'! :.< nnifi » ! 7 1 i n r i 1 1 idnimifiiimajniin— i>ii rmi YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ORIGINAL LETTERS RELATIVE TO THE ENGLISH REFORMATION. Etft Wavket gotietv- dfot tt}t $u6Itcatton of ttft Wftovbe of tf)i> .iFatfjers anU ©arlp 82Brtttrs of tfje Ueformefc (fPuglial) June 20' 1553 - 364 Julius Terentianus to J. [ab Ulmis], Strasburgh, Nov. 20, 1553 . 365 M. Reniger to H. Bullinger Without place or date 374 ERRATA. p. 25, 1. \\,for you read your. p. 80, 1. 17,/ET. and evangelical epistle; or that, lastly, of the mother1 of Severus, who profited by the counsels of Ongen, and was obedient to his precepts. All which personages were less indebted for their renown and celebrity to their beauty of person, nobility of birth, and large possessions, than to the glory and happiness they derived from the instructions of wise men, who, though singularly eminent for erudition and piety, did not disdain to lead them, as it were, by the hand to every thing excellent, and to suggest to them such thoughts as might especially conduce to their eternal salvation and happiness in the life to come. And I request again and again, that as you cannot be deemed inferior to any of these in understanding, or learning, or godliness, you will condescend to manifest a like kindness to myself. My unreserved re quests may carry with them an appearance of boldness ; but if you will consider the motive by which I am actuated, namely, that I may draw forth from the storehouse of your piety such instruction as may tend both to direct my conduct, and confirm my faith in Christ my Saviour, your goodness cannot, and your wisdom will not, allow you to censure them. From that little volume2 of pure and unsophisticated religion, which you lately sent to my father and myself, I gather daily, as out of a most beautiful garden, the sweetest flowers. My father also, as- far as his weighty engagements permit, is diligently, occupied in the perusal of it : but what ever advantage either of us may derive from thence, we are bound to render thanks to you for it, and to God on your account ; for we cannot think it right to receive with ungrateful minds such and so many truly divine benefits, conferred by Almighty God through the instrumentahty of yourself and those like you, not a few of whom Germany is now in this respect so happy as to possess. If it be customary with mankind, as indeed it ought to be, to return favour for favour, and to shew ourselves mindful of benefits bestowed; how much rather should we endeavour to embrace with joyfulness the benefits conferred by divine goodness, and [x Mammsea, mother of the emperor Alexander Severus, caused Origen to come from Alexandria to Antioch, that she might hear him preach, a.d. 229.] [2 This was a treatise on Christian Perfection, dedicated in 1651 to Henry II. of France.] IV.J LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. 7 at least to acknowledge them with our gratitude, though we may be unable to make an adequate return ! I now come to that part of your letter which contains a commendation of myself, which as I cannot claim, so also I ought not to allow : but whatever the divine goodness may have bestowed upon me, I ascribe solely to himself, as the chief and sole author of any thing in me that bears any sem blance of what is good; and to whom I entreat you, most accomplished sir, to offer your constant prayers on my behalf, that he may so direct me and all my actions, that I may not be found unworthy of his so great goodness. My most noble father would have written to you, to thank you both for the important labours in which you are engaged, and also for the singular courtesy you have manifested by inscribing with his name and publishing under his auspices your fifth Decade, had he not been summoned by most weighty business in his majesty's service to the remotest parts of Britain ; but as soon as public affairs shall afford him leisure, he is determined, he says, to write to you with all diligence3. To conclude, as I am now beginning to learn Hebrew, if you will point out some way and method of pursuing this study to the greatest ad vantage, you will confer on me a very great obligation. Farewell, brightest ornament and support of the whole church of Christ; and may Almighty God long preserve you to us and to his church ! Your most devoted, JANE GREY. LETTER V. LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at [Bradgate, July 7, 1552.] I should seem altogether ungrateful, unmindful of my duty, and unworthy of your favours, could I do otherwise than thank you, most accomphshed sir, for your many acts of P See the preceding Letter written subsequently to this.] 8 LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. kindness to myself. I do this however with diffidence, inas much as the great friendship which you desire to exist. between us, and the many favours you have conferred upon one who is so entirely undeserving of them, seem to demand something more than mere thanks ; and I cannot satisfactorily repay by my poor and worthless correspondence the debt of gratitude I owe you. The consideration also of my unfitness to address a letter to a person of your eminence, greatly adds to my uncomfortable feelings ; nor indeed should I either desire or presume to disturb your important labours with my trifles and puerilities, or interrupt your eloquence by my so great rude ness of speech, only that I know I have no other means of testifying my gratitude, and that I have no doubt of your accustomed and long experienced indulgence. With respect to the letter I lately received from you, you must know, that after having read it twice over, (for one perusal did not satisfy me,) I seemed to have derived as much benefit from your excellent and truly divine precepts, as I have scarcely obtained from the daily perusal of the best authors. You exhort me to embrace a genuine and sincere faith in Christ my Saviour. I will endeavour to satisfy you in this respect, as far as God shall enable me to do ; but as I acknowledge faith to be his gift, I ought therefore only to promise so far as he may see fit to bestow it upon me. I shall not however cease to pray, with the apostles, that he may of his goodness daily increase it in me. And to this I will add, as you exhort me, and with the divine blessing, such holiness of life, as my (alas !) too feeble powers may enable me to practise. Do you, meanwhile, with your wonted kindness, make daily mention of me in your pravers. In the study of Hebrew I shall pursue that method which you so clearly point out. Farewell, and may God protect you in the task you have undertaken, and prosper you for evermore! Your most religiously obedient, JANE GREY. VI.] LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. LETTER VI. LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. Before June 1553. The tardy performance of a duty, most learned sir, ought not to be censured, especially if it has not been omitted through neglect. The truth is, I am at a great distance from you, the couriers are few, and news reaches me slowly : but as I can now avail myself of the messenger, by whom my letters to you, and yours to me, have usually been conveyed, I must not be wanting in my duty of writing to you, but as diligently as possible, by word and deed, discharge the obli gation. For so great is your authority with all men, so great, as I hear, is the solidity of your preaching, so great too is the integrity of your conduct, according to the report of those who know you, that foreign and remote nations, as well as your own countrymen, are excited not only by your words, but by your actions, to follow after a good and happy life. For you are not only, as St James1 says, a diligent herald and preacher of the gospel, and of the holy commands of God, but also a true observer and doer of them ; and you manifest in your own life the practice that your precepts enjoin, not deceiving yourself. Neither, indeed, do you resemble those who behold their natural face in a glass, and, as soon as they have gone away, forget the form of it ; but you preach true and sound doctrine, and by your manner of life afford an ex ample and pattern for others to follow what you both enjoin and practise. But why do I thus address your gravity, when my ignorance is such that I can neither adequately praise your piety, nor sufficiently eulogise your integrity of life, nor set forth your profound and admirable learning in a becoming manner ? Were I indeed to extol you as truth requires, I should need either the oratorical powers of Demosthenes, or the eloquence of Cicero ; for your merits are so great, as to demand not only length of time, but an acuteness of intellect and elegance of expression far beyond that of my age to set them forth. For God, it seems, has looked upon you with [i See James i. 22—24.] 10 LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. such complacency, as to have fitted you both for his kingdom and for this world : for in this earthly prison you pass your days, as though you were dead ; whereas you live, and this not only' to Christ in the first place, without whom there can be no life, and in the next place to yourself; but also to others without number, whom you strenuously labour and assiduously endeavour to bring, by God's blessing, to that immortality which, when you shall have departed this life, you will obtain yourself. And that your piety may accom plish what you desire, I will not cease to implore of God, the supreme ruler of the universe, nor constantly to importune the divine ears for your long continuance in this life. In writing to you in this manner I have exhibited more boldness than prudence : but so great has been your kindness towards me, in condescending to write to me, a stranger, and in supplying the necessary instruction for the adornment of my understanding and the improvement of my mind, that I should justly appear chargeable with neglect and forgetfulness of duty, were I not to shew myself mindful of you and of your deservings in every possible way. Besides, I entertain the hope that you will excuse the more than feminine bold ness of me, who, girlish and unlearned as I am, presume to write to a man who is the father of learning ; and that you will pardon that rudeness which has made me not hesitate to^ interrupt your more important occupations with my vain trifles and puerile correspondence. Let me but obtain your indulgence, and I shall consider myself on every account ex ceedingly indebted to your kindness. For if I have been to blame in this matter, you must ascribe it rather to the ex cess of my regard for you and for your virtues, than either to a boldness which ought not at all to exist in our sex, or a temerity which is for the most part adverse to our better judgment; inasmuch as the splendour of your endowments is so dazzling to my mental perception, whenever I read your works or meditate upon yourself, that I do not consider what is becoming to my condition, but what is due to your worth and excellence. My mind, moreover, is fluctuating and un decided : for while I consider my age, sex, and mediocrity, or rather infancy in learning, each of these things, much more all of them, deter me from writing ; but when I call to mind the eminence of your virtues, the celebrity of your character, VI.J LADY JANE GREY TO HENRY BULLINGER. 11 and the magnitude of your favours towards me, the higher con sideration yields to the inferior ; a sense of what is becoming me gives way to your worth, and the respect which your merits demand usually prevails over all other considerations. It now only remains for me, most illustrious sir, earnestly to entreat you cordially to salute in my name, though I am personally unacquainted with him, the excellent Bibliander1, that pattern of erudition, godliness, and authority. For so great is the reputation of his learning in our country, and so renowned his name among all people, by reason of the singular endowments which God has bestowed upon him, that though I have acquired but little learning myself, I cannot resist my inclination to pay respect to the piety and integrity of such a man, who, if I am not mistaken, has been sent to us from heaven. And I pray God that such pillars of the church as you both are, may long enjoy good health. As long as I shall be permitted to five, I shall not cease to offer you my good wishes, to thank you for the kindness you have shewed me, and to pray for your welfare. Farewell, learned sir. Your piety's most devoted, JANE GREY. LETTER VII. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOACHIM VADIAN3. Dated [1537.] Having obtained a release, or rather a respite, from public affairs and dehberations, and beginning, illustrious and most learned Vadian, at the turn of the year, to reply to you among my other learned correspondents, to whose letters I had long been owing an answer, (to you, I say, as having P Theodore Bibliander, or Buchman, was born in 1504, at Bis- choffzel near St Gall. He was professor of theology at Zurich, where he died in 1564.] p The original of this letter is published by Colomesius and others : (see Strype, Cranmer, 94, 740) also in Jenkyns's Remains of Cranmer, Vol. i. p. 193.] Is Joachim Vadian was born at St Gall in Switzerland, in 1484; He was distinguished as a scholar and mathematician.] 12 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOACHIM VADIAN. [LET* received your letter last winter, together with a literary present, which kind of presents I always regard as of the greatest value,) I first begin to consider with myself, and en tertain some apprehension, lest by my so long protracted silence I may have given occasion in your mind to some suspicion or opinion not altogether favourable to me. For I know that it is usual among the generality of mankind, that when one person sends his commendations to another, he anxiously expects an acknowledgment of them by the very first opportunity : and if this be delayed, he will suspect that it has been owing to pride, or neglect, or at least forgetfulness; and will conclude beforehand that the party will continue such through the whole of his life, as he has been found to be upon a first introduction. Whereas the person who sends a speedy reply, is judged to have done so from kind and friendly motives, and is therefore regarded as courteous, accessible, and grateful ; he on the other hand, who is tardy in his acknowledgments, is considered hard of access, and a person of rude and disagreeable manners. So true it is, that what ever a man does quickly and without delay, he may be said to do twice over. But I promise myself a far better reception from your more than ordinary discretion and cour tesy, and am confident that you will take in good part this my involuntary tardiness or delay, and not ascribe it so much to my manners as to my engagements. The nature and importance of these has, I think, long since been made known to you by report; and I have written something respecting them to our common friend Grynaeus, who will, I doubt not, as the rights of friendship require, make you ac quainted with every circumstance. To him therefore I refer you, in case you are offended with me in this matter, as to one who will render me more excusable in your eyes. I perceive in your letter, and readily accept and embrace, your good-will towards me, and inclination to cultivate a more intimate friendship with me. For I consider vou as one who, by reason of your extraordinary erudition, (by which I shall not scruple to acknowledge that I have myself derived bene^ fit,) and of your probity of morals, confirmed by the testi mony of many most excellent persons, is worthy of being regarded by me with all love, favour, and respect. Never- the ess, if I may candidly express my sentiments, (as ought to be the case between good men,) the subject you treat of in VII. J ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOACHIM VADIAN. 13 ( those six books1 which you sent me as a present, is altogether displeasing to me ; and I could wish you had bestowed your labours to better purpose, and commenced an agreeable friend ship with myself under better, or at least more approved auspices. For, unless I see stronger evidence brought forward than I have yet been able to see, I desire neither to be the patron nor the approver of the opinion maintained by you. And I am plainly convinced, and from this circumstance espe cially, that the cause is not a good one, because you who are so shrewd, so eloquent, and so perfectly accomplished in all arts and learning, do not seem to defend and support it with sufficient vigour. I have seen almost every thing that has been written and published either by CEcolampadius or Zuin- glius, and I have come to the conclusion that the writings of every man must be read with discrimination. And perhaps one might apply to these men, and not without reason, the remark of Jerome respecting Origen, that where they wrote well, nobody wrote better, &c. : you know what follows. As far indeed as they have endeavoured to point out, confute, and correct papistical and sophistical errors and abuses, I commend and approve them. And I wish that they had con fined themselves within those limits, and not trodden down the wheat together with the tares; that is, had not at the same time done violence to the authority of the ancient doc tors and chief writers in the church of Christ. For how much soever you may exercise your ingenuity, you will cer tainly never convince me, nor, I think, any unprejudiced reader, that those ancient authors are on your side in this controversy. You have been, in fact, more than enough inquisitive in your investigation of errors; and while you are endeavouring to purify every thing, you have fancied error to lurk in places where none existed. And this error most certainly, if error it be, has been handed down to us by the fathers themselves, • P Namely, Aphorisms upon the consideration of the Eucharist, in tended to disprove the corporal presence, which tenet was held by Abp. Cranmer up to the year 1546 ; when by more mature and calm deliberation, and considering the point with less prejudice, and the sense of the fathers more closely, in conference with Dr Ridley, after wards bishop of Rochester, and his fellow-martyr, he at last quitted and freed himself from the fetters of that unsound doctrine. Strype, Cranmer, 94, 97; see also Cranmer's works on the Lord's supper, published by the Parker Society.] i 14 ) ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOACHIM VADIAN. [LET. and men of apostohcal character, from the very beginning of the church. And what godly man could endure to hear this, much less to believe it ? Not to mention in the mean time, that our gracious Lord would never have left his beloved spouse in such lamentable blindness for so long a period. Wherefore, since this catholic faith which we hold respecting the real presence has been declared to the church from the beginning by such evident and manifest passages of scripture, and the same has also been subsequently commended to the ears of the faithful with so much clearness and diligence by the first ecclesiastical writers; do not, I pray, persist in wish ing any longer to carp at or subvert a doctrine so well grounded and supported. You have sufficiently made the attempt already. And unless it had been firmly founded upon a solid rock, it would long since have fallen with the crash of a mighty ruin. It cannot be told, how greatly this so bloody controversy has impeded the full course of the gospel both throughout the whole christian world, and especially among ourselves. It brings very great danger to yourselves, and occasions to all others a stumbling-block greater than I can express. Wherefore, if you will listen to me, I exhort and advise you, yea, I beg, beseech, and implore and adjure you in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to agree and unite in a christian concord, to exert your whole strength in establishing it, and at length to afford to the churches the peace of God which passeth all understanding, so that we may, with united strength, extend as widely as possible one sound, pure, evan gelical doctrine, conformable to the discipline of the primitive church. We should easily convert even the Turks to the obedience of our gospel, if only we would agree among our selves, and unite together in some holy confederacy. But if we go on in this way to "bite and devour each other," there will be reason to fear, lest (what I abhor the mention of), according to the warning of the apostle, we "be consumed one of another." re,W hT'+ W°r-hy Vadian' m^ true and §enuine opinion Sfn g. ;ntoertr°VerSy' t0§'ether ^ith a free and hall enrotT T° "^ * ^ ** ™ attention' l mv iTf -JT T6 n0t °Ulj am°nS ^ friends> ^t among my best friends. Farewell. [1537.] T. CANTUAR. VIII.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO WOLFGANG CAPITO. 15 LETTER VIII. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO "WOLFGANG CAPITO. AVithout place or date1. The treatise2, my friend Capito, which you had dedicated to the king's majesty, I presented to him with my own hand. He received it, as I thought, with pleasure and satisfaction. I also hinted to him that he should recompense your labours, and he promised to see to it. Not long after, when the bishop3 of Hereford and I were together in company with the Lord Crumwell, the keeper of the privy seal, who is one of the privy councillors, and who has himself done more than all others together in whatever has hitherto been effected respect ing the reformation of rehgion and of the clergy ; we united in requesting him to put his majesty again in mind of you, which he has done, and a hundred crowns are assigned to you as a present, which he has ordered the bearer of this letter to take with him. Do you still desire to know whether your offering was acceptable ? Well, I will state, not what I myself know to be the fact, but what I have heard from others who have been at court more recently than myself. The king, who is a most acute and vigilant observer, is wont to hand over books of this kind that have been presented to him, and those especially which he has not the patience to read himself, to one of his lords in waiting for perusal, from whom he may afterwards learn their contents. He then takes them back, and presently gives them to be examined by some one else, of an entirely opposite way of thinking to the former party. When he has thus made himself master of their opinions, and sufficiently ascertained both what they commend and what they find fault with, he at length openly declares his own judgment respecting the same points. And this, I understand, P Dr Jenkyns, who has published the Latin original of this letter from the archives of Zurich, assigns the date of 1537.] P This treatise is entitled, Responsum de Missa, Matrimonio, et jure magistratus in religione, 11 Martii, 1537, Henrico YLTI. inscrip- tum. Jenkyns, Cranmer, I. 192.] p Edward Foxe, bishop of Hereford, 1535, died in 1538.] 16 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO WOLFGANG CAPITO. [LET. he has done with respect to your book; and while he was much pleased with many things in it, there -were also some things which he could by no means digest or approve. I suspect they were the statements you made concerning the mass. You now have every thing respecting that book which I have been able either to hear and see in person, or to gather and collect, when absent, from the report of others. As to myself, be assured of this, that I love and reverence you from my heart, and regard you as one who, by reason of your remarkable erudition united to an equal integrity of manners, is deserving of the friendly offices of all good men. And I wish that my ability corresponded with my inclination to serve you ; for you should then perceive, my Capito, how greatly I esteem you. I request you in the mean time to take in good part from me this trifling present, small indeed, if your deserts are taken into account, but yet not to be de spised, if you duly consider, either the feelings of the giver, or the necessary and manifold expenses with which I am burdened almost beyond my strength. In fine, I request you to favour and assist for my sake, as far as you can, this my friend Thomas Tybald', who is the bearer of this letter. Farewell. T. CANTUAR. LETTER IX2 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOHN A LASCO. Dated at London, July 4, 1548. I am sorry that your coming to us has been prevented by the unlooked for intervention of some other engagement; for I have no doubt but that I should easily have satisfied P Cranmer wrote a letter to Crumwell, dated 22d July, [1537], especially to recommend Tybald as «a very honest man, and both bved and trusted of the learned men in those parties," namely, Ger many and Switzerland. See Jenkyns's Cranmei^i. 191 ] ™H ,ll atr1 °f tWs l6tter is Publi^ed in Jenkyns's Cranmer, and also in Gabbema Epp. Clar. Virorum.] IX.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOHN A LASCO. 17 you as to your invitation 3, if I had had an opportunity of conversing with you upon the subject. But as you are not able to come at present, but write word that you intend to come at some future time, if you shall have previously been informed by a letter from me as to the nature of your vocation amongst us ; I will converse with you by letter, and briefly explain in writing, what I shall perhaps state some what more copiously to you in person. We4 are desirous of setting forth in our churches the true doctrine of God, and have no wish to adapt it to all tastes, or to deal in ambigui ties ; but, laying aside all carnal considerations, to transmit to posterity a true and explicit form of doctrine agreeable to the rule of the sacred writings ; so that there may not only be set forth among all nations an illustrious testimony respecting our doctrine, delivered by the grave authority of learned and godly men, but that all posterity may have a pattern to imi tate. For the purpose of carrying this important design into execution we have thought it necessary to have the assistance of learned men, who, having compared their opinions together with us, may do away with all doctrinal controversies, and build up an entire system of true doctrine. We have there fore invited both yourself and some other learned men ; and as they have come over to us without any reluctance, so that we scarcely have to regret the absence of any of them, with the exception of yourself and Melancthon, we earnestly request you, both to come yourself, and, if possible, to bring Melancthon along with you. I am now sending a third letter to Melancthon5, in which I exhort him to come to us ; and if your exhortation be added to my letter, I have no doubt but that he will be persuaded to accept an invitation so often repeated6- He need not, I think, be under any fear of the attacks of enemies, or the dangers of the roads, which, if [* Dr Jenkyns is of opinion, from a letter of John a Lasco to Hardenberg, in Gerdes, Serin. Antiq., that this invitation had been given in the preceding year. Jenkyns, Cranmer, i. 329.] [4 For an account of Cranmer's design to unite all the protestant churches, see Strype, Cranmer, 584.] P See Strype, Cranmer, 574, and Latimer's Sermons, Parker So ciety Edition, Vol. I. p. 141.] p John a Lasco, Jenkyns states, (Remains of Cranmer, I. 331) forwarded Cranmer's letter to Melancthon by .lEpinus, as appears from a letter to Hardenberg, July 28, 1548, given in Gerdes.] r i ' 2 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 18 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOHN A LASCO. [LET. they exist at all, are however far less than where he now is1. You may add too, that by undergoing a little mconvemence for a short time, he will procure to himself ease for many years, and to the state everlasting benefit. If I anticipated that his visit to us would be either useless or unpleasant, no one would dissuade him from it more earnestly than myself. But now, when I perceive that he can in nowise act more advantageously either for himself or for the state, than by coming over to us at this juncture, I am the more urgent upon the subject, and exhort you to exert all your diligence and consideration to this one end, namely, to make our friend Philip ours in reality. I explained to you, a short time since, what will be the situation of you both ; but I so explained it, as desiring that you should learn to be pleased with England from your own experience rather than by my commendation of it. Farewell and happily. London, July 4, 1548. I am exceedingly desirous of your presence. T. CANTUAR. LETTER X2. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO ALBERT HARDENBERG. Dated at Cambbidge, July 28, 1548. But if our friend Philip will consider for what purpose he is invited, and also by what persons, those, assuredly, who are most friendly both to himself and to true rehgion ; and also with how great anxiety he is both invited and expected ; truly I know not whether he can neglect this summons, espe cially as he must perceive that he has no certain vocation yonder which he can properly place in opposition to it. If [1 Cranmer alludes to the attempt of Charles V. in 1548, to force the Interim on the German protestants.J P A fragment only of this letter has been preserved, a portion of which will be found in the preceding one, from the words " We are desirous," &c. p. 17, to "my commendation of it," p. 18. Cranmer then proceeds as is here given. The Latin original is published in Jenkyns's Cranmer, and in the Parker Society edition of the arch bishop's works.] X.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO ALBERT HARDENBERG. 19 he felt unwilling to refuse the venerable elector of Cologne upon a like invitation, he cannot certainly decline the present one, upon an occasion of much greater importance and neces sity. His friends perhaps will be unwilling to let him go, and he too will be unwilling to part with his friends at this particular juncture : but I fear in the mean time that all parties yonder do not attend to him from such motives as we could wish ; and even if they do, I know not whether he can now remain there with as much advantage as can now be derived from his presence in our England, and which never theless ought not to be disregarded by us, inasmuch as we think it our duty to seek truly and heartily the glory of Christ our Lord. I wish he would once make up his mind, and acquaint us with his intention, or that he would come over to us immediately, and anticipate every messenger. We will provide for the expense, either through you, or else where, as soon as we know to what extent, and in what place, he wishes provision to be made. Cambridge, July 28, 1548. LETTER XI3. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO MARTIN BUCER. Dated at London, Oct. 2, 1548. Grace and peace of God in Christ. I have read your letter to John Hales4, in which you- relate the miserable con dition of Germany, and inform us that you can scarcely preside in the ministry of the word in your city. With groanings therefore I call out with the prophet, " Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, 0 thou that savest them which trust in thee from those that rise up against thy right hand." P The original of this letter is printed in Strype, Cranmer, 844 ; Jenkyns, i. 335, Bucer, Script. Angl. p. 190, and in the Parker Society edition of the archbishop's works.] P John Hales was a learned and good man, and clerk of the hanaper to Edward VI. and queen Elizabeth. In queen Mary's time he was an exile at Frankfort. See Strype, Mem. n. i. 47 ; m. i. 405 ; Cranmer, 280.] 2 — 2 20 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO MARTIN BUCER. [LET. (Ps. xvii. 7, marg. ver.) Nor do I doubt but that God will regard both this and the hko lamentations of godly men; and that he will preserve and defend the true doctrine, which has hitherto been sincerely set forth in your churches, against all the rage of the devil and of the world. Those, in the mean time, who are unable amidst the raging storm to launch out into the deep, must take refuge in harbour. To you, there fore, my Bucer, our kingdom will be a most safe harbour, in which, by the blessing of God, the seeds of true doctrine have happily begun to be sown. Come over therefore to us, and become a labourer with us in the harvest of the Lord. You will not be of less benefit to the universal church of God while you are with us, than if you retain your former posi tion. In addition to this, you will be better able to heal the wounds of your distressed country in your absence, than you are now able to do in person. Laying aside therefore all delay, come over to us as soon as possible. We will make it manifest that nothing can be more gratifying or agreeable to us than the presence of Bucer. But take care that you suffer no inconvenience from the journey. You are aware of those who pursue your life : do not therefore commit yourself into their hands. There is an English merchant yonder, Richard Hilles, a godly and most trustworthy man, with whom I would have you confer respecting all the arrangements for your journey. Moreover, I pray God, the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with my whole heart, that in the midst of wrath he may remember mercy, and look upon the calamities of his afflicted church, and kindle the fight of true doctrine increas ingly among us, and not suffer it to be extinguished, after having now shone with so much splendour for many years among yourselves. May he likewise, my Bucer, guide and preserve you, and bring you over to us in safety. Farewell arriva? "' ^ 2' 1548* M°St anxi«U8 for J™ THOMAS CRANMER, archbishop of Canterbury. XII.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PHILIP MELANCTHON. 21 LETTER XII. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PHILIP MELANCTHON'. Dated at London, Feb. 10, 1549. We are experiencing, most learned Melancthon, the truth of all that our Lord Jesus Christ has foretold respecting the trials of his church. " But God is faithful, who will not suffer his people to be tempted above that they are able, but will also with the temptation make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it." For though from his hatred to the Son of God the devil exercises a horrible tyranny over the mem bers of Christ, yet God has promised that his church shall never perish ; nay, of these last times he expressly declares, " To hoar hairs will I carry her ; I will bear, I will deliver her2." And God has always willed some civil societies to be the refuge of his churches, and that their rulers should sup port the friends of heavenly doctrine; just as Obadiah be-, friended the hearers of Elias, whom the kings of Israel were persecuting on every side. Wherefore, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I give thee thanks for having rescued our island from the waves, like the ark of Noah, and for having granted us such rulers as seek thy glory, and who devote their houses and possessions to the church and its service, as in old time the cottage of the widow of Sarepta afforded a home to Elias. And I pray God to direct us, and to gather unto himself a perpetual church amongst us, not only out of our own countrymen, but also from among those of foreign nations, as according to his infinite mercy he has already begun to do. For many pious and learned men have come over to us, some from Italy, some from Germany, and we are daily expecting more ; which society of the church if you will vouchsafe to increase and adorn with your presence, I know not by what means you will be able more effectually to set forth the glory of God. I am aware that you have often desired that wise and godly men should take counsel together, and, having com- P The original letter is printed by Jenkyns, and in the Parker Society edition of. Cranmer.] P See Isaiah xlvi. 4.] 22 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PHILIP MELANCTHON. [LET. pared their opinions, send forth under the sanction of their authority some work, that should embrace the chief subjects of ecclesiastical doctrine, and transmit the truth uncorrupted to posterity. This object we are anxiously endeavouring to accomplish to the utmost of our power. We therefore request you to communicate your counsel and opinions with us in person, and not so to shut up your mind as to seem wanting even to your own wishes, or acting in opposition to so manifest a calling of God. I could relate many things upon this subject, which would bring you over to our opinion; but the brevity of a letter will not contain them all. I would rather, therefore, that you should learn them from the bearer, John a Lasco, a most excellent man. For he has resided with me upon the most intimate and friendly terms for some months past ; and I pray you to give credit to whatever he may relate to you in my name. May our Lord Jesus Christ, the guardian of his church, who has said, None shall pluck my sheep out of my hands, preserve and defend the ministry of his gospel, and bring you in safety to the harbour of our church ! Farewell. London, Feb. 10, 1549. Most anxious for your arrival, THOMAS CANTUAR. Our German friends who are with us, request you to bring with you doctor Albert Hardenberg, as Jonas1 will tell you in my name. LETTER XIII. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO HENRY BULLINGER3. Dated at Lambeth, March 20, 1552. Much health. That I reply, after a year's interval, to your letter dated at Zurich on the 24th of February, you must impute partly to my want of leisure, and partly to a ,nm[l?iS7aS5UStULJOIlaS the y0Unger' wto came over with letters commendatory from Melancthon. Strype, Cranmer, 581.] soi^S^a^ printed by Jenkyns' and in *e Parker XIII.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 23 kind of dislike to a duty of this nature, and which I must candidly admit myself to entertain. But as it is better to perform^ duty tardily than not at all, you shall now receive a reply to the whole of your letter. You write to me upon two subjects, one of a public, the other of a private nature. With respect to that which is public, namely, that I would advise the king's majesty not to send any delegate to the council of Trent3, there was no need of any advice of mine to dissuade him from a measure which never came into his mind : but I considered it better, foras much as our adversaries are now holding their councils at Trent to confirm their errors, to recommend his majesty to grant his assistance, that in England, or elsewhere, there might be convoked a synod of the most learned and excellent persons, in which provision might be made for the purity of ecclesiastical doctrine, and especially for an agreement upon the sacramentarian controversy, To which plan (as consider ing it most useful to the christian commonwealth) I perceived that the mind of his majesty was very favourably disposed. We must not therefore suffer ourselves to be wanting to the church of God in a matter of such importance. I have written upon the subject4 to masters Philip [Melancthon] and Calyin; and I pray you to devise the means by which this synod may be assembled with the greatest convenience, either in England or elsewhere. The private affair upon which you wrote to me, was, that I should put an end to the controversy between tjie bishop of London and Hooper, bishop of Gloucester, respecting which it is now too late to reply. For I am aware that you have been informed long since5, that this controversy has been en tirely settled. And master Hooper is in such great esteem among us, that he is now appointed bishop of Worcester6, and P The first session of this year was held on the first of May. For an account of its proceedings, see Burnet, 11. 299.] P See the next and following letters.] p Namely, by Hooper, whose letter to Bullinger, dated Aug. 1, 1551, is given in a subsequent part of this volume. Peter Martyr also wrote to Bullinger upon the same subject in the April of the same year. Strype, Cranmer, 309.] [e Hooper was appointed to the see of Worcester in October 1551, and held it im commendam with that of Gloucester, to which he had been consecrated in the preceding March.] 24 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. is at this time living in my house upon the most intimate terms, during the sitting of parliament. May the Lord Jesus guide and defend you by his holy Spirit! Farewell. Lam beth, March 20, 1552. Your reverence's most attached, THOMAS CANTUAR. LETTER XIV. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOHN CALVIN1 Dated at Lambeth, March 20, 1552. Much health. ' As nothing tends more injuriously to the separation of the churches than heresies and disputes respect ing the doctrines of religion, so nothing tends more effectually to unite the churches of God, and more powerfully to defend the fold of Christ, than the pure teaching of the gospel, and harmony of doctrine. Wherefore I have often wished, and still continue to do so, that learned and godly men, who are eminent for erudition and judgment, might meet together in some place of safety, where by taking counsel together, and comparing their respective opinions, they might handle all the heads of ecclesiastical doctrine, and hand down to posterity, under the weight of their authority, some work not only upon the subjects themselves, but upon the forms of ex pressing them. Our adversaries are now holding their councils at Trent for the establishment of their errors ; and shall we neglect to call together a godly synod, for the refutation of error, and for restoring and propagating the truth? They are, as I am informed, making decrees re specting the worship of the host2: wherefore we ought to leave no stone unturned, not only that we may guard others against this idolatry, but also that we may ourselves come to an agreement upon the doctrine of this sacrament. It cannot P The original of this letter is published by Jenkyns, and in the Parker Society edition of Cranmer.] [2 wept rfjs aproKarpdas. The decree of the council of Trent on the Lord's Supper was passed on the 11th of October, 1551. Sleidan, de Stat. Rel. Lib. xxm; Jenkyns, Cranmer, i. 346.] XIV.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO JOHN CALVIN. 25 escape your prudence, how exceedingly the church of God has been injured by dissensions and varieties of opinion respecting this sacrament of unity ; and though they are now in some measure removed, yet I could wish for an agreement in this doctrine, not only as regards the subject itself, but also with respect to the words and forms of expression. You have now my wish, about which I have also written to masters Philip [Melancthon] and Bullinger; and I pray you to deliberate among yourselves as to the means by which this synod can be assembled with the greatest convenience. Farewell. Lam beth, March 20, 1552. You very dear brother in Christ, THOMAS CANTUAR3. LETTER XV. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PHILIP MELANCTHON4. Dated at Lambeth, March 27, 1552. We read in the Acts of the Apostles, that when a dispute had arisen, as to whether those who from among the Gentiles had been turned to God, should be compelled to be circum cised, and keep the law of Moses, the apostles and elders came together to consider of this matter ; and having compared their opinions, delivered the judgment of their council in a written epistle. This example I wish we ourselves could imitate, in Trhose churches the doctrine of the gospel has been restored and purified. But although all controversies cannot *• be removed in this world, (because the party which is hostile to the truth, will not assent to the judgment of the church,) it is nevertheless to be desired that the members of the true church should agree among themselves upon the chief heads of ecclesiastical doctrine. But it cannot escape your notice, how greatly rehgious dissensions, especially in the matter of the Lord's supper, have rent the churches asunder : had they P Calvin's reply to the above proposals will be given in the Ap- , pendix.] P The original of this letter is printed by Jenkyns, and in the Parker Society edition of Cranmer.] 26 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PHILIP MELANCTHON. [LET. been settled before, the emperor, I think, would never have made war against you. And it is truly grievous that the sacrament of unity is made by the malice of the devil food for disagreement, and (as it were) the apple of contention. I could wish therefore, that those who excel others in erudition and judgment, should be assembled together, after the example of the apostles, and declare their judgment as well respecting other subjects of dispute, as likewise especially respecting this controversy, and attest their agreement by some published document. But you will perhaps say, " And I also have often expressed the same wish ; but this matter cannot be effected without the aid of princes." I have therefore [consulted with]1 the king's majesty, who places his kingdom of England at your disposal, and most graciously promises not only a place of security and quiet, but also his aid and assistance towards these godly endeavours. I have written likewise to masters Calvin and Bullinger, and exhorted them not to be wanting to a work so necessary, and so useful to the commonwealth of Christendom. You wrote me word in your last letter that the Areopagites of the council of Trent are making decrees respecting the worship of the host. Wherefore, since the ad versaries of the gospel meet together with so much zeal for the establishment of error, we must not allow them to be more diligent in confirming ungodliness, than we are in pro pagating and setting forth the doctrine of godliness. Your commendation of master George Major2 has greatly increased that regard for him, which his merits have produced in me ; and if I can be of service to him in any way, he shall find my ability will fail sooner than my inclination. Farewell and happily. Lambeth, March 27, 1552. Very desirous of seeing you some time, THOMAS CANTUAR. [l One or more words are wanting in the original.] P George Major was a zealous disciple of Luther, and minister at Eisleben. He died in 1574.] XVI.] ABP. CRANMER TO THE WIDOW OF MARTIN BUjCER. 