intercession of the Saints and concerning the sacrifice of the Masse but being easily confuted he recanted confessed his error and gave thankes unto Almighty God that had prepared so excellent an instrument to open his eyes and to shew unto him cleerly the knowledge of the truth This his deniall of the intercession of the Saints and sacrifice of the Masse Stirred up Hugh Bishop of Constance to make an opposition against him insomuch that Zuinglius was inforced to declare publikly unto the world that which he beleeved concerning those and other differences betwixt himselfe and the Church of Rome by reason wherof his report and â—ame was brought unto Adrian the sixt then Pope of Rome who forthwith wrote unto him afâ—â—r this manner Beloved Sonne greâ—ting and Apostolicall Benediction We send our venerable brother Ennius Bishop of Verulan our Domistick Praelate and Apostolicall Nuntio a man wise and trusty unto that strenuous and warlike moâ—ion which hath beene friendly and faithfull unto us and to our Apostolicall Sea that he may treat with them about serious affaires which concerne not onely us and our Sea but also the whole Christian Common-wealth now although we have streightly commanded him that he shall relate those things in publicke before all in generall yet neverthelesse seeing that speciall notice is given unto us of those excellent vertues wherewith thou art endewed we cannot but entirely love and greatly rejoyce in thy zeale reposing a spiciall kind of Confidence in thee wherefore we have commanded the same Bishop our Legate that he deliver these our letters unto thee in particular and withall to declare our great affection towards thee finally we exhort you to be zealous in the Lord and to repose all your confidence in him and looke with what affection we tender your honour and preferment we desire the same from you in respect of our and the affaires of the sea Apostolicall and for which you shall finde no small favour aâ— our hands Given at Rome 23. Januvary 1523. and in the first yeer of our Popedome Letters were also written by the same Pope unto Franciscus Zinggius to this intent that he should not be wanting to use all meanes to draw and to allure this godly man to the prefession of the doctrine of the Church of Reme which Francisâ—us being damanded by Mysconius what reward the Pope had promised unto him on condition that he could perswade Zâ—inglius to revoke his opinion he seriously answered that Peters Chaire excepted he had promised him all things else Whence it is evident that the Divell and his members laboured as much as in them lied to hinder the knowledge of the truth of Christ and to detaine men in blindnesse and ignorance And hence we may observe the constancy of this holy man who could not be allured to forsake and fall from the truth of God and of his word no noâ—â—or all the preferments of the world â—steeming with Saint Paul all things as dung in respect of Christ. The Gospel now with the blessing of God being received and embraced of the Zigurins and gathering strength every day more and more Zuingliâ—s began to enter into a serious consideration of changing the forme of things present into a better state and condition reducing the Monks and Priests unto three orders some for labour some for Marrage some for learning because the number of them seeme greater then might seâ—ve for the use of Religion Being busied about this Reformation there crept in the Heiresie of the Catabaptists who forbad the Baptizing of Infants and did rebaptize themselves with these Zuinglius dealt friendly at the first disputing with them and convincing them of their errors but they being obstinate in their opinions he caused the Senate severely to punish them some with imprisonment some with death But to returne againe his alteration of the state at Tigurum concerning Priests and Mâ—nks and the decree against Pensioners being by his meanes sealed and confirmed caused him to be every way surrounded with enemies who waited daily and hourely to take away his life and also in the night season insomuch that he durst not walke abroad without a strong guard to defend him from his enemies who used openly in the streets all reproachfull speeches against him and these wicked and ungratious villaines when they saw that they could neither prevaile against the Gospel nor against this good Preacher of the Gospel then they bent all their forces against those who were obedient to the word of God imagining nothing but mischiefe towards them alwaies intending their destruction and ruine Hence it was concluded and resolved on to take up Armes for the deâ—ence of the truth of the doctrin of Christ and they all enter into a new League the old being notwithstanding no way violated but remaine firme and that by the great labour and industry of Zuinglius not that he intended any thing hurtfull unto his Countrey but to extirpate and to roote out their vices and to plant in it firmely the doctrine of the Gospel both for the glory of God and also for the good of all Switzerland for he deâ—ired nothing more then that all Nations might confesse the Lord Jesus and therefore he exhorted those that were his friends and which stood up for the truth of Christ to undergoe the hazard of their lives in so good a cause with these expresse words following That whith heretofore I have written unto you I exhort you unto it still beâ—eeching you to remaine constant and immovable and not to be afraid of your enimies for that peace which some so greatly urge and presse is open warre and not peace and that