was freed Anno Christi 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg being sent for by Otho Henry Prince Elector Palatine who was about to reforme his Churches There hee was made the Publick Professor of Theologie and met with much opposition and manifold contentions in that alteration which yet he bore with much prudence Anno Christi 1564. there was a disputation appointed at Malbourn for composing the great controversie about the ubiquity of Christs body This was appointed by Frederick the third Elector Palatine and Christopher Duke of Wertemberg To this meeting the Elector sent Boquine Diller Olevian Dathen and Ursin but very little fruit appeared of their labours as the event shewed Boquin continued in Heidleberg about twenty years under Otho and Frederick the third But after that Princes death An. Christi 1576 by reason of the prevalency of the Hetorodox party he with other Professorr and Divines was driven thence and it pleased God that immediately hee was called to Lausanna where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor so long as he lived Anno Christi 1582 on a Lords day he preached twice and in the evening heard another Sermon then supped chearfully and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad then went to visit a sick friend and whll'st he was conforting of him he found his spirits to begin to sink in him and running to his servant he said unto him Pray adding further Lord receive my soul and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1582. The workes which he left behind him were these Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii professores Examen libri quem Heshusius inscripsit De praesentia corporis Christi in caena domini Theses de coena Domini Exegesis divinae communicationis Adsertio veteris ac veri Christianismi adversus novum fictum Jesuitismum Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversiae de Coena Domini Adsertio ritus frangendi in manus sumendi panis Eucharistici E. GRINDALL The Life of Edmund Grindall who dyed A no Christi 1583. EDmund Grindal was borne in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first at school and then in the University of Cambridg where being admitted into Pembrook Hall he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow and afterward Master of that house And Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety and learning made him his Chaplain and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixth who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody daies of Queen Mary Grindal amongst many others fled into Germany where he continued all her Reigne But comming back in the beginning of Queen Elisabeth she preferred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward intended him to making him Bishop of London wherein hee carried himself worthily for about eleven years Anno Christi 1570 hee was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of York where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Canterbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croidon hee resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age sixtie four Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity At St. Beighs in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-schoole and endowed it with thirty pound per annum for ever To Pembroke Hall in Cambridge where he was educated he gave twenty two pounds a yeare in lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Scholars to be chosen out of the aforesaid School of St. Beighs He gave also much mony to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hee gave lands for the maintainance of one Fellow from the said School To Christs Colledge in Cambridge he gave forty five pounds To Queens Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per annum in lands to maintain one Fellow and two Scholars out of the aforesaid Schoole And at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of money To eight Alms-houses in Croidon he gave fifty pounds per annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work The Life of Bernard Gilpin who died A no Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517 of an ancient and honourable Family When he was but a child a Friar pretending to be a zealous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his Fathers house and at Supper eat like a Glutton and drunke himself drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sinne of Drunkennesse whereupon young Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh Mother doe you hear how this fellow dares speak against Drunkenness and yet himself was drunken last night But his Mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speake no further it being a mortall sinne in those times to speak against these men His Parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when hee had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammar-School they sent him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533 where he was admitted into Queens Colledge and profited wondrously in Humane Learning Hee was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were in much esteem at that time And to the studie of Logick and Philosophie hee added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after some few years spent in these studies hee grew so famous that there was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his virtues had not rendered him worthy Whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolsey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held disputations against John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Worcester as also against Peter Martyr who was then Divinity Lecturer at Oxford upon the occasion of which dispute that he might defend his cause the better he examined the Scriptures ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studied to defend his Cause the lesse confidence hee began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for Truth he beganne to discernâ— his own Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other adversaries but saith he I am troubled for Gilpin for he doth and speaketh all things with an upright heart and therefore he often prayed That God would be pleased at last to convert to the Truth the heart of Gilpin being so inclinable to honesty And the Lord answered his prayer for presently Gilpin resolved more earnestly to apply himself both by study and
ways to be beset by which these two Fathers used to go to instruct the people and it pleased God that as these two walked by the way they fell into these watchmens hands who presently loaded them with Irons and carried them to the Arian Priest Faelix when he saw that he was like to be apprehended threw away some money into a bush which he happened to have about him for the Brethrens sustenance The Arian Priest when they came before him used them very roughly demanding of them why they came out of their own Country to subvert his Christian hearers And as they were about to answer he would not hear them but first commanded them to be scourged whereupon Faelix requested that his Brother Fulgentius might be spared For saith he he cannot endure the extremity of the torment but in all likelihood will breath forth his innocent Soul under your hands But 〈…〉 let your wrath be wholly wreaked upon me who am most guilty of that which you charge us with Faelix therefore was mostcruelly beaten but not that Fulgentius should be spared who being of Noble Parentage was of a tender constitution and so the blows with the staves were the more grieveous to him whereupon he earnestly desired to be heard having somewhat to say and so the stripes and bastinadoes being intermitted he began with his Eloquent mouth to relate the cause of their travel into those parts causing his very Adversaries to wonder at his Eloquence and flowing Language So that the Priest had almost forgotten his cruelty and shame of the injury was ready to embrace his obdurate heart Yet least he should appear to be overcome with his words he cryed out Lay him on lustily and multiplying your blows ren◠this pratler What Thinks he by his words to seduce me also Hereupon he was again beaten most mercilesly then were both of them shaven deformedly their clothes pulled off and so they were sent packing all naked Forth then from the Arians house they departed no otherwise then as from a glorious combat and as crowned with Lawrels of Victory In their return they found the money which Faelix had hidden which was a great refreshing to them The fame of this detestable fact gave great offence to many and in particular to the Arian Bishop of the Diocess who had a good opinion of Fulgentius and much favoured him and would have punished the Priest if Fulgentius had desired it of him and indeed many urged him to seek revenge but he gave them this humble denyal saying It is not lawful for a Christian to meditate revenge our Lora Christ well knoweth how to repay the injuries inflicted on his servants If my case be avenged then lose I the reward of my patience especially seeing it might scandalize many little ones if I a Catholick should require judgement at an Arians hand A while after Fulgentius having heard and read much of the strict lives of the Monks in Egypt had a great minde to see the same and so leaving his Monastery he took shipping for Egypt but a storm meeting him by the way he was driven into the Haven of Syracuse the chief City of Sicily At this time Eusalius was Bishop there who very curteously entertained Fulgentiu and upon converse finding his sufficiency enquired the cause of his voyage and understanding by him the cause he much disswaded him from it and perswaded him to continue at Syracuse that winter which when he consented to he maintained him all that time and Fulgentius out of that little allowed him carefully ministred somewhat to the necessities of others Summer being come he failed to Rome where beholding the glory of the Romane Nobility the triumphant pomp of King Theodorick and the universal splendor and joy of the City he was so far from being taken with such worldly toys and delights that it raised up his desires after heavenly joys saying thus to some of his friends that accompanied him How beautiful may the Caelestial Hierusalem be when Terrestial Rome so glittereth If such honour be given to lovers of vanity what glory shall be imparted to the Saints who are lovers and followers of Truth Then did he return into Africa to the incredible joy of his Brethren but after a while finding the distractions which necessarily attended his abode there partly by reason of his care in Government and partly by reason of much resort of Noble men and others that dayly repaired to him his fame being now spread abroad he privily stole away and went to another Monastery far off amidst the shelly Rocks of the Sea destitute in a manner of all humane solace and necessaries where being with all courtesie received as much as he excelled others in Learning and Eloquence so far subjected he himself to all in humility and obedience Many Books he there copied out fair with his own hands and for his recreation made many necessary implements for the house of Palm-leaves But at last his old society gained knowledge of the place of his abode and presently sent to request his return Hereupon great contention arose between the two houses whilst one sought to retain the other to regain him The Controversie at last came before Bishop Faustus who Decreed his return to his first place and that he might be imployed for the publick good he ordained him a Presbyter At which time sundry Cities wanting Pastors for the King had forbidden the Ordination of any more Bishops many of them sought and sued to Fulgentius to undertake that charge and some proceeded to Elect him outright yet thought he himself secure by reason of the Kings prohibition till at last the persecuted Bishops who yet survived resolved rather to incur the displeasure of the King then to suffer the people any longer to want Bishops and thereupon meeting together they Decreed that Bishops should be ordained for all the vacant places and forthwith least the Arian King hearing of it should prevent them they sought out godly Presbyters whom they might appoint to this Office but then Fulgentius who was most of all sought for could no where be found for he had hid himself to avoid that imployment and so continued till all the solemnities were over passed and then returned hoping now to live in quiet But it pleased God otherwise to dispole of it For it so fell out that the City of Ruspa remained as yet unfurnished the Citizens whereof getting inkling that Fulgentius was discovered they came unto him laid hold upon him carryed him with them and not request but constrain him to be their Bishop Yet in this dignity he nothing forget his former integrity he still used mean and simple attire went many times barefoot wholly abstained from Flesh Wine and Oil and always kept about him some of his former associates But he with his fellow Bishops enjoyed not long their places for that fell out which was easily
till they found comfort He was much in Meditation and Prayer In Preaching he sought to inflame the hearts of his hearers His words were not Inslantia but Inslammantia not High-swelling but Inflaming He hated idleness Read over the whole body of the Fathers and out of them made that famous piece that he cals his Pharetra He wrote two Bibles out with his own hand and had most of them by heart After three years study in Paris he was chosen Divinity-Reader there He was called Doctor Seraphicus was present at the Council of Lions where having spent himself in pious actions and painful studies he dyed Anno Christi 1274. And of his Age 53. THO AQVINAS The Life of Thomas Aquinas who dyed Anno Christi 1274. THomas Aquinas was born in Italy not far from Naples Anno Christi 1223. and was bred in the Monasterie of Cassine He was humble modelt grave industrious and witty zealous and frequent in prayer He afterwards taught the Sciences in Paris Rome Bononia and Naples He was always either at his Book Disputations or Meditations Insomuch that supping at Court with Lewis the French King whilst others were discoursing of pleasant matters he was so deep in his meditation that forgetting himself he stroke the table with his hand saying Jam contra Manicheos conclusum est That now the Manichees were foiled He was a great contemner of worldly honors and wealth When promotions were offered his usual answer was Chrysostomi Commentarium in Matthaum mallem I had rather have Chrysostoms Commentary on Matthew Inteaching he framed his speech to the peoples capacity in reproofs he hated the vice but spared the person He dyed as he was going from Naples to a Council at Lyons being called thither by Pope Gregory the tenth Anno Christi 1274. the fiftieth year of his Age. He was called Doctor Angelicus He used to say That a day will come when fair dealing shall be found a Jewel when a good Conscience shall be better then a good Purse for then the Judg will not be put off with fair words nor drawn aside with hope of reward And Make much of time especially in that meighty matter of Salvation O how much would be that now lies frying in Hell rejoyce if he might have but the least moment of time wherein be might get Gods favour And The young man bath death at his back the old man before his eyes and that 's the more dangerous Enemie that pursues thee then that which marches up towards thy face Remember that though God promise forgiveness to represtant sinners yet he doth not promise that they shall have to morrow to repent in His works are many which are well known JOHN WICKLIFF The Life of John Wicklief who dyed Anno Christi 1384. IOhn Wicklief an English man born famous both for Life and Learning under King Ed Ward the third Anno Christ 1371. was brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the Arts and School-Divinity every one admiring both his carriage and abilities He was Divinity-Reader in Oxford and also preferred to a Pastoral charge there in which he took great pains and protested that his chief end and purpose was to call back the Church from her Idolatry especially in the matter of the Sacrament After he had now a long time prosessed Divinity in Oxford perceiving the true Doctrine of Christs Gospel to be adulterated and defiled with so many filthy inventions of Bishops Sects of Monks and Errors with many secret sighes bewailing the general ignorance of the Christian World he could no longer suffer nor endure the same whereupon he resolved to do his utmost endeavor for the Reformation there of But withall foreseeing how dangerous this attempt would be for that such things as by long use and custom had been rooted in mens minds could not suddenly be eradicated and pulled out he judged it fittest to attempt the same by little and little Where upon he first affailed his Adversaries by Logical and Metaphysical questions and having made way hereby he at length came to the matter of the Sacraments and other abuses of the Church But this Bile could not be touched without great grief and pain to the whole World For first the rabble of Monks and begging Fryars were enraged against him who as so many Hornets assaulted him on every side after them the Priests and lastly the Archbishop Simon Sudbury took him in hand who deprived him from his Benefice which he had in Oxford yet being befriended and supported by the King he remained there still till about the year 1377. But the King growing old and infirm and his son called Edward the black Prince being now dead a Parliament was convened wherein twelve sage and discreet Lords and Peers were chosen to manage the affairs of the State fix at one time and fix at another who remained for a certain space in that employment but they afterwards being removed the whole Government of the Realm under the King was devolved upon Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster This John was a great friend to Wicklief whereupon to disgrace him the Bishop of Winchester reported that the said John was not King Edwards son nor of the Queen who being in travel at Gaunt had no son but a daughter which was overlaid by the Mother in bed whereupon the Queen fearing the Kings displeasure caused a man-childe of a woman of Flanders born the same day with her own to be secretly brought to her whom she brought up and is now called Duke of Lancaster and this as the Bishop affirmed the Queen told him upon her Death-bed under the seal of Consession yet withall enjoying him if the Kingdom were like to fall to him to reveal it so that a false Heir might not be King which slanderous report of the wicked Bishop as it savoured of a contumelious lye so many apprehended that it proceeded from his zeal to uphold his Popish Religion The foresaid Duke favouring Wicklief thereby declared himself to be a professed Enemy to their superstitious practises The Duke being justly incensed against the Bishop for this soul slairder so perseceuted him in Parliament that he was condemned and deprived of all his Temporal goods he was also inhibited from coming within twenty miles of the Court But shortly after the Clergy made great suit in the Parliament in his behalf and when a Subsidie was asked in the Kings name of the Clergy the Bishops complained grievously for the lack of their Brother of Winchester and enforced the Archbishop to send for him from Winchester to appear at the Convocation of the Clergy which he gladly did and was joyfully received by the Bishops and by means of one Alice Perris a wicked Harlot which had bewitched the Kings heart he was restored to his Temporalties again In the mean
where he learned without book almost all Pauls Epistles and the Epistles of James Peter John and Jude concerning which himself said Though in time I did forget much of them againe yet the sweet smel thereof I trust I shall carry with me into heaven and the profit thereof I have felt in all my life time hitherto HVGH LATIMER The Life of Hugh Latimer who dyed A no Christi 1555. HUgh Latimer born at Thirkesson in the County of Leicester being of a prompt and sharp wit was by his parents brought up in learning and at the age of fourteene he went to Cambridge where after he had profited in other studies he gave himself to the study of School-Divinity Commenced Batchelor in Divinity and was a very zealous Papist made an Oration against Philip Melancthon Railed against Master Stafford Divinity-Lecturer and willed the Scholars in no wise to believe him He was so zealous in his Popish Religion and therewith so scrupilous that being a Priest and using to say Mass he was so servile an observer of the Romish Decrees that he thought he had never sufficiently mixed his Massing-wine with water and that he should never be damned if once he were a professed Frier He used to carry the Crosse before the Procession Master Thomas Bilney seeing Mr. Latimer to have a zeal in his wayes although without knowledge was stricken with a brotherly pitty towards him thinking by what meanes he might best win this ignorantly zealous brother to the true knowledge of Christ And thereupon going to his study he desired him to hear him make a Confession of his Faith which Latimer consenting to was so touched thereby that he gave over School Divinity and studied more Orthodox Divines So that whereas before he was an enemy and almost a persecutor of Christ he was now a zealous seeker after him changing his old manner of cavilling and railing into diligent conferring with Mr. Bilney and others And asked Mr. Stafford forgivenesse before he died Being thus wonne to Christ he was not satisfied with his own conversion but pittying the misery of others he became a powerfull publick Preacher and an instructor of many in private also whereupon the Devill raised up many Doctors and Fryers against him and the Bishop of Ely forbade him to preach Anno Christi 1529 yet he continued three years preaching with much applause yea the Bishop himself hearing him upon a time commended him and wished that he had the like gifts himself He used often to visit the Prisoners to relieve the needy and feed the hungry Amongst the Adversaries which the Devill raised against him one was Doctor â—edman who wrote to him to divert him from the Truth To which he madâ— this short answer Reverend Mr. Redman It 's enough for me that Christs shâ—ep hear no mans voice but Christs and as for you you have no voice of Christ against me whereas for my part I have an heart ready to hearken to any voice of Christ that you can produce Thus fare you well and trouble me no more from talking with the Lord my God But shortly after complaint was made against him to the Cardinal who sent for him but by the meanes of Dr. buts the Kings Physitian a favourer of good men he was chosen into the number of those which laboured in the cause of the Kings Supremacy whereupon he went to the Court and lodged in Doctor Buts his chamber preaching many times in London At last being weary of the Court by the Lord Cromwel's means he had a living given him in Wiltshire whither he presently removed The place was called West-Kingstone near Sarum where with much diligence he instructed his flock and preached zealously many times abroad in the Country Whereupon some Popish Priests drew up Articles against him and he was much molested by the Bishop of London and Warham Archbishâ—p of Canterburie by whom he was cited to appear before him and the Bishop of London These malicious persons detained him for a long space from his cure at home calling him three times every week before them which much troubled him seeing they would neither preach themselves nor suffer him to doe his duty Hereupon hee wrote to the Archbishop expostulating with him for so detaining him from his charge and that for no just cause but onely for preaching the truth against sundry abuses which were crept into the Church Yet this nothing prevailed till the King rescued him out of their hands and at the request of the Lord Cromwell made him Bishop of Worcester In which place he busily employed himself in instructing his flock and giving them a good example by his holy life He spent all his time in study teaching preaching exhorting visiting correcting and reforming to the utmost of his power and as the times could bear and though he could not utterly extinguish the reliques of Popery yet he so wrought that they should be used with as little hurt and with as much profit as might be Yet neither there was he quiet for one of great place accused him to the King for preaching Sedition but the King rested satisfi'd with his answer At New-years-tide the Bishops us'd to present the King with a New-years gift and Bishop Latimer amongst the rest presented him with the New Testament wrapped up in a Napkin with this Posie about it Fornicatores adulteros judicabit Dominus Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge But the six Articles coming out and he seeing that he could not retain his Office with a good conscience of his own accord he resigned his Bishoprick And when he put off his Rochet in his chamber amongst his friends he gave a skip in the floor for joy feeling his shoulders lighter and being as he said discharged of so heavy a burthen This was Anno Christi 1539 after which he betooke himself again to his mean Parsonage at West-Kingston in VViltshire not farre from Bristow Yet by the malice of certain Popish Priests who slandered his Doctrine he was much endangered whereupon he had recourse to Mr. Ralph Morrice who was Doctor Cranmers right hand by whose intreatie the Archbishop so prevailed with the King for him that for the present he was freed out of his troubles yet neither then would the Bishops suffer him to be quiet till he was layd up in the Tower where he remained till Edward the sixth's Reign At which time being restored to his liberty he continued a faithfull and painfull preacher all that Kings dayes preaching twice every Sabbath though 67 yeares of age He rose to his Study Winter and Summer at two a clock in the morning He evidently fore-saw and fore-told aâ—l those plagues which England afterwards felt under Queen Mary and fore-told concerning himself that his preaching of the Gospel would cost him his life and that Winchester was
kept in the Tower for the same purpose which afterwards proved so In the beginning of Queen Maries Reign he was sent for up by a Pursuivant whereof he had notice six houres before he came to his house yet instead of flying he prepared himself for his journey And when the Pursuivant came he said to him My friend you are welcome I goe as willingly to London to give an account of my Faith as ever I went to any place in the world and I doubt not but as God hath made me worthy formerly to preach his Word before two excellent Princes so he will enable me to bear witnesse to the Truth bâ—fore the third either to her eternal comfort or discomfort The Pursuivant having delivered his Letter told him that he was commanded not to stay for him and so immediately departed His Adversaries hopine that he would have fled but Latimer hasted after to London and as he rode through Smithfield he said that Smithfield had groaned for him a long time Coming before the Council after many mocks and scornes he was â—ent to the Tower where the Lord gave him such a valiant spirit that he did not onely bear the terriblenesse of imprisonment but derided and laughed to scorn the doings of his enemies This aged Father being kept in the cold winter without a fire bade the Lieutenant's man to tell his Master That if he did not look better to him perchance he would decâ—iâ—e him The Lieutenant thinking that he intendâ—d to make an escape charged him with his words to whom he answered You think I shall burn but except you let mee have a fire I shall deceive your expectation for I am here like to starve with cold Thus he continued a long time in the Tower with as much patience as a man in his case could possibly doe and at last from thence he was carried to Oxford with Cranmer and Ridley where tâ—ey spent their time in brotherly conference fervent prayer and fruitfull writing Yea many time he continued so long in fervent prayer that he was not able to get up without help Three things be more especially prayed for 1. That as God had appointed him to be a Preacher of his Word so that he would give him grace to stand to his Doctrine that hee might give his hearts-blood for the same 2. That God of his mercy would restore his Gospel to England once againe once againe which he often inculcated in his prayer and that with so much ardour as though he had seen God before him and spoken to him face to face 3. That the Lord would preserve Queen Elizabeth and make her a comfort to this comfortleâ—s Realm of England The lord most graciously answering all those his requests At last he was condemned and with Doctor Ridley was carried to be burned When he came to the stake he lift up his eyes with an amiable and comfortable countenance saying Fidelis est Deus c God is faithfull who will not suffer us to to be tempted above that which we are able c. When the fire was brought he said to Doctor Ridley Be of good comfort Brother and play the man we shall this day light such a candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shall never be put out When hee was stripped into his shroud he seemed a very comply person to all that were present And whereas in his cloaths he appeared a withered and crooked silly old man he now stood bolt-upright as comly a Father as one might likely behold As he was burning his blood ranne out of his heart in such abundance as if all the blood in his body had been gathered thither to the great astonishment of the beholders according to his former request That he might be so happy as to shed his hearts-blood for the Truth When the fire was first kindled he cried O father of heaven receive my soul And so receiving the flame and as it were embracing it having stroaked his face with his hands and bathed them a little in the fire he soon died with very little pain or none at all Anno Christi 1555. In a Letter to King Henry the eighth he thus concludes Wherefore gracious King remember your self have pitty upon your soul and think that the day is even at hand when you shall give an account for your Office and of the blood that hath been shed with your sword In the which day that your Grace mâ—â— stand stedfast and may have your Quietus est sealed with the blood of our Saviour Christ which will onely serve at that day is my daily prayer c. The Life of John Philpot who died A no Christi 1555. JOhn Philpot was a Knight's son and born in Hampshire brought up at Schoole and sent from thence to New-Colledge in Oxford where he studied the Liberal Arts and the Tongues and afterwards the Civil-Law for six or seven years space He was of a pregnant wit and singular courage fervent in spirit zealous in Religion of nature apert and far from flattery hypocrisie and dissimulation From Oxford he travelled into Italy where he was in some danger for his Religion In King Edward the sixth's dayes he returned into England again and had many conflicts with Bishop Gardiner He did much good in Hampshire being Archdeacon of Winchester all King Edward's dayes Anno Christi 1553 which was the first year of Queen Mary a Convocation was assembled wherein Doctor Weston was Prolocutor in the beginning whereof a disputation was begunne between the Papists and Protestants wherein Mr. Philpot was so earnest that Doctor VVeston commanded him to hold his peace whereto he replyed You perceive that I have stuffe enough for you whereby I am able to withstand your false positions and therefore you command me silence If you will not give place quoth the Prolocutor I will send you to prison This is not replyed Mr. Philpot according to your promise made at first in this house nor yet according to your brag made at Paul's Crosse when you said that men should be answered in this disputation to whatsoever they could say and now of a dozen arguments that I have you will not suffer me to prosecute one But I see that a sort of you here which hitherto have lurked in corners and dissembled with God and man are now gathered together to suppresse the sincere Truth of Gods V Vord and to set forth your false devices which by the sacred Scriptures you are not able to maintain But six daies after came a Mandate from the Queen to break up the disputation whereupon Doctor VVeston who all along had used many unseemly checks and taunts to the Protestants thus concluded It is not the Queens pleasure that we should spend any longer time here and ye are all well enough for you have the Word and we have the Sword And
in the evening he was had into the King of Navars chamber where were present the Queen Mother the Prince of Conde the Cardinals of Bourbon and Lorrain with many of the Nobility Beza briefly declared the cause of his coming though it was not unknown unto them and the Queen chearfully answered that she much desired that the publick peace might be principally promoted And the Cardinal of Lorrain exhorted him to study the wayes of peace and concord For saith he in your absence you have been the author of many stirs and tumults therefore it beseems you by your presence to endeavour to compose them which is that which we all desire To this Beza replyed that he was too mean and obscure a person to raise commotions in so large and potent a Kingdom That he was alwaies an enemy to tumults and that his studies and endevours should alwaies be bent to promote the Glory of God and the happinesse of his King and Country Then did the Queen ask him if he had ever published any thing in French Nothing said he besides the Psalmes and a short writing opposed to the Confession of the Duke of Summerset Upon this occasion Lorrain said that he had read in a book published in Beza's name That Christ was in the same manner to be sought in his Supper as he was before he was born of the blessed Virgin And that Christ was so in his Supper as he is in the dung To this Beza answered That this latter speech was blasphemy and that he thought that no Christian had ever spoken or written any such thing As for the former speech saith he if it be taken in a good sence its true for the Church hath alwaies been congregated by one Mediator Christ God-man therefore the Communion of the faithfull with Christ is not to be confined to the time of his Incarnation for the force and efficacy thereof was alwaies present to the eye of Faith For Abraham saw his day and rejoyced The Fathers did eat of the same spirituall and drank of the same spirituall Rock viz. Christ and that he was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world To which the Cardinal assented Then was there another question started about the sence of those words This is my body Whereunto Beza answered learnedly and briefly layâ—ng down the Reformed opinion and against Transubstantiation Whereunto the Cardinal answered that for his part he would not contend about Transubstantiation being of Beza's mind and withall told the Queen that Beza had given him great satisfaction in that point and that he hoped their conference would come to a good issue if things were handled peaceably and with right reason When the company was departed the Cardinall spake very lovingly to Beza saying Now that I have heard you speak I rejoice and invite you to the conference by the immortall God hoping that weighing the reasons on both sides some way may be found out for the setling of a firm peace Beza returned him hearty thanks intreating him to persevere in the study and endeavour of procuring publick concord Professing for his own part that according to the abilities God had given him he would promote it Septemb. the fourth they met together in the large Hall of the Monastery at Possy where were present the King the Queen Mother the Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Margaret the Kings Sister the King and Queen of Navar the Prince of Conde and the rest of the Nobility and States of France On the Popish party were the Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops to the number of fifty accompanyed with many Doctors of Sorbon and Canonists For the Reformed Churches were the Ministers before named After the King had in a few words opened the causes why he had called them together and Michael Hospitalius the great Chancellor of France had opened them more largly Beza in the name of all the Protestants made an excellent Oration which he pronounced with such a grace as drew the attention and caused admiration in all that were present In it he comprised the sum of the pure Religion which was professed in the Reformed Churches of France Only this is to be noted by the way that when Beza in his speech sayd That Christ was as far from the Sacrament as the highest heavens are from the earth the Popish Doctors made a great murmur which at last being over he went on to the end of his speech Then Turnovius â—ean of the Colledge being in a great passion against the Ministers whom he called new Professors made some objections and exhorted the King that hee would not suffer himself by any perswasions to be withdrawn from his old Religion and that he would suspend his assent til he had heard the answers which the Prelates would give to that which had been spoken for then he should be able to discern a difference between the truth and lies Then did Beza humbly present to the King a Confession of Faith in the name and with the consent of all the Reformed Churches which had been drawn up in the year 1555. But when the Ministers perceived that the minds of the Pontificians were exasperated they resolved that Beza should write his private Letters to the Queen wherein he should explaine things more fully then he was suffered to doe the day before which accordingly he did September the sixteenth the conference began again in the presence of the said great personages And the Cardinall of Lorrain made a tedious speech wherein he defended the Popish Religion perswading that nothing should be altered in the same And when he had done Beza humbly entreated the King that hee might have liberty to answer ex tempore For the Protestants feared that after this day they should be suffered to meet no more For there was a constant report that the Pontiâ—icians after that day would have no more to doe with the Protestants but would presently excommunicate them Besides there was some fear that the crafty Prelates would evade any further disputation by setting the French and Dutch Churches together by the ears about the matter of the Sacrament But he could obtain nothing that day the conference being adjorned to another and procrastinated by many delaies Yet at last upon an humble supplication to the King from the Protestants they obtained that the conference should goe on And accordingly September the twentie fourth it was again begun in the same Audience and Lorrain protested that this meeting was appointted that so the Protestants if they had a minde to it might freely answer to what had formerly been spoken by him Then did Beza discourse excellently and clearly about the Church and the Supper of the Lord which two heads were principally insisted on by Lorrain Then Espensaeus a Sorbonist being appointed by the Cardinall took up Beza begining about the Vocation of Ministers both ordinary and extraordinary and so proceeding to Traditions and the Lords
