the chiefest Divines of those times who were his special friends as Beza Dan. Tossanus George Sohnius Will Stuckius Pareus Pitiscus c. He had two Wives the first was Mary the daughter of James Grynaeus who dyed in childbed the other was Salome Wasserâ—unia who died the same year with himself Scripsit Commentarium in Danielem contra Bellarminum Analysin Hosea cum Orationibus Historicis Dialecticis De morte Christi pro quibus eam subierit De quatuor Manarchiis â—pud Danielem Analysin Malachiae Partitiones Theologicas Syntagma Theologiae c. The Life of Thomas Holland who died A no Christi 1612. THomas Holland was born in Shropshire Anno Christi 1539 and brought up in Exceter Colledge in Oxford where he took his degrees with much applause Afterwards he Commenced Dr. in Divinity was chosen Master of the Colledge and for his excellent learning was preferred to be the Regius Professor or Doctor of the Chair wherein he succeeded Dr. Humphred and so deported himself in the same that he gat the approbation and admiration both of that of Oxford and of Forreign Univeâ—sities also He was like Apollos a man mighty in the Scriptures and as one saith of him Adeò cum Patribus familiaris ac si ipse Pater cum Scholasticis ac si Seraphicus Doctor i. e. He was so familiarly acquainted with the Fathers as if himself had been one of them and so vers'd in the Schoolmen as if hee were the Seraphick Doctor He was also a faithfull Preacher of the Truth and one that adorned it by his holy life and conversation a zealous defender of the true Religion and a great hater of superstition and Idolatry Insomuch that when he went any journey calling the Fellows of the Colledge together he used to say to them Commendo vos dilectioni Dei â—dio Papatûs superstitionis I commend you to the love of God and to the hatred of Popery and superstition He continued Doctor of the Chair twenty years and was every way as famous for his Religion and holyness of life as he was for his learning When in his old age he grow weak and sickly he spent all his time in fervent prayers and heavenly meditations and when his end approached he often sighed out Come O Come Lord Jesus thou morning star Come Lord Jesus I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1612 and of his age 73. I. DRVSIVS The Life of John Drusius who died A no Christi 1616. JOhn Drusius was born at Aldenard Anno Christi 1550 and first brought up to School in the â—ity of Gaunt and from thence went to the University of Lovain But whilst hee was following his study hard there his Father was proscribed for Religion and thereby deprived of all his estate which caused him to fly into England taking this his son along with him When he came to London he met with Cevalerius lately come thither that was exceeding skilfull in the Hebrew His Lectures therefore he attended upon both in publick and private and when Cevalerius was sent to Cambridge to be the Professor there Drusius went along with him applying himself especially to the study of Greek Afterwards when Cevalerius was called back into France Drusius still accompanyed him and fell hard to the study of the Hebrew He also privately read the same to two young English Gentâ—emen After a while he returned to London again and when hee was purposed to goe back into France he hâ—ard of that bloody Massacre at Paris which made him alter his minde and having preferment profered to him either in Oxford or Cambridge he chose Oxford where for the space of four yeares he read Hebrew Chalde and Syriack with great commendation After which time he went back to Lovain but not long enjoying peace there he returned to London again where he continued till the peace was concluded at Gaunt and then went over into Flanders and from thence into Zeland where the States of Holland chose him to be the Professor in Hebrew Chalde and Syriack in the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1577. During his abode there he married a Wife and the States of Frisland having newly erected a University at Franequer they called him thither In which place he continued taking great paines for the space of thirty one yeares and at length resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1616 and of his age sixty and six The Life of John James Grynaeus who died A no Christi 1617. JOhn James Grynaeus was born at Berne in Helvetia Anno Christi 1540. His Father was first a Professor in Basil and afterwards removed to a Pastoral charge at Raetela who died of the Plague Anno Christi 1564. His mother was Adelheida Stuberina both of them godly persons His father took the care of his first learning educating him under his own wings and afterwards Anno Christi 1547 hee was sent to School to Basil under Thomas Plater an excellent Schoolmaster with whom he profited so much that Anno Christi 1551 upon examination he was admitted into the University under Boniface Amerbachius the very next year the Plague being hot in Basil he fell sick of the plague but it pleased God to restore him again and he followed his study hard He heard his own Father reading Greek and Latine Huld Coccius reading Logick and John Nisaeus reading Poetry and Rhetorick Anno Christi 1556 his Father was called