in the evening he was had into the King of Navars chamber where were present the Queen Mother the Prince of Conde the Cardinals of Bourbon and Lorrain with many of the Nobility Beza briefly declared the cause of his coming though it was not unknown unto them and the Queen chearfully answered that she much desired that the publick peace might be principally promoted And the Cardinal of Lorrain exhorted him to study the wayes of peace and concord For saith he in your absence you have been the author of many stirs and tumults therefore it beseems you by your presence to endeavour to compose them which is that which we all desire To this Beza replyed that he was too mean and obscure a person to raise commotions in so large and potent a Kingdom That he was alwaies an enemy to tumults and that his studies and endevours should alwaies be bent to promote the Glory of God and the happinesse of his King and Country Then did the Queen ask him if he had ever published any thing in French Nothing said he besides the Psalmes and a short writing opposed to the Confession of the Duke of Summerset Upon this occasion Lorrain said that he had read in a book published in Beza's name That Christ was in the same manner to be sought in his Supper as he was before he was born of the blessed Virgin And that Christ was so in his Supper as he is in the dung To this Beza answered That this latter speech was blasphemy and that he thought that no Christian had ever spoken or written any such thing As for the former speech saith he if it be taken in a good sence its true for the Church hath alwaies been congregated by one Mediator Christ God-man therefore the Communion of the faithfull with Christ is not to be confined to the time of his Incarnation for the force and efficacy thereof was alwaies present to the eye of Faith For Abraham saw his day and rejoyced The Fathers did eat of the same spirituall and drank of the same spirituall Rock viz. Christ and that he was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world To which the Cardinal assented Then was there another question started about the sence of those words This is my body Whereunto Beza answered learnedly and briefly layâ—ng down the Reformed opinion and against Transubstantiation Whereunto the Cardinal answered that for his part he would not contend about Transubstantiation being of Beza's mind and withall told the Queen that Beza had given him great satisfaction in that point and that he hoped their conference would come to a good issue if things were handled peaceably and with right reason When the company was departed the Cardinall spake very lovingly to Beza saying Now that I have heard you speak I rejoice and invite you to the conference by the immortall God hoping that weighing the reasons on both sides some way may be found out for the setling of a firm peace Beza returned him hearty thanks intreating him to persevere in the study and endeavour of procuring publick concord Professing for his own part that according to the abilities God had given him he would promote it Septemb. the fourth they met together in the large Hall of the Monastery at Possy where were present the King the Queen Mother the Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Margaret the Kings Sister the King and Queen of Navar the Prince of Conde and the rest of the Nobility and States of France On the Popish party were the Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops to the number of fifty accompanyed with many Doctors of Sorbon and Canonists For the Reformed Churches were the Ministers before named After the King had in a few words opened the causes why he had called them together and Michael Hospitalius the great Chancellor of France had opened them more largly Beza in the name of all the Protestants made an excellent Oration which he pronounced with such a grace as drew the attention and caused admiration in all that were present In it he comprised the sum of the pure Religion which was professed in the Reformed Churches of France Only this is to be noted by the way that when Beza in his speech sayd That Christ was as far from the Sacrament as the highest heavens are from the earth the Popish Doctors made a great murmur which at last being over he went on to the end of his speech Then Turnovius â—ean of the Colledge being in a great passion against the Ministers whom he called new Professors made some objections and exhorted the King that hee would not suffer himself by any perswasions to be withdrawn from his old Religion and that he would suspend his assent til he had heard the answers which the Prelates would give to that which had been spoken for then he should be able to discern a difference between the truth and lies Then did Beza humbly present to the King a Confession of Faith in the name and with the consent of all the Reformed Churches which had been drawn up in the year 1555. But when the Ministers perceived that the minds of the Pontificians were exasperated they resolved that Beza should write his private Letters to the Queen wherein he should explaine things more fully then he was suffered to doe the day before which accordingly he did September the sixteenth the conference began again in the presence of the said great personages And the Cardinall of Lorrain made a tedious speech wherein he defended the Popish Religion perswading that nothing should be altered in the same And when he had done Beza humbly entreated the King that hee might have liberty to answer ex tempore For the Protestants feared that after this day they should be suffered to meet no more For there was a constant report that the Pontiâ—icians after that day would have no more to doe with the Protestants but would presently excommunicate them Besides there was some fear that the crafty Prelates would evade any further disputation by setting the French and Dutch Churches together by the ears about the matter of the Sacrament But he could obtain nothing that day the conference being adjorned to another and procrastinated by many delaies Yet at last upon an humble supplication to the King from the Protestants they obtained that the conference should goe on And accordingly September the twentie fourth it was again begun in the same Audience and Lorrain protested that this meeting was appointted that so the Protestants if they had a minde to it might freely answer to what had formerly been spoken by him Then did Beza discourse excellently and clearly about the Church and the Supper of the Lord which two heads were principally insisted on by Lorrain Then Espensaeus a Sorbonist being appointed by the Cardinall took up Beza begining about the Vocation of Ministers both ordinary and extraordinary and so proceeding to Traditions and the Lords
