c. help me with your Prayers By the way as he went he gave much Alms and at the place of Execution he spake to the people confessing his Faith by rehearsing the Articles of the Creed and afterwards prayed privately with earnest elevation of his Eyes and Hands to Heaven Being tyed to the stake the Fryars desired him to declare his charity to them by assuring the people that they were not the causers of his death for said they they think that we have procured it and thereupon will withdraw their charitable alms from us whereupon he said I pray you good people be never the worse to these men for my sake for they were not the Authors of my death The fire being kindled the winde drove away the flame from him so that he was the longer a burning holding up his hands crying sometimes Jesus sometimes Credo and so at last yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1531. WILLIAM TINDALL The Life of William Tindal who dyed Anno Christi 1536 WIlliam Tindal was born about the borders of Wales and brought up from a childe in the University of Oxford where he grew up and encreased in the knowledge of the Tongues and the Liberal Arts but especially in the Scriptures whereunto his minde was singularly addicted insomuch as being in Magdalen-Hall he read privately to some Fellows and Students some parts of Divinity instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures His â—ife also was so blameless that he acquired much love and esteem thereby After he had profited exceedingly and taken his degrees there he remoued to Cambridge and being well ripened in the knowledge of Gods Word he went to live with one Mr. Welch in Glocestershire where he was Tutor to his children and many Abbots and Doctors resorting thither Mr. Tindal discoursing with them of Luther Erasmus c. shewed them plainly his judgement in Religion proving the same by the Word of God and confuting their Errors which caused them to bear a secret grudge in their hearts against him Not long after it happened that some of these great Doctors invited Master Welch and his Lady to a banquet where they had talk at will uttering their blinde Superstitions without gainsaying Then Master Welch and his Lady coming home and calling for Master Tindal began to reason with him about those matters whereof they had talked before with the Priests Mr. Tindal answering by the Scriptures maintained the Truth and confuted their Errors whereupon the â—ady Welch said There was such a Doctor as may expend 100 l. per annum and such an one as may spend 200 l. per annum and such another as may spend 300 l. per annum and is it reason think you that we should believe you before them Mr. Tindal gave her no answer at that time and talked but little afterwards of those matters because he saw it was in vain But fell upon translating a book called Enchiridion miliâ—s Christiani and having finished it he gave it to the Knight and his Lady who after they had well read and perused the same did not more so often invite the Doctorly Prelates to their house as before neither had they that chear and countenance when they came as formerly which they well perceiving supposed that it was by the means of Mr. Tindal whereupon they utterly withdrew themselves and came no more thither Then did the Country Priests cluster together storming and railing against Mr. Tindal in their Alehouse-meetings concerning whom himself writes thus I was saith he in that Country much molested by a company of unlearnnd Priests that had never seen more Latine then in their Portesses and Missals which yet many of them can â—carcely read and if they be but sorrily learned they get Albertus Magnus de secretis mulierum which they pore night and day upon making notes therein c. These men railed and raged against him affirming that he held heretical opinions and thereupon accused him to the Bishop and Chancellor whereupon the Chancellor appointed those Priests and Mr. Tindal also to appear before him and Mr. Tindal suspecting the matter as he went prayed heartily unto God to give him strength to stand fast to the Truth When he came the Chancellor threatned him grievously reviling and rating him as though he had been a Dog accusing him of many things whereof no proof could be brought and so dismissed him for the present Not long after Mr. Tindal happening into the company of one that was esteemed a learned Doctor in disputing with him he drave him to that issue that the Doctor burst out into these blasphemous words We had better be without Gods Laws then the Popes Mr. Tindal hearing this full of godly zeal replyed I defie the Pope and all his Laws and if God spare me life ere many years I will cause a boy that drives the Plough to know more of the Scripture then you do The rage of the Priests encreasing Mr. Tindal told Mr. Welch that he well perceived that he could stay there no longer with safety and that his stay might be prejudicial to his Family and therefore with his good leave he departed and went to London where he preached a while as he had done in the Country before And then hearing a great commendation of Cuthbert Tonstal Bishop of London he endeavored to get into his service but the Lord saw that it was not good for him and therefore he found little favor in the Bishops sight Remaining thus in London about the space of a year and being desirous for the good of his Country to translate the New Testament into English he found that there was no place for him to do it in England and therefore being assisted by Master Humphry Manmouth a godly Citizen and other good men he left the land and went into Germany where this good man being inflamed with a tender care of and zeal for his Country refused no travel nor pains if by any means possible he might reduce his Brethren and Countrymen of England to the same taste and understanding of Gods holy Word and Truth which the Lord had endued him withall Then conferring with Master John Frith he thought in his minde that no way would more conduce thereunto then if the Scriptures were translated into their vulgar language that so the people might fee the plain text before them for he well perceived that one great cause of Error was because the knowledge of the Scriptures was hidden from the peoples Eyes upon these considerations he there set upon this work Translating the New Testament Anno Christi 1527. and then setting upon the Old he finished the five Books of Moses with sundry most learned and godly Prologues prefixed before every one of them the like also he did upon the New Testament Besides divers other godly Treatises which he wrote there
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
condition I was saith he about two months close Prisoâ—er in the Tower after that without my sâ—eking I had the liberty of the Tower granted me and so I continued about halfe a year till refusing to be present at Mass I was shut up close prisoner again The last Lent but one by reason of the rising in Kent the Tower was so full of prisoners that my Lord Arch Bish. of Canterbury Master Latimer Master Bradford and my selfe were all put into one Prison where we remained till almost Easter and then Doctor Cranmer Master Latimer and my selfe were sent down to Oxford and were suffered to have nothing with us but what we carried upon us Aâ—bout Whitsuntide following was our disputations at Oxford after which we had Pen Ink and all things taken from us yea and our own servants were removed from us and strangers set in their steads and all of us kept apart as we are unto this daâ— God be blessed we are all three in health and of good cheer and have looked long agoe to have been dispatched for within a 〈◊〉 or two after our disputations we wâ—re condemned for Hereticâ—s The Lords wil be fulfilled in us c When he was brought before the Popes Dâ—legate the Bishop of Lincoln in the Divinity School in Oxford whilst the Commission was reading he stood â—are till he heard the Cardinall named and the Popes holiness and then he put on his Cap and being aâ—monished by the Bishop to pull it off he answered I do not put it on in contempt to your Lordship c. but that by this my behaviour I may make it appear that I acknowledg in 〈◊〉 point the usurped Supremacy of Rome and therfore I utterlâ— contemne and despise all Authority coming from the Pope Then the Bishop commanding the Bedle to pull off his Cap he bowing his head suffered him quietly to do it After diverse examinations he was at last degraded condemned and delivered to the Bailisss to be kept till the nâ—xt day when he should be burned The night before he suffered he caused his beard to be shaven and his feet washed and bad his Hostess and the rest at the board to his wedding He asked his brother also whether his sister could finde in her heâ—r to bâ—e present at it Yea said hee I dare say with all her heart His Hostess Mistris Irish weeping he said O Mistris Irish I see now that you love me not for in that you weep it appears that you will not be at my marriage nor are therewith content I see you are not so much my friend as I thought but quiet your self though my break-fast be somewhat sharpe and painâ—ull yet I am sure my Supper shall be more pleasant and sweet His brother proffering to watch with him he refused it saying I intend to goe to bed and sleep as quietly as ever I did in my life In the morning he came forth in a fair black gowne faced with foins and tippet of velvet c. and looking behind him he spied Master Latimer coming after to whom he said O! bee you there Yea said Latimer have-after as fast as I can follow Coming to the stake he lift up his hands and eyes stedfastly to heaven and espying Master Latimer he ran with a cheerfull countenance to him embraced and kissed him and comforted him saying Be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flame or give us strength to abide it So he went to the stake kneeled by it kissed it and prayed earnestly and being about to speak to the people some ran to him and stopped his mouth with their hands Afterwards being stripped he stood upon a stone by the stake saying O heavenly father I give thee hearty thanks for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto death I beseech thee Lord God have mercy upon this Realm of England and deliver it from all its enemies As a Smith was knocking in the staple which held the chain he said to him Good fellow knock it in hard for the flesh will have his course Then his brother brought a bag of gunpowder and would have tyed it about his neck Doctor Ridley asked what it was His Brother answered gunpowder then said he I take it as being sent of God therefore I will receive it as sent from him And when he saw the flame a coming up to him he cryed with a loud voice In manus tuas c. Into thy hands Lord I commend my spirit Lord receive my soul But the fire being kept down by the wood he desired them for Christs sake to let the fire come to him which his brother in law mis-understanding still heaped on faggots whereby his nether parts were burned before his upper parts were touched At last his upper parts fell down into the fire also and so he slept in the Lord. Bishop Ridley upon a time crossing the Thames there rose on a sudden such a Tempest that all in the boat were astonished looking for nothing but to be drowned Take heart said he for this boat carrieth a Bishop that must be burned and not drowned He suffered martyrdome Anno Christi 1555. He was a man so reverenced for his learning and knowledge in the sacred Scriptures that his very enemies were enforced to acknowledge that he was an excellent Clerk and if his life might have been redeemed with monie the Lord Dacres of the North being his Kinsman would have given 10000l for the same rather then that he should be burned But so unmercifull and cruel was Q. Mary that notwithstanding D. Ridleys gentleness towards her in King Edward the sixth days she would by no intreaties nor other means be perswaded to spare his life The tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty In a Letter which he wrote to his friends he hath this passage I warne you my friends that ye be not astonished at the manner of my dissolution for I assure you I think it the greatest honor that ever I was called to in all my life and therefore I thank the Lord God heartily for it that it hath pleased him of his great mercy to cal me to this high honor to suffer death willingly for his sake and in his cause wherefore all you that be my true lovers and friends rejoyce and rejoyce with me again and render with me hearty thanks to God our heavenly Father that for his sons sake my Saviour and Redeemer Christ he hath vouchsafed to call me being else without his gracious goodness in my selfe but a sinful and vile wretch to cal me I say to this high dignity of his true Prophets faithfull Apostles and of his holy and chosen Martyrs to dye and to spend this temporall life in the defence and maintenance of his eternall and everlasting truth Whist he was Mr. of Pembrook-hall he used to walk much in the Orchard
of that worthy main James Sime where he beganne privately to instruct such as resorted to him amongst whom was the Laird of Dun David Forresse and Elizabeth Adamson the Wife of James Baranne Burgesse of Edenborough and some others After a while Master Knox perceiving that divers who willingly entertained the Doctrine of Christ yet made no scruple to goe to Masse and to communicate in the abused Sacraments after the Papisticall manner he beganne as well in private conference as in his Ministery to shew the impiety of the Masse and the great danger of communicating with Idolatry wherewith some being terrified in conscience the businesse beganne to be agitated from one to another Hereupon the Laird of Dun invited Master Knox to supper where were present David Forresse Master Kobert Lockart John Willock and William Matland at which meeting the question was proposed and debated and Mr. Knox did so fully and learnedly answer whatsoever was objected against his Doctrine that William Matland concluded in these words I see very well that all our shifts will serve nothing before God seeing they stand us in so small stead before men After these reasonings the Mass beganne to be abhorred and Mr. Knox at the request of the Laird of Dun went with him to Dun where he remained a moneth preaching every day to the people the principall men of that country resorting to his Ministery At the moneths end he went to Calder whether resorted to him the Lord Erskin afterwards Earl of Argile Lord James the Prior of St. Andrews afterwards Earl of Murrey where they heard and so approved his Ministry that they wished it had been more publick A while after the Earl of Glencarne sent for Master Knox to his place of Finlaston where after he had preached to them he administred the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to the Earl his Lady two of his sons and some others and so he went back to Calder to which place many resorted to him from Edenborough and the country round about not onely to hear his Doctrine but also to partake of the holy Sacrament which before they had never received From thence he departed the second time to the Laird of Duns where he preached the Gospel with more liberty and boldnesse then he had before and many of the Gentlemen of the Country after they had heard his Doctrine desired also to be made partakers of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and through Gods mercy his Minâ—stry had such an impression upon their hearts that they presently refused all society with Idolatry and bent themselves to the uttermost of their powers to maintain the truth of Christ. This so vexed the Friers that from all quarters they flocked to their Bishops to complain of Master Knox so that he was summoned to appear in the black-Fryers Church in Edenborough the fifteenth of May following and accordingly he appeared Thither came also Iohn Erskin of Dun with divers other Gentlemen which the Bishops taking notice of durst not proceed against him Insomuch that Master Knox the same day that he should have appeared before them preached in Edenborough in a greater Audience then ever he had before The place where he preached was in the Bishop of Dunkellins great lodging in which place he preached ten days together both forenoon and afternoon Then did the Earl of Glencarne solicit the Earl Marshall to hear Master Knox which he with his Counsellor Drummoâ—d did and so liked his Doctrine that he willed Master Knox to write unto the Queen Regent somewhat that might move her to hear the word of God This M. Knox was willing to do and wrote that which was afterwards printed called A Letter to the Queen Dowager which was delivered by the Earl of Glencarne into her own hands The Queen after she had read the Letter delivered it to that proud Prelate Becon Bishop of Glascow saying in scorne Please you my Lord to read a Pasquill Whilst Master Knox was thus occupied in Scotland there came a Letter to him from the English Congregation which was setled at Geneva Anno Christi 1555. being separated from the contentious and superstitious company at Frankefort requiring him in the name of God that as he was their chosen Pastor so he should repair to them for their comfort Upon this he took his leave in every Congregation where before he had preached exhorting them to fervent prayer frequent reading oâ— the Scriptures and mutuall conference till God should give them greater liberty and then he sent before him to Diep his Mother in law Elizabeth Bowes and his wife but himselfe by the importunity of Robert Campbel stayed a while in Scotland going to the Earl of Argile then in Campbel Castle where he taught certain dayes the Laird of Glenurquaire being one of his Auditors who intreated the Earl of Argile to retain him in Scotland But he was resolved upon his journey and would by no means stay at that time yet promising that if the Lord blessed those small beginnings whensoever they pleased to command him they should find him obedient to their call Shortly after he passed over into France and from thence went to Geneva whereupon the Bishops of Scotland summoned him and for non-appearance condemned him and burnt his effigies at the Crosse at Edenborough From which unjust sentence when Master Knox heard of it he â—ent an appellation which he directed to the Nobility and Commons of Scotland March the tenth Anno Christi 1556. certain of the Nobility of Scotland sent this ensuing Letter to Master Knox at Geneva Grace mercy and peace for salvation Dearly bâ—loved in the Lord the faithfull that are of your acquaintance in these parts thanks be to God are stedfast in the beliefe wherein you left them and have a godly thirst and desire from day to day to injoy your presence againe which if God so move your heart and give you life we desire you in the name of the Lord that you returne to us again into this place where you shall finde all faithfull that you left behind you who will not only be glad to hear your Doctrine but ready to jeopard their estates for the setting forth of the glory of God as he will permit time And albeit the Magistrates of this Country be as yet but in the state you left them yet at the writing hereof we have no experience of any more cruelty used then was before but rather beleeve that God will augment his flock because we see daily the Friers enemies to Christs Gospel in lesse estimation both with the Queens Grace and the rest of the Nobility of the Realme This in few words is the mind of the faithfull here present and of others absent The rest of our minds this faithfull messenger wil shew you when he comes to you Fare you well in the Lord. Subscribed Glencarne Erskin Argile James Steward Master Knox upon the receipt of this