illud corpus quod pro nobis mortuum est ut simus ossa de ossibus ejus caro de carne ejus ut eo vivificemur eaquae ad salutem nostram necessaria sunt percipiamus Et quoniam fides innixa verbo Dei res perceptas facit praesentes per illam verum naturale corpus sanguinem Jesu Christi per virtutem Spiritus Sancti comedi bibi fatemur eoque respectu praesentiam corporis sanguinis Christi in S. Coenâ agnoscimus Both parties had agreed that not a word of this writing should be divulged till it was communicated to the great Personages at Possie but contrary thereto divers coppies were immediately dispersed through the Court and were received with much applause as if now both parties were agreed in the chiefest point of the controversie And the Queen sending for Beza thanked him and told him that what they had agreed on was very gratefull to her She also with joy shewed it to the Cardinall of Lorrain who when he had read it said That he never beleeved otherwise and that he hoped all the rest of the Great ones at Possie would readily embrace the same But it fell out far otherwise for when on the fourth of October it was exhibited to them they rejected and damned it reproaching Espensaeus for consenting to it and Lorraine for not opposing it And thereupon presently drew up another form which if Beza and his associates should defer to subscribe they declared that it was a great wickedness to treat with them any further and that as incorrigible they were to be excommunicated and punished by the King This was the issue of that great conference at Possie so famous all over Europe which yet answered not mens expectations And so every one returned to his own place Onely the Queen stayed Beza saying Since you are a Frenchman France desires your help to stop future troubles as much as may be But Beza tho he foresaw the seeds of those factions which shortly after brake out and his singular love to Geneva continually put him upon a desire of return where also he was earnestly desired and much longed for yet was hee necessitated to stay there whether he would or no. From that day forward there was a wonderfull encrease of the Gospellers in France and Sermons began to be preached publickly every where yea in some places they took away Churches from the Papists till by the Kings command and their Ministers intreaty they restored them again Beza in the mean time preached often sometimes in the Queen of Navars house sometimes in the Prince of Condies and other sometime in the suburbs of Paris And in January following there was an Edict procured that the Protestants might freely meet together for the service of God in the suburbs of all Cities This provoked the Guisian Faction who by all means sought the hinderance of it But the first thing they attempted was to draw the King of Navar to their party which Beza suspecting and finding him wavering endeavoured by all means to confirme and keep him in the true Religion to whom the King answered Quod Pelago se non ità commissurus esset quin quando liberet pedem referre possit That he would not launch so far into the sea but that when he pleased he might return safe to the shore again And accordingly he fell off from the Protestants and Beza went to him no more Another Disputation was appointed by the Queen Mother about Images the result of which was that the Popish Doctors condemned the making of the Images of the Trinity or of the Father or Holy Ghost and agreed that all Images should be removed out of the Churches but that of the Cross and that no Images should be worshiped But presently after the Civil War began to break forth which was occasioned by this means Whereas many Protestants were met together at Vassi to hear the Word preached the Duke of Guise with a paâ—ty of souldiers set upon them â—lew forty five of them and wounded many more Hereof Beza made complaint but without any redress whereupon both parties betake themselves to Arms and the Prince of Conde by his importunity prevailed with Beza to stay with him in those dangerous times Beza's earnest longings to be with his people at Geneva disswaded him but the importunate desires of so godly a Prince prevailed so that he stayed with him all those first Civil Wars At which time Orleance was the chiefest place of the Protestants refuge and for the better regulating of Ecclesiastical Discipline in those troublesome times a Synod was called in that City at which Beza was present Shortly after the pestilence waxed hot in Oreleance whereof many dyed and amongst the rest Conrade Badius a Pastor in Orleance who from his very childhood had been most dear to Beza yet did not Beza intermit his publick preaching nor private visiting of the sick A few moneths after fell out that memorable battel in Druiden fields where Beza was present and by his prayers and exhortations did much encourage the souldiers yet they lost the day and the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner whom Beza by his Letters much comforted and exhorted the rest not to give way to despondency but to persevere in the defence of the Cause and to commit the success of it unto God Not long after peace ensuing Beza got leave to goe back to Geneva from which he had been absent 22 moneths in which time he had gone through many troubles and dangers both of body and mind At his return to Geneva he fell upon his former employment in the Schools and Church Calvin undergoing the burthen one week and he the other and they continued in those mutual labours till Calvins death and then hee had Nicolas Collodonius for his Colleague and after him Lambertus Danaeus and after him Anthony Faius Presently after his return in the first sermon that he preached to the people hee â—illed the mindes of the hearers with incredible sorrow and grief by relating to them the miserable condition of the Churches of France whereof himself had been an eye-witness and which therefore he painted out to the life which he did for this end to stir up all to commiserate and heartily to pray for their brethren that suffered such great afflictions Shortly after he wrote an answer to Sebastian Castellio who had inveighed against his Translation of the New Testament into Latine He also published an answer to the railings of Francis Balduinus who followed the steps of Ecebolius both of them teaching that men might change their Religion as the state changed Then did he confute the errors of Brentius and James Andreas who held the Omnipresence of the Body of Christ After this he published an excellent Catechism Anno Christi 1567 the Civil Wars breaking out again in France he was
speech to him His answer A Prophesie His painful preaching His constancie His character Note He is made a Bishop A painful Bishop His Family Government His Charity He is sent for to London A good Shepheard Stephen Gardâ—ner Popish malice His patience Popish cruelty Popish rage Tentations resisted Gods providence He is sent to Glocester The benefit of inward peace Benefit of a good conscience Constancie Note His request to the Sheriffe His meeknesse and constancy He goes cheerfully to the stake His praier at the stake He is tempted His confidence in God His cruel burning His praier in the fire His death His heavenly speeches Contention about ceremonies They agree in prison His admirable patience His imployment Scriptures well studied Preachers pattern His character His charity The Ma'ss brought into his Church His zeal Popish malice He is accused and sent for He is perswaded to fly Flight refused His courage A Prediction He goes to S. Gardiner His stout answer His conference with Gardiner His imprisonment His holy employments in prison He meeres with Mr. Bradford in prison His examinations His condemnation His courage Death not feared His conference with Bishop Bonner He is sent to Hadley Benefit of a good conscience His courage and constancy His comfort in affliction His death bewailed His charity Popish cruelty His Martyrdome His Birth and Education His fidelity He goes to Cambridge His preferment in the Vniversity Note He enters into the Ministry He defends Bourn from death He is ill requiâ—ed for it He Preacheth in Prison A soft heart His Character Studious Note His charity He was well eâ—â—â—med of all Flight refused A dream prophetical He rejoyceth at the news of his death His fervent prayeâ—s His departure out of Newgate Tentation resisted His behaviour at his death Note His Martyrdom His Charity His Humility His conference with Gardiner His godly Letters Sin the forerunner of persecution His birth and education His preferment in Cambridge His remove into Kent His preferments Preachers pattern His Character Note His recreation His Family government His conversion His imprisonment He is sent to Oxford Note Charity to Christ's prisoners Note In his Letter to Mr. Grindall His courage His condâ—mnation His cheerfulâ—ess â—efore his death A good conscience a continual feast His carriage at his Martyrdome His faith His prayer at the stake Note His cruel martyrdom His Death His Prophecy Q. Maries unmercifulnesse In a Letter He learned the Scripturer by heart His Birth and Education He went to Cambridge A zealous Papist Mr Bilny's prudent charity His conversion Sathans malice The fruit of grace His Charity His Letter to Dr. Redman Gods providence He goes into Wiltshire Popish maliâ—e He writes to the Archbish. He is made bishop of Worcester A good bishop Sathans malice His faithful boldness Whereof the King was very guilty He resignes his Bishoprick Note He is againe troubled and freed by the King His imprisonment in the Tower His painfulnes in his Ministry His studiousnes His prophesies Steph. Gardiner He is sent for Flighâ— refused His Courage He is tempted A prediction Comfâ—rt in affliction His imprisonment He is sent to Oxford His fervent prayers Prayer He encourageth Dr. Ridley A special providence His death In a Letter to King Hen. 8. His birth and education His Character His travels His return A Convocation Mr. Philpots zeal The Queen dissolves the Convocation He is cast into prison Danger of Apostacy Popish cruelty Joy after sorrow His conference with B. Bonner A prison a palace His conference with the bishops His prayer Popish ignorance His conference with Doctor Morgan Popish prophanesse Mr. Philpots zeal He is set in the stocks His condemnation He prepaâ—â—â— for death He is carried intoâ—mit field His martyrdom His wonderful joy in prison He defends Infant baptsim His Birth and Education His Marriage He is again chosen Fellow His prudence Gods providence D. Cranmers advice about the Kings divorce S. Gardiners pridâ— He writes his judgement He is sent to Rome An unmannerly dog The Popeâ— evasion All learned men for the divorce His industry Hâ—s prudence His second marriage His humility He is made Arch-Bishop His â—udiousness His character He opposed the 6 Articles His Charity Cranmer hated by the Papists His disputatiâ—nâ— with Gardiner Popish malice His conference with the King His prudent answer The Kings great favour to him He is betrayed by his own servant A design to have committed him to the Tower The King reveals it to him The King secures him He is basely abused The King is informed of it He appeales to the King The King checks his Counsellors He is reconciled to them The King provides for his 〈◊〉 Two Judasses ex ore 〈◊〉 c. Gods providence He is hâ—â—â—d by Queen Mary He is committed to the Tower He refuseth to fly He is removed to Oxford He appeals He is degraded A good conscience His poverty Popish subâ—iltie His tentations Humane infirmity The danger of Apostacy His death appointed Doctor Cole preacheth Vanity of worldly glory His Apostasie repented of He is pulled down rudely Holy revenge His patienco His death His birth and education He enters into a Monastery Recovers of the plague He goes to Tubing He studies the Hebrew He buyes an hebrew Bible His industry He ordained a Presbyter He is preferred at Basil. He goes towards Rome His conveâ—sion He is chosen Lecturer at Basill He is sent for to Zurick He marrieth a wife His second marriage Annotations on the Bible His works His death His Character His birth and education He goes to the University He teacheth School His conversion He is made a Presbyter He is imployed in writing a History A rash censure His recâ—ntation Divers converted by him He studies Luther Sathans malice He removes to Wittenberg A good Pastor His Humility He is sent for to Hamburg And to Lubeck And to Denmark He is sent into Brunswick He proceeds Doctor His constancy Hâ—â— peaceable dâ—â—position His constancy in prayer His death Preachers pattern His Works His birth and education He goes to Heidleberge He goes to Tubinge His imployments Mr. of Arts. He goes to Wittenberg His great learning His Lectures Luthers Testimony of him His great pains His disputation with Eccius He defends Luther His works He is sent for into England He refuseth to goe Gods mercy His great imployments Note A Prediction Power of prayer His humility A prophetical dream His wife dieth His patience His sicknesse A Prodigy His deportment in his sicknesse Note His Prayer His death His industry His humiliâ—y His great afflictions Why he desired death His opinion about the Lords Supper He is in great danger The Flacians hate him His Character His small means His contentedness therewith Three difficulties His birth and education He comes to Zurick His conversion Christ best of all Chosen Pastor at Embden Reformation in East Frisland He is sent for into England He goes into Denmark He is driven 〈◊〉 His afflictions He removes
cause on both sides read over diligently the Book writ by Eutychius and being convinced of the Error by that which he had heard from Gregory he adjudged the Book to be burned Shortly after Eutychius fell very sick and a little before his death retracted his Error and acknowledged the Resurrection of our flesh Gregory having dispatched the business about which he was sent to Constantinople returned to Rome about which time the River Tiber swelled to such an unmeasurable height that it ran over the Wals of the City and drowned a great part of it and break into many great houses overthrew divers ancient Monuments it overthrew also the Granaries belonging to the Church and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat Presently after which inundation of Tiber there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents with one monstrous great one as big as a Beam which when they had swum into the Sea were there choaked and their carkasses being all cast upon the shore there rotted which caused such an Infection of the Ayr that presently a great Plague followed in Rome so that many thousands dyed of it Yea Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven and whosoever was stricken with them presently dyed amongst whom Pelagius Bishop of Rome was one and this judgement so raged in the City that many houses were emptyed of their Inhabitants After the death of Pelagius the Clergy Senate and People of Rome made choice of Gregory to be their Bishop though he opposed it all that possibly he could crying out that he was altogether unworthy of such honour fearing least the splendor of worldly glory which he had formerly layd aside should in such an Office creep upon and infect him But the importunity of the People being so great he seemed to consent to them but privately under-hand wrote to the Emperour Mauritius earnestly requesting him that he would not consent to the Election but that by his Authority he would free him from it But Germanus the Praefect of the City meeting with the messenger took his Letters from him and reading them detained them sending word to the Emperour of the unanimous consent of all in the Election of Gregory Whereupon the Emperour returning thanks to God for that they had made so good a choice confirmed the Election so that Gregory could no longer evade it In the mean time the Pestilence raging exceedingly Gregory called the people together and shewed them the justice of God in his Judgements who used not to punish till by sin he is provoked thereunto telling them that they might read the greatness of their sins in the greatness of the Plague and thereupon exhorted them to repentance by the Precepts of God and by the example of Ninâ—veh appointing them to lay all their worldly businesses aside and to meet together the next day to spend it in Fasting and Prayer which accordingly they did yet whilst they were together Gods hand was out against them so that fourscore of them fell down dead in the place But Gregory being not discouraged hereby continued his Sermon telling them that God would at length be found of them if they would forsake their wicked ways and turn unto him with all their hearts and with all their souls and accordingly not long after the Pestilence ceased Gregory observing that many customs were lately crept into the Church which were not warranted by the holy Apostles he first extirpated them out of the Church of Rome and then calling a Council of many Bishops he endeavoured to root them out of the whole Church Then removing from about him all secular persons he chose Presbyters and other Learned men in their stead whereby Learning was much advanced in his days He was very charitable and much given to hospitality insomuch as when very many Inhabitants from divers parts flying from the barbarous cruelty of the Longobards came to him he entertained and relieved them inviting dayly to his house many of those Exiles He made also large distributions unto others giving them Corn Wine Flesh Fish Cheese and many other refreshings in their several seasons Many times also he sent large relief to the sick lame and impotent persons not only in Rome but in many other Towns and Villages round about insomuch as all that he had seemed to be the common Granary of the Church In the fourth year of his Bishoprick having in some good measure setled the affairs of the Church he now began to think how he might advance the Conversion of the English which he had formerly been so sollicitous for had never since been forgotten by him For which end he sent Austin and some other Ministers from about him to Preach the Gospel unto them But they had not gone many days journey before they began to be a weary of undertaking so difficult and dangerous a task as to go to Preach to a fierce barbarous and unbelieving Nation whole Language they did not understand whereupon they stopped and sent Austin back to Gregory desiring that they might have leave to return that they might be freed from so laborious difficult and dangerous a work Gregory having received this message wrote thus back to them again Beloved Brethren seeing it had been better that you had never begun a good work then that you should recede from it it behoves you through the assistance of Almighty God to go forwards with it Neither let the labor of the journey nor the tongues of wicked men deterre you from it I have sent back Austin whom I would have you to obey knowing that he will counsel you nothing but what shall be for the good of your souls Almighty God give you his grace and grant that I may see of the fruit of your labors though I cannot join with you therein With this Exhortation Austin did so encourage his Companions that passing through France where they found kinde entertainment by the good Bishops in every place they at last arrived in Britain and came to Ethelburg the King of Kent where through Gods mercy they did not only obtain leave to Preach but had habitations and maintenance allowed them in Canterbury his chief City Whosoever desires to see the success of this business may read it in my English Martyrologie Pag. 11. c. Gregory dyed Anno Christi 605. having been Bishop of Rome 13 years 6 moneths and 10 days He lived under the Emperour Mauritius and dyed in the second year of Phocas Johannes Trithemius gives him this testimony Gregorius Vir in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimus in secularibus literis utique doctissimus Theologorum Princeps splendor Philosophorum Rhetorum lumen vita conversatione integer atque sanctissimus He was of an acute wit whereby he overthrew Eutiches Pelagius who dyed in his time of the Plague at Rome and divers other Hereticks He severely reproved the Bishop of Constantinople who would
he profited exceedingly so that he attained to the knowledg of all the Liberal Sciences After which going to Jerusalem he studied the Scripture and Divinity where he was made a Presbyter Preached diligently and much propagated the Faith by his Sermons and Writings A great opposer of Hereticks he was He flourished under Leo and dyed in peace He was a very Eloquent man and second to none of that Age in Learning He wrote three Books of Parallels of the Sacred Scriptures four Books of the Orthodox Faith besides many other Works which are printed at Paris Anno Christi 1619. The Life of Theophylact who flourished Anno Christi 880. THeophylact born in Constantinople and afterwards Archbishop of the same was much imployed in visiting and reforming the Churches in Bulgarie and when he had proved himself a painful laborer in the dangerous persecutions there he yielded up his spirit to his Maker He used to say Be not troubled if this man lives in tranquillity and thou in tribulation God will have it so he puts thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou com'st off with the victory whereas he that comes forward in the World goes back in Grace his estate is miserable that goes laughing to destruction as a Fool to the stocks for correction He wrote in Greek Commentaries upon the four Evangelists which are translated into Latine by Charles Morell and printed at Paris Anno Christi 1631. The Life of Anselm who flourished Anno Christi 1080. ANselm Archbishop of Canterbury was born at Aosta or Augusta Praetoriana at the foot of the Alps in Italy and therefore as an Italian he always favoured the cause of the Romane Bishop He was carefully brought up in Learning by his Mother Ermerburga till he was fourteen years old when she dying he gave himself awhile to vain pleasures and his Father being severe to him he resolved to travel in which he met with wants spent three years in Burgundie and France and then became Scholar to Lanfrancus Abbot of Beck where being held hard to his study he entred into a Monasterie and by his strict carriage there his fame spread abroad and the old Abbot dying he succeeded him and after the death of Lanfrank he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury He received such honours and uncouragements from Pope Vrbane as never Bishop received greater from a Pope For at the Council of Barum in Apulia the Pope placed him at his right foot above al others which was ever since the place of the Archbishops of Canterbury in all General Councils Much contention was between William Rufus King of England and him which caused him to leave the Kingdom till Henry the First his time when he was reinvested again but lived not long after his return into England before he dyed which was Anno Christi 1109. and in the 9. year of the Reign of King Henry the First and of his Age 76. He was indeed the Popes Factor in England for denyal of Investures to the King and Marriages to the Ministers but otherwise he was found in the main points of our Religion and taught many things contrary to the corrupt Tenents of the Church of Rome He used to say That if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pains of Hell on the other and must of necessitie chuse one he would rather be thrust into Hell withoute sin then go into Heaven with sin And again O durus casus c. Oh hard-hap Alas what did man lost what did he finde He lost the blessedness to which he was made and found death to which he was not made The Life of Nicephorus who flourished Anno Christi 1110. NIcephorus a man of profound Judgment and Learning both in Humanity and Divinity flourished under Andrenicus senior the Emperour Anno Christi 1110. He was a great light when the World was in great darkness and both by his Life and Doctrine illuminated many He wrote his Ecclesiastical History in eighteen Books in Greek and Dedicated them to the Emperour Andronicus and not long after exchanged this Life for Eternal glory He said God beholds and moderates our actions using the scourge of affliction for our castigation and conversion and after due correction shews his Fatherly affection to those that trust in hâ—m for Salvation And Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him not for his own information but that by his threefold profession he might help and heal his threefold negation of him BERNARD The Life of Bernard who dyed An. Christi 1153. BErnard was born in Burgundie in the Town of Fontane His Fathers name was Tecelinus of an ancient Family and a brave Souldier but that which most commended him was that he feared God and loved Justice and following the counsel of John the Baptist he did wrong to no man and was content with his wages His Mothers name was Aleth of the Castle called Mont-Barr a woman eminent for Piety Chastity and Charity bringing up her children in the fear of God She had seven children six sons and one daughter all which she nursed with her own breasts Bernard was her third son whom from his Infancy with Hannah she devoted to the Service of God and therefore brought him not up tenderly and delicately but inured him to course fare and hardship and as soon as he was of capacity instilled into him the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and instructed him in the Principles of Religion and finding him to be of an acute wit ready apprehension firm memory comly feature courteous and meek deportment and much addicted to Learning she set him to Schole betimes to Castillion under the care and tuition of able Scholemasters and the boy being piously addicted studious of a quick apprehension easily answered his Mothers desire and expectation profiting in Learning above his age and out-stripping all his school-fellows and shewed withall a great contempt of all Earthly things and indeed he was very simple in all worldly affairs He shunned company and affected retiredness was much in meditation obedient to his Parents grateful and curteous to all He was exceeding shamefac't and modest loved not to speak much Towards God very devout that he might keep himself pure in his childhood And amongst other Learning he was frequent in reading the holy Scriptures that from thence he might learn to know and serve God So that it cannot be imagined how much he profited in a short time Whilst he was yet a boy he was much troubled with a pain in his head and lying upon his bed there was brought to him a woman who had undertaken to cure him with certain verses and charms but as soon as he heard her begin to utter her verses wherewith she used to deceive the simple he cryed out with great indignation
time the Duke of Lancaster sent for Wicklief from Oxford who had now proceeded so far as to teach that in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the accidents of Bread and Wine remained not without the substance proving his Assertion by the Authority of Scriptures and the Ancient Fathers and withall rejecting such as had written upon that Argument since Anno 1000 saying that after that time Satan was loosed and men were led into many Errors These things the Bishops hated him for exceedingly yet by the favor of the Duke of Lancaster and of Henry Lord Percy he was preserved from their rage and sury till Anno Christi 1376. at which time they had prevailed with their Archibishop Simon Sudbury who had before deprived him and prohibited him to meddle any more in those matters to send forth his Citation to have him brought before them The Duke having notice hereof and fearing that he being but one should be too weak for such a multitude sent for four Batchelors of Divinity to joyn with him and for more surety when the day of his appearance was come himself with the Lord Percy Marshal of England went along with him As they went along they enconraged him not to fear the faces of the Bishops who say they are all unlearned in comparison of you neither be you troubled at the concourse of the people for we will defend you from them Being thus encouraged Wicklief approached Pauls Church where multitudes of persons were assembled to hear what should be spoken and done insomuch as the Lord Marshal could searce make way in the crowd whereupon Courtney the Bishop of London seeing what stir he made amongst the people said to him if I had known what masteries you would have plaid amongst the people I would have kept you out of this place at which speech the Duke being offended said that he would keep such mastery there though he said nay When they came to the place where the Archbishop and Bishops sate Wicklief presented himself before them to know what should be laid to his charge Then the Lord Percie speaking to him bade him sit down for that having many things to answer to he had need have a soft seat whereupon the Bishop of London growing into a great fume said he should not sit there neither said he is it according to Law or Reason that he that is cited to appear before his Ordinary should sit down during the time of his Answer but should stand This kindled such a fire betwixt them the one rating and reviling the other that the people began all to be on a hurry Then the Duke taking the Lord Percies part gave some hasty words to the Bishop but neither did the Bishop spare him one jot returning rebukes for rebukes so that the Duke was ashamed that the Bishop should out-rail him telling him that he would take a course to bring down his pride and of all the Prelates in England Hereupon the Londoners cryed out that they would rather lose their lives then suffer their Bishop to be abused So that all things being in a confusion the Assembly was dissolved for that time and the Duke with the Lord Pertie returning to the Parliament that day a Bill was put up in the name of the King by the Lord Thomas of Woodstock another of the Kings sons and the Lord Percie that London should be no more governed by a Major but by a Captain a formerly it had been and that the Marshal of England should have all the power in taking the arrests in the City as he had in other Cities This Bill one John Philpot a Burgess for London stoutly opposed and the next day the Londoners assembled themselves together in Council to consider what to do about it and whilst they were in consultation came in two Lords the Lord Fitz-Walter and the Lord Guy Brian whom the Vulgar sort taking to be Spies were ready to flye upon them till they were enforced to swear that they came for no harm towards them and that if it proved otherwise they would be content to forfeit all their Goods and Possessions in the City Then did the Lord Fitz-Walter tell them of his love to them and of his care to preserve their Liberties which said he If you do not speedily look to and prevent you will lose the same for at this time the Lord Marshal hath one of your Citizens in prison in his house c. This was no sooner spoken but the rash Citizens ran to their houses armed themselves and going to the Lord Percies house brake open his gates rescued the Prisoner took the Stocks and burned them in the midst of the City searched and ransaked his house for the Lord himself whom if they had found they would certainly have slain and when they found him not they tore and cut his rich Beds and Hangings in pieces and then supposing him to be with the Duke they ran to the Savoy where though they were disappointed of their cruel purpose yet they took the Dukes Arms and hung them up in a reproachful manner in the midst of the City as if he had been a Traitor They also so wounded a Priest that spake in his defence that he dyed within a few days after and meeting one of the Dukes men with his Arms hanging in a Plate on his Breast they pulled him off his Horse pulled the Arms from him and had slain the man but that he was speedily rescued by the Maior But these out rages created much trouble to the Londoners which being beside my purpose I shall leave the Reader to search them out in the Chronicles of those times Shortly after the old King Edward dyed and his Grand-son Richard the second succeeded him upon which change the Bishops taking notice that the Duke and the Lord Percie had given over their Offices living privately at their own houses without medling with State affairs they thought it a fit time to revenge themselves upon John Wicklief whereupon they caused these Articles to be gathered and drawn up out of his Sermons against him 1. That the holy Eucharist after the Consecration is not the very body and blood of Christ but figuratively 2. That the Church of Rome is not the head of all other Churches in the World nor that Peter had any more power given him by Christ then any other of the Apostles 3. That the Pope of Rome hath no more power of the Keys then any 〈…〉 4. That the Lords Tomporal may lawfully take away the Temporalties of the Church men offending habitualiter 5. That the Gospel is of it self a sufficient rule both of Faith and Manners without any other rule 6. That neither the Pope nor any other Prelate ought to have Prisons of their own wherein to punish offenders c. These with some others the Bishops gathered out of his Sermons and Writings which they sent to Pope Gregory who
condemned them for Heretical and Erroneous by twenty three Cardinals and withall sent his Bull to Oxford rebuking them sharply for suffering Wickliefs Doctrine so long to take root amongst them and not wholly eradicating the same which Bull being exhibited by the Popes messenger to the Proctors and Masters of the University they deliberated long amongst themselves whether they should receive it with honor or reject it with contempt The Pope also at the same time sent Letters to the Archbishop Sudbury and Bishop Courtney of London commanding them to apprehend and imprison Wicklief and to admonish the King and Nobles of England that they should not give any Credit to John Wicklief or his Doctrine in any wise He wrote also at the same time to the King desiring him to assist the Bishops in the apprehension and imprisonment of John Wicklief These Letters so encouraged the Bishops that they resolved to proceed against him in their Provincial Council all fear or favor set apart and that no person neither high nor low should hinder them neither would they be induced to favor him neither by intreaty threatnings nor reward but that they would proceed roundly with him though it should be to the hazard of their lives But it pleased God by a small matter to confound and overthrow their devices notwithstanding all their proud brags and policies For the day of Examination being come there came in a Courtier amongst them called Lewis Clifford a m a of no great birth and commanded them that they should not proceed to any definitive sentence against John Wicklief wherewith the Bishops were so amazed and crest-faln that they became as mute ment not having one word to answer And thus it pleased God by his Providence thus once more to deliver Mr. Wicklief out of their cruel hands and one that writes this story saith further that whilst the Bishops were sitting in the Chappel at Lambeth upon John Wicklief not only the Citizens of London but saith he the vile abjects of the City were so bold as to intreat for him and to stop the Bishops in their proceedings And thus was Wicklief dismissed the Bishops charging him that he should Preach no more such Doctrine to the offence and hurt of the Lay people yet being departed he ceased not to proceed in his godly purpose going up and down bare-footed and in a Frize Gown endeavouring by his Ministry still to edifie and profit the Church as formerly he had done And Gods Providence so ordered it that about the same time Pope Gregory the 11th dyed whereupon ensued such a Schism in the Church of Rome between two Popes and others succeeding after them that it continued 39. years even to the Council of Constance About the same time also or shortly after there arose a cruel commotion of the Commons under Jack Straw where the rude multitude taking Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury beheaded him whom William Courtney Bishop of London succeeded who was very zealous and diligent against the Heresies of Wicklief as he called them Also in the year 1380. William Barton being Vicechancellour of Oxford called together eight Monastical Doctors and four others and having the consent of others of that Fraternity set forth an Edict under the Common Seal threatning all under a grievous penalty if they should be so hardy as to associate themselves with any of the fautors of Wicklief and to Wicklief himself he threatned the greater Excommunication and Imprisonment both to him and his favorers unless within three days after Canonical warning they repented and amended Wicklief understanding this resolved to forsake the Pope and all his Clergy and to appeal to the King but the Duke of Lancaster being now inveagled by the Bishops interposed forbidding him not to attempt any such thing but rather to submit to his Ordinary Wicklief finding himself hereby in this great strait was forced to make a Confession of his Doctrine and therein to qualifie his Assertions after such a sort that thereby he asswaged the rigor of his Enemies Anno 1382. Archbishop Courtney appointed a Convocation to be held at London principally against Wicklief wherein this memorable accident fell out When they were all gathered together at the Gray-Fryers in London just at the very instant when they were beginning their business against Wicklief there fell out a wonderful and terrible Earthquake through all England whereupon divers of the Suffragans being frighted with the terror of it thought good to leave off their further proceeding therein Yet did the Archbishop carry on his design declaring some of Wickliefs Doctrines to be Heretical others Erroneous and other Irreligious and Seditious and not Consonant to the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and not content herewith he so prevailed with the young King that he procured Letters Patents to be directed from the King to himself wherein are these words Forasmuch as the Archbishop of Canterbury hath made his supplication to us for the coertion and due castigation of all such as shall hence forth obstinately Preach and maintain any of those conclusions which in the late Convocation have been adjudged Heretical c. requesting that we would vouchsafe to put to the arm and helping hand of our Kingly power We therefore moved by the zeal of the Catholick Faith whereof we are and will be Defenders and being unwilling that any such Heresies should spring up within our Dominions Give and grant License and Authority by these presents unto the aforesaid Archbishop and his Suffragans to arrest and imprison either in their own Prisons or elsewhere all and every such person and persons as shall either privily or openly Preach or maintain the aforesaid conclusions c. Further charging and commanding all our Leigh-men Ministers and Subjects upon their Fidelity and Allegiance neither to favor counsel nor help such Preachers or maintainers of the aforesaid conclusions upon pain of forfeiting all that they have but to obey and humbly to attend upon the Archbishop and his Suffragans in the execution of these presents c. The like Letter the King wrote also to the Vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford requiring him to give notice that none should be so bold as to entertain Mr. John Wiclief or any of his followers into their houses or to Communicate with them which if any did that he should banish them the University and Town of Oxford till they should prove their Innocency before the Archbishop of Canterbury yea this young King pressed by the violent importunity of the Archbishop wrote another Letter to the Vicechancellor and Proctors of the University straightly charging and commanding them to make a general Inquisition through the whole University as well for Wicklief and his followers as for all others which were suspected to be maintainers receivers or defenders of those persons or their opinions any manner of way and all such to apprehend and expell the University