of London and Doctor Hackwell Tutor to the Prince of Wales yea and King James himself conferred familiarly with him February following An. Christi 1613. the Prince Elector being marryed sent Henry Alting with his Scholars before him into the Palatinate who in their journey travelled through Zeland Flanders Brabant Limburg Julâ—ers and Collen and so at last arrived at Heidleberg in April the new marryed couple being not long behinde them About four moneths after our Alting was called to be a Professor of Divinity to read Common places in the University of Heidleberg Into which he was admitted August the 16. which was the Princes birth day And because by the Statutes of the University none could be Moderator of the Disputations but a Doctor he was solemnly inaugurated into that degree November the 18. by Paraeus Dean of the University and Bartholomew Coppenius Doctor of Divinity And this was very remarkable that amongst all the tumults and pleasures of the Court his minde was never taken off from the study of Divinity But Gods Providence intended him to some further imployment then a Professors place For there was in Heidleberg an excellent Seminary of the Church endowed with large revenues called the Colledge of Wisdom The Prince therefore chose him Master thereof October the 15. An. Chri. 1616. together with two Colleagues to instruct and train up young Divines for the work of the Ministry and how much good he did therein they are able to relate who gratefully acknowledge what profit they reaped by his care and culture Whilst he was thus laboring in his double imployment Coppenius another Professor dyed whose place was divolved upon our Alting but by a rare and great example of modesty he chose rather to continue in his former imployments and by his favour and authority in the Princes Court prevailed that Abraham Scultetus should have that Professors place transferred upon him About this time a National Synod was called at Dort for the composing of the differences in the Belgick Churches by reason of the Arminians and when grave learned and godly men were chosen out of all the Reformed Churches to be present at it which was Anno Christi 1618 and 1619 our Altingius with two others was sent from Heidleberg to assist in that work where he approved himself to all that were present both for his excellent Learning in Divinity and his dexterity in explicating cases of greater difficulty Thus far we have heard the happier and more comfortable part of his life now follows the more sad and afflicted part of it For scarcely was the Synod ended wherein the Arminians were condemned and the Orthodox Truths established but Alting with his Colleagues returned to Heidleberg and at the same time the tumults in Bohemia began The Prince Elector is chosen King of Bohemia and Crowned Spinola breaks into the Palatinate the great battel was fought nere Prague the Bohemians are beaten which was An. Chri. 1620. And the year following the University of Heidleberg was dissipated the Students flying for fear and the Professors having liberty granted them to go whether they pleased Yet our Alting sending his family into a place of safety stays still in the Colledge of Wisdom keeping the Students in good order remaining unterrified in the midst of emminent dangers whilst he was serviceable to the Church satisfied his own Conscience and the earnest desire of the King who from the Hâ—gue had written to him desiring him not to depart from Heidleberg An 〈…〉 in the moneth of â—â—â—gust Heidleberg was besieged by 〈◊〉 and â—eptember the 6. was taken by storm at which time it suffered whatsoever Military licentâ—ousness could inflict by plunderings murthers and ravishing of Matrons and Virgins all being heightened by the hatred of Religion and the brutishness of the Croâ—â—s At this time our Alting was in his study who hearing of the surprize of the City bolted his door and betook himself to Prayer looking every moment when the bloudy Souldiers would break in to sacrifice him to God But the great Arbiter of life and death took care for his safety For Monsieur Behusius Rector of the School and his dear friend hiring two souldiers called him forth and conveyed him through a back dore into the Lord Chancellors house which Tilly had commanded to be preserved from plundering by reason of the Publick Monuments of the Commonwealth that were kept in that place This house was commanded to be guarded by a Lieutenant Colonel that was under the Count of Hohenzollem a man greedy of prey who least he should lose his share in the booty by his attendance upon that place sent forth his Souldiers as it were a hunting commanding them that if they met with any Citizens of note that under pretence of safe-guarding them they should bring them to him purposing by their ransom to enrich himself To this man Alting was brought who with his naked sword reeking with blood said to him This day with this hand I have slain ten men to whom Doctor Alting shall be added as the eleventh if I knew where to finde him But who art thou Truly such a countenance and such a speech in such a juncture of time might have affrighted the most constant minde But our Alting by a witty answer neither denying himself to be Alting nor unseasonably discovering himself answered as sometimes Athanasius in the like case I was saith he a Schoolmaster in the Colleâ—ge of Wisdom Hereupon the Leiutenant Colonel promised him safety who if he had known him to be Alting would surely have slain him Oh what a sad time had he that night which he passed without sleep hearing the continual shrikes and groans which filled the ayr of Women ravished Virgins defloured men some drawn to torments others immediately slain But when he saw that many fled to this house as to their only refuge fearing lest he should be discovered by some of them either through imprudence or malice he retired into a Cockloft where whilst he hid himself this Leiutenant Colonel was by the authority of Tilly presently commanded away not giving him so much time as to seek out his Schoolmaster that the house might be resigned to the Iesuites for whom it was appointed Yet under these new inhabitants our Alting should not have been one jot safer if God had not by a special providence provided for his safety For the kitchin of this house was reserved for Tillies own use and one of the Palatines Cooks was appointed over it who closely fed and maintained him and whilst the Iesuites were providing all things in a readiness in the Church for the Mass he hired three Bavarian Souldiers that kept guards in the streets to guard him to his own house When he came thither he found all things broken plundred and carryed away and in his study he found a Captain boasting that all things therein were his own yet saith
worse sense and thereby much exasperated him beseeching him to give credit to this their Testimony They wrote also to Charles Miltitius a Germane who was Chamberlain to the Pope highly commending Luther and desiring him to procure of the Pope that indifferent Judges might be appointed to hear his cause in Germany presuming that he being a German would favour his Country-man who was oppressed with slanders and in danger of his life in an honest cause Prince Frederick also the Elector of Saxony treated with Cardinal Cajetan and so prevailed with him that Luther should be called to Auspurg there to plead his cause before the Cardinal About this time the Bohemians sent a Book to him written by John Huss encouraging him to constancy and patience confesting that what he taught was sound and right In a Letter to Spalatinus he thus writes In what matter soever I have not so roughly dealt with the Romanists let them not ascribe it to my modesty nor to their deserts but to my respect to my Prince and his Authority and to the common good of the Students of Wittenberg As for my self Contemptus à me est Romanus favor furor I contemn Romes favour and fury Let them censure and burn all my books I will do the like by theirs and will put an end to all my humble observance of them which doth but incense them more and more The Elector of Saxony telling Erasmus that he wondred