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
his Soul and the vain flattering selicity of the World yeelding disgust by little and little the love of spiritual life seemed to take root in his heart and this begat in him a desire frequently to pray and to read and study the holy Scriptures Then did he often resort to such men as sequestred themselves from worldly businesses and betook themselves to Monasteries where he learned by experience the sweet conversation of Gods servants those places being not yet degenerated into such superstition and profaness as afterwards they were Amongst them he perceived that as they had no worldly solace so had they no weariness in their present condition as they had no temporal joyes so neither had they that vexation of spirit which other men were subject to by reason of their worldly businesses whereupon with himself he brake out into these words Why travel I in the World which can yeeld me no future nor durable reward inswerable to my pains Though it be better to weep well then joy ill yet if to joy be our desire how much excelleth their joy who have a good conscience before God who dread nothing but sin study to do nothing but to accomplish the Precepts of Christ Now therefore let me change my trade and as before I endeavoured amongst my Noble Friends to prove more Noble so now let my care and imployment be amongst the humble and poor servants of the Highest to become more poor and humble then they and like S. Matthew let me turn from a Publican to a Disciple Thus being resolved to renounce all terrene and worldly delights and to make himself a partaker of that kinde of life which upon mature deliberation and examination his judgement approved as most excellent yet withall wisely considering that sudden changes might breed some distemperature either in body or minde or both he began by degrees to accustom himself to Fasting to avoid the company and accustomed complements of his old acquaintance and familiar friends addicting himself to solitariness much reading and prayer Hereupon all that knew him were stricken with great wonder and amazement at this sudden and unexpected change imputing this strict demeanor in a man so delicately brought up to proceed from necessity and privy poverty But he having thus made some proof of such things wherein he conceived difficulties might occur and now finding by experience that nothing was hard to a willing minde as also lighting upon and reading that Divine Treatise of St. Augustine upon the 36 Psalm his love to and longing after that more retired course of life much encreased in him so that he resolved without any further delay to put his former purposes into practise and accordingly going to Faustus who was one of those Bishops whom the Arian Tyrant Hunerick had confined to a certain place not far from his own Country he beseeched him to admit him into his Monastery The prudent Bishop wel knowing the worldly conversation of the young man in times past gave no credit to his speech nor comfort to his request but willed him first to learn to live less delicately before he entred upon so strict a course of life But he humbly kissing the Bishops hand earnestly requested him that he would not reject him but graciously admit him for one of his Disciples and so by importunity declaring his sincere affections he procured admittance The fame of this thing spreading abroad some dispaired of his perseverance because of his former delicate life others considering the excellency of his wit were raised in expectation of some notable and worthy consequence Divers of his Familiars excited by his example betook themselves to the like course of life only his inconsiderate and worldly-minded mother grew exceedingly discontented at it as if her Fulgentius were already dead and so impatiently running to the Bishop the brawled with him crying out Restore the Son to his Mother the Master to his Servants and Houshold It becomes you to comfort such disconsolate Widdows not to destroy my forlorn house The Bishop mildly reprehended her but wisely concealed her son wherefore she filled the Ayr with her exclamations ever calling upon the name of Fulgentius This violent temptation did he meet with at his first entrance into this strict kinde of life but having his heart fixed in Heaven he gave no Ear to her exclamations so that his Mother verily thinking that he had not been there sorrowfully departed The Bishop having hereby had experience of the valour of his young Disciple judged that he that could thus overcome his natural affections no labour would be hard nor conquest difficult for the time to come Whilst he continued in this place he wholly abstained from Wine and Oil and was so rigorous in Fasting that it much debilitated his body and procured some diseases but his heart being wholly set upon the working forth of his Salvation with fear and trembling he committed himself to God saying The daintiest feeders avoid not sickness and after he had a while been habituated to this course he through Gods mercy recovered his health and pristine beauty His Inheritance though he had a younger Brother called Claudius he wholly left it to his Mother that at her decease she might leave it to Claudius if he deserved well of her by which means his Brother for the Living-sake was made more dutiful and submiss and his Mother by this gift received no small consolation to counterpoise the sorrow of his absence Shortly after the Arians renewing their persecution which for a space they had discontinued under a pretence of more moderation Bishop Faustus was constrained by frequent removes from one place to another to hide himself and Fulgentius had no better shift then to flee to another little Monastery governed by one Felix who having sufficiently heard of his Learning and Vertue would have resigned the government thereof to Fulgentius but he constantly refused it yet at the great importunity of the Brethren he was enforced to take part of the Government upon him So that these two holy men equal in their love to God and their neighbors equal in Vertue and like in Conditions mutually governed the place each fearful of offending the other each vigilantly attending the good of the Society But the Perfecution growing more hot they together with their Disciples were forced to remove into more remote and unknown parts of Africa and at last setled in the Territories of Sicca where they exceedingly profited the people and gained many Souls to Christ But the old Enemy of mankinde envying their godly labours stirred up an Arian Priest called Faeix who not far off had corrupted many with his Heretical opinions to molest and trouble them This fellow great in Power and Authority but greater in malice fearing lest by the means of Fulgentius whose Learning now grew famous many of his seduced Disciples should be reclaimed to the Truth he caused all the
a little more it s most grievous to me my feet and thighes be swoln as theirs Who are troubled with a Dropsie And in all these things that I may conceal nothing from my friend who desires to know the state of his friend the Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is weak Pray unto my Saviour who desireth not the death of a sinner not that he will defer but that he will guard my departure by his blessed Angels Take ye care that my heel which is naked of merits be strengthened and defended by your Prayers that he which lyeth in wait may not finde where to fasten his tooth and inslict a wound Farewel A little before his death all the Monks came and asked him whether he did not take pity on them and their Monastery To which he answered that he was in a great straight not knowing which to choose Life or Death but left all to the Will of God For faith he my Fatherly love moves me to pity you my children so as to desire to remain here but on the other side my desire to be with Christ draws me to long to depart hence His humility was such that he called himself an unprofitable servant a dry tree from whom no good had come either to himself or others He dyed Aug. 20. Anno Christi 1153. and in the 63 year of his age He accompanyed the Bishop of Hostin the Popes Legat to Tholouse purposely to root out those whom he called Hereticks but indeed were the true servants of Christ and being too facile and misinsormed himself he misreported their Opinions and Doctrines shewing himself the Grand Factor for two Popes viz. Innocent the second and Eugenius the third One Adm a Canon Regular made this Epitaph on him Clare sunt valles sed claris vallibus Abbas Clarior his clarum women in orbe deait Clarus avis clarus meritis clarus honore Clarnt ingenio â—t Religione magis Mors est clars cius clarus clarumg sepulchrum Clarior exutat spirtus ante Deum He had many opinions differing from the Church of Rome As that there were but two Sacraments Denyed Transubslantiation That the wicked receive not Christs Flesh. That we are justified by the imputation of Christs Righteousness That mans Righteousness justifieth not before God That we might be assured of our Salvation Denyed works of Supererogation I ree-will Would not have Traditions obstinately defended nor superstitiously observed Complained that Popes and Bishops were the greatest Perfecutors of Christ c. He used to say Ambtion is a gilded miserie a secret poyson a hidden plague the eagineer of diccit the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the original of vices the moth of holiness the blinder of hearts turning medicines into maladies and remedies into diseases Ever when he came to the Church-door he used to say thus to himself Stay here all my worldly thoughts and all vanity that I may entertain he wents meditations His Works are well known being bound up together in one Volume The life of Peter Lombard who flourished Anno Christi 1196. PEter Lombard was born at Navaria afterwards made Bishop of Paris was contemporary with Gratian and as Gratian gathered Canons and was Master of the Canons so this Peter collected sentences out of Ambrose Hilarie Augustine Cassiodore and Remigius and out of them with some addition of his own compiled his Books He wrote Commentaries on the Psalms and Pauls Epistles but the chiefest of his Works were four books of Sentences the first concerning the Trinity and Unity of God the second of the Creation of the World especially of Angles and Men and of the grace of God the third of the Incarnation of the word and of Vertues and Vices the fourth of the Sacraments of the Resurrection and Judgement for which he was called the Master of Sentences Some of his sayings were There can no good dwell in us that cannot will good nor can we perfect good that cannot desire good There are in us evill concupiscences and desires which are the Divels Weapons whereby when God forsakes us he over-throws us and gives our souls a deadly wound God condemns none before he sins nor crowns any before he overcomes Let none glory in the gifts of Preachers in that they edisie more by them for they are not Authors of Grace but Ministers The instruction of words is not so powerful as the exhortation of Works for if they that teach well neglect to do well they shall hardly profit their Audience The Life of Alexander Hales who dyed Anno Christi 1270. ALexander of Hales was born at Hales in Gloucester shire carefully educated of an excllent wit and very industrious He travelled into other Countries Read a long time in Paris he made there the Sum of Divinity divided into four parts A great School-Divine and was called Docter irresragabilis He was master to Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas He writ a most copious and notable sum of Theology by the command of Pope Innocent the fourth He wrote Marginal Notes upon the Old and New Testament and Commented on most of the Bible His life was full of charity and labor He dyed Anno Christi 1245. His sayings A soul patient when wrongs we offered is like a man with a sword in one hand and salve in the other could wound but will bed What the Eye is to the Body Faith is to Soulâ— it 's good for direction if it be kept well and as Flies hurt the Eye so little sins and ill thoughts the Soul Covâ—tousness deserves the hate of all for six reasons 1. It 's a sin against Nature making the Soul Terrene which should be Celestial 2. For the many curses against it in the word Wo to them that join house to house c. 3. For the many evils it subjects us to it 's the root of all evil 4. It makes a man a Fool O Fool this night c. 5. It causes striseâ— From whence are strifes c. 6. It brings men into snares which drown in perdition Every lye is odious but that most which is against points of Faith as to say Christ was not born of the Virgin c. Faith must be defended not opposed An humble man is like a good tree the more full of fruits the branches are the lower they bend themselves The Life of Bonaventure who dyed Anno Christi 1274. BOnaventure born in Etruria in Italie of Noble and devout Parents was of a winning countenance very studious and a great follower of Alexender Hales He engraved in his study that saying of our Lord Learn of me for I am meek c. and to keep his minde from swelling he would sweep rooms wash vessels make beds c. He was very cheerful in ministring to the Poor and when he met with any persons that were troubled in minde he would not leave them
and to send them up to the Archbishop of Canterbury to be further proceeded against by him As also to attach and seize upon all their Books and to send them to the said Archbishop and this to do as they would avoid the forfeiting of all the Liberties and Priviledges of the University c. John Wicklief was hereupon either banished or retired for a while to some secret place but ere long he returned to his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicestershire where after all these storms he at last dyed in Peace Anno Christi 1384. He wrote very many Books many of which were burned at Oxford Anno Christi 1410. Aeneas Sylvius writes that Subincus Archbishop of Prague burnt two hundred Volumes of his excellently written richly covered and adorned with Bosses of Gold One that had all his works wrote that they were as big as the works of St. Augustine Mr. Wicklief received his first knowledge of the Truth from one Fryar Rainard Lollard who brought the Doctrine of the Waldenses into England and from whom his Disciples were called Lollards Mr. Wicklief was an Eloquent man and so profound a Scholar that he drew the hearts of many Noble Personages to affect and favor him whereby he was sheltred from the rage of the Popish Clergy till Pope Gregory the 11. raised up a Persecution by the Monks Inquisitors against him All his Books were commanded to be burnt but he had before enlightned so great a number who kept his Books carefully maugre all the diligence of his Adversaries so that they could never wholly deprive the Church of them For the more they laboured by horrible threats and death it self to hinder the knowledge and reading of them the more were many kindled in their affections to read them with ardency He wrote above a hundred Volumes against Antichrist and the Church of Rome Multos praeterea in Philosophia multos quibus S. Scripturam interpretatus est edidit Quorum Catalogum videre est apud Balaeum in suis Centuriis Transtulit etiam Wiclevus in Anglicum sermonem Biblia adhibitis praefationibus argumentis cuique libro suis. Vertit Libros 12. Clementis Lanthoniensis Ecclesiae Praesbyteri De concordia Evangelistarum cum multis veterum Doctorum Tractatibus He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Fryars with whom it was harder to make war then with the Pope himself He denyed the Pope to be the Head of the Church and pronounced him to be Antichrist He confuted and condemned his Doctrine about Buls Indulgences Masses c. He affirmed the Scripture to be the Supreme Judge of Controversies condemned Transubstantiation c. He was a painful and faithful Preacher under King Edward the third who always favored and protected him against the rage of his Adversaries by his means the Pope lost in England his power of Ordaining Bishops the Tenth of Benefices and Peter-pence whereupon Polidore Virgil cals him an Infamous Heretick He was buryed at his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire His dead body being digged up 51 years after viz. 1428. by the command of Pope Martin the fifth and the Council of Sâ—ne was burned And thus he suffered their cruelty after death whose cruelty he had Preached against in his life He wrote above two hundred Volumes most of which were burned by the Archbishop of Prague JOHN HVS The Life of John Huss who dyed Anno Christi 1415. IOhn Huss was born at a little Town called Hussinets about 18. miles from Prague in Bohemia under the Hercynian Wood of mean but religious Parents who carefully trained him up in Religion and Learning and having profited much at Schole he went to the University of Prague and whilst he was a Student there he met with our Wickliefs Books from whence he first took light and courage to profess the Truth Anno Christi 1393. he Commenced Batchelor of Arts with good approbation of the whole University and An. 1396. the commenced Master of Arts about which time two godly Noble men of Prague built the Church of Bethlehem and Anno 140â— Mr. Huss was chosen Pastor thereof who fed his people with the bread of life and not with the Popes Decrees and other humane Inventions The year after he was chosen Dean of the University and Anno 1409. by the consent of the whole University he was chosen Rector of it He continued in the Exercise of his Ministry with admirable zeal and diligence and faithfulness about the space of 12. years Preaching and Instructing his People in the Principles of Divinity which he confirmed by the holy Scriptures and adorned by an exemplary and blameless life He vigorously opposed the Popes proceedings whereupon the Devil envying the peace and progress of the Gospel stirred up Pope Alexander the fifth against him who cited him to Rome to answer to such Articles as should be laid in against him whereupon Huss sent his Procters to Rome who appeared for him answered the charge and cleared his innocency yet did the Pope and his Cardinals condemn him for an Heretick and Excommunicate him which caused the Popish Clergy and some of the Barons of Bohemia to oppose Huss being thus excommunicated and King Winceslaus banished him but he was entertained in the Country and protected by the Lord of the Soil 〈◊〉 Hussinets where he preached in the Parish Church and some places adjacent confuting the Popish Doctrine of Merit of Works and against the Pride Idleness Cruelty and Avarice of the Roman Court and Clergy multitudes of persons resorting to his Ministry Sometimes also he repaired to his Church of Bethlehem and preached there But upon the Popes death the Cardinals being divided chose three Popes whereupon there was a Council called at Constance Anno Christi 1414. unto which Council the Emperour Sigismund commanded Huss to come giving him his safe Conduct for his coming and return And Master Huss relying upon the goodness of his Cause the clearness of his Conscience and the Emperours safe Conduct with a cheerful minde and undaunted spirit went to Constance and in his journey set up writings in every City the tenor whereof was this Mr. John Huss Batchelor of Divinity goeth now to the Council of Constance there to declare his Faith which he hath hitherto holden and even at this present doth hold and by Gods grace will hold and defend even to the death therefore even as he hath manifested through all the Kingdom of Bohemia by his Letters and Intimations willing before his departure thence to have satisfied and given an account of his Faith unto every man which should object or lay any thing against him in the general Convocation held in the Archbishop of Pragues Court So also he doth manifest and signifie that if there be any man in this Noble and Imperial City that can impute any Error or Heresie to him that he would prepare himself to
