Danish cruelty and oppessions he endeavoured to perswade and encourage the Citizens to stand out in defence of the Liberties of themselves their wives and children and not to trust to the fair words and glozing promises of the Danes but rather to endure a little hardship for a time assuring them that the face of affairs would be shortly changed The Citizens willingly hearkned to him but some mercenary Souldiers raising a muteny had thought to have slain him But the plot being discovered the muteny was suppressed and Gustavus advised for his safety to withdraw himself into his own Country and there to obscure himself till a more convenient time should enable him to carry on his design He knew this journey would be full of difficulty and danger For his Way lay through Smalland where the Danish Emissaries were very active to draw the Suedes to moderation and to submit to the Danish yoke yet through it he adventures but with much grief of heart to see the Country people so miserably deluded insomuch that he could not forbear but told them That they should consider the cases of many of their Country-men who had as fair promises from the Danes yet met with nothing but miserable bondage Adding that there was much less danger in standing the push of the Danish Pike than in committing themselves and all that was dear unto them to so broken a Reed as their fair words which had not only failed but mortally wounded the Liberties of their Country-men who had given credit to them Say what he could divers Suedes of the better rank in those parts being pre-ingaged to the Danes perswaded the people otherwise saying That the Danes aimed onely at the suppressing of such of the Suedish Nobility as combined themselves against the Kings Government But as for the people the King was resolved to win them and that they should never need to fear want so long as Salt and Herrings lasted But if they would not be prevailed with they were all but dead men except speedily they forsook their Country and fled Gustavus finding the people hereby so affrighted that they had rather be slaves with quiet than hazard themselves in War he found it not convenient for him to stay any longer there whereupon he secretly departed to Terno amongst his own Tenants and having there provided himself of necessaries he went thence to Refsnass his Fathers house where he concealed himself for the most part of that Summer yet at length he adventured to discover himself to one that had been a faithful Friend to him and once was Archbishop of Upsal but in those troublesome times had been laid aside and now was retired to a Monastery at Gripshâ—lm This man being now grown old was fearful and willing to be quiet though upon hard conditions wherefore he disswaded Gustavus from stirring alleadging the great advantage that the King had having an Army in the Field and the Towns generally under his command affirming that the King desired nothing more than to ingratiate himself with the people for whose assurance he had granted Letters of Grace and a general pardon and therein particularly mentioning Gustavus himself wherefore he advised him to give credit to the King and to submit to his Government And for my part said the old man I dare engage to procure from the King a special full and free pardon for you if you shall desire it Gustavus heard him with silence but liked not his undertaking For thought he this old man may hope hereby to screw himself into the Kings favour Neither indeed did he like to adventure himself upon the Kings promises wherefore he resolved to wave this old mans counsel and to retire himself back to Rafsnass All this while the King continued in the siege of Stockholme where we formerly left him endeavouring partly by force partly by messages of Grace to get possession of that City For which end he first confirmed the agreement which his General had made with the Lords in the Field and then granted a General pardon and Act of Oblivion for whatsoever former faults Then sent his hearty commendations and fair promises to the people in the Country by the Suedish Lords that were of his party yet in many places it met with little or no respect at all Nevertheless in continuance of time by the often droppings of his good words serious Proâ—â—ses Protestations Execrations Letters Patents and Declarations under the Kings hand and seal an entrance is made into the hearts of the men at Stockholm the Gates at length are opened and the King admitted entrance and acknowledged by all to be their lawful King and then was Crowned and solemn Feasts were held for all sorts of people both Suedes Danes and Germans This was a fair morning but who knows what a great-bellied day may bring forth The King all this while was contriving the ruine of the Suedish Nobility and now he hath them in one place within walls and a sufficient guard upon them But it must be done under the fairest pretence that may be for the thing it self was ugly and ill-favoured Hence it was first resolved that a Treason should be supposed to be plotted by the Suedes to massacre the Danes and therefore the Danes as in their own defence should assassinate the Suedes but this was thought dangerous and might in the event turn to the destruction of the Danes in so populous a City and who knows what men in despair may do Then another way was propounded viz. That the King must look upon the Suedish Lords as under the Popes curse and sentence of Excommunication and to draw forth the Kings justice with more colourable zeal the Archbishop of Upsal who had procured that sentence must openly accuse the Suedish Lords as excommunicated persons for Treason against the King robbery of the Church and as spoylers of the dignity and estate of the Archbishop and therefore he must demand Judgement against them And this was approved of And the better to draw these Suedish Lords together a Feast is appointed the third day after the Coronation at which also the Germans and Danes were present and then before them all the Arcbishop of Upsal though unwillingly when he saw what would be the event steps forth before the King and accuses the Suedish Lords of injury done by them to himself both in person and estate and demanded â—atisfaction for his damages The King liked not this charge as not being home enough and therefore told him that he forgat the Popes sentence the crime of Treason and his own place who ought in zeal to the Church to have demanded punishment upon the persons offending After which he commanded the Guards to seize upon the Suedish Lords and as some Writers say shewed them so much mercy as to let them live till the next day and in the interim he set Guards upon all the avenues to the City that none might be suffered to depart
hands the Patronage was supposed to rest some of the Religious Inhabitants valuing the means of Grace above all their other outward enjoyments cast their eyes and thoughts upon Mr. Gataker to gain whom to their own intreaties they added the mediation of his good Friend Mr. Richard Stock who when he had by many reasons remonstrated unto him that God did give him a clear call to that place whose honour and Ordinances might suffer prejudice by the intrusion of an unworthy man if he should refuse the call he at last suffered himself to be perswaded and prevailed with to undertake that charge which being represented to Sir Henry Hobart the Kings Atturney General by Mr. Randolph Crew afterwards Lord Chief Justice Sir Henry that before favoured other pretensions to gratifie some Tenants of his in that Parish yet now did readily imbrace the motion concerning the setling of Mr. Gataker there according to his own contentment and withall wrote a Letter to the Bishop for the removal of all obstructions that lay in the way or that might hinder his acceptance of the presentation of Mr. Gataker which being signed with all the hands of the three brethren who had right to that Advocation was tendred on his behalf The report of this his removal was no welcome news to many of that Honourable Society who would fain have retained him and some of them offered an enlargement of his maintenance for an argument to keep him and others of them represented the consistence of both imployments by the help of an assistant But he that made not his Ministry a meer trade of living here as Gregory Nazianzene complained that some did in his time and too many do in our times would not multiply his burdens when he deemed himself unfit for the least and would not suffer himself to be wrought to any other resolution Therefore Anno Christi 1611 commending his former charge to the Grace of God he betook himself to the sole attendance of that Flock of which now the Holy Ghost had made him the Overseer and his industry in the discharge of his duty there was both constant and great notwithstanding that he was almost perpetually troubled with the head-ache wherewith God had exercised him from his very youth and for which he had only this poor comfort from his Physician Dr. Goulston his singular good friend with whom he communicated his studies upon Galen and to whom he contributed his assistance for the Edition of some parts of Galen who often told him that the incurable disease of age would be the onely remedy of his distemper because together with the abatement of natural heat his indisposition would grow less vigorous and violent To the work of his Ministry in publick upon the Sabbaths he added a Catechetical weekly Lecture on Fridays in the evening which was designed by him to lay the foundation of saving knowledge in the hearts of the children of whom a certain number every Lecture day did give an account of their knowledge by set Answers to Questions delivered out to them aforehand for their instruction this course of holding a form of sound words agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel consigned in holy Writ of what importance it is we may gather from that ignorance and those errours which have invaded the Church in these our times which mischiefs can hardly be imputed to any thing so much as to the neglect of that usefull duty of Catechizing But that exercise was performed by him with such an accurate and methodical explication of the whole Body of Divinity that Christians of riper years and of long standing in Christs School did resort to be partakers of those discourses wherein their well-exercised senses did find not only milk fit for babes but also solid meat suitable to grown men in Christ. This course he continued till he had compleated a pefect Summary of Divinity and gave it over when he saw that the least part of his Auditory consisted of those for whose sakes he principally intended this work his Parishoners being grown at least to a neglect of his free labours in that kinde Mr. Gatakers constant retirement in his study caused him to make choise of an help meet for him that might oversee his Family which was a necessary act of prudence and therefore not long before he left Lincolns Inne he married the widow of Mr. William Cupp to whose two daughters he was so providently kinde in their education that he disposed of them in marriage to two Divines of note in the Church and continued such a fatherly love to them and theirs that the world mistook them for his own children That wife dyed in child-bed of a son that did bear the Fathers name who after that he had seen the most remote parts of the world wherewith we keep commerce returned home to his Father and dyed in peace The same motive still being in force he after a decent