latter-end Arminianisme began to sprout up apace in the University and he being fearfull that an Arminian might come to succeed him in his place after his death resolved if he could procure a godly and worthy man to resign his place to him in his life time which accordingly he did to famous Dr. Preston whom he yet survived and saw after him Dr. Sancroft and after him Dr. Holsworth to succeed in his Mastership He was of a very charitable disposition insomuch as if he heard of any godly Minister that was in want he would send them fourty or fifty shillings at a time Though he lived till he was very old yet his sight remained very good as may appear by this example A little before his death an old Servant of his came to see him and found him reading on a Book so that at the first he took no notice of her but when she came nearer lifting up his head he spake to her asking her what a clock it was She told him eleven I have said he here got a Book that I have been reading of ever since eight a clock for I like it very well and yet all that time he had read without Spectacles He lived eighteen years after the Resignation of his Mastership and in November Anno Christi 1640. resigned up his spirit unto God being about the age of ninety four years and was buried in S. Andrews Church Dr. Richard Holsworth the then Master of Emanuel preached his Funerall Sermon and gave him a large and deserved Commendation The Life of Master John Ball who died October 20. 1640. IOhn Ball was born about the year 1585. at Casssington an obscure village a mile from Hanborough in Oxfordshire he being set to School at Yarnton was found so apt to learn that the Schoolmaster prevailed with his Parents though of low estate to continue him Scholar there till he was fitted for the University Gods Providence by means of friends made way for his placing in Brazen-nose Colledge in Oxford where he improved very much in the knowledge of the Arts and he proved a quick disputant When he was Batchelour of Arts wanting meanes for his maintenance to continue longer in the University he accepted a motion made for his removal into the Countrey and was placed in the Lady Cholmleys house in Cheshire as Tutor to her Children where many other Children also were taught by him And though he came raw and ungrounded in Religion as himself was wont to expresse it from Oxford yet within a short time there appeared with the increase of his scholastical abilities the breakings forth of the power of Godlinesse in his conversation unto them who were most religious and judicious there who thereupon took him into their society for mutual edification in the waies of Gods fear Whereas there was great scarcity of godly painful Preachers in that corner of the Countrey in those times he did much frequent the Ministry of Reverend Master John Foord whereby he was not a little edified He had few Books and therefore perused the more seriously such as he had under-hand Calvins life published by Beza and his Commentary upon the Psalms made deep impressions upon his spirit Growing into acquaintance with the most godly people in those parts who much lamented the evils of the times he often associated with them in keeping private daies of Fasting and Prayer Himself with some other honest Christians were often convented to Chester and much troubled there for keeping a Fast on Ascension day their fault being aggravated by the Bishop and his Officers because they fasted upon that holy day As he took not up any opinion or practice till he had well weighed it So was he not much moved by any trouble which assaulted him in his way When others judged him ripe for the Ministry he was not hasty in adventuring upon that Calling because he was sensible of the weight thereof and also desirous to satisfie his conscience concerning the way of entrance by Episcopal subscription And upon the serious studying of the points in controversie betwixt the Bishops and Non-conformists he was dissatisfied to yield unto that subscription which was then strictly commanded Some conflicts he had with the then Bishop of Chester about Non-conformity but though he looked upon a Bishop in those times as a formidable creature yet he came off unshaken Having resolved upon the encouragement given by judicious Divines to enter into the Ministry when God should make a fair way for his admission without subscription by the intercession of Friends he with Master Julines Herring who afterwards was famous for the work of the Lord in Salop were made Ministers by an Irish Bishop being occasionally in London with freedom from the formentioned snare About the year 1610. he was called to be Minister at Whitmore a small village near unto New-Castle in Staffordshire where he was entertained into the house of Edward Mainwaring Esquire a pious and much esteemed Gentleman Here he married a godly Wife whom God had provided as an help meet for him he himself being alwaies a meer Scholar neither much minding nor intermedling in worldly affairs beyond the bounds of his Calling by whom he had six Sonnes and one Daughter Six of his Children were born unto him while he continued in Master Mainwarings Family where he found much love and did much service for every evening he expounded a portion of Scripture which was read in course and many mornings also was helpfull in Catechizing of the Family Hither many Ministers and others had often recourse unto him for counsell where they were alwaies friendly entertained and the Lord blessed that Family very much which doth still shew much kindnesse unto the Children of this good man Afterwards he removed with his own Family unto an house which Master Mainwaring had built for him where he had his seventh and last child born to him and where he dwelt till his death He was a great lover of Learning and therefore laid out in the first years of his Ministry all the money which he could spare from necessary expences in buying good Books with which he was so well acquainted having both a quick understanding and strong memory that he could readily give an account of all passages most remarkable in them He had so well studied Bellarmines controversies that it is scarcely credible what relation he could make ex tempore of them from point to point and shew from particular to particular where the fallacy and the weaknesse of his Arguments did appear And the like might be truly attested in reference unto the Arminian disputes and the other Church-Controversies both in former and latter times It was his custom to read over a Book when once he undertook it and no man could be more cautious in entertaining opinions without much mature consideration having well weighed all arguments produced on both sides both for and
she declared her willingnesse to obtain the recovery of her former health and for that end she refused no good means prescribed for her by her learned Physicians Again when she perceived her sicknesse to increase upon her and that she grew worse and worse she was no whit appaled thereat but shewed her self to be armed with an invincible constancy to undergo the utmost that death could do against her preparing her self willingly for that last conflict And when she saw her Ladies and Gentlewomen weeping about her bed she blamed them for it saying Weep not for me I pray you for as much as God doth by this sicknesse call me hence to enjoy a better life and now I may enter into the desired Haven towards which this frail vessel of mine hath been a long time steering Yet she shewed her self grieved that she wanted opportunity to reward them and many more of her Family and Train which had done her faithfull service as she could have wished excusing her self to them and professing that it was not want of good will but her being prevented by this her suddain sicknesse But said she I will not fail to give order about the same to the utmost of my ability In the end perceiving her strength to decay more and more she gave order to have her last Will and Testament made and thereby setled her outward estate And the 8 of June which was the day before she died she called for a Minister and finding that she was drawing nigh unto her end she desired him to speak somewhat largely of the temptations which Satan is wont to assail Gods Elect withall in their last conflict To this the Minister answered Indeed that is the hour wherein the sworn enemy of all the faithfull doth most busily bestirre himself if possible to deprive them of the comfort of their salvation not sparing especially at that time to set upon them with might and sleight but yet even then the Lord is not nor will be wanting to his filling their hearts with such joy and comfort of the Holy Ghost as shall make them in the end more then conquerours His first Engine wherewith he would drive them to despair is by presenting before their eyes the innumerable heaps of their sinnes and pollutions wherewith they have been any way defiled in their whole life and then he presents to them Gods justice before which no flesh can be able to subsist unlesse it were pure and spotlesse whence he infers that such miserable sinners can expect and look for nothing but utter death and condemnation But against these assaults we must as David Psal. 52. set the infinite multitudes of Gods compassions which do infinitely surpasse the multitudes of our sinnes And as for the justice of God we confesse that no creature that is defiled by sinne can abide to be strictly examined by it if God should call us to a severe account but we know that God will never enter into judgment with those that believe in his Son but imputes unto them that righteousness and obedience which was accomplished by him which is sufficient to oppose against the justice of God therefore in it alone we must expect to stand before his face and not by our own dignity and worthinesse Indeed if we were to appear before the seat of Justice to receive there what we have deserved we had good reason to be overwhelmed in utter despair but turning our eyes upon him who being the eternal Son of God hath clothed himself with our humane nature to bear on him the same punishment that was due to our sinnes and thereby hath acquitted us then Gods justice doth no whit affright us but rather yields us assured comfort because God being just cannot require the same debt twice Having therefore received full and perfect satisfaction from Christ whom he hath ordained to be our surety and who hath paid our debts for us thence we gather assurance that he will no more require it at our hands To which purpose these sentences are to be well observed It is Christ who hath born our grief and carried our sorrows The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed That we all like sheep have gone astray and have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all Christ is our peace and the propitiation for our sins The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world Upon these considerations Gods justice need not terrifie such as believe in Christ of whose righteousnesse and redemption they are made partakers seeing that Jesus Christ who knew no sin was made sin that is an oblation for sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him I grant said he that these things belong not to all indifferently but only unto such as believing in the Son of God do wholly cast themselves upon the merit of his death and passion which as St. Peter saith is sufficient for their salvation Act. 4.12 Then did he ask her whether she placed her whole trust and confidence on Christ crucified who died for her sins and rose again for her justification To this the godly Queen answered that she neither expected salvation righteousnesse nor life from any else but only from her Saviour Jesus Christ being assured that his merit alone did abundantly suffice for the full satisfaction for all her sins albeit they were innumerable This being your faith Madam quoth the Minister you cannot come into condemnation but are passed from death to life neither need you fear Gods Seat of Justice since it is turned into a Throne of mercy and grace unto you and therefore the hour of death will be exceeding welcome to you being but a sweet passage into a far better life as also the time in which all tears shall be wiped from your eyes therefore I beseech you Madam think often of that sweet Text Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Now the time approaches wherein you shall enjoy the beatificiall vision the society of your Husband Christ the fellowship of the blessed Angels and celestial Spirits with the holy Patriachs Prophets Apostles and Martyrs of Christ partaking with them in the same felicity and glory He also further said Madam If it should please God by this your sicknesse to put an end to this weary Pilgrimage of yours and to call you home to himself as by some evident signs it appears that he will Are you willing to go unto him To this she answered with much Christian courage Yea with all my heart Then said he Good Madam Open the eyes of your Faith and behold Jesus your great Redeemer sitting at the right hand of his Father reaching out his hand to receive you to himself Are you Madam willing to go unto him Yes I assure saith she most willing and much more willing
restlesse condition and to translate him hence to a place of endlesse rest and peace never to be interrupted again the force of the disease within the space of a few daies fretted asunder those bands that kept soul and body together and leaving the one behind to be laid up in the bowels of that element whence it had its first original set the other at full liberty to return unto him from whom alone it immediately received its existence at first During the short time of his sickness wherein yet through Gods goodnesse he continued free from any notable sense of pain and was accompanied with much freedom of mind and memory he had his heart and tongue in meditation set wholly upon God acknowledging his special favour and goodnesse unto him who had so far forth vouchsafed to cast a gracious eye upon him so vile and loathsome a creature while he yet continued in his native condition as to give him an interest by Faith in his Christ yea so farre farther to grace so unworthy a wretch as to call him to be a Minister of his Word and Publisher of his Will and to make his weak endeavours and worthlesse labours at any time in any measure efficacious to any of his people as he hoped in some sort with some at least they had been either for the conversion and bringing of them home unto him or for the establishing and building of them up in the saving knowledge and belief of his truth and in the graces and comforts of his Spirit Withall seriously professing this to be his comfort the testimony of his conscience in the sight of God bearing witnesse in his behalf that in sincerity of heart though with much weaknesse and amidst many failings through the whole course of his Ministry his main end and scope in all his labours and endeavour's had been both in publick and private to seek the glory of God the delivery of his truth the peace of his Church the spiritual good of his people in all things to approve himself to him and continue faithfull with him who hath been pleased to take him into his service and desiring now nothing more then that he might be so enabled through the support of his good Spirit that by his Christian and comfortable carriage under his Fatherly hand in this close of his day-work he might confirm and seal up to others the truth of those things that he had formerly professed and taught Withall earnestly exhorting all that came about him to learn now to die before they came to it to be sure to lay a good foundation in time of life and health for matter of firm support and sound comfort in time of sickness and at the hour of death and to make as much provision and strong preparations against that time as they could assuring themselves that they should find all their utmost endeavours and carefullest addresses to be little enough when they came once to that Work Amidst these and the like Religious Meditations and Pious Employments peceiving his desired end now to approach and having requested prayer to be conceived in his behalf by a special Friend who had accompanied him most part of his sicknesse not long after that Office performed by him he quietly and peaceably resigned his soul into the hands of his blessed Saviour no lesse ready doubtlesse to receive it from him then himself was desirous and forward to recommend it unto him His Funeral rites were performed at Chelsey where he drew his last breath most of the Ministers of better note about the City either constantly residing or occasionally detained there besides a very great multitude of private persons well affected repairing thereunto Who were all there after the usuall manner in such cases and on such occasions entertained at the charge and by the bounty of that worthy Gentlewoman of singular Piety in whose house he deceased From which place his Corps being conveyed on the shoulders of six of his Reverend Brethren of the Ministry who of their own accord offered themselves unto that Office to the place of publick Assembly where it was to be interred Master Thomas Gataker his ancient and inward Friend though full of grief for the loss of one who so entirely affected him and whom as well for the high esteem he had of him and his worth as for that entire affection which he constantly bare to him was most deservedly exceedingly dear to him and in regard thereof not so free or fit for performance of that Office yet enforced himself to preach at his Funerall and to give though very briefly such Testimony of him as was generally approved of by his Reverend Brethren there present And he was indeed a man of very eminent parts for sharpnesse of wit clearnesse of apprehension soundnesse of judgment exactnesse of method and powerfulnesse of delivery of singular dexterity in beating out perplexed and intricate debates descrying and discovering where the knots lay stating of Controversies aright and dissolving of difficult cases of conscience to which purpose not only many even from remote parts resorted unto him either of their own accord or directed and recommended unto him by other his Brethren of the Ministry as one most likely of any to give them satisfaction in their doubts but divers of them also of good note as by their Letters to him may appear deemed it no disparagement to seek resolution from him in questions of that nature themselves Neither was he one that kept his talent wrapt up in a Napkin but though he were cooped up mostly in an obscure corner through the harsh courses of those that would not suffer his light to shine forth in any eminent place yet was he exceeding laborious in those parts wherein he lived both in private employments at constant set times in the Family and in publick also where he might be permitted though without benefit to himself that which may appear by abundance of papers and note-books yet extant though by many casualties a multitude of them have miscarried Besides his constant course of preaching at Stapenhill for the most of his time from his first admission into that Family save only by interruption through occasion of removals which neither usually lasted over-long nor though distracted him in his Studies did any whit lightly lessen his labours he was frequently drawn forth to joyn with other his Reverend Brethren in their meetings and exercises at Ashbie de la Zouch in Leicester-shire at Repton in Darby-shire and at Burton upon Trent at some of which meetings the manner being that some one of them preached his hour on the Scipture propounded the meeting before and the rest or a certain number of them spent afterward each one his half hour or thereabout on some other portion of Scripture one being appointed to moderate by minding each that spake if occasion were of the time and to close up all with some succinct rehearsal of what had been delivered