mercies sake In degrading him they pared off the Crown of his head and the skin with a pair of shears and to justifie their proceedings against him because the Emperour had given him his safe Conduct the Council made a Decree That Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks The Roman Agents persecuted him with such eagerness that his Works were condemned to be burnt with him When he was brought forth to be burned they put on his head a Tripple Crown of paper painted over with ugly Divels But when he saw it he said My Lord Jesus Christ for my sake did wear a Crown of Thorns why should not I then for his sake were this light Crown be it never so ignominious Truly I will do it and that willingly When it was set upon his head the Bishops said Now we commit thy soul unto the Divel But I said John Huss lifting up his Eyes towards Heaven do commit my spirit into thy hands O Lord Jesus Christ unto thee I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed As he was going to Execution they burned his Books before his face at which he smiled and said unto the people Think not good people that I die for any Heresie or Error but only for the hatred and ill-will of my Adversaries When he came to the place of Execution he kneeled down and with his Eyes towards Heaven he prayed and repeated certain Psalms and with a merry and chearful countenance cryed often Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit As he listed up his head in Prayer the Crown of paper fell off but a Souldier taking it up said Let us put it on again that he may be burned with his Masters the Divels whom he hath served When he rose from his knees he said Lord Jesus Christ assist and help me that with a constant and patient minde by thy most gracious help I may bear and suffer this cruel and ignominious death whereunto I am condemned for the Preaching of thy most holy Gospel And as they tyed his neck with a chain to the stake smiling he said That he would willingly receive the same chain for Jesus Christ's sake who he knew was bound with a far worse chain When the fire was kindled he began to sing with a loud voice Jesus Christ the Son of the living God have mercy upon me and at the third time that he repeated it the winde drove the flame so into his face that it choaked him The heart that was found amongst his bowels being well beaten with staves and clubs was at last prick't upon a sharp stake and rosted at a fire till it was consumed His ashes were diligently gathered up and thrown into the River Rhene He suffered Martyrdom Anno Christi 1415. He told them at his death That out of the ashes of the Goose for so Huss in the Bohemian language signifies an hundred years after God would raise up a Swan in Germany whose singing would affright all those Vultures which was exactly fulfilled in Luther just an hundred years after Upon his death the Bohemians under Ziska rose in Arms and had admirable success against the Emperour and the Papists And this pompous act of theirs had a very tragical event the Bohemians maintaining war against the Emperour Sigismund for 17. years after wherein he spent abundance of treasure lost many brave Armies and gallant men and during these Wars a thousand Monasteries were overthrown many Castles demolished and Cities burnt all which was a just revenging hand upon him for his perfidiousness and cruelty Before his going to Constance Mr. Huss set up this Epistle upon the Gate of the Kings Palace Unto the Kings Majesty the Queen and to all such as are of his Council and to all other Nobles and Magistrates which are now in the Kings Court I John Huss do signifie and publish that being certainly informed that Letterâ—s are come from the Pope to the Kings Majesty the contents whereof are these That the King should extirpate all such Hereticks as are lately sprung up in his Kingdom and Dominions But I trust in God that this fame is blown abroad without any desert And it shall be our part to foresee and take heed that neither the Kings Majesty nor the Noble Kingdom of Bohemia shall suffer any trouble or reproach and slander for my sake Wherefore now of late I have sent my Letters to and fro which with great labor anâ— diligence I 〈◊〉 caused to be set up openly with this intent that â—â—ight thereby cause the Archbishop of Prague to be careful and diligent about the matter signifying openly that if there were any man in Bohemia which did know me to be a follower of any falle or 〈◊〉 Doctrine he should appear in the Archbishops Court and there declare what he thought And forasmuch as there would none be found or come forth which would accuse me the Archbishop commanded me and my Procters to depart in peace Wherefore I require and desire the Kings Majesty which is the Defender of the Truth also the Queen and their Counsellers and all other Nobles and Magistrates that they would give me a true Testimonial of this matter forasmuch as I have oftentimes willed and attempted this and no man bath either accused or molested me I do it moreover to be known to all Bohemia and all Nations that I will with the first be present at the Council of Constance in the presence of the Pope and of all others that will come to that famous place and that whosoever hath any suspition of me that I have either taught or defended any thing contrary unto the Faith of Christ let him come thither also and declare before the Pope and all the Doctors of Divinity what erroneous or false Doctrine I have at any time maintained or holden And if he shall convince me of any Error or prove that I have taught any thing contrary to the Christian Faith I will not refuse to suffer Whatsoever punishment shall be due to an Heretick But I hope and trust even from the bottom of my heart that God will not give the victory to unfaithful and unbelieving men which willingly kick and spurn against the Truth At the same time also Mr. Huss sent his Proctor to the Bishop of Nazareth who was Ordained by the Pope Inquisitor for Heresies in the City and Diocese of Prague requiring him that if he had found any Error in him he would declare it openly but the said Bishop in a publick Assembly answered that he had often talken with John Huss and that he never found any thing in him but such as becometh a godly and faithful man which also he attested by his Letters in writing Shortly after also all the Barons of Bohemia being assembled in the Abby of St. James the Archbishop of Prague being present also John Huss presented a supplication to them wherein he most
humbly desired the Barons to request the Archbishop that if he did suspect him for any Error or Heresie he should declare it openly for that he was ready to suffer correction for the same at the Archbishops hands and that if he had found no such thing in him that then he would give him a Testimonial thereof that being armed therewith he might the more freely go unto the Council Hereupon the Archbishop did openly confess before all the Assembly that he knew not the said John Huss was guilty of any such thing Johannis Hussi opera quae extant omnia impressa sunt Novimbâ—rgae in Officina Montani Neuberi Anno Christi 1558. JEROM OF PRAGVE The Life of Hierom of Prague who dyed An. Christi 1416. HIerom of Pague a Bohemian born a man famous for Courage Comliness Virtue Learning and Eloquence when he understood that the Publick Faith was violated his Country slandered and Huss burnt he travelled to Constance April the 4. Anno Christi 1415. But no sooner came he thither but he understood that watch was laid for him to apprehend him whereupon the next day he went to Iberling a City of the Empire and a mile from Constance From thence he sent to Sigismund King of Hungary and his Barons but especially to the Council most earnestly requesting that they would give him a safe Conduct freely to come and go and then he would come in open Audience to answer every man if any would appear to charge him with any crime but this was denyed him both by the King and Council whereupon the next day he wrote sundry intimations and sent them to Constance causing them to be set upon the gates of the Citie upon the doores of Churches Monasteries of the houses of the Cardinals and other Noble personages the tenor whereof was this Unto the Noble Emperour c. I Jerom of Prague Master of Arts of the University of Paris Cullen Heidleberg and Prague by these my Letters do notifie to the King and Council and to all others that because of many crafty slanderers back-biters and accusers I am ready of mine own free will to come unto Constance there to declare openly before all the Council the purity and sincerity of my Faith and mine Innocency but this I will not do in corners secretly before any private or particular person wherefore if there be any of my slanderers of what Nation soever that will charge me with Error or Heresie let them come forth openly before the Council and in their own names object against me and I wil be ready to answer them and if I shall be found guilty of any Error or Heresie I will not refuse openly to suffer such punishment as shall be meet for an Heretick wherefore I humbly desire a safe Conduct as afore But if seeing I offer such equal terms before any fault be proved against me I shall be arrested imprisoned or have any violence done to me that then it may be manifest unto all the World that this Council doth not proceed according to the rules of equity and justice the rather seeing that I am come hither freely and of my own accord c. But notwithstanding all this no safe Conduct would be granted him wherefore the Lords of Bohemia gave him their Letters Patents under their Seals to testifie the truth of the premises with the which Letters he returned again towards Bohemia but by the treachery and subtilty of his Enemies he was apprehended by the way in Hirsaw and by the Officers was carryed before the Duke who presently after carryed him bound to Constance and for a greater disgrace they put a bolt of Iron upon his wrists with a long Iron chain at it by which they led him through the City to the Cloister of the Fryer Minors where all the Priests Scribes and Pharisees were met together and when he came before them some of the Bishops said to him Hierom why didst thou fly and run away and not appear when thou wast cited To which he answered Because I could get no safe Conduct neither from you nor the King and perceiving that I had many bitter Enemies in the Council I would not be the Author of mine own peril But had I known of your Citation assuredly though I had been in Bohemia I would have appeared Then a great rable of Priests cryed out against him and Gerson the Chancellor of Paris and the Chancellor of Cullen and the Chancellor of Heidleberg charged him with Errors delivered in those Universities to which he answered that what he had delivered there he would justifie now yet if any could convince him of Error therein he would willingly be informed Hereupon some cryed out Let him be burned let him be burned Then was he delivered bound to the Officers to be put into Prison Assoon as he came thither one called to him at his window saying Mr. Hierom be constant and fear not to suffer death for the Truths sake of which when you were at liberty you did Preach much good To whom he answered Truly brother I do not fear death c. But the Prison-keeper coming to the man drove him away with strokes from the window Presently after the Bishop of Rigen sent for Hierom strongly bound with chains both by the hands and neck and sent him to a Tower where they tyed him fast to a great block and his feet in the stocks his hands being also made fast upon them the block being so high that he could by no means sit thereon but his head must hang downwards where also they allowed him nothing but bread and water But within eleven days hanging so by the heels he fell very sick yet thus they kept him in Prison a year wanting seven days and then sent for him requiring him to recant and to subscribe that John Huss was justly put to death which he did partly for fear of death and hoping thereby to escape their hands after which they sent him back to Prison and kept him guarded with Souldiers yet not so strictly chained as before Afterwards they sent to examine him again but he refused to answer in private except he might be brought before the Council and they supposing that he would openly confirm his former recantation sent for him thither May the 25. 1416. suborning false witnesses to accuse him but he so learnedly cleared himself and refelled his Adversaries that they were astonished at his Oration and with shame enough were put to silence He also concluded his Oration with this That all such Articles as Wicklief and Huss had written against the enormities pomp and disorder of the Prelates he would firmly hold and defend even unto the death and that all the sins that he had committed did not so much gnaw and trouble his conscience as did that most pestiferous act of his in recanting what he had
should marry in these unhappy times as if he cared not for those mischiefs which are before our Eyes But I think this was the occasion of it you know well enough his course of life that he is none of those that shun meetings I think better to leave you to think the rest then that I should write it If any undecent thing be reported by the people of him it 's alye and a calumny I judge also that nature compelled him to become as husband If any thing seem unseasonable and unadvised it must not trouble us too much perhaps there is some hidden and divine matter in it into which it becometh not us curiously to search and because I see him sorrowful for the change of his condition I labor to comfort him all that I can Anno 1527. he fell sick of a congealing of blood about his heart but by the drinking of the water of Carduus Benedictus he recovered Presently after on a Sabbath day he endured a spiritual temptation which he called the buffeting of Satan It seemed to him that swelling surges of the Sea did sound aloud at his left Ear and that so violently that dye he must except they presently grew calm afterwards when the noise came within his head he fell down as one dead and was so cold in each part ut nec calor nec sanguis nec sensus nec vox superesset that he had remaining neither heat nor blood nor sense nor voice but when his face was sprinkled with cold water by Justus Jonas he came to himself and prayed most earnestly and made a confession of his Faith saying That he was unworthy to suffer Martyrdom which by his proceedings he might seem to run upon He often mentions this tentation in his Letters to his Friends and was confirmed in his Faith by receiving absolution from a Minister and the use of the Sacrament Melancthon knowing the rage of the Papists and Caesars threats to subvert the Gospel was much troubled at it and gave himself wholly up to grief sighs and tears whereupon Luther wrote to him In private conflicts I am weak and you are strong but in publick conflicts you are found weak and I stronger because I am assured that our cause is just and true If we fall Christ the Lâ—rd and Ruler of the World falleth with us and suppose he fall Mallem ruere cum Christo quà m regnare cum Caesare I had rather fall with Christ then stand with Caesar I extremely dislike your excessive cares with which you say that you are almost consumed That these reign so much in your heart it is not from the greatness of the danger but the greatness of your incredulity Si piam justam causam defendimus cur Dei promistis non confidimus praeter vitam hanc misellam Satanas mundus nobis eripere nihil potest At vivit in sempiternum regnat Christus in cujus tutela consistit veritas Is nobis aderit is etiam causam hanc quae non nostra sed ipsius est ad optatum producet finem If the cause be bad let us revoke it and flie back if it be good Why do we make God a lyer who hath made us so great promises Cast thy care upon the Lord c. Be of good comfort I have overcome the world If Christ be the conquerour of the world why should we fear it as if it would overcome us A man would fetch such sentences as these upon his knees from Rome or Hierusalem Nolite igitur timere estote fortes laeti nihil solliciti Dominus propè adest Be not afraid be couragious and cheerful solicitous for nothing The Lord is at hand to help us And in another place when our King Henry the Eighth had written bitterly against him Agant quicquid possunt Henrici Episcopi atque adeò Turca ipse Satan nos filii sumus regni c. Let the Henries the Bishops the Turk and the Divel himself do what they can we are the children of the Kingdom worshipping and waiting for that Saviour whom they and such as they spit upon and crucifie Concerning this his answer Erasmus thus writes If saith he Luther commending the Kings good intention had proceeded by strong Arguments without violating the Kingly Majesty in my judgement he had taken a better course for the defence of his cause For what made Luther in his Book to the King of England to use these words Come hither my Lord Henry and I will teach you Truly the Kings Book was written in Latine and that not unlearnedly But Luther thus excuseth himself If any man saith he be offended at my sharpness against the King let him know that in that Book I dealt with senseless Monsters who contemned my best and most modest writings and by my humility and modesty were more hardned in their Errors Besides I abstained from bitterness and lies with which the Kings Book was stuffed Neither is it any wonder if I contemn and bite an Earthly King when as he feared not at all in his writings to blaspheme the King of Heaven and to profane his truth with virulent lyes Anno Christi 1523. A Diet was held at Norinberg in the absence of Caesar wherein the Edict of Worms was made null Of this the Popes Legat complained to the Princes saying That Luther was not punished according to the Emperours Edict To which the Princes answered That the Court of Rome neglected Reformation That Germany was so far inlightned by the Sermons and Writings of Luther that if they should go about to put the Edict in Execution great tumults would arise and the people would be ready to think that they went about to oppress the Truth and to put out the light of the Gospel that so they might the better defend those manifest vices which could be no longer concealed The same year Luther published his Book Of the Dignity and Office of the Civil Magistrate He wrote also to the Waldenses about the Adoration of the Sacrament He published the Pentatâ—uch in the German tougue He wrote to the Senate of Prague his Book De Instituendis Ministris Ecclesiae and another about the avoiding the Doctrines of men Besides divers others What was judged of him for his constancy and resolution may appear by this Upon a time a motion was made in the Consistory at Rome that a great sum of mony should be profered to him to buy him off from opposing Popery but one wiser then the rest cryed out Hem Germana illa bestia non curat aurum sed auram That beast of Germany cares for no money but seeks vain-glory Anno Christi 1529. he set forth both his Catechisms the lesser in January the greater in October following The year after the Emperour summoned a Diet at Auspurg giving the Publick Faith for the security of all men that would come to the Diet to
Haec omnia vir magnae doctrinae pietatis laboris in ipso quasi aetatis vigore hinc discedens nobis reliquit The Life of John Frith who dyed Anno Christi 1531. IOhn Frith was born at Westram in Kent and had from his childehood a marvellous love to Learning a wonderful promptness of Wit and was of a ready Capacity to receive and understand any thing neither was there any diligence wanting in him equal to that worthy disposition that God had given him He was first a Student in Cambridge where he profited exceedingly in the knowledge both of the Arts and Tongues where it pleased God he fell into acquaintance with William Tindal through whose Instructions he first received into his heart the seed of the Gospel and sincere godliness About the same time Cardinal Wolsie undertaking to build a stately College in Oxford sought out the most learned men to be Fellows in the same and amongst others John Frith though but Batchelor of Arts was appointed for one But when divers of them were persecuted for Religion and accused of Heresie he together with some others who were chosen with him out of Cambridge was committed to Prison in a dark Cave where salt fish was then kept the savor whereof infected them all so that some of them dyed but Mr. Frith by Gods Providence escaped the danger in the same year wherein Queen Elizabeth was born having been dismissed out of his former Prison by means of Cardinal Wolsies Letter whereupon he went beyond Sea to avoid the storm But after two years he came back and having some business in Reading he was there taken for a Vagabond and set in the stocks where they suffered him to sit till he was almost pined with hunger At last he desired to speak with the Schoolmaster of the Town who when he came to him Frith in Latine bewailed his captivity The Schoolmaster being overcome with his Eloquence began exceedingly to affect and pity him the rather when he spake in Greek to him also and repeated divers verses out of Homâ—r upon this the Schoolmaster repaired speedily to the Magistrates and procured his enlargement yet neither then was he in safety for Sir Thomas Moor the then Lord Chancellor persecuted him both by Land and Sea promising great rewards to those that could bring any news of him Frith to avoid this storm changed place and apparrel often yet at last he was betrayed by one William Holt a Taylor who Judas-like pretended great friendship to him aud so was sent to the Tower where he had many conflicts with the Bishops but especially in writing with Sir Thomas Moor and in his Disputations he used such strength of Reason and evidence of Scripture that Doctor Canner Archbishop of Canterbury never gave more credit to any Author then to John Frith and at Friths candle he lighted his lamp also he converted Rastal to his part who was Moors son in law During his Imprisonment in the Tower it happened that Doctor Curreine Chaplain in Ordinary to King Henry the Eight preached a Sermon in Kent before his Majesty wherein he inveighed bitterly against the Sacramentaries as they then were called which denyed the Real Presence And he proceeded so far herein as that he said It 's no marvel though this abominable Heresie doth so much prevail amongst us seeing there is now one in the Tower which is so bold as to write in the defence of it and yet no man goeth about his reformation c. This Doctor was set on work by Gardiner Bishop of Winchester on purpose to procure the destruction of Mr. Frith They also suggested to the King that he was kept in the Tower rather for his safeguard then for his punishment by súch as favoured him as by the Lord Cromwel and others Hereupon the King called to him the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Cromwel willing them forthwith to call Frith to Examination that so he might either be compelled to recant or to suffer condign punishment But when as they delayed time the King took it so hainously that he sent a Commission to the Archbishop to Stokesly Bishop of London and some others without further delay to proceed to Examination of him and that there should be no concourse of Citizens at the said Examination the Archbishop removed to Croydon whither Stokesly and the rest of the Commissioners resorted But before the day for his Examination came the Archbishop send one of his Gentlemen and one of his Porters to fetch Frith from the Tower to Croydon This Gentleman had the Archbishops Letter and the Kings Ring to the Lord Fitz-Williams Constable of the Tower for the delivery of the Prisoner The Lord Fitz-Williams lodging then at Westminster understanding for what end they were come fel a cursing and banning Frith and all other Hereticks saying Take your Heretick with you I am glad that I am rid of him Frith being delivered to these two men as they went in a Wherry towards Lambeth the Gentleman being very sorry for his condition said to him Consider the state wherein you are a man altogether cast away in this World if you do not the more wisely behave your self But though your case be very dangerous yet may you help your self by giving way for a time and somewhat relenting of your opinion which hereafter when occasion and opportunity shall serve you may promote again You have many friends which will stand for you so far as they are able and dare do It 's great pitty that one which hath such singulâ—r knowledge in Greek and Latine and is so ready and ripe in all â—inde of Learning as well in the Scriptures as in the Antient Fathers should now suddenly suffer all those excellent gifts to perish with little profit to the World and less comfort to your Wife Children and Kindred And as for your opinion about the Sacrament it 's so unseasonably vented at this time in England that it 's like to do more hurt then good therefore be ruled by good counsel till a â—itter opportunity may serve This I am sure of that my Lord Cromwel and my Lord of Canterbury much favour you knowing you to be an eloquent and learned youngman young in years but old in knowledge and likely to be a profitable Instrument of much good in this Realm and therefore they will never suffer you to sustain any open shame if you will be advised by their counsel But if you stand stiffe in your opinion it 's not possible for them to save your life for as you have good friends so you have mortal foes I most heartily thank you Sir said Mr. Frith for your good will and counsel whereby I see your love to me yet my Cause and Conscience is such that in no wise I either may or can for any worldly respect without danger of damnation start aside and fly from the Truth
New Testament At the time of his burning one Doctor Cook a Parson in London admonished the people that they should no more pray for him then they would pray for a Dog whereupon John Frith smiling prayed God to forgive him This speech of the Doctor much moved the people to anger and this milde answer of the Martyr sunk deeply into their mindes The books that were written by this blessed Martyr were many and much sought after in King Henry the Eighth and in Queen Maries Reign to be burned and in the times of King Edward the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth for the instruction and comfort of the godly But it pleased God by a marvellous occasion to cause three or four of his most useful Treatises to be reprinted of late which was this On Midsummer Eve Anno Christi 1626 a Codfish being brought into the Market in Cambridge and there cut up for sale in the Maw of the Fish was found wrapt up in Canvas a Book in Decimo sexto containing three Treatises of Mr. Friths The Fish was caught about the Coast of Lin called Lin-deeps by one William Skinner when the Fish was cut open the garbish was thrown by which a woman looking upon espied the Canvas and taking it up found the Book wrapped up in it being much soiled and covered over with a kinde of slime and congealed matter This was beheld with great admiration and by Benjamin Prime the Batchelors Beadle who was present at the opening of the Fish was carryed to the Vicechancellor who took speciall notice of it examining the particulars before mentioned By Daniel Boys a Book-binder the leaves were carefully opened and cleansed The Treatises contained in it were A Preparation to the Cross. A Preparation to Death The Treasure of Knowledge A Mirrour or Glass to know thy self A brief instruction to teach one willingly to dye and not to fear death How useful the reviving of these Treatises by such a special Providence hath been may easily be discerned by such as have lived since those times The Life of Thomas Bilney who dyed Anno Christi 1531. THomas Bilney was born in England and brought up at the University of Cambridge where he profited exceedingly in all the Liberal Sciences was chosen Fellow of Trinity Hall and commenced Batchelor of both Laws but betaking himself to the study of Divinity he was wonderfully enflamed with the love of true Religion and godliness He was requested to Preach at a poor Cure belonging to the Hall he converted many of his fellows to the knowledge of the Gospel and amongst others Hugh Latimer who was Cross-keeper at Cambridge and used to carry it before the Procession Bilney afterwards forsaking the University went into many places Teaching and Preaching everywhere and sharply reproving the pomp pride and insolency of the Clergy whereupon Cardinal Wolsey caused him to be apprehended An. Chr. 1527. and to be examined before him and sundry Articles to be drawn up against him Amongst which these were some That in the Church of Willesdon he had exhorted the people to put away their gods of silver and gold and to leave offering to them for that it was known that such things as they had offered to them were many times spent upon Whores and Stews And that the Jews and Saracens would have been Christians long ago had it not been for the Idolatry of Christians and their offering to stocks and stones That Christ is our only Mediator and that therefore we should not seek to Saints That man is so imperfect in himself that he cannot merit by his own deeds That it was a great blasphemy to say that to be buryed in Saint Francis Cowl would take away four parts of penance seeing the blood of Christ taketh away the sins of the World That it was great folly to go on Pilgrimage That Miracles done at Walsingam Canterbury c. were done by the Devil through Gods permission to blinde the poor people That the Pope hath not the Keys that Peter had except he follow Peter in his life That for these 500 years there hath been no good Pope and that of all since Christs time we read but of fifty that were good Lastly that he had Prophesied that there would come others besides him that would Preach to the people the same Faith and manner of living that he did which said he is the very true Gospel of Christ and agreeable to the mindes of the holy Fathers c. For these and such like things the Cardinal being himself busied in the affairs of the Kingdom turned him over to Tonstal Bishop of London who after examination of witnesses against him urged him to recant but he stifly refused three several days still saying Fiat Justitia Judicium in nomine Domini And Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus exultemus laetemur in ea Then the Bishop after deliberation putting off his Cap said In nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici ejus and so making a Cross on his Forehead and Breast he said I by the consent and counsel of my Brethren here present do pronounce and declare thee Thomas Bilney to be convict of heresie and for the rest of the sentence we will take deliberation till to morrow At which time the Bishops being again assembled London asked him if he would yet return to the Unity of the Church and revoke his Error Mr. Bilney answered that he would not be a slander to the Gospel trusting that he was not separated from the Church and that if multitude of witnesses might be credited he could have thirty men of honest life of his part for one on the contrary brought in against him The Bishop told him it was too late they could admit no witness and therefore exhorted him to abjure This contest continued between the Bishops and him for divers days they still urging and he refusing to recant yet at last through humane frailty he told them that he was perswaded by Mr. Dancaster to abjure and so reading his Abjuration he subscribed it and for penance was enjoyned to abide in Prison till he was released by the Cardinal and that the next day he should go bare-headed before the Procession carrying a Fagot on his shoulder and so stand at Pauls Cross during all the Sermon In the time of his Imprisonment before this he wrote to Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of London several Letters and in one of them he compares the Priests and Fryars that accused him to Jannes and Jambres to Elymas to Dâ—metrius to the Pythoniss to Baalam Cain Ishmael c. Adding further These are those Physitians upon whom the woman vexed twelve years with a Bloody Issue spent all that she had and found no help but was still worse and worse till at last she came to Christ and was healed by him Oh the mighty power of the
which being published and sent over into England became exceeding profitable to the whole English Nation At his first going over into Germany he went into Saxony and had much conference with Luther and other learned men in those quarters and then returning into the Netherlands made his greatest aboad at Antwerp He wrote also divers other Books under sundry titles amongst which is that most worthy monument of his called The Obedience of a Christian Man with divers other Treatises as the Wicked Mammon the Practice of Prelates with divers Expositions upon sundry portions of Scripture As also some answers to Sir Thomas Moore and other Adversaries of the Truth no less delectable then right fruitful to be read These Books being sent over and dispersed in England it cannot be imagined what a dore of Light they opened to the Eyes of all the Nation which for a long time had been shut up in darkness He wrote also one Book of the Declaration of the Sacrament and against the Mass but he kept it by him and did not print it considering how the people for the present were held under their gross Idolatry and therefore judging that it would be odious to them to hear these things at the first he waited a fitter time for the publication of it These godly Books but especially his translation of the New Testament coming abroad as they brought singular profit to the godly So the ungodly Clergy disdaining and envying that the people should be wiser then they and withall fearing least by the shining beams of the Truth their hypocrisie and works of darkness should be unmasked they began to make a great stir but especially the Devil envying the progress of the Gospel sought by all means to hinder the blessed travels of this worthy man For when he had finished his translation of Deuteronomy minding to print it at Hamborough he sailed thitherward But by the way upon the coast of Holland he suffered shipwrack by which he lost all his Books and Writings and so was compelled to begin all again to his great hinderance and doubling of his labors Thus having by that shipwrack lost all his mony copies and time yet through Gods mercy he was not discouraged but taking the opportunity of another Ship he went to Hamborough where he met with Mr. Coverdal who assisted him in the translation of the five Books of Moses the sweating sickness being in that Town all the while which was Anno Chri. 1529. And during their imployment in that work they were entertained by a religious widow Mistress Margaret Van Emerson When his English Testament came abroad Satans and the Popes instruments raged exceedingly some saying that there were a thousand Heresies in it others that it was impossible to Translate the Scriptures into English others that it was not lawful for the Laye people to have it in their own language c. and at last the Bishops and Priests procured of King Henry the Eight a Proclamation prohibiting the buying or reading of it Anno Christ 1527. Yet not satisfied herewith they suborned one Henry Philipâ— to go over to Antwerp to betray him who when he came thither insinuated himself into Mr. Tindalâ— company and pretended great friendship to him and having learned where his abode was he went to Bruxels and there prevailed so far that he brought with him the Emperours Atturney to Antwerp and pretending to visit Mr. Tindal he betrayed him to two Catchpoles which presently carryed him to the Atturney who after examination sent him to Prison in the Castle of Filford 18 miles of and withall they seized upon all his writings and what else he had at his lodging The English Merchants at Antwerp who loved Tindal very well did what they could to procure his release also Letters were sent by the Lord Cromwel and others out of England in his behalf but Philips so bestirred himself that all their endeavours came to nothing and Tindal was at last brought to his answer and after much reasoning although he deserved not death yet they condemned him to dye When he was brought forth to the place of Execution whilst he was tying to the stake he cryed with a fervent and loud voyce Lord open the King of Englands eyes And so he was first strangled by the Hangman and then burnt Anno Christi 1536. The power of his Doctrine and the sincerity of his Life was such that during his imprisonment which was about a year and an half he converted his Keeper and his daughter and some others of his houshold and Philips that betrayed him long enjoyed not the price of innocent blood but by Gods just judgement was devoured by lice The Emperors Atturney that prosecuted against him left this testimony of him that he was Vir doctus pius bonus a learned pious and godly man Whilst Mr. Tindal was Prisoner in the Castle there was much writing and great Disputations betwixt him and them of the University of Lovain which was but nine or ten miles from thence so that they had all enough of him not knowing how to answer the authorities and testimonies of Scriptures whereupon he grounded his Doctrine On a time the Company of English Merchants being a Supper together at Antwerp there was a Jugler amongst them who by his Magical Art could fetch all kinde of dainty dishes and wine from any place they pleased and set it on the Table incontinent before them with many other such like things This being much talked of abroad Mr. Tindal hearing of it desired of some of the Merchants that he might be present at supper to see the Jugler play his pranks Accordingly supper was appointed and Mr. Tindal with the Merchants went to it and the Jugler being requested to play his pranks and to shew his cunning he after his wonted boldness began to utter all that he could do but all was in vain So that at last after all his sweating toiling and labor when he saw that nothing would go forwards but that all his enchantments were void he openly confessed that there was some man present at supper which disturbed and hindred all his doings Concerning his Translation of the New Testament which was so vilifyed by his Adversaries he thus writes in an Epistle to John Frith I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus to give up reckoning of our doings that I never altered one syllable of Gods Word against my conscience nor would do it for all that is in the Earth whether honour pleasure or profit c. Most of his Works are mentioned before in his Life The Life of Bertholdus Hallerus who dyed Anno Christi 1536. BErthold Haller was born in Helvetia Anno Christi 1502. and from his childhood was much addicted to Learning and therefore after he had been trained up at School he went to