warre which we are to undertake is peace and not open warre for we doe not thirst after any mans blood neither do we desire to spill it by such tuâ—multuous actions but this we maintaine and defend that the nerves and sinewes of an Oligarchy are to be cut off and unlesse it be the truth of the Gospell and the Ministers thereof will never have any safe and quiet residence and dwelling amongst us Alas it is not cruelty that we thinke of but our actions are both fatherly and friendly we desire to be a meanes to save those who are like to perish through ignorance our greatest ambition is to preserve our liberty therefore doe not so much estrange your selves from our determinations you shall find them more peaceable and more just then some have related unto you you are apt to beleeve those which speake false of us who notwithstanding hitherto have had good and sufficient triall of our truth and of their inconstancy I will not say lies In this shew your selves to be men that ye remaine Constant and immovable as we doe for our faith towards God and men In a word let not feare dismay you for through the goodnesse of God we shall so behave our selves in this League that it shall neither purchase shame nor griefe to your selves Thus did he cheerefully
Monasticall life upon which perswasion he intended to forsake the Monâ—stery and to betake himselfe againe unto his former profession and for a preparation thereunto being as yet in the Monastery he set forth a booke of confession wherein in many things he opposed the doctrine of the Church of Rome whereby he brought himselfe not onely into danger of his life but the Monks also were greatly afraid lest any inconvenience might happen unto them by reason of his actions and therefore they greatly laboured to free their Monastery of him during their plodding he sharpely reprehended them for their errors perswadâ—ng them to embrace and lay hold on the truth whereby they came to be more and more incensed against him and privately laboured with his friends to be more earnest with him in the leaving of the Monaâ—stery Having beâ—n resident in this place not fully two yeeres he departed and went unto Franciscus Sickingen a man nobly descended by whom he was entertained and iâ— the same houâ—e he laboured to put downe the Masse affiâ—ming it to be an Idolatrous worship but Franciscus being at that time greatly distressed with an unhappy warre he left him and went to Basel in the yeer of our Lord 1522. to publish such things as he had at vacant times collected Here he was againe advanced by the Senats unto a Pastorall office an annuall stipend designed unto him which he performed with great zeale and constancy to the glory of God and good of his Church here he bouldly discovered unto his Auditors those errors which by continuance had got firme footing in the Church he opened unto them the perfection and sufficientcy of the Merits of Christ he declared unto them the true nature of faith he revealed unto them the true doctrine of Charity insomuch that the authority of the Poâ—ish religion began to stagger in the mindes of many Whilst he was totally occupied about these things some there were who laboured to draw him againe to the Pseudo Catholicke religion but more especially Iohannas Cachlaeus who in the yeere 1524. wrote letterâ— unto him wherein he testified himselfe to be deeply afflicted with sorrow to heare that a man so excellently learned should lay aside his coule and adhaere unto such haereticall opinions and withall exhorted him to revoke his opinion and to returne againe into the Monastery promising him a dispensation from the Pope and the favour of the Prior which he had formerly enjoyed but these and such like things were slighted by Oecolampadius who bringing them unto the word of God found that they would not endure the triall In the performance of his Pastorall office an assistanâ— was appointed unt him by publicke authority and he began to settle a more excellent Reformation in the Church commanding the Sacrament of Baptisme to be administred in the mother tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be received under both kinds he taught that the Masse was not a sacrifice for the living and the dead or for those who were tormented in their feigned Purgatory but that perfect satisfaction was obtained for all beleevers by the passion and Merits of Christ he disswaded them from sprinkling themselves with holy-water and from the consecration of Palmes and the like declaring unto them that they who did attribute vertue unto any such things did detract from the glory and power of God which doctrine of his tooke such deepe â—ooting in the hearts of his Auditors that it gave a period unto many superstitious actions amongst them The foundation of future reformation was no sooner laid but the old Dragon began to play his part and to discover his malicious â—nvy against such things as make for the glory of God either by hindâ—ing their proceedings or laying some foule aspersion on them for at that time broke forth that yet continued sacramentary dissention by meanes whereof that good worke begun in the Church was hindred Martin Luther at this time openly opposed and contradicting by writing the doctrine of Huldericus Zuinglius Pastor of the Church at Tigurum concerning the Euchiarist by reason whereof there was a great dissention betwixt the Churches of Helvetia and Saxony for the taking away of w ch Oecolampadius set forth a booke concerning the true understanding of these words Hoc est corpus meum and by many strong arguments he