at the Monks and Popes extreme hatred of Luther Erasmus answered Your Highness needs not wonder at it seeing he deals against the Monks Bellies and the Popes Crown And the same Erasmus being profered a great Bishoprick if he would write against Luther answered That Luther was too great a man for him to deal with and that he learned more from one short page of Luthers writings then from all Thomas Aquinas ' s great Books Erasmus also in a Letter to the Archbishop of Mentz saith That many things were in the Books of Luther condemned by Monks and Divines for Heresie which in the Books of Bernard and Augustine are reputed sound and godly About the same time Margaret Caesars Aunt who governed the Low-Countries when the Masters of Lovan complained to her that the writings of Luther overthrew the whole Christian Common-wealth she asked them what kinde of man that Luther was To whom they answered An unlearned Monk whereupon she replyed Therefore do you who are many learned men write against that one unlearned fellow For sure the World will sooner beleive many learned before one unlearned man Luther being cited as we said before to appear before Cardinal Cajetan at Auspurg went thither and having obtained a safe conduct from the Emperour Maximilian he appeared before the Cardinal where he justified his Doctrine and profered to maintain the same either by Disputation or Writing The Cardinal being much offended with him for his bold speech would not suffer him to come before him any more Hereupon Luther after five or six days stay when he heard no more from him appealeth to the Pope and so departeth home But the Cardinal wrote after him to the Duke of Saxony That as he tendered his own honor and safety he should expel Luther out of his Dominions This Letter the Duke sent to Luther who wrote back again that rather then he would any way indanger his Prince he would depart thence and go whitheresoever it should please the Lord to lead him But the whole University of Wittenberg seeing the cause of God in danger by this means to decline wrote to the Prince humbly beseeching him that of his Princely Honor he would not suffer Innocency to be thus oppressed by meer violence but that the Error might first be shewed and Luther be convicted of it before he be pronounced guilty Hereupon the Duke hearing Luther Sermons and reading his Books with more diligence began to favour his quarrel more then he did before and thereupon wrote back to the Cardinal to this purpose That whereas he had promised that Luther should come to Ausparg that being done he could do no more That the Legat had also promised him that he would dismiss Luther in a friendly manner But that it seemed a wonder to him that he would have forced Luther to a recantation before he had pleaded his cause That there were many not only in his Jurisdiction but in other places also that were learned and vertuous persons which did not condemn Luthers Doctrine but they which opposed him were men drawn thereto through filthy covetousness But if they would shew him his Error he would then do therein the Office of a Christian Prince as one that respected the glory of God and desired to provide for the peace of his Conscience and that whereas beyond his expectation he wrote that Luther should be prosecuted at Rome and therefore required that either he should be sent to Rome or banished his Dominions he answered that he could not agree thereto First because his Error is not yet shewed him Secondly because it would be an intolerable loss to the University of Wittenberg which he had lately founded wherein were many Students and Learned men which loved Luther exceedingly who had deserved so well of them That Luther is still willing to come to a Disputation in a place not suspected and to submit to the judgements of such as can bring any thing more right or to answer by writing That he thinketh it just that this be granted him and requesteth that it may be so done that so it may appear why he is counted an Heretick and what himself ought chiefly to follow assuring him that he will maintain no Error And as he is unwilling to depart from the observance of the Church of Rome so neither can he condemn Luther till his Errors and Crimes be detected After the death of Maximilian and the Coronation of Charles the fifth the Pope sent to the Duke of Saxony by some Cardinals requesting him that he would cause all Luthers Books to be burnt and that he would see Luther either to be executed in Saxony or else that he would secure him and send him to Rome To which the Duke answered That he was ready to shew his obedience to the Pope but yet he could not send Luther to him till his cause was heard before the Emperour and till he was convicted of Error and then if he recanted not he should finde no favour at his hands About this time many Adversaries being risen up against Luther there was a Disputation appointed a Lipsick to which Luther came accompanyed with Phil. Melancthon who was come to Wittenberg the year before On the adverse party came John Eckius a bold and confident Divine This Disputation lasted fourteen days which was after published in print by Luther and Petrus Mossellanus Presently after the Fryars grievously charged the Pope with neglect of his duty in
that he was made one of the Professors in the University of Ingolstade And Anno Christi 1516 by the order of his Prince he dealt effectually with Erasmus Roterodamus to draw him to Ingolstade And though he could not prevail yet he had this Testimony given him by Erasmus that he was vir candidus prudens facundus eruditus in summa omnibus omnium Gratiarum ac Musarum dotibus praeditus A candid wise eloquent and learned man c. Then Regius falling to the study of Divinity preferred that before all other Learning applying himself wholly to the searching out of the Divine Mysteries therein contained and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius Regius favouring Luthers Doctrine because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many ways bound left Ingolstade and went to Auspurg and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens he undertook the Government of the Church and being offended at the gross Idolatry of the Papists he joyned with Luther and preached against the same and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sacrament and Original Sin he received such satisfaction that he joined in opinion with him about the same At that time the Anabaptists crept into Auspurg and held private Conventicles to the disturbance of the Publick Peace for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them Amongst which there was a woman of good quality cast into Prison who boasted that she could defend her opinion against Regius if she might but have liberty to confer with him hereupon she was called before the Senate where Regius also was appointed to meet with her There she produced divers Texts of Scripture to confirm her Errors But Regius did so clearly and fully open the genuine sense of them that every one which was not wilfully blinde might easily discern the truth But this wilful woman was so far from submitting to it that she impudently spake thus unto Regius Egregia enimvero Vrbane frater haec disputandi ratio inter me te Tu â—n molli culcitra ad later Consulum adsidens quasi ex Apollinis â—â—ipode proloqueris ego misera humi prostrata â—ex duris vinculis causam dicâ—re cogor â—o this Vrbanus answered Nec vero