Church is most benefited Curates are indeed instructers within their particular Charge but Erasmus instructeth the Instructers to expresse his thankfulnesse for this and many other favours received in this Kingdom he honored Doctâ—r Coleâ— Deane of Pauls and founder of the Schoole caled Catechizatiquis with the Inscription of his Bookes De Copia Verborum et Rerum whereupon he said merrilie that he was turn'd Bankrupt and had no more to part with His Adages the thiâ—â—d tâ—me revised and inlarged with divers Treatises translated out of Plutarch he dedicated to his old Mâ—caoenas the Lord Monâ—joy his Emendations and Censures upon S. Hieroms Epistles an unparalled work to his unparralleld benefactor the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie Longer he intended to have stayed but hearing that Frobenius at the request of many French and Germane Universities had undertaken to reprint his Adages at Basil and having both them and S. Hieroms Epistles ready for the Presse at which he was desirous to be present setting all other businesse aside he took the most compendious way thither Frobenius he found in his grave yet was not disappointed of his welcome that was abundantly supplyed by his Sons Bruno and Basilius and Iohn Frobenius his kinsman in whom the old man still survived both for his skill and honestie they quartered him under the same rooff with Amerbachius whom after S. Ambrose and S. Augustin he found wholly imployed in the restitution of S. Hierom wherin at first he vsed the help of Iohn Reuclin a civilian but afterwards fell upon a more happie Critick Iohannus Conâ—n Norimbergensis the Dominican who out of worm-eaten Manuscrips supplied what he found wanting corrected many places depraved and replaced not a few formerly disioynted Thâ— worke was brought to such perfection before his arrivall that leaving the rest to Amerbachius except when his judgement was required in the variation of Manuscripts he appropriation unto himselfe the only volumn of his Epistles whereunto he prefixed Arguments and added briefe but judicious â—llustrations many are of opinion that it cost Erasmus more oyle and want of sleep in repairing such breaches as time and ignorance had made in them then it did the Author in penning them To this great worke succeeded a greater and much more profitable his Edition of and Annotations upon the whole new Testament which as the chiefe instrument of our Salvation he dedicated to the chiefe Bishop as he supposed Leo the 10. From Basil his private affairs drew him into the Low Countries he arrived at Aquisgrane at what time Charles the fift was inaugurated Emperor and was present at the Diet of Wormâ—s as one of his Councell being thereto admitted before the death of Silvagius the Chancellor The Diet ended and Tourney surrendred to the Emperor he made what hast he could back againe unto Basil from whence the world first saw and admired his Paraphrase upon the foure Evangelists and Saint Pauls Epistles a work uncertaine whether undertaken or received with greater alacrity in composing whereof he applyed himselfe amongst the Latines to Ambrosse Augustin Hierom and Hilary amongst the Greekes to Saint Chrisostom and his follower Theophylact the contexture and style were his owne The whole he dedicated by parts to Charles the 5. and Ferdinand his Brother by both he was highly esteemed and might if he pleased have been as richly rewarded But since preferment and he ran on not by chance but choise like Parallels some may wonder how he supported so vast a charge as the setting forth of so many Bookes of his owne the Emendation of so many written by others And which was an antecedent to both the purchase or transcription of so many Manuscipts to say nothing of his frequent and expensive travels must needs draw upon him There is no better way to cleer this doubt then before we go any further to measure his great esteem with the greatest of his Contemporaries by the Correspondence he held with them and their munificence towards him When he was scarce crept out of the shell he pronounced a Panegirick of his owne Composure before Philip father to Charles 5. as he came out of Spaine into Germany for which he honored him with a yeerly pension during Life King Henry the 8. of England wrot to him with his oâ—ne hand offered him a goodly house belike some dissolâ—ed Abbey worth six hundred Florenes yeerly and besidâ—s gave him severall tastes rather then surfeits of his prâ—â—cely bounty Francis the French King wrote likewise unto him after the same manner as appears by his letter yet extant offered him a Bishoprick and one thousand Florenes pre annum to set up his rest in France Charles the 5. offered him a Bishoprick in Sicily made him of his Councell and besides many of his expressions of his liberality bestowed upon him a yeerly pension of two hundred Florenes Ferdinand his brother King of Hungary made him a tender of four hundred Florenes yeerly with promise to make them up five hundred to professe at Vienna Sigismond as much to come into Poland and further with a Royall and liberall hand supplyed his present necessities Mary Queene of Hungary wrote to him often and ever with her owne Hand her bounty without question eqâ—alled her exceeding Humanity Anne Princess Veriana gave him a yeerly pension of one hundred Florenes Frederick Duke of Saxony presented him with two Medals the one Gold the