the Kings Navy He was also made Governour of Picardy and of the Isle of France and Captain of a Troop of men at Arms and one of the Kings Councel Anno Christi 1554. Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany and Queen Mary of England raised great Armies against the King of France and to resist such potent Adversaries none was thought so fit by the suffrage of all as our Gaspar and therefore he was chosen by the King to that place who presently raising Forces hasted to the Confines of France towards the Belgick Provinces to secure them against the approach of their enemies At this time France was in great fear considering the conjunction of such potent adversaries and the King of France his want both of Money and Arms to resist them so that many thought that the ruine of France was approaching Whereupon our Admirall perswaded the King to treat of Peace which counsell was so gratefull both to the King and his Nobles that the charge of it was presently committed to the Admirall which within few daies he effected to the incredible joy and rejoycing of all the Orders of France and he was looked upon as an Instrument of saving his Countrey especially considering upon what honest honourable and profitable conditions he had concluded the Peace About this time it fell out that the Guises who were Lorrainers by extraction and pretended a Title to Sicily and Naples which they said the King of Spain had injuriously taken from their Ancestors perswaed King Henry of France that for divers years they had held correspondency with a great part of the Neapolitane Nobility so that if the King would but assist them with some competent Forces they doubted not to make an easie conquest of that Kingdom By this their counsell they violated the Peace which was made a little before with Spain and solemnly sworn to on both sides which was a great grief to our Admirall who sticked not to say that such perjury proved alwaies as dishonourable so fatall to Kingdoms and that God in all ages had been a severe revenger of it Yet the King would not hearken to him but commanded him to raise Forces in his Province This was the first cause of that deadly feud which arose between the Guises and him There were some other smaller causes which further kindled that fire which for brevity sake I omit The Emperour hearing of these preparations in France thought to be before hand with them and therefore raises an Army in the Low-Countries to invade France which the King being informed of and knowing that the first storm would fall upon Picardy he presently dispatched away the Admirall for the securing of it and before he he had marched two daies journey he was informed by his Scouts that the Spaniards intended to besiege San-Quintan in Picardy He also received Letters from one Captain Brullius that as soon as the Citizens of San-Quintan heard of the Spaniards intention they were seized with such a Pannick fear that many of them left their houses and fled into the woods with their Wives and Children Our Admirall hearing these things dissembled the matter before his Souldiers as well as he could and shewing much alacrity by great journeys hastened to San-Quintans Whereupon two of his Captains Gernacus and Lusarcius endeavoured by all means to disswade him from it telling him that the City was not fortified neither provided with food and other necessaries to sustain a siege and that the enemies would beleaguer it before he could furnish it with such things and therefore they told him that it was better and more for his honour to disturbe the enemy in the open fields then by shutting himself up within the Walls to expose himself to such danger But he considering of what consequence that place was and what advantage the getting of it would be to the Spaniards adhered to his first resolutions and having by the way adjoyned to himself about two hundred and fourty Souldiers he hastily flies to the City and sets all hands on work for the fortifying of it The Spaniards being informed hereof presently begirt the City with a siege and began to draw their Trenches about it and possessed themselves of the Suburbs whereby by rolling Trenches they approached the Wals. This our Admirall taking notice of Sallied out upon them and firing the Suburbs drave the enemies further off yet when he had throughly viewed the City and found the weaknesse of it he began to suspect that he could not long hold out against so potent an adversary Yet considering that Gods Providence had cast him upon these straits he resolved rather valiantly to die then to give the enemy so great an advantage against France by surrendring that Town to them And therefore he laid out all his care labour and industry for the defending of it and for the greater incouragement of the Citizens and Souldiers he laid his own hands to every work that was to be done Whilst he was thus busily imployed a Messenger brought him word that his Brother Andelot was gotten safe into the City with about five hundred Souldiers the remains of a greater Army which the King had sent under the Constable for the victualling and relieving the City which Army was encountred by a great party of German Horse and Foot who in the incounter had routed the French slain many and dispersed the rest only in the time of the medly Andelot with his five hundred men had slipped into the City As soon as this defeat of the French was known to the Souldiers and Citizens they were possessed with so great a fear that the incouragements of the Admirall were little regarded Hereupon he calls them all together makes a Speech to them and shewed them that the safety of their Countrey should be preserved before their lives and thereupon caused them all to take an Oath that if any one spake about the surrender of the City he should lose his head for it himself also took the same Oath In the mean time the Spaniards being elated with their former victory presse upon the City harder then before and for twenty daies together continue their battery against the Wals whereby they beat down a great part of them The Admirall seeing this and perceiving that they were approaching to give a generall storm he encouraged his Souldiers stoutly to make resistance telling them that if they did but withstand the first stroke the enemy would not be forward to attempt a second Where the greatest breach and danger was there himself stood armed to resist in the very face of danger Other places he commended to his Brother and his other Captains But whilest he was valiantly fighting in the breach word was brought him that the enemy was entred in two other places of the City Whereupon taking some of his trustiest Friends with him he ran thitherward to oppose them but before he came he found that
of unbelief that I may not depart from thee the living God Deliver me from tentation Accept of Jesus Christ for me Teach me to improve all Providences To live upon the Promises Let Christ be my life O Lord let me never shrink from thee For the good of the publique Lord turn the heart of this Nation and all our hearts Turn the heart of the King Sanctifie the Parliament and make them faithfull Blesse the Assembly and make them faithful and upright with thee Let not the Army do unworthily but what thou would have them to do Blesse all the Ministers For other Nations Lord do good to Scotland and the Churches in France Blesse New-England and forrain plantations For the places to which he was related Lord provide a faithfull man for Queens-Colledge A faithfull man for this place New-Church in Westminster A faithfull Pastor for those in the Countrey For Friends and those about him Lord remember all those that have shewed kindnesse to me and have taken pains with me and recompence them Thou hast promised that he which giveth a Cup of water in the name of a Disciple and he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward Afterwards having forgotten to crave a blessing upon somewhat given him to take he prayed Lord pardon my neglect and forgetfulnesse of thee and deliver from tentation and the evil of tentation Thou art holy if thou shouldst forsake us Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered Lord glorifie thy name in my poor spirit and let none of thy people ever see me shrink from thee for Jesus Christ his sake Being spoken to to cast the burden of his sicknesse and pain upon God he answered I should do very unworthily if when I have preached to others that they should cast their burdens upon God I should not do so my self In these and many other the like Christian expressions he did manifest the same savour of holinesse even to the time of his death which had been constantly discovered in the time of his life He departed this life Anno Christi 1647. and of his age 46. having served God faithfully and painfully in his generation being a very great Instrument of much good and an excellent pattern for imitation His body lieth interred in the New-Church at Westminster and his memory yet liveth in the minds of those that knew him The Life of Gaspar Colinius Great Admirall of France GAsppar Colinius or Coligni was descended of a very Ancient and Honourable Family his Predecessors had Kingly Priviledges in their own Country as the Power of Life and Death of Coining Money Imposing Taxes and Tributes c. His Father was Gaspar de Colonia or Colinius who lived under King Francis the first and had to Wife Ludovica Monmorancy the Sister of Annas Monmorancy Great Constable of France When in the year 1522. the Admirall Bonivet had taken Fontaraby in the Confines of Spain as soon as he was returned into France the Spaniards came and besieged it with a great Army The siege lasted twelve moneths whereby the Inhabitants suffered much extremity by reason of Famine King Francis hearing of it commanded this Gaspar to raise an Army and relieve Fontaraby which Army he presently Levied but in his march he fell sick and died at Ax August 4. Anno Christi 1522 leaving three Sons behind him Odet Gaspar and Francis Ludovica his Widow was made one of the Ladies of Honour to the Queen of France and was very carefull of the education of her Sons and lived a most chaste and vertuous life all the remainder of her daies dying in Paris Anno Christi 1547. Pope Clement the seventh seeking to increase his Authority in France made the elder Brother Odet a Cardinall knowing that by reason of the eminency of his Family he might be very usefull to him By which means the Inheritance fell to this our Gaspar the second Brother who was born Feb. 16. Anno Christi 1517. whose ingenuity and towardlinesse appearing in his childhood his Mother was very carefull of his education and for his Instruction in Learning she made choice of Nicholas Beraldus to be his Schoolmaster a man famous in those daies in France She also provided him Tutors to instruct him in Military Arts of such as were most skilfull therein This Gaspar being thus furnished both for Peace and Warre when he came to the age of twenty four the Dolphin of France the Kings eldest Son besieging Baion at that time Gaspar went to serve under him and to put in practice what he had before gotten in the Theory In which Service he shewed much alacrity and courage and in advancing near to the enemies Trenches he was wounded with a Bullet in his throat The same year also the King having intelligence that his and the enemies Army were ready to joyn battell in Insubria Gaspar obtaining leave hastened thither and in that battell gave great proof of his Valour and Prudence so that shortly after K. Francis dying and his Son Henry succeeding to the Crown he advanced him to great honour and whereas his Uncle Annas Monmorancy was Generall of the Horse he made this Gaspar Colonel of a Regiment of Foot In which Office he carried himself so well that in a little space he gat much repute for his Justice Valour and Prudence and thereby became very gratefull to the common people For whereas the Souldiers formerly by their rapines and plunderings used much to oppresse them this new Colonel kept them in awe by military Discipline especially he severely punished them for incontinency swearing and blasphemy and his Orders were so generally approved of that shortly after the King put them amongst his Military Laws The same King also advanced him to greater honour taking a great liking to him making him one of his own Horsemen which vulgarly are called of the Kings Order And whereas contention arose about that time between the King of France and King Henry the eighth of England about the Town of Bulloine which a little before upon conditions of peace had been pawned to the English the King of France distrusting the English made this Gaspar Governour of all that Countrey who presently going into Picardy whither King Henry of France had sent an Army to besiege Bulloine He with admirable art and diligence built a Castle near to it which was such a shelter to the French and did so hinder the Sallies of the English that in a short time they were forced to treat about surrendring of the City For the finishing of which Treaty the whole businesse was referred by the King of France to our Gaspar and his Uncle Rupipontius which being ended and the Town surrendred Gaspar returned to the King and was shortly after made the Great Admirall of France which amongst the French is counted the greatest honour in the Kingdom having the command of the Sea and