inâ—urin soâ—or ut quae seâ—el è servitute Diaboli per Christum in libertatem adserta tua spâ—â—te iterum cervicem turpi jugo submisisti istiâ— te ornamentis â—esanus ostentat genius aliâ— iâ— exemplum The Senate perceiving that they labored in vain whilst they sought to reclaim them by a Decree banished them the City Regius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to the driving him out of that City but after a while by the earnest prayer of the Citizens he was called back again to his former Charge where also he marryed a wife by whom he had thirteen children About the same time Eccius came thither and sought by all means to turn him from the Truth but in vain He sent also Fâ—ber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and large promises who prevailed as little as the other Anno Christi 1530. when the Dâ—et was held at Auspurg for quieting the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there In which journey at Coburg he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar conference with him about matters of great moment of which himself writes That he never had a more comfortable day in his life As these words of his in a Letter to one of his friends in Auspurg do testifie wherein he writes thus Cum Saxoniam peterem Coburgi integrum diem solus cum Luthero viro Dei transegeram quo die nullus mihi in vita fuit jucundior Talis enim tantus est Theologus Lutherus ut nulla secula habuerint similem Semper mihi magnus fuit Lutherus at jam mihi Maximus est Vidi enim praesens audivi quae nullo calamo tradi possunt absentibus Ernestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his Father insomuch as when the City of Auspurg Anno Christi 1535. sent to the Duke desiring him to return Regius to them again he answered That be would as soon part with his Eyes as with him Also at his return from Auspurg when divers of his Nobles asked him what new and pretious ware after the example of other Princes he had brought home with him He answered that he had brought home incomparable treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his delights And presently after he made him Bishop and Over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same Afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he had a humor fell into his right Leg which arising in a Pustle brake and caused an issue which the Physitians advised to keep still open but not long after he stopped the same whereupon many presaged his death whereof indeed this was a cause For when on the Sabbath day he had been at Church and received the Sacrament in the Evening rubbing his Forehead he complained of some obstructions and pain in his Head yet was he still cheerful and not troubled at it and so went to bed with his wife and slept till almost day when rising out of his bed he fell along in the floor and with the fall awaked his wife who leaping our of her bed cryed out and endeavoured to lift him into his bed again but all in vain till help came to her A while after seeing his wife and friends heavy and mourning he comâ—orted them and commended himself wholly unto God and so about two or three hours after quietly and comfortably resigned up his soul into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1541. and May the 23. He often desired God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painful in the work of the Lord. His son Ernest collected all his works together and digested them into several Tomes printed them at Norinberg Afterwards came forth another Book called Loci Theologici ex Patribus Scholasticis Neotericisque collecti per V. Regium The Life of Caralostadius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was born in France in a town called Caralostadium by which he received his name He was brought up at School there and for the improvement of his Learning he went â—o divers Countries and publick Schools such as those times afforded at last he went to Rome to study Divinity such as was then taught there and having spent some time in those
against the Masse-Priest and privily removing the Images out of the Church some of which he cast into prison and caused others to fly away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desiâ—ous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther the rather being invited thereto by Letters from Peter Suavenius a man excellently learned who signified to him that his converse with Luther would be exceeding profitable to him he left â—repta and went to Wittenberg Anno Christi 1521 and of his Age 36 and came there a little before Luther's going to the Diet at Worms with whom he had presently some converse and began to make himself known by reading the Psalter privately in the Schooles In Luthers absence Berthoâ—mew Bernhard Pastor of Kemberg married a Wife whereupon much controversie arose whether the Marriage of Ministers was forbidden onely by the Popes Law and how farre the Monks vows of Chastity did binde Luther hereupon being sent to for his judgement easily cut insunder the snares of those Laws and of the impious vows as Alexander did the Gordian knot with his sword At this time Suavenius and Bugenhag sojouâ—ned with Melancthon whereupon when those Propositions oâ— Luther were sent to him Bugenhag read them with much diligence and afterwards having seriously thought of them â—e said This businesse will cause a great mutation in the publick state of things About the same â— time also Carolastadiusâ—aiâ—ed â—aiâ—ed a controversieâ— about bringing in the Judicials of Moses into the Civill State and removing Images out of the Churches Against these Bugenhag with some others opposed themselves declaring that the overthrowing of Images was sâ—ditious and that Christian Commonwealths ought not to be governed by the Jewish Judicials Whereupon at Luthers returne out of his Pathmos by the Suffrages both of the University and Senate Bugenhag was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittenberg which he taught and governed with much â—elicity and in many changes of Affaires for the pâ—ce of thirty six years never leaving his station neither for war nor pestilence and when he was proffered riches and preferment both in Denmark by the good King and in Pomeren by the good Prince yet he would never leave his charge though he lived but poorly in it Anno Christi 1522 he was sent for to Hamburg where hee prescribed to them a form both of Doctrine Ceremonies and Calling of Ministers where he erected a School also in the Monastery of St. John which afterwards grew very famous And Anno Christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec hee prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline and set up a School in the Monastery of St Katheâ—â—ne Anno Christi 1537 he was sent for by Christian King of Denmark and Duke of Holsatia to reform Religion in his Dominions and to erect Schooles at which time he set forth a book about the Ordination of Ministers formerly agreed upon by Luther and his Colleagues to which he added some Prayers and a Form or Directory for holy Administrations And about fourteen daies after the Coronation of King Christian Bugenhag instead of the seven Bishops of Denmark ordained seven Superintendents who for the time to come should supply the office of the Bishops and should take care of all Ecclesiastical affaires These he ordained in the presence of the King and his Councill in the chief Church of Hafnia He also prescribed what Lectures