other silver which in a letter to Spalatinus he prefers before two Attick Talents George Duke of Saxony with diverse Ingots of silver digged out of his owne Mines and a great drinking Bole of the same William Duke of Gulick imitated him in the latter but outstript him in the Capacity Adrian the 6. to whom he consecrateth Arnobius wrot to him thrice which grand respects from the Pope much abated the fury of the Friers his enemies and there is no doubt but he largly contributed towards the charge of that worke undertaken especially for his owne honor He congratulated the Papacie to Clement the 7. who in requitall sent him five hundred Florenes and by his Apostoticall letters invited him to Rome Paul the 3. had brought him into the Colledge of Cardinals but that he was prevented by death in the interim he sent him a Collation to the Prepositure of Daventry which he refused saying he was now neer the end of his journey and hoped to get thither without it William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury changed his Prebend into a pension and scarce ever wrote to him but in letters of Gold his last token was a Gelding of whom he used to say that though he wanted originall sin he was guilty of two mortall ones Sloath and Gluttony Cardinall Wolsey a stately Prelate and not easie of accesse yet wrot unto him letters full of singular humanity and besides other remembrances bestowed on him a Pension out of a Prebend in York The Bishop of Lincolne and Rochester bountifully supplyed him upon all occasiones Hammond and
to Gotha to teach and govern the Thuringian Churches where he lived with his Collegues twenty yeeres in much peace and concord of which himselfe saith Cucurrimus certavimus laboravimus pugnavimus vicimus viximus semper convinctissime c. In the tumult of the Boores he tooke much pains to pacifie their mindes and to keepe them quiet Yea he so quieted with an Oration some that were pulling downe some Noble mens houses that they went away in peace that yeere also he married a wife by whom through Gods blessing he had a numerous posterity He accompanied the Elector of Saxonie in many of his journyes into the Low-Countries and other places where he preached the Gospel sincerely though sometimes to the hazard of his life About this time Henry the eighth King of England fell out with the Pope for not divorcing of him from his wife Katharine of Spain sister to Charles the fifth by reason of whose greatnesse the Pope durst not doe it whereupon the King of England sent over to the Germane Princes especially to the Duke of Saxonie to confederate against the Pope and to joyn with them in an agreement about Religion upon which occasion Myconius was sent over into England partly about matters of Religion but especially about a match between Henry the eighth and Anne of Cleve but coming thither he discovered the Kings hypocrisie about Religion not onely by the six Articles about that time established but also by his imprisoning of Latimer and cutting off the Lord Cromwell'â— head and burning of Master Barnes c. and by his seizing upon all the Abby-lands whereupon he left England and being come home he was called by Henry of Saxonie to visit and reforme the Churches of Misnia together with Luther Ionas Cruciger c. Which fell out upon this occasion George Duke of Saxonie lying on his death-bed sent to his brother Henry all his owne sons being dead before desiring him that succeeding him he should innovate nothing in Religion and withall promised him golden mountains by his Ambassadors if he would assent thereto to whom Henry answered This Embassie of yours is just like the Divels dealing with Christ when he promised him all the world if he would fall downe and worship him but for my owne part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the returne of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry nothwithstanding all the oppositions of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which worke being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some otheâ— he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance Anno Christi 1541. he fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sicke not to death but to life which interpretation of the text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our salvation our health c. that I may live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to die and goe to heaven and to leave me here amongst the Divels alone I pray God that I may first lay down thiâ— drie exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewell and God forbid that I should heare of thy death whiâ—st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hâ—c peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei crete non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate out-lived it six yeers even till after Luthers death whereupon Iustus Ionas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quod voluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Ioan. Fredericke Elector of Saxonie wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Fredericke Iohn and Iohn Fredericke to undertake the patronage of Luâ—her c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of an admirable candor and gravity He died of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. Myconius was a man that lov'd to pry Into the bosome of Divinity His heart was alwayes