for his oâ—â—aâ—â—ons When a friend sent him 200. angels of gold from the metal-mines he bestowed them all on poore Students When Iohn the Elector gave him a new gowneâ— he said that he was made to much of for if here we receive a full recompence of our labours we shall hope for none in another life When the same Elector offered him a vayne of Metals at Sneberge he refused it lest he should incurre the tentations of the Divell who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He took nothing of Printers for his copies as he writeth saying I have no plenty of money and thus yet I deale with the Printers I receive nothing from them â—or recompence of my many Copies sometimes I receive of them one copy This I thinke is due to me whereas other writers yea translaters for every eight leaves have an Angel Concerning money given him thus he writeth The hundreth Angels given me I roceived by Tanbenhem and Schart gave me fifty that I stand in feare that God will give me my reward here But I protested that I would not so be satisfied by him I will either presently repay it or spend it For what should I doe with so much money I gave one halfe of it to P. Prior and made him a joyfull man He was very lovingly affectioned towards his children and gave them liberall education He kept in his house a School-master to traine them up in good arts and a godly life When he saw Magdalen his eldest daughter ready to dye he read to her in Esay 26.19 Thy dead servants shall rise againe together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust For thy dew is at the dew of hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a littâ—e moment untill the indignation be over-past My daughter enter thou into thy chamber with peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishments hanging over the head of Germany And upon tâ—is wept plentifully But in publick when he went a long with the Herse he bridled his affection and was not seen to shed one teare And as all men of excellent spirits have a zealous anger in due place So Luther by nature was vehement but yet placable As appeareth in this that when Melancthon much moved to passion once came unto him and all the rest were very mute Luther uttered this Verse Vince animos irà mque tuam qui caeterà vinciâ— Thine owne heart overcome thy fury tame Who all things else hast stoutly overcame And then smiling saidâ— we will not further dispute of this matter and turned his speech to other occasions He foresaw and foretold many things as the combustion which rose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give eare to Duke George his ill counsell there will arise some tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and ingage in it all the Clergy Of the death of Frederick Elector of Saxony thus he writeth If God in heaven hath resolved in wrath to deale with us that neither our prayres nor counsels of amendment can hinder it let us obtaine this that our Josias may sleep in peace though the world be left to goe into its Babylon Of the covetousnesse of Germany and the dearth there thus he speaketh We feare Famine and we shall suffer it and finde no remedy for it And when as without necessity we are solicitous to prevent Famine like wicked and incredulous Gentles and neglect the word of God and his work he will permit shortly a dismall day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wâ—inloads of ceares which he shall neither have power or meanes to escape Diverse other things he also foretold He had his health competently well but that sometimes he was troubled with the headach especially in his elder yeares Whereupon he was afraid of some violent Apoplexie and when he felt a swimming in his head or noyse in his eares he used to say Lord Iesu smite me gently for I am absolved from my sins according to thy word and am fed unto life eternall by thy body and blood Thine Apostle John and our Elector were taken out of this world by this kinde of death He endured often tentations whereupon he said All here are in health except Luther who is â—ound in body and without suffers at no mans hand in the world onely the Divel and all his Angels vex him He was of an indefferent stature of strong body of so Lion-like a quicknesse of his eyes that some could not endure to looke directly upon him when he intentively beheld them They say that one of mild spirit who could not endure in private to talke with Luther was courteously used by Luther yet was so pierced with the quicknesse of his eyes that being amazed he knew no course better then to run from him His voyce was mild and not very cleare whereupon when on a time there was mention at table about Pauls voyce which was not very perfect and full Luther said I also have a low speech and pronuntiation To whom Melancthon answered But this small voyce is heard very farre and neere In the year 1544. the 17. of November he finished his explication of Genesis which was his last publicke reading in the University which he concluded with these words Thus end I my explication on Genesis God grant that others may more rightly and truely expound it then I have done I cannot proceed farther therein my strength faileth me pray for me that it would please God to grant me a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life In the year 1546. Luther accompanyed with Melancthon viâ—â—ted his owne Country and returned againe in safety Not long after the Councell of Trent being begun and having â—â—te once or twice Luther was called againe by the Eâ—rles of Mansfield to his owne Country for to compose a dissention among them concerning their bounds and heritages Luther was not wont to deale in matters of this nature having been versed in sacred studyes all his life time but because he was borne at Isleben a towne in the territories of Mansfield he was willing to doe his Country service in this kind Wherfore making his last Sermon at Wittenberg the 17. day of Ianuary he toâ—ke his journey on the twenty third day And at Hall in Saxony lodged at Iustas Ionas his house where he stayed three dayes because of the roâ—ghnâ—sse of the waters and preached the 26. of Ianuary upon Pauls Conversion On the 28. day being Thursday at Hall he passed over the river with Iustas Ionas and his owne three sons and being in danger of drowning said to D r. Ionas Thinke you not that it would rejoyce the Divell very much if I and you and my three sons should
committed any faultâ— that week whom he would so reprove and lay the wrath of God before them that he much râ—formed them thereby He tooke extraordinary paines to fit such for the worke oâ— the Ministery as were growne up to it so that the Church received very much benefit from thence hâ—ving so many able Pastors sent forth into it Besides this he Preached every Lords day in the Church and that with such fervency and evident demonstration of the spirit that he was the instâ—ument of converting very many unto God He wrote also many Commentaries upon the Scriptures which being Printed and going abroadâ— into other Countries Beza meeting with that upon the Romans and Ephesians he wrote to a friend concerning them that he had gotten a treasure of incomparable value and that he had not met with the like before for breviâ—ie elegancy and judâ—ciousnesse He was so humble that he prefered all others before himselfe and laboured after privacie from publicke businesse that he might the better apply himselfe to his studies yet in the two last years of his life he was so involved in Publicke affaires that it much weakned his health He was greatly tormented with the stone yet did he not intermit his labours He was made Moderator in a Synod and chosen for one of the Commissioners of the Church in the intervalâ— of Synods In the year 1589. his disease so increased upon him that he was confined to his house and being removed into the Countrey ayre he seemed at first to be better but presently his disease returned with more violence so that he was forced to keepe his bed whereupon he set his House in order and his Wiâ—e after ten years barrennesse being with childe he commended her to the care of his friends two Noblemen coming to visit him he requested them from him to goe to the King and to intreat him in his name to take care of Religion and to persevere in it to the end as hitherto he had done and to reverence and esteeme the Pastors of the Church as it was meet And when the Pastors of Edenbrough came to him he made an excellent exhortatioâ— to them and profession of his sincerity and integrity in â—is place that God called him toâ— death approaching he made such a divine and heavenly speech as astonished the hearers and when the Physitians were preparing Physick for him he said Tu Deus medeberis mihi thou Lord wilt heal mee then he prayed fervently that God would pardon his sins for Christ's sake and that he might have an happy departure enjoy God's presence which he often breathed after saying I have hitherto seen but darkely in the glasse of his word O Lord grant that I may enjoy the eternall fruition of thy countenance which I have so much desired and longed for the day after diverse of the Magistrates of Edenburg coming to him he spake to them to be very carefull of the University desiring them to choose into his room Henry Charter a man every way fit for that imployment he commended to their care also his wife professing that he had not laid up one penny of his stipend and therefore hoped they would provide for her when he had their promise for those things he said I blesse God I have all sences intire but my heart is in heaven and Lord Iesus why shouldest not thou have it it hath been my care all my life long to dedicate it to thee I pray thee take it that it may live with thee for ever C 〈…〉 Lord Iesus put an end to this miserable life hast Lord and tarry not Come Lord Iesus and give me that life for which thou hast redeemed me and when some told him that the next day was the Sabbath he said thy Sabbath O Lord shall begin my eternall Sabbath my eternall Sabbath shall take it's beginning from thy Sabbath The next morning feeling his approaching death he sent for Master Belcanqual to pray with him who in his prayer desired the Lord if he pleased to prolong his life for the good of his Church whereupon he said I am a weary of this life all my desire is that I may enjoy the celestiall life that is hid with Christ in God and thus continued he in such heavenly prayers and speeches till the evening and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1598. and of his Age forty three Renowned Rollock a most learned Scot Deserves also as his most worthy lot A Crown of Bayes his learned browes to dresse Who did such parts and piety expresse Such gravity mixt with sweet Clemency Such love to truth and spotlesse verity As that the Scottish States minding to make At Edenburg an Academ did take Especiall notice of him and then sent Desiring him to take that Government Which he perform'd with such diligence That Scotland reapt great benefit from thence He on the sacred Scriptures Comments wrote Wherof two were of such renowned note That Beza of them gave his witnesse fair That they were rich and prizelesse Trâ—asures rare This precious Saint thus piouâ—ly did spend His dayes on earth had heavens Crown in th' end The Life and Death of Nicolas Hemingius who dyed Anno Christi 1600. NIcolas Hemingius was born at Loland in Denmarke Anno Christi 1513. of honest Parents but his Father dying when he was young his Grandfather brought him up carefully in learning placing him forth in diverse Schools and when he had laid a good foundation of learning there he had an ardent desire to goe to Wittenberg which was made famous by Philip Melancthon's Lectures and having gotten some little mony in his purse he traveled thitherward but by the way some thieves met him and stripped him of all that he had yet when he came to Wittenberg he found thâ— people very charitable to him especially Melancthon there he remained five yeares and by his writing for and attending upon richer students and teaching some privately he maintained himselfe When he returned home he had an ample testimony from Melancthon for his excellent wit and learning and was there intertained by Olaus Nicholas to teach his daughters and from thence he was chosâ—n to be Pastor at Hafnia and accordingly ordained to itâ— which place he discharged with much diligence and faithfulnesâ— and many young students resorting to him he read privatly to them and afterwards was chosen Hebrew Professor in that University In the year 1557. he was made Doctor in Divinity and performed his place with much sedulity twenty six yâ—â—res Anno Christi 1579. when he was growne old and exhausted with his daily labors Frederick the second King of Dâ—nmark gave him a liberall Pension upon which he lived holily and comfortably all the remainder of his dayes som years before his death he grew blind and was troubled with severall diseases desiring nothing more then that he might be dissolved and be with Christ A little before his death he expounded the 103. Psalme with so
after Prince Casâ—â—mire dyed which much turned his griefe but Frederick the fourth being now come to hiâ— age was admitted into the number of the Electors â—nd was very carefull of the good both of the Chuâ—â—â— University An. Christi 1594. Tossan was choosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a grievous Pestilence in that City which drove away the students but Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601. he bâ—ing grown very old and infirm laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed it and earnestly sollicited him to retain it still bâ—â— God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and â—orrowes for having in his Lectures expounded the booke of Iob to the end of the 31. Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Iob are ended Presently after falling sick he comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the Crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like he also made his Wâ—ll and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord Anno Christi 1602. and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent witâ— strong memory eloquent â—n speech was very charitable and cheaâ—full in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choycest Dâ—â—vines in those times Germane Tossanus doth deserve likewise That we his honoured name should memorize Who notwithstand all th' afflictions great Which furious faithlesse Popish Foes did threat And prosecute him with from place to place And him and his dear wife with terrours chace In danger oft of death yet mightily The Lord preserv'd them from Romes cruelty He was a learned and laborious Preacher And alwayes 'gainst Romes errors a Truth teacherâ— Eloquent witty holy humble wise And now his soul blest Heaven â—eateâ—â—es The Life and Death of William Perkins IF the Mountainâ— of â—ilboahâ— 2 Samuâ—l 1. were condâ—mned and cursed by King David that nâ— dew nor râ—in should fall â—pon them because valiant Saul and piouâ— Ionathan were there unhappily slain then by rules of opposition such places deserve to be praised and blessed where godly men have had their happy Nativity Amongst which let Mâ—rston in Warwickeshire com in for his just share of commendation where Master William Perkiâ—s was born and brâ—d in his infancy 2. How he passed his childhood is â— mattâ—r befoâ—â— daâ—â—d in the Register of my Intilligence whereof I can receivâ— no instructions Onely I dare be bold to conclude that with Saint Paul 1. Cor. 13. 11. When he was a childe he spake 〈◊〉 a childe he understood as a childe he thought as a childe whose infancy as he with simplicity so we passe it over with silence 3. But no sooner 〈◊〉 he admitted 〈◊〉 Christs Colledge in Cambridge but quiâ—â—ly the wilde firâ— of his youth began to break out An age which one may termâ—â—he Midsommer Moone and dog-dayes of mans life It is not certaine whether his owne disposition or the bad company of others chiefly betrayed him to thesâ— extravagancies Sure it is he tooke such wild libâ—â—â—â—es to himselfe 〈◊〉 cost him many a sigh in his reduced â—geâ— Probably 〈…〉 Providence permitted him to ruâ— himselfe with the prodigall Son out of breath that so he might be the better enabled experimentally to reprâ—â—â— others of their vanity 〈◊〉 simpathizing with their sad condition and be th◠〈…〉 skil'd how to comfort and counsell them on their â—â—pentance Why should Godâ— arme which afterwards grâ—â—â—ously overtook Master Perkins be too short to reach others in the same condition 4. When firâ—◠〈…〉 mucâ—â—ddicted to the study of naturall Magicke digging so deepe in natures mine to know the hidden causes and sacred quallities of things that some conceive that he bordered on Hell it â—â—â—fe in his curiosity Beginning to be a practitioner in that black Art the blacknesse did not affright him but name of Art lured him to admit himselfe as â—â—â—dent thereof Howeveâ— herein we afford no certaine beliefe the rather because other mens ignorance might cast this aspersion upon him Who knowes not that many things as pretty as strangâ— may really be effected by a skilfull hand lawfull and laudable meanes which some out of a charitable errour will interpret a Miracle and others out of uncharitable ignorance will nickname Sorcery A very Load-stone in some Scholars hand before a silly Townsmans eye is enough to make the former a Conjurer 5. The happy houre was now come wherein the stragling sheep was brought home to the fold and his vanity and mildnesse corrected into temperance and gravity It is certainly known and beleeved that if Quick-silver could be fired which all confesse difficult and most conclude impossible it would amount to an infinite treasure so when the roving parts the giddy and unstable conceits of this young Scholar began to be setled his extravagant studyes to be confined and centered to Divinity in a very short time he arrived at an incredable improvement 6. He began first to preach to the prisoners in Cambridge Castle being then himselfe Fellow of Christ Colledge Here he truely preached Christs precepts Freely you have received freely give And with Saint Paul made the Gospell of Christ of no expence yea he followed Christs example to preach deliverance to the Captives whose bodies were in a prison and souls in a dungeon such generally their ignorant and desperate condition Here though free himselfe he begot sons to God in fetters Many an Onesimus in bonds was converted to Christ Mock not at this good mans meane imployment neither terme him with such as sit in the seate of the scornfull the Goale-birds Chaplaine But know nothing is base which in it selfe is lawfull and done in order to the glory of God yea better it is to be a true preacher in a prison then a flatterer in a Princes pallace 7. But so great a star could not move alwayes in so small a sphear His merits promoted him to a Cangregation of greater credit in the Town of Cambridge where he was most constant in preaching Wherein as no man did with more vehemency remove sin so none either with more passionate affection bemone the condition of obstinate siners or with sounder judgment give them directions for their future amendment Luther did observe that Thunder without rain doth more harme then good wherof he maks this application that Ministers who are alwaies threatning of legall terrors to offenders except also they seasonably drop the dew of direction giving them orders and instructions to better their estates are noâ— wise Master builders but pluck downe and build nothing up againe Whereas Master Perkins so cunningly interweaved terrours
comon shore Untill it stunk and stunk him out of dore Twlve years he serv'd the Babilonian with Drank of her cup and wallowed in her ditch Untill the sunshine of diviner Truth Shot saving Beames into his hopefull youth And led him thence to serve another Saint Whose mirth was â—eares whose freedom was restraint Whose progresse was a banishment whose food Was want and Famine and whose drinke was blood His dayes were full of troubles and his nights Were sad exchanges stor'd with feares and frights His wealth was Poverty his peace was strife His life was death His death eternall life ANDREAS GERARDVS HYPERIVS The Life and Death of Andraeas Gerardus IN the yeare of our Lord 1511. this Andraeus Gerardus was born at Hyperiâ— a strong and populous Town situate within the Province of Flanders his Father was a man of great estimation amongst the inhabitants of the same town by reason of his singular knowledge in the Law his Mother was discended from one of the Noblest families of that Province both of them being carefull of the education of thâ—s Gerardus they sent him unto Iacobus Papa a famous and excellent Poet to be instructed in the knowledge of the tongues which he attained unto in short time partly by the care of this Iacobus and partly by the help of Iohannes Sepanus being an assistant unto Iacobus Papa a man excellently learned and very skilfull both in the Greek and in the Hebrew tongue where he continued untill he came unto the age of 13. years at which time he desired to be acquainted with the French tongue and for that cause he became an Auditor unto Iohannes Lactaeus a man learned and eloquent who publickly taught the French tongue in those parts here he remained for the space of one year and afterwards by the advice of his father he was sent unto Tovrney where a publick School was newly erected for the information of youth in the Latine Greek Hebrew tongus but the discipline of that School being not pleasing unto his father he took him from thence againe intending to have him instructed in manners aswell as in learning wherefore he intended to send his unto Lavan an Academy in Brabant but hearing that too much liberty was there given and granted unto youth whereby they came to be corrupted with many vices he altered his purpose and bethought himselfe of sending him unto Paris where he himselfe in his youth had studyed but that determination was also hindred by the continued warres betwixt Charles the fift Emperour of Germany and Francis King of France wherefore he resolved to keepe him at home for a space untill he could dispose of him according to his minde employing him in the writing of such thinks as pertaine to the office of a Lawyers Clarke in which action he continued so long that he had almost forgotten whatsoever he had learned before now in the yeare 1525. it pleased God to call for his fathâ—r out of this vale of misery who on his death bed streightly charged and commanded his Mother to send Gerardus unto Paris that so he might goe forward in his studyes as soone as the Warâ— were quieted in France betwixt the Emperour and the King which fell out in the year 1528. then went Gerardus unto Pariâ— being furnished with Commendatory letters unto Antonius Helhucius then Senator of the Pâ—rliament â—nd unto Iohannes Campis Licenciate in Divinity who were also intreated to furnish him with things necessary for his studyâ—s if hiâ— mother were hindred by the continuation of the Wars from the performance of the â—ame this Iohannes de Campiâ— seeing the hopefulnesse of the youth kept him in his owne house the space of one year where he attained unto great perfâ—ction in Logick the year following he wâ—nt unto Paris where he acquainted himselfe with Iâ—â—â—â—imus Bingelbiâ—guâ—â— Bâ—abanâ—er a man excellently qualified from whom Gerardâ—s received good instructions touching a methodicall manner of proceeding in his studies after that hâ— had continued here for the space of three years for the better retayning of tâ—at learning which he had gotten he privâ—tly read both Logick and Rhetorick unto others himselfe remaining still an Auditor unto the publick explanation of Aristotles Phisicks in the Schools In the year following he desired to see Flanders and to visit his friends and to know how much of that Portion was remaining which his Father had left him for the prosecution of his studyes which being done and finding a sufficient competency to remaine which would keep him â— long time at the University he returned unto Paris againe with and an intent to addict himselfe unto studyes of greater moment and so he forthwith entred upon the study of Divinity for which Paris at that time was famous and taking a great delight therein he daily frequented the Divinity Schooles so as he came to be of a singular judgement in matters of Controversies and at vacant times he would be take himselfe unto the Physick Lectures unto which hâ— had a naturall inclination he would also be familias with Cleonard Sâ—urmius Latomus then publick professors of the Tongues in the same University Having now well furnished himselfe with knowledge he desired to take a view of other Countries and Provinces lying within the Kinodome of France and that for two causes first that he might prrfect himselfe in the French Tongue and secondly that he might have a fuller understanding of the custome and disposition of that Nation and so leaving of the University he traveled through most parts of France where having given satisfaction unto himselfe he shaped his câ—urse towards Italie taking a full view of that part which lyeth betweene the Alpes and Bononia being now about the age of twenty four years he returned out of Italie into Flanders in the year 1535. From whence he went unto Lovan because he had sent his library from Paris unto the same place and having safely disposed of the same he betook himselfe againe to traâ—ell viewing almost all Lower Germany viz Gilderland Brabant Cleveland Vtrecht Freezland Holland and Zealand and from hence in the year of our Lord 1537. and in the twenty six year of his age he went into upper Germany to take view of such â—â—mous learned men as were to be found in those parts in which peregrination he saw Colen Marpurge Eâ—ford Lipsieâ— and Wittenberge and then returned againe into Flanders where he was set upon by some of his friends who advised him to betake himselfe unto some staid course of life seeing that his patrimony was all spent the gratesâ— part in the University the remainder in his travels unto which just demand and desire of his friends he was soone perswaded to subscribe and consent and forthwith began seriously to consider with himselfe how he might obtaine a place wherein he might exercise his gifts for the generall good of the Country whilst he was busie about that matter his friends had obtained by letters pattens from the Pope that
little as the others Anno Christi 1530. when the Diet was held at Augusta for quieting of the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there in which journey at Gobuâ—g he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar confâ—rence with him about matters of great moment of which himselfe write's That he never had a more comfortable day in his life Erâ—nestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his father insomuch as when the City of Augusta sent to the Dâ—ke desiring him to returne Regius to them againe he answered that he would as soone part with his eyes as with him and presently after he made him Bishop and over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he fell sick by the way and within few dayes with much cheerfulnesse yeelded up his soule into the hands of God Anno Christi 1541 he often desired of God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painfull in the worke of the Lord. Reader this serious Fathers well-spent dayes Were fill'd with love and love was fill'd with praise He was abjured by a Noble race Which made him onely debtor but not base Heav'n was his port to which he faild through tearsâ— Steer'd by his faith blowne by the winde of prayers Let his example teach us to invest Our hearts with wisdome and we shall be blest With him who now enjoyes the life of pleasure Whose comforts know no end whose joyes no measure He that shall choose true vertue for his guide May march on boldly and not feare a slide The Life and Death of CARALOSTADIUS Who died Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was borne in France in a towne called Caralostadium by which he received hâ—s name he was brought up at Schoole there where afterwards he went to Rome and having spent sometime in the study of Divinity he went thence to Wittenberg where he commensed Doctor in Divinity and was a publicke Professor Anno Christi 1512. afterwards he became an earnest asâ—ertor of Lutheâ—'s doctrine and a defendor of it against Eccâ—us both by disputation and writing at the time of Luther's being in his Pathmos Caralostadius obtained of the Elector the abolishing of private Masse Auricular confession Images c. at Wittenberg which Luther being offended at returned presently thither and Peeached eagerly against that alteration whereupon Caralostadius wrote in justification of it which was the first beginning of greater differences betwixt them about the Sacrament whereupon he left Wittenberg 1524. and went to Orlamund being called to a Pastorall charge there but after a while he was called back to his place in Wittenberg yet before he went Luther being sent by the Elector of Iene and Orlamund in a Sermon where â—aralostadius was present he enveighed bitterly against the Anabaptists and said withall That the same spirit reignd in the Image-haters and Sacramentaries whereupon Caralostadius being much offended went to his lodging to confer with him about it afterwards Luâ—her coming to Orlamund went not to salute Caralostadius but in his Sermon quarrelled with their abolishing of Idols and shortly after he procured the Elector to banish Caralostadius whereof Caralostadius afterwards complained in a letter to his people in Wittenberg that unheard and unconvicted he was banished by Luther's procurement from thâ—nce he went to Basil where hâ— printed some bookâ— that he had written about the Lord's Supper for which the Magistrates being offended with the novelty of the Doctrine cast the Printers into prison and the Senate of Tigurine for bad thâ—ir people to read those books but Zuinglius in his Sermon exhorted them first to read aad then to passe judgement on them saying That Caralostadius knew the truth but had not well expressed it afterwards Caralostadiuâ— wandring up and downe in upper Germany when the sedition of the boorish Anabaptists brake out unto which they were stirred up by Muncer and for which many of them were brought to punishment Caralostadius also escaped very narrowly being let downe in a basket over the wallâ— of Rottenberg being in great streights he wrote to Luther and purged himselfe from having any hand in those uproars entreating him to print his book and undertake his defence which also Luther did desiring the Magistrates that he might be brought to his just triall before he waâ— condemned Caralostadius wrote againe to him a Letter wherein he said That for his opinion about the Sacrament he rather proposed it for disputation sake then that he positively affirmed any thing w ch many imputed to him for levity but Luther thereupon procured his return into Saxonie yet he finding little content there went to Tigurine and taught in that place till the death of Zuinglius and then he went to Basil where he taught ten yeers and An. 1541. he died there of the plague and was very honorably buried This grave Divine ceas'd not from taking paines More for the Churches good then his owne gaines Yet were his gaines as great as his desire He that obtaines true vertue need require No greater profit he that studies how To live here-after must not set his brow On Earths loe things the pleasure of the Earth Prov'd this grave Fathers sorrow not his mirth His thoughts were all divine he could not hide Within his Season'd breast the flames of pride He was an Image-hater and would not Let them be worshipp'd and his God forgot 'T was not a Prison could his heart apale He that has virtue needs no other baile The life and death of CAPITO Who died Anno Christi 1541. WOlfgangus Fabricius Capito was borne at Hagenaw in Alsatia his Father was of the Senatorian ranke who bred him in learning and sent him to Basil where he studied Physick and proceeded Doctor of it aftâ—r hiâ— Father's death he studied Divinity Anno Christi 1504 and under Zasias a great Lawyer he studied Law also and proceeded Doctor of â—t He was a great lovâ—r and admirer of godly Ministers at Heidleberg he grew into acquaintance with Oecolampadius and there was a neer tye of friendship betwixt them all their lives after with him also he studied Hebrew and became a Preacher first in Spire and thencâ— was câ—lled to Basil from thence he was sent for by the Elector Palatine who made him his Preacher and Counsellor and sent him of divers Embassies also by Charles the fifth he was made of the order of Knights from Mentz he followed Bucer to Argenâ—ine where he was called to a Pasâ—oral charge he was a very prudent and eloquent man a good Hebrician and studious of Peace concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae
to Gotha to teach and govern the Thuringian Churches where he lived with his Collegues twenty yeeres in much peace and concord of which himselfe saith Cucurrimus certavimus laboravimus pugnavimus vicimus viximus semper convinctissime c. In the tumult of the Boores he tooke much pains to pacifie their mindes and to keepe them quiet Yea he so quieted with an Oration some that were pulling downe some Noble mens houses that they went away in peace that yeere also he married a wife by whom through Gods blessing he had a numerous posterity He accompanied the Elector of Saxonie in many of his journyes into the Low-Countries and other places where he preached the Gospel sincerely though sometimes to the hazard of his life About this time Henry the eighth King of England fell out with the Pope for not divorcing of him from his wife Katharine of Spain sister to Charles the fifth by reason of whose greatnesse the Pope durst not doe it whereupon the King of England sent over to the Germane Princes especially to the Duke of Saxonie to confederate against the Pope and to joyn with them in an agreement about Religion upon which occasion Myconius was sent over into England partly about matters of Religion but especially about a match between Henry the eighth and Anne of Cleve but coming thither he discovered the Kings hypocrisie about Religion not onely by the six Articles about that time established but also by his imprisoning of Latimer and cutting off the Lord Cromwell'â— head and burning of Master Barnes c. and by his seizing upon all the Abby-lands whereupon he left England and being come home he was called by Henry of Saxonie to visit and reforme the Churches of Misnia together with Luther Ionas Cruciger c. Which fell out upon this occasion George Duke of Saxonie lying on his death-bed sent to his brother Henry all his owne sons being dead before desiring him that succeeding him he should innovate nothing in Religion and withall promised him golden mountains by his Ambassadors if he would assent thereto to whom Henry answered This Embassie of yours is just like the Divels dealing with Christ when he promised him all the world if he would fall downe and worship him but for my owne part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the returne of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry nothwithstanding all the oppositions of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which worke being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some otheâ— he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance Anno Christi 1541. he fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sicke not to death but to life which interpretation of the text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our salvation our health c. that I may live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to die and goe to heaven and to leave me here amongst the Divels alone I pray God that I may first lay down thiâ— drie exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewell and God forbid that I should heare of thy death whiâ—st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hâ—c peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei crete non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate out-lived it six yeers even till after Luthers death whereupon Iustus Ionas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quod voluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Ioan. Fredericke Elector of Saxonie wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Fredericke Iohn and Iohn Fredericke to undertake the patronage of Luâ—her c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of an admirable candor and gravity He died of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. Myconius was a man that lov'd to pry Into the bosome of Divinity His heart was alwayes flexively inclind To what was good he had a golden minde That would not bend to drosse but still aspire To heaven and faith gave wings to his desire He was belov'd of all that lov'd Gods name The trumpet of his voyce would still proclaime The word of God to those that would indure To have their wounds be brought unto a cure By whose examples we may learne to thrive In grace His present worth is still alive The life and Death of John Diazius Who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was borne in Spaine brought up at Schoole afterwards he went to Paris to study the Arts where he continued thirteen yeers but it pleased God that whilest he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers bookes and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the errours of Popery and therefore to further himselfe in the knowledge and study of the Truth he went to Geneva where he spake with Calvin and was very dear unto him From thence he went to Argentine where Martin Bucer observed his learning piety and diligence in his studie obtained of the Senate that he should be joyned with him to goe to the Disputation at Ratisbâ—ne and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvinda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germanie who when he knew that he camâ— in the company with Bucer and the other Protestant Divines he was much aâ—tonished and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germans whereupon he left no meanes untried to draw him backe againe to the Church of Rome sometimes making large proffers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties but when by no meanes he could prevaile to divert him from the Truth he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers from Rome who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant came speedily into Germanie bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoberg about the Printing of Bucers Booke which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither where after long debating of matters of Religion between the two Brothers Alphonsus seeing the heart of his Brother Iohn to be so constantly planted â—n thâ— sure rocke of Gods Truth that neither Preferments could allure him nor threats terrifie him
where he was prisoner he had nothing but a pad of straw for a bâ—d and a rotten covering till good people sent him a bed to lye on of one side his chamber was the sinke and filth of the house on the other the town-ditch enough to have choaked him After he had laien thus a while falling sick the doors bars hasps and chaines being all made fast he both mourned called and cryed for helpe yet the Warden hearing would suffer none to go to him saying Let him alone if he dye it were â— good riddance of him c. At last being degraded and condemned he was sent to Glocester to be burned the night before his death he did eat his meat quietly and slept soundly after his first sleep he spent the rest of the night in prayer the next day Sir Anthonie Kingston coming to him told him that life was sweet and death bitter to which he answered The death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet I am come hither to end this life and suffer death because I will not gain-say the former Truth that I have here taught unto you also a blinde Boy coming to him after he had examined him in the grounds of Religion he said Ah poor Boy God hath taken from thee thy outward sight but hath given thee another sight much more precious having endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith Being delivered to the Sheriff he said to him My request to you Master Sheriff is onely that there may be a quick fire shortly to make an end of me and in the mean time I will be as obedient to you as you can desire if you thinke I doe amisse in any thing hold up your finger and I have done I might have had my liâ—e with much worldly gaine but I am willing to offer up my life for the Truth and trust to dye a faithfull servant to God and a true subject to the Queen when he saw the Sheriffs men with so many weapons he said This is morâ— then needs if you had willed me I would have gone alone to the stake and have troubled none of you all as he went to the stake he was forbid to speake to the people he looked chearfully and with a more ruddy countenance then ordinary being comâ— thâ—thâ—r he prayed about half an â—our and having a box with a pardon set before him he cryed If you love my soul away with it if you love my soul away with it Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the stake he onely put on an Iron-hoop about his middle bidding them take away the rest saying I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding When reeds were cast to him he embraced and kissed them putting them under his arm where he had bags of gun-power also when fire was first pâ—t to him the faggots being green and the winde blowing away the flâ—me he was but scorched more faggots being laid to him the fiâ—e was so supprest that his nâ—ther-parts were burned his upper being scarce touched he prayed O Iesus the son of David have mercy upon mâ— and receive my soule and wiping his eyes with his hands he said For Gods love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burned more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Iesus receive my spirit In one of his Letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but liberty upon evill conditions is worse the Prison stinkes yet noâ— so much as sweet houses where the feare of God is wanting I must be alone and solitary it s better to be so and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and Gods favour is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men yet it is better to doe that then stand naked before Gods tribunall I shall dye by the hands of cruell men he is blessed that looseth this life and findeth life eternall there is neither felicitie nor adversitie of this world that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pains of the world to come Reader behold and then admire Hoâ—pers most rich Seraphicke fire His constancâ— waâ— great his heart Balsoâ—'d by heav'n out-vi'd all smart Rare was his life rare was his death Whilst time remains his fame shall want no breath The Life and Death of Rowland Tailor who dyed Anno Christi 1555. ROwland Tailor was Doctor in both the Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolke where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures many having often read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this Doctor Tailor Preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-dayes and at other times when he could get the People together His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holinesse he was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sin in the greatest to the poore blinde lame sick bed-rid or that had many children he was a father causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them besides what of his owne bounty he gave them he brought up his children in the fear of God and good learning In the begining of Queen Maries reign two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Masse in his Church he being at his study and hearing the Bell to toul went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish robes ready to begin the Masse he said unto him Thou Divell who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to prophane and defile it with this abominable Idolatrie I command thee thou Popish Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christs flock but the â—tanders by forcing Doctor Tailor out of the Church the Priest went on with his Masse and shortly after the Bishop being informed hereof sent his letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to flye telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favour but imprisonment and cruell death to whom he answered I know my Cause to be so good and righteous and the Truth so strong upoâ— my side that I will by Gods grace appeare before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shall never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shall never have so glorions a calling nor so great mercie of God profered me as I have now wherefore pray for me and I doubt not but God will give me strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be ashamed of their doings and so preparing himselfe he went to London and presented himselfe to
the Emperour had promulgated a book written concerning Religion called the Interim which he would have to be embraced and confirmed by the States and Cities of the Emprie which when he perceived that it was received by the Senate first he publikly opposed it in the Church and exhorted them to the constant profession of their former doctrine and secondly he told them that he must be compelled to depart from them in case they did refuse his motion but he perceiving no hopes of altering their opinions after that he had taken his supper he left the City being accompanied onely with one Citizen committing his wife and eight children which he left behind him unto the protection of the Almighty and being without the Ports he changâ—d his hablit least through the same he might be discovered by his enemies And having turned a Wagon he went toward Tiâ—urum where he remained a few dayes with Bullinger and from thence he departed and went unto Basil unto Iohanner Hervagius his wife followed immediatly after him not knowing where to find him unlesse at Basil wherefore when she came to Constance for her assuâ—aÌ„ce she sent letters by a trusty friend whom she desired to certifie her husband of her aboade at Constance the messenger finding Musculus at Basil delivered the letters and forthwith returned unto Constance where he found his wife and children upon the Lords day following he preached twice in the City taking for hiâ— text those words in Iohn the 6. ver 66. From that time many of the Disciples went back and walked no more with him Then said Iesus unto the twelve I will yet also goe away c. from which place of Scripture he shewed unto them how greatly those Cities did offend which did fall from the truth of Christ for the favour of mâ—n and withall he earnestly exhorted the people of Constance not to follow the examples of such but constantly to adhaere unto the truth taught by Christ in his Word and this was the last Sermon that was Preached in the peaceable state of the Commonwealth for the day following the Spanish Forces under the conduct of Alfonsus Vives beleagured the City during the Siedge by the perswasion of Ambrosius Blavrerus a reverend Pastor Musculuâ— with his wife and children were conveyed out of the City with safety and they escaped the fury of the enemies intending to goe for Tigurum but by reason of sicknesse which seized on his wife he was compelled to remain at Sangallum after her recovery he went unto Tigurum where he was joyfully received of the Inhabitants with whom he continued six months before he was called to performe his Ministeriall function in which vacancy he was called by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury into England but in regard of his owne age as unfit for travell and in respect of the weaknesse of his wife and the many children which he had he modestly refused Not long after the Inhabitants of Berne were destitute of a Divinity Lecturer for their Schooles wherefore he was called by the Senate unto that profession which indeed was most welcome unto him partly for the excellency of that Church and Commonwealth and partly for the renewing of his acquaintance with his old friend Iohannes Hallerus He entred upon this Lecture in the year 1549. and constantly continued in it for the space of fourteen years to the exceeding benefit of the Church of Christ opening in that space unto his Auditours almost the whole Bible He naturally detested Contraversies and would write his minde without the injury or contempt of others so that his Workes were opposed by no man in publicke during his life onely those two Sermons excepted which he Preached before the Princes at Wormes which were opposed by Cochlaeus The great love which he carried towards the Inhabitants of Berne appeareth in this that he refused great honour and ample Revenues which were profered unto him during his Lectureship at Berne for he was thrice called into England seconded with large rewards also the Inhabitants of Auspurge having againe obtained their former liberty amongst other banished Ministers they first recalled Musculus He was againe desired by the Inhabitants of Strasburge invited by Otho Henricus and Fredericus Prince Elector Palatine and by the Land grave of Hassia many times but he modestly refused all these though honourable calings intending to performe his best service unto the end of his dayes unto that City who had shewed and vouchsafed him such kindnesse in his greatest extremity which indeed was truly performed Not long before his death he was sickly partly by reason of his years his body being spent with infinite cares and labours partly by reason of a vehement cold which did much afflict him whereby he gathered that he was to leave that house of clay and therefore setting all other things aside he entred into a heavenly meditation of death the sum of which he hath left unto the world being written by himselfe before his death Nil super est vitae frigus praecordia captat Sed in Christe mihi vita parennis ad es Quid crepidas anima ad sedes abitura quietis En tibi ductor adest Angelus ille tuus Lingua domum hanc miseram nunc in sua fata ruentem Quam tibi fida Dei dextera restituet Peccasti scio sed Christus ardentibus in se Peccata expurgaâ—sanguinâ— cuncta suo Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia câ—rta vocat Praesto est de Satana peccaâ—a est morte triumphâ—s Christus ad hunc igitur lâ—â—a alacrisque migra This life is done cold Death doth summon me A life eternall I expect from thée My Saviour Christ why dost thou fear my Dove He will conduct thée to his throne above Forsake this body this corrupted creature Thy God will change it to a better nature Dost thou abound with sin I do confesse That thou art guilty and dost oft transgresse But Christ his blood doth wash and cleanse all those That can themselves in him by Faith repose Doth Death appeare an object full of horror Both ugly ghastly and not wanting terror I do confesse it but that life againe Which followes death doth take away that paine Unto which life we called are by Christ Then do no longer O my soule resist But yéeld thou with all chéerfulnesse to dwell With him triumphing or'e Death Sin and Hell Afterwards the strength of his sicknesse did increase by the addition of an Ague wherby he was brought so weak that he was not able to sit up right in his bed wherefore he sâ—nt unto Master Iohannes Allerus and other Ministers unto whom he declared the Faith which he dyed in and withall committed the care of his Wife and Children unto thâ—m who told him that they would not bâ— deficient in any thing wherein they might shew themselves beneficiall and helpfull unto them As he was a man endewed with an
to keep private what he should tell them he imparted his Commission telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperour if they would send to him Brentius but if they refused the Emperour would destroy their City c. It pleased God that whilest he was thus perswading the Magistrates there came in one later then his fellowes and the Commissary not minding it did not tender the Oath to him so when they were dismissed this man wrote to Brentius Fuge fuge Brenti cito citius citissime which note was brought him as he sate at supper having read it he told his Family that he must goe forth upon businesse but would return ere long As he was going out of the City he met the Commissary who asked him whither he went He answered To a sick friend in the Suburbs who had sent for him Well said the Commissary to morrow you must dine with me He replyed God willing and so they parted Being thus escaped he hid himselfe in a thick Wood and for some weeks together he lay in the Wood all day and every night came into a Villege to a friends house where he lodged he wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale that if they could and would protect him he was ready to come back and not to forsake his flock but if they could not he did not desire that they should indanger themselves for his sake They answered that they could not protect him and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased Presently after Vlricus Prince of Wurtenburge invited him to him and ordered him to be so private that he himselfe might not know where he was that if he was asked he might safely deny his knowledge of him yet upon suspicion his Castle was searched but Brentius was in another place where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm afterwards he went to Basil as to a safer place where his wife dyed of a Consumption from thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburge in the Hyrcinian Wood where he changed his name and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle and whilst he was there he frequented the Sermons in a neighbor towne where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it to whom the Minister answered You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church but no time too long that you spend in drinking Brentius smiling at it said no more Whilest he was there he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah and some other Works afterwards he had great profers made him by the Citizens of Magdeburge by Edward the sixth King of England and by the Duke of Broussia but he refused them all and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years Anno Christi 1550. Vlricus Duke of Wurtenburg dyed and his son Christopher succeeding he resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions and to perfect the Worke of Reformation and for that end sent for Brentius and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard that he might have his advice and assistance in carrying on of that work neither was he discouraged by the admonitions of the Princes and Bishops nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him but caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and â—bout the chiefe points in Controversie which he intended to send to the Councill of Trent about that time Brentius married againe one Catharine Isenmam a choise woman who was a great comfort to him all the rest of his life by whom also he had twelve children the year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying Brentius was chosen in his room in which place he continued all his life and carryed himselfe with much sedulity piety and prudence in the same Anno Christi 1557. he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms which came to nothing because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be â—he Judge of their Controversies In his old age he wrot upon the Psalmes and whereas there were many Monasteries in Wurâ—enburge out of w ch the Fryars were driven he perswaded his Prince to turn them to Schools for the training up youth in learning which was accordingly don and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools and tooke notice how the Scholars profited in learning and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein he had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalmes when as his old age worn out with studyes and labors put a period unto the same and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of hiâ— Prince for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate and his owne life also Falling inâ—o a Fevor whereby he perceived that his end approached he made his Will wherein he set downe a Confession of his Faith and sending for the Ministers of Stutgard he caused his Son to read it to them requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it he also received the Sacrament and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine and love amongst themselves he was exceeding patient in all his sicknesse neither by word nor gesture shewing the least impatience alwayes saying That he longed for a better even an eternall life the night before his death he slept sweetly and when he awaked the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith to whom he answered Yea which was his laâ—t word and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1570. and of his Age 71. He was buried with much honor â—nd had this Epitaph Voce stylo pietate fide candore probatus Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit With voice style piety faith candor grac'd In outward shape Iohn Brentius was thus fac'd Toss'd in the ship of fortune Bâ—entius sail'd From place to place his courage never fail'd But with resolved Constancy he bent His minde to suffer free from discontent The rage of Papists could not make him yeeld To their desires True vertue was his shield The strength of his afflictions added strength Unto his soul his suffrings had no length Except of dayes and them he knew to be Bâ—t servile Subjects to Mortality Thus like a patient sufferer he fled From earth to heaven and there repos'd his head The Life and Death of Peter Viretus who dyed Anno Christi 1571. PEtâ—r Viretus was born in the Country of the Bernates brought up in learning at Paris where he began to be acquainted with Farellus from thence he went to Lusanna where he was chosen Pastor and spent much of his time in teaching and writing there and when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms Anno Christi 1541. and from thence to Ratisbone he obtained of the Senate of Lusanna that Viretus should