place sometimes by slie and false informations against him sometimes by open railing and false libels sometimes by secret backbitings yea at last their malice proceeded so far that they practised his death by poysoning but by Gods good providence the snares were broken and he was delivered Having thus continued Bishop about three years it pleased God to take away that famous English Josiah King Edward and his sister Mary succeeding him the face of Religion was soon altered and this good Bishop amongst others was deprived and clapt up in Prison And though the malice of the then Prelates and Arch-Papists against him was very great who also had sworn his death yet it pleased God most miraculously to preserve and deliver him out of their hands which was effected by this meanes The good King Christian of Denmark having formerly known him at his being in Germany wrote divers times and sued so earnestly and effectually to Queen Mary for him that at last he was dismissed out of Prison and suffered to go over into Denmark There he staied a while and afterwards with the leave of the King went into Germany to his former worthy friend the noble Elector of the Rheine who most willingly received him and restored him to his former Benefice of Burghsaber The reason why he staied no longer with his deliverer the King of Denmark but chose rather to go into the Palatinate was because he could Preach in the Dutch language but not in the Danish Tongue At Burghsaber he remained a faithfull and painfull Preacher all Queen Maries daies till hearing of her death and of the change of Religion under Queen Elizabeth he once again returned into his native Country His Bishoprick was reserved for him till his return and then sundry times profered him but he would by no meanes accept thereof but chose rather to live a more private life yet not out of action for he continued in London teaching and preaching the Gospel so long as the strength of his body would permit and at length being very old and stricken in years he died comfortably and peaceably in the Lord being about eighty years old January 20. Anno Christi 1568. and was honourably buried under a fair Stone in the Chancel of Bartholomews Exchange in London upon which Stone is engraven this Epitaph In obitum Reverendissimi Patris Milonis Coverdale OGDO ASTICHON Hic tandem requiemque ferens finemque laborum Ossa Coverdali mortua Tumbus habet Exoniae qui Praesul erat dignissimus olim Insignis vitae vir probitate suae Octoginta annos grandaevus vixit unus Indignum passus saepius exilium Sic demum variis jactatum casibus ista Excepit gremio terra benigna suo Dr. SANDES The Life of Doctor Sands Archbishop of York who died Anno Christi 1588. EDwin Sands was born of an ancient and worthy Family about the year 1528. and being trained up in Learning he so profited therein both in the Countrey and University that he was chosen Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge and having Commenced Doctor he was made Vice-Chancellor of that University at which time that blessed King Edward the sixth dying and the Lady Jane Grey being proclaimed Queen as we have heard before the Duke of Northumberland was sent with an Army to apprehend the Lady Mary And when he came to Cambridge he sent for Dr Sands the then Vicechancellor and some other Doctors to sup with him and at supper required Dr Sands to preach on the morrow The warning was short for such an occasion and Auditory yet he refused it not but went home and so to bed The next morning he arose at three a clock and having prayed a good while rose up took his Bible in his hand and closing his eyes earnestly prayed to God that it might fall open at a fit Text for the present occasion and accordingly it opened and the first Text that he cast his eye upon was Joshua 1.16 17 18. And they answered Joshua saying All that thou commandest us we will do and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go according as we hearkened to Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment and will not hearken to thy words in all that thou commandest him he shall be put to death only be strong and of a good courage This Text he prosecuted with such prudence and affection as drew many tears from the eyes of his Auditors After Sermon the Duke and other Nobles desired him to Print his Sermon and he only required a day and an halfs time for the writing of it at the end whereof he delivered it to Mr Leaver who was presently to carry it to London to the Presse But just at that instant came one of the Beadles to him weeping and bad him shift for himself for said he the Duke is retired and Queen Mary is proclaimed Dr Sands was nothing troubled herewith but delivered his Sermon to Mr Leaver and so went to dinner to Mr Moores one of the Beadles his great Friend At dinner being of an undaunted courage and cheerfull disposition he was very merry Mistress Moore drinking to him said Mr Vicechancellor I drink to you this being the last time that ever I shall see you which accordingly proved true That night the Duke sent for him to joyn with him in proclaiming Queen Mary and then told him that the Queen was mercifull and that he hoped for a generall pardon to which Dr. Sands answered My life is not dear unto me neither have I done or said any thing that troubleth my conscience For what I spake of the State I have instructions signed by sixteen Counsellors to warrant me therein neither can speeches be treason nor yet have I spoken any thing but what the Word of God and the Lawes of the Land will bear me out in therefore the will of the Lord be done But be you assured my Lord you shall never escape death for if the Queen should spare you they that now shall rule will kill you That night the Duke was apprehended and some were as busie about Dr. Sands but Sir John Gates that lay in the Doctors house drave them away The next day Dr. Sands was walked into the fields when the University in an irregular manner meeting together ordered Dr. Mouse and Dr. Hatcher to go to Dr. Sands his house to fetch away the University Statutes the Keyes and such other things as were in his custody which accordingly they did and Dr. Mouse who the day before was an earnest Protestant was now turned a zealous Papist and a great enemy to Dr. Sands from whom he had received great curtesies That afternoon a Congregation was appointed by them and the bell rang to it when Dr. Sands coming out of the fields sent for the Beadles asking what
the matter meant requiring them to wait upon him to the Schools according to their duty which they did and Dr. Sands took the Chair Mr. Mitch and a rable of unlearned Papists seeing this withdrew and conspired amongst themselves to pull him out of the Chair In the mean time Dr. Sands began his Oration expostulating with the University about their dealings and charging them with great ingratitude towards him affirming that he had said nothing in his Sermon but what he was ready to justifie and that if he were faulty they were as deeply guilty in concealing and consenting to that which he had spoken In the midst of his speech in came Mitch with his associates some laid hands on him to pull him out of the Chair telling him it was not his place others called him traytor c. Dr. Sands seeing that they used violence being of a great courage felt for his dagger to have dispatched some of them as Gods enemies but Dr. Bell and Dr. Blith prayed him for Gods sake to hold his hands and patiently to bear that great wrong to which he assented and so the tumult ending he went on and finished his Oration and having some money of the Universities in his hand he delivered it up together with all other things belonging to the University and then resigned his Office praying to God to substitute a better in his room and to give them better and more thankfull hearts and so he repaired to his own Colledge On the morrow came to him Mr. Germingham and Mr. Tho. Mildmay Mr. Germingham told him that it was the Queens pleasure that by two of the guard he should be conveyed to the Tower together with the Duke Mr. Mildmay told him that he wondered that so learned a man as he should speak so unadvisedly against so good a Prince Dr. Sands answered I shall not be ashamed of bonds but if I could do as Mr. Mildmay can I need not to fear them for you came down in armes against the Queen and now you are in arms for her I cannot thus blow hot and cold with one mouth Presently Dr. Sands his stable was robbed of four excellent Geldings and an Inventory was taken of all his goods and he was set upon a lame jade that halted to the ground whereupon a friend of his desired that he might lend him a Nagg to ride upon As he went out at the end of the Town some Papists assembled to jeer and some of his Friends to mourn for him He was carried through London in scorn and as he entred in at Bishops-gate a base woman threw a stone at him and hit him so full on the breast that he was near falling from his Horse To whom he mildly said Woman I pray God forgive thee As he went through Tower street a woman in her door said to him Fie on thee thou Knave thou Knave thou Traytor thou Heretick At this he smiled whereupon she said Look the desperate Heretick laughs at it Another woman on the other side of the street said Fie neighbour thou art not worthy to be called a woman railing thus upon this Gentleman whom thou knowest not nor yet the cause why he is thus used and turning to the Doctor she said Good Gentleman God be thy comfort and give thee strength to stand in Gods cause even to the death and thus he was carried Prisoner to the Tower where the Yeoman of the Guard took from him his borrowed Nagg and whatsoever else he had and whereas his man brought some linen after him that also was taken from him The first three weeks he was in a very bad prison at the end whereof he was removed to another where was put to him Mr. John Bradford On the day of the Queens Coronation his prison door was left open and there came to him one Mr. Mitchell a special friend of his and said Dr. Sands there is such a stir in the Tower that neither gates doors nor Prisoners are looked after this day therefore take my cloak hat and rapier and get you gon save your self and let me do as I may The Doctor refused his offer saying I know no just cause of my imprisonment and if I should do this I should make my self guilty I will expect Gods good will yet am I much bound to you for your love Mr. Mitchell not prevailing departed Dr. Sands and Mr. Bradford continued in prison twenty nine weeks one Bowler a perverse Papist being their Keeper yet by their affable and loving carriage and converse he began to mislike Popery and to favour the Gospel yea he was so far at last wrought upon that on a Sabbath when others went to Masse he carried up to them a Service-Book a manchet and some wine at which time Dr. Sands administred the Sacrament to Mr. Bradford and him and so Bowler became their son begotten in their bonds When Wyat was up in Arms that room might be made for him and his in the Tower Dr. Cranmer Dr. Ridley and Mr. Bradford were put into one prison and Dr. Sands with nine other godly Ministers were removed to the Marshalsey As they went the people every where prayed God to comfort them and to strengthen them in his truth whereupon the Keeper of the Marshalsey said to Dr. Sands I perceive that the vain people would set you forward to the fire but I hope you will not prefer your own knowledg before the judgment of so many worthy and learned Prelates if so you shall find me as strait a Keeper as one that utterly mislikes your Religion Dr. Sands answered I know my self young and my learning small it s enough to know Christ crucified and he hath learned nothing that sees not the great blasphemy that is in Popery I have read in Scripture of some godly and courteous Keepers God may make you one if not I trust he will give me strength and patience to bear your hard dealing with me The Keeper replied Do you then minde to stand to your Religion Yea said the Doctor by Gods grace I do Truly said the Keeper I love you the better for it I did but try you before and what favour I can shew you you shall be sure of it and I shall think my self happy if I may die at the stake with you and ever after he shewed the Doctor much favour suffering him to walk into the fields alone where sometimes he met with Mr. Bradford who being removed to the Kings Bench found the like favour with his Keeper He also lodged him in the best Chamber and would not suffer irons to be put on him as other Prisoners had and suffered his Wife a beautifull Gentlewoman both in body and soul to resort to him He lodged also Mr. Sanders with him To these two holy men there was much resort and much Money was profered to them but they would receive none Three or four times they celebrated the Sacrament and