aside and in February following Leo Judae was made Preacher in S. Peters Church in Zurick and he marryed a wife and the like did other Ministers Anno Christi 1524. the Magistrates of Zurick forbad Processions removed the Martyrs Tombs out of the chief Churches in the City Took down the Idols and Images and burned them publickly the like they did in all places as far as their Jurisdiction extended Also Katharine Cimmerin the Abbess delivered up her Nunnery into the hands of the Major marryed an husband and was by the Magistrates endowed with a large estate of yearly revenues Converting the Nunnery and the Revenues of it to the education of Youths under a good Master This year also Zuinglius marryed Ann Rembart the widdow of the Noble John Mouer Anno Christi 1525. the Mass was abolished at Zurick as Images had been the year before Concerning which Zuinglius thus telleth the story When saith he we dealt before the Bench of Senators consisting of two hundred about the abolishment of the Mass a certain Scribe or Notary stood up and spake thus O ye Fathers I am not of that rank to speak before you when any cause of the Common-wealth is handled but when matters of Salvation are treated of and the Faith it self is in danger it concerns every man to speak what he thinks I therefore profess that I am of opinion that the true flesh and blood of Christ is received in the Sacrament and I hope that you will by no means force me to the opinion of Zuinglius To this Zuinglius answered that no man at Zurick had been compelled to the Faith that he used no sophistical interpretation when he expounded this is my body For this signifies my body and so he went on to confirm his own opinion and to refell the others Then Henry Engelhard formerly a Popish Doctor but now a Disciple of Christ said I shall prove by Scripture that the bread cannot be the body of Christ for it s neither the natural nor glorified nor mystical Body of Christ therefore not his body c. After this conflict was ended the Aldermen appointed that after dinner four of them should confer with Zuinglius and his Brethren that so weighty a business might be gravely discussed for the better satisfying of some that still doubted When they were met together the business was variously debated and in the end resolved that it should again be referred to the hearing of the Bench of Aldermen And the next day when they were again met together Zuinglius and his Brethren still desired that the Mass might wholly be abolished Whereupon the Scribe stood up again and told Zuinglius that he had said indeed with these words This is my body Christ meant this signifies my body but had not sufficiently proved it by Testimonies of Scripture For saith he whereas you have instanced The Seed is the Word the Field is the World the Enemy is the Devil c. These make not to the purpose for there Christ spake Parabolically but this is no Parable when he saith This is my body To this Zuinglius answered that though he spake not Parabolicaly yet the spake Tropically Upon this the Aldermen Decreed that hereafter the Eucharist should be celebrated according to Christs Institution and that the Mass should be no more used amongst them At this the whole Church much rejoyced only a few of the ruder sort repined urging that the Protestant Ministers should produce some example out of the Scripture wherein the words ought to be in the like manner expounded Hereupon they began to revolve all things yet no example came into their mindes But a few nights after Zuinglius dreamed that he contended again with the Scribe till he was aweary and at last was so dumb that he could not speak whereupon he was exceedingly troubled but after awhile a Monitor came to him from above who said O thou sluggard why dost thou not answer him with that which is written in the 12. of Exodus This is the Passeover of the Lord Immediately he awakened and leaping out of his bed examined the Text and the next day disputed it before the whole Assembly which was entertained with such approbation that all were well satisfied and saith he the three next days we had the greatest Sacraments that ever I saw and the number of those that looked back to the Garlick and Flesh-pots of Egypt was far less then men thought they would have been Anno Christi 1526. The other Pages of the Helvetians had often sent to Zuricâ— to cast off their new Religion and to return to the old The Senators answered that they would obey if they might be convinced of Error whereupon the Helvetians invite Eccius to dispute with Zuinglius and Eccius himself wrote a bitter Letter to the Ambassadors of Zurick met at Baden wherein he accused Zuinglius of Heresie requiring them to appoint a time and place whither he might come to prove it Zuinglius hearing of it wrote an Apology for himself to the Ambassadors saying that Eccius dealt both inhumanely and ungodly with him For saith he if I be an Heretick Eccius should have admonished me either by Letters or face to face to convince me of Heresie and not have traduced me to the Magistrates before I was heard He wrote also that he was ready to dispute with Eccius before his own Auditors not admitting any other Judge then the Word of God Eccius replyeth to this Epistle interweaning many slanders and desiring that the place for Disputation might be either Lucern or Baden Zuinglius answered that if Eccius refused to come to Zurick he had much more reason to refuse those places where he was already condemned of Heresie and where his death and destruction was sought after Then did the Senators of Zurick write to Eccius to come thither upoâ— the Publick Faith but Eccius refused now accusing Oecolampâ—dus also At length the twelve Pages Decreed that they must needs dispute and after much contest the meeting was at Zuâ—ick the Disputants were Eccius and Oecolampâ—dus but no good issue came of it So that the nine Pages concluded that Zuinglius the chief man of the new Religion must be excommunicated and all others that had not been reformed by this conference The year after they of Bern appointed a Disputation which the Popish Pages opposed but they proceeded in it and the issue was that the Disputation being ended by Publick consent they Decreed that Masses Altars Images and all Superstitions brought in contrary to the Word of God should be at once taken away out of their City and large Territories Monasteries and Nunneries they turned into Schools Then they renounced the League of the French King forbidding him to leavy any Mercenaries in their Dominions contenting themselves only with that payâ— which he giveth to every Page for friendship as they of Zurick had also done Lastly they write
whereof I am convinced and which I have published concerning the Lords Supper so that if I be asked what my judgement is about it I muâ—t needs declare my knowledge and conscience therein as I have formerly written though I were sure to lose twenty lives if I had so many And further you shall understand that I am furnished with Scriptures Fathers Schoolmen and others for the proving of it so that if I may be iâ— differently heard I am sure my Adversaries can neither justly condemn me noâ— mine assertion but that with me they must condemn Saint Augustine and most of the Ancient Writers yea the very Bishops of Rome of ancient time speak for me and defend my cause Yea marry quoth the Gentleman you say well if you might be indifferently heard but I much doubt thereof for that our Master Christ was not indifferently heard nor should I think if he were now present in the World especially in this your opinion the same being now so odious in the World and we so far from the true knowledge thereof Well said Mr. Frith I know assuredly that this Doctrine of the Sacrament is very hard meat to be digested both of the Clergy and Lâ—ity But this I will say to you that if you live but twenty years more whatsoever shall become of me you shall see this whole Realm of mine opinion though happily some particular persons shall not be fully perswaded therein And if this come not to pass then count me the vainest man that ever you heard speak with a tongue And whereas you say my death would be very grievous to my friends I grant that for a small time it would be so but if I should so moderate my cause that I should only be kept in Prison that would not only be a longer grief unto me but would breed no small disquietness to my friends both in body and minde therefore all things well considered my death in this cause shall be bâ—tter to me and all my relations then life in continual bondage and penury And Almighty God knoweth what he hath to do with his poor servant whose cause I now defend and not mine own from the which through Gods grace I never intend to start nor otherwise to give place so long as God will give me life When they were landed at Lambeth after they had refreshed themselves with Victuals they all three went on foot towards Croydon The Gentleman still with himself lamenting the perâ—l that Frith was in and therefore he devised with himself by what means he might deliver him out of the Bishops hands and having in minde contrived the way he walked with the Porter and privately imparted his thoughts to him and finding him forward to join with him therein he went again to Mr. Frith and told him that the business which he had undertaken to lead him as a sheep to the slaughter so grieved him that he was overwhelmed with cares and sorrows whereupon he was resolved what danger soever he incurred to find out a way to deliver him out of the Lyons mouth And yet said he yonder good fellow and I have contrived a means whereby you may easily escape from this immineâ—â— danger and we also be cleared from any vehement suspition for when we come to yonder 's Hill called Bristow-Causway where are Woods on each hand you shall turn into that on the left hand which leads into Kent and so by the help of your friends convay your self away and we will so order the matter that they shall never seek that way for you c. Mr. Frith having diligently hearkened to his speech said with a smiling countenance And is this the effect of your secret consultation all this while Surely surely you have lost more labor formerly and so you are like to do this also for if you should both leave me here and go to Croydon declaring to the Bishops that you had lost Frith I would surely follow after as fast as I could bring them news that I had found and brought Frith again Do you think that I am afraid to declare mine Opinion before the Bishops in so manifest a Truth You are a fond man quoth the Gentleman thus to talk do you think that your reasoning with the Bishops will do any good But I much marvel you were so willing to fly the Realm before you were taken and now so unwilling to save your self when you may Marry quoth Frith there is a great difference between escaping then and now For then I desired to escape because I was at liberty and not yet attached which liberty I would fain have enjoyed for the improvement of my Studies beyond-Sea where I was Reader of the Greek tongue but now being taken by the Higher Powers and that by Almighty Gods Permission and Providence I am faln into the Bishops hands only for Religions-sake and for such Doctrine as I am bound in conâ—cience under pain of damnation to maintain if I should now start aside and run away I should run from my God and from the Testimony of his Word whereby I should deserve a thousand Hels And therefore I most heartily thank you both for your good wills towards me beseeching you to bring me where I was appointed to be brought or else I will go thither all alone And so with a cheerful and merry countenance he went with them spending the time with pleasant and godly communication till they came to Croydon where for that â—ight he was well entertained in the Porters Lodge On the morrow he was called before the Bishops to be examined at which time he shewed himself exceeding ripe and ready to answer all Objections even beyond all mens expectations And his Allegations out of S. Augustine and other Ancient Fathers were such as some of them much doubted of S. Augustines authority in that case aâ—d when they had done Doctor Heath in private confessed to the Archbishop of Canterbury that no man could avoid his Allegations out of S. Augustine Yet after this without any regard to his Piety Learning or Merit he was turned over to Stokesley Bishop of London who would not hear what S. Augustine or any other said for his opinion But calling him into his Conâ—istory after he had witnessed there a good Confession he condemned him and so delivered him over to the Major and Sheriffs of London to be burned When he came into Smithfield where he was to suffer he shewed much constancy and courage and being tyed to the stake and the fire kindled he willingly embraced the same But the winde blowing away the flame made his death somewhat the longer yet through Gods grace he bore it with such patience even as though he felt no pain in that long torment and so at last quietly reâ—igned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1531. Whâ—lst Mr. Frith was beyond the Seas he much holp Mr. Tindal in the Translation of the
profited in learning very much Then by hiâ— mother who was very rich he was bound to a Marchant in London called S ir William Chester But Almighty God who hath his secret workings in all things provided better imployment for his servant for he no way liked that cours of life so that when his other fellows were busily imployed about their worldly affaires he would secretly withdraw himself into some privat corner and there fall into his solitary lamentations And it fell out that his Master being a good man one day heard him in his secret prayers bewayling his condition whereupon questioning with him he found that he did not fansie that kind of life but that his mind was wholly bent to his book and spirituall contemplations upon this occasion his Master acquainting his friends with it gave him back his Indentures and released him from his service And Laurence Saunders being ravished with the love of learning especially with reading Gods Word shortly after returned to Cambridg where also he studied Greek and Hebrew but especially the holy Scriptures to fit himself for the work of the Ministry He was frequent and very fervent in prayer and when assaulted by temptations he still found much support and comfort in prayer whereby he gained such experience that he became a great comforter of others with the same consolations which himself had found from God He Commenced Master of Arts and stayed long after in the Universitie In the beginning of King Edward's Reign he began to preach being first Ordained a Minister and that with such generall approbation that he was chosen to read a Divinity Lecture at Fotheringaie where by his Doctrine and life he edified many and drew many ignorant persons to God and stopped the mouths of the adversaries About this time hee married a wife and from thence was removed to the Minster of Liechfield where also he by his life and Doctrine gat a good report even from his adversaries for his learning and godlines From thence he was removed to Church Langton in Leicestershire where he taught diligently and kept a bountifull house and from thence to Alhollows in Breadstreet-London and after his admission there he went back into the Countrey to resigne his Benefice which fell out when Queen Mary raised stirs to get the Crown by reason whereof hee could not accomplish his purpose In his journey he preach'd at Northampton not medling with the state but boldly delivering his conscience against Popish Doctrine and errors which said he are like to spring up again as a just plague for the litle love which England hath born to the true Word of God so plentifully offered to them Some of the Queens men which were there and heard him were highly displeased with him for his Sermon and for it kept him prisoner amongst them for a time but partly out of respect to his brethren and friends which were chief sticklers for the Queen and partly because there was no Law broken by his preaching they at length dismissed him And he seeing the dreadfull day approaching inflamed with godly zeall preached faithfully at both his Benefices not having opportunitie to resign either but into the hands of Papists And notwithstanding the Proclamation to the contrary he taught diligently the Truth at his Countrie place where he then was confirming the people and arming them against fals-doctrine till he was not onely commanded to cease but by force was resisted Some counselled him to flie out of the Kingdom which he refused and being hindred there from preaching he travelled toward London to visit his flock in that place But coming near London Master Mordant one of the Queen's Councill overtook him asking him whither he went I have said Mr Saunders a Pastorall charge in London whither I am going to instruct my people according to the truth If you wil follow my counsel quoth Mordant let them alone and come not at them But said Mr Saunders how then shall I be discharged before God If any be sick and desire consolation or if any want good counsell and want instruction or if any should slip into error and receive false Doctrine Then did Mordant ask him if he did not preach such a time in Breadstreet Hee said Yea And will you said Mordant preach so againe Yes said he to morrow you may heare me there where I will confirme by God's Word all that I then preached I would counsell you said the other to forbeare Saunders said if you will forbid me by lawfull Authority I must then forbear Nay said Mordant I will not forbid you and so they parted Mordant went presently to Bishop Bonner and informed him of Master Saunders his purpose to preach the next day which accordingly he did and at his lodging being somewhat troubled in his thoughts a friend of his asked him how he did Truly said he I am in prison till I be in prison The Text which he preached upon in the forenoon was 2 Cor. 11. 2. I am jealous over you with godly jealousy for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ But I feare least by any meanes as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. In the afternoon he prepared himself to preach againe but Bonner sent an Officer for him who carried him to the Bishop where he found Mordant The Bishop charged him with Treason for breaking the Queen's Proclamation and with Heresy and Sedition for his Sermon An Heretick he would prove him to be because he taught that the administration of the Sacraments and all orders of the Church were most pure which came neerest to the order of the primitive Church for said Bonner the Church was then in her infancy and could not abide that perfection which afterwards it grew to by Ceremonies M. Saunders answered out of St. Augustine that Ceremonies were given to the infirme and weak and that therefore it was a signe of the great perfection of the Primitive Church that it had few Ceremonies whereas the Popish Church had many and those partly blasphemous partly unsavory and unprofitable After much other discourse the Bishop required him to write his judgment about Transubstantiation which he did saying You seek my blood and you shall have it I pray God you may be so baptized in it that you may hereafter loath blood-sucking and become a better man Then Bonner sent him to Gardiner where he waited foure houres in the Bishops absence in a roome where the Bishops Chaplaine and many of his servants were merrily playing at Tables At last came the Bishop from the Court and after he had dispatched many Sutors being informed of Master Saunders and his cause he sent for him in Master Saunders kneeling at the end of the Table