flexively inclind To what was good he had a golden minde That would not bend to drosse but still aspire To heaven and faith gave wings to his desire He was belov'd of all that lov'd Gods name The trumpet of his voyce would still proclaime The word of God to those that would indure To have their wounds be brought unto a cure By whose examples we may learne to thrive In grace His present worth is still alive The life and Death of John Diazius Who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was borne in Spaine brought up at Schoole afterwards he went to Paris to study the Arts where he continued thirteen yeers but it pleased God that whilest he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers bookes and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the errours of Popery and therefore to further himselfe in the knowledge and study of the Truth he went to Geneva where he spake with Calvin and was very dear unto him From thence he went to Argentine where Martin Bucer observed his learning piety and diligence in his studie obtained of the Senate that he should be joyned with him to goe to the Disputation at Ratisbâ—ne and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvinda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germanie who when he knew that he camâ— in the company with Bucer and the other Protestant Divines he was much aâ—tonished and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germans whereupon he left no meanes untried to draw him backe againe to the Church of Rome sometimes making large proffers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties but when by no meanes he could prevaile to divert him from the Truth he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers from Rome who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant came speedily into Germanie bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoberg about the Printing of Bucers Booke which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither where after long debating of matters of Religion between the two Brothers Alphonsus seeing the heart of his Brother Iohn to be so constantly planted â—n thâ— sure rocke of Gods Truth that neither Preferments could allure him nor threats terrifie him
perswaded then to command Farell Calvin and Coraldus to depart the City within two dayes because they had refused to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to them which message when it was delivered unto Calvin he replyed Indeed if I had served men I had been evilly rewarded but now it shall goe well with me because I have served him who will truely pay unto his servants that which he hath once promised Who could otherwise have thought but that this action would have proved fatall unto the Church of Geneva yet the event manifested the contrary shewed that it came to passe by Divine providence partly because that by exercising him with these trials he might be the more fitter for weightier matters and partly because he might purge that Church againe from many grosse and wicked errours When that sedition had overthrown and sunk it selfe with its owne weight so wonderfully doth the Lord appeare in all his workes but more especally in the Governing and protection of his Church Some there were who greatly bewailed the departure of these faithfull Pastors who also inwardly asmuch lamented the the miserable and wretched State of that City From Geneva they went unto Tigurum where a Synod was called to effect a reconciliation betwixt the Churches and those of Geneva being willed by an Embassadour sent from Berne to subscribe unto the decrees thereof they would not condiscend thereunâ—o whereupon Calvin left Tigurum and went unto Basil where after that he had remained two or three dayes he directed his course unto Strasburge where he was called by the Senate Bucer Hedio Capito and many other reverend Pastors to be the Divinity Lecturer in that City which he did not only perform with the applause of all the learned but also with the consent of the Senat he planted the French Church in that City Here Calvin remained untill the year 1541. in which year a Convocation was enacted by the Emperor at Wormes and Reinspurge for the taking away of differences out of those Churches concerning Religion at which Convocation Calvin was present and unto this Assembly came also the Commissioners before mentioned who perswaded and prevailed with the Inhabitants of Geneva for the casting out of Calvin out of the City upon one of them God shewed a terrible example of vengeance in the same place for being censured guilty of sedition as he was about to save himselfe by escaping through a window he fell downe headlong and with the weight of his body he so crushed himselfe that within few dayes after he dyed Another of them being found guilty of murther he had his head stricken off the other two by reason of their ill carriage in the affaires of that Commonwealth were in their absence condemned and ejected by the Citizens During his abode at Strasburge untill this Assembly called by the Emperour the Church at Geneva was greatly afflicted with sundry opinions which were brought into the City in the year 1539. by Iacobus Sadoletus which notwithstanding tooke no deep rooting Calvin by his letters in his banishment perswaded the contrary These Commissioners being thus taken away as the fountaines of all sedition in