interval of widow-hood chose for himself the daughter of a Reverend Minister Mr. Charles Pinner who was brought up in the worthy and religious Family of Mr. Ellis Crisp brother to Mrs. Pinner and it pleased God to give him a Son by her whom in process of time he dedicated unto God in the work of the Ministry but immediately to take away the mother so that the mothers Funerals and the childes Baptisme were celebrated together Thus our wise and gracious Father tempers the cup for his children lest they should surfet upon earthly enjoyments as they might easily do if they were unmixed with occasions of sorrow Then did Mr. Gataker remain for many years in a disconsolate condition till at last he adventured and married a Gentlewoman of a very considerable Family being sister to Sir George and Sir John Farwell and a good esteem for knowledge and piety By her he had three children whereof a son and a daughter were carried to the ground before their mother but the third yet lives to walk by the light of her Fathers life and Doctrine This his third wife being of a contemplative minde fell into a consumption which so wasted her body that her soul took its flight from thence into Heaven Last of all he took to wife a Citizens widow whose comfortable conversation he enjoyed for the space of four and twenty years but without any issue by her His love to her was one motive that induced him to remove out of his Parsonage house into another habitation of his own revenue For supposing that she might survive him he would make a convenient provision for her that she might not be subject to the curtesie of another for her removal and that affection extended it self in his great liberality to many of 〈◊〉 kindred that were in need of help and support from him and that both in her life time and since her decease He survived her two years within a few dayes and because he numbred his dayes with wisdome and
settlement of the Crown of Sueden upon him and his posterity for ever This was the result of their debates and thus it was resolved unanimously at the Council held at Orebrogia that it should be propounded by them to the Convention of States that it might be confirmed for future ages All which by an Instrument under their hands they professed to be done by them freely and of their own accord without any constraint Indeed the Kings Enemies scoffed hereat as if he had suffered a Crown to be forced upon his Family against his will Others pretended Religion against it as if God liked not that men should contrive perpetuities which is true yet doth he like that men should be provident in establishing Justice Truth and Peace in a Nation for which end himself did settle the Crown upon the Family of David and hath blessed the same Rule in the Government of most Kingdomes with prosperous success though not alwayes precisely fixing upon the same person that men design thereto But whatsoever was said its clear that the Kings desire was not very eager upon it for that he summoned not a Convention of States of four years after and then at Westerass the point was debated anew the result whereof was this Act That after the death of Gustavus Ericson his Son shall succeed in the Government and his eldest Son and the Heirs male of his body and for want of such his second Brother and his Heirs male of his body and for want of such John the second Son of Gustavus and his Heirs male of his body shall succeed and so the rest of the Sons of Gustavus and their Heirs male of their bodies and in case of want of Heirs males of the Sons of Gustavus the eldest of the blood and Family of Gustavus shall succeed and his issue male and for want of such then shall such person succeed as the Council of the Kingdome of Sueden shall elect provided he be no Forreigner and that he shall provide Portions for the issue female of Gustavus The Council of States did herein as wise men that steer their course by Rule and yet still leave to God his supream controle who also in this case overruled their rule as to the succession of the posterity in Ericus his line which was afterwards laid aside by the people Ericus being found false to the Principles of Governmeâ—t established by his Father and the Convention of States and yet God owned Gustavus his Family so far as to build him a sure house who had built Gods house by raising from thence many brave men both for War and Peace and made it the brightest Constellation of all the Northern Hemisphere to have an influence not onely within the Kingdome of Sueden but into the general affairs of Europe But as Gustavus his House grows in their hopes so Christian the deposed King loseth in his The Emperour being intent upon his Wars with France found it necessary to quiet his affairs in Germany and therefore amongst other things at the Convention at Spires the difference between him and Christian the third King of Denmark came under debate and was settled and Christian the second the Emperours brother in law was after fourteen years of imprisonment left still to be a Prisoner who seeing himself now quite neglected by his chief friends bethought himself how he might make his Captivity seeing it must be his condition as easie as he could and for that end he actually surrendred all his right and the right of all his posterity in the Crown of Denmark and the Dukedomes of Holst and Sleswick in as ample manner as could be devised and thereby indeed he obtained though not a release from yet more liberty in his prison The Title of Sueden was not at all mentioned neither did the Suedes require any resignation nor would acknowledge any Title Yet the Emperour was willing enough to countenance any quarrel that was picked against the King of Sueden as appeared in the business of the Elector Palatine and the Duke of Lorain touching their Nieces Dowry which as they pretended the Kingdome of Sueden ought to take care of but the matter went no further than words The claim was published in Print and so was the King of Suedens answer also who denied the matter of fact and alledged that if any thing had been formerly due it was made null by that inhumane Tyranny whereby Christian forfeited all his rights in Sueden for himself and posterity declaring also that now the publick Revenues of the Crown of Sueden were otherwise setled and could not be altered A while after the King of Suedens second wife dyed leaving three sons and four daughters Her eldest son John was afterwards King of Sueden when his eldest brother Ericus was deposed by the people for his misgovernment Her second son Magnus was Duke of East-Gothland Her third son Charles was Duke of Sudermania who afterwards was King upon the deposing of his Nephew Sigismund first King of Poland and after Crowned also King of Sueden but after a while was ejected by the people because he would not maintan the Liberties of Sueden but sought to advance the Polish interest After the death of this Charles his son Gustavus Adolphus succeeded in the Kingdome whose Life I have also written and after him his Daughter Christina who resigning the Government Charles Gustavus son of Katherine daughter to Charles and half sister to Gustavus Adolphus married to one of the house of Casimire succeeded who lately dying left an Infant in the Throne since when Christina would willingly have reassumed the Government but was rejected by the States the rather because she was turned Papist who reserve the Kingdome for the son of Charles A brave posterity doubtless yet the King though now stricken in years could not live unmarried but took a third wife Katherine daughter to Gustavus Governour of West-Gothland The Wisdome Courage and prosperous success of Gustavus being now famous amongst other Nations occasioned sundry applications to be made to him for assistance but he was ever wary of moving out of his own sphere It s an excellent point of skill in a Commander to know when his strength hath attained its just bounds of Conquest and there stopping his desires of gaining more to fix upon the good Government of what he hath already gotten It was one of the last counsels given by Augustus to Tyberius that he should not endeavour to enlarge the bounds of the Empire lest he should meet with more difficulty in keeping and less in losing what was gained For the larger the borders are the more opportunity is given for invasion from abroad and for rebellion at home The wisdome and moderation therefore of Gustavus is to be commended for though he wanted not men of War nor hope of success in further undertakings yet having adventured for the delivery of his Country from Tyranny and accomplished it he desired no
could not attend upon it every morning yet he failed not of it in the evening Well Sir said Mr. Jurdaine I will tell you in plain tearms what I would have you â—o do I would take all these goods and throw them out into the street and let them rather be cast away and perish than that they should be a means to ruine my soul unto all eternity From this Assurance it was that he was so fearless of Death He knew that Death was an enemy as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 26. But that through Christ it was become a Friend to open the Gate of Heaven Whereas Death in it self is as Bildad saith Job 18. 14. the King of Terrours or as the Heathen said Of all Terribles the most terrible yet he being assured of his interest in Christ found it not so to him for he looked upon it as having lost its sting through Christ. Indeed he made it so familiar to him by his continuall meditation of it that he was so far from fearing it that he did delight to speak of it yea earnestly desired it and with joy expected it whereby he discovered his great proficiency in the School of Christ. It was his usuall saying that if Death were offered him on the one hand and the Kings Crown on the other he would take the Crown and throw it into the Kennel and choose Death far before it He knew that he should be a great gainer by Death and thereby obtain the Crown of life and glory Jam. 1. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 4. and that he feared not but rather hoped for Death And this was further manifested in that when the Plague was very hot in the City of â—xeter and he being in the highest place of Authority there at that time when the poor flocked about his house for relief though he would not causelesly expose himself to danger yet being in the discharge of his Duty he feared not the infection but often professed that if by Gods disposing the Plague should seize on him he would kiss and welcome it as the messenger of Death Nor was the meditation of Death then in his minde onely in times of danger but at all times there was not a day wherein he did not speak of it and not onely when there was occasion offered to talk of it but he would take occasion to discourse of that subject As when he was invited to a Feast he would tell the messenger that he would come if he did live so long And when he went out of his house upon publick or private businesses he would as it were take a solemn leave of his wife telling her that he knew not whether he should return to his house again Yet did he not so much desire Death as to undervalue the blessing of life or to neglect the means for the preservation of it for he acknowledged it to be a great blessing and he was willing to live as long as the longest lived man if it were Gods good pleasure and if he might do him service And when he was sick or in any danger he would carefully make use of the means that he might thereby serve Gods good providence for his recovery or deliverance saying that though he must trust in God yet he must not tempt him by seeming to trust in him His minde was not so much upon Earth and Death as upon Heaven to which he was assured Death would be a passage for him Sure his heart was much upon Heaven or Heaven was much in his heart as appeared by his frequent discourse of it both day and night and our Saviour Christ tells us Mat. 12. 