affirmed that a trope lay therein and yet his industry and labour therein tooke not away the contention betwixt the Churches This intended reformation was againe hindred by Eccius and his followers who taught 1 that the substantiall body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament of the Altar 2 that they were truly offered up in the Masse both for the living and the dead 3 that the virgin Mary and the Saints were to be worshipped as intercessours 4 that the images of Iesus and the Saints were not to be abolished 5 that after this life there was a Purgatory These positions were vehemently opposed by Oecolampadius at the publicke dispuâ—ation held at Baden the event whereof was this some of the Helvetians subscribed unto Eccius some unto Oecolampadius and so there remained still a dissention amongst them which could by no meanes be taken away although attempted by many worthy instruments of Christ who have undergone many dangers for an effectuall performance of the same yet Oecolampadius wrought so with the Saints that liberty of conscience was granted unto the Citizens as touching religion In the yeer following there was a disputation held at Berne which continued for the space of twenty dayes wherein Oecolampadius labored so powerfully for a reformation that his acts there recorded give a sufficient testimony thereof unto the world In the yeer 1529. an assembly was appointed by the Lantgraw of Hassia at Marpurge touching a reformation in the Churches concerning which more in the life of Melancton After the painfull sustaining of so many labours at home and abroad he returned to Basil where he spent the residue of his life in Preaching reading writing setting forth of books visiting the sicke and having also a care of the adjacent Churches untill the yeer 1531. wherein it pleased God to visit him with sicknesse wherewith he was constrained to take his bed hourely exspecting death And forthwith sending for the Pastors of the same place he welcommed them with ashort pithy oration wherein he exhorted them to remaine constant and firme in the purity of the doctrine which they professed because it was conformable unto the word of God as for other things he willed them to be lesse carefull assuring them that the Al-sufficient God would care for them and that he would not be wanting unto his Church His Children standing before him he tooke them by their right hands and afterwards gently stroking their heads he advised them to love God who would be unto them in the place of a Father A little before his death one of his intimate friends comming unto him he asked him what newes he answered
Divinity-Lecturer and willed the Scholars in no wise to beleeve him he carried the Crosse before the Procession Master Bilney seeing and pittying his blinde zeal came to his study and desired him to hear him make a Confession of his Faith which Latimer consenting to was so touched therby that he gave over School-Divinity and studied more Oâ—thodox Divines He used often to confer with Master Bilney and asked Master Stafford forgivenesse before he dyed he became a powerfull Preacher and instructed many in private also whereupon the Devill raised up many Doctors and Fryers against him and the Bishop of Elye forbad him to Preach Anno Christi 1529. yet he continued three yeeres preaching with much applause yea the Bishop himself hearing him upon a time commended him and wished that he had the like gifts himselfe he used oftâ—n to visit the Prisoners to relieve the needy and feed the hungry He was afterwards sent foâ— to the Court and employed in the businesse about King Henries Divorce then by the King he had a Benefice given him at West-Kingston neer Sarum where with much diligence he instructed his flocke whereupon some Popish Priestâ— drew up Articles against him and he was much molested by the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury out of whose hands the King rescued him and at the request of the Lord Cromwell made him Bishop of Worcester where also he busily employed himselfe in instructing his flocke and giving them a good example by his holy life yet neither there was he quiet for one of great place accuâ—â—d him to the King for preaching Sedition but the King rested satisfied with his answer At New-years-tide the Bishops used to present the King with a New years gift and Bishop Lâ—timer amongst the rest presented him with the New Testament wrapped up in a Napkin with this Posie about it Forniâ—atores adulteros judiâ—abiâ— Dominus Whoremongerâ— and Adulterers God will judge But the six Articles coming out and he seeing that he could not retaine his Office with a good Conscience of his owne accord he reâ—igned his Bishopricke and when he put off his Rocket in hiâ— chamber amongst his friends he gave a skip in the floore for joy feeling his shoulders lighter and being as he said discharged of so heavie a burthen Yet neither then would the Bishops suffer him to be quiet till he was laid up in the Tower where he remained till Edward the sixt his reigne at which time being restored to his liberty he continued a faithfull and painfull preacher all that Kings dayes preaching twice every Sabbath though sixty seven yeares of age he rose to his study Winter and Summer at two a clocke in the morning he evidently fore-saw and fore-told all those plagues which England afterwards felt under Queen Marie and fore told concerning himselfe that his preaching of the Gospell would cost him his life Sâ—ephen Cranmeâ— and that Winchester was kept in the Tower for the same purpose which afterwards proved so In the beginning of Queâ—n Maries Reign he was sent for up by a Pursuivant whereof he had notice six houres before he came to his house yet insteâ—d of flying he prepared himselfe 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 The Pursuivant having delivered his Letter told him that he was commanded not to stay for him and so immediately departed 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 Councill after many mocks scorns he was sent 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 he bad the Lievtenants man to tell his Master That if he did not looke better to him perchance he would deceive him the Lievtenant thinking that he intendâ—d to make an escape charged him with his words to whom he answerâ—d You thinke I should burn but except you let me have a firâ— I shall deceiv your expectation for I am here like to starve with cold From thence he was carried to Oxford with Cranmer and Ridley where they spent their time in brotherly conference fervent prayer and fruitfull writing yea many times he continued so long in fervent prayer that he was not able to get up without helpe Three things he more especially prayed for First 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 he might give his hearts blood for the same Secondly that God of his mercy would restore his Gosâ—pell to England once againe once againe which he often inculcated in his prayer and that with so much ardor as though he had seen God before him and spoken to him face to face Thirdly that the Lord would preserve Queen Elizabeth and make her a comfort to this comfortlesse Realm of England The Lord most graciously answering all thosâ— his requests 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 be tempted above that which we are able c. As he was burning his blood ran 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 râ—quest That he might be so happy as to shed his hearts blood for the Truth The other two requests we have found and yet have the benefit When the fire was first kindled he cryed O Father of heaven receive my soule and so receiving the flame and as it were embracing of it having stroaked his face with his hands and bathed them a little in the fire he soone died with very little pain or non at all Anno Christi 1555. Though Latimer was in his heedlesse youth A diviator and abandon'd truth Yet heaven having blest him with a riper age At last he banish'd his too forward rage And from a wandring Commet he became A blazing starre and blush'd not to proclaime Against his former Errours which had spread Upon his heart and almost struck it dead He sought the way of truth and seeking found A better Anchor and a firmer ground Where on he fixt his thoughts and would not be Remov'd by arguments or Tyrannie Thus our brave Latimer became a terrour To Papists and an enemy to errour Though he at first most wilfully deny'd The truth yet for the truth at last he dy'd The Life and Death of John Philpot who died Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Philpot was a Knights son and born in
that durst take it downe Master Gilpin requested the Sexton to take it downe who replyed That he durst not Then said Master Gilpin Bring me a staff I will take it down which accordingly he did and put it into his bosome and in his Sermon he took occation to reprove these inhumane challenges and reproved him in particular that had hug up the glove shewing them that he had taken it downe and that such practices were unbeseeming Christians and therefore he perswaded them to love and mutuall charity amongst themselves after Sermon he distributed mony amongst the poor and as his manner was visited the prisoners gave them mony and preached to them and brought many of them to repentance and for some that were condemned to die he procured pardon and saved their lives Not long after a Rebellion was raised in the North by the Earls of Northumberland and Cumberland which Master Gilpin having intelligence of resolved to retire himselfe and making a speech to the Master aud Scholars to demean themselves carefully and peaceably in his absence he went to Oxford till the Queens Army commanded by the Earl of Sussex had dissipated the Rebels but before that Army came the Rebels having seazed upon Durham some of them flew as far as Houghton and finding Master Gilpin's Barns full of corn young cattell fatted and many things provided for hospitality they made spoile of all the chiefest of which plunderers was a knave whom Master Gilpin had saved from the Gallows but when those Rebels were overthrown Master Gilpin returned home and begged the lives of many of the simpler sort whom he knew to be drawn into that Rebellion through ignorance After the death of Bishop Pilkington who was Master Gilpins faithfull friend there succeeded in the Bishoprick of Durham one Richard Barns who was offended with him upon some false suggestions which came thus about Master Gilpins custom was sometimes to goe to Oxford and once as he was upon his way he espied a young youth before him sometimes walking and sometimes runing Master Gilpin demanded of him what he was whence he came and whether he was going He answered That he came out of Wales and was bound for Oxford to be a Scholar Master Gilpin thereupon examined him and finding him a prompt Scholar for the Latin and that he had a smattering in the Greek asked him if he would goe with him and he would provide for him the youth was contented whereupon he took him with him to Oxford and afterwards to Houghton where he profited exceedingly boâ—h in Greek and Hebrew whom Master Gilpin at last sent to Cambridge and this was that famous Hugh Broughton who afterwards râ—quited evill for good by stirring up of the Bishop of Durham against Master Gilpin Now the Bishop sent to Master Gilpin to preach at a Visitation appointing time and place but it fell out just at that time when Master Gilpin was going his Northern journy into Riddesdale c. whereupon he sent his man to the Bishop desiring him to appoint som other to preach the Visitation-Sermon for that he might have many to doe that but none would goe amongst the Borderers if he did it not when his man had delivered his message to the Bishop the Bishop hâ—ld his peace which being related to M r. Gilpin he said Silence arguâ—'s consent and so went on in his journy But so soon as the Bishop heard of it he suspended him which Master Gilpin at his returne much wondred at Shortly after the Bishop sent to him to warn him to meet him and the rest of the Clergy at Chester whither Master Gilpin went and when the Bishop and Clergy were all met in the Church he said to Master Gilpin Sir I must have you preach to day Master Gilpin desired to be excused because he was unprovided and for that he was suspended But saith the Bishop I free you from that suspension Yet Master Gilpin replyed That he durst not go up into the Pulpit unprovided You are never unprovided saith the Bishop you have such an habit of preaching Master Gilpin still stifly refused sayingâ— That God was not so to â—e tempted c. Whereupon the Bishop commanded him to goe into the Pulpit forthwith Well Sir said Master Gilpin since it must be so your Lordships will be done so after a little pause went up and began his Sermon and though he saw some extraordinarily prepared to write his Sermon yet he proceeded in his application to reprove the enormities in that Diocesse And now saith he Reâ—erend Father my speech must be directed unto you God hath exalted you and will require an account of your Goveâ—nment a reformation of what 's amisse in the Church is required at your hands c. neither can you henceforth plead ignorance for bâ—hâ—ld I bring these things to your knowledge this day and therefore what evils you shall â—ither doe your sâ—lfe or suffer by your connivance â—ereafâ—er you make it your own câ— His friends hearing him thuÌ„der out these things much feared what would become of him and after Sermon some of â—hem told him with tears That now the Bishop had that advantage against him which he had long looked for c. to whom he answered Be not affraid the Lord God over-ruleth all aâ—d if God â—ay be glorified and his Truth propagated Gods will be done â—onâ—erning â—ee After they had dined together all men exspecting the issue of this businesse Master Gilpin went to take his leave of thâ— Bishop Nay said the Bishop I will bring you home and so went along with him to his house and walked there together in a Parlour the Bishop took him by the hand saying Father Gilpin I acknowledge you are fitter to be Bishop of Durham then my selfe to be Parson of your Church I aske forgivenessâ— for errors past forgive mâ— Father I know you have hatched 〈◊〉 some chickens that now seek to pick out your eyes but be sure so long as I am Bishop of Durham no man shall injure you Master Gilpin and his friends much rejoyced that God had so over-ruled thingsâ— that that which was purposed for his disgrace should turn to his greater credit His body being quite worn out with pains-taking at last he feeling before hand the approach of death commanded the poor to be called together unto whom he made a speech and took his leave of them He did the like also to others made many exhortations to the Scholars to hiâ— servants and to diverse others aud so at the last he fell asleep in the the Lord March the fourteenth An. Christi 1583. and of his Age 66. He was tall of stature slender and hawk-nosed his clothes not costly but frugal in things that belonged to his own body bountifull in things that tended to the good of others especially to the Poor and Scholars His dooreâ— were still open to the poor and strangers he boorded and kept in his owne house twenty four Scholars most of
a larg stipend should be yearly given unto him out of tâ—e revenews of an adjacent Abby for his maintenance upon condition that Iohannes Charondiletus then Chancâ—llor unto the Emperour and Arthbishop of Panorma would give his free assent thereunto but the Providence of God so disposing he was not onely denied the same by the said Archbishop but he was also threatned with the losse of his life because is was declared unto him that Gâ—rardus had of late been in higher Gâ—rmany unto which place it was not lawfull for any student to goe least he should be infected with the purity of the doctrine taught in the reformed Churches This expectation of himself and also of his friends being now made voidâ— and having no hopes of getting preferment thereabouts because the Archbishop appeared his professed enemy by the advice of some godly and learned men and also because he would not be burdensome unto his friendsâ— he was resolved to travell againe and so determined to view that other part of Italie which he had not seene but here he was againe hindred by the violence of those Wars which at that time raged betwixt the Emperor and the King of France wherefore he being by this occasion deprived of the sight of Italie he shipped himselfe for England intending not to visit France or Germany any more because he might easily understand in that place by letters continually sent from his friends how all things