alwaies very studious of the Reformed Religion of an admirable courage and constancy in bearing the manifold afflictions which befell both her self and Husband and amongst her other excellent qualities and vertues she was alwaies very pitifull towards poor people and sick persons to whom she was very liberall in relieving and assisting of them and whereas many sick and wounded Souldiers were daily sent from the Camp to Orleance she frequently visited them so that the Physicians judged her disease to proceed from the stench of them Peace being proclaimed as is before specified in many places by the Kings Trumpeters the Admirall had scarce been three daies at his own house before Letters and Messengers came to him from many of his Friends signifying that instead of peace his enemies made great preparations for a more dangerous Warre for they observed that in every place such provision of War was made that if the Prince of Conde himself and the other associates did not timely prevent it they would be circumvented by their cruel enemies before they were aware and this they gathered from the Garrisons put into Orleance Altissiodore Blesa and other Cities surrendred to them as also by the Adversaries possessing themselves of all the Bridges and Passes over the Rivers keeping the Horse together in the heart of France and continuing two Regiments neer Paris under a pretence of a guard for the King Our Admirall finding these things to be true thought it most for his safety to retire into Tanlian to his Brother Andelot and from thence he shortly after removed to Nuceria a strong City under the Prince of Conde's Government whither formerly upon the like occasion he had carried his Wife and Family In his passage thither there fell out this memorable accident Near to the Town of Molinius there is a great Lake in the passage to Altissiodore when our Admirall came near it there was in his company an old man called Gripperius that had been a great traveller by sea and one that loved the Admirall very dearly this man observing a black cloud coming towards them carried with a violent wind he called to the Admirall desiring him to gallop to the next Town so fast as he could lest he should be oppressed with the violence of the storm approaching the Admirall hearkening to his counsell spurred on his Horse but before he had passed the narrow passages of the Lake there suddainly came such a violent tempest accompanied with a Whirlwind that many Horses and men were quite overthrown many were wounded with the great hailstones and almost quite slain The wind took off the Admirals hat which afterwards could never be found and one of his followers lent him his hat but herein the great mercy of God did appear that the Admirall scaped unhurt by the hail only one hailstone hit and hurt him about the ankle and had this storm taken him and his company a little sooner whilst they were upon the Lakes bank in all probability it had made an utter end of them The tempest being over our Admirall comforted his attendants and lifting up his eyes to Heaven he said O Almighty God I thank thee from whom I know this storm proceeds to warn us of the tempest of danger that is approaching by which we shall be sorely pressed but not oppressed When they were met together at Nuceria they sent divers Messengers with Letters to the King signifying that they had daily intelligence of the snares that were laid for their lives and therefore they beseeched his Majesty to pity his Kingdom wasted already with two Civil Warres and that he would not ruine his Kingdom but rather by his clemency and wisdom quench that fire that is kindled by the Guises Our Admirall also wrote to Margaret Daughter of King Francis and new Dutchesse of Savoy whom he believed to have great power with the Queen Mother intreating her to improve all her Authority and interest for the diverting of the storm that was approaching to the ruine of her Native Countrey But when he perceived that no arguments nor intreaty could prevail for peace and understood that Tavannius who was a little after made Marshall of the Kingdom was secretly drawing his Forces towards Nuceria there to compasse them in he advised the Prince of Conde that they should presently depart from thence and make all the hast that possibly they could to Rochel which by reason of their ancient priviledges had never hitherto admitted of any Garrison By the way they were to passe over the River Liger and in the train there was the Prince of Conde's Wife and six little Children whereof one was but a year old and two daies after followed the Admirall and Monsieur Andelots Children whom the Admirall had sent for to come to them At which time this strange Providence fell out When the Prince of Conde thought to transport his company in two or three little Ships privately over the River neer unto Sancerra it pleased God that a Foard was found whereby fifty Horsemen that were of the Princes train rode over and in the mean time the Ladies Women and Children were ferried over in Boats and no sooner were they gotten all over but though the day was fair the River suddainly rose so high that the Inhabitants of Sancerra took notice of the wonderfull Providence of God praying heartily for the safety and welfare of those little ones who had escaped such a danger The King hearing of this their going to Rochel by the advice of his Courtiers presently commanded all his Horse especially those that were in the Countries of Xantone and Poicters to hasten to Rochel He sent also his Brother Henry the Duke of Anjou to raise all the Forces he could and presently to march thitherwards In the mean time those of the Religion who relying upon the Kings promise and Proclamation of peace staied in their own Cities were every where basely murthered About this time Joane Queen of Navarr who in the former troubles had kept here own house abhorring such abominable treachery and perfidiousnesse after peace so often renewed getting what Forces she could together advanced with them to Rochel carrying with her her Son Henry who after her death was King of Navarr and her only Daughter These things being thus setled the Admirall drew some great Guns out of Rochel intending to besiege Niort and within a few daies had it surrendred to him Then he led his Forces to Engolisme which stands upon an high and steep hill having only one passage to it and therefore the enemies had a little before strongly fortified it but the Admirall planting his Ordinance on that side where it was saultable within a few daies space had it surrendred to him Presently after the Van of each Army met at Jasenullius and fought together the Admirall commanded that of the Protestants who charged the enemy so gallantly that they were presently broken
but being taken with a suddain disease he died Feb. 14. 1571. not without the suspition of poyson and was buried at Canterbury being about fifty years old He was a man of rare courage candor and faithfulnesse of a sharp judgment so that few were to be compared with him in managing great affairs Guillin his Chamberlain poysoned him with an Apple at the instigation of the Queen-Mother as he confessed at the time of his death when afterwards he was taken as a Spy at Rochel for which he was hanged But all this while the Duke of Anjou was a great enemy to the Protestants and boasted every where of his Victories against them yet the King did what he could to perswade the Queen of Navarr and the Admirall of his great good will towards them that they might be induced the more to confide in him Notwithstanding which the Papists in some places made slaughters of the Protestants As in Orenge whither all the Inhabitants returned who had been driven away in the time of the late Warres the Popish Souldiers made an assault upon them and slew them without regard of age or sex Also in Roan and other places they were slain in great number by the Popish rabble Whereupon the Queen of Navarr the Princes and other Protestant Nobles sent to the King to complain of the violation of the Edict and to require satisfaction for the same The King entertained them kindly protested that these things were done to his great grief and that he would so punish the Authors of these mischiefs as should be for the terrour of others Not long after viz. Anno Christi 1571. the King wrote very flattering Letters to the Admirall giving him very honourable tearmes inviting him to his Court at Blesa intreating him that he would be an instrument of concluding a Marriage between Henry Prince of Navarr and his Sister Margaret and to prevail the more with him he sent him word by his Messengers that no surer way could be found out for establishing the publique Peace of the Kingdom and for uniting all sorts of persons then by this Marriage And the better to delude him the Guises seemed to be every day lesse welcome to him then other and Monmorency the Admirals Sisters Son was used very familiarly by the King who often protested to him his good will towards the Admirall communicated to him the counsels of his greatest affairs for the managing whereof he told him that he had need of the Admirall for to be his Captain and Minister The Queen-Mother also according to her manner protested that she liked nothing better then that a certain Peace should be confirmed upon equal conditions the memory of former matters being blotted out By these means the Admirall was drawn to the Court where he was intertained extraordinary lovingly even beyond expectation so that when he fell down on his knees to do reverence the King took him up calling him his Father saying often and openly that a more desired day never shone unto him then that wherein he saw an end put to the Warre and a firm Peace setled in the whole Kingdom by his presence adding with a smiling countenance Now we have you with us you shall never depart from our side hereafter He was intertained with the same serenity of countenance by the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou but especially by the Duke of Alanson who much favoured him The King also seconded his words with deeds causing one hundred thousand Crowns to be paid him out of his Treasury for his private losses in the last Warres he gave him also the Revenues of the Cardinall his Brother which were very great for one year and also the furniture and houshold stuff of the said Cardinall A few daies after the Admirals return from the Court the young Duke of Guise by the instigation of the Cardinall of Lorraine his Uncle would have put in a new complaint against the Admirall for the death of his Father but the King interposing his Authority drew up a form of agreement which he made both of them to set their Seals to and to take their oaths for the keeping of it notwithstanding which the Duke of Guise shortly after entered Paris accompanied with many armed men which the Admirall hearing of being then at his House at Castellion he moved the King by his Son-in-law Monsieur Teligni that he might have leave to keep a small Guard for his own safety Whereupon the King wrote to him with his own hand and sent his Letter by Bricmald a man of great esteem for his vertue the tenour where of was this That it was most acceptable to him that the Admirall should be exceeding cautious and carefull of his own safety and therefore he gave him power to fortifie his Castle and to raise as great a Guard as he pleased desiring him to be confident without doubting of his good will towards him and that he would be as carefull of his safety as a Father of his Childes These Letters with many such like expressions of love being written with the Kings own hand many read with great delight and were now throughly perswaded that they ought no longer to doubt of the Kings good will and sincere affections to the Admirall Hereupon Count Lodwick of Nassaw whom we mentioned before thinking this a fit time and being secretly invited to the Court moved the King in the name of his Brother the Prince of Orenge for assistance telling him that there were many Cities in the Low Countries that being oppressed and tired out with the lust covetousnesse and cruelty of the Spaniards would willingly surrender themselves into his hands And after a few daies spent in debate about this businesse the King faithfully promised Count Lodwick that very shortly he would send a great Army under the command of the Admirall thither and it was further agreed upon betwixt them that if they succeeded in that War the King of France should have all the Countrey from Antwerp to Picardy and that the Prince of Orenge should have Holland Zeland and Frisland About this very time Letters were intercepted and sent to the Admirall written from the Cardinall Peleus to the Cardinall of Lorrain to this purpose That the King was never better affected then now and therefore because of his good affections together with the Queen-Mothers and the Duke of Anjou's he hoped there would be good issue of those affairs which were resolved on in the common Councel That the King at the Admirals coming to Court had carried himself more politickly then they could have expected whereupon the King believed that he had taken away all suspition from the Admirall and had left him no occasion of doubting of his love and good will towards him which Lorrain knew to be the basis by their joynt consent upon which their future proceedings did depend That some speech was indeed raised about warring upon the King
both in the same Ship and ere it was out of ken two of the Guard were upon the shore to have apprehended Doctor Sands but God gave them a good passage so that they arrived safely at Antwerp and were invited to dinner to Master Locks house and as they were at dinner Master George Gilpin Secretary to the English house came to them and whispering to Doctor Sands said King Philip hath sent to make search for you and to apprehend you hereupon he immediately rose from dinner and though it rained very fast yet he went out at the gate that leads towards Cleveland where meeting with a Wagon he hasted away and came safely to Ausburg in Cleveland where he tarried fourteen daies and then travelled to Strasbourgh where after he had continued one year his Wife came to him There he fell sick of a great Flux which held him nine moneths and brought him to deaths door He had a child also that fell sick of the Plague and died His godly and vertuous Wife also fell sick of a Consumption and died in his armes Whil'st he remained there he was chiefly maintained by one Master Isaac an English Gentleman of Kent and one that suffered exile for the same cause of Christ he so entirely loved him that he was alwaies more ready to give then Doctor Sands was ready to receive so that he gave him above a hundred marks which Doctor Sands afterwards thankfully repayed again After the death of his Wife he travelled to Zurick in Switzerland and there sojourned in the house of Peter Martyr for five weeks space at the end whereof as they sate at dinner news was brought them of Queen Maries death and Doctor Sands by his friends was sent for back to Strasbourgh This news occasioned joy to all but Doctor Sands who was stricken to the heart to think that he was called back to new sorrows Master Bullinger and the other Ministers feasted him before his departure from Zurick and so he returned back to Strasbourgh where he preached and so in the company of Master Grindall he came for England arriving at London upon the Coronation-day of Queen Elizabeth By her for his singular piety and learning he was advanced to the Bishoprick of Worcester An. Christi 1559. and afterwards he was removed to the Bishoprick of London An. Christi 1570. And lastly he succeeded Doctor Grindall in the Archbishoprick of York Anno Christi 1576. In all which places he governed the Church with singular prudence and modesty and having finished his course on earth he went to receive his Crown in Heaven August the eighth Anno Christi 1588. being about the age of sixty and lies buried in the Collegiate Church of Southwell in Nottingham-shire He was a man of whom it is hard to say whether he were more famous for his admirable vertues or great learning as his Sermons yet extant in print do manifest He left many children of which three were Knights excellently qualified both in mind and body especially Sir Edwin Sands who deserved so well of his Countrey The Life of Master Richard Greenham who died about the year 1591. I Can yet learn nothing concerning the Countrey Parentage or first Education of Mr. Richard Greenham The first place where I find him was in Pembrook-Hall in Cambridge where he followed his