wanting so well was he esteemed of on either part and withall advertising him of a very great danger and no lesse deliverance that neer unto his journeys end had betided him Whereunto Master Cartwright in a Letter of March 7. the same year thus replieth Sir It cometh from the abundance of your love to thank me for that which duty it self required at my hands towards Master Bradshaw and therefore the thanks are returned unto you who esteem so highly of duty as to let it go in the account of a Benefit or good turn My hope is the same with yours that the Lord who by deliverance of him from so great a death bindeth him to a straighter obedience hath set such an impression of it in his mind as will be in stead of a watch to waken him every morning to all cheerfull service which his place will require And indeed the Letter he wrote of that matter carrieth that sound and even undertakes so much in his behalf And in one to Master Bradshaw himself after receipt of that from him touched upon in the close foregoing That the Lord our most mercifull Father delivered you from so great a death it pledges unto you deliverances hereafter especially if they be inferiour to this So much the rather as the swimmer sunk like a piece of lead and he that could no more swim then the Iron-head of the Scholars hatchet was graciously born up and therefore by how much the Proverb is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by so much we have cause to praise God that by the Angel of the waters saved you And withall you may help to incourage others against the excessive fear of drowning in passing the Seas Seeing it was more safe to you to passe the winter-Seas even when they rage most then the small brook of Hawston Mills I remembred you to Sir Thomas and my Lady who told me that if any entertainment would have holden you they would not have suffered you to have gone from them and rejoyced much at your gracious escape Subscribed Your assured loving Brother and Fried Thomas Cartwright The Escape in those Letters mentioned was this Master Bradshaw being to leave Guernsey shipped himself for England Nor was his passage by Sea wholly free from hazard for with so violent a storm were they surprized at Sea that the Passengers most of them expected nothing but wrack and a Gentlewoman among them with another whom she much affected attending upon her did in a cord by the waste fasten themselves either to other that they might perish together and draw their last breath or breath it out rather in the mutuall embraces either of other But that storm being allaied and the danger of it over and the Ship with her Passengers now arrived in safety Master Bradshaw having attained London did there hire a Hackney such as are commonly used on that Road to convey him to Cambridge there to enter upon the Fellowship prepared for him and assigned unto him by help of which Beast he got so far on his way in safety that he was now within three miles of his journeys end But danger oft lieth in wait for us where we least of all either expect or suspect it and then many times overtakes and surprizeth us unawares when we deem our selves wholly past danger and are neer approaching our intended much desired and now fully expected Port and have alwaies need therefore both of an eye of Providence constantly on us and of an hand of protection continually over us For being there to passe a small Brook crossing the road near to a Village called Hawston and the Water-mills seated on it thence Hawston Mills he that had escaped so eminent and apparent a danger at Sea lighten on and fell into that unexpectedly that proved much more hazardous on land where no appearance was of ought in that kind for being unacquainted with the course of the stream otherwise passed ordinarily and that daily without danger and having not fetched a compasse far enough as he ought to have done the Beast that bare him plunged suddainly into the Mill-pond or pit and being not able to recover it self therein perished and there left him floating in a strong vertiginous current unskilfull in swimming nor had any such skill in likelihood been available in such a case to have saved him and altogether unable to shift for himself where he must of necessity have gone the same way with the Beast had not either some one occasionally looking out of the Mill or some Passenger on the way espying one floating in that manner and at the very pinch of perishing called hastily on the Miller or those next at hand to let slip down the Flood-gates by means whereof the stiffe current of the water-course was stayed and this Servant of God though not without much difficulty rescued out of the water and delivered unexpectedly out of that his in a manner even desperate distresse And it may indeed justly be deemed a wonder of wonders in regard whereof that venerable Minister of Christ before-mentioned seems to have apprehended the ministry of an Angel used in it that he was not suddainly in an instant either swallowed up in that whirling gulf or hurried away with the violent course of the current and that he should bear up and keep above water so long in a place of that nature For he hath been heard to relate that while he continued thus floating and strugling with that wheeling surface it troubled him not a little that he could not addresse himself as he desired to prepare for his departure though having nothing but death in his eye while his ear was taken up with the voice of some talking in the Mill from whom he supposed yet some help might come though neither was he able to call unto them nor they to hear him Thus even Gods Children themselves find a defect oft in themselves that they cannot with such an exact composure of spirit in times of distress address themselves unto God untill he have pulled away all outward prosperity as well hopes as helps from them But being by a special Providence of God thus recovered and as another Moses drawn out of the water and brought into the Millers house he was there shifted and put into such dry apparell as the Miller himself used to wear in which garb when some of his acquaintance found him who upon tydings of of this occurrent came posting over to him from Cambridge they could not forbear smiling to see him sitting in that habit though not a little affected with the casualty occasioning it and no lesse heartily gladned for the gracious issue that God hath pleased to afford it and expressing much thankfulnesse for his mercy and goodnesse therein manifested The Lord it may seem would hereby fit this his servant reserved to other hot and hazardous services unto a farther and firmer dependance in and under them upon him But thus his Horse lost which
In the aformentioned and such like imployments publick and private he spent his time He spent his strength like a Torch or Taper wasting and consuming himself for the profit and benefit of others having his work with God then and his reward for it from God afterwards And for these imployments sake was it principally that he desired recovery of health and strength Unto the performance whereof also though therein injurious to himself and contrary to his own desires he oft strained himself and that in the midst of his infirmity and weaknesse not to uncertain hazard only but to evident impreaching and impairing of either What is the sign saith Hezekias when he promised recovery that I shall go up to the house of the Lord as desiring continuance of life and recovery of health for no one end more then that And therefore also was it that this worthy man was desirous of recovery that he might repair to Gods house again and that he might return to Gods work again To which purpose the very last Lords day before his disease having after many relapses recovered a little strength he made shift to get out to a neighbour Congregation there to joyn with Gods people in publick performance of such solemn service of God as that day is usually spent and imployed in And having held out with them to the end in both parts of the day he rejoyced much therein that he was able so to do the rather because he thereby conceived some good hope that he should be strong enough ere long to return to his wonted work and imployment again But the Lord saw it better for his will appears by his work to put an end to his incessant labours here and to transhate him to the place of his endlesse rest elsewhere and that upon the twentieth day of April Anno Christi 1626. having been Preacher at All-Hallows Bredstreet during the spence of thirty two years where he was an exmple to his people in word in inconversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity But as one saith An exact face is seldom drawn but with much disadvantage so neither is his character so that we may well say as one doth of Basil There wanted but his own tongue to commend him with The Life of Master Richard Rothwel who died Anno Christi 1627. RIchard Rothwel was born in Lancashire at or near Bolton in the Moors about the year of our Lord 1563. After he took the Ministry upon him and God gave him another heart he disposed his temporal estate amongst his friends and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 9.11.14 He lived of the Gospel His education was in the Schools and afterward in Cambridge in the one he attained to an exact knowledge of the tongues especially Greek and Hebrew wherein he was a Critick and in the other of the Arts so that he became a skil-Linguist subtil Disputant copious Orator and of a deep insight into any kind of knowledge Humane or Divine In this first course of his studies appeared presently to his observers the buds and blossomes of that fame which after he attained for he had a prompt wit a quick apprehension a clear understanding a sound judgement a ready speech and a strong memory All these seldome meet in one man but did in him very eminently and were improved by diligent study which out of a desire of learning and knowledge he continued to his last without wearinesse His constitution of body and moral endowments of minde were great props and supporters to his intellectual habits Gratior est virtus veniens è corpore pulchro This is not the ordinary lot of Scholars He was tall well set of great strength of body and activity of a stern countenance of invincible courage of approved valour and of a very goodly and majestick presence Grief nor any misery could ever break him but joy would presently melt him into tears He was of a generous spirit and deportment yet withall very humble and courteous His language was sententious and proverbial I have heard many others say what I must needs my self Nunquam illi accedo quin doctior evadam I never came to him but I went the learneder from him He had a great dexterity in communicating his mind to another and speaking to his understanding God gave him a great inlet into the hearts of men After many years spent in the University he betook himself to the Ministry and was ordained Presbyter by Doctor Whitgift then Archbishop of Canterbury who forbade him medling with interpretation of Moses Types the Book of Canticles Daniel and the Revelation Which then he thought himself as the Bishop did were not so useful for him to study as some other Scriptures But alas all these natural dispositions intellectual habits personal deportments were but as so many weapons in the hands of a mad man Judge how able by these to resist the truth for he remained some years without any change of heart or sensible work of grace upon his soul but preached learnedly as they called it and lived vainly abhorring debauchery and debauched companions through the height of his spirit but gave himself to hunting bowling shooting more the◠became a Minister of the Gospel and sometimes he would swear Faith and Troth and in his passion greater blasphemies I have heard him tell that there were two Knights in Lancashire fallen out and great fewd betwixt them That the one had a very good Park with store of Deer That the other had excellent good Fish-ponds and store of Fish He robbed the Park of the one and presented what he got to the other and the Fish-ponds of the other and presented the Fish to his adversary thus he pleased himself in the daies of his vanity with such kind of follies In doing this one night the Keeper met with him his Dog having killed a Buck at the fall of the Buck the Keeper came in with his fauchion and staff and met Master Rothwel who had a staff also They fell from words to blows He got the Keeper down bound him by the thumbs and drew him up to his full height that he could but touch the ground with his toes and so left him tied to a tree till next morning when others found him and loosed him At length God pleased who separated him from his Mothers womb as he did Paul and called him by his grace to reveal his Son in him Which because it was famous and he himself afterwards proved the means of the Conversion of so many I shall set it down as I remember I have heard him speak it He was playing at Bowles amongest some Papists and vain Gentlemen upon a Saturday somewhere about Rachdale in Lancashire there comes into the green to him one Master Midgley a grave and godly Minister of Rachdale whose praise is great in the Gospel though far inferiour to Master Rothwel in parts and learning he took
imperium adoptato nihil in vultu mutatum quasi magis imperare posset quam vellet His honours altered nothing in him but gave encouragement to all the godly Party and his Sermons at Lincolns-Inne much wrought upon the Parliament so that a bold Petition was contrived and presented to the King at Whitehall from both Houses of Parliament April 23. 1624. against the spreading and increase of Popery and the Indulgence given unto Priests and Jesuites King James was in the evening of his glory his Party in the Court under a cloud another Sun almost in view and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or day-star already risen and accordingly he answered warily to their Petition bewails his want of information as the reall ground of this their trouble which otherwise he had prevented acknowledged that whilest the Treaties lasted with Spain and Austria he was obliged to comply but now both being broken off he would be rigid and severe against the Priests and Jesuites bids them find out a way for to restrain the growth of Popery and he would second them but resolves to pay the Duke of Buckingham for all this and gives order to the Earl of Bristol to prepare an information for that end but the Match with France and other intervenient accidents obstruct it for the present The Duke having told tales out of School and broken off the Match with Spain was much obliged to further and promote the French which he did seriously excuse to Doctor Preston upon this ground that there was not any Protestant for to be had and for to marry with a subject had alwaies been unlucky and fatal to the Kings of England that the French would not be ridged in religious observations but the Doctor constantly opposed only acknowledged this difference that Spanish Popery was an absolute ingredient to their intended Western Monarchy but French was not so and so this was lesse evil But the French found out this obligation and were untractable unlesse the Duke would aid the King of France against the Rochellers This was a hard chapter for one so much obliged unto the Puritans and Doctor Preston and he therefore declined all he could but nothing else would serve and he knew King James lay ready to take advantages so in Conclusion eight Ships were granted to oppose the Rochel-fleet and many colours sought to cloude it and hide it from the world but from that time Doctor Preston doubted of the Saint-ship of the Duke of Buckingham whom otherwise he honoured and loved very much But it was high time for the Duke to look about him King James was not to learn now how for to play his Game he was an old but not a foolish King Eccl. 4.13 and therefore failed not to make Provision and lay rods in pisse that he might use upon occasion Kings use for to account an ague in the Spring their Physick yet Physick till March be past is not good but this ague antidates the moneths and comes in February The King was then at Theobalds and the Ague was made but small account of He feared death but was the most impatient and disordered of any living what rules soever the Physicians gave he would observe none which intemperance might very well occasion the growing strength and vigour of the disease which howsoever more and more increased and at last began to be considerable then he began to take advice and to submit to rules but now it was too late for March 27. 1625. on the Lords day in the morning about ten of the clock at Theobalds the King dies Doctor Preston then attended in his moneth and was sometimes hastened to the Prince to comfort him and sometimes to the Duke and indeed it was a very mournfull morning Death is a serious thing and knocks alike at Pallaces as at the meanest Cottage King James was very much beloved of all his servants some of the Huntsmen could not be gotten from him the Prince and Duke were both of them retired and wept exceedingly But Sir Edward Conwey and some of the Lords drew up a Wiring and proclaimed Charles Steward King with all his Titles and hast was made to pack away to London The Prince and Duke and Doctor Preston in Coaches shut down hasten to White-hall and there he is proclaimed again with more formalities and the Lord Maior and the City sent to where it was done with much solemnity and great rejoycing of the people for the Prince had that exceeding happinesse to come upon the stage unprejudiced For he had never interposed nor acted but in the Spanish businesse and that succeeded to his great advantage so that if he listed he might have been as popular as ever any were This fall occasions many alterations in the Court the Bishops generally and Doctor Prestons enemies and all that had contended with the Duke were Crest-fallen King James was like enough to have out-lived the Duke of Buckingham who had been very sick since his return from Spain but all is altered and the Duke does all But he had many things to do the affronts received in Madrid and at the Counsel-table by the Agent were to be sent back by a puissant and mighty Navy and Provisions made accordingly King James to be interr'd a Parliament to be summoned the French Lady to be sent for and brought into England which the Duke especially intended and spake to all the Gallants of his Retinue to attend him and to many other of the Gentry and Nobility throughout the Kingdome But he found it hard thus in the morning of the Kings affairs to be abroad there being then a Parliament and the sicknesse much encreasing in the City so he was constrained to employ the Earl of Holland and attend himself at home All were not gratified in this great revolution and mutation of affairs and the discontented Party murmured and let flie at the Duke and the sicknesse much encreasing began to make a mutiny and it was much desired that the Parliament might be prorogued till some other more healthfull and lesse dangerous time But the Navy against the Spaniards and the pressing wants of all sorts that depended on the Court would not permit so it was only adjourned to Oxford yet there the sicknesse was as soon as they and some of their Members smarted for it but hast was made to gratifie the new King and the Provisions for the Navy went forward many men ingaged and the King resolved to attend that businesse as admitting no delay There was one thing that invited Doctor Preston to a journey that year and that was a strong suspition that the plague was in the town in which case there is a liberty to dissolve the Colledge without any detriment unto the Officers and Members of it He was not willing to omit the opportunity because he had many invitations into the West The Bishop of Salisbury he desired to consult withall about a Book of Master Montagues that was commended to him by