Consolation to his Brother Wolphgang in his Sicknesse Two Sermons against False Prophets Sermons containing an assertion of the true Doctrine in the Reformed Churches A Tractate about the Apostolical Rite of Ordination used in the Reformed Churches His opinion about the controverted Articles published by Selneccerus He was of such constancy of Life and Manners that it might truly be said of him which Dion said of the Emperor Marcus Antonniuus In omni vitâ sui similis nec ullâ unquam in re mutatus fuit Itaque verè fuit vir bonus nec fictum aut simulatum quicquam habuit The Life of Justus Jonas who died A no Christi 1555. JUstus Jonas was born at Northusa Anno Christi 1493 where his Father was a Senator who falling sick of the Plague having applyed an Onion to the Soar and taken it off he layd it by him presently after this little Jonas coming took the Onion and eat it up yet without any prejudice to himself God miraculously preserving him from that danger He was at first brought up at School in his own Country Afterwards being sent to a publick School he studied Law and made a good progress therein but upon better thoughts he studied Divinity and proceeded Doctor and embraced the Reformed Religion and was called an Christi 1521 to a Pastoral Charge in Wittenberg And when sundry Controversies arose especially about abrogating private Masse and the Prince Elector of Saxony feared lest the abolishing of it should cause great tumults Jonas with his Colleagues went to him and rendred such reasons for it that the Prince acquiesced therein He was present at most of the Disputations about Religion where he defended the Truth strenuously and endeavoured to promote Peace He was also made a Professor in that University where he publickly read Divinity Lectures and bore all Offices in the Schooles Anno Christi 1533 he created sundry Doctors of Divinity as Gasper Cruciger John Bugenhag Pomâ—ranus and John Aepinus Pastor of the Church of Haâ—borough At which Commencement John Frederick Elector of Saxony was present and was much delighted with the Eloquent Speeches made by Justus Jonas Anno Christi 1539 when Henry Duke of Saxony who had embraced the Reformed Religion and was admitted into the League of Smalcald succeeded his Brother George in the Government of Misnia and Thuringia he presently by the advice of Luther and his Colleagues Reformed his Churches Luther himself beginning that Reformation but the carrying on and perfecting that work was left to the care of Justus Jonas with Spalatine and Ampersdorf From thence he was called unto Hale in Saxony where he preached and promoted Religion exceedingly And whilst he was imployed there he was not only very useful to those Churches but was sent to from divers others for advice and counsel and being a man of a publick spirit he was never wanting to those that craved his help Luther sometimes resorted thither to him and took him along with him in his last journey to Isâ—eben anno Christi 1546 where he dyed After whose death he remained a while in the Duke of Saxony's Court and was a constant companion of Frederick's Sonnes in all their afflictions And lastly he was set over the Church in Eisfield and was made Superintendent of the Franconian Churches within the Principality of Coburg where he ended his daies in much peace and comfort Anno Christi 1555 and of his age 63. He was a man of an excellent Wit of great Industry of much Integrity of life joyned with Piety Whilst Luther lived he was his faithful friend and most dear to him Most of the famous men of that age were his great friends On a time Luther coming to his house drank to him out of a curious glass adding this Distich ex tempore Dat vitrum vitrâ—â— Jonae vitrum ipse Lutherus Ut vitro fragili similem se noscat uterque Being once under Temptations and in great Agony he shewed much despondencie but his servant partly by comforting him partly by chiding him cheared him up and at last through God's mercy the Spirit prevailed against the flesh He published a Defence of the mariage of Ministers against John Faber the patron of whoredoms An Oration about the study of Divinity Annotations upon the Acts About privat Masse and the Unction of Priests He turned some of Luthers works into Latin The Life of John Rogers who died A no Christi 1555. JOhn Rogers was born in England and brought up at the Universitie of Cambridg where he profited very much in good learning and from thence was chosen by the Merchant Adventurers to be their Chaplain at Antwerp to whom hee preached many years and there falling into acquaintance with Will Tindal and Miles Coverdal who were fled thither from persecution in England he by heir means profited much in the knowledg of Jesus Christ and joyned with them in that painful and profitable work of Translating the Bible into English and being much enlightened thereby in the saveing knowledge of Jesus Christ he cast off the heavy yoake of Popery perceiving it to be impure and filthy Idolatry There he married a wife and from thence he went to Wittenberg where he much profited in learning and grew so skilfull in the Dutch-tongue that he was chosen pastor to a Congregation and discharged his office with diligence and faithfulness for many years But in King Edward's time hee was sent for home by Bishop Ridley and was made a Prebend of Pauls and the Deane and Chapter chose him to read a Divinity Lecture in that Church in which place hee preached faithfully till Queen Mart's dayes And in the beginning of her Reign in a Sermon at Paul's Cross he exhorted the people constantly to adhere to thaâ— Doctrine which they had been taught and to beware of pestilent Poperie Idolatrie and superstition for which he was called before the Lords of the Council where he made a stout wittie and godly answer yet withall carried himself so prudently that for that time he was dismissed But after the Queen's Proclamation against True Preaching came forth he was again called the Bishops thirsting for his blood and committed Prisoner to his own house whence he might have escaped and had many motives as his wife and ten children his friends in Germanie where he could not want preferment c. But being once called to answer in Christ's Cause he would not depart though to the hazard of his life From his owne house he was removed by Bonner to Newgate amongst thieves and murtherers for a great space At length he was againe carried before the Lords of the Councill where the Lord Chancellor Steven Gardener taunted reviled and checked him not suffering him to speak his mind and so remanded him to prison whereupon he wrote thus I was compelled to leave off what I would have most gladly spoken and
Gardiner said to him How happened it that notwithstanding the Queens Proclamation you dared to preach Saunders Seing the perilous time now at hand I did but according to my duty exhort my flock to persevere and stand stedfast in the Doctrine that they had learned I also remembred those words of the Apostle That its better to obey God then man and what I did I was moved thereto by my conscience Gardiner A goodly conscience surely This your conscience could make our Queen a Bastard would it not Saunders We declare no such matter But for that let them care whose writings are yet abroad to testify the same not without the great shame and reproach of the author This he said because Gardiner to curry favor with King Henry the eighth had published a book wherin he had openly declared Queene Mary to be a Bastard And so going forward he said We onely professe and teach the sincerity and purity of Gods Word which albeit it be now forbidden us to publish with our mouths yet I doubt not but it shall be sealed with our blood The Bishop being vexed at this free speech said Carry away this frensie foole to prison To whom he said I thanke God that at last he hath given me a place of rest where I may pray for your conversion Hee continued in prison one year and three months In a letter to his wife he thus writes I am merry and I trust I shall be merry maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hells Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences whereof I thanke my Christ I doe feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. He was so zealous in the defence of the truth that he forbad his wife to sue for his delivery and when other of his friends had by suit almost obtained it he so discouraged them that they ceased from following their suit Being at last brought againe to examination and life being promised if he would recant he answered I love my life and liberty if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my own conscience but by God's grace I will abide the most extretremity that man can do against mee rather then do any thing against my conscience and when Gardiner threatned him with death he said Welcome be it whatsoever the will of the Lord be either life or death and I tell you truly I have learned to dye But I exhort you to beware of shedding innocent blood Truly it will cry aloud against you Being excommunicated degraded and condemned he was sent to Coventry to be burned When he came near the place of execution he went cheerfully to the stake kissing it and saying Welcome the Cross of Christ Welcome everlasting life The fire by his cruell enemies was made of green wood and other smothering matter which would not burne whereby he was put to grievous torments but the grace and plentifull consolation of Christ which never forsakes his servants gave him admirable strength and patience so that in all he stood quietly and at last sweetly slept in the Lord. During his imprisonment he wrote many excellent Letters and after his condemnation in a Letter to his wife and friends he thus writes Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies plentifully 〈◊〉 upon us And I most unworthy wretch cannot but bewail my great ingratitude towards so gracious a God and loving Father I beseech you all as for my other many sins so especially for my sin of unthankfulness crave pardon for me is your earnest prayers To number Gods mercies in particular were to number the drops of water in the Sea the sands on the shâ—re or the stars in Heaven O my dear Wife and Friends rejoyce with me I say rejoyce with thanksgiving for this my present promotion in that I am made worthy to magnifie my God not onely in my life by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness to his truth but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God and confirming of his true Church I profess to you that as yet the comfort of my sweet Christ doth drive from me the fear of death But if my dear Husband Christ doe for my tryall leave me a little to my selfe Alas I know in what case I shall then be but if he doe yet I know that he will not be long nor far absent from me though he stand behind the wall yet he will peep in at a crâ—vise He is a tender-hearted Joseph though he speak roughly to his brethren and threaten bondage to his best beloved Benjamin yet can be not containe himself from weeping upon us and with us with falling on our necks and sweetly kissing us Such such a brother is our Christ unto all his wherefore hasten to goe unto him as Jacob did with his sons and family leaving their Countrey and Acquaintance Yea this our Joseph hath obtained for us that Pharaoh the Infidel shall provide us Chariots whereby with ease we may be carried to him Our very adversaries do help us to our everlasting blisse by their speedy dispatch blessed be our God Fear not bugbears which lye in the way fear rather the everlasting fire c. My dear Wife and fellow Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom always remember the Lord Rejoyce in hope be patient in tribulation continue instant in prayer and pray for us appointed for the slaughter that we may be unto our heavenly Father a fat offering and an acceptable sacrifice c. Farowel all in Christ in hope to be joyned with you in everlasting joy Amen Amen Amen Pray Pray Doctor Pendleton and this Mr Saunders meeting together in the beginning of Queen Maries reign and speaking of the Persecution that was like to ensue about which Master Saunders shewed much weaknes and many fears Pendleton said to him What man there is much more cause for me to fear than for you forasmuch as I have a bigge and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbet of this flesh of mins consumed to ashes before I will forsake Iesus Christ and his Truth which I have professed Yet not long after upon trial poor feeble saint-hearted Saunders by the power and goodness of God sealed the Truth with his blood whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist The Life of John Hooper who died Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford where having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciences he was stirred up with a fervent desire to the love and knowledge of the Scriptures in which study he joyned earnest prayers to his diligence for the better understanding of the same
David have mercie upon me and receive my soul and wipeing his eies with his hands he said For God's love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burn'd more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Jesus have mercy on me Lord Jesus receive my spirit And so he slept in the Lord. In one of his letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but libertie upon evill conditions is worse The Prison stink's yet not so much as sweet houses where the fear of God is wanting I must be alone and solitarie it 's better so to be and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and God's favor is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men Yet it is better to do that then stand naked before God's Tribunal I shall die by the hands of cruâ—ll men he is blessed that loseth his life and fiâ—de's life eteâ—nal There is neither felâ— city nor adversity of this World that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pâ—ines of the world to come And in the conclusion of the Letter he writes thus I am a precious Jewell now and daintily kept never so daintily before For neither mine owne man nor any of the servants of the house may come to me but my Keeper onely who is a simple rude fellow But I am not troubled thereat In the time of King Edward when he was made Bishop much controversie was betweene him and Doctor Cranmer and Doctor Ridley about the Cappe Rochet c. But when in Queene Maries daies they were all in Prison for the cause of Religion Doctor Ridley wrote thus to him My dear brother forasmuch as I understand by your works which I have but superficially seene that we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the World so furiously rageth in these daies however formerly in certain by matters and circumstances of Religion your wisdome and my simplicity hath a little jarred each of us following the abundance of his owne sence and judgement Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth and for the truths sake which abideth in us and shall by the grace of God abide for ever He was above three-quarters of an hour in the fire before he dyed yet even as a Lambe he patiently abode the extremity thereof neither moving forwards backwards or to any side But having his nether parts burned and his bowels faln out he dyed as quietly as a Child in his bed an Christi 1555. The life of Rowland Tailor who died A no. Christi 1555. ROwland Taylor was Doctor of both Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolk where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures many having read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this D. Taylor preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-days and at other times when he could get the people together So soon as he was called to this place he left the family of Doct. Cranmer A. B. of Canterbury with whom he had formerly lived like a good shepherd constantly abode with his flock and gave himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures most faithfully endeavouring to fulfill the precept of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me feed my sheep His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holiness He was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sinne in the greatest He was very mild void of all rancor and malice ready to do good to all mer forgiving his enemies and far from doing the least wrong To the poor blinde lame sick bed-rid or that had many children he was a father causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them besides what of his own bounty he gave them He brought up his own children in the fear of God good learning And thus he continued as a good Sheepherd amongst his flock feeding governing and leading them through the wilderness of this wicked world all the days of holy King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of Queen Marie's Reigne two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Mass in his Church Hee being at his study and hearing the Bell to toll went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish Robes ready to begin the Mass he said unto him Thou Divel who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to profane and defile it with this abominable Idolatry I command thee thou Popish-Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christ's flock Then said one Foster the ringleader in this business to Doctor Tailor Thou Traitor what dost thou here to let and disturbe the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I am no Traitor but the Shepherd which God and my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flock and therefore I have good authority to be here Then said Foster Wilt thou Traiterous Heretick make a commotion and resist violently the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I make no commotion it s you Papists that make commotions and tumults I resist onely with Gods word against your Popish Idolatries which are contrary to the same and tend to the dishonour of the Queen and the utter subversion of this Realme Then did Foster with his armed men carry Doctor Tailor out of the Church and so the Priest went on with his Mass. Doctor Tailors wife who had followed her Husband to the Church when she saw their violent proceedings kneeled down and holding up her hands with a loud voice said I beseech God the righteous Judge to avenge this injury which this Popish Idolater doth this day to the blood of Christ Then did they thrust her out of the Church also and presently after Foster wrote a complaint against Doct. Tailor to Steven Gardiner who sent his Letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to fly telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favor but imprisonment and cruel death To whom he answered I know my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong upon my side that I will by Gods grace appear before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shal never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shal never have so glorious a calling nor so great mercy of God profferd me as I have now wherefore pray for mee and I doubt not but God will
give mee strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be asham'd of their doings Then said his friends Master Dr. we think it not best so to do you have sufficiently done your duty and borne witness to the truth both in your Sermons and in resisting this Popish Priest and therfore seeing our Savior Christ bids us when we are persecuted in one City to flee to another we think that by flying at this time you should doe best reserving your selfe for better times O said D. Tailor I am now old and have already lived too long to see these terrible and wicked dayes You may doe as your consciences serve you but I am resolved not to fly God shall hereafter raise up Teachers which shall with much more diligence and fruit teach then I have done for God will not forsake his Church though for a time he tryeth and correcteth us and that not without just cause His friends seeing his constancy and resolution with weeping eyes commended him to God and so preparing himself he went to London and presented himself to Steven Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him calling him Knave Traitor Heretick asking him if he knew him not c. To whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatness yetâ— you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all How dare you for shame look any Christian in the face seeing you have forsaken the truth denyed our Saviour Christ and his word done contrary to your own oath and writing with what countenance can you appear before the judgement seat of Christ and answer for your oath first made to King Henry the eighth and afterwards to King Edward the sixth Gardiner Tush tush that was Herods oath unlawfull and therefore fit to be broken I did well in breaking it and thanke God that I am come home to our Mother the Church of Rome and so I would thou shouldest doe Tailor Should I forsake the Church of Christ which is founded upon the true foundation of the Prophets and Apostles to approve those lyes errors superstitions and idolatries that are approved of most blasphemously by you God forbid Remember that you wrote truly against the Pope and were sworne against him Gardin I tell thee that was Herods oath and our holy Father the Pope hath discharged me of it Tailor But you shall not be so discharged before Christ who doubtlesse will require it at your hands as a lawful oath made to your King from which no man can assoile you Gardiner I see that thou art an arrogant Knave and a very fool Tailor My Lord leave your railing which is unseemly in one that is in your place I am a Christian man and you know that he that call's his brother Fool is in danger of Hell fire Gardiner Yee are false and liers all the sort of you Tailor We are true men and know that God will destroy all them that speak lies and therefore we abide by the truth of Gods word which ye contrary to your own consciences deny and forsake Gardiner Thou art a married man Tailor Yea and I thanke God that I am and have had nine children and all in lawfuâ— matrimony and blessed be God that ordained matrimoâ—y and commanded that all that had not the gift of continency should marry and not live in whoredom and a dultery After some other discourse the Bishop called hi men commanding them to carry him to the Kings Bench requiring his Keeper to keep him strictly Then Doctoâ— Tailor kneeling down and holding up his hands said Good Lord I thanke thee and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors and abominations good Lord deliver us So they carried him away to prison where he lay almost two years In Prison he spent his time in praier reading the Scriptures preaching to the prisoners and to other that resorted to him And it pleased God that he found in that prison holy Master Bradford whom he began to exhort to Faith strength and patience and to persevere constantly unto the end Master Bradford hearing this thanked God who had provided him so comfortable a prison-fellow and so they both together praised God and continued in praier reading and exhorting one another Insomuch as Doctor Tailor told his friends that God had provided graciously for him to send him to that prison where he found such an Angell of God to be in his company to comfort him He was diverse times examined of his faith and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries for which at last he was condemned to die When his sentence was read he told them that God the righteous Judge would require his blood at their hands and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist and their Tyranny against the flock of Christ. He also thus wrote to his friends God be praised since my condemnation I was never affraid to die Gods will be done If I shrinke from Gods truth I am sure of an other manner of death then had Judge Hales But God be praised even from the bottome of my heart I am unmovably setled upon the Rock nothing doubting but that my dear God will performe and finish the work that he hath begun in me and others To him be all honor both now and ever through Christ our onely Saviour Amen After his condemnation Bishop Bonner came to the prison to degrade him bringing all the Massing Garments with him which he commanded him to put on No quoth Doctor Tailor I will not Bonner Wilt thou not I shall make thee ere I go Tailor You shall not by the grace of God Bonner I charge thee on thy obedience to do it Tailor I will not Then the Bishop bad his owne man to put them on his back which when it was done setting his hands by his side he walked up and down and said How say you my Lord am I not a goodly fool If I were in Cheap-side would not all the boies laugh at these apishtoies The Bishop having dispoiled him of all would have given him a stroke on his breast with his Crosier But his Chaplain said My Lord strike him not for he will sure strike again Yea by Saint Peter will I quoth Doctor Tailor The cause is Christs and I were no good Christian if I would not fight in my masters quarrell Then the Bishop cursed him but durst not strike him To whom Doctor Tailor answered Though you curse yet God doth blesse me The next night his Wife Son and Servant came to him where before supper they kneeled down and praied saying the Letany He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merry as one that went to a banquet or Bridal In his
other side the Prison giving them godly exhortations and distributing some mony amongst them An intimate friend of his asked him if hee should procure his liberty what he would doe and whither he would goe To whom he answered that he cared not â—hether he were delivered out of prison or no but if he should that then he would marry and abide secretly in England and teach the people as the time would suffer him He was had in great reverence and admiration of all good men So that many which knew him not but by fame onely much lamented his death yea many Papists wished heartily that he might live Few daies passed wherein he shed not some teares before he went to bed Nor was there any prisoner with him but receiv'd some profit by him He had many opportunities of escaping but would not embrace them The night before he was carried to Newgate he dreamed that chaines were brought for him to the Counter and that the day following he should be carried to Newgate and that the next daie he should be burn'd in Smithfield which accordingly came to pass For that day in the afternoon the Keepers wife came running into his chamber saying O Mr. Bradford I bring you heavy news for to morrow you must be burned your chain is now a buying and presently you must go to Newgate With that Mr Bradford put off his cap lift up his eyes to heaven and said I thank God for it I have looked for this a long time it comes not now to me suddenly but as a thing waited for every day and hour the Lord make me worthy thereof He spent the rest of the evening in prayers well watered with tears whereby he ravished the mindes of the hearers The morning before he should be burn'd as he was putting on a clean shirt in which he was to suffer he made such a prayer of the Wedding Garment that some present were in such great admiration that their eyes were as throughly occupied in looking on him as their ears were attentive to hear his prayer At his departing out of his chamber he prayed earnestly and gave money to every servant and officer in the house exhorting them to fear and serve God continually labouring to eschew all manner of evill Then turning to the wall he prayed vehemently that his words might not be spoken to them in vain but that the Lord would work it effectually in them for his Christs sake The prisoners with weeping tears took their farewel of him Whilst he remained a prisoner he was oft examined before the Bishops and proffered life if he would recent to whom he answered Life with Gods displeasure is worse than death and death in his true favour is true life When he came into Smithfield where another young man was to suffer with him he fell flat on his face and prayed then caking a faggot in his hand he kissed it and the stake also then putting off his raiment hee stood by the stake and lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven said O England England repent of thy sinnes repent of thy sinnes Beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists take heed they doe not deceive thee and turning his head to the young man he said Be of good comfort brother for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night and then embracing the reeds he said Strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall salvation and few there be that finde it and so he slept in the Loâ—d He was very charitable in so much as in a hard time he sold his Chaines Rings and Jewels to relieve those that were in want He was so humble from the sense of his corruptions that he subscribed some of his Letters out of â—rison thus The most miserable hard-hearted unthankfull sinner John Bradfoâ—d A very painted Hypâ—crite John Bradford Miserrimus peccator Joh. Bradford The sinfull John Bradford c. He suffered Martyrdome Anno Christi 1555. In his Examination before the Bishop of Winchester Hee often told him that he had sworn six times never to admit of the authority of the Bishop of Rome and therefore said he I dare not answer you if you examine me as a Delegate from him lest I should bâ—eake my oath To which Gardiner answered that he pretended stoutly to defend the Doctrine taught in King Edward's dayes yet said he thou darest not answer me Bradford That all men may know that I am not afraid saving mine oath ask me what you will and I will plainly answer by Gods grace although I see my life lieth thereon But oh Lord into thy hands I commend it come what will onely sanctifie thy name in me as in an instrument of thy grace Now ask me what you will Gardiner What say you to the blessed Sacrament Doe you not believe Christs reall presence there in his naturall body Bradf My Lord I do not believe that Christ is corporally present in the Sacrament but that he is present there to the faith of the due Receiver As for Transubstantiation I plainly and flatly beleive it not At another time one of the Earle of Darby's men came to him saying Ah Master Bradford consider your Mother Sister Friends Kinsfolk and Country what a great discomfort will it be to them to see you die as an Heretick To whom he answered I have learned to forsake Father Mother Brother Sister Friends and all that ever I have yea and my own self for else I cannot be Christs Disciple And in a Letter to his Mother and Brethren hee thus writes I am now in prison sure enough from starting and I thank God I am ready with my life and blood to seale those Truths which I have preached unto you if God shall account me worthy of that honour for its a spâ—ciall benefit of God to suffer for his Name and Gospel as now I doe I heartily thanke him for it and am sure that I shall be partaker of his glory If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him as St. Paul speaks Therefore be not faint-hearted but rather rejoice at least for my sake who am now in the highway to heaven for thorough many afflictions we must enter into that Kingdome Now will God make known who are his When the winde doth not blow we cannot discerne the Wheat from the Chaffe but when the blast comes the Wheat remains but the Chaffe flyes away and the Wheat is so far from being huRt by the winde that its more cleansed and known to be Wheat Gold when it s cast into the fire is made more precious so are Gods children by the crosse of afflictions Gods children are now chastised here that they may not be condemned with the world But sure great plagues from God hang over this Realm for it And no marvell if Gods hand lies so heavy upon us for lately as there
depended his innocencie being known he might come out with greater credit But said the King I will not have Cranmer so handled nor any that are dear to me But I perceive some crooked and cankred hearts raise these Tragedies which unlesse they bee quiet I will interpose my authority to restrain them and so he departed in a chafe and all the Counsellors shook hands with Cranmer desiring to be reconciled to him And hee being of a most sweet and mild disposition easily forgave all offences blotting them utterly out of his mind and from that time forward he lived secure from all treacheries being in such high favour with the King But when Doctor Cox and Hussey lay loitering at Canterbury not without suspition and did nothing in the inquisition the King secretly sent Doctor Lee to search out what was done in Cranmers behalf who going speedily to Canterbury acquainted himself with some godly persons by whose directions he searched the houses of some Popish Priests at midnight where hee found Letters written from Gardiner which opened the whole plot against Cranmer These he immediately carryed to the King who viewing of them from that time forwards began to withdraw his affections from those Popelings and withall acquainted Cranmer with those Letters bidding him beware of his enemies now hee knew them Amongst the Letters that were found in Kent one was written by the Suffragan of Dover another by Doctor Barber a Civilian which two men were well esteemed of by the Archbishop and promoted by him and he alwayes shewed them great favour When the Archbishop had their Letters he called these two men into his study and said unto them You two are men in whom I have alwaies put most confidence and to whom I have alwaies communicated all my secrets you must now give me some good counsell for I am shamefully abused by one or two whom I have trusted as my self but these persons have not onely disclosed my secrets but also have taken upon them to accuse me of Heresie and are become witnesses against me I require you therefore to give me faithfull advice how I shall behave my self towards them c. Marry quoth Doctor Barber such villains and knaves deserve to be presently hanged without further tryall Hanging is too good saith the Suffragan and if there want an Executioner I would be the Hangman my self At these words the Archbishop lifting up his eyes to heaven said O Lord and most mercifull God whom may a man trust in these dayes It 's true which is said Cursed be he that trusts in man and makes flesh his arme There was never man used as I am but Lord thou hast evermore defended me and lent mee one good Master meaning the King without whose protection I could not be safe for one day I praise thy holy name for it Then did he pull out of his bosome those two Letters saying Know you these Letters my Masters With that they fell down on their knees asking forgivenesse with many tears Well said the gentle Archbishop God make you both good men I never deserved this at your haâ—ds But ask God forgivenesse against whom you have highly offended Thus we see how his enemies from time to time endeavouâ—ed by all meanâ— to have brought him into displeasure with the King Yet it pleased God so to over-rule the King's heart that hee would never be alienated from him which favour the King continued to him so long as he lived and in King Edward the sixth's daies he continued in his place and much holp forward the work of Reformation But in the beginning of Queen Maries Reign he was a principal man whom she maligned Manet altâmentâ— repôstum Judicium Cleri spretaeque injuria Matris Her Mothers wrong was déeply laid to heart And Clergies dooâ— for which they now must smart and therefore she appointed Commissioners to examin him who commanded him to bring to them an Inventory of all his goods which they seized upon and shortly after he was sent prisoner to the Tower for Treason as was pretended but for Religion indeed Before he was committed to the Tower some of his friends perswaded him to fly and to reserve himself for better times but he answered stoutly If I were accused of Theft Murther or any other wickedness perhaps I could more easily be perswaded to fly but now I â—ee that I must be questioned not for my faithfulnesse towards men but for my faith towards God and concerning the truth of the holy Scriptures against Papists and therefore I will rather lose my life in the defence of the truth then by flying out of the Kingdome to desert such a cause From thence he was removed to Oxford where again he was called before the Pope's Delegate and the Queens Commissioners to the latter he did obeisance but to the Pope's Delegate hee would doe none Before them he made a worthy Confession of his Faith When they proceeded to Degrade him he pull'd forth an appeale from the Pope to the next general Councill but his death being determined his appeal was rejected and he Degraded When he came back into prison he desired to eat for he had eaten nothing that day before for said he I was before somewhat troubled but now I thank God my heart is quiet He had not one penny in his purse to help himself but the Lord stirred up a Gentleman's heart to give him some mony for which he had like to have come into great trouble He was kept in prison almost three years and the Doctors in Oxford laboured by many subtle tricks to draw him to a Recantation removing him to the Dean's house of Christ-Church where hee had dainty fare recreations and what else might entice him from Christ to the world they promised him life the Queens favour his former dignity and what not if hee would but with his hands subscribe to a few words by way of Recantation which if he refused there was no hope of pardon With many such provocations and flatteries they at last prevailed with him to subscribe it After which hee neither had inward quietnesse in his own conscience nor any outward help from his adversities For the Queen being glad of his Recantation yet presently resolved his death appointed the time when he least expected it and the persons that should see it performed He had no notice of his death till the very morning a little before he was to suffer At which time there was a great concourse of people some expecting that he should make his publick Recantation at his death others hoping better of him From prison he was brought to St. Maries Church where Doctor Cole by the Queens order preached and in his Sermon affirmed that God was so incensed for the slaughter of Sir Thomas Moore and Doctor Fisher bishop of Rochester who were beheaded in the Reign of K.