went in Flanders and whether there were any hopes of obtaining preferment in those parts after his arrivall in England as he used in other forraine parts so he here also enqured after such as were esteemed the leanedest Scholars by which meanes he addressed himselfe unto Charles Monâ—joy the Son of William Montjoy Knight Baron a man much commended and approved of by Erasmus Roterdamus in his writings and of great learning in those dayes who conferring after a friendly manner with Gerardus concerning many matters and thereby perceiving his more then ordinary parts received him into his house and withall conferred an annuall stipend on him and that after a bountifull manner which waâ— so well pleasing unto Gerardus that he continued four yeâ—râ— with thiâ— Montjoy in which time he profited much in the knowledgâ— of humane and divine learning In the yeare 1540. with the consent of Charles Montjoy hâ— went to take view of the University of Cambridge about which time there were great troubles in the Church of England the Lord Cromwell was beheaded others were burned for their zealous profession of the truth many also were put to death for denying the King to be supreame head of the Church under Christ. Proclamations were every where set up against exotics and those full of perill and danger which caused Gerardus to enter into a consideration of returning againe into Germany yet before his departure from England he resolved to recreate himselfe with the fight of that other fountaine of learning viz. Oxford from whence he returned to London where after that he had prepared and fitted himselfe with things necessary for his journy he not without great sorrow tooke his leave of his liberall and loving Master who earnehly intreated him to continue longer with him but by no meanes he could be enduced and perswaded thereunto but forthwith he directed his course towards Anâ—werp a famous City in Brabant from whence he went againe into Flanders and for a season he there continued amongst his friends during his aboad in that place he heard of the fame of Bucer and of the flourishing Schoole at Straâ—burge both which but especially the fame of Bucâ—r allured him to take view of that part of high Germany wherefore without any delay he sets forward toward Strasburge taking Marpurge in his way that he might take order for the conveying of his books and trunks unto Frankâ—furt and secondly because he knew that he could maintaine himselfe at a cheaper rate during his aboad there then in any other place situate on the banks of Rhine and thirdly because he hoped that he should easily obtaine commâ—ndatory letters unto the learned Professors at Sâ—rsburge in that place and especially by the means of Gerardus Noviomagus a man of good estemation who also had formerly knowne this Gerardus and had lived also himselfe sometimes at Strasburge Maviomagus hâ—ving notice of the comming of Andraeas Gerardus unto Mâ—rpurge he kindely invited him unto his lodging where they met with mutuall embracâ—ngâ— being exceeding joyfull of the presence of each other not long after Gerardus discovering unto Naviomagus the causes of his comming unto that place together with his intent for Strasburge he was deâ—ired â—o remaine at Marpurge and withall he was promised faithfully by Naviomagus that he would procure him not onely employment but also a sufficient stipend for the performance of the same Gerardus well perceiving the entire love and sincere affection of his old friend consented and remained expecting preferment in the same place whereupon assooue as Iohannes Ficinus their Chancellor was returned home from an assembly appointed at Reinspurge Naviomagus entered into discourse with him concerning Gerardus and withall declared that by reason of his sicknesse he was not able to performe that place whereunto he was called desired that Gerardus might be approved and allowed to be an assistant unto him in the performance of the place the motion was well liked of Ficinus who forthwith called Gerardus unto him and wished him to remaine at Marpurge and to make triall of his gifts in that place which if they were approved of he promised him a sufficient pension for his labours but Gerardus was so well approved in that place by his Auditors that after the death of Naviomagus he was chosen and appointed to be his successour in the performance of a pastorall office which he faithfully discharged with so great labour and zeale for the Propacating of the truth the space of twenty two years that besides his appointed times and seasons he would make use of vacant houres for the performance of the same Here he commanded the publick exercise of Preaching in the Schoolâ— appointed texts unto the young Divines to treat of he would view and correct their Sermons before they were delivered in the Pulpit nay he would cause them to deliver them privately in his study before he would permit them to deliver them unto the publick Congregation that if there were any defect in voyce or gesture it might happily be amended He much praised those who performed their actions well contrariwise he severely rebuked those which were negligent sloathfull and as it were forceably compelled and constrained them unto a greater diligence he would daily examine them in points of Divinity desire their opinions concerning difficult questions explaine and open unto them hard texts of Scriptures insomuch that in short time he was the Author of much good unto the young Students these this he performed without the expectation of any reward He entred also into a