34. That out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks All that knew him and looked upon him without a prejudiced eye would say that he was a most heavenly minded man a man that lived in Heaven as much as most that lived upon earth When in the night he looked upon those glistering lights of Heaven Ezek. 32. 8. the Firmament adorned with those Stars of light Psal. 148. 3. he used to raise up his thoughts and speech much higher even to the glory of the highest Heaven saying If these visible Heavens be so glorious how doth the Heaven above them exceed in glory where God alone shall be the light and yet the Righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father Mat. 13. 43. There was scarce any occasion administred or any special act of Gods providence that did occur but it would draw out some speech of Heaven from him as when any cross or loss befell him in his affairs he would say no more but Heaven will pay for all And when in a journey he fell from his horse and lay for a while in a swoon as soon as he recovered his first words were Well I see that I am now deceived I thought that my horse would have cast me into Heaven These are some few heads of the breathings of his piety to which much more might be added and truly they which knew him will marvell not that so much is said of him but rather that there is so little He was as eminent for Justice as for Piety when he was advanced to the chiefest place of Government in that City to be Mayor of that honourable Corporation He was an eminent Magistrate and that not only in the year of his Majoraâ—ty but ever after as long as he lived He looked upon it not as a place of honour onely but as an office of trust wherein he might honour God and execute justice amongst men and reform those evils which abounded in those times in that place He did not glory so much in having the Sword carried before him though it was a singular badge of honour to that City that the Kings swoâ—d should be taken from his side and delivered to the Mayor to be carried before him as a signall testimony of his favour and their loyalty and courage in the insurrection of Perkin Warbeck as he was desirous to draw forth the sword of Justice against evil doers and not to carry it in vain Rom. 13. 4. He was observed to be an impartial Administrator of Justice and one that without respect of persons did punish evill doers of whatquality or condition soever they were that did transgress the Law whether they were Citizens or strangers that came thither if complaint were made to him they should not escape condign punishment as the Laws of the Land or custome of the place did award As for instance There was a Gentleman of quality that was complained of to him for swearing five Oaths and for some other misdemeanours Mr. Jurdaine thereupon sent a Constable with a Warrant to fetch him before him but the Gentleman gave the Constable threatening language so that he durst not execute his Office Whereupon Mr. Jurdaine sent one Constable more for him who brought the Gentleman before him And he being in
Highness and for the same reason he constantly declined publick appearances insomuch as he could not without much reluctancy be drawn by those who had most interest in him unto more solemn Assemblies 3. In his meek conversation with and condescention to the meanest Christians For he refused not familiaâ—â—â—y to converse with the poorest Christian that repaired to him for counsel or satisfaction in their doubts His Charity was large though for the most part secret both in giving and forgiving to poor persons For he would not permit it to blaze only allowed it to shine when his example was requisite to lighten and lead others to glorifie God and gratifie men In redemption of Captives relief of poor Protestants especially of the Ministry to the repairs of publick and common losses and general calamities and to the setting forward of any good work he was strangely liberal the fruit whereof the Lord returned into his own bosome according to that promise The liberal soul shall be made fat Yet did he not so exhaust himself in his life but that in his last Will and Testament he did also bequeathe unto the poor of the Parish of Redrith 50 l. To ten of his Brethren in the Ministry whose wants and necessities especially if occasioned by the iniquity of the times he gave 50 l. i. e. to each of them 5 l. and to eight Ministers Widows 5 l. apiece in all 40 l. to them Thus his good works both went before him and followed him also unto Heaven whereby also he hath left behinde him the perfume of a good name for the imitation of them that survive Justice is presupposed unto Charity For God hates robbery for sacrifice Isa 61. 8. And Mr. Gataker was exactly just in giving every man his due though very frequently he remitted of his own right so that he was according to the Hebrew phrase a just man that is a kinde equitable person of a milde disposition no severe exacter of his own and a free dispenser of Gods gifts so that his Righteousness endures for ever both to his honour upon earth and to his happiness in Heaven In and about his death to which the course of his declining dayes leads us his Patience and Faith were very eminent the later attended with a deep sense of his own sins which he acknowledged unto God and to him only was that Confession needful For as to men his conversation was as â— Bishopâ— ought to be Irreproveable 1 Tim. 3. 2. The first step to his decease for morbus est via ad mortem sickness is the rode way to death was a fainting fit that surprized him on Friday night July the 7 or rather on Saturday morning July the 8 yet of this he made no great account for he disturbed not the rest of a servant by calling for assistance because he had at sundry times such faintings wherein he gave Nature leave to work out her victory over those vapours or viscous humors that oppressed her Yet thus far he made use of it that he compared his infirmity to that of Seneca which according to his relation the Physitians of that age called meditationem mortis and wished that it might prove to him a preparation to his dissolution The indisposition not ceasing with the fit discovered it self within a short time to be a Tertian Ague which how gentle soever yet falling upon a person of his age and crazie temper who had long supported a weak frame with a very regular course of diet made his condition doubtful to his Physitian who was one of learning and worth that imployed his best care and skill about that Patient whom he looked upon as a considerable person to the whole Church July the 17 Having published his Will and taken such order as he thought fit for the settlement of his outward estate he composed himself to God his Tertian growing too strong both for Nature and Art resolved it self into an almost continued Feavor the extream heat whereof was very painful unto him yet during those conflicts he shewed a sweet calmness of minde a heart weaned from the world to which he had no affection though his memory exactly served him for ordering his charity even to the last and in one word he represented a soul wholly submitting to Gods good pleasure He professed more than once that no outward thing troubled him so much as the condition of that Reverend Minister Mr. Sainthill who had but lately undertaken that charge at Redrith upon the uncertain Title of Mr. Gatakers life which now failing so soon besides the expectation of his Friends that Minister he foresaw was like to be unsettled and thereby to suffer some inconvenience Though Friends and Physitians gave him incouraging words at their visits yet he being sensible of his inward decayes could not be flattered into 〈◊〉 hopes of long continuance here earnestly contending that he was not to expect Miracles His expectation of Gods dismissing of him hence was so fixed thâ—t being consulted whether he would appoint any 〈◊〉 person to perform the last office for him He not startled at the Question appointed that Mr. Ash should be intreated to do that work because he had done the same at his last wives Funerals and one opportunity casually offered it self to set forward that design For July the 18 Mr. Ash out of his kinde respect to Mr. Gataker sent him two Funeral Sermons preached by him one at Mr. Whitakers the other at the interment of Dr. Spurstows only childe This gave occasion to Mr. Gataker in the return for that favour to request the last that he could be capable of Upon the receit of a Letter to that purpose Mr. Ash on the Saturday following visited his dear and dying Friend who then told him that he found him conflicting with his last Adversary and that though he knew the sting was pulled out yet nature would struggle These and other of his expressions Mr. Ash presently wrote down and related them at the end of his Sermon That day in the afternoon being July the 22 he called for some Papers of Mr. Baxters which were sent to him by the Author with a desire of his judgement concerning them He wished some short Notes for the perusal of them had been his last work to be read over to him in which he altered something And having dictated a Letter to that his Learned and Reveren Friend he appointed that that with the Animadversions inclosed should be sent to him So vigorous was his minde in a body drooping and dropping into the dust He had now given over the use of Physick as to any prolongation of his life For he said that he would struggle no more because he found that what was prescribed for the refreshing of nature did rather oppress it and therefore he was resolved to wait the Lords leisure An ancient servant that waited on him desiring leave to rectifie the bed-cloaths and saying withall
as well from remote parts of the world as near at hand He was the first that procured the Samaritan Bible which is onely the Pentateuch to the view of these Western parts of the world It was sent him from Syria by the way of Aâ—eppo Anno Christi 1625. He had four of them sent him by a Fâ—ctor whom he imployed to search for things of that nature and these were thought to be all that could there be had One of these he gave to the Library of Oxford A second to Leyden for which Ludevicus de Dieu returns him publick thanks in a Book that he dedicated to him A third he gave to Sir Robert Cottons Library And the fourth after he had compared it with the other he kept himself The Old Testament in Syriack an other Rarity also was sent him from those parts not long after It might happily seem incredible unto some to relate how many years agone he confidently foretold the changes which since are come to pass both in Ireland and England both in Church and State and of the poverty which himself should fall into which he oft spake of in his greatest plenty Some took much notice of that Text which he preached of in St. Maries in Cambridge Anno Christi 1625 upon the late Kings Coronation day and the first annual solemnity of it out of 1 Sam. 12. 25. If you still do wickedly you shall be consumed both you and your King Others of the last Text that he preached on at the Court immediately before his return into Ireland 1 Cor. 14. 33. God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints In his application he spake of the confusions and divisions which he was confident were then at the doors In his Book called Ecclesiarum Britannicarum Antiquitates p. 556 â—he hath this remarkable passage after he had largely related the manner of the utter destruction of the British Church and State by the Saxons about the year 550 as he found it in Gildas he gives two reasons why he was so prolixe in setting it down 1. That the Divine Justice might the rather from thence appear to us the sins of persons of all sorts and degrees being then come to the heigth which occasioned not onely shaking of the foundations of the British Church and State but the very destruction and almost utterly overturning of them 2. That even we now might be in the greater fear that our turn also is coming and may be minded of that of the Apostle Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodness and severity of God On them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off He often acknowledged that sometimes in his Sermons he hath resolved to forbear speaking of some things but it proved like Jeremiahs fire shut up in his bones that when he came to it he could not forbear unless he would have stood mute and proceeded no further He was very bold and free in the exercise of his Ministry sparing sin in none yea even before Kings he was not ashamed to do it He often to his utmost stood in the gap to oppose Errours and false Doctrines he withstood to the face any Toleration of Popery and Superstition by whomsoever attempted He was so fervent in his preaching that that of the Psalmist might be applied to him The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up Anno Christi 1624 he spake before many witnesses and often repeated it afterwards that he was perswaded that the greatest stroak to the Reformed Churches was yet to come and that the time of the utter ruine of the Roman Antichrist should be when he thought himself most secure according to that Text Revel 18. 7. When she shall say I sit as a Queen and shall see no sorrow c. His farewell Sermon in or very near the place where he had lived in England was then much observed upon Jam. 1. 25. Sin when it is finished brings forth death wherein he spake of the fulnes of the sins of this Nation which certainly would bring great destruction Adding that the Harvest of the earth was ripe and the Angel was putting in his sickle Rev. 14. 18. applying also that of the Epha in the Vision Zach. 5. when it was filled with wickedness and that of the Amorites who when their iniquities were come to the full were destroyed He often also hinted the same in his private discourses and many that heard them laid these his sayings up in their hearts and by what hath already fallen out do measure their expectations for the future At the last time of his being in London he much lamented with great thoughts of heart the wofull dis-unions and the deadly hatred which he saw kindled in the hearts of Christians one against another by reason of their several opinions in matters of Religion and observing how some opposed the Ministry both to Office and maintenance Others contemned the Sacraments Others raised and spread abroad Damnable Dectrines Heresies and Blasphemies Upon which considerations he was confident that the enemies which had sown these up and down the Nation were Priests Friers and Jesuits and such like Popish Agents sent out of their Seminaries from beyond the Seas in sundry disguises who increasing in number here in London and elsewhere do expect a great harvest of their labours and he was perswaded that if they were not timely prevented by a severe suppressing of them the issue would be either an inundation of Popery or a Massacre or both adding withall how willing he was if the Lord so pleased to be taken away from that evil to come which he confidently expected unless there were some speedy Reformation of these things An. Christi 1634 A little before the Parliament began in Ireland there was a Letter sent over from the late King to the Lord Deputy and Council for determining the question of the precedency between the Primate and Archbishop of Dublin the question was nothing as to their persons but in relation to their Sees This good man out of his great-humility was hardly drawn to speak to that Argument but being commanded he shewed in it a great deal of learning and rare observations in matters of Antiquity so that the business was deâ—ermined on his side who afterwards by another Letter procured without his seeking had the precedency given him of the Lord Chancellor These things took little with him but were rather burdens to him who was not in the least elated or puffed up thereby ' At that Parliament he preached the first day of it before the Lord Deputy and the Lords and Commons in St. Patricks Dublin His Text was Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet till Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the people be At the beginning also of the
and listed not to encounter him any farther pretending a necessity to be gone and so left the place So mightily it pleased God by him to convince them Another was this A Protestant Knight in Ireland had prevailed so far with his Lady who was then a Papist as to admit of a Parley about their Religion and she made choice of one for her that was called amongst them the Rock of Learning The Knight made choice of this our Primate to encounter him and upon the day appointed many persons of note were there assembled the learned and prudent Primate before the Disputation began spake thus to the Lady Madam said he let us know the end of our meeting Is it that this Gentleman and I should try our strength before you If so then it is like that we can speak Languages and quote Authors which you do not understand how then will you know who gets the better Therefore this is not our end If this Gentleman desires to shew his learning and reading that way if he please to come to the College of Dublin where there are men that will understand us both and can judge between us I shall willingly deal with him at those weapons but now our business is something else It is supposed that we two whom your Husband and you have chosen can speak more for the defence of our Religion than you that chose us and your desire is to know by hearing our discourse in your own Language how to rectifie your judgements Now therefore I will give you a rule which if you please to remember you shall be able to discern which of us two have the truth on our side and it is this The Points we will discourse of shall be such without some knowledge whereof no man may in an ordinary way attain to the end of his Faith the salvation of his soul. In these you may easily lose your selves not onely by Heresie which is a flat denying of them but by Ignorance also by a bare not know of them The word of truth contained in the Scriptures is the rule both of Faith and Life common to small and great concerning these things Now whilst we keep to the true sense of the Scriptures in these points you may understand us both but when we shall fly to subtle distinctions to evade plain Texts or flye from the Scriptures to take sanctuary in Authors which you know not assure your selves that we are at a loss and seek victory rather than truth Keep this Rule Madam in you minde for this Gentleman dares not deny it to be a true one and then you will be the better for our meeting And now Sir said he to the Jesuit her Champion I am ready to engage with you in any such points The Dispute was begun and after a short encounter the Jesuit was driven to those shifts whereupon the Primate said Madam do you understand my Argument that I propounded to this Gentleman She answered Yes and do you said he understand this Gentlemans answer She answered No indeed It is too high for me But said the Primate I do and can answer him in his own way but then you would not understand me neither Therefore Sir said he to the Jesuit I pray you help the Lady to understand your answer as she doth my Argument then I will further reply But it pleased God within a while so to disable the Jesuit from proceeding that he left the place with shame and the Lady by this and some further endeavours became not only a good Protestant but a very gracious woman The last instance I shall give of the successfulness of his labors is this About twelve or thirteen years ago we had an Ordination of Ministers in our seventh Classis at which time according to our custome we called in the young men that were to be Ordained one after an other and examining of them about the work of Gods Grace in their hearts three of them acknowledged that they were converted by Gods blessing upon the labours of this our Lord Primate whilst he preached at Oxford where they then were Students about the beginning of the long Parliament Anno Christi 1640 He came out of Ireland into England being invited thereto by some eminent persons wherein the special providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the Rebellion brake out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this his Zoar. His Library which was very great in the first year of the Rebellion viz. 1641 was in Drogheda which place was besieged four moneths by the Irish Rebels and they made no question of taking it and some of their Priests and Friers talked much what a prize they should gain by that Library but the barbarous multitude spake of burning it But it pleased God to hear the Fastings and Prayers of his people within and in a wonderful manner to deliver them and so all his Books and Manuscripts were sent him that Summer to Chester and from thence were brought safe to London The sufferings he now lay under were many and great All his personal estate was lost and that which belonged to his Primacy in Ireland was destroyed only for the present he was preacher in Covent Garden Anno Christi 1641 The great business of the Earle of Strafford came in agitation upon which a scandal was raised of him by a rash if not a malicious Pen in his Vocal Forrest as if he had made use of a pretended distinction of a personal and Political conscience to satisfie the late King that he might consent to the beheading of the said Earle telling him that though the first resisted yet he might do it by the second but to clear him of this a person of quality affirmed under his hand that some years agone a rumour being spread of the death of this Reverend Prelate whose loss was much lamented at Oxford when this concerning the Earle was then by one objected against him the late King answered that person in very great passion and with an oath Protested his innocency therein Besides he left under his owne hand a relation of that whole business a true Copy whereof followeth That Sunday morning wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops viz. of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Archbishop of Armagh was not present being then preaching as he then accustomed to do every Sabbath in the Church of Covent Garden where a message coming to him from his Majesty he descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as he saw imployed in Gods business which as soon as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his pleasure But the King spending the whole afternoon in the serious debate of the Lord Straffords Case with the Lords of his Council and the Judges