against the Masse-Priest and privily removing the Images out of the Church some of which he cast into prison and caused others to fly away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desiâ—ous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther the rather being invited thereto by Letters from Peter Suavenius a man excellently learned who signified to him that his converse with Luther would be exceeding profitable to him he left â—repta and went to Wittenberg Anno Christi 1521 and of his Age 36 and came there a little before Luther's going to the Diet at Worms with whom he had presently some converse and began to make himself known by reading the Psalter privately in the Schooles In Luthers absence Berthoâ—mew Bernhard Pastor of Kemberg married a Wife whereupon much controversie arose whether the Marriage of Ministers was forbidden onely by the Popes Law and how farre the Monks vows of Chastity did binde Luther hereupon being sent to for his judgement easily cut insunder the snares of those Laws and of the impious vows as Alexander did the Gordian knot with his sword At this time Suavenius and Bugenhag sojouâ—ned with Melancthon whereupon when those Propositions oâ— Luther were sent to him Bugenhag read them with much diligence and afterwards having seriously thought of them â—e said This businesse will cause a great mutation in the publick state of things About the same â— time also Carolastadiusâ—aiâ—ed â—aiâ—ed a controversieâ— about bringing in the Judicials of Moses into the Civill State and removing Images out of the Churches Against these Bugenhag with some others opposed themselves declaring that the overthrowing of Images was sâ—ditious and that Christian Commonwealths ought not to be governed by the Jewish Judicials Whereupon at Luthers returne out of his Pathmos by the Suffrages both of the University and Senate Bugenhag was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittenberg which he taught and governed with much â—elicity and in many changes of Affaires for the pâ—ce of thirty six years never leaving his station neither for war nor pestilence and when he was proffered riches and preferment both in Denmark by the good King and in Pomeren by the good Prince yet he would never leave his charge though he lived but poorly in it Anno Christi 1522 he was sent for to Hamburg where hee prescribed to them a form both of Doctrine Ceremonies and Calling of Ministers where he erected a School also in the Monastery of St. John which afterwards grew very famous And Anno Christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec hee prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline and set up a School in the Monastery of St Katheâ—â—ne Anno Christi 1537 he was sent for by Christian King of Denmark and Duke of Holsatia to reform Religion in his Dominions and to erect Schooles at which time he set forth a book about the Ordination of Ministers formerly agreed upon by Luther and his Colleagues to which he added some Prayers and a Form or Directory for holy Administrations And about fourteen daies after the Coronation of King Christian Bugenhag instead of the seven Bishops of Denmark ordained seven Superintendents who for the time to come should supply the office of the Bishops and should take care of all Ecclesiastical affaires These he ordained in the presence of the King and his Councill in the chief Church of Hafnia He also prescribed what Lectures should be read in the Hafnian Academy He appointed Ministers in the Kingdomes of Denmark and Norway to the number of four and twenty thousand Anno Christi 1540 Henry Duke of Brunswick being expelled his Country by the Elector of Saxony and the confederate Princes imployed Bugenhag Anthony Corvinus and Martin Gorlicius adding some of the Nobility to them to visit the Churches and Monasteries in that Dukedome and to see them reformed At which time they set forth a Form of Ordination for the Country The year following the Senate of Hildesia sent for him to Reformâ— their Churches where he with Corvinus and Henrie Winckle wrote them a Form of Ordination and placed Pastors and Ministers in their six Churches the oversight of whom was committed to Iodicus Iferman and the Church of the Canons was shut up Anno Christi 1533 he proceeded Doctor at the instigation of John Friderik Elector of Saxonie himself with his Counsellors being present to hear the publick disputations of Luther Cruciger Bugenhag and Aepine The questions were De Justitia De Ecclesia De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici Potestatis Politicae and Bugenhag making an Oration about the last of these the Prince was exceedingly well pleased with it Thus far we have the happier part of Bugenhags life but shortly after followed many confusions and warres both of the Princes and Divines in which the Princes were taken prisoners Wittenberg was besieged and other miseries and mischiefs of war brought exceeding much grief to this good old man as the death of that godly King Josiah did to the Prophet Jeremiah yet did he not give way to despondencie so as either to fly or change his mind but he kept up his spirits by fervent and frequent prayer to God which yeelded him great consolation the rather considering that in so great tempests the poor Ship of Christ's Church was not swallowed up and devoured For Prince Maurice who was made Elector of Saxony changed nothing in Religion as soâ—e feared and others hoped that hee would but sending fâ—â— Melancthon Bugenhag and Crucigir from Wittenberg to Lâ—â—sâ—â—h he desired them to take care of the Church and Univâ—rsity and so gratifying them bountifully dismissed them The Controversies and Quarrels which sprung up in â—â—e Church by Flacius Illericus were the greatest grief to hâ—m For it was well known that he neither in the time of War nor afterwards altered any thing either in the Doctrine 〈◊〉 Discipline of the Church often urging that Text Giâ—â— to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods He was alwaies very averse to seditious Counsels and most constant in retaining the true Doctrine of Christ and though many aspersions were cast abroad of him yet would he never omit the necessary labours belonging to his Office The last act of his life through Gods goodness was quiet and peaceable for when his strength was so wasted that hee could no longer preach yet he resorted daily to Church where he poured forth fervent praiers both for himself and the afflicted condition of the Church of God at that time Afterwards fallâ—ng sick though without much pain he continued instant in prayer and holy conference with his friends and drawing near to his end he often repeated This is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ and so quietly dâ—parted in the Lord Anno Christ 1558 and of his Age 73. He was a faithfull Pâ—stor just mercifulâ—
at him with his drawne sword and if God by a speciall providence had not prevented had slaine him The Flacians especially continually railed upon and threatned him whereupon he said Avide tranquillo animo expecto exilia sicut ad Principes scripsi dixerunt adversarii se perfecturos esse ut non sim habiturus vestigium ubi pedem collocare possem in Germania Utinam hoc cito perficiant ut filius Dei ad Judam dicit Erit mihi vel in caelo morienti vestigium vel si vivam in hoc corpore apud honestos Doctos viros vel in Germania vel alibi At stultitiam inimicorum miror qui sese Dominos Germaniae esse existimant me his minis terreri He was somewhat sickly being sometimes troubled with the Cholick and hypocondriacall winde He had a strong braine without which it had not been possible for him to have gone through so many and great businesses for so many years together In his diet he was content with a little He was modest in all his life In his apparel he had respect to his health He was liberall to all affable and courteous One George Sabine travelling to Italy and Rome for the improvement of his learning a certain Cardinall discoursing with him about Wittenberg asked him what stipend they allowed to Melancthon Sabine answered Three hundred Florences by the year Then said the Cardinal O ungratefull Germany who makest no more account of the many and great labours of so eminent a man On a time Prince Maurice Elector of Saxony asked Melancthon if he wanted any thing for the supplie of his necessities He told him No. Then did the Elector bid him Ask what he would to which he answered that he had his stipenâ—â— with which he was well content yet the Elector bid him again Ask to which he answered Since your Excellency will have me to ask something I crave leave to be dismissed from my place and imployments Whereupon the Elector intreated him to continue in them still wondring at his contentedness with so small means When he was first himselfe converted he thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Truth in the Ministry of the Gospel But after he had been a Preacher a while he complained that Old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon He is called by one Phoenix Germaniae alter Elizaeus He used to say that there were three labours very difficult Regentis Docâ—ntis Parturientis of Magistrates Ministers and Women in Travel He made his own Epitaph Iste brevis tumulus miseri tenet ossa Philippi Qui qualis fuerit nescio talis erat Here lies iâ— terred in these stones Much afflicted Philips bones For alwayes such 〈◊〉 life was her I know not what in death heel hee Scripsit Melancthon volumina insinita variis in locis impressa Cuâ—us tamen lucubrationes editas usque ad annum 1541. Hervagius excudit Basiliae Tomis quinque anno Christi 1546. But afterwards there were many more of his works published the Catalogue whereof you may find in Verheiden JO ALASCO The Life of Iohn Lascus who died A no Christi 1558. JOhn Lascus was borne of a Noble family in Poland and brought up in learning Afterwards travelling to Zurick in Helvetiad he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himself to the study of Divinity and having thereby imbraced that Religion which hath its foundation upon the word of God he was very desirous to increase in holiness He had a very great love to Christ and his people A great hatred to Popery and Superstition and a great contempt of the world so that whereas he might have been preferred to great honour in his own Countrey such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honour and peace amongst his friends Coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence The year after he was sent for by Anne the widow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next year after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the work remained unperfected He remained in Frisland about ten years at the end whereof the Emperor persecuting the Protestants he was sent for by King Edwaâ—d the sixth upon Crammer's motion into England where he gathered preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remains to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary Anno Christi 1553. he obtained leave to return beyond Sâ—a and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmark to the Royal City of Coppenhagew But Noviomagus the Court Preacher and a Lutheran took occasion in a Sermon to impugne the error as he called it of the Sacramentaries Hereupon Lascus set forth a writing wherein he asserted the truth and confuted the error of Consubstantia iâ—n This occasioned a conference between Noviomagus and him where Lascus and his Church did not dissemble their opinion but asserted the truth which the K. of Denmark Christian being informed of made a decree that they should not stay in his Kingdom except they would follow the Doctrine of Luther and use the Ceremonies ordained by him Lascus and his Church refused this yet intreated that the 〈◊〉 might be dâ—ferred which the King would be no means permit but commanded them presently to depart his Kingdom By this means they were forced in a most cold winter season with their wives great with child their children to depart out of Denmark the Hanse-towns refused to receive them The Churches of Saxony also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon like reason At length that poor Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Ann Oldenburg and setled at Embden Anno Christi 1555 he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of the Senate he gathered a Church of strangers especially out of Belgia From thence the year after he wrote a Letter to the King of Poland and his Council vindicating his Doctrine from some aspersions cast upon it by Westphalus Timan and Pomeran shewing that their Doctrine about Consubstantiation was contrary to the sense of the Scripture to the analogie of faith and to the generall judgement of the Churches of Christ and that it could not be retained without contumely to Christ He complained also that his Doctrine about the Sacrament was onely condemned by reason of prejudice That his adversaries dealt with him after the manner of the Papists who carry their business not by Scripture and arguments but by force accusing all for Hereticks which close not with them in all things About the same time many
him chose him to be their Pastor and sent to request his coming to them many also of his old English friends that lived as exiles there much pressed it Yea and Calvin also wrote to him desiring him to imbrace the Call Martyr being thus importunately pressed to remove thither and having many engagements to incline him that way yet referred the whole matter to be determined by the Senate and Ministers at Zurick and they understanding that there were other able and fit men to be placed over the Italian Congregation denying their consents to part with him he resolved to stay notwithstanding all solicitations to the contrary And afterwards when in Queen Elizabeths dayes he was much importuned to return into England and had large proffers made him from the Queen yet he would not leave his flock till his death And how ready he was to be serviceable to other Churches may appear by this example The year before his death the King of France had appointed a meeting of the Bishops and Nobility at Possy whereupon they of the reformed Religion in France thought that it was a very seasonable time to procure a conference about Religion which might much tend to the peace and liberty of the Church Upon this the Churches chose certaine Delegates which in that Parliament should move for the liberty of Religion And they chose also many learned men who should dispute with their adversaries about the same and because the singular learning and incomparable dexterity of Peter Martyr in disputing was sufficiently knowne they in the first place made choice of him for one and sent one Claudius Bradella with Theodore Beza to Zurick to try his willingness to accept of that imployment and when he had declared his readiness shortly after came Letters from the King the Queen Mother the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Admirall Coligni to the Senate of Zurick to desire them to send Martyr withall sending him a safe conduct whereupon he undertook the journey and when he came to Possy he made an Oration to the Queen exhorting her to seek not onely the quiet of France but of other Churches by promoting true Religion shewing also what a blessing she might expect from God thereby The Queen entertained him kindly and so did the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Admirall of France But the Cardinall of Lorrain sought to hinder the disputation all that possibly he could yet when he could not prevail five of each party were chosen out to dispute the business about the Lords Supper in private having onely two Notaries present and after severall days disputation something was drawn up as the result of all which with some explanations Beza Marlorat Martyr Spina and the Lord of Sole subscribed unto But when the same was presented to the Cardinal and Popish Bishops they complained of their Disputants as having consented to that which was Heresie and so by their authority they brake off the Disputation and departed Whereupon Martyr addressed himself to the Queen seeing that he was like to do no good there desiring license to depart which she consented to and he returned to Zurick with a large testimony of his worthy carriage and a guard from the Prince of Conde and the Admiral for his safety Thus having worn out himself with his indefatigable labours and having his spirits much exhausted with grief for the afflicted condition of the Churches of France he fell sick of a Feaver made his Will and to his Friends that visited him he spake chearfully and comfortably telling them that his body was weak but inwardly he enjoyed much peace and comfort He made before them an excellent Confession of his Faith concluding thus This is my faith and they that teach otherwise to the withdrawing men from God God will destroy them He gave them his hand and bid them farewel and commending his soul to God he slept in the Lord and was buried honourably Anno Christi 1562 and of his age 62. Opera haec ab ipso edita sunt Symboli expositio Comment in Cor. 1. Comment in lib. Judicum Epist. ad Rom. Defensio Doctrinae de Eucharistiae Sacramento contra S. Gardiner Disputatio de Eucharistiae Sacramento habita Oxon. Defensio ad duos libellos Rich. Smithaei Post obitum hi libri editi sunt Comment in Sam. 1. 2. Reg. 1. in 11 capita priora Reg. 2. Comment in 1 librum Mosis Precum ex Psalmis libellus Epitome defensionis adversus S. Gardinerum Confessio de coena Domini ad Senat. Argento Sententia de praesentia corporis Christi in Eucharistia proposita in Colloâ— Possiaco Epistola de causa Eucharistiae Loci communes Conciones Quaestiones Responsa Epistolae Comment in Exod. In Prophetas aliquot minores In tres priores libros Ethicorum Aristotelis Beza made this Epigram of him Tuscia te pepulit Germania Anglia fovit Martyr quem extinctum nunc tegit Helvetia Dicere quae si vera volent re nomine dicent Hic fidus Christi credite Martyr erat Utque istae taceaut satis hoc tua scripta loquuntur Plus satis hoc Italis exprâ—brat exilium The Life of Amsdorfius who died A no Christi 1563. NIcolas Amsdorfius was born in Misnia of noble parents Anno Christi 1â—83 and brought up in Learning Anno Christi 1502 from Schoole he went to the University of Wittenberg about that time that Luther began to preach against Indulgences And contrary to the custome of the Nobility of those times he applied his minde to the study of Theology and contemplation of heavenly things In An. Christi 1504 he commenced Master of Arts and afterwards Licentiate in Divinitie He timely embraced the Truth that brake forth in those times and not consulting with fleshâ—and blood preached it to others He accompanied Luther to Wormes Anno Christi 1521 when he was called to give an account of his Faith before Caesar and the States of the Empire In the time of Luther's recesse into his Pathmos he with Melancthon Justus Jonas and John Dulcius being sent to by the Elector of Saxony for their judgements about the Mass declared that it was an horrible prophanation of the Lords Supper whence ensued the abolishing of it out of all Churches in Wittenberg Anno Christi 1523 he wrote in a book dedicacated to the Elector of Saxony that the Pope was Antichrist Anno Christi 1524 Luther being sent for to Magdeburg went thither and having preached to them commended to them and afterwards sent Amsdorfius to gather and instruct the Churches there who faithfully laboured eighteen years in that place During his abode there the Senate of Goslaria sent for him to reform their Churches and he at his coming setled the same form of Doctrine and Discipline amongst them as was used at Wittenberg and
that taking heed of Blandatra and his followers they should so assert Christ to be our Mediator according to both his natures that in the mean time they should not multiply Deities But this labour of his was vaine towards them that were to perish About this time the Bohemian Waldenses sent two of their brethren to Master Calvin to desire his judgment about some matters of Religion whom he lovingly satisfied exhorting them also that they would enter into a neerer conjunction with other Reformed Churches At the same time also Q. Mary being dead and Queen Elizabeth succeeding many of the godly French relying upon her piety and humanity fled for refuge into England with the consent of tha reverend man Edmund Grindal Bishop of London they craved leave of her that one might be sent from Geneva to plant a French Church there whereupon Galacius was sent Towards the latter end of this yeare King Francis of France dyed suddenly and that in such a juncture of time when all things seemed so desperate that they could not be cured but by God himself and King Charls the ninth a child was searce entred into his Kindom when by a Herald Letters subscribed with his name were brought to Geneva wherein he complained that many were sent out from thence that infected his Kingdom desiring that they might be presently called back threatning that otherwise he would not let passe the revenging of that injury Mast. Calvin being hereupon sent for by the Senate answered in his owne and in his Colleagues names that at the request of the Churches of France they had exhorted certain men that were sound in the faith and of an holy life whom they judged fit for the work that they should not be wanting to lend their help to their Country in so holy a cause especially the Churches craving assistance from them for their further edification And that this they had done not to disturb the Kingdome but that the people might be taught the Gospel of peace and if they were accused for any thing further then this that they were ready to answer their accusers before the King So this business went no further The same year Master Calvin and Master Beza answered the impudent book of Tileman Hushusius Master Calvin also confuted those blasphemies which Gentilis had published at Lions against him and Athanasius He published also his Lectures upon Daniel which he dedicated to the French Churches and as he interpreted that Prophet so in his Praeface he was himselfe a Prophet so etelling the tempest that hung over them At which time also Francis Balduinus afterwards called Ecebolius because he had changed his religion three or four time being suborned by the Cardinall of Lorrain by evill means reconciled to the King of Navar dispersed a certain book up and down the Court written either by himself or as some rather thought by Cassander wherein he stiled himself a pious and moderate man which book was worse then the Emperors Interim for that under the specious pretence of restoring moderation he sought to bring in all the Popish corruptions Master Calvin being informed hereof published an answer to this book to which some other answers were shortly after added which made a full discovery of the wit and purpose of Balduinus which this railer could by no means digest whereupon he never gave over to brand Calvin and Beza with his impudent reproaches till the year after being growne odious both to God and men of both Religions whom he had so often deceived by his turning whilst he was following a suit of Law at Paris he wore away and ended his wretched life In the year 1562. God gave peace and liberty to the French Churches by a publick Edict of the Kings But not long after the King of Navar being suborned by Popish subtilty presently after the Duke of Guise had committted that abominable massacre at Vassy began that civil war which continued many years after to the miserable devastation of France and it cannot be spoken how much Master Calvin was affected and afflicted therewith which so far increased his disease that it was easie to divine that it would not be long before he was translated to a better life yet did he not desist from exhorting and comforting every one no nor from preaching and reading his ordinary Lectures And the same yeare he published that excellent confession of Faith which was sent to the States of the Empire met together at Franckeford in the name of the Prince of Conde and of all the Godly in France who besides the injuries which they sustained by an unjust war were unworthly traduced to the Germans as if they held many false and monstrous opinions One thing also is not to be pretermitted that on the nineteenth of Decem. Master Calvin lying in bed sick of the Gout being the Sabbath day and the North-wind having blowne two dayes strongly said to many that were present Truly I know not what is the matter but I thought this night I heard warlick drums beating very loud and I could not perswade my selfe but it was so Let us therefore goe to prayers for surely some great businesse is in hand And this very day there was a great Battail fought between the Guisians and the Protestants not far from Paris news whereof came unto Geneva within a few days after The year after which was 1563. Master Calvins disease did so far increase that it was almost incredible that so weak a body exhausted with so many labours and worne out with so many diseases should yet retaine so valiant and generous a mind So that even then he could not be perswaded to favour himself and if at any time he abstained from his publick labours which yet he never did but when by necessity he was enforced thereto yet he was busie at home either in giving counsell to those that sought it or in dictating to his Scribes the witnesses whereof are those two serious admonitions to the Polomans to take heed of those blasphemous persons which denyed the Sacred Trinity The answers which he returned to the brethrens Messengers who were now met in a Synod at Lions his Commentaries upon the foure books of Moses which himselfe turned out of Latin into French And lastly his commentary upon Joshua which he now began and finished a little before his death In the year 1564. Feb. the sixth Master Calvin being short-winded by reason of a stopping in his lungs preached his last Sermon and from thence forward he spake little onely now and then he would be carried to the Congregation the last time being March the last His diseases being contracted by the incredible labours both of his mind and body were very many For besides that naturally he was but of a weak body leane and inclinable to a Consumption he slept little spent a great part of the
stripes gained to Christ multitudes in Montbelgard Aquileia Lausanna Geneva and Neocome There was in him besides piety learning innocency of life and exemplary modesty a certain singular presence of mind sharp wit and vehemency of speech so that he rather seemed to thunder then speak and lastly such admirable fervency in his prayers that he seemed to carry his hearers into heaven with him Farellus concionibus magis quam scriptionibus operam dedit Edidit tamen Themata quaedam disputanda Basiliae excusa Latinè Germanicè Disputationem Bernae habitam Latinè anno 1528. Beza made these verses of him Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia semper Quo nemo docuit doctius Est quoque te semper mirata Farelle tonantem Quo nemo tonuit fortius PET PAV VERGERIVS The Life of Vergerius who died Anno Christi 1562. PEter Paul Vergerius was a man excellently learned both in the Law and Popish Divinity wherein hee attained the highest degrees Anno Christi 1530 at which time that famous Convention at Augsburg was appointed hee was sent by Pope Clement the seventh as his Legate into Germany to improve his uttermost abilities to hinder a National Council and accordingly he bestirred himselfe to hinder and endamage the Lutherans and that he might the better encourage the Popish Divines viz. Faber Eccius Cochlaeus and Nausea to play the men in their Masters cause he bestowed sundry favours and gifts upon them He also by his Legantine power made Eccius Cannon of Ratisbone Anno Christi 1534 Paul the third sent for him to Rome to give an account of the state of affairs in Germany which when he had done the Pope deliberated with his Cardinals what course was fittest to be taken to prevent a Nationall Council till as Caesar and the other Kings could be stirred up to war by their secret instigations and so after a while he sent back Vergerius into Germany to promise the Princes that a General Council should be held at Mantua but withall to prescribe such rules about comming to it as he knew the Protestant Divines would not accept of He had in charge also to stirre up the Prince's mindes against the King of England and to profer his Kingdom to whosoever would conquer it and to try if by any meanes he could take off Luther and Melancthon from prosecuting what they had begunne There were also nine Cardinals and Bishops chosen out the better to delude the Germans who were to consider of and to prescribe a form of Reforming the Church which accordingly they did Hereupon Anno Christi 1535 he went back from Rome into Germany to King Ferdinand where he met with the Lantgrave of Hesse and opened to him the Popes purpose of calling a Councill After which he went to the rest of the Princes to impart the same to them also Then went hee to Luther at Wittenberg where with better diligence then successe hee prosecuted what hee had in Commission to him About the end of that year the Princes by their writing returned answer to Vergerius And the year after when Caesar went to Naples Vergerius was called home by the Pope to whom he shewed the success of his affairs viz. That the Protestants required a free and Christian Councill to be convened within the borders of Germany as the Emperour had promised That there was no hope of gaining Luther and his associates but by their destruction That the Protestant Princes would not hearken to any thing about England and that the other Princes were very cold also in that cause and that George Duke of Saxony had told him that there was great danger from the Lutherans which could by no other means be prevented except the Emperour and Pope would make war with them Hereupon the Pope commanded him to make all the haste he could to Naples to acquaint the Emperour herewith especially to excite him all hee could to take up armes against the Lutherans But when Caesar came to Rome Anno Christi 1536 he pressed the Pope for a Generall Councill desiring to carry back with him into Germany the Patent for it The Pope denyed not his request but told him that hee would chuse a City in Italy for it and that he would prescribe such Rules for it as were most necessary for the Roman Church Caesar answered that if he would call a Councill he much cared not where it was presuming that he could bring the greatest part of the Germans along with him to it Then did the Pope with his assistants draw up a Patent for it at which time he made Vergerius first Bishop of Modrusium and shortly after of Justinople Anno Christi 1537 the Pope intending to send another Legate into Germany commanded Vergerius to acquaint him with the state of the Country and how he should deport himself amongst them but both Master and Scholar lost their labour with the German Princes Anno Christi 1541 Vergerius was again sent into Germany to the Convention at Worms in the name indeed of the King of France but in truth that under that pretence he might the better promote the Popes affairs at which time he wrote his book De unitate pace Ecclesiae The scope whereof was to take off the Germans from thinking of a National Council Thus Vergerius for a long time had been serviceable to the Popes and had promoted their interest he had also â—â—ttained great favour with Princes and Kings and King Ferdinand did so highly esteem him that he made him Godfather to his Daughter Katherine Yet at last he fell off from the Pope by this wonderfull occasion After the Convention at Wormes he was called back to Rome and the Pope being to make some Cardinals intended to make Vergerius one but some suggested that he had been so long in Germany that he smelled of a Lutheran which made the Pope to alter his purpose which when Vergerius was informed of by Cardinal Ginucius to whom the Pope had told it he was wonderfully astonished and that he might purge himself went into his own country purposing to write a booke with this title Against the Apostate Germans But it pleased God that whilst he read over his adversaries books with an intent to confute them himself was converted by them Whereupon casting off all desires of a Cardinalship he retired himself to his brother John Baptista Bishop of Pola and communicating his thoughts to him asked his advice His brother at first was much astonished and bewailed his condition but after a while was perswaded by him to read and study the Scriptures especially in the point of Justification by Faith wherby it pleased God that he also saw the Popish Doctrines to be false and so they both became zealous Preachers of Christ to the people of Istria diligently inculcating the wonderful benefits which we have by Christ and shewing what
answered him stoutly That such arguments might prevail with children but could not with him Having leave at last through bribes to lie amongst the other captives in a more open and cleanly place he wonderfully refreshed and comforted them by his godly exhortations and consolations drawn from the Scriptures whereby they were much confirmed in the Christian Faith And whereas before they were almost pined through want of food God so stirred up the hearts of some to bring relief to Zegedine that all the rest of the prisoners were provided for plentifully thereby Remaining thus in prison he was not idle but wrote there his Common-places and some other Works and his Citizens having tried all means and used the intercession of all their friends for his release began now almost to despair of obtaining it And to adde to his affliction it pleased God in the time of his imprisonment which was above a year three of his children died which added much to his affliction But when all hopes failed let us see by what means through Gods mercy he obtained his liberty It pleased God that a noble Baron and his Lady passing by that way saw this worthy man of God in so miserable a plight that the Lady much pittyed him and afterwards being in Child-bed and ready to dye she requested her Lord who loved her dearly for her sake to improve all his interest in the Beg to procure Zegedines liberty which he with an oath promised to perform and accordingly engaged himself to the Turk that he should pay 1200 Florens for his ransom upon which he was released and went about to divers Cities to gather his ransom and God so enlarged mens hearts towards him that in a short time he carried 800 Florens to this Baron and so returned to his people at Calmantsem The year after being 1564 as he was going by coach to Buda when the horses came near the River Danubius being very hot and dry they ran violently into the river but behold the admirable providence of God when they had swam some twenty paces in the river they turned back again of their own accord and drew the coach and him safely to the shore The same year by Imposition of hands he ordained three excellent men Ministers Aboâ—â— that time there came a bragging Friar and challenged him to a disputation which he willingly accepting of the great Church was appointed for the place and many of both sides resorted thither and the Friar came with much confidence hiâ— servants carrying a great sack of book◠〈◊〉 But in the disputation Zegedine did so baffle him that 〈…〉 shrunk away with shame aâ—d he Frier with his great 〈◊〉 was left all alone so that himself was faine to take it on his own shoulders and go his way About that time the Vayvod who had before betrayed him coming to the place where Zegedine was desired to speake with him and requested him to forgive him professing that he could rest neither night nor day he was so haunted with apparitions and the Furies of his own conscience which Zegedine easily assented unto An. Christi 1566 Zegedine being very hot invited a friend to go with him to the River of Danubius to bathe themselves but as they were swimming his friend looking about him saw not Zegedine and wondering what was become of him so suddenly at last spied his hoary hairs appearing above water and swimming swiftly to him Zegedine was sunk whereupon he diving to the bottom of the river caught hold of him and drew him forth carrying him to a Mill that was not far off where he laid him to bed About midnight Zegedine coming to himselfe enquired how he came there and who drew him out of the River his friend told him the whole story and kept him carefully till he recovered Anno Christi 1572 he fell into a lingring disease in which he loathed meat slept little was much troubled with rheume complained of Head-ach and could find no ease either sitting standing or lying yet he drank much milk and thought that if he could procure some sleep hee might easily recover his former health whereupon he sent for a Chirurgion who gave him a bitter potion which caused him to fall asleep but after a little while he quietly breathed forth his last being 67 years old Anno Christi 1572. He was a zealous assertor of the Truth against Arianism Mahometism and Papism with all which Heresies Hungary at that time was much infected His writings were these Adsertio de Trinitate contra quorundam deliramenta in quibusdam Hungariae partibus exorta Speculum Romanorum Pontificum Loci communes Theologicae Tabulae analyticae de fide Christiana J. KNOX The Life of John Knox who died A no Christi 1572. JOhn Knox was born at Gifford in Lothaine in Scotland Anno 1505. of honest parentage Brought up first at School then sent to the University of Saint Andrews to study under Mr. Jo. Mair who was famous for learning in those dayes and under whom in a short time he profited exceedingly in Philosophy and School-Divinity and tooke his Degrees and afterwards was admitted very young into Orders Then he betook himself to the reading of the Fathers especially Augustines and Hieroms Works and lastly to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures by which being through Gods mercy informed of the Truth he willingly embraced it and freely professed it and imparted it to others But the Bishops and Friers could by no means endure that light which discovered their darknesse and therefore presently raised up a persecution against him especially David Beton Archbishop and Cardinal who caused him to be apprehended and cast into prison purposing to have sacrificed him in the flames But it pleased God by a special providence that he was delivered and therefore presently fled to Berwick to the English where he preached the Truth of the Gospel with great fruit and defended it against the Popish party so that his fame spread abroad exceedingly Hee preached also at Newcastle London and in some other places So that K. Edw the sixth taking notice of him profered him a Bishoprick which he rejected as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo Something in it common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the persecution raised by Queen Mary made him leave England and goe to Franckfort upon Maine where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation But meeting with opposition there both from Papists and false brethren he went to Geneva where also he preached to an English Congregation and was very intimate with Master Ralvin continuing there some years Anno Christi 1559 and of his Age 54 the Nobility of Scotland with some others beginning the reformation of Religion sent for him home and at his coming to Edenborough he was lodged in the house