the City it pleased the Lord to worke a desire in the hearts of the Inhabitants of recaling Farel and Calvin into the City but when they saw that they could not possibly recall Farel from Neocum they send Embassadours with all speed unto Strasburge making the Tigurines also their intercessours for the obtaining of Calvin The Inhabitants of Strasburge appeared unwilling to grant their desire and Calvin himselfe because he saw his actions to prosper and to be blessed of God in that City refused also himselfe to goe unto Geneva fearing least his proceedings should be again hindered by the like sedicious uproares The Embassadours were urgent and followed their matter â—o close that at the last it was concluded that Calvin should againe to Geneva but because he was to accompany Bucâ—r unto Reinspurge his journey was deferred for a space and they of Geneva procured Viret from Lausanna to Preach unto them untill the returne of Calvin from Reinspurge which fell out in the year 1541. where he was received with exceeding joy and gladnesse not onely by the Senate but also by all the Inhabitants and he was again restored unto his Church But at his entrance againe he told them that he could not truly discharge his Ministeriall function unlesse they would also entertain a Presbytery strengthned with Ecclesiasticall discipline together with his Doctrin unto which motion they consented whereupon a Presbytery was chosen their Offices were declared unto each of them and unto this forme of Government they all subscribed The joyfull newes of Calvins comming unto Geneva again being spread abroad it caused many godly minded persons to resort some out of Italy some out of England some out of Spaine unto the same place to be Auditors unto him these increased unto that number that there waâ— not roome in the City to entertain them and Calvin perceiving that ordering of all things in the City would be a labour too weighty for him he deâ—ired that he might have Farel and Viret adjoyned unto him but it could not be granted for Viret was returned againe unto Lausanna and Farell was detained at Neocum so as Calvin alone carries away the glory of that reformed Church It was Bezaes opinion concerning these three that a compleat Pastor might be composed of them taking boldnesse from Farel eloquence from Viret and solid substance from Calvin every word appearing a grave sentence In the year 1542. Calvin was exercised with many laborious imployments not onely concerning the affaires of Geneva but also about the comforting and relieving of such as were banished their Countrey for the profession of the Gospell and also by writing consolatory Letters unto them for their confirmation and strengthning in the extremity of their afflictions unto these also were added first a Famine secondly a Pestilence both being predominant at one and the same time in Geneva Now because the custome of the City was to place such as were infected in a Pesthouse for that cause erected without the City one Blanchetus tooke upon him the charge of visiting the sicke and Calvin by the command of the Senate was delivered from that action Then he turned himselfe unto the suppressing of such false Doctrine as crept into the Church for the eclypsing of the truth And first he confuted that opinion of Petrus Tossanus concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Then he confuted the Articles set forth at Sorbon He overthrew Albertus Pighius concerning Free-will refuted the opinion of Sebastianus Castellio concerning the Song of Salomon and caused him to be banished the City of Geneva In the year 1544. Carolus the fith intending to make War against the French King commanded a peace amongst the Churches in Germanie untill such time as a generall Councell was called which he promised should shortly be effected and in the
a larg stipend should be yearly given unto him out of tâ—e revenews of an adjacent Abby for his maintenance upon condition that Iohannes Charondiletus then Chancâ—llor unto the Emperour and Arthbishop of Panorma would give his free assent thereunto but the Providence of God so disposing he was not onely denied the same by the said Archbishop but he was also threatned with the losse of his life because is was declared unto him that Gâ—rardus had of late been in higher Gâ—rmany unto which place it was not lawfull for any student to goe least he should be infected with the purity of the doctrine taught in the reformed Churches This expectation of himself and also of his friends being now made voidâ— and having no hopes of getting preferment thereabouts because the Archbishop appeared his professed enemy by the advice of some godly and learned men and also because he would not be burdensome unto his friendsâ— he was resolved to travell againe and so determined to view that other part of Italie which he had not seene but here he was againe hindred by the violence of those Wars which at that time raged betwixt the Emperor and the King of France wherefore he being by this occasion deprived of the sight of Italie he shipped himselfe for England intending not to visit France or Germany any more because he might easily understand in that place by letters continually sent from his friends how all things went in Flanders and whether there were any hopes of obtaining preferment in those parts after his arrivall in England as he used in other forraine parts so he here