Studies so hard and was so eminent for his proficiency in learning that he was chosen Fellow in that Society and after a while he was called to a Pastoral charge at Dry-Drayton not far from Cambridge and like a faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ he spared no paines amongst his people whereby he might advance the good of their souls His constant course was to preach twice on the Lords day and before the evening Sermon to Catechize the young people of the Parish His manner also was to preach on Mundayes Tuesdayes and Wednesdayes and on Thursdayes to catechize the youth and again on Fridayes to preach to his people and that on these week dayes the people might have the better opportunity to attend upon his Ministry his course was to be in the Pulpit in the morning so soon as he could well see He was so earnest and took such extraordinary pains in his preaching that his shirt would usually be as wet with sweating as if it had been drenched in water so that he was forced so soon as he came out of the Pulpit to shift himself and this wonderfull and excessive paines he took all his time Twice a day he prayed in his Family and after Sermon he used to call his servants together and examined them of what they heard and what they remembred And besides all these his publike labours he studied very hard rising every day both Winter and Summer at four of the clock in the morning He was very eminent for his charity to the poor whereof we have this notable Example In a time of scarcity when Barley was at ten groats the Bushell which in those daies was an extraordinary price he by his prudence brought it to passe that the poor had it sold to them for four groats the Bushell of every Husbandman in the Town and thus he effected it There were about twenty Plough-holders in the Town all which he by his holy perswasions drew to an agreement amongst themselves to hire a common granary and therein to lay up Corn for the poor some more some lesse every man accordingly to his ability so that some laid up one Coom some a quarter some three Cooms and Master Greenham himself laid in five Cooms all which was delivered out to the poor at a groat a peck There was one day in the week appointed for all the poor to come and be served at which time every one received according to their charge where there were but two in a Family they received one peck a week and so more according to that proportion only no Family had above three pecks a week He kept but two Beasts himself that the poor might have his straw and when other men sold their straw for two Shillings the dayes thresh he sold his for ten pence So that in that dear time all the poor in the Parish had been well neer famished had it not been for his prudence and liberality which he also continued till the price of Corn abated which was suddainly and extraordinarily for that Corn which was sold for a noble the Bushell was within one moneth after sold for fourteen pence the Bushell But during the fore-mentioned dearth by publike Order the Bushels were cut and made lesse This Master Greenham preached much against and publikely reproved wheresoever he came and withall gave his man a charge that if the Clerk of the Market sent for his Bushell to cut it he should not carry it in which was done accordingly for which he came into some trouble but the Lord delievered him out of the same Also at
I have been at odds in other places and I hope we shall not agree there He desired to have me with him and with much ado prevailed and so I blesse God he not only fitted me for the University but was a means to bring me to the first saving knowledg of Christ I remember and shall do ever the first Sermon and point which God blessed to my soul for that purpose I was about eight years his bed-fellow and eye witnesse of the great success he had in his Ministry there and over all the Countrey where he was worthily called The Apostle of the North. The Lady allowed him fourty pounds per annum and such as God wrought upon by his Ministry contributed to him but he would not have a penny from any other There was once in his absence collected 30. li. by Sir Talbot Bowes that lived there from the people but when he returned and knew it he caused it to be restored to the Parties that gave it and told them He sought them not theirs At his first entrance he had great opposition and sometimes was way-laid to take away his life but he overcame all that with his patience and courage and at length his greatest enemies were afraid of him and few Sermons but it was believed he gained some souls His manner was to spend the forenoon at his Studies and the afternoon in going through his Parish and conferring with his people in which as he excelled so he gained much upon them and within four years had so many judicious and experimental Christians that they came from London York Richmond New-Castle and many other places to see the order of his Congregation And many lewd Gentlemen came oft ten or twelve miles to hear him to carp and get somewhat to accuse him many of which God took hold on and they returned some convinced and some converted Neal the said Prelate of Durham bestirred himself and outed many worthy men and endeavoured his removal Once he sent three Pursivants to apprehend him and promised them one hundred pounds if they brought him He was then out of Town and had notice by me of their purpose a Gentleman being with him one Master Israel Fielding a true Israelite desired him to go with him to his house within a quarter of a mile of Bernards Castle which was out of the Bishops jurisdiction to whom he answered I had thought you had been my friend what is the devils greatest name I answered Belzebub And what saith he is Belzebub The Master of a flie and if he be but so what are these Midges I will go therefore to my people and let the devil do his worst So he came and sent to the Pursivants to come to him when they came he took his sword in his hand which he alwaies rid with and bad them Keep their distance and not come too near him but if they would do their errand let them come for there was his supersedeas God strook them amort they had no spirit left in them to medle with him He bad them go to their Lord and tell him if he had any thing to say to him he would meet him on Bernards Castle bridge which parteth the shires and if he could pull him over to him let him take him But saith he do you serve a better Master else he that sets you on work will pay you your wages and so he left them Not long after I went to the University and after eight years continuance there came over into England upon some opportunities and stayed about half a year ere I returned When I came to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire I found him there their Minister and sick unto the death at my coming he revived and in the strength of that joy so far recovered that within a week he went about the Town with me to divers places but relapsed and engaged me to preach for him once the next Sabbath following and in the afternoon at Mansfield Woodhouse within half a mile of Mansfield On friday we looked for no life from him he was almost past his understanding There came a drunken Vicar of Mansfield one Master Brittaine to see him and desired him now that he was not like to live to tell him what he thought of the Ceremonies he knew he was learned and therefore would be glad to be informed by him Master Rothwel either understood not or minded not what he said but answered sometimes Yea sometimes No as he apprehended Master Brittain went away telling him he was satisfied and reported in divers Ale-houses and amongst his companions that Master Rothwel recanted his judgment of Non-conformity When he was gone I desired the company to stay the chamber being full and I asked Master Rothwel if he knew who had been with him and what he said to him He answered No I told him it was Master Brittaine and that he reported he had recanted his judgment He answered If I should do so I were in a most miserable condition No saith he I have written a Treatise and called the Ceremonies Dulcissima And why said I peradventure because as in the itch scratching pleaseth but draweth blood at that he laughed I asked him if I should send for Master Brittaine and that he would declare his mind to him he answered no If he come I shall prove him to be a very Knave but he desired me to go to him and let him know his mind which I did and took some understanding Gentlemen with me that were present and so I thank God cleared Master Rothwel both to Master Brittaine and afterwards to all the Congregation publickly from that wicked aspersion The next day Saturday he had some lightning and sate up in his chair and discoursed freely cheerfully and heavenly all that and the next day some sent to enquire on the Sabbath how he did he answered I am well and shall be well shortly and whispering with me said Do you know my meaning I shall be with Christ ere long but do not tell them so He caused me to repeat my Sermon preached in the forenoon for him after which with tears in his eyes he laid his hands on my head and lifted up his eyes to Heaven and with a short Prayer blessed me Then he bad me go to preach at Mansfield Woodhouse and tarry there all night for he had promised it to one Master Dand there but to be sure to come when he sent for me This he did next morning about six a clock when I came I found him in pangs of death he had known nor spoken to any of an hour before the chamber was full and one was praying for him after Prayer I spake to him he turned about his head took me by the hand and bade me pray pray I desired a Reverend Minister to go to prayer again Master Rothwel said Pray you pray you I did so after that he smiled Now saies he I am well
language which he readily quoted so that the company trembled to hear such things from one that understood no learning and that moved neither tongue nor lip Master Bothwel was mightily enabled by God to detect the devils sophistry Devil What stand I talking with thee All men know thou art BOLD ROTHWEL and fearest no body nor carest for words therefore I will talk to thee no more that name he carried to his grave They would say That is he the devil called BOLD ROTHWEL Rothwel turning to the people said Good people you see the goodnesse of our God and his great power though the devil made a fool of me now through my weaknesse God hath made the devil dumb now do you see how he lyeth therefore let us go to prayer that God who hath made him dumb will I doubt not drive him out of this poor man Devil raged blasphemed and said And wilt thou go to prayer If thou do I will make such a noise that thy prayer shall be distracted and thou knowest God will not hear a distracted prayer but thou hast got a device because thou wilt not be distracted with thy eyes in prayer thou winkest so he alwaies did but if thou pray I will pull out thy eyes Rothwel I look to find thee as great an enemy in this duty now as I have done heretofore but I fear not thy threat I know thou art limitted God heareth the Prayers of the upright hath promised to give his Spirit to supply infirmities therefore in confidence of his promise and powerfull assistance of his Spirit and in the name and intercession of his Son Jesus Christ we will go to Prayer They did so Mr. Rothwel kneeled by the bed on which the poor man lay The Devil for a quarter of an hour together or more made a horrid noise neverthelesse Master Rothwels voice was louder then the Devils After a while the Devil roared at Master Rothwels face this was the first motion of any part of the mans body Master Rothwel opened his eyes met and brought down the hand which he held with great ease two men being scarce able to hold the other hand Prayer was still continued at length the Devil lay silent in the man and after that departed from him The man fetcht divers deep sighs insomuch as they thought he had been expiring but his colour returned to him and the use of all his members senses and understanding and at the next petition he said to the glory of God and amazement but comfort of all the company AMEN and so continued to repeat his Amen to every petition Prayer was now turned into thansgiving and so concluded After prayer John Fox said Good Master Rothwel leave me not I shall not live long for the Devil tels me he will choak me with the first bit of meat that I eat Master Rothwel answered Wilt thou beleeve the Devil that seeks thy destruction before thou wilâ— trust in God through Jesus Christ that seeks thy salvation Hath not God by his Almighty power dispossed him Had he had his will thou hadst been in Hell before now but he is a Lier and as he is not able to hinder thy souls life so neither shall he be able to destroy the life of thy body Wherefore get me something ready saith he for him and I will see him eat before I go and will crave a blessing upon it When it was brought eat saith Master Rothwel and fear not the Devil shewing him that he might do it in faith of that Ordinance by which God appoints meat for means to preserve life and urged that place of Jairus Daughter restored to life He commanded to give her meat Luk. 8.55 With much ado and in great trembling at last them an took and eat it Look saies Master Rothwel you all see the Devil is a Lier the first bit hath not choaked him nor shall the rest Master Rothwel left him after which he was stricken dumb for three years together I had a Book written with his own hand of the Temptations the Devil haunted him with afterwards and the Answers divers godly and reverend Ministers gave to those temptations but the Cavaliers got them and all my Books and Writings Thus the poor man remained tempted but no longer possessed At length by Prayer also which was instantly put up to God for him every Sabbath and Lecture day in many places the Lord opened his mouth and restored his speech to him one using this petition Lord open thou his mouth that his lips may shew forth thy praise He answered in the Congregation Amen and so continued to speak and spake graciously to his dying day This Life was drawn up by my reverend Friend Master Stanly Gower of Dorchester Dr. PRESTON The Life of Doctor Preston who died Anno Christi 1628. Iohn Preston the Son of Thomas and Alice Preston was born at Heyford in Northamptonshire a town divided by a little River into the upper and lower Heyfords and is in Maps oft written in the plural number It is a Rectory and hath a fair Church in the lower Heyfords but yet stands in divers Parishes That Farme wherein Master Thomas Preston lived is in Bugbrook Parish where they buried and baptized where we find that John the Sonne of Thomas Preston was baptized Octob. 27. 1587. but was descended from that Family of the Prestons that lived at Preston in Lancashire from whence his great Grandfather removed upon occasion of a fatall quarrel with one Master Bradshaw a neighbour Gentleman whom in his own defence he slew and satisfied the Law and was acquitted for it but not the Kindred who waited an opportunity to be revenged as the manner in those Northern Countries then was It fell out not long after that Master Bradshaws next Brother meets Master Preston near to the place where he had slain his Brother and told him he should do as much for him or he would revenge his Brothers blood Master Preston told him he had slain his Brother against his will and in his own defence that he bare no evil will unto them desired him he would forbear but when no thing would prevail they fought and Bradshaw fell again But Master Preston was troubled and grieved at it for he saw a fire was kindled that would not easily be quenched and therefore resolved that he would leave that fatall and unlucky Countrey though he was a Gentleman of a very fair estate and walking one day pensive in Westminster-Hall one Master Morgan of Heyford with whom he was acquainted came unto him and asked why he was so sad To whom for answer he relates the former story Master Morgan knowing him to be a gallant man was very sensible of his estate and told him if he would go with him to Heyford he should have a good Farm to live in for the present and what accommodation he could afford him Master Preston thanked him and after some consideration of the matter resolved to take his
afterward Lord Brook was taken greatly with him and after many demonstrations of his real love setled at last a stipend on him of fifty pounds per annum and was his friend unto his last hour but his ambition after Courtship was well allayed so as he did not ravenously pursue it But being now resolved to be a Minister fell to the study of modern Writers especially Master Calvin whose very stile and language much affected him The Corutiers wondered that he did not bite Prov. 19.15 In the light of the Kings countenance is life and his favour like a cloud of the latter rain That a young man should not be ambitious that a good eye should not see began to be a little jealous of him He was reserved naturally and could keep counsell few knew how Master Cottons Sermon had affected and wrought upon him But this not sailing when the wind blew begat suspition Some judged he was modest and wanted opportunity to bring him on some that he was melancholy and so neglected what was proper for him to intend some busie and intent upon his Pupils who now began to come from all parts But the Politicians assured it was some inclination unto Puritanisme a name now odious at Court for it could not be said they that he should let so fair an opportunity miscarry if he had not something else in view Kings think themselves exreamly undervalued if a word be not enough Cardinal Poole being chosen Pope at midnight by the Conclave and sent unto to come and be admitted desired it might be let alone untill the morning because it was not a work of darknesse An honest Argument but not Italian enough Quis nisi mentis inops And so they went back and chose another When Balaam came not at the first call see how Balak reasons Numb 22.37 Am I not able to promote thee But Master Preston had indeed another King in his thoughts when he had found treasure in the field he parts with all for that Mat. 13.44 A purchase is not worth the having that hath not either some convenience annexed or may not some way be improved God was a greater good then man Heaven then earth a Crown of Glory then a crown of gold But this neglect and self-denyal was well interpreted by good men and that opinion of affecting Puritanes which blasted him at Court began to blazon him at home and work a reputation that to him was more acceptable Men thought him meet for to be trusted with the care of youth and many had their eyes upon him for their Sons or Friends Master Morgan of Heyfords had been sometime dead and had left his Son and heir an Orphan in trust with some that were his Kinsmen and like to mannage his estate to most advantage This Master Morgans Sonne under whose shadow these Prestons had for some time lived was by his Guardians now commended to his care not only for that relation he had to Heyfords his native Town and to the Family but also that by that means the young Gentleman might be preserved from the influence of his other Friends who were many of them popish King James had been so well pleased at the Commencement held before him lately that he resolves upon another visit The Heads agree to entertain him with a Comedy There was one Fuggles of Clare-hall that had made a jeering Comedy against the Lawyers called Ignoramus This was resolved on for to be acted before the King and great care was taken for to furnish and accommodate all parts with Actors answerable Master Morgan was a comely modest Gentleman and it was believed would well become a womans dresse and accordingly his Tutor Master Preston sent to that he would give way and all encouragement unto the service He liked not the motion could not believe that his Friends intended he should be a Player and so desired to be excused But the Guardians were not so exact and scrupulous but though if he played this Game well he might winne more then could be hoped for elsewhere and so Master Morgan was allowed by his Guardians to play his part and afterward removed unto Oxford and suffered to play what part he would and so relapsed unto Popery which hath proved fatal and infortunate to him and his But here was matter for Mr. Prestons back Friends to argue he was not a Courtier that would envy so small a courtesie to those that had so freely offered greater unto him and it was resented with a kind of angry indignation that their offers had so little influence upon him and there were some that watched opportunities to make him sensible of this neglect There is no such Soloecisme at Court as Independency S◠non vis ut per illos tibi benè sit efficient ut sit malè But Master Preston by this time had cast up all accounts and resolved to stand unto his bargain whatsoever it cost him Only he thought if he must be a Puritan and bid farewell to all his carnal and Court-designes He would not be one of the lower rank but would get places if he could Mediocribus esse Poetis non dii non homines non concessere columnae That counsell of the wise man Eccl. 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might he alwaies practised And what is commonly said was true in him In magnis ingeniis nihil mediocre This faithfulness to Master Morgan attended with so great a shadow upon himself increased his reputation in the Countrey so that now he was accounted the only Tutor and being carefull to read unto them and direct their studies he found himself abridged of his own time and was constrained to take up time that should have been bestowed on his body He also grew acquainted now with many eminent and godly Ministers as Master Dod and Master Hildersham who would come often to his Chamber and he was so hardened in his way that he would get them many times to go to Prayer with his Pupils a boldnesse not adventured on by any other but by these labours his able body was debilitated It was a great Orator that said Primò desii velle causas agere deindè desii posse At first said he I would not plead at last I could not Master Preston in his youth would not sleep but let the bed-cloathes hang down and awaken him Now he could not but about midnight still awakened and slept no more whereby in time his body languished and could not answer as in former times Master Butler of Clare-hall was then the Oracle in Physick to him he goes and opens his condition to him who after some few questions bids him take Tobacco and so leaves him He knew that Butler was odde and humourous and thought he might give this advice to try him and therefore resolves to wait a while before he medled with so odde a Medicine which Hippocrates and Galen had never ordained to any of
affairs but gave peremptory order that his beloved Mariamne should be put to death for this only reason because another should not enjoy so great a beauty So the Duke would not another should enjoy the great abilities of Doctor Preston but was resolved to break him if he could yet in a civil Court way But the Doctor was too knowing not to see this afar off Prov. 22.3 Quae alii levia faciunt diu patiendo ea sapiens diù cogitando and had accordingly provided a succession of reserves wherein to hide himself The first and surest was his conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world If a man be wellcome into his conscience he need not fear the stormes and blusters that he meets abroad In te recedas cum cogeris in turba esse When a man is forced to be where he would not as Peter was foretold he should be Joh. 21.18 yet he may in despite of them retire into himself Paul made it his businesse to have his conscience alwaies void of offence Act. 24.16 and so did Dr. Preston for though his actings being many of them above the common size were not alwaies understood and very often mis-interpreted yet he was innocent and upright alwaies in them An undeniable argument whereof was that he never sued for the least preferment as we have said but studied and often consulted how without breaking he might avoid them And though he lived like himself and gave relief to others yet it was ever of his own as very many yet alive can witness And indeed he was a man of very much Communion and sweet Society with God prayed much in private and by himself besides as Tutor with his Pupils and after as Master in his Family Whatever weakness he was in or business did occur kept many private daies of Fasting by himself especially before the Sacraments and Sabbath-daies and accordingly enjoyed a constant clearnesse and assurance of his Justification and interest in the blood of Christ even then when frailties and infirmities did most of all afflict and wound him He never that I know was troubled or perplexed about Adoption though very often about the imperfection of his graces and the unconstancy of Sanctification so as he studied most exactly that Treatise of the Saints Infirmities and there is nothing in all his works that may more properly be called his His next retreat was Lincolns-Inne for now he said the Duke was Chancellour and would endeavour to ingratiate himself and be a Benefactor and had bought Erpenius Manuscripts and did verily intend to found a Library and so it would be easie and in his power to out him of the Colledge and University For there was a resolution in some of the Fellows to petition the Duke without him and to annul the Statute of continuance or Commoration in the Colledge yet he conceived the Lawyers would pretend a kind of freedom and exemption For he saw when that holy blessed Dr. Sibbs was outed both of Fellowship and Lecture in the University yet by the goodnesse and prudence of Sir Henry Yelverton that constant Patron unto godly Ministers a vertue yet running in the veins of his posterity he was received and retained at Grayes-Inne unto his death therefore he would in no sort leave his title unto and interest in Lincolns-Inne but reserved it in his power unto his dying day But he knew Kings had long hands and that the Dukes were nothing shorter and that Lincolns-Inne though a great deal stronger and better built then Grayes-Inne yet would not hold out long in case the Duke should seriously beleagure it therefore he pondered of removing farther off if need were And having weighed all retreats resolved upon Basil in the Switzers Countrey as a place which the longest handed Kings had seldome touched even when it was a receptacle of their greatest enemies and therefore he resolved in case he could not be free in England to settle there and spend the residue of his surviving dayes in writing what he was not suffered to preach or had not published according to his mind He was naturally very affable and courteous unto strangers of any Countrey and by conversing much with them endeavoured to preserve his knowledge in the French and Italian languages But after he had thus resolved upon Basil he was very friendly to all he Germans that were dispersed from several Universities especially from the Palatinate for whom he procured several sorts of entertainments both in the Countrey abroad and in the University for which as he had very many Gratulatory Epistles from particular persons so one of note from the King of Bohemia under his Hand and Seal But he knew that these were but the Foxes earths that might successively be taken and possessed He therefore also thought upon that unum magnum of the Cat or rather of the Holy Ghost Prov. 18.10 the Name of the Lord that is the goodnesse mercy power of the mighty God where he was well assured he should for ever be free enough from Kings and Dukes Yet these did no way retard his industry in using means Obstructions quicked industrious and active minds but damp and clog the dull There is a Statesman of no mean esteem that writes professedly against the use of Cittadels and Forts because it makes the Souldier lesse resolved in engagements And the Spartans were forbidden to wall their City because it would incourage Cowardise But it did not take off Dr. Preston from his duty For finding that his standing at Court was untermined he resolved upon Buttresses to underprop him in the Countrey There was in the Countrey of Northampton a Gentleman of very able parts and clear affections to the publick good no stranger to the Court in former times nor to the Duke of Buckingham with whom the Doctor used to communicate affairs and who was then a Parliament man of much esteem to him the Doctor in a Letter discovers all shews him the hopelesse posture of the Duke how much they both were disappointed in him layes some directions what to do and urgeth activenesse This Letter by a sad misfortune was let fall by him that was intrusted to convey it about Temple-bar and handed from one to one untill it came to Sir Henry Spillers who having viewed and pondered the contents concluded it was a purchase that would ingratiate him unto the Duke and so immediately presents it to him The Duke was troubled to read his faults and face so shrewdly intimated and presaged His temper was exceeding good and he could mannage his affections many times with much serenity and moderation but now he was quite off and could not think of any thing but a revenge I have not known any thing so trouble and afflict the Doctor as this did that the Duke should have his hand against
him sweetly unfolded as may appear by those Sermons now in Print And therefore saith a Reverend Divine the noted humility of the Author I lesse wonder at finding how often his thoughts dwelt upon the humiliation of Christ. As for his Sermons upon Cant. 5. Reverend and holy Mr. Dod upon the perusall of the Manuscript was so taken with them that he professed that he found them so full of heavenly Treasure and containing such lively expressions of the unvaluable riches of the love of Christ towards all his poor servants that sue and seek unto him for it that by his great importunity he prevailed with Dr. Sibs otherwise much undervaluing his own meditations to commit the same to the Presse to which Mr. Dod gave this attestation I saith he judge it altogether unmeet that such precious matter should be concealed from the publick use I judge these Sermons a very profitable and excellent help both to the understanding of that dark and most Divine Scripture as also to kindle in the heart all heavenly affections towards Jesus Christ the whole frame whereof is carried with such Wisdom Gravity Piety Judgment and Experience that it commends it self to all that are godly wise and I doubt not but they shall find their temptations answered their fainting spirits revived their understandings enlightened and their graces confirmed so that they shall have cause to praise God for the worthy Authors godly and painfull labours Indeed he was throughly studied in the holy Scriptures which made him a man of God perfect throughly furnished unto every good work and as became a faithfull Steward of the manifold graces of God he endeavoured to teach to others the whole counsel of God and to store them with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding He was a man that enjoyed much communion with God walking in all the Laws of God blamelesse and like John the Baptist was a burning and shining light wasting and spending himself to enlighten others He was upon all occasions very charitable drawing forth not only his Purse in relieving but his very bowels in commiserating the wants and necessities of the poor Members of Christ. He used sometimes in the summer-time to go abroad to the houses of some worthy Personages where he was an Instrument of much good not only by his private labours but by his prudent counsell and advice that upon every occasion he was ready to minister unto them And thus having done his work on earth he went to receive his wages in heaven peaceably and comfortably resigning up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1631. and of his age 58. The Life of Doctor Chaderton who died Anno Christi 1640. LAurence Chaderton was born of an ancient Family at Chatterton in Lancashire about the year 1546. and his Parents being both Papists they trained him up in that Religion yet bred him to learning and when he came to some maturity of years his Father sent him to the Inns of Court But he being not pleased with that kind of life through the motion of Gods holy Spirit who had a work for him to do in another Calling and place left the Inns of Court and went to Cambridge about the twentieth year of his age and the sixth year of Queen Elizabeth And getting some acquaintance in Christs Colledge it pleased God that the Master and Fellows took such a liking to him for his ingenuity and industry that they admitted him into a poor Scholars place Then did he write to his Father to acquaint him with his present condition and to request some means of maintenance from him But his Father disliking his change of place and studies but especially of Religion sent him a Poke with a groat in it to go a beggâ— withall further signifying to him that he was resolved to disinhâ—â—â—â— him which he also did Yet did the Lord support his spirit to preferre an heavenly before an earthly Inheritance and seeing that he had nothing else to trust to he fell close to his studies and through Gods blessing upon the same he so eminently profited in all sorts of Learning that Anno Christi 1567. being but yet Batchelour of Arts he was chosen Fellow of Christs Colledge Anno Christi 1578. he commenced Batchelour of Divinity and the same year October the 26. he preached a Sermon at Pauls Crosse which he also Printed He was chosen Lecturer at St. Clements Church in Cambridge which place he supplied about the space of sixteen years and by his Holy Learned and judicious Sermons did very much good and was succeeded therein by Mr. Michael Bentley Fellow of Christs Colledge a godly plain and profitable Preacher He was a man famous for Gravity Learning and Religion so that when Sir Walter Mildmay Counsellor of State to Queen Elizabeth Chancellor and under-Treasurer of the Exchequer Founded Emanuel Colledge Anno Christi 1584. he made choice of this man for the first Master and when Master Chaderton shewed himself not willing to undertake that great charge Sir Walter replied saying If you will not be the Master I will not be the Founder of it In the beginning of King James his reign he was one of the four Divines for the Conference at Hampton Court chosen by the Ministers that desired a Reformation in the Church Government and for his Learning and sufficiency was the same year chosen to be one of the Translators of the Bible Anno Christi 1612. when the Prince Elector Palatine came to visit Cambridge he would needs have Mr. Chaderton commence Doctor of Divinity which accordingly he did He deserved very well of Emanuel Colledge for whereas the Founder gave allowance for the maintenance of three Fellows only together with the Advouson of Stranground Rectory in Huntingtonshire near Peterburrough Dr. Chaderton procured by his friends and acquaintance allowance for twelve Fellows and above fourty Scholars of the House besides the Advousons of Auler and Northcudberry Rectories as also of the Vicaridge of Dulverton in Summersetshire Piddle-Hinton in Dorcetshire and Loughburrough in Leicestershire of the Noble Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington which Noble man was a great friend to godly Ministers After he was Master of Emanuel his manner was not to suffer any young Scholars to go into the Countrey to Preach till he had heard them first in the Colledge Chappel All his younger daies he used to expound a portion of Scripture twice a week in his Family He was married fifty three years and yet in all that time he never kept any of his Servants from Church to dresse his meat saying that he desired as much to have his servants know God as himself If at any time he had a Servant upon triall though they could do as much work as three others yet if they were given to lying or any other vice he would by no means suffer them to dwell in his house Towards his
latter-end Arminianisme began to sprout up apace in the University and he being fearfull that an Arminian might come to succeed him in his place after his death resolved if he could procure a godly and worthy man to resign his place to him in his life time which accordingly he did to famous Dr. Preston whom he yet survived and saw after him Dr. Sancroft and after him Dr. Holsworth to succeed in his Mastership He was of a very charitable disposition insomuch as if he heard of any godly Minister that was in want he would send them fourty or fifty shillings at a time Though he lived till he was very old yet his sight remained very good as may appear by this example A little before his death an old Servant of his came to see him and found him reading on a Book so that at the first he took no notice of her but when she came nearer lifting up his head he spake to her asking her what a clock it was She told him eleven I have said he here got a Book that I have been reading of ever since eight a clock for I like it very well and yet all that time he had read without Spectacles He lived eighteen years after the Resignation of his Mastership and in November Anno Christi 1640. resigned up his spirit unto God being about the age of ninety four years and was buried in S. Andrews Church Dr. Richard Holsworth the then Master of Emanuel preached his Funerall Sermon and gave him a large and deserved Commendation The Life of Master John Ball who died October 20. 1640. IOhn Ball was born about the year 1585. at Casssington an obscure village a mile from Hanborough in Oxfordshire he being set to School at Yarnton was found so apt to learn that the Schoolmaster prevailed with his Parents though of low estate to continue him Scholar there till he was fitted for the University Gods Providence by means of friends made way for his placing in Brazen-nose Colledge in Oxford where he improved very much in the knowledge of the Arts and he proved a quick disputant When he was Batchelour of Arts wanting meanes for his maintenance to continue longer in the University he accepted a motion made for his removal into the Countrey and was placed in the Lady Cholmleys house in Cheshire as Tutor to her Children where many other Children also were taught by him And though he came raw and ungrounded in Religion as himself was wont to expresse it from Oxford yet within a short time there appeared with the increase of his scholastical abilities the breakings forth of the power of Godlinesse in his conversation unto them who were most religious and judicious there who thereupon took him into their society for mutual edification in the waies of Gods fear Whereas there was great scarcity of godly painful Preachers in that corner of the Countrey in those times he did much frequent the Ministry of Reverend Master John Foord whereby he was not a little edified He had few Books and therefore perused the more seriously such as he had under-hand Calvins life published by Beza and his Commentary upon the Psalms made deep impressions upon his spirit Growing into acquaintance with the most godly people in those parts who much lamented the evils of the times he often associated with them in keeping private daies of Fasting and Prayer Himself with some other honest Christians were often convented to Chester and much troubled there for keeping a Fast on Ascension day their fault being aggravated by the Bishop and his Officers because they fasted upon that holy day As he took not up any opinion or practice till he had well weighed it So was he not much moved by any trouble which assaulted him in his way When others judged him ripe for the Ministry he was not hasty in adventuring upon that Calling because he was sensible of the weight thereof and also desirous to satisfie his conscience concerning the way of entrance by Episcopal subscription And upon the serious studying of the points in controversie betwixt the Bishops and Non-conformists he was dissatisfied to yield unto that subscription which was then strictly commanded Some conflicts he had with the then Bishop of Chester about Non-conformity but though he looked upon a Bishop in those times as a formidable creature yet he came off unshaken Having resolved upon the encouragement given by judicious Divines to enter into the Ministry when God should make a fair way for his admission without subscription by the intercession of Friends he with Master Julines Herring who afterwards was famous for the work of the Lord in Salop were made Ministers by an Irish Bishop being occasionally in London with freedom from the formentioned snare About the year 1610. he was called to be Minister at Whitmore a small village near unto New-Castle in Staffordshire where he was entertained into the house of Edward Mainwaring Esquire a pious and much esteemed Gentleman Here he married a godly Wife whom God had provided as an help meet for him he himself being alwaies a meer Scholar neither much minding nor intermedling in worldly affairs beyond the bounds of his Calling by whom he had six Sonnes and one Daughter Six of his Children were born unto him while he continued in Master Mainwarings Family where he found much love and did much service for every evening he expounded a portion of Scripture which was read in course and many mornings also was helpfull in Catechizing of the Family Hither many Ministers and others had often recourse unto him for counsell where they were alwaies friendly entertained and the Lord blessed that Family very much which doth still shew much kindnesse unto the Children of this good man Afterwards he removed with his own Family unto an house which Master Mainwaring had built for him where he had his seventh and last child born to him and where he dwelt till his death He was a great lover of Learning and therefore laid out in the first years of his Ministry all the money which he could spare from necessary expences in buying good Books with which he was so well acquainted having both a quick understanding and strong memory that he could readily give an account of all passages most remarkable in them He had so well studied Bellarmines controversies that it is scarcely credible what relation he could make ex tempore of them from point to point and shew from particular to particular where the fallacy and the weaknesse of his Arguments did appear And the like might be truly attested in reference unto the Arminian disputes and the other Church-Controversies both in former and latter times It was his custom to read over a Book when once he undertook it and no man could be more cautious in entertaining opinions without much mature consideration having well weighed all arguments produced on both sides both for and