to Queen Elizabeth for aid and till it came to retire themselves towards the Highlands for their safety In the mean time the Queen Regent with her French men went from place to place plundering spoyling and making havock of all without resistance which so puffed her up with pride that she boastingly said Where is now John Knox his God My God is now stronger then his yea even in Fife But her brags lasted not long For the Earle of Arrane and the Lord James went to Desert having not above five hundred Horse and a hundred Foot whereas the French were above four thousand besides such Scots as adhered to them and yet the Protestants skirmished daily with them sometimes from morning till night and ever went away with the better killing four for one which continued for one and twenty dayes together during all which time they never put off either clothes or boots And at the end of that time came into Edenborough Frith a Fleet of the English to assist the Protestants which filled their hearts with joy and the French with rage and madnesse Thither came also some Forces by land under the command of the Lord Grey And after an agreement made with the Scottish Lords some of the English and Scots attempted to take Leith by storm and in a cruell conflict some of them gat upon the walls but the scaling-ladders proving too short they were not seconded by their fellows and so after divers hours sight were forced to retire which the Queen Regent beholding from Edenborough Castle walls burst out into a great laughter saying Now wil I go to Masse and praise God for that which mine eyes have seen And when the French had stripped the slaine and layd their naked bodyes along their walls the Queen looking on them said Yonder are the fairest Tapestries that ever mine eyes beheld I would that the whole fields which are betwixt Leith and this place were all strewed with the same stuffe But this joy lasted not long for a fire kindling in Leith many houses and much of their provision was consumed thereby and the Queen Regent falling sick shortly after died whereupon the King of France sent Ambassadors to Queen Eliz. to conclude a peace which was effected and the English and French Armies were drawn out of Scotland to the great joy of that Nation insomuch that Thanksgivings for their great deliverance by the help of the English were inserted into their Liturgie And presently after some Commissioners of the Scottish Nobility were appointed to settle Ministers in their places by whom Master Knox was setled at Edenborough where he preached many excellent Sermons Anno Christi 1566 the Earl of Murray being slaine on the Saturday Knox preaching at Edenborough the next day amongst the papers given in of those that desired the prayers of the Church he found one with these words Take up the man whom ye accounted another God At the end of his Sermon he bemoaned the losse which the Church and State had by the death of that virtuous man adding further There is one in this companie that makes this horrible murther the subject of his mirth for which all good men should be sorry but I tell him hee shall dye where there shall be none to lament him The man that had written those words was one Thomas Metellan a young Gentleman of excellent parts but bearing small affection to the Earle of Murray He hearing this commination of John Knox went home to his Sister and said That John Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom His Sister replyed with tears If you had taken my advice you had not written those words saying further That none of John Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect and so indeed this came to passe for shortly after this Gentleman going to travel died in Italy having none to assist much lesse to lament him Towards Master Knox his latter end his body became very infirm and his voice so weak that people could not hear him in the ordinary place wherefore he chose another place wherein he preached upon the history of Christs Passion with which he said It was his desire to close his Ministry Finding his end near he importuned the Council of the City to provide themselves a worthy man to succeed in his place Master Iames Lawson Professor in Aberdene was the man pitched upon and Commissioners were sent from the Church of Edenborough to request him to accept of the place Iohn Knox also subscribed that request adding Accelera mifrater alioqui sero venies Hast my brother otherwise you will come too late This made Master Lawson to hasten his journey and when he was come he preached twice to the good liking of the people whereupon order was taken by the Rulers of the Church for his admission at which time Iohn Knox would needs preach though very weâ—k which also he performed with such servency of spirit that he was never before heard to preach with such great power or more content to the hearers In the end of his Sermon he called God to witnesse That he had walked in a good conscience with them not seeking to please men nor serving either his own or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth had preached the Gospel of Christ. He exhorted them in most grave and pithy words to stand fast in the faith they had received and so having prayed zealously for Gods blessing upon them and the multiplying of Gods spirit upon their new Pastor hee gave them his last farewell Being conveyed to his lodging that afternoone he was forced to betake himself to his bed and was visited by all sorts of persons in his sickness to whom he spake most comfortably Amongst others the Earl of Morton came to see him to whom hee said My Lord God hath given you many blessings Wisdom Honour Nobility Riches many good and great Friends and he is now about to prefer you to the government of of the Realm the Earl of Marr the late Regent being newly dead In his name I charge you use these blessings better then formerly you have done seeking first the glory of God the furtherance of his Gospel the maintenance of his Church and Ministry and then be carefull of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realm If you doe thus God will be with you and honour you If otherwise he will deprive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignominy These speeches the Earl called to mind about nine years after at the time of his execution saying That he had found John Knox to be a Prophet A day or two before Knox ' s death he sent for Master David Lindsey Mr. Lawson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church to whom he said The time is approaching which I have long thirsted for
reason of his many imployments he had no time to follow his book there he thought it better to betake himselfe to the service of some learned man So going to Paris and being admitted into the Colledg of Navar he laboured hard all day for his Masters and spent a great part of the night in study so that in a short time he was made Master of Arts and Laureat Poet. And the Professors in that Colledge every one taking much delight in his diligence each strove to forward him in Learning and lent him such books as he needed Then he betook himselfe to instructing others and to exercise himselfe in private Lectures till thereby he had fitted himselfe for more publick imployments Which when he had done he was appointed publickly to read Logick and when he was twenty one years old he published his Logick with some Animadversions upon Aristotle This procured him much love every one admiring such ripe parts in so young a man and envy being the usuall Concomitant of vertue he had also many that envied and aspersed him especially the Sâ—rbone Doctors who accused him of Heresie in Philosophie for that he being but a Novice durst take upon him to correct Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers and by their authority they so far prevailed that Ramus was forbidden to read or write any more of Philosophy This being very grievous to him it pleased God to stir up the heart of the Governour of another Colledge to send for him to assist him in restoring of that Colledge which was now empty the Students being all fled by reason of the infection of the Plague And it came to pass that in a short time Ramus being so famous a man the Colledge was better stored with students then ever it had been before The Sâ—rbonists much raged at this and laboured to sow division between the Governour of the Colledge and him Yet Ramus carried himself with so much candor and ingenuity that they lived together with much concord At last that Governour dying Ramus succeeded him by the Cardinall of Lorrains means who was a great favourer of learning he was made the Regius Professor of Rhetorick and Philosophy Anno Christi 1551 and of his age 36. His fame spreading into all the Universities of Christendome there were may Princes that strove to get him out of France profering him large stipends if hee would come to them but he being now famous in France preferred his own Country before all others and therefore rejected all their offers In Paris he had so great esteem that though his enemies strongly opposed it yet he was made Dean of the whole University And so having obtained a more quiet kind of life hee betooke himselfe to the studie of the Mathematicks wherein he grew very exquisite But when the Civill Warrs brake forth in France for Religion and that none could safely enjoy themselves or any thing that they had whilst under pretence of Religion every one revenged his own private quarrels upon others Ramus to free himself from this tempest left Paris and went to Fountanblew where the Kings Library was yet neither there could he be in safety so that at last hee was compelled to betake himselfe to the Camp of the Prince of Conde But when he saw that France was no fit place for him for the present to reside in hee resolved to travell into Germany till God should restore peace to his Country again And accordingly he went to Strasborough Basil Lausanna Zurick Heidleberg Norenberg and Augsburg and was entertained in all these Universities with great applause and with much joy by all Learned men When the Civill War was ended in France he returned to Paris again Where he remained in his former imployment as the Kings Professor in Logick till that horrible Massacre happened on St. Bartholmews day wherein so many thousands perished by the cruel hands of bloody Papists At which time he was in the Colledge of Priests and the Colledge gates being fast shut he locked himselfe up in his owne house till those furious Papists brake open his doores and finding him ranne him thorow and being half dead threw him out of his window so that his bowels issued out on the stones and not being satisfied therewith they cut off his head dragged his body about the streets in the channels and some young Scholars were set on by their Popish Tutors to whip it in a most contemptuous manner and at last it was thrown into the River of Sein Anno Christi 1572 and of his Age 57. After which also they seized upon his Goods Library and Writings whereby many excellent Commentaries and other Works not fully compleat perished to the great loss of Learned men He wrote a Grammer Rhetorick Logick of Mathematicks and divers other excellent Works The Life of Matthew Parker who died Anno Christi 1574. MAtthew Parker was born in the City of Norwich Anno Christi 1502 and having spent some years at School went to Cambridge where he was admitted into Corpns Christi Bennet Colledge in which place he profited so much that he was chosen Fellow and grew so famous that Queen Anâ—â— Bullen Mother to Queen Elizabeth made him her Chaplain whereupon he Commenced Doctor in Divinity And after her death King Henry the eighth and after his death King Edward the sixth made him their Chaplains and preferred him to be Master of Bennet Colledge Besides other Ecclesiasticall dignities which they advanced him to But in Queen Maries daies he was dispoyled of all and was compelled to live a poor and private life But so soon as Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown shee made choice of this Dr. Parker for his admirable learning and piety to be the Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1559. For Decemb. 17 the Dean and Chapter of the Church of Canterbury having received their Congedelier from the Queen and proceeding in their election according to the ancient and laudible custome of the aforesaid Church chose Dr. Parker for their Archbishop whereof they made a returne to the Queens Majesty for her confirmation whereupon the Queen sent her Letters Patents to seven Bishops six whereof were lately returned from their voluntary exile for his consecration The Bishops were Anthony Bishop of Landaffe William Barlow Bishop of Bath and Wells John Scory Bishop of Hâ—reford Miles Coverdale late Bishop of Exetâ—r John Suffragan of Bedford John Suffragan of Thetford and John Bale Bishop of Osâ—ry in Ireland and accordingly he was consecrated by them and lived in that place with great commendation for above fifteene years His works of Charity were very eminent He gave to the Corporation of Norwich where he was born a Bason and Ewr double gilt weighing 173 ounces as also fifty shillings a yeare for ever to be distributed amongst the poore of that City And
History He had two Wives the first of which was Bullingers daughter who died without issue by the second who was Gualters daughter he had three sons and one daughter He was tall of stature fat fair and strong but that he was somewhat weakned by the Gout He had such an amiable face that his sweet manners might bee seen in his countenance as in a glass In his habit and diet he was neither too sumptuous nor too fordid best liking cleanlinesse and neatness Scripsit Praelectiones in Exodum De aeterno Dei Filio adversus Arianos Tritheitas Samosetaninos Adversus eosdem de S. Sancto Narrationem veterum controversiarum de una â—ersonâ— duabus naturis Christi c. cum multis aliis The particulars you may find in Verheiden The Life of Immanuel Tremelius who died A no Christi 1580. IMmanuel Tremelius was born in Ferrara having a Jew to his Father who so educated him that hee was very skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue Hee was converted by PeterMartyr and went with him to Lucca where he taught Hebrew From thence he went with him to Strasborough and from thence into England under King Edward the sixth after whose death he returned into Germany And in the School of Hornback under the Duke of Bâ—â—â—â—t he taught Hebrew From thence he was called to Heidleberg under Frederick the third Elector Palatine where he was Professor of the Hebrew tongue and translated the Syriack Testament into Latine There also he set upon the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew associated to himself in that work Fr. Junius who after the death of Tremelius perused the whole work and by adding many things rather made it larger then better in some mens judgement In his old age he left Heidleberg and by the Duke of Bulloin was called to be Hebrew Professor in his new University of Sedan where he dyed Anno Christi 1580 and of his Age seventy He wrote a Chalde and Syriack Grammer hee published the New Testament in Latine and Syriack An exposition upon the Prophet Hosea Together with Junius he translated the Hebrew Bible adding short annotations And lastly Bucers Lectures upon the Epistle to the Ephesians The Life of Peter Boquine who died Anno Christi 1582. PEter Boquinus was borne in Aquitane and being in his youth brought up in learning he entred into a Monastery at Biturg where he was made the Prior and was very much beloved of all the Convent But it pleased God in the midst of all his riches and honours to discover the Truth to him and thereupon after the example of Luther Bucer Oecolampadius and Peter Martyr he resolved to leave all and to follow Christ whose example divers of the Friers also followed From thence he went toward Wittenberg being very desirous to be acquainted with Luther and Melancthon whose fame was very great and some of whose works he had met with and read and so travelling through Germany he came to Basil where he wintered by reason of the Plague very rife at that time in many Countries There he diligently heard the Lectures of Myconius Caralostadius and Sebastian Munster Anno Christi 1542 from thence he went to Lipsich where he stayed three weeks and so went to Wittenberg Coming hither he had some converse with Luther but more with Melancthon And whilst he was there Bucer sent to Melancthon to request him to send an able man to Strasborough to supply Calvins place who was now gone back to Geneva whereupon Melancthon requested Boquine to goe thither which he accordingly did and began to read upon the Epistle to the Galatians Shortly after Peter Martyr came thither also But Bucer being sent for by the Arch-bishop of Collen to assist him in the reformation of his Churches Boquine finding that the Ecclesiasticall and Scholasticall affaires went but slowly forward in his absence upon the request of his brother who was a Doctor of Divinity and not altogether estranged from the Reformed Religion he resolved to goe back into France and so taking Basil in his way he went to Geneva where he heard Calvin preach and had some speech with him and from thence to Biturg where he lived with his brother the Doctor mentioned before and when some hope began to appear that the Churches of France would be reformed at the instigation of his brother he began publickly to read Hebrew and to expound the Scriptures About that time Francis King of France being dead the Queen of Navar came into those parts about the marriage of her daughter to whom Boquine went and presented her with a book written with his own hand about the necessity and use of the holy Scriptures and her daughter with another concerning our spiritual husband Jesus Christ whereupon she took him into her Patronage and allowed him a yearly stipend out of her treasury appointing him to preach a publick Lecture in the great Church in Biturg Whereunto also the Arch-Bishop consented Shortly after the Queen of Navar dying there succeeded to her King Henries sister as in name and stock so also in Doctrine and Piety not unlike her Whereupon Boquine went and presented her with a book which he had written De homine perfecto which she took so gratefully that she confirmed his former stipend to him and he made use of that favour so long as he thought his labours were not unprofitable to the Church but when he saw that there was no hope of any further Reformation in France and that his enemies lay in wait for his life he gave it over of his own accord At that time he underwent the bitter hatred of some Friers and other enemies of the truth by whom his life was in great danger For he was summoned to appear before the Parliament of Paris and then before the Arch-Bishop of Biturg where his life was sought but God raised up some men to stand for him whereby he was delivered from the present danger Then did he resolve to fly into England but hearing of King Edwards death he altered his purpose and by the perswasion of a friend he resolved to returne to his people in Germany and so accordingly accompanied with two young men he went to Strasborough and when he had scarce been there a month it so fell out that the French Church in that place wanted a Pastor and chose him to that office yet for sundry reasons he refused to accept of it till by the perswasion of John Sturmius and some other friends he was content to preach to them till they could provide them another That place he discharged for about the space of four months conflicting with many difficulties and meeting with much trouble by reason of the improbity and perfidiousnesse of some At the end of which time the Senat with the consent of the Church appointed Peter Alexander to be their Pastor and so Boquine
praier to search out the Truth and it pleased God accordingly to reveal it unto him as also the many Errors in Popery and the necessity of separating from that Apostatical Church In the mean while Cuthbert Tunstal Bishop of Durham being his Uncle resolved to send him beyond-sea to visit the Churches in forrein parts and to allow him meanes for his travel But before his going he was called to preach before King Edward the sixth which he performed with good approbation Whilst he was resolving upon his journy he had a Parsonage given him which Tunstal perswaded him to keep to maintaine him in his travels but he sending for a friend whom he knew to be learned and religious resign'd his Parsonage to him For which when it came to the knowledge of Tunstal he chid him sharply and told him That he would die a begger but he excused it saying That he could not keep it with the peace of his conscience But said the Bishop thou shalt have a Dispensation To whom Gilpin answered That he feared when he came to stand before Christs Tribunal it would not serve his turn to plead a Dispensation c. When he came beyond sea he went to Lovan Antwerp and Paris And after a while Tunstal sent again to perswade him to accept of a Parsonage which he would conferre upon him To whom he wrote back that he had discussed the question with all the learned especially with the Prophets and best Writers since Christ's time so that he was fully resolved not to burthen his conscience by accepting of a Charge which he could not live upon c. Whilst he was at Paris Tunstal sent him over a book which himself had written about the Presence of Christ in the Sacrament to be printed there which Gilpin performed faithfully He returned into England after three years in Queen Maries reign and beheld to his great griefe the Church oppressed with blood and fire and being placed by Tunstal in the Rectory of Essingdon he began sharply to tax the vices which then reigned in the Church and propounded the Doctrine of Salvation plainly and soundly which procured him many enemies especially of the Clergy who accused him often to the Bishop for an Heretick But Tunstal could not endure to shed blood and therefore dealt mildly with him At a certaine time the Bishops Chaplains discoursed with him about Luther and the Sacrament of the Altar whom he answered so judiciously that the Bishop hearing their discourse said to his Chaplains Let him alone for he hath more learning then you all The Archdeaconry of Durham being annexed to the Parsonage of Essingdon Master Gilpin for a time supplied both places but after a while hee wrote to the Bishop desiring that he might have his good will to resigne one of them which the Bishop was very angry at saying I told thee thou wouldst die a beggar Not long after the Bishop conferred upon him instead of them the Rectory of Houghton which was a great Parish and a very fine seat Hee took great care to perform the duties of the Ministry amongst his people and seeing the miserable condition of many places in those parts where the Tithes being Impropriated the Souls of the people were starved hee preached often abroad also And once a year he took a journey into Northumberland Riddesdale and Tindale usually about Christmasse because of the opportunnity of so many Holy-daies where he gat himselfe much esteem by his preaching to those barbarous people and distributing mony to the poore Sometimes he was forced to lodge in the snow all night in that journey at which times hee made his man to trot his horses up and down whilst he bestirred himself that he might not perish with the cold Once as he returned home a husbandman as he was ploughing had a horse in his team that fell down and died for which he made great moan whereupon Master Gilpin caused his man to alight and take off his saddle and bridle and so to carry them to the next town and gave his horse to this husbandman And when by chance he met with any naked poor people he would pull off some of his own clothes and give them In the towne of Houghton there was a street of poore people for whose reliefe every Thursday he caused a great pot of meat to be boyled and distributed amongst them yea his charity was such that hee was commonly called The Father of the Poor Yet had hee many enemies who often accused him to Bishop Tunstal but he abhorring to shed blood was still a sweet defence to him At last they accused him to Bonner who sent a Messenger to apprehend him whereof hee had notice before hand and therefore prepared himself for Martyrdom commanding his Steward to provide him a long garment to goe to the stake in but it pleased God that by the sudden death of Queen Mary he was freed from this danger In the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reign Mr. Gilpin was exceeding studious to do all the good that possibly he could whereupon he erected a Grammar-School allowing maintenance for a Master and Usher divers of the Scholars hee also instructed himself so that in that School were bred many that were exceedingly profitable to the Church afterwardsâ— For there was great resort to it some of which he tabled in his own house others in the town yea upon many poor mens sons he bestowed both meat drink apparel and teaching Out of this School were sent daily many to the Universities to divers of which he allowed maintenance whereby his name was renowned and the Earl of Bedford much esteemed him and procured of the Queen the Bishoprick of Carlile for him and sent him his Congedeslier but Master Gilpin returned it back with many thanks alledging his own insufficiency for the discharge of so great a place Not â—ong after also hee was much importuned to take upon him the Provosts place of Queens Colledge in Oxford but hee refused it being wholly unwilling to remove from the place where God had set him He was much given unto Hospitality insomuch as William Cecil Lord Burghley returning out of Scotland drawn with the fame of Master Gilpin came to Houghton where hee was entertained with all due respect And when hee had well observed Master Gilpin and the diligence of his servants and abundance of all things with so compleat service in the entertainment of so great and unlooked for a Guest hee said at his parting That he had heard much of Master Gilpin but what he had now seen and tried was much more then the report And thereupon when he took his leave of Master Gilpin he requested him if he had any occasion or suit at the Court that hee would make use of him to intercede for him He still continued his yearely visit of Riddesdale and Tindale where he was
bee the Divinity Professor in the University of Regiomontanum and after two years was chosen to be Bishop there Anno Christi 1587 he fell sick especially upon grief conceived for the afflicted condition of the Church in Poland and the death of his deare friend John Wedman an excellent Divine This disease encreasing and his strength decaying he prepared himselfe for death He made his owne Epitaph In Christo vixi morior vivoque Wigandus Do sordes morti caeâ—era Christe tibi In Christ I liv'd and dy'd through him I live again What 's â—ad to death I give my soul with Christ shall reigne And so in the midst of fervent prayers and assured hope of eternall life hee resigned up his spirit into the hands of God that gave it Anno Christi 1587 and of his Age sixty four Hee was a man of an excellent wit and learning and exemplary in his life Familiar gently answering to every ones question He was very courteous and grave Liberall to the poor insomuch as when he was Bishop and the poor begged of him either money or corn he would command his Steward to give them as much as they needed Hee used to Catechise his family and to require of them an account of the Sermons every Lords day He wrote many Works Explicationes in tria priora capita Geneseos Comment in Psalmos graduum poenitentiales c. Annotationes in Isaiam in Danielem in Prophetas minores in Mattheum Johannem in Epistolas ad Romanos Galatas Ephesios ad Timotheum 1 2 ad Coloss. Histor. Patefactionis divina cum multis aliis I. FOX The Life of John Fox who dyed A no Christi 1587. JOhn Fox was born at Boston in Lincolnshire Anno Christi 1517. His Father died when he was young and his Mother married again Yet his Father in Law and Mother seeing his towardliness and aptness to Learning brought him up at School and afterwards sent him to Brasen-Nose Colledge in Oxford where he was Chamber-fellow with Doctor Nowell and being of a sharp wit and very induâ—trious withall hee profited so much that in a short time hee gat the admiration of all and the love of many whereupon he was chosen Fellow of Magdalen Colledge Hee much affected Poetry and wrote some Latine Comedies of the Histories of the Bible in a copious and gracefull stile in his youth But afterwards betook himself more seriously to the study of Divinity and discovered himself to favour the Reformation then in hand when King Henry the eighth abolished the Popes Supremacie The first thing that caused him to question the popish Religion was the contradictions in it divers things in their own natures most repugnant being thrust upon men at one time both of them to be beleeved Hereupon he set himself to study the ancient and moderne History of the Church which he performed with such diligence that before he was thirty years old he had read over all that either the Greek or Latine Fathers had written of it As also the Schoolmens Disputation the Councils Acts and the Consistories Decrees and acquired no mean skil in the Hebrew tongue Besides his dayes study he bestowed all or a great part of the night in these labours and many times in the dead of the night he chose a solitary Grove near the Colledge to walk in for his Meditationss and in them he suffered many combats and wrestlings yea many heavy sighs with teares and prayers he poured out to Almighty God in them But hereupon grew suspition of him that hee beganne to dislike the Popish Religion and snares were layd for him and at last being examined he was by the Colledge convicted condemned for an Heretick and expelled the house His Father-in-law also took this occasion to manifest his dislikes against him that he might the better cheat him of his estate which of right belongad to 〈◊〉 from his own Father Being thus left destitute of all humane help and comfort God tooke care for him being sent for into Warwick shine by Sir Thomas Iâ—ucie to live in his house and teach his children Where also he married a Wife and continued till the feare of the Popish inquisitors drove him thence His case was now more hard again having a Wife to provide for and whither to goe hee knew not At last hee resolved to goe to her Father who was a Citizen of Coventrie and in the mean time by Letters to try whether his Father-in-law that married his mother would receive him or not Whose answer was That if he would alter his opinion being condemned for a capital offence he should be welcome otherwise it would be dangerous for him to entertain him long But his Mother under-hand wrote to him to come and so it pleased God that hee found better entertainment and security in both places then hee exspected for being sometimes with his Wives father and sometimes with his Father in law he deceiv'd their diligence who enquired after him and neither of his Fathers grew weary of his company Afterwards he went to London towards the end of King Henry the eights reign but having quickly spent there what his friends had bestowed on him and what he had acquired by his own diligence he beganne to bee in want again But behold Gods providence As he one day sate in Pauls Church spent with long fasting his countenance thinne and his eyes hollow after the gastfull manner of dying men every one shunning a spectacle of so much horrour there came one to him whom he had never seen before and thrust an untold sum of money into his hand bidding him be of good chear and to accept that small gift in good part from his Country-man which common courtesie had enforced him to offer and that he should goe and make much of himself for that within a few daies new hopes were at hand and a more certaine condition of livelihood Master Fox could never learn who this was but three daies after the Dutchesse of Richmond sent for him to live in her house and to be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's children now under her care and the two young Lords profited so much under him that afterwards the elder Thomas seemed to deserve more then the Kingdom could give him and the younger Henry was able to measure his fortunes not by the opinion of others but by his own satiety And the young Lady Jane profited so much both in Greek and Latine that she might well stand in competition with the most Learned men of that age In that family he continued the remainder of King Henries reign and all King Edwards till the beginning of Queen Maries when a storme of persecution arising Master Fox was sheltered from it by the Duke his Scholar But when he saw all sorts of men troubled for Religions sake so that there was nothing but flight slaughter and