much lesse to lament him Towards Knox his later end his body became very infirm and his voyce so weak that People could not hear him in the ordinary place wherefore he chose another place wherein he preached upon the History of Christs passion with which he said it was his desire to close his Ministry finding his end neer he importuned the Council of the City to provide themselves a worthy man to succeed in his place Master Iames Lawson Professor in Aberdene was the man pitched upon and Commissioners were sent from the Church of Edinborough to request him to accept of the place Iohn Knox also subscribed that request adding Accelera mi frater alioqui â—erò venies Haste my Brother otherwise you will come too late this made Master Lawson to hasten his journey and when he was come he preached twice to the good liking of the people whereupon order was taken by the rulers of the Church for his admission at which time Iohn Knox would needs preach though very wâ—ak which also he performed with such fervency of spiriâ— that he was never before heard to preach with so greaâ— power or more content to the hearers In the end of his Sermon he called God to witnesse that he had walked in a good conscience with them not seeking to please men nor serving either his owne or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth had preached the Gospell of Christ. He exhorted them in most grave and pithy words to stand fast in the Faith they had received and so having prayed zealously for Gods blessing upon them and the multiplying of Gods spirit upon their new Pastor he gave them his last farewel Being conveyed to his lodging that afternoon he was forced to betake himselfe to his bed and was visited by all sorts of persons in his sicknesse to whom he spake most comfortably amongst others the Earle of Morton came to see him to whom he said My Lord God hath given you many blessings Wisdome Honor Nobility Riches many good and great friends and he is now about to prâ—fer you to the Government of the Realm the Earl of Marr the late Regent being newly dead In his name I charge you use these blessings better then formerly you have don seeking first the glory of God the furtheance of his Gospell the maintenance of his Church and Ministry and then be carâ—full of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realm Iâ— you doe thus God will be with you and honor you if otherwisâ— â—e will dâ—prive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignonminie These speeches the Earl called to minde about nine years after at the time of his Execution saying That he had found Iohn Knox to be a Prophet A day or two before Knox his death he sent for Master David Lindsey Master Lawson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church â—o whom he said The time is approaching which I have long thirsted for wherein I shall be released from all my cares and be with my Saviour Christ for ever and now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Goâ—â—eâ—â— of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true sincâ—râ— Word of God and that the end that I proposed in my Mâ—nistry was To instruct the ignorant to confirm the weaâ— to comfort their consciences who were humbled under the sense of their sins and born down with the threatningâ— oâ— Gods judgments I am not ignorant that many have and doe blame my too great rigor and severity but God knoweth that in my heart I never hated those agaâ—nsâ— whom I thundered Gods judgments I did onely hate theiâ— sins and labored according to my power to gaine them to Christ That I did forbear none of what condition soever I did it out of the fear of my God who hatâ— placed me in the function of his Ministry and I know will bring me to an account Now bretheren for your selveâ— I have no more to say but to warn you that you â—ake heâ—d to the Flocke over which God hath placed you Over seers which 〈◊〉 hath redeemed by the blood of his onely begotten son and you Master Lawson fight a good fight doe the Worke of the Lord with courage and with a willing minde and God from heaven blesse you and the Church whereof you have the charge Against it so long as it continues in the Doctrâ—nâ— of the Truth the gates of hell shall not prevaâ—le having thus spoken and the Elders and Deacons being dismissed he called the two Preacher to him and said There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly you have sometimes seen the Courage and Constancy of the Laird of Grang in the Cause of God and now that unhappy man is casting himself away I pray you go to him from me and tell him That unlesse he forsake that wicked course that he is in the Rock wherein he confideth shall not defend him nor the carnall wisdome of that man whom he counteth halfe a god which was young Leshingâ—on shall yeeld him help but he shall be shamefully pulled out of that nest and his carcasse hung before the Sun meaning the Câ—stle which he kept against the Kings Authority for his soul it is dear to me and if it were possible I would fain have him saved accordingly they went to him conferred with him but could by no meanes divert him from his course But as Knox had fore-told so the year after his Castle was taken and his body was publickly there hanged before the Sun yet at his death he did expresse serious repentance The nex day Knox gave order for the making of his Coffin continuing all the day as he did also through all his sicknesse in fervent prayer crying Come Lord Iesus sweet Jesâ—s into thy hands I commend my spirit being ask'd whether his pains were great he answered That he did not esteem that a pain which would be to him the end of all troubles and the beginning of eternall joyes Oft after some deep meditation he used to say Oh serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be troublesome to you Blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Iesus The night before his death he slept some hours with great unquietnesse often fighing and groaning whereupon when he awakened the standers by asked him how he did and what it was that made him mourn so heavily to whom he answered In my life time I have been assaulted with Tempâ—aâ—ionâ— from Satan and he hath oft cast my sinâ— into my teeth to drive me to despair yet God gave me strength to overcome all his Temptations but now the subtill serpent takes another course and seek's to perswade me That all my labors in the Ministery the fidelity that I have shewed in that service hath merited heaven and immortality but blessed be God that brought to my minde these Scriptures What hast thou that
paines To sowe good seeds and after reape the gaâ—nes He was belov'd of all that lov'd the â—ame Of learning for he had a winged name His care his love his industry was such That in few yeaâ—s his heart attain'd to much But in conclusion Enviâ— that still crowds Into true Fame involv'd him in the clouds Of sudden ruine Pâ—â—istâ— thought it good To take a furfeit of his guiltlesse blood The Life and Death of Matthew Parker who dyed Anno Christi 1574. MAtthew Parker was born in the City of Norwich Annâ— Christi 1502. and having some years at Schoole hâ— went to Cambridge where he was admitted into Corpuâ— Christi Bennet Colledg in which place he profited so much that he was chosen Fellow and grew so famous thâ—t Queen Ann Bullen mother to Queen Elizabeth made him her Chaplain whereupon he Commensed Doctor in Divinity and after her death King Henry the eighth and after his death King Edward the sixth made him their Châ—plaines and preferred him to be Master of Bennet Colledge besides other Ecclesiasticall dignities which they advanced him to but in Queen Maries dayes he was despoiled of all and was compelled to live a poor and private life but so soon as Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown she made choyce of this Doctor Parker for his admirable learning and piety to be the Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1559. which place he supplyed with great commendation for above fifteen years His works of Charity were very eminent He gave to the Corporation of Norwich where he was born a Bason and Ewr double guilt weighing 173. ounces as also fifty shillings a year for ever to be destributed amongst the poor of that City and six anniversary Sermons in severall places of Norfolk to Bennet Colledge he gave thirty Scholarships built them a Library and bestowed many excellent books and ancient Manuscripts upon it besides three hundred ounces of silver and guilt-plate and the perpetuall Patronage of Saint Mary Ab-church-London He carefully collected and caused to be printed diverse ancient Histories of England which probably had otherwise been lost He dyed in peace An. Christi 1574. and of his Age 72. What Heav'n bestow'd upon him he was frée To give to others for his Charitie Was known to many whose impatient griefe Inforc'd them to implore his sure reliefe His worth was such that t' was disputed which Pray'd for him most either the poore or rich The poore they pray'd as they were bound to do Because he fild their soules and bodies too The rich destr'd his life because his store Sustain'd their soules and help'd maintain the poore Thus having spent his dayes in love he went In peace to Heav'ns high court of Parliament HENRICVS BVLLINGERVS The Life and Death of Henry Bullinger IN the year of our Lord 1504. Henricus Bullingerus was born at Bremogarta a Town in Switzerland he was descended from an ancient and a noble Family much esteemed and honoured in those parts Being an Infant he was twice in great danger of his life but preserved by the powerfull hand of God contrary to the expectation of his Parentâ— and friends first from the Pestilence wherewith those parts were at that time grievously punished and secondly from a wound which he received in his â—hrâ—at by reason of a fall whereby he was made unable to admit of any nourishment for the space of five dayes His Father being a man of great learning and bearing an extraordinary affection unto the Arts and their Professors he was very carefull to provide that the tender years of this his Son might be bathed in the Fountains of Learning and for that cause he being not fully five years old he was sent unto a Countrey School neer adjoyning where he continued seven years but by reason of the inability of his Master he profited not much yet he attained unto that perfection that he exceeded those which learned with him not without the approbation of his Master His Parents well perceiving the towardlinesse of the childe and finding that Schoolmaster not to be a sufficient Tutor for him they presently entred into a consideration of sending him unto some more eminent place where he might be instructed in the Arts for the better perfection of nature and therefore in the year 1516. he was sent unto Embrick a Town in the Dukedom of Clire then famous for the many learned Schollers wherewith it was adorned and here he was comitted unto the tuition of Casparus Glogoriensis and of Petrus Cochemensis Mosellanus and others being men beautified with excellent endowments and famous both for their Method of Teaching and severity of Discipline which latter was most acceptable unto this Bullinger and for that cause being yet a childe he had an intent to unite himself unto the Order of the Carthusians it being the stricâ—est and most severest In this place Bullinger concinued three years to the great perfection of his Studies and increasing of his knowledge in the Arts and Tongues During which time he received little maintenance from his Father He furnished himselfe with victuals sometimes by singing sometimes by begging from doore to doore Which action he performed not because his Father was poore and could not or covetous and would not confer a sufficient annuall pension on him but he did it because he desired to have some experience of the miserable and wretched condition of poore men that iu future times he might be the more willing and ready to relieve and succour them Afterwards he removed unto Colen where he studied Logick and notice being taken of his excellent qualities he proceeded Bachelor of Arts and because there was great controversies in the Churches then touching some points of Divinity he inclined unto the Study of Theologie and withall desired to know of those who were esteemed the best Schollars what Authors were fittest to be read to ground him in the knowledge thereof They all advise him to consult with Lombard his writings being of good account and authority in those times This counsell was embraced by Bullinger who not contenting himselfe with that Author he went unto Georgius Deinerus by whose procurement he obtained an admission into the publick Library at Colen where he studied the Homilies of Chrysostome on Matthew read over some chiefe parts of the Workes of Augustine Ambrose Origen the Workes of Luther he read privately in his own Chamber which indeed were the meanes of inlightning his understanding for by the reading of them he was induced to peruse and to search into the Scriptures and especially into the New Testament whereby he entred into a detestation of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and into a constant and firme resolution of rejecting the austerâ— life of the Carthusian Monkes In this Academy he went forth Master of Arts and then he returned unto his Fathers house where he spent a whole year in his private studies and meditations at the end whereof he was called by Wolfangus Ionerus unto
to confesse my selfe to be a sinner and that I could expect 〈◊〉 salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christâ— For we all staâ—d in need of the Grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and find so much inward joy and comfort to my soul that if I were put to my choyse whether to die or live I would a thousand times rather chuse death then life if it may stand with the holy wiâ—â— of God and accordingly shortly after the slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. What greater Simptomes can there be of grace Then to be penitent the greatest race A Christian can desire to run is this Fron earths base centre to eternall blisse This race our Deering run he spent his time Whilest here he liv'd in studying how to clime To Heav'ns high Court true vâ—â—tue was his prize And God the object where he fixt his eyes Faith Hope and Charity did sweetly rest Within the Councell Chamber of his brest And to conclude the graces did agree To make a happy soul and that was he The Life and Death of Flacius Jlliricus who dyed Anno Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacicus Illiricus was born in Albona in Sclavoâ—a Anno Christi 1520. his Father whil'st he lived broâ—ght him up in learning careâ—ully but after his dâ—ath his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all but when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to learning and for that end he went to Venice and after some progresse made at seventeen years old he began to â—tudy Divinity but wanting meanes to maintain him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend diâ—swading him from that kinde of life advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of learned men He went therefore to Basil where he studied under Grynaeus and from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while and then went to Wiâ—tenbâ—rg Anno Christi 1541. where he privately taught Greek and Hebrew for hiâ— maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about sin God's wrath and Predestination but by the good councell of Pomeâ—â—ne and Luther and the publick prayers of the Church for him it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his wit and learning there he was made Master of Arts married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince 〈◊〉 But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Bâ—â—nswiâ—ke got much credit by his publick teaching but the Wars being ended he return'd to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interâ—m came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake som thing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with many other Divines strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the retnrne of Popery whereupon he removed from thence to Magdeburg where he strongly opposed whatsoever was contrary to the Augustine Confession there alsâ— he assisted in writing the Magdeburgenses Centuries And wheâ— the Duke of Saxony had erected an University at Ieans he sent for him thither Anno Christi 1556. but after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free-will he left that place and went to Ratisbone â— anâ— Anno Christi 1567. the Citizens of Anâ—werp having proâ—â—â—â—â— liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacius amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Argentine and from thence to Franckefurt upon the Main where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin he fell into great disgrace and not long after dyed Anno Christi 1575. and of his age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwayes contending with some or other and brought much griefe to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent works for the benefit of the Church and amongst oothers his Catalogus Testium Veritatis He was a man as some reported fit To be the Master of unquiet wit He was contentious which brought discontent To rare Melancthon yet some time he spent In serious studyes leaving at his death Rare workes behind to give his fame a breath The Life and Death of Josias Simlerus who dyed Anno Christi 1576. IOsias Simlerus was born in Helvetia Anno Christi 1530. his father was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning and at fourteen years of age he was sent to Tygure where he lived in Bullingeâ—'s family who was his godfather almost two years from thence he went to the University of Basil where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Argentine where he made a further progresse in those studies and at the end of three yeares he returned to his fathers with whom he spent his time in study and teaching a School and sometimes also preaching Anno Christi 1552. he began publickly to expound the New Testamâ—nt beginning in Matthew in Tygure being twenty two yeares old which worke he performed with great judgement fidelity and diligence having not onely many of that City to be his hearers but many Exiles especially of the English also four years after he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplyed his place and was Collegue to Peter Martyr who fore-told that Simler was like to prove a great ornament to the Church who also when he dyed expressed much joy that he should leav so able a man to succeed him Simler besides his publick labours instructed many also in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humain learning he had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able Extempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any author and to give an account of their wrintings to the great admiraâ—tion of the hearers and though in reading of bookes he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had don he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was in them and being so troubled with the gout that many times he was confined to his bed and had the use of none of his members but his tongue onely yet in the mid'st of his pains he used to dictate to his amanuensis such things as were presently printed to the great admiration of learned men besides the gout he was much troubled with the stone so that the pains of these diseases together with his excessive labors in his Ministry hastened his immature death which he also fore-saw yet without any consternation or feare but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God he endeavored to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576. he resigned up his spirit unto God being forty five years old and was buried in
much fervor efficacy and power of the holy Ghost that all that heard him wondred at it and shortly after resigned up his spirit â—nto God Anno 1600. and of his age 87. Hemingius doth deserve to be Recorded in each memory Who for his wit and worthy parts In Learning Tongues and exc'lent Arts Was by Melancthon much respected And for his learned gifts elected Hebrew Professour worthily In Hafnia Universitie Where six and twenty years he stai'd With great estéem and there was made A Doctor in Theologie And full of years and love did dye The Life and Death of James Heerbrand who dyed Anno Christi 1600. JAmes Heerbrand was borne at Noricum in the year 1521. of an ancient Family his Father was one of Luther's Discipleâ— and seeing the towardlinesse and promptnesse of his Son was carefull to bring him up in Religion and Learning at twelve years old his Father bought him a fair Bible which he diligently read over Afterwards he went to Vlm where he studied the Tongues and at seventeen years old his Father sent him to Wittenberg to hear Luâ—her and Melancthon in the year 1538. which year was famous for divers things for then the Kingdome of Denmark imbraced the Gospell the Emperour and King of France met together the Bible was Printed in English at Paris the University at Argentine was erected the sect of the Antinomians was detected thâ— Marquesse of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustine Confession and the Sea by the Kingdome of Naples was wholly day for eight miles together out of which place fire and ashes brake forth so abundantly that many places were miserably destroyed thereby In the University of Wittenberg Heerbrand studied the Arts with great diligence and was so sparing of his timâ— that he would not intermit one houre from his Studies insomuch that other Students called him Suevicam Nocâ—â—am the Swevian night-crow He hâ—ard Lutheâ— and Melancthons Lâ—ctures with much diligence and in the yeâ—r 1540. he commâ—nced Master of Artsâ— He Preachâ—d also abroad in the Villages on the Sâ—bbath dayes Thus having spent five years there in his Studies he returned home with ample testimonies from Melancthon and the University When he came home the Pastors of the Church â—ppointed him to Preach which he performed with great approbation and commendation of all His Parents rejoycing much at his proficâ—ency would needs have him imploy his talent in his owne Countrey and at Stutgard Snepfius being Superintendent examined him â—nd finding his abilities he said Dominus te mihi obtulit the Lord hath offered thee unto me Being but twenty two years old he was made Deacon at Tubing three years after he married a wife by whom he had eight Sons and three Daughters shortly after that accursed Interim coming forth he amongst other Ministers that rejected it was banished from Tubing and being out of imployment he studied Hebrew till Prince Vlrick being dead his Son Christopher succeeding him called back the Ministers and Heerbrand amongst them to their former places He also made him Pastor of Herrenberg shortly after he commenced Doctor in Divinity and for four years and an halfe he studied the Fathers In the year 1556. he was sent for by Charles Marquesse of Baden to reform Religion in his Dominions where also he prescribed a form of Ordination of Ministers Presently after he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing and after that the Pastor and Superintendent also In the year 1562. he was sent for by the Duke of Saxonie to be the Professor at Ienes who profered to allow him the stipend of one thousand Florens per annum but he refused it continuing at Tubing where he had much honour and respect his wife having lived with him fifty years and an half dyed who being thâ— staffe of his old age he waâ— much afflicted for her losse and began to grow weaker and weaker whereupon he refigned his Office and had a stipend allowed him by his Prince and so prepared himselfe for death He was much troubled with the Gout which he bore with much patience often using that saying of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the promise of this life and that which is to come He fell into a Lethargie and â—o dyed in the year 1600. and of his Age 79. James Heerband was a rare Divine most grave Deserves a Garland of Fames flowers to have Who in all Learning was so excellent And at his Studies constant diligent That his contemporary Tâ—ndents said He was a Sweviary night Crow And he made Such benefit his Studies up to rear When he did Luther and Melancthon hear As oft he did that he himselfe became A Preacher rare and of surpassing fame Commencing Doctor of Divinity Made Tubings Pastor with respect most high Superintendent also there elected And of the Germain Princes much respected At last his wife who fifty years at least Had liv'd with him did dye his strength decreast Together with her losse and sicknesse so Upon his féeble corps began to grow That néer the age of fourscore yéers in peace He chang'd earths wars for heav'ns eternall peace The Life and Death of David Chytraeus who dyed Anno Christi 1600. DAvid Chytreus was born in Ingelfing in Swevland in the year 1530. of godly and religious Parents who seeing his â—owardlinesse and ingenuous nature were carefull to educate him both in Religion and Learning the principles whereof he drunke in with such celerity that his Father â—ooke much pleasure in him and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God That his Son might be fitted for and imployed in the worke of the Ministry and for this end when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to School to Gemmingen and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters and afterwards admitted into that Universitie and whilest he was very young he commenced Bachelor of Art studied the Languages Arts and Divinity under Snepfius In all which time he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years of age he commenced Master of Arts with the generall approbation of the University and presently after having a large allowance from a worthy Knight Sir Peter Menzingen he travelled to Wittenberg where he waâ— entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family so that he did not onely gain much profit by his publick Lectures bâ—t by private convers with him also which happinesse he so esteemed that all his life after he acknowledged that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in Learning When he came first to Melancthon and delivered some Letters of commendation in his behalf Melancthon finding in them that he was Master of Arts looking upon him he wondred at it saying Are you a Master of Arts yea said Chytraeus it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree Can you said Melancthon understand Geeke which he affirming he gâ—ve him Thucydides to read and construe
angling in the cleare streame then his predecessours had done by fishing in troubled waters Thirdly because he learned from Saint Ierom that intemperance in dyet facile dispumat in libidinem he every weeke viewed the buttry booke and if he found lavish expence upon any mans name he would punish him severely for it yet was he tender and compassionate to those who were of weaker constitutionâ— of body and he not onely permitted them to have such meats drest for them as might irretate their weake appetite and strengthen nature but he sent to them often from his owne Table and if any were visited with sicknesse he tooke care of them as if they were his owne children and his house was as an Apothecaries shop to furnish them with all such things they needed During the time of his Mastership in Baliol Colledge he finished his answer to Willâ—am Bishop Seminary priest intituled by the Pope Bishop of Chalcedon this nominall Bishop of an Aeriall Diocesse took upon him to refute Master Perkins his reformed Catholicke but our Abbot so refuted his refutation and so learnedly copiously solidly and perspicuously handled all those maine heads of Controversie which his adversary touched upon that many judicious Protestants heartily wished that William Bishop had run through all the above mentioned Refomâ—d Catholicke for then we should have had in our Abbots encounter with him a whole system and body of controversies exactly discussed and the truth of reformed Religion in all points solidly and substantially confirmed by Scriptures Fathers and Reason When Hanibal set upon Minutius at an advantage and put him to some distresse Fabius Maximus brings out his forces against Haniball and puts him to flight and Haniball himselfe was enforced to confesse that if he gained any thing upon Minutius he lost it and a great deale more by Fabius Maximus This William Bishops conscience told him and therefore finding himselfe unable to deale with Abbot at sharpe he challenged him to fight with him at dull and rusty foyles I meane foule language scurrilous sarcasmes like the Orators taxed by Quintilian qui causarum vacua conviâ—â—is explebant At the end of that his M r. piece he added vice coronidis a singular treatise intituled the True ancient Roman Catholick which he dedicated to Prince Henry who so thankefully accepted this his present that he returned him many thankes in a letter written with his Princely hand and promised his helping hand upon the next voydance to lift him up higher in the Church and though by the Princes untimely death this most able Champion of the truth sunk much in his hopes yet within a few yeares he was raised up first ad Cathedram Doctoralem and then Episcopalem for Doctor Holland exchanging this life for a better in the year of our Lord 1612. Abbot was thought the fittest man to succeed him in that Chayre in the judgement of all men save his owne who ever undervalued himselfe and after this place was conferred upon him refused it till his brother procured a Mandate from the King to him to hold it and then being put into the Chayre as it were by force he so well filled and furnished it that all men gave him that Evelogne which Saint Ierom giveth Nepotian ideâ— magis erat dignus quod se pâ—ofitebatur indignum he was by so much the worthier the lesse he knew his worth for contempt of honour makeâ— it more due and humility in excellency excels excellency it selfe And here the third time he made good the second sillable of his name Ver for partly by Sermons ad Clerum partly by his learned Lectures partly by his judicious moderating Divinity disputations partly by his exquisite Tractates printed a little before his death he caused such a spring among Divines as was not seen in many years before I will not revive his contentions with Doctor Howson concerning the Geneva notes and clearing Calvin from Arianisme because they are dead long since and were honourably buried by King Iames by whose command D r Howson being sharpened â—urned 〈◊〉 edge from Geneva to Rome and in the next Sermon he Preached as Saint Mariesâ— fell firce and foule upon the Pope himselfe threatning to loosen him from his Chayre though he were fastened thereunto with a teâ—peny naile Neither will I relate much of his Far well Oration at his parting from the University because I could not light upon a perfect copy thereof but a â—ew fragments onely and fragments though of dainty dishes please not the palat of most men yet to give you some tast of it thus he began Salve veneranda mater Academiarum decus gloria continere me non possum quin exultem animo beatumque me praedicem cui infelicissimae omnium gymnasiorum discere pariter docâ—re datum est mille egâ— tibi salutes mille felicitates prosperitates omnes successus exâ—ptare nunquam desinam tibi hoc negotium sub potentissimi principis auspitiis agitut tibi repetitus labor hic cui pro te aliqâ—ando in scholiâ— tuis sudatum est Id nempe agitur ut cavere discant alumni tui Arminios Bertiâ—s Grevinchonios reliquos istos scripâ—itores quos pruritus ingeniorum occupat ut in assuetiâ— nunquam acquiescant nunquam se aliquid esse credant nisi novitate singulares sinâ— Qui vult uno esse animo cum ecclesia anglicana par est 〈…〉 inchâ—et ab â—jus doctrina notitia quam ejusdem ecclesia esse consâ—â—â— â—â—gat in primis digerat articulos religionis quibus subâ—cribimus omnes illorum recolat explicationes quae continentur in â—omiliis carechismos consulat ea quae publica ejus authoritate prodierunt apologiam ecclesiae Anglicanae omnes ejus defensiones pâ—oillustres viros Iewâ—llum Fuleum Reynoldum Whitakerum Calvini Institutiones opera reverendissimi Whigifti in primis vâ—nerabiles Hookeri nullo modo omnititantur qui vero â—is omnibus relictis conferâ— se ad magistrum sententiarum Thomam Aquinatem â—uius farinae theologos acquid aliter fieri potest quam ut papismo inficiantur qui primâ—m lac sugunt ab istis uberibus neque tamen scholam penitus excludo imo omnimodâ— adhibendam sentio seâ— ita ut sit ancilla non domina affâ—renda ad il lam fidei doctrina non inde referenda sit asina quae te portet quod si te inequitet illa in salibras praecepitia te ducet And after singular directions for studâ—nts and passionat expressions of his love to the University thus he concluded spero ego de te spero de tuis optima charissima mater mâ—a utinam vigeas utinam floreas magisque acâ—magis crescas in columnam fidei firmamentum veritatis usque ad advenium Iesu Christi We have felt him as dew softly distilling in his private Cures according to the first syllable of his name Ros and viewed him also as the Spring growing flourishing in the
be drowned When he came to the Earles of Mansfield he was entertained by a hundred horsemen or more of the Court and was brought into Isleben very honourable but very sick and almost past recovery which thing he said did often befall him when he had any great businesse to undertake But using some meanes for cure of his infirmity he sate at supper with the company and so continued to doe from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February and treated of the dfferences for whose determination he came thither In this time he preached sometimes and twice received the Lords Supper and publickely received two Students into the sacred order of the Ministery And at his lodging used much godly conference at Table with his friends and every day devoutly prayed The day before his death though he was somewhat weake yet he dined and supped with his company and at supper spak of divers matters and among other passages asked Whether in heaven we should know one another when the rest desired to heare his judgement thereof He said What befell Adam he never saw Eve but was at rest in a deep sleep when God formed her yet when he awaked and saw her he asketh not what she was nor whence she came but saith that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Now how knew he that He being full of the Holy Ghost and endued with the knowledge of God thus spake After the same manner we also shall be in the other life renewed by Christ and shall know our parents our wives and children and all about us much more perfectly then Adam knew Eve at her bringing to him After supper when he went aside to pray as was his custome the paine in his breast began to increase whereupon by the advise of some there present he tooke a little Vnicornes horne in wine and after that slept quietly an houre or two on a pallat neer the fire When he awaked he betooke himselfe to his chamber went to bed bidding his friends good nght admonished them who were present to pray God for the propagation of the Gospell because the Councell of Trent and the Pope would attempt wonderfull devises against it Having thus said after a little silence he fell a sleep But was awaked by the violence of his disease after midnight Then complained he againe of the narrownesse of his breast and perceiving that his life was at an end he thus implored Gods mercy and said O heavenly father my gratioâ—s God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of Consolation I give the all hearty thanks that thou hast revealed to me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I beleeve whom I professe whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope of Rome and the rout of the wicked persecute aâ—d dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ â—o receive my soul. O my gracious heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life though I must now lay downe this frailâ— body yet I certainely know that I shall live with with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands He added moreover God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that every one who beleeveth in him should not perish but have life everlasting And that in the 68. Psalme Our God is the God of salvation and our Lord is the Lord who can deliver from death And here taking a medicine and drinking it he further said Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And againe Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of truth hast redeemed me Here as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life And when Doctor Ionas and Caelius said O reverend father doe you dye in the constant confession ofâ— that doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached He answered so as he might be heard yea which was the last word he spake Thus he in his native Country not having seen it many years before dyed much lamented by many This â—ell on the eighteen day of Febru on the day in the Calender ascribed to Concord about three a clock in the morning in the great climactericall year of his age Soon after his body put into a coffin of Lead was carried in funerall manner to the Temple of Isleben where Iustas Ionas preached Then the Earles of Mansfield desired that his body should be interred within their territories But the Elector of Saxony required that he should be brought bark to Wittenberge In the returne thereof which way so â—vâ—r it went it was honourably attended and with much griefe accompanied out of each Princes Dominion and at lengh upon the twenty two of February in the afternone was brought to Wittenberg and was carried into the Temple neare adjoyning to the Castle with such a troope of Princes Earles Nobles their living as students and other people that the like was seldome or never seâ—n in that towne When the funerall rites were perforned Pomeranus preached to an assâ—mbly of many thousands And after that Melancthon with many teares and â—igheâ— made a funerall Oration When this was don the coffin with his body was put by the hands of divers learned men into the tombe near to the Pulpit in which he had made many learned Sermonâ— before divers Princes Electors and the Congregation of many faithfull Christians In a brazen plate his picture lively deciphered was there set up with Verses by it to this effect This Sepulchre great Luthers Corpes contanes This might suâ—â—ice yet read these following strains HEre in this Vrne doth Martin Luther resâ— And sweetly sleep in hope to rise most blest By whose rare pains firme faith and Christs free Grace Which formerly thick Fogs of Error base And Duskie Clouds â—j Wâ—rks desert hid quite Were well reduced to their ancient Light For when blind Superstition ruled All And did fair Trnth long time suppresse and thrall He by Gods Word and Spirits inspiration The Gospels Light re-spred for every Nation And well-instructed by Pauls sacred voyce Scorning Romes Cheats to teach pure Truth made choyce And as John Baptist in the Wildernesse Did Gods Lamp who heals Sin Preach and expresse So O Sweet Christ did Luther cleare thy booke When all the World was caught with Errors â—ooke And what the difference was betwixt the Law Whose tables Moses brake though God he saw Vpon Mount-Sinai and the Gospell sweet Which heales Sin conscious hearts which Gods wrath meet This difference lost to th' World he did restore That so Christs gifts of Grace might shine the more He stoutly did oppose Romes Cheats and Charmes And Papall rule which wrought Gods Saints great harmes Exhorting all Romes idols for to flye He many souls wan to true piety And mauger all Romes threats and snares most slie Finisht in Faith his Course most valiantly Dying in peace his Soule with Christ doth rest Crown'd with immortall Glory
Grunnium Ad Fratres Germaniae inferioris Spongia adversus aspergines Hutteni Pantalabus sine adversus fâ—bricitantem Adversus Mendacium obtrectationem Antibarbarorum liber 1. Ad quosdam Gracculos Epistola Responsio ad Petri curâ—ii defensionem De Termino De vita phrasi Operibus Originis Besides these you have in the University Library at Oxford not set forth by Frobenius De novo Evangelio novisque Evangelistis judicium Auris Batanaâ— Vita Coleti Duo Diplomata Papae Adriani â—um responsionibus Detestatio Belli Precatio ad Iesum cum aliis Ejaculationibus De Hollandis Translated out of Greeke Classis 5. Ex S. Chrysostomo Adversus Iudaeos Homiliae 5. De Lazaro Divite Hom. 4. De Visâ—one Hom. 5. De Philogone Martyre Hom. 1. De Orando Deum Libri 2. De Davide et Saul lib. 3. Quam Presbyter esset designatus Hom. 1 In psalm Cantate Domino Quam Sarionius et Aureliamus acti essent in exilium Hom. 1. De fide Annae Hom. 2. Commentariorum in Acta Apost Hom. 4 Commentariorum in 2. dam ad Cor. Hom. 7. In Epistolam ad Galatas In Epistol ad Philipp Hom. 2. Ex S. Athanasio De Spiritu Sancto Epistolae 2. Contra Eusebium de Nicaena Sinod Ep. 2 Apologetici Duo adversus eos qui Calumniabanter quod in Persequutio nefugisset Ex S. Athanasio De Passione Domini Hom. 1. De hoc quod Scriptum est in Evangelio Vicum q. Contra vos est De Virginitate De peccato in Spiritum De Spiritu Sancto Ex S. Basilio Principium Esaiae De Spiritu Sancto lib. 1. De laudibus Iejunii lib. 2. Fragmentum Originis in Evang. S. Matth. Euripidis Hecuba Iphigenia Theodori Gazae Grammatices lib. 2. Declamatio alia quaedam ex Libanio Ex Plutarcho De discrimine Adulatoris Amici Quo pacto capi possit utilitas ex inimico De Tuenda bona valetudine Principi maxime Philosophandum An graviores sint Animi morbi quam Corporis De Cupiditate divitiarum An recte dictum sit ab Epicuro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De cohibenda iracundia De Curiositate De vitiosa verecundia Galeni exhortatio ad bonas literaâ— Isocrates de Regno administrando ad Nicodem Regem Tyrannus Zenophonius Luciani Saturnalia Cronosolon sive leges Saturnaliciae Epistolae Saturnales De Luctu Icoromenippus Toxaris Pseudomantis Somnium sive Gallus Timon Abdicatus Tyrannicida De mercede conductus Dialogus Cnemonis Damippi Dialogus Zenophantae Callidemi Dialogus Menippi Mercurii Dialogus Menippi Amphilochi Triphonie Dial. Charontis Menippi Dial. Cratetis ac Diogenis Dial. Mirei ac Thersitae Dial. Diogenis ac Mausoli Dial. simyli ac Polystrati Dial. Veneris ac Cupidinis Dial. Doridis ac Galateae Dial. Martis ac Mercurii Dial. Mercurii ac Maiae Dial. Diogenis ac Alexandri Dial. Menippi Chironis Dial. Menippi Cerberi Hercules Gallicus Eunuchus De Sacrificiis De Astrologia Lapithae sive convivium Fathers and other Authors set forth Corrected and Commented upon by Erasmus Classis 6. Augustini opera omnia 10. Tomis Hieronymi opera omnia 9. Tomis Cypriani opera omnia Irenaei opera Arnobius Ciceronis Officia De Amiciâ—ia De Senectute Paradoxa Quintus Curtius Suetoniâ—s Aelius Spartiaâ—us Iulius Capitolinus Aelius Lampridius Vulcâ—tius Galliâ—â—â—â—s Trebellius Pollio Flavius Vopiscus In Nucem Oâ—idii Commentarii In Catonem de Moribus Commentarii Notae in Plautum Notae in Terentium Notae in Quintilianum Notae in utrumque Senecam Two Bookes of his Antibarbarus was lost in England many of his most elaboâ—â—te Declamations at Rome two Books de Eucharistia he finished but supprest He left imperfect at his death a just Commentary upon S. Pauls Epistle to the Romans with many other Treatises since crept into other Mens Workes And it is to be noted that the Index Expurgatorius hath made more bold with no Mans Bookes then with his so that the first Impression are infinitely the best This famous and renowned Writer Erasmus Author and Inditer Of many learned Workes of Worth Which in his life time he set forth Was for his Learning and rare Parts His Wit his Wisedome skill in Arts And Languages and Uertues rare Wherein he justly might compare With his Contemporaries best In such esteeme and high request With all the Princes Potentates And learned Clerkes of all the States In Christendome which knew or saw him That they contended who should draw him To live with them Him to enjoy And with them his rare Parts t' employ Sending him many Gifts most great His presence with them to entreat But crown'd at last with honours Bayes In Basil He did end his dayes As full of yéeres as fragrant fame Leaving behinde an honoured Name HVLRICVS ZVINGLIVS The life and Death of Huldericus Zuinglius In the yeer of our Lord God one thousand four hundred eighty and seven Huldericus Zuinglius the Angel of the Church at Tigurum was borne and on the first of Ianuary in a little village which in the language of the Switzers is called Wild-house he was descended from pious vertuous and Religious Parents his Father also being a man advanced unto great dignity and authority amongst the Switzers in regard of his approved and well deserving parts He by daily observation without doubt to his great comfort seeing and perceiving more then an ordinary towardlinesse in his Sonne and beholding a future worth to discover it selfe even from his infancy and cradle not onely for the advancement of the glory of God but also for the benefit and profit of his native soyle and Countrey therein conferring a more charitable and friendly censure on him then that School-master on Thenistocles and causing others also to make triall of his ingenious disposition who beheld his naturall parts with astonishment and admiration he was very carefull to perfect nature by Art for that cause his age condescending thereunto he committed him unto the tuition of a certain School-master living not far from the place of his birth to be instructed trained up in the elements grounds of the Latin tongue with whom in short time by reason of the vigilancy and watchfulnesse of the one and the carefulnesse and industry of the other he attained not without great applease to that discretion and judgement that he esteemed those things which were read unto him as a subject fitter and more convenient for duller braines then for his quick and ready apprehension This proceeding therefore not answering his expectation he removed thence and being not yet fully ten yeeres old he was sent unto Basil a City in Germany situate upon the River of Rhine where he obtained for his Tutor Gregorius Biâ—â—zlius eminent in those daâ—es for the excellent endowments of learning and piety wherewith he was invested under whom this Huldericus attained unto that perfection both in civil behaviour and learning that he seemed alwaies to exceed out-strip go beyond and carry away the
animate and encourage these his friends to fight for the glory of God and to give sufficient testification of his zeale towards God he was himselfe present in Person in two severall Battels fought betwixt them neaâ—e unto Capella a Monastery situate in the fields of Tigurum unto the first he came freely of his owne accord that he might be present at their Consultations and to see that there were no declining from truth and equity This Battell was finished without the shedding of blood concerning which he was often heard to say that he had seene more malice and more wicked Counsell in it then he knew all his life time either by experience or from reading Unto the second he waâ— elected and chosen us chiefe Commander and being unwilling at the first to undertake such a burden the ground of that quarrell being something displeasing unto him it being onely Grameatus denegatio yet at the last he resolved to goe presaging as it were his owne death by the uâ—tring of these words Seio scio quid rei sit ut ego â—ollar fiunt omnia I know I know how the case stands now all these preparations are for my ruine and destruction Wherefore being well horsed and compleatly Armed he followed the Tigurunes in the reare being ready to joyne battell he went not forth as a Captaine or Commander of the Army but as a good Citizen and faithfull Pastor who would not forsake his friends in their greatest perill In this Battell Zuinglius was slaine together with three hundred eighty and three of his confaederates it happening on the eleventh day of Octobrr in the yeer of our Lord 1531. after that he had Preached the Gospel of Christ at Tigurum the space of 12. yeeres and at Glarona and Eremus the space of a 11. yeeres himselfe being 44. yeeres of age They which were neere unto him when he fell wounded even unto death heard him utter these words What misfortune is this Well they can indeed kill the body but they cannot kill the soule being in this misery he was demanded by his enimies whether he would yeeld unto Papisticall invocation of the Saints being not able to speake he refused it apparantly by the motion of his head and by the lifting up of his eyes to heaven he gave thâ—m to understand that he would invoke and call on none but on the Lord above wherefore in a raging and cruell manner tooke his life away from him condemned his body to be cut in foure quarters and to be burnt unto ashes in the fire Some of his faithfull friends greatly lamenting his death came full of sorrow unto the place where his body was burnt and lightly moving the ashes found his heart sound and untouched with the flames some ascribing it unto the power of God who by this miracle would declare unto the world both his innocency and also his zeale others spending their judgements accordingly as they were affected toward the Person And this was the end of the godly Minister of Christ whose great desire for the advancement of the truth of Christ will clearly shew it selfe by those painfull and learned labours of his which are extant in the Church being comprehended and contained in foure Tomes Tome 1. 1. A worke of Articles 2. An exhortation to the whol State of Switzerland 3. A Supplication to the Bishop of Constance 4. Of the certainty and purity of Gods Word 5. An answer unto Valentine of the authority of the Fathers 6. Institutions for Youth 7. A good Shepheard 8. Of Iustice Divine and Humaine 9. Of Providence Tome 2. 1. Of Baptisme 2. Of Originall Sinne. 3. Of true and false Religion 4. An Epistle to the Princes of Germany 5. Of the Lords Supper 6. Of Christian Faith written unto the French King Tome 3. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Isaiah 4. Jeremiah Psalter out of Hebrew into Latin Tome 4. 1. Annotations on the foure Evangelists 2. History of our Saviours Passion Annotations on 3. The Romans 4. Corinthians 5. Philippians 6. Collossians 7. Thessalonians 8. Hebrewes 9. James 10. John Epist. 1. They that are willing to engage and prove Themselves true Souldiers in the field of Love Must follow Zuinglius whose ample glory Affords the World an everlasting Story Ye Prelats of these Times stoope downe and sée The Wisdome Valour and the Constancie Of this renowned Father whose deserts Ought to be printed in all noble Hearts He fell with Honour and all those that fall Guarded with Truth deserve a Funerall Adorn'd with Angels that all tongues may say Here lyes Relig'ons and the Churches stay Brave Zuinglius dy'd though it be hard to doe A valiant Souldier and a Martyr too IOHN COLLET The Life and Death of John Colet IOhn Colet was borne in London of honest and wealthy Parents His Father was twice Lord Major of that famous City to whom his Mother a chaste and fruitfull Matron brought forth eleven Sonnes and as many daughters of which numerous off-spring Iohn Colet was the eldest and sole Survivor the rest dyed before their Father whereby he became Heir to a very considerable fortune and yet nature to him was no lesse indulgent then fortune being indowed with all the Simmetry almost imaginable in a tall and comely Person In his younger yeeres he gave himselfe to the study of Phylosophy and in the seaventh after his Matriculation in the Vniversity obtained his degree of Master in Arts an honor not so much given to his Standing as due to his knowledge in the Liberall Sciences in none whereof he was ignorant in some exquisitly learned All Tullies woâ—ks were as familiar unto him as his Epistles neither was he any stranger to Plato and Plotinus whom he not oâ—ely read but conferred and paralleld perusing the one as a Commâ—ntator upon the other As for the Mathematickes there is scarce any part thereof wherein he was not seene abovâ— his yeeres certainly above expectation Having thus fethered his nest at home he began to looke abroad and improve his stock in forreigne Countries In France he added his Humanity what he thought necessary to the study of Divinity which thereafter he effectually prosecuted in Italie amongst the Ancients he was most taken with Dionysius Areopagita Origen Saint Cyprian St. Ambrose and Saint Hierom with St. Augustine whether out of Singularity or judgement amongst all the Fathers he seemed most disguised And yet he did not so mancipate himselfe to Antiquity but that as occasion served he sometimes survayed Aquinas Scotus and other Schoolmen In a word he was seene in both Lawes and singularly well read in History both Civill and Ecclesiasticall And because he saw that England had her owne Dant's and Petrarchs as well as Italie who have performâ—d the same here that they there those and these he both read and diligently imitated accommodating thereby his stile to the Pulpit and Preaching of the Gospel After his returne from Italie he made choyse to live at Oxford where he publickly
as himselfe accused him before the Arch-bishop of Canterbury that preaching upon the triple Pasce ous meas he expounded the first by good example the Second by Sound Doctrine according to the common Interpretation and consent of the Doctors But that in the third which they expound Subsidio vitae he had dessented from them affirming that something else must be there understood and that the Aâ—postles being extreame poore could not be bound to feed their flocks with what they had not themselves Secondly that in another Sermon he had Preached against worshiping of jmages and thirdly that in the same Sermon he seem'd to tap those who Preached out of their note books which the Bishop took to himselfe for at that time he was aged eighty and forced by this help to piece out a Seniâ—e and decayed Memory The Archbishop received the accusation but answered it himselfe not suffering Colet to be so much as Summoned to his Consistory Their second attempt at Court succeeded little better the occasion this The King being resolâ—ed upon a warre with France Colet was invited to Preach at Court His Theame was Christs victory in handling whereof he preferred the most unjust peace before the justest warre for said he when the evill out of hatred or ambition fight against the evill and kill one another there they fight not under Christs but the Divels Banner shewing how difficult a thing it was to dye like a good Christian how few followed the Warres not tainted with envy or avarice and how almost inconsistent brotherly charity is with sheathing our sword in the Bowels of our brethern Concluding that it was better for Christians to imitate in their warfare their blessed Lord and Saviour then either Caesars or Alexanders At this Sermon amongst others were present the Bishop and two Friers Minorites whereof the one was the chiefe incendiary to the warre for which his ghostly counsell he was soone after rewarded with a Bishopricke the other an obstreperous stentorian whorson who in all his Sermons which in all were not many was sure to have a fling at Poets and poetry intending thereby to mump Colet who though he had skill in musicke yet never wrote a verse in his life But so ignorant was the vulgar of that frye in those dayes that they knew not â—he difference betwixt a peece of Tully and Virgil accounting all Poetry that was not meere barbarisme These three made agrievous complaint of him both to the King cheife Martialists as though Colet had done all â—his of purpose to weaken the hands of his Majesties Forces and discourage the Commons from so noble aâ—d necessary expedition and to speak the truth the King himselfe was somewhat startled at it But in the Carthusian gardens at Greenwitch he gave his Majesty such satisfaction that when most men gave him for lost he never parted from the King more loaded with promises both of protection and preferment who injoyned him onely in his next Sermon to cleere such misprissions and Scruples as the Common people and Souldiery had ignorantly collected from his former after w ch neither the Bishop nor his Bricot durst meddle no more with him But he lived not long to reape and injoy the fruits of this double victory for after the third relapse into a pestilentiall Fever a disease almost peculiar to the English he fell into a Dyssentery where of he died Some of his Physitians judged him far gone in an Hydropsie but upon his imbowelling there appeared no such thing to the Anatomists onely the extremities of his liver seemed as it were bearded with certaine rough and curled strings or pendants he lyeth buried in Saint Pauls upon the south side of the Quire a place designed by himselfe and almost in the eye of all who passe that way Behold his Embleme whose admired worth Few Pens can prove sufficient to set forth Unto the World and much lesse mine whose skill Can be deriu'd but from an Infant Quill He had a rare and well innobled heart Whose rich endeavours gave a life to Art He alwayes was ambitious to embrace Although t' were seated in the meanest place True vertue and he tooke delight to sée Youth well adorn'd with Ingenuitie Pauls Schoole can witnesse that his liberall Purse Was ever open to reward the Nurse That gave true Wisdome sucke therfore his Name Shall alwayes ride upon the wings of Fame IOHANES OECVLAMPADIVS The life and Death of John Oecolompadius IN the yeere of our Lord God 1482. this worthy instrument of advancing the truth of Christ Iohannes Oecolompadius was borne at Weinsperge a towne scituated in Germanie which yeere also was remarkable for the birth of Georgius Spalatinus who afterwards proved a faithfull and laborious Minister in the Church of God being sometimes Chaplaine unto the Duke of Saxonie His Parents were greatly esteemed amongst their neighbours for their vertuous and civill demeanour being endewed with a sufficient competency of outward necessaries both for the supporting of themselves and also for the education of such Children as it pleased the Lord to blesse them with and with a great number of these they were for a time beautified but it pleased God to take againe those which he had given during the life of these Parents leaving unto them onely this Oecolompadius unto whom he had granted a longer life for the good and benefit of his Church Both of them beholding the ingenious disposition of the childe and finding him to be capable of Learning they carefully sent him to be instructed and brought up in the rudiment of Learning his Father intending that after he had attained unto some knowledge and perfection to place him with a Merchant supposing that course of life to be the most fittest for him but his Mother being acquainted with this resolution of her Husbands and finding it not sutable to her owne will she never ceased from intreating him to desist from his intent untill such time as she obtained of him that he should continue longer in the Schooles unto which there appeared in him a naturall inclination the Lord beginning even in his Infancy to frame his minde unto that wherein he afterwards used him as his instrument for the converting of many unto himselfe Not long after his Father yeelding unto the request of his Mother who was as carefull of Oecolompadius as ever Monica was of Augustine he sent him unto Heilbronna which place was famous in Germanie for an exact training up of Youth in the knowledge of the Latine tongue where he having remained a few yeeres he removed him unto Heidelberge an Accademy eminent both for the Arts and tongues here he attained unto that perfection in Learning that at the age of 14. yeeres he proceeded with great approbation Bachiler of Arts. And unto his proceeding in the knowledge of humaine Learning he adjoyned a Religious and civill behaviour perswading himselfe eum qui proficiat in literis deficiat in moribus non proficere
fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illius pascendam Anno 1525. being called into his owne Country he Preached and administred the Lord's Supper to his owne Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies he was present and disputed at Berne against the Popish Masse c. He was with others chosen by the Protestants to goe the to Diet at Ratisbone for the setling of Religion and returning home in a great and generall infection he died to the Plague An. Christi 1541 of his Age 63. Industrious Capito at first inclind Himselfe to cure the body next the minde Being endow'd with most excellent parts He did as t' were monopolize the Artâ— He lov'd Religion and was alwayes free T' extoll the worth of practis'd piety He honor'd peace his heart was fil'd with hope That he might live to contradict the Pope And so he did he labour'd to prevent The Ceremonâ—es of their Sacrament And to conclude he labour'd to confute Their babling Masse He 's blest without dispute The Life and Death of LEO JUDAE who died Anno Christi 1542. LEo Iudae was born Anno Christi 1482. brought up at Schoole and from thence sent to Basil where he joyned in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Doctor Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledge of the Gospel â—here also he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he â—et himselfe to the study of the Orientall Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the books of Luther Eraâ—mus and Capito at length being called to a Pastorall charge at Tigure he opposed the Popish doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Presse thâ—re he continued eighteen yeeres and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being growne very skilfull he set upon at the importunity of his breathren of the Ministry the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men but this worke proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he died before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Iob the forty last Psalmes Proverbs Ecâ—lesiastes Canticles and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish who accordingly did it and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Presse which he carefully performed Four dayes before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Tigure he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning GOD the Scriptures the Person and Office of CHRIST concluding Huic Iesu Christo Domino liberatori meo c. To this my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ my hope and my salvation I wholly offer up my soule and body I cast my selfe wholly upon his mercy and grace c. Heaven was the object where he fixt his eyes Truth was his Marke Religion was his Prise His studious heart was active to contrive How to keepe other pining Souls alive With heavenly Food he never lov'd to feed In secret Corners and let others need He never usâ—d to sweepe away the Crums From his poore Flock and feed their souls with Hums Like our new-babling Pastors which infuse Illiterate Words patch'd up with flattring News He would not blind them with the intising charms Of Falseties or bid them take up Armes Except for heaven within whose Tent he sings Anthems of Pleasure to the King of Kings The Life and Death of MYCONIUS who died Anno Christi 1546. Fâ—â—idericus Myconius was borne in Franconia of religious parents and bred up at Schoole till he was thirteen yeeres old and then he was sent to Annaeberg where he studied till he was twenty and then entred into a Monastery there without the knowledge of his parents the first night after his entrie he had a dream which proved propheticall In that place he read the Schoole-men and Augustine's Workes He read also at meal-time the Bible with Lyra's notes on it which he did seven yeeres together with so much exactnesse that he had it almost by heart but dispairing of attaining to learning he left his studieâ— and fell to Mechanicall Arts About which time Tecâ—liuâ— brought his Indulgences into Germany boasting of thâ— virtue of them and exhorting all as they loved their owne and their dead friends salvation that they should buy them c. Myconius had been taught by his fâ—ther the Lord's Prayer the Creed the Decalogue and to pray often and that the blood of Christ onely could cleanse uâ— from sin and that pardon of sin eternall life could not be bought with money c. Which caused him to be much tâ—oubled whether he should beleive his father or the Priests but understanding that there was a clause in the Indulgences that they should be given freely to the poore he went to Tecelius entreated him to give him one for he waâ— a poor sinner and one that needed a free remissions of sins and a participation of the merits of Christ Tecelius admired that he could speake Latine so well which few Priests could doâ— in those dayes aud therefore he advised with hiâ— Colleagues who perswaded him to give Myconius one but after much debate he returned him answer That the Pope wanted money without which he could not part with an Indulgence Myconius urged the aforenamed clause in the Indulgences whereupon Tecelius his Colleagues pressed againe that he might have one given him pleading his learning and ingenuity poverty c. And that it would be a dishonor both to God and the Pope to denie him one but still Tecelius refused whereupon some of them wispred Myconius in the eare to give a little money which he refused to doe and they fearing the event one of them profered to give him some to buy one with which he still refused saying That if he pleased he could sell a book to buy one but he desired one for Gods sake which if they denyed him he wished them to consider how they could answer it to God c. but prevailing nothing he went away rejoycing that there was yet a God in heaven to pardon sinners freely c. according to that promise As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner c. Not long after he entred into Orders and read privately Luther's books which the other Friars tooke very haynously and threatned him for it From thence he was called to be a Preacher at Vinaria where at first he mixed some Popish errors with the truth but by the illumination of Gods Spirit and by his reading Luther he at last began to preach against Popery and to hold forth the truth clearly which spread so swiftly not onely through Saxonie but through all countries as if the Angels had been carryers of it Afterwards he was called
both having beene used by the Popes Agent nor he by perswasion nor love could perswade him to returne to Popery he feigned himselfe friendly to take his leave of him and so deparâ—â—d â—ut shortly after he returned againe with this ruffianly murtherer and by the way they bought an Hatchet of a Carpinter and Alphonsus sending this man disguised with letters to his Brother he himselfe following after as Iohn Diazius was reading the letters this bloudy murtherer cleft his head with the Hatchet and taking Horse they both rode away Anno Christi 1546. and this inhumane Cain was highly commended by the Papists for it But the Lord would not suffer such an unnaturall villanie to goe unpunished for not long after he was so doggâ—d and haunted by the Furies of his own Conscience that being at Trent when the Council was held there he hanged himsâ—lf about the neck of his own Mule Diazius in his youthfull dayes had cloath'd His heart with Popery and after loath'd What he had done for when he was inspir'd By Heaven he searcht for truth and soon untyrâ—d Himselfe and having found the pathes of truth He hated what he acted in his youth Thus being turn'd from those wayes that lead To utter ruine Fame began to spread Her wings abroad and hover in the eare Of the distasted Pope who could not heare Goodnesse without impatience but strove To win him with reward of promis'd love But finding â—'was in vaine he chang'd his minde From Love to Murther and with spéed inclin'd Himselfe to mischiefe being voyd of grace Put out that light which shin'd so much in 's face The Life and Death of CRUCIGER Who died Anno Christi 1548. GAsper Cruciger was born at Lipsich in Misnia Anno 1504. of religious Parents who carefully brought him up in the knowledge of God and in learning He was melancholy by nature and of a retired disposition much in meditation and of few words being principled in the Latine he learned Greek and profited much therein and so went to the University of Wittenberg that having studyed Divinity there he might be more usefull to the Church he studyed also the Hebrew tongue and grew very exquisite therein from thence was called to govern the School at Magdeburg where he taught with much profit and applause till 1527. and then being called back to Wittenberg he preached and â—xpounded the Scriptures with so much dexterity that he was graced with the degree of a Doctor in that University he studyed and practised Physick also He was very helpfull to Luther in his Translation of the Bible He wrote so swiftly that he was chosen Scribe at the disputation at Worms and yet withall suggested to Melancthon many things for answer to Eccius his subtilties insomuch that Glanvell who supplyed the Enperors room said of him That the Lutherans had a Scribe that was more learned then all the Pontificians He alwayes opposed the Anabaptisticall errors and was very careful to preserve the Truch from corruptions he alwayes hated new and ambiguous expressions which often caused much troubles in the Church he often contemplated the foot-steps of God in Nature saying with Paul That God was so near unto us that he might be almost felt with our hands He studyed the Mathematicks in his later time and grew so skilfull therein that few excelled him he was excellent also in the Opticks but with excessive pains and incessant studyes night and day he contracted to himselfe a mortall disease whereby he wasted away and yet his intellectuals decayed not he lay sick for above three moneths all which time he gave forth cleer notable demonstrations of his Faith Patâ—ence and Piety he called up his two young daughters and caused them to repeate their prayers before him and then himselfe prayed with great fervency for himselfe the Church and those his Orphans concluding Invoco te quanquam languida imbecillâ— fide sed fide tamen credo promissioni tuae quam sanguine tuo resurrections obsignasti c. I call upon thee with a weak yet with a true Faith I beleele thy promises which thou hast sealed to mee with thy blood and resurrection c. In his sicknesse he intermitted not his studies for during the same he turned into Latine Luthers books concerning the last words of David he read the Psalms and other Autors his ordinary discourse with his friends was about the Principles of Religion the admirable government of the Church Immortality and our sweet Communion in heaven Upon the sixth of November there was a great Chasm or opening in the heavens and in some places fire fell to the earth and flew up into the ayre againe this Cruciger saw as he lay in his bed in the night and thereupon much bewayled the great commotions and dissipations in the Church which he foresaw by this Prodigie He spent the few dayes which remained in prayer and repentance and so quietly ended his dayes November 16. Anno Christi 1548. and of his Age 45. Considering the mutabilitie of all earthly things he used often to say Omnia praetereunt praeter amare Deum Besides God's love nothing is sure And that for evâ—r doth endure Grave Cruciger was in his life A hater of corroding strife His soule was â—â—l'd with Heaven and he Was alwayes constant alwayes free In his devotions all his dayes He spent to give his maker praise Religions stocke did still encrease Within his heart and crown'd his peace He was a wonder to all Nations For Piety and disputations The Anabaptists felt the force Of his patheticall discourse Truth alwayes shined in his brest All men speake truth that speake him blest PAVLVS FAGIVS The Life and Death of Pauluâ— Fagius IN the yeer of our Lord God 1504. Paulus Fagius alias Buchlin was borne in a Town situate in the Palatinate not farre from Bretta which in the Germain language is called Rhein-taberne his Father was called by the name of Peter Buchlin being chiefe Schoole-master of that Towne his Mother by the name of Margaretta Iager daughter unto Henricus Iazger of Heidelberge who was much beloved of Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine by reason of his excellent knowledge in the art of War He was first acquainted with the grounds of Leaenrng in the same Towne and that through the carefulnesse and paines of his Father which indeed seemed pleasing unto him because of the sharpenesse of wit and quicknesse of apprehension which he saw in the childe and therefore for the better perfection of his naturall parts when he had reached unto the age of eleven yeares he sent him unto Heidelberge and committed him unto the tuition of Iohannes Brentius and Martinus Frechtus two learned men by whose meanes he was furnished with an excellent insight in humaine Learning When he had continued with these learned men for the space of seven yeers and being now eighteene yeers of age and longing for a greater perfection of learning he left Heidelberge and went unto
Bucer wee Ascribe the second we bequeath to thee Whose knowledge in the holy dialect A fame eternall will to thee erect In that thou first didst bid the world godnight Thou seem'st inferior to that burning light But being first with heavens glory cround Thou dost appeare a Saint more worthy found In other things both fitly did agree Both faithfull preachers of his veritie Both painfull Sowers of the heavenly graine Both blest with good successe it sprung againe Wherefore God blest you both with honor high And cloath'd you both with immortality O happy soules though heaven keepe you there Your fame shall ever be intombed here Your worthy praises all the earth shall know Divulged by our Muses here below He was of a tall stature somewhat blacke-visaged his countenance appeared outwardly severe extorting reverence but he was inwardly of an affable and courteous disposition loving meeke and lowly he was an excellent Orator a great Student as appeares by his Workes here inserted 1 A worke called Thysby 2 Apothegmes of the Fathers 3 Morall Sentences ef Ben Syra alphabetically digested 4 The translation of Tobias the Hebrew 5 Hebrew Prayers 6 A literall exposition of the Hebrew sayings on the foure first chapters of Genesis with a Chalde Paraphrase 7 Of the truth of Faith 8 Commentaries on certaine Psalmes by Kirachi 9 An Hebrew Preface to Elias Levila his Chalde Lexicon 10 Thargum 11 An Introduction to the Hebrew tongue Reader behold here stands before thine eye The perfect â—mbleme of true gravity Turne from his face then read and thou shalt finde The rare endeavours of a serious minde He was a man whose ever-active heart Was alwayes digging in the Mines of Art And like a Bée he labour'd every houre To sucke some Hony from each spreading Flowre T was not the face of poverty could fright His soule from goodnesse Heaven was his delight And earth his scorne he study'd how to give A life to Language and make Uertue live It is not unfit that he whose Workes affords So many Languages should want for words MARTINVS BVCERVS The Life and Death of MARTIN BUCER IN the yeer of our Lord 1491. Martinus Bucerus was born at Selestadt a towne in Germanie famous for many learned Schollars which it hath afforded unto the World in these latter times amongst which this Bucer deserveth not the meanest approbation if we shall but consider those excellent vertues wherewith he was endewed or his learned and laborious acts for the propagation of the truth of Christ. In his youth he was trained up in the knowledge of the liberall Arts and Sciences in his owne Countrey wherein he profited beyond expectation to the great credit of his Maâ—â—er and to the unspeakable comfort of his friends About the yeer of our Lord 1506. and about the fifteenth yeer of his age through the advice and perswasion of his friends he adjoyned himselfe unto the order of the Dominicans where he manifested and gave them so singular a glympse of his industry and towardnesse that the most judicious and best eye-sighted Fryers conceived him to be set apart for the performance of more â—hen ordinary Acts. Being now a Dâ—minican he greatly desired to take a view oâ— Heidelberge which was granted unto him by the Pryor here he earnestly gave himselfe to the study of Rhetoricke and Phylosophie and not to these Arts onely but also to Divinity but when he found by experience that the knowledge of the Tongues was so necessary unto the study therof that without them it could not by any meanes possible be attained to any perfection he forthwith bent all his forces for the gaining of the knowledge of the Greeke and Hebrew tongues About that time came forth the Workes of Erasmus Roterodamus in the reading whereof Bucer greatly delighted and was by them first instructed God opening his eyes in the grounds of Evangelicall truth and happening also on some of Luthers Workes newly published and comparing the Doctrine therein delivered and taught with the holy Scripturâ—s he fell into a suspâ—tion of the truth of the doctrine of the Church of Rome Bucer having now attained unto some perfection of learning and notice being taken of those excellent qualities wherewith he was adorned upon the commendation and approbation of Franciscus Sickingen he was entertained by Fredericke Prince Elector Palatine to be his Chaplaine and forsaking that profession which he had formerly taken he professed himselfe to be a Protestant and Preached the word both privatly and publickly as occasions were offered and given unto him being much strengthened and animated thereunto by hearinâ— the disputation of Luther at Heidelberge concerning Free-will whereby he became better satisfied in the point of justification And thiâ— waâ— the first acquaintance which he had with that burning light of the Church by whom it pleased God to worke an alteration in his heart and an earnest intent to beat downe the sinnes of the times to dispell the foggie mists of darkenesse and ignorance that the glorious light of Christs Gospel might the better appear For the Prince Elector having urgent occasions to goe into Belgiuno and taking him with him as his associate he sharpely reproved in his Sermons and Exercises the supersticious impieties of those places wherein he proceeded with that eagernesse of spirit that the Monkes and Fryers there living were much offended at his Doctrine as a thing prejudiciall to their lazie manner of life Wherefore to prevent his proceeding they intended secretly to take away his life an old practise of that hellish brood but the providence of God would not suffer this light to be thus extinguished for he having notice of the snares which were laid for him secretly fled away and went unto Franciscus Sickingem of whom he was kindely and lovingly entertained promising him safety untill that the times were better quieted as touching Religion with whom he remained untill such such time as Luther was called unto Wormes unto whom he went and having spâ—nt many dayes in conference with him he departed from him not without he embracing of his Doctrine with an intent to make publicke profession of the same for the glory of God untill he had finished that time which was alotted unto him here in earth and resolving to take his journey for Wittemberge he was stayed by the intreaty of the faithfull Pasâ—ors of the Church at Wissenburge where he continued Preaching for the space of halfe a yeere not without the great benefit of the Church untill that he with Henricus Mothererus were with great sorrow compelled to depart that place through the means of the Vicar of Spire which at that time was a great enemy and an opposer of the truth of Christ. Now although the Word of God had no good successe in this place yet it pleased God that it florished in Strasburge by the pains of Matthias Lellius and Casper Hedio faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard hither came Bucer in the yeere of our Lord 1523. and
Reformation in the Churches he was informed by Melancthon that Ecclesiasticall government did consist 1. In the soundnesse and puritie of Doctrine 2. In the lawfull use of the Sacraments 3. In a conservation of the Minister of the Gospell and in obedience towards the Pastors of the Churches 4. In the preservation of an honest and godly Discipline which was to be upheld by an Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction 5. In the upholding of Schooles 6. In supplying such persons as are imployed in weightie matters with sufficient necessaries Which points he caused to be dispersed amongst the Churches but they wrought little or no Reformation the yeer following Germanie was oppressed with civill Warres which when it was greatly lamented by Melancthon some out of malice misinterpreting his words accused him unto the Emperour as one who laboured to hinder his proceedings in the Reformation of Religion for which cause the Emperour intended his death but he was defended and delivered by the intreaty of Mauritius the Prince Elector who possessed the Emperour with a contrary opinion Not long after it happened that there were great preparations for the Councill of Trent and safe going and returning being concluded on Melancthon was sent with the Letters of the foresaid Mauritius and taking Norimberge in his way he was commanded to stay there untill he received an answer concerning that faith which was generally to be embraced of all the Churches During his aboad at Noremberge he heard the newes of the Expedition of Mauritius against the Emperor in regard of the Lantgrave of Hassia who was detained captive Wherefore Melancthon lefâ— Noremburge returned again to Wittemberge Many are of opinion that if he had been present at the said Councill and had been suffred to declare his mind freely amongst them he would have redified many of their judgements concerning matters of religion Being come unto Wittenberge he constantly went forward in his exercise of teaching and preaching the word of God untill he fell into an irrecoverable disease whereby his vitall spirits grew so feeble that he was made unfit for the performance of his pastorall office and weaknesse increasing every day more and more upon him he was constrained at the last to yeeld unto death and in the midst of many heavenly prayers he surrendred his soul unto him that gave it in the yeer of our Lord 1560. in the 63. yeere of hiâ— age and after that he had preached the space of 42. yeeres unto the inhabitants of Wettemberge Where he was buried with great sorrow and lamentation being laid side by side with Luther For his excellent gifts he was not onely reverenced by Protestant Divines then living but he also gained a singular approbation of such as were his professed enemies He was of a meane stature not exceeding the common sort of men his forehead smooth and high his haire thin his neck long his eyes beautifull and peircing he was broad breasted and in generall there was a proportionable agreement betwixt all the parts of his body in his youth he stammered something in his speech but reaching unâ—o a maturity of age he so corrected that infirmity that it gave no offence unto his Auditors the learned treatises which he left unto the Church whose reformation both in doctrine and discipline he greatly laboured for in his life are here inserted Tome 1. 1. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Explications on some Psalms 3. Vpon the Proverbs Annotations on 4. Matthew 5. Iohn 6. 1 Corinthians 7. An Apologie for Luther against the Paritians 8. Anabaptistists 9. Sentences of Fathers 10. Of the qualification of Princes 11. Of the tree of consanguinity Tome 2. 1. A Comment on Paul to the Romans 2. School-notes on the Colossians 3. Common places of Divinity Tome 3. 1. A confession of Faith 2. A Catechisme 3. A method of Preaching 4. Theologicall Disputations 5. Of Vowes 6. Of the doctrine of the reformed Church 7. An Epistle to John Earle of Widae Tome 4. 1. Philosophicall workes 2. Commentaries on Aristot. Ethicks 3. Politicks 4. An Epitome of Morall Phylosophy Tome 5. 1. A Latin Grammer 2. A Greeke gram 3. Logicke 4. Rhetoricke 5. Enarrations on Hesiods workes 6. Arithmaticke 7. Epigrams These were printed by Hervagius but there are divers others set forth by Christopher Pezelius As 1. An admonition to those that read the Alcaron 2. A defence for the marriage of Priests 3. Commentaries on Daniel 4. A discourse on the Nicene Creed 5. Luthers Life and Death 6. Schoolâ—-notes on Cicero his Epistles 7. Translations of Demosthenes and Plutarch 8. Greeke and Latine Epigrams 9. Two Tomes of Epistles 10. Carion his Cronologie â—nlarged Would thy ingenious Fancy soare and flye Beyond the pitch of moderne Poesye Or wouldest thou learne to charme the conquerd eare With Reth'riks oyly Magik wouldest thou heareâ— The Majesty of language wouldest thou pry Into the Bowels of Philosophy Morall or Naturall Or wouldest thou sound The holy depth and touch the unfathom'd ground Of deepe Theology Nay wouldest thou need The Sisteme of all excellence and feed Thy empty soule with learning's full perfection Goe search Melancthons Tomes by whose direction Thou shalt be led to Fame if his rare story Can make thee emulous of so great a glory The Life and Death of John a Lasco who died Anno Christi 1560. IOhn Lascus was born of a noble family in Poland and brought up in learning afterwards travelling to Tygure in Helvetia he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himselfe to the study of Divinity and when he might have been preferred to great honor in his owne Country such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honor and peace amongst his friends coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence the yeere after he was sent for by Ann the widdow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next yeer after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the worke remained unperfected about that time the Emerour persecuted the Protestants he was sent for by King Edward the sixth upon Cranmers motion into England where he gathered Preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remain's to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond-Sea and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmarke but there he found but cold entertainment by reason of his differing from them about the Lords Supper the Churches of Saxonie also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon the like reason at length that poore Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Anne Oldenburg and setled at Embdem Anno Christi 1555. he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of
the Senate he gathered a Church of strangers especially out of Belgia from thence he wrote a Letter to the King of Poland and his Council vindicating his Doctrin from some aspersions cast upon it by his adversaries many enemies also rose up against him and his Congregation for differing from them about Christ's presence in the Sacrament especially oâ—e Westphalus who wrote bitterly against them calling them Zuinglians and affirming that all those which had suffered about that point in Belgia England or Francâ— were the Divel's Martyrs At last Lascus returning into his own Country from which he had been absent twenty years there he found God's harvest to be great and the labourers to be very few His coming was very unwelcome to the Popish Clergy who sought by all meanes to destroy him or to get him banished and therefore they accused him to the King for an Hereticke beseeching him not to suffer him to stay in the Kingdome to whom the King answered That though they pronounced him an Hereticke yet the Sâ—ates of the Kingdome did not so esteeme him and that he was ready to clear himselfe from those aspersions When they thus prevailed not they cast abroad reproaches and all manner of lyes as if he would stir up a civill War in the Kingdome but it pleased God when he had spent a little time in instructing his friends that he sickned and dyed anno christi 1569. He was of an excellent wit and judgement and tooke much paines to have composed that difference in the Churches about Christ's presence in the Sacrament though it succeeded not The King of Poland had him in such esteem that he made use of his advice and help in many great and difficult businesses Wisdome and goodnesse both conjoyn'd To beautifâ—e Alascos mind He was laborious to fulfill And prosecute his makers will His heart was proud to undertake To doe or suffer for Gods sake Therefore no question but hée 's blest And rests in peace and endlesse rest AVGVSTINVS MARLORATVS The Life and Death of Augustine Marlorat AVgustine Marlorat was born in the Dukedome of Lorrain anno christi 1506. His Parents dyed whil'st he was young and his kindred gaping after his estate thrust him at eight years of age into a Monastery of Augustine Fryers by which meanes God so ordering of it he was brought up in learning and having studied the body of Divinity in France came to the University of Lasanna which is a famous Towne of the Lords and States of the Countrey of Bern scituated hard by the Lake of Lemon and is a place famous for Divinity where he profited much in learned and came to the knowledge of the Truth and from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Vivia and from thence he was sent for to Rottomag where he behaved himselfe with much piety and wisdome Anno Christi 1561. he was present at the conference at Posiah between the Cardinall of Lorrain and Theodore Beza where he acquitted himselfe with much courage The year following when the Civil Wars brakâ— forth in France the City of Rotomag was besieged and after a hard siege was taken where Marlorat and foure other chiefe Citizens by the malice of Mont-Morenzie and Francis Duke of Guize were hanged though some of his adversaries would have saved him This was done the thirtieth of October anno chris 1562. and of his Age six and fifty whose Workes being ever living Monuments are preserved to the benefit of the Church of God and are here set down 1. A Catholicke and Ecclesiasticall Exposition of the new Testament 2. An Exposition upon Genesis 3. An Exposition on the Psalmes of David 4. An Exposition upon the Prophecie of Jsaiah 5. His Thesaurus or Treasure-house of the whole Canonicall Scripture digested into common places Also the hard Phrases Alphabetically Printed which usully are met withall in the Scriptures by the care and industry of William Feugerius of Rohan professor of Divinity to whom Marlorat left this Worke being not altogether perfected at the time of his Dissolution Renowned Marlorat did breath to give A breath to worth which worth shall make him live Uertue shall be his Heravl'd and his name Shall stand recorded in roules of fame The trumpet of his praise shall sound the bolder Because true vertue neede crave no upholder The Life and Death of Amsdorfius who died Anno Christi 1563. NIcolas Amsdorfius was born in Misnia of noble Parents Anno Christi 1483. and brought up in learning From School he went to the University of Wittenberge about that time that Luther began to preach against Indulgence in Anno Christi 1504. he Commensed Master of Arts and aftewards Licentiary in Divinity he embraced the Truth â—hat brake forth in those times and preached it to others he accompanied Luther to Worms in the time of Luthers recesse into his Pathmos he with Melancthon and Iustus Ionas being sent to by the Elector of Saxonie for their judgement about the Masse declared that it was an horrible profanation of the Lords Supper whence ensued the abolishing of it out of all Churches in Wittenberg he wrote also that the Pope was Antichrist Anno Christ 1524. Luther being sent for to Magdenburg he went thither and having preached to them he commended to them and afterwards sent Amsdorfius to gather and instruct the Churches there who faithfully laboured eighteen yeeres in that place Anno Christi 1541. he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the yeere after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing of their hands upon him but six yeers after he was driven away from thence by the Emperor Charles the fifth whence he fled to Magdenberg and was there during the siege of it Anno Christi 1550. and the yeere after George Major having Published this propositioâ— That good Works were necessary to Salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good Works were hurtfull and dangerous to Salvation he died about the four score and eight yeer of his age Anno Christi 1563. Amsdorfius was the life of worth his dayes Were fil'd with trouble yet perpetuall praise Waited upon him for he did oppose The Errours of the Pope in spight of those That were his enemies he did maintaine The Pope was Antichrist the Masse prophane He fear'd them not but boldly did professe The truth and now is Crown'd with happinesse WOLFGANGVS MVSCVLVS The Life and Death of Wolfangus Musculus IN the yeer of our Lord God 1497. and on the sixt of the Ides of September a day much observed by our Ancestors for the birth of the Virgin Mary and also for the destruction of Ierusalem by Titus the son of Vespasian was Wolfangâ—â— Musculus that faithfull servant of Christ born at Dusa a little towne situate in Litharingia famous onely for the aboundance of Salt-pits wherewith it is richly stored His father was called Antonius Musculus who by his profession was