in the afternoon and kept a Lecture on the Wednesday constantly and besides this he was one of the five Ministers who held up the Lecture at Banbury He gave himself much to Fasting and Prayer and as his seeds-time was painfull so his Harvest was gainfull hundreds of souls being converted by his Ministry He was given to Hospitality delighting therein keeping a constant Table on the Sabbath and on the Wednesdays Lecture upon which daies he had not under eight or twelve persons commonly dining with him and he spent the time amongst them in spiritual exhortation and conference He was about thirty years old when he came to Hanwel and continued there above twenty years where he had twelve Children by his dear Wife formerly Anne Bound Daughter-in-law to the worthy Servant of Jesus Christ Master Greenham of Draighton near Cambridge and Daughter to Doctor Bound she was one that truly feared God and after her decease by the perswasion of some Friends he took to Wife Mistresse Cleiton who then lived at Stratford Bowe she also was a godly woman and he was contracted to her by Master Egerton of Black-Fryers and married by his ancient and loving Friend Doctor Gouge But to return back again to Hanwel it pleased the Lord to give a great blessing to his Ministry in that place yet he had much trouble from the envy of some Ministers that lived about him who though they seldome preached themselves yet they would not suffer that their people should go from them and hence he was frequently questioned in the Bishops Courts And besides this though some of Hanwel were very courteous and kind yet there were some others who were glad to get from him what they could and to keep from him what they could thinking that that which he had was too much Upon a time Master Dod took a journey to Draighton to bemoan himself to his Father-in-law Master Greenham by reason of his crosses and hard usage Master Greenham heard him what he could say and when he had done answered him thus Son Son when affliction lieth heavy sin lieth light This deserves the rather to be remembred because Master Dod used often to blesse God for it saying also that if Master Greenham had bemoaned him which he expected he had done him hurt and he forgot not this speech in his old age but made excellent use of it for himself and others He was suspended from his Ministry at Hanwel by Doctor Bridges Bishop of Oxford And suspecting what would follow the Sabbath before he went to the Visitation he gave his hearers a farewell Sermon out of that text I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered the people did attend unto him with sad countenances and weeping eyes Being thus driven from Hanwel he preached at Fenni-Compton in Warwickshire where he had but small means but he was desirous to be doing good From thence he had a fair call unto Cannons-Ashby in Northamptonshire where he lived quietly divers years preached over the whole Prophesie of Danel with some other Scriptures having much kindnesse from Sir Erasmas Dryden in whom there was a rare mixture of Piety and Learning and good affection from Master Cope He was silenced from preaching at Ashby upon a complaint made against him by Bishop Neal to King James who commanded the Arch-bishop Abbot to silence him Then he ceased for some time to preach publiquely yet in regard of his heavenly gift in conference he might have been said daily to preach privately he was in his element when he was discoursing of heavenly things And God in goodnesse so ordered it that when he was restrained from publique preaching yet himself conceived that at that time his life was no lesse profitable then it had been in former times He had much employment in comforting such as were wounded in their spirits being sent for not only nigh at hand but also into remote Countries There was a Gentlewoman who had a great worldly estate and a loving Husband but she was so sadly assaulted with tentations that she often attempted to make away her self Master Dod was sent for to come to her and the Lord so blessed his Councels Exhortations and Prayers that she did not only recover out of her anguish of spirit but she was afterwards taken notice of for her singular Piety and the Lord so ordered that this affliction was not only the means of her Conversion but also of her Husbands so that both of them were a great mercy in the Countrey where they lived promoting Religion according to their power and entertaining and cherishing godly people She lived divers years quieted in her heart and being rich in good works and when she lay on her death-bed Master Dod was sent for to her again who spake of heaven and to fit her for that glory she told him that she felt the comforts of God and that she could as hardly at that time forbear singing as formerly in child-bearing she could forbear crying and shortly after she died There was a Gentlemen related to a noble Family so perplexed in his mind that he hath been known in hard frosts to go barefooted that the pain of his feet might divert his thoughts Master Dod was sent for to him who was his spirituall Physician to heale him It would be long to insist on all particulars of this nature the Lord having made him a happy Instrument for the good of many When he had spent some years in this kind of service by the care and industry of Master Richard Knightley of Preston a worthy Patriot after the death of King James his liberty was procured for preaching again publiquely and then he was setld at Fausley where he preached twice every Lords day There he went over the Gospel of John the Epistle to the Colossions and other Scriptures He was much given to Hospitality at Fausley as he had formerly been at Hanwel so that there was scarce any Sabbath in the year in which he did not dine both poor and rich commonly three or four poor persons besides those that came from other places to hear him He had so large an heart that upon occasion he hath given to some three shillings to some ten shillings to some twenty shillings and when the poor came to buy butter or cheese he would command his maid to take no money of them At Fausley he had quietnesse from the Courts as also at Ashby for in neither of those places was there any Church-wardens He was beholding at Fausley to the Right Worshipfull Family of the Knightleys where his bones was laid He used to bear crosses with much patience and meeknesse being wont to say that Sanctified afflictions were great promotions quoting that of the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. is much more precious then gold which he conceived to signifie the affliction that
spake to them to this purpose Friends I wonder at the providence of God in bringing you hither at this time for otherwise I must have sent for you And so declaring to them what had hapned to the afflicted man he desired them to spend some part of the night with him in seeking God for him which accordingly they did The next morning Master Balsom going to visit him again found him in a comfortable condition and asking of him how he did He answered Through the goodnesse of God I have overcome and am now as full of comfort as I was before of trouble And so continued all that day cheerfull but in great weaknesse and the next morning died no disease appearing upon him After some time of Master Balsom's abode there he was earnestly intreated to return into his own Countrey to which for some important reasons he was inclined but was as earnestly importuned by many of the inhabitants of Barwick either to abide with them or to return again to them And after many other Arguments as he was just parting with them as their last Argument to perswade him to stay with him they presented him with a list of about threescore that had been as they were verily perswaded savingly wrought on by his Ministry during the time of his continuance there He left them but with a mind of returning to them again if providence crost it not but his return was prevented by his death which hapned about two year after as he was endeavouring to get himself free from the place where he then was to return to them In which space of time he did much good as in converting many so in reducing many that were drawn away by Sectaries The Life of Master Herbert Palmer B. D. late Master of Queens-Colledge in Cambridge who died Anno Christi 1647. HErbert Palmer was descended of an ancient Family of that name allied to divers other Families of note of the Nobility and Gentry His Father was Sir Thomas Palmer of Wingham in East-Kent about six miles distant from Canterbury His Mother was the eldest Daughter of Herbert Pelham of Crawley in Sussex Esquire He was born at Wingham and was there baptized March 29. 1601. He had the happinesse of a prudent and pious Education His Father beside his Piety being a very wise man and of a more then ordinary understanding as well in State-affairs as those of a more private concernment His Mother beside her Prudence and other accomplishments more then ordinary in her sex was also eminently religious and both of them exceeding carefull of his education Himself also being even from his infancy much addicted to the serious study both of Religion and Learning in both of which he had made more then ordinary Proficiency in a short time and continued the exercise and improvement of them afterward The Symptomes of Grace and Piety began betimes to put themselves forth to the view and observation of others as soon almost as the exercise and use of reason so that we may not without good ground esteem him sanctified even from the Womb. When he was about the age of four or five years he would cry to go to his Lady-mother That he might hear somewhat of God So soon had these her Religious discourses made pleasing impressions on his apprehension Neither did these and such like expressions of affection to good things soon vanish away as childish apprehensions use to do but continued and encreased according as his years and the use of reason increased Mr. HERBERT PALMER He was early acquainted with the Book of God which he much delighted in and read with great affection insomuch that while he was but a child little more then five years old he wept in reading the story of Joseph and took much pleasure in learning of Chapters by heart And here was laid the first foundation of that great exactnesse in the knowledge of the Scriptures to which he did afterwards attain He had excellent natural parts both intellectual and moral which as they were soon capable of being imployed so they were soon set on work his Parents vigilancy being such that they suffered no time to be neglected He learned the French tongue almost as soon as he could speak English even so soon as that he hath often affirmed he did not remember his learning of it And he did afterwards attain so great exactnesse of speaking and preaching in that language together with a perfect knowledge of the state and affairs of that Kingdom especially of the Protestant Churches amongst them that he was often by strangers thought to be a native French-man and did not doubt but to entertain discourse with any person of that Nation for some hours together in their own language concerning the affairs of that Kingdom who should not be able by his discourse to distinguish him from a native French-man but judge him to be born and bred in France so well was he furnished with an exact knowledge both of the Propriety and due Pronunciation of that language and of the persons places and affairs of that Kingdom and the Churches therein A thing not often seen in one who had never been out of England When he learned the Latine tongue with such other parts of learning as younger years are usually imployed in at School his diligence and proficiency therein was such as produced both commendation and admiration And while others at vacant hours were following their sports and recreations he was constantly observed to be reading studiously by himself taking as much pleasure in good imployments as others in sports and counting that the best Passe-time wherein the time was best passed His carriage towards his Parents was dutifull and obsequious not only during his Minority but even afterwards which was very evident in that honour and reverend respect which he continued to expresse to his godly aged Mother to the day of her death which hapned not long before his own being also a special helper to her in the waies of holinesse And what he thus practised himself he did frequently commend to others being alwaies though himself unmarried a great asserter of Parental authority as well from that great emphasis which God puts upon it through the whole current of Scripture as from those remarkable judgments which in Scripture and in his own experience he had observed to be inflicted on disobedient and undutifull children whom as he was wont to say he had scarce ever known to escape some visible judgment for it in this life though possibly otherwise godly persons as also from those unavoidable mischiefs which do frequently ensue in Civil Societies where the authority of Superiours is vilified or contemned and which if well considered will be often found to take their first rise and original from the contempt of Paternal authority He was about the year 1615. admitted Fellow-Commoner in Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge
where he continued his former diligence as well in the exercise of Religion as the improvement of his learning both in his private Study and in the performance of Exercises in the University and Colledge notwithstanding the exemption which Fellow-Commoners in Colledges are ready to plead from the performance of them After that he had there taken the degree of Master of Arts about the year 1622. he was in the year 1623. constituted Fellow of Queens Colledge in that University where although he were a Gentleman that beside his Fellowship had an estate of his own and so had the lesse need in point of maintenance to take that trouble of Pupils upon him yet not satisfying himself to take a place upon him without performing the Office thereunto belonging he took many Pupils of whom he was more then ordinarily carefull being very diligent both in praying with them in his Chamber and instructing them in the grounds of Religion as also keeping them to their studies and the performance of disputations and other exercises of learning privately in his Chamber beside the more publique exercises required of them by the Colledge to the great benefit of those that were his Pupils While he was Fellow of Queens Colledge about the year 1624. he was solemnly ordained to the work of the Ministry whereunto from a Child he had addicted himself And about the year 1626 was called to the publique exercise thereof as a Lecturer in the City of Canterbury where for divers years notwithstanding the great oppositions he there met with from such as were enemies to the power of godlinesse he did with much diligence and very great successe discharge that great work to the spiritual edification and comfort of many yet alive to whom his memory to this day is precious The occasion of his coming thither was this Coming from Cambridge to give a visit to his Brother Sir Thomas Palmer at Wingham he did at the intreaty of some Friends preach a Sermon at the Cathedral Church in Canterbury and that with so much true Zeal and reall savour of Piety as did much affect the godly hearers The report hereof coming to the knowledge of Master Delme a godly faithfull prudent and laborious Minister of the French Church in Canterbury he made a journey to Wingham on purpose to gain a further knowledge of him and acquaintance with him with whom he was already not a little in love from that good report he had heard of him though as yet by face unknown to him and hereby not only obtained the knowledge of the man but was also by his gracious and savoury discourse and carriage very much confirmed in that good opinion which he had before conceived of him And this was the first foundation of that intire and Christian friendship which with much spiritual advantage to them both was contracted between these two holy men which continued and increased daily to their mutual comfort and contentment while they were both living and the memory thereof is still precious to him that doth yet survive After this before his return to Cambridge having at the request of Master Delme preached a second Sermon at Saint Georges Church in Canterbury on a week day Lecture the most godly and best affected in the City were more and more taken with him and expressed great desires of enjoying his Ministry amongst them if it might be obtained Hereupon Master Delme with divers others of the most considerable Gentlemen and Citizens having earnestly sought direction from God in a matter of such concernment did seriously advise about it and being first assured of the concurrent desires of many others did by letters and messages to Cambridge signifie to him the desire of the godly in that City that he would undertake to preach a Lecture amongst them This invitation after mature deliberation he thought good to accept of preferring the opportunity and probability of doing good in that populous place before the