affairs but gave peremptory order that his beloved Mariamne should be put to death for this only reason because another should not enjoy so great a beauty So the Duke would not another should enjoy the great abilities of Doctor Preston but was resolved to break him if he could yet in a civil Court way But the Doctor was too knowing not to see this afar off Prov. 22.3 Quae alii levia faciunt diu patiendo ea sapiens diù cogitando and had accordingly provided a succession of reserves wherein to hide himself The first and surest was his conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world If a man be wellcome into his conscience he need not fear the stormes and blusters that he meets abroad In te recedas cum cogeris in turba esse When a man is forced to be where he would not as Peter was foretold he should be Joh. 21.18 yet he may in despite of them retire into himself Paul made it his businesse to have his conscience alwaies void of offence Act. 24.16 and so did Dr. Preston for though his actings being many of them above the common size were not alwaies understood and very often mis-interpreted yet he was innocent and upright alwaies in them An undeniable argument whereof was that he never sued for the least preferment as we have said but studied and often consulted how without breaking he might avoid them And though he lived like himself and gave relief to others yet it was ever of his own as very many yet alive can witness And indeed he was a man of very much Communion and sweet Society with God prayed much in private and by himself besides as Tutor with his Pupils and after as Master in his Family Whatever weakness he was in or business did occur kept many private daies of Fasting by himself especially before the Sacraments and Sabbath-daies and accordingly enjoyed a constant clearnesse and assurance of his Justification and interest in the blood of Christ even then when frailties and infirmities did most of all afflict and wound him He never that I know was troubled or perplexed about Adoption though very often about the imperfection of his graces and the unconstancy of Sanctification so as he studied most exactly that Treatise of the Saints Infirmities and there is nothing in all his works that may more properly be called his His next retreat was Lincolns-Inne for now he said the Duke was Chancellour and would endeavour to ingratiate himself and be a Benefactor and had bought Erpenius Manuscripts and did verily intend to found a Library and so it would be easie and in his power to out him of the Colledge and University For there was a resolution in some of the Fellows to petition the Duke without him and to annul the Statute of continuance or Commoration in the Colledge yet he conceived the Lawyers would pretend a kind of freedom and exemption For he saw when that holy blessed Dr. Sibbs was outed both of Fellowship and Lecture in the University yet by the goodnesse and prudence of Sir Henry Yelverton that constant Patron unto godly Ministers a vertue yet running in the veins of his posterity he was received and retained at Grayes-Inne unto his death therefore he would in no sort leave his title unto and interest in Lincolns-Inne but reserved it in his power unto his dying day But he knew Kings had long hands and that the Dukes were nothing shorter and that Lincolns-Inne though a great deal stronger and better built then Grayes-Inne yet would not hold out long in case the Duke should seriously beleagure it therefore he pondered of removing farther off if need were And having weighed all retreats resolved upon Basil in the Switzers Countrey as a place which the longest handed Kings had seldome touched even when it was a receptacle of their greatest enemies and therefore he resolved in case he could not be free in England to settle there and spend the residue of his surviving dayes in writing what he was not suffered to preach or had not published according to his mind He was naturally very affable and courteous unto strangers of any Countrey and by conversing much with them endeavoured to preserve his knowledge in the French and Italian languages But after he had thus resolved upon Basil he was very friendly to all he Germans that were dispersed from several Universities especially from the Palatinate for whom he procured several sorts of entertainments both in the Countrey abroad and in the University for which as he had very many Gratulatory Epistles from particular persons so one of note from the King of Bohemia under his Hand and Seal But he knew that these were but the Foxes earths that might successively be taken and possessed He therefore also thought upon that unum magnum of the Cat or rather of the Holy Ghost Prov. 18.10 the Name of the Lord that is the goodnesse mercy power of the mighty God where he was well assured he should for ever be free enough from Kings and Dukes Yet these did no way retard his industry in using means Obstructions quicked industrious and active minds but damp and clog the dull There is a Statesman of no mean esteem that writes professedly against the use of Cittadels and Forts because it makes the Souldier lesse resolved in engagements And the Spartans were forbidden to wall their City because it would incourage Cowardise But it did not take off Dr. Preston from his duty For finding that his standing at Court was untermined he resolved upon Buttresses to underprop him in the Countrey There was in the Countrey of Northampton a Gentleman of very able parts and clear affections to the publick good no stranger to the Court in former times nor to the Duke of Buckingham with whom the Doctor used to communicate affairs and who was then a Parliament man of much esteem to him the Doctor in a Letter discovers all shews him the hopelesse posture of the Duke how much they both were disappointed in him layes some directions what to do and urgeth activenesse This Letter by a sad misfortune was let fall by him that was intrusted to convey it about Temple-bar and handed from one to one untill it came to Sir Henry Spillers who having viewed and pondered the contents concluded it was a purchase that would ingratiate him unto the Duke and so immediately presents it to him The Duke was troubled to read his faults and face so shrewdly intimated and presaged His temper was exceeding good and he could mannage his affections many times with much serenity and moderation but now he was quite off and could not think of any thing but a revenge I have not known any thing so trouble and afflict the Doctor as this did that the Duke should have his hand against
hearts of many of which some live here some in glory His Books will prove more durable Monuments of his name then that his Sonne erected for him in Ashby Church And yet his Name with the lively picture of his Person lives in his worthy Son Master Samuel Hildersam whose learning Cambridge knew while he was Fellow of Emanuel Colledge and whose present ministerial labours and pious conversation at West-Felton in Shropshire do perpetuate the honour of his reverend Father whose very memory he doth much reverence and whose rich Vertues both personal and ministerial he doth happily imitate And his good help from his Fathers Papers and other waies hath most conduced to the drawing up of this faithfull relation that God may be glorified and many souls may be edified by this famous example thus presented unto publick view Dr. TAYLOR The Life of Doctor Thomas Taylor sometimes Pastor of Aldermanbury London who died Anno Christi 1632. THomas Taylor was born at Richmond in Yorkshire of worthy and godly Parents His Father was Recorder of that Town and a very Gaius or Onesiphorus to the silenced Ministers of England and to the exiled Ministers of Scotland He brought up divers Sonnes into the Ministry This Sonne of his as the other was of a Child trained up in the holy Scriptures which are able to make wise to salvation Afterward as age came on he was well grounded in other Learning and was sent to Cambridge where he became Fellow of Christs Colledge as one that should do the Lord Christ abundance of good service He was there most painfull and unweariable in the study of Tongues Arts Sciences all sorts of Exercises about them and especially for Divinity which was his Profession One while he was Hebrew Reader to the Colledge Being soon ripe he entred into the Ministry at the age of one and twenty years In Queen Elizabeths time he was called to preach at Pauls Crosse and preached the Sermon in King James his time In the course and work of his Ministry he spent thirty five years with all diligence and painfulnesse even to the very end when by right he might have spared himself living in all sincerity and godly purenesse with entire love of souls with all watchfulnesse with meeknesse wonderfully quickned with zeal He was an utter enemy of Popery Arminianisme Antinomianisme and other Sects which crept up in those times as appeareth partly by his writings Amidst all his pithy Discourses he was also an excellent and nimble Orator and wound up his matter with a good farewell even when at times it was but ordinary And from this course he would scarce suffer himself to be withdrawn at any time to refresh his spirits by a little freedom Yea sometimes when he was drawn forth into the Countrey for recreation by the solicitation of Gods people he escaped not without his usuall burden Or he spent his vacant time in preparing Books for the Presse which were both many and very usefull and will be to posterity who have cause to blesse God who giveth gifts to men and publique mindes that they may profit farre and near both hearers and strangers all debtors to him And men of understanding observed a great Seal put to his Ministry in several places whereto he was called Some converted others confirmed others comforted in the way of God And in these times of division wherein many Professors have turned into by-waies those that were his constant Hearers continue in that way stedfast and unshaken in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Yea at Reding there was a generation of young Preachers who under his Ministry grew up in knowledge and holinesse and some eminency of gifts profiting by him and his pains there and some professe it at this day Perhaps also in the great City of London and at Cambridge Neither was he altogether for the publick but pious in private and not only in the course of his Family but in keeping Fasts among the godly of the place which in those daies was something a dangerous exercise And to make them solid Professors indeed he put them upon a weekly way of handling Chatecheticall points of Divinity that is every week to conferre of one of the heads of Religion according to the Catechisme subjoyned to Mr. Dods Treatise on the Commandments still proving the Doctrines by Testimonies of Scripture For other personall qualifications he was a man full of love alms-deeds and mercifull consideration of the needy though not with a Trumpet And he was a man blest of God with all the blessings of wisdome Prov. 3.16 Length of daies riches and honour He had every where both godly and great Friends and is likely still to have among those that shall converse in his worthy works In that his holy and blessed course he drew on toward his end It was his Clymacterical year of 56. Having over-laboured himself with preaching in the City he betook himself to his Countrey-house at Isleworth to be a little refreshed But having inflamed and corrupted his blood by preaching he soon fell into his mortall disease a Pleurisie for curing whereof though no meanes were wanting yet the desired effect through the Counsel of God followed not In the beginning of his sicknesse he set his house in order most holily and as became so worthy a Father and then bad farewell to all as one throughly prepared for his departure full of Faith and Patience and joy in the holy Ghost a great help in that acute disease Carefull of the welfare of the Church at home then in danger to be corrupted grieved for the evils he knew in some mens dealings Rejoycing greatly in the midst of the apprehension of death for the happy proceedings of the heroicall King of Sweden then victorious in Bavaria And once when he was told he must a little help himself by cheerfulnesse he fell into a most contentfull discourse of those noble deliverances and victories and more would have spoken if weaknesse had permitted But especially his joy in God and in the conquest of Christ Oh said he we serve a good Lord who covers all imperfections and gives great wages for little work and in mercy he hath provided for me some of the greatest With other holy speeches full of faith and joy which his infirmity would not suffer him to utter perfectly In which manner he languished by degrees and at last on the Lords day being the usuall day of his principall labours he was dismissed of all and went to keep a perpetuall Sabbath in heaven where now he resteth from his labours and his works follow him even a full reward in endlesse glory which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive what things those are which God hath prepared for them that love him The Life of Master Hugh Clark who died Anno Christi 1634. HUgh Clark was born at Burton
him sweetly unfolded as may appear by those Sermons now in Print And therefore saith a Reverend Divine the noted humility of the Author I lesse wonder at finding how often his thoughts dwelt upon the humiliation of Christ. As for his Sermons upon Cant. 5. Reverend and holy Mr. Dod upon the perusall of the Manuscript was so taken with them that he professed that he found them so full of heavenly Treasure and containing such lively expressions of the unvaluable riches of the love of Christ towards all his poor servants that sue and seek unto him for it that by his great importunity he prevailed with Dr. Sibs otherwise much undervaluing his own meditations to commit the same to the Presse to which Mr. Dod gave this attestation I saith he judge it altogether unmeet that such precious matter should be concealed from the publick use I judge these Sermons a very profitable and excellent help both to the understanding of that dark and most Divine Scripture as also to kindle in the heart all heavenly affections towards Jesus Christ the whole frame whereof is carried with such Wisdom Gravity Piety Judgment and Experience that it commends it self to all that are godly wise and I doubt not but they shall find their temptations answered their fainting spirits revived their understandings enlightened and their graces confirmed so that they shall have cause to praise God for the worthy Authors godly and painfull labours Indeed he was throughly studied in the holy Scriptures which made him a man of God perfect throughly furnished unto every good work and as became a faithfull Steward of the manifold graces of God he endeavoured to teach to others the whole counsel of God and to store them with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding He was a man that enjoyed much communion with God walking in all the Laws of God blamelesse and like John the Baptist was a burning and shining light wasting and spending himself to enlighten others He was upon all occasions very charitable drawing forth not only his Purse in relieving but his very bowels in commiserating the wants and necessities of the poor Members of Christ. He used sometimes in the summer-time to go abroad to the houses of some worthy Personages where he was an Instrument of much good not only by his private labours but by his prudent counsell and advice that upon every occasion he was ready to minister unto them And thus having done his work on earth he went to receive his wages in heaven peaceably and comfortably resigning up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1631. and of his age 58. The Life of Doctor Chaderton who died Anno Christi 1640. LAurence Chaderton was born of an ancient Family at Chatterton in Lancashire about the year 1546. and his Parents being both Papists they trained him up in that Religion yet bred him to learning and when he came to some maturity of years his Father sent him to the Inns of Court But he being not pleased with that kind of life through the motion of Gods holy Spirit who had a work for him to do in another Calling and place left the Inns of Court and went to Cambridge about the twentieth year of his age and the sixth year of Queen Elizabeth And getting some acquaintance in Christs Colledge it pleased God that the Master and Fellows took such a liking to him for his ingenuity and industry that they admitted him into a poor Scholars place Then did he write to his Father to acquaint him with his present condition and to request some means of maintenance from him But his Father disliking his change of place and studies but especially of Religion sent him a Poke with a groat in it to go a beggâ— withall further signifying to him that he was resolved to disinhâ—â—â—â— him which he also did Yet did the Lord support his spirit to preferre an heavenly before an earthly Inheritance and seeing that he had nothing else to trust to he fell close to his studies and through Gods blessing upon the same he so eminently profited in all sorts of Learning that Anno Christi 1567. being but yet Batchelour of Arts he was chosen Fellow of Christs Colledge Anno Christi 1578. he commenced Batchelour of Divinity and the same year October the 26. he preached a Sermon at Pauls Crosse which he also Printed He was chosen Lecturer at St. Clements Church in Cambridge which place he supplied about the space of sixteen years and by his Holy Learned and judicious Sermons did very much good and was succeeded therein by Mr. Michael Bentley Fellow of Christs Colledge a godly plain and profitable Preacher He was a man famous for Gravity Learning and Religion so that when Sir Walter Mildmay Counsellor of State to Queen Elizabeth Chancellor and under-Treasurer of the Exchequer Founded Emanuel Colledge Anno Christi 1584. he made choice of this man for the first Master and when Master Chaderton shewed himself not willing to undertake that great charge Sir Walter replied saying If you will not be the Master I will not be the Founder of it In the beginning of King James his reign he was one of the four Divines for the Conference at Hampton Court chosen by the Ministers that desired a Reformation in the Church Government and for his Learning and sufficiency was the same year chosen to be one of the Translators of the Bible Anno Christi 1612. when the Prince Elector Palatine came to visit Cambridge he would needs have Mr. Chaderton commence Doctor of Divinity which accordingly he did He deserved very well of Emanuel Colledge for whereas the Founder gave allowance for the maintenance of three Fellows only together with the Advouson of Stranground Rectory in Huntingtonshire near Peterburrough Dr. Chaderton procured by his friends and acquaintance allowance for twelve Fellows and above fourty Scholars of the House besides the Advousons of Auler and Northcudberry Rectories as also of the Vicaridge of Dulverton in Summersetshire Piddle-Hinton in Dorcetshire and Loughburrough in Leicestershire of the Noble Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington which Noble man was a great friend to godly Ministers After he was Master of Emanuel his manner was not to suffer any young Scholars to go into the Countrey to Preach till he had heard them first in the Colledge Chappel All his younger daies he used to expound a portion of Scripture twice a week in his Family He was married fifty three years and yet in all that time he never kept any of his Servants from Church to dresse his meat saying that he desired as much to have his servants know God as himself If at any time he had a Servant upon triall though they could do as much work as three others yet if they were given to lying or any other vice he would by no means suffer them to dwell in his house Towards his
all his life-long very apprehensive and sensible of the weightinesse of the Ministers Calling saying That no man should dream of ease in that Function and would often much bewail before the Lord in Prayer his own inconsiderate entrance upon it A Friend being weary of teaching School and acquainting him with his purpose to enter into the Ministry Master Ball told him That he would find it a far heavier task to teach men then boys And a Fellow-Minister telling him of his danger to be silenced by the Bishop he returned this answer him· Having experimentally poysed the weight of the Ministers work he would say unto his Non-conforming Brethren when Prelatical persecution threatned to drive him out of England If we be necessitated to transplant our selves you shall preach and I will teach School And alwaies when other Ministers were in company he would endeavour earnestly to put them upon the performance of Family-duties as judging them to be better able then himself Such who knew this mans learning of all kinds and rich ministerial gifts will admire upon the consideration of these passages at the forwardnesse of illiterate Mecanicks in these times to intrude upon the Ministers Office And whereas the blessed Apostle himself cryed out Who is sufficient for these things we may do more then guesse what spirit animateth those men whose practises speak thus Who is insufficient for these things He did lay to heart the want of labourious learning amongst godly Ministers because so many neglected to acquaint themselves throughly with the controversies of the times and he thought that positive Divinity might be best gained by the study of controversie when the main Principles were first well drunk in He would say that a subtill Jesuite would make wilde work in many places of England because neither the people nor their Ministers had sufficient insight into the points of difference betwixt us and the Papists Now what other errors no whit lesse dangerous have for the same reasons been entertained of late years as he foresaw and feared it is too notorious Although he himself was much pleased with sober profitable disputations yet he would shrink with trouble upon the appearance of their audacity who dared to question Fundamentals in Religion or to speak slightly of the matters of God Once observing a man in the heat of conference carried beyond the bounds of modest inquiry after the truth he used these words with holy admiration And whither will the love of arguing carry a man He compared many Professors of late times unto young Travellors who so soon as they are mounted begin to gallop and do out-ride their fellows but they either fall short or come late if not lame home And he called the waies of separation a Labyrinth wherein men tire themselves and grow giddy as in a maze but when all is done there is no way out but that whereby they entred He made it his businesse to raise and maintain high and honourable thoughts of God at all times as himself would alwaies speak of the titles of the Almighty with much gravity and reverence endeavouring to draw forth holy thankfulnesse in all conditions of life Here two or three things shall be touched upon to give a tast of this good mans gracious spirit He with a Neighbour Minister having occasion to meet at a place where they had only bread and cheese to their dinner the Master of the house expressing trouble that he had no better provision for so good unexpected guests Hereupon he said that it would cost a man many years labour to be truly and througly thankfull unto God for one piece of bread and cheese proceeding to discover most divinely the many mercies which were to be acknowledged in that meal and meeting And whereas at that time Rochal was besieged and the inhabitants were in great distresse through want of food he moved a serious consideration how much bread and cheese with peace and fellowship would be valued at Rochel yea he seriously made his demand whether their obligations at the present place and meeting were not much greater because they in their instant enjoyments had not experienced Rochels fears and sorrows At another time a dear Friend relating his great danger by a fall off his horse in a journey and saying that he never had received such a deliverance Master Ball answered Yea an hundred times viz. so often as you have ridden and not fallen because the preventing of perils is to be prized as much as our rescuing out of them At a Marriage-feast where Christian Friends were civilly rejoycing in the good occasion of their meeting the many good blessings provided for their comfort and in their mutual society this speech came from him with much gravity One thought of Jesus Christ reaching the heart is more to be valued then all Creature-contentments whatsoever though they should be enjoyed in their fulnesse for a thausand years without interruption That he might keep Gods servants of the lowest parts alwaies high in his own estimation he would wisely weigh their peculiar serviceablenesse in some kind or other though they were inferiours in sundry excellencies Hereupon when one admiring worthy Master Dods holy conversation said Oh how well would it be if all Ministers were like unto him Master Ball answered The Church would be quite undone if all others were like him For though no man more honoured Master Dod which not many years before his death he witnessed by listening unto his fatherly counsell bare-headed with his hat in his hand yet he knew that other men much inferiour in graces had some special way of advantage to the cause and the people of God He was a zealous opposite to passionate frowardnesse observing the lamentable fruits thereof in many persons and relations and he had an extraordinary dexterity to calm them who were boisterous He would thus advise them Put judgment into Office for Affections are good followers but bad guides Look well to your hearts for Passion is the effect of pride And he would say unto them You had need to get a strong bit and bridle for you ride an unruly horse Observing one bitterly to bewail the death of a dear Friend he said Rather labour to get good by it He was wont to humble passionate Professors who in their heat would speak unadvisedly by this position which he would undertake to prove viz. That a moral heathen who never heard of Christ might possiby by watchfulnesse secure himsel from uttering one froward word all his life long And therefore it was a great shame for Christians to be worse who had more grace and greater helps to suppresse sinne This was one parcell of good counsell which he commonly bestowed in all cases Inform judgment Set Faith on work Be of good courage As he used to be large in his Prayers in behalf of the Church of God according to the peculiar concernments thereof both at
The Presbyterians Champion yet he hath raised up other Worthies who do strenuously gain-say those extravagancies When his nature was enfeebled by constant study and great long-continued labours he passed the time of his languishing sicknesse with a sweet humble divine peaceable spirit He preached in publique so long as bodily ability could bear it and he continued to pray in his Family till strength failed Now his addresses to God were most holy and heavenly as Swan-like Songs the sweetest at last Though he spake not very much during his bodily decays yet the words which he used were solid and savoury Being asked what he thought of himself whether he should now die or recover he answered I do not trouble my self about that matter He often bewailed the infirmities of his life and in special now as at former times his inconsiderate entring upon the weighty Calling of the Ministry but he manifested withall an holy child-like confidence in Christ still strengthening his heart after his humble mourning for sinne with this consideration that the Scripture mentioneth weaknesses in the choicest Saints which were neither totall hinderances to the exercise of their faith in Christ nor to their salvation through grace This question being propounded to him what he now thought concerning his labours part whereof were then printed against the present separation in England He answered that though he had been weary of those controversies which hindered his going on in more profitable studies yet he did not repent of that which he had done only he desired God to pardon the defects which had cleaved unto that and his other services When any mention was made before him of his great labours to do good he would say and this was a speech which he much used If the Lord were not a God pardoning sinnes I was in a miserable condition And however he did say with tears that he had too much respect amongst men and that many judged that to be in him which was not such was his humility yet friends expressing ardent desires of his health for service sake he told them that he could have been content to have lived longer if the Lord had been pleased that he might been further usefull in his place and have born his share in sufferings with his Brethren For he expected a very sparp storm though he hoped it would be but short And he called it The last combate which we should have with Antichrist When towards his end he was asked how he did he would thus answer with a cheerfull contenance Going to heaven apace And as his conversation had for many years been in heaven the Lord who had ripened him for immediate Commu-with himself took him unto himself Octob. 20. 1640. and of his age about 55. The materials of this Narrative concerning the pious fruitfull life of that faithfull Servant of Christ Master John Ball were received from these Ministers of the Gospel and men of known integrity viz. Master John Taylor of Checkley in Staffordshire who was his Countrey-man and of his most ancient acquaintance Master Thomas Langley of Middlewich in Cheshire who besides his former intimatenesse continued under his Ministry above five years he being taken off from the exercise of his own Ministry by Episcopal power Master Simeon Ashe of St. Austins London who for the space of many years had been his bosome Friend and from Master George Crosse of Clifton in Staffordshre who daily conversed with him for sundry moneths both before and in the time of his last sicknesse who all of them do acknowledge themselves obliged to God for the spiritual good gained by this their dearly respected and much honoured Friend and Brother who since his death have been very sensible of their great losse by his removall But they and all others must learn to live upon Divine-immutable-All-sufficiency when creatures do fail Now the Just shall live by his Faith The Life of Doctor Potter who died Anno Christi 1642. BArnaby Pottor was born in Westmerland Anno Christi 1578. within the Baronry of Kendal and brought up at School there till he was fitted for the University Thence he was sent to Queens Colledge in Oxford where he was chosen first a Scholar of the House then a Fellow and afterward Provost Whilest he was Fellow he was a very carefull Tutor to many worthy Gentlemens sons whom he trained up in Learning but especially in true Religion He was a very humble and meek man a man of few words a sweet Preacher and a favourer of strict Professors of Religion It was the fashion and custom of the Fellows after dinner to sit or stand a while at the Hall door and discourse usually of divers points of Religion or of good Writers and sometimes of other trivial matters This man on a certain time when he heard them talk of many trivial things said nothing but observed what they said and when they had done talking he thus bespake them Now my Masters will you hear all your extravagant discourses for I have strictly observed and marked what you said and he told them every whit and they admired him for his memory It was his custom first to write one part of his Sermon and to commit it to memory presently and then another so that he could preach with much facility and upon a little warning He was for a while Lecturer at Abington and at Totnesse in Devonshire where he was much respected Then he proceeded Doctor in Divinity and was preferred by Sir Edward Giles to a Pastoral Charge which Knight was a worthy Gentleman in his Countrey and often chosen a Parliament man for Devon Doctor Potter married the Lady Giles her daughter when he was Doctor but of a years standing Not long after Doctor Ayray a worthy Provost of Qeens Colledge died whereupon he was chosen to succeed him in the Provostship with the unanimous consent of the Fellows when he was far from the University and never dreamed of any such preferment He was also Chaplain in ordinary to Prince Charles and accounted at the Court the penetential Preacher When he had been Provost about the space of ten years he resigned his place and went to his Pastoral charge in the Countrey and there resided yet he had not been there long but King Charles his Master cast a favourable aspect upon him and seeing he had not rewarded him for his long and faithfull service he chose him to be Bishop of Carlisle and though many sued for the place yet he said peremptorily that none but Potter should have it and surely his gracious Master honoured not him so much as he did himself and that age in the freedom of his noble and unexpected choice That which Nazianzen said of Basil may be fitly and properly said of this Bishop He was promoted he did not steal or shuffle himself into the chair he did not invade it the honour sought and followed him