to a Pastoral charge at Raetela but our James stayed still at Basil joyning the study of Divinity with that of Philosophy One of the Professors of Divinity at that time was Simon Sulcerus who being an Ubiquitarian misled our Grynaeus into the same error as himself confesseth adding that he continued in it for ten years and misled others likewise till at length through Gods mercy he was brought into the way of truth Anno Christi 1559 he began to preach and was ordained Deacon by Sulcerus who was the Superintendent of those Churches which office he supplyed till the year 1563 at which time by the advice of his father and friends he went to Tubing for the further improvement of his learning though himself had rather have gone to Wittenberg where Charlet Marquess of Baden having heard him preach and being taken with him had profered him an exhibition of an hundred Florens per annum When he came to Tubing he delivered his Letters of commendation to Doctor Andreas and so was admitted into that University where he heard Andreas Heerbrand Snepfius and Brentius for Divinity Samuel Hailand for Philosophy and others for the other Arts and it pleased God that he met with William Stuckius of Zurich whom he had formerly known and who now became a partner in his studies and remained his intimate friend ever after Anno
to heaven whereupon they asked him whether he would have a Priest to confess to which he denyed then they willed him to call upon S. Mary which he also refused ever looking up to Heaven whereupon one gave him his deaths wound and when his body was known the Enemies condemned him to be cut into four parts and burned This fell out Anno Christi 1531 and of his age 44. after he had been Pastor at Zurick twelve years Three days after his death some of friends coming to the place found his heart untouched by the fire He began to preach at Glarona Anno Christi 1516. against many of the Popish Errors and abuses before the name of Luther was so much as heard of in those parts Beza made this Epitaph on him Zuinglius arderet gemino cùm sanctus amore Nempe Dei imprimis deinde suae patriae Dicitur in solidum se devâ—v â—sse duobus Nempe Deo imprimis deinde suae patriae Quam bene persolvit simul istis votâ— duobus Pro Patra examinis pro Pietate câ—nis He had a wit fitted for great matters honest candid sound and vehement yet not cruel or bloody but heroical and cheerfull His Doctrine and judgment were sound His study of Piety and reforming Religion from Popish superstitions is seen in his Works In his Sermons he was very Methodical teaching the Truth with great Perspicuity He was very sharp in reproving Vices especially the Pentions of the Switzers oppression of the Poor and Prodigality He used to say that it was a wicked warfare and nothing more hateful to God then for the hire of forreign Princes to spill blood When he thundred most against sin least the Innocent should be affrighted he used to say Bone vir haec te non moveant nihil ad te quad dico ne cures igitur Honest man be not affrighted at these things I speak not to thee therefore care not for it He used to study standing and tyed himself to certain hours which he would not omit except necessity compelled him From his first rising till ten a clock he imployed himself in reading writing interpreting the Scripture and making his Sermons After dinner till two a clock he conferred with his friends or gave counsel to such as sought it and so to his study till supper after which having walked awhile he busied himself in writing Letters which many times held him till midnight Monumenta ingenii eruditionis reliquit multa quae in quatuor tomos digesta typisque excusa extant JOHN OECVLAMPADIVS The Life of Oecolampadius who dyed Anno Christi 1531. OEcolampadius was born at Winsperg Anno Christi 1482. of rich and religious Parents especially his Mother for Wisdom Charity and Sanctity was very eminent in the place where she lived They brought up this their son in Religion and Learning His Father intending to make him a Merchant but his Mother by her earnest entreaties prevailed with him still to keep him at School where he profited exceedingly At twelve years of age he was sent to the University of Heidleberg and so profited there that at two years end he was made Batchelor of Art In that place he continued till he was Master of Arts and then went by the will of his Father to Bononia to study the Law But the ayr of Italy not argeeing with him he quickly returned to Heidleberg and betook himself to the study of Divinity read the School-men and profited much thereby He grew so famous both for Piety and Learning that Philip Prince Elector Palatine chose him for a Tutor to his sons But growing weary of a Court-life he left that charge and returned to the study of Divinity Not long after his Parents having no other childe gave all their Estate for the maintenance of a Minister in their own Town and chose this their Son to be the first that should undertake that charge which caused his return from Heidleberg to his own Country but finding himself as yet not throughly furnished for such a work he quickly left it and went to Tubing and from thence to Stutgard where under John Capnio