of Eteocles and Polynices wherein both conquered one the other yet neither enjoyed the victory nor kept his prisoner for Iohn Reinolds who before was a Papist by these bickerings became a zealous Protestant and William Reinolds who before had been a zealous Protestant became a Iesuited Papist and wrote most pestilent Bookes against the Church and State and as after the death of Eteocles and Polynices when their corps were burnt the flames are said to have parted so the contention of these Brethren expired not with their death for the writings which they have left behinde them enflamed with contrary fires of zeale hold the quarrell on foot to this day Of these Bella plusquam civilia among Brethren W. A. a learned Divine thus elegantly discourseth in English and Latine Verses Bella inter geminos plâ—squam civilia Fratres Traxerat ambiguas Religionis apex Ille reformandae fidei pro partibus instat Ille reformandam denegâ—â— esse fidem Propositus causae rationibus inter vtruomque Concurrere pares cecidere pures Quod fuit in vatis fratrem capiâ— alter uâ—rumque Quod fuit in fates perdit uterque fidem Captivi gemini sine captivanâ—â— fuerunt Et victor victi transfugor castra petit Quod genus hoc pugnae est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et simul alteruâ—eâ— se superasse dolet Englished by the Author Between two Brethren civill warre and worse The nice point of Religion long did nurse For reformation of the Faith he plyes That Faith should be reformed this denies The reasons of each cause a part propounded Both met alike both fell alike confounded As heart would wish each one his brother takes As fate would have each one his faith forsakes Without captiver both are captive led And to the vanguisht camp the victor fled What war is this when conquer'd both are glad And either to have conquered other sad Iohn Râ—inolds might truely have said to his brother aâ— Caecillius sometimes spake to Octavius in that most exquisit dialogue of Minutius Faelix Vtrique vicimâ—â— tui victor mei ego triumphator erâ—eres thou hast conquered me and I triumph over my foâ—mer errours but William Reinolds might one the contrary side have said we are both loosers for thou hast lâ—st me thy brother and I have lost my mother the Church of England and the true Religion As soone as our Iohn Reinolds according to thâ— manner of Massie bodies after some quavering was fix'd unmoveably upon the grounds of the Protestant Religion the Statutes of the Colledge called upon him to enter into holy Orders after which he wholly addicted himselfe to the study of the holy Scriptures and because an excellent textuary and very often exercised his sweete gift in preaching a tast whereof we have in his Lectures upon Obadiâ—â— published after his death by Master Hindâ— When the time drew neare that by the Founders Statutes he was upon necessity to take his degree in Divinity he was chosen out by the University to answer the Boctovers in the Actâ— Iuly the 13. 1579. and the same year November the third he answered for his degree in the Divinity Schooles the Theses maintained by him in the Act were these 1. The holy Scriptures teacheth the Church all things necessary to salvation 2. The Church militant upon earth is subject to error both in faith and manners 3 The Authority of the Scriptures is greater then that oâ— the Church The Theses propounded by him in the Divinity Sbhool 〈◊〉 thâ— third were these 1. The holy Catholike Church which we beleeve is the whole number of Gods elect 2. The Roman Church is neither the Catholike Church nor a sound member thereof 3. The reformed Churches in England Scotland France Germany and other Kingdomâ— and Common-wealths have lawfully severed themselveâ— from the Church of Rome The handling of these questions gave so good contentment to the whole University that his suppositions as they call them that is the Speeches he made in the explication and confirmation of these Positions were extorted from him to the Presse by the Printing whereof when he understood how he had netled all the Romanists who in diverse virilent pamphlets disparaged them and threatened by a speedy refutation to ecclipse the fame thereof he â—he better to arme himselfe against these Romish locusts with indifatigable paines in a short space read all the Greek and Latine Fathers and perused all auncient records of the Church that he could come by and grew so perfect in themâ— that as Livie conceiveth that if Alexander had turned his progresse Westward towards Italy as he did Eastwards towards the territories of the Persian Empire the Noble Commander of the Romans Paperius surnamend Curser or the raser would have matched him if not out stript him so if Reinolds his owne inclination or Authority had put upon him the taske of examining Caesar Baronius his Annals he would not onely every way have matched that so much admired Cardinall but in such sort have detected his Romish friends in postures and forgeries that any man whose eyes were not darkned with mist of prejudicate affection should have clearly seene that the doctrine of the reformed Churches hath as great a share in true antiquity as in auncient truth But Reinolds was drawn into the Lists with another one Iohn Heart who tooke the heart and boldnesse to challenge the learnedest of both Universities to try the Doctrine of our Church by the touchstone of Scripture and Faith c. To encoâ—nter him Master Reinolds is sent for by a greaâ— Councellour of Estate and many combats lingua calamo he had with this antagonist in all which Master Hearâ— gave ground and in the end quite quiâ—ted the fieldâ— as appeareth by a Letter wriâ—ten with his owne hand whâ—ch I have seene sent from the Tower of London In which Letter prefixt to the Conference he hath words to this effectâ— I acknowledge that the Narration of the conference set forth beâ—weene Master Reinolds and me is true and whereas he somewhere affirmeâ—h namely chap. 7. Sect. 7. that I should grant that it is not lawfull for the Pope to depose Princes it 〈◊〉 trâ—e I said as much and am still of this judgementâ— that howsoever the spirituall power be more excellent and noble then the temporall yet they both are from God and neitheâ— dependeth of the oâ—her Whence I inferre this undoubâ—ed conclusion That their opinion who make the Pope a temporoll Lord over Kings and Princes hath no ground at all nor so much as prâ—bability nor shew of reason This conference confirmed by the â—ubscription of both parties was shortly after printed by authority and it gave such satisfaction to all indifferent readers that thereby the fame of Master Reynolds was cryed up as well at the Court as the University and it pleased Queen Elizabeth after he had taken his degree of Doctor to appoint him to read an extraordinary Divinity Lecture in Oxford in which he grapled
truely blest For which rare Doctor let both high and low Blesse God that they so clear Christs truth doe know And pray the Lord that these his Gospels rayes May to the World shine-forth for datelesse dayes Philip Melancthon Dead is grave Luther worthy all due praise Who set forth Christ in Faiths illustrious rayes His Death the Church laments with sighs sincere Who was her Pastour nay her Patron deare Our Israels Chariots and Horsemen rare Is dead with me let All sad Sables weare Let them their griefe in groaning verses sing For such sad Knells such Orphans best may ring Theodore Beza Rome tam'd the World the Pope tam'd Rome so great Rome rul'd by power the Pope by deep Deceit But how morâ— large than theirs was Luthers Fame Who with One Pen both Pope and Rome doth tame Goe fictious Greece goe tell Alcides then His Club is nothing to great Luthers Pen. John Major By Luthers labours Leo the tenth is slaine Not Hercles Club but Luthers Pen's his bane Joachim a Beuft When Luther dy'd then with him dy'd most sure A Crown and credit of Religion pure His Soul soar'd up to heaven on Concords day Which tended Luther thither on his way Deare Christ since Discord followed with Coats rent Give to thy Spouse Elijahs ornament Upon his Tomb-stone the University of Wittenberg as to her beloved father engraved MARTINI LVTHERIS THEOLOGIAE D. CORPVS H. L. S. E. QVI ANNO CHRISTI M. Dâ—XLVI.XII CAL. MARTII EISLEBII IN PATRIAS M. O. C. V. AN. LXIII M.III.D.X Luthers writing were published at Wittenberg and Iene in severall Towns both in Latine and German tongue Part of them were expositions of Scriptures part doctrinall part polemicall Of these this was his own judgement Aâ—ove all I beseech the godly Reader and I beseech him for our Lord Iesus Christs sake that he would read my writings judiciously and with much piâ—ying my case In Wedlock he lived chastly and godly above twenty yeers and when he dyed left three sons and Catharin de Bora a widdow who lived after his death seven years To her it was a great griefe that her husband died in a place far from her so that she could not be with him and performe the last conjugall offices to him in his sicknesse In the time of the war which presently followed she wandred up and down with her orphants and in banishment was exposed to many difficulties and dangers And besides the miseries of widowhood which are full many the ingratitude of many did much afflict her for where she hoped for kindenesse in regard of her husbands worthy and noble deserts of Gods Church often she was put of with great indignity When afterward her house at Wittenberg in time of pestilence was infected she for her childrens safety as became a godly mother betook her selfe to Torg where was also an University But in the way when the horses affrighted ran out and seemed to indanger the waggon she amazed not so much for her owne as her childrens preservation lept out of the Waggon whereby poore wretch she grievously bruised her body in the fall and being cast into a poole of cold water caught thereby a disease of which she lay sick three months in banishment and pining away at length dyed quietly in the year 1552. Welfare those gentle Quilâ— whose ere they be Whose meritorioâ—s labours shall set free The Urne imprisoned Dust of that renown'd Thrice famous Luther Let his head be crown'd With sacred Immortality and rais'd Much rather to be wondred at then prais'd Let Bâ—bes unborn like fruitfull plants bring forth To after dayes new Monumeâ—ts of his worth And time out lasting Name that Babels Whore And all his bald-paâ—e panders may ev'n rore For very anguish and then gnaw and bite Their tongues for malice and their nailes for spite Whilst men made perfect in his well know story May all turne Patrâ—os and protect his Glory ERASMVS ROTERDAMVS The life and Death of Desiderius Erasmuâ— HIs Sirnamâ— implyes the place of his birth Roterdam is a City of Holland Holland the seat of the ancient Batavi but now illustrious by the production of one pen then by all her former harvests of pykes Seaven Citâ—es no coâ—temptible portion of witty and work-like Greece accouâ—ted the Nativitie of Homer so great an access to their other glories that they seriously contested about it Although Homer because Antiquity will have it so be greater then Erasmus yet litle Roterdam hath more to boast of in him then great Athens Smyrna Rhodes Colophon Chios Salamis or Argos in the other For it is certaine Erasmus was born at Roterdam but pitch upon what City of those seven you please it is six to one whether Homer was born there or not But what talke we of Roterdam Rhenamus sticks not to impute his Nativity to the fortune of Emperors and felicity of the whole German Empire within the limits whereof he was born upon