in the afternoon and kept a Lecture on the Wednesday constantly and besides this he was one of the five Ministers who held up the Lecture at Banbury He gave himself much to Fasting and Prayer and as his seeds-time was painfull so his Harvest was gainfull hundreds of souls being converted by his Ministry He was given to Hospitality delighting therein keeping a constant Table on the Sabbath and on the Wednesdays Lecture upon which daies he had not under eight or twelve persons commonly dining with him and he spent the time amongst them in spiritual exhortation and conference He was about thirty years old when he came to Hanwel and continued there above twenty years where he had twelve Children by his dear Wife formerly Anne Bound Daughter-in-law to the worthy Servant of Jesus Christ Master Greenham of Draighton near Cambridge and Daughter to Doctor Bound she was one that truly feared God and after her decease by the perswasion of some Friends he took to Wife Mistresse Cleiton who then lived at Stratford Bowe she also was a godly woman and he was contracted to her by Master Egerton of Black-Fryers and married by his ancient and loving Friend Doctor Gouge But to return back again to Hanwel it pleased the Lord to give a great blessing to his Ministry in that place yet he had much trouble from the envy of some Ministers that lived about him who though they seldome preached themselves yet they would not suffer that their people should go from them and hence he was frequently questioned in the Bishops Courts And besides this though some of Hanwel were very courteous and kind yet there were some others who were glad to get from him what they could and to keep from him what they could thinking that that which he had was too much Upon a time Master Dod took a journey to Draighton to bemoan himself to his Father-in-law Master Greenham by reason of his crosses and hard usage Master Greenham heard him what he could say and when he had done answered him thus Son Son when affliction lieth heavy sin lieth light This deserves the rather to be remembred because Master Dod used often to blesse God for it saying also that if Master Greenham had bemoaned him which he expected he had done him hurt and he forgot not this speech in his old age but made excellent use of it for himself and others He was suspended from his Ministry at Hanwel by Doctor Bridges Bishop of Oxford And suspecting what would follow the Sabbath before he went to the Visitation he gave his hearers a farewell Sermon out of that text I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered the people did attend unto him with sad countenances and weeping eyes Being thus driven from Hanwel he preached at Fenni-Compton in Warwickshire where he had but small means but he was desirous to be doing good From thence he had a fair call unto Cannons-Ashby in Northamptonshire where he lived quietly divers years preached over the whole Prophesie of Danel with some other Scriptures having much kindnesse from Sir Erasmas Dryden in whom there was a rare mixture of Piety and Learning and good affection from Master Cope He was silenced from preaching at Ashby upon a complaint made against him by Bishop Neal to King James who commanded the Arch-bishop Abbot to silence him Then he ceased for some time to preach publiquely yet in regard of his heavenly gift in conference he might have been said daily to preach privately he was in his element when he was discoursing of heavenly things And God in goodnesse so ordered it that when he was restrained from publique preaching yet himself conceived that at that time his life was no lesse profitable then it had been in former times He had much employment in comforting such as were wounded in their spirits being sent for not only nigh at hand but also into remote Countries There was a Gentlewoman who had a great worldly estate and a loving Husband but she was so sadly assaulted with tentations that she often attempted to make away her self Master Dod was sent for to come to her and the Lord so blessed his Councels Exhortations and Prayers that she did not only recover out of her anguish of spirit but she was afterwards taken notice of for her singular Piety and the Lord so ordered that this affliction was not only the means of her Conversion but also of her Husbands so that both of them were a great mercy in the Countrey where they lived promoting Religion according to their power and entertaining and cherishing godly people She lived divers years quieted in her heart and being rich in good works and when she lay on her death-bed Master Dod was sent for to her again who spake of heaven and to fit her for that glory she told him that she felt the comforts of God and that she could as hardly at that time forbear singing as formerly in child-bearing she could forbear crying and shortly after she died There was a Gentlemen related to a noble Family so perplexed in his mind that he hath been known in hard frosts to go barefooted that the pain of his feet might divert his thoughts Master Dod was sent for to him who was his spirituall Physician to heale him It would be long to insist on all particulars of this nature the Lord having made him a happy Instrument for the good of many When he had spent some years in this kind of service by the care and industry of Master Richard Knightley of Preston a worthy Patriot after the death of King James his liberty was procured for preaching again publiquely and then he was setld at Fausley where he preached twice every Lords day There he went over the Gospel of John the Epistle to the Colossions and other Scriptures He was much given to Hospitality at Fausley as he had formerly been at Hanwel so that there was scarce any Sabbath in the year in which he did not dine both poor and rich commonly three or four poor persons besides those that came from other places to hear him He had so large an heart that upon occasion he hath given to some three shillings to some ten shillings to some twenty shillings and when the poor came to buy butter or cheese he would command his maid to take no money of them At Fausley he had quietnesse from the Courts as also at Ashby for in neither of those places was there any Church-wardens He was beholding at Fausley to the Right Worshipfull Family of the Knightleys where his bones was laid He used to bear crosses with much patience and meeknesse being wont to say that Sanctified afflictions were great promotions quoting that of the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. is much more precious then gold which he conceived to signifie the affliction that
that thereupon the Queen Mother commanded the Prince of Conde to be set at liberty And a few daies after the Admirall assaulted Boience and at last took the Town though with some losse of his men About this very time the Admirals eldest Son called Gaspar being a youth of nine years old but of admirable towardnesse fell sick and died at Orleance which was an exceeding great grief to his Father In the mean time the Guises perceiving that they were forsaken by the greatest part of France which now adheared to and assisted Conde they resolved to call in forraign helps and thereupon sending much Money into Swisserland and Germany they hired from the former Foot and from the latter Horse to come in to their aid which the Admirall used often to say was a plain demonstration of their treacherous and hostile minds against France and therefore that he might not be wanting to himself and Friends who had committed so great a trust to him he resolved to oppose Forraign by Forraign forces And for this end he sent his Brother Andelot to the Protestant Princes in Germany of whose good will to the French Churches he had good assurance requesting aid from them who accordingly within three moneths space sent him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot into France Whilst these things were transacting intelligence was given to the Admirall that some Cannons and a great quantity of Gunpowder was carrying to the Duke of Guise who now besieged Biturg guarded with six Troops of Horse and some Foot Hereupon the Admirall taking some Horse with him by long journeys hastened to meet the Convoy and coming up to them they scarce stood the first shock but throwing away their Arms fled and left the Booty to the Admirall who wanting Horses to draw them away by over-charging the Guns brake them and blew up the Gunpowder and so returned to his Camp Andelot returning out of Germany brought with him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot so that the Prince of Conde having a good Army of French and Germans hasted to Paris which the Guises hearing of intended to meet him having gotten a Regiment of Swissers in whom they put most confidence and so the two Armies meeting a Battell was fought but with a doubtfull event for on the one side the Constable was taken prisoner by one Will. Steward a valiant Scots man and on the other side the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner which made many of his Foot to throw away their Arms and fly But the Admirall rallying the Horse and encouraging them to prefer their Religion Country and honour befor their lives he valiantly charged the Guisians in which medly he slew Marshall St. Andrew a potent man at Court and Prossaeus Collonel to the Duke of Guise and divers other Noble men The fight being ended the Admirall carried the Constable to Orleance where he made his abode for a while But shortly after came the Duke of Guise to besiege the City whereupon the Admirall leaving his Brother Andelot for the defence of it flies into Normandy and there besieged the Castle of Cadonius where the Marquesse of Elboeve one of the D. of Lorrains Brothers was and within a few daies had it with all the Arms and Ammunition surrendred to him About this time there was one John Poltrot a young man of a Noble Family in the Army of the Duke of Guise who having embraced the Reformed Religion and served for some moneths under the Prince of Conde took up privately with himself a resolution to kill the D. of Guise as a publique enemy to his Countrey and a cause of all the present calamities And said he If I had been bound to him by any oaths I must not have been perfidious but being free why should I not venture as Scaevola did for my Countries safety With this resolution he went to the Duke of Guises Camp and watching his opportunity shot him into the shoulder of which wound he died within a few daies after The very same day in the morning the Duke of Guise being ready to give an assault to Orleance wrote to the Queen Mother that within twenty four hours he would send her word of the taking of that City and that he would make the day very memorable by sparing neither sex nor age and that after he had kept his Shrovetide there he would extinguish the memory of the Town by utter subverting of it But man knows not his destiny nor what shall happen to him for that the same evening he was slain as you heard before Presently after which a Peace was concluded and the Edict renued for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion through all France as formerly Not many moneths after the Admirall being sent for to Court by the Queen Mother the Widow of the Duke of Guise comes in and falls down at the Kings feet crying out with many tears for revenge for her Husbands death charging the Admirall as the contriver and author of it The Admirall apprehending that this was but the device of others which set her on to seek his destruction by fraud which they could not effect by War before the King and all the Councel he clears himself shewing that Poltrot had at his death professed that he was set on by none but God neither did he doubt but that he had done God good service in it and freed his Countrey from a Tyrant that raged and thirsted after Christian blood and therefore he was not sorry for what he had done c. He also desired that if they questioned the death of the Duke of Guise he might have leave also to put in a Charge against him for that he doubted not but that he could easily prove the Duke of Guise guilty of murthering wickedly the Kings Subjects and of violating all the sacred Laws and Decrees of the King of taking up arms of his own head without Authority and thereby making himself guilty of Treason and of kindling those flames in France which had continued about thirteen moneths Notwithstanding this resolute speech of the Admirall his enemies ceased not for some years still to call upon the King for justice against him whereupon the King at last appointed a Convention of all the Peers of the Kingdom at the City of Molincum whither also he called his chiefest Senators and Counsellours commanding the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Widow of the Duke of Guise to produce what proofs they could and the Admirall to defend himself against them When both parties had pleaded their Cause the King told them that he had referred the judgment to his Counsellors and therefore asked them if they had any exceptions against any of them they answered No. Then he asked them if they would refer the determination of their Cause to him and would stand to his judgment They answered that they would willingly so do Whereupon Jan. 29. Anno
c. Having dispatched these things he resolved to march to Vivaret and to the bank of Rhodanus and understanding that some were up in Arms for him in the Delphinate who also had taken some Towns he sent part of his forces to them to assist them in taking in some Cities of greater consequence committing the government of them to Count Lodwick of Nassaw who arriving in the Delphinate struck such a terrour into the Inhabitants as caused them to fly into the Cities but he having no Guns for battery only wasted the enemies Countrey and so with honour returned within few daies to the Admirall Shortly after the Admirall worn out with cares watchings and incessant labours fell sick and though he was greatly afflicted with his disease yet conceiving that it was of great concernment for him to get to the River Liger he made no stay but in his Horselitter marched with his Army thitherward for he was informed that about La Charity and Sancerra there were about two hundred risen in Arms for him whom he thought to be of great concernment to adjoyn to his Army the rather because Cossaeus Marshall of the Kingdom after the Battell in Xantone by the King made Generall of the Army in the room of the Duke of Anjou as he understood advanced with his Army that way and began to approach near him And whereas there came a Trumpet from him to the Admirall about exchange of Prisoners the Admirall sent him word by his Trumpet that he should not need to be at so much pains to seek him for that he himself was hasting towards him so fast as he could When he was advanced so far as the Forrest behold new Ambassadors met him from the King about a Peace for when the Courtiers heard that the Admirall whom they thought to be utterly broken by his former overthrow had in so short a time gotten so gallant an Army together again they were extreamly terrified lest he should march directly towards Paris and there should plunder and destroy the brave Countrey Houses of the Courtiers Senators and rich Citizens of Paris the like whereunto they had heard that the Senators and Citizens of Tholouse had already felt The Admirall by his march though in his Horselitter had his disease much increased upon him and the Physicians gave their judgment that if he continued still to be pressed with so great cares and multiplicity of businesses he could not hold out long whereupon the Treaty with the Kings Ambassadours brake off for a time but some Nobles that were aweary of the Warres complained that there was no reason that the Treaty should cease because the Admirall could not be present at it affirming that though he should die yet there were men enough of honour and interest that could carry on the Treaty to the establishing of Peace The Ambassadors tnswered them We wonder thrt you do not consider of how great authority the Admirall is amongst you who if he should die to day we would not offer to any of you tomorrow so much as a cup of cold water What do you not yet know that the only name of the Admirall can prevail more for you then a great Army without him Within a few daies the Admirall being refreshed and in a good measure recovered the Treaty began again and at last it was concluded That certain Commissioners should go along with the Kings Ambassadours to signifie to his Majesty in the name of them all That they of the Religion desired nothing more then Peace neither was any thing more grievous to them then Warre yet was there none of them but would undergo greater miseries yea and death it self rather then to deny the truth which they had embraced That if the King pleased to grant them Peace and the exercise of their Religion upon the former conditions and to put some cautionary Towns into their power for their security they would willingly and for ever lay down their Arms. These Messengers being dispatched the Admirall advanced forward and in his way took in the Town of Reneducium to which some of the Vantcurriers of Cossaeus were come and from that day forwards there was no day passed without some skirmishes between the two Armies and one day the minds of the Souldiers on both parts were so far inflamed that it had near come to a generall Battell there being only a little Brook between the two Armies Monsieur Mongomry having already broken the first Battell of the adversaries wherein were Valetius and Vasco men of great authority amongst the Royalists But presently came new Messengers from the King desiring a cessation from arms till the Treaty was finished and after great debate an Edict was sent from the King by which certain places were allotted to the Protestants for the exercise of their Religion in for the performance whereof they had for two years four cautionary Towns put into their hands viz. Rochel Montalban Cognac and Charity and the Kings Proclamations hereof were sent all over the Kingdom and so an en end was put to the third Civil Warres The Admirall bringing the German Forces to the borders of their Countrey dismissed them courteously and so taking the two young Princes of Navarr and Conde he went with them to Rochel where the Queen of Navarr was purposing to stay there till the Peace was fully setled in every place and after a few Moneths trusting to the Kings promises and to the oaths of the Kings Brethren and Parliaments having been tired out with so many and great labours he betook himself to rest and at the intreaties and perswasions of his Friends inclined to dispose of himself again in Marriage the rather because he was earnestly solicited thereto by the kindred of Jacoba Monbella the widow of the L. Anthony Monbell who was Daughter of Count Intermontanus of whose modesty piety and wholly life he had heard much formerly She therefore being brought honourably to him to Rochel he solemnly married her and not long after he disposed his own Daughter Ludovica in Marriage to Monsieur Teligni a young man of great Nobility and vertue Of all the Nobility of France none seemed more acceptable and dearer to the King then this Teligni by reason of his admirall ingenuity and therefore being much about the King it was he that did afterwards perswade the Admirall of the great esteem and hearty good will of the King towards him But God quickly mixed sorrow with the joy of these Marriages news being brought about that time of the death of Odet Coligni Cardinall of Chattillion who had been some time in the Court of England as the Procurator for the cause of the Protestants with Queen Elizabeth who much favoured him for the amplitude of his Family and the opinion of his vertue and integrity But the Protestants affairs being composed in France his Brother Gaspar sent for him Whereupon coming to Queen Elizabeth he obtained leave for his departure