of the Land he could not before evening be admitted to the Kings presence There the Question was again agitatated Whether the King in justice might pass the Bill of Attainder against the Earle of Strafford For that he might shew mercy to him was no Question at all no man doubting but that the King without any scruple of conscience might have granted him a pardon if other reasons of State in which the Bishops were made neither Judges nor Advisers did not hinder him The whole result therefore of the Bishops determination was to this effect That herein the matter of Fact and the matter of Law were to be distinguished that of the matter of Fact he himself might make a Judgement having been present at all the proceedings against the said Lord where if upon hearing all the allegations on either side he did not conceive him guilty of the Crimes wherewith he was charged he could not in justice condemn him But for the matter in Law what was Treason and what was not he was to rest in the opinion of the Judges whose office it was to declare the Law and who were sworn therein to carry themselves indifferently betwixt him and his subjects c. Upon his losses in Ireland and the straits he was brought into here two Offers were made unto him from Forreign Nations the one from Cardinal Riâ—hlieu onely in relation to his eminent learning with a promise of large maintenance and liberty to live where he pleased in France amongst the Protestants The other from the States of Holland who proffered him the place of being Honorarius Professor at Leiden which had an ample stipend belonging to it but he refused both And now by reason of the disturbance of the times he was perpetually removing having with St. Paul no certain dwelling place and some of those evidences mentioned by that great Doctor of the Gentiles to prove himself to be the Minister of Christ were applicable to him 2 Cor. 6. 3 c. In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in tumults or tossings to and fro in labours in watchings and fastings By honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowful and yet alwayes rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things c. Anno Christi 1642 He obtained leave of both Houses of Parliament to go to Oxford for his study in that Library Anno Christi 1644 the late King coming thither he preached before him on the fifth of November His Text was Nehem. 4. 11. And our Adversaries said they shall not know neither see till we come in the middest amongst them and stay them and cause their work to cease In his Sermon he advised his hearers to put no repose in the Papists who saith he upon the first opportunity will serve us here as they have done the poor Protestants in Ireland which much offended some that were there present In March following he went from thence into Wales to Cardiff in Glamorganshire where for a time he abode with his Daughter But Septem 16. Anno Christi 1645 he removed from thence to St. Donnets the Lady Stradlings and by the way meeting with some Souldiers they used him barbarously plucked him off his horse and brake open two of his Trunks full of Books taking them all away amongst these he lost two Manuscripts of the History of the Waldenses most of his Books he recovered again but these Manuscripts though the meanliest clad he could never hear of which gave suspicion that some Priest or Jesuit had lighted upon them The loss of them grieved him much they being of use to him for the finishing of that Book De Ecclesiarum Christianarum successione statu Not long after he fell into a painful sickness wherein he bled four dayes together so that he swoonded and all hope of life was past and a rumour was spread abroad that he was dead which occasioned grief to many and it was so far believed at Court that a Letter came over for a successor in his Primacy in Ireland But it pleased God that he recovered and June 11 Anno Christi 1646 he came to London where the Countess of Peterborough gladly received him After a while he was chosen to be preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inne where he continued divers years with great honour and respect from them till at the last losing his sight so that he could not read his Text and his strength decaying he was advised by his friends to forbear and to reserve himself and the remainder of his strength for the writing of Books which were yet expected from him No spectacles could help his sight onely when the Sun shone he could see at a window which he hourly followed from room to room in the house of his abode In Winter the casement was often set open for him to write at This Summer he conceived would be the last wherein he should make use of his eyes the Winter following he intended to have an Amanuensis to write for him and a competent salary was intended for him whom he should choose to that work But the Lord was pleased to prevent it by taking him to the sight of himself After he had left Lincolns Inne he was prevailed with to preach in several places as in Graies Inne Nov. 5. Anno 1654 which he then thought might have been his last Sermon and it was taken as an honour by that Honourable Society whereof he had been admitted a member at a Reading above thirty years before He preached also at the Temple at Mr. Seldens Funeral and at two other places in the City both which the Lord was pleased to make very effectual in the conversion of divers that were his hearers And indeed seldome did the Sword drawn by him return empty The last Sermon which he preached was about Michelmas Anno 1655 at Hammersmith He complained that he was much troubled finding himself unable to continue his Ministry his thoughts were on it in the day and his dreams in the night and though he had been a preacher about fifty and five years and so like the Levites might well be excused from this service of the Sanctuary and have imployed himself as his manner was in directing of others yet he resolved if God continued his life the Summer following to return to it again in some small Church or Chappel He sought not great things for himself In the time of his distress by reason of his losses in Ireland the Parliament for some years was bountiful to him but the two last years of their sitting it fell out to be suspended But after they were dissolved the care of him was renewed by the Lord Protector by whose Order a constant competent allowance was given him which was continued till
for the publick peace and justice of the Nation that the antient form of Government should be revived That for the present they see the Nation without a supream Magistrate and without a Senate That the former hath murthered the later and the people ejected the former That he hoped in a short time to render an account of the Nation reunited and in a peaceable condition which is the end of War but some person must be elected to govern them when in a peaceable condition and a Senate must be constituted according to the antient custome of Sueden who may elect the supreme Governour That they the States of Sueden are the only first movers in this work and have power to constitute this Senate anew and therefore he prayes them to proceed according to their discretions for the settlement of the Government and such instruments as are necessary and conducing thereto The States seeing their way clear before them without further demur proceed to the election of a Senate consisting of some of those of the former Senate who had escaped the enemies fury and continued faithfull to whom they added others of the great men and having constituted them they granted to them the same power and priviledges which the ancient Senate had and in particular to elect one such person as they should think meet to be their lawfull King or Governour The Senate being thus chosen and impowred they unanimously elect Gustavus for their King and send a Message thereof to him humbly requesting that he will not refuse to take the Kingdome upon him and to perfect the work of restoring liberty to the Nation and vindicating the same from all Tyranny Gustavus having heard this Message answered That the burthen of governing a Kingdome was too heavy for his shoulders That it was one thing to govern in Warre wherein he was trained and another thing to be a King wherein he was not skilled That he was well wearied already with the dangers cares and labours of the Warre and now having brought the Nation into a posture of subsistence in peace he hath his ends and therefore desires them to rest contented therewith and that they would make choice of some other person of the Nobility of Sueden to be their King assuring them that himself would gladly serve under him whom they should choose and so thanking them for their good opinion of him he dismissed the Messengers The States and Senate having heard this answer were no wise satisfied with it and therefore renew their requests the Popes Legate also joyning with them and tell Gustavus plainly that they will not receive any negative nor can he evade the election if he regard the Senate or convention of States or the peoples good Gustavus hereupon is at length overswayed and yet abhorring all unworthy self-ends he professed his acceptance only upon the same grounds which moved them to elect him and that withall he was convinced that the work was of that nature that he was unable to go through with it therefore he would rest upon the Lord of Sabbath for his assistance and protection and next under him upon the Lords of Sueden whose wisdome care and industry he much prized especially desiring the earnest and daily prayers of all the people upon which account only he would submit to their desires And so according to the ancient custome by mutuall obligations of Oaths Gustavus is solemnly declared and proclaimed King of Sueden yet refused he to be crowned till five years after The first thing that was done after this election was the requitall of the Lubeckers for adventuring their men Ships and estates with the Suedes against the Danes in recompence whereof the Suedes granted that they would never make peace with the Danes without the consent of the Lubeckers That upon the surrender of Stockholme such wares goods and debts therein as the Lubeckers and Dantzickers should own upon Oath should be secured and returned to them That the Lubeckers shall be paid for their service That the Sea should be free for them and that they shall have a free trade in Sueden That they only of all forreign Nations shall have a free Trade in the Ports of Stockholme Calmar Sarcopen and Abbo That the King shall do them right That he shall never set prizes upon any of their Merchandise nor compell them to sell or leave their goods against their wills That their goods and estates wracked shall be restored to the owners without loss That their goods sold in Sueden by their Mariners or servants without order shall be restored to their owners and the offenders punished That the King of Sueden shall not harbour any of the enemies of Lubeck That if any difference shall arise between the Suedes and Lubeckers the same shall be ordered by four Lords of Sueden sent to Lubeck and so many Citizens of Lubeck joyning with them These were confirmed under the hands and Seals of the King and Lords of Sueden and Commissioners of Lubeck This was more than a recompence to the City of Lubeck had they been as careful to keep touch with the Suedes as the Suedes were with them Shortly after Stockholme was surrendred to the King who entred the same in the month of June after welnigh three years siege wherein the Danes had time enough to have relieved it if they had been convinced of any right that they had to the Kingdome of Sueden Upon his entry he was proclaimed King of Sueden and Gothland with great applause and joy of all sorts Hereupon divers Towns and Castles were surrendred to him and in the reare the Dukedome of Bleking and the Town and Castle of Elsburgh the onely commodious Port that the Suedes have into the Western Sea But still the Dukedome of Finland and the adjacent Countries were out of the Kings possession and therefore beginning now to study good Husbandry for those people whom he must own he dismissed his Forreign forces and the residue of his Army he sent into Finland under the command of Ivar and Ericus Fleming who within the space of one year reduced all that Country into obedience and the Northern people submitted upon the credit of their Neighbours so that the whole Kingdome was now united under the Kings command and he had nothing to do but to study peace and justice And accordingly he first made peace with the Muscovite having none other enemy whom he need to fear nor indeed any that bordered upon him but the Muscovite on the East and the Dane on the West and as for the Danes their condition was this King Christian being fled Frederick Duke of Holst being sent for came into Denmark and by the Nobility was elected and crowned King some years before Gustavus was crowned in Sueden though Gustavus was in Arms divers years before him â—oth these coming to the Throne upon the same title of the peoples liberty and
Doctrine of Luther and upon this account they sent Letters to Small and to stir them up to take Arms who were easily perswaded thereto and seized upon such as would not joyn with them and amongst others upon the Countess of Hoy the Kings own sister They wrote also to those in the Dales and other neighbouring Provinces to send their Deputies to a meeting appointed by them at Larva so uncertain is the love of the people Thus the Scene of War is changed and though Tyranny was in the Van and Prelacy in the main Battel yet Popery brought up the Rear and all tended to bring the Nation into its old condition rather than to suffer such a change So unsensible are men of their present happiness This storm the King might rationally foresee by what he found in the case of Prelacy yet his courage leads him on even to astonishment having nothing to back him but a good cause and a good conscience and truly though Polititians might condemn him yet the issue justified him For the Inhabitants of West-Gothland considering that the generality of the people had sworn Allegiance to the King thereupon demurred upon the business as also the Kings merits their enjoyment of their Laws and Liberties and that as to the point of Heresie objected against the King they were no competent Judges and that considering the Kings piety they had no cause to beleeve it but rather to judge it a scandal raised by his enemies Hereupon the confederate Lords grew into differences amongst themselves and the Bishop and one other of them fled into Denmark whither the Kings Letter pursued them alleging that it was contrary to their agreement that either King should harbour the others enemies so that they were feign to flye from thence into Mecklemburgh and the other Lords forgetting what they had done stood upon their justification alledging that they were forced to it by the heads that were absent in Forrein parts and that they never promoted or encouraged the Rebellion either by advice letters or instructions and therefore would stand to their trial at Law The King and his Council wondered at their confidence advising them rather to stand to the Kings mercy and to crave his pardon but they refused any mercy but what the Law would allow At last the King produced their own Letters wherein they had written to the Provinces to take Arms and so being self-condemned two of them suffered death one was ransomed and the rest begging pardon were received to mercy which excellent temperature in the execution of Justice commended and confirmed the King in his new-begun Kingdome making the people both to fear and love him And thus was this stir for Warre I cannot call it about Popish Religion quieted not with the Kings sweat and labour but by God alone whose cause it was The King taking into his consideration that the King of Denmarks carriage in this matter suited not with the former agreement made betwixt them and being unwilling that the same should be invalidated in the least point wise men who will preserve friendship must stop the breach whilst it is small he prevailed for an other interview that they might understand each others minde more fully and hereby the former agreement was explained enlarged and confirmed and so parting in love they returned with joy The King of Sueden after so many storms now hoped for peace and a settled Government and having been three years a Crowned King he purposed to build up his Family by Marriage which he solemnized with the Lady Katherine Daughter to the Duke of Saxony at Stockholme and now he must abide the issues and events of the affairs of the Kingdome to be theirs for better and worse and what he was formerly bound to do meerly for the Nations-sake he must now do for the sake of his own Family and Relations And thus having laid the foundation of his own house he proceeds to the further building up of the house of God for though he had before seized upon the Temporalties of the Prelates yet their places so far as they concerned Church Government he took not away nor that maintenance which was appointed for the Ministry The States also settled Pensions upon such as should be Overseers or Bishops to have care of the Churches and to these places as was said before the King had sent choise men for gravity learning and holiness of life and now he advanced two brethren Dr. Laurentius and Dr. Olaus the one to be Archbishop of Upsal the other to be Bishop of Stockholme through whose care and industry together with other reformed Bishops the Reformation of Religion much prospered in the Kingdome during their lives which was for the space of about thirty years and through their study and diligence it was principally that the Bible was translated into the Suedish Language and being printed was dispersed into every Town through the Nation But the time of the Kings rest was not yet come A strange apparition proceeds from the Belgick shore unto the Coast of Norway Christian the deposed King of Denmark now long since reputed as buried in Brabant had at last by the help of the Empeperour and some adventurers in Holland and the adjacent Countries who hoped for large priviledges in Denmark or Norwey if they could be regained to the King gathered Souldiers and Ammunition and with twenty five Ships sailed from Enchusen to the Coast of Norwey but by the way having lost ten of them they arrived only with the rest and before they were aware they were imprisoned by the Ice all that Winter Yet was Christian at liberty all that while to work his designs upon that Country of Norwey the Danes being at that season wholly disinabled to oppose him As many therefore of the great men of Norwey as pleased had free correspondence with Christian Only the Governour of Agger-house Castle dealt subtilly with him refusing to surrender it to Christian but upon such terms as might stand with his honour For said he though I acknowledge Christian to be King of these three Northern Kingdomes yet for the honour of my Family I desire leave to write to Frederick the now King of Denmark for present relief which in common reason he cannot send during Winter otherwise I will tell him that I must surrender the Castle to King Christian and by this means your Majesty will be no loser and my honour shall be saved Christian was contented herewith and the Governour dispatched his messenger into Denmark and notwithstanding the Frost he had such supply sent him as enabled him to stand upon his own defence Upon this Christian prepared for a siege during the continuance whereof as the besieged were relieved by the Danes so were the besiegers not onely by the Normans but by many Runegadoes out of Sueden such was their old love to Christian and their hatred to Gustavus
was of their own Country and neighbourhood The Kings spirit was too great to like of conditions from his Subjects yet his wisdome prevailed to take into consideration the condition of his affairs He considered that Christian was now in Norwey That Winter was newly begun That the Norwegians were inclined to assist Christian And that if the Dallcarles should be further provoked the issue might be doubtfull He therefore dissembled his displeasure and sent them a Governour according to their desire But at the end of three years he raised an Army and seized upon the chief Authors of this rebellion and put them to death and further to bring down the pride of the Dallcarles he seized upon their liberties and so levelled them with the rest of the people This was the first malignant design against the Government of Gustavus in favour of the cause of the deposed King which like a Granado firing in the air spent it self before it fell but it proved not the last For soon after the King of Denmark died leaving Christian a prisoner to the Lords of Denmark who differing in their opinions as to the election of a King spent two years in an Interregnum during which time some sought to promote the Son of the deceased King which was but a child and therefore more capable of counsell and herein the Bishops joyned Others acted for the Duke of Holst and some were for restoring Christian then a prisoner to the Crown again This was one summons to the King of Sueden to look about him and kept him off from punishing the Dallcarles for the matter about the Bells But there was another thing that was no less dangerous though the effect was not like to be so sudden and that was this About this time there was a change of Government in Lubeck from the Popish to the Lutheran way which although in it self it suited well enough with the King of Suedens mind yet in such alterations there is commonly one man more active than the rest who in such alterations of Religion becomes an instrument of altering the Government And such an one the Lubeckers had fitted for the purpose His name was Woolweaver a man whose education was answerable to his name Him they made Consul of the City and he being gotten up was blown higher by affecting popularity and undertaking to be a Protector to the poor who were now much encreased in the City the principal cause whereof he alledged to be the King of Suedens abridging them in their priviledges contrary to his agreement made with them when they assisted him in his Wars as also that he had countenanced trade from and with the Hollanders and other Nations for a remedy whereof Woolweaver counselled them to endeavour to draw the Danes to joyn with the Lubeckers against all trading with Sueden from without the Baltick Sea But the Danes told them that they thought it not meet to conclude in things of that nature till they were better settled in their Government and were ageeed about the party that should be their King And finding it more necessary to keep good correspondence with Sueden because of the endeavours of a party amongst themselves to advance Christian to the Throne again they acquainted the King of Sueden with the designs of the Lubeckers Woolweaver stormed at this and without blushing faces about and propounds to the King of Sueden to joyn with him against the Hollanders But Gustavus his counsel was rather to manage well the matter concerning Denmark than to enter into new engagements For saith he the Danish affairs are as a Sea of many currents wherein if you steer not an even course and keep not constant watch you may be in danger of Shipwrack and therefore as imbarked in one and the same Ship with Denmark let us bend our whole counsel in the speedy settlement of the Government thereof so as may best conduce to the concurrent interest of both Nations Woolweaver finding himself thus disappointed in both these places grew angry and like one lifted up from below lifted up his thoughts higher than his wits served him and in his carere vaunteth that as he had advanced Gustavus to the Throne so he would pull him down again and thereupon entertained correspondency with the Runnegadoes of Sueden which Gustavus being quickly sensible of he seized upon the persons goods and priviledges of the Lubeckers in Sweden The Lubeckers also dealt in the like manner with the Suedes in Lubeck Wool-weaver in the mean time aiming at no less than the Crown of Sueden held private intelligence in Sueden and stirred them up to civil broils that might busie the King at home and first he prevailed with the Earle of Hoy who had married the Kings sister and being a person of great interest he prevailed with the people especially with those of Smalland to disaffect them towards the King which done the Earl withdraws himself his wife and children to Lubeck under pretâ—nce for his health sake but being there arrived he was made Commander in chief of all the disaffected Suedes who repaired unto him It s the usual fate of great men seldome to be contented with their present state they think that either their own merits are not rewarded enough or their inferiours too much and so through discontent striving to be higher they fall lower The Earle of Hoy thought it not enough to be the Kings brother by marriage and Lord Lieutenant under Gustavus in Sueden but he must become General of a party of discontents under Woolweaver against his King his brother his kindred and Country and what he gained thereby will afterwards appear In the mean time many retire to him out of Sueden principally by reason of the disturbances in Smalland which himself had kindled before his departure thence and which afterwards were fomented by a company of lawless persons who had combined themselves against the Kings Justices there and carried themselves with so high an hand that it came to blood even to the slaughter of the Kings Lieutenant in that Country and when the King had suppressed them by force of Arms yet they maintained a kinde of theevish War till they could retire themselves to the Earle of Hoy whose party being thus increased waited all advantages which occasioned the King of Sueden to stand rather upon his watch than upon his defence for they did him no harm God having provided other means to clip their wings without the labour of the King of Sueden For Woolweaver according to his design being strengthened by these aides soon imployed it about his principal work which was to settle his Neighbours the Danes in a fitting posture for his purpose For the present condition of Denmark was this The Nobles were divided as was said before about the election of a King divers were for John the son of the former King though a childe and that principally upon the
his Court when he came after divers good admonitions given him he told him that though he was never so great a Gentleman he could no more go to Heaven whilest he took such courses than he could eat that stone pointing to a great stone in his Court and then required him to pay five shillings for his Oaths which he did Then he told him that he must put in sureties for the good behaviour This the Gentleman refused to do alleadging that he was a stranger Whereupon Mr. Jurdainâ— commanded the Constables to carry him away to prison till he would find sureties which accordingly they did and as he was going into the prison door he desired that he might return back again and he would give Bail When he came to Mr. Jurdainâ— to do it he again gave him many good instructions and the Gentleman though he was a man of a very high spirit gave him many hearty thanks for his good counsell and promised amendment for the time to come The Master of Bridewell could witness how many disorderly persons were sent thither by Mr. Jurdains Warrants more than by any other Justices in his time The Stocks and Whipping-post could testifie what swearers drunkards unclean persons and such like notorious offendors were punished principally by his indifferent execution of justice And if any of the offenders that were liable to the censure and penalty of the Law desired to be spared he would tell them Here be my children whom I dearly love and yet if any of them should commit such offences they should suffer as you must do and therefore I cannot remit of the penalty of the Law What excuses or fair pretences soever they made he caused the Law to be executed upon them yea and that the more severely because of the greatness of the crime and the greater dishonour that redounded to the Name of the most high God thereby When some scandalous offenders for the gross sin of uncleanness were accused and questioned before the Court and some present for by-respects pleaded for them desiring to have them spared he wished the Watchmen that were at the Gates to keep out the Plague it being a time wherein some neighbour-Towns were infected should be called home For saith he the Plague is in the Guild-Hall of the City Adding further that if they did not execute the Law upon them he would complain of them to the Council Table And thereupon after much contest there was Order taken for their severe and just punishment He was ever very vigilant especially in the year of his Mayoralty when the government of the City lay upon him both to prevent and remove disorders Insomuch as he would go himself with the Constables to search for idle and disorderly persons on Sabbath dayes at night and at the end of the Assizes and Sessions and in Fair weeks c. Yea he did not only execute justice but he shewed himself zealous therein manifesting the greatest indignation against those evils whereby God was most highly dishonoured as swearing and Sabbath-breaking Indeed swearing was most odious unto him and had there been a greater penalty than was at that time appointed by the Law of the Land he would most readily have inflicted it But by his punishing as many as were brought before him it struck such an awe into the generality as that some that lived at that time in the City and near the place of the greatest concourse of people the Corn-market observed that they did not hear an Oath sworn for many years together He did not only maintain his zeal against swearing and swearers of the ordinary sort and rank of men but even of the highest that came within the verge of his authority As for example A Gentleman of great quality and much favoured at Court was heard to swear five or six times in the City Mr. Jurdaine having notice of it sent some Constables to demand the penalty for swearing The Gentleman was of an high spirit and at this time accompanied with the chiefest of the County of Devonshire and there were divers hot spirits about him The Constables pressed towards the room where he was saying that Mr. Jurdaine had sent them to demand the aforementioned penalty and it was like to have broken forth into a great and dangerous contest but a prudent Gentleman of a more moderate temper and one that feared an Oath stepped forth to them and told the Constables that this Gentleman was of an high and impatient spirit and had great company about him I fear therefore said he that the event may be of sad consequence if you pursue your intentions at this time yet the Constables seemed unwilling to depart till they had what they came for the Gentleman seeing this said I will now pay the six shillings to you for him and I promise you faithfully that I will take a convenient time to admonish the Knight when it shall do him more good than the rigorous exaction of the penalty of the Law can at this time and so they departed It is credibly related that Mr. Jurdaine being summoned to appear in the Star-chamber for an act of Justice wherein it was supposed that he went somewhat beyond the strict letter of the Law being there in the presence of some of his Judges who were Noble men and hearing them to swear divers Oaths he told them that they must pay for every oath that they had sworn or otherwise he would make it farther known When he was Mayor of Exeter he did much reform the open prophanation of the Sabbaths For whereas the Hullers had wont to set their Mills agoing on the Sabbaths he put a stop upon them for that whole day knowing that that whole day was to be dedicated to God and his worship and service and whereas it was usuall to sell fruit and herbs and other things on the Lords holy day as also Bowling Cudgel-playing and other prophane pastimes were then much used by his zeal and vigilancy and by the care of other Officers under him they were wholly left off though not without much reluctancy opposition and some danger at the first for there were commotions and tumults and great resistance made against him but by his constant zeal for God and his day and Gods blessing upon the same they were at last suppressed and quelled And not onely when he was Mayor but ever after being a Justice of Peace in which Office he continued for twenty and four years he was much taken up in the execution of Justice yea sometimes for the whole day from morning till night So that he did not onely execute Judgement in the morning as Jer. 21. 12. after he had been with God in the Mount of heavenly meditation but all the day long as Moses sate to judge the people and the people stood before Moses from the morning untill the evening Exod. 18. 13. And when he was out of power as a Justice he discovered his