hopes of preferment either in the University or elsewhere which by reason of his many Friends and acquaintance great at Court and otherwise he might likely have attained unto holding steady to that resolution which long before that time he had taken up so to imploy himself as might probably most promte the Work of God whatever became of his own advantages Whereupon a License being obtained for him from George Abbot then Arch-bishop of Canterbury authorizing him to preach a weekly Lecture on the Lords day in the afternoon at Alphage Church in that City He left his Fellowship in the University and undertook this work During his abode in this employment he did much edifie the people there both by sound doctrine and exemplary conversation His Sermons were altogether spiritual and heavenly full of solid explications and practicall applications of the Word of God whereby the City was well seasoned as with savoury salt and much preserved from those innovations and corruptions both in doctrine and Worship which in those dayes were creeping on apace by reason whereof that leven of formality which many of the Cathedralists were promoting who preferred pompous Ceremonies before the power of Godlinesse was stopped from spreading and corrupting so much as otherwise it might have done For although he was not then perswaded of the unlawfulnesse of the then Government and some Ceremonies then in use yet he could no way approve of the corrupt innovations coming on in those daies but did with all wisdome and zeal reprove them countenancing goodnesse and good men And by this means he was a great stay and comfort to the godly Ministers and People both in the City and Countrey thereabouts whom not only by his publique preaching but by many other Christian and Ministerial helps administred in his more private Converses he did very much incourage in true Piety Of this very many Families in that City had great experience even those of the meanest ranke whom he was wont often to visit as he had opportunity that he might the better understand their spiritual condition admitting also persons of all ranks freely to apply themselves unto him as they had occasion and to partake the benefit of private Conferences Prayers and other religious exercises as likewise affording his Christian advice and direction in cases of difficulty especially to distressed Consciences in which cases by most of his prudent and judicious resolutions he was frequently consulted with as a kind of Oracle And that not only during his abode at Canterbury but wherever else the Providence of God did cast him And herein he had an excellent ability and dexterity and took much delight in it And his assistance he afforded not only to those of that City but also to many of the most Religious Families of the Nobility and Gentry thereabouts to whom both by his personal Converses and his Christian letters of which there are great numbers yet to be seen he afforded frequent
France more skilfull in warlike affairs then was he and I doubt not but even forreign Nations will subscribe to the truth hereof especially those which have had experience of his vertues and this credit he got to himself not by idleness and sluggishness but by undergoing the greatest labours for his Countries sake Truly I knew no man that was more devout to Godward nor more just to men then he Neither am I ignorant that it were unfit for me thus to boast of him to strangers but I mention them more freely to you because I would have you to be imitators of his vertues for I even propose him for my own imitation and I pray God from my heart that when I come to dye I may with the like piety and assurance resign up my spirit to God as I saw him to do And that my grief for him may be the more extenuated I earnestly desire that I may see his graces and vertues to live in you Which that it may be so I exhort you with all your hearts to embrace Piety and true Religion and wholly to apply your selves to your Books that thereby you may through Gods grace be led in the way of vertue and though I willingly allow you to recreate your selves in those hours which your Master allots you yet I charge you take heed that in your play you neither speak nor do any thing whereby you may offend God Be very carefull to reverence your Master and obey him no otherwise then you would obey me for I am perswaded that he will give you no other counsel then what may be for your honour and profit In short see that you love me or rather that you love your selves so that I may hear nothing of you but what I may rejoyce in and as you grow in years and body so you may grow in Piety and Vertue The Lord bless you all and the holy Spirit preserve you for ever From Xantone May 18. 1569 Castellonius The courage and magnanimity of our Admirall did exceedingly appear in this for that though he had lost such a Brother as was second to none in piety justice vertue and the glory of his military actions so that the Admirall called him his right arm yet he told his Friends often that he wholly relied upon the divine providence and knew assuredly that the Church of God was not administred by humane counsels nor this Christian Army led by the providence and valour of its Commanders but by God And speaking concerning his Brother to his Friends he brake out into this expression O blessed Andelot who hast finished the course of thy life so holily and happily About this time news was brought him that Wolfgang Duke of Bipont had brought a strong Army out of Germany into France for the aid of the Protestants and that he had already passed the Loir and had taken Charity where was a Bridge over that River and when he understood that they were advanced as farre as Chalons he intended to joyn his Forces with them and that very day on which he came to them D. Wolfgang died of a violent disease whereupon the German Army unanimously chose Wolradus Count Mansfield to be their Generall This conjunction of theirs exceedingly troubled their adversaries and every one deemed that the Kings Army would not be able to stand before them but that the Courtiers would hereby be brought to stoop to them Yea all good Patriots that studied the publique Peace did abominate the perfidious Authors of these Wars publiquely saying that God never suffered such perjury to escape long unpunished and it was verily believed that if the Admirall had led this gallant Army strait to Paris many great Cities would willingly have yielded and put themselves into the Admirals protection which opinion was much confirmed hereby for that the Duke of Anjou pitching his tents near to them and adventuring a Battell he was easily overthrown most of his foot being either slain or taken together with their Commander in chief Strossius cosen German to the Queen-Mother The Admirall having so brave an Army hoping that now at last the Kings heart would be inclined to Peace he sent an humble supplication to him the Duke of Anjou not suffering him to send Ambassadours in his own and the Armies name intreating and beseeching him no longer to harden his heart but to pity the afflicted condition of the common people and also to consider that if the Warre should be protracted it would turn to the great prejudice of all the States of France there being twenty thousand Auxiliary Souldiers of both parts and that things were brought to this passe that by these Civil Warres mens minds were so farre from union and love to their Countrey that every one sought the blood ruine and destruction each of other They therefore humbly intreated that he would spare his poor Subjects that had so long groaned under these heavy pressures and that he would no longer be led away by the Cardinals and Italians who had too much power over him and could not have the like fellow-feeling of the miseries of France as the French men themselves They suggested also that this was the fittest time for a Treaty when both parties were so confident of their own strength and that the conditions which he and his Army would propose were very easie viz. That they might enjoy that Peace and Liberty for the exercise of their Religion which was often confirmed to them by the Decrees of all the States and by the Kings own Proclamations That it was extream madnesse in those Italians and strangers to think that those of the Religion whereof there were at least two hundred thousand men could so easily be rooted out the truth whereof the experience of the former Warres might easily demonstrate The Duke of Anjou having received that disgrace which we spake of before by the advice of his Councel dismissed a great part of his Army especially of his Horse for a moneth or two bidding them go home and refresh their bodies Things standing thus the Admirall called a Councel wherein it was determined That seeing Rochel and divers other Maritine Cities and places were wholly in the power of the Protestants That therefore they should take care for the fortifying of them and then should attempt the taking in of the City of Poictiers which would be as a Bulwark to all that Countrey but to this there seemed a main impediment which was the taking in of the Castle of Lusiniac the strongest piece in all France yet after they had besieged it a few daies it was surrendred to them and so also was Castelheraut about the same time Then they proceeded to besiege and batter Poictiers but within a few daies the Admirall being quite tired with watchings and labours fell sick of a Flux which held him so violently for thirty daies together that he could neither assist them with his Counsels nor presence so
c. Having dispatched these things he resolved to march to Vivaret and to the bank of Rhodanus and understanding that some were up in Arms for him in the Delphinate who also had taken some Towns he sent part of his forces to them to assist them in taking in some Cities of greater consequence committing the government of them to Count Lodwick of Nassaw who arriving in the Delphinate struck such a terrour into the Inhabitants as caused them to fly into the Cities but he having no Guns for battery only wasted the enemies Countrey and so with honour returned within few daies to the Admirall Shortly after the Admirall worn out with cares watchings and incessant labours fell sick and though he was greatly afflicted with his disease yet conceiving that it was of great concernment for him to get to the River Liger he made no stay but in his Horselitter marched with his Army thitherward for he was informed that about La Charity and Sancerra there were about two hundred risen in Arms for him whom he thought to be of great concernment to adjoyn to his Army the rather because Cossaeus Marshall of the Kingdom after the Battell in Xantone by the King made Generall of the Army in the room of the Duke of Anjou as he understood advanced with his Army that way and began to approach near him And whereas there came a Trumpet from him to the Admirall about exchange of Prisoners the Admirall sent him word by his Trumpet that he should not need to be at so much pains to seek him for that he himself was hasting towards him so fast as he could When he was advanced so far as the Forrest behold new Ambassadors met him from the King about a Peace for when the Courtiers heard that the Admirall whom they thought to be utterly broken by his former overthrow had in so short a time gotten so gallant an Army together again they were extreamly terrified lest he should march directly towards Paris and there should plunder and destroy the brave Countrey Houses of the Courtiers Senators and rich Citizens of Paris the like whereunto they had heard that the Senators and Citizens of Tholouse had already felt The Admirall by his march though in his Horselitter had his disease much increased upon him and the Physicians gave their judgment that if he continued still to be pressed with so great cares and multiplicity of businesses he could not hold out long whereupon the Treaty with the Kings Ambassadours brake off for a time but some Nobles that were aweary of the Warres complained that there was no reason that the Treaty should cease because the Admirall could not be present at it affirming that though he should die yet there were men enough of honour and interest that could carry on the Treaty to the establishing of Peace The Ambassadors tnswered them We wonder thrt you do not consider of how great authority the Admirall is amongst you who if he should die to day we would not offer to any of you tomorrow so much as a cup of cold water What do you not yet know that the only name of the Admirall can prevail more for you then a great Army without him Within a few daies the Admirall being refreshed and in a good measure recovered the Treaty began again and at last it was concluded That certain Commissioners should go along with the Kings Ambassadours to signifie to his Majesty in the name of them all That they of the Religion desired nothing more then Peace neither was any thing more grievous to them then Warre yet was there none of them but would undergo greater miseries yea and death it self rather then to deny the truth which they had embraced That if the King pleased to grant them Peace and the exercise of their Religion upon the former conditions and to put some cautionary Towns into their power for their security they would willingly and for ever lay down their Arms. These Messengers being dispatched the Admirall advanced forward and in his way took in the Town of Reneducium to which some of the Vantcurriers of Cossaeus were come and from that day forwards there was no day passed without some skirmishes between the two Armies and one day the minds of the Souldiers on both parts were so far inflamed that it had near come to a generall Battell there being only a little Brook between the two Armies Monsieur Mongomry having already broken the first Battell of the adversaries wherein were Valetius and Vasco men of great authority amongst the Royalists But presently came new Messengers from the King desiring a cessation from arms till the Treaty was finished and after great debate an Edict was sent from the King by which certain places were allotted to the Protestants for the exercise of their Religion in for the performance whereof they had for two years four cautionary Towns put into their hands viz. Rochel Montalban Cognac and Charity and the Kings Proclamations hereof were sent all over the Kingdom and so an en end was put to the third Civil Warres The Admirall bringing the German Forces to the borders of their Countrey dismissed them courteously and so taking the two young Princes of Navarr and Conde he went with them to Rochel where the Queen of Navarr was purposing to stay there till the Peace was fully setled in every place and after a few Moneths trusting to the Kings promises and to the oaths of the Kings Brethren and Parliaments having been tired out with so many and great labours he betook himself to rest and at the intreaties and perswasions of his Friends inclined to dispose of himself again in Marriage the rather because he was earnestly solicited thereto by the kindred of Jacoba Monbella the widow of the L. Anthony Monbell who was Daughter of Count Intermontanus of whose modesty piety and wholly life he had heard much formerly She therefore being brought honourably to him to Rochel he solemnly married her and not long after he disposed his own Daughter Ludovica in Marriage to Monsieur Teligni a young man of great Nobility and vertue Of all the Nobility of France none seemed more acceptable and dearer to the King then this Teligni by reason of his admirall ingenuity and therefore being much about the King it was he that did afterwards perswade the Admirall of the great esteem and hearty good will of the King towards him But God quickly mixed sorrow with the joy of these Marriages news being brought about that time of the death of Odet Coligni Cardinall of Chattillion who had been some time in the Court of England as the Procurator for the cause of the Protestants with Queen Elizabeth who much favoured him for the amplitude of his Family and the opinion of his vertue and integrity But the Protestants affairs being composed in France his Brother Gaspar sent for him Whereupon coming to Queen Elizabeth he obtained leave for his departure