of Spain which the King made such use of that the Admirall thence collected arguments of his greater good will towards him That they must use such artifices whilst they expected an opportunity to effect what was resolved on That the King of Spain was throughly acquainted with all these proceedings that so he might suspect nothing by reason of those great preparations which were made for Warre for he was assured that this was done upon good grounds as subservient to the principal end That therefore he desired the Cardinall that whatsoever he had heard or should hear hereafter yet he should assure himself that the King would never depart from his first purpose and that whatsoever he did did but conduce to hasten the end of their Counsels and that both the King Queen-Mother and the Duke of Anjou were all very solicitous for this thing and that as soon as ever the businesse should be effected they would instantly send away Messengers to acquaint Lorraine with it And as for the businesse of the Prince of Navarrs marriage they hoped that it would quickly be effected for this was ro begin all their future designs c. He that sent these Letters to the Admirall hoped that he would have been warned by them to look to himself and his affairs but he had such a strong confidence of the Kings love and good will towards him which also was daily nourished in him by his Son-in-law Teligni that he which was most provident and sharp-sighted in all others businesses was fatally blind in this In the beginning of May 1571. the King desired the Queen of Navarr to go to Paris to provide all things necessary for the marriage where she arrived the fifteenth day of the same moneth and the fourth day of June she fell sick of a feavour whereof she died five daies after to the extream grief and sorrow of all her Servants and Friends Two daies before her death being in perfect memory she made a most Christian Testament and last Will finishing her course with singular piety and joy in God She was a Princesse of great experience by reason of her manifold adversities in all which she shewed an invincible constancy and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her Religion very carefull of the education of her children training them up in the fear of God In her words most grave and full of motherly affections to them She had a ready and well advised wit was pitifull and easie to be intreated constantly maintained that which she judged to be good and agreeable to the will and good pleasure of God She had a great vivacity of spirit whereby she was able to comprehend all her affairs and had a lively grace in representing them either by word or writing She died June 9. 1572. and of her age 44. It was believed that she was poysoned by the smell of certain perfumes the Doctors and Chyrurgions which opened her were commanded not to open her brain where the mischief lay and therefore could not determine about the cause of her death The Admirrll in this time was at his house aa Castallion where he received many Letters and Messages from the King to come to him and because he stirred not the King sent Cavagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him that they might come to a conclusion about the Warres in Flanders and special commandment was given to the Provost of Merchants and other chief men that at the Admirals coming to Paris there should be no affronts done him About the same time the Admirall had many advertisements from his Friends both within and without the Realm that though he could not conceive any sinister opinion of the King his Mother or Brother that yet at least he would consider into what place he was about to thrust himself amongst so many implacable enemies But he resting upon the testimony of a good conscience and the providence of God rejected all those counsels as proceeding from mens covetousnesse or desire of new troubles which he abhorred worse then death and therefore taking a small train with him he went to Paris and was very honourably intertained by the King Queen-Mother the Kings Brethren and others to the great astonishment of the whole City At the Admirals coming to Paris amongst other Letters that were brought to him there was one that gave him these warnings Remember the Popish Maxime confirmed by the Authority of Councils That faith is not to be kept with Hereticks in which number the Protestants are accounted Remember the implacable spirits of the Papists at this time irritated by the last Warres There is no doubt but it is the fixed purpose of the Queen-Mother to destroy the Protestants by any means whatsoever Consider that she is an Italian of a most crafty wit born of the Progeny of Popes who contrives all extream things against her enemies Remember in what School the King hath been brought up from his childhood how he hath been taught to swear and forswear To pollute himself with whoredomes and adulteries To compose his countenance To counterfeit Faith and Religion How he hath been accustomed to cruelty and bloodshed How he hath been taught not to suffer above one Religion in his Kingdom How it hath been whispered into his ears That the Protestants seek to dispoil him of his life and Kingdom That he is not bound to keep Covenants made with armed Subjects That he is taught the Mysteries of State Policy Remember that Commodus caused Julianus to be slain whom he pretended to honour and imbrace as a Father That Antoninus Caracalla under the pretence of a Muster caused all the chief youths of the City to be slain That Lysander under the pretence of friendship commanded the throats of four hundred Milesians to be cut That lately Atonius Spinola invited all the chief men of Corsica to a Banquet where they were all slain That Christian King of Denmark used the same art to commit that horrid massacre at Stockholme c. That the Kings speech to his Mother at Blois was no secret when swearing fearfully he asked her whether he had not carried himself well at the coming of the Queen of Navarr To whom she answered That he had begun well but that would profit little unlesse he went on But I quoth he swearing often will bring them all into the net Wherefore if you be wise haste both out of the Court and City with all speed as out of a most impure sink The Admirall having read this Letter though he were offended yet lest he should seem to neglect the prayers and warnings of his Friends he returned this answer That there was no place left any longer for these suspitions That he was verily perswaded that so great perfidiousnesse could not enter into the heart of so good a King That indeed the Duke of Anjou was more estranged from the Protestants but that hatred would by degrees cease by
benefit of night some escaped By this time Cossen with some Swissers of the Duke of Anjou's guard had removed the chests and were come up the stairs One Beheme a German was the first that entred the chamber who seeing the Admirall sitting there said Are not you the Admirall I am quoth he but you young man should have regard to my hoary head and old age But Beheme exchanging no more words struck him with his Sword and first embrued himself in the Admirals blood then Cossen Atinius and the rest followed and slew him with many wounds This Atinius reported afterwards that he never saw a man in so present a danger to have born out death with so great a constancy Then did the Duke of Guise from below ask if the businesse were done answer was made that it was But said he the Duke of Engolisme will not believe it except he see him himself therefore cast down his body out at the window with that they hurled it down headlong into the Court all defiled with gore blood whereupon the bastard of Engolisme wiping the blood from his face with his handkerchief and thereby knowing him kicked him in a scornfull manner Some say it was the Duke of Guise that did it Then one of the Duke of Nevers servants cut off his head and carried it to the King and Queen-Mother who caused it to be embalmed and sent it as a present to the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorrain to assure them of the death of their capitall enemy The people fell upon his Corps as mad men one cuts off his hands another his feet another his privy members and for three daies space drag his poor carcasse about the streets with all indignity Then some boyes would have thrown it into the River Seine but others dragged it to the gallows at Mountfaucon where they hung it up by the thighs and the shoulders downward but within few daies Francis Monmorency who had seasonably withdrawn himself from the danger caused some trusty persons to take it down by night and bury it in the Chappell at Contilia This was the end of this brave man who was the very first Noble man in all France that durst professe himself a Protestant and a helper of them He was marvellous zealous in performance of the exercises of Religion He used to rise very early and then putting on his night-gown and calling his Servants about him he went to prayer with them Then he set time apart to hear the Deputies of the Churches which were sent to him or for such like publique businesses Each other day in the forenoon he had a Sermon preached before him after which he returned to his businesse till dinner which being ready his Servants came in and there the Admirall standing by the Table and his Wife by his side one of David's Psalms were sung and a blessing craved upon the meat which course he did not only observe at his own house but every day in his Camp without intermission When the cloth was taken away he presently arose and standing with his Wife by him either himself or his Chaplain returned thanks At supper-time the same was done both with Prayers and Psalms And because he found it difficult to get all his Servants together at bed-time in regard of their various employments he caused them all to come in presently after supper where after a Psalm he went to prayer with them By this his excellent example very many of the French Nobility were enduced and encouraged to use the same discipline in their Families the Admirall often admonishing them that if they would embrace godlinesse in the life and power of it it was not enough for the Master of the Family to hear Sermons and to order his life in an holy and religious manner unlesse by his authority and example he brought all his houshold to joyn with him in the same When the time for receiving the Lords Supper approached he used to call his Friends and all his Family to him and shewed them that he must render an account to God for them as well as for himself If any discord was between them he reconciled it If any were ignorant he took care that they should be better instructed If any were obstinate he plainly gave them notice that it was better for them to remain at their own homes then for him to maintain such ungodly persons in his retinue He alwaies esteemed the carefull education of Children in good Schools a singular benefit of God and he called it the Seminary of the Church saying that ignorance of good letters was the cause of errour both in Church and State and that Popery crept in and kept in by that means Hereupon he erected a fair School at Chattilion under his Castle in a pleasant and wholesome place and bestowed great cost on it where he maintained Learned Interpreters of the Hebrew Greek and Latine tongues he maintained also many poor boyes and young men in that School He was modest and moderate in his desires after the world for though he had great Honours and Offices conferred upon him whereby he might much have enriched himself yet he added not so much as one Lordship or plough-land to the Inheritance left him by his Fathers He husbanded his estate and houshold affairs frugally yet having very many Noblemen and Gentlemen that resorted to him upon publique business he gave them free and hearty entertainment whereby he spent all that he saved at other times by his frugality Yea his extraordinary expences were so great that he left his Heir in debt no lesse then fourty thousand Crowns paying to his creditors yearly use-money no less then six thousand Crowns There was such incredible love and concord betwixt him and his two Brethren that all three seemed but to have one mind betwixt them He lived fifty three years six moneths and eight daies and was slain Aug. 24. 1572. He was of a middle stature of a ruddy colour his members equall and well compacted of a mild and cheerfull countenance of a small and pleasant voice yet somewhat slow and gentle of a healthy constitution of a comely gate and gesture abstemious in the use of Wine of a moderate diet and sleep for he never used to sleep above seven hours at the most After the Edict for Pacification he suffered no day to passe but before he went to bed he set down the things in his journall which fell out in the Civil Warres and were of any moment which being found after his death was carried to the King and admired by his very adversaries who thereby saw his quiet constant and composed mind in the midst of his greatest businesses When the Warre was finished and he was retired to Rochel no day passed over his head wherein he did not morning and evening read over one of Calvin's Sermons upon Job which History he used to call