27 LETTER XVI. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO THE WIDOW OP MARTIN BUCER. Dated at Lambeth, April 20, 1552. Greeting. The especial favour with which I regarded your husband during his lifetime, is by no means diminished now that he is no more. His remarkable piety indeed, and pro found learning, has produced not a transient but an everlasting benefit to the church ; whereby he has not only bound all godly persons, but myself more than all of them, under per petual obligations to him. You must not therefore on any account allow yourself to be deterred from writing to me, should there be any thing in which I can be of use to you or to your affairs. For stirred up by your letters, I shall not only recal to myself, and not without satisfaction, the agree able remembrance of a very dear friend ; but will also most readily perform to you, bis widow, those offices of kindness, which the word of God commands to be paid, and which shall be afforded you as occasion shall offer. With respect to what you have lately informed me, that it is necessary for the expediting of your affairs that it should he certified and attested by some formal document that the sum of a hundred marks which you received as a present from the king's majesty, when you left tins country, belongs especially and exclusively to yourself, I have written a letter to the guard ians3 of Bucer's children, whereby they may clearly ascertain what was the intention of our most serene king upon the matter in question. I send you a copy of the letter of the lords of the council to master John Hales, his majesty's treasurer, (who is now, I think, at Strasburgh,) or to his deputy in his absence, written in English, which clearly testifies that a hundred marks were presented you by his majesty, and that too, after the death of your husband, inasmuch as that letter was written on the last day of March, and your husband de parted this life at the end of February. May God, who is p These were, Conrad Hubert, Quinter Andernach, and Huldric Chelius, to all of whom Cranmer addressed the following letter.] 28 ABP. CRANMER TO THE WIDOW OF MARTIN BUCER. [LET. the fountain and father of all comfort, vouchsafe to comfort you, and preserve you with all your family ! Farewell. Lam beth, April 20, 1552. Yours to the utmost of his power, THOMAS CANTUAR. LETTER XVII. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO CONRAD HUBERT, AND OTHERS. Dated at Lambeth, April 20, 1552. Greeting. As I have lately understood, from a letter written to this place by the widow1 of master Bucer of pious memory, that for the purpose of dividing the property of her deceased husband amongst his children, a certain declaration or certificate is necessary respecting the sum of a hundred marks, presented by his majesty, as to whether it belongs to the widow or to the children ; whereby the fact may be ascertained, and all doubt entirely removed ; I affirm and attest that the said sum of a hundred marks was especially bestowed by his most serene majesty upon master Bucer's widow, after his death, and intended for her especial use; as is clearly manifest from the letter which the lords of the council wrote to the treasurer, a copy of which I have sent to master Bucer's widow. May God direct you by bis holy Spirit, and grant you success in the labours of your calling! Farewell. Lambeth, April 20, 1552. Yours heartily, T. CANT. [! The name of Bucer's widow was Wibrand Bucerin. The uni versity gave her an hundred crowns on the death of her husband; the king an hundred marks more, besides her husband's half yearly pension, though he died before Lady-day, when it became due. Strype, Cranmer, 358.] XVIII.] ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PETER MARTYR. 29 LETTER XVIII. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PETER MARTYR3. Dated [from prison, 1555.] After much health in Christ our Saviour. As letters are then only necessary, when the messenger is either not sufficiently discreet, or is unacquainted with the circumstances we wish to communicate, or not thought worthy to be en trusted with secrets ; and since by the goodness of God the bearer of this has fallen in my way, a man, as you know, of signal discretion, most faithful in all matters entrusted to him, exceedingly attached to us both, and possessing an entire acquaintance with the circumstances of our country, from whose mouth you may learn all that has taken place here ; I have not thought it needful to write to you more at length, especially as letters are wont to occasion so much danger and mischief. Yet I have not deemed it right to pass over this one thing, which " I have learned by experience, namely, that God never shines forth more brightly, and; pours out the beams of his mercy and consolation, or of strength and firmness of spirit, more clearly or impressively upon the minds of his people, than when they are under the most extreme pain and distress, both of mind and body, that he may then more especially shew himself to be the God of his people, when he seems to have altogether forsaken them; then raising them up when they think he is bringing them down, and laying them low ; then glorifying them, when he is thought to be confounding them; then quickening them, when he is thought to be destroying them. So that we may say with Paul, " When I am weak, then am I strong ; and if I must needs glory, I will glory in my infirmities, in prisons, in revilings, in distresses, in persecutions, in sufferings for Christ." I pray God to grant that I may endure to the end ! Nothing is at this time more distressing to me, than that no answer P This letter is printed for the first time by the Parker Society. It was discovered at. Zurich by the Rev. Steuart A. Pears, in 1843. The Latin original is subjoined.] 30 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PETER MARTYR. [LET. has as yet been given to M.A.1, to whose subtilties, and juggling tricks, and ravings, a reply would not have been wanting long since, had not books and liberty been wanting to myself. I have written to no one but you, nor do I wish any one to know that I have written to you: wherefore salute no one in my name. THOMAS CRANMER. Thomce Cranmeri Epistola ad P- Martyrem. Post plurimam in Christo Servatore nostro salutem. Quando turn demum necessaries sunt literse, quum aut non satis prudens est nuncius, aut rerum quas significare volumus ignarus, aut non fidus cui arcana credas ; quumque mihi Dei benignitate sese obtulisset hie tabellarius, vir et prudentia (ut nosti) insigni, et qui rebus in cre- dendis fidissimus sit, et nostrum utriusque amantissimus, et rerum nostratium scientissimus, e cujus ore quae hie acta fuerint intelligas omnia; non necessarium existimavi ut prolixius ad te scriberem, prsesertim quum scripturse tot pericula damnaque afferre soleant. Illud tamen unum prsetermittendum non censui, quod expertus didici, nunquam Deum splendidius illucescere, et clementise suse, consola- tionis, aut roboris ac fortitudinis animi radios suorum mentibus clarhis aut pressius infundere, quam in summis animi corporisque angoribus atque pressuris ; ut turn vel maxime sese declaret suorum esse Deum, quum illos deseruisse prorsus videtur; turn erigere quum dejicere atque prosternere, turn glorificare quum confundere, turn denique vivi- ficare quum occidere putetur. Ut cum Paulo dicere liceat, Quando infirmor tunc fortior sum, et si gloriari oportet, in infirmitatibus meis gloriabor, in carceribus, in contumeliis, in necessitatibus, in persecuti- onibus, in augustiis pro Christo. Faxit obsecro Deus, ut in ftnem perseveremus. Hodie nihil magis animum angit meum, quam quod hactenus M. A. nihil est responsum ; ad cujus astutias, prsestigias, et insanias jamdudum non defuisset responsum, nisi mihi defuissent et libri et libertas. Prseterquam tibi scripsi nemini, nee scire velim t1 M.A. signifies Marcus Antonius, under which name Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, replied to Cranmer's " Answer to a crafty and sophistical cavillation, &c." which see in Cranmer's writings, published by the Parker Society. The above letter confirms the statement of Strype, that the archbishop was very desirous to prepare another book in confutation of Marcus Antonius, and in vindication of his own writing. Strype says, "He lived long enough to finish three parts; whereof two unhappily perished in Oxford, and the third fell into John Poxe's hands, and for ought I know, that by this time is perished also." Strype, Cranmer, i. 371.] XVIII.J ARCHBISHOP CRANMER TO PETER MARTYR. 31 quenquam quod ad te scripserim: proinde nomine meo salutabis neminem. THOMAS CRAMMERUS^. Hsec in manu Archiepiscopi Cantuarensis. Scripsit hsec ex careere ad D. Pet. Martyrem. M. A. significant Marc. Antonium, mmirum Wintoniensem. 1555. LETTER XIX. MILES COVERDALE TO JOHN CALVIN. Dated at Frankfort, March 26, 1548. I cannot but avail myself, most illustrious sir, of the offered opportunity of saluting your worthiness. There was brought hither three days since, during the time of the fair, a certam little book in English, containing that Order of Holy Communion which the king's majesty has set forth, as suitable to the present time3. And as I perceived many persons were desirous of obtaining it, I forthwith translated it both into German and Latin. And therefore, when I understood the godly bearer of this letter to be a townsman of yours, I thought I should gratify your reverence by send ing you this trifling present. One of the translations I in tended for the Germans ; the other, namely the Latin one, I am exceedingly anxious should be forwarded to your reve rence. And should you feel inclined to make known to P The signature is added by another hand, and the subjoined note is in that of Bullinger. Cranmer was burned at Oxford, March 21, 1556 : this letter, which appears undoubtedly to be bis autograph, was written only a few months previously.] P The English work, the Order of the Communion, is printed in the volume containing the Liturgies of King Edward VI., published by the Parker Society. The translation into Latin by Coverdale, here mentioned, does not seem td have been printed ; but there is a Latin translation extant, printed apparently in 1548, with the initials A. A. S. D. Th, probably indicating Alexander Alesse, who also translated into Latin the first Liturgy of King Edward VI. a.d. 1549. It is a very rare small volume, bearing the title of " Ordo distributionis sacra- menti altaris sub utraque specie, et formula confessionis faciendaj in regno Anglia?. Hsec Londini evulgata sunt octavo die Martii Anni MDXLVIII." See " The ancient Liturgy of the Church of England," by Rev. W. Maskell, p. xlv; also Burnet H. 247, and Strype, Mem. n. i. 86.] 32 MILES COVERDALE TO JOHN CALVIN. [LET, others this cause for congratulation, and first-fruits of godli ness (according as the Lord now wiUs his rehgion to revive in England,) you will be able to commit this token of my affection for you to the press more easily than I can.. I am now on my return to England, having been invited thither after an exile of eight years. Farewell, most excellent master, and affectionately salute your wife, who deserved so well from me and mine, when we went up to Strasburgh. Frank fort, March 26, 1548. MICHAEL (alias MILO) COVERDALE, Anglus. LETTER XX. MILES COVERDALE TO PAUL FAGIUS. Dated at Windsor Castle, Oct. 21, 1548. Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost ! Your letter, most excellent sir, dated on the 22nd of August, I received from my wife on the 8th of this present month, with exceeding compassion for those individuals whom this dreadful tyranny1 so greatly distresses. I also shewed your letter yesterday to the most reverend the archbishop of Canterbury ; who, as he has undertaken to educate your dear son (whom he has just sent away to Canterbury, by reason of the plague that is raging at this place), both in rehgion and learning, at his own expense; in like manner, reflecting upon the lamentable condition of your churches, he truly sympathises in your misfortune : wherefore he desired you most especially to come over to us, rather than to go away either into Turkey or Hungary. Oh ! my master, if you should seek a refuge any where else than with us, since the faithlessness of mankind is every where so great, how will that most excellent gift, which the good and gracious God has bestowed upon you, grow cool! If the most reverend archbishop, whose answer I inclosed in my letter to you, had foreseen so much danger to the church, truly what I wrote to you would have been no impediment. You must think therefore that we are both of us sorry for what we did, although there was nothing [i Namely, the persecutions in Germany by Charles V., to enforce compliance with the Interim.] XX.J MILES COVERDALE TO PAUL FAGIUS. 33 stated in those letters but what the occasion then called for. For myself, indeed, my master, I am in no little apprehension both for yourself and for our churches and schools deprived of your most happy ministrations. Wherefore, although our rulers may not invite you by name, eminent as you are among the best scholars of Germany, and this probably, as I have before hinted to you, from secret motives ; yet we. who know you well, entreat you most solemnly to come over to us, where you need not doubt but that you will be most acceptable, and therefore treated with the greatest kindness. Farewell. From the king's castle, which we call Windsor Oct. 21, 1548. Yours from my heart, M. COVERDALE. LETTER XXI. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Jan. 27, [probably in 1546], Not many years since, most honoured master, and much loved brother in Christ, when I was a courtier, and living too much of a court fife in the palace of our king2, there most happily and auspiciously came under my notice certain writings of master Huldrich Zuinghus3, a most excellent man, of pious memory ; and also some commentaries upon the epistles of St Paul, which your reverence had published for the general benefit, and which will prove a lasting monument of your re nown. These singular gifts of God exhibited by you to the world P Hooper probably refers to the period, when he was retained as chaplain and steward in the house of Sir Thomas Arundel, who was executed in 1552, as a partisan of the duke of Somerset. See Strype.] p The collected writings of Zuinglius were published by Rodolph Gualter, in four volumes, folio, in 1544. He was slain in a battle between the five Roman Catholic cantons of Switzerland, and those of Zurich and Berne, Oct. 11, 1531 ; having attended the troops as one of their ministers.] r i 3 [ZURICH LETTERS, III. J 34 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. at large, I was unwilling to neglect, especially as I perceived them seriously to affect the eternal salvation and happiness of my soul; so that I thought it well worth my while, night and day, with earnest study, and an almost superstitious diligence, to devote my entire attention to your writings. Nor was my labour in this respect ever wearisome to me : for after I had arrived at manhood, and by the kindness of my father enjoyed the means of living more unrestrainedly, I had begun to blaspheme God by impious worship and all manner of idolatry, following the evil ways of my forefathers, before I rightly understood what God was. But being at length delivered by the goodness of God, for which I am solely indebted to him and to yourselves, nothing now remains for me in reference to the remainder of my fife and my last hour, but to worship God with a pure heart, and know my defects while living in this body, since indeed the tenure of life is deceitful, and every man is altogether as nothing ; and to serve my godly brethren in Christ, and the ungodly for Christ : for I do not think that a Chris tian is born for himself, or that he ought to live to himself; but that, whatever he has or is, he ought altogether to as cribe, not to himself, but to refer it to God as the author, and regard every thing that he possesses as common to all, ac cording as the necessities and wants of his brethren may require. I am indeed ashamed beyond measure, that I have not performed these duties heretofore ; but that like a brute beast, as the greater part of mankind are wont to do, I have been a slave to my own lusts : but it is better to be wise late, than not at all. By reason of my love and respect towards you, I had often proposed to visit you, though I have always been pre vented hitherto, partly by my ill-health, and partly because I am mistrustful of the favour of fortune ; for my father, of whom I am the only son and heir, is so opposed to me on account of Christ's rehgion, that should I refuse to act ac cording to his wishes, I shall be sure to find him for the future, not a father, but a cruel tyrant. Shortly however, in about a month's time, I mean to go down to my native place1 to bid farewell to the honours, pleasures, and friends of this world ; and I will then endeavour, if possible, by the assist- P Hooper was a native of Somersetshire. Godwin de Prsesul. 552.] XXI.J JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 35 ance of my friends, to obtain at least some portion of what I am entitled to, wherewith I may be able to subsist upon my slender means among you at Zurich : and should God order it otherwise, and see fit to visit me with poverty and want, or in any other way, I will bear it with an undisturbed mind, and choose rather, as an exile, to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea son; esteeming the reproach of Christ (I use the words of St Paul) greater riches than the treasures in Egypt ; for I have respect unto the recompence of the reward, and hope for eternal life, obtained, not by my merits, but by the blood of Christ. I entreat you, therefore, 0 man of God, by our Lord Jesus Christ, that you aid me in this journey by your prayers to God for me. For I am in fear, and not without reason, of those perfidious bishops, to whom nothing is more acceptable than the spilling of the blood of the godly, and whose temper and disposition I have often experienced to the great peril of my life2. I desire therefore, to defend myself against their treachery and tyranny with the remedies that God has given me ; and I seek the aid of your church, that by the help of her prayers I may derive some comfort, ac cording to the promise of God, who is ever present with all who call upon him in truth, and from whom alone assistance is to be sought for in every kind of danger. For there can not be a more powerful safeguard than believing prayer : by this Hezekiah overcame the king of the Assyrians, Elijah called down fire from heaven, and Jehoshaphat obtained a signal victory. But I will dilate no longer upon this subject, for fear of offending your pious and learned ears by so rude and unpolished a letter. p While Hooper was Sir Thomas Arundel's steward, "his master, having intelligence of his opinions and religion, which he in no case did favour, found the means to send him on a message to the bishop of Winchester [Gardiner], writing his letter privily to the bishop, by conference of learning to do some good upon him. Winchester, after long conference with master Hooper four or five days together, sent him home again, right well commending his learning and wit, but yet bearing in his breast a grudging stomach against master Hooper still." See Foxe, Acts and Monuments, vi. 637; and Soames, Hist. Ref. in. 559. Shortly after this occurrence took place, Hooper found himself obliged to flee for his life, to avoid the operation of the act of the Six Articles.] 3—2 36 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. Accept, my very dear master, in few words, the news from England. As far as true rehgion is concerned, idolatry is no where in greater vigour. Our king has destroyed the pope, but not popery ; he has expelled all the monks and nuns, and pulled down their monasteries ; he has caused all their possessions to be transferred into his exchequer, and yet they are bound, even the frail female sex, by the king's com mand, to perpetual chastity. England has at this time at least ten thousand nuns, not one of whom is allowed to marry. The impious mass, the most shameful celibacy of the clergy, the invocation of saints, auricular confession, superstitious abstinence from meats, and purgatory, were never before held by the people in greater esteem than at the present moment. I have just been informed by letter, that the treaty1, which was concluded two years since between the emperor and our king, is renewed : may God direct every thing to the glory of his name ! There is no hope of peace between France and England, but we are in daily expectation of a bloody war. The chief supporters of the gospel in England are dying every hour : many very illustrious personages have departed within these two years; the lord chancellor Audley2, the duke of Suffolk3, [Sir Edward] Baynton, the queen's first lord of the bedchamber ; Poinings4, the king's deputy at Boulogne ; Sir Thomas Wyat5, known throughout the whole world for his noble qualities, and a most zealous defender of P The alliance here referred to was concluded between the emperor Charles V. and Henry VIII. , on Feb. 11, 1543, for an account of which see Robertson's Charles V., in. 246, Soames, n. 535.] P Thomas Audley, Lord Chancellor, 1532, created baron Audley of Walden, co. Essex, 29 Nov. 1538, died 1544, when the barony became extinct.] P Charles Brandon, created duke of Suffolk, Feb. 1, 1514, married to his third wife, Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VII., and queen dowager of France. He died Aug. 24, 1545, and was buried in St George's chapel, Windsor. His epitaph, written by Parkhurst, is printed in Strype, Annals, II. ii. 496.] P Sir Thomas Poinings died in August, 1545. See Hollingshed, Chron. n. 969.] P Sir Thomas Wyat died in 1542, aged 38. He was the first that put into English verse the " seven penitential Psalms."] XXI.J JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 37 yours and Christ's rehgion ; Dr Butts6, a physician who had the charge of the king's person : all these were of the privy council, and real favourers of the gospel, and promoted the glory of God to the utmost of their power. They all died of the plague and fever ; so that the country is now left alto gether to the bishops, and those who despise God and all true rehgion. The bishops of Winchester and Westminster7 are now on an embassy from our king to the emperor in Brabant. Another bishop, namely, of Durham, who was sent into Picardy to treat there with the ambassadors of the king of France respecting a peace between the French and English, has lately returned to England without the accomplishment of that object. The state of affairs between the Scots and English is still very doubtful and uncertain : the English however have sacked their prmcipal cities and villages ; but I shudder to mention the devastation of that country, which was effected last summer by the earl of Hertford8. The queen of Scot land, together with the cardinal [Beaton], is lying in con cealment in the mountains, where they possess fortresses beyond the reach of attack. The conference at Ratisbon, as far as I understand by a letter from master Bucer, is suspended : I am more inclined to believe this, because Philip Melancthon is neither yet come to them, nor does he intend it. And Bucer, as I hear, is about to come to us sooner than I expected : but as yet we have nothing certain ; as soon as this shall be the case, I will inform your reverence forthwith, and you may expect a more copious letter whenever any new tidings shall require it. The , count Palatine has lately provided for the preaching of the gospel throughout his dominions : but as far as relates to the eucharist he has descended, as the proverb has it, from the [6 Dr William Butts died Nov. 17, 1545. An interesting letter written to him by Sir John Cheko, during his last illness, is given in Strype, Cheke, 27.] [T Namely, Stephen Gardiner and Thomas Thirlby. The bishop of Durham here mentioned was Cuthbert Tonstal.] [8 Edward Seymour, earl of Hertford, landed 10,000 men near Leith, in May, 1544, which, with Edinburgh, was abandoned to pillage, and then set on fire. See Hall's Chronicles, p. 860, ed. 1809 ; also Robertson's Hist. Scotland.] 38 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. horse to the ass; for he has fallen from popery into the doctrine of Luther, who is in that particular more erroneous than all the papists ; and those who deny the substance of bread to remain in the sacrament, and substitute the body of Christ in its place, come more closely to the truth than those who affirm that the natural body of Christ is with the bread, in the bread, and under the form of bread, and yet occupies no place. God I hope will at length give him a better mind. Master Richard [Hilles] the Englishman, and his godly wife, salute you affectionately in Christ. He has now in his house two sisters of noble family, the younger of whom, named Anna, is exceedingly favourable to true rehgion. She prays for your continued happiness, and commends herself, whom I hope you will see shortly, to the prayers of your church. Salute affectionately in my name those excellent men masters Bibliander and Pellican, with the other godly brethren. Farewell, most learned and godly sir, and suffer me, I pray you, to be numbered amongst those who truly and from the heart admire the majesty of your rehgion. Strasburgh, Jan. 27, [1546]. Yours entirely, JOHN HOOPER, Anglus. LETTER XXII. JOHN HOOPER TO [HENRY BULLINGER.] Without place or date '. If your engagements would permit, I should much wish to ascertain your judgment and opinion. I certainly do not consider it lawful for a godly man to be present at the mass and impious observances of the like kind among the papists; but yet there are some arguments which in some measure press my mind, and for a time keep me in suspense. Master Calvin has written much upon that subject ; but, as it appears P This letter is without date or address, but appears from the XXII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 39 to me, he hardly satisfies the arguments which may be al leged against him, one or two of which I will propose to your erudition. Concerning Naaman the Syrian, though it is not allow able to bring forward a private individual by way of general example, yet it very much bears upon the subject before us ; for the prophet said, " Go in peace." Persons, who are unac quainted with the Hebrew, understand this expression as though the prophet had said, "If you choose to return, it will be at your peril, but I do not sanction your doing so :" in my opinion, however, the Hebrew words will not bear this interpretation ; for D'6fr!? }"?> go in peace, is an expression of command and confirmation, and therefore the prophet per mitted Naaman to worship the true God in the house of Rimmon, with the hope of gaining over the king of Syria and others to the true God : and, if I rightly interpret this passage, as the prophet gave this permission to a godly man, so we ought also to make the same allowance ourselves. In the time of Ehjah, when he complained before God that he was the only worshipper of the true rehgion then remaining, he was informed by the divine voice that there were left seven thousand. Now certainly, if this great number of men had kept themselves aloof from the idolatrous wor ship, there must have been at least some few of them known to the prophet of God; nor do I see how any one can deny that though these pious men, by the mention of whom God comforts his afflicted servant, were often openly and pubhcly in the idol-temples together with a yet more numerous as semblage of the ungodly, they nevertheless retained in their hearts a pure and holy reverence for the one true God. No argument moves me more than this. In the same way as God forbids idolatry, does he also prohibit adultery, fornication, and other kinds of wickedness; nor does he condemn one more than another : but no one is bound to leave his country, as they say, by reason of either one or the other. I do not write these things, my accomphshed friend, merely for the sake of learning your opinion2 ; but when I have once ascertained it, I shall, by God's blessing, most diligently follow P It appears by the following letter that Hooper's objections were satisfied by the arguments of Bullinger in his reply.] 40 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. it without any deceit or dissimulation : not that I am in any doubt upon the subject myself; but I desire to satisfy some godly men who are not yet sufficiently instructed in the faith. May the Lord Jesus long preserve you in safety ! Salute, I pray you, your wife in my name, and my Enghsh brother and friend in Christ, master Burcher, who resides with you at Zurich. Yours to serve, JOHN HOOPER, Anglus LETTER XXIII. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Without place or date '. Much health. I received, most excellent and revered friend in Christ, at Strasburgh, almost a year ago, your equally learned and godly letter, in which you desired altogether to convince me that the true worship of God could have nothing in common with outward idolatry : you therefore considered it more advisable and consistent with godliness, that I should rather endure the loss of home and fortune for Christ's sake, than participate in the ungodly worship of the mass. I re verence and cherish this advice, and willingly come into the same opinion. I cannot repay to your excellence the thanks you deserve ; but I pray that he who worketh all in all, and who, when called upon in true faith through his Son Jesus Christ,' will do far more than we can believe, may be, according to his mercy and loving-kindness, your exceeding great reward and recompence. Of this I have no doubt, that you will be, when this frail tabernacle is dissolved, the everlasting friend of God. Meanwhile, as long as you continue in this life, defend your churches, deliver them from wolves and hirelings, gather together the people of God, and bring back his flock, now miserably scattered, to Christ the true and only shep- [i This letter was probably written from Basle, and shortly after Dec. 12, 1546. See p. 42, note 1.] XXIII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 41 herd : fight the good fight ; there is laid up for you a crown of righteousness, which you shall receive from the righteous Judge in that day. I will relate to your excellence in person the events of my long and most dangerous journey to England. I suffered many things by land; twice I suffered bonds and imprison ment; whence being marvellously delivered by the mercy of God, though with the heavy loss of my fortune, I was wretchedly harassed by sea for three months both by enemies and storms. But the end is not yet; and I pray God that whatever may yet remain to me of this wretched life, may be for the glory of his name, and for the edification of his church. Having been delivered from fire and water, I came upon war : I see nothing but the death of all godliness and religion ; the enemy of God will destroy (if it be possible that the faith of Peter can perish) every mouth that speaks of Christ, and the mother with her children, that is, the universal church : but the Lord, I doubt not, will look down upon his people, and not suffer the tyranny of this cruel enemy to rage at pleasure. In the mean time let us be heartily and truly turned unto the Lord, and he will un doubtedly look upon our tears. But alas ! gracious Lord, we are sleeping in the greatest security, while in the greatest danger ; and it is therefore no wonder if we terribly expe rience the wrath of God, and the heavy consequences of our ungodliness. Let us amend therefore, lest he inflict upon us yet greater severities, namely, to become after this life the everlasting enemies of God : let us patiently bear, as the time requires, the chastisement that our sins have deserved; for he punishes the children of men for their iniquities. The bearer will inform your excellence of the good news we received yesterday from Strasburgh. There will be a change of rehgion in England, and the king will take up the gospel of Christ, in ease the emperor should be defeated in this most destructive war : should the gospel sustain a loss, he will then retain his impious mass, for which he has this last summer committed four respectable and godly persons2 to the P These were, Ann Askew, John Lacels, John Adams, and Nicholas Belenian. They were burned at the stake about the month of June, 1546, according to Foxe's account (v. 550.) or on July 16th, according to Stowe.] 42 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. flames. Our king has now confined in the tower of London the duke of Norfolk1, together with his eldest son and heir: they say that both father and son had conspired the death of the king and of our prince, — a horrible deed, if my account is correct. My wife most dutifully salutes your excellence, with the other learned and godly persons among you. We hope to visit you shortly, God willing. Master de "Valys, together with his wife and all his family, wish for you every happiness. There is in his house a certain godly and learned youth, whom I intend to bring down with me to Zurich : I request you, for Christ's sake, if it be possible, to procure him a teachership in some class in your school. He is studious and diligent, and will not shrink from the severest labours ; and if he can but meet with some moderate means of subsistence, he will be of service to the church of God : remember him for Christ's sake, and let your excellence, if possible, write me an answer. Nothing can come to me more acceptably than a letter from you. May the Lord Jesus long preserve you in safety, to the glory of his name, and the benefit of his church ! Amen. Salute in my name masters Bibliander, Pellican, Gualter, and all the rest. I earnestly commend myself to the prayers of your church. Excuse, I pray you, my pen running on too fast. I request your excellence to salute in my name, and that of my wife, the godly matron Falkner, who came with us to Basle from Strasburgh, which place she left unmarried, but I have now, with the consent of her parents, bestowed her in marriage. Your excellence's most attached, JOHN HOOPER. P The duke of Norfolk, and his son, the earl of Surrey, were com mitted to the Tower of London, Dec. 12, 1546 ; the latter was executed on Tower Hill on the 19th of the January following.] XXIV.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 43 LETTER XXIV. JOHN HOOPER TO [HENRY BULLINGER.] After Sept. 10, 1547. The order of battle2 between the Scots and English in Scotland on the 10th of September, four miles from Edin burgh. Lord Grey, the king of England's deputy at Boulogne, and the commander in chief of the Enghsh cavalry in this battle, after the artillery was silenced, made a charge upon the Scottish front, with a view of throwing them into confusion; but disappointed of his expectation, he was forced to retreat with the loss of forty-eight of his cavalry. The earl of War wick, who commanded the archers, perceiving the cavalry to give way, immediately and suddenly advanced with 4000 archers, and attacked that part of the Scottish army where the artillery and baggage were stationed. He so pressed the Scots by the discharge of his arrows, that they were unable any longer to stand to their guns, which having gained possession of, by bis cannon-balls and volleys of arrows he compelled the whole Scottish army to fall back from their former position into one where they had not only the enemy both in front and rear, but also the sun shining full in their eyes. Which when lord Grey perceived, he made a second attack with his cavalry on their flank with much noise and clamour, shouting, " The Scots are running away, the Scots are running away." The Scots, being inferior in cavalry, were quite unable to keep their ranks, which being thrown into disorder, they betook them selves to flight; in the which there fell 15,000 men, and 2,000 were taken prisoners, among whom was lord Huntley, the chancellor of Scotland. On the same day the Enghsh ships sailed into the various Scottish harbours, and took possession of all their vessels which were adapted either for trade or naval warfare ; the rest they burned. The queen, upon the [2 For a full account of this battle, called the battle of Pinkey, in which the Scots sustained a signal defeat, see Hollingshed's Chronicles, Vol. rn. p. 984, &c, or the other histories of the period.] 44 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. receipt of this unfortunate intelligence, gave herself up to the protector upon his own terms. Taking with him six of the nobility as hostages for the fidelity of the queen, and leaving troops in five places of the kingdom of Scotland, for fear lest any rebellion should take place during his absence, he re turned to London, where parliament is daily expected to meet, in which, if it please God, this quarrel will be settled. This is a true statement; for my informant was present at the battle, and witnessed the close of it. Your excellence's ever devoted, JOHN HOOPER The number of soldiers belonging to each army were, of the English seventeen thousand, of the Scots thirty thousand. LETTER XXV. JOHN HOOPER TO MARTIN BUCER. Dated at Zurich, June 19, 1548. Much health. The day before I wrote this letter, I met master Pellican, whom I saluted in your name, and at your request. He has received into his family the widow of master Matthias, a godly and upright woman : I understood from him that you had sent me a letter by her ; and he requested me that, if I had any thing to write in reply, I would do it by the morrow, for on that day the widow was about to leave us. I was unwilling therefore that she should return to you with out a letter from me, lest you should think me undeserving of your godly epistle, which I read with the greatest possible affection and delight. You say well, that in this shall all men know that we are Christ's disciples, " if we have love one to another:" let us love therefore, "not in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." For love is the most cer tain evidence of our justification, and the heavenly seal of our acceptance in Christ Jesus ; as John saith, " Every one that XXV.] JOHN HOOPER TO MARTIN BUCER. 45 loveth is born of God, and knoweth God ; he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love." If indeed we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, " let us cast off the works of dark ness, and let us put on the armour of light, walking honestly, as in the day, not in strife and envying, but putting on the Lord Jesus Christ ; " that we may restore the infirmities of our brethren in the spirit of meekness, or patiently bear with them. Let all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and en- vyings be put away, for we are new-born babes, to the end that we may desire the sincere milk of the word, and grow thereby. My master, I pray you in Christ Jesus, not to pay too much regard to envious and slanderous calumniators. You are not ignorant that the malevolence of envy is ever wont to tear most persons in pieces ; that detractors invent many falsehoods, and that brotherly love is disturbed by envy and detraction. Away with the persons who would sow dissension between yourself and those men. This I promise you, that they very frequently make mention of you in friendly and honourable terms. And although they may dissent from your opinion in the matter of the eucharist, as I do myself, yet they do not make any breach in christian love, much less regard you with hostility, but are anxious to aid by their prayers both yourself and those whom the Lord has en trusted to you in his church ; and they earnestly hope that, on your part, you will do the same for them. For Christ's sake therefore, who by bis own blood hath triumphed on the cross over all enemies, hell, and sin, be ye not at variance through strife and emulation, that ye may neither quarrel any more with your tongue, nor give ear to those persons who are deficient in nothing but rehgion and virtue. Let controversy be settled by the authority of the word. Let no one defend his opinion with obstinacy ; but let us rather return unto the way of truth, and humbly acknowledge our errors, than continue always to go on in error without repentance, lest we should seem to have been in the wrong. Let us bear in mind that we were made for friendship and concord, that in this most miserable age we may, by our mutual kindness, relieve the distresses of each other, and at last reign together with Christ in everlasting happiness. For what frenzy is it, what folly or madness, to pursue with hostility here on earth that in- 46 JOHN HOOPER TO MARTIN BUCER. [LET. dividual, who, should he die in Christ, will pass from death unto life, (whither I also, Christ being my guide, hope to flee away after this darkness,) and with whom we shall be united in perpetual love and everlasting joy! I entreat you, my master, not to say or write any thing against charity or godliness for the sake of Luther, or burden the consciences of men with his words on the holy supper. Although I readily acknowledge with thankfulness the gifts of God in him who is now no more1, yet he was not without his faults. I do not say this by way of reproach of the departed individual, be cause I know that no living man is without blame, and that we all stand in need of the grace of God. After the dispute with Zuinglius and CEcolampadius respecting the [Lord's] supper had begun to grow warm, he did violence to many passages of scripture, such for instance as the following, "He ascended that he might fill all things2;" "I am with you alway even unto the end of the world3;" and "we are flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones4;" that he might establish the corporal presence of the body of Christ in the bread ; but how mistakenly, is declared by the very nature of the pas sages. Did we not at this present time stand in need of con solation rather than of controversy, I could easily prove to the satisfaction of every, one, that these places cannot properly be brought forward in confirmation of his opinion. Every one too is aware, with what calumnies and reproaches he attacked even the dead. Christ taught his disciples another doctrine. He rebuked James and John, who wished that fire might fall from heaven to consume the people of Samaria. And he has commanded us to do good to our enemies, and bless them that curse us. He, my good sir, who knoweth the secrets of the heart, may judge what spirit occasioned so much wrath to be kindled among the ministers of the word of God. Nevertheless all the ministers of this church5 were grieved at his death, not as if they had lost an adversary or a detractor, but rather an ally and partner in their glorious work. These things are, in my mind, great and real evidences of kindness and charity. I do not write thus by way of reproach of a most learned man, but that no one may swear by his opinions, [i Luther died Feb. 18, 1546.] p Eph. iv. 10.] p Matt, xxviiii 20.] p Ephes. v. 30.] P Namely, of Zurich, whence this letter is dated.] XXV.] JOHN HOOPER TO MARTIN BUCER. 47 as if whatever he wrote were an oracle of Apollo, or a leaf of the Sibyl. You write word, reverend sir, that you cannot believe' the sacraments to be bare signs. Far be such a belief from the most unlearned Christian ! The holy supper is not a bare sign, neither in it is the true and natural body of Christ corporally exhibited to me in any supernatural or heavenly manner: nevertheless, I religiously and with all honour venerate and reverence the institution of Christ upon other grounds, be cause it is a sign of the good-will of God towards me, and an outward testimony added to the promise of grace. Not that this promise is applied to me by means of any sacra ment, but because the promise previously applied to me by faith is thereby confirmed. In like manner the church of God publicly receives him in baptism, who had been pre viously received by grace. Thus Abraham, saith Paul, "re ceived the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised6;" that is, a testimony by which God bare witness that he was received into grace, not that he was to be received by the sacrament, but rather confirmed in it. Thus the holy supper is a testi mony of grace, and a mystery of our redemption, in which God bears witness to the benefits bestowed upon us by Christ: not that the remission of sins, which in believers ought to pre cede all use of sacraments, is there apphed; nor that the true body of Christ, which is in heaven and not on earth, is ex hibited together with the bread; but that it may confirm that faith which I have in the death and passion of that body which was alive, died, and rose again. And the minister gives what is in his power, namely, the bread and wine, and not the body of Christ; nor is it exhibited by the minister, and eaten by the communicant, otherwise than in the word preached, read, or meditated upon. And to eat the body of Christ is nothing else than to believe, as he himself teaches in the sixth of John. It is necessary therefore to bring Christ to the sacraments by faith, and not to look for him there. And thus the promise of grace is received by faith, as are also the sacraments, of which faith they are the testimonies and the seals. There are many other ends, but this is the chief; and those who thus use the sacraments do not make them [« Rom. iv. 11.] 