the vigil or Eve of Simon and Iude under Frederick the third But in what yeer of our Lord or that Emporors raigne is not remembred this is certaine in the yeer of grace 1519. he was either 50. or 52. his mothers name was Margaret daughter to one Peter a physitian of Zavenberg his father Gerard. These accompanied together secretly but not without promise of marriage untill the young woman proved with childe Gerards father was named Helias his wife Catherine each of them lived till past 95. They had ten Sonnes without any daughters all married except Gerard who was the youngest save one All of them much resented this Clandestine combination and commixture betwixt Gerard and Margaret wherefore to prevent their marriage to gaine his portion to themselves and yet not loose a brother able in time to feast them at his owne cost they resolve out of ten to give Gerard as the Tieth unto God that is to dedicate him to the Church whereby perceiving himselfe excluded from marriage and not yet resolved to enter into holy Orders he fled to Rome By the way he wrot back to his friends the reason of his journey he intimated by the impresse of his seal which had one hand infolded in another In the meane time Margaret was brought to bed and the child the subject of this discourse cheerfully received and carefully nourished by his grandâ—mother Gerard after his arrivall at Rome maintained himselfe by his Pen for he wrote an exellent hand and Printing was not then found out or but in the infancy In processe of time the Copying out of learned bookes begate in him a love to learning it selfe so that besides his knowledge in the Tongues both Greek and Latin he became a considerable proficient in the Lawes which he might the more easily doe Rome then abounding with many learned and able Schollers and he himselfe having the happinesse to be an Hearer of Guarinus His father and brethren having certaine intilligence both of his being and well being at Rome fraudulently advertise
literature in the Grammer schoole at New-castle upon Tine which towne situate upon that river which divideth those two Counties though standing within Northumberland is by a bridge joyned unto the Bishoprick of Durham from the schoole there he was first transplanted into the University of Cambridge and from thence as it seemes removed upon some occasions to Oxford for thaâ— learned and industrious Bishop who hath compiled a Catalogue of our English Prelates doth of his certaine knowledge assure us that he was some time fellow of University Colledge there Those of Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge among whom he was first placed could not it seemes well be without him or he without them with whom if he continued not at first yet he returned shortly againe to them whither of his owne accord or invited by them doth not appeare But certaine it is that he was head of that house and there tooke his dâ—gree of Doctor in Divinity Before which or after I cannot certainly say being desirous to see what Schooles of learning are abroad and to try if better meanes for the inproving of himselfe and his excellent parts elswhere be found he left these partâ— for a time and visited the University of Paris being the prime place of note for schoole-divinity in those dayesâ— But there he made no long stay not finding peradventure what he looked for but returned againe to his own Country and his former place of aboade Upon his returne or not long after especiall notice being taken of him as his good parts well deserved he was called to be Chaplaine unto King Henry the eight and waâ— in processe of time preferred to the Bishoprick of Rochester becoming vacant by the translation of Henry Holbeach thence to Lincolne Concerning which his preferment I find different relations for M r Fox in his Martyrologie affirmes that he was by under King Henry promoted to that See wheras the forementioned compiler of the Catalogue of Bishops who seemes to have followed the authentick records referreth both the removall of Holbeach and the advancement of Ridley his successor to the first of King Edward in the yeere of our lord 1547. However in that seat he sat not long for in the third of King Edward upon the deprivation of Bonner that bloudy persecutor of Gods people and butcherer of Christs flock he was translated to the Bishoprike of London wherein how he bemeaned himselfe shall hereafter be related Before these his latter times having long walked in the dark he came at length to see better and clearer light in the points then questioned especially concerning the blessed Sacrament of Christs body and bloud first by reading that worthy for these times especially learned works of Bertram written long since of that argument w câ— is to this day such a mote in the Papists eyes that they know not wel how to handle it or which way to dispose of it though they wish it out of the world not out of their eyes onely as appeareth by their long disput about it in their Index Expurgatorius and afterward by conference with Cranmer and Peter Martyr two other of Christs champions who confirmed him in the same and lastly as himselfe solemnly calling God to witnesse seriously protested upon due enquiry and diligent examination finding the doctrine he after that maintained to be not onely grounded upon Gods word but agreeable also to the writings of the ancient Fathers Nor was he lesse zealous forward in the profession and progatation of the truth and faith of Christ once knowne and embraced then ever he had been in any erronious or superstitious way before and carefull by a godly religious course of life to adorn it in himselfe and commended it to others for being passing well learned which his adversaris themselves neither doe nor dare deny of great reading and endued with dâ—xterity of wit strength of memory and a very gracefull elocution he imployed diligently these hiâ— talents to his Mâ—sters behoofe for the instructing and winning of as mâ—ny to God as he might And to thiâ— purpose following the Apostles instructions to Timothâ—e to preach the word instantly and constantly in season and out of season he suffâ—red no Lords day lightly nor other Festivall to passe over his head but that he preached on it in some place or other unlesse some other very weighty and urgent occasion which unlesse such indeed he gave not way to cast a rub in his way with his Sermons the better sort of people were so taken that they swarmed about him like bees allured by the sweet flowers pleasant jâ—yce of that wholesome doctrine which was in them by him in a very plausible and yet no lesse powerfull and profitable manner delivered Besides that for his owne family while he resided at Fulham his manner was to read to them every day at the time of morning prayer a lecture out of the New Testament which he constantly performed beginning with thâ— Aâ—ts of the Apostles and so going on through all Sainâ— Pauls Epistles to those of his family he used also to read over the hundred and fiâ—st Psalme thereby to admonish them what they ought to be and what he expected from them should they continue in his service or such of them as could read he bestowed Testaments hiring them also with rewards to get some principall Chapters thereof by heart and especially that of Acts the thirteenth By thiâ— his care came his house to be so well ordered that it seemed a schoole or nursery of vertue and patern of piety and good life unto others as himselfe also was to it For he was a man of so holy just sober continent and life generally unblamable that his most malicious and mischievous adversâ—ries could fiâ—d nothing therein to tax him withâ—ll though challenged solomly so to doe Hiâ— very outward making promised a well-composed inside for he was a very comely person and of well proportioned limbs and lineaments nor did his outside deceive those that then conjectured well of him it pleasing God eft even outwardly to imprint in the face and frame of his body a living portraiture of those endowments wherewith the inner man he hath adorned yea what his lookes tesâ—ified his liâ—e gave witnesse to wherein all manner of sound piety and true vertue did most illustriously shine forth For matter of piety he was much addicted to contemplation and prayer wherein his common and constant course if not otherwise enterrupted was this So soone as he waâ— up in the morning nor was he any sluggerd a little sleepe served him and his apparell once on he retired himselfe againe to his bed-chamber and there on his knees he spent some halfe an houre in prayer That done he betook himselfe to his study where he continued till ten of the clock at which time he came to the common prayer which was used daily in his house After that he dined feeding temperately not using much talke at table but that he used
Capella he being Abbot there a Monastery situate in the fields of Tigurum and advanced by him to be Head-schoolmaster during his residence he was entirely beloved not onely of the Abbot but also of Simler Zuinglius Oâ—colampadius and of other excellent and reverend personages for those excellent parts wherewith he was endewed About this time he joyned with Zuinglius as touching a reformation in the Church the labouring to produce it at Tigurum and the other endeavouring to effect it at Capella which in short time took good effect for they cleared both places of Masses and Idoles and of many other things which appeared superstitious in the Church this he did during his residence at Capella and with so much the more happy success because he was appointed to read the publick Divinity Lecture in the same school In the year 1529. he was called unto Bremogart the place of his birth to Preach the Word of truth unto them here he began openly to condemne the errours of the Papists stoutly defending his Fathers doctrine who had formerly discovered and confuted their errors but some of the more eminent Citizens not well brooking his doctrine exercised their authority in expelling him the City placing in his office a godly and learned Theologue named Gervasius Scholasticus but his name being famous amongst the Switzers and many of them having a great desire to hear him he was called unto his owne Country to preach the Gospel of Christ wherein he was so powerfull that he caused them to rectifie many abuses in the Church and so well approved of that the Senate kindly intreated him to remaine there and to goe forward in his teaching he answered them that he was so strictly bound by promise unto the Senate of Tigurum and to the Abbot of Capella that he could doe nothing without their leave and consent Wherefore they presently dispatched an Embassador unto Cahella who wrought so effectually with the Senate that they willed Bullinger to remaine in his owne Country where he continued Preaching the Gospell together with Gervasius three years with the Unanimous consent of all the Citizens and the Gospell by the industry of these two learned and vigilant watchmen flourished in the same place which although it weare opposed by the Anabaptists who laboured to hinder the growth of the Church was preferred by God who stirred up this Bullinger to confute with invincible arguments in the presence of the whole Church their erronious opinions But as one misery seldome comes alone without the addition of another even so it happened at this present for the Church of Bremogart was not onely troubled with the erronious opinions of these Anabaptists but also vexed with intestine discords where in the Papists having the upper hand Bullinger with his father and brother and