of all your sins by the shedding of his blood for you Yea said she I do believing that he is my only Saviour and Mediatour and I look for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sins of all his people and therefore I am assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promise in him will have mercy upon me During all the time of her sicknesse she ceased not to continue in such fruitfull and comfortable communications sometimes intermixing them with most affectionate sighs to God as a testimony of that hope and desire she had of enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to the felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised to bestow upon me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by words only but by her constant and cheerfull countenance so farre forth as the vehemency of her disease would suffer thereby giving a clear testimony to all that beheld her that the fear of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith The Minister also went often to prayer with her the usual tenor whereof was this which follows O Lord our God We confesse here before thy Divine Majesty that we are altogether unworthy of thine infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre from deserving to be heard of thee in our requests that we are rather worthy that thou shouldst reject both our persons and our prayers But seeing it hath pleased thee to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beseech thee freely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousness of thy dear Son that through him our selves and our services may be well pleasing unto thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out to us by thine hand who art a most just Judge in regard that we have every way provoked thee to wrath by our infinite sinnings against thee yea by our rebellions which now testifie against us For alas Lord our life hath been no way answerable to that perfect obedience which thou by thy holy Law dost justly require at our hands which we from day to day do transgress and therefore do here cast down our selves at this time before thy glorious presence unfeignedly acknowledging our misery and wretchedness from the very bottom of our hearts Yet Lord mercy is with thee and because thou art our Father therefore thou desirest not the death of sinners but rather that they should convert and live For this cause we now fall down before the throne of thy grace with confidence of obtaining thy wonted mercy which thou hast promised to such as call upon thee in truth beseeching thee who art the Father of mercies to have compassion on all such as thou hast humbled under thy mighty hand but more especially on this thy Servant the Queen who lieth here before thee sick of a dangerous disease that as thou hast righteously afflicted her for her sinnes which she also doth with us acknowledge so it would please thee in pardoning them all to her for thy beloved Sons sake to grant that she may profit by this thy correcting hand for the time to come Above all O Lord give her a sweet sense yea full assurance of thy eternal joys that so she may with the greater patience take down this bitter potion ministred unto her from thy hand and that the sole desire of enjoying thy presence may cause her to forget all worldly greatness and magnificence knowing that they are nothing in respect of the glory which is now set before her Endue her also with meekness of minde to bear the tediousnesse of her affliction for though the spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak yea full of resisting and unbelief that so receiving all things from thee as from a Father she may the more willingly submit her will to thine And because O good God thou hast made her hitherto an happy Instrument for the advancement of thy glory and defence of thy poor afflicted people we pray thee if it may stand with thy good pleasure restore her to health again that so the excellent work that thou hast by her means begun may not be left unperfected but by vertue of this her deliverance she may with renewed strength undertake the same in better sort then ever heretofore especially for the well educating and training up the Children that thou hast given her But Lord if thou hast a purpose now to call her home to thy self who are we that we should contradict thy holy will Only we pray thee that thou wouldst confirm her more and more in the knowledge of thy blessed Gospel and thereby also in the certainty of her salvation which thou hast given her by Faith in thy Son Jesus Christ that thus she may not cease to sanctifie and call upon thy holy Name to her last breath And as touching our selves who are here by thy good providence gathered together about her being in bodily health give us to know the uncertainty and brevity of our life that so according to our duty we may behold the same in this mirror that thou hast set before us as knowing that even the greatest in the world are subject to the same calamities as well as the small that so our chief care may be to employ the remainder of our time to thine honour and service All which we crave of thee in the Name of Jesus Christ thy Son our only Mediatour and Advocate Amen During the time of prayer she ceased not with hands and eyes lift up to Heaven to fetch many deep sighs especially when mention was made of the mercy of God in Christ which he extendeth to poor sinners so that all present might evidently see that her heart and affections were joyned to the Prayer that was made by and for her And whilst she thus lay she still continued in her holy desires to depart hence that she might be with Christ taking great delight in the holy and Christian exhortations which were made to her by many godly and learned men who came to visit her to whom also she manifested no small testimonies of that faith and hope which she had in God touching the salvation of her soul by her holy and savory speeches which for brevity sake are omitted Yea although the Lord exercised her much with the sense of her inward disease yet could you not at any time discern any speech favouring of discontentment or impatience to proceed out of her mouth nay scarcely so much as a groan But if at any time she found any refreshings from the violence of her disease there being no malady so vehement which hath not some intermissions and breathing times
then to linger here below in this world where I see nothing but vanity Then he asked her if they should go to prayer with her which she desiring they performed it by her whilst this pious Lady manifested her ardent affection in calling upon God Prayer being ended the Minister discerning in her the undoubted testimonies of unfeigned Repentance and of the sorrow that she conceived for the offences which she had committed against God together with the assured confidence which she had in his mercies as a Minister of the Gospel and Ambassadour of the Son of God by the authority given to him having the word of reconciliation committed to him he assured her in the Name of Christ that all her sinnes were forgiven by God and that they should never come in account against her at his judgment seat yea that she should no more doubt thereof then if the Son of God from Heaven should say unto her Daughter be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven thee And to the end that troubled consciences might the better be quieted Christ hath used these words speaking to his Ministers saying Whose sins ye remit they are remitted c. And the reason is because the Word which they pronounce is not the word of a mortall man but of the immortall God being of no lesse weight then if himself uttered the same Then he asked her Majesty if she accepted of so gracious a message which assured her of the free pardon of all her sins Yes saith she with all my heart and make no doubt thereof Not long after came in the Admirall Coligni and with him another Minister to whom she gave ear a good space together his speech tending to prepare her for death and when he had finished his speech he also prayed with her which she attended to with great affection Then she requested that those two Ministers might stay all night with her in her chamber and that they would in no wise leave her The greatest part of this night was spent in holy admonitions which these Ministers gave to this gracious Lady one after another besides which she required them to read to her some Chapters of the holy Scriptures which were pertinent to her condition and so they read out of St. Johns Gospel from the fourteenth to the end of the seventeenth Chapter After which they went to prayer with her which being ended the Queen desired to take some rest but it was not long ere she commanded them to read again Whereupon one of them made choice of certain of David's Psalms full of ardent and affectionate prayers suting to this Princesse present condition by reason of her affliction and for a conclusion read Psal. 31. wherein the Prophet amongst other things doth commend his spirit into the hands of God Because saith he thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Then the Queen willed them to pray with her again and thus was the most part of that night spent in such holy exercises during all which time the Ministers never discerned in her the least sign of impatience notwithstanding the violence of her affliction Yea whereas immediately before her sickness she had shewed how affectionately she was bent to provide things most magnificent for the day of her Sons Marriage according as the State of so great an alliance required yet it was admirable to observe that after this sicknesse had seized on her God wrought in her such a neglect and forgetfulnesse of all such matters that she never shewed to have so much as a thought thereof This night being thus spent and past by this Noble Queen she persevering in the expressions of such like affections and ardency of faith the next morning between eight and nine of the clock she departed this life to take possession of a far better sweetly yielding up her spirit into the hands of God June 9. Anno Christi 1572. being the sixth day after she fell sick and of her age 44. She had her perfect speech and memory even to the hour of her death shewing not only that staidnesse and soundnesse of judgement which ever in times past she had in the care about the salvation of her soul but also in the well settlement of her worldly affairs The King made as if he had conceived great grief for her death putting on mourning attire wherein also the whole Court followed his example lest by this suddain accident their Counsels and futurh desperate designs might be prevented Also to avoid all jealousies and suspitions of her being poisoned by reason of her suddain sicknesse and death her body was opened by sundry expert and learned Doctors of Physick and Chyrurgery who found her Heart and Liver very sound only some scirrousnesse on one side of her Lungs but her Head they might not open where the malady lay by which means the discovery of it was prevented Anonymus Soli Deo Gloria FINIS A TABLE OF The Principal things contained in this Part OF THE LIVES A. AFflictions profitable to Gods children p. 202 Antinomians practice 52 Apostacy plagued by God 25 Assurance to be sought 211 Astrologers are lyers 99 B. BIble is translated into English 4 Bishops enemies to godly Ministers and to the power of Godlinesse 1 2 20 21 28 29 30 41 46 48 53 58 61 63 89 106 109 146 148 149 162 163 185 189 191 201 223 A Bishop enjoyned to ask a Minister forgivenesse in his own Congregation 163 C. CHarity eminent 88 151 155 168 174 191 202 225 Charity of good Ministers 2 13 14 24 76 186 237 240 Comfort at death 142 Comforting afflicted consciences 16 173 202 204 Constancy 151 171 297 Contentation 55 177 171 Conversion 27 86 99 144 184 199 Conversion of a Jaylor 9 Courage 245 270 283 Courage of Gods Ministers 9 43 109 163 186 214 222 239 D. DEath desired 203 Death not feared 208 Devil dispossessed by Prayer 91 216 E. ENvy 46 Examples prevalent 294 F. FAith 86 180 205 207 267 285 Family cared for and well instructed 5 72 164 169 190 226 248 262 267 295 Fasting and Prayer 171 174 200 203 228 Fidelity 27 246 Flight refused in time of persecution 9 10 Flight embraced 12 Friendship sincere 391 221 Frugality 174 G. GRatitude 27 39 176 H. DAnger of unprofitable Hearers 81 Heretick burned 147 Hospitality 200 202 Humility 249 Humility of Gods Ministers 25 39 55 151 174 179 180 182 187 191 206 209 210 222 224 I. INgratitude 56 Joy unspeakable 25 202 L. Life exemplary 81 Long life why a blessing 303 M. WHat makes a compleat Man 81 What makes a compleat Minister 82 Meeknesse of Gods Ministers 25 174 207 Ministers cared for by God 5 6 10 11 Ministers dearly loved 195 Ministers falsly accused 52 Ministry of the Word successefull 21 25 30 67 79 87 89 147 158 164 167 186 201 213 217 231 P. PArents honoured 219 Painfulnesse in Preaching 1 5 14 22 41 46 56 157 164 173
His marriage Conformity strictly pressed Gods good providence over him The trouble of his Wife Gods mercy His return to Newhall The Lady Ferrers respect to him though a Papist His prudence in his Ministry Bishop Neals malice Gods Providence over him His Letter about Master Rediches death Note He is inhibited from preaching But soon restored His last sicknesse His Death An. Christi 1618. His behaviour in his sickness His counsell to his friends His Burial His excellent parts His method in teaching The efficacy of his Ministry He used a form of prayer and why The Scriptures which he preached over His works that were published His zeal against Sectaries and Separatists A Disputation His Charity Doctor Halls character of him His birth and breeding His remove from Cambridge His coming to London His marriage His painfulnesse 1 Cor. 9.2 The effectualnesse of his Ministry Isa. 53.1 and 49.4 Isa. 8.18 1 Cor. 4.15 Jam. 5.20 Dan. 12.3 Luk. 1.16 Rom. 10.1 The danger of unprofitabe hearers 1 Cor. 9.27 Mat. 23.3 His exemplary life What makes a compleat man What makes a compleat Minister His manner of preaching His zeal for the Sabbath His prudence His care of his Family His Apology for quoting the Fathers His faithfulnesse in reproving sin His last sicknesse His death 1 Tim. 4.12 His birth and education His natural and acquired parts His entring into the Ministry His course of life before his Conversion The means and manner his Conversion Power of Prayer His Faith and comfort Confess l. 5. c. 13 14. His going into Ireland The efficacy of his Ministry The places of his first employment The study of the Prophesies His contests with the Bishops Mat. 26.13 The Lady Bowes her great charity His self-denial His patience and courage His carriage amongst his people Special Providence His persecution by Bishop Neal. * Gnats His last sicknesse His last sicknesse He foretels his death His death His strange sicknesse and recovery Satans malice The power of prayer His dispossessing of the devil His Birth His education His going to Cambridge His remove to Queens Colledge His Character His studiousnesse He is chosen Fellow He studies Physick His study of Astrology His Conversion He is chosen to oppose before the King His many Pupils His zeal His diligence The Bishops Hypocrisie His courage His Prudence Master Preston preacheth before the King He is made the Prince his Chaplain His travel in the Low-Countries He is chosen to Lincolns-Inne The Duke of Buckinghams Letter He is chosen Master of Emanuel A special Providence His last sicknesse His Parentage His education His conversion A special Providence His going to Cambridge 2 Cor. 7.6 A special Providence His first Sermon He is chosen Fellow of Christs Colledge but opposed His remove to Ashby His marriage His first silencing His Sermon before the Judge Judge Aderson angry with him He manageth the Petition for Reformation His second silencing The successe of his Ministry He is restored to Ashby His Lectures on John 4. His third silencing Wightman burnt for Heresie Slander He is cited into the High-Commission Court Silenced His sicknesse His second summons into the High-Commission Court His imprisonment He is falsly accused His censure in the High-Commission Court A special Providence He is sent for Leyden His constancy His humility and charity He opposeth the Brownists and Independents Master Cottons testimony of him Dr. Prestons testimony of his Lectures on John 4. His studiousnesse His care to profit by the Word His sicknesse His recovery His Lectures at Ashby on Psal. 35.3 His Lectures on Psal. 51. He is again silenced His last sicknesse His death His burial His charity His Parentage and education His going to Cambridge His Sermon at Pauls Crosse. His painfulnesse in the Ministry The success of his Ministry His piety in private His sicknesse His prudence therein His death His birth and breeding His going to Cambridge His remove to Oxford His going into Northamptonshire Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers Isa. 28.15 Levit. 26.27 28. A special Providence His remove to Woolstone He is opposed by the Bishop His courage He is suspended and excommunicated Absolved by the Archbishop He is accused of treason and imprisoned Sir T. Lucy He is acquitted The Bishop enjoyned to ask him forgivenesse P. Petiver Binley Wood. A special Providence His great pains The success of his Ministry His care in the education of his children Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers His powerfull manner of preaching His last sicknesse His death His Country His going to Cambridge His promotion in the Colledge and University His conversion He is chosen Lecturer in Cambridge Master of Katherine Hall His prudence in the Ministry Mr Dods testimony of his Sermons on Cant. 5. His piety His charity His death His Parentage His remove to Cambridge His Father casts him off He is chosen Fellow Chosen the first Master of Emanuel He commenced Doctor His care of the Colledge His care for young Students His care of Servants He resigned his place His death His birth and education His going to Oxford His remove into Cheshire His improvement of his parts His frequent Fasts and Prayers His constancy His Non-conformity He is ordained Minister His call to Whitmore His marriage His diligent studies His skill in comforting afflicted consciences His indefatigablenesse His unwearied pains on the Sabbath His frequent Fasting and Prayer His readinesse to do good His temperance and meeknesse His frugality His charity His humility His esteem of the weight of the Ministry His humility The necessity of stadying controversies The danger of Separation His high esteem of God His gratitude for mercies His high esteem of Jesus Christ. His prudence His distaste of frowardnesse The means of cure His love to the Church and to his Children His contentednesse His care to keep the Sacraments from pollution His dislike of separation His judgment about Independency His judgement about revelations His humility and modesty His intended works His great abilities His last sicknesse His Faith His humility His death His birth and education His preferments at Oxford His humility His holinesse His Lectures at Abington and Totnes He is chosen Provost of Queens Colledge He is chosen Bishop of Carlisle His painfulnesse His Sermon at the beginning of the Parliament His death A favouerer of godly Ministers Mr. Thomas Richardson now Pastor of Newbold Pace in Warwickshire An enemy to the book of sports His birth and education His conversion He is rejected by his Uncle His going to Cambridge Humane infirmity A special Providence His recovery He is persecuted And entertained by Sir Edward Bois By Sir Edward Anslow His great pains His faithfulnesse His preaching at Battersey His self-deniel His marriage He is again persecuted His Courage He is chosen by the Merchants He erects discipline in the Church Conversion The efficacy of his Ministry Gods judgement on a persecutor His charity His self-denial His return into England His Lecture in Wales His call to Wapping His painfulnesse A