48 JOHN HOOPER TO MARTIN BUCER. [LET. bare signs. Thus John the Baptist said, that he baptized with water, but that there was one to come after him who should baptize with the Holy Ghost. He had water in his hand, by which remission of sins was confirmed in those who beheved ; but he had not in his hand the Holy Ghost, that he might give remission of sins to all that were baptized ; for he bap tized many hypocrites. From these sensible objects therefore faith teaches us to recognise things insensible and invisible. Regard these things, I pray you, in a godly spirit. I do not write for the sake of dispute, but that I may testify to you, that the sacraments with us are not bare signs. For if faith shine forth in the mind of the recipient, the bridegroom is thereby joined1 to the bride, so that none may put asunder what God hath joined together. I do not rightly understand what you write respecting Calvin. I had never any intention of using my pen either against him or Farell, although his commentaries on the first epistle to the Corinthians displeased me exceedingly. I should have written my thoughts upon the Interim, had I not been told for certain that you were about to do so; which I earnestly entreat you to do, as you possess great and peculiar gifts of God, and in a thousand ways are far more fitted for this undertaking than I am, who have but lately, and as yet only in a cursory way, studied the Greek language. May the Lord Jesus ever preserve you both in body and soul, to the glory of his name ! My wife salutes you. Zurich, June 19, 1548. Your very loving, JOHN HOOPER. LETTER XXVI. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Basle, [March 28,] 1549. Much health. By the mercy of God, most reverend master and gossip, we arrived at Basle about 10 o'clock on P The word is illegible in the MS.] XXVI.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 49 the 27th of March, safe and sound ; and if the sailors are to be relied upon, we shall sail from hence to-morrow morning. To spare expense therefore, I send away the driver with the carriage and horses, and hope your worthy citizen will receive all his property safe and uninjured by to-morrow evening. That I have been longer delayed upon my journey than he expected, to his inconvenience and my great expense, must be attributed to the roughness of the journey, and not to any loitering on my part or fatigue of the horses. I entreat you to offer my warmest thanks to this excellent man ; or else impose this duty of courtesy in my name and at my request upon our very loving friend, master Gualter, who, if I mistake not, is related either by consanguinity or affinity to the owner of the horses. Nothing new is as yet reported to us at this place, ex cepting only that some persons who have just arrived from Strasburgh, affirm for certain that the mass is not yet ad mitted by the citizens. For this reason the bishop of that city is not merely angry, but rages as it were with madness and fury, and has appointed a conference in his own territory about two [German] miles from Strasburgh2 ; and all those who have visited me here in a way of friendship, tell me that he is bringing forth some horrible monstrosity ; but it will, I hope, prove abortive. You will receive from the bearer one sheet, a blanket, and a pillow, with many thanks ; all the other things that I borrowed to make use of upon my journey I shall send back as far as Basle. In haste. Basle, 1549. You shall hear more, God willing, in the course of three days. I send back a flask ; to whom it belongs, I know not. Inquire, I pray you, of my landlord, and do not grudge to undertake this office for my sake, who so boldly presume to impose all my burdens upon your shoulders. Your most devoted, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. We salute most respectfully your dear wife with all your family, masters Theodore [Bibliander], Pelhcan, Gualter, Butler, and all the rest3. P Namely at Saverne, about 20 miles W.N. W.. of Strasburgh.] P Foxe gives an interesting account of Hooper's parting interview with his friends at Zurich. Acts and Mon. vi. 638.] [ZURICH LETTERS, III. J 50 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER XXVII- JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, March 31, 1549. Much health. Grace and peace from the Lord. I obey your command, my very dear friend and gossip1, that I should acquaint you with the progress of our journey. We arrived at Strasburgh on the 29th instant, all of us, by the blessing and favour of God, safe and sound. We think of re maining here till the third of April, that we may join some worthy and excellent companions who are now on their way to the fair. The fretfulness too of our little daughter Rachel in some measure prevents our journey; for she is cutting her teeth, and exposure to the air aggravates the painfulness of incipient illness. I beheve there is no truth in the reports respecting Hedio2. On the 30th of this month I was present at his lecture, which was upon the 10th chapter of the epistle to the Romans. He spoke very clearly and openly upon the excellency of the word of God, and warned his hearers most carefully to beware of the beguiling snares of the Interim. What he said however, I think, proceeded rather from ex cessive terror and alarm, than from actual dislike. He is not wanting in godliness, but he has too great a dread of offending the emperor. On the same day I was present at his evening sermon, where, among other things that he said, and which I heard with pain, he absurdly iaveighed with great bitterness against the Suvermerians3. May the Lord forgive him, and bring him to a better mind ! Paul Fagius left this place before my arrival. Bucer, I beheve, will depart this evening, but I do not yet know P Bullinger was God-father to Hooper's daughter Rachel.] P Caspar Hedio was professor of theology at Strasburgh, where he died in 1552, and was succeeded by Hierome Zanchius.] P The Saxon divines were exceeding hot against the Swiss divines, on account of their rejecting the doctrine of consubstantiation held by the Lutherans. In their ordinary discourses, Strype says, "they styled them heretics, false prophets, Suvermeros, Sacramentiperdas." Strype, Cranmer, 508.] XXVII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 51 whither he is going. He is invited into England, Poland, and Saxony. He received me at dinner yesterday, where I met John Sturmius, Sapidus, and Christopher Mont. They were very much delighted at the concord of the people of Switzerland, which I pray the Lord to continue and confirm. I myself, my wife, Rachel, and Joanna, diligently commend to our good and gracious God in our prayers the well being of yourself and all your family, and that of the other most godly ministers of your church, all of whom we sincerely and cordially salute. Farewell, most excellent and ever esteemed sir. Strasburgh, March 31. Your most devoted, JOHN HOOPER. LETTER XXVIII. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Mayenci, April 8, 1549. Much health. I hope, my worthy friend and gossip, that the letter which I wrote to you on my journey was safely de livered ; by which you would ascertain our route and progress as far as Strasburgh, We sailed from thence on the second of April, all of us by the goodness and favour of God in good health. The first day of our voyage from Strasburgh was a prosperous one, with the wind and stream in our favour : on the second day also God was not less gracious to us. We passed the night of this day in a village near Spires, where on the same day there had been dining sixty-four Spaniards, all cavalry, who were going up towards the duchy of Wurtemberg, so sharpened by hunger, that they left the landlords neither flesh nor fish for us. We fared very spar ingly, satisfying ourselves with their broken victuals. There is no distinction of meat among them, nor any observance of days, for which such abundance of christian blood is shed by the madness of the papists. The third day of our voyage passed most comfortably ; the fourth was somewhat dangerous. We met with a contrary wind, high waves, ignorant and eareless sailors, so that we were twice exposed 4—2 52 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. to great peril ; and unless we had reached the land, which we effected with great difficulty, we should all of us have been lost. This happened about half a mile from Mayence: we all entered the city on foot, safe and sound. The other vessel which accompanied us suffered far more than we did ; much of the cargo was spoiled by the water, and the master of the vessel, knocked about by the violence of the storm, just as he was about to cast anchor, got his leg entangled in the cable which sustained the whole weight of the anchor, and was hurt very severely. At Mayence we sojourned at the Golden Swan, where we found six merchants who had come from the city of Liege. They told us that the emperor was now at Brussels with his son Philip in great triumph and magnificence. They say that the wily and bad landgrave is detained prisoner near Ghent. I inquired whether the emperor was preparing a second expedition into upper Ger many. They replied that no rumours of that kind had been spread amongst them. I asked too concerning the people of the lake territories. They told me that the emperor would lead all his forces against them this summer. May the victory be on their side, who most desire the safety of the church of Christ ! Let us pray God, and he will deliver his people out of temptations. I have great hope that this will be the case, provided only they are cemented by a holy concord, which alone can destroy the power of the emperor. The affairs of Saxony are fluctuating and uncertain, and, as it is reported here, are placed in the greatest danger by reason of intestine discords, by which, if they are not healed, they will mutually destroy each other. I have nothing to write respecting England, except that she is miserably and dangerously exposed to a bloody war, and is safe on no side. The French and Scots are open enemies; there is a third in secret, more powerful than either of them ; and I fear that he will take advantage of the present juncture. I have often earnestly besought you and your people to interpose your mediation between France and England; and I now again and again suppliantly entreat and beseech you the same thing, for the sake of Christ, who is the restorer of peace. Bear in mind that reward which is promised you by him who cannot he: " Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the XXVHI.J JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 53 children of God." Let not the majesty of the royal name or the vapouring of any other title deter you. Moreover, the state and condition of the king and the realm of England is now very different from what it was formerly : he is your brother, he worships the same God with yourselves, and, I hope, in the same manner. But if they will go on as they are doing, and will admit of no equitable terms, one or the other of them must necessarily yield before long. A new gold coinage is now being struck in England of a purer standard than that which was coined under the late king ; but what is increased in one way is diminished in another, for the standard weight of the crowns is diminished by nearly a fourth part. I will not be unmindful of the cloth which I promised you, but will send it as soon as I possibly can. While I was writing the above, the letter, my most reverend master and gossip, was delivered to me, which you wrote on the 26th of March. In truth I receive nothing with greater pleasure than this evidence of your good health, which may the Lord, the Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, long preserve to you safe and sound ! I wish you had written one word respecting that pious matron, my good friend, the wife of master Bibliander. I hope in the Lord Jesus that she has had a happy delivery: were it otherwise, I should be much concerned. I should now write to my worthy gossip, master Bibliander, if there were any subject to supply me with an occasion for writing. When I have proceeded lower down on my journey, I will write to you more at length. Meanwhile farewell, and may our most merciful heavenly Father grant that you may be always well, through the blood of bis Son Jesus Christ our Saviour : and remember, my dear friend, to persevere with energy, as you do, in your holy and danger ous warfare. If but the least doubt of your perseverance disturbed my thoughts, I would add spurs to a running horse. But I know you well and intimately, and doubt not but that you will in many ways surpass my expectation. This at least I can assuredly promise myself concerning you, that, like a good shepherd, you will lay down your life for your sheep. And I have the same persuasion respecting our learn ed and vigilant brother, master Gualter. Let others talk, and extenuate, and make what excuses they please, who, when the wolf is coming, have left their sheep to be torn in pieces by 54 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. thieves and robbers : unless they repent, they will wretchedly suffer the punishment of hirelings in that day when the true Shepherd shall come to separate the sheep from the goats. According to your singular kindness and benevolence to wards me, when my amanuensis shall come to you for the purpose of writing out for me the heads of your sermons, urge him, I pray you, carefully to copy out not only your remarks on the epistle to the Romans, but also those on Isaiah and the other prophets; that I, though distant, may benefit others by the gifts of God bestowed upon you. Will you also make the same request in my name to my masters and brethren, master Gualter and the most learned Theodore [Bibhander], men most truly esteemed by me? I left suf ficient money at Zurich, and will liberally recompense their labour if they will but comply with my entreaties. I have desired them to forward my wishes in this respect, and to use all diligence in copying out the sermons and lectures at my expense. Do you only, my kind friend, exhort them to this; I do not ask you to do it yourself; sufficient burdens are imposed upon your shoulders from other quarters. I shall say nothing as to the civility of the innkeepers from Strasburgh to this city ; they are barbarous Scythians, and harsh and uncivilized Getse. Once more farewell. My wife and daughter, Stumphius, Joanna, and Martin, salute you, as I do myself, with your dear wife and all your family; likewise masters Bibhander, Gualter, PeUican, excellent and most deserving men, with their families. Moreover, I com mend to Almighty God your holy church, and commonwealths and most worthy magistrate Lavater, that he may defend you against the enemies of his name. Mayence. In haste. April 8, 1549. Yours in body and soul, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. Sleidan1 of Strasburgh has written a book of history for our king. Doctor Andernach too, a physician of P In March 1551, archbishop Cranmer procured for John Sleidan, from king Edward, an honorary pension of 200 crowns a year, as some aid for the carrying on his commentaries, which he was then busy about; and, as it seems, encouraged by Cranmer to take in hand and prosecute. See Strype, Cranmer, 595.] XXVIII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 55 Strasburgh, has translated a work upon medicine from the Greek into Latin, and dedicated it to the archbishop of Can terbury. You see how active all persons are in running after gain. Beyond doubt, if there were no danger hanging over them, both our king and his kingdom would be without their favour and support. I hear that Bernardine's wife exhibits Tierself in England both in dress and appearance as a French lady of rank. But I shall soon know more about her, and so shall you. Respectfully salute, I pray you, the preacher from Memmingen, and also my host and hostess Zinchia. LETTER XXIX. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Cologne, April 14, 1549. Grace and innocency of life from the Lord. If you are well, my most esteemed master and gossip, with your dear wife and family, it is well; and we are all of us by the divine mercy in good health. I hope you have received all my letters, which gave you full information respecting the success of our journey as far as Mayence. We arrived at Cologne on the 11th of April without any thing untoward in our voyage, except a contrary wind and rough weather. We had however a favourable landing. On the 8th of April two other ships suffered much more than we did, namely, shipwreck, with the total loss of their respective crews. Two other vessels here at Cologne sustained the same misfortune during the late carnival : in one there were twenty-eight men, and twelve in the other, not one of whom, with the exception of two sailors, escaped with life. I have nothing to write respecting the affairs of England, except that the gospel of Christ our Lord is daily striking root more deeply. The admiral2 is dead. He was beheaded, and divided into four quarters ; with how much unwillingness P Lord Seymour was beheaded on Tower Hill, March 20, 1549. See Latimer's Sermons, Parker Society Edition, p. 161.] 56 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. he suffered death, master John Utenhovius1, who is the bearer of this letter, will fully explain to you by word of mouth. When he comes to you, receive him with that ancient kind ness, which the country of Switzerland has ever manifested of her own accord towards all strangers. He is a man illus trious both by his birth and virtues, most sincere in the true religion, and entirely opposed to all the mischiefs of secta rianism : he is very dear both to myself and my wife, and by long habits of famiharity and intercourse exceedingly attached to us ; and he is moreover exceedingly intimate with master John a Lasco. There is no occasion for me to commend him to you more at length. His noble qualities and remarkable learning wiU sufficiently recommend him to aU pious and learned men. He is coming to you on my recommendation, that he may hear your godly sermons and theological lectures, and observe the mode of administering the Lord's supper, which as it is most simple among you, so is it most pure. He wiU board with his old friend master Butler, an English man. It would be foreign to my present purpose to inform you how much he has suffered from the emperor for the sake of the gospel of Christ. May the Lord preserve you aU, your church and com monwealth ! My wife, my little daughter, Stumphius, Martin, and Joanna dutifully salute your exceUency, your whole family, and aU the other godly members of your church. Cologne, April 14, 1549. Your exceUency's most attached, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. I send you a compendium of the doctrine of the eucharist, which I know wUl much please you. See that he [Utenhovius] be introduced to and form a friendship with masters Gualter, PeUican, Gesner and the rest. I would write a general letter to the whole assembly of the learned men at Zurich in favour of this good brother, if I had time. P Bullinger thus writes of Utenhovius in a letter to Burcher, dated June 28, 1549. "The nobleman, Utenhovius, of Ghent, has far ex ceeded your commendation of him; and I thank you, that through the instrumentality of yourself and Hooper I have contracted a friendship with a man every way so worthy."] XXX.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 57 LETTER XXX. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at [Antwerp, April 26, 1549.] Much health. Grace and innocency of life from the Lord. How mercifuUy God has hitherto been present with us, and made our journey prosperous, we hope, most honoured friend and gossip, you have learned from the letters written at Dietikon, Basle, Strasburgh, Mayence, and Cologne. That which I wrote from Cologne you wiU receive by master John Utenhovius, an exceUent and worthy man, born of an honour able family at Ghent. We earnestly pray you to receive him with kindness. Moreover, should there occur any mention of the holy supper of the Lord, diligently admonish and instruct him upon the subject; you wfil find no one more tractable, or more ready to learn. We left Cologne on the 14th of April, and directed our course through the barren and sandy plains of Brabant to Antwerp, where we all of us arrived, by God's blessing, safe and sound, on the 18th of the same month. CompeUed by the entreaties of the commissioner2 of our king, who is now attending upon the emperor, I went over to Brussels with John Stumphius, that he. might see the effeminacy and wretchedness of the court, and also the bondage of the good citizens of Brussels, who are now forced to endure the im- periousness of the Spaniards, their depredation and robbery, the violation of their daughters, the corruption of their wives, and lastly, threatenings and blows from that most profligate nation3; to the end that he might more feelingly consider the state and condition of his own country, pray for it more ardently, and more earnestly warn his countrymen, and by letting them know the misfortunes of others render them more cautious. We did not see the emperor, who very seldom leaves his chamber, nor yet his son, who was keeping Easter in some monastery out of the city. John Stumphius saw the duke of Saxony at a window. I was twice at his house, and very courteously entertained by his German at- p Namely, Sir Philip Hobby. See Burnet, m. 289.] P The particulars mentioned in this letter are confirmed by Slei-: dan and Brandt.] 58 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. tendants, who are about thirty in number. The duke wished two or three times to admit me to an interview, but the presence of the Spanish general always prevented him. He abides stedfast in the faith, and is in a very good state of health. There is no hope whatever of his deliverance, unless, which wiU not I trust be the case, he should change his re ligion : he does not despair of the word of God. The Land grave1 of Hesse is in confinement at Oudenarde, seven miles from Ghent: he is a man thoroughly wretched and vacillating; at one time he promises all obedience and fidelity to the em peror, receives the mass and other impious idolatries with open arms ; at another time he execrates and abominates the emperor, with his Interim. May the Lord have compassion upon him! he is in a state of great wretchedness, and is now paying the just penalty of his perfidiousness. We saw likewise that traitor Lazarus Schuendi 2, with whom you are acquainted. There is no need for me to write about Brandenburg and the other Germans who are in bondage to the Spaniards. The pope's legate has been preaching in his palace during the whole of Lent, with what impiety I shaU not write. This however I know for certain, that there is not a friendly feeling between the pope and the emperor, nei ther between the king of France and the emperor. Both of them are greatly afraid of him, and he, in his turn, is in the greatest fear of the fulminations of the pope. It is now seriously disputed between them, whether the general council shaU be held at Trent or Bologna. The pope urges, bids, entreats, commands the emperor to consent. to Bologna. He resists, refuses, opposes in every possible way, and says that he would rather break off aU affiance with the pope, than aUow of that locality, namely, Bologna. It is easy to conjecture what mischief lies hid in this proposal on the part of the pope. He is in great apprehension for his kingdom; for I am informed by our ambassador, that if the emperor's confessor8 P The Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse became prisoners of the emperor after the battle of Muhlberg in 1547.] P Lazarus Schuendi is mentioned by Sleidan as having beeh sent by the emperor with a party of soldiers to raze the castle of Gothen, and set at liberty marquess Albert of Brandenburg, who was there kept prisoner.] P Peter de Soto, a Dominican, was confessor to Charles V. Ha XXX.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 59 were but moderately religious, there would be the greatest hope of shortly bringing him into the knowledge of Christ ; for he openly told me that both the emperor and all his counciUors were guided, persuaded, led and dragged about by their confessor, who acts in every respect at the bidding and advice of the pope. And I easily beheve this ; for when the emperor was in upper Germany seven months since, he was deserted by his confessor, because he would not act with severity against some godly persons, and restore popery al together. The emperor offered him a bishoprick in Spain worth twenty thousand crowns per annum. He put a slight upon the liberality of the emperor, and upon the emperor him self, in these terms : "I owe myself entirely to the church of Christ, but neither to you nor to your gifts, unless you choose to serve the church more zealously than you have done." And now as to the emperor's views in regard to Switzerland. AU parties agree in this, that he is enviously opposed to your liberty, and wiU therefore leave no stone unturned to destroy your union. Should he not succeed in this way, he will attempt every thing by promises. Beware therefore, lest he deceive you with vain expectations. Last of aU, he wiU with out doubt attack you with an hostile army, not with a view of overcoming you in this way, or exposing many of his troops to danger, but merely to strike terror into you. I pray you therefore to preserve your mutual regard and unanindty : fear God, live holily, fight bravely, and expect the victory from God, who wiU without doubt stand by and defend you. People think that you are not in imminent danger at present; but still you should always be prepared against a feeling of security, lest he should overwhelm you when you little think of it. The emperor is hitherto weU aware that he cannot manage the affairs of Germany as he desires. He has been more troubled, as I have been informed upon good authority, that he has made any alteration in rehgion, than if he had promised the Germans the utmost liberty in that respect. They afterwards accompanied Philip into England, where he was employed at Oxford to lecture, and as much as possible to undo all that Peter Martyr had done. He was afterwards accused for heretical opinions, to the Inquisition at Valladolid, but died at Trent in 1563 before the preliminary proceedings had been completed. See Zurich Letters, 1st Series, p. 33, and Llorente Hist. Crit. de l'lnquisition, ra. 88.] 60 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET; say that the emperor wiU shortly proceed to Ghent, and from thence return to Brussels, or go up towards Spires. He has troops stationed near Bremen and the towns upon the coast, but they are inactive ; they neither make any progress,, nor are they much feared by the citizens, who are daily adding to the strength of their cities, and have provisions for five years, and do not any longer court the favour of the emperor. You are, I think, aware of the severity of the exactions the emperor now demands from his subjects : I will relate, however, an affecting and lamentable statement which a godly matron, my landlady, made to me in Brabant. " If," she said, "I could carry in my arms my large and troublesome family of chudren, I would flee away, and obtain my liveli hood by begging. For the tax-gatherers of the emperor arid the queen exhaust all the fruit of our labours." The English too, are now sadly oppressed in this respect. A fifth of all property has been granted to the king. But I must teU you one more thing respecting Switzerland. Yesterday, April 25th, I was invited to dinner by a citizen of Antwerp, who is well acquainted with Switzerland from having frequently ex posed his goods to sale in aU their cities. He told me that since the emperor had left upper Germany, he had often seen in his palace the public officers of the canton of Lucerne ; for he knew them well by the colour of their dress. It is to be feared that the secret affairs of that country may be revealed' by this means, or that some yet greater evU may be latent. On the first of May there will be fresh rejoicings at Brussels in honour of the prince of Spain. You have, I sup pose, heard of the former ones from master John Utenhovius; but as he did not see the new gates and columns erected in the city, you must know that at the first gate there is a column on which is inscribed, " Happy are his subjects !" Quis genus Austriadum, quis stirpem Csesaris altam Herculei vere generis esse negat? On the other side is written, Alcidem jactant nugse et flctitia monstra ; Caroleos ausus fortia gesta probant. On the second gate : Sancta fides merito collaudat vosque patresquc, Auxilio quorum csepit et aucta fides. i XXX.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 61 On the other side : Se ter feh'cem hoc fausto tempore clamat, Prole quod Augusta vindice tuta manet. The third gate bears the representation of Hercules saiUng with his piUars, on each of which is placed a statue of a man. The first says, " go," the other, " come." The verses are these, Adsit Caroleo coslestis palma labor!, Et maneat soli gloria prima Deo. Also, Pida lacessiti cunctatio restituit rem, Christicolamque fidem provehat ulterius. At Antwerp there is represented an eagle with expanded wings, beneath whose feet is written this impious application of scripture, " Protect us under the shadow of thy wings." On the first of May, at the rejoicings at Brussels, the prince of Spain, and the son of the duke d'Arschot, a native of Brabant, engaged with spears on horseback. Whether by chance or carelessness I know not, but the prince's helmet was badly fastened on, and could not withstand the force of the lance of d'Arschot's son; so that the prince was twice wounded in the face, once in the chin, the second time in the forehead, but the wounds are not dangerous. The emperor however, in alarm, put off the tournament tiU the foUowing week. I hear that east Friesland has received the Interim. If this be the case, master a. Lasco wiU soon return into England. I greatly regret his absence, especiaUy as Peter Martyr andv Bernardine so stoutly defend Lutheranism, and there is now arrived a third, (I mean Bucer,) who will leave no stone unturned to obtain a footing. The people of England, as I bear, aU of them entertain right notions upon that subject. Should not master a Lasco come to us in a short time, I will send him your letter with the writing. But, if it please God, I could wish to meet the parties in person. We have rer mained here a fortnight for the sake of passing over from hence into England more conveniently, with a weU-informed and skilful English captain who is staying here, and waiting for a cargo. But I am afraid lest the wind should turn against us, in which case we shall lose both our time and money. [JOHN HOOPER.] 62 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER XXXI. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Antwebp, May 3, 1549. I have desired for some days to take care of the health of my wife and our little' girl, who, though they were entirely exhausted by the fatigue of the journey, have now by resting tolerably recovered their strength. You will receive with this letter a piece of cloth for hose, of a better quaUty than that which you bought of me before, but yet at the same or a lower price. It contains, I suppose, at least 20 Zurich ells: should it contain more or less, let me know in your next letter, which I pray you to send to our old friend Richard Hilles. It wiU then, I hope, be faithfully delivered to me. Let this cloth be divided between master Mayor and yourself: I would have sent you another piece, could I have met with any upon sale at this place. As soon as I arrive in London I wiU send you some, God willing, not inferior to this, nor more expensive. All those persons in this place who import cloth from England, sell it at a profit, and it is with difficulty that I have met with that which I now send. They have many thousand [pieces], but they wiU not seU except to those who will buy ten or twenty whole pieces together, for fear of mixing the different quahties of the cloth ; as the best, the middling, and the inferior, mutuaUy help each other both in the price and the sale. If you or the Mayor wiU, either of you, keep the cloth now sent, I wiU send a second piece to the one who shaU be without it. I bought this for forty shillings, that is, six ducats, before it was dyed. A ducat is equivalent to forty stivers of Brabant, and forty stivers of Brabant make twenty-four batzen of Constance. I paid for the dyeing eight shillings of Brabant, which make twenty- eight batzen of Constance, and a little over : I do not know what I am to pay for the carriage to Strasburgh, but, exclu sive of all expenses, you wUl have a Zurich ell for ten Zurich batzen. If there are twenty eUs, this will amount to two hundred batzen, which make eight French solar crowns, which XXXI.J JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 63 is the price of the entire piece. When I reach London, I may probably send you some at a less price ; meanwhUe take in good part my services, which I owe and shall owe you, as a father and a most esteemed master, as long as I five. I wish this cloth to be divided between master Mayor and yourself, that when I send you another piece you may be upon an equal footing both with respect to the quality of the cloth and the price. And if in future you should wish to wear English cloth for your coats or hose, (and state this also in my name to our brother Gualter,) I wiU always most willingly use my endeavours in your behalf. And you, as you love me, see that those who are taking copies at my expense, are most carefuUy supphed with the notes of your sermons. If they are not sparing in their labours, I will not be sparing of my money. Keep in your possession the money for this cloth, until I shall let you know by letter to what use I wish it to be applied. My wife and all who are with me salute your reverence, your wife and all your family ; and you wiU salute in aU our names masters Gualter, PeUican, the Israelite indeed, and aU the other learned and most loving brethren. Do not more over omit to salute with the greatest respect and honour most dutifuUy in my name master Mayor, to whom and to the commonwealth of Zurich I most ardently wish every happi ness. May the Lord long preserve you by his Spirit safe, pious, and sound; and may you defend the fold of Christ from wolves and hirelings until the coming of the glory of God ! Antwerp, May 3, 1549. Yours always in mind and body, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. Take care, I pray you, that the other letters which I send, may be delivered to those to whom they are directed. After Easter my wife wrote to her mother, who lives about fifteen nules from Antwerp. The messenger found her father dead. Her mother received the letter and gave it my wife's brother to read, who immediately threw it into the fire without reading it. You see the words of Christ are true, that the brother shall persecute the brother for the sake of the word of God. 64 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER XXXII. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, May 31, 1549. Much health. Pardon, most loving master and father, the shortness of my letter. You will learn from our brother, master Butler, by what circumstances I am hindered, and with whom I have to contend within these two days on the subject of divorce. In the commentaries1 which I lately wrote on ^the decalogue, I aUowed both to the man and his wife an equal liberty of divorce on account of adultery, if they are disposed to use that liberty which Christ has permitted in the gospel of his church, where the marriage contract is dissolved by adultery. My opponents aUow the husband to divorce bis wife by reason of adultery, and to marry another; but they do not allow the same liberty to the wife. In your next letter, as you love me, either confirm my opinion, or correct my error. We are all well; I have sent John Stumphius to Ox ford, recommended by many honourable men, and especially by Treherne, who is much attached to you. When I gave your letter to the archbishop of Canterbury, he did not vouchsafe a single word respecting either yourself, or your most godly church. Bucer has very great influence with him, and the bishop wiU appoint him to the regius professorship [of divinity] at Cambridge. Master a Lasco is absent, which is a great grief to aU godly persons. I shaU send your letter to him to-morrow by a good and trusty friend, together with the book and writing. You may expect, God willing, a longer letter within the next fortnight, with which you wiU also re ceive the cloth. My wife always makes mention of you in her prayers ; she salutes you with your dear wife and all your family. Our little daughter Rachel with Martin and Joanna do the same in spirit. Do you, most esteemed master, salute in our names masters Gualter, PeUican, Gesner, and all the rest. London, May 31, 1549. Your ever most affectionate, JOHN HOOPER. P See a Declaration of the ten holy Commandments of Almighty God, in Hooper's early writings, Parker Society edition. The passage here referred to will be found in pp. 378, 379, where Hooper complaiis of the uncharitable construction put upon it. ] XXXIII.J JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 65 LETTER XXXIII. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, June 25, [1549], Much health. I cannot express, my much honoured master and gossip, the delight afforded me by your letter, a most certain token as it was of your exceeding love to me. I earnestly entreat you to act always thus; for nothing can be more agreeable to me than to hear often of your welfare, and of the safety of , your church and commonwealth. You shaU always in return receive every intelhgence from me respepting my own circumstances and those of our church. Great, great I say, my beloved master and gossip, is the harvest, but the labourers are few. May our most indulgent Father send forth labourers into the harvest ! Such is the mahciousness and wickedness of the bishops, that the godly and learned men who would willingly labour in the Lord's harvest are hindered by them ; and they neither preach themselves, nor allow the Uberty of preaching to others. For this reason there are some persons here who read and expound the holy scriptures at a public lecture, two of whom read in St Paul's cathedral four times a week. I myself too, as my slender abiUties will aUow me, having compassion upon the ignorance of my brethren, read a public lecture twice in the day to so numerous an audience, that the church cannot contain them. The anabaptists2 flock to the place, and give me much trouble with their opinions respecting the incarnation of the Lord; for they deny altogether that Christ was born of the virgin Mary according to the flesh. They contend that a man who is reconcUed to God is without sin, and free from aU stain of concupiscence, and that nothing of the old Adam remains in his nature; and a man, they say, who is thus regenerate cannot sin. They add that all hope of pardon is taken away from those who, after having received the Holy Ghost, fall into sin. They maintain a fatal necessity, and that beyond and besides that wUl of his which he has revealed to us in P For an account of the opinions of the anabaptists of this period, see Strype, Mem. i. i. 552.] r -i 5 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 66 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. the scriptures, God hath another wiU by which he altogether acts under some kind of necessity. Although I am unable to satisfy their obstinacy, yet the Lord by bis word shuts their mouths, and their heresies are more and more detested by the people. How dangerously our England is afflicted by heresies of this kind, God only knows ; I am unable indeed from sorrow of heart to express to your piety. _ There are some who deny that man is endued with a soul different from that of a beast, and subject to decay. Alas ! not only are those heresies reviving among us which were formerly dead and buried, but new ones are springing up every day. There are such libertines and wretches, who are daring enough in their conventicles not only to deny that Christ is the Messiah and Saviour of the world, but also to caU that blessed Seed a mischievous feUow and deceiver of the world. On the other hand, a great portion of the kingdom so adheres to the popish faction, as altogether to set at nought God and the lawful authority of the magistrates; so that I am greatly afraid of a rebellion and civU discord. May the Lord re strain restless spirits, and destroy the counsels of Achito- phel ! Do you, my venerable father, commend our king and the council of the nation, together with our church, to God in your prayers. I have not yet seen my parents, but hope to do so shortly, if the Lord permit. It has hitherto been out of my power, both because I am daUy expecting my baggage with books and other necessaries, which were detained at Antwerp by an unfavourable wind ; and also because through the in stigation of the devil and wickedness of man there has lately arisen in my part of the country1 a commotion of the people against the government, not unattended with danger, and as yet hardly composed. Tumults of this kind are taking place not only in my country, but almost throughout the whole king dom. The people are sorely oppressed by the marveUous tyranny of the nobility. Let us pray that aU occasions of discord may be piously removed, and that the people may be kept in order to the glory of God's name. The state of our country is indeed most deplorable : we are however in expectation of a happy issue, when we shaU feel pleasure in the recollection of what is past. When I visit my friends, I [i Namely, Devonshire and Somersetshire. See Strype, Mem. n. i. 259.] XXXIII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 67 wiU purchase for yourself and master Mayor the other cloth that I promised, and also another piece for master John Butler ; I could not buy it here at your price. Bucer is with the archbishop of Canterbury like another Scipio, and an inseparable companion. Paulus Fagius too, and Peter Alexander, formerly chaplain to queen Mary, the emperor's sister, are also there. Within a fortnight, God willing, you shaU know more. Salute very much in all our names your wife with all your famUy, masters Gualter and PeUican with their wives, and aU the other members of your church. I wish you were acquainted with our language, and that master Gualter also knew it for six months : I doubt not but that God would convert many hearts to the knowledge of himself. FareweU. London, June 25. I send herewith a pattern of the cloth of this kind which is manufactured either in your neighbourhood or in Suabia. You wiU ascertain this from the wife of master Musculus. Ask master Butler to send me four or five florins worth, and send word how much it costs per eU. I have often grieved over my departure from you; for the Lord has opened my eyes to perceive the sad and dangerous situation of the clergy. I wiU endure it however, God willing, as long as I can do so with a pure conscience. Yours ever most attached, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. My friend Martin, an exceUent young man, affec? tionately salutes your exceUency. You wiU deign to salute in my name my master, your most worthy Mayor, who is on every account so respectable. I hope you have received one piece of cloth. You shall receive the second in a short time. LETTER XXXIV. JOHN HOOPER TO JOHN STUMPHIUS. Dated at London, Aug. 1, [1549]. Much health. You wiU receive, my very dear brother, by the bearer of this letter all your books, which I doubt 5 — 2 68 JOHN HOOPER TO JOHN STUMPHIUS. [LET. not you have been long and anxiously expecting. The party to whom I gave in charge my luggage at Strasburgh anwered my expectation in this respect negligently enough. You need not be troubled about the carriage, as I have paid both the waggoners and sailors. Should you be in want of money, you can let me know by letter every week ; I will never be wanting to your necessities. I am obliged to remain here in London and in the family of the lord protector, till things become more settled : I tell you this, that you may know for certain where to direct your letters. Since you left me, I have received two letters from master Bullinger, from which I learn that the affairs of Switzerland are as safe and flourishing as ever. A letter, however, has lately reached me from Germany, which states that five cantons have lately entered upon a solemn treaty with the king of France against the English, but that the evangelical states had piously and boldly rejected it. Do you, my brother, as your love to your country requires, aid them together with me in your diligent and persevering prayers unto the Lord ; and he who has begun a godly work in the people of Zurich, wiU perform it even unto the end. Farewell, and respectfuUy salute in my name the wife of Peter .Martyr, together with his attendant1; and also John ab Ulmis, with the Hessian who lately came over to you. I would salute my old friend master Garbrand2, only that I have so often done so without any greeting in return, that I know not whether he can bear with patience to be saluted by me. London, August 1. In haste. Yours ever to serve in any way, JOHN HOOPER. You will also receive three shirts. The fourth is still packed up among my baggage, which I have not yet unpacked. I will send it you next week. P This was Julius Santerentianus, so often mentioned in the pre- ceding series.] P One of this name is mentioned by Strype, as a prebendary of Salisbury, and friend of bishop Jewel. Strype, Ann. n. i. 146.] XXXV.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 69 LETTER XXXV. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, Nov. 1, 1549. Much health. The favour and blessing of God be with you! If you have not yet received my letter, with two entire pieces of cloth, one for yourself, and the other for master Butler, you will receive them, my much esteemed master and father, in a short time. They are detained a longer time at Antwerp on account of the dyeing ; but by the blessing of God they wiU aU safely reach you. You must not wonder at your not having yet received the cloth; for I have been so overwhelmed by difficult and constant business since my arrival in England, that I have not yet been able either to visit my native place or my parents. The face of things is now changed, and the state of Eng lish affairs in some respects altered. My patron3, who was first minister and protector, is now imprisoned with many others in the Tower of London, as you will better learn from a letter which is now on the road to you. We are greatly apprehensive of a change in rehgion; but as yet no alteration has taken place. Help us in Christ by your prayers. The young king by the mercy of God is alive and weU, and is a prince of great learning and wisdom. The papists are hoping and earnestly struggling for their kingdom. The bishop4 of London, the most bitter enemy of the gospel, is now living in confinement, and deposed from his bishoprick. This was done when the affairs and fortunes of the duke of Somerset were more prosperous than they are at present. I had a sharp and dangerous contest with that bishop, both publicly from the P Namely, the duke of Somerset, who was sent to the Tower, Oct. 14, 1549.]P Bishop Bonner, against whom a commission was issued out from the king to archbishop Cranmer, bishop Ridley, the secretaries Petre and Smith, and Dr May, dean of St Paul's. Strype, Cran mer, 269. A full account of the proceedings is given in Poxe, Acts and Mon. v. 741, &c. See also Collier's Eccles. Hist, of Great Britain.] 70 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. pulpit, in my turns at Paul's cross, and also before the king's council. Should he be again restored to his office and epis copal function, I shall, I doubt not, be restored to my country and my Father which is in heaven. Fourteen days since silence was imposed and enjoined upon aU lecturers and preachers. But this only lasted seven days ; and Hberty of teaching is again aUowed them. I read in public every day to a most crowded audience at London, and take John and Daniel by turns. I lectured upon the Psalms at the king's court as long as the situation of the duke permitted me to do so ; but that lecture is now laid aside. WiU you kindly undertake, most reverend sir, out of your love to Christ and to myself, to have your notes on Isaiah copied out and forwarded to me with aU fidelity, (for I am greatly in need of your assistance;) and also aU the other comments which you have written on the other prophets, or upon the New Testament ? I know that they are all pure in doctrine, and learned, and holy. I wiU satisfy the writer or copyist for his pains. I make, too, the same request from master Gualter, and from our gossip, master Bibhander, with respect to his lectures, which are doubtless holy, pious, and fuU of learning. You wiU receive with the cloth the dispu tation1 of Peter Martyr with the papists at Oxford on the subject of the eucharist. John Stumphius is weU, and conducts himself with much credit : teU his parents, that should he stand in need of any assistance in any way, I wiU never be wanting to him. John ab Ulmis is also in good health. You wiU do weU if you will admonish him by letter to pursue his studies with diligence, and remain at home. I am afraid that by his so frequently going backwards and forwards between Oxford and London, he wiU incur a loss not only of time, but of money. Use your own discretion in this matter. In haste. Salute aU my good masters and instructors, together with all our friends and their godly wives in the name of us all. I entreat you most kindly to salute that ¦ excellent man, master Butler, to whom I am not now able to write a letter; and request him to give two florins in my name to the widow of the deceased Zinkius. You wiU also teU this afflicted P For an account of this disputation, which was afterwards pub lished by Peter Martyr, see Strype, Cranmer, 283.] XXXV.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 71 widow, that we shaU aU of us bear in mind, as long as we live, the kindness with which she treated us. Your exceUence's most attached, JOHN HOOPER. LETTER XXXVI. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, Dec. 27, 1549. That you so seldom receive any letter from me, my very reverend master and gossip, I pray you to ascribe to the calamity of our time, and the alteration in my circumstances, rather than to any forgetfulness of your signal courtesy and kindness, which both reason and affection entirely forbid on my part. We were in much alarm, and very great fear possessed the minds of the godly, as to the success that the religion of Christ just now budding forth in England would meet with upon the fall of the duke of Somerset, who is stih confined in the Tower of London. We have as yet no certain information as to what wiU become of him. We hope that his life wiU be spared. May God grant this for the glory of his name, and the benefit of his church ! although we see many dangers hanging over him, yet we hope and expect a favourable issue. We easUy indeed give credit to what we wish. No change in religion has taken place among us, and we hope that no alteration wUl be made hereafter. Although our vessel is dangerously tossed about on aU sides, yet God in his providence holds the helm, and raises up more favourers of his word in his'majesty's councils, who with activity and courage defend the cause of Christ. The archbishop of Canterbury entertains right views as to the nature of Christ's presence in the supper, and is now very friendly towards my self. He has some articles of rehgion, to which aU preachers and lecturers in divinity are required to subscribe, or else a Ucence for teaching is not granted them; and in these his 72 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. sentiments respecting the eucharist are pure, and rehgious, and similar to yours in Switzerland. We desire nothing more for him than a firm and manly spirit. Like aU the other bishops in this country, he is too fearful about what may happen to him. There are here six1 or seven bishops who comprehend the doctrine of Christ as far as relates to the Lord's supper, with as much clearness and piety as one could desire; and it is only the fear for their property that prevents them from reforming their churches according to the rule of God's word. The altars are here in many churches changed into tables. The public celebration of the Lord's supper is very far from the order and institution of our Lord. Although it is administered in both kinds, yet in some places the supper is celebrated three times a day. Where they used heretofore to celebrate in the morning the mass of the apostles, they now have the communion of the apostles ; where they had the mass of the blessed virgin, they now have the communion which they caU the communion of the virgin ; where they had the principal, or high mass, they now have, as they call it, the high communion. They still retain their vestments and the candles before the altars; in the churches they always chant the hours and other hymns relating to the Lard's supper, but in our own language. And that popery may not be lost, the mass-priests, although they are compelled to discontinue the use of the Latin lan guage, yet most carefully observe the same tone and manner of chanting to which they were heretofore accustomed in the papacy. God knows to what perils and anxieties we are exposed by reason of men of this kind. You will apologize for me to master Mayor, and also to master Butler, respecting the pieces of cloth. Three months have elapsed since I sent them off, but they are detained at Antwerp ; they wiU shortly, however, be deHvered to you,' God willing, and possibly before the receipt of this letter. I have just come from my lecture ; I pray you therefore to interpret with kindness the shortness of my letter. I am obliged to lecture in public twice a day both to-morrow and the day following. May it be for the glory of God! [l It appears by the following letter that the bishops here referred to were Cranmer of Canterbury, Ridley of Rochester, Goodrich of Ely, Farrar of St David's, Holbeach of Lincoln, and Barlow of Bath.] XXXVI.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 73 I shaU finish the sixth chapter of John, and have proceeded thus far upon that evangelist. For my other lecture I ex pound Daniel, as affording a subject weU-suited to our times ; and I am now engaged in considering the third beast in the seventh chapter, towards the elucidation of which subject your remarks and annotations upon Daniel have contributed no1 small assistance. I pray you, most reverend sir, by your great regard for me, to take care that all your annotations, especially those on Isaiah, be copied out with all speed, and sent to me with the greatest care. I wiU pay every expense : you know not how wonderfully they promote the glory of God. If I am able to effect anything, and my slender powers are of any benefit to the church of Christ, I confess, and by the blessing of God wiU confess, as long as I five, that I owe it to your self and my masters and brethren at Zurich ; whom I pray the Lord ever to preserve in safety for his name's sake. Moreover, if you have any thing which you purpose soon to send to the press, you should dedicate it to our most excellent sovereign, king Edward the sixth. On this subject I wish; you would advise those learned men, namely, master Bibli ander, our co-sponsor, and master Gualter. If you wUl com ply with my wishes in this respect, you will advance the glory of God in no smaU degree. Beheve me, aU the Eng lish, who are free from popish tyranny and Romish craftiness, entertain correct views respecting the [Lord's] supper. There are various other reasons which induce me to make this request to you; bujfc I cannot at present state them by reason of the danger of the journey. Be aUve^ fight with that old serpent. Behold, your reward is great in heaven. Salute masters Bibliander, Gualter, PeUican, with their wives, my most faithful master Butler with his wife, and all my other Zurich friends so much esteemed by me. Tell my exceUent friend, master Gessner, that there is on the road for him a Welsh dictionary, and some writings in the language of Cornubia, commonly called Cornwall. Yours now and for evermore, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. My wife and your little god-daughter, Rachel, to- 74 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. gether with Martin and Joanna, salute your exceUence with the good lady our gossip, your wife, and master Bibliander with his wife, our very dear gossips, and aU the rest. Rachel is endued with a most happy memory, and retains with the greatest facihty every thing that is said to her, and of aU other languages she best understands the Latin. LETTER XXXVII. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, Feb. 5, 1550. Greeting. I much regret, most esteemed master and gossip, that the two letters which I sent you at the feast of St John the Baptist, are, as I understand from your letter, either intercepted or lost. Had they reached your exceUency, you would neither have been ignorant of my present circum stances, nor of my affection towards you. I am, however, entirely persuaded of this, that we are united in such bonds of friendship as neither the miscarriage, nor even the intermis sion, of our correspondence wUl ever be able to break. But henceforth, God willing, I wiU make amends for my blameable sUence by my dUigence in writing. As far as I know, the letters of my wife to our very dear gossips, the wives of yourself and of our gossip master Bibhander, have not been delivered ; or you would at least have learned from them the situation both of myself and of this kingdom. But as I now ' promise in this respect greater zeal and diligence than I have hitherto used, I trust to your kindness to forgive me. I will not now allege the just excuse, that the difficult and dangerous nature of my labours, very reverend sir, would caU for at your hands ; but proceed at once to comply with your injunctions. First of all, then, receive in a few words what relates to myself. Since my return to England, I have neither seen my native place nor my parents, by reason of the frequent and dangerous. commotions stirred up in those parts on account of rehgion, and which indeed are not yet calmly and quietly settled. May God send a better state of thmgs! My father is yet XXXVII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 75 living in ignorance of the true rehgion, but I hope that the grace of God wiU at length teach him better. I have been explaining the holy scriptures here at London, and sometimes at court, by order of the duke of Somerset. In the city I have finished the epistle to Titus and about seven chapters of John. At court I have been lecturing upon the Psalms, and God knows at what risk I interpreted the sixth chapter of St John. I am also occupied at this time with the latter part of the seventh chapter of Daniel. I thought it best to explain the sixth of John and the seventh of Daniel by turns, that the people might rightly discern Christ from the one, and antichrist from the other. Thus much, then, re specting myself. My wife always remembers you in her prayers, that she may repay what she owes to your kindness : her health is not what it formerly was at Zurich, but is af fected by the air of England and the relaxing nature of our climate. Our little Rachel is making progress both in body and mind. She understands the English, German, French and Latin languages very tolerably, and especiaUy the Latin. While I was writing this, namely on the fifth of February, on which day I received your last, the archbishop of Canter bury sent for me, and ordered me in the name of the king and council to preach before his majesty (who is now at London, and wiU not go anywhere else before Easter) once a week during the ensuing Lent. May the Lord open my heart and mouth, that I may think and speak those things which may advance his kingdom! I shaU make choice, I think, of a very suitable subject, namely, the prophet Jonas1; which wiU enable me freely to touch upon the duties of indi viduals8. Do you, my reverend friend, write back as soon as possible, and diligently instruct me as to what you think may conveniently be said in so crowded an auditory. It must necessarily be great when before the king ; for even in the city there is such a concourse of people at my lectures, that very often the church wiU not hold them. p These sermons on Jonas, of which there are seven in all, were preached on the Wednesdays during Lent, in the year 1550, before the king and council. They are published among the Early Writings of Bishop Hooper, edited by the Parker Society, p. 435.] P Additional reasons for making choice of this prophet are given in the Early Writmgs of Bishop Hooper, p. 445.] 76 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET.: Now as to what is doing in England. The bishops of Canterbury, Rochester, Ely, St David's, Lincoln, and Bath, are aU favourable to the cause of Christ ; and, as far as I know, entertain right opinions in the matter of the eucharist I have freely conversed with aU of them upon this subject, and have discovered nothing but what is pure and holy. The. archbishop of Canterbury, who is at the head of the king's council, gives to all lecturers and preachers their licence to. read and preach : every one of them, however, must previously subscribe to certain articles, which, if possible, I wiU send you; one of which, respecting the eucharist, is plainly the true one, and that which you maintain in Switzerland. The marquis of Dorset, the earl of Warwick, and the greater part of the king's council favour the cause of Christ as much as they can. Our king is such an one for his age as the world has never seen. May the Lord preserve him! His sister, the daughter of the late king by queen Ann, is inflamed with the same zeal for the religion of Christ. She not only knows what the true religion is, but has acquired such proficiency. in Greek and Latin, that she is able to defend it by the most ust arguments and the most happy talent ; so that she en counters few adversaries whom she does not overcome. The people however, that many-headed monster, is stiU wincing ; partly through ignorance, and partly fascinated by the in veiglements of the bishops, and the malice and impiety of the mass-priests. Such then is the present state of things in England. Receive thus much concerning the affairs of government. On the sixth of October the king, together with the protector1, fled from the palace, which we commonly call Hampton-court, to another castle, called in our language Windsor, for this reason, that the other members of the council in London had determined, as it was right they should, to make inquiry into the protector's conduct. Large numbers were coUected by each party. As to myself, I determined not to interfere, because I had great enemies on both sides. The king was accompanied in his flight by his uncle the duke of Somerset, the arch- E1 For an account of the conspiracy against Somerset, see Holling- shed, m. 1014, Tytler-s Reign of Edward VI. Vol. i. 204, &c , Turner's Edward VI. i. 281, &c] XXXVII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 77 bishop of Canterbury, the comptroller2 of the household, and some of the lords of the bedchamber. All the other nobility and men of rank had lent their influence to the council, who conducted this affair in London: however, by the mercy of God, the business was at length settled without bloodshed. On the 14th of October the duke of Somerset with some others3 was sent to the Tower of London, from whence he is not yet come out; but by the blessing of God he wiU be set at hberty, either this evening4 or to-morrow. Be not alarmed at Dryander's returning to you; he consults his own interests, and cares but Uttle for ours when gain is out of the question. Master Cox has received with the greatest respect your letter and present: I suppose you have received an answer from him before this time. The archbishop of Canterbury, to say the truth, neither took much notice of your letter, nor of your learned present. But now, as I hope, master Bullinger and Canterbury enter tain the same opinions. Should it be otherwise, you shall shortly hear. With respect to what you write about the marquis of Dorset, if you have anything suitable in the press, contrive, I entreat you, to dedicate it to him. He is pious, good, and brave, and distinguished in the cause of Christ. You wUl not a little advance the glory of God by giving encouragement to him and others by your writings. Your reputation, be heve me, is most honourably spoken of, as you well deserve, by all the learned and godly of this country. Take in good part the unpolished style of my letter. After some days you shall hear more. London. February 5, 1550. Yours ever, JOHN HOOPER. P Namely, Sir William Paget, who was appointed to that office in 1547. The other persons here referred to were Sir William Petre, Sir Thomas Smith, and Mr William Cecil, master of Requests, and private secretary to Somerset. Tytler, I. 206.] [3 At the same time that Somerset was secured and shut up in Beauchamp's tower, [Sir Thomas] Smith, Cecil, [Sir John] Thynne, [Sir Michael] Stanhope, and some others of his servants, were confined in their own apartments. MS. privy council books, quoted by Tytler, I. 243.] [4 The duke was restored to liberty on the 6th of February. Grafton. Hollingshed. Stow.] 78 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. P. S. You wiU remind masters Gualter, Bibliander and my other Zurich friends, that if they are about to print any rehgious work, they should dedicate it either to our king, a most excellent and learned youth, or to some one or other of the nobility. I charge and enjoin you, my most learned gossip, and every way most esteemed master, to send me something of yours in print for our king. I« wiU take care that the work shaU come to his hands, and that the offering shaU not want a commendation from myself. I entreat you not to mention this letter to any one. I would write, as I ought to do, to masters Bibliander and Butler; but God knows I have no time. I wish you aU every happiness. In three days time I wiU write again. You shall hear in a few days respecting the Interim and other matters. The duke of Somerset wiU now come out of the Tower, and many other persons wiU be sent thither, whom I am not now at hberty to mention. LETTER XXXVIII. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, March 27, 1550. Grace and innocence of life from the Lord ! That I may in some measure extenuate, if I cannot entirely excuse, my blameable neglect of correspondence, (touching which, my much esteemed master and most loving gossip, you so deserv edly and severely expostulated with me in your last letter,) this is the third letter that I have taken care should be sent you by the post since the end of January. I hope that you have received the others, and that you wiU receive this with aU possible speed. I have already informed your exceUence both as to my individual circumstances, and the news of this kingdom ; but lest my letters should have been lost on the road, as has very often happened heretofore on both sides through the carelessness, or rather the dishonesty, of the courier, I think it worth my while to repeat the leading par ticulars in a few words. Concerning me and mine, with whom you are acquainted, XXXVIII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 79 I wrote that we are all of us in good health. My wife how ever is weak and valetudinarian as usual, but, by the blessing of God, in no danger of her life. Rachel, by the mercy of God, is in the enjoyment of exceUent health : she grows both in stature and in talent, and holds out the best promise of a most happy memory. She understands no language so weU as she does Latin. I have not yet visited my native place ; being prevented, partly by the danger of the rebellion and tumult in those quarters, and partly by the command of the king that I should advance the kingdom of Christ here at London : nor indeed am I yet able to stir even a single mile from the city without a numerous attendance. I comfort my self however in this, that the employment on which I had entered under [un]promising and difficult auspices is blessed by God every day more and more ; . and he has given a suffici ently large and glorious increase to the seed sown by Peter and Paul. We do not water and plant in vain. May the name of the Lord be for ever blessed ! But there has lately been appointed a new bishop1 of London, a pious and learned man, if only his new dignity do not change his conduct. He wiU, I hope, destroy the altars2 of Baal, as he did here tofore in his church when he was bishop of Rochester. I can scarcely express to you, my very dear friend, under what difficulties and dangers we are labouring and struggling, that the idol of the mass may be thrown out. It is no smaU hindrance to our exertions, that the form which our senate or parliament, as we commonly call it, has prescribed for the whole realm, is so very defective and of doubtful construction, and in some respects indeed manifestly impious. I sent it to our friend, master Butler, about four months since. I am so much offended with that book, and that not without abundant reason, that if it be not corrected, I neither can nor wUl com municate with the church in the administration of the [Lord's] supper. Many altars have been destroyed in this city since I arrived here. I commenced with the epistle to Titus, having P Namely, Ridley, bishop of Rochester, who was translated to the see of London on the deprivation of Bonner.] P On this subject see Ridley's Injunctions to the diocese of Lon don, and Reasons why the Lord's board should be in the form of a table. Parker Society edition of Ridley's works, pp. 319, 321. See also Soames, Hist. Ref. in. 571, and Burnet, n. 252.] 80 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. finished which, I lectured on the gospel of St John, and. am now engaged upon the eighth chapter. I freely held forth upon the sixth chapter to my audience, as God enabled me, respecting the Lord's supper, for the space of three months, and lectured once or twice every day ; and it pleased God to bless my exertions. A wonderful and most numerous con course of people attended me, and God was with them ; for he opened their hearts to understand the things that were spoken by me. But I incurred great odium and not less danger from the sixth chapter. The better cause however prevails; and during this Lent I have plainly and openly handled the same subject before the king and the nobihty of the realm. In this city an individual of the name of Crome1, a man of exceUent erudition and holiness of life, a doctor in divinity, and well known to master Butler, is combating my opinions in a public discourse. The bishop of Westchester will preach on the sixth Sun day before Easter, and will deliver his sentiments upon, the [Lord's] supper, the invocation of the saints, and the autho rity of the scriptures. God grant that he may teach the truth ! We all piously agreed in the same opinion respecting aU the articles, in the presence of the king, this Lent ; I will let you know the result immediately after Easter. The bishops of Winchester, London, and Worcester2 are still in confinement, and maintain the popish doctrines with all their might. The bishop of Winchester, who is a prisoner /in the Tower of London, came forward and chaUenged me to a disputation about a month since : he doubtless assured him self of a glorious victory ; should he fail in obtaining which, he would submit himself to the laws and to the king for punish ment. The keeper of the prison had at first accepted the conditions. The day was fixed. But when the bishop knew for certain that I would not shrink from that duty, but that I would firmly maintain the best of causes even at the peril of my life, he changed his mind, and said, that if the king would set him at liberty, he would take his part in a dispu tation, in full reliance on the help of God, that he should obtain the victory. What wiU at length be done I know not. t1 Dr Edward Crome was Rector of St Mary's Aldermanbury. A full account is given of him in Strype, Mem. ni. i. 157, &c] P These were Gardiner, Bonner, and Heath.] XXXVIII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 81 Meantime let us pray that God may be present with us, and that we may fearlessly advance his glory. A book has lately been pubUshed here by the bishops, touching the ordination and consecration of the bishops and ministers of the church. I have sent it to master Butler, that you may know their fraud and artifices, by which they pro mote the kingdom of antichrist, especially in the form of the oath3; against which form I brought forward many objections in my public lecture before the king and the nobility of the realm : on which account I have incurred no small hostility. On the fourth day after the lecture an accusation was brought against me before the councU by the archbishop of Canterbury. I appeared before them. The archbishop spoke against me with great severity on account of my having censured the form of the oath. I entreated the judges to hear with impar tiality upon what authority I had done so. The question was long and sharply agitated between the bishops and my self; but at length the end and issue was for the glory of God. K the ensuing summer should be free from disturbances, we hope for much good to our church ; for peace is arranged between us and the French, but I am not yet informed upon what terms. I only pray our great and gracious God, that war may not he hid under the name of peace. The day before I wrote this letter to your exceUence, the emperor sent two most beautiful Spanish horses as a present to our king. On the same day a German Lutheran sent to [Sir John] Cheke, the king's tutor, a book which has lately come forth against the anabaptists and sacramentaries : he gave the book to the king to read, but it nowise pleased either the king, or his tutors, namely, Cook and Cheke, both of whom, as well as the king, have a pious understanding of the doctrine of the eucha rist. Master Bucer is now lying dangerously ill at Cambridge. The subject of bis lecture is the epistle to the Ephesians, and of his sermon, on holy-days, the sixth chapter of St John. P Hooper's objection to the oath was the "swearing by God, the saints, and the holy gospels," when none but God himself ought to be appealed to in an oath. This clause was afterwards omitted. See the Parker Society edition of Hooper's Early Writings, p. 479, and compare the Liturgies of Edward VI. pp. 169, 339. Also Reeling's Liturgise Britannicse, pp. 373, 390, and Burnet, Hist. Ref. II. 246.] r -. 6 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 82. JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. Master Valerandus1 has recommended him by letter not to raise any controversy on the matter of the eucharist. He replied that he should teach nothing contrary to the opinion of Peter Martyr, which I sent you in manuscript about the middle of January. Touching the Interim, (you know what I mean) I have not hitherto been able by any entreaties to obtain permis sion for committing it to the press ; but I shaU probably in a few days meet the king upon business, and I wiU give it him for his perusal. Beheve me, my much esteemed friend, you have never seen in the world for these thousand years so much erudition united with piety and sweetness of disposition. Should he live and grow up with these virtues, he wiU be a terror to aU the sovereigns of the earth. He receives with his own hand a copy of every sermon that he hears, and most diligently requires an account of them after dinner from those who study with him. Many of the boys and youths who are his companions in study are well and faithfully instructed in the fear of God, and in good learning. Master Cox is no longer the king's tutor. He stiU remains almoner, is much attached to you, and (as I have often told you before) most warmly thanked you for your present. You know how it was re ceived by the archbishop of Canterbury. Now however, as far as I know, he has become my friend. The marquis of Dorset sends his best regards to your reverence. I could wish that you would dedicate either to the king or to him2 the work you are shortly about to pubUsh. Moreover, if our exceUent and most learned friend, master Bibhander, or that learned and most faithful minister of Christ, master Gualter, are about to publish any thing, let them also dedicate it either to the king, or to the duke of Somerset, the king's uncle, my patron, (who is now living at Sion, eight mUes from London, and in good health, but not at present one of the king's councU, though I doubt not but that he wiU be shortly.) or to the marquis of Dorset, or to that most faith ful and intrepid soldier of Christ, the earl of Warwick. He is ill at this time, but I hope in no imminent danger : unless P Valerandus Pollanus was the preacher and superintendent of the French and Walloon church at Glastonbury.] [2 Bullinger dedicated the remainder of his Decades to the marquis of Dorset, in March 1551.] XXXVI1I.J JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 83 he had been on my side in the cause of Christ, it would have been all over with me five months since, when the duke of Somerset was in such difficulties. Traheron is well ; I think you have received a letter from him not long since. Your dictations on Isaiah, which you gave in charge to Christopher Hales, have not been delivered to me. I must make allow ance for the misfortune of the man ; for when he was sailing from Calais to England he was in so much danger from the French, that they threw aU the ship's cargo overboard. I entreat you to have a new copy made with aU speed, not only of [your notes] on Isaiah, but also of those upon the books of Kings ; and I wiU satisfy both by prayers and pay ment the labours of the copyist. Do not send me any thing for the cloth, which I hear you have received; but, as you love me, pay for what I am now asking from you out of the price of the cloth, and also for what I may request from you in future, until you shaU hear further from me. But I wish to inform you upon this point, that when you write to me in future, you may inclose your letter to me either in the letters of Richard HUles or John Stum phius, or else they wiU scarcely ever come to my hands ; such is the envy and hatred of some parties, that if they see a letter addressed to me they wiU retain it. Unless therefore you should meet with a trustworthy courier, it wiU be neces sary to suppress what otherwise ought not to be concealed. Such is now-a-days the perverseness of men's temper, that they can interpret nothing with an upright and unprejudiced mind. Let me know how many letters you have received from me since the first of January. I do not ask this, as though there would arise any danger either to your rever ence or myself from the loss of the letters. I value it not a rush, into whosesoever hands they may have fallen ; but I wish to know, that I may learn to estimate the trustiness of the bearer in future. If you would sometime, as is befitting your erudition and piety, send a letter of encouragement to our king, take care to do so as soon as possible, and also to the earl of Warwick and the marquis of Dorset : beheve me, they would receive it most gratefuUy ; send it to me, and I wiU place it in their hands with aU fidelity. The worshipful the Mayor wiU soon, I hope, receive another good piece of cloth at the usual price, namely, ten 6 — 2 84 JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. Zurich batzen the eU. Master Butler will also receive one, partly white, and partly black. We thank you very much for the present which you sent to your [god-daughter] Rachel. In return, I faithfully promise you in Christ that, as long as I live, your children shall be to me as my own, if I can in any respect be of use to them. John Stumphius is residing very creditably and studiously at Oxford. You may, if you please, in your letters apply a stimulus by way of exciting him to persevere honourably in what he has under taken. Should he be in need of any thing, I shall always be ready to assist him. There is no occasion for his parents to be anxious about him in any way. Salute them in my name and in that of my wife. John Stumphius is a great favourite with her. John ab Ulmis is also well, and, as I hear, very diligent in his studies. He has been munificently and honour ably presented, by the marquis of Dorset, with a yearly stipend of thirty crowns. Salute most dutifully in aU our names the lady your wife with all your family, and masters Bibhander, Gualter, PeUican, Otto, Frisius, and Sebastian, with their re spective wives. Martin Micronius wishes dutifuUy to. salute your excellence and aU his other friends at Zurich. I heartily salute master Haller, the most faithful minister of the church at Berne, and master Musculus. When you write to master Ambrose Blauer, and master Thomas his brother, salute each of them in my name. May the Lord Jesus preserve your church and commonwealth, that you may live in peace, fear, and holiness aU the days of your fife ! Day and night do I remember you in my prayers, that God may guide, strengthen, and defend you by his holy Spirit against the snares of the devil and of the world. Do you also remember me and my labours in the Lord's vineyard : by the help of your prayers I shall raise a more glorious trophy in the church of God over our adversaries. With the exception of the church of Zurich, and those which agree with it in religion, the word is in no part of the world preached more purely than in England. Write back, I pray you, immediately, if only one or two lines ; for until I hear from you, I shall think that this letter also has been lost on the road. If you will always ask master Burcher to send your letters by the post, I wiU pay the ex pense. I desire to salute master Mayor, who is a man of God, most dutifully and affectionately in the bowels of Jesus Christ. XXXVIII.] JOHN HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 85 A certain native of Zurich, by name Valentine Wormulus, is detained here in prison : he is, if I mistake not, related to master Otho, the minister of the church at Zurich. I do not yet know for certain the cause of his imprisonment: whether he offered violence to a woman, or obtained her consent, I am not informed, but some offence of this sort is alleged against him ; besides which, he is charged with having stolen a smaU sum of money. I shall send to-day to the prison, that I may learn more by means of master Utenhovius. I wish you would shortly let me know whether he is a native of Zurich or not. K the law can be satisfied by a pecuniary penalty, I wiU willingly pay it, as soon as your reverence shaU authorise me to do so, provided the money be repaid me at Zurich. FareweU, most honoured master, and continue to love me. London, March 27, 1550. On Wednesday next, God wUling, I shaU finish my ex position of the prophet Jonas before the king. Yours ever, JOHN HOOPER. P. S. Master Utenhovius dutifuUy salutes your worship, and doubtless aids you aU in his dihgent prayers to God. You would be quite astonished, did you know how many times he has thanked me for having sent him to Zurich. There is one request I have to make of you, my most faith ful friend, that when you have read this, you wiU write to master Ccehus the younger, who resides at Basle, and apolo gize to him for my not writing to him at present. I wrote some time since, and gave him intelligence respecting all the things that he had entrusted to my confidence ; nor have I ever been unmindful of him, as he will know from me next Easter. I have exerted myself in his favour, as you shaU hereafter know. Entreat him to persevere in his purpose, and not to be afraid. God liveth, from whom he will successfully obtain what he desires. Salute the widow, my landlady, in my name ; and should she be in need of any thing, I shall not be unmindful of the kindness with which she treated me during my sojourn with you. 86 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER XXXIX. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, June 29, 1550. Greeting. The letter which you wrote on the 13th of March, I received at London on the last day of April, by which I fuUy understood your ancient and fatherly affec tion towards me. I rejoiced much [to learn] that you and your church are regaining your former influence and repu tation ; but am much grieved to hear that my letters written so frequently and with so much pains have been lost on the road. I wUl in future inquire more carefully as to the trust worthiness of the messenger. I cannot too sufficiently wonder that master Butler has so seldom heard from me. I have frequently written to him respecting his brother-in-law, who not only holds an honourable employment at court, but most honourably defends the cause of Christ in the palace ; nor is there any individual who is more fervent in this cause, or more ardent in imparting to others the word of God. He is one of the four stewards of the royal household. His deceased wife, who was master Butler's sister, went to heaven a year ago ; and he has now married another pious and godly virgin, of honourable rank and lineage. He dutifully salutes master Butler, and promises to exert himself to the utmost of his power, if he should any way require his services. Let master Butler know this. I now return to the course and tenour of your former letter, that I may reply to each head in its turn. First of aU, receive this intelhgence concerning me and mine. We are all of us in good health. I had an opportunity of visiting my native place and my parents for a fortnight at the Whitsun holidays. I found my father still alive, and though not a friend to the gospel, yet not an enemy to it. My uncle also I found still living, and a favourer of the cause of God; and my native country, considering the ex tent of its population, apt and docUe. We must pray God to send forth labourers into his harvest. Having returned to London on the fourteenth day, I am going, by the king's command, to-morrow or the next day into Kent and Essex, to XXXIX.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 87 the lord chancellor of the realm, who is now, for various reasons, residing in the country. That district is troubled with the frenzy of the anabaptists more than any other part of the kingdom. May the Lord assist me, that my efforts there may be attended with success ! At Easter, after the sermons were ended which master Ponet and myself preached before the king and councU, he on the Friday, and I on the Wednesday, during Lent, it pleased his majesty and the councU to offer the bishoprick of Rochester to Ponet1, and that of Gloucester to myself. On many accounts I declined mine2, both by reason of the shameful and impious form of the oath, which aU who choose to undertake the function of a bishop are compelled to put up with, and also on account of those Aaronic habits which they still retain in that calling, and are used to wear, not only at the administration of the sacra ments, but also at public prayers. AU these things came to the ears of the king, and he wished to know the reason of my having refused to serve God in so pious and holy a calling. He understood that the causes which I have mentioned above altogether withdrew me from it. On last Ascension-day I was summoned before the whole councU to state my reasons, that it might be seen whether I could justly and lawfuUy decline the royal favour. The matter was seriously agitated in the way of interrogatory. At last, for the glory of God, the dis cussion ended to the satisfaction of myself and that of all godly persons, not through my instrumentahty alone, but by the grace of God, and the favourable inclinations of the council, and their love for God and for the purity and comeliness of the rising church. But you wiU say, I do not yet know the result. It was such as to set me clear from aU defilement of super stition and from the imposition of the oath3. On these terms I took upon myself the charge committed to me. Aid wretched me with your prayers, that I may diligently and truly seek the glory of God, lest that little flock should perish, for which Christ died. P Ponet was declared bishop of Rochester on June 26, 1550.] P For an account of Hooper's troubles on his nomination to a bishopric, see Strype, Cranmer, I. 302 ; Burnet, n. 243 ; in. 304 ; and Soames, m. 560.] P See a letter from Micronius to Bullinger, dated Aug. 28, 1550, which will be given in a subsequent part of this volume.] 88 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. I wiU not at present write much respecting myself, ex cept only to inform your excellence, that I am now occupied upon the tenth chapter of St John, for my lecture in the New Testament, and upon the fourth chapter of Zechariah for my lecture in the Old Testament. I have finished Daniel, and also Jonah and his interpreter Nahum. I shall proceed as I can ; and i" can do all things through Christ who strength- eneth me. Unless his lovingkindness had assisted me, I should very often have looked back from the plough, since I begun. I could not have imagined that the office of preaching was exposed to so many and such painful anxieties. The agree ment of Calvin and yourself touching the [Lord's] supper, and the letter in which the new-year's gift was inclosed for your little daughter Rachel, (for I so call her, as your sons and daughters are mine,) I have received, and replied to each. The marquis of Northampton, a man active in the cause of Christ, laid before the king's majesty, in my presence, your book that was intended for him, together with your letter. I should have presented it myself, had it not been forbidden by our laws for any one to lay before the king either a letter or anything else brought from foreign parts, without previously making it known to the council ; and this law no one may dare to violate, until the king shaU have arrived at the steadiness of mature age. But as far as relates to your letter and your book, he received them with the greatest courtesy and kindness, and not without many thanks ; for he most earnestly inquired both respecting yourself and the welfare of your church. He moreover ordered the marquis to send you a royal present in token of his good-wUl. As soon as I understood this, I desired the marquis to thank his majesty in your name, and that you would esteem it a suffi cient token of his gratitude, if he would himself actively and piously bestow his exertions on the vineyard of Christ ; be sides, that you were not in the habit of receiving presents from any one ; and lastly, that it was forbidden by your municipal laws to receive gifts from princes or any other persons whatsoever : but if he wished to testify his appro bation either by a letter from himself or through me, that an act of this kind would be most gratifying to you. The king then ordered me to salute you on every account in his name, and present his thanks, entreating you to remember him XXXIX.