his Pancrestum or Physick for all diseases which greatly comforted his heart in all his afflictions By his first Wife he had five Children He left alive Lewis his eldest Daughter married to Monsieur Teligni who was murthered the same night with his Father-in-law then Francis Odet and Charles the two elder survived that furious Massacre the third being not eight years old in whom he took much delight for his prettinesse was taken by his enemies and taught to bear the Crosse of Christ in his tender years He left his second Wife great with child who was brought to bed four moneths after of a girl and returning to her native Countrey in the borders of Savoy was not long after committed to prison by the command of P. Philibert D. of Savoy for marrying against his consent The Life of Joane Queen of Navarr who was poisoned at Paris a few daies before the bloody Massacre Anno Christi 1572. IOane of Albert was daughter to Henry the second King of Navarr and to Margueret of Orleance Sister to Francis the first of that name King of France and by her Parents was carefully trained up in the Protestant Religion from her childhood which she constantly adhered to all the daies of her life She was married to Anthony of Bourbon Son to Charles Duke of Vendosme by whom she had Henry the fourth of that name King of France by his Fathers right and the second of that name King of Navarr by his Mothers This Anthony King of Navarr in the minority of Charles the ninth being the first Prince of the blood was to be his Protector but the Queen-Mother and the Guises seeking to draw all the power and management of affairs into their own hands laboured by all means to withdraw the King of Navarr from the Protestants that so by weakening them thereby they might rule the rost as they listed For which end they employed the Ambassadour of Spain the Cardinall of Tournon Escars and some other houshold flatterers to him who perswaded him that carrying himself a Neuter and causing the Prince his Son to go once to the Masse the King of Spain would give him the Realm of Sardinia in recompence for that of Navarr which he had lately taken from him The Pope likewise confirms him in this hope which indeed was but to take from him all means of recovering his Kingdom of Navarr when he should attempt it Yet he being drawn by those Spanish and Lorrain practises estrangeth himself by little and little from the Protestants sollicited the Queen his Wife to return into the bosome of the Romish Church and to draw her children thereunto But she being better grounded in the truth then so easily to forsake it refuseth whereupon a breach grew betwixt them and the King her Husband falls in love with one of the Queen-Mothers Maids The forenamed Guisian instruments seeing this perswade him that Heresie is a sufficient cause of dissolving marriage and that therefore he might be divorced from Joane Albert his Wife as being infected with the poison of Heresie They tell him also that notwithstanding his divorce he should retain to himself the possession of and interest in all the Dominions and Kingdoms belonging to her of which she should be deprived as unworthy of them by reason of her Heresie And instead of her he should marry Mary Queen of Scots whose Dowry say they is the Kingdom of England and as soon as the marriage is contracted the Pope would strip Elizabeth of it as unworthy thereof for the same cause and settle it upon them c. But the King of Navarr abhorring to be divorced from his Wife it remained that he should accept the conditions about the Kingdom of Sardinia for the effecting whereof they left no means unassaied and at last prevailed so far that they gulled the King of Navarr and set him at odds with his Brother the Prince of Conde Coligni the Admirall and the other Protestants The Queen his Wife distasting his change of Religion and adhering to the Popish party retired into Podium in the Countrey of Bearne where she kept her Court But it pleased God that shortly after in the siege of Orleance the King of Navarr was shot into the shoulder whereof he died about three weeks after The next design was to seize upon the Queen together with her Son Henry and her Daughter Katherine and to bring them before the judgment seat of the Inquisition of Spain and the Conspirators doubted not but that Philip King of Spain would more willingly hearken to this counsell for that this exploit would make for the advantage of his Religion the rescuer whereof he proudly boasted himself to be As also the businesse about the Kingdom of Navarr which he unjustly detained would be hereby dispatched by the taking away of the unlawfull heirs thereof They conceived also that the businesse might easily be effected by the means of the King of Spain's Souldiers that lay at Bacinona ready to be transported into Africk who by the waies of the mountains might come upon and surprize the Queen of Navarr and her Children at Podium before they were aware One Dominik a Captain born in the territories of Bearne was singled out to go to the Court of Spain to communicate these counsels with the King and to receive further instructions from him But it pleased God that this Dominik falling sick by the way Annas Hespius an honest man that tended on him smelt out the occasion of his journey and by giving timely notice prevented the effecting of it by which deliverance God shewed his watchfull providence over his handmaid this Religious Queen of Navarr Not long after in the time of the third Civil Warre for Religion this Queen having raised great Troops led them to Rochel together with her Son Henry and her Daughter Katherine from whence she wrote Letters to the King the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou and the Cardinall of Bourbon To the King she wrote That in the common Cause of Religion in regard of the duty which she owed to the King and the necessity of blood whereby she was joyned to the Prince of Conde she could not be wanting to him upon such an occasion having alwaies rejected the bloody counsels of the Guisian faction and especially the Ambition of the Cardinall of Lorrain from whose friendship she earnestly dehorted the Duke of Anjou beseeching him that he would not yield up himself a minister of his wicked will in cutting up the Royal stock by the roots In her Letter to the Cardinall of Bourbon she sharply chideth him for not being warned by his former danger For how long saith she will you be the Suffragan of the Cardinall of Lorrain Have you forgotten the treacherous plots that were laid by him for your Head and are you so credulous as to believe his oaths when he sweareth that he minded no treachery c. But these
His marriage Conformity strictly pressed Gods good providence over him The trouble of his Wife Gods mercy His return to Newhall The Lady Ferrers respect to him though a Papist His prudence in his Ministry Bishop Neals malice Gods Providence over him His Letter about Master Rediches death Note He is inhibited from preaching But soon restored His last sicknesse His Death An. Christi 1618. His behaviour in his sickness His counsell to his friends His Burial His excellent parts His method in teaching The efficacy of his Ministry He used a form of prayer and why The Scriptures which he preached over His works that were published His zeal against Sectaries and Separatists A Disputation His Charity Doctor Halls character of him His birth and breeding His remove from Cambridge His coming to London His marriage His painfulnesse 1 Cor. 9.2 The effectualnesse of his Ministry Isa. 53.1 and 49.4 Isa. 8.18 1 Cor. 4.15 Jam. 5.20 Dan. 12.3 Luk. 1.16 Rom. 10.1 The danger of unprofitabe hearers 1 Cor. 9.27 Mat. 23.3 His exemplary life What makes a compleat man What makes a compleat Minister His manner of preaching His zeal for the Sabbath His prudence His care of his Family His Apology for quoting the Fathers His faithfulnesse in reproving sin His last sicknesse His death 1 Tim. 4.12 His birth and education His natural and acquired parts His entring into the Ministry His course of life before his Conversion The means and manner his Conversion Power of Prayer His Faith and comfort Confess l. 5. c. 13 14. His going into Ireland The efficacy of his Ministry The places of his first employment The study of the Prophesies His contests with the Bishops Mat. 26.13 The Lady Bowes her great charity His self-denial His patience and courage His carriage amongst his people Special Providence His persecution by Bishop Neal. * Gnats His last sicknesse His last sicknesse He foretels his death His death His strange sicknesse and recovery Satans malice The power of prayer His dispossessing of the devil His Birth His education His going to Cambridge His remove to Queens Colledge His Character His studiousnesse He is chosen Fellow He studies Physick His study of Astrology His Conversion He is chosen to oppose before the King His many Pupils His zeal His diligence The Bishops Hypocrisie His courage His Prudence Master Preston preacheth before the King He is made the Prince his Chaplain His travel in the Low-Countries He is chosen to Lincolns-Inne The Duke of Buckinghams Letter He is chosen Master of Emanuel A special Providence His last sicknesse His Parentage His education His conversion A special Providence His going to Cambridge 2 Cor. 7.6 A special Providence His first Sermon He is chosen Fellow of Christs Colledge but opposed His remove to Ashby His marriage His first silencing His Sermon before the Judge Judge Aderson angry with him He manageth the Petition for Reformation His second silencing The successe of his Ministry He is restored to Ashby His Lectures on John 4. His third silencing Wightman burnt for Heresie Slander He is cited into the High-Commission Court Silenced His sicknesse His second summons into the High-Commission Court His imprisonment He is falsly accused His censure in the High-Commission Court A special Providence He is sent for Leyden His constancy His humility and charity He opposeth the Brownists and Independents Master Cottons testimony of him Dr. Prestons testimony of his Lectures on John 4. His studiousnesse His care to profit by the Word His sicknesse His recovery His Lectures at Ashby on Psal. 35.3 His Lectures on Psal. 51. He is again silenced His last sicknesse His death His burial His charity His Parentage and education His going to Cambridge His Sermon at Pauls Crosse. His painfulnesse in the Ministry The success of his Ministry His piety in private His sicknesse His prudence therein His death His birth and breeding His going to Cambridge His remove to Oxford His going into Northamptonshire Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers Isa. 28.15 Levit. 26.27 28. A special Providence His remove to Woolstone He is opposed by the Bishop His courage He is suspended and excommunicated Absolved by the Archbishop He is accused of treason and imprisoned Sir T. Lucy He is acquitted The Bishop enjoyned to ask him forgivenesse P. Petiver Binley Wood. A special Providence His great pains The success of his Ministry His care in the education of his children Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers His powerfull manner of preaching His last sicknesse His death His Country His going to Cambridge His promotion in the Colledge and University His conversion He is chosen Lecturer in Cambridge Master of Katherine Hall His prudence in the Ministry Mr Dods testimony of his Sermons on Cant. 5. His piety His charity His death His Parentage His remove to Cambridge His Father casts him off He is chosen Fellow Chosen the first Master of Emanuel He commenced Doctor His care of the Colledge His care for young Students His care of Servants He resigned his place His death His birth and education His going to Oxford His remove into Cheshire His improvement of his parts His frequent Fasts and Prayers His constancy His Non-conformity He is ordained Minister His call to Whitmore His marriage His diligent studies His skill in comforting afflicted consciences His indefatigablenesse His unwearied pains on the Sabbath His frequent Fasting and Prayer His readinesse to do good His temperance and meeknesse His frugality His charity His humility His esteem of the weight of the Ministry His humility The necessity of stadying controversies The danger of Separation His high esteem of God His gratitude for mercies His high esteem of Jesus Christ. His prudence His distaste of frowardnesse The means of cure His love to the Church and to his Children His contentednesse His care to keep the Sacraments from pollution His dislike of separation His judgment about Independency His judgement about revelations His humility and modesty His intended works His great abilities His last sicknesse His Faith His humility His death His birth and education His preferments at Oxford His humility His holinesse His Lectures at Abington and Totnes He is chosen Provost of Queens Colledge He is chosen Bishop of Carlisle His painfulnesse His Sermon at the beginning of the Parliament His death A favouerer of godly Ministers Mr. Thomas Richardson now Pastor of Newbold Pace in Warwickshire An enemy to the book of sports His birth and education His conversion He is rejected by his Uncle His going to Cambridge Humane infirmity A special Providence His recovery He is persecuted And entertained by Sir Edward Bois By Sir Edward Anslow His great pains His faithfulnesse His preaching at Battersey His self-deniel His marriage He is again persecuted His Courage He is chosen by the Merchants He erects discipline in the Church Conversion The efficacy of his Ministry Gods judgement on a persecutor His charity His self-denial His return into England His Lecture in Wales His call to Wapping His painfulnesse A