedition when we never used force or arms to defend our selves but ever thought it our duty in our greatest extremities only to have recourse to your Majesties clemency Our humble request therefore to your Majesty is that you would be pleased to restrain our persecutors by whose means there is no part of your Majesties Kingdom which in these late years hath not been defiled with the blood of your innocent Subjects Our case hath been miserable when we have been forced to plead our cause before the Popes Clients and Pensioners rather then before equall and indifferent Judges Our humble request therefore is that you would be pleased favourably to look upon so many Families who have alwaies acknowledged you for our gracious Lord and King and according to Gods command have honoured and obeyed you and shall be ready if occasion be offered to spend our lives for your dignity and service and therefore we think it but equal that our lives and welfare should be protected against the rage of our cruel and bloody adversaries We further pray that some publique places may be allowed us where our Ministers may Preach the Word of God sincerely and Administer the Sacraments truly that our Religion being no longer concealed we may be freed from those false calumnies which our adversaries have hitherto cast upon us And we shall ever pray c. After these Supplications were read there were great debates but little about Religion great complaints being made of the Kings debts and consideration had how the same might be discharged Hereupon our Admirall spake freely and boldly against the Forces raised by the Guises under the pretence of a guard for the King as if he needed such a guard in the heart of his own Kingdom whereas the Authority of the Kings name in France is so sacred and powerfull that thereby the meanest Constable is able to suppresse any tumult whatsoever This free speech of his extreamly vexed the Guises who hated him so much the more for it Some others propounded that there might be a publique Convention of the States called as the only means to cure the distempers of France which though some had laboured to discredit and so had caused an intermission of it for eighty seven years yet it had alwaies been exceeding advantagious to the Kingdom as the Parliaments in England consisting of three States had alwaies been there whereby the English Kings had been enabled to make such powerfull Invasions of France Shortly after King Francis the second dying his younger Brother Charles the ninth succeeded and thereupon the former request was renewed for calling a Convention of all the States At this time Catherine of Medice was the Queen Mother a Florentine by birth to whom the education of the young King and the care of his person was committed according to the ancient custom of France but she was not suffered to have any thing to do with the Government of the Kingdom and hereupon the Guises who for a long time had been powerfull at Court intruded themselves into that Office And at that time many of the Nobility proceeded cruelly to torment and afflict those of the Religion whereupon there was great fear lest some new Commotions should be raised in the Kingdom But the Queen Mother pretended favour towards them for which cause our Admirall endeavoured and at last effected that she should be joyned in Commission with Anthony King of Navarr who was made Protector during the Kings Minority This many wise men disliked and opposed saying that in the stories of former times it did appear that the Government was never committed to the Queen Mother especially