constant Preacher of the Truth but a strong Defender of it against errors confuting the Ubiquitarians and that so boldly that he chose rather to hazard banishment then to connive at errors His fame spread abroad exceedingly so that many sought for him especially John of Nassau and John Cassimire the Elector Palatine The first desired him to come and begin his University at Herborn where he should have had greater honour and a larger stipend The other desired him to Heidleberg to bee the Divinity Professor in that place His answer was that he was born rather for labours then honours and therefore chose to goe to Heidleberg being thirty three years old Anno Christi 1584 and was intertained lovingly by the Prince who made him Governour of the Colledge of Sapience and Professor of Divinity His coming was most grateful to the University where he took exceeding great pains and was eminent for piety humility gravity prudence patience and industry so that Anno Christi 1588 he was chosen into the number of the Ecclesiasticall Senators for the government of the Church He had great skill in the Tongues Greater in the Liberal Arts and Philosophy but greatest in the knowledge of Divinity and Ecclesiasticall History He was famous for eloquence faithfulness and diligence in his place and holiness and integrity in his life Anno Christi 1589 he fell sick for which and his change he had been carefully fitting himself beforehand and therefore bore it with much patience and with fervent prayer often repeated O Christ thou art my redeemer and I know that thou hast redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy providence and mercie from the very bottome of my heart I commend my spirit into thy hands and so he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1589 and of his age 38. Hee published not many books but those which hee did were very polite and choice ones Ut sunt de verbo Dei ejus tractatione lib. 2. After his death his works were published in three Tomes Calvin preached his Funeral Sermon The Life of Laurence Humfreid who died A no Christi 1589. LAurence Humfreid was born in the County of Buckingham and Brought up first at School and then sent to Oxford where he was admitted into the Colledge of Mary Magdalen and followed his studies hard all the daies of King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of those bloody Marian dayes wherein so many were forced to forsake their native soyl he amongst the rest went beyond Sea into Germany where he continued till the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign whom God raised up to be a Nursing Mother to his Church At which time he came back and returned to Oxford where he was very famous both for his Learning and Preaching Then also he commenced Doctor in Divinity and by reason of his excellent parts was very instrumentall in the advancement of Gods glory And whereas that wicked Sect of the Jesuits was lately risen up he by his learned writings did both from Scripture and Antiquity discover their impostures and Popish deceits Afterwards he was made the Master of Magdalen Colledge and the Regius Professor which places hee discharged with singular commendations for many yeares together and at last quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of God Anno Christi 1589. The Life of James Andreas who died A no Christi 1590. JAmes Andreas was born in Waibling in the Dukedome of Wittemberg Anno 1528. And when his Father had kept him three years at School being unable to maintaine him any longer he intended to have placed him with a Carpenter but being disswaded by Sebastian Mader the Consul he sent him to Stutgard to Erhard Snepfius who was Superintendent of the Wirtembergian Churches intreating him to grant him an exhibition out of the Churches stock for the breeding of him at School Snepfius examining the boy who was now ten years old found him of an excellent wit but withall perceived that hee had been neglected at School whereupon he agreed to allow him part of his maintenance and his Father to make up the rest and so placed him in the School at Stutgard under a choice Schoolmaster with whom in two years space he learned the Latine and Greek Grammar and Rhetorick and so An. Chr. 1541 he went to Tubing where he so profited that at the end of two years he was made Batchelor of Arts and two years after that Mr. of Arts. There also he studied Hebrew Divinity And An. Ch. 1546 and of his age 18 he was made Deacon and for trial preached in the chief Church of Stutgard in a great Auditory and did so well perform that work that his fame spread abroad and at last came to the ears of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg who sent for him to Preach before him in his Castle which hee did with much applause so that after Sermon the Duke said Whence soever this chicken came I know that he was hatched and bred up under Snepfius The same year at Tubing he married a Wife by whom hee had eighteen children nine sonne and nine daughters About that time brake forth that fatall Warre betwixt Charles the fifth and the Protestant Princes wherein the Emperour being conquerour hee seised upon the Dukedome of Wirtemberg by reason whereof the Church was in a sad condition yet Andreas with his Wife remained in Stutgard and by Gods speciall providence was preserved in the midst of Spanish Souldiers and yet preached constantly and faithfully all the while And so hee continued till Anno Christi 1548 at which time that accursed Interim came forth which brought so much mischief to the Church of God Andreas amongst other godly Ministers that opposed it was driven from his place Yet it pleased God that the year after he was chosen again to be Deacon at Tubing where by Catechising he did very much good Anno Christi 1550 Ulrick dying his son Christopher succeeded him in the government of Wirtemberg and affected Andreas exceedingly and would needs have him Commense Doctor which degree having performed all his exercises he took the twenty fifth year of his age and was chosen Pastor of the Church of Gompping and was made Superintendant of those parts About the same time he was sent for by Lodwick Count of Oeting to assist him in the reforming of the Churches within his jurisdiction when he took his leave of his own Prince Christopher he charged him and gave it him in writing That if Count Lodwick set upon that Reformation that under pretence of Religion he might robbe the Church and seise upon the Revenues of the Monasteries and turn them to his private use that he should presently leave him and come back again He assisted also in the reformation of the Churches in Helfenstein Anno Christi 1556. About that time hearing of a Jew that
Gods mercy the Pastors escaped To make the prisoners more odious the Friars in all their Sermons gave out that the Protestants met together for no other end but to feast and junket after which putting out the candles they fell to all promiscuous uncleannesses and the Cardinall of Lorrain buzed such things into the Kingâ— head and though the Judges upon enquiry found all these things false yet the Church thought fit by an Epistle to the King and a book to the people to vindicate and clear themselves which work was committed to Sadeel who performed it so excellently that some good effects followed thereupon The year after Sadeel was delivered from a great danger for at midnight many apparitors brake into his house sâ—arching every corner and at last brake into his chamber â—eized on his books and his papers crying out they were Hâ—retical and so laid hold upon him and carried him to prison 〈◊〉 it pleased God that Anthony of Burbon King of Navar who knew him and had often heard him hearing of his â—mprisonment sent to the Officers to release him as being one of his train and when they refused to do it he went himself to the prison complaining of the wrong that was done him by imprisoning one that belonged to him being neither a murtherer nor thief and withall bâ—â—e Sadeel follow 〈◊〉 and so took him away with him Wherupon the day after he publickly before the King gave thanks to God for his deliverance expounding the 124 Psalm Then it being judged the safest for him to absent himself for a while hee went to visit the Churches in other parts of the Kingdome and at Orleance he continued some moneths Preaching to many Citizens and students in the night time to their great advantage A while after he returned to Paris and the number of Churches increasing in France there was a Synod held at Paris of Ministers and Elders the first that ever was there who assembled to draw up a Confession of their Faith unto which Sadeel prefixed an Epistle and which afterwards was presented to the King by the Admiral Colâ—gnie But the King shortly after dying the Queen Mother and the Guises drew all the Government of the Kingdome into their hands and raised a great persecution against the Church drawing many of all ranks to prisons and punishments yet Sadeel intermitted not his office but was wholly imployed in preaching to his flock comforting the dejected confirming the weak c. till the danger encreasing it was thought fit that the care of the Church should be committed to one Macardus a man lesse known and that Sadeel should retire himself And so hee went into severall parts of the Kingdom and thereby much propagated the true Faith The yeare after the persecution not being so violent at Paris Sadeel could not refrain from going to his Flock which he loved so dearly Anno Christi 1561 he fell sick of a Quartan Ague and by the advice of his Physitians and friends he was perswaded to goe into his own Country yet neither there did he live idle but preached up and down to the spirituall advantage of many From thence he was called to be the moderator in a Synod at Orleance where the opinion was discussed and confuted of some that held That the Government of the Church should not be in the Eldership but in the body of the Congregation and Sadeel took so much paines in this point that the first Author of that Schism was confuted and converted and publickly in writing confessed and recanted his error Being returned to Paris the persecution began to grow so hot there again that he was perswaded to retire himself from the same after which he never could return to his flock that so loved and was beloved of him After his departure he was present at and moderated in many Synods of the French Churches but withall hee was so hated of the wicked that at last hee was driven from thence to Lausanna where hee preached for a time and from thence he went to Geneva where for divers years he was a Pastor But the Church in France having some peace he returned thither again and at Lions and Burgundy edified the Churches exceedingly Afterwards he was sent for by Henry the fourth King of Navarr to whom he went very unwillingly not liking a Court life yet by the advice of his friends he went to him for three years space in all his troubles was with him comforting and encouraging him very much and at the battle of Courtrass a little before it began he stood in the head of the Army and prayed earnestly for successe which much encouraged all the Souldiers and when they had gotten the Victory he also gave publick and solemn thanks unto God for the same But by reason of sickness and weakness being unable to follow that kind of life any longer he was with much unwillingness dismissed by the King went through his enemies countries in much danger till hee came to his wife and children at Geneva Shortly after hee was sent by order from the King of Navar into Germany Upon an Ambassie to the Protestant Princes where not onely the Universities but the Princes also received him in a very honourable manner especially Prince Cassimire and the Lantgrave of Hesse Anno Christi 1589 he returned to Geneva where in the middest of many troubles he continued in the worke of his Ministry to the end of his life And when the City was besieged by the Spaniards and others he oft went out with the Citizens to the fights so encouraging them that through Gods mercy a few of them put thousands of the enemies to flight many times At last hee fell sick of a Plurisie and though the Physitians apprehended no danger yet hee foretold that it would be mortal and retiring himself from the world he wholly conversed with God Praiers were made daily for him in the congregations and Beza and the other Ministers visited him often with prayers and tears begging his recovery He enjoyed much inward peace and comfort in his sickness and at last slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1591 and of his age 57. His losse was much bewailed by the whole City his Preaching was not too curious and yet not void of Art and Eloquence So that his Ministry was alwaies most gratefull to the people He was very holy and exemplary in his life and had most of the learned men of those times for his special friends He was tall and slender of his body had a pale face red haire sharp sight a countenance composed of gravity and courtesie He was very sickly so that except he had been very careful of himselfe he could not possibly have endured such labours and studyes as he was exercised in In his Sermons his profitable matter was adorned with eloquence his
of York he was chosen Master of Pembrok-Hall in his room and Doctor Cox Bishop of Elie made him his Chaplain Afterwards he was chosen the Margaret-Professor which place he discharged with such high commendations that not long after he was made the Queens Professor and preaching before Queen Elizabeth she liked him so well that she made him her Chaplain and Master of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge Anno Christi 1567. In which place he remained for ten years with the good approbation of all men The Queen also made him Dean of Lincoln He had many Noblemen which were his pupils and bred up also many learned men which afterwards proved famous lights in the Church Anno Christi 1577 the Queen made him Bishop of Worcester and after the death of Grâ—ndal Anno Christi 1583 she removed him to the Archbishoprick of Canterburie Shee had alwaies a very high esteem of him and used him so familiarly that she called him her black husband He was present with and a great comfort to her at her death And when King James came to the Crown he also much reverenced Archbishop Whitgift But he had laid the death of Queen Elizabeth So deeply to heart that within some few moneths hee fell sick which when King James heard of he went to him and laboured to chear him up but within a few daies after hee quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1603 and of his age seventy three having been Archbishop about twenty years He did many and great works of Charity wheresoever he lived viz. at Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent and Surrey One act of Justice done by him is scarce to be parallel'd and may be read at large in the life of Mr. Hugh Clark at the end of my Generall Martyrologie Much Controversie there was between Mr. Tho. Cartwright and him about Ceremonies as appears by the books extant betwixt them T. BEZA The Life of Theodore Beza who died A no Christi 1605. THeodore Beza was born at Veselia Anno Christi 1519. His Father was Peter Beza Praefect of that Town his Mother was Mary Burdolet both of them nobly born As soon as he was weaned he was sent for by his Uncle Nicolas Beza to Paris who was a Counsellor in the Parliament and by him was tenderly and carefully educated and at five years old he placed him with Wolmarus a famous Schoolmaster at Orleance with whom he lived seven years and in that time learned Latine Greek and all the Liberal Arts so that there was no worthy author either in Greek or Latine which hee had not turned over Yea Wolmarus had also read Law to him But that which was principal he instructed him in the true Religion drawn out of the Fountain of Gods Word Afterwards when Wolmarus was returned into his native Country of Germany by the advice of his friends Beza was placed in Orleance to study the Civil Law but disliking their baibarous language he left those and betook himself to more Polite Studies He also affected Poetry very much and made all his Poems before he was twenty years old and imitating Catullus and Ovid therein he writ more wantonly then afterwards he approved of and indeed endeavoured to have suppressed his Poems but the Papists hating him for his Religion often printed them seeking thereby his disgrace all that possibly they could Anno Christi 1539 he went to Paris where he was entertain'd by his kindred and friends with all the expressions of love and respect that might be but above all hee was most welcome to another of his Uncles for the former was now dead who was Abbat of Frigidmont and who designed him for his Successor the profits of which place were worth above five thousand crowns perâ—in besides two Benefices belonging to the same worth seven hundred crowns more Beza by this Uncles means abounding with ease money and all things but good counsell began to find himself compassed about with infinite snares of Sathan For though he hated those vices which discovered open impiety and were disgracefull yet hee squandred away precious houres in pastimes and began to be puffed up with that applause which he gat by his forementioned Poems and by his hopes of the great preferments which his Uncle reserved for him Yet it pleased God that those seeds of piety that were sown in him in his childhood began to appear afresh so that discerning his danger and the Snares of Satan he made a vow to renounce the errors of Popery and lest hee should be overcome by fleshly lusts he privately married a wife having only two of his fast friends present at his marriage yet at the same time he faithfully promised that within a certain space of time breaking through all impediments he would have her to the true Church of God and there publickly confirm the Marriage and that in the mean time he would take none of the Popish Orders Both which he religiously performed afterwards And yet the world heaping more honours and profits upon him by the death of his elder brother and the Abbat his Uncle giving him all his goods hee was long in resolving what to do and slower in performing his Vow then he should have been But whilst he thus delayed the Lord struck him with a sore disease that he almost despaired of life and it continuing long upon him he was at last humbled by it and abhorred himself for his delayes and with many tears begged pardon of God for the same saying Lord bring my soul out of prison that I may praise thy name And the Lord heard and restored him And as soon as ever he had recovered his health according to his former engagements he took his wife and leaving friends honours riches and country hee went to Geneva Anno Christi 1548 where according to his former vow he publickly solemnized his marriage About the same time also there came to Geneva one John Crispin an antient and intimate friend of Beza's and so both of them consulted together what course of life to betake themselves to purposing to set upon the Art of Printing which their excellent learning and industry did much fit them for But God had appointed Beza to another imployment for before they could bring their purpose to maturity Beza would needs take a journey to Tubing where his old Master Wolmarus lived being now a Counsellor to the Prince of Wirtemberg and as soon as hee was returned to Geneva dreaming of no such matter he was called to be the Greek Professor in the University of Lausanna and by the Senate of Bern admitting that election was brought into that society Beza therefore looking upon it as a call from God embraced it and went to Lausanna In which place hee found many excellent men as Peter Viret the Pastor John Ribbit the Divinity Professor John Raimund Merlin the Hebrew Professor
c. by all whom he was kindly entertained and so dearly beloved that each seemed to live in the other At his first coming to that University that he might the better arme himselfe against those manifold perturbations which all men especially the godly are molested withall he often and seriously meditated upon the History of Abraham And as often as he had any leisure he went to Geneva to converse with Calvin by whom he was much quickned to improve his parts for Gods glory and the Churches good And upon this he undertook that truly golden work begun by Marot but finished by him of turning the Psalms into French Metre which hee finished Anno Christi 1561 and which were often printed in sundry parts of France About this time many godly men and women flocked out of France to Lausanna which occasion Beza taking as sent from God expounded to them the Epistle to the Romans and afterwards the two Epistles to Peter which were the foundation of that excellent work which afterwards he compleated of turning the New Testament into Latine with Annotations upon the same About that time the Plague waxing hot in Lausanna Beza fell sick of it but Christ who intended him as an instrument of his glory in his Churches good restored him to health again Shortly after which he wrote a book de Haereticis à Magistratu puniendis occasioned by the aspersions raised by Laelius Socinus against Calvin and the Magistrates of Geneva for burning Servetus for his Heresie and Blasphemy He also wrote an explication of Christianity out of the Doctrine of eternall Predestination He also answered Joachim Westphalus about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and afterwards published two learned Dialogues upon the same argument He answered Sebastian Castalio who sought to overthrow Eternall Election Anno Christi 1557 when the Sorbonists in Paris had raised that persecution against the Church of Christ wherein four hundred of them being met together in the night to hear the Word and receive the Lords Supper seven of them were afterwards burnt in the fire and the rest cast into chains and prisons The best means thought on to procure their release was by obtaining the Protestant German Princes to become Intercessors for them to Henry the 2d of France And thereupon Beza with some others were sent to the German Princes to engage them herein which also he obtained from them though it proved to little purpose in regard of the implacable malice of the French Courtiers against the servants of Christ. In that journey hee grew acquainted with Melancthon and they took much delight in the society of each other Having spent ten years at Lausanna as the Greek Professor with the good leave of the Senate of Bern he went to Geneva Anno Christi 1559 and lived with Calvin from whose side he seldom parted and was his great assistant both in matters of Doctrine and Disciplineâ— and that in the mean time he might not be wanting to the Schools he publickly interpreted Demosthenes Orations and part of Aristotle to the young Students And not long after upon the death of Claudius Pontanus he was chosen Pastor into his room He was also chosen the first Rector of the School in Geneva at which time he made an excellent and eloquent Oration in commendation of Learning in the presence of many grave and learned men both to encourage youths to the love of it and the Senators of Geneva to make a further progresse in the advancement of it For whereas the City of Geneva did at this time conflict with innumerable difficulties both at home and abroad which did almost swallow it up yet by the perswasion of thaâ— great Calvin it took so much courage that in that verâ— juncture of time the Senate founded and endowed thaâ— publick School which was a great ornament to the City and out of which issued abundance of godly and learned men to the great benefit of the Churches of God Shortly after at the request of certain Noblemen of France Beza was invited to visit Anthony King of Navar who at this time was at Nerac in Aquitane to conferre with him about some weighty matters but especially if it were possible through Gods mercy to confirm his mind in the true Religion For it was hoped that if that King who was the principall man of the Royall blood and like to govern the affairs of State in the minority of King Francis the second could be confirmed in the truth it would much conduce to the peace of the Churches and to the preservation of the lives of many who were cruelly burned by the Papists in sunday parts of the Kingdome Neither did this design want effect For Anno Christi 1561 the King of France dying at Orleance the King of Navar joyning with the Prince of Conde the Admirall Coligni d' Andelot and other Noblemen caused the Popish party to give over the butcheries and executions which they had formerly done upon many of Christs faithfull servants Charles the ninth coming to the Crown there were various actings about Religion whilst the Pontificians would advance their own and root out the Refoâ—med and on the contrary they of the Reformed Religion contended with all their might to promote their own and therefore lest these severall parties should cause commotions there were Edicts published in the Kings name requiring all upon severe penalty to abstain from arms and to keep the peace till certain select persons of each party at a certain time and place nominated should meet together to consider of the fittest way and means to preserve the publick peace many not onely of the common people but of the Nobility inclining to the Reformed Religion Hereupon the King of Navar sent Letters and Messengers to the Senate of Geneva requesting that Beza might be sent to that great meeting where such weighty matters should be transacted The Prince of Conde also requested the same Beza upon this set forward and came to Paris August the twentieth And the Queen Mother wrote also to the same purpose to the Senate of Zurick to send Peter Martyr to her which accordingly they did and Martyr came to Paris The chief of the Pontificians also repaired to this meeting though they had declared that such as had been long agoe condemned for Heresie ought not to be conferred withall There came also many Ministers of the Reformed Churches in France as Nich. Gallasius August Marlorat Jo. Raimund Merlin Francis Sampaulius Francis Morellus Jo. Malotius Jo. Spinaeus Claudius Bossierus Nich. Folius Mat. Virellus John Tornaeus and N. Barbastus For they had the publick Faith given them for their safe coming stay and return at their pleasures August the three and twentieth they met together at Saint Germans where the Protestants dâ—bating who shou'd speake for them they unanimously chose Beza as a man every way fitted for that employment and
who was so far affected with his sweet disposition that though he differed from him in some points especially about Universal Redemption yet did he endeavour to carry him along with him to Montalban whither he was called to be the Divinity Professor but prevailed not He sometimes also visited Tilenus and Grotius and had acquaintance with them An. Chri. 1625. in April by the approbation of Mr. Durant he came over into England where he stayd four moneths in which short time he took a survey of the Kingdom learned the Language gat acquaintance with the most learned men and observed many things that were worthy notice as the funeral of King James the arrival of Queen Mary the Parliament the Convocation of the Clergy the Act at Oxford and many other things But the Plague being at that time hot in Oxford according to his former engagement to his Cosen Durant he left England and returned to Paris where he set upon the study of the Chaldee and Syriack Languages and read over the Chaldee Paraphrase of the Prophets and the Evangelists and most of the Epistles in Syriack These were his Halcyon days which were broken off by the death of Mr. Durant who left unto him his whole Library after which he retired himself into the Family of the Noble Arnold Counsellor and Secretary of State who entertained him at his own Table being much delighted with the variety of his Learning and Piety And thus far he lived a private life but in July An. Chr. 1625. he was called by his friends to Geneva and indeed he delighted in that City above all others wishing that there he might fix his station whereupon he hasted thither upon this Call and often spake of the good Providence of God to him therein For when he came to Lyons being to pass over the River Araris he would needs go over in a Boat but by the violence of the stream his Boat was split against an Arch of the Bridge whereby with much difficulty he escaped drowning and so through Gods mercy coming at length to Geneva An. Chri. 1626. he found the Professor of Philosophies place to be void by the death of Gasper Alexius and so by the unanimous vote of all he was preferred before all his Competitors to it whereby after all his travels and troubles he aimed at a safe and quiet harbor Hereupon the better to bind himself to continuance in that place the year after he resolved to marry and pitching his affections upon Carlot a Portu the daughter of the Noble Peter a Portu with the good liking of her friends he marryed her and ever after carryed a tender affection towards her and indeed she well deserved it in regard of her vertues and innocency of manners joyned with Dovelike simplicity free from fraud and guile For she wholly depended upon her husband and was willing to be governed in all things by his advice which is the chief commendations of a wife and so had all things common with him And herein our Spanheim admirably shewed his wisdom who as he was famous abroad so he took special care that no domestick jars should infelicitate his life his endeavour also was not only to preserve but to encrease his outward estate well remembring that speech of the Holy Apostle whereby he requires that a Bishop should govern his house well and keep his children in subjection with all honesty For saith he If a man cannot govern his own family how shall he take care of the Church of God By this wife he had many children whereof some dyed in their infancy but he left seven behinde him all of great towardness especially his two eldest sons who are like to inherit their Fathers vertues But it was not fit that his excellent parts should be shut up within the Schools nor his light put under a bushel which ought so to shine that the Church of God might be illuminated thereby whereupon the Reverend Presbyterie often advised him to apply his minde to the study of Divinity which also he willingly did and so to the great rejoycing of all he was ordained a Minister and indeed so excelled that he exceeded all mens hopes both for his Eloquence and Doctrine And it pleased God to call him forth to the constant exercise of it Anno Christi 1631. at which time Benedict Turretain one of the Professors and his dear friend dying he was by the general consent of all chosen to succeed him at which time he lay sick in bed and dreamed of no such matter This place he discharged for eleven years space with great applause For then he discovered what was afterwards to be expected from him both by his Lectures and Disputations so that that University was never in a better condition then when it was illustrated by the light of Spanhemius An. Chri. 1635. he was chosen Rector of the University at which time he made that excellent Oration which was published in the name of Geneva Reformed being just an hundred years after that City first embraced the Gospel Hereupon the Bernates consulted about drawing him to Lausanna to succeed in the place of James à Portu They of Groning edeavoured to get him to them and the Prince Elector Palatine sought also the same but the miseries which at this time fell upon the Palatinate put an end to those desires At last Leiden obtained him though with much difficulty the Magistrates and Church of Geneva much opposing it Yet the Curators of Leiden insisted with so much earnestness by their frequent Letters to which were added the request of the King of Bohemia of the illustrious States of Holland and West-â—risland and lastly of the States General that with much ado at length they extorted rather then obtained his dismission from Geneva But its worth observation what means they used to retain him with what grief and sorrow they parted with him what a confluence of people brought him forth of the City and with what sighs and tears they parted with him as if in losing him they had lost a principall member of their body Yet before he left Geneva he went to Basil to take the degree of Doctor For in Geneva they use no such degree and therefore whilst he was there he affected it not But being to go to Leiden where it was more necessary he that had been for so many years a Teacher of others now submitted to examination and so was created Doctor And this profit he gat thereby that he veiwed Helvetia and became acquainted with many excellent and learned men especially with Zâ—â—gerus and Buxtorsius whose names were now famous in the Christian World An. Chri. 1642. leaving Geneva he with his whole Family and goods arrived safely in the moneth of October in Leiden just upon that Festival day wherein they celebrated the memorial of their deliverance from the â—panish siege and
retreat into the wilderness His carriage there His industry His study of the Scriptures His study of the Hebrew and other Eastern languages 〈…〉 His imployment He is envyed by some The subtilty of the Arians Their dissimulation His return into Syria His travels and studies Asphaltites His labors at Bethlehem His zeal against Heresie The increase of Arianism His great troubles His death His great esteem His saying Christian fortitude Love of Christ. The danger of Heresie Chastity Iudgement Vertue His works His parentage His studâ—es His Ordination His diligence in his Ministry He is chosen Bishop of Constantinople He reforms his Clergy He endeavours the peace of the Church The great success of his Ministry His 〈◊〉 He is hâ—â—ed for it The subtilty of the Arians Chysostom counter-plots them The danger of riches Ignorant Monks Epiphanius his weakness A Council called Origens books condemned Johns meekness Epiphanius reproved Two Predictions John condemned by the Council unjustly He is banished And recalled His sharp reproof A Council summoned He is condemned Banished Gods judgements on his 〈◊〉 His charity His death Why so called Lying abhorred Preachers pattern His Zeal His zeal against Heresie His magnanimity His Courage Love to the Ministry His sayings Meditations Danger of riches His love His faith His Tentaâ—ion His works His birth and parentage He is reclaimed by Ambrose Preachers pattern His zeal His humility He is made a Presbyter in Hippo. His diligence He disputes with a Donatist The success of it His zeal against Heresies He disputes in a Synod He is made Bishop of Hippo. The malice of the Schismaticks The Circumcellians They persecute the Orthodox especially Ministers The malice of Schismaticks A special providence The cruelty of Schismaticks The Donatists condemned for Hereticks A Council at Carthage A Council at Caesarea Manichees converted The craft of an Arian Hereticks Lyars Augustine conâ—utes an Arian His zeal aginst Pelagians The success of his Ministry His patience His great labors His humility A special Providence His humility His prudence His charity Oaths His Retractations His works The coming of the Goths into Africk Their horrible cruelties See more of it in my General Martyrology Augustine dies before the taking of Hippo. His faith The power of his prayers His death His poverty An excellent speech His sayings Prayer Death Christians are pilgrims Ingratitude His works He is chosen Bishop of Alexandria A Council Nestorius deposed and excommunicated Banished by the Emperour His fearful death His knowledg in the Scriptures His learning His death His sayings Charity Modesty Tentation His birth and education Preachers pattern Prayer His sayings Charity Mercy Faith and works Drunkeness and gluttony His works His birth and education Scriptures delighted in His charity A peace-maker His speech at death His death His character His works His sayings Pride His parentage His education His prudence in governing a family His Conversion His Speech His prudence He retires himself from the world His mothers impatiency at it Tentation resisted His abstinence His sickness and recovery He gives away his inheritance The Arians renew their persecution His remove to Sicca Heretical mallice Cruelty of Hereticks He is cruelly beaten Rejoyceth in sufferings for Christ. He seeks not revenge He sails into Sicily He goes to Rome Heaven more glorious His return into Africk He obscures himself His great industry He is ordained a Presbyter His humility He is made a Bishop His moderation He is banished He converts many Hereticks subtilty He comes to Carthage Doth good He is sent for to the King He is envyed and complained of Is sent back into Sardinia He prophesies His humility His meekness He is restored to his place His humility His sickness His deportment A good Pastor His charity His death Prayer prevâ—lent His works His sayings Covecousness His works His birth and education His charity He turns Monk His studiousness His humility Frugal of his time His charity to souls He desires to have England converted He is sent to Constantinople He writes upon Job Confutes heresies His return to Rome Gods judgements on Rome He is chosen Bishop of Rome His humility He is confirmed by the Emperour He appoints a Fast to remove the judgments He reforms the Church His charity He sends Austin and some others into England Encourages them by this Letter They arrive in England His death His character His sayings Spiritual poverty His works His birth and education His death His sayings Holiness Sinful thoughts Guilty conscience Danger of pride His birth and education He is made Deacon And Presbyter His humility Scriptures read with devotion Pleasures to be avoided His death His sayings Anger His virtue His character His works His birth and education His death His works His birth and imployments His death His sayings Submission to Gods will His Contentation His works His birth and education Given to pleasures His travels and want Enters into a Monastery Is made Archbishop of Canterbury His contention with our Kings His death His sayings Sin hateful Mans fall His learning His works His death His sayings Afflictions His birth and parentage His education His modesty He refuses cure by a charm His zeal His charity He is tempted to uncleanness How he cures 〈◊〉 He enters into a Monastery with his brethren Heaven better then the Earth His diligence His great labors His love to the Scriptures Is made Abbot of Claraval His zeal He is ordained a Presbyter What was blame worthy in him His sickness His Letter to the Abbot of Benâ—val His death His blinde zeal His opinions differing from the Church of Rome His sayings How to hear His works His birth His works His sayings Sin inherent His birth and education His sayings Patience Faith Covetousness Iyes Humility His birth His humility His charity Preachers pattern His Industry His employment His birth and breeding His character His studiousness Meditation His humility Preachers pattern A good conscience Time to be well imployed Death Repentance His works His birth and education His preferments in Oxford His zeal His prudence His adversaries His friends Popish lyes and slanders John of gaunt Favers Wicklies The Bishop banished And restored Wicklies hated by the Bishops Cited to appear before them Is encouraged by the Duke Appears before the Bishop The Bishops pride Great contention A Bill in Parliament against the Londoners The Citizens make a tumult Their rage Articles against Wicklief Condemned at Rome Persecuted The Bishops resolve to proceed against Wicklief A special providence His zeal and diligence Other providences Wicklief again persecuted His weakness He is again persecuted A great Earthquake The kings Letters against him The Kings Letter to Oxford Wicklief returns to Lutterworth His death His works Gods providence in preserving his books His works King Edwayd the third favored him His body condemned and burned His birth and education He goes to Prague Chosen Pastor of Bethlehem His faithfulness therein He is cited to Rome Is excommunicated He is banished Gods mercy A