should be read in the Hafnian Academy He appointed Ministers in the Kingdomes of Denmark and Norway to the number of four and twenty thousand Anno Christi 1540 Henry Duke of Brunswick being expelled his Country by the Elector of Saxony and the confederate Princes imployed Bugenhag Anthony Corvinus and Martin Gorlicius adding some of the Nobility to them to visit the Churches and Monasteries in that Dukedome and to see them reformed At which time they set forth a Form of Ordination for the Country The year following the Senate of Hildesia sent for him to Reformâ— their Churches where he with Corvinus and Henrie Winckle wrote them a Form of Ordination and placed Pastors and Ministers in their six Churches the oversight of whom was committed to Iodicus Iferman and the Church of the Canons was shut up Anno Christi 1533 he proceeded Doctor at the instigation of John Friderik Elector of Saxonie himself with his Counsellors being present to hear the publick disputations of Luther Cruciger Bugenhag and Aepine The questions were De Justitia De Ecclesia De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici Potestatis Politicae and Bugenhag making an Oration about the last of these the Prince was exceedingly well pleased with it Thus far we have the happier part of Bugenhags life but shortly after followed many confusions and warres both of the Princes and Divines in which the Princes were taken prisoners Wittenberg was besieged and other miseries and mischiefs of war brought exceeding much grief to this good old man as the death of that godly King Josiah did to the Prophet Jeremiah yet did he not give way to despondencie so as either to fly or change his mind but he kept up his spirits by fervent and frequent prayer to God which yeelded him great consolation the rather considering that in so great tempests the poor Ship of Christ's Church was not swallowed up and devoured For Prince Maurice who was made Elector of Saxony changed nothing in Religion as soâ—e feared and others hoped that hee would but sending fâ—â— Melancthon Bugenhag and Crucigir from Wittenberg to Lâ—â—sâ—â—h he desired them to take care of the Church and Univâ—rsity and so gratifying them bountifully dismissed them The Controversies and Quarrels which sprung up in â—â—e Church by Flacius Illericus were the greatest grief to hâ—m For it was well known that he neither in the time of War nor afterwards altered any thing either in the Doctrine 〈◊〉 Discipline of the Church often urging that Text Giâ—â— to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods He was alwaies very averse to seditious Counsels and most constant in retaining the true Doctrine of Christ and though many aspersions were cast abroad of him yet would he never omit the necessary labours belonging to his Office The last act of his life through Gods goodness was quiet and peaceable for when his strength was so wasted that hee could no longer preach yet he resorted daily to Church where he poured forth fervent praiers both for himself and the afflicted condition of the Church of God at that time Afterwards fallâ—ng sick though without much pain he continued instant in prayer and holy conference with his friends and drawing near to his end he often repeated This is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ and so quietly dâ—parted in the Lord Anno Christ 1558 and of his Age 73. He was a faithfull Pâ—stor just mercifulâ—
was freed Anno Christi 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg being sent for by Otho Henry Prince Elector Palatine who was about to reforme his Churches There hee was made the Publick Professor of Theologie and met with much opposition and manifold contentions in that alteration which yet he bore with much prudence Anno Christi 1564. there was a disputation appointed at Malbourn for composing the great controversie about the ubiquity of Christs body This was appointed by Frederick the third Elector Palatine and Christopher Duke of Wertemberg To this meeting the Elector sent Boquine Diller Olevian Dathen and Ursin but very little fruit appeared of their labours as the event shewed Boquin continued in Heidleberg about twenty years under Otho and Frederick the third But after that Princes death An. Christi 1576 by reason of the prevalency of the Hetorodox party he with other Professorr and Divines was driven thence and it pleased God that immediately hee was called to Lausanna where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor so long as he lived Anno Christi 1582 on a Lords day he preached twice and in the evening heard another Sermon then supped chearfully and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad then went to visit a sick friend and whll'st he was conforting of him he found his spirits to begin to sink in him and running to his servant he said unto him Pray adding further Lord receive my soul and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1582. The workes which he left behind him were these Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii professores Examen libri quem Heshusius inscripsit De praesentia corporis Christi in caena domini Theses de coena Domini Exegesis divinae communicationis Adsertio veteris ac veri Christianismi adversus novum fictum Jesuitismum Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversiae de Coena Domini Adsertio ritus frangendi in manus sumendi panis Eucharistici E. GRINDALL The Life of Edmund Grindall who dyed A no Christi 1583. EDmund Grindal was borne in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first at school and then in the University of Cambridg where being admitted into Pembrook Hall he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow and afterward Master of that house And Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety and learning made him his Chaplain and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixth who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody daies of Queen Mary Grindal amongst many others fled into Germany where he continued all her Reigne But comming back in the beginning of Queen Elisabeth she preferred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward intended him to making him Bishop of London wherein hee carried himself worthily for about eleven years Anno Christi 1570 hee was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of York where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Canterbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croidon hee resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age sixtie four Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity At St. Beighs in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-schoole and endowed it with thirty pound per annum for ever To Pembroke Hall in Cambridge where he was educated he gave twenty two pounds a yeare in lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Scholars to be chosen out of the aforesaid School of St. Beighs He gave also much mony to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hee gave lands for the maintainance of one Fellow from the said School To Christs Colledge in Cambridge he gave forty five pounds To Queens Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per annum in lands to maintain one Fellow and two Scholars out of the aforesaid Schoole And at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of money To eight Alms-houses in Croidon he gave fifty pounds per annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work The Life of Bernard Gilpin who died A no Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517 of an ancient and honourable Family When he was but a child a Friar pretending to be a zealous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his Fathers house and at Supper eat like a Glutton and drunke himself drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sinne of Drunkennesse whereupon young Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh Mother doe you hear how this fellow dares speak against Drunkenness and yet himself was drunken last night But his Mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speake no further it being a mortall sinne in those times to speak against these men His Parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when hee had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammar-School they sent him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533 where he was admitted into Queens Colledge and profited wondrously in Humane Learning Hee was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were in much esteem at that time And to the studie of Logick and Philosophie hee added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after some few years spent in these studies hee grew so famous that there was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his virtues had not rendered him worthy Whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolsey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held disputations against John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Worcester as also against Peter Martyr who was then Divinity Lecturer at Oxford upon the occasion of which dispute that he might defend his cause the better he examined the Scriptures ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studied to defend his Cause the lesse confidence hee began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for Truth he beganne to discernâ— his own Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other adversaries but saith he I am troubled for Gilpin for he doth and speaketh all things with an upright heart and therefore he often prayed That God would be pleased at last to convert to the Truth the heart of Gilpin being so inclinable to honesty And the Lord answered his prayer for presently Gilpin resolved more earnestly to apply himself both by study and
Councill of Trent beginning about this time Heerbrand perceiving with what weapons he was to sight with the Popish Doctors applyed himself to the study of the Fathers and spent four years and a half therein gathering their opinions about all the points of Divinity which he digested into Common places that they might be the readier for his use Anno Christi 1559 he was sent for by Charles Marquess of Baden to reform Religion in his Dominions where also he prescribed a form for Ordination of Ministers He had scarce continued there two moneths when he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing and expounded the Pentateuch in his Lectures and preached constantly Besides which publick imployments he wrote a large answer to Peter a Soto De Ecclesia Patribus Conciliis which was afterwards printed Anno Christi 1557 which was two years after he came to Tubing he was chosen Rector of the University a place as of great honour so of great pains After which he was chosen Chancellor of the University and the Pastor and Superintendent of the Church An. Christi 1569 his fame spreading abroad he was sent for by the Duke of Saxony to be the Professor at Jenes who profered to allow him the stipend of a thousand Florens per an but he refused it continuing at Tubing where he had much honour and respect And having been thus invited by three several Princes all which he refused and resolving to spend his daies at Tubing his Prince Christopher to encourage him gave him some land on which he built a neat house and having other family businesses he committed all to the care and diligence of his wife who was a constant help to him Anno Christi 1590 Heerbrand being now seventy years old had as much honour heaped upon him as the Dukedome of Wirtemberg could afford For he was made Counsellor to the Duke Superintendent of the Church Chancellor of the University and Overseer of the new Colledge all which places he discharged with admirable prudence diligence and fidelity His Wife having lived with him fifty years and a half died who was the staffe of his old age and therefore he was much afflicted with her loss and began to grow weaker and weaker which caused him Anno 1598 to resign his office and thereupon had a stipend allowed him by his Prince His next care was to prepare himself for death He was much troubled with the Gout which he bore with much patience often using that saying of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the promise of this life and that which is to come At last he fel into a Lethargy and so died Anno Christi 1600 and of his age 79. He was was exceeding studious all his life long having his books ink and paper at his beds head so that as soon as his first sleep was over he applyed himself to them for some houres And though he had great honours yet they never puft up his heart with pride but hee still carried himselfe very humbly He lived in the fear of God was very charitable and open handed to the poor and to exiles especially to poor students He was very careful to assist other Churches so that Princes Earls Barons and other Nobles out of Austria Styria Carinthia Carniola and Hungary were continually sending to him for advice in their difficult affairs His Father in law having bestowed a Farm upon him he was a neat husband upon it planting Orchards Vineyards and such other things as might make it most pleasant and profitable He was very carefull in the education of his children bringing them up in religion and learning and keeping them under a severe Discipline He was of a very healthfull constitution never being troubled with any sickness till towards his latter end Scripsit Compendium Theologiae Contra Gregorium de Valentia Concordiae librum in Latinum transtulit Besides divers Funerall Sermons Orations and Disputations The Life of David Chytraeus who died A no Christi 1600. DAvid Chytraeus was born in Ingelsing in Sweveland Anno Christi 1530 of godly and religious Parents who seeing his towardliness and ingenuous nature were carefull to educate him in Religion and learning the principles whereof he drunk in with such celerity that his father took much pleasure in him and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God That his son might be sitted for and imployed in the work of the Ministerie and for this end when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to school to Gemminga and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters and afterwards admitted into that University and whilst he was very young hee commenced Batchelor of Arts studied the Languages Arts and Divinitie under Snepfius In all which he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years old hee commenced Master of Arts with the generall approbation of the Vniversity And presently after having a large allowance from a worthy Knight Sir Peter Mezingen hee travelled to Wittenberg where hee was entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family so that hee did not onely gaine much profit by his publick Lectures but by private