he studyed Greek and from thence he went to Heidleberg where he began to study Hebrew And being by this means better furnished he returned into his own Country to his former Charge and became a severe Preacher and very grave in his carriage He associated himself but with a few and those the best But especially he contracted a strict bond of love with Capito which continued betwixt them so long as they lived From this place he was at last called to be a Preacher at Basil and there also he commenced Doctor in Divinity about which time Erasmus Roteradamus coming thither to print his Annotations on the New Testament he chose Oecolampadius as his assistant in that work and confessed that he was much holpen by him Shortly after he was called to Auspurg to be a Preacher there but finding some timorousness in himself in so great a work he thought that a retired life wherein he might betake himself to Prayer and study would be better for him for the present and therefore he entred into a Monastery near to that City in which also he thought to continue but all his friends especially Capito disswaded him from it which advice he at last hearkning unto and taking occasion to declare his judgement in several things against the Popish Doctrine he began to be much hated and threatned with Prison and death yet he daily encreasing in courage contemned their threats But after awhile the danger growing greater at the importunity of his friends he departed and not long after came to Basil to Print some Works which in his retiredness he had made During his abode there having no other means of subsistence he was maintained by Andrew Cratander the Printer where also to finde himself imployment he translated Chrysostom upon Genesis and preached Christ freely to some that resorted to him Anno Christi 1522. Sir Francis Sickengen sent for him concerning which himself thus writeth Because saith he Sir Francis Sickengen that most famous Knight of Germany and Captain of the Emperours Army hath sent for me to instruct his Family yea rather to feed it with spiritual Sermons being long since instructed I thought it my duty to endeavor that the Law of God should be made familiar in it whereby it might grow in the true and sincere study of Christianity whereupon I dayly read the Gospel and expounded it to those that were present familiarly exhorting them to the study of Piety and whereas they had been accustomed to hear Sermons only upon the Sabbaths and to have Masses all the Week after I so prevailed that Masses were laid aside and some part of the Epistles and Gospels was read and expounded every day to them Shortly after the Senate of Basil chose him to be a
c. help me with your Prayers By the way as he went he gave much Alms and at the place of Execution he spake to the people confessing his Faith by rehearsing the Articles of the Creed and afterwards prayed privately with earnest elevation of his Eyes and Hands to Heaven Being tyed to the stake the Fryars desired him to declare his charity to them by assuring the people that they were not the causers of his death for said they they think that we have procured it and thereupon will withdraw their charitable alms from us whereupon he said I pray you good people be never the worse to these men for my sake for they were not the Authors of my death The fire being kindled the winde drove away the flame from him so that he was the longer a burning holding up his hands crying sometimes Jesus sometimes Credo and so at last yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1531. WILLIAM TINDALL The Life of William Tindal who dyed Anno Christi 1536 WIlliam Tindal was born about the borders of Wales and brought up from a childe in the University of Oxford where he grew up and encreased in the knowledge of the Tongues and the Liberal Arts but especially in the Scriptures whereunto his minde was singularly addicted insomuch as being in Magdalen-Hall he read privately to some Fellows and Students some parts of Divinity instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures His â—ife also was so blameless that he acquired much love and esteem thereby After he had profited exceedingly and taken his degrees there he remoued to Cambridge and being well ripened in the knowledge of Gods Word he went to live with one Mr. Welch in Glocestershire where he was Tutor to his children and many Abbots and Doctors resorting thither Mr. Tindal discoursing with them of Luther Erasmus c. shewed them plainly his judgement in Religion proving the same by the Word of God and confuting their Errors which caused them to bear a secret grudge in their hearts against him Not long after it happened that some of these great Doctors invited Master Welch and his Lady to a banquet where they had talk at will uttering their blinde Superstitions without gainsaying Then Master Welch and his Lady coming home and calling for Master Tindal began to reason with him about those matters whereof they had talked before with the Priests Mr. Tindal answering by the Scriptures maintained the Truth and confuted their Errors whereupon the â—ady Welch said There was such a Doctor as may expend 100 l. per annum and such an one as may