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 89 in your prayers, and to commend to God both himself and his kingdom. Master- Cox also, whom, having been engaged in other matters of importance, I have not been able to call upon for many weeks, received your present in the same spirit. I have dutifuUy saluted all the earls and marquises in your name. They all salute you in return. The earl of Warwick has had a long illness, but by the blessing of God is now recovered, and wiU be present at the council on Wed nesday next. To teU the truth, England cannot do without him. He is a most holy and fearless instrument of the word of God. May the Lord strengthen him ! We have many other exceUent counciUors, the duke of Somerset, the marquises of Northampton and Dorset. [The archbishop of] Canter bury has relaxed much of his Lutheranism, (whether aU of it, I cannot say ;) he is not so decided as I could wish, and dares not, I fear, assert his opinion in all respects. As to your advice in your letter, that I should make friends of the bishops, I should be much to blame, if I did not endeavour by all means to do so, provided it can be done with a safe and pure conscience; and to speak the truth, there are six or seven who altogether desire and wish to promote the glory of God. These I venerate and reverence from my heart. Now I most earnestly entreat you kindly to comply with the foUowing request. If you can procure from master Fros- chover at the trade price, that is, the price at which he seUs them to the bookseUers in sheets, aU the works of Zuinglius, your own, those of Bibhander, PeUican, Gualter, CEcolampa- dius, Gesner, both his BibUotheca and the treatise on Birds, which he is now reported to be writing, you wiU exceedingly oblige me ; and as soon as I know that he has agreed to this, I wiU take care that he shaU have the money at the next Frankfort fair, nor wiU I require the books tUl the amount is previously paid. I request you also to salute dutifully in my name master Ccelius Secundus1, whom I have constantly borne in mind since my arrival here, although I have not told him as much by letter ; and let me know, when you write next, what are his present circumstances at Basle : I know him to be a man of profound learning, and one of whose services I [i Coelius Secundus Curio was of a noble Piedmontese family. He abjured popery, and embraced Lutheranism, and was professor at Basle from 1547 till 1569, in which year he died, aged 67.] 90 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. would gladly avail myself, when I come to know the state of my bishoprick. As primitive antiquity employed the revenues arising from this office to the edification of the church and the education of the young, I could wish each of these objects to be restored by me, which can in no way be effected unless I shall be aided by the assistance of pious and learned men. On this subject I would gladly hear and Mow your advice. Send me therefore by letter, as soon as possible, an answer to my inquiries. For I know you to be discreet and attached to me, and besides this, one who is well able to look forward to the future. I doubt not but that the cloth sent to master Mayor and master Butler has reached you long since. I request that your notes on Isaiah, on the books of Kings, and on the epistle to the Romans, from the beginning of the thirteenth ¦ chapter to the end, may be copied out for me as soon as possible. I will recompense the copyist, and will not be un mindful of the kindness of master HaUer, for his having taken so much trouble for me before with respect to Isaiah. You here have the proper form of dedication of your book to the marquis of Dorset : when I return from the lord chanceUor a fortnight hence, I will send the style of the earl of Warwick and the marquis of Northampton; you shaU then receive farther and more certain intelhgence. Meanwhile I pray the Lord to preserve you in prosperity, together with your whole family and the church ; and I congratulate you and your daughters on so happy and, I hope, so holy a marriage. My wife and Rachel pray for you all happiness in Christ. Make my apo logies to masters Butler, Bibliander, and Gualter, for not now writing to them. The trustworthy bearer wiU assign weighty reasons for this. Do you, my most honoured master and most' loving friend, take in good part what I have now written with a hasty pen. I will write more in a few days. Your most wished for and delightful letter of the seventeenth of May I received on the 25th of June, and wUl reply to it in my next letter. Live and fare weU in Christ long and holily. London, June 29, 1550. Your reverence's most devoted, JOHN HOOPER. XL.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 91 LETTER XL. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Gloucester, Aug. 1, 1551. Grace and peace from the Lord! I am not only aware, my much honoured gossip, that this long silence of mine is displeasing to your kindness, but I am also greatly displeased with myself for that very reason. But when you are acquainted with the arduous and important nature of my engagements, you wiU easily be induced to ex cuse me, and I shall free myself from the reproach of in gratitude to so dear a friend. But although, as your letter states, as weU as that of my brother and singular good friend, master John Butler, I have suffered aU those who have visited you from England to quit this country without any letters from myself, I have, nevertheless, written them to you very frequently ; but for their having either been intercepted or lost on the road, I must blame the carelessness of the couriers, who have not only disappointed my labours, but also deceived the expectation of my best friend. And yet, if I have written to you less frequently than your exceeding kindness to me has deserved, it has not, my most learned gossip, arisen from for- getfulness of you, but from the difficulty and magnitude of my engagements. I was occupied during the past year with constant and important business, as you have doubtless heard from others. The question respecting the habits, which was always exceedingly displeasing to me, was gravely discussed between the bishop of London and myself. For my part, I very properly, if I am not mistaken, found fault with the use of them in the church, and contended for their entire removal. He, on the other hand, most urgently and pertinaciously de fended their use '. But as the Lord has put an end to this controversy, I do not think it worth whUe to violate the P A copy of bishop Ridley's " Conference by writing with M. Hoper exhibited up to the council in the time of King Edward the sixth," was in the possession of archbishop Whitgift. See his Defence of the answer to the Admonition, a.d. 1574, p. 25, but its existence was un known (see Ridley's life of bishop Ridley) in later years, till a copy, Blightly imperfect, was discovered in 1844, in the extensive collection of MSS. belonging to sir Thomas Phillips, Bart.] 92 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. sepulchre of this unhappy tragedy. In future, eyen if my engagements should not admit of any cessation, I will perform my duty in writing to you, and will not suffer any person to go from me to you without a letter. As I now rely upon the readmess to forgive, which is a part of your character, I shaU desist from offering any further apology for my sUence. My whole family is well, as I hope also that yours is, and I daily pray God that they may both long continue so. You must know however, that I have had no addition to my family since the time that I quitted your godly society. If the Lord will preserve my little daughter- Rachel, so that she may embrace his Son Jesus Christ, and promote his cause, I shaU think my desires abundantly accomphshed in my old age, even though I should have no more family. She very frequently hears from her mother the great commendation of the country and place where she was born ; and she is with great care and diligence instructed in the promises which she formerly made to the church by means of your kindness and that of the wife of master Bibhander. She sorely complains of my not more frequently saluting by letter so holy a church and such faithful ministers of Christ. She now sends an entire piece of cloth as a token of her reverence and respect, one half to yourself, the other to the wife of master Bibli ander ; and she heartily thanks her heavenly Father, that by you as her sponsors she has been received into the society of his holy church. Should it seem good to you that your sons should visit England for their education, you need not feel much anxiety as to what it would cost them to live here. I will take the charge of them upon myself, and that too, faith fully and cheerfully. I have never been able to procure the printing of those writings of yours (you know what I mean) which I brought away with me from Zurich : not that they are unacceptable to godly and learned men, for they are exceedingly ac ceptable to all to whom I have given them for perusal; but it has been prevented by the calamity of the time, or rather by the timidity of men who prefer their own coun sels to the glory of God. Many persons of learning and rank desired to read that book, and I aUowed them to do so, as it was right I should ; and it is now in the hands of master Cecil, his majesty's principal secretary, a man endowed with; very great learning and piety, and a great favourer of the.1 XL.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 93 gospel. Your other books, which you sent to the king's majesty, I delivered most carefully to the marquis of North ampton1, the lord high chamberlain of England, to lay before the king in your name, which he did carefuUy and readily, and the king ordered him to salute you in return with many thanks ; nor do I doubt but that the king will always re member you in future. I request that you will in your turn commend him for his godly procedure, and always in your letters exhort him to perseverance in it. For the king reads your letters with attention, and takes a most lively interest in the perusal. You must not therefore think your labour ill-bestowed, although you do not receive an answer. My lord of Canterbury, who is in truth a great admirer of you, when I received your last letter in his palace, and acquainted him with its contents, could hardly refrain from tears, when he understood your feelings in regard to the king and to the kingdom, and also the perseverance of your church in these most lamentable times. He made most honourable mention both of yourself and of your profound erudition. You have no one, I am sure, among aU your dearest friends, who is more interested about you, and who loves you in Christ more ardently than he does. I know of a truth that he loves you from his heart. In my conversation with him I requested his kind offices with the king on behalf of the Italian of whom you wrote: he promised to use all his endeavours, and you need not doubt him. If our gracious and most merciful God would once deliver us from this harsh and cruel tyranny of the enemies of Christ, by which we are so dangerously [sur rounded2] on aU sides, aU the godly and learned men will be as weU provided for as our poor circumstances will admit of. You asked me to settle with master a Lasco about those eighteen crowns, which you lent to some Italian ; I have done as you requested, but know not whether you have yet been repaid. I know that you will not, with your own consent, be a burden to any one, (although what you may call a burden, your friends would consider an honour ;) but your most splen did gifts, received from God, have so greatly benefited the commonwealth, and the church of Christ more especially, that we owe our all to you, and you may make what trial you please. p William Parr, marquis of Northampton, was brother to King Henry the eighth's last wife.] P A word is wanting in the original Latin.] 94 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. After I had begun this letter, my wife and five others of my chaplains and domestics were attacked by a new kind of sweating sickness, and were in great danger for twenty- four hours ; I myself have but very recently recovered from the same disease. Pray the Lord that he may have com passion on us, and that we may always be waiting in the fear of God for the day of death. The infection of this disease is in England most severe, and, what is a most re markable token of divine vengeance, persons are suddenly taken off by it1. You shaU know more fully respecting my affairs next Michaelmas, when I shaU have some little inter mission of my engagements. My wife and the other invalids have, through the favour of God, escaped the danger of the disease. I commend your whole church and commonwealth to God, and especially the most reverend father, master PeUican. For master Rodolph Gualter, your two sons-in-law, master Gesner, with their respective wives ; for aU others who em brace with you the religion of Christ ; for our sister your wife, and all your family, and master Bibhander, and his wife and family, we sincerely and heartily wish salvation in Christ. May the Lord also preserve master Mayor. When you write to master Coelius Secundus, salute him, I entreat you, in my name as much as you can, and you can as much as you please. Persuade our friend master John Butler to re turn to England ; he may be useful in many respects both to the church and commonwealth. You know that we are born for our country, and not for ourselves : were it not so, I should not now be discharging the office of a bishop. At least ask him to visit us once in England, and he shaU learn from me in what way and by what means he may best pro vide for himself and his family. May the Lord Jesus long preserve you to the glory of his name ! Gloucester, Aug. 1, 1551. As heretofore and for so long a time, your most loving brother and gossip, JOHN HOOPER, Bishop of the church of Gloucester. P The sweating sickness was very fatal this year, especially in London, where eight hundred persons died of it within the first week. Seven householders supped together, six of whom were dead before morning. Stowe's Annals, a.d. 1551.] XL.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 95 P. S. I have lent to the student who is the bearer of this letter to you, and to his companion, both natives of Zurich, forty-five English crowns. You wUl oblige me much by sending me books printed at Zurich, those especially which contain your works, to an equal amount. If the young men of Zurich who come over here for the sake of study, should stand in need of my assistance, I wiU aid them as far as my slender means wiU allow. I return you my warmest thanks for your books and letter to me. When I shaU have emerged from the waves of danger, most reverend and learned friend, I wiU send a messenger of my own, from whom you shaU learn aU my affairs. Do not, I pray you, be surprised, that I make no mention of your letters, which I very frequently kiss ; for I can never forget either yourself or your kindness towards me. You shall hear in a future letter, on what sub ject and on what occasion so fierce and quarrelsome a dispute arose between the bishops and myself. I agree that the con test should be set at rest by the arbitration of godly men. I wfll explain in a few words the cause and ground of the dispute. The use of vestments peculiar to popery in the ministry of the church has been the occasion here of great disturbance. Master a Lasco alone, of aU the foreigners who have any influence, stood on my side. FareweU. I pray God that you may five long and happily, and may all the people of Zurich fare weU in Christ. Amen. I have written what I can ; you know what I mean. Altogether yours, and deservedly so, if I am my own. LETTER XLI. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Gloucester, Oct. 27, 1551. Greeting. If, my much honoured gossip, you had re ceived the letters which I wrote to you towards the end of August and in the month of September, yours dated at Zurich on the 29th of August, which I received at Gloucester on the 22nd of October, would not have been so full of com plaint. I hope that you are by this time fully aware of the feelings and spirit which I entertain towards you. I will 96 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. make no answer by way of apology, although I have many weighty and allowable excuses which would avaU with you, yourself being the judge. But you shall learn at another time, what it is still necessary for me to keep silent. You and all that belongs to you are not displeasing either to God or our king, but quite the contrary, and on that account you are acceptable to both. You say that they are dis pleasing to me, but I know you only say so : far be it that your writings should be lightly esteemed by me. Of all the learned men under heaven, I have none more dear to me than yourself, and deservedly so. In many ways I have received benefit, as I still do, from you and from your writings. Should it please God that I can in any respect be of service to you, you wiU find me most ready, and mindful, and grateful, both to you and yours. I return you my warmest thanks for your kindness in sending to me, together with your letter, your godly and learned meditations, which you are preparing by way of popular discourses : since, however, I left Zurich, I have received no manuscript besides your very useful and exceUent Decades, except your commentary on Isaiah as far as the 40th chapter, and on the epistle to the Romans. I much wish for your other writings, and will amply recompense the copyist. I have not yet seen the remainder of your commentary on Isaiah ; and I mourn over the faithlessness of the men to whom I from time to time en trust grave and honourable duties. But I would have you to be especially assured, that should I from henceforth fail to write to you every month, either sickness or death wiU be the occasion of my silence. You are altogether unconscious how deeply your complaints affect my mind. You have, I am sure, no one who loves you more in Christ than myself. Moreover, when I go to London, I will undertake, as I may be able, that a letter shall be sent you from the king, by which he may testify his good-wiU towards you ; and I will endeavour too to relieve, if I can, by means of his royal majesty, the distress of that godly Italian, who is now suffer ing under the painful necessity of exile : I without doubt am entirely his debtor to serve him. You need not be anxious about the expense of sending letters from Strasburgh ; I will willingly bear it. I wish that all the letters would reach me which you have sent already or shall send in future. I am greatly grieved at my letters having been lost on the road. But XLI.j BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 97 they always regarded, as they ought, both God and man, and therefore make me somewhat less anxious. The report concerning the death of Peter Martyr, I thank God, was false and groundless; he is alive and weU, and boldly stands forth as a brave and godly soldier in the army of the Lord. If he has any thing which he intends to print, I am sure that he wUl send it you. He has not yet determined to publish his annotations on Genesis; he is meditating something upon the epistle to the Romans. I will take care,, to the utmost of my power, that none of his writings shaU be lost. Meanwhile, do you always act, as you now do, for the glory of God. Your writings are exceedingly delightful to me, and to aU who have the true worship of God at heart. I doubt not but that, whUe you are actively labouring in these endeavours, you incur the hatred and envy of the accomplices of the devil and of antichrist; but happy are those dangers, which are so much connected with the glory of God. You will receive an account of my labours, which are but smaU and slight in the vineyard of Christ, through John Rodolph, a worthy and godly youth, whom I entreat you to receive on his return with paternal kindness, and honour him, thus recommended to you by me, with your favour : he has conducted himself here modestly, piously, and studiously, as you wiU afterwards learn, if you please, from the letters of all the learned and godly students at Oxford ; and, to teU the truth, I do not easUy bear his going away. Let him return to us, if it please the Zurich authorities and yourself, for a year or two, and I will take a portion of his expenses upon myself. When the two young men from Zurich left this country, I gave them forty-five English crowns; if they will repay me in books printed at Zurich, I shall be quite satisfied. Among other books I wish for the Bible in one large volume. You wiU learn from the messenger who is travelling between us and Zurich, by what important and perpetual engagements I am overwhelmed. Excuse, I pray you, my unpolished and too hasty pen. Salute the lady your wife, with all your family, masters Bibhander, Gualter, PeUican, with their wives; my countryman master Butler with his wife, and pray tell him from me, that he is not born for him self and his friends alone, but that his country also has a claim upon him. I wish he would at least come over to us r i 7 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 98 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. once, and perhaps he would not repent the journey. the Lord JesuS be always present with the Mayor, your whole senate and commonwealth, and protect his church ! In haste, as you see, at Gloucester, Oct. 27, 1551. Your ever most attached, as I ought to be, JOHN HOOPER, bishop of Gloucester. P. S. I request you will salute in my name those most exceUent and learned men, masters Gesner and Otto, whom I dearly love in Christ. And should master Gesner wish at any time to come over to us, I will provide him with suitable companions who will shew him the rivers, and fishes, and ani mals of this country. I defer, for the present, any further communication. Again fareweU, and pray that I may long fare weU in Christ. LETTER XLII. BISHOP HOOPER TO JOHN STUMPHIUS. Dated at Gloucester, Oct. 27, 1551. Greeting. Your son1 will, I hope, return from his tra vels as safe and prosperous as you sent him forth. Receive him on his return, I pray you, as a father should do. I have been endeavouring to prevent his going away, by reason of the lateness of the season ; but he has altogether made up his mind to undertake the journey in company with some other Germans, who flock over to us for the sake of study. He has conducted himself soberly, piously, and studiously; and should he happen to return, he wiU find me his friend. p John Stumphius the younger, afterwards Antistes, studied at Oxford with John ab Ulmis. In his letters to Bullinger he mentions evil reports which had been spread about him, and his father's anger in consequence. Hence Hooper's request that he would receive his son paterne. His father did not wish him to be a pensioner on royal bounty at Oxford. Note by Rev. S. A. Pears.] XLII.] BISHOP HOOPER TO JOHN STUMPHIUS. 99 Make him evermore to fear God, to whom I commend you ; and salute your wife in my name. Gloucester, Oct. 27, 1551. Of yourself, and aU the people of Zurich, I am the most loving friend, JOHN HOOPER, bishop of Gloucester. LETTER XLIII. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER Dated at London, Feb. 28, 1553. Greeting. The Englishman, Richard HiUes, promised me a month since that he would faithfully forward you my letter. If you have received it, it is well : if not, I hope that you wiU receive it. I request you not to impute the inter mission of my letters either to ingratitude or forgetfulness, but to the weighty and important engagements by which I am continually distracted, and to other reasons which I suppress, until the time shaU arrive, when I may be able to correspond with you more freely. I know that you are expecting an answer to the petitions which you have chiefly preferred by letter : wait a little; you wiU obtain your wish soon enough, if it is only weU enough. If you have any of the Decads, which many godly persons are expecting from you every fair, al ready prepared, I would have you dedicate them to the duke of Northumberland. He is exceedingly partial to you, and is a diligent promoter of the glory of God. I left master Mar tyr on the 20th of this February, at Oxford, sick of a fever. May the Lord be with him, and restore him to health ! His wife departed to the Lord on the 16th of this month. My wife and aU my famUy salute your exceUence. Salute your wife in my name and theirs ; we wish your sons and daughters every happiness. Salute the Mayor, masters Bibliander, 7—2 100 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. Gualter, and PeUican, with their wives, and master Butler and his wife. London. Feb. 28, 1553. Your ever most devoted, JOHN HOOPER, bishop of Worcester and Gloucester. LETTER XLIV. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated from prison1, Sept. 3, 1553. Greeting. You have been accustomed, my very dear gossip, heavily to complain of me, and very properly, for having so seldom written to you. But I have now written you many letters during the past year, without having re ceived a single one in reply. I know that you are not unac quainted with the state of our kingdom. Our king has been removed from us by reason of our sins, to the very great peril of our church. His sister Mary has succeeded, whom I pray God always to aid by his Holy Spirit, that she may reign and govern in all respects to the glory of his name. The altars are again set up throughout the kingdom ; private masses are frequently celebrated in many quarters ; the true worship of God, true invocation, the right use of the sacraments, are all done away with ; divine things are trodden under foot, and human things have the pre-eminence. May God be present with his church, for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ! AU godly preachers are placed in the greatest danger : those who have not yet known by experience the filthiness of a prison, are hourly looking for it. MeanwhUe they are all of them forbidden to preach by public authority. The enemies of the gospel are appointed in their places, and proclaim to the people from the pulpit human doctrines instead of divine truths. We now place our confidence in God alone, and ear nestly entreat him to comfort and strengthen us to endure any sufferings whatever for the glory of his name. In haste, from P Hooper was committed unto the Fleet from Richmond, Sept. 1, 1553. Letters of the Martyrs, p. 97, Ed. 1844.] XLIV.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 101 prison^ at London. Sept. 3, 1553. Salute your very dear wife, masters Bibhander, PeUican, and Gualter, with their wives, and aU the other godly brethren ; likewise my country man master Butler with his wife. Yours whoUy, JOHN HOOPER, bishop of Worcester and Gloucester. LETTER XLV. BISHOP HOOPER TO JOHN A LASCO. Dated from prison, Nov. 25, 1553. There is no need for me to commend this noble person to your exceUency in many words; for I think that he is known both to yourself and all the other godly persons who have lately left England. I only request that he may not be deprived of your good offices, should he have any occa sion for them. You wUl learn from him every thing con cerning myself, and also the present condition of the church. It is indeed a wretched and miserable one. May the Lord mercifuUy look upon us with complacency, and weaken the power of our adversaries ! They are becoming more furious and insolent every day. But he, who now seems to us to sleep, wUl at length make his appearance, and cast down his enemies. Should the Father of mercy grant this favour to us in this life, bis holy name be praised; if otherwise, his will be done. He himself commands us to die for the glory of his name. May he grant what he commands, and then com mand things yet more painful, if it seemeth him good ! I am now writing in haste and by stealth from prison, being now kept in more close and severe confinement8 than when your exceUency left us. But, by God"s help, I am prepared, both to endure these things, and the yet more painful trials that are about to come. Salute my old and godly friend, P For an account of bishop Hooper's harsh treatment from Ba- bington, the warden of the Fleet, see Foxe, Acts and Mon. vi. 647 ; Strype, Mem. in. i. 284, and Letters of the Martyrs, p. 96.] 102 BISHOP HOOPER TO JOHN A LASCO. [LET. master Martin, the noble personage Utenhovius, and aU the rest of our brethren ; and I entreat you to commend both myself and my feUow-prisoners in Christ Jesus to our Al mighty Father which is in heaven, that by means of our death his glory may shine forth more and more upon this most poUuted world. From prison, Nov. 25, 1553. Your exceUency's much remembered before God, JOHN HOOPER, bishop of Gloucester. LETTER XL VI. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated from prison, May 23, 1554. Health. It is now, my most honoured gossip, the ninth month since I have endured the filthiness1 of a prison. Mean while, however, I have sent you many letters by the hands of godly persons, to the end that by their means I might excite your reverence, with aU the other learned ministers of your church, to shew yourselves kindly affectioned and mer ciful to those wretched and unfortunate individuals who have fled from hence for the sake of the christian rehgion. I wrote very briefly, as I was able, because I was not aUowed, neither am I at present, to write as I wish ; and I write by stealth, which, as you know, is the miserable condition of those in prison. Yet, as far as I know, you have not sent me even the shortest answer in return. I am much distressed at this ; for, if I am not mistaken, you are aware how greatly I esteem you. I have always looked upon you as a most revered father and master. Of aU those who are attached to you, you have never found any one dearer than myself; p " Having nothing appointed to me for my bed, but a little pad of straw, a rotten covering, with a tick and a few feathers therein, the chamber being vile and stinking, until, by God's means, good people sent me bedding to lie in: of the one side of which prison is the sink and filth of all the house, and on the other side the town ditch; so that the stench of the house hath infected me with divers diseases." Hooper's report of his imprisonment, in the Letters of the Martyrs, p. 97.] XLVI.J BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 103 nor have I, to say the truth, ever met with a more sincere friend. Those who have brpught you letters from me, since the death of our most godly king until the present time, were very dear friends and brethren ; but the bearer of this is master James Haddon, not only a friend and very dear bro ther jn Christ, bat one whom I have always esteemed on every account, by reason of his singular erudition and virtue. And I do not think that I have ever been apquainted with any one in England, who is endued either with more sincere piety towards God, or more removed from all desire of those perishing objects which foolish mortals admire. I commend him most earnestly to your good offices. Salute your very dear wife in my name, your children, and aU your family, masters Gualter and PeUican, and aU the ministers of your church, master Lavater the mayor, and your whole city. I would write more openly, if I dared ; but I have often been deceived by my friends. From prison, May 23, 1554. In a short time, unless the Lord should restrain the tyranny of our enemies, I shall go in the blood of Christ to heaven. As heretofore and at aU times, your most attached, JOHN HOOPER. LETTER XLVII. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated from Prison, May 29, 1554. Much health. I hope, my very dear gossip, that you have received my former letters, which I have hitherto written from prison, to be delivered to you by those godly men who have gone over from hence to you. As in those letters I entreated your accustomed kindness towards my feUow-coun- trymen, so by this I entreat the same on behalf of the bearer, my friend Guido, my most faithful associate in the labours of the gospel. I have had no one with me who is so devoted to the flock of Christ, or who has undergone continual labours with greater equanimity : I commend him, from whom you wUl learn all the circumstances of my present condition, 104 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. to your kindness, and to aU the godly members of your church, as the companion of aU my labours in the vmeyard of Christ. I would write in his favour to the other godly men, who are now, like yourselves, soldiers of Christ, but the keeper , of the prison wiU not allow me to do so. It is with difficulty that I have been able to write thus briefly from prison, whence you may understand that my life is in very great danger. Aid me in your prayers to God. I am not unmindful of you. I salute the lady your wife, all your family, and aU the rest whom you know. From prison, May 29th, 1554. Yours, as I ought to be, most lovingly, JOHN HOOPER. LETTER XLVIII. BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated from prison, Dec. 11, 1554. Grace and peace from the Lord! Your letter1, my beloved brother, dated at Zurich on the tenth of October, I received on the eleventh of December. It was very de lightful to me, because it was fuU of comfort. I readily perceived therein your ancient feelings of love and affection towards me, and am most thankful to you that in these most dangerous times you have not forgotten me. I have always entertained an especial love for you on account of your pre eminent good qualities, and the exceUent gifts of God in you. And if, as you write, you have not received any letters from- me for a whole year, this has not been occasioned by my not having written, but by my having confided my letters to careless and dishonest persons. Nor have I received aU that you have sent to me, but they have been either lost by the carelessness of the postman, or intercepted by the malice of the evil-disposed. The same thing has happened both to the letters and the book of master Theodore : for I never P The letter here referred to is printed in Foxe, Acts and Mon. VI. 675, and Coverdale's Letters of the Martyrs, p. 126, Ed. 1844.] XLVIII.] BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 105 heard of [his book respecting] our Lord's sermon on the mount, which he sent me, till some days after the death of our most holy king Edward; and then [I saw it] on the borders of Wales, in the library of a certain godly man whom I had appointed dean over some churches there. But what you have now written, I will take care shall be sent to all my brethren and feUow-prisoners for their perusal. I congratulate you aU upon the safety and stedfastness of your church, and I pray to God for his Son Jesus Christ's sake evermore to fortify and defend it against the tyranny of antichrist. In this country the wound which he received is entirely healed, and he is once more regarded as the head of the church, who is not even a member of the church of Christ. You wiU learn from others both my own situation and the state of public affairs. We are stiU involved in the greatest dangers, as we have been for almost the last eighteen months. The enemies of the gospel are every day giving us more and more annoyance ; we are imprisoned apart from each other, and treated with every degree of igno miny. They are dafiy threatening us with death, which we are quite indifferent about ; in Christ Jesus we boldly despise the sword and the flames. We know in whom we have beheved, and we are sure that we shaU lay down our lives in a good cause. MeanwhUe aid us with your prayers, that he who hath begun a good work in us wUl perform it even unto the end. We are the Lord's ; let him do what seemeth good in his eyes. I entreat you to comfort occasionally by your letters that most exemplary and godly woman, my wife, and exhort her to bring up our chUdren carefully, Rachel your little god daughter, an exceedingly weU-disposed girl, and my son Daniel, and piously to educate them in the knowledge and fear of God. I moreover send your reverence two little books for your perusal, consideration, and correction, if they contain any thing not agreeable to the word of God. I have entitled the one, An Hyperaspismus touching the true doc trine and use of the Lord's Supper; and I have dedicated it to the parliament of England, that we may publicly reply to our adversaries in the court of parliament. The title of the other is, A Tractate upon discerning and avoiding false religion. And I beg that you will cause them to be printed 106 BISHOP HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET* as soon as possible. Both the books1 are approved by aU the godly and learned in this country. I have moreover written many other letters to the bishops, that they should bring forward the books in parhament ; and I wish these also to be printed, that aU may perceive how unfairly and unjustly we are dealt with. But I need not write to you at length upon this subject ; you wUl understand my wishes from the books and letters themselves. And if your friend Froschover should be prevented from printing them by more important engagements, I wish he would send them to Basle to master Oporinus, who prints very correctly, and sends out aU his publications in a superior manner. I know he wiU do this, if only the books are sent to him with a recommendation from you, and which I earnestly entreat you to supply. There is no occasion for you to fear for me, as though the enemies of the gospel would rage more fiercely and with greater cruelty on account of these books. I have a most faithful guardian and defender of my salvation in our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, to whom I have whofiy committed myself. To his faithfulness and protection I commend myself: if he shaU prolong my days, may he cause it to be for the glory of his name ; but if he wills that my short and evil life should be ended, I can say with equal complacency, His wUl be done ! I am writing by stealth, and therefore my letter to your exceUence is shorter and more confused [than I could wish] ; take it, I pray you, in good part. In haste, from prison, Dec. 11, 1554. Salute for me dutifully your excellent wife and all your family at home and elsewhere; and all others, as you know. Your excellence's most affectionate, as I ought to be, JOHN HOOPER. P Neither of these books appears to have been printed. Search has been made for the manuscript copies here mentioned, but without success. The epistle dedicatory to the latter is given in Strype, Mem. m. i. 283. ii. 267. Bale mentions among Hooper's works written in Latin from prison, Pro doctrina coence Dominicos Liber, and De pseudo- doctrina fugienda, Lib. I. and quotes the commencing sentence of each of them. Bale, Script. Illustr. Basil, 1559.] XLIX.] ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 107 LETTER XLIX. ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, April 3, [1551.] I have received your letter, most christian sir, in which, as in a glass, I perceive how greatly you are interested for us. But though I acknowledge myself quite incapable of re turning you the thanks I ought for your especial friendship towards us, I wUl not cease from offering them; and I heartily pray God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he may abundantly recompense you, as I am unable to do so myself. I wiU not acquaint you with the reason of master Hooper's imprisonment2, until I have communicated to him your letter, which at present is quite out of my power ; for he went down to his see as soon as he was discharged. I doubt not but that he wiU satisfy your desire as soon as he is in formed of it; and this seems to me far more convenient, than for me to make the attempt without consulting him. But as you inquire how my daughter Rachel is going on, I consider it my duty to give you some information concerning her. First then, you must know that she is weU acquainted with Enghsh, and that she has learned by heart within these three months the form of giving thanks, the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, the apostles' creed, together with the first and second psalms of David. And now, as she knows almost all her letters, she is instructed in the catechism. If I could write in German, I should more frequently take pen in hand. But if your son should happen to come to England, I shall have a better opportunity both of writing, and also in some measure of repaying your paternal affection for us, and which I value more than the richest treasures of gold or sUver. I have no news to communicate respecting Ireland, except that the French king is reported to have prepared a fleet for the purpose of invading and taking possession of it, but his design was discovered by the activity of some faithful Frenchman. P Hooper was committed to the Fleet for objecting to the prescribed vestments, (see p. 91) by order of the privy council, Jan. 27, 1551. He was consecrated at Lambeth on the 8th of March. See Soames, Hist. Ref. nx 566 ; Burnet, m. 305.] 108 ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. I send you a small gold coin, in which the effigy of the king of England is very well expressed, as a return for the token you sent to Rachel, for which she thanks you in her chUdish prattle, and sends her best love. I entreat you to recommend master Hooper to be more moderate in his labour : for he preaches four, or at least three times every day ; and I am afraid lest these overabundant exertions should occasion a* premature decay, by which very many souls now hungering after the word of God, and whose hunger is weU known from the frequent anxiety to hear him, will be deprived both of their teacher and his doctrine. We are much disturbed by the apprehension of riots; for there is great danger of them very shortly by reason of the dearness of provisions and other things, although there is great plenty of wheat and other grain: but on whom the blame is to be laid you know better than I do. I have forwarded your letter to master Hooper, and will take care to send you his reply. FareweU. Salute master Bibhander and his wife, masters Gualter aud PeUican and their wives, master Zuinglius and his wife, to whom also I send a golden coin stamped with the king's effigy. London, April 3, [1551]. Your most dutiful, ANNE DE TSERCLAS, now HOOPER. My maid Joanna salutes you, as does her husband, the servant of the French church. When you write to master Hooper or myself, take care that your letters are carefully sealed; for there are certain busy-bodies who are in the habit of opening and reading them, if by any means they can do it. LETTER L. ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Gloucester, Oct. 27, 1551 '. Greeting. When the bearer of this was with us, there were two reasons which prevented my answering your letter; P This letter was probably sent together with that of bishop Hooper's of the same date, given above, p. 95.] L.J ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 109 the one, because I am unable to express my sentiments in German ; the other, because I was overwhelmed by so many and urgent engagements that scarce any leisure was allowed me. Yet the regard I bear you drew me aside a little while from my employments, and compelled me altogether to put them off to another time. At length then I have prepared myself with much satisfaction for a dfiigent though hasty cor respondence, that by this effort I might, in some measure at least, gratify your mind with my most insignificant letter. For I love, and esteem, and reverence you most especially, and I return you my best thanks for having condescended to write me a most elegant and kind letter, though I have hitherto been very negligent and remiss in writing. But the receipt of your letter divested me of aU sloth, though indeed at this time my engagements wUl not admit of its indulgence : everything however that I intended to write to you I have turned over to this Mercury ; and I pray you to give him credit for what he may teU you, as time forbids my entering more into the subject. I justly lament your absence, who have stood forth as my most excellent friend, nay, rather I may say, my patron ; and who have so obliged me by your favours, that were I even to pledge my fife, much less my property, I should be unable to return your kindness. Where fore since my life and property are not sufficient to repay my obhgations, I must stiU remain in debt. Oh! I wish that the distance of place did not separate us at so long an interval, that we might enjoy the same intimacy as heretofore. But I hope that you wiU shortly visit England, which if you will accomplish, I shall then consider myself most fortunate in be ing again permitted to enjoy your long wished for society. I pray you, my father, to salute your wife, my mother, affection ately in my name, as also aU my other friends. Gloucester, Oct. 27, 1551. FareweU. Rachel, thank God, is in excellent health, and salutes you and your wife, and begs your blessing, and prays that jn your blessing God may deign to bless her also. Ever your entire and obliged friend, ANNE HOOPER. 110 ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER LI. ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER Dated at Frankfort, April 20, 1554. Much health. I recognised, my venerable friend, in the letter you lately wrote me, your wonted kindness : you shew yourself so anxious about me, that I could not expect more even if you were my father. And indeed that letter was doubly acceptable, both because I perceived that I was not neglected by you, and also, because God had at that time visited me with a calamity in which I was forced not only to lament the common condition of the church at large, but also my own individual affliction. My woman's mind being bat tered with these two engines, what wonder if it seemed immediately about to give way ? But the Spirit of the Lord was with me, and raised up his ministers to give me comfort ; among whom you were one, by whose letter I was especially refreshed. May the Lord Jesus repay you with his blessing ! For after I had received and read it ;over, I began by God's assistance to bear myself up against such a Weight of calamity ; and I am hitherto supporting myself as far as I am able, by the word of God, often reading over again your letter, to add spurs to this dull flesh. You will perform an act therefore worthy of your kindness, if you will continue in this manner, by more frequent letters, to uphold one whom you have in some degree already raised up. I thank you for expressing your wish that I were with you yonder, nor is there any other place I should prefer. But since the Lord, by my husband's bidding and the advice of my friends, has at length driven me from England, and con ducted me safe to Antwerp, I avaUed myself of an opportunity of accompanying a party every way suitable, and joined my female relative at Frankfort, where now, by the mercy of God, the senate has granted hberty to the foreign church for their whole ecclesiastical ministry both of the word and sacraments. On this account I shaU prefer remaining here in my own hired house, untU I see how the Lord shall deal with my husband, concerning whom, as I have not yet received any LI.] ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGEli. Ill intelhgence, I am not a httle anxious. But yet I know that he is under God's care; and I therefore acquiesce in the providence of my God : and although this burden of widow hood is very painful, yet I comfort myself as far as I am able by prayer and the word of God. I entreat you for Christ's sake, to aid me both with your prayers and corre spondence. Salute, I pray you, most dutifully, my very deal- gossip your wife, with all your family. I salute masters Bibliander, PeUican, Gualter, Sebastian the schoolmaster, and aU the brethren. I pray Almighty God continually to afford you an increase of his Spirit. FareweU, my much esteemed and revered friend in Christ. Frankfort, April 20, the day after the opening of the church of the white virgins to us, when master Valerandus PoUanus, the husband of my relative, and the chief pastor of the church, preached a sermon, and bap tized his young son in the Rhine. May God grant to this church a due increase, and worthy of his name ! Do you pray for it. The pastor himself, my kinsman, earnestly entreated me to salute you in his name, and to commend his ministry to your prayers and those of your coUeagues. Again fareweU in Christ. 1554. Your god-daughter Rachel salutes you and your wife. Daniel is stiU in England, and I shall send a certain most respectable matron, who has hitherto been living with me, to bring him hither. I commend my honoured husband to your prayers. Your very loving friend, ANNE HOOPER. LETTER LII. ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Frankfort, Sept. 22, 1554. Greeting. Your letter, my loving friend, was very gratifying to me, and I thank you for continuing to be so anxious about me. I thank you too very much for your anxiety about master Hooper. By the grace of God he 112 ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. bears every thing, even his threatened death, with constancy and fortitude. Your letter I know wUl be very acceptable to him, as he has already told me more than once. I entreat you for Christ's sake, deny him not this comfort. If I re ceive your letter, I wUl easily take care that it shaU be delivered. For hitherto, by the goodness of God, he has always been allowed to write to me, and to receive my letters: only take care that your letters are delivered at Strasburgh, either to master Burcher, or to master John Garner, the minister of the French church. I have been hitherto tolerably weU, and bear this calamity as firmly as I can. The Lord wUl aid and succour my weakness. I have need of the prayers and sweet consolations of my good friends : wherefore I earnestly entreat you not to neglect me. As to news, there is not any that I know of but what you may learn from the merchants who return to you from this place. Salute, I entreat you, in my name my exceUent gossip, your most honourable wife, masters Gualter, Bibh ander, PeUican, and their wives. Master CecheUes salutes you, as does Valerandus Pollanus, who also sends you this httle book, from which you may know the constitution and general order of our httle church : in which should there be any thing which you think requires correction, you will ex ceedingly oblige him by letting him know ; and I entreat you to do so, for Christ's sake. I commend myself and my children to your piety and most devout prayers. Farewell. Frankfort, Sept. 22,"l554. Your very loving gossip, ANNE HOOPER LETTER LIII. ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER Dated at Frankfort, Nov. 12, 1554. I return you everlasting thanks, very dear and honoured friend, for your delightful letter, which has afforded me much comfort. I acknowledge, and experience in myself, and per- till.] ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 113 ceive also in many others, what the Lord Christ foretold; and I often soothe my mind, when wounded by anxiety, with the sweet reflection, that our God is faithful. I earnestly entreat you therefore, not to cease pleading for me with the Lord in your prayers, and by a letter from time to time to arouse my spirit, which, to say the truth, I very often feel to be aU but dead through grief. And I now require the aid of all godly persons, although I am never entirely forsaken of the Lord, who sometimes refreshes me with the anticipation of a better life. But you yourself know how suitable to a diseased mind is the conversation of a sincere friend. I trust in the Lord, that the letter which you are writing to my dear husband, wih afford him no less consolation than the one to myself; and in his name I thank you for that service. He is indeed worthy of the kind attention of aU godly persons. I wish indeed I may some time have it in my power worthUy to repay your kindness ; my very readiness to do so would shew that I am not wanting in gratitude. But you know me weU. There is no news much worth your notice. For there has not been of a long time any certain intelligence from England; except that those persons who arrived from thence on the 10th instant, assert that a meeting of parlia ment had taken place respecting the coronation of the Spaniard ; and that the hand of an individual1 had been burnt off, because lie refused to hear mass, and chose rather to be brought to the stake ; also that some godly persons had lately been thrown into prison for the sake of religion. If this be the case, I am more than commonly anxious about my husband. May the Lord Jesus preserve us both ! The lesser assembly of the states of Germany commenced here on the fourteenth of October; but this has no concern with religion, about which they have not yet said a single word. They are labouring for the tranquillity of Germany, that it may be safe from the attacks of the marquis of Branden- burgh. I cannot say what is proposed respecting the French (king), for I have not heard. I wish the people of Germany would not so rashly trust in foreign princes who are of a , p This, probably, was Thomas Jenkins, a weaver of Shoreditch; for an account of whose martyrdom gee Foxe, VI. 717. Ed. 1838.] [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 114 ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LETi different religion to themselves : but you wiU hear more from the very respectable man who wiU deliver this letter. I salute my very dear gossip your wife, and aU friends. My Daniel and Rachel also salute you. Masters Valerandus PoUanus and Secelles, whom you desired me to salute, salute you in return. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ! I commend myself to your prayers. Frankfort, Nov. 12, 1554. Your very loving gossip and sister in Christ, ANNE HOOPER. LETTER LIV ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER Dated at Frankfort, April 11, 1555. Much health. When I received, most loving gossip, the book of my dear husband, I desired, as he bade me by his letter, that it should be published before this fair. For which reason I sent it to master Peter Martyr, that he might get it done at Strasburgh. He excused himself on account of the doctrine of the eucharist, which is not received there. It might be printed here by permission of the senate; but it is better that you should first of aU revise the book, and pro cure it to be printed yonder. But as I am weU aware that his memory is most precious to you, I do not doubt but that you wiU be equaUy ready to oblige him in this matter, as if he were now alive : indeed, he is ahve with aU the holy martyrs, and with his Christ the head of the martyrs ; and I am dead here till God shaU again unite me to him. I thank you for your most godly letter. I certainly stand much in need of such consolations, and of your prayers. I pray you therefore by the holy friendship of the most holy martyr my husband, of whom being now deprived I consider this life to be death, do not forsake me. I am not one who is able to return your kindness; but you wUl do an acceptable service to God, who especially commends widows to your protection. P The original Latin of this letter will be found in the Appendix.] LI V.] ANNE HOOPER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 115 I and my Rachel return our thanks for the elegant new year's gift you sent us. Salute your exceUent wife, my very dear gossip, and aU friends. FareweU. Frankfort, April 11, 1555. Your very loving gossip and sister in Christ, ANNE HOOPER. Your [god-daughter] Rachel sends you an English coin, on which are the effigies of Ahab and JezebeP. LETTER LV. JOHN PONET TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, April 14, 1556. Many thanks, most exceUent master Bullinger, are due from us exUes to our Lord God, for having placed over his church in this calamitous age such a teacher as yourself. For we perceive you to be one who is willing to afford every consolation, and who is able to afford very much, to the afflicted servants of Christ yonder. But how greatly your kind offices towards them have bound the rest of the Enghsh to you, I had rather imagine than express, lest, in attempt ing to declare your acts of kindness towards them, extensive as they have been, I should seem either to obscure their great ness by recounting them, or, by treating of them too hghtly, to diminish their importance. But in speaking of myself, namely, an exUe, and weighed down with various crosses from the Lord, I can neither refrain from speaking of the great consolation you have afforded me, nor can I adequately ex press my thanks. Master Burcher, and others, have often told me of your friendly greetings. My friend Cheke also has repeated to me your salutations in your letters to him, and so likewise has Sampson in his ; in which I have perused from your pen many things most gratifying to me. For I have perceived therein your distress and vehement sorrow of P The English money of this period bore the effigies of king Philip and queen Mary.] 8—2 116 JOHN FONET TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. mind for the universal flock of Christ. I have perceived also, at the same time, a signal manifestation of your benevo lence and regard towards me. The Lord God, I acknow ledge, has taken from me all that I had, which indeed was most ample. But why should he not? He who gave has taken away. But what? worldly, earthly, perish able things; while he is intending, I hope, yea, I do not doubt, to bestow upon me things heavenly and imperishable. What is exile? A thing which, provided you have where withal to subsist, is painful only in imagination. I know that it is the scourge of the Lord ; but with what mildness and fatherly affection he deals with me, I can readUy learn even from this, that he has afforded me for my comforters Bullinger, Melancthon, Martyr, and other most shining fights of his church. Happy was the widow of Sarepta in expe riencing the mercy of God, and the consolation imparted by Elijah ; wretched and most unworthy were those lepers who rejected Christ their only comfort. But since it has seemed good to my God to raise up in you such an Elijah as can support me in my affliction ; I write these things to you, not so much to express my thanks for your so great and truly christian care bestowed upon me, (although those are espe cially due to you from me,) as to acquaint you at the same time that I have both derived the greatest pleasure from those letters of yours to your friends respecting me, and that I acknowledge myself exceedingly indebted to you for them. My friend Cheke bade me, on his departure for Antwerp, to salute you in his name : he told me also, that he had heard that Ignatius, in Greek, had been sent over to some printer at Zurich to be printed ; if this be the case, wiU you aUow me to trouble you so far as to procure me a transcript of that passage from the epistle to the Philadelphians respecting the marriage of Paul and the other apostles ? I have now a controversy about this matter with a most impudent papist1. I am ashamed to say more about this request ; but you must know that I am of necessity compelled to make it, for I have no other means of obtaining what I wish. But as often as I consider the character that Bullinger bears in the general opinion, my mind tells me before-hand that this httle trouble P For an account of this controversy with Dr Thomas Martin, see Strype, Mem. n. ii. 54, and III. i. G24, &c] LV.] JOHN PONET TO HENRY BULLINGER. 117 will not be displeasing to you. Excuse, I pray you, this liberty. Excuse also my hasty pen. FareweU, and count me, I pray you, in the number of your friends. Strasburgh, April 14, 1556. Yours wholly, JOHN PONET, Anglus, formerly bishop of Winchester. LETTER LVI. JOHN PONET TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at [Strasburgh, June, 1556. ]2 Do not, I pray you, most excellent master BuUinger, take it iU that I have not sooner replied to your last letter. The long delay of master Martyr, who wished to be the bearer of my letter, has been the cause. His departure from hence to you is a proof of the exceeding favour of God to your church. I wish my affairs had been so circumstanced as to allow of my accompanying him ; as much indeed for the sake of hearing him as yourself. I return you my best thanks for having procured the transcript of that passage of Ignatius by master Gessner. The name of that individual is of so much authority with me, that the very paper, which from your testimony I know to have been written upon by his hand, I lay up among my choicest treasures : for I am willingly superstitious in preserving the memorials of such men. Nothing affords me greater pleasure than to hear from your letter, that you will take care that our friendship confirmed in Christ shaU be a durable one; for I seem thereby to be alto gether united to you. I wish that what you wrote to me concerning sir John Cheke3 may not prove prophetic. I doubt not but that he will seal his testimony to the gospel P A note annexed to this letter, in Bullinger's hand, states this to have been Ponef s last letter to him, and adds, that he died at Stras burgh, in August 1556.] p For an account of Cheke's recantation and subsequent repent ance and death, see Strype, Cheke, 113, 130.] 118 JOHN PONET TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. with his blood. What will not Pharaoh attempt against Israel, especiaUy on his return from exile? I acknowledge myself very much indebted both to yourself and your church, on the behalf of the Englishman, master Parkhurst. My services, although my power is altogether nothing, yet such as they are, are entirely at your command, if I can be of use to you in any thing. Salute, I pray you, in my name master Gessner, to whom I certainly would have written, had not my modesty overcome my courage. But if I am wrong in this respect, I pray you forgive me. But I hope that he wiU shortly take care that Ignatius be printed in Greek. May our great and good God long preserve you both in safety to his church ! Yours whoUy, JOHN PONET, Winton. LETTER LVII. MARIA PONET TO PETER MARTYR. Dated at Strasburgh, July 15, 1557. It is not from any fault of mine, most accomplished sir, that you have been so long without your books. My dear husband has died and left me a wretched widow, and entirely unac quainted with these things : he left also I know not how many or what kind of books, all of which, as I thought they be longed to me, I sold to that excellent person, and my very good friend, master Cook ; which when I had done, master Jewel informed me by letter, that some of them belonged to your excellency, and that you were making inquiry after them. As soon as I understood this to be the case, I ad dressed myself with aU diligence, and frequently too, to master Cook, that I might be permitted to re-purchase, at whatever cost, those books of yours, which I had before sold him by mistake for my own. But from some cause or other I could not obtain my request. Since therefore I was exceedingly anxious to restore you your books, and could find no other way of doing so, I have purchased new ones LVII.] MARIA PONET TO PETER MARTYR. 119 at the bookseUers, which I have destined for your reverence, and caused to be forwarded to you by my worthy friend John Abel. For although I am but a poor widow, I had rather die than do an injury to any one, or than not pay every one their due, as far as lies in my power. It truly grieves me very much, that I have put off this business tUl the present time : but your kindness wiU excuse me, for I should have accomplished it sooner, if I could any where have met with the books on sale before. FareweU, very learned and dear sir : I request you too of your kindness not to forget me in your prayers, and I wiU always pray for you. Strasburgh, July 15, 1557. Your reverenced most devoted, MARIA PONET. LETTER LVIII. RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at the Palace, Westminster, Oct. 22, 1549 '. There are many things, my very dear friend in Christ, which ought justly to inspire me with veneration for your self; namely, your singular erudition and piety, so renowned throughout aU Christendom. Many and splendid are the monuments of your talent, which have everywhere most clearly set forth the glory of God. These things however, important as they are, being of general interest, are not so likely to affect individuals : but the instance of your kind ness with which you have lately favoured me, has more inti mately and powerfuUy impressed my mind ; I mean, your having done me the honour of presenting me with your most learned letter, and jewel of a book. For there shine therein the jewels, not of earth, but heaven; not those which attract the sight, but which wonderfuUy delight the mind. I thank you therefore most heartily, and I implore the P See the letter of John ab Ulmis, dated Oct. 20, 1549, in a sub sequent part of this volume.] 120 RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. great and good God very long to preserve both yourself and those like you, as the most solid piUars of his church. Farewell. From the king's palace at Westminster, Oct 22, 1549. Your most devoted, RICHARD COX. LETTER LIX. RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, Nov. 1, 1550. I seem very much indebted, very dear brother in Christ, to the divine goodness, for having requited my short and barren letter with such an exuberant and copious trea sure of your writings. This is the manner of the Lord our God, who is wont to bestow all things in rich abundance upon those who diligently seek him. You have followed his ex ample, and, in imitation of his fruitful fields, which return more than they receive, you have repaid my letter with abundant interest. Your letter ought, on these accounts, to be most gratify ing to me ; first, because it is fuU of all kindness and affec tion towards me, and a most certain evidence of it ; secondly, because it exhibits a heart glowing with all the ardour of piety and divine love; lastly, because it declares that not only the queen dowager, but likewise others of the more pious nobility of this kingdom, regard their Bullinger with so much love and affection. Your little work presented to the queen dowager was received by her most kindly, and read with the greatest interest and attention. Nothing can be more gratifying to her than studious labours executed by godly men. I return you my best thanks for having again favoured me with another present, and that not so much a paper one, as one that breathes heavenly ambrosia on every side. Moreover you have no reason to fear any , exception being taken to your books, as long as the divine mercy shall preserve to us our king ; in whom, believe mc, there , LIX.] RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. 121 already shines forth an incredible measure of learning, with a zeal for religion, and a judgment aU but mature. I have carefuUy saluted in your own words the most re verend the archbishop of Canterbury, the earl of Warwick, and the marquis of Dorset, aU of whom desired me to salute you most courteously in return. We are anxiously expecting those other works which you promised shortly to publish, that you may never cease to deserve weU of us, and receive a most abundant recompence, not from us, but from him in whose service you are especially enlisted. Farewell. After I had written the above, my letter being long detained either through my own negligence, or by reason of the infrequency of the post; it was reported to me that certain other of your works had been published ; which dUigence of yours I congratulate both on your account and our own. Again fareweU, my very dear brother in Christ. London, Nov. 1, 1550. Your much attached, RICHARD COX. LETTER LX1 RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Westminster, May 5, 1551. Your having deigned, most esteemed brother in Christ, to Honour and distinguish me with such abundant favours, has added very considerably to my former obligations to you. You have requited my laconic and barren letter with almost an entire volume, and that too a most learned one, and most gratifying to me in the perusal. You proceed, moreover, to make me happy with a double present, namely, the treatise of master Calvin concerning that most christian concord established between you in the matter of the eucharist2, and the fifth Decade of your sermons, which John ab Ulmis brought me yesterday night. For these presents I return P The original of this letter is given in Strype, Mem. n. i. 532.] P This refers to the Consensus Tigurinus in 1549, when Calvin came to an agreement with Bullinger and other divines of Zurich respecting the doctrine of the Lord's supper.] 122 RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. you the best thanks in my power. I am exceedingly deUghted with them both. Oh that the most merciful God would grant, some time or other, that in treating of the holy supper the universal church of Christ would aim at the same mark of truth ! In reading your books, especiaUy when any passage shaU occur which may pecufiarly affect me by its piety, I wiU not cease to bear you in my remembrance, and to importune God in my prayers, that he may very long preserve you to his church, and more and more endue you with his holy Spirit. And when in so candid and christian a manner you remind me of my duty, and so seriously excite and so solemnly engage me to the right performance of my office; I con sider this as done by the most holy Spirit of the Lord, that I may not be inactive or negligent in his work. For I daily feel how supine we are in the Lord's business, and how dili gent and earnest in our own. Moreover, I embrace your sound and wholesome counsel respecting the reformation of the church of God, with the greater readmess, inasmuch as you so entirely coincide with me in that belief which a merciful God has given me in these things. For I am of opinion that aU things in the church should be pure, simple, and removed as far as possible from the elements and pomps of this world. But in this our church what can I do, who am so deficient both in learning and authority ? I can only endeavour to persuade pur bishops to be of the same mind and opinion with my self, and in the mean time commit to God the care and conduct of his own work. You are most worthy, my Bullinger, of receiving the greatest favours, since you so gratefully accept those which are either of no value, or at least, of very Uttle importance. Those two youths, who resided some time with me, are from their piety, and ardent desire of learning, worthy of the favour and good-will of pious persons. The other two, who have lately arrived, and whom you so greatly recommended to me, I will treat, were it only for your sake, with the greatest kindness in my power. I wUl not fail to salute in your name those two noble personages, and your great ad mirers. May the Lord Jesus very long preserve you in safety, and give you both strength and courage for the re* LX.] RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. 123 storation of his church ! Farewell. Westminster, May 5, 1551. Your much attached and very loving brother in Christ, RICHARD COX. LETTER LXI. RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. [Dated at Windsor, Oct. 5, 1552.] Although I have nothing of any consequence at this time to write to you, very dear brother in Christ, yet I am loth to dismiss our friend John [ab Ulmis] altogether without a letter from me ; and he himself would be much grieved at my doing so. As to what concerns the true religion, blessed be the Lord God, a ray of whose glory is wonderfully shining upon us from day to day, we have now for the second time altered the adininistration of the public prayers and even of the sa craments themselves, and have framed them according to the rule of God's word ; but the severe institutions of christian discipline we most utterly abominate. We would be sons, and heirs also, but we tremble at the rod. Do pray stir us up, and our nobihty too, by the Spirit which is given to you, to a regard for discipline ; without which, I grieve to say it, the kingdom wiU be taken away from us, and given to a na tion bringing forth the fruit thereof. But there is one thing, my Bullinger, respecting which I most anxiously desire to be thoroughly instructed. I read in the place where you treat of the Lord's supper, in your fifth Decade1, these words : " Since it is not a public or general assembly when four or five communicate with a sick person, those who affirm that the supper may be administered to the sick at home, if others also receive it at the same time, say nothing to the purpose." What if, when the congregation is P See Piftiegodlie and learned Sermons, divided into five Decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, writ ten in three severall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger, &c. London, 1577. Tom. in. p. 1080.] 124 RICHARD COX TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. duly called together, three, four, or. five only, out of many hundreds, are wUling to receive the sacrament of the eucharist, all the rest refusing to do so, is it not allowable for them to receive it either in the presence of the others, or after they have left the church ? Why then should a sick person be deprived of this benefit ? I much wish for fuUer information upon this point, as soon as you shaU have leisure to afford it. May the Lord Jesus very long preserve you to us in safety, to the glory of Christ and the edification of his church! Windsor in England, Oct. 5, 1552. Your brother in Christ, RICHARD COX. LETTER LXII. OWEN OGLETHORPE TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Magdalene College, Oxford, Oct. 30, [1548]. Grace and comfort of the Holy Ghost ! Your illustrious reputation and singular learning, most accomphshed sir, have for many years past excited in my mind a great regard for you; so that it has for a long time been my most earnest desire that a fitting opportunity might sometime be afforded me, if not of personal communication with you, at least of addressing you by letter, that a mutual regard might be established between us. And this ardent desire of mine was in a measure accomphshed, when about ten years since Nicolas Partridge, a person most dear to me upon many ac counts, being overtaken with sickness on his way into Italy, was entertained by you at your house, and having recovered his health by means of your liberahty, on his return to England together with your friend Rodolph1, was the bearer of a letter to me from you ; which as I preserve by me no less willingly than carefully as a signal token of your regard to me, so I most earnestly embrace and reverence your courtesy, who, easily excelling as you do all persons in learn ing, have nevertheless condescended to write to an individual f1 Rodolph Gualter accompanied Nicolas Partridge of Lenham, Kent, on his return to England from Zurich in 1537.] LXII.] OWEN OGLETHORPE TO HENRY BULLINGER. 125 like myself, and, as you have most politely said, to court my friendship. And availing myself at that time of the favour able opportunity of writing, I sent your exceUency by that same attendant of yours my unpolished letter, with the in tention of writing more frequently, had a suitable means of communication been afforded me. But I am now once more addressing your reverence in this letter with the greater freedom, because John ab Ulmis, a young man of good hopes, has lately brought me a salutation from you, with the ex pression of your desire (as he informed me) in your letter to him, that John Rodolph Stumphius, a youth no less amiable than studious, who has most courteously offered me his ser vices, might not return to you without a letter from me. I willingly commend him to you; and if you wiU assist him in his studies, according to your exceeding kindness, there is no doubt but that he wUl some time or other be of great benefit to the state. FareweU, most iUustrious sir, and may the Lord Jesus long preserve you, and prosper your studies I Oxford* from Magdalene CoUege, Oct. 30. Your exceUency's most attached, OWEN OGLETHORPE. LETTER LXIII. ROBERT HORN TO JOHN WOLFIUS. Dated at Frankfort, Feb. 2, 1556. Since, my dearest Wolfius, nothing is more becoming a christian man, than to have a mind full of love towards all, and feelings of compassion and kindness towards those who are miserable exUes for the sake of the true religion, (feelings which aU the Enghsh who heretofore sojourned at Zurich ought to recognise in yourself, and which I myself experienced beyond the rest ;) so nothing is more unbecoming him who professes even the least regard to what is right, than to shew himself unmindful of, or ungrateful for, a benefit received. The slightest possible suspicion of such conduct I earnestly desire may be removed from me as far as possible. And I have therefore thought it better to let you know this by a 126 ROBERT HORN TO JOHN WOLFIUS. [LET. letter, however brief, than by my silence to afford you any occasion of suspecting evil of me. Receive then this short letter, as a testimony of a mind ready and prepared to return your kindness, had not fortune denied me the abUity cor responding to the readiness of my inclination. My dear brother Richard [Chambers] salutes you, and acknowledges himself bound to you by an equal obfigation with myself. Salute, I pray you, in our name our very dear friends in Christ, masters PeUican, Gualter, Bibhander, Simler, Zuing- lius, Lavater, HaUer, Frisius, John ab Ulmis, and both the elder and younger Froschover. And especiaUy salute most affectionately in my name one who deserves so weU of me, Peter Stainer, with his most amiable wife : nor would I desire to pass over our landlady, who, as she wrote word to master Richard, sold, by your assistance, the two beds for fourteen florins, and I know not what other articles besides ; which amount we desire to be transmitted by Froschover, or some other confidential person, to Frankfort at the next fair, toge ther with a smaU portmanteau which we also left to be forwarded by your kindness, and that of John ab Ulmis. FareweU, most exceUent sir. Frankfort, Feb. 2, 1556. Yours whoUy, in Christ, ROBERT HORN. P.S. Out of the money which our landlady has in charge, please to give her one florin for her trouble, and send the balance to us. LETTER LXIV. ROBERT HORN AND RICHARD CHAMBERS TO THE SENATE OF ZURICH. Dated at [Frankfort,] Feb. 3, 1556. Hospitality indeed is always commendable in every one; and in you, most grave and potent lords, it has been truly admirable : for that those whom nature, or rather God, has rendered brave and powerful in war, for the purpose, as it should seem, of fighting the Lord's battles, — that you, I say, should become so compassionate, as to be the entertainers of LXIV.] ROBERT HORN, &C. TO THE SENATE OF ZURICH. 127 the humble, wandering, dispersed and wretched members of the church, cannot indeed be passed over without great ad miration ; and chiefly for this reason, inasmuch as not having been disturbed in your own persons by any storms of misfor tune and calamity, your not having hitherto been under any necessity of requiring assistance, your not having had recourse to any one for support, in a word, your not having been in the way of experiencmg the benevolence of others in this respect, proves that this your hospitable feeling cannot arise from the desire to return a kindness, or from your having been subjected to the like calamities yourselves. Many per sons indeed are led by the feelings of commiseration to reheve those who have suffered the like misfortunes with themselves ; and aU persons, those at least who have any regard to prin ciple, consider themselves so obhged, as it were, by the law of requital, as that, having been in circumstances of trouble and distress themselves, and having therein experienced the libe rality of others, they are unwilling, through an instinctive sense of natural justice, to refuse to persons labouring under the like afflictions that assistance, which the more fortunate are always able to afford to those in need without any detri ment to themselves. I wiU not, however, any longer praise you, but rather acknowledge in you the efficacy of the word, or the power of God in his word, which was mighty in you also who believed unto salvation. " The voice of the Lord is powerful,' the voice of the Lord is full of majesty," as the Psalmist says; and it has certainly the power of renewing and transforming us into other men. That frequent exclamation of master Zuinghus has also reached my ears, where he is wont to affirm, speaking from experience, that evangelical doctrine (though it has done much beside), yet, if it had effected nothing else, has however produced this advantage, that by the preaching of it men are rendered much more civilized in their manners, and altogether much more humane in their feelings. If that most exceUent man, so worthy of. everlasting and pious remembrance, were now living, I should address him in the same language that formerly in the gospel the citizens of Samaria addressed to the woman of that city, " Now we beheve, not because of thy saying, for we havo beard and know ourselves ;" yea, we have experienced, we have felt it. For with what entire liberty, as far as our re- 128 ROBERT HORN AND RICHARD CHAMBERS [LET. ligion was concerned, did we exercise freedom of conscience among you! how exempted were we from all tributary ex actions, which you might justly have demanded for the public necessities even from your own citizens! Nay, how favoured were we by the liberality of your townsmen as well as your own ! Why should I mention the advice, the conso lations of your ministers ; the lamentations of the citizens sympathising with us on our condition; the gratuitous ser vices of the apothecaries and physicians ? So that we were evidently not regarded and considered by you as guests, but as citizens, and, if possible, yet more. What pains you took to examine into our wants, our deficiencies, that out of your plenty and abundance you might provide for their supply! Lastly, how did you spontaneously offer us, on our departure, in case we should have occasion to return, the same kindness, the same quiet habitations, the same liberty of permission to reside among you; so that you have, as it were, your gates always open to ourselves and our countrymen ! Truly this your affection towards us was more than paternal. We never indeed experienced in our own country greater compassion, kindness, and munificence; so that we aU of us regarded almost as a proverb the saying, " It is good to be here." We should never have suffered ourselves to be torn from vou, had we not been invited, and almost compeUed as it were, by the two importunate letters of our countrymen, to reheve the extreme necessity of the now almost ruined church of our exUes at Frankfort1. Forgive us therefore that we could no longer be onerous to those to whom we desire to do honour. And since we can in no way gratify you more than by a grateful commemoration of the benefits we have received from you, we wiU not cease, in returning thanks for them, to have a continual remembrance of you in our petitions to God, that since we ourselves are unable to repay or discharge our debt, he may repay and discharge it [for us] in his Christ. Moreover, taking fresh occasion from our late experience of your hospitality, we earnestly desire that you should be en- P Horn was " in the election" to succeed Whitehead in the pasto ral office at Frankfort, where he "entered the churche the first off Marche, Anno Domini 1556, &c." See a Brieff discours aboute the troubles begonne at Franckfort in Germany, Anno Domini 1554,' aboute the Boolce off common prayer and ceremonies, &c. p. lxii. London reprint, 1845.] LXIV.] TO THE SENATE OF ZURICH. 129 treated and prevaUed upon, that, in case any reason of im portance should arise to drive us from our present abode, we may still meet with some place among you sufficient for our necessities. In the mean while may the eternal Lord God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the giver of the Holy Ghost, bless you with all spiritual benediction, make you fearers of God, and feared and dreaded by your enemies ; may he furnish you, as the constant patrons of gospel truth, with unflinching boldness, courage, and power, to the edifica tion of his whole church, and the glory and power of his holy name! Amen. Feb. 3, 1556. Your most attached, ROBERT HORN, Anglus. RICHARD CHAMBERS, Anglus. LETTER LXV. ROBERT HORN AND RICHARD CHAMBERS TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated Feb. 3, 1556. Though I had long since intended to write to your reverence, I have been prevented by continued and almost endless engagements, as you know is usual with persons who are constantly changing their place of abode : but thus it has pleased God to try us, and the necessity of our church required this very thing, that we, who of late enjoyed among you the most entire Hberty, together with no smaU degree of Uterary repose, are now on the contrary, through the magnitude of our affairs, scarcely able to obtain leisure for writing a single letter. We will not therefore entertain a doubt but that you wUl kindly bear with this our tardiness in writing, when you have considered the extent of our necessities, and understood the affection, love, and esteem of our hearts towards you ac cording to our power. And since we have no other method of expressing it, we think it better to do so late than never by a letter addressed to yourself. But if we should here r i 9 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 130 ROBERT HORN AND RICHARD CHAMBERS [LET. attempt to enumerate aU the benefits you have conferred upon us, it would probably be too disagreeable to yourself, who prefer rather to be active in doing good, than to have the reputation of it ; and it would be also too troublesome a task for ourselves. For how much should we have to record of your counsel, sympathy, and protection! You it was, who concihated to us the good-wiU of your townsmen, and who procured the munificence of the government to be extended towards us. Nor did you content yourself merely with obtaining for us the good offices both of your famUy and your country ; but in addition to this, by letters to those at a distance, you occasioned the liberality of other and unknown individuals to be poured out upon us from all quarters. By your writings also you sought to reach even those our friends at home, by whose kindness we have been supported ; and this, that you might not be be hind-hand in exciting them to so godly a purpose, and in aid ing us that we should not be deprived of their assistance. It is indeed far more easy for us to relate these benefits than in any measure to requite them. We therefore commend you and your ministry to God, who wiU repay you in that day. MeanwhUe we entreat you to do us this kindness, namely, to take upon yourself the charge of returning, to the whole senate, more suitable and abundant acknowledgments than such as we could include in our scanty and short epistle ; and (forasmuch as we cannot look forward to so long and continued a peace as to effect any change in our condition, before a free permission is granted us to return into our country,) most earnestly to entreat them in our behalf, that if there should, by any possibility, arise such a change, as to expel us from our present abode, we may nevertheless once more freely return to, and obtain a quiet sojourn among you. But we have no fear, either concerning yourself or those ex cellent men, but that you will grant us this favour. In the meantime salute in the name of us all your most amiable wife, and at the same time aU the ministers of the word among you, our reverend masters PeUican, Bibliander, Gualter, Lavater, Simler, ZuingUus, Haller, Frisius, John ab UlmiSj Stumphius, and others, as your occupations wiU allow. We think master Gessner, whose kind offices to us were innumerable; must by no means be passed over; neither must the two Froschovers and their wives, whose extreme kindness to- LXV.J TO HENRY BULLINGER. 131 wards us demands rather our letters than our salutations : we have at this time however contented ourselves with the latter, because on account of so many engagements we are unable to write more. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you aU ! Amen. Feb. 3, 1556. Your very affectionate, ROBERT HORN, 1 \ Anqli. RICHARD CHAMBERS, J LETTER LXVI. ROBERT HORN AND RICHARD CHAMBERS TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at [Frankfort,] Sept. 19, 1556. Grace and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! We have received, most exceUent master BuUinger, your letter, in which we easUy perceive how much you esteem us, and that you are not forgetful of us. Not indeed that we should have had any doubt upon this point, if you had not written to us at all. But now, on the perusal of this most delightful letter that you have sent to us, we consider it as most evident, that your regard, fear, and soficitude extends not only to ourselves, but to the whole of our country; by which feelings we hope you wUl be more effectuaUy stirred up to offer also more fervent prayers to God on our behalf, for the reformation of our church, respect ing which we certainly conceive better hopes, in that you, and other men of God like you, are earnest in your prayers for this very thing ; whose supplications, for the sake of Jesus Christ our only mediator, cannot be in vain, but acceptable to God, as being sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and inspired (as it were) with the breathings of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge your good offices, your labours, your exertions ; and we pray the Lord to direct, establish, and confirm aU things for the good of the church, the honour of God, and your own comfort. The much esteemed master a Lasco still remains at 9 — 2 132 ROBERT HORN AND RICHARD CHAMBERS [LET Frankfort, in daily expectation of a summons to bring him back into his own country. We communicated to him your letter. As to the matter of Brentius, we only pray that the Lord may compose the dissensions of the church, and multiply its peace. Nor are there every day wanting those, who, desirous of novelty, by their novel errors impugn the truth. It is indeed wonderful with how much loquacity, with what proud bombastic philosophy, certainly not " scientific demonstrations" (as he caUs them,) but with the swelling blasts of Pelagius, and vain conceits of human wisdom, a certain Justus Velsius1 has fiUed the schools, conceded to us by the kindness of the magistracy who preside over this state, with doctrines opposed to the eternal predestination of God. We send you his conceits : his blasphemies against God, his railings and invectives against master Calvin, (and indeed they are quite severe enough,) we would rather omit mention of than defile our paper with such foul abuse. We expect no good news from England : aU things seem to be growing worse and worse. So great is the number of the martyrs, who in their cheerful profession of the word of God are most cruelly dragged to the flames and to tor ments, that those godly men who, on former occasions, made it their business to inquire into this matter, are now unable to ascertain either the number or the names of the sufferers. Nor can the ferocity of the queen, and of Bonner the pseudo-bishop of London, and of the other papists, restrain itself, satiated with domestic blood, with out moreover crossing the sea, and raging so furiously, that no godly person can now remain at Antwerp in security and free from danger. Sir [John] Cheke2 and Sir Peter P For an account of Justus Velsius and his opinions, see Strype, Grindal, 135.] p Sir John Cheke, in the spring of 1556, on his return from Brus sels towards Antwerp, was, with Sir Peter Carew his companion, by king Philip's secret commandment, suddenly apprehended in the way by the provost marshal, bound, and thrown into a cart, with his legs, arms, and body tied to it, and so conveyed on shipboard, brought a prisoner into England, and clapped up, as some great malefactor, in the Tower of London ; and at length was forced to acknowledge and subscribe to the popish doctrines, and recant publicly his former good profession of the gospel, there being no other way to save himself from burning. He fell into exceeding melancholy and trouble of mind, LXVI.] TO HENRY BULLINGER. 