forget to acknowledge Gods goodness in bestowing any of these outward things upon him He found by experience that they were but uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. And that they had wings and would fly away Prov. 23. 5. But he did not run crying after them as they use to do who set their hearts upon them whereas he saw and acknowledged Gods hand as well in taking away as in giving as Job did Job 1. 21. and therefore was quiet and content having experimentally learned in some good measure that excellent lesson with St Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. By vicissitudes and changes of estates God did exercise his faith patience and contentation Having passed through the severall inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour in the City to be Mayor there wherein as hath been shewed he demeaned himself as became a Christian Magistrate and his ambition therein was highly to honour God who had thus honoured him And afterwards he was twice chosen to be a Burgess of Parliament wherein his zeal for God and against the corruptions of the times was abundantly manifested He was a great stickler to have the Bill passed for the punishment of Adultery with death but those times would not bear it Surely some of the Lawmakers knew some speciall reason for it When he made a motion for the passing of that Bill one or more of the Members in the House cried out Commit it Mr. Jurdain commit it upon which a great laughter was occasioned whereupon he presently said unto them in a zealous manner like himself Do you laugh when a man speaks for Gods honour and glory Upon which there was a more than ordinary silence in the House The Bill was at that time laid aside but in a following Parliament it was called upon by the name of Mr. Jurdains Bill He was also as it 's said the first man that promoted the Bills for the more strict sanctification of the Sabbaths and against Swearing Yea God did not only advance him to places of honour and dignity in the eye of the world but gave him an high place also in the hearts of his people and therein God made good his promise 1 Sam. 2. 30. Such as honour me I will honour His name was very precious in the esteem of those that knew his worth both whilest he lived and since his death Indeed it is confessed that he was a by-word unto many and that his name was taken up by way of reproach but it was by such as were upbraided and reproved by his holy and gracious conversation And he valued not their reproaches knowing that his Lord and Master did suffer much more in this kind and that this was but a Chip of that Cross which as he was commanded he was willing to bear Yea he was well content to drink of this bitter Cup after his Master and with him he despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. which the men of the world cast upon him Nay he accounted it his honour to suffer shame for the Name of Christ as the Apostles did Act. 5. 4. But some there were that brought shame upon themselves whilest they thought to cast contempt and scorn upon him Amongst other instances this one was remarkeable That being chosen Burgess for the Parliament not without much opposition and going up to London to clear the Election at which time there was an accusation sent up against him by a man of no mean place and power That he was the Host of the Schismaticks Whereupon some presumed that he would have been sent back with disgrace and accordingly there was a Sermon prepared by one to jeer him at his return this being his Text Psal. 114. 5. What ailed thee thou Jordan that thou wast driven back Thus men of prophane spirits will dare to make the sacred Word of God to serve their own base lusts and ends But Mr. Jurdaine instead of being driven back was confirmed in the place to which he was chosen and so shame was cast into the face of this wicked scorner and his Sermon or Invective rather proved abortive And as Mr. Jurdaine stood up boldly for God so did God stand by and for him and assisted him and carried him through many troubles and dangers that did threaten and even compass him about One act of Gods providence amongst many others was most notable in delivering him out of trouble He having done an act of justice as was hinted before in punishing an unclean person whose offence was aggravated by some hainous circumstances being moved with an holy indignation against the offence he went as it seems besides the letter of the Law in some circumstance Whereupon some friends of the person punished being stirred up with fury for the disgrace that reflected upon them without weighing the dishonour that was done to God and the foul blot that was cast upon Religion resolved to prosecute him to the uttermost for it wherein they put him to great charge and trouble by prosecuting him in the Star-Chamber and when the cause was to come to a finall determination it was much feared by many of his friends and through the boastings of his adversaries that some heavy censure would have passed upon him to his crushing if not to his utter undoing But when his friends on earth failed he flees to Heaven for succour and defence and cried unto God in Davids words Psal. 22. 11 19. Be not far from me O Lord for trouble is near for there is none to help O my strength hast thou to help me And he set apart the evening and a great part of the night by fasting and Prayer to engage God of his side who hath the hearts of all men even of the greatest in his hands to turn them as he pleaseth Prov. 21. 1. And behold the next morning he received a reall and gracious answer from Heaven being not only acquitted but commended by the Lord Keeper God stirring up the hearts of divers in that high and arbitrary Court to speak for him Thus the Lord was a very present help to him in the time of trouble Psalme 46. 1. After he was thus through Gods mercy freed and returned to his house he piled up the Books and Papers of all the proceedings in that troublesome and vexatious business under his Cupboard in his Parlour which was the place to which he did often resort and where he had that daily sweet and heavenly communion with God aforementioned and being asked the reason why he left so many Books and Papers to lie in that manner His answer was These I keep in my sight as memorials and monuments of Gods mercy in freeing me from my troubles Many other particulars might be instanced in but by that little which hath been said you may guess at the great worth of this holy man Only give me leave to adde the observations and testimony
zeal as a Christian against prophane swearing and for the strict observation of the Sabhath wherein there is a remarkable instance of both at once and it was this Mr. Jurdaine returning from the Parliament in the company of a person of Honour he was invited by him to stay at his house that night being Saturday and the Sabbath following he having observed that Noble personage to swear as they travelled together told him that he would not go into his house for that he was a Swearer and he feared that the house would fall upon his head Answer was returned that he need not fear that for the house was newly built a fair and strong house To this he replied yea but the flying Rowl of Curses shall enter into the house of Swearers and shall consume the timber and stones of it But to obtain his company the Lord pressed the inconveniencies of his lodging in an Inne on the Sabbath day Mr. Jurdaine replied But I will never go into your house unless you will engage your self that no Oath shall be sworn â—nor cursing uttered by yourâ— your Lady nor none of your servants or Family This was faithfully promised Yea but then said Mr. Jurdaine how shall the Sabbath be kept the answer was That he should have an honest Sermon in the forenoon And what in the afternoon said he Except we shall have a good Sermon in the afternoon also I will not go in That likewise was granted and as it is said all was faithfully performed He was not for judgement only but for mercy also and he shewed mercy to the souls of them that were brought before him as transgressors of the Law and to be punished according to their demerits For he would labour to convince them of the hainousness of their offences that so he might bring them to a sight of their sins and to repentance for the same He did much encourage the Officers under him to a diligent and faithfull discharge of their duty and indeed they stood in much need of it meeting with many discouragements from some others and when he found them somewhat backward through timerousness or other by-respects to execute his Warrants upon persons of high place he would exhort them to be active and forward in doing their duty telling them In good earnest for that was his usuall word that if he had as good a Warrant from God as they had from him to apprehend offenders if he were required to apprehend the Devil himself he would not be backward to put it in execution His zeal was not only in distributive justice as a Magistrate but he was conscienciously carefull as a Christian in commutative justice in his commerce and dealings with men wherein he made the Word the rule of his practice and if he found at any time that he had swerved from that rule he would retract it that so neither his own conscience nor other men might reproach him for walking disorderly and besides the rule and that appeared not only by his avoiding all usurious Contracts but also in making restitution of all that had been gotten thereby He had sometimes taken usury for Money lent to a person about Lime which he had received for divers years for at that time he held it lawfull by reason of the practice which he had observed in some forreign States and the concurrent judgements of some Divines of note who spake in favour thereof but upon his perusall of the Writings of other godly Divines of our Nation and by conference with some worthy Ministers of his acquaintance he was so convinced of the unlawfullness of usury that he did not only forbear the practice of it for the future but restored the interest formerly taken and took no more for the loan of Money than the party borrowing would voluntarily give him He did much bewail the common course of too many who sin against God both in getting and spending their worldly estates For said he as they get it unjustly and by indirect means so for the most part they spend it leudly and lavishly in satisfying their sinfull lusts Neither was he more famous for justice than he was for charity and that both in his life and at his death In his life-time he was a free-hearted man and open-handed He was a great patron of the poor Another Job in that respect He could truly say with him as Job 30. 25. Was not my soul grieved for the poor No doubt it was and the bowels of his compassion did yearn towards them He was an Advocate and did earnestly plead for them and especially for Gods poor honest poor persons whose hearts and faces were set Godward and Heavenward and his hands were very open to relieve them He did that for them which many of far greater estates had not hearts to do He would often say that he wondered what rich men meant that they gave so little to the poor and raked so much together for their children Do you not see quoth he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their children and they within a short time had scattered and consumed all and on the other side he often spake of such as had small beginnings and afterwards became rich or of a competent estate giving a particular instance in himself I came said he but with a groat or six pence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter And therefore leave children but a little and they by Gods blessing on their labour and industry may become rich But leave them a great deal and they are in danger to be beggars His care for the poor was most remarkeable in the time of the great Plague in that City which was anno Christi 1625. For in the Maiors absence he was chosen his Lieutenant or Deputy and he seeing the deplorable condition of the City accepted of it and then he wrote divers Letters to many Towns in Devonshire and to some in Dorset and Sommersetshire by which meanes he procured severall summes of Moneys for the suppliall of the wants of the many hundreds of poor that at that time were in a very distressed estate One that was an eye-witness related that he had seen morning after morning coming to his door sometimes thirty sometimes forty yea fifty or sixty or more wringing their hands some crying that their husbands were dead Others that their wives were dead Others that their children were dead and that they had not any thing wherewithall to bury them Some again cried that their Families were sick and they had not wherewithall to relieve them Others that they had divers children but they neither had bread nor Money to buy it for them Some cried for bread Some for Physick Others for Shroudes for their dead and he not only heard them patiently but his bowels yearned towards them and his hands were