neither was the grace of the Holy-Ghost wanting to satisfie his desire and to open to him the light of true Divinity Thus Mr. Hooper growing more and more in ripeness of spiritual understanding and shewing withall some sparks of his fervent spirit being about the time when the six Articles came out he was so hated by some especially by Doctor Smith that he was compelled to leave the University and went to live with Sir Thomas Arundel and was his Steward til Sir Thomas Aâ—undel having intelligence of his opinions which he by no means liked yet exceedingly loving the conditions of the man found meanes to send him on a message to the Bishop of Winchester writing privately to the Bishop by his learned conference to to doe some good upon him yet requiring him in any case to send him his servant home again Winchester had much conference with him four or five dayes together but when he could doe no good of him he sent him back to Sir Thomas Arundel according to his request much commending his wit and learning but ever after bearing a secret grudg in his stomack against him so that shortly after M. Hooper was warned by some private friends to provide for his own safetie for that there were underhand workings to apprehend him whereupon he left the Kingdome and went to Paris yet after a while he returned again and liv'd with one Mr. Sentlow but understanding that snares were again layd for him with much difficulty and danger he escaped the second time into France and from thence traveled into Germany where he gained acquaintance with many learned men and of them was friendly and lovingly entertained both at Basill and Zurich especiall by M. Bullinger who became his especial friend There he studied Hebrew and married a Wife being a Burgonian And at least hearing that King Edward the sixt was come to the Crown he amongst many other English Exiles was desirous to return into England and when he took his leave of those his worthy friends Mr. Bullinger said to him Mr. Hooper though we are sorry to part with your company for our own sake yet we have much more cause to rejoyce both for yours and the cause of Christs sake that you shall now return out of long banishment into your native Country again where you may not only enjoy your own liberty but may and we doubt not will be very useful for the promoting the good of Christs Church We also rejoice not onely because you shall remove out of exile into liberty but you shall here leave a barren and unpleasant Country rude and savage to goe into a land flowing with milk and honey replenished with all pleasures and fertility yet with this our joy our fear and care is left when you are so far distant and long absent in the midst of your friends wealth and felicity for peradventure you will be a Bishop you should forget us your friends and wel-willers yet though you should do it we assure you that we will not forget our old friend and fellow Mr. Hooper and if you will please not to forget us then pray you let us hear from you To this Master Hooper answered first giving most hearty thanks to Master Bullinger and all the rest for their singular good will and undeserved affection which they had at all times shewed toward him then declaring that it was not the barrennes of that Country which occasioned his remove for that he could be content to live all his life there as soon as in any part of the world or in his own Country were it not that he took himselfe bound in conscience to endeavour the advancement of Religion in his native soil and therefore said he Though I cannot deny that God hath blessed our Country of England with many great commodities yet neither they nor new friends nor any thing else shall cause me to forget such friends and benefactors as you have been unto whom I am so much bound And therefore you shall be sure from time to time to heare from me and I will send you word how it goeth with me But saith he The last newes of all I shall not be able to write for where I shall take most paines there shall you hear of me to be burned to ashes Thus taking his leave of them he returned to London where he preached twice but at least once everie daie The people so flock't to him that the Churches could not contein them In his Doctrine and Ministry he was earnest and zealous In language Eloquent In the Scriptures perfect and ready And in paines indefatigable In this pains-taking he continued to his lives-end neither did his labor break him nor promotion change him nor dainty fare corrupt him He was of a strong bodie sound health pregnant wit and of invincible patience spare of diet sparer of words and sparest of time A liberall hous-keeper and very grave in his carriage Being at length called to preach before King Edward hâ— made him first Bishop of Glocester where he was Bishop two years then of Worcester where he carried himselfe â—o uprightly and inoffensively that his enemies had nothing to say against him He used to goe about from towne to towne and from village to village to preach unto the people He governed his house so that in every corner of â—t there was some smel of virtue good example honest conversation and reading of the Scriptures In his Hall there was daily a table spread with good store of victuals and be set with poor folk of the City of Worcester by turnes who were served by four at a Messe with whole and wholsomâ— meat And when they were served being before examineâ— by himselfe or his deputies of the Lord's Praier Creed an ten Commandements then he himselfe sate down to dinner and not before In the beginning of Queene Marie's daies he was sent for by a Pursivant to London and though hee had opportunity and was perswaded by his friends to flie yet hee refused saying Once I did flie but now being called to this place and vocation I am resolved to stay and to live and die with my sheep By Winchester when he came to London he was railed upon and committed to prison Afterwards also at his examination they called him Beast Hypocrite c. which he bore without answering again In the Fleet where he was prisoner he had nothing but a pad of straw for a bed and a â—otten covering till good people sent him a bed to lie on Of one side his Chamber was the sinke and filth of the House on the other the Town-ditch enough to have choaked him After he had laien thus a while falling sick the doors bars hasps and chaines being all made last he both mourned called and cryed for help Yet the Warden hearing would suffer none to goe to him
journey the Sheriffe of Essex perswaded him much to returne to the Popish Religion c. to whom at last he answered I well perceive now that I have been deceived my self and shall deceive many in Hadley of their exspectation When the Sheriffe desired him to explain his meaning hoping that he would recant he said I am a man of a very great carkass which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley Churchyard but I see I am deceived and there are a great number of wormes there which should have had â—olly feeding upon this carrion but now both I and they shall be deceived of our expectation When he came within two miles of Hadley he desired to alight and being down he leap't and fet a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at home and have not past two stiles to go over and I am even at my father's house At Hadley Towns-end a poore man with his five children met him crying O dear father and good shepherd God helpe and succour thee as thou hast many a time succour'd me and my poor children The streetes were ful of people weeping and bewailing their losse saying Ah good God there goes our good Shepherd from us that hath so faithfullâ— taught so fatherly cared for us and so godly governed us 〈◊〉 mercifull od what shall we poor scattâ—red lambs doe What shâ—ll bâ—come of this most wicked World Good Lord strengthen hiâ— and comfort him To whom he said I have preached to â—u God's Word and Truth and am come now to seal it with â—y blood He gave all his money to the poor for whem he wâ—s wont thus to provide formerly Once a fortnight at least 〈◊〉 used to call upon Sir Henrie Doile and other rich Cloâ—lâ—ers to go with him to the Alms-houses to see what the poor lacked in meat drink apparel bedding and other neceâ—â—ries Withall exhorting comforting and rebuking as â—ee saw occasion Comming to the place of execution he was not suffered to speak to the people who much lamented his death yet he was very cheerfull saying Thanks be to God I am even at home and when he had praied and made himself ready he went to the stake and kissed it He would seigne have spoken to the people but one thrust in a tipstaffe into his mouth another stroke him on the head and an other threw a fagot at him which broke his face that the blood ranne down To whom Doctor Tailor said O friend I have harme enough what need that When he was saying the Miserere in English Sir John Shelton stroke him on the lips saying you knave I will make thee speak Latin The fire being kindled he held up his hands calling upon God and saying Merciful father of Heaven for Jesus Christ my Saviour's sake receive my soul into thy hands and so stood still without moving till one with an halberd strook out his brains Anno Christi 1555 JOHN BRADFORD The Life of John Bradford who died A no Christi 1555. JOhn Bradford was born at Manchester in Lancashire and by his parents brought up in learning And afterwards he served Sir John Harrington a man much employed under Hen. the 8th and Edward the 6th In which place he had opportunity of much advantaging himself For his Master found him so active and fit for his imployments that above all others he made most use of his faithfull service And thus he continued with him for certain years But God intending him for better employment having given up a just account to his Master with his good approbation he went to Cambridge where by his diligence in studie he profited so much in knowlege and so pleased all by his godly and blameless conversation that after one years abâ—de in the University he was made Master of Arts and chosen Fellow into Pembroke-Hall There Master Bucer falling into acquaintance with him highly priz'd and perswaded him to enter into the Ministrie which he modestly excused for want of learning To whom Bucer said If thou have not fine Manchet yet give the peoplâ— Barlie-bread or such as thou hast Being thus perswaded to enter into the Ministrie Bishop Ridley made him a Prebend in St Pauls where he continued preaching three yeares faithfully reproving sin 〈◊〉 yet sweetly preaching Christ crucified and pithily iâ—â—â—yning Errors and Heresies and perswading to a â—odliâ— life In the beginning of Queen Marie's reign Bourn Bishop of Bath made a leditious Sermon at Paul's-Crosse which â—o moved the people to indignation that they were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit and one throw a dagger at him Whereupon Bourn requested Master Brâ—dford who was behind him to stand in his place and to quiet the people which accordingâ—y he didâ— whom when the people saw they cried Bradford Bradford 〈◊〉 save thy life Bradford Bourn not yet thinking himselfe safe requested Master Bradford to conveie him into the School-master's house which accordingly he did going at his 〈◊〉 and shelâ—ering him from the people whereupon one said to him Ah Bradford Bradford Thou savest him that will help to burn thee In the afternoon Master Bradford preached at Bow-Church and sharply reproved the people for their seditious carriage Yet within three daies after he was sent for before the Council and charged with sedition for this act and by them was sent prisoner first to the Tower Then from thence they removed him to the Kings Bench in â—outhwark and after his condemnation he was sent to theâ—â—ounter in the Poultry In which places for the time that he remained prisoner he preached twice a day unlesse sicknesse hindred and often administred the Sacrament Preaching Reading and praier was his whole life He eat but one meal a day and that a spare one too and his continual study was upon his knees In the mid'st of dinner he used to meditate with his hat in his eyes from which flowed plenty of teares dropping on his trencher He was in such credit with his Keeper in Southwark that at an Evening he would give him leave upon his bare word to go into London to visit a sick friend and he was so mindfull of his promise that he used to returne to prison again rather preventing his hour then breaking his fidelity He was of person somewhat tall and slender spare of body of a faint sanguine colour with â—n awberne beard Hee â—lept not above four hours in â—he night and till slâ—ep came his book went not out of his â—and His recreation was honest companie and Christian discourse a litte after dinner and so to praier and his book again He counted that hour ill spent wherein he did not some good either with his pen studie or exhorting others c. He was no niggard of his purse but would liberally communicate what he had to his fellow-prisoners Once a week he visited the Thieves on the
some learned and godly men resolved again to travell first intending for Italy but being hindred by reason of the wars he sailed into England where hee might easily hear from his friends if any preferment fell in his own country In England his care was to acquaint himself with such men as were most famous for learning Upon which occasion he fell into the company of Charles Montjoy Son to William Lord Montjoy whom Erasmus had made famous by his writings He used Hyperius very courteously and conferred with him about many things and finding his excellent wit he invited him to his house proffering him a large stipend This offer he embraced and lived most sweetly with him four years imploying himself in his studies all that while Anno Christi 1540 at the charges of Montjoy he visited the University of Cambridge about which time the Lord Cromwell was beheaded and also Doctor Barnes was burned for Religion with some others and on the other side some others suffered death for adhering to the Pope and denying the Kings supremacy There was also published a dangerous Edict against Strangers Hereupon Hyperius resolved to returne into Germany but before he went he visited the University of Oxford and from thence went to London where he bade farewel to Montjoy who would have kept him longer and sailed to Antwerp from which going into his own Country he remained a while quietly with his friends But hearing the fame of the University of Strasborough and of Bucer in particular he was very desirous to goe into those partâ— and so taking leave of his friends he went to Marpurg intending to get Letters of commendation from Gerard Noviomag to whom he was formerly known to the learned men at Strasborough This was Anno Christi 1541 and of his age 30. His coming was very acceptable to Noviomag who presently sollicited him earnestly to stay at Marpurg assuring him of a Professors place and a liberall stipend And shortly after he dealt with John Ficinus the Princes Chancellor to substitute Hyperius in his own room pleading his age and infirmities which made him unfit to undergoe the burden of his place â—icinus disliked not the motion and therefore sending for Hyperius to him he requested him to stay at Marpurg and to give them some taste of his Learning telling him that if he was liked he might have a good stipend setled on him And shortly after Noviomag dying Hyperius was chosen into his Professors place and so read upon Paul's Epistles where Noviomag had left And thus continuing unmarried years he at last purposed to marry and accordingly Anno Christi 1544 he married Katharine Orthea a vertuous Widdow of good parentage who had two children Her he alwayes loved dearly and had by her six sons and four daughthers In that place he lived two and twenty years performing the duty of his place with admirable fidelity diligence and zeal to promote Religion and Learning And besides his daily task he took somtimes other opportunities to teach the people He set up an order of preaching in the Schools with much labour and trouble himself appointing what subjects should be handled Looking over the young Students Sermons and hearing them in private before they preached them in publick correcting what was amiss either in their voice or gesture Such as did well he commended such as did ill he blamed and endeavoured to reform He instituted also once in two yeares an examination of the Students in Divinity as also a dissertation wherein some question being proposed every one was to give in his judgement upon the same These exercises he set up and diligently promoted them though he had no reward for his pains In his private studies he was very indefatigable alwaies writing reading or meditating whereby he much impaired his health He much desired to call back the Hassians to the example of the Primitive Churches and abolishing the Popish fooleries out of the service of God to establish a holy Scripturall Ecclesiasticall Discipline And in these employments having worne out himself he fell into a great Catarrh and Cough complaining also of the pains of his head breast and sides which often were so great as made him sweat as if he had been seised upon with a Feaver In his sicknesse he conferred much with Divines that came to visit him especially with Wigand Orthius about the University the study of Divinity and Reforming the Church January the thirtieth being the Lordsday when the Sacrament was administred he desired it to be brought to him also receiving it with the rest of his family The day after feeling himself worse he directed his wife what to do after his death as also his children whom he exhorted to feare God honour their Mother and to carry themselves justly and honestly towards all men When many came to visit him he made before them a confession of his Faith professing his constancy in that Doctrine which he had taught them and so taking his leave of them he quietly slept in the Lord anno Christi 1564. and of his age 53. He was very learned in the Tongues better in the Liberall Arts and Philosophy best of all in Divinity and the Ecclesiasticall Histories He had an excellent faculty both in teaching and disputing His labours were such as tended to the shortning of his life In life and manners he was very exemplary in food and apparel alwayes temperate in feasts Modest. In his conference and conversation just and courteous And how dear he was to all both in City and University appeared by those many tears which were shed at his funerall His workes were these De ratione studii Dialectica Rhetorica Arithmetica Geometrica Cosmographica Optica Astronomica Physica in Ethica Aristotelis Scholia De studiosorum vita moribus de Ratione studii Theologiâ—i De formandis concionibus De Theologo De quotidiana Lectione meditatione sac literarum De Catechesi De publica in paupereâ— beneficentia De Scholâ—s Ecclesiasticis De coniâ—gio Ministrorum De Providentia Dei c. which are particularly set downe by Veâ—heiden JO CALVIN The Life of John Calvin who died Anno Christi 1562. MAster John Calvin was borne at Noviodune a Famous City of France June the sixth anno 1509. His fathers name was Gerard Calvin his Mothers Joan Francâ— both of good repute of a competent estate Gerard was a very prudent man and therefore well esteemed of both by the Nobility and others of the Country He gave his Son John very liberall education from his childhood From the Grammer-School he sent him to Paris and placed him with Maturinus Corderius a man well esteemed both for his probity and learning of chiefest account amongst all the School-Masters in France for his training up of youth From thence John Calvin was translated to the School at Montacute where he had Hispanus for his Master
but an honest young man of the Citizens advised Perinus that Mr. Farell the common Father of the City might be no way wronged joyning also with himself another honest young man they gave notice to the well-affected Citizens that they should stand by Mr. Farell at the day of hearing which also they did so that his adversaries being astonished and deterred hereat of their own accord craved pardon and Mr. Farell was dismissed About this time a grievous calamity befell the Church of England by the immature death of that godly Prince King Edward the sixth which was a grievous wound to all the Reformed Churches Yet at this same time Mr. Calvin wrote his learn-Commentaries upon the Gospel of St. John Geneva as we heard before having inflicted deserved punishment upon Servetus not as upon a Sectary but as upon a monster for his horrible impieties and blasphemies by which for thirty years space he had infected the Christian world both by his teaching and writings It cannot be imagined how this stirred up the rage of Sathan such a flame arising from hence as set Poland first then Transsylvania and Hungary all on a fire which himself seemed to foretell by the spirit of Sathan when in the beginning of his book he set this sentence out of the Revelation There was a great battle in heaven Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon For his ashes being scarce cold a great controversie sprung up about the punishing of Hereticks Some holding that they ought to be restrained but not to be punished with death Others thinking that it could not be clearly stated out of Gods word what was Heresie thereupon said that it was lawfull to hold either part in all the Heads of Religion and that all men though holding a wrong opinion were to be left to the judgement of God This latter opinion some good men inclined to fearing that the contrary Tenet might kindle the cruelty of Tyrants against the godly The principall of these were Sebastian Castalio and Laelius Socinus therein pleading their own cause The former indeed more closely and the latter more openly as one that studyed to vindicate the clear authority of the Scripture in a certain Preface to the perverting of the holy Bible and in his Annotations upon the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians had endeavoured to draw men from the written Word of God as an imperfect Rule as if Paul had taught to some of his Disciples that were more perfect then the rest a certain more hidden Divinity then that which he had committed to writing Hereupon Mr. Calvin Anno Christi 1554 set forth a copious confutation of all the Doctrine of Servetus which was subscribed by all his Colleagues adding many reasons why and how farre a Magistrate might proceed in punishing such an one as was lawfully convicted of Heresie The adversaries on the contrary published a Rapsody collected partly out of the writings of the ancient Fathers which they perverted to their own ends and partly out of the writings of certain unknown Fanaticks and under the name of Martin Bellius which indeed was Castalio though afterwards he forswore it and falsifying also the name of the City in which they falsly pretended that it was published To this book swarming with many other Errors and Blasphemies Mr. Beza answered thereby to free Mr. Calvin from that labour who was now busie in writing his learned Commentaries upon Genesis and in diverting other dangers from the Church For the factious went on to innovate things in the City and though the Amnestie was again renewed before the Senate upon the second of February yet they daily grew worse and worse so that Master Calvin was much busied both in blaming and reproving them for their wickedness and in endeavouring to strengthen the godly against the poison of their impiety for they had proceeded to such a height of wickedness that they turned part of the sacred Scriptures into obscaene songs and used to beat strangers whom they met in the night and sometimes also to rob them They also privately used the books of Bolsecus Castalio and other corrupt men that they might renew the controversie about Predestination yea they proceeded to scatter abroad a false and scandalous libell wherein they grievously aspersed that worthy servant of Christ Master Calvin Castalio also sent another Latine Book to be privately Printed at Paris to which Master Beza answered and Master Calvin also confuted some of the fooleries of the same kind About this time the care of the English exiles lay heavy upon him some of which were come to Vesalia others to Embden and others to Franckford all sending to Master Calvin for advice and counsel Neither was he a little troubled for the andaciousness of some of the Pastors encouraged by the secret favour of others of the French-Church long since planted by him at Strasborough And in short how great pains he took this year for severall Churches may appear by the multitude of Epistles wrote by him by which he stirred up many Noble-men to imbrace the Gospel and strengthned many of the Brethren some of which were in extream danger and others already cast into bonds We spake before of the sweet Harmony that was between the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches about the Doctrine of the Sacrament This concord did exceedingly displease the spirit of error therefore he easily found out one that might easily reinkindle the fire which before was extinguished viz. Joachim Westphalus who was seconded by Heshusius then a Minister of the word but afterwards a Bishop of whom wee shall speak more afterwards Hereupon Master Calvin published an explication of that agreement which by how much it imbittered their spirits by so much the more it satisfied all good men that were lovers of the truth The year following viz. 1555. by the speciall mercy of God brought peace along with it to the Church of Geneva which was now quiet from its domestick stirs for the factious ruined themselves God discovering their horrible treason to the State by the means of one of the conspirators who in his drunken fit discovered it whereupon some of them were beheaded others of them were banished who though a while after they vexed the City yet perished shamefully in the end leaving an example of the just judgement of God upon such persons though it may be deferred for a time Thus the Commonwealth was freed from these Pests To which another mercy was added by the answer of the four Helvetian Cities to whom the question about the Discipline which we spake of before had been proposed who unanimously confirmed the Ecclesiasticall Polity as it had been before settled contrary to the expectation of the factious Yet something was not wanting whereby Mr. Calvin might be further exercised For he took great pains in constituting the Church in Polonia by the will of the King In comforting the afflicted
Bartholdus and Hallerus Anno Christi 1524. he went to Basil where he profered a publick disputation with the Popish Divines of that place but the Masters of the Universitie would not suffer it saying That his Theses savoured of the new Doctrine till the Senate being informed hereof gave him free liberty of disputing and then Farellus set up his Theses publickly in the Colledge which were these Christus nobis perfectam vivendi regulam praescripsit Christi mandata sunt observanda in quibus iis qui continentiae donum non habent matrimonium praecipitur Alienum est evangelii luce Judaicum discrimen vestitus ciborum aliarum ceremoniaâ—um observare Periculosae sunt preces muâ—torum verborum contra Christi mandatum Christi mandata non sunt in consilia convertenda nâ—c contra Soli Deo Sacrificia offerenda quae Spiritus dictat c. When these Positions were divulged the Bishops Vicar the Rector and Governours of the University forbade all under them upon pain of excommunication either to dispute or to harken to them The Senate on the contrary thinking that this command derogated from their authority commanded their Parish Ministers and students of the University that they should be present and if they did otherwise they forbad them the use of their mills furnaces and Merchandize Hereupon a Disputation ensued in a great Assembly of the Clergy and Citizens But shortly after the Bishops Vicar and the Rector of the University and their Popish faction drove him by force from Basil their darknesse not enduring the light Neither was the servant greater then his Master From thence he went to Mont-Bellicard and to some other places where he preached the Gospel with so much fervour and zeal that it was evident unto all that he was called of God thereunto Anno Christi 1527. he went to a certain Towne called AElin where he preached the Gospel and was admonished by Occolampadius to mingle prudence with his zâ—al Anno 1528. he went to Aquileta amongst the Bernates where he preached Christ and undauntedly opposed Antichrist disputing also with divers at Bern whereupon ensued a wonderfull change in Ecclesiasticall affaires Anno Christi 1528. he with Vâ—ret went to Geneva where they planted the Church and propagated the Gospel and many of the Citizens imbraced it yet at first not so much out of love to the truth as out of hatred to Popish Tyranny Long he had not been there before the Bishops Officers drew him into the Bishops Count which two of the Studies much disliked the rather because Farell promised them that he would prove all his Doctrine out of the holy Scriptures So that they accompanied him into the Bishops Court that they might see all things to proceed in judgement lawfully but it fell out otherwise For the Judge of the Court would by no means endure a Disputation saying If that be suffered all our mystery will be destroyed and withall railing upon Farell he said Thou most wicked devill why camest thou to this City to trouble us I am not answered Farel as you call me but I preach Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins and rose againe and he that beleeveth in his name shall bee saved This is the summe of my arrant I am a debtor unto all that are ready to hear and obey the Gospel desiring this onely that the obedience of Faith may flourish every where and I came into this City to see if there were any that would lend me he hearing and I wilrender an account of my faith and hope every where and will confirm my Doctrine with my blood if need be Then cryed out one of the Court in Latine He hath blasphemed what need we any more witnesses He is guilty of death Hurle him into Rhodanus Hurle him into the Rhodanus its better this one Lutheran should be put to death then that further troubles should be raised Farel answered Do not utter the words of Caiphas but of God Then one strake him on the mouth with his fist and hee was commanded to stand aside as if they would consult and in the interim he was shot at with a gunne by the Vicars serving-man but it hit him not God defending his servant And though one of the Syndics favoured him yet now the other shrunk from him so that the Bishops Councell prevailed that he should be driven out of the City And thus being accompanyed with some Citizens hee and his partner Anthony Salner were expelled the City but God turned it to the great good of others for they sowed the seed of the Word in the neighbouring Country by the side of the Lake Lemannus viz. at Orba and Granson Neither yet through Gods power and goodnesse was the work interrupted at Geneva For just at the same time came a young man of the Delphinate called Anthony Frumentius who entering into the City taught a publick School together with the Rudiments of Grammer he most happily layd the Foundation of Christian Religion in the hearts and mindes of his Scholars which were not a few Anno Christi 1541 Master Farel went to Metis and preached in the Church-yard of the Dominicans The Friers when they could not otherwise hinder him rang their Bells But he having a strong voice did so strain it that he went on audibly to the end of his Sermon The day after there came about three thousand persons together to hear the Word of God but some that favoured the Gospel intreated Mr. Farel so long to forbear as till he might preach without a tumult Then was he questioned by the Magistrates by what authority or by whose request he preached To which hee answered By the command of Christ and at the request of his Members Gravely discoursing both of his own authority and of the excellency of the Gospel telling the Magistrate what his duty was in reference thereunto But shortly after by the command of the Emperour the Citizens of Metis were forbidden to hear any man preach who was not licensed by the Bishop and some others Whereupon Mr. Farel went from thence to Neocome where he wholly employed himself in the service of the Church performing the office of a faithfull Pastor to extreame old age with admirable zeale and diligence When he heard of Calvin's sicknesse in the year 1564 hee could not satisfie himself though he was seventy years old but he must goe to Geneva to visit him He survived Calvin one year and odde moneths and died aged 76 years Anno Christi 1565. Anno Christi 1553 the Genevians though they owed themselves wholly to him yet were carried on with such fury that they would have condemned Farel to death and did such things against him that Calvin wished hee might might have expiated their anger with his blood This was that Farel who discouraged by no difficulties deterred with no threatnings reproaches or
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
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