extraordiry patience in his life so he also testified the same during his sicknesse for he 〈◊〉 that afflâ—â—â—ion with admired patience still calling upon and praying unto almighty God relying onely upon him as appeared by that Speech of his unto his Son who standing by his Bed-side weeping he turned to him and told him that he need not doubt of his Fathers Faith which indeed were the last words which he uttered and not long after he yeelded up his soule with all quietnesse into the hands of God in the year of Christ 1563. and in the sixty six year of his age and was buried at Berne He was a man learned and grave affable and courteous sparing in hiâ— dyet he was something tall in stature having a body straight a face red eyes clear and quick-sighted in generall there was a proportionable agreement betwixt all his parts His Works are these 1. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Psalmes 3. Matthew 4. Iohn 5. Romans 6. Corinthians 7. Philippians 8. Colossians 9. Thessalonians 10. 1 Timothy 11. His common places 12. Vpon the Commandements 13. Of Oathes 14. Of the Germane Wars Translations of Greek Authors 1. Commentaries of Chrysostome on Sainâ— Pauls Epistles 2. Epistles of Saint Basil. 3. Ethicks of Basil. 4. Of solitary life 5. Homilies 6. School-notes of Basil on the Psalter 7. Thirty nine Epistles of Cyril 8. A Declaration of the twelue Anathemos in the Ephesnick Councill 9. Opinions of Nestorius conâ—iâ—ed 10. Synopsis of the Scriptures out of Athanaâ—iuâ— 11. 140. questions out of the old and new Testament 12. A Synopsis of Theodore Bishop of Tyre Ecclesiastiâ—all Histories 1. Ten bookes of Eusebius of Ecclesiasticall affaires 2. Five â—ookes of Eusebius of the life of Constantine 3. Eight bookes of Socrates 4. Nine bookes of Zozomen 5. Two bookes of Theodore 6. Six of Evagrâ—us 7. Five of Polybius 'T was neither fear nor danger could estrange Undaunted Musculus or make him change His resolutions nothing could prevaile Against the bulwarkes of his Fort or scale His wel arm'd thought he would in spight of those That were so barbarous to be his Foes â— Proclaim the Truth and would not let it rest Untill discover'd in his serious brestâ— He liv'd Gods faithfull Factor here below To send him souls to heav'n and to bestow That talent he had gave him that he might When 's Master call'd cast his accounts aright The Life and Death of Hyperius who dyed Anno Christi 1564. ANdreas Gerardus Hyperius was born at Ipres in Flanders Anno Christi 1511. his Father was a Counsellour who brought him up carefully in learning At 13. years old he travelled through the Islands of Flanders and learned the French tongue afterwards he went to Paris where he studied in that University the Arts for three years and then went home to visit his friends but after a short stay he returned to Paris and studied Divinity and Physick and every year in the vacation time he traveled abroad into France so that in three years he had seen most part of France and part of Italy and visited the chiefest Universities in both then he went to Lovain and into most parts of the lower Germany â— and at twenty six years old he traveled into upper Germanie then he sailed into England where faling into the company of Charles Montjoy Baron Montjoy's Son he tooke such affection to him that he desired him to live with him where he lived four years with much content and then he visited Cambridge and the Lord Cromwel being beheaded about that time and the six Articles pressed with rigor he thought of returning into his own Countrey fiâ—st visiting Oxford and from thence he went to London and so sailed to Antwarp and from thence he went home but hearing the fame of the University of Argentine and of Bucer there he travelled thither also but in the way he went to Marpurg where Noviomagus was Divinity-professor who importuned him to stay there and to give some taste of his learning and to be his assistant when he had prevailed with him he shortly after dying Hyperius was chosen in his room and after two yeers stay he married a wife one Catharine Orthia with whom he lived with much comfort and had by her six sons and four daughters he taught there with much diligence and faithfulnesse 22. yeers he directed young students in the composing of their Sermons and heard them first Preach in private that if any thing were amisse either in their voyce or gesture he might rectifie them in it he was never idle but alwayes either writing reading or meditating so that he much weakned his body thereby at last falling sick of a Fever he gave diverse instructions to his wife for the education of his children and to his children whom he exhorted to serve God and to obey their mother and when his friends visited him he requested them to bear witness That in that Faith wherin he had lived and which he had taught he now dyed and so continued making a profession of the same till he yeelded up his spirit unto God being about 53. yeers old Anno Christi 1564. having been Pastor of the Church and professor in the University 22. yeers Studious Hyperius alwayes lov'd to be In consultation with Divinity He loâ—'d the truth and alwayes striv'd to fly Upon the wings of true sollidity Religion was his guide he alwayes stood Firmely obedient unto what was good IOHANNES CALVINVS The Life and Death of John Calvin IN the yeer of our Lord God 1509. this reverend and faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ Iohn Calvin was born at Noviodunum a famous towne fituate in that part of Aquitane which borders upon Picardy he may well be termed the Luster of the French Nation for his excellent endewments of learning and piety he was descended from vertuous Parents blessed onely with a competency of worldly riches sufficient to preserve an honest report amongst their neighbours their greatest blessing appeared in the gift of this gratious infant His Fathers name was Gerard Calvin â— man much esteemed of the Nobility inhabiâ—ing Aquitane because he was a singular Politician approving his judgment and advice touching the administration of the Common-wealth desiring his presence wheâ—soever that they consulted about serious affairs and important matters of State whereby it came to passe that his son Calvin was brought up in his youth with the sons of the eminentest persons in that Country His mother was called Ioanna Franca These children he accompanied unto Paris for the increasing of his learning where he had Maturinus Corderius for his Tutor a man much reverenced for his internall and externall qualities and esteemed the best for the instruction and bringing up of youth within the Relme of France The reason why his father brought him up in learning was because he perceived a voluntary inclination in his sonne thereunto which appeared two manner of wayes first because in his youth he was religiously given and secondly because it
his Bed in which after he was laid the Gentleman of his Bed-chamber red to him till wearied nature shut up the offices of hiâ— senses long after his Porter had lockt up the Gates of his Pallace This watchfull and laborious kind of life without any recreation at all save what his necessary refection at hiâ— meals and a very few hours of rest in the night aforded him spent the oyl of this sweet Lamp the faster and thereby hastened his extinction and death in this world Which as he foresaw by the spirit so he foretold by letters to the Bishop of Noâ—wich Yet upon record in the works of Doctor Humfrey and as he forefaw it and foretold it so accordingly he prepared for it as a Traveller who hath little day and much way left spurreth on faster that he may reach home by day-light so he desirous to finish his course before the night of death approached mended his pace and dispatched all sorts of businesse with more celerity and as he was visiting his Diocesse more severely then ever before God visited him and as he preached at Lacock upon the words of the Apostle Walk in the Spirit Death arested him in the Pulpit from whence he was carried to his bed where he still continued preached to all that came to visit him either by heavenly instructâ—ons or pious ejaculations or divine meditations and paraphrases upon the pâ—ssages of Scripture which were read unto him even till at one and the self-same instant he committed both his hearers and his soul to God Valerius Maximus writeth of Sylla that it was hard to say whether he or his anger were first extinct for he threatned his enemies dying and dyed threatning but on the contrary it may be said of this servant of Christ Jesus it is hard to determine whether his naturall heat or his zeal first was extinguished whether his Prayers or his soul first arrived at Heaven for he dyed praying and prayed dying His last words worthy to be written with a pen of Diamond never to be rased out were theseâ— A Crown of righteousnesse is laid up for me Christ is my righteousnesse this is my body this day quickly let me come â—nto theâ— this day let me see the Lord Iesu. He was buried in the midst of the Quire where after he had been interred two yeers Dr. Humfrey laid upon him a faire marble stone with an inscription upon it containing a brief Chronicle of his life of which monument of that religious Professor it may be truly said as it was of that which Iulius Caesar raised to Pompey Caesar dum Pompeii statuas erexti suas confirmavit In making this monument to continue the memory of Iewel he eternized his own but Iewel left himself a second monument more famous then that the Library he built in Salisbury and yet a third more lasting then either of the former his Works here ensuing whereof these were Manuscripts 1. A Paraphrasticall Exposition of the Epistles and Gospels through the whole yeer 2. A continuate Exposition of the Creed Lords Prayer and ten Commandements 3. A Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galathians 4. A Commentary upon the Epistle of Saint Peter The Printed are these 1. Anno Dom. 1550. A latine Sermon preached at Saint Maries upon 1 Pet. 4.11 2. An. Dom. 1558. Divers Sermons preached before Queen Elizabeth at Pauls Crosse. 3. An. Dom. 1559. Epistola ad Scipionem patritium veneâ—um de causis cur Episcopi Angliae ad Concilium Tridentinum non convenerint 4. Anno 1560. A Challenge to all Papists at Pauls Crosse with an Answer to Doctor Cole in defence of a Sermon preached before the Queens Majesty and her most honourable Councell 5. Anno 1561. Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae 6. Anno 1562. An Exposition upon the first Epistle to the Thessalonians 7. Anno 1563. An Exposition upon the second Epistle to the Thessalonians 8. An. 1564. A Reply to Master Hardings Answer concerning the seven and twenty Articles contained in Master Jewel his Challenge viz. 1. Of private Masse 2. Communion under both kinds 3. Of Prayer in a strange tongue 4. Of the Supremacy 5. Of the reall presence 6. Of Polytopue or being in many places at once 7. Of the Elevation 8. Of adoration of the Host. 9. Of carrying the Sacrament under a Canopy 10. Of accidents without subject 11. Of dividing the Sacrament 12. Of a figure in the Sacrament 13. Of plurality of Masses 14. Of adoration of Images 15. Of reading the Scripture in the mother tongue 16. Of Consecration under silence 17. Of the Sacrifice of the Masse 18. Of receiving the Communion for others 19. Of the application of Christâ— death by the Masse 20. Of Opus Operatum 21. Of the Title of the Sacrament Lord and God 22. Of remaining under accidents 23. Of Mice eating the body of Christ. 24. Of Individium Vagum 25. Of the form and shews of Bread and Wine 26. Of hiding and covering the Sacrament 27. Of Ignorance whether it be the mother of Devotion 9. Anno 1565. A Rejoynder to Mr. Hardings Reply 10. An. 1566. A defence of the Apology of the Church of England 11. An. 1567. An answer to Mr. Hardings Preface 12. An. 1568. A Treatise of the Sacraments 13 An. 1569. The view of a seditious Bull sent into England 14. An. 1570. A Treatise oâ— the holy Scriptures If any desire to be more familiarly acquainted with Iewels and to be particularly informed of his method and course of study his witty and learned Discourses at Table his Poems and penned Speeches in the Colledge his Exercises for his Degrees his holding the golden Ballances of Minerva before Vrania being Moderator in Divinity Disputations in the presence of Queen Elizabeth at an Act at Oxford as also how he attained to that admirable faculty of memory whereby he waâ— able on the sudden to repeat Chapters of names read to him backward and forward broken sentences and exutick words Welsh Irish or any other Language after once or twice reading at the most let him read the story of his life at large in Doâ—tor Humfrey or at least the abridgement thereof which I drew in the year of our Lord 1611. being then Student in Corpus Christi Colledge at the command of Archbishop Bancroft which as soon as it was sent up was suddenly printed and prefixed to Iewels Works before I had time to revise it and note the Errata which I entreat thee for thine own sake as well as for mine thus now to correct Page 5. line 30. The wisdome of God so ordered this matter adde For Jewel his greater honour and the advantage of the truth P. 7. l. 10. for the blessed Spouse of Christ r. the blessed husband of the Spouse of Christ. P. 8. l. 21. for Valerius r. Vellerius p. 9. l. 16. for his Apologie fell in the yeer 1566. r. the defence of his Apologie And l. 23. for cene r. scene p. 12. l. 17. which is his Church adde on
unto the Senate who had hitherto constantly defended the doctrine of the Gospell As he tooke his leave thus of the Pastors by word of mouth so he tooke his leave of the Senate by writing commending the care of the Church and publick-schoole unto them withal desires that Rodolphus Guatterus might be his successor whom he adjudged the most fit for the discharging of a Pastorall office in that place having thus after a friendly manner taken his leave he prepared himselfe to meet the Lord and in the midst of his extremities sometimes repeating the sixteenth sometimes the forty two sometimes the fifty one Psalmes sometimeâ— the Lords prayers sometimes other prayersâ— at the last framing himselfe as it were to sleep he quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God on the eighteenth of September in the year 1575. and in the 71. year of his age He was thâ— most excellent of all the Divines that Switzerland yeelded he was an undaunted defender of the truth of Christ he was of a weak disposition plainâ— in teaching a lover of truth but a detâ—ster of Sophisticall â—nd unprofitable arguments in his speech he was affable and courteous aswell towards those of his family as towards strangers he was sparing in his dyet loving unto all and studious as it plainly appeares by his works here following which he left behind him as testifications of his desire unto the generall good and benefit of the Church Tome 1. 1. A Catechisme for the Trigurine Schoolmasters 2. An Epitomie of Christian Religion in ten Books 3. Sermons on the â—eads of Christian Religion Tome 2. 1. A Confession and Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 2. A Declaration proving the Protestant Churches â—o be neither Hereticall nor Scismaticall 3. A Compendium of the Popish and Protestant tenets 4. The old Faith and Religion 5. Of Gods eternall Covenant 6. An Assertion of the two natures in Christ. 7. Institâ—tion of Christian Matrimony 8. Instructions for the sicke 9. Declarations of Gods benefits unto the Switzers 10. Exhortations to Repentance Tome 3. 1. A Treatise of the Sabbath and of Christian â—easts 2. Of the Office of Magistrates and of an Oath 3. Of Repentance 4. Of Conversion unto God 5. An Explanation of Daniels Prophesies 6. Of the office Prophetical 7. An Exhortation unto Ministers to leave off Controversies 8. Of the Originall of Maâ—omenatisme 9. Of the Persecutions of the Church Tome 4. 1. A Preface to thâ— Latin Bible 2. Sixtie six Homilies on Daniel 3. Epitomie of the times from the Creation to the Destâ—uction of Jerusâ—lem Tome 5. 1. Homiliâ—s on Isaiah 2. Sermons on Jeremiah 3. An Exposition on the Lamentation Tome 6. 1. Commentaries on Matthew 2. Marke 3. Luke 4. John 5. Acts of the Apostles 6. A Series of times and actions of the Apostles Tome 7. 1. Commentaries on the Epistles of Saint Paul 2. Sermons on the Revelation Tome 8. 1. A Demonstration of Christian perfection to Henry the second King of France 2. Of the authority of the Scripture 3. Of the Iâ—stitution of Bishops Never could worth lodge in a richer brest Those blessings he enjoy'd made others blest He was compos'd of sweetnesse and his heart Was alwayes cheerefull willing to impart The truth to them that studyed how to grieve For sin and would prove willing to believe He was laborious and he could expresse Hatred to nothig more then Idelnesse Grave Doctors of those times would then submit To his profound incomparable wit For his grave judgment was so highly pris'd That most would act what Bullengeâ— advis'd Is it not â—iting then that we should give Due praise to him whose worth will make him live The Life and Death of Edward Deering who dyed Anno Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Chrisâ—'s College where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles of preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and only Comensed Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards he was made a Preacher in S t. Pauls Church in London and having worn out himselfe with his labours in the worke of the Lord he fell sick and discerning his approaching death he said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilest I had time I used nâ—t his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It is a great happinesse to you that you dye in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spiâ—it the Lord will reveale the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that he hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whil'st he lay so silentâ— to whom he answered Poore wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour yet a little while and we shall â—ee â—ur hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickely receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflâ—ctions deseases sicknesse griefe are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world Iâ—'s not enough to begin for a little while execept we persevere in the fear of the Lord all thâ— dayer of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Takâ— heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whil'st they have tongues use them to God's glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speak something to them that might be for their â—dification and comfort whereupon the Sun shining in his face he took occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sun in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of S ts â— If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world if I weâ—â— equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason
that durst take it downe Master Gilpin requested the Sexton to take it downe who replyed That he durst not Then said Master Gilpin Bring me a staff I will take it down which accordingly he did and put it into his bosome and in his Sermon he took occation to reprove these inhumane challenges and reproved him in particular that had hug up the glove shewing them that he had taken it downe and that such practices were unbeseeming Christians and therefore he perswaded them to love and mutuall charity amongst themselves after Sermon he distributed mony amongst the poor and as his manner was visited the prisoners gave them mony and preached to them and brought many of them to repentance and for some that were condemned to die he procured pardon and saved their lives Not long after a Rebellion was raised in the North by the Earls of Northumberland and Cumberland which Master Gilpin having intelligence of resolved to retire himselfe and making a speech to the Master aud Scholars to demean themselves carefully and peaceably in his absence he went to Oxford till the Queens Army commanded by the Earl of Sussex had dissipated the Rebels but before that Army came the Rebels having seazed upon Durham some of them flew as far as Houghton and finding Master Gilpin's Barns full of corn young cattell fatted and many things provided for hospitality they made spoile of all the chiefest of which plunderers was a knave whom Master Gilpin had saved from the Gallows but when those Rebels were overthrown Master Gilpin returned home and begged the lives of many of the simpler sort whom he knew to be drawn into that Rebellion through ignorance After the death of Bishop Pilkington who was Master Gilpins faithfull friend there succeeded in the Bishoprick of Durham one Richard Barns who was offended with him upon some false suggestions which came thus about Master Gilpins custom was sometimes to goe to Oxford and once as he was upon his way he espied a young youth before him sometimes walking and sometimes runing Master Gilpin demanded of him what he was whence he came and whether he was going He answered That he came out of Wales and was bound for Oxford to be a Scholar Master Gilpin thereupon examined him and finding him a prompt Scholar for the Latin and that he had a smattering in the Greek asked him if he would goe with him and he would provide for him the youth was contented whereupon he took him with him to Oxford and afterwards to Houghton where he profited exceedingly boâ—h in Greek and Hebrew whom Master Gilpin at last sent to Cambridge and this was that famous Hugh Broughton who afterwards râ—quited evill for good by stirring up of the Bishop of Durham against Master Gilpin Now the Bishop sent to Master Gilpin to preach at a Visitation appointing time and place but it fell out just at that time when Master Gilpin was going his Northern journy into Riddesdale c. whereupon he sent his man to the Bishop desiring him to appoint som other to preach the Visitation-Sermon for that he might have many to doe that but none would goe amongst the Borderers if he did it not when his man had delivered his message to the Bishop the Bishop hâ—ld his peace which being related to M r. Gilpin he said Silence arguâ—'s consent and so went on in his journy But so soon as the Bishop heard of it he suspended him which Master Gilpin at his returne much wondred at Shortly after the Bishop sent to him to warn him to meet him and the rest of the Clergy at Chester whither Master Gilpin went and when the Bishop and Clergy were all met in the Church he said to Master Gilpin Sir I must have you preach to day Master Gilpin desired to be excused because he was unprovided and for that he was suspended But saith the Bishop I free you from that suspension Yet Master Gilpin replyed That he durst not go up into the Pulpit unprovided You are never unprovided saith the Bishop you have such an habit of preaching Master Gilpin still stifly refused sayingâ— That God was not so to â—e tempted c. Whereupon the Bishop commanded him to goe into the Pulpit forthwith Well Sir said Master Gilpin since it must be so your Lordships will be done so after a little pause went up and began his Sermon and though he saw some extraordinarily prepared to write his Sermon yet he proceeded in his application to reprove the enormities in that Diocesse And now saith he Reâ—erend Father my speech must be directed unto you God hath exalted you and will require an account of your Goveâ—nment a reformation of what 's amisse in the Church is required at your hands c. neither can you henceforth plead ignorance for bâ—hâ—ld I bring these things to your knowledge this day and therefore what evils you shall â—ither doe your sâ—lfe or suffer by your connivance â—ereafâ—er you make it your own câ— His friends hearing him thuÌ„der out these things much feared what would become of him and after Sermon some of â—hem told him with tears That now the Bishop had that advantage against him which he had long looked for c. to whom he answered Be not affraid the Lord God over-ruleth all aâ—d if God â—ay be glorified and his Truth propagated Gods will be done â—onâ—erning â—ee After they had dined together all men exspecting the issue of this businesse Master Gilpin went to take his leave of thâ— Bishop Nay said the Bishop I will bring you home and so went along with him to his house and walked there together in a Parlour the Bishop took him by the hand saying Father Gilpin I acknowledge you are fitter to be Bishop of Durham then my selfe to be Parson of your Church I aske forgivenessâ— for errors past forgive mâ— Father I know you have hatched 〈◊〉 some chickens that now seek to pick out your eyes but be sure so long as I am Bishop of Durham no man shall injure you Master Gilpin and his friends much rejoyced that God had so over-ruled thingsâ— that that which was purposed for his disgrace should turn to his greater credit His body being quite worn out with pains-taking at last he feeling before hand the approach of death commanded the poor to be called together unto whom he made a speech and took his leave of them He did the like also to others made many exhortations to the Scholars to hiâ— servants and to diverse others aud so at the last he fell asleep in the the Lord March the fourteenth An. Christi 1583. and of his Age 66. He was tall of stature slender and hawk-nosed his clothes not costly but frugal in things that belonged to his own body bountifull in things that tended to the good of others especially to the Poor and Scholars His dooreâ— were still open to the poor and strangers he boorded and kept in his owne house twenty four Scholars most of