his faithfull colleague Gervasâ—ius were banished their Country in the yeare of our Lord 1531. whence departed they went unto Tigurum and were kindly entertained by Wernerus Striner who together with them greatly lamented the troublesome State of the Church In the same yeere the Church of Basil was destitute of a Pastor by reason of the death of Oecolampadius whereupon he was called by them unto the discharging of a Pastorall office amongst them but the Senate of Tigurum detained him and appointed him in the place of Zuinglius according to his owne desire for when he went forth with the Tigurines to Battell he desired of them if any misfortune came unto him that they would be pleased to Nominate Bullinger to be his successour And unto this office he was called in a time full of danger even to build up and to confirme and strengthen a Church greatly shaken and afflicted Which he performed with such patience and modesty that false Doctrine began againe to be discovered and the truth to be firmly planted in the hearts of many which he well perceiving ceased not to proceed and go forward praising almighty God for ordaining and esteeming him a worthy instrument for the advancing and propagating of his Truth and for that cause he wrote a Confession of his Faith sending it unto Constance to Bucer and other learned Divines there assembled for the establishing of an agreement amongst the Churches which worke of his was approved of by Bucer and by the whole Assembly esteeming it worthy to be embraced of the adjacent Churches In the year 1536. he was present at Basel with Bucer and others about the reconciling of different points which did great hurt unto the Church and especially about the reconciliation betwixt Luther and the Hevetian Churches where it being declared against him that he laboured for a defection unto Luther and all his opinions he cleared himselfe of that asperâ—ion but departed unsatisfied concerning his desire to his great griefe who notwithstanding so brideled his affection that in the midst of their contentions he abstained from all bitternesse of speech In the year 1538. some of our English Nobility came unto â—igurum to be instructed in the grounds of Religion and to have his judgement concerning the publicke rites and Ceremonies of the Church This happened about the time that Henry the eight had disburdened himself of the weight of the Pope the English being greatly inflamed to imbrace a pure worship of the Lord which had not yet been conversant amongst them these men were kindely entertained by Bullinger who also gave them full satisfaction concerning the things demanded before their departure they intreated him that he would write some short Treatise concerning Religion unto their Soveraigne whereby he might be egged forward in his resolution touching the reformation of the Church Unto which he willingly condiscended and wrote unto the King two learned Treatises exhorting him to set aside the inventions of men and to give himselfe wholly unto the Word of God and to have all things in his Dominion regulated and squared according unto the Canonicall Scripture In the year following he laboured to purge the Church of that grosse errour of Casparus Schroenckfeldius a Silesian concerning the Humane nature of Christ who taught that after his ascention into heaven and sitting at the right hand of his Father it was so Deified and made coequall unto the Word that it was no more a creature which errour received strength and was fostered by the approbation of great persons in Suevia but quickly overthrowne by the laborious Preaching and writing of Bullinger Within short time after there â—ell out a hot and irreconcileable contention betwixt Luther and the other Protestant Pastors insomuch that he openly stiled them damned Hereticks and enemies unto the Sacrament insomuch that Melancthon said unto Bullinger desino sperare ecclesiarum pacem I despaire of a setled peace amongst the Churches and again privato periculo quod nunc mihi impendet etsi non est Leve tamen tantum non movear quanâ—â—m Ecclesiarum distractionibus I am not so much grieved with that private danger which on all sides threatens my ruine as I am with
be drowned When he came to the Earles of Mansfield he was entertained by a hundred horsemen or more of the Court and was brought into Isleben very honourable but very sick and almost past recovery which thing he said did often befall him when he had any great businesse to undertake But using some meanes for cure of his infirmity he sate at supper with the company and so continued to doe from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February and treated of the dfferences for whose determination he came thither In this time he preached sometimes and twice received the Lords Supper and publickely received two Students into the sacred order of the Ministery And at his lodging used much godly conference at Table with his friends and every day devoutly prayed The day before his death though he was somewhat weake yet he dined and supped with his company and at supper spak of divers matters and among other passages asked Whether in heaven we should know one another when the rest desired to heare his judgement thereof He said What befell Adam he never saw Eve but was at rest in a deep sleep when God formed her yet when he awaked and saw her he asketh not what she was nor whence she came but saith that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Now how knew he that He being full of the Holy Ghost and endued with the knowledge of God thus spake After the same manner we also shall be in the other life renewed by Christ and shall know our parents our wives and children and all about us much more perfectly then Adam knew Eve at her bringing to him After supper when he went aside to pray as was his custome the paine in his breast began to increase whereupon by the advise of some there present he tooke a little Vnicornes horne in wine and after that slept quietly an houre or two on a pallat neer the fire When he awaked he betooke himselfe to his chamber went to bed bidding his friends good nght admonished them who were present to pray God for the propagation of the Gospell because the Councell of Trent and the Pope would attempt wonderfull devises against it Having thus said after a little silence he fell a sleep But was awaked by the violence of his disease after midnight Then complained he againe of the narrownesse of his breast and perceiving that his life was at an end he thus implored Gods mercy and said O heavenly father my gratioâ—s God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of Consolation I give the all hearty thanks that thou hast revealed to me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I beleeve whom I professe whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope of Rome and the rout of the wicked persecute aâ—d dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ â—o receive my soul. O my gracious heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life though I must now lay downe this frailâ— body yet I certainely know that I shall live with with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands He added moreover God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that every one who beleeveth in him should not perish but have life everlasting And that in the 68. Psalme Our God is the God of salvation and our Lord is the Lord who can deliver from death And here taking a medicine and drinking it he further said Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And againe Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of truth hast redeemed me Here as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life And when Doctor Ionas and Caelius said O reverend father doe you dye in the constant confession ofâ— that doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached He answered so as he might be heard yea which was the last word he spake Thus he in his native Country not having seen it many years before dyed much lamented by many This â—ell on the eighteen day of Febru on the day in the Calender ascribed to Concord about three a clock in the morning in the great climactericall year of his age Soon after his body put into a coffin of Lead was carried in funerall manner to the Temple of Isleben where Iustas Ionas preached Then the Earles of Mansfield desired that his body should be interred within their territories But the Elector of Saxony required that he should be brought bark to Wittenberge In the returne thereof which way so â—vâ—r it went it was honourably attended and with much griefe accompanied out of each Princes Dominion and at lengh upon the twenty two of February in the afternone was brought to Wittenberg and was carried into the Temple neare adjoyning to the Castle with such a troope of Princes Earles Nobles their living as students and other people that the like was seldome or never seâ—n in that towne When the funerall rites were perforned Pomeranus preached to an assâ—mbly of many thousands And after that Melancthon with many teares and â—igheâ— made a funerall Oration When this was don the coffin with his body was put by the hands of divers learned men into the tombe near to the Pulpit in which he had made many learned Sermonâ— before divers Princes Electors and the Congregation of many faithfull Christians In a brazen plate his picture lively deciphered was there set up with Verses by it to this effect This Sepulchre great Luthers Corpes contanes This might suâ—â—ice yet read these following strains HEre in this Vrne doth Martin Luther resâ— And sweetly sleep in hope to rise most blest By whose rare pains firme faith and Christs free Grace Which formerly thick Fogs of Error base And Duskie Clouds â—j Wâ—rks desert hid quite Were well reduced to their ancient Light For when blind Superstition ruled All And did fair Trnth long time suppresse and thrall He by Gods Word and Spirits inspiration The Gospels Light re-spred for every Nation And well-instructed by Pauls sacred voyce Scorning Romes Cheats to teach pure Truth made choyce And as John Baptist in the Wildernesse Did Gods Lamp who heals Sin Preach and expresse So O Sweet Christ did Luther cleare thy booke When all the World was caught with Errors â—ooke And what the difference was betwixt the Law Whose tables Moses brake though God he saw Vpon Mount-Sinai and the Gospell sweet Which heales Sin conscious hearts which Gods wrath meet This difference lost to th' World he did restore That so Christs gifts of Grace might shine the more He stoutly did oppose Romes Cheats and Charmes And Papall rule which wrought Gods Saints great harmes Exhorting all Romes idols for to flye He many souls wan to true piety And mauger all Romes threats and snares most slie Finisht in Faith his Course most valiantly Dying in peace his Soule with Christ doth rest Crown'd with immortall Glory