converse with him which happiness hee so esteemed that all his life after he acknowledged that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in learning When he came first to Melancthon and delivered some letters of commendation to him in his behalf Melancthon finding in them that he was Mr of Arts looking upon him wondred at it saying Are you a Master of Arts Yea said Chytraeus it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree Can you said Melancthon understand Greek which he affirming he gave him Thucydides to read and bade him construe a peece of it which when Chytraeus had done Melancthon enquiring his age and admiring his forwardness said unto him Thou doest worthily deserve thy Degree and hereafter thou shalt be as a son unto me Whilst he was there he heard Luthers Lectures upon the tenne last Chapters of Genefis And as Plato when he was ready to die praised God for three things first that God had made him a man secondly that he was born in Greece thirdly that hee lived in the time of Socrates So did Chytraeus also acknowledge it as a singular mercy first that God had made him a man secondly a Christian thirdly that hee had his education under those excellent lights of the Church Luther and Melancthon Hee was very diligent in attending upon Melancthon studyed in his study heard all his discourses Publick and private about matters of the weightiest concernment followed him when he walked abroad and endeavoured wholly to fashion his life by his example And Melancthon looked upon him as his own son and used to call him suum Davidem his David Presently after Luthers death
illud corpus quod pro nobis mortuum est ut simus ossa de ossibus ejus caro de carne ejus ut eo vivificemur eaquae ad salutem nostram necessaria sunt percipiamus Et quoniam fides innixa verbo Dei res perceptas facit praesentes per illam verum naturale corpus sanguinem Jesu Christi per virtutem Spiritus Sancti comedi bibi fatemur eoque respectu praesentiam corporis sanguinis Christi in S. Coenâ agnoscimus Both parties had agreed that not a word of this writing should be divulged till it was communicated to the great Personages at Possie but contrary thereto divers coppies were immediately dispersed through the Court and were received with much applause as if now both parties were agreed in the chiefest point of the controversie And the Queen sending for Beza thanked him and told him that what they had agreed on was very gratefull to her She also with joy shewed it to the Cardinall of Lorrain who when he had read it said That he never beleeved otherwise and that he hoped all the rest of the Great ones at Possie would readily embrace the same But it fell out far otherwise for when on the fourth of October it was exhibited to them they rejected and damned it reproaching Espensaeus for consenting to it and Lorraine for not opposing it And thereupon presently drew up another form which if Beza and his associates should defer to subscribe they declared that it was a great wickedness to treat with them any further and that as incorrigible they were to be excommunicated and punished by the King This was the issue of that great conference at Possie so famous all over Europe which yet answered not mens expectations And so every one returned to his own place Onely the Queen stayed Beza saying Since you are a Frenchman France desires your help to stop future troubles as much as may be But Beza tho he foresaw the seeds of those factions which shortly after brake out and his singular love to Geneva continually put him upon a desire of return where also he was earnestly desired and much longed for yet was hee necessitated to stay there whether he would or no. From that day forward there was a wonderfull encrease of the Gospellers in France and Sermons began to be preached publickly every where yea in some places they took away Churches from the Papists till by the Kings command and their Ministers intreaty they restored them again Beza in the mean time preached often sometimes in the Queen of Navars house sometimes in the Prince of Condies and other sometime in the suburbs of Paris And in January following there was an Edict procured that the Protestants might freely meet together for the service of God in the suburbs of all Cities This provoked the Guisian Faction who by all means sought the hinderance of it But the first thing they attempted was to draw the King of Navar to their party which Beza suspecting and finding him wavering endeavoured by all means to confirme and keep him in the true Religion to whom the King answered Quod Pelago se non ità commissurus esset quin quando liberet pedem referre possit That he would not launch so far into the sea but that when he pleased he might return safe to the shore again And accordingly he fell off from the Protestants and Beza went to him no more Another Disputation was appointed by the Queen Mother about Images the result of which was that the Popish Doctors condemned the making of the Images of the Trinity or of the Father or Holy Ghost and agreed that all Images should be removed out of the Churches but that of the Cross and that no Images should be worshiped But presently after the Civil War began to break forth which was occasioned by this means Whereas many Protestants were met together at Vassi to hear the Word preached the Duke of Guise with a paâ—ty of souldiers set upon them â—lew forty five of them and wounded many more Hereof Beza made complaint but without any redress whereupon both parties betake themselves to Arms and the Prince of Conde by his importunity prevailed with Beza to stay with him in those dangerous times Beza's earnest longings to be with his people at Geneva disswaded him but the importunate desires of so godly a Prince prevailed so that he stayed with him all those first Civil Wars At which time Orleance was the chiefest place of the Protestants refuge and for the better regulating of Ecclesiastical Discipline in those troublesome times a Synod was called in that City at which Beza was present Shortly after the pestilence waxed hot in Oreleance whereof many dyed and amongst the rest Conrade Badius a Pastor in Orleance who from his very childhood had been most dear to Beza yet did not Beza intermit his publick preaching nor private visiting of the sick A few moneths after fell out that memorable battel in Druiden fields where Beza was present and by his prayers and exhortations did much encourage the souldiers yet they lost the day and the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner whom Beza by his Letters much comforted and exhorted the rest not to give way to despondency but to persevere in the defence of the Cause and to commit the success of it unto God Not long after peace ensuing Beza got leave to goe back to Geneva from which he had been absent 22 moneths in which time he had gone through many troubles and dangers both of body and mind At his return to Geneva he fell upon his former employment in the Schools and Church Calvin undergoing the burthen one week and he the other and they continued in those mutual labours till Calvins death and then hee had Nicolas Collodonius for his Colleague and after him Lambertus Danaeus and after him Anthony Faius Presently after his return in the first sermon that he preached to the people hee â—illed the mindes of the hearers with incredible sorrow and grief by relating to them the miserable condition of the Churches of France whereof himself had been an eye-witness and which therefore he painted out to the life which he did for this end to stir up all to commiserate and heartily to pray for their brethren that suffered such great afflictions Shortly after he wrote an answer to Sebastian Castellio who had inveighed against his Translation of the New Testament into Latine He also published an answer to the railings of Francis Balduinus who followed the steps of Ecebolius both of them teaching that men might change their Religion as the state changed Then did he confute the errors of Brentius and James Andreas who held the Omnipresence of the Body of Christ After this he published an excellent Catechism Anno Christi 1567 the Civil Wars breaking out again in France he was
Collen where he applyed himself to the study of the Arts and Tongues and afterwards betook himself to the study of Divinity and commenced Batchelor in Divinity Then returned he into his own Country and at Bern was chosen first a Canon and after that a publick Preacher For indeed he excelled all his Colleagues in Piety Learning and Eloquence About this time Hulderick Zuinglius began to Preach at Glorana and afterwards at Zurick the Gospel of Christ purely by whose Ministry it pleased God to enlighten our Haller who not consulting with flesh and blood presently adjoined himself to Zuinglius and endeavoured to propagate the Truth both publickly and privately Anno Christi 1526. the twelve Pages of the Helvetians appointed a Disputation at Baden about matters of Religion whither when Zuinglius could not go with safety Oecolampadius and Haller went thither where they had a great dispute with John Eccius the Pontificians Champion The year after the Bernates which is the most potent Canton of the Switzers desired a Copy of that Disputation and when they could not obtain it and the differences about Religion began to encrease by a publick writing set forth Decemb. the seventeenth they appointed another Disputation in their City to which they invited their neighbor Bishops intreating them also to bring their Divines along with them which if they refused they threatened to lay a fine upon their possessions which were within their Jurisdiction They also invited any other Divines out of other parts to come to the Disputation promising them safety upon the Publick Faith They also agreed upon Laws for the Disputation and published the Questions which were to be handled which were That the Church hath but one head viz. Christ and that she knows not the voice of any other That the Church can make no Laws besides the Word of God and therefore no man is bound by Traditions That Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the World and therefore they which seek out any other way of Salvation or expiating their sins deny Christ. That the body and blood of Christ are not received corporally in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper That the Mass wherein Christ is offered up to his Father for the quick and dead is blasphemy and an abomination before God That Christ alone is our Mediator and Advocate to his Father and that no other is to be sought out or invocated That after this Life there is no Purgatory That Images are not to be worshipped and therefore that all that are set up in Churches for that end ought to be taken away That Matrimony is not prohibited to any order of men January the seventh Anno Christi 1528. this Disputation was held and the issue of it was the most were satisfied in all these points so that presently after Popery was cast out of the City and all the large Territories of the Bernates by the unanimous consent of all though the Pontificians did all that possibly they could to hinder it and by their example some of their neighbors did the like and in particular the City of Geneva When thus our Haller had been a great instrument of Reformation in this Country and had set things in good order in the Church so that his fame began much to spread abroad it pleased God to take him away by an immature death Anno Christi 1536. and of his Age 44. to the great grief of all his friends The Life of Urbanus Regius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. VRbanus Regius was born in Argalonga in the Territories of Count Montfort of honest Parents who bred him up in Learning and when his childhood was over they sent him to Lindau where was a School famous both for the Masters and store of Scholars here he profited much in Grammer Learning so that from thence he was sent to Friburg where he was a diligent Auditor of sundry men excelling in all kinde of Learning Then was he entertained in the house of Zasius an Excellent Lawyer who loved him dearly for his diligence and industry Zasius also allowed him the use of his Library in which Regius did as it were hide himself diligently reading over all such Authors as were fit for his studies and therein especially observed such Notes as Zasius in his younger days had written in the Margins of them which Notes Regius in the night time used to write out so that when Zasius arose sometimes in the night because he could not sleep he still found Regius writing out those Annotations whereupon he used softly to pull him by the Ear saying Thou wilt get all my Art and Learning from me And when at any time he had found him asleep with his head leaning on the table he used to lay one or two great Law-books upon his shoulders and so leave him till he waked Zasius loved him as his son both for the sweetness of his nature and carriage as also for his diligence and industrie in his studies When thus at Friburg he had informed his judgement and stored his minde with Learning he went to Basil that by hearing the Professors of the Arts and Tongues he might enrich himself with more Polite Learning At this time of all the Universities of Germany Ingolstade was the most famous which was governed by John Eccius a most learned man in Philosophy whose fame coming to the Ears of Regius he left Basil and went to Ingolst ade In that place where there was a great confluence of Students besides the publick Lectures there were many which read privately amongst whom Regius also set to reading private Lectures having many that resorted to hear him At last divers Noblemen sent their sons to him to be educated desiring him to furnish their children with books and all other necessaries for which they would take care to pay him again quarterly but when he had run into debt for them they neglected to return their money which caused him to think of departing being tired out with the importunity of his Creditors and having an opportunity he listed himself a Souldier under a Captain that went against the Turks leaving his books and other furniture to be divided amongst the Creditors Being now amongst the Souldiers it happened that John Eccius who was Governor of the University coming forth to see the Souldiers espyed Regius amongst them and enquiring the cause of his so sudden a change he told him how those Noble men had served him whereupon Eccius got him released from his Captain and by his Authority procured the Debts to be paid by the Parents of those Youths which had been with him whereupon he returned to his studies again and growing famous for his wit and learning Maximilian the Emperour passing through Ingolstade made him his Laureat-Poet and Orator After the departure of Maximilian he grew so grateful to Ernest Duke of Bavaria and Leonard Eccius a Noble man