them poor mens sons upon whom he bestowed meat drink apparell and learning Having a great Parish he entertained them at his table by course every Sabbath from Michaelmasse to Easter He bestowed upon his School and for stipends upon the Schoolmasters the full sum of five hundred pounds out of which School he supplyed the Church of England with great store of learned men He was carefull not onely to avoid all evill but the least appearance of it Being full of faith unfeigned and of good works he was at last put into his grave as an heap of wheat in due time put into the garner What pen can be susficient to set forth Th'exuberous praises of brave Gilpins worth Though at the first his heedlesse soul did stray And ramble in a foule erronious way Yet at the last he left those paths which bended Unto distruction and his follyes ended Then he began to exercise the truth And hate the former errours of his youth His soul was fil'd with piety and peace And as the truth so did his joyes encrease His fame soone spread abroad his worth was hurl'd Through every corner of th'inquiring world And to conclude in him all men might find A reall heart and a most noble minde The life and death of Zachary Ursin who dyed Anno Christi 1583. ZAchary Vrsin was born in Silesia Anno Christi 1534. of honest parents who were carefull of his education in his childhood and having profited exceedingly at School he was sent to the University of Wittenberge at sixteen yeers old where he heard Melancthon with great diligence two years at which time the Plague breaking forth there he retired with Melancthon to Tergaw and having an ample testimony from him he went thence into his owne Country all the winter but in the spring he returned to Wittenberg where he spent 5. years in the study of the Arts Tongus and Divinity he was very familiar with Melancthon and much esteemed of many learned men who flocked to that University out of all Countries with whom also afterwards he kept correnspondency he went An. Christi 1557. with Melancthon to the conference at Worms about religion and from thence he travelled to Marpurg Argentine Basil Lausanna and Geneva where he grew into familiar acquaintance with many learned men especially Calvin who gave him such books as he had Printed from thence he went into France to Lions and Paris where he perfected his skill in the Hebrew under the learned Mercerus in his return he went to Tigure where he acquainted himselfe with the learned men and so to Tubing Vlme Norimberg and so to his old Master Melancthon Anno Christi 1558. he was sent for by the Senate of Vratislave which was his native place to govern a School there where besides his Lectures in the Arts and Tongues he was imployed in the explication of Melancthons book of the Ordination of Miniâ—ters wherein he declared his judgment about the Sacrament and thereupon he was cried out agaainst for a Sacramentarian which caused him to give a publick account of his Faith about the Doctrine of the Sacraments in certain strong and accurate propositions Melancthon hearing of the opposition which he met with wrote to him to stand firmly to the truth and if he enjoyed not pâ—ace in that place to return to him againe and to reserve himselfe for better times whereupon he requested of the Senate that he might be dismissed and having obtained his desire he returned to Wiâ—tenberg where foreseeing Melancthons death and the greaâ— alterations in that University he left it and went to Tygure Anno 1560. being invited thither by Martyr Bullinger Simler Lavater Gualter Gesner and Frisius who much desired his company there he was a constant hearer of Martyr and profited much under him in the knowledge of Divinity Anno 1561. their came letters to Tigure from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and desiring supply from thence whereupon knowing Vrsines fitnesse they presently sent him with their letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University where he discharged his place so well that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and he supplyed the place of a publick Professor to the year 1568. at which time Zanchy succeeded him their also he made his Catechise for the use of the Pallaâ—inate Anno Chriâ—ti 1563. there brake forth a grievous pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Vrsin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortallity and Christian consolations for the benefit of Gods people He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Vrsin might goe to Lusanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not be worn out with his dayly labors Anno Ch. 1572. he married a wiâ—e by whom he had one son that inherited his fathers vertues But upon Prince Fredricks death their grew a great alteration in the Palatinate insomuch that none but Lutherans could be suffered to continue thâ—râ— so that Vrsin with his Collegue were forced to leave the University but he could not live private long for he was sent for by Prince Iohn Chassimire also the Senate of Berne sent importunatly for him to succeed Aretius there But Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Vrsin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof But Vrsin by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together after which he returned to his labors againe and besides his Divinity Lectors he read Logik also in the Schools desiring his auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture he returned answers to But his great labors cast him into a consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit them till at last he was confined to his bed yet therein also he was never idle but alwayes dictating something that might conduce to the publick good of the Chuch The houre of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583. and of his age 51. He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world Let those whose hearts desire to be Professor of Divinity Trace Ursins steps so shall they find The comforts of a studious minde He had a greater care to nurse Distressed souls then fill his purse He would not tell a frutlesse story Unto his flock his oratory Serv'd not flatter but to bring Subjected souls unto their King Where now he rests with him that says Shephards of Flocks look to your wayes The Life and Death of Abraham Bucholtzer
learneder and more famous and deare to his Countrey There is a Booke of famous Sermons extant in Print of this Prelates which is counted a worthy Peece and doth sufficiently declare his Piety and Schollarship to succeedâ—ng Ages He that will spake his praises well Must study first what 't is t' excell He daily labour'd to oppose The Churches most unsatiate Foes The truth he would be sure to vent Though he endur'd imprisonment Read but his Works and thâ—u shall finde His body was imprisn'd not his minde Gâ—RVAS BABINGTON The Life and Death of Gervas Babington THis Prelate as he was excellent for his parts so was he of a very faiâ— descent being born in the County of Nottingham of the ancient family of the Babingtons in the said County where he drew in the first rudiments of Literature till by his worthy Parentâ— he was sent to Cambridge and was admitted into that worthy Society of Trinity Colledg Doctor Whiâ—guâ—â—â— being then Master This Babington proved so famous in Scholâ—ership that having his degrees he was made Fellow of the same Colledge and giving himselfe to the study of Divinity he proved a worthy Preacher in that University After being Doctor in Divinity he was called by Henry that Noble Earl of Pembrooke to be his Chaplaine by whose favour he was first made Treasurer of the Church of Landaffe in Wales after he was elected Bishop of the same 1591. and when he had sitten four years in that See for his singular Piety and Learning he was by Queene Elizabeth translated to the Bishopricke of Exeter where he scarce stayed three years but he was made Bishop of Worcester and in the middest of all these preferments he was neither tainted with Idlenesse or pride or covetousnesse but wâ—s not onely diligent in preaching but in writing bookes for the understanding of Gods Word so that he was a true patterne of Piety to the people of Learning to the Ministery and of Wisedome to all Governours Whereupon he was made one of the Queenes Counsell for the Marches of Wales He was Bishop of Worcester abovt the space of 13. years He dyed of an Hecticke Feaver and so changed this fraile life for a better in the yeare of our Lord 1610. not without the great griefe of all and had all funerall Rites bestowed on him befitting so great and so grave a Governour and father of the Church and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Worcester in the Moneth of May. His Workes extant are these that follow 1. Consolatory Annotations upon Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy 2. Vpon the ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Articles of the Creed 3. A comparison or collation betweene humane frailty and faith 4. Three worthey and learned Seâ—mons Renowned Babington spun out his dayes In truth and peace and had the ecchoing praise Of every tongue his worth was priz'd by all That lov'd religion nothing could recall His heart from goodnesse peace and love did rest Within the closset of his seâ—ious breast Therefore let every tongue proclame and cry The fame of Babington shall never dye IOHN WHITGIFT The Life and Death of John Whitgift IN the year of our Lord 1530. being the twenty and first of King Henry the eight a year very remarkable for the Parliament then held wherein that proud Prelate Cardinall Wolsey was attainted and the first opposition made by the maine body of the the Commons therein assembled against the tirannicall usurpation of the Popish Clergy was Iohn Whitgift born at great Grimesbie in Lincolnshire descended from an ancient and worshipfull Family of the Whitgifts in Yorkeshire An Unckle he had called Robert Whitgift Abbot of Wellow who though himselfe a professed Monk yet not greaty liked the profession and was by this his Nephew therefore heard sometime to say that they and their Religion could not long continue for that having read the Scripture over and over againâ—â— he could never finde therein that their Religion was founded by God and it is not unlikly that by the cariage of businesses in the State at that time being an understanding man he might shrewdly guesse at those things that shortly after sued Under this his Unckle was he educated together with some other young Gentlemens sonnes for some space of time and whether taking some hints from him or being by some other meanes wrought on through a secret hand of God already moulding and preparing him for future employments he began to grow though very young yet into a dislike of Popish superstitions and to afâ—ect the better way For being by his said Unckle who observed his towardlinesse for his further improvement in learning sent up to London entred there into Saint Antonies schoole and boarded with an Aunt of his wife to one Michael Shaller a Verger of Pauls Church he was after som time by her dismissed againe and thrust out of doores because he refused to frequent the morning Masse with her albeit by some of the Canons earnestly solicited so to doe Upon returne to his Parents according to his Unckles advice and direction finding that he had well profited in learning he was by them sent to the University of Cambridge and there placed in Qâ—eenes Colledge But not so well relishing tâ—e disposition of some in that house he removed from thence to Pembrooke Hall where he was pupill to that blessed Maâ—tyr of God Iohn Bradford Doctor Ridley afterward Bishop of London being then Hed of the house by whom also in regard of his forwardnesse both in learning and godlinesse he was made scholer of the house With his years his worth growing and notice taken of his good parts his preferments likewise accordingly came on For from thence he was chosen to be Fellow of Peter-house Dâ—ctor Pern being then Master thâ—re who very tenderly affected him and when out of tendernesse of conscience in Queen Maries time upon expectation of som Commisâ—ioners that were to come downe visit to the University and settle Popery there he had entertained some thoughts of going beyond the Seas the D r. perceiving it and withall his resolution in matter of religion both encouraged and caused him notwithstand to stay promising him withall to take such order for him that keeping himselfe quiet he should remaine free from molestation that which according to his promise given him he also faithfully fulfilled Having thus by the favour and connivancy of the Doctor God reserving him for further and higher employments rid out those stormy and tempestuous times upon the dispersions of those blacke clouds that had formerly overspread and eclipsed the good parts of many by the happy sunshine of that illustrious Princesse Queene Elizabeths ascent to the throne of this Realme contrary to that that is wont to befall at the naturall Suns rising this our bright Star among others and above many others began now to shine forth and discover its luster Notice whereof being taken as in the Univerâ—ity so at Court he received advancement unto
man Drusius Renicherus and others he most courteously entertained and very liberally relieved a diligent preacher as well after his preferments as before seldome failing any Lords day while he was Bishop of Worcester notwithstanding his important and incessant emploiments otherwise but that he preached in some of the Parish Churches thereabouts and no lesse freqâ—ently when he was Archbishop visiting the Church and Pulpit at Crâ—ydon during the time of his residence there in the Vacations from attendance at Court He departed this world on the last of February being Wednesday in the year of grace 1603. and of his age 73. having bin Bishop of Worcester six years and five moneths and Archbishop of Canterbury 20. years and five moneths and lyeth enterred on the South side of the Church of Croydon with a faire Monument in memory of him His laâ—â— words to his Majesty who in person visited him the day before he dyed when he could hardly be understood are reported to have been Pro Ecclesiâ Dei pro Ecclesiâ Dei for the Church of God for the Church of God thereby intimating his care thereof even to the last The principall Monuments of his Charity are an Hospitall builded Colledge-wise at Croydon for a Warden and twenty eight Brothers and Sisters and a Free-School neer â—nto it with a convenient House for the School-Master and a standing stipend of twenty pounds by the year His Workes in writing published are onely these 1. His Answer to the Admonition to the Parliament 2. His Defence of the Answer to the Admonition 3. A Sermon on John 6. ver 25 26 27. Preached before Queene Elizabeth on March the 24. 1574. You courtly Prelats you that feare To loose your honors look ye here Make him your president and then You shall have honor spite of men He bred not but compos'd debateâ— Nor mov'd he in the Orbe of State By whose example Churchmen stood Lesse for the stile of great then good If factions chanc'd or diffence fell He would perswade and not compell To him our Phenix-Queen did share Proud Lambeths patriarchall chayre Where he remain'd the Churches Nurse Ten years twice told without a Curse The Life and Death of Lucas Trelcatius who dyed Anno Christi 1602. LVke Trelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542. and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of â— Nunnery his first education was in the School at Dowaiâ— where being of an acute wit he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane Arts from thence he went to Paris and whil'st he studyed there he fell into acquaintance with Iohn Mercer the Hebrew Professor and Peter Ramus and being exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion he forsook his Aunt and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders From thence he went to Aurelia and from thence to Sancerra in the twenty eight year of his age and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars he came into England and at London he taught a School by which he maintained himself eight years Then was he called by some Merchantâ— into Flanders to be their Pastor but enjoying little peace there he went to Bruxels where he continued in the exercise of his Ministery six yearâ—s and then meeting with opposition he went to Anâ—werp and that City being presently after besieged he was forced to stay there eight moneths after which being sent for to diverse places at length he was by the consent of his bretheren in the Ministery fixt at Leiden where he was made Pastor of the French Church which place he supplyed faithfully for the space of seventeen years He had scarce been there two years when for his excellent parts and learning he was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also and at last having acquired much honor in both his offices he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602. and of his age 60. Where vertue lives there need not be A question of sufficiency Trelcatius was a man whose worth Few men are able to set forth They that desire to know him well Must first know what it is t' excell THEODORVS BEZA The Life and Death of Theodorus Beza IN the year of our Lord God 1519. and on the foure and twentieth day oâ— Iune this faithfull Minister of the Church of Christ Theodorus Beza came into the world being borne at Vezelia an ancient Town in the Kingdome of France he was descended from Petrus a Beza being Governour of the same Town and Maria Burdoletia both of them being beautified with a lineall proceeding from a Noble and renowned Family His name imposed on him by his Parents imports the gift of God by which act they declared themselves to be vertuous and religious and let the Lord evermore blesse his Church with such gifts with such painfull labourers for the gathering in of his great harvest to his endlesse glory and to the eternall peace of such as seek salvation through Jesus Christ. This Beza being yet an infant not fully two years old was taken by his Unckle Nicholas Beza being a Councellor pertaining to the Senate of Paris where he was carefully and tenderly brought up for the space of three years being in that time acquainted with the knowledge of the Letters Being now five years old he was committed through the carefulnesse of his said Unckle unto the tuition of Melchior Walmarius a German who at that time taught the Greek tongue at Aurelia under whom he continued for the space of seven years in which time he attained unto great perfection both in the Greeke and Latine tongues and also which is more commendable his tender yeares were seasoned with the true knowledge of Christian Piety being drawn from the pure fountain of the Word of God by the same man His Master upon some occasions leaving France and returning into Germany Beza not without the advice of his friends went unto Orleans fully intending and resolving with himselfe to apply his minde unto the study of the Civill Law wherein at the age of twenty years he was advanced to be Licentiate Not long after leaving Orleans he tooke his journâ—y unto Paris to visit those friends and acquaintance which he had there living by whom he was entertained with great joy and received with much gladnesse and friendly courtesie but more espcially by his other Uâ—ckle Abbâ—t Trigidimonâ—an who to testifie his affection how greatly he loved him designed and appointed him to be his next successor in the Goverment of that Abbey whose revenweâ— were yeerely valued at five thousand French Crownes annexing also unto this the profits of two other places amounting yearely unto seven hundred Crownes intending also to confer other preferments upon him Beza being as it were in an earthly Paradise and abounding with those things which might seeme necessary for the prosecution of vice wherewith indeed he was for a time detained but not captivated as who is he that liveth and sinneth not nay and falleth not sometimes into
scandalized him with a defection to the doctrine of the Church of Rome not much unlike that which was of late cast on that reverend Bishop of London but this impudent untruth was refuted by the Pastors of Geneva who by their writings and subscriptions of their names both in Latine and French testified the contrary unto the world many of them being present at his death who on the thirteenth of October in the year of our Lord 1605. being the Lords day rising early and calling his family to prayers which donâ— he walked up and downe some few paces and receiving some small quantity of wine repaired to his bed againe demanding whether all things were quiet in the City and when answer was made they were he forthwith gave up his soul into the hands of Almighty God with all alacrity and chearfulnesse after that he had lived in this vale of misery eighty six years and three months and nineteen dayes and after that he had painfully discharged a Pastorall office the space of sixt and forty yeers He was of stature somwhat tall but corpulent or bigge boned in his age he had a long thick beard as white as snow he had a grave Senators countenance broad faced but not fat and in generall by his comely person sweet affability and gravity he would have exhorted reverence from those that least loved him His great diligence and laborious travell for the advancing of Christs Kingdome and for the suppressing and beating downe of sin are made manifest by the learned Works which he hath left behind him as so many witnesses to eternity take them after this ordes 1 Poems printed by Henry Stephan 2 Psalmes printed with Buchanans 3 School-notes on the Greeke Alphabet 4 Abrahams sacrifice In Theologie 1 New translation of the new Testament with Annotations 2 Confession of Christian faith 3 Of punishing haereticks 4 The sum of Christianity 5 The doctrin of the Sacrament 6 The defence of the Church of Geneva 7 An answer against Nestorius and Eutichus his sect 8 Of the hypostaticall Vnion 9 Theses of the Trinity of Persons and Vnity of Essence 10 An answer to the reprâ—aches of Francis Baldwin 11 A treatise of Polygamie 12 Calvins life 13 Psalmes of David and five bookes of the other Prophets with Latine Paraphases 14 French Psalmes 15 Comments oâ—t of Saint Pauls Epistles 16 To the Romans 17 Galathians 18 Philippians 19 Colossians 20 Icones of many learned men especially Protestants 21 Pictures and Embleemes 22 Moral Ceremoniall Iudiciall law of Moses 23 A Praeface to Osiander 24 Of the Pestilence 25 Solomons Song in Latine verse 26 Homilies on Christs resurrection 27 Of the Pâ—onounciation of the French tongue 28 An answer to Jodic Harth of the Lords Supper 29 Questions and answeres on the Sacrament Si qua fides famae proles mihi difiet omnis At viria vera prole biatus ego Me populi me mistae reges dixere parentu Multa virum genui millia Christe tibi If fame may be beleeved I am he To whom an Infant can no relate be Yet blest with issue by a higher fate And that both many and legitimate Not onely people with their priests together But also Kings vouchsafe to call me father Thousands of souls O Christ have been by me Begotten through thy holy Word to thee Who knowes not learned Beza what dull eare Hath not large volumes of his hist'ry there Or what ill furnisht Gallery cannot show His reverend Picture marshall'd in the row Of rare and moderne Worthies to advance The glory of his pen renowned France From whose more painfull and illustrious quill Such Quintessence of sweetnesse did distill Which like the dropping Hermony pearly dew Refresht faire Syons plants and did renew Their drooping spirits wasted heretofore And blasted with the breath of Babils whoreâ— To whose blest name let every heart that did Ere prize true vertue turne a Pyramid IOHN RENOLDS The Life and Death of John Reinolds THis singular man of infinite reading this treasury of all learning both divine and humane summus ille vir immensae lectionis doctrinae omne genus eruditionis gazophilatium Doctor Iohn Reinolds was borne in the same County of Devoâ— and bred up in the same Colledge of Corpus Christi in Oxford with Iewell his auncient and R. Looker his contemporary And what Tully spake of Pompey his Noble exploits in War that they could not be matched by the valiant Acts of all the Roman Commanders in one year nor in all years by the processe of one Commander so it may truely be said of these three that they cannot be parrallelled by the students of all Counties brought up in one Colledge nor the students of all Colledges born in one County the two former mainely opposed the enemies of the doctrine the third of the discipline of the Church of England with like happy successe and they were all three in severall kinds very eminent if not equall and as Iewels fame first grew from the rhetoricke Lecture which he read with singular applause and Hookers from the Logicke so Reynolds grom the Greeke in the same house The Author that he read was Aristotle whose three incomparable bookes of Rhetoricke he illustrated with so exquisite a commentary so richly fraught with all polite littrature that as well in the commentary as in the text a man may finde that aureum flumen rerum verborium that golden ensturrent the Prince of Oratours telleth us of It was his manner every Tearm to begin his Lectures with an exhortatory Oration to his auditors of these his elegant paraeneticks two were published in print by himselfe the other were since his death put forth by Henry Iackeson Fellow of the same Colledge of these later an intilligent reader will give a like censure to that of the Oratour sunt tantuam phidiae Minerva sed tumen ex eadem efficina they are not like the other two his malter his pieces yet any man may perceive they were drawne with the same pensill Whilest he continued this Lecture it was his hap as it had been of Politian and Erasmus before him to tread upon a nest of Hornets a sort of wrangling Sophisters bred of the excrements of the Dunsticall Commenters upon Aristotle fed advocates to plead for all his Phylosophicall errours and sworne enemies to all polite learning these he so strongly confuted in his Lectures and faceciously derided in his Orations that any ingenuous man that peruseth them be he a Crassus Agelastus will be in like manner affected as Erasmus was when he read the Booke intituled Epistolae obscurorum virorum at which he fell into such a laughter that he much hurt his spleen and endangered his health All this while this our Iohn Reinolds was well affected to the Romish Religion and his Brother William Reinolds earnest for Reformation which difference in judgement proved a fireball of contention between them and engaged them in a strange Duell much like to that
religious minds with a feare of the Skye falling about our ears and nature breathing out her last gaspe yet we flâ—ttered our selves in to a vaine beliefe that the Muses were eternall and though all other things fade like flowers yet that the Arts were immortall untill this great Atlas of learning with whom sacred studies seemed to totter if not lye on the ground taught us by his death the vanity of that our hope Whose happy passe agreeable to his godly life God forbid that any should deplore with Heathenish rikes lamentable Elegies since our ferventest zeale can now wish him no other addition to his happinesse then that of Virginius Rufus to have another Tacitus to make his Funerall Panegyricke As for me when I behold this solemn and sad Assembly not usually accustomed to such dejected lookes me thinkes I see those teares that fell from the royall eyes of great King Xerxes dropping at the view of his puissant Army which makes me deeply â—igh because in this deplored mirrour blubbered with teares I finde the reflection even of your mortality For which of you now can hope that either learning wisdome or vertue can prolong his life since the churlish Sisters refused to spare this mighty Hercules of the Orthodox Faith this great Champion of Christian Religion though they were solicâ—ted by the teares of our Mother the University and importuned by the prayers of our sorrowing Church Verily if the inâ—stimable treasures of thy minde and indefeizible riches of thy soule could have contributed any thing to the strength and vigour of the body thou shouldest still have lived worthy Reynolds not so much according to thine owne desire who wishedst for heaven as houres who wished longer for thee and so lived 1000. that thou shouldst never have dyed waxed old or drooped But to the great losse of Man-kinde and prejudice of Learning it fals out far otherwise even that in those who more enrich their minde with the treasures of wisdome and knowledge the soule sooner growes weary of her earthly habitation and aspireth to heavenâ— and their body also by reason their spirits are wholly spent in that noble yet laborious worke of study more speedily faileth and decayeth Which was the true cause that thou Reynolds after so many conquests and triumphs over the enemieâ— of our Faith yet the strength of thy body being impayred in the end didst yeeld to nature and breathedst out thy victorious soule and leftest nothing to us but sighes for our sad losse But what could not thy singular piety nor thy vertue nor thy sanctity nor thy so much admired learning preserve thee Or didst thou resolve to live no longer because there was nothing left which thy studies had not already attained unto Was not Ficinus worthy thy perusing who discourseth so learnedly not onely of the preservation of health but also of the prerogation of our life to eternity upon earth Well long enough peradvâ—nture thou hast lived for thy particulâ—r ends long enough to be so truely honoured that 't was not possible that ever thou shouldest out-live thy fame Yet not long enough for the Common-wealth which misseth in thee a perfect sampler of all vertues Not long enough for the University which hath lost in thee the light of a glorious taper of learning nor yet long enough for the good state our pure Religion which tossed in the swelling billowes of a troubled Sea is ready almost to suffer shipwracke for want of thee her skilfull Pylot Truth it is none can denie it that like a second Cocles but yet more couragious thou didst rout the troâ—pâ— of thy stoutâ—st enemies Truth that even wheÌ„ the enemy had cut off the bridge on which thou stoodst thou leaping downe to thiâ—â— eternall honour didst preserve the colourâ— and as â—ast didst beate the adversaries to a shamefull retreat But the leâ—guer is not yet broken up for though thou hast unmaâ—ked the Idolatry of the Church of Rome and exposed it to the detestation of God and man yea and thy sword was evâ—n at the throat of that Antichristian monster and through the sides of Iohn Heart thou struckst Popery it selfe to the very heart yet Sanders remained untouched save that he hath felt the revenging hand of God upon him and dyed miserably being starved on the Irish mountains Bellarmines forces are not quite discomfited or all Baronius his impostures sufficiently discovered to speake nothing of those monsterous heads of heresies which like Hydras continually grow up in the Church one under another In the midst of such troubles how couldest thou finde leasure to dye since the harvest is so great and the labourers so few so few indeed or none like thee since Superstition like to our Virginian Sea swels continually with newer billowes This oh this was the sad complaint of our lamenting Church fetch'd from the deepest sense of bitternesse and sorrow as if she her selfe had been ready to expire with thiâ— our Reynolds But what Timanthes hath the skill to pourtray the sadder if yet a sadder can be immagined and more dejected countenance of our Mother the University Here flow the teares so free That drowne our Niobe Alasse she thinkes still on nothing but Reynolds sees nothing but Reynolds and in the strength of her disturbed fancy heares talks with catches at Reynolds And truely though in this flourishing age our mother be blessed with such a great and numerous issue that she hath more reason to rejoyce that shee s become so fruitfull then bewaile so much her present losse and she might now if ever take up the language of the mother of â—rasidus my son was a good Souldier indeed and valiant but Sparta hath many left that are like him yet I cannot chuse but excuse her tears of piety and my selfe justly lament with her when I consider that she hath lost her Reynolds who let none repine at it did so much out-shine the rest of her sons in the clearest lustre of the best perfections both in languages Arts and Sciences that he seemed to flye above the pitch of humane wit and industry as if he had been borne of purpose to discover the height of the Muses utmost abilities Sirs I detract from no man in giving Reynolds his due I know that neither these grave Fathers assembled who here at home doe honour our Oxford with their authority letters and piety nor those our right reverend religious and learned Prelateâ— abroad who sitting at the helme of the Church are become admired Patterns to the whole Christian world of wisdome sanctity and learning will ever envy his 〈◊〉 encomiums If any man shall thinke lesse of Reynolds then of those great lights either of Church or University because he shined not so gloriously either at home or abroad in lustre of eminent fortunes and outward preferments let him remember the testimony which the great Bishop S t. Austine gave of Saint Ierome Though a Priest be inferiour to a Bishop yet Hierome the Priest