spend 200 l. per annum and such another as may spend 300 l. per annum and is it reason think you that we should believe you before them Mr. Tindal gave her no answer at that time and talked but little afterwards of those matters because he saw it was in vain But fell upon translating a book called Enchiridion miliâ—s Christiani and having finished it he gave it to the Knight and his Lady who after they had well read and perused the same did not more so often invite the Doctorly Prelates to their house as before neither had they that chear and countenance when they came as formerly which they well perceiving supposed that it was by the means of Mr. Tindal whereupon they utterly withdrew themselves and came no more thither Then did the Country Priests cluster together storming and railing against Mr. Tindal in their Alehouse-meetings concerning whom himself writes thus I was saith he in that Country much molested by a company of unlearnnd Priests that had never seen more Latine then in their Portesses and Missals which yet many of them can â—carcely read and if they be but sorrily learned they get Albertus Magnus de secretis mulierum which they pore night and day upon making notes therein c. These men railed and raged against him affirming that he held heretical opinions and thereupon accused him to the Bishop and Chancellor whereupon the Chancellor appointed those Priests and Mr. Tindal also to appear before him and Mr. Tindal suspecting the matter as he went prayed heartily unto God to give him strength to stand fast to the Truth When he came the Chancellor threatned him grievously reviling and rating him as though he had been a Dog accusing him of many things whereof no proof could be brought and so dismissed him for the present Not long after Mr. Tindal happening into the company of one that was esteemed a learned Doctor in disputing with him he drave him to that issue that the Doctor burst out into these blasphemous words We had better be without Gods Laws then the Popes Mr. Tindal hearing this full of godly zeal replyed I defie the Pope and all his Laws and if God spare me life ere many years I will cause a boy that drives the Plough to know more of the Scripture then you do The rage of the Priests encreasing Mr. Tindal told Mr. Welch that he well perceived that he could stay there no longer with safety and that his stay might be prejudicial to his Family and therefore with his good leave he departed and went to London where he preached a while as he had done in the Country before And then hearing a great commendation of Cuthbert Tonstal Bishop of London he endeavored to get into his service but the Lord saw that it was not good for him and therefore he found little favor in the Bishops sight Remaining thus in London about the space of a year and being desirous for the good of his Country to translate the New Testament into English he found that there was no place for him to do it in England and therefore being assisted by Master Humphry Manmouth a godly Citizen and other good men he left the land and went into Germany where this good man being inflamed with a tender care of and zeal for his Country refused no travel nor pains if by any means possible he might reduce his Brethren and Countrymen of England to the same taste and understanding of Gods holy Word and Truth which the Lord had endued him withall Then conferring with Master John Frith he thought in his minde that no way would more conduce thereunto then if the Scriptures were translated into their vulgar language that so the people might fee the plain text before them for he well perceived that one great cause of Error was because the knowledge of the Scriptures was hidden from the peoples Eyes upon these considerations he there set upon this work Translating the New Testament Anno Christi 1527. and then setting upon the Old he finished the five Books of Moses with sundry most learned and godly Prologues prefixed before every one of them the like also he did upon the New Testament Besides divers other godly Treatises which he wrote there
Magdeburg He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches and Michael Volmetius Master of their School Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him who were Nicholas Medler Pastor of Naoburg George Spalatine Pastor of Aldenburg and â—olphgang Steinius Pastor of Leucopetra But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift whence he fled to Magdeburg which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548 Amsdorf amongst others opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent which continued for whole tenne yeares and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged Amsdorf yet remained there and the year after George Major having published this proposition That good works were necessary to salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines Amsdorf came to his old age having now attained to eighty years at which time he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1563. Scripsit de sacra coena Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores Novi anni votum principibus viris oblatum Subscriptionem censurae sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum adversus G. Majoris doctrinam Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium W. MVSCVLVS The Life of Musculus who dyed A no Christi 1563. WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain An. Christi 1497 of honest parents who seeing his aptness to Learning bred him at School When he was young he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him He had an exceeding prompt wit and had such an ardent desire to his book that he was never a weary of reading and writing so that he rather needed a bridle than spurs never departing from School and his book till he was forced When he was grown up to some bignes his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision that by singing at doors as the manner of those times was he might get his living and thereby learn patience temperance and humility and might follow his book the better Being thus sent from his parents he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia where a certain Widdow entertained him and in which place hee went to School but met with much hunger and want till as by his honest and modest deportment he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil from whom he received many favours From thence after a while he went to Slestade and gat into the School and being naturally much addicted to Poetry he spent his time in reading such Authors And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old about which time he returned to visit his parents and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song hee joyned with them in singing and the Prior taking notice of him and liking his ingenious countenance and voice followed him out of the Church when all was ended and enquir'd of him what he was and whether he liked to live in a Monastery and withall proffered if he would accept of it to admit him into that Monastery to cloath him and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost He being very glad of this proffer went to his parents acquainted them with it and they looking upon it as a great mercy went presently with him to the Monastery where the Prior according to his promise entertained him as his own sonne and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders There he lived till he was thirty yeares old and when others were drinking and playing he with a book in his hand would walk into a grove to study For though in his youth he was of a chearfull and merry disposition and much delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows who spent their time in dice and drinking and such like practises But in the mean time he had a great want of books that Monastery having no Library belonging to it yet at last he found a great heap of parchments at the roof of the house amongst which he met with some of Tullies works and all Ovids These therefore he read over especially Ovid being so much addicted to Poetry that many times he made verses in his sleep and could make a verse upon every thing he met with and grew so perfect therein that with Ovid he could say Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat And together with his Poetry hee applyed himself to Musick which the Prior taking notice of caused him to be taught to play on the Organs At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity and excelling all the other Monks in learning and eloquence was presently chosen a publick Preacher and being often told by an old man in that house Si vis fieri bonus Concionator da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus If you will be a good Preacher study to be well acquainted with the Scripture hee betook himself night and day to reading and meditation upon the Bible He first preached in the Church of Lixhâ—im and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery but his zeal and eloquence making him famous he was requested to preach in divers other places About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world and Musculus having some of them sent him read them with much seriousness and delight and God thereby revealing the Truth to him he became a zealous maintainer of it not onely in the Monastery by conference and disputation but in his publick Sermons also so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk and whereas Luthâ—r was charged by some with Heresie he stoutly defended him saying It may be Luther may erre in some things which is common to the nature of man yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick according to thâ— saying of Saint Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse nolo I may erre but I will not be an Heretick And his labours proved not fruitlesse for through Gods blessing upon them he converted many of that fraternity who afterwards left their Abbey and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death And divers others also abroad were converted by him and amongst them a certaine Nobleman called Reinhard of Rotenburg who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine and Protector of that Colledge a man of much account with the Palatine by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him especially by the Bishop and some old Monks that were