to Frankford He vindicates himselfe Lutheran censoriousness Popish malice His death His Works His Birth and Education Gods providence He leaves his Monastery He goes to Lusanna His conversion He is called to Roan His zeal and courage His conference with Monmorency Blaspâ—emy He is condemned of Treason Popish rage and malice Gods judgements on persecutors His martyrdome Gods judgements on his enemieâ— His Works His birth and education His diligence He enters into a Monastery The causes of it His remove to Padua His imployment there He studies Greek He is called to the Ministry He studies the Scripturâ—s â—nd the Hebrew Removed to Spoleta His Prudence He is removed to Naples His conversion A Church in Naples Martyr teacheth He is suspended â—ppeales to 〈◊〉 Pope Is restored Hee falls sick He is made Visitor Generall Removed to Luca. He is much beloved He advanceth Religion and Learning The fruits of his labours His enemies Policy A godly Frier imprisoned And delivered Again apprehended and â—ent to Rome They proceed against Martyr He resolves to fly His flight His Letters to Luca. His retreat into Germany He comes to Zurick He goes to Basil He is chosen to Strasborough His excellent lâ—arning His â—râ—gality His first marriage His wives character Card. Pools malice Cardinal Pool's malice He is sent for into England He goes into England He is sent to Oxford Popish malice They combine against Martyr His friends 〈◊〉 â—wade him from going to the Schooles His answer Sm itâ—s challenge Martyr goes on His learning and courage admired He is again challenged His answer A tumult raised Quâ—â—ted by the Vice-Chancellor A Disputation agreed on The King sends his Delegates Smith flies The disputation A Rebellion Martyr goes to London The Rebellion suppressed Martyr made Dean of Christs-Church He is much esteemed In Queen Maries dayes Martyr is in danger He goes to London He goes beyond Sea He goes beyond Sea Gods mercy to him His return to Strasborough Satans malice His Prudence He is again persecuted Gods mercy to him His call to Zurick His friendship with Bullinger His high esteem Popish cruelty His second marriage His love to Zurick A faithfull Pastor He refuseth to goe into England His readiness to do good He goes into France His speech to the Q. Mother Popish subtilty A Disputation It breaks off His returne to Zurick His sicknesse Comfort at death His death His Works His birth and education His conversion He opposeth the Mass. He goes to Madgeburg And to Goslaria And to Naumberg He opposeth the Adiâ—phoâ—ists His death His Works His birth and education A special providence He is sent abroad Gods providence His studiousâ—es He affects Poetry Musick He studies Divinity He studies the Scriptures His conversion He converâ—â— maâ—y Gods providence Popish malice Tentaâ—ion resisted His Marriage His poverty Anabaptists life Gods providâ—nce He preacheth 〈◊〉 Dorlitzheim Châ—ist â—est of â—ll He teaches School Heb. 11. 6. Musculus his zeal Sataâ—s malice His humility Power of the Woâ—d He studies Hebrew He is sent for to Ausburg His humility He goes to Ausburg Anabaptists trâ—uâ—le the Church Their impudâ—nce Some of them imprisoned His holy policy He converts â—hem Reformation in Ausburg He studies Greek And Arabick His industry Preachers partâ—rn He goes to Donavert A Diet at Ausburg His zeal and courage Popish malice His courage and constancy His zeal Flight in persecutâ—on He goes to Zurick He preaches at Constance He is sent for into England He is chosen to Bern. His industry Hiâ— self denyall His amity with his Collegues His Charity His Character He prepares for death His last sicknesse His death His Works His Birth and Education His Fathers death He goes to Paris He returns into his country And back to Paris His travels through France His return into his Country He travels into Germany And his return Gods providence He goes into England His imployment there He goes into his own country Thence into Germany His entertainment at Marpurg His employment His marriage His great labours His care to Reform the Church His sicknesse He exhorts his wife and children His death His Character His works His birth His education He is designed to Divinity He is designed to the Law His conversion He goes to Orleance He studies the Scriptures His studiousness He goes to Biturg He studies the Greek He preacheth He goes to Paris His danger Is delivered by the Queen of Navar. He goes to Xantone Thence to Nerac Again to Paris to confer with Sevetus 1534. Eighâ— Martyrs He goes to Orlens His servants Knavery He goes to Basil Studies Nebrew Popish lies He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes to Geneva Is sltayed there Chosen Divinity Professor 1536. His prudâ—nce to reform Geneva 1537. Anabaptists hinder the Reformation Peter Carolian Heretick A Synod at Bern. Gods judgment on Hereticks Calvins care to reform others A sedition at Geneva Another evill Calvin is banisâ—ed His holy speech God above the Levâ—â— Calvin goes to Zurick and so to Strasborough Is made Professor of Divinity Unleavened bread brought into Geneva 1539. Sathans subtilty Calvin care of Geneva Anabaptists reclaimed Calvin matries 1541. He goes to two Diets Gods judgements on his enemies He is sent for to Geneva Hardly obtained His returne to Geneva 1451. His self denyall He settles the Presbyterian Government His great labours A compleat Preacher He is much sought to The Presbyter Government kickt at It s vindicated by him 1542. He comforts the persecuted Famine and Pestilence Sathans malice Popish impudence He answers the Sorbonists 1543. He answers Pighius 1544. Castaliâ—'â— errors His punishment He confutes the Pope He confutes the â—nâ—baptists and Libertines He pacifies the Q. of Navar 1545. The plague dipeâ—sed by wicked persons They are punished Popish cruelty against the Waldenses Osianders errors Plague continued He thunders against sin He abhors Sacriledge A Hermiâ—es wickedness The Nicodemites 1546. Geneva in danger Perrins wickedness Calvin accused His enemies punished 1547. The German Church nâ—â— greaâ— danger His tender affections to them Pâ—â—ins wickednesse He is punished He writes against Trent 1548. Sa hans subtilty Calvin reproached An Amnesty He confutes the Interim And Astrologers He writes into England The Church increasâ—th in troubles 1549. His wife dies The Flaccians A sweet concord He writes to L. Socinus 1550. Peace in the Church Ministers pattern Holidayes â—bolished Wickedness discovered A Tumult Bolsec Confuted by Calvin Bolseâ— punished He fals back to Popery 1551. New stirs Calvin falsly accused Castâ—lio's erâ—â—â— The Herâ—ites wâ—ckedness His repentance Calvins charity to him 1553. Geneva indangered M. Servetus Servetus imprisoned He is burned Bertelerius his wickedness The Presbytery slandered An unjust Decree Calvins courage The good successe An unjust decree reversed Mr. Farell in danger Yet delivered King Edwards death A controversie about punishing Hereticks Socinus his Heresies 1554. Calvin consutes them Castilio's Heresies Confâ—ted by Beza Horrid impieties Calvin aspersed The English exiles provided for by him Joa Westphalus
last sicknes His speech to the Lord of Morton A Prophecy His speech to the Ministers and Elders Death desired His Message to the Laird of Crang A Prophesy His preparation for death His sayings His tentations His faith His death His care for Church-Discipline Murrays speech His works His character His courage His Parentage His pain His poverty He goes to Paris His industry His diligence His imployments He is envied He is forbidden Philosophy He is called to another Colledge He is preferred in the University He is sought for by other Princes Is â—ade Dean of the University Flight in persecution He goes to the camp of Conde He travels into Germany His returne to Paris Popish cruelty He is murthered And basely abused His Works His birth and education He is made Chaplain to the Queen And to two Kings And Master of Bennet Colledge â—is sufferings in Queen Maries time He is made Archbishop of Canterbury The Bishops that consecrateâ— him His Charity His 〈◊〉 His Birth and Parentage Gods speciall providence over him His education He is sent to Embric His disposition He goes to Collen He commendeth Batchelor of Arts. He studies the Schoolmen And Fathers And Luther His conversion â—e commenâ—eth Mr. of Arts His paines in reading Lectures He studies the Tongues Reformation in the Monastery Power of the Word Anabaptists Tithes defended He confutes the Anabaptists His endeavours for peace He is banished He comes to Zurick He is chosen Pastor Preachers pattern Synods preserve peace He writes a Confession of Faith He confuâ—es Hereticks A Colledge erected A School erected Schwenfield's Error Confuted by Bullinger A Plague Luthers violence Melancthon grieved for it Bullinger answereth Luther His defence of the Tigurines Why the Helvetians refused to assist the Protestants Mr. Hooper lives with him The Interim Bullingers curtesie Ingratitude Calvin concurs with the Helvetian Divines Hee withdraws them from being mercenaries He encourageth the Reformation in England He writes against the Council of Trent He disclaimes Bolsecus His holy zeal He favours the English exilâ—s His zeal Blandrata's Heresies The infection of heresie Brentius contest with Bullinger Helvetiansagaine summoned to Trent Ochines errors and heresies And death A plague Bullingers sicknesse Power of prayer Manisold afflictions A confession of Faith Persecution in France His Charity His pains A dearth Fasting and Prayers The Massacre in France 1573. A new Statre His sicknesse 1574 He patience Death desired His Faith Why he desired death He taketh his farewel of the Ministers And of the Magistrates His death His Character His birth and education His humility His sicknesse His â—â—eech in his 〈◊〉 An excellenâ— speech Comfort at death His Death His Birth and Parentage His education He goes to Venice He goes to Venice His Poverty His Tentation His Marriage The Interim opposed by him He goes to Magdeburg And from thence to Jeans And to Ratisbone And to Suasborough His Death His Works His birth and education He goes to Basil. And Strasborough He is maâ—e Profeâ—â—or in Zuâ—â—â— He is made 〈◊〉 He is dear to Peter Martyr His Industry His excellent memory His manner of reading His excellent parts His diseases His death His Character His Birth and education His conversion His frequents remoâ—es Bible translated His death His birth and education His Conversion Christ best of all He goes to Basil. He comes to Wittenburg He goes to Strasborough His returnâ— into France He is made the Q. of Navars Chaplain Popish malice Gods providence His return to Strasborough His troubles He goes to Heidleberg His patience He is driven from thence He is called to Lausanna His sudden death His Works His Birth and education His preferment in Cambridge Flight in persecution He is made Bish. of Lond. Arch bishop of York Arch-bishop of Canterbury His death His Charity His birth and Parentage His education He goes to Oxford His great proficiency Power of Prayer His conversion He preaches before the K. His piety Tender conscience He goes beyond sea His return into England His faithfulnes He is accused His great learning Made Parson of Houghton His charity to souls His journies into the North. His charity His enemies Flight in persecution refused Gods providence His conâ—inued charity His humility He refuseâ—h presermâ—â—t His hospitality His esteem in the North. Note A barbarous custom He converts theeves A Rebellion in the North. His house is plundered Inpratitude H. B. oughton Ingratitude The Bishop suspends him Requires him to preach on a sudden His modest answer He preaches boldly His zeal His pions resolution Gods mercy The Bishop askeâ—h him forgivenâ—e Preparâ—tion so death His death His Character His birth and parentage He goes to Wittenberg A plague His return to Wittenberg His travels He is sent for into his own country His enemies Melancthon encourages him He is dismissed His Resolution He goes to Zurick He goes to Heidleberg He commencerh Doctor His imployment there A plague His adversaries He defends the truth The Palatines great love to him His marriage He writes a Confession of Faith A change in the Palatinate He is sent for by P. Cassimite His imployment His sicknesse His industry Incessant labors His death His Character His Works His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His travels He goes to Grunberg He made excellent scholars His marriage He is chosen Pastor of Sprottavia Preachers pattern His Contentation His humility His excellent virtues He is an enemy to contentions He is a great historiâ—n His sicknesse His death His great care to prepare for death His last Sermon His Works His birth and Parentage His industry He goes to Witâ—enberg He is much beloved He is made Pastor in Brunople His zeal against he eticks His death His commendation His Works His Birâ—h His proficiency He is Pastor in Zurick His diligence His Death His Birâ—h and Education He is chosen Pastor in Zurick His death His Works His birth and education He studies Law He is made Doctor A heavy judgement A vow Gods mercy Hestudies Divinity He goes to Zurick His return to Trevir He is called to teach a School His faithfulnes Sathans malice He preaches in an hospitall The peoples zeal The Arch-bishops malice The prisoners release He goes to Heidleberg His marriage He is chosen Pastor He is called to Berleburg And to Herborn His sicknesse Preparatâ—on for death A sweat dream Ioy unspeakable His death His Works His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His diligence He goes to Noâ—enberg His return to Witâ—enberg He is called to Mansfield He is ordained Minister He answers a Papist His great pains He delights in a Garden His remove to Madgeburg Conversion of Priests The Authors of the Madgeburgenses His remove to Jenes His return to Magdeburg His remove to Wismare His commenceth Doctor Peoples love to their Pastor He is called into Borussia His sicknesse Preparatâ—on for death His death His Character His Works His Birth His Education He is choseâ— Fellow He studies the Church history He is
foreseen to be a likely consequent yet was contemned in respect of the Churches necessity and want which was that the Arian King enraged by this act banished about 60 Bishops into Sardinia amongst whom Fulgentius was one who joyfully ascended the Ship being heartily glad that he had a share in such a glorious confession Divers of his Clergy and Friends followed him and being arrived at Calaris in Sardinia he there lived with them at the same Table and by his Sermons converted many Not long after King Thrasamund amongst the crafty fetches and persecutory drifts whereby he endeavoured to allure the Catholicks to the Arian Heresie used this Policy He feigned a desire to become a Catholick and setting down divers captious and deceitful questions pretended that he could not finde any that could sufficiently answer those questions whereupon hearing the fame of Fulgentius he hastily sent for him who with an undaunted courage came to Carthage and not being presently called to the King endeavoured seriously to confirm the Catholicks in their Faith and with much curtesie and affability answered all questions rejecting no man whereby he reclaimed many from their Errors admonishing them to repent of and to bewail their fall others he exhorted not to hazard the damnation of their Souls for temporal advantages and whom he saw in danger of perdition with milde yet effectual words he stayed and encouraged to a noble and generous resolution animating them to suffer any dangers or torments rather then to deny the Truth and it pleased God so to bless his labors that some who before were staggering were now by his means imboldned plainly to reprove the weak-grounded impudence of the Arian party And thus the Omnipotent God turned the Enemies device to the advancement of his own glory Then did the King send for him and questioned with him and met with such solid and judicious answers that he was forced to acknowledge that he found him every way to answer the report which he had heard of his Wisdom and Learning and withall he proposed sundry difficult questions to which he required his answer in writing Fulgentius having drawn up his Answer communicated it to the most learned Catholicks and after their approbation to the people before it was delivered to the King Thrasamund having with great diligence perused it praised his Wisdom wondred at his Eloquence commended his Humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not understand and submit to the Truth Fulgentius could not be suffered to stay long at Carthage for the Arians with their clamors incensed the King complaining that he had already gained from them some of their Ministers and that the people fell apace to him so that their whole Religion stood in great hazard by his means Then the King to quiet them sent him back into Sardinia Late in the night was he carryed aboard the Ship that his departure might be the better concealed from the people but it pleased God by contrary windes long to detain the Ship in the harbor so that for many days almost the whole City flocked to him to take their farewel and many communicated at his hands And when great lamentation was made for his departure he took one Juliates a very godly man apart and told him he should shortly again return and that the Church should enjoy peace which also came to pass When he was requested to pray for any that were sick or in misery he commonly used this Petition Thou O Lord knowest best what will make for our Souls health Grant of thy mercy a supply unto our necessities so far forth as shall not hinder our spiritual profit And when God graciously answed his Prayers in their behalf he used to say That God did it for their sakes not for his He commonly said that Miracles make not a man just or righteous but famous When he was come back to Sardinia he returned to his former strict course of life with his Associates who had all things in common and when he distributed more to one then to another by reason of sickness or weakness he used thus to say to them Who taketh of the common so much becometh debtor to all which debt he can only pay by humility It was very pleasing to him when any of the Brethren proposed any hard question and gladly he hearkened to the doubts of any though they were never so simple neither would he through weariness or tediousness cease to give them answers until they confessed them selves to be satisfied Though he was sometimes severe towards the obstinate yet he remained even when he seemed most displeased and angry nothing at all in minde troubled or disquieted Thrasamund the King being shortly after taken away by death Hilderick succeeded him who restored peace and liberty to the Catholicks recalling their Bishops from Exile and amongst the rest Fulgentius who was received with great devotion by the Africans no less in every City then if he had been their peculiar Bishop Everywhere they met him with tokens of joy with whom now rejoycing he rejoyced as before with them lamenting he had lamented Yea their love was so great to him that a showre of rain falling they held their garments over his head to keep him dry Then did he return to his proper seat where he would do nothing without the advice of his Clergy In the Council of Vincensa he was by the common suffrage of the Bishops chosen President Though Bishop Quodvultdeus claimed that preheminence as belonging to his Sea and though Fulgentius for the present would not oppose this choice yet at the next Sessions he procured that the Bishop Quodvultdeus was restored to his right A year before his death he retired with some Brethren into the Island of Circina and there lived a most strict life But the necessities of his people requiring and their importunity prevailing he returned to them and shortly after fell into grievous pangs of sickness wherein he continued sixty days often crying out O Lord give me patience and pardon Physitians perswading him to make use of a Bath he answered Can Baths make that man who hath accomplished the course of Nature that he shall not dye Why then do you go about to perswade me now at my last end to remit of that rigor which I have always used Lastly calling together the Brethren about him he thus spake to them Dear Brethren having been careful of your Souls health perhaps I have been austere and harsh towards you If any one be offended I beseech him to pardon me and if my severity have possibly passed measure and due moderation pray ye to God that he may impute it not to me They all kneeling down acknowledged him to have been always loving gentle and milde towards them Then did he pray for his people that God would provide for them a Pastor after his own heart After
them he desired him to speak it whereupon Wallaeus exhorted them to sear God to reverence their Mother so God would bless and provide for them that every one should take care of all the rest but especially that every one should take care of himself then he bade his son Iohn to have a speciall care of his Mother and so kissing them took his leave of them all and then turning his face from them he again fell asleep out of which he never awaked only sometimes when his pains came upon him he stirred a little and so on the Sabbath about eleven a clock he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it An. Christi 1639. and of his age 66. How excellent a Divine he was his Common places testifie How Orthodox and solid a disputer he was his fourteen Disputations shew in the Synopsis purioris Theologiae How strong a defender of the Truth against Error will appear by his answer to Corvinus in defence of Du Mollines Anatomy of Arminianism As also his Censura confessionis Remonstrantium How careful he was of Order both Civil and Sacred is manifest by his tractate de Authoritate Magistratus in rebus Ecclesiasticis How a religious observer of the Sabbath his dissertation De Sabbatho declares How desirous he was to reform the Ethnick practical Philosophy appears by his Compendium Ethicae Aristotelicae ad normam veritatis Christianae revocatum His countenance was mixed with gravity His pronunciation was modest and masculine free from dissimulation not without elegancy neither by brevity did he procure obscurity nor by prolixity tediousness Sometimes he was more vehement when the zeal of Gods glory the love of the Truth or the heat of Disputation excited him Against the Adversaries of the Truth he contended not by reproaches or railings but by strong arguments drawn out of the sacred Scriptures As oft as he was called by the Prince of Orange or the States to compose Ecclesiastical differences he never spared his pains therein As oft as he was sent either by Magistrate or Presbyterie to the Camp or about any other difficult businesses no trouble nor danger made him decline the work His conversation both at home and abroad was holy and blameless He was Hospitable to his friends charitable to the poor pleasing to all Not given to wine but sober just temperate and free from covetousness His Works are named before and are bound up together in one Volume The Life of Henry Alting who dyed Anno Christi 1644. HEnry Alting was born at Embden in Frisland Anno Christi 1583. of a very antient and honorable Family His Father Menso Alting was Pastor of Embden his Mother was Mary Biscof a choice Matron In his childhood he was very sickly and weak so that he was four years old before he could go His Parents devoted him to the service of God and his Church from the very Womb and therefore Anno Chri. 1590. when he was seven years old they set him to School in their own City of Embden where he quickly discovered a prompt and ready wit so that in the space of seven years he went through all the forms in that School and being fitted for it at fourteen years old his Father sent him to the University of Groning where he studyed the first year under Buningius and three other years under Vbbo Emmiuâ— the first Rector of that University a man famous through the World for his Learning By his diligence under such Tutors he profited exceedingly writing an excellent Latine stile and being well grounded in the knowledge of the Arts. From thence his Father sent him into Germany for the advancement of his Learning and having saluted Marpurg he went to Herborn Anno Christi 1602. where that famous Divine Iohn Piscator was Professor under whom our Henry applyed himself to his studyes and by his great industry and excellency of his wit was so far approved of that he was imployed in reading Philosophical and Theological Lectures So that after three years abode there he began to think of entring into the Ministry for which end he resolved to go into Helvetia and France to receive Orders in some of those Churches But God for the present intended him to another imployment For upon the commendations of the Professors of Herborn Piscator Zepper and Martinius he was appointed by Count Iohn of Nassau to be Tutor to three young Counts viz. William of Nassau Conrade Lodowick of Solmes and Phil. Ernest of Isenburg who at this time were Students in the University of Sedan together with the young Prince Frederick son to Frederick the fourth Elector Palatine who afterwards was chosen King of Bohemia But before our Henry went to Sedan he went to Heidleberg to Iohn Albert Count of Solmes and from thence to Friedelsheim to the Prince Elector himself by whom he was courteously entertained and being furnished with Letters and necessaries for his journey he went to Sedan where he arrived in the beginning of September An. Christi 1605. and undertook his Office He had continued but awhile in that place before it was requisite for him to withdraw with his charge from that City for fear of a siege which was threatned by Henry the fourth King of France and therefore they all went to Heidleberg and our Henry in the Princes Court attended his former imployments having a fourth added to the former three Noblemen viz. Iohn Conrade the Rheingrave Yea the very same Summer Prince Frederick himself was committed to his tuition to be by him instructed in History and Geography And at last viz. 1608. he was wholly left to the instruction of our Henry and Zachary Collius who went back with him to Sedan the storm being now over where he so carefully attended his charge all day that he was fain to get time out of his sleep for the study of Divinity The University of Sedan had at this time famous Divines in it as Daniel Talenus and Iames Capellus with whom he entred into a strict bond of familiarity Anno Christi 1610. the Prince Elector dying he returned with the young Prince to Heidleberg where he attended his daily imployment Anno Christi 161â— the Prince Elector being to go into England to marry the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Iames would needs have our Henry to go along in his train In which journey he escaped death very narrowly himself with Scultetus and some other of the Princes company being surprized with a storm upon the Lake of Harlem so that with great difficulty and half drowned they gat to the further shore This was October the seventh in the afternoon just at which time his Father dyed leaving this life for a better Alting having escaped this danger with a better voyage arrived safely in England where he was kindely entertained and became familiar with George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury John King Bishop
of London and Doctor Hackwell Tutor to the Prince of Wales yea and King James himself conferred familiarly with him February following An. Christi 1613. the Prince Elector being marryed sent Henry Alting with his Scholars before him into the Palatinate who in their journey travelled through Zeland Flanders Brabant Limburg Julâ—ers and Collen and so at last arrived at Heidleberg in April the new marryed couple being not long behinde them About four moneths after our Alting was called to be a Professor of Divinity to read Common places in the University of Heidleberg Into which he was admitted August the 16. which was the Princes birth day And because by the Statutes of the University none could be Moderator of the Disputations but a Doctor he was solemnly inaugurated into that degree November the 18. by Paraeus Dean of the University and Bartholomew Coppenius Doctor of Divinity And this was very remarkable that amongst all the tumults and pleasures of the Court his minde was never taken off from the study of Divinity But Gods Providence intended him to some further imployment then a Professors place For there was in Heidleberg an excellent Seminary of the Church endowed with large revenues called the Colledge of Wisdom The Prince therefore chose him Master thereof October the 15. An. Chri. 1616. together with two Colleagues to instruct and train up young Divines for the work of the Ministry and how much good he did therein they are able to relate who gratefully acknowledge what profit they reaped by his care and culture Whilst he was thus laboring in his double imployment Coppenius another Professor dyed whose place was divolved upon our Alting but by a rare and great example of modesty he chose rather to continue in his former imployments and by his favour and authority in the Princes Court prevailed that Abraham Scultetus should have that Professors place transferred upon him About this time a National Synod was called at Dort for the composing of the differences in the Belgick Churches by reason of the Arminians and when grave learned and godly men were chosen out of all the Reformed Churches to be present at it which was Anno Christi 1618 and 1619 our Altingius with two others was sent from Heidleberg to assist in that work where he approved himself to all that were present both for his excellent Learning in Divinity and his dexterity in explicating cases of greater difficulty Thus far we have heard the happier and more comfortable part of his life now follows the more sad and afflicted part of it For scarcely was the Synod ended wherein the Arminians were condemned and the Orthodox Truths established but Alting with his Colleagues returned to Heidleberg and at the same time the tumults in Bohemia began The Prince Elector is chosen King of Bohemia and Crowned Spinola breaks into the Palatinate the great battel was fought nere Prague the Bohemians are beaten which was An. Chri. 1620. And the year following the University of Heidleberg was dissipated the Students flying for fear and the Professors having liberty granted them to go whether they pleased Yet our Alting sending his family into a place of safety stays still in the Colledge of Wisdom keeping the Students in good order remaining unterrified in the midst of emminent dangers whilst he was serviceable to the Church satisfied his own Conscience and the earnest desire of the King who from the Hâ—gue had written to him desiring him not to depart from Heidleberg An 〈…〉 in the moneth of â—â—â—gust Heidleberg was besieged by 〈◊〉 and â—eptember the 6. was taken by storm at which time it suffered whatsoever Military licentâ—ousness could inflict by plunderings murthers and ravishing of Matrons and Virgins all being heightened by the hatred of Religion and the brutishness of the Croâ—â—s At this time our Alting was in his study who hearing of the surprize of the City bolted his door and betook himself to Prayer looking every moment when the bloudy Souldiers would break in to sacrifice him to God But the great Arbiter of life and death took care for his safety For Monsieur Behusius Rector of the School and his dear friend hiring two souldiers called him forth and conveyed him through a back dore into the Lord Chancellors house which Tilly had commanded to be preserved from plundering by reason of the Publick Monuments of the Commonwealth that were kept in that place This house was commanded to be guarded by a Lieutenant Colonel that was under the Count of Hohenzollem a man greedy of prey who least he should lose his share in the booty by his attendance upon that place sent forth his Souldiers as it were a hunting commanding them that if they met with any Citizens of note that under pretence of safe-guarding them they should bring them to him purposing by their ransom to enrich himself To this man Alting was brought who with his naked sword reeking with blood said to him This day with this hand I have slain ten men to whom Doctor Alting shall be added as the eleventh if I knew where to finde him But who art thou Truly such a countenance and such a speech in such a juncture of time might have affrighted the most constant minde But our Alting by a witty answer neither denying himself to be Alting nor unseasonably discovering himself answered as sometimes Athanasius in the like case I was saith he a Schoolmaster in the Colleâ—ge of Wisdom Hereupon the Leiutenant Colonel promised him safety who if he had known him to be Alting would surely have slain him Oh what a sad time had he that night which he passed without sleep hearing the continual shrikes and groans which filled the ayr of Women ravished Virgins defloured men some drawn to torments others immediately slain But when he saw that many fled to this house as to their only refuge fearing lest he should be discovered by some of them either through imprudence or malice he retired into a Cockloft where whilst he hid himself this Leiutenant Colonel was by the authority of Tilly presently commanded away not giving him so much time as to seek out his Schoolmaster that the house might be resigned to the Iesuites for whom it was appointed Yet under these new inhabitants our Alting should not have been one jot safer if God had not by a special providence provided for his safety For the kitchin of this house was reserved for Tillies own use and one of the Palatines Cooks was appointed over it who closely fed and maintained him and whilst the Iesuites were providing all things in a readiness in the Church for the Mass he hired three Bavarian Souldiers that kept guards in the streets to guard him to his own house When he came thither he found all things broken plundred and carryed away and in his study he found a Captain boasting that all things therein were his own yet saith