to bring an odium upon the Helvetians and to alienate the Princes affections from them Whereas saith he it is not the manner of the Helvetian Divines to reproach any either in their Sermons or Lectures much lesse Luther who had deserved so well of the Church And although Luther in the controversie about the Sacrament had used much reproachfull language against them yet they never made mention of him but with honour Whereas they were certainly informed that many of the Saxon Ministers used divers reproachfull speeches against them calling them Sacramentarians Image haters blasphemers c. Yea that in his own University of Marpurg Theobald Thammer in his publick Lectures had greatly aspersed them wherefore he earnestly requested him to consider their innocency and to enjoyn silence to such intemperate spirits c. For saith he we cannot with Luther confesse the bread to bee the naturall body of Christ and that Judas and other wicked men received his body as well as Peter and the Saints which are Luthers owne words Yet are we ready to preserve peace so that it be not urged upon us to yeeld to those things which neither our selves can understand nor can wee teach them to others In all other things you shall finde us as peaceable men ready to give an account of our Faith whensoever it shall be required of us The Lantgrave was well satisfied with this answer bearing a great love to the Helvetians and to Bullinger in particular to whom after the Warre was begunne hee often wrote out of his Camp desiring also the Protestant Cantons to send some Auxiliaries to them But upon serious deliberation they denied this request For say they if we shall send you aid the Popish Cantons will also aide the Emperour which hitherto moved by our example they have refused though they have been earnestly solicited both by the Pope and Emperour thereto In the mean time our Ministers cease not daily to pray for the peace of Germany and we have had publick Fasts for that end The same yeare came John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Gloucester to Zurick and lived familiarly with Bullinger by whom he was informed of their opinion about the Sacrament and fully concurred with them Anno Christi 1548 came forth that accursed Interim tending to the overthrow of true Religion which Calvin and Bucer answered though the Printer for fear of the Emperour durst not publish it And the bitter fruit which followed it was the expulsion of many Ministers out of their places divers of which resorted to Zurick and were kindly entertained by bullinger and his Colleagues and commended to divers Protestant Cities in Helvetia though they knew that formerly they had been very violent against them And indeed after their returne into their own Countries forgetting their courtesies they proved so again Anno Christi 1549. Calvin being suspected too much to favour Consubstantiation associating to him Master Farel of Neocom came to Zurick where he conferred with Bullinger and the other Ministers about that question and there was a sweet agreement amongst them which also was published by Calvin and Bullinger and subscribed by all the Helvetian and Rhetian Ministers By which act the Churches of Christ were more strictly united many that were doubtfull were confirmed in the truth and the adversaries took occasion from hence to write more bitterly against them Francis King of France being dead and Henry succeeding he sent to the Helvetians to renew his league with them But Bullinger who was in great authority amongst them did altogether disswade the Tigurines from it teaching them that it was neither just nor lawfull for a man to suffer himselfe to be hired to shed another mans blood who usually was innocent and from whom himselfe had never received any injury c. And hereupon the Tigurines resolved to abstaine from such Leagues Anno Christi 1550 Bullinger published his Decades Sermonum some of which he dedicated to King Edward the sixth and a reformation being now begun in England he wrote upon that occasion to many of our Nobility Bishops and Ministers of our Church Anno Christi 1551 the Helvetians were summoned by a Bull from the Pope to appear at the Councill of Trent by sending their Ministers thither c. Hereupon Master Bullinger consulting with his Fellow-Ministers published a book wherein he declared that the Councill of Trent was gathered for the suppressing of the truth and that the Helvetians owed no subjection to the Pope from under whose yoak they had long since withdrawn their necks About this time there sprange up a contention in the Church of Geneva by reason of one Hierome Bolsecus a Physician who publickly opposed the Doctrine of Master Calvin about Election and boasted that divers other Ministers and particularly Master Bullinger was of his opinion Calvin answered him confuting his error by testimonies of Scripture and out of Saint Augustine but when he would not be satisfied the Senate and brethren of Geneva sent to Zurick to ask their judgements whereupon Bullinger with his brethren did so declare themselves that all might see that they which made Election depend upon faith foreseen and faith upon mans free-will as much as upon the Divine inspiration did maliciously abuse the Tigurine Ministers c. And indeed there was a sweet Harmony between Calvin Bullinger and Peter Martyr about this point Anno Christi 1552 the war waxing hot in Germany and Zurick being afflicted with a Famine Bullinger wrote much for the comforting the afflicted and to stir them up to unfained repentance for their fins whereby they had provoked God against them Anno Christi 1554. a persecution being raised by Queen Mary in England many Nobles and famously learned men fled into Germany and came to Zurick where they erected a Colledg and were by Master Bullinger much holpen therein In the following years viz. 1556 1557 and 1558. Bullinger had divers conflicts with Westphalus Heshusius and others About which time the League amongst the Helvetians being to be renued the Popish Pages would have the oath to be By God and by all his Saints which the Protestant Pages refused and though some Politick men pleaded for the lawfulnesse of it or at least that there should be no contention about so small a matter Bullinger with his Colleagues shewed that an oath being part of Gods worship was onely to be made in the name of the true God who alone was to be called upon and that all appearance of false worship was to be avoided Anno Christi 1560 there arose up one Francis Stancarus who taught That Christ was Mediator onely according to his humane nature Him with some other such Hereticks Calvin and Bullinger confuted as also Blandrata who taught That Christ our Saviour was a meer man and Bernard Ochin who held Polygamie lawfull Anno Christi 1561. Blandrata being gone into Polonia began to discover himself more clearly and
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
esteemed a Prophet and little lesse then adored by that barbarous people Being once amongst them one had stoln his horses whereupon Hue and Cry was sent abroad for Master Gilpin's horses The fellow that had stoln them hearing that they were Master Gilpin's fell a trembling and presently carried them back again humbly craving pardon and the benediction of Father Gilpin protesting that he feared that he should be thrust into hell if he should doe him any wrong Also being to preach at a town called Rothburte there was a deadly fend between the inhabitants so that the men of both sides never met at Church without blood-shed and therefore when one party came the other used to stay away But Master Gilpin being in the pulpit both parties came to Church one party going into the Chancel and the other into the Body of the Church armed with Swords and Javelins Master Gilpin though somwhat moved with this uncouth spectacle yet went on in his Sermon but when their weapons beganne to make a clashing sound and the one side drew near to the other Master Gilpin came down from the pulpit and stepping to the Ringleaders of either faction laboured to establish a peace and when hee could not prevail in that yet he got a promise from them to continue the peace whilst he was in the Church and afterwards whilst he was in those quarters and so going up againe he spent the rest of the time in disgracing that barbarous and bloody custome At another time Master Gilpin coming to a Church in those parts before the people assembled and walking up and down spied a glove hanging up in the Church whereupon he enquired of the Sexton the meaning of it who told him that it was a glove of one of the parish who had hung it up as a challenge to his enemy with whom he would fight hand to hand or with any that durst take it down Master Gilpin requested the Sexton to take it downe who replyed That hee durst not Then said Master Gilpin Bring me a staffe and I will take it down which accordingly he did and put it into his bosome and in his Sermon he took occasion to reprove these inhumane challenges and reproved him in particular that had hung up the glove shewing them that he had taken it down and that such practisâ—s were unbeseeming Christians and therefore he perswaded them to love and mutuall charity amongst themselves After Sermon he distributed money amongst the poore and as his manner was visited the prisoners gave them money 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 he suspended him which Master Gilpin having intelligence of resolved to retire himself from his house for a time and making a speech to the Master and Scholars to demean themselves carefully and peaceably in his absence hee went to Oxford till the Queens Army commanded by the Earl of Sussex had dissipated the Rebels But before that Armie came the Rebels having seized upon Durham some of them flew as farre as Houghton and finding Master Gilpins Barns full of Corn young cattel fatted and many things provided for hospitality they made spoyl of all the chiefest of which plunderers was a knave whom Mr. Gilpin had saved from the Gallows But when those Rebels were overthrowne Master Gilpin returned home and begged the lives of many of the simpler sort whom he knew to bee drawn into that Rebellion through ignorance After the death of Bishop Pilkington who was Master Gilpin's 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 custome was sometimes to goe to Oxford and once as he was upon his way hee espied a young before him sometime walking and sometimes running Master Gilpin demanded of him what hee was and whence he came and whither hee was going Hee answered That hee came out of Wales and was bound for Oxford to bee a Scholar Master Gilpin thereupon examined him and finding him a prompt Scholar for the Latine and that hee 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 hee took him with him to Oxford and afterwards to Houghton where he profited exceedingly both in Greek and Hebrew whom Master Gilpin at last sent to Cambridge and this was that famous Hugh Broughton who afterwards required evill for good by stirring up the Bishop of Durham against Master Gilpin Now the Bishop sent to Master Gilpin to preach at a Visitation appointing him time and place But it fell out to be just at that time when Master Gilpin was going his Northern journey into Riddesdale c. whereupon he sent his man to the Bishop desiring him to appoint some other to preach the Visitation-Sermon for that hee might have many to doe that service but none would goe amongst the borderers if he did it not When his man had delivered his message to the Bishop the Bishop held his peace which being related to Master Gilpin he said Silence argues consent and so went on in his journey But so soon as the Bishop heard of it which Master Gilpin at his returne much wondred at Shortly after the Bishop sent to him to warm him to meet him and the rest of the Clergy at Chester whither Master Gilpin went and when the Bishop and the 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 replied 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 stil stiffly refused saying That God was not so to be 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 wil be done and so after a little pause went up and began his Sermon and though he saw some extraordinarily prepared to write this Sermon yet hee proceeded in his application to reprove the enormities in that Diocesse And now saith hee Reverend Father my speech must be directed unto you God hath exalted you and will require an account of your government a reformation of what 's amisse in the Church is required at your hands c. neither can you henceforth plead ignorance for behold I bring these things to your knowledge this day and therefore what evils you shall eiâ—ther doe your self or suffer by your connivance hereafter you make
it your own c. His friends hearing him thunder out these things much feared what would become of him And after Sermon some of them told him with tears That now the Bishop had that advantage against him which hee had long looked for c. To whom he answered Be not affraid the Lord God over-ruleth all and if God may bee glorified and his Truth propagated Gods will be done concerning me After they had dined together all men expecting the issue of this businesse Master Gilpin went to take his leave of the Bishop Nay said the Bishop I will bring you home and so went along with him to his house and walking 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 self to be Parson of your Church I ask forgiveness for Errors past Forgive me Father I know you have hatched up 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 things 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 feeling before hand the approach of death hee commanded the poor to be called together unto whom he made a speech and tooke his leave of them He did the like also to others made many exhortations to the Scholars to his servants and to divers others and so at the last he fell asleep in the Lord March the fourth Anno Christi 1583. and of his Age sixty six Hee was tall of stature slender and hawk-nosed his clothes not costly but frugall in things that belonged to his own body bountifull in things that tended to the good of others especially of the poor and scholars His doores were still open to the poor and strangers He boorded and kept in his owne house four and twenty Scholars most of them poor mens sonnes upon whom hee bestowed meat drink apparel and learning Having a great Parish he entertained them at his Table by course euery Sabbath from Michaelmasse to Easten He bestowed upon his School and for stipends upon the School masters the full sum of 500 pound out of which School he supplied the Church of England with great store of Learned men Hee was carefull not onely to avoyd evil but the least appearance of it Being full of Faith unfeigned and of good works hee was at last put into his grave as an heap of wheat in due time put into the garner Hallelujah The Life of Zacharie Ursin who died A no Christi 1583. ZAcharie Vrsus was borne in Vratislavia the Metropolis of Silesia An. Christ. 1584. of honest parents His Fathers name was Gasper a Minister in Vratislavia who set him to School in the same City where he quickly shewed an excellent wit by which he easily outwent all his schoolfellows and so having perfected his Schol-learning by that he was 16. yeares old having an ample testimony from his Master Andrew Winckle he was sent to Wittenberg An. Chr. 1552 where he heard Melancthon with great diligence two years At the end of which time the Plague breaking forth there he retired with Melancthon to Tergaw and after a while having an ample testimony from him he went thence into his own Country for all that Winter but in the spring hee returned to Wittenberg where he spent five years more in the study of the Arts Tongues and Divinity He was very familiar with Melancthon and much esteemed by many Learned men who flocked to that University out of all Countries with whom also afterwards hee kept correspondencie Anno 1557 he went with Melancthon to the conference at Wormes about Religion and from thence he travelled to Marpurg Strasborâ—ugh Basil Lansanna and Geneva where he grew into familiar acquaintance with many learned men especially with Calvin who gave him such bookes as he had printed From Geneva he went into France to Lions Orleance and Paris where he perfected his skill in the Hebrew under the learned Mercerus In his return he went to Zurick where hee acquainted himself with the learned men and so to Tubing Ulme Nerinberg and from thence to his old Master Melancthon Anno 1558 hee was sent for by the Senate of Uratislave which was his native place to govern the school in that City where besides his Lectures in the Arts and Tongues he was employed in the explication of Melancthons book of the Ordination of Ministers upon which occasion he declared his judgement about the Sacrament and thereupon he was cried out against for a Sacramentarian This caused him to give a publick account of his Faith about the Doctrine of the Sacraments in certain strong and accurate propositions Melancthon hearing of the opposition which hee met with wrote to him to stand firmely to the truth and if he enjoyed not peace in that place to returne to him again and to reserve himself for better times And accordingly Ursin who naturally abhorred brawles and in his judgement could not endure Ecclesiasticall contentions chose rather to leave the place and therefore requested of the Senate that he might be dismissed and obtained his desire upon condition that whensoever his country and the Church there had need of him he should be willing to return home to them again This fell out seven daies after the death of Melancthon Anno Christi 1560. Ursin had a reverend man to his Uncle called Albert Roth who asked him whither hee would goe To whom he answered thus Truly I doe not goe unwillingly out of my own country seeing they will not admit of my confession of the Truth which with a good conscience I could not omit And if my worthy Master Melancthon were now living I would goe to none but him But since he is dead I will goe to Zurick which though it be not esteemed here yet in other Churches it is very famous for there are such godly learned and eminent men that they cannot be obseured by our Preachers and with them through Gods mercy I hope to live with much comfort And thus hee left his Country to the great grief of the godly whom he had instructed and confirmed in the Orthodox Truth From Uratislavia hee went to Wittenberg where he was received by the Professors with great joy and who would have chosen him into their number but hee refused and so went to Zurick Anno 1560 being invited thither by Martyr Bullinger Simler Lavater Gualter Gesner and Frisius who much desired his company and wrote for him With these worthy men he lived pleasantly and comfortably addicting himselfe to the profit of the Church and being a diligent attender upon Peter Martyrs Lectures whereby hee much encreased his knowledge in Divinity Anno Christi 1561 there came
gibbets and that Gardiner Bishop of Winchester was his enemy hee beganne to thinke of some speedy way for his departure thence which so soon as the Duke knew he disswaded him from it affirming that it was neither agreeable to honour nor modesty for him to suffer his Tutor so well deserving at his hands to bee taken from him He told him that in flying no kind of misery would be wanting Banishment Poverty Contempt c. and that though these were lesse evils then death yet was it not come to such extremity neither would hee suffer that it should saying That hee had yet wealth and favour and friends and the fortune of his House and if the mischance prevailed further that himselfe would partake of the danger and make the destruction common That he remembred with what instructions he had fortified his younger years neither had he with more attention hearkened thereto then he would with constancy put them in practise Yet when the Duke afterward perceived that he could no longer shelter him from the malice of Winchester he provided all things necessary for his departure sending to Ipswich to hire a Bark and whilst all things were making ready hee sent him to a Farm-house of one of his servants with his Wife the companion of his travels then great with child who yet would not be perswaded to stay behind him He had in this bark scarce weighed Anchor when suddenly a rough wind troubled the Sea with so great violence that the stoutest Mariners beganne to tremble then followed a dark night with such hail and raine that hindred the sea-mens work and tooke away all possibility of steering any longer by the Compass Yet the next day towards evening with much difficulty they arrived again in the same Haven from whence they set forth In the meane time a Pursivant with a warrant from the Bishop of Winchester had searched the Farm and pursued him to Ipswitch but finding the Bark already gone was returned towards London This Master Fox being informed of as soon as he came to shoare he presently took horse as if he would have left the towne but the same night returning he bargained with the Master of the Ship with the first winde to set sayle againe and the Pilot loosed in the nights silence as soon as the tide turned though the Sea was rough and the winds blustring and two daies after through the mercy of God landed him safely at Newport Haven after some few daies refreshing himself at Newport and those that were with him they went to Antwerp and from thence to Basil which was a common refuge to many English in those times most of which maintained themselves by over-seeing the Presse and correcting faults therein To these Master Fox joyned himself and having in his youth been accustomed to hardship he was able to suffer want sit up late and to fare hardly And during his abode there notwithstanding he was so full of imployment yet he began his History of the Acts and Monuments of the Church which afterward he compleated in his own country First hee wrote it in Latine and sent it to Basil to be printed where it was much esteemed and afterwards wrote it in English to gratifie the unlearned Not long after Queen Mary dyed about which time Master Fox preaching to comfort the English Exiles did with confidence tell them that now was the time come for their returne into England and that hee brought that news by command from God For which words the graver Divines did sharply reprove him for the present but afterwards excused him by the event when it appeared that Queen Mary died but the day before he so spake to them Master Fox understanding happy news in England that Queen Elizabeth reigned Religion was altered and so like to continue in the end of that year he returned into England with his wife and two children which were born there and instead of seeking preferment by his great friends and own deserts he lived retiredly in his study prosecuting his work begun at Basil of writing the Acts and Monuments The Papists foreseeing how much this worke would tend to their disparagement and disadvantage charged the Author with falshood and feigned some cavils against him to lessen his credit authority which he by heaping together testimonies for the confirmation of what hee had writ endeavoured to take away This elaborate work with infinite pains he finished in 11 years never using the help of any other man but wrote searched all the Records himself But by these excessive pains leaving no time free from study nor affording to himselfe seasonably what nature required hee was brought to that passe that his natural vigour being spent neither his friends nor kindred could by sight remember or know him Yea it caused in him withered leannesse of body yet would he by no means be perswaded to lessen his accustomed labours From this time he was much spoken of for a good Historian but shortly after his other excellent endowments began to appear He was very charitable and had an excellent ability in comforting afflicted consciences so that there resorted to him Noblemen Strangers Citizens and others also seeking salves to their wounded consciences He preached often abroad and went to visit such as could not come to him and what spare time he had he bestowed in prayer and study and for his vehement prayers mingled with groanes he made use of the nights silence for the greater secreâ—ie There was in him a deliberate and resolved contempt of all earthly things especially of pleasures and for this end hee declined the friendship of Illustrious and Noble persons The money which rich men sometimes offered him hee accepted but returned it back to the poor Many things did he foretell by occasion of comforting the afflicted or terrifying those that were stubborn The Lady Anne Henage lying sick of a violent Feaver and the Physitians deeming it mortall Master Fox was sent for to be present at her ending and after by prayer and instructions hee had prepared her for death he told her that she had done well in sitting her selfe for death but that yet she should not dye of that sicknesse A Knight her son in law being by told him in private that he had not done well to disquiet her minde with hopes of life when the Physitians had given her up for dead to whom he answered That he said no more then was commanded him for it seemed good to God that she should recover which also came to passe Also Mistris Honiwood who had lain sick of a Consumption almost twenty years through Melancholy to whom many excellent Physitians and grave Divines had resorted to cure her body comfort her mind but all in vain At last M. Fox being sent for when he came into her chamber found a most sad house all about her sitting
read his Lectures he performed them to the abundant satisfaction of all his hearers nothing being found wanting which could be required in the best Divine and most accomplished Professor For hee shewed much reading a sharp judgement a pure and easie stile with sound and solid learning so that his fame spreading abroad abundance resorted to his Lectures and reaped much profit thereby The first that he began with in his Lectures was to expound the three first Chapters of Luke After which he went over the Epistle to the Galathians the first to Timothy and the Canticles Afterwards he betook himself to the Controversies between the Papists and us Anno Christi 1585. About that time there came into England a proud and vain-glorious Jesuit called Edmund Campian an English man who set forth ten Arguments whereby he boasted that he had utterly overthrown the Protestant Religion To these Whitaker answered so fully and learnedly that all the Jesuits brags vanished into smoak But shortly after there rose up Durie a Scottish Jesuit who undertook to answer Whitaker and to vindicate Campian And whereas Campian had set forth his Arguments with a great deal of ostentation and youthly confidence Durie on the other side prosecuted the cause with dog-like barking and railing and scurrility Whitaker gave him the preheminence in that but did so solidly answer all his Arguments and discover his fallacies that the truth in those points was never more fully cleared by any man Then rose up Nicolas Sanders an English Jesuit who wrote about the person of Antichrist boasting that by forty demonstrative Arguments he had proved that the Pope was not Antichrist These Arguments Whitaker examined answered learnedly and solidly truly retorting many of them upon himself Then Rainolds a Divine of Remes another English Apostate pretended a reply but subtilly and maliciously presented the English Divines differing amongst themselves that by their differences he might expose their Religion to the greater hatred and obloquy But VVhitaker perceived and plainly discovered his craftie fetches and lies yet withall declared that he judged his book so vain and foolish that he scarce thought him worthy of an answer About this time hee married a Wife a prudent pious chaste and charitable woman After whose death at the end of two years he married another a grave Matron the Widdow of Dudley Fenner by these he had eight children whom he educated religiously Upon this occasion the crabbed old man Stapleton who had neither learned to teach the truth nor to speak well nor to thinke chastly of others wrote a book against him objecting his marriage as a great reproach but surely this man had not read the words of Christ Mat. 9. 11. nor of Paul 1 Cor. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 2. Nor what the Council of Nice decreed concerning the Marriage of Presbyters upon the motion of Paphnutius nor what Augustine and others of the Fathers had written about that point Or else he was of Hoâ—â—aeus the Jesuits mind one of the Popes Counsellors who declared openly that Priests sinned lesse by committing Adultery then by marrying wives VVhitaker never had his Catamites as many of the Popish Priests Jesuits Cardinals yea and some of the Popes themselves had But to leave him and return to our matter Doctor VVhitaker was shortly after chosen Master of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge which though at first some of the Fellows and Students out of self-ends disliked and opposed yet within a little space by his clemency equitie and goodnesse he so overcame their exulcerated mindes that he turned them into love and admiration of him Yea he alwaies governed the Colledge with much prudence and moderation not seeking his own profit but the publick good as appeared not onely by the testimony of those which lived with him but by his frugality wherein yet his gaines exceeded not his expences In choosing Scholars and Fellows he alwayes carryed himself unblameably and unpartially so as hee would never suffer any corruption to creep into the Election and if he found any who by bribes had sought to buy Suffrages he of all others though otherwise never so deserving should not be chosen Lellarmine about this time growing famous and being looked upon by his own party as an invinicible Champion him Whitaker undertakes and cuts off his head with his own weapons First in the controversie about the Scriptures published Anno Christi 1588. Then about the Church Councils Bishop of Rome the Minister Saints departed the Church Triumphant the Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper though hee had not leisure to print them all In all which controversies he dealt not with his adversarie with taunts reproaches and passion but as one that indeed sought out the truth Hereupon that superstitious old man Thomas Stapleton Professor of Lovane perceiving that Bellarmine held his peace undertook to answer Whitaker in that third question of his first part about the Scriptures which he performed in a volume large enough but as formerly in a scurrilous and railing language Therefore Whitaker lest the testy old man should seeme wise in his own eyes answered him in somewhat a tarter language then he used to doe The week before he dyed he performed an excellent work not only for the University of Cambridge but for the whole English Church for whose peace and unity he alwaies studied in truth by undertaking to compose some differences which sprang up about some â—â—ads of Religion for which end he went toward London in the midst of winter in the company of Doctor Tyndal Master of Queens Colledge but what with his journey and want of sleep being too intent upon his business he fel sick by the way which made him return to Cambridge again and finding his disease to encrease he sent for the Physitians who after debate resolved to let him blood which yet was neglected for two daies The third day when they went about it he was unfit by reason of a continual sweat that he was in yet that night he seemed to sleep quietly and the next morning a friend asking him how he did he answered O happy night I have not taken so sweet a sleep since my disease seised upon me But his friend finding him all in a cold sweat told him that signes of death appeared on him To whom he answered Life or death is welcome to me which God pleaseth for death shall be an advantage to me And after a while he sayd I desire not to live but onely so farre as I may doe God and his Church service And so shortly after he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1595 and of his age forty seven Having been Professor sixteen years Cardinal Bellarmine procured his picture out of England and hung it up in his study much admiring him for his singular learning and being asked by a Jesuit why he would suffer the picture of that
The Life of Anthony Wallaeus who died Anno Christi 1639. ANthony Wallaeus was descended of the ancient family de Wale in the City of Gaunt where his Predecessors had born sundry offices from the year 1345 to that present time his Father was James Wallaeus who was brought up in the Family of Count Egmond who lost his head by the Spanish tyranny His Mother was Margaret Wagenaer a beautifull and pious Matron of an illustrious Family and powerfull Kindred Our Anthony was born Octob. 3. Anno Chr. 1573 in the City of Gaunt just at the same time when the Duke de Alva after all his cruelties exercised in the Low Countryes returned into Spain His Mother in his childhood was very carefull to traine him up in the Rudiments of piety and good manners and his Father was as careful to give him liberall education For which end when he could read and write reasonable well at eight years old he committed him to the care of Titus ab Edingen a Minister to be taught the Latine tongue The boy was very beautifull of a ruddy colour of a sweet and pleasing conversation and therefore his Master loved him above all his other Scholars Not long after this Titus of Edingen was called into Holland to be Minister at Saint Hildegond near to Harlem whereupon our Anthony was necessitated to return to his parents at Gaunt and was by his Father committed to the care of Samuel Lansberg a Minister in that City to be by him further instructed in the Latine tongue About this time the City of Gaunt was full of factions and divisions so that his Father for favouring the Prince of Orange was clapt up in prison whereupon our Anthony returned home to his Mother and by his prompt obedience sweet manners childish blandishments was a great comfort to her during the time of her husbands close imprisonment But at last his Father was set free who considering the troublesom state of the City and not knowing what might be the issue sent away all his most precious moveables to Delph in Holland Shortly after Gaunt was besieged by the Prince of Parma which being foreseen by Jam. Wallaeus he had made such provision before hand that he lived quietly and comfortably during all the siege But at last the City was to be surrendred upon Articles amongst which this was one that six such Citizens should be delivered up to the Prince as he should nominate James Wallaeus upon good grounds suspecting that he should be one of the six a few dayes before the surrender privately stole out of the City and went to Walochrta His Wife Margaret staying at Gaunt to dispose of her goods was so vexed and abused by the Citizens that she resolved rather to leave part of them and goe her wayes then to stay there any longer and because all were forbidden to depart from the City taking her son Anthony who was now tenne years old and her two daughtets they stole away in the night and went on foot to Philippine And shortly after not onely the Citizens of Gaunt but of all the neighbouring places did so molest and abuse the Protestants that they forced them to leave their habitations and to seeke for refuge in other Countries most of which went into Zeland which of all other places shewed the most humanity bounty and hospitality to these pâ—oâ— exiles Yet lest under pretence of flight the enemies should mingle themselves amongst the Protestants and so make some ateâ—pt upon the Isles of Zeland the Zelanderâ— sent some ships of War to Philippine under the conduct of James Wallaeus with a special charge that none should be brought out of Flanders into Zeland but such as he should approve of In the mean time Margaret and our Anthony went to Delph in Holland to fetch away their goods which formerly were sent thither but their friend to whom they had sent them denyed that great part of them ever came to his hands and they wanting sufficient proof were faign to take such as he acknowledged and so they returned to Middleborough James Wallaeus had so well demeaned himself in the aforementioned imployment that the President of Zeland who had formerly known him at Gaunt committed to his care the custody of the Magazine for Provision and Ammunition and because he would not wholly trust his servants in so weighty a businesse he imployed his son Anthony to have an oversight of them who though he was but 11. years old yet was serious and prudent above his Age. His place was to see such things as his Father bought laid up the Publick Granary and Armory as also to see them delivered out and divided to the several Cities as he was appointed and to acquaint his Father where there was any want And thus he was imployed for two years at the end whereof his Father resolved to settle him with his Mother at Middleborough that he might be fitted for some honest course of life But having lost much of his Estate by his Exile and his Family being encreased by the birth of two sons he durst not think of training him up in Learning as formerly he had determined wherefore that he might be fitter for any future imployment he placed him with Jodocus Larenus a Publick Notary a man of much experience of a great judgement and of unspotted honesty with whom by his daily practise he attained to much swiftness in writing and as things were related to him he could readily apprehend fitly word them and draw them into a publick instrument in good order which some Merchants taking notice of each of them strove to get him into his Family profering him good pay for his pains But our Anthony being not yet resolved what course of life to follow continued three years with Larenus At the end whereof lying one night with his Father on the straw he had a sudden instinct that God had designed him for the Work of the Ministry and these thoughts did so follow him night and day wheresoever and about whatsoever he was that he could not blot them out of his memory Hereupon at last he resolved to dedicate himself to his studies and having gotten leave of his Father he went to the Grammer School in Middleborough the chief Master whereof was Iames Gruter a painful man and well versed both in Greek and Latine He had also for his assistant Iohn Murdison who was an acute and solid Philosopher This Murdison lived with Gruter who being desirous to finde out the ingenie of our Anthony he placed him at Gruters Table yet least he should be drawn aside by rude lads his Parents would have him daily to come home to supper With these Masters hee lived six years and profited so much under them that he could make elegant Verses and pronounce Orations publickly which Gruter thought fit both for his own and his Scholars credit to publish in Print Neither did he profit less in the
very studious Snares laid for him He is expelled the Colledge Gods 〈◊〉 His marriage An harsh Father in Law His poverty A speciall providence He is sent for by the Dutchess of Richmond Persecution in Qu. Maries daies A notable resolution Stephen Gardiner Flight in persecuâ—ion A great storm God providence He arrives at Newport He goes to Basil. A prophesie His return into England His humility His Indfatigable pains His body weakned thereby His excellent endowâ—eâ—ts His feâ—vâ—ncy in prayer His Charity His Prophesies Mrs. Honywood A Prophesie A Miracle Another observable story His many friends Deaâ—h foreseen His Death His Charity Vain glory reproved He reproves his son His Birâ—h and Education He goes to Marpurg His industry He goes to Wittenberg He is Master of Arts. Why he left the study of the Law A speciall Providence His return to Marpurg He is made a Professor His marriage He is made Doctor Preachers pattern His humility He goes to Heidleberg His sicknesse Preparation for death His death His Works His birth and education Flight in persecuâ—ion His return to England He confutes the lesuits His death His birth and education His parents poverty Snepâ—ius provides for him He goes to Tubing He is made Deacon He preaches before the Duke His marriage Gods providence The accursed Interim He is Deacon at Tubing He commenceth Doctor He is made Superintendent Note Sacrilege abhorred A strange story of a Jew He helps forward Reformation Gods providence He is made Chancellour of the University His great pains about the Concord Death foretold and desired His â—icknesse The Confession of his Faith What he gives thanks for His death His Works His birth and education He becomes a Fryar His conversion He flies into Germany He stayes at Strasborough He meets with troubles New opposition Gods providence He goes to Clavenna A great Pestilence 1564. He goes to Heidleberg He is made Doctor Zeal against heresies Hereticks confuted rejected He goes to Neostade His death His Works His Birth and Education He goes to Paris His conversion He goes to Geneva And to Paris He is chosen a Pastor Christ preferred before all Popish cruelty Gods providence The Protestants slandered Vindicated by Sadeel He is imprisoned Delivered by the King of Navaâ— His return to Paris A Synod A persecution raiâ—ed Sadeels faithfulneâ—â—e The Church thrives by persecution His sicknesse His painfulnes A Synod Independents error confuted He is againe driven from Paris He is driven out of France His return into France He goes to the K. of Navar. Gods providence He goes to Geneva 〈◊〉 sent into Germany His sicknesse Death sore old Comfort in death His death His Character His works His birth aâ—d Parentage His education He goes to Cambridge His preferment in the University His gratitude He is made Father at the Commencement He studies Divinity His Inâ—ustry His Temperance He Recreatâ—ons His excellent parts He is chosen Professor His Lectures He confutes the Papists As Campian Dury Sanders Rainolds His marriage Stapleton reproaches him for his marriage He is chosen Master of St. Johns He confutes Bellarmine His fidelity therein Stapleton tails Whitaker answereth His sicknesse His death Bellarmine admired him His carriage in his sicknesse His Character His great charity His piety to his parents His humility His Works His birth and education He goes to Geneva His admirable Learning He is called to Leiden From thence to Gaunt And thence to Navar. His death His Works His Birth and Parentage His Education He goes to St. Andrews A Vniversity erected at Edenborough He is sent for to Edenborough He goes thither He doth much good Four Professors chosen His piety and diligence A lâ—rge increase of Ministers Conversion wrought by his Ministry Beza's testimony His humility His sicknesse He moderates in a Synod Preparation for death His message to the King His exhortation to the Ministers Christ preferred before all things Death desired His exhortation to the Ministers His poverty His heavenly speech His death His Works His birth and Parentage His education He studies Greek He is robbed Charity His Industry His return home He is Pastor of Hafnia He is Hebrew Professor And Doctor Death desired His Death His birth and Parentage His Education He goes to Ulm. 〈◊〉 to Witâ—enberg Mâ—rabilis 〈◊〉 A Predigy His studiousnes He is Master of Arts. His return home He is made Deacon His diligence His marriage He is banished His return He is Doctor Reformation His prefermenâ—s 〈◊〉 self-denial His wives death His sicknesse His patience His death His humility and charity His prudence A good father His works His birth and education He is sent to Tubing His great proficiency He goes to Wittenberg Plato praises God for three things He goes to Heidleberg His travels He goes to Rostoch He is desiâ—ed in divers places His travels He is Doctor He goes to Augsburgh His contentation 1569. He goes into Austria His travels He goes into Stiria His sicknesse His Industry Preparation for death His death His Character Injuries to be born His wishes â—is Works His Birth and Parentage His Education His flight in persecution He is made Dean of Pauls His Charity His Works His death His birth and education He goes to Basil. 〈…〉 Tibing He is Master of Arts. He goes to Paris Thence to Orleance A famous Church at Orleance His marriage Wars in France Duke of Guise slain Gods mercy Popish malice Popish malice He is in great danger A miracle of mercy He is taken prisoner His release Gods mercy The Kâ—â—gs malice He goes to Sancerra Gods mercy He goes to Mombelgart His new troubles He preaches in a Caâ—â—le Popish rage The Massacre at Paris A special providence Popish cruelty Gods mercy He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes into the Palatinate His faithfulnesse He is dismised He is called to Neostade His painfulnesse He is much esteemed He is sent for to Heidâ—eberg His opposition He is made Professor Commenceth Doctor His manifold â—fflictions P. Casimire dyeth A great plague His constancy His weaknesse His faith His Death Hiâ— character His workâ— His birth and education His conversion He preaches to the prisoners He converts many of them He is chosen pastor Preachers pattern His Character Note The powerfulnesse of his ministry His 〈◊〉 in â—â—â—ding His painfulnes His death He was same of his right hand Iosh. 1. 2. A thief converted at his death Power of Prayer His Works His Birth and Parentage His weaknes in his childhood His Education His Masters harshnesse He goes to Lions His Tentations Gods mercys He is drawn to Atheism Gods mercy Iohn 1. He is reclaimed He goes to Geneva His travels His poverty A speciall providence He weakens his body by abstinence His Father murthered His Industry He is chosen to Antwerp The inquisition brought into the Ne herlands Popish malice Miracles of mercy to him An other danger He goes to Limburg Strange tentations A strange example Gods mercy Anabaptists disturb the Church Popish malice Flight
of Life where he first drew the Breath of Life After this he was made Bishop of Salisbury though with much reluctancy looking upon it as a great burthen In that office he took much paines both by Preaching and Governing and was very careful in providing faithfull Pastors and in reforming abuses Anno Christi 1560 he was called to preach at Pauls Cross where he took that Text 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you c. In which Sermon he confirmed largely the Protestants Doctrine concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper by Scriptures and Fathers adding this solemn Protestation That if any Learned man of all our adversaries or if all the Learned men that be alive are able to shew any one sufficient sentence out of any old Catholick Doctor or Father or out of any old Generall Council or out of the holy Scriptures of God or any one example of the Primitive Church whereby it may be clearly and plainly proved That there was any private Masses in the world at that time for the space of six hundred years after Christ or that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was ever administred to the people under one kind or that the people then had their Common Prayers in a strange tongue that they understood not or that the Bishop of Rome was then called a Universall Bishop or the Head of the Universall Church or that the people were taught to beleeve that Christs Body is really substantially corporeally carnally or naturally in the Sacrament or that his Body is or may be in above a thousand places at one time or that the Priest did then hold up the Sacrament over his head or that the people did then fall down and worship it with divine honour or that then the Sacrament was hanged up under a Canopy or that in the Sacrament after the words of consecration there remained onely the accidents or shews without the substance of Bread and Wine or that the Priest then divided the Sacrament in three parts and after received all alone himself or that whosoever had then said that the Sacrament is a figure pledge token or remembrance of Christs body had therefore been judged for an Heretick or that it was then lawfull to have thirty twenty fifteen or five Masses said in one Church in one day or that Images were then set up in Churches that the people might worship them or that the Lay-people were then forbidden to read the Word of God in their own language If any man alive can prove any one of these Articles by any one clear or plain clause or sentence of Scripture ancient Fathers or any one Generall Councill or any example of the Primitive Church I here promise that I will give over my opinion and subscribe to him Yea I further promise that if any of all our Adversaries be able clearly and plainly to prove in manner aforesaid that it was then lawfull for a Priest to pronounce the words of consecration closely and in silence to himself or that the Priest had then authority to offer up Christ unto his Father or to receive the Sacrament for another as they now do or apply the virtue of Christs death and passion to any man by means of the Mass or that then it was thought a sound doctrine to teach the people that the Mass ex opere operato is able to remove our sinnes or that any Christian man called the Sacrament his Lord and God or that the people were then taught to beleeve that the Body of Christ remaineth in the Sacranent so long as that bread remaineth without corruption or that a Mouse Worm or other creature may eat the Body of Christ or that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion As I said before so say I new again if any of them can clearly prove any of these things in the manner aforesaid I promise to yeeld and subscribe unto him Indeed they have long boasted of Antiquity c. but when they are put to their proofs they can produce nothing I speake not this out of arrogancy thou Lord knowest it that knowest all things but because it is in the cause of God and for asserting his Truth I should doe God great injury if I should conceal it He was very bountifull in relieving the poor and wise in composing litigious strifes Besides his publick employments he read much and wrote much scarce any yeare in all the time of his Bishoprick passed wherein he published not some famous work or other Diu vixit licet non diâ— fuit He lived long in that short scantling of his life At Meales a Chapter being first read he recreated himself with Scholastical combats between young Scholars whom he maintained at his table the conquerors were bountifully rewarded After Meals his doors and eares were open to all suits and causes and then he retired to his study At nine a clock at night he called all his servants to an account how they had spent that day and after prayer admonished them accordingly Then he returned to his study where often he sate till after midnight When he was layd in bed one that waited upon him read some part of an Author to him which done commending himself to the protection of his Saviour he took his rest His memory was raised by art to the highest pitch of humane possibility for he could readily repeat any thing that he had penned after once reading it And therefore usually at the ringing of the bell he beganne to commit his Sermons to heart and kept what he learned so firmely that he used to say That if he were to make a speech premeditated before a thousand Auditors shouting of fighting all the while yet could he say all that he had provided to speak Many barbarous and hard names out of a Callender and forty strange words VVelsh Irish c. after once or twice reading at the most and short meditation he could repeat both forwards and backwards without hesitation And Sir Francis Bacon reading onely to him the last clauses of tenne lines in Erasmus his Paraphrase in a confused and dismembred manner he sitting silent a while on a sudden rehearsed all those broken parcels of sentences the right way and the contrary without stumbling Long before his sickness he fore-told the approaching and in his sicknesse the precise day of his death And hee was so farre from declining it that by fasting labour and watching he seemed rather to accelerate it that he might be the readier to entertain death and meet his Saviour Being very weak as he was going to preach at Lacock in Wiltshâ—re a Gentleman meeting him friendly admonished him to returne home for his healths sake telling him that it was better the people should want one Sermon then be altogether deprived of such a Preacher To whom he replyed That it best became a Bishop to die preaching in a
Pulpit alluding to that of Vespasian Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori And thinking upon that of his Master Happy art thou my servant if when I come I find thee so doing His text whereon he preached at Lacock was Walk in the Spirit and presently after Sermon his disease growing more and more upon him hee was forced to take his bed In the beginning of his sicknesse he made his Will and gave most of his estate to his servants to scholars and to the poor of Sarum The Saturday following calling all his houshold about him he expounded the Lords Prayer Cantater â—ygnus funeris ipse sui Wherein hee said It hath alwaies been my desire that I might glorifie God and honour his name by sacrificing my life unto death for the defence of his Truth But seeing God hath not granted my desire yet I rejoice that my body is exhausted and worn away in the labours of my holy calling c. And now that my hour is at hand I earnestly desire you to pray for me and to help me with the ardencie of your affections when you perceive me through the infirmitie of the â—esh to languish in my prayers Hitherto I have taught you but now the time is come wherein I may and desire to be taught and strengthened by every one of you Then hee desired them to sing the 71 Psalm himself also joyning as well as he could somtimes also interposing some words of particular application to himself in the end he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace Break off all delaies Lord receive my spirit c. Then one standing by prayed with tears that if the Lord pleased he would restore him to his former health Juel over-hearing him seemed to be offended and said I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live longer neither do I fear to die because we have a mercifull Lord. A crown of righteousness is laid up for me Christ is my righteousnesse Father let thy will be done thy will I say and not mine which is imperfect and depraved This day quickly let me see the Lord Jesus c. And so after a few fervent inward prayers and sighs of longing desire the soul returned to him that gave it Anno Christi 1571 and of his Age 50. Concerning his Apology for the Church of England Peter Martyr thus wrote to him Tua Apologia frater charissimè non tantùm mihi omnibus modis numeris satisfecit verùm etiam Bulingero ejusque filiis generis nec non Gualthero Wolphio tam sapiens mirabilis eloquens visâ— est ut ejus laudandae nullum modum faciant nec arbitrantuâ— quicquam hoc tempore perfectius editum fuisse c. i. e. Thy Apology dear brother hath not onely fully satisfied mee but it seems also so wise admirable and eloquent to Bullinger and his sonnes as also to Gualter and Wolphius that they can never make an end of praising it and they believe that there hath not been so compleate a book published in this Age c. The Life of Zegedine who died A no Christi 1572. STeven Kis sirnamed Zegedine from the place where hee was born which was a Town in the lower Pannonia was born Anno Christi 1505 brought up in learning first in the School of Zegedine under the eye of his Parents then was sent to Lippain and after a while to Julia in all which places he made an excellent progresse in Learning and profited to admiration And his parents being dead he betooke himself to teaching a School and for his admirable dexterity therein he procured to himselfe great favour and authority amongst all sorts of persons About which time hearing the fame of Luther and Melancthon he had a great mind to goe to Wittenberg but wanting opportunity in sundry regards he went to the University at Cracovia where having studied a while he was made a Reader to others and grew very famous and having gotten some money there Anno Christi 1541 hee went to Wittenberg where hee studied Logick and Divinity three years being a diligent hearer of the Lectures of Luther and Melancthon all that while and so at the end of that terme returned into his own country where hee was received by the Hungarian youths with great applause in every place And being hired in the City of Thasniadine he not only instructed youth in the knowledge of the Arts but he preached Jesus Christ also to the people before unknown unto them This comming to the ears of the Kings Treasurer he sent for him fell upon him beat him and drove him out of the City There he lost two hundred books and was so barbarously kicked by this Tyrant with his Iron spurs that he was almost slain Thus wandring up and down as an exile Anno Christi 1545 hee was called to Julia where he was made Governour of an illustrious Schoole and hee began to live comfortably but on a sudden came news to him of the death of Luther which was a very great grief to him The year after hee was sent for to Cegledine where he was hired to preach publickly in the Church and with the leave of the Schoolmaster he read Melancthons Common places in the Schooles discovering many of the Popish errors to his hearers and God was pleased so to blesse his labours that many learned young men went out of those Schooles Having continued there about two yeares and an half Anno Christi 1548 hee married his first Wife called Ursula after which leaving Cegledine hee was earnestly sent for by the Governour of Temeswert to govern the School there which indeed was the most famous School in all those parts where he not onely performed the office wherewith he was intrusted but preached weekely to the people But that Governour dying there succeeded him one that was of a most rugged disposition being a souldier and a strong Papist who drove Zegedine from thence togegether with divers other Protestants Being again an exile he wandered up and down till hee was called to govern the School at Thurin where he was received with great honour Anno Christi 1551 and according to his former custome preached to the people who eagerly embraced the Truth and loved him exceedingly From thence Anno Christi 1553 he was called to Bekenese where he preached to the people and read Lectures in the Schools Whilst he was there some Italian souldiers were commanded by their Captain to kill Zegedine out of an hatred to his Religion but it pleased God that a Country man who heard the command running hastily to Zegedine said to him Sir what doe you here when there are some souldiers comming upon you to slay you therefore flie hence speedily if you will save your life and if you have any thing of worth commit it to my custodie who promise faithfully to keep it