also enqured after such as were esteemed the leanedest Scholars by which meanes he addressed himselfe unto Charles Monâ—joy the Son of William Montjoy Knight Baron a man much commended and approved of by Erasmus Roterdamus in his writings and of great learning in those dayes who conferring after a friendly manner with Gerardus concerning many matters and thereby perceiving his more then ordinary parts received him into his house and withall conferred an annuall stipend on him and that after a bountifull manner which waâ— so well pleasing unto Gerardus that he continued four yeâ—râ— with thiâ— Montjoy in which time he profited much in the knowledgâ— of humane and divine learning In the yeare 1540. with the consent of Charles Montjoy hâ— went to take view of the University of Cambridge about which time there were great troubles in the Church of England the Lord Cromwell was beheaded others were burned for their zealous profession of the truth many also were put to death for denying the King to be supreame head of the Church under Christ. Proclamations were every where set up against exotics and those full of perill and danger which caused Gerardus to enter into a consideration of returning againe into Germany yet before his departure from England he resolved to recreate himselfe with the fight of that other fountaine of learning viz. Oxford from whence he returned to London where after that he had prepared and fitted himselfe with things necessary for his journy he not without great sorrow tooke his leave of his liberall and loving Master who earnehly intreated him to continue longer with him but by no meanes he could be enduced and perswaded thereunto but forthwith he directed his course towards Anâ—werp a famous City in Brabant from whence he went againe into Flanders and for a season he there continued amongst his friends during his aboad in that place he heard of the fame of Bucer and of the flourishing Schoole at Straâ—burge both which but especially the fame of Bucâ—r allured him to take view of that part of high Germany wherefore without any delay he sets forward toward Strasburge taking Marpurge in his way that he might take order for the conveying of his books and trunks unto Frankâ—furt and secondly because he knew that he could maintaine himselfe at a cheaper rate during his aboad there then in any other place situate on the banks of Rhine and thirdly because he hoped that he should easily obtaine commâ—ndatory letters unto the learned Professors at Sâ—rsburge in that place and especially by the means of Gerardus Noviomagus a man of good estemation who also had formerly knowne this Gerardus and had lived also himselfe sometimes at Strasburge Maviomagus hâ—ving notice of the comming of Andraeas Gerardus unto Mâ—rpurge he kindely invited him unto his lodging where they met with mutuall embracâ—ngâ— being exceeding joyfull of the presence of each other not long after Gerardus discovering unto Naviomagus the causes of his comming unto that place together with his intent for Strasburge he was deâ—ired â—o remaine at Marpurge and withall he was promised faithfully by Naviomagus that he would procure him not onely employment but also a sufficient stipend for the performance of the same Gerardus well perceiving the entire love and sincere affection of his old friend consented and remained expecting preferment in the same place whereupon assooue as Iohannes Ficinus their Chancellor was returned home from an assembly appointed at Reinspurge Naviomagus entered into discourse with him concerning Gerardus and withall declared that by reason of his sicknesse he was not able to performe that place whereunto he was called desired that Gerardus might be approved and allowed to be an assistant unto him in the performance of the place the motion was well liked of Ficinus who forthwith called Gerardus unto him and wished him to remaine at Marpurge and to make triall of his gifts in that place which if they were approved of he promised him a sufficient pension for his labours but Gerardus was so well approved in that place by his Auditors that after the death of Naviomagus he was chosen and appointed to be his successour in the performance of a pastorall office which he faithfully discharged with so great labour and zeale for the Propacating of the truth the space of twenty two years that besides his appointed times and seasons he would make use of vacant houres for the performance of the same Here he commanded the publick exercise of Preaching in the Schoolâ— appointed texts unto the young Divines to treat of he would view and correct their Sermons before they were delivered in the Pulpit nay he would cause them to deliver them privately in his study before he would permit them to deliver them unto the publick Congregation that if there were any defect in voyce or gesture it might happily be amended He much praised those who performed their actions well contrariwise he severely rebuked those which were negligent sloathfull and as it were forceably compelled and constrained them unto a greater diligence he would daily examine them in points of Divinity desire their opinions concerning difficult questions explaine and open unto them hard texts of Scriptures insomuch that in short time he was the Author of much good unto the young Students these this he performed without the expectation of any reward He entred also into a