133 Carew3, both taken by treachery, and carried before the queen, were thrown into prison, but are now, it is said, set at hberty, or are shortly to be so. But, alas ! it is stated, (yet we hope the report is untrue,) that most iniquitous conditions of their restoration to, and enjoyment of, hberty, have been proposed to and accepted by them both. However it be, we may learn this, that it is vain to place our confidence in man. Charles, not yet enough broken by disease, and his sister*, together with his son Phuip, being about to visit England, I know not for what reason, are recalled whUe on their very journey. Neither the nobihty nor the people wiU patiently endure the arrival of these princes, nor do they in the mean time dissemble their impatience in this respect ; notwithstanding that the queen with some of the nobles of her party are using all their influence and endeavours to aggrandize Philip with the hereditary right of government, the royal crown, and other distinctions ; and this, with consent of parhament, as they call it. In Suffolk, they are proclaiming the lady Elizabeth queen, and they associate lord Courteney5 as her supporter ; by which bold attempt has been occasioned the execution of at least sixty or eighty persons by an ignominious death on the charge of treason. Respect ing the number, however, nothing is known for certain. It is more certain, that on this account not only the lady Elizabeth, but also the lord Courteney6, are brought into suspicion of treason, and in no smaU peril of their lives : but may God change aU things for the better ! Thus much concerning the affairs of our country. Still, however, not yet satisfied with these things, we are keeping secret a thing which is rather to be de- and in great repentances ended his miserable life within less than a year after. See Strype, Mem. m. i. 515; Cheke, 106, &c. Soames' Hist?. Ref. iv. 565.] *P Sir Peter Carew had fled abroad on account of having been concerned in Wyatt's rebellion. He was sent to the Tower at the same time with Sir John Cheke. See Strype, Mem. m. ii. 7.] [4 Mary, queen of Hungary and governess of the Low Countries.] P The real lord Courteney, earl of Devon, was personated by a young man of the name of Cleobury, who was afterwards executed at Bury in Suffolk. Lingard's Hist, of England, v. 112. 4to Edition.] p Lord Courteney died of an ague at Padua a few months after the discovery of the plot here mentioned.] 134 ROBERT HORN, &C TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. sired than expected. We wiU however communicate it to you. We are in fact desirous of a conference about the affairs of religion ; but we are not yet able to affirm for certain whether it wiU take place. Should there occur any thing of the kind, we are in hopes that master Calvin wiU come back again, and that he wiU have both yourself and other learned men as his companions not only of bis journey, but of his labours in this business. May the eternal Lord God grant this through Christ, that you may, some time or other, being assembled in the fear of God, (with Christ pre siding in your councU,) set forth at length a pure confession without any stain of error, to the confusion of the adver saries, the peace of the church, and the glory of God; to whose protection we commend you, your wife, family, and aU your friends. FareweU. Sept. 19, 1556. Your reverence's most devoted, ROBERT HORN, and RICHARD CHAMBERS. LETTER LXVII. JAMES PILKINGTON TO RODOLPH GUALTER Dated at Geneva, April 7, 1556. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly ! Health and peace in Christ Jesus ! Since Paul in all his epistles is so earnest in the saluta tion of those brethren, whom he perceived to love Christ in sincerity, though many persons think lightly, or rather not at all, of this duty, because it consists only in a few bare words ; yet for my part, most illustrious sir, induced by so weighty an example, I can by no means consider it as of no import ance. This being the case, whom can we English salute with greater reason than you, our good masters at Zurich, by whom we have been regarded as brethren? and to whom else can I LXV1I.] JAMES PILKINGTON TO RODOLPH GUALTER. 135 especiaUy, whom you have so liberaUy entertained far beyond my other friends, wish grace and life in my frequent and affectionate letters, rather than to yourself ? Your prudence knows how to estimate things according to the intention of the giver, and not according to the value of the gift; and you are able likewise so to compare the power of shewing kindness with the opportunities of doing so, as not so much to regard what each may have given : but if you could have been enriched by kind words, I should long since have made you happy ; for I am unable to gratify you in any other way. You wiU be much surprised at my departure from you, and not indeed without reason, for I was surprised at it myself; but when I had considered with myself what a people we are, and what we proverbially say of ourselves, I then ceased to wonder. For we commonly say of ourselves, that the English wiU never let weU alone. Allow us, therefore, to be English men, that, when we have learned wisdom to our cost, we may perceive the constant evU of being inconstant. I do not say this because we have been in need of any thing, or suffered any Ul-treatment, but that you may know that we had learned by experience the happiness of Uving at Zurich; and though we have met with many persons who are willing to do us a service, we have found but few who have shewn us the same kind attention as yourselves. And though it is a great aUeviation of sorrow for those who are afflicted to pour out their griefs into the bosom of a faithful friend, who may be able by wholesome counsel and soothing words to relieve their distress, and who will entreat the Lord for them with earnest prayers; I had rather that you should commune with yourself upon the unhappy aspect of our church, (both that portion of it which is oppressed by wolves at home, as weU as that which is dispersed abroad,) than that I should attempt to relate what cannot be described. You have formerly acted a part in this tragedy yourselves, but the Lord has granted you a happy issue : we are now brought •upon the stage, that, being humbled by adversity, we may discover him, whom in our prosperity we did not acknowledge as we ought, to be a kind and merciful father. Let this my letter, I pray you, salute as affectionately as possible that common father of the afflicted, master Bullinger, to whom, as he so richly deserves, I wish every happiness ; and 136 JAMES PILKINGTON TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. since the Lord has made you witnesses of my affliction, go on, as you have begun, to love me, to help me by your counsel, and entreat the Lord for me in your prayers, that I may again be restored to you, when it shall seem him good. I thank also master Gessner for all his exertions on my be half, and for the letter full of good advice, which I lately received from him ; for by his means, next to the Lord who worketh all things, the pains in my stomach are daUy so decreasing, that I cherish good hopes of regaining my former health. I have not yet tried any of the remedies which he last prescribed ; but should I be compelled to adopt them, I wiU write to him that he may know their effects. I commend to you master Parkhurst and his wife, my friends Spenser and Frensham, and would especially desire to be commended to the venerable PeUican, the most learned Bibhander, masters Wolfius, John ab Ulmis, and aU the other ministers. If I can do any thing for you, I am at your service. May the Lord keep you pure from this world unto his day! Amen. Farewell. Geneva, 7 AprU, 1556. Yours, as you so well deserve, JAMES PILKINGTON. LETTER LXVIII. JAMES PILKINGTON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Cevennes, June 27, 1556. Come, Lord Jesus, quickly ! Since nothing is more fo reign to a human being than inhumanity, and humanity adorns a human being more especially from the connection between its name and nature ; that you may not with reason think me inhuman because I, whom you have often treated with so much humanity, have not written to you, your humanity has induced me to address you by my letter. For since the Lord always abhors the ungrateful, who do not acknowledge benefits received, and the ungrateful are odious to mankind themselves ; lest I should fall into that fault of my own accord which I had always condemned in others, my duty has LXVIII.] JAMES PILKINGTON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 137 required, your dignity demanded, and both together have impelled me to write, that in words at least I might acknow ledge an obligation, which in deed I am unable adequately to discharge. May you Uve then, I pray, with all your friends, long and happUy ; and for the hospitality with which you have so kindly received all the exiles, and with the agreeable recoUection of which I delight myself, may the Lord, according to his kindness, for ever bless you. Continue, moreover, as you have begun, and do honour to yourself and all your friends by your kindness to the exfies : for the Lord is pleased by such offerings, he has them in everlasting remem brance, and can never forget your beneficence towards his proscribed people. But though your numerous noble actions are quoted by many with much grateful acknowledgment, there is not any thing in which they really rejoice more, than in that you are endeavouring to draw over to you Peter Martyr1. Many persons remark how unbefitting it is, and especiaUy in these times, that the mouth of such a man should be stopped ; and many persons are promising themselves great things concerning him, when they perceive how great an accession he wUl be to the cause of truth in your most free city. And though it is agreeable and almost necessary to our exUes, that aU we English should meet together in the same church, and by our united complaints and ardent prayers im portune, supplicate, entreat the Lord on behalf of our ruined church ; yet both my inclination leads me to return to you as soon as I hear that he has arrived, and a Ught occasion will bring me. Whatever you may wish to know respecting me, the good bearer of this letter is willing and able to give you faithful intelhgence in every respect. Salute for me my dear master Gualter, with the rest of your feUow-ministers, and especiaUy master Gessner, through whose means, by the blessing of God, I am stUl Uving, and daily somewhat im proving in health. May the Lord Jesus continue to preserve you and your church, and in his mercy restore our fallen one! Amen. Cevennes. 27th June, 1556. Yours most deservedly, J. PILKINGTON, Anglus. P Peter Martyr was invited to Zurich by the magistrates of that city in 1556.] 138 EARL OF BEDFORD TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER LXIX. EARL OF BEDFORD TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Venice, April 26, [1557.] My singular regard for you, and the constant esteem I have ever entertained towards you for the sake of rehgion, as well as your incredible kindness, experienced by me in many ways when I was at Zurich, have occasioned me, most learned BuUinger, to give this young man this letter to you, as a most assured token of my affection towards you, and as it were a sealed evidence, which I was anxious to afford, of my continued love to you. And herein I thank you in such wise for your kindness, that I promise to repay it, if I ever have it in my power to oblige you in any respect. And I would have you regard this as said by me, not as men do, who now-a-days make a certain outward shew of words, and a mere parade of serving you, and this, rather that they may seem to be what they assert themselves, than be such in reality ; but rather that you may persuade yourself, that it proceeds from a mind altogether sincere and entirely devoted to yourself. Wherefore, should I ever have it in my power to do you any service, (I am aware how trifling it wiU be,) yet, trifling as it is, it shall be altogether yours. But enough of this, and perhaps too much ; especially since it is my in tention, should not other circumstances intervene to call me elsewhere, to visit you on my return to England, when I shall confirm in person what I can only express now by bare words. The young man who bears this letter, has informed me of the death of Conrad PeUican1, (of whom I make honourable mention ;) which when I heard, I grieved exceedingly as I ought to do, not so much for his sake as for that of the whole church. For he has most gloriously finished his course in labours, watchings, constant studies, and encouragement of learned men ; and at length, by dying as he lived, he is translated to a better Ufe in heaven. But the church will long regret a man who was every way so perfect ; so that while I rejoice on his account, I cannot but grieve most [i Conrad Pellican died Sept. 14, 1556.] LXIX.] EARL OF BEDFORD TO HENRY BULLINGER. 139 exceedingly for her sake. But your presence, as I hope and wish, wUl easily mitigate the occasion of this sorrow ; and may Almighty God in his mercy long preserve you safe to his church and to aU good men ! Venice, April 26, [1557]. Your most attached, F. BEDFORD. P. S. Diligently salute, I pray you, my dear friends masters Gessner and Gualter. LETTER LXX. SIR ANTONY COOK TO PETER MARTYR. Dated at Stbasburgh, Jan. 20, 1558. Unless our friendship, my worthy sir, had been too firmly established to be affected by any light matter, I should probably have been charged with neglect for not having hitherto replied to the most gratifying and courteous letter you sent me by master °; by the admonition of which, however, I am the more reminded of my duty, and by the repeated perusal of it, from time to time, I console myself in this winter of our calamity. But I well know your candour, and sUence does not always imply forgetfulness. For what the comic writer asserts with respect to asking advice, that shame forbids it in one quarter, dignity in ano ther, the same may also take place in respect to letter-writing. For if I were not ashamed to write to you as often as I desire to address you, to hear you, to enjoy your society, not a day would be without its letter. Besides, since (as you state) more painful and severe trials are daily arising to us, it not only distresses our minds to relate them, but even to think about them. Such an one is that which we have lately heard concerning Calais3, that the town is either taken by the P The name is illegible in the original MS.] p The duke of Guise encamped before Calais on Jan. 1, 1558, and four days after, it was surrendered by lord Wentworth the governor, after it had been in the possession of the English above 200 years. See Stowe, 632. Godwin Ann. 331.] 140 SIR ANTONY COOK TO PETER MARTYR. [LET. French, or in the greatest danger. Should we have lost it, I do not choose to conjecture, though it is not difficult to foresee, what mischiefs will ensue, and which, if we would only have been quiet, might so easily have been avoided. But alas ! for our carelessnesss, or (shall I say ?) our blindness ; who, though we have treacherously forsaken the Lord, are yet without fear of the punishment due to our wickedness, and denounced against us by the voice of God. I wish it were in my power to converse with you at large upon these and other matters, that in the abundance of my grief and tears your learned and godly discourse might afford me comfort. Frequently indeed have I intended to come and see you, and I may probably pass a month with you during this next Lent. But do not mention a word of this to any one ; for I am not yet sufficiently able to form my plans, and if I should undertake this journey, it wUl be known to very few persons beforehand. I pray our Lord Jesus to be pleased to shew compassion upon England, in many ways so afflicted, and to aid his troubled church according to the working of that mighty power, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. May God long preserve you in safety to all godly persons ! Strasburgh, Jan. 20, 1558. Yours whoUy, ANTONY COOK. LETTER LXXI. SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Greenwich, June 7, 1553. Will you then, my Bullinger, strive to be received into my friendship, which I ought rather to have offered, and not wait till it was solicited ? But that which is to be commended in you, I think is blameable in me ; for those persons who cultivate real friendships, resemble good husbandmen, and those who receive them, good land. I therefore, being anti cipated by yourself, and also more tardy in cultivating friend ships, have the inferior position : for in proportion as the LXXI.J SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. 141 husbandman is superior to the soil he cultivates, in that same proportion am I excelled by yourself. To bestow a benefit is a virtuous act, to recompense it is a duty ; and it is far more blessed to confer a favour than to receive one, yea indeed, than either to be grateful for it, to remember it, or to requite it. But as your learning, your zeal for true religion, and your published works are universaUy known, and the affection which I had long since conceived for you had nowise shewn itself ; you must still bear in mind, that even if my regard had been unknown to you, I have notwithstanding been for a long time your admirer. The books which you have written to the king's majesty, have been as acceptable to him as they deserved to be. A large portion of them I delivered to him myself, and am able therefore to inform you how kindly and courteously he received them, and how greatly he esteems them; and I can offer you my congratulations upon the subject. But since the king's majesty, debilitated by long illness, is scarcely yet restored to health, I cannot venture to make you any promise of obtaming a letter from him to yourself. But should a longer life be allowed him, (and I hope that he may very long enjoy it,) I prophesy indeed, that, with the Lord's blessing, he wUl prove such a king, as neither to yield to Josiah in the maintenance of true rehgion, nor to Solomon in the management of the state, nor to David in the encouragement of godliness. And whatever may be effected fey nature or grace, or rather by God the source of both, whose providence is not even contained within the limits of the universe, it is probable that he wUl not only contribute very greatly to the preservation of the church, but also that he wUl distinguish learned men by every kind of encouragement. He has long since given evidence of these things, and has accomplished at this early period of his Ufe' more numerous and important objects, than others have been able to do when their age was more settled and matured. He has repealed the act of the six articles ; he has removed images from the churches ; he has overthrown idolatry ; he has abohshed the mass, and destroyed almost every kind of superstition. He ¦has put forth by his authority an excellent form of common prayer; he has published good and pious homilies to lessen the ignorance of uneducated ministers. He has invited the 142 SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. most learned men to teach at the universities, and has done many other thmgs of the same kind, every one of which would be considered as a great action in other men, but as nothing in him, by reason of the magnitude of what he has accomplished. Besides this, he has lately recommended to the schools by bis authority the catechism of John1, bishop of Winchester, and has pubfished the articles of the synod at London, which if you wiU compare with those of Trent, you will understand how the spirit of the one exceeds that of the other. Why should I say more ? I send you the book itself as a token of my regard, and believe me yours in Christ. Fare thee well. Greenwich, June 7, 1553. 7 Ed. VI. Yours in the Lord, JOHN CHEKE. Salute, I pray you, masters Rodolph Gualter, and Conrad Gessner, to whom I am shortly about to write2. LETTER LXXII SIR JOHN CHEKE TO JOHN CALVIN. Dated at Strasburgh, Oct. 20, 1555. At one and the same instant I have been informed of the arrival of master de Sancto Andrea and of his departure. I am anxious, however, to address a few words to vou. As far as I can perceive, I shaU pass the winter in this place, enjoy ing in this my exUe the society of my old friends, from whose kindly intercourse I shaU not willingly withdraw myself. I rejoice that the Lord has delivered you not only from the P This catechism set forth by bishop Ponet, with the articles appended, is printed in the volume of Liturgies, &c. of Edward VI. published by the Parker Society.] [2 A note added to this letter in Bullinger's hand, states it to have been Sir John Cheke's last letter to him a little before the death of the king, and his subsequent imprisonment. He was committed to the Tower as a traitor, July the 28th, together with the duke of Suffolk. See above, p. 132. n. 2.] P The original of this letter is preserved at Geneva.] LXXII.J SIR JOHN CHEKE TO JOHN CALVIN. 143 violent iUness with which you were afflicted, but also from a calamity4 which would have been utterly fatal both to your church and state. Though these events are now of long standing, yet they are new to me, who now hear of them for the first time. I therefore heartily thank God for having afforded these extraordinary and remarkable manifestations of his providence to others, that he may call forth their faith and veneration of himself. Nothing is more effectual in bringing over the minds of our enemies to entertain correct thoughts respecting God, than when godly persons are defended by his protection against the snares and machinations of the wicked. And I pray that in this general confusion and overthrow the Lord may afford some aid and assistance to wretched England, wherein there are very many manifestations of his most heavy displeasure, and but very few of his goodness and mercy. For good men, and, what is yet more distressing, those who take the lead in learning and authority, by whose counsels and prudence many and important measures have been effected in the church, are not only brought in danger of their fives, but are actuaUy under condemnation, and are daUy expecting a death, which though desirable to themselves, wUl yet be lamentable and disastrous to the church. These ought by their example and constancy not only to give en couragement to those of the present age, but to afford an eminent example to future generations. Among whom, Cran mer, Ridley, and Latimer, the bishops of Canterbury, Londony and formerly of Worcester, having firmly and boldly perse vered in the christian doctrine they had embraced, and not aUowing themselves to be led away from it by the terror of punishment, death, and the flames, are now condemned, and degraded, as they caU it; and are either, I understand, already burned5, or are shortly to experience the power of the flames and the cruelty of their tyrants. It is most painful and distressing to us to be deprived of those, whom, if God should be pleased to effect any alteration of affairs in our wretched and now greatly ruined England, we should not be able, or at least should hardly be able, to dispense with. P This may refer to the conspiracy formed against the ministers of Geneva in 1555.] [s Ridley and Latimer were burned at the stake Oct. 16, 1555, and Cranmer on the 21st of March following.] 144 SIR JOHN CHEKE TO JOHN CALVIN. [LET. But why should I mention these things to you, who are well aware that this example of constancy and fortitude wiU tend to strengthen the universal church, scattered as it is far and wide, and that the Uving cannot be so useful by their teach ing, as the dead can by their example ? But I must confess, and, humanly speaking, I am confirmed in my opinion, that what Paul said respecting his own life, I think may be applied to them, if this divine chastisement were to have a respite and cessation in England, and to bring us away from' ungodly worship to true Christianity1. But what must we expect from God in this slaughter of godly men ? It may be that our people, like the Amorites, must fiU up the measure of their impiety, that the more heavy severity of divine justice may be exercised upon them. But whatever be the Lord's purpose, whom I ought to obey and not prescribe to, I know and believe that he wiU effect it in such a way as that all things may tend to the good of his elect, whose support and protection he undertakes. So that I feel less anxious about whatever may happen, and think it my duty so to judge of the Lord's purpose, as to consider it replete with wisdom and goodness, and that it neither can, nor ought to be, either amended or found fault with, by our opinions or powers. You see how, when I am writing to a friend, I write every thing that comes into my mind. But while you are wearied by my prolixity, pardon my freedom, who am less careful in writing to those who love me, as not fearing reproof where the offence is rather worthy of pardon than censure. May the Lord preserve you for yourself, and for me, and his church ! Salute, I pray you, master Staf ford, and his wife and family, and also his host of St Jerome's with whom he sojourns ; and your friend the mar quis, if he has yet returned to you, Normandy, masters Budaeus, Parr, and your brother. Strasburgh, Oct. 20, 1555. Your most devoted, JOHN CHEKE. P The meaning of this and some other passages in this letter is difficult to be made out, from the circumstance of some words being rendered illegible by the binding of the MS.— The allusion seems to be to Phil, i.] LXXIII.] SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. 145 LETTER LXXIII. SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, March 12, 1556. Our people frequently converse respecting the kindness not of yourself alone, but also that of men of all classes, and of your whole commonwealth, towards the English who came to reside among you by reason of the change of religion in their own country. I consider this not kindness merely, but hospitality, to be especially acceptable to God, and approved of men ; and that it wUl never perish from the memory of any of our countrymen. As to me, should I ever have it in my power to render any service to yourself, or your godly friends, or your commonwealth, I pledge myself to be so ready to perform it, as that the anxiety of a grateful mind and the desire of returning an obligation may evidently appear. I ought also upon other grounds to shew both to yourself, and to masters Bibhander and Bernardine, as much respect as is due to learned, pious, and friendly persons, who have deserved well of the church of Christ. This your hos pitality, therefore, is not only praise-worthy in itself, but is yet more so by comparison with the ill-treatment of others. For I suppose you are not ignorant, that those parties who maintain the body of Christ to be every where2 can nowise endure the members of Christ to be any where, and have harassed them with all kinds of cruelty and atrocity, in order that with the absurdity of the opinions they have imbibed they may also join a savageness of disposition, and a brutal ferocity towards the meek children of God. But if the truth of opinions is to be judged of by their fruits, and there is as wide a difference between men's sentiments as there is in the christian life, truly they ought to have been long since con vinced, and to have given up so stubborn an opinion. But of the stupidity of these parties at another time. May God en lighten their blinded mind with the fight of his Spirit, and bring them out from this thick darkness of error to a better percep tion of the truth, and a more harmonious consent of feelings. P This refers to the Ubiquitarian controversy. See Zurich Letters, first series, p. 92, n. I, and second scries, p. 245, n. 6.] r i 10 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 146 SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. I hear that Ignatius has been sent to you to be trans lated and printed, a measure which I suppose has been adopt ed for certain reasons. I had seen the book at Augsburgh, and had copied out some passages where the name of the mass was mentioned, and where he speaks of the wives of the apostles1. I request you, my Bullinger, and implore you again and again, to take care that the Greek be printed toge ther with the translation. For it is of very great importance to scholars to read the author himself in his own language, and especiaUy where grave and controverted matters are to be considered. I never read a translation without requiring the author himself as an interpreter of it. And I wish this had been done, not only in this author, but in all others, and in Procopius. It would have removed suspicion in regard to many passages, which appear to have been introduced by the translator, where the meaning of certain Hebrew and Latin words is discussed by a Greek unacquainted with those lan guages. But now translations are so obtruded upon us, to the depreciation of the authors themselves, that there must of necessity arise that inconvenience which the papists object to us in the eucharist, namely, that we use the antitypes instead of the prototypes. Wherefore, if you wiU take care that good authors, when put in print, shall either be printed with the translations, as master Gesner has properly done in Stobaeus and others; or even separately, if that should be thought more expedient, lest the translations only should be cried up, and the authors themselves perish; you wiU confer many and im portant benefits both on the present and succeeding generation. You see with what familiarity I address you : forgive me, I was only intending to salute you, and to thank you for your kindness towards our people; but when Ignatius and the other authors of whom we are deprived came into my mind, I could not but commend to you the cause of those authors, and entreat you, as it were, in their name not to suffer them to speak only through interpreters, when they might readily p The following passages, from the interpolated Epistles of Igna tius, seem to be referred to : Ovk e'|oV eori ^copir toO imo-Kcmov aire fiairrifav oiVe 7rpocrcpepeiv ouVe Bvaiav irpoo-Kop.t£eiv ovre &oxrjv emrtXeiv, where the last words in the Latin translation are, neque missas celebrare. Ad Smyrn. p. 197. Ed. Voss. Lond. 1680. cos IleVpov ko.1 Hav\ov nal rav aXkav awoo-ToXav, rav yapois rrpoo-opiXrjo-avTav. Ad Philadelph. p. 178.] LXXIII.] SIR JOHN CHEKE TO HENRY BULLINGER. 147 be seen and heard by many in their own language, and be rescued from the danger of destruction which usually attends the Greek writers. Should there be any thing in which I can be of use to you, pray command me : and I beg you to say the same from me to masters Bibliander and Bernardine. I wish an opportunity were afforded me of performing these my promises. Salute, I pray you, the good old man, master PeUican, masters Rodolph Gualter, Conrad Gesner, and espe ciaUy your wife. May the Lord preserve you ! Strasburgh. March 12, 1556. Your friend and brother in Christ, JOHN CHEKE2. LETTER LXXIV3 SIR RICHARD MORISON TO JOHN CALVIN. Dated at Strasburgh, April 17, 1555. If Cheke has sinned against your kindness, so I cannot but confess, most learned Calvin, that I have now for many months acted in the same manner. He can aggravate my fault, but can nowise acquit me, nor I him, from the charge of neg lect. Nay, there is rather reason to fear that you should withdraw the hospitahty you have so kindly afforded to the English. Is it for this that you have given up to us your house, and become a mere tenant in your own home, that in so many months from that time you should receive from me not a single atom of gratitude ? I am writing to the marquis ; and if there is nothing in that quarter to clear me in your eyes, I. know with whom I have to do, and had rather acknowledge my fault, than offer you a new injury while I in vain attempt to palliate the old one. And yet you must know that I have written to him nothing but what is true, namely, that I and mine are at this very time exposed to the greatest danger, and that there are not wanting those who wish me either to P A note in the Simler collection states this to hare been sir John Cheke's last letter before his capture, respecting which see above, p. 132, n. 2.] p The original of this letter is preserved at Geneva.] 10—2 148 SIR RICHARD M0RIS0N TO JOHN CALVIN. [LET. return home, or, like an outcast, to pass the life of an exile in a foreign country. And as I am not wanting in friends, who make other promises, so I am afraid that my bitter enemies will do more to injure me, than my lukewarm friends wUl do towards the restoration of my affairs. As to what is going on at home, since every one knows it, I suppose that you cannot be ignorant. This our friend Luke wiU easUy tell you all that I know. I must tell you in the last place, that I had rather requite your deeds by corresponding deeds on my part, than seem to wish to recompense your exceeding kindness by a verbal acknowledgement. Luke will tell you the rest. FareweU, most courteous Calvin, and forgive me, I know not whether to say my sUence, or my tedious, letter. Strasburgh, April 17, 1555. Yours heartUy, RICHARD MORISON. LETTER LXXV. SIR RICHARD MORISON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Aug. 23, 1555. I had been informed, most learned BuUinger, before the arrival of your letter, that it had been decreed, both by the authority of the chief magistrate, and the order of the senate, that no foreigners newly come should be admitted within your city : not indeed that foreigners are not most kindly received by you, and when received, treated with the greatest hospitality. But the necessity of this enactment has been solely occasioned by the influx among you at this time of Italians from Lugarno being so great, as hardly to leave room in your city for any new guest. When these things were related to me, as my friend Bernardine had not then written an answer to our friends here, the winter too threatening a true German frost, I considered it to be my next best plan, not to decline the house voluntarily offered here, and which by reason of the garden adjoining is very convenient. For it seemed to be quite time to procure wood, LXXV.] SIR RICHARD MORISON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 149 and hay, and other things necessary either for the support of a famUy, or for guarding against the cold : for among the people of Strasburgh, when the cold regulates the price of wood, scarcely an ounce is offered for sale ; and when it is sold, you would scarcely be able to procure it at the most exorbitant price. I would ask you therefore, again and again, that if I have been at all to blame in this matter, you would pardon me for having caused you to wait upon the most iUustrious chief magistrate to no purpose ; unless I knew for certain that you would easily pardon me both this and far greater faults : although what is not done at this time can easUy be arranged at the beginning of spring, should not our affairs induce us to return to England. Do you, meanwhUe, only let the chief magistrate understand, as regards myself, that I have not changed my purpose through any want of decision, but that I was of great necessity com pelled to put it off to another time. This, indeed, is some part of the inconvenience, which men who are compelled to undergo a voluntary exile are wont to suffer, that when they desire above aU things to arrange their affairs with some degree of certainty, they are seldom or never rightly able to effect this. Unforeseen events are so apt to disarrange all our purposes and designs with the greatest ease. This anti-Paul ', Paul of the apostasy, the servant of the devil, this antichrist newly created at Rome, thinks it but a very small plunder that is offered to him, that he is again permitted in England to tyrannise over our consciences, unless the revenues be restored to the monasteries, that is, the pig sties ; the patrimony, as he caUs it, of the souls which are now serving in the filth of purgatory. Our ambassadors, who went to Rome for the purpose of bringing back the wolf upon the sheep of Christ, are now with the emperor, and bring us these demands of the chief pontiff : God grant that he may urge them in every possible way ! Perhaps those who have suffered the gospel of Christ, that is, the sceptre by which Christ both governs his kingdom and extends its borders, to be taken from them by threats, will not allow P Cardinal Caraffa was elected pope, May 23, 1555, and took the name of Paul rV. He published his bull Rescissio Alienationum, in which he annulled without exception all alienations of the old eccle siastical possessions. See Ranke's Hist, of the Popes.] 150 SIR RICHARD MORISON TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. their revenues, the life and blood of mankind, to be taken away, even by force. At all events, that will come to pass which Almighty God knows to be best for his people. If Socrates was accustomed to make no definite request from the gods, shall it be a great thing for us to depend altogether upon the good pleasure of God our Father ? Since he is our Father, he cannot for ever be angry with his chUdren. Nay rather, when he has an assurance of our improvement, he will then certainly think of punishing both his enemies, and ours for his sake. Saul sought to destroy David, but did no more than attempt so great a crime. Among us, how many living members of Christ are thrown into the flames ! Saul, who was his own murderer, saw his three sons slain in one day ; and shall Winchester always live ? ShaU he five to in crease, and not to lay aside his boldness ? God liveth, and is no less a hater of wickedness now than he has ever been here tofore. But I must conclude. Farewell, excellent Bullinger, and love me. Strasburgh, Aug. 23, 1555. Yours as you so well deserve, RICHARD MORISON. LETTER LXXVF. THOMAS LEVER TO ROGER ASCHAM. Without place or date. Your friends, masters Nevinson, Alen, Butts2, the king's physician, and Redman3, have departed this life since I last wrote to you. Dr Bill4, the master of our coUege, has by his P The original of this letter is preserved at Geneva. The writer's' name is not mentioned; but it appears, from internal evidence, to have been written by Lever in 1552.] P See above, p. 37, note 6.] p Dr John Redman was originally of St John's college, but was appointed master of Trinity in 1546. An account of his opinions, confirmatdry of the statement made in this letter, is given in Strype, Cheke, 67 ; Mem. n. i. 527, &c. He died in November, 1551.] [4 A grant of the mastership of Trinity college to Wm. Bill, D.D., for life, void by the death of John Redman, was dated in November, 1551.] LXXVI.J THOMAS LEVER TO ROGER ASCHAM. 151 majesty's favour succeeded Redman in Trinity coUege, and I have succeeded Bill in St John's college5. Dr Redman died of consumption after a long illness, in constant expecta tion of death, and in continual discourse respecting God and true rehgion, as one who ardently desired to be delivered from the prison of this body, and to be with Christ. I will communicate to you, my Ascham, a part of the communication6 which John Yong (who, as you heard at Cambridge last year, was the most violent opponent of Bucer7 in the public schools) received in person from the mouth of Dr Redman immediately before his death. First, Redman was requested, as Yong himself informed me, by himself and the other learned men standing by, to deliver his opinion upon certain points of religion ; whereupon he forthwith under took to answer as in the presence of God his judge, according to his real sentiments, upon any subject that they might think proper to propose. Being asked what he thought of the see of Rome, he answered, that it was a sink of wicked ness, whence was derived the stream of filthiness which had burst forth like a torrent upon the church of God. Being asked his opinion respecting purgatory, he said that there was not any such purgatory as the one imagined by the school men ; but that when Christ shall come, surrounded by fire, aU who meet him wUl be purified, as I beheve, said he, my self, and as many of the ancient doctors are of opinion. Being questioned respecting the mass, he said, that those who regard the mass as a sacrifice for the dead, are opposed to Christ himself, and to the benefit of his death. As to the pro position concerning justification by faith only, he declared it to be a delightful doctrine, and certainly full of comfort, provided it were understood of a true and living faith; and that no works were deserving of eternal life, not even works of grace in the person justified. When he was asked his opinion re specting transubstantiation, he replied that he had for the last p Thomas Lever was appointed master of St John's, by royal mandate, in November, 1551, and ejected in 1553.] P For a full account of the communication between Dr Redman, on his death-bed, Yong, and others, together with a letter from Yong to sir John Cheke on the same subject, see Foxe, Acts and Mon. vi. 267—274.] p For an account of the controversy between Yong and Bucer, see Zurich Letters, second series, p. 18, and Strype, Mem. n. i. 327.] 152 THOMAS LEVER TO ROGER ASCHAM. [LET. twelve years directed all his studies and attention to that subject, and had remarked that the writings of TertuUian, Irenams, and Origen were openly opposed to that doctrine, and that it was neither maintained nor defivered in other ancient writers : and when he had long and vainly expected to find some certain and undoubted statement upon that sub ject in the writings of the schoolmen, he discovered in them nothing whatever sound and solid, but only deceit and gross error. With respect to the presence, he said (as Yong re lated the conversation), that Christ was reaUy and corporaUy present in the sacrament : but when he was asked whether that was the body of Christ, which we see the priest lift up, he afiirmed, that the body of Christ was now incapable of being lifted up or let down by any human hands ; and it is, he added, a very corrupt custom to carry about the sacra ment to be adored. He affirmed also that the wicked do not receive the body of Christ, but the sacrament of it. He earnestly exhorted Yong diligently to read the bible itself, and to beware of the doctrine of men. He added, moreover, that it was an excellent book1 which the most reverend arch bishop of Canterbury had lately written upon the eucharist, and he recommended Yong to read it with much attention. Yong told me himself, "As heretofore," saith he, "I myself would have encountered death with wUlingness and alacrity, in defence of transubstantiation, and that too more readily than in defence of the doctrine of the incarnation of Christ himself; so it shall be my endeavour for the future that aU my studies and opinions may rest upon a more sohd founda tion than that common agreement of individuals, which they have erroneously denominated the church." I hope, my Ascham, that not Yong only, but many per sons will be led away from the doctrine of men to the true rehgion of Christ, by means of this divine discourse of Red man just before his death. P The original edition of Cranmer's Defence of the true and catholic doctrine of the Sacrament was published in 1550; his answer to Gardiner, in 1551.] LXXVII.J THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 153 LETTER LXXVII. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Geneva, April 11, [1554]. Much health in Christ Jesus. On the first night of our journey we arrived at Lentzburg, when father Gervase, having read your letter to him, seemed to me to pour out upon us, as though we were his dearest friends, the admirable benevo lence of a pious mind. For he brought us in the evening from the pubhc inn, and took us to the delightful quiet of his own house ; and early the next morning he accompanied us for two hours on our way, and so exactly pointed out to us the description of the road, and the names of godly persons (in our route), that profiting by their advice, and by the marks previously pointed out to us, we arrived at Berne without any difficulty. We were there informed that Musculus, HaUer, and other learned men were exceedingly weU disposed, and, in consequence of your letter to HaUer, were ready to afford us any assistance: for many of them being assembled in the same house invited us to a good supper. HaUer too, in addition to supplying us liberally with a gratuitous lodging for three days, took us every day to whatever we wished to see or hear. At Lausanne also Beza2 and Viret proved both by word and deed, that we were recommended and made welcome in consequence of your letter to them. At last, however, on the seventh of April, we reached Geneva, where, in the absence of Calvin, to whom I stated that you had given me a letter, we were immediately received as guests by a pious and worthy man, who is ex pecting Calvin to return within these few days. I perceive, therefore, and acknowledge, that your fatherly care for me not only provided for myself and my companion a most dehghtful lodging in your own house, but has also procured for us in other places and with other persons favour and kindness far beyond our expectation. And for this cause, which next to God I attribute to yourself, I have long since begun to consider myself not so much a traveller exiled P Beza was appointed professor of Greek at Lausanne in 1549, and continued in that office ten years.] 