serious meditation of the reformation of Religion in the Churches he desired to conforme the Citizens of Hassia unto the example of the Primitive Church he desired to remove many reliques of superstition out of the Church he desired to establish that Ecclesiasticall discipline which was ready to fall unto the great detriment of the Church In the midst of these heavenly cogitations it pleased the Lord to send his messenger for him which he well perceiving by the continuall increasing of his paines he desired to have the Communion administred unto him afterwards he told his wife what he would have done after his death after that he had instructed his children how they should carry themselves towards God and how towards their mother and how towardâ— men and his yongest son standing amongst them hâ— laid his hand on his head uttering these Words discemi fili mandata domini ipse enaâ—riet te Keepe the commandaments of the Lord my son and he will provide for thee then â—urning himselfe to those who were present he declareâ— unto them that he dyed in that faith which he had constantly professed so many yeares in that City which words being spoken he fell asleepe and was buried at Marpurge in the year our Lord 1564. and in the 53. year of his life All things which are to be required in a Teacher are to be found in this Gerardus first he was learned and his learning was also joyned with experience secondly he had an excellent faculty and method of teaching thirdly he was laborious in his function fourthly he was gravâ— fiftly of an unspotted life and conversationâ— he was modest patient and constant all which sufficiently declare that he was set apart by the Lord for the converting of many souls unto Christ. His Works which he left unto the world as a rich legacy are here set downe 1 A Commentary on the twentieth Psalme 2 On the twelft Psalme 3 A method for a Preacher 4 On the Romans 5 Of reading and meditating the Scriptures 6. Method of Theologie 7 Theologicall Topicks 8 Catechisme Other Works in two Tomes First 1 Of the study of the Scripture 2 Of the institution of Colledges 3 A triall of students 4 Of Catechising 5 Of justification by faith 6 Of Benificence to the poor 7 Of Feasts Tome 2. 1 Of the duty of hearers 2 Of Providence 3 Of Selfe-examination 4 Of the marriage of Ministers 5 Of the Sacraments 6 Notes upon Aristotles Ethicks 7 Physicks 8 Logicke 9 Rhetoricke 10 Arithmaticke 11 Gromaticke 12 Cosmographik 13 Optics 14 Astronomy Set forth after his death 1 Annotations of Isaiah 2 Commentaries on the Galathians 3 Ephesians 4 Philippians 5 Colossians 6 Thessalonians 7 Timothy 8 Titus 9 Philemon 10 Iude. 11 Hebrewes You that desire to lead a life Free from th'incumbrances of strife Draw neare and with a carefull â—row Let brave Gerarduâ— teach you how Reader observe and thou shalt finde By trauell he inrtch'd his minde His active heart was alwayes free To Propagate true piety He alwayes studied to displace Errours from the Churches face He gain'd no envy but from those That were Religions chiefest foâ—â— He would perswade intreat advise His Fellow-preachers to dispise Those fruits of Idlenesse which he defy'd Thus liv'd Gerarduâ— thus Gerardus dy'd ARETIVS BENEDICTVS The Life and Death of Aretius Benedictus AS the Lord hath never been wanting unto his Church both in these and in forraine parts in the stirring up of painfull and â—ealous Watch-men for the Propagating of his truth and for the enlightning of the understanding of those whom he had elected unto salvation in Jesus Christ so he hath not been deficient in procuring the affection of eminent persons towards the same Professors by whose meanes they have been defended and sheltered against the inviterate malice both of the Divell and his members Malicious enemies unto the Word of truth amonst whom the Senate of Berna may justly receive worthy Commendations for the constant love shewed unto the zealous professors of the truth it being indeed the maine pillar which doth support the welfare of a Common-wealth and which doth draw downe a blessing from heaven upon their intended designes In this â—amous City was Benedictus Aretius borne a faithfull zealous professors of the truth of Christ being beautified with excellent endowments both of learning and piety which did sufficiently testifie that he was set apart by the Lord for the winning of many unto Christ. He spent his youth in his owne Country amongst the Switzers wherein he was instructed and trained up in the knowledge of the Arts but ayming at a greater perfection labouring â—or a sounder judgement in the works writings of other learned and Orthodox men he left his Country for a season and went unto Marpurg where by reason of his eminent gifts and qualities he gained the love of many learned Schollers and was designed and oppointed to read the Logick Lecture in the same place which after he had performed for the space of some years to the great profit of his Auditors to the never dying fame of himselfe and to the generall applause of all the City having also attained in some measure to that perfection which he had formerly desired he returned again unto Berne where he was joyfully received and by a generall consent appointed to open the Scriptures and to instruct the inhabitants in the way of life in which exercise he observed such an edifying method both in his publick reading and Preaching that he drew great multitudes of people unto him who beholding his proceedings with great admiration with one consent praised the Lord for sending so learned and so painfull an instrument among them for the plantâ—ng of the truth in their hearts So excellent was his forme of teaching that many Divines came unto his Lectures not onely for the information of their judgements in matters of Controversies but also to learne his method of teaching which being obtained by some they proved excellent instruments in the Church for the converting of the lost sheepe of Israel and many would not in publicke make triall of their owne parts before they had continued for a season to be his Auditors His writings were greatly in request and desired greatly of all that either knew him or heard of him but especially his labours in Divinity one of his bookes called Eramen Theologicâ—m came to the Presse twelve times within the space of three years which doth declare the excellency and how usefull and beneficiall it was unto the Church in those times and in these dayes also it is a Worke fit to be perused of all such as doe intend the study of Divinity After that he had continued this constant course of teaching in the City of Berne for the space of many years to the great furtherance of the glory of God and benefit of his Church it pleased the Lord to take him unto himselfe and to Crowne him with a diâ—dem of everlasting glory
Tossan was sent in his room February the second Anno Christi 1620. as Pareus was coming out of his study the steps being slippery with the frost his foot slipt and he fell down sixteen steps and yet it pleased God by a wonderfull Providence that he light upon his feet and received no hurt by the fall which made him think of that promise Psalme 91. Hee will give his Angels charge over thee c. By his Doctrine and Councell he was admirably advantageous to the Church of God in many places He strongly asserted the truth of God against it's adversaries He was a great studyer and promoter of the Churches peace laboring that they which agree in the Fundamentals should not jar about matters of an inferior nature He wrote many â—xcellent Works whereof some were printed by himselfe others remained with his son Philip Pareus who hath since published them to the great benefit of the Church About that time the Spaniapds came into the Palatinate with their Army which brought great miseries upon that poor Country which Pareus fore-saw both by Prodigies and Dreames then did his friends both in Hiedleberge and other places pâ—rswaded him to retire himselfe to some other place of safety to whom he yeelded that so he might not fall into the hands of those bloody Papists whom he had irritated by his writings against them At his departure he cryed out O Hiedleberg O Hiedleberge but it 's better to fall into the hands of God then of man whose tender mercies are cruelty He went to Anvilla where he spent his time in Prayer Study and in Miditation waiting and longing for the time of his chang there also he wrote his Corpus Doctrinae which when he had finished he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace because he hath finished that which he desired Presently after he felt his strength much to decay and he fell into a feaver and finding that the ayre in that place agreed not with him he went thence to Neapolis earnestly begging of God that if it were his holy will he might yet return to Hiedleberg and lay his bones there He made his will also finding his former Catarrh to return upon him againe yet it pleased God by the help of Phisitians to recover him whereupon he resolved to goe to Hiedleberge and taking his Grand-son young Daniel Pareus with him whom he loved deerly he came safely to Hiedleberge where he was received with wonderfull acclamations of joy about which time Prince Frederick came also thither from his Exile and the Sabbath following they received the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper together with much comfort But three dayes after his former disease returning he was sensible of his approaching death the Professors and Ministers resorted to him much bewailing their owne losse amongst whom was Henry Altingus to whom he freely opened his minde both concerning God house and his owne and presently after quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1622. and of his age 73. Pareus also of high Germany A wreath of Bayes deserves most worthily A very learned godly grave Divine Whose precious labors made his fame to shine Chiefly those on the Romans And although At first he many straits did undergoe Both by his Father and his other friends Yet God who in deep straits assistance sends Made all for his best good t'operate And by them brought him to a blest estate For he became abroad at home renown'd And was with many honours justly crown'd Especially at Hiedleberge where hee From all earths feares was happily set free The Life and Death of Thomas Erpenius who dyed Anno Christi 1624. THomas Erpenius was borne at Gorcome in the Low-Countries Anno Christi 1584. of honest Parents In his childhood he was bred in the School at Leiden and admitted into that University at eighteen years old and in the twenty fifth year of his age he commenced Master of Arts then he fell to the study of Divinity and of the Orientall Languages under Ioseph Scaliger who observing his ingenuity and promptnesse often foretold what an eminent man he would prove in time to come From thence he travelled in England France Italy and Germany in which perâ—grinations he profited exceedingly both in learning and prudence At Paris he became intimately acquainted with Isaac Casaubone and went with him to Samure where he fell hard to the study of Arabick and profited so exceedingly therein that Casaubone had him in great admiration and estimation for the same From thence he went to Venice where by the help of some learned Jews and Turks he learned the Turkish Persian and Aethiopick Ianguages whereby he gat so great esteem in Italy that he was profered a Pension of five hundred Duckats by the year to imploy himself in the version of some Arabick books into Latine He spent four years in travell and was famous every where for his learning at Paris and some other places he bought many Arabick books so returned to Leiden An. Ch. 1612. About which time there was a purpose to have called him into England to have allowed him an honorable stipend but the year after he was chosen Professor of the Orientall languages in Leiden and presently after he set up though with extraordinary charges a Presse for those Languages whereby he published many ancient monuments both of his own other mensâ— 1616. he married a wife by whom he left three children surviving him An. Christi 1619. he was made Professor of the Hebrew also and though he had so many and great imployments yet he went through each of them with so great exactnesse as if he had nothing else to attend upon In the year 1620. he was sent by the Prince of Orang and the States of Holland into France to procure Peter Moulin or Andrew Rivet to come to Leiden to be the Divinity Professor and though he prevailed not at that journey yet they sent him againe the year after to Andrew Rivet and the French-Church to obtain of them their consents for his coming which businesse he transacted with so great prudence that he brought Andrew Rivet along with him to Leiden His fame was so great that the King of Spaine wrote to him making him exceeding great promises if he would come into Spain to interpret some ancient writings which never man yet could doe The King of Morocco also did so exceedingly admire the purity of his Arabick style in some of his Epistles that he shewed them to his Nobles and other learned men as some great Miracle He was also highly esteemed of by the Prince of Orang and the States of Holland who often made use of his labours in translating the letters which they received from Princes in Asia and Africa out of Arabick or other Languages But whilst he was thus busily imployed in Publick and private it pleased God that he fâ—ll sick of the Plague whâ—reof he dyed Anno Christi 1624. and of his age forty
Monasticall life upon which perswasion he intended to forsake the Monâ—stery and to betake himselfe againe unto his former profession and for a preparation thereunto being as yet in the Monastery he set forth a booke of confession wherein in many things he opposed the doctrine of the Church of Rome whereby he brought himselfe not onely into danger of his life but the Monks also were greatly afraid lest any inconvenience might happen unto them by reason of his actions and therefore they greatly laboured to free their Monastery of him during their plodding he sharpely reprehended them for their errors perswadâ—ng them to embrace and lay hold on the truth whereby they came to be more and more incensed against him and privately laboured with his friends to be more earnest with him in the leaving of the Monaâ—stery Having beâ—n resident in this place not fully two yeeres he departed and went unto Franciscus Sickingen a man nobly descended by whom he was entertained and iâ— the same houâ—e he laboured to put downe the Masse affiâ—ming it to be an Idolatrous worship but Franciscus being at that time greatly distressed with an unhappy warre he left him and went to Basel in the yeer of our Lord 1522. to publish such things as he had at vacant times collected Here he was againe advanced by the Senats unto a Pastorall office an annuall stipend designed unto him which he performed with great zeale and constancy to the glory of God and good of his Church here he bouldly discovered unto his Auditors those errors which by continuance had got firme footing in the Church he opened unto them the perfection and sufficientcy of the Merits of Christ he declared unto them the true nature of faith he revealed unto them the true doctrine of Charity insomuch that the authority of the Poâ—ish religion began to stagger in the mindes of many Whilst he was totally occupied about these things some there were who laboured to draw him againe to the Pseudo Catholicke religion but more especially Iohannas Cachlaeus who in the yeere 1524. wrote letterâ— unto him wherein he testified himselfe to be deeply afflicted with sorrow to heare that a man so excellently learned should lay aside his coule and adhaere unto such haereticall opinions and withall exhorted him to revoke his opinion and to returne againe into the Monastery promising him a dispensation from the Pope and the favour of the Prior which he had formerly enjoyed but these and such like things were slighted by Oecolampadius who bringing them unto the word of God found that they would not endure the triall In the performance of his Pastorall office an assistanâ— was appointed unt him by publicke authority and he began to settle a more excellent Reformation in the Church commanding the Sacrament of Baptisme to be administred in the mother tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be received under both kinds he taught that the Masse was not a sacrifice for the living and the dead or for those who were tormented in their feigned Purgatory but that perfect satisfaction was obtained for all beleevers by the passion and Merits of Christ he disswaded them from sprinkling themselves with holy-water and from the consecration of Palmes and the like declaring unto them that they who did attribute vertue unto any such things did detract from the glory and power of God which doctrine of his tooke such deepe â—ooting in the hearts of his Auditors that it gave a period unto many superstitious actions amongst them The foundation of future reformation was no sooner laid but the old Dragon began to play his part and to discover his malicious â—nvy against such things as make for the glory of God either by hindâ—ing their proceedings or laying some foule aspersion on them for at that time broke forth that yet continued sacramentary dissention by meanes whereof that good worke begun in the Church was hindred Martin Luther at this time openly opposed and contradicting by writing the doctrine of Huldericus Zuinglius Pastor of the Church at Tigurum concerning the Euchiarist by reason whereof there was a great dissention betwixt the Churches of Helvetia and Saxony for the taking away of w ch Oecolampadius set forth a booke concerning the true understanding of these words Hoc est corpus meum and by many strong arguments he affirmed that a trope lay therein and yet his industry and labour therein tooke not away the contention betwixt the Churches This intended reformation was againe hindred by Eccius and his followers who taught 1 that the substantiall body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament of the Altar 2 that they were truly offered up in the Masse both for the living and the dead 3 that the virgin Mary and the Saints were to be worshipped as intercessours 4 that the images of Iesus and the Saints were not to be abolished 5 that after this life there was a Purgatory These positions were vehemently opposed by Oecolampadius at the publicke dispuâ—ation held at Baden the event whereof was this some of the Helvetians subscribed unto Eccius some unto Oecolampadius and so there remained still a dissention amongst them which could by no meanes be taken away although attempted by many worthy instruments of Christ who have undergone many dangers for an effectuall performance of the same yet Oecolampadius wrought so with the Saints that liberty of conscience was granted unto the Citizens as touching religion In the yeer following there was a disputation held at Berne which continued for the space of twenty dayes wherein Oecolampadius labored so powerfully for a reformation that his acts there recorded give a sufficient testimony thereof unto the world In the yeer 1529. an assembly was appointed by the Lantgraw of Hassia at Marpurge touching a reformation in the Churches concerning which more in the life of Melancton After the painfull sustaining of so many labours at home and abroad he returned to Basil where he spent the residue of his life in Preaching reading writing setting forth of books visiting the sicke and having also a care of the adjacent Churches untill the yeer 1531. wherein it pleased God to visit him with sicknesse wherewith he was constrained to take his bed hourely exspecting death And forthwith sending for the Pastors of the same place he welcommed them with ashort pithy oration wherein he exhorted them to remaine constant and firme in the purity of the doctrine which they professed because it was conformable unto the word of God as for other things he willed them to be lesse carefull assuring them that the Al-sufficient God would care for them and that he would not be wanting unto his Church His Children standing before him he tooke them by their right hands and afterwards gently stroking their heads he advised them to love God who would be unto them in the place of a Father A little before his death one of his intimate friends comming unto him he asked him what newes he answered
none But said he I will till thee newes being demandâ—d what it was he answered Brevi ero apud Christum Dominum I shall in short time be with Christ my Lord. In the morning before he died he repeated the 51. Psalme of David at the end whereof he addedâ— Salva me Christi Iesu being never heard afterwards to utter any word those who were present betooke themselves unto their prayers wherein they continued untill he had surrendered his Spirit unto his Creator which was willingly and cheerefully performed by him on the first of Dâ—cember in the yeer of our Lord 1531. and in the 49. yeer of his age and was buried with great lamentation in the sâ—me City He died intestâ—te quia unde conderet pauper Christi servas non habebat He was of a meeke and quiet disposition in the undertaking of any businesse he was very circumspect and nothing indeed was more pleasing unto him then to spent his time in reading and commenting the workes which he left behind him are these which follow 1 Annotations on Genesis 2 On Iob. 3 Isaiah 4 Ieremiah 5. Ezekill 6 Daniel 7 Hosea 8 Amos. 9 Ionas 10. Micah Cap. 2. 11. On the three last Prophets 12. On the Plasmes 13 Matthew 14 Romans 15 Hebrewes 16 1 Epistle of Iohn 17 Of the genuine sense of these words Hoc en corpus meum 18â— An exhortation to the reading of Gods word 19 Of the dignity of the Eucarist 20 Of the joy of tâ—e resurrection 21 A speech to the Senaâ— of Basil. 22 A Catectisme 23 Annotations on Chrisostome 24 Enchyidion to the Greeke tongue 25â— Aâ—ainst Anabaptists 26 Annotations upon the Aâ—ts and Corinthians 27 Of Almsdeeds 28 Against Julian the Apostata 29 Of truâ— faith in Christ. 30 Of the praises of Cyprian 31 Of the life of the Mâ—ses 32 Against Vsury Reader behold the rare-adorned Face Of him whose very lookes import a grace He was a Man whose constancy to truth Ripen'd in age and blossom'd in his youth He was a rocke whose daring front disdain'd Papisticke Waves he still oppos'd and gain'd The upper hand though threatning danger lin'd Each word he spoke yet would he speake his minde T was not their proffer'd wealth could make him bold To sin in Want and then repent in Gold Religion was the Starre by which he steer'd His well run-course his heart was still endeer'd Two sollid Principlâ— he lov'd to court The truth Love was his Ship and heav'n his port The life and death of JOHN FRITH Who suffered Martyrdome 1533. IOhn Frith was borne at Weâ—trame in Kent in whom being a child nature had planted a marvelous love unto learning he had also a wonderful Promptnesse of wit a ready capacity to receive understand any thing neither was there any thing wanting in him equall unto that towardness of dispsiâ—ion whereby it came to passe that he was not onely a lover of learning but also became an exquifite learned man He first begun his sâ—udy at Cambridge where he profited much in all sorts of learning At last he fell into knowledge of and acquaintance with William Tindall through whose pious instructions that seed of the Gospel and sincere godlinesse was first instilled into his heart At that time Cardinall Wolsey prepared to build a sumptious Colledge in Oxford now called Christs colledge And sought out for such as did excell in knowledge and learning to be Fellowes in the same and amongst others Iohn Frith was appointed one Now these choice yong men there placed conferâ—ing together upon the abuses of Religion which at that time were crept into the Church were therefore accused of heresie and cast into prison where many of them through the filthy stink thereof dyed Afterwards Iohn Frith with the others remaining alive being dismissed out of prison went beyond the seas and too yeeres after returning he was taken for a Vagabond at Reading and set in the stocks where he remained untill he was almost pined with hunger at lenght he desired that the Schoolmaster of the towne might be brought unto him which was Leoward Coxe a learned man assoone as he came in the Latin tongue he bewailed his captivity unto him The Schoolmaster being overcome with his eloquence did not onely take pity and compassion upon him but also begin to love embrace him especially when he spake unto him in the Greeke tongue and rehersed by heart diverse Verses out of Homer whereupon the Scholemaster went with all speed unto the Magistrates and procured his enlargment Yet this his safety continued not long through the deadly hatred of Sir Thomas Moore at that time chancellor of England who persecuted him both by Sea and land promising great rewards to any man that could bring tidings of him Thus this good man being beset with troubles round about wandred up and downe from place to place untill at the length being betrayed by a seeming friend he was apprehended and sent unto the Tower of London where he had many disputes with Sir Thomas Moore and others touching the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. In which quarrell he withstood the violence of three most obstinate enemies with the Bishop of Rochester Moore and Rastall but he fighting with them all three at once did so refute and confound them that he converted Rastall to his part But when neither Scripture nor reason would prevaile against the firce and crulty of of these furious foes the twentieth day of Iune 1533. he was brought before the Bishops sitting in Pauls Church where they ministred certaine interrogatives unto him touching the Sacrament Purgatory to w ch he answered according to his former disputation and subscribed unto his answer these words with his owne hand I Frith thus doe thinke and as I thinke so have I said written taught and affirmed and in any Bookes published So that when as by no meanes he could be perswaded to recant he was condmned by the Bishop of London to be burned and so being delivered over unto the Mayor and Sheriffes of London the forth day of Iuly he was by them carryed into Smithfield to be burned when he was tyed to the stake he shewed much constancy and courage for when as the fire and faggots were put unto him he willingly embraced the same thereby declaring with what uprightnesse of minde he suffered those torments for Christs and the truths sake whereof that day he gave with his blood a perfect and firme testimony The winde drove away the flame from him unto his fellow Martyr Andrew Hewet who was burned with him which made his death the longer and his paines the greater But God assisted him with such strength and fortifyed his soule with such patience that he seemed rather to rejoyce for his fellow then to be carefull for himselfe as if he had felt no paine in that long torment There is one thing more very observable concerning this constant Martyr Iohn Frith that whereas the Bishop of Canterbury