intercession of the Saints and concerning the sacrifice of the Masse but being easily confuted he recanted confessed his error and gave thankes unto Almighty God that had prepared so excellent an instrument to open his eyes and to shew unto him cleerly the knowledge of the truth This his deniall of the intercession of the Saints and sacrifice of the Masse Stirred up Hugh Bishop of Constance to make an opposition against him insomuch that Zuinglius was inforced to declare publikly unto the world that which he beleeved concerning those and other differences betwixt himselfe and the Church of Rome by reason wherof his report and â—ame was brought unto Adrian the sixt then Pope of Rome who forthwith wrote unto him afâ—â—r this manner Beloved Sonne greâ—ting and Apostolicall Benediction We send our venerable brother Ennius Bishop of Verulan our Domistick Praelate and Apostolicall Nuntio a man wise and trusty unto that strenuous and warlike moâ—ion which hath beene friendly and faithfull unto us and to our Apostolicall Sea that he may treat with them about serious affaires which concerne not onely us and our Sea but also the whole Christian Common-wealth now although we have streightly commanded him that he shall relate those things in publicke before all in generall yet neverthelesse seeing that speciall notice is given unto us of those excellent vertues wherewith thou art endewed we cannot but entirely love and greatly rejoyce in thy zeale reposing a spiciall kind of Confidence in thee wherefore we have commanded the same Bishop our Legate that he deliver these our letters unto thee in particular and withall to declare our great affection towards thee finally we exhort you to be zealous in the Lord and to repose all your confidence in him and looke with what affection we tender your honour and preferment we desire the same from you in respect of our and the affaires of the sea Apostolicall and for which you shall finde no small favour aâ— our hands Given at Rome 23. Januvary 1523. and in the first yeer of our Popedome Letters were also written by the same Pope unto Franciscus Zinggius to this intent that he should not be wanting to use all meanes to draw and to allure this godly man to the prefession of the doctrine of the Church of Reme which Francisâ—us being damanded by Mysconius what reward the Pope had promised unto him on condition that he could perswade Zâ—inglius to revoke his opinion he seriously answered that Peters Chaire excepted he had promised him all things else Whence it is evident that the Divell and his members laboured as much as in them lied to hinder the knowledge of the truth of Christ and to detaine men in blindnesse and ignorance And hence we may observe the constancy of this holy man who could not be allured to forsake and fall from the truth of God and of his word no noâ—â—or all the preferments of the world â—steeming with Saint Paul all things as dung in respect of Christ. The Gospel now with the blessing of God being received and embraced of the Zigurins and gathering strength every day more and more Zuingliâ—s began to enter into a serious consideration of changing the forme of things present into a better state and condition reducing the Monks and Priests unto three orders some for labour some for Marrage some for learning because the number of them seeme greater then might seâ—ve for the use of Religion Being busied about this Reformation there crept in the Heiresie of the Catabaptists who forbad the Baptizing of Infants and did rebaptize themselves with these Zuinglius dealt friendly at the first disputing with them and convincing them of their errors but they being obstinate in their opinions he caused the Senate severely to punish them some with imprisonment some with death But to returne againe his alteration of the state at Tigurum concerning Priests and Mâ—nks and the decree against Pensioners being by his meanes sealed and confirmed caused him to be every way surrounded with enemies who waited daily and hourely to take away his life and also in the night season insomuch that he durst not walke abroad without a strong guard to defend him from his enemies who used openly in the streets all reproachfull speeches against him and these wicked and ungratious villaines when they saw that they could neither prevaile against the Gospel nor against this good Preacher of the Gospel then they bent all their forces against those who were obedient to the word of God imagining nothing but mischiefe towards them alwaies intending their destruction and ruine Hence it was concluded and resolved on to take up Armes for the deâ—ence of the truth of the doctrin of Christ and they all enter into a new League the old being notwithstanding no way violated but remaine firme and that by the great labour and industry of Zuinglius not that he intended any thing hurtfull unto his Countrey but to extirpate and to roote out their vices and to plant in it firmely the doctrine of the Gospel both for the glory of God and also for the good of all Switzerland for he deâ—ired nothing more then that all Nations might confesse the Lord Jesus and therefore he exhorted those that were his friends and which stood up for the truth of Christ to undergoe the hazard of their lives in so good a cause with these expresse words following That whith heretofore I have written unto you I exhort you unto it still beâ—eeching you to remaine constant and immovable and not to be afraid of your enimies for that peace which some so greatly urge and presse is open warre and not peace and that warre which we are to undertake is peace and not open warre for we doe not thirst after any mans blood neither do we desire to spill it by such tuâ—multuous actions but this we maintaine and defend that the nerves and sinewes of an Oligarchy are to be cut off and unlesse it be the truth of the Gospell and the Ministers thereof will never have any safe and quiet residence and dwelling amongst us Alas it is not cruelty that we thinke of but our actions are both fatherly and friendly we desire to be a meanes to save those who are like to perish through ignorance our greatest ambition is to preserve our liberty therefore doe not so much estrange your selves from our determinations you shall find them more peaceable and more just then some have related unto you you are apt to beleeve those which speake false of us who notwithstanding hitherto have had good and sufficient triall of our truth and of their inconstancy I will not say lies In this shew your selves to be men that ye remaine Constant and immovable as we doe for our faith towards God and men In a word let not feare dismay you for through the goodnesse of God we shall so behave our selves in this League that it shall neither purchase shame nor griefe to your selves Thus did he cheerefully
Bucer wee Ascribe the second we bequeath to thee Whose knowledge in the holy dialect A fame eternall will to thee erect In that thou first didst bid the world godnight Thou seem'st inferior to that burning light But being first with heavens glory cround Thou dost appeare a Saint more worthy found In other things both fitly did agree Both faithfull preachers of his veritie Both painfull Sowers of the heavenly graine Both blest with good successe it sprung againe Wherefore God blest you both with honor high And cloath'd you both with immortality O happy soules though heaven keepe you there Your fame shall ever be intombed here Your worthy praises all the earth shall know Divulged by our Muses here below He was of a tall stature somewhat blacke-visaged his countenance appeared outwardly severe extorting reverence but he was inwardly of an affable and courteous disposition loving meeke and lowly he was an excellent Orator a great Student as appeares by his Workes here inserted 1 A worke called Thysby 2 Apothegmes of the Fathers 3 Morall Sentences ef Ben Syra alphabetically digested 4 The translation of Tobias the Hebrew 5 Hebrew Prayers 6 A literall exposition of the Hebrew sayings on the foure first chapters of Genesis with a Chalde Paraphrase 7 Of the truth of Faith 8 Commentaries on certaine Psalmes by Kirachi 9 An Hebrew Preface to Elias Levila his Chalde Lexicon 10 Thargum 11 An Introduction to the Hebrew tongue Reader behold here stands before thine eye The perfect â—mbleme of true gravity Turne from his face then read and thou shalt finde The rare endeavours of a serious minde He was a man whose ever-active heart Was alwayes digging in the Mines of Art And like a Bée he labour'd every houre To sucke some Hony from each spreading Flowre T was not the face of poverty could fright His soule from goodnesse Heaven was his delight And earth his scorne he study'd how to give A life to Language and make Uertue live It is not unfit that he whose Workes affords So many Languages should want for words MARTINVS BVCERVS The Life and Death of MARTIN BUCER IN the yeer of our Lord 1491. Martinus Bucerus was born at Selestadt a towne in Germanie famous for many learned Schollars which it hath afforded unto the World in these latter times amongst which this Bucer deserveth not the meanest approbation if we shall but consider those excellent vertues wherewith he was endewed or his learned and laborious acts for the propagation of the truth of Christ. In his youth he was trained up in the knowledge of the liberall Arts and Sciences in his owne Countrey wherein he profited beyond expectation to the great credit of his Maâ—â—er and to the unspeakable comfort of his friends About the yeer of our Lord 1506. and about the fifteenth yeer of his age through the advice and perswasion of his friends he adjoyned himselfe unto the order of the Dominicans where he manifested and gave them so singular a glympse of his industry and towardnesse that the most judicious and best eye-sighted Fryers conceived him to be set apart for the performance of more â—hen ordinary Acts. Being now a Dâ—minican he greatly desired to take a view oâ— Heidelberge which was granted unto him by the Pryor here he earnestly gave himselfe to the study of Rhetoricke and Phylosophie and not to these Arts onely but also to Divinity but when he found by experience that the knowledge of the Tongues was so necessary unto the study therof that without them it could not by any meanes possible be attained to any perfection he forthwith bent all his forces for the gaining of the knowledge of the Greeke and Hebrew tongues About that time came forth the Workes of Erasmus Roterodamus in the reading whereof Bucer greatly delighted and was by them first instructed God opening his eyes in the grounds of Evangelicall truth and happening also on some of Luthers Workes newly published and comparing the Doctrine therein delivered and taught with the holy Scripturâ—s he fell into a suspâ—tion of the truth of the doctrine of the Church of Rome Bucer having now attained unto some perfection of learning and notice being taken of those excellent qualities wherewith he was adorned upon the commendation and approbation of Franciscus Sickingen he was entertained by Fredericke Prince Elector Palatine to be his Chaplaine and forsaking that profession which he had formerly taken he professed himselfe to be a Protestant and Preached the word both privatly and publickly as occasions were offered and given unto him being much strengthened and animated thereunto by hearinâ— the disputation of Luther at Heidelberge concerning Free-will whereby he became better satisfied in the point of justification And thiâ— waâ— the first acquaintance which he had with that burning light of the Church by whom it pleased God to worke an alteration in his heart and an earnest intent to beat downe the sinnes of the times to dispell the foggie mists of darkenesse and ignorance that the glorious light of Christs Gospel might the better appear For the Prince Elector having urgent occasions to goe into Belgiuno and taking him with him as his associate he sharpely reproved in his Sermons and Exercises the supersticious impieties of those places wherein he proceeded with that eagernesse of spirit that the Monkes and Fryers there living were much offended at his Doctrine as a thing prejudiciall to their lazie manner of life Wherefore to prevent his proceeding they intended secretly to take away his life an old practise of that hellish brood but the providence of God would not suffer this light to be thus extinguished for he having notice of the snares which were laid for him secretly fled away and went unto Franciscus Sickingem of whom he was kindely and lovingly entertained promising him safety untill that the times were better quieted as touching Religion with whom he remained untill such such time as Luther was called unto Wormes unto whom he went and having spâ—nt many dayes in conference with him he departed from him not without he embracing of his Doctrine with an intent to make publicke profession of the same for the glory of God untill he had finished that time which was alotted unto him here in earth and resolving to take his journey for Wittemberge he was stayed by the intreaty of the faithfull Pasâ—ors of the Church at Wissenburge where he continued Preaching for the space of halfe a yeere not without the great benefit of the Church untill that he with Henricus Mothererus were with great sorrow compelled to depart that place through the means of the Vicar of Spire which at that time was a great enemy and an opposer of the truth of Christ. Now although the Word of God had no good successe in this place yet it pleased God that it florished in Strasburge by the pains of Matthias Lellius and Casper Hedio faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard hither came Bucer in the yeere of our Lord 1523. and
Stephen Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him asked him if he knew him not c. to whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatnesse yet you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why feare you not God the Lord of us all c. But after other discourse he sent him to the Kings Bench commanding his Keeper to keep him strictly In Prison he spent his time in prayer reading the Scriptures Preaching to the prisoners and to others that resorted to 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 dye 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 flocke of Christ. He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merrie as one that went to a banquet or Bridall In his journey the Sheriff of Essex perswaded him much to return to the Popish Religion c. to whom at last he answered I well perceive now that I have been deceived my sâ—lfe and shall deceive many in Hadley of their expectation when the Sheriff desired him to explain his meaning hoping that he would recant he said I am a man of a very great carkasse which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley Churchyard but I see I am deceived there are a great number of worms there which should have had jollie feeding upon this carryon 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 downe he leap't and fet a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at home and have not past a mile or two and I am even at my fathers house at Hadley towns-end a poore man with five children met him crying O dear father and good shepheard God help and succour thee as thou hast many a time succouâ—'d me and my poore children The streets were full of people weeping and bewailing their losse to whom he said I have preached to you Gods Word and Truth and am come to seal it with my blood He gave all his money to the poore for whom he was wont thus to provide formerly once a fortnight at least he used to call upon Sir Henry Doil and other rich Clothiers to goe with him to the Alms houses to see what the poore lacked in meat dâ—ink apparell bedding and other necessaries withall â—xhorting comforting and rebuking as he saw occasion Comming to the plâ—ce of execution he was not suffered to speak to the people who much lamented his death yet he was very chearfull saying Thanks be to God I am even at home and when he had prayed and made himselfe ready he went to the stake and kissed it the fire being kindled he held up his hands called upon God saying Mercifull father of heaven for Iesus Christ my Saviours sake receive my soul into thy hands and so stood still without moving till one with an halberd strook out his brains Among the many Champions of the Lord Who with their blood to Truth did beare record And feared not in furious flames to fry That they Christs Gospels light might magnifie Was pious precious Doctor Tailor stout Who did the fight of Faith to th' death fight out A very learned painfull Pastor grave Who to his Flock full testimony gave Of his great wisdomeâ— charity and love And all Soul saving graces from above Who for opposing Romes impiety Being apprehended and condemnâ—d to dye He kist his Stake being bound to it in chaines Burning a Popish wretch beat out his braines And thus this blessed Martyr chéerfully Went to his heavenly home triumphantly IOHN BRADEFORD The Life and Death of John Bradford NExt to this last mad Septenary of unchristian liberty and unparalled distractions the Devill never seem'd to injoy more chaine in this Kiâ—gdome then in the time of Queene Mary wherein laying hold on the weaknesse and superâ—ticion of a silly woman bred up in Popery and by reason of the bar interpos'd betwixt her and the Crowne by her Royall Brother Edward the sixt wholly subjected to the violent and bloody counsels of that faction which finally prevailed in her restitution and establishment he kindled more Bonefires in the space of three or four yeerâ—s in England then the world had at any time beheld in so few yeeres and in one Kingdome since the last of the first â—en Persecutions I dare not upon Master Foxes bare report who was somtimes and perhaps of purpose by the adversaries themselves miserably abus'd in hiâ— informations acknowledge all for Martyrs whom I finde in his Catalogue But what will Stapleton or any other Papist get by that The Church of Englaâ—d as it was of late reformed the Reformation by Law established hath produced added as many genuine knowing valiant Champions to that Noble Army as wiâ—hin these thousand yeers any Church in Christendome which is glory enough without hooking in either Heretique or Schismatique or any other who suffered for nothing lesse then well doing And from a chiefe place amongst those holy men and witnesseâ— to the truth of the Gospell of Iesus Christ all Stapletons exceptions bitter rayling and intemperat scoffes can not ought not exclude this blessed Saint and servant of God Iohn Bradford as shall evidently appeare to as many as wiâ—hout prejudice shall peruse and pondor his insuing History which God willing we will drive throuh the whole Course of his life from his Birth to his Martyrdome But to take our rise from his Birth He was borne in Manchester the quality of his Parentâ— though their meanes be not recorded may be easily gathered by his Education which was the best that either that place or those times could â—fford for he arrived very early at the knowledge of the Latin Tongue and for Ariâ—hmaticke he had few equals in those parts both which bâ—ing adorn'd and helped forward by a faire and speedy hand he became fit for imployment abroad before any great notice was taken of him at home which moved Sir Iohn Harrington a noble Knight and in good esteem both with King Henry the eight and his Son Edward the sixt to assume him into the number of his fellowes and imploy him in his most private and and urgent affaires both at home and abroad For at Bulloigne he was Treasurer at warres and here he had the charge and oversight of all his Majesties buildings In both imployments he found the service of young Bradford who besides his honesty and diligence had a notable dexterity in casting up and Auditing accoumpts of such importance that where ever he imploy'd him he committed all to his trust and own'd whatsoever he did
he no entertaine the time with more safety and privacy became a teacher to some Gentlemans sonnes in the Country where we leave him for a time requesting the Reader to accompany uâ— to some matters of higher Concernement About this time the Divorse betwixt King Henry Katherine his wife was agitated in the Court of Rome Queen Katherines age was above her Husbands her Gravity above her age more pious at her Beades then pleasant in her Bed a better woman then a wife and a fitter wife for any Prince then King Henry No wonder then if he were impatient to be delayed in his Divorce by the Dilatory tricks of the Romish Court intending first to divorce all the Gold from England kept the Cause some yeers in suspention so torturing King Henâ—y on the racke betwixt hope and feare not to have his dâ—sire effected It hapned that a Courtier came into Cranmers Company who familiarly conversing together amongst other discourse light on this matter of Divorse Cranmer informes the Gentleman that the readiest way for the King to attaine his desire was no longer to trace the Labirinths of the Popes proceedings where Clyents loose themselves in the endlesse Multiplication of affected intricacies but directly to be take himselfe to the Word of God according to which the Kings marriage unlawfull at the first might lawfully be anulled This being brought to the Kings Eare where welcom news would quickly arrive Cranmer is sent for afterwards imployed to the most principal Universities in Europe there publickly to maintain the truth of his aforesaid Assertions and after his returne was rewarded for his undertaking no lesse learned then Laborious with the Archbishopricke of Canterbury Here I have no leisure to listen to much lesse faith to beleeve those false Aspersions which Doctor Sanders castâ—th on this reverend Prelate bottoming the beginning of his Court Advancement on the Basest Employments performed by him Sufficeth it is to know that as the Herneshaw when unable by maine strength to grapple with the Hawke doth Slice upon her bespattering the Hawkes wings with dung or ordure so to conquer with her taile which she cannot doe with her bill and beake So Papists finding themselves unable to encounter the Proâ—estants by force of Argument out of the Scripture cast the dung of foule langvage and filthy railing upon them wherein Sanders exceedeth all of his Sociâ—ty Yea God may seeme to have vindicated the innocence of the one and punished the slanderous mouth of the other in that the foresaid Sanders was afterwards famished in Ireland that mouth being starved for want of food it surfetted with superfluity of Falsehood Cranmer now Archbishop so became the Place with his Piety and Gravity that he indeared himselfe to all conditions of People This was the greatest fault he was guilty of That his nature was bad in being too good he was of too easie and flexible a disposition which made him cowardly to comply with the Church of Rome For although he never did any harme to the Protestants yet he did not unto them so mâ—ch good as he might and ought Some may conceive this passage might well be omitted but the truth of our love to this good mans memory must not make us to forget our love to Truth besides this recording of such slips doth read to us in him a Lecture of our owne Infirmities if Gods grace be not more Active in our Hearts Oh there is more required to make us Valiant then barely to be able to call another Coward During the Reigne of Henry the eight and Edward the sixth our Cranmer flourished in favour But no sooner came Queen Mary to the Crowne but he was scorched with the heat of her Anger As an earnest that his whole Body should afterwards be burnt by her cruelty Indeed he well deserved of Queen Mary in this particular because he with Justice Hales would never consent to the dissinheriting of Queen Mary and refused to subscribe the Will shall I say of Edward the sixt or the Duke of Northumberland translating the Crowne on the Lady Iane But all this would not advance him into the Queenes favour no nor reconâ—ile to hâ—r good Will shee being still troubled with the fit of the mother and meditating revenge against him because Cranmer had been the principall promoter of Queen Kaâ—herines Divorse Or which is more probable being the Queen of her selfe was not cruelly minded some under her which did bite where she did not barke Gardiner the Spanniell Bonner the Bloudhound projected his destruction For being pardoned of Treason of which he stood guilty with the rest of the Privie Council he was châ—rged with Heresie and sent to Oxford there to dispute upon certaine Controversies being nothing else but a plausible contrivance of his Death which was concluded on before any Sylogisme in that Disputation was propounded However his Adversaries improved themselves so much on his facile nature and love of life that their large promisâ—s prevailed on him so far as to make him subscribe to Popery though presently after he recanted his recantation and was burned to ashes for the profession of the Truth first thrusting his owne right Hand faulty for his former subscription into the fire so that his Hand died a Malefactor and the rest of his body a Martyr All which passages are so largely reported by Mâ—ster Fox who in his Hiâ—tory hath so carefully gathered in the Harvest thâ—t his diligence hath left no gleanings for Posterity to picke having omitted nothing in his life remarkeable for such as succeed him to observe He writ many things which are here to his eternall praise truely registred 1. A catechisme of christian Doctrine 2. Ordinations of churhes reformed 3. Of ordaining Priests 4. Of the Eucharist with Luther 5. Of defence of catholicke doctrine 6. To the professors of the Truth 7 Ecclesiasticall Laws in Edward the sixt his reign 8. Against Gardners Sermon 9. Doctrine of the Lords Supper 10. Twelv Books of common places out of the Doctors of the church 11. Christian Homilies 12. To Richard Smiths calumnies 13. Confuâ—aâ—ions of unwritten truths 14. Of not marrying ones sister two Books 15. Against the Popes primacy two books 16. Against Popish purgatory two books 17. Of Iustification two books 18. Epistles to learned men Out of Prison he writ these 1. Against the sacrifice of the Masse 2. Against adoring the Host. 3. To Queen Mary with others 4. Emendations of the Translation of the English Bible and added Prefaces to it 'T was not inticing Honour could remove The constant heart of Cranmer from the love Of sound Divinity he alwayes stood Firme to God's Causâ— and dy'd it with his blood A true Seraphicke and Tyrannicke fire Prov'd as it were ambitious to aspire And both prevail'd being willing to controule Th' one burnt his Body th' other cur'd his Soule Image adoring Papists boast your fils Ye sent a Soule to Heav'n against your wils What can ye say but this your
rage was spent Ye did him good though with an ill intent Pricke up your eares and hâ—are this fatall tone Those fires which made him screek wil make you groâ— The Life and Death of Conrade Pellican who dyed Anno Christi 1556. COnrade Pellican was born at Rubeac in Swedeland Anno 1478. and brought up in learning by his Parents at thirteen yeeres of age he went to Heidleberg after sixteen moneths study there he returned home where he entered into a Monastery yet afterwards returned to Heidleberg and from thence to Tubinge where he studied the Liberall Arts and was much admired for his quick wit he studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly he tooke very great pains in the study of Hebrew and at Basil was made Doctor in Divinity afterwards the Popes Legat took him with him towards Rome being affected with his learning but falling sick of a Fever by the way he returned to Basil. Whilst he thus continued a Fryar he was of great esteeme amongst them because of his learning integrity but it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers bookes and conference with learned and godly men he began to dis-relish the Popish Errors and so far to declare his dislike of them that he was much hated and persecuted for a Lutheran but about the same time the Senate of Basil chose him Lecturer in Divinity in that City togeâ—her with Oecolampadius where he began first with reading upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes An. Christi 1526. he was by the meanes of Zuinglius sent for to Tygure and being come was most courteously entertained by him there he laid downe his Monks Coul and married a wife by whom he had a son which he named Samuel being then preaching upon the history of Samuel that wife dying he married againe but had no children by his second wife he was present at the Disputation at Bern about Religion after Zuinglius his death there were chosen into his room Henry Bullinger and Theodor Bibliander who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Iâ—aie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23. yeers of age Pellican â— at the earnest request oâ— learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting onely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commetaâ—y of Sebastian Meyter upon it to be bound with his to make the worke compleat He translated many bookes out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens and having been Hebrew Professor at Tygure for the space of thirty yeers wherein he was most acceptable to all not onâ—ly in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable painâ— but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At lasâ— falling into the pain of the stone other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection 1556. of his Age 78. After our Pellican had wandred long In the worlds wide-wildernesse he grew so strong In grace and goodnesse that he soon became An ample Subject for the mouth of Fame He was admir'd by all that lov'd to be Serious proficients in Divinity He lives he lives although his body lyes Inshrin'd by earth True virtue never dyes The Life and Death of Bugenhagius who died Anno Christi 1558. IOhn Bugenhagius was born at Iulinum in Pomerania Anâ—â— christi 1485. His Parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in Learning and sent him to the University of Grypswald where he profited in the study of the Arts and the Greek tongue Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta and by his learning and diligence he made the School famous and had many Scholaâ—â— to whom also he red daily some portion of Scripture and pâ—â—yed with themâ— and meeting with Erasmus his booke againe the â—â—strâ—onicall carriage of the Fryarâ— the Idolatry of the times he gat so much light thereby that he was stirred up to instruct others therein and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew the Epistles to Timothy and the Pâ—alms to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and thâ— ten Commandements unto which exercises many â—entlemen Citizens and Priests resorted from the Schoole he was called to preach in the Church and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks and his fame spred abroad insomuch as Bogeslauâ— the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same aud â—urnished him with mony books and records for the enabling of him thereto which History he compleated in two yeeres with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520. one of the Citizens of Trepâ—a having Luthers booke of the Babylonish Captivitie sent him he gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Collegues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disqâ—ieted the peace of the Church since Christs time yet there was never a more pestilent Hereticke then the Author of that book but after some few dayes having read it with more diligence and attention he made this publick Recantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in cimmeâ—ian darknesse onely this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Collegues to be of his judgement therein Hereupon Bugenhagius read Lutheâ—'s other Works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospell Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his Hearers But the Divell envying the successe of the Gospell stirred up the Bishop to persecute the professours of it some of which he cast into Prison and caused others to flye away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desirous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther went to Wittembourg Anno christi 1521. and of his 〈◊〉 36. and came thither a little before Luther's going to thâ— Diet at Worms In whose absence he opposed â—arolostadius who would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicialâ— of Moses and Images to be cast out of Churches Upon Luther's return out of his Pathmos he was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittembourg which he taught and governed with much felicity and in many changes of affairs for the space of thirty six years never leaving his station neitheâ— for War nor Pestilence and when he was profered Richeâ— and Preferment both in Denmark and Pomeron yet he would never leave his Charge though he lived but poorly in itâ— Anno christi 1522. he was sent for to Hamburg where hâ— prescribed to them a forme both of Doctrine Ceremonieâ— and Calling of Ministers where he erected a Schoole alsoâ— which afterwards grew very famous and Anno christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec he prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline
supply his place at Geneva til his return and when he came backe he much importuned that Viretus might still continue there affirming that it would much conduce to the good of the Church at Geneva to enjoy his labours but he would needs return to Lusanna to his former charge yet afterwards at the earnest entreaty of the French Churches he went to Lions where in the middest of the Civill Wars and the Pestilence which followed he with his Collegues governed the Church with much prudence till by the Jesuits means there was a Proclamation sent abroad that none but such as were Native French should be Preachers in the Protestant Churches then at the request of the Queen of Navar he went to Bern where he continued untill his death which was in the year 1571. and of his Age threescore He was much bewailed of all good men whâ—â—est he lived he was of a very weake constitution the rather by reason oâ— poyson which a Priest had given to him at Geneva as also because of some wounds that he had received from a Priest in another place where he was left for dead He was very learned of a sweet disposition and so exceeding eloquent that he drew many to be his Hearers which were no friends to Religion and they were so chained to his lips that they never thought the time long wherein he Preached but alwayes wished his Sermons longer At Lyons which was a populous City he Preached in an open place aâ—d turned some thousands to the Truth and Faith in Christ yea some that passed by with no purpose to heare his Sermon he did so woâ—ke upon them thâ—t they neglected their other businesse to harken to him Reader observe the Malice of his Foes Who having not the wisedome to oppose Brave Viretus by arguments thought fit To labour with a diabolick wit To work his ruine first by poyson they Contriv'd his fall but poyson scorn'd to bey Their base desires which made them rage and swell Into a madnesse till advis'd by Hell To a more speedy way which soone took place Within their hearts being destitute of grace They thought it good to imploy a Papist whose arme Was ready to performe what might prove harme To harmelesse Viretus and with a knife As they suppos'd depriv'd him of his life But God the great abhorror of such crimes Preserv'd rare Viretus for better times IOHN IEVELL The Life and Death of John Jewell IF ever any were happy in the imposition of names in those whom they dedicate to God at the Font certainly they were who christned this holy and learned man Iohn Iewell for his rare and admirable partâ— and both naturall and supernaturall gifts were every way corresponding to his gracious and precious name According to his christian name Iohn signifying graâ—e he was a gracious instrument of Christ to reforme the gold of the Sanctuary which through the negligence or impiety of later times became dim and drossie with superstition And according to his surname he was a rich Iewell consisting of many Gems shining as well in his life as his incomparable writings extant almost in all languages This great Clerke was borne at Berrenber in the County of Devon of which it may truly be said as it was sometimes of Hyppo that Hyppo was more ennobled by great Saint Austine then Saint Austine by little Hippo. For his education it was first in Morton and after in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford The former hath proved a famous nursery of Phylosophy and Schoole Divinity the latter of the knowledge of Tongus and polite literature in both which our Iewell shewing by his golden thighs what flowers he most sucked and longest sat upon excelled for an acuter Disputant an eloquenter Oratour a more universall Schollar and every way an accomplished Divine the Church hath not had for many hundreds of years The first glistering of this Iewell was in the Rhetoricke Lecture conferred upon him in Corpus Christi Colledg when he was yet but Batchelor of Arts. This Lecture he read with such facility and felicity that all his Auditors perceiving that he spake potius ex arte than de arte rhetorice rather from an excellent faculty he had in that flexanimous Art then of the Art it selfe Neither were these his Lectures onely strewed as it were with flowers of Rhetorick but richly fraught with all varietie of humaine Learning which drew many Auditors unto him from other Colledges and among them his Tutor Master Parkhurst afterwards Bishop of Norwitch who tooke great delight to behold the sparklinâ— of that Diamond which himselfe had first pointed and hâ— could not containe his joy but vented it on the sudden in this extempore Disticon Olim discipulus mihi chare Juelle fuisti Nunc ero Discipulus te renuente tuus Dear Iewell whilome Schollar thou wert mine But now against thy will I will be thine This his fame and love abroad purchased him envy and hatred at home for he found shortly after to his cost thâ— truth of the Philologist his observation concerning truth vertue and curtesie three of the best Mothers are often delivered of three of the worst Daughters truth of hatred curtesie of contempt and vertue of envie Vrit enim fulgore suo the glory of eminent worth dazelleth the infirme eyes of worthlesse men such as at this time the seven Seniors and Officers of that Coledge were who as the Patriarks moved with envie sold Ioseph into Egypt so they sicke of the same malady expelled Iewell out of the House more to their owne discredit and disadvantage then to his For soone after his expulsion they found a great misse of him in the education of their Youth and his greatest enemies who cloaked their envie for the present with pretended zeale for the Romish religion yet after were heard to speak thus of him within themselves we should love thee if thou wert not a Zuinglian though we believed Iewel that thy Belief is not sound yet in thy life thou art an Angel Neither was this all but when Master Welch Dean of the Colledge made his brags before Doctor Brooks sometimes Fellow of that Colledge but then Bishop of Glocester that they alone had kept safe their rich Copes â—ushens Plate and other Ornaments of their Chappell It is true quoth Doctor Wright Arch-deacon of Oxford standing by you have saved them but you have lost a more precious Ornament of your house your Iewel But the best was what the Colledge lost the University found and of a private Lecturer made him their publick Oratour and for the substraction of his maintainance by the losse of his Fellows place in the Colledge that defect was abundantly supplyed by the bounty of some of his Schollars Parâ—nts who procured for him and conferred upon him a good Benefice neer Oxford And now he grows in estate and fame in the University and grace with all the Heads of Colledges and Hals but especially he was precious in the
much lesse to lament him Towards Knox his later end his body became very infirm and his voyce 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 neer 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 Edinborough to request him to accept of the place Iohn Knox also subscribed that request adding Accelera mi frater alioqui â—erò venies Haste 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 wâ—ak which also he performed with such fervency of spiriâ— that he was never before heard to preach with so greaâ— 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 owne or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth had preached the Gospell 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 he gave them his last farewel Being conveyed to his lodging that afternoon he was forced to betake himselfe to his bed and was visited by all sorts of persons in his sicknesse to whom he spake most comfortably amongst others the Earle of Morton came to see him to whom he said My Lord God hath given you many blessings Wisdome Honor Nobility Riches many good and great friends and he is now about to prâ—fer you to the Government 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 don seeking first the glory of God the furtheance of his Gospell the maintenance of his Church and Ministry and then be carâ—full of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realm Iâ— you doe thus God will be with you and honor you if otherwisâ— â—e will dâ—prive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignonminie These speeches the Earl called to minde about nine years after at the time of his Execution saying That he had found Iohn Knox to be a Prophet A day or two before Knox his death he sent for Master David Lindsey Master Lawson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church â—o whom he said The time is approaching which I have long thirsted for wherein I shall be released from all my cares and be with my Saviour Christ for ever and now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Goâ—â—eâ—â— of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true sincâ—râ— Word of God and that the end that I proposed in my Mâ—nistry was To instruct the ignorant to confirm the weaâ— to comfort their consciences who were humbled under the sense of their sins and born down with the threatningâ— oâ— Gods judgments I am not ignorant that many have and doe blame my too great rigor and severity but God knoweth that in my heart I never hated those agaâ—nsâ— whom I thundered Gods judgments I did onely hate theiâ— sins and labored according to my power to gaine them to Christ That I did forbear none of what condition soever I did it out of the fear of my God who hatâ— placed me in the function of his Ministry and I know will bring me to an account Now bretheren for your selveâ— I have no more to say but to warn you that you â—ake heâ—d to the Flocke over which God hath placed you Over seers which 〈◊〉 hath redeemed by the blood of his onely begotten son and you Master Lawson fight a good fight doe the Worke of the Lord with courage and with a willing minde and God from heaven blesse you and the Church whereof you have the charge Against it so long as it continues in the Doctrâ—nâ— of the Truth the gates of hell shall not prevaâ—le having thus spoken and the Elders and Deacons being dismissed he called the two Preacher to him and said There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly you have sometimes seen the Courage and Constancy of the Laird of Grang in the Cause of God and now that unhappy man is casting himself away I pray you go to him from me and tell him That unlesse he forsake that wicked course that he is in the Rock wherein he confideth shall not defend him nor the carnall wisdome of that man whom he counteth halfe a god which was young Leshingâ—on shall yeeld him help but he shall be shamefully pulled out of that nest and his carcasse hung before the Sun meaning the Câ—stle which he kept against the Kings Authority for his soul it is dear to me and if it were possible I would fain have him saved accordingly they went to him conferred with him but could by no meanes divert him from his course But as Knox had fore-told so the year after his Castle was taken and his body was publickly there hanged before the Sun yet at his death he did expresse serious repentance The nex day Knox gave order for the making of his Coffin continuing all the day as he did also through all his sicknesse in fervent prayer crying Come Lord Iesus sweet Jesâ—s into thy hands I commend my spirit being ask'd whether his pains were great he answered That he did not esteem that a pain which would be to him the end of all troubles and the beginning of eternall joyes Oft after some deep meditation he used to say Oh serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be troublesome to you Blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Iesus The night before his death he slept some hours with great unquietnesse often fighing and groaning whereupon when he awakened the standers by asked him how he did and what it was that made him mourn so heavily to whom he answered In my life time I have been assaulted with Tempâ—aâ—ionâ— from Satan and he hath oft cast my sinâ— into my teeth to drive me to despair yet God gave me strength to overcome all his Temptations but now the subtill serpent takes another course and seek's to perswade me That all my labors in the Ministery the fidelity that I have shewed in that service hath merited heaven and immortality but blessed be God that brought to my minde these Scriptures What hast thou that
Grindall WIlliam Grindall was born in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first 〈◊〉 School and then in the University of Cambridge where being admitted into Pembrooke-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 sixt who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody dayes of Queen Mary Grindal amoâ—gst many others fled into Germany where he continued alâ— her raign but coming back in the begining of Queen Elizabeth she preâ—erred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward entended him to making him Bishop of London wherein he carryed himselfe worthily for about eleven years and Anno Christi 1570. he was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of Yorke where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Cantâ—rbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croydon he resigned up his spirit unto God that gave iâ— An. Christi 1583. and of his Age 64. Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charityâ— at Saint Bees in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-school and endowed it with 30 l. per Annum for ever To Pembrok Hall in Cambridg where he was educated he gave 22 l. a year in Lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Schollars to be chosen out of the foresaid Schoole of Saint Bees he gave also much money to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge he gave lands for the maintenance of one Fellow from the said School To Christ's Colledge in Cambridg he gave forty five pounds To Queen'â— Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per Annum in lands to maintain one Fellowâ— and two Scholars out of the aforesaid School and at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of mony To eight Alms-houses in Croydon he gave fifty pounds per Annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work True vertue rain'd in Grindals brest His Charity bespeakes him blest He loved peace and hated those That dar'd to prove Religioâ—s foesâ— Renowned Ridley took delight To see his vertue shine so bright He like a star gave light to all That sat in darknesse pinch'd with thrall And thus this glistring star went downe And set in Heav'n with much renowne Where now he beares his part and sings Blest hallalujahs to the Kng of Kings The Life and Death of Bernard â—ilpin who dyed Anno Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517. of an ancient and honorable family when he was but a child a Fryar pretending to be a zelous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his fathers house and at supper eat like a Glutton and drank himselfe drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sin of Drunkennesse whereupon yoâ—ng Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh mother do you heare how this fellow dar's speak against drunkennesse and yet himselfe was drunken last night but his mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speak no further it being a mortall sin in those times to speak against these men His parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when he had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammer-School they senâ— him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533. where he was admitted into Queen's Colledge and profited wonderonsly in humane learning he was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were much esteemed at that time Aud to the study of Logick and Philosophy he added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after som few years spent in these studyes he grew so famous that their was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his vertues had not rendered him worthy whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolâ—ey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held Disputations against Iohn 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 and ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studyed to defend his Cause the lesse confidence he began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for the Truth he began to discern his owne Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other â—dversaries but saith he I am much 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 Gilpin resolved more earnstly to apply himselfe both by study and prayer to search out the Truth and it pleased God accordingly to reveal it unto him as also the many Errors of Popery and the necessity of seperating from that Apostaticall Church In the mean while Cuthbert Tâ—nstal Bishop of Durham being his Unckle resolved to send him beyond Sea to visit the Churches in forrein parts and to allow him means for his travel but before his going he was called to preach before King Edward the sixt which he performed with good approbation Then resolving upon his journey he had a Parsonage given him which Tunstal perswaded him to keep to maintain him in his travels but he sending for a friend whom he knew to be learned and religious resigned his Parsonage to him for which when it came to the knowledge of Tunstal he chid him sharply and told him That he would dye a beggar but he excused it saying That he could not keepe 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 Christ's tribunall it would not serve his turne to plead a Dispensation c. When he came beyond Sea he went to Lovain Antwerp and Pariâ— and after a while Tunstal sent againe to him to perswade him to accept of a Parsonage which he would confer upon him to whom he wrote backe that he had discussed it 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 to accept of a Change which he could not live upon c. Whilest he was at Paris Tunstal sent him over a Book which himselfe had written about the Presence of Christ in the Sacrament to be
laid a sound foundation for a further firmer fairer future fabrick he betook himself to the study of Divinity Unto which now mainely addicting himselfe he began as was most need with the Scriptures the pure Well-spring of all divine truth the authority whereof as he alwayes maintained so he made them ever his Ground-worke for all matters of Faith and his Touchstone for the triall of all humane either writings or opinions From theÌ„ he proceeded a good course to be taken by young students in Divinity to the writings of our modern Divines of the best note and from these to the Monuments of the auncient Doctors all the works of whom whither Greek or Latine Fathers of any note being one as of a strong and able body so of pains and industry unweariable by night watches repairing what at any time by day he lost through emergent occasions he read over and dispatched within few years Herein he both so profited and made his proficienâ—y to appeare that nothing ordinary was now expected from him and being chosed when he took his first degree in Divinity to answer the Act at the Commencement in that solemn Assembly he therein so acquited himselfe that the place of the chiefe Professor of Divinity becoming shortly after even the very next year vacant by the removall of Doctor Chaderâ—on who then held it from the Headship of Queens Colledge to the Bishoprick of Chester notwithstanding his immaturity of years as might be deemed for such an employment his maturity of judgement and learning joyned with singular piety modesty gravity and discreete cariage prevailed so much as to procure him that placâ— though much laboured for by some others far auncienter then himselfe and of good darts and note otherâ— we see Being now brought upon a most eminent Stage wherein he lay open to all eyes to envious ones especially seldome wanting in such cases and of all other most curious and quick-sighted to pry narrowly into the defects and defaults of those whom they envie he therein so worthily demeaned himselfe beyond all expectation that he not onely surpassed the expectation of his wel-wishing friends but surpassed also the emulations of his ill-affected adversaries not unlike a prevailing pillar of fire that with iâ—s cleare and bright flames mounting up on high dispelleth and consumeth the smoake that would obscure and smother it He began with the opening in a dogmaticall way of sundry Bookes and parcels of Scripture the three first chapters of S. Lukes Gospell the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galatians his first Epistle to Timothy and Salomons Song of Songs all which he went through with in his publicke Lectures within the space of six years being attended continually with a constant concourse of the best and an auditory at all times well filled Neither was his Pen idle the whiles but was withall employed otherwise as well as his tongue For during this time he delt by writing with Campian that florishing Jesuite and refuted his ten frivolous and reasonlesse Reasons which he so much vaunted of he replyed upon Duraeus the Scot his scurrilous railings in defence of that his refutation and stopt his foule mouth He grapled with sedicious Sanders evicting his Arguments wherby he laboured to prove that the Pope is not Antichrist and with Rainolds his second who had bin nibling onely at the Preface to his eviction of Sanders his Demonstration but had no hart to meddle with the Worke it selfe After this considering the state and necessity of the times in his publicke Lectures he betooke himselfe to Controversies and singled out Bellarmine the Popes then greatest Champion and Romes Goliah to bicker with The Controversies he handled were concerning the Scriptures concerning the Church concerning Councels concerning the Bishop of Rome concerning the Ministers of the Church concerning the Saints deceased concerning the Church Triumphant concerning the Sacraments in generall the Sacrament of the Eucharist and of Baptisme in speciall whereof some small part he published in his life time some other part hath bin published since his death And as his Readings at home so his Writings both at home and abroad have for ingenuity perspicuity soundnesse succinctnesse received high commendations from the most judicious Divines that this age hath afforded yea it is credibly reported that Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe so esteemed of him that he procured hence his Portraiture and had it hanging in his Study among the Pictures of other men of prime note and that being demanded why he would keepe so near him the effigies of an Hereticke and one that had written against him and grace such an one so much he made answer that Though he were an Hereticke and an Advarsarie yet he was a learned Adversary nor is any testimony deemed more firme and credible then that that proceedeth from a professed enemy Onely while he lived Stapleton a peevish peece â—narled at some passages in one of his Controversies whom he so answered that the waspish dotard had little lust to reply Having some years sat in the Professors chaire and taken the degree of Doctor upon removall of Doctor Howland to the Bishopricke of Peterborough he was called by speciallâ— Mandate from the Queens Majesty to be Master of S. Iohns Colledg which Colledge by his accesse to it he much advanced For in his government thereof which with much moderation and singular discretion he carried himselfe in he had a speciall eye to the advancement as well of Religion as of Learning taking notice even of the lowest and the meanest and giving much encouragement every way to such as he observed to be forward in either By meanes whereof that Colledge during all the time of his continuance there greatly florished and was more frequented then any Colledge in the whole Universitie besides About his latter times som Controversie arising in the Universitie concerning certaine points of Doctrine he was together with some other of chiefe note and place called up to London for the composing of the same wherein having travelled and taken much paines to good purpose in his returne homeward from thence being well near mid-winter and sharpe weather he tooke by some cold in likelihood that sicknesse of which turning to a violent Feaver he not long after deceased During the short time of his sicknesse for he lay not many dayes he carried himselfe very comfortably and cheerfully and departed with much peace He was a man very personable of a goodly presence a body well compact tall of stature upright proportionally limmed blacke hayred of a grave aspect a ruddy complexion a strong constitution of a setled carriage a solid judgement a liberall minde an affable disposition a milde yet no remisse Governour a free disposer of Places a constant frequenter of the publicke service a generall Schollar a great Student to the last a lover of Learning and Learned a contemner of money of a moderate dyet a familiar demeanure a life generally unblameable and that which added a luster to all