154 THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. from my country, as a feUow-citizen of the saints now so journing in the household of God. I now therefore feel no anxiety respecting myself, but an almost incurable solicitude for those whom I suspect to be overwhelmed by most grievous perils at home. For a certam Englishman, passing through Berne, wrote to his countrymen at Geneva, that the Bernese government had been mformed by a letter sent to them from the court of the king of France, that the queen of England had been slain by a mob, exaspe rated by her perfidious cruelty. Another person, however, who left London on the 13th of March, has to-day informed me that no priests were executed in the rebellion raised by Wyatt, and that very few were put to death after his appre hension. He said that only the duke of Suffolk1 and his daughter lady Jane, with her husband, were beheaded, and that they all continued stedfast in the profession of the true religion. He affirmed too, that he had heard it for a certain fact, that Cranmer2, archbishop of Canterbury, Ridley, bishop of London, Latimer, a very celebrated preacher, and [sir James] Hales3, a pious lawyer, had all been removed together from London to Oxford, to be burnt at the stake, after having been condemned for heresy by the doctors of that university. From all these circumstances I can only conclude, that either, if the queen is afive, there is a most grievous persecution of the church; or if a turbulent mob have the upper hand, the kingly government in England will be irre coverably lost. But the hardness of my heart, which ever prevents my melting into tears, either of commiseration for these calamities, or of repentance for my own misdoings, is often wont to disturb my mind, to blunt my temper, and to confuse my memory. Wherefore I pray you, my father, in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to invoke with me my heavenly Father in my behalf, that regarding our miseries, the merits of Christ, and his own mercies, he may pardon me my neglect and wickedness, take away my hardness of heart, and bestow upon me the Spirit of repentance and sanctification. Give, I pray P The duke of Suffolk was executed on the 23rd of February.] P Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, were sent down to Oxford about the 10th of April] P A full account of Judge Hales is given in Foxe, Acts and Mon. vi. 710.] LXXVII.] THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 155 you, from myself and Hugo my companion, our salutations and very many thanks to your wife and aU your family. And I again request you to salute in my name the venerable old men, PeUican and Bibhander, and the other learned and pious men, Gualter, Gesner, Lewis [Lavater], Zuingler and Zuing- lius. May Christ long preserve you for the benefit of his church ! FareweU. Geneva, April 11. Your son, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXVIII. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Geneva, April 23, [1554]. Much health in Christ. As I told you before, so I now also acknowledge myself very much indebted to your fatherly foresight, through which, by means of your letter, I received from many persons to whom I was unknown the greatest kindness on my travels. No fresh tidings have reached me from England, except the contradiction of those rumours by which it was stated here for some days that the queen had been murdered. For she is stUl alive, persevering and in creasing in wickedness. I hear that some Englishmen have come to you at Zurich, together with that very godly man, Richard Chambers4 : I am sorry that they have reached you sooner than my letter could1 reach them. For Richard Chambers is the person who has actively devoted himself and aU his property to provide for the safety of the ministers during this persecution; and, though my journey ought to have diminished his labours, yet the vain expectation of a letter from me has increased both his toil and anxiety. But Christ, through whom all things work p Richard Chambers is represented by Strype as a great friend of learning and favourer of the oppressed. He allowed Jewel 61. a-year for the purchase of books in divinity. He was one of the exiles ac Frankfort, and was agent with Grindal to the Strasburgh exiles to treat about the English service-book. Strype, Mem. m. i. 225. Grindal, 14.] 15G THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. together for good to them that love God, will turn this also to the honour of God, and the comfort of those who seek the glory of Christ with aU their heart. I hope therefore that the opportunity now afforded you by God of manifesting your kindness towards true Christians, faithful ministers, and wretched exiles, will not prove unacceptable, and that the contemplation of your church worshipping God with such, holiness and purity will not be without benefit to them. Take care, I pray you, that the letter addressed to the above- named Richard Chambers, Englishman, may speedUy be de livered to him. Forget me not, I entreat you, in your prayers to God. Master Calvin, like many others, was more favour ably disposed towards me for your sake; whence you may understand that you are now much indebted to many for my sake. I will always do what alone is in my power, namely, entreat God long to preserve you for the benefit of his church. Farewell. Geneva, April 23. Your most devoted son in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXIX. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Geneva, June 28, [1554 J. Much health in Christ Jesus. The fatherly benevolence and kindness which you have manifested towards me since my arrival in these parts, as an exile from my native land. for the sake of religion, has mitigated my distress at leaving my country, and enabled me with cheerfulness to bear the cross of Christ. It has also been of great service to others of my countrymen ; and I cannot doubt of its continuance to wards us, because I seem to myself to perceive, not our merits, but your kindness, in your continual favours conferred upon us. When indeed I received a little book and letter from you not long since, in both which I may daily hear, by the perusal of them, the words and voice of my most esteemed father in Christ; I considered it as an admonition and en couragement to mc, to proceed and advance with the diligence. .LXXIX.] THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 157 of a son in the path of your paternal piety and instruction. And in truth that book seems, not only to myself, but to very many other pious and learned persons, to be worthy of being translated into many languages. Peter TonvUlanus, the bearer of this letter, has translated it into French, and left it here to be printed, as he was called from this place to advance the cause of the gospel in Poland. And since in my familiar in tercourse with him I have found him to be a learned, godly, and honourable man, I have willingly entrusted him with this letter to you, by which he hopes likewise to become better acquainted with you, and on a more intimate footing. Your kindness towards aU persons of this character will not allow him to be disappointed of his hope. Should my friend Spen ser not return, master John ab Ulmis wiU, I hope, take care that your annotations on the lesser prophets, or any other that you may have entrusted him with for me, may be copied out. For as I desire nothing more fervently than such writings of yours, I earnestly requested master John ab Ulmis, by letter, to lend me his assistance in this matter ; with which request I hope he wiU faithfully comply. We have had of late no news from England, except that persecution stUl continues, or rather increases. May God have pity upon us, and sending power from above may he put forth such labourers into his harvest, who may thrust out ¦the foxes from his vineyard, England ! Salute, I pray you, in my name, your wife and the rest of your famUy, to aU of whom I always wish the choicest blessings in Christ. May the Lord long preserve you to us and to the church of Christ ! Farewell. Geneva, June 28. Your most devoted son in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXX. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Geneva, Jan. 17, [1555]. Much health in Christ Jesus. For that true fatherly affection and, beneficence, which you have manifested both to- 158 THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. wards the other EngUshmen who are in exUe for the cause of religion, and also to myself, as though I were your own son, I cannot sufficiently return due and adequate thanks; but as far as is in our power, we wUl earnestly and prayerfully entreat God for yourself, for the church committed to your charge, for your family, and for aU your friends. May God grant that we may sometime prove by our actions, that we have learned from you to treat with affection, and courtesy, and benevolence, those who are wandering about for the cause of Christ ! Since you have conducted yourself as a father to me, re ceive, I pray you, from me as from your son an account of my manner of living and of my studies. I am residing here free and unfettered by any public employment. I attend all the sermons and lectures of Calvin, and some of those of other persons, and have hitherto employed the remainder of my time in the publication of a little book1 in our vernacular English ; it is now in the press, and, God willing, wiU shortly be sent to England. After I shall have sent, forth this book, I have determined to bestow as much time and attention as I can upon the study of the prophets. I should certainly pro ceed in that study with greater alacrity and advantage, if I were able sometimes by any means to consult you. Where fore, my reverend father, who have never refused me any thing hitherto, I pray you now to impart to my friend, master Spenser, some of your writings which may conduce to the understanding of the prophets, and which are not yet printed; so that he may get them copied out for me, in the same manner as he is now procuring me what you are writing upon the Revelation of St John. I have not at this time any thing new or important to write to you about : whatever reports there may be,, you may, if you choose, hear more easily from the relation of this messenger, than from my letter. For he is a pious and worthy man, by name Richard Harvel ; and having left England, his country, for the sake of religion and learning, he is anxious p Entitled, " The right way from danger of sin and vengeance in this wicked world unto godly wealth and salvation in Christ." Written at Geneva, and published in the time of queen Mary; afterwards reprinted in London 1571, 1575. Tanner, Bibl. p. 479; Herbert's Ames, u. 976.] LXXX.] THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 159 to see and converse with you. Such has been my intimacy with him here at Geneva, as to make me wish that this re commendation of mine may be of use to him. Salute, I pray you, your very dear wife, as my own mother, and that worthy matron who ministered to us Eng hsh, like the mother of a famUy, when we were all together under the same roof. May God long preserve you to us for the benefit of the church of Christ! FareweU. Geneva, Jan. 17. Your attached in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXXI. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Frankfort, Feb. 12, [1555]. Everlasting health in Christ Jesus ! As I always found in you, when I was at Zurich, godly counsel, learning, and example, to my exceeding comfort and advantage, so now, most revered father in Christ, I hope that I shaU obtain the benefit of your pious prayers for the edification of the church of Christ of the English at Frankfort. And as many others of my countrymen regard you as their patron, so do I acknowledge you to have been a father to myself, as I hope and desire that you wiU continue to be. And since I perceive that I am destitute of aU power and opportunity of returning my obfigations, I write this, that you may understand me to be neither unmindful nor ungrateful. There is no certain intelligence from England ; but I have heard from uncertain rumours, that the queen has never been pregnant, and that the councU, which they call the parliament, was suddenly dissolved ; and this, because the king not only rejected, but treated with contempt, three petitions preferred by the magistrates ; one of which was, that he should restore the true religion, the second, that he should make peace with France, and the third, that he should not admit into his councfis any one born out of England. I understand that more persons are seeking comfort from empty reports than 160 THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. from true repentance. Do not think it a trouble to salute my mother your wife in my name, together with the rest of your family, to all of whom I shaU ever wish every blessing. May the Lord Jesus long preserve you for the welfare of his church! Farewell. Frankfort, Feb. 12. Your most devoted son in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXXII. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Jan. 4, [1556]. Much health in Christ Jesus ! While I was so engaged at Geneva, both in my private studies, and in hearing the dis courses of the preachers in the public congregation, as that nothing at that time seemed to be more desirable both for my own individual improvement and the edifying of the church; some of my fellow-countrymen, who were banished from England on account of religion, and had settled at Wesel, sent a letter to me, wherein it was stated that by the majo rity of their votes, and the common and united consent of them all, in a free election, I had been chosen as their pastor. They therefore earnestly entreated me by letter, and im plored me in Christ, that I would neither decline the charge which God (in answer to their prayers, and overruling their votes) had imposed upon me, nor delay my journey to them, who were anxiously expecting me. For since their late pastor had already left them of his own accord, and the magistrates had forbidden them the use of the sacraments, they hoped to be enabled by my arrival both to have a minister, and re-obtain the permission of the magistrates for the free use of the sacraments, or at least that they should receive some useful and necessary counsel. Having therefore perused their letter to this effect, and with prayer to God, after consulting master Calvin and my pious and learned brother-ministers of the church of England, I am now on my road from Geneva to Wesel ; entertaining such a view ¦both of their state and condition, and of my own slender LXXXII.J THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 161 abilities, as that I am persuaded that I ought neither to un dertake the office of their minister, nor yet to refuse any diligence or labour of instructing them. For the ministerial office neither seems to myself, nor to others whom I have consulted, to be capable of being exercised either with or among those to whom the ministry of the sacraments is for bidden : and indeed I do not as yet find in myself those qualities which the word of God declares should exist in a minister. Whatever gifts of God I may discover in myself, I shaU never refuse, by God's help, to impart all of them freely and dUigently to my brethren in Christ at their request. In accordance therefore with your fatherly good- wUl towards me (which I have so often experienced from our first acquaintance unto this present moment) I entreat you, my reverend father, in the bowels of Christ, to continue always mindful of me in your prayers to God; and some times too by your letters to me to advise and instruct me, as your son, how I may better learn to serve Christ and his church with humility, alacrity, and fidelity. And as I have no means of repaying you, I wiU diligently endeavour in my daily prayers to obtain for you and yours every blessing from God. I pray you Ukewise to salute in my name masters Peter Martyr, Bernardine Ochinus, Gualter, and the other ministers of your church ; to all of whom, for your kindness to myself and to my countrymen, I acknowledge myself your debtor to the utmost extent of my power. Salute too, I pray you, from me in the Lord your wife and all your family, and lastly, that worthy matron who attended upon us English, or rather, supported us in the same house. May God long preserve you to the edifying of the church of Christ, and the overthrow of the kingdom of antichrist ! Farewell. Strasr burgh, on my journey, Jan. 4. Yours faithfully in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. r i n [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 162 THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER LXXXIII. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Berne, May 12, [1556]. Much health in Christ Jesus, with my warmest thanks for your constant fatherly kindness and good-wiU towards me. And though you have often bestowed many favours upon me, yet nothing could have ever happened to me more acceptably, or agreeably, than that by my reliance on your advice, and by making use of your letter, I have at length met with an asylum where my very dear countrymen and brethren in Christ, who are exiled from their country for their avowed and faithful profession of Christ, may by reason of the same profession be kindly and willingly re ceived. For master HaUer, upon the receipt of your letter, so advocated our cause, first, with many of the senators of Berne collectively and individuaUy, and at last in a full assembly in the senate itself, that there is now permitted us the liberty of sojourning in any part of the Bernese territory. And master HaUer requires or rather recommends us, that after we have examined a number of localities, we should return to Berne to make known to them what place within their territory will best suit us, that we may receive from the magistrates of Berne themselves especial letters of com mendation to the mayor and inhabitants of that place. With regard too to the free use of the word of God, and of the sacraments, and also with respect to the manufacture of English cloth, when the subject was mentioned, the Bernese seemed candidly to acknowledge, that this was the very art which they wished us to exercise among them, and that there would be no difficulty in our obtaining permission from them. I am expecting therefore to-day a general letter from the magis trates of that state to all who are under their authority ; on the receipt of which I have resolved to set out to-morrow on a journey to the English at Basle, that I may consult to gether with them upon the hastening all the rest who are still loitering on their road towards Basle, and upon survey ing the district around Berne, with the view of discovering and providing the most suitable place of residence. I pray LXXXIII.] THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 163 you therefore and beseech you in Christ, that, as you have hitherto done, so you wiU always continue (whenever God may give you an opportunity) to pour out abundantly upon me your paternal kindness. I should wish indeed to have placed myself with my friends under your wings, had it been possible, in the territory of Zurich. But not what I wUl, but what our heavenly Father wUleth, will be done : to him be aU honour and glory, and to us mercy and salvation in Christ Jesus ! Do not, I pray you, be displeased at my asking you to salute your wife as my own mother, and all the rest of your famUy as most dear to me in Christ in domestic love. I do not so much ask, as I wish and hope, that you will always be ready to give me advice upon such matters as you think may tend to the glory of God, and to the comfort and edifi cation of me and mine in Christ Jesus. Farewell. Berne, May 12. Let us pray for each other. Your son faithfuUy in Christ Jesus, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXXIV. THOMAS LEVER TO RODOLPH GUALTER. Dated at Basle, May 27, 1556. Jesus Christ God with us ! Much health in Christ Jesus. Your great kindness, and the very prudent advice you gave me in your house at Zurich, was an exceeding com fort to me ; and your letter to master Steiger for the magis trates and senate of Berne has been of great service to our cause. That you may not be wanting in an opportunity of persevering in your godly commiseration and dUigent atten tion to us, behold ! we are daUy coming into greater difficulties and tribulations. For we English, after our banishment from England, our removal from Wesel1, and wanderings over P At Wesel the English were under some trouble ; and the senate were about to command them to depart thence, because of their different sentiments from the Augustan confession in some points. Strype, Cranmer, 507.] 11—2 164 THOMAS LEVER TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET . almost all Germany, have suffered a repulse in Basle1, and are at length compelled to have recourse to the hospitality of the people of Berne. For the councUlors of king Ferdi nand, who are at Emsen, will not allow any Englishmen, who are exiles for the sake of religion, liberty of passage through that territory of Ferdinand which lies between Stras burgh and Basle. Whence you may easily perceive the length, fatigue, expense, difficulty and danger of our journey, and how greatly we are in need of protection, advice, libe rality and assistance. Remember us, therefore, I entreat you, in your prayers to God, and in your correspondence and conversation with such individuals as you may know to be both able and willing to aid us in the cause of Christ. Farewell. Salute, I pray you, master Parkhurst and his wife. The bearer is in haste. Again farewell. Basle, May 27. Yours faithfully in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. [i The following account of this repulse is given by John Young, in a letter to Bullinger, dated May 17, 1557. " Measures had been taken by the brethren for receiving the English exiles, before I had returned from Constance ; but they suffered a repulse from our magis trates, to the great sorrow and lamentation of the brethren, and of all godly persons. On my return, by the advice of the brethren, I again endeavoured to obtain from the senate that a residence might at least be afforded to those who were already on their journey ; for that it would be a most cruel procedure, and an offence to all christian people, to cast them out. But this appeal also was made in vain ; for they would not allow them any greater indulgence than what is granted to the veriest mob that flock into the town, namely, the liberty of using the public houses. Alas ! my brother, how blind and impious must those persons be, who so rashly, so irreligiously, to say no more, repel from themselves and their families, to the great scandal of the churches of God, so great a blessing offered them from the Lord ! Which indeed as it has now returned to the people of Berne, we congratulate both them and the exiles, as much as we justly deplore our own misfortunes. Pray God for us ; for unless he support us in our distresses, I perceive that entire destruction will ensue."] LXXXV.] THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. 165 LETTER LXXXV. THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Arau, Sept. 18, [1556]. Jesus Christ God with us! Much health in Christ Jesus. I have lately received two letters from your reve rence, and your truly useful and delightful book for the use of the Enghsh church in this place. We plainly perceive therein your true fatherly affection towards us, and must candidly acknowledge, that whUe we promise you as much as wUl ever be in our power, we are utterly unable adequately to return our thanks. And as it is a father's nature to re joice when he beholds his chUdren profiting by his instruction and kindness, and eagerly and successfully making progress towards piety and happiness ; so shaU it be our earnest endea vour both to derive this advantage from your writings, and to afford you the happiness of observing our improvement. And now to discourse with you somewhat familiarly respect ing myself, I would have you assured that your advice with respect to not contending about things indifferent was exceed ingly gratifying to me. For I had previously come to the same determination myself, and, being now supported by your authority, shall persevere with much greater firmness and alacrity in taking care to avoid offences and useless contro versies ; so that every thing may be more easily and effectu ally accommodated to the peace, and concord, and edification of the church. For when I sent my friend master Richard Burcher to Berne, to consult master John HaUer with respect to the use of ceremonies here in our church, I pointed out the reasons which induced me to wish that leavened bread might be used in the administration of the Lord's supper ; but in the mean time I was unwfiling either to prefer any petition to the government, or to act in aU respects as I was empowered to do, but only in reference to such things as seemed in his judgment both lawful and expedient. And indeed he wrote back the very same advice that I received from you in your letter ; so that I shaU readUy follow your suggestion not on this subject only, but also upon any thing 166 THOMAS LEVER TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. else which with your wonted piety and discretion you may recommend or advise to be done or to be abstained from : and I pray you to write me word at the very first moment you have to spare, what you think I ought to do. If a man wishes to marry the sister of his deceased wife, or if he has already done so, ought he to retain her or send her away ? I request also that you wUl peruse this little book upon the church discipline of the English at Geneva, and let me know your candid opinion of it. You see how boldly, relying upon your clemency and kindness, I address your reverence, whom I know to be always engaged in numerous and important affairs. You must therefore defer compliance with my re quest until a suitable opportunity of leisure shall occur. AU the Enghsh who are here most cordially salute your reverence in Christ, and we aU of us beg to offer our best acknowledg ments for your letter and the book. Salute, I pray you, in my name, the ministers of your church and all your famUy, for aU of whom I shall always remember to pray to God, and for you especiaUy, that you may enjoy long life, and ability to adorn the church of Christ, to the confusion of antichrist, and to our comfort. FareweU. Arau, Sept. 18. Your most devoted in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. LETTER LXXXVI. THOMAS LEVER TO RODOLPH GUALTER Dated at Arau, Aug. 11, 1557. Jesus Christ God with us! Much health in Christ Jesus. After a long and wearisome tossing about1 I at L1 On the English congregation leaving Wesel, they passed by Frankfort, and "perceiving the contention to be among them so boiling hot, that it ran over on both sides, and yet no fire quenched, many had small pleasure to tarry there, but went to Basle and other places; while M. Lever made suit to the lords of Berne for a church within their dominions', whose letters he obtained with great favour to LXXXVI.] THOMAS LEVER TO RODOLPH GUALTER. 167 length seem to myself to have arrived with some of my friends at Arau, as at a harbour of refuge. For we have explored the whole Bernese territory, both in Germany and Savoy, and found in each country one place especially, namely, Arau in Germany, or rather in Switzerland, and Vevay in Savoy, that was both able and willing to afford a comfortable home to the Enghsh exiles for the sake of religion. And in these two towns we found the inhabitants favourable to us beyond all expectation. But the people of Arau2, by reason of their confined situation, are unable at present to supply and accommodate us with more than seven houses. And the people of Vevay, though in a short time they will be able and wifiing to receive the whole twenty-five families, are yet a great way off, and difficult of access. Wherefore we have judged it far better and more practicable, that some few per sons here in this neighbourhood, commencing with a small number, should graduaUy advance from smaU beginnings, and daUy increase by fresh additions, than that all of them should all their subjects for the friendly entertainment of the British nation. These letters obtained, M. Lever, M. Boyes, M. Wilford, M. Pownall, and T. Upcher, came to Geneva to have the advice of that church, what was best to be done touching the erection of a new church. They of Geneva gave God thanks for that it had pleased him so to incline the hearts of the lords of Berne towards them, and gave encourage ment that they should not let slip so good an occasion. Passing through many parts of the lords of Berne's dominions in Savoy and Switzerland, they found such favour in all places where they came, as verily may be to the great condemnation of all such Englishmen as use the godly stranger so uncourteously. M. Lever and the company at length chose Arau for their resting-place, where the congregation lived together in godly quietness among themselves, with great favour of the people among whom for a time they were planted." Brief discourse of the troubles begun at Frankfort, p. 185. reprint, 1845.] [2 A letter from Young to Bullinger, dated Basle, Aug. 5, 1557, states that " a large portion of the English are remaining here. The rest will go to Arau, unless more eligible terms are offered them at Vevay. I went up to Arau with them last week, and easily obtained leave of residence for them among the citizens themselves, but we could not meet with suitable houses and apartments for more than seven families. The church of St Ursula is appropriated to them, and licence to engage in the manufacture of wool, in spite of the oppo sition of some of the more wealthy of the inhabitants. God be praised !"] 168 THOMAS LEVER TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. contend at once with great expense, and labour, and peril, for the attainment of their object. As many persons therefore as the seven houses which Arau supplies us with can contain, are now established there with their wives and children. The remainder, wishing rather to join us here than to remove as far as Vevay, are lingering in other places, hoping and desiring an opportunity of coming hither. And thus we English, driven from our country by popery, and from Wesel by Lutheranism, are now, most of us, by our mutual wishes, counsels, and assistance, tending to one spot, where it is still permitted us freely, sincerely, and openly to acknowledge and worship Christ. And we shall all at length come together to such a place, if God see fit : if otherwise, his will, and not ours, be done ! But certainly, whatever may happen to us in future, we shall all acknowledge ourselves exceedingly indebted to master BuUinger and yourself, by means of whose advice and commendatory letters I found and obtained for our countrymen from the people of Berne far more and better accommodation than I could have previously believed. Wherefore I entreat you both to continue to assist me by your letters, counsels, and admonitions, that I may retain and improve the favour, kindness, and all other comforts necessary for the gathering together, and consolation, and edifying of those, who, having quitted their country for the cause of Christ, are stiU looking out for a place where they may best be able to worship God in sincerity, and by mutual kind offices to supply each other with the necessary means of sub sistence. Salute, I pray you, in my name, with many thanks, masters Henry Bullinger, P. Martyr, B. Ochinus, and the other godly men ; also master Parkhurst and his wife. Fare well. Yours faithfully in Christ, THOMAS LEVER. LXXXVII.] T. LEVER AND OTHERS TO HENRY BULLINGER. 169 LETTER LXXXVII. THOMAS LEVER AND OTHERS TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Arau, Oct. 5, 1557. Grace and peace in Christ Jesus. While others are wont to dedicate their writings to princes and great men, with the view either to popularity or reward, you alone, most illustrious sir, have made choice of us poor exiles to whom to address your midnight studies and lucubrations, to commend us in your discourses, and to render our condition (miserable as regards this world, but glorious if we regard him to whom we have consecrated ourselves, namely, Christ crucified,) memo rable to all posterity. Your motives for having thus acted we can admire as weU as account for. For we are almost all of us unknown to you, and have no means of returning the obligation. But herein appears your zeal for the Lord's household, in that you not only dfiigently feed the flock over which the Lord has placed you, and instruct all other churches by your learned commentaries; but also this our exile, in which we are deserted by our friends, laughed to scorn by many, spurned by others, assailed by reproaches and revilings by the most, you aUeviate by your learned discourses, that we may not sink under the pressure of these evils ; and, like a good shepherd, you tend, strengthen, and cheer us all in our dispersion. We accept therefore your princely gift, and em brace it with the feeling we ought ; and in return send you what alone we can do, namely, our thanks, our affectionate regard, and a frequent mention of you our master in our prayers. For your divine and honour-giving present, which no time shall ever bury in oblivion, receive this perishable paper filled with lasting thanks ; and as often as we shall take your book into our hands, so often shall we seem to ourselves to hear you preaching, or rather the Lord himself revealing his mysteries to us by your ministry. FareweU, very dear father and much esteemed master in Christ, and always regard us poor exiles with the love you are wont to do : for by your kindness is it that we this day experience, (nor are we alone in this feeling,) how true that 170 T. LEVER AND OTHERS TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. is, which so many histories bear witness to, that the Swiss have been at all times remarkable for hospitality. Continue therefore to edify the church of the Lord by your unwearied labours and studies, to commend us to your countrymen, and to let pass no opportunity of befriending the distressed. May the Lord Jesus long preserve you for the good of his church! Amen. Arau. Oct. 5, 1557. The exiled congregation of the English at Arau, most devoted to you in the Lord, has commissioned the foUowing persons to subscribe their names in the name of aU the rest: THOMAS LEVER, RICHARD LANGHERN1, ROBERT POWJSTALL, WALTER KELLY, JOHN PRETIE, THOMAS TURPIN, THOMAS ATTYN2. LETTER LXXXVI1I. THOMAS SAMPSON TO JOHN CALVIN. Dated at Strasburgh, Feb. 23, 1555. I do not cease from doing here, as I did at Lausanne, that is, I am expecting a reply from your kindness. And indeed I am more anxiously expecting it, in proportion as I perceive the flame is lighted up with increased vehemence amongst us English. For a strong controversy has arisen, while some desire the book of reformation of the church of England to be set aside altogether, others only deem some things in it objectionable, such as kneeling at the Lord's supper, the linen surplice, and other matters of this kind; but the rest of it, namely, the prayers, scripture les sons, and the form of the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper they wish to be retained. Some contend for \} Richard Langhern, Robert Pownall, Walter Kelly, and Thomas Turpin, afterwards received ordination from bishop Grindal, in 1560.] [2 Probably an error for AVyn, but it is thus in the MS.] LXXXVIII.] THOMAS SAMPSON TO JOHN CALVIN. 171 retaining the form, both because the archbishop of Canter bury defends the doctrine as sound, and also because the op posite party can assign no just reason why the form should be changed. They exclaim on the other hand, that the sole object of these persons is the establishment of ceremonies. You see, most exceUent Calvin, how Satan is permitted both at home and abroad to rage against the English. May God have compassion upon us ! and I entreat you by Christ our com mon Saviour, to give your best consideration to these dis turbances of ours, and shew me how we may best remedy this present evU. I weU know how much weight the autho rity of your letters wiU have with both parties in the settle ment of this dispute. I have few things, and those far from pleasant, to tell you about the affairs of England. On the dissolution3 of parliament the bishop of Winchester summoned before him aU those who were in prison in London for the word of the Lord, in number eighty*, and he urged them by promises, rewards, and threatenings, to sign their recantation. All persevered most stedfastly, these two only excepted, Barlow5, formerly bishop of Bath and WeUs, and Cardmaker6, arch deacon, I believe, of the same church: for these submitted to him. Five of them, after a few days, were again brought to trial, condemned as heretics, and, as we say, delivered up to the secular authority to be burned. Whether the execution has taken place, I know not; but all the English are of opinion that they will most assuredly suffer. Their names are Hooper, Rogers, Taylor, Bradford, Saunders ; aU of them formerly celebrated as ministers of the word. The three bishops are stiU alive, and it is thought that a conference will be held between them and Pole. Philip has not got possession of the crown. The bishops are authorised to seize at pleasure upon all suspected of heresy. You see, excellent sir, the [3 This parliament was dissolved on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 1555. See Foxe, Acts and'Mon. vi. 584, last edition.] [4 The preachers were summoned to the bishop's house at St Mary Overy's, on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Foxe, vi. 587.] [5 Bishop Barlow got free, and escaped into Germany, where he " did by exile constantly bear witness to the truth of Christ's gospel." Strype, Mem. in. i. 431. Foxe, vn. 78.] [6 John Cardmaker, prebendary of Wells, was burned in Smithfield, May 30, 1555. See Foxe and Strype as above, and Soames, iv. 416.] 172 THOMAS SAMPSON TO JOHN CALVIN. [LET. state of England ; I commend it to your prayers and those of your church. Farewell, and write to me in return. In haste. Strasburgh, Feb. 23, 1555. Yours, THOMAS SAMPSON. LETTER LXXXIX. THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Aug. 6, 1555. Greeting. There are two motives which now induce me to write ; one, that I may not be so neglectful of my duty, as, after having received from you so many friendly saluta tions in the letters of others, not to salute you, most learned sir, in return. I both express and desire for you, and that from my heart, eternal blessings. The other reason is, be cause I wished to make use of your name, under which I might transmit to master Chambers these letters and the parcel which I send along with them. If I have taken too great a liberty in this respect, your courtesy towards the English has given me this licence. But I know that you will undertake this trouble with the same kindness that you are always wont to exhibit towards the English who are in exile for Christ's sake. Merciful indeed and faithful is our God, who, though we have left our natural parents, does not withdraw from us parental kindness. I wish I could sometimes seriously bear this in mind, and both shew myself not wholly ungrateful to God, and in some measure also grateful to yourself and those patrons ivho are like-minded with you. And because, as I hope, my brethren at Zurich far excel me in this respect, so I am bold more freely to interest you in their affairs than in any private business of my own. Fare well. Master Martyr, who is in good health, salutes you. You will hear the English news, which is but little, from master Chambers. Once more farewell, my father and most revered master. Strasburgh, Aug. 6, 1555. Yours, THOMAS SAMPSON1. XC.] THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 17o LETTER XC. THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Aprils, 1556. I have received your letter, most reverend sir, in which you state that you have received a packet of letters from me. I am glad that those letters were so faithfully delivered. The kind messages which you sent to the English, I dis tributed, and especially to our bishop. [Sir Richard] Morison was already dead. Sir J. Cheke has left this place. I have thus acquainted you with these things as my duty required. Dr Cranmer was burned at Oxford on the 21st of March. A certain absurd recantation1, forged by the papists, began to be spread abroad during his life-time, as if he had made that recantation : but the authors of it themselves recalled it whUe he was yet living, and he firmly and vehemently P See Soames's Hist. Reform, iv. 515, for a full account of the recantations attributed to Cranmer; also Todd, Life of Cranmer, n. 476. Sampson seems to refer to the fifth of the papers afterwards published by Bonner as a part of "All the submyssions and recanta tions of Thomas Cranmer, &c.,'' printed by Cawood, 1556. Dr Todd says : " To these artifices Cranmer yielded, and to the words on the 'little leaf of paper,' which they brought, subscribed, as it should seem, in their presence. 'This recantation,' says Foxe, 'was not so soon conceived, but the doctors and prelates without delay caused the same to be imprinted and set abroad in all men's hands. Whereunto, for better credit, first was added the name of Thomas Cranmer with a solemn subscription; then followed the witnesses, Henry Sydall and John de Villa Garcina.' The privy council were displeased at the hasty publication of this paper, and the two printers of it were com manded to deliver all the copies to be burned." See also Foxe, vm. 82, and Burnet, m. 375. Soames, p. 525, notices and answers Dr Lingard's theory, that the paper thus printed alone, by Rydall and Copeland, was destroyed as an infringement on Cawood's copy right, and thinks it was suppressed lest it should be disavowed by the prisoner or his friends. It is to be noticed also, that the continuator of Fabian's Chronicles, speaking of the burning of the archbishop in 1556, says, "after he had recanted his supposed recantation.'' The original words of Sampson in the letter here translated are, " Recanta- tio qusedam absurda et a papistis conficta csepit eo vivente spargi, quasi ille earn palinodiam cecinisset ; sed auctores ipsi earn, eo vivo, revocarunt, et ille fortiter reclamabat vivens pernegabatque." They are worthy of notice in connexion with the circumstances already recited. The whole of the " submyssions and recantations," as printed by Cawood in a pamphlet of six leaves (see Herbert's Ames, u. 794), are reprinted by Dr Jenkyns in his Remains of Cranmer, iv. App. p. 393.] 174 THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. denied it. The enemies of God are plotting dreadful and most cruel schemes against England. May Almighty God turn away his anger from us ! Mary declares that her husband Philip shall be crowned in spite of every one. She is so bold as to say this, even contrary to the advice of her council. She is making great preparations both of money and arms. You see whither these things tend ; en treat therefore the Lord for us. As to what I had written in my last letter respecting the "Antichrist" of master Gualter, the matter now stands thus: while I was preparing to translate it into our language, I was informed that some other Englishman had not only undertaken the same task, but had also completed it. I think therefore that it is now either in the press, or already printed. Satan is here trying in many ways to disturb the peace of the churches ; nor does he stir up only the turbulent Westphalians and those who are like them, but he is scattering bis seed also among us exiles. The French church at Frankfort is now suffering under this disease : for there is a great contention between the pastor and some of his flock, if indeed they are true sheep. Do you, excellent father, since these devices of Satan cannot escape your notice, oppose your prayers against his subtle attacks. I wish we did this with the earnestness that the occasion demands. I ask but one thing more. When I was at Zurich, it was permitted me (such was your singular kindness towards me) to hear and learn from you by conversation and conference those thing's in which I had need of advice and instruction. You will do me the greatest kindness if you wiU aUow me, since I am now absent, to experience the same favour by correspondence. I promise you that I will not be too trouble some, neither will I expect from you such speedy replies, as not to be wiUing always to wait patiently for the immense pressure of your engagements. I dare not however make the experiment before I have obtained your consent, lest I should be a hindrance to one who is so diligently labouring in the Lord's vineyard. May the Lord, whose servant you are, and in whose affairs you are engaged, preserve you long in life and health to his church! In haste. Strasburgh, April 6, 1556. Yours, THOMAS SAMPSON. XCI.] THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 175 LETTER XCI. THOMAS SAMPSON TO* HENRY BULLINGER. Without place or date '. Greeting. Although, most learned sir, you have no time to waste upon reading my trifles, yet since the letters which I have received from our brethren at Frankfort must be wrapped in paper, I should wish even the blank paper to salute you for me, as my duty requires. Your sermon has long been circulated in English, and, as I am informed, is by no means unacceptable to the English. The afflicted flock of Christ is still suffering the misery of persecution ; for on the 27th of January there were seven3 burned at London, and on the same day five3 at Canterbury. This is the power of darkness. Heath, archbishop of York, obtains the office of chanceUor4 ; White of Lincoln is now made bishop of Win chester5 : our languishing Penelope6 is waiting the return of her Ulysses, who is celebrating bacchanahan orgies at Antwerp on account of his happy attainment of the dukedom. Uncer tain tidings are reported about a truce between Philip and the king of France ; but most disgusting accounts are given of their dancing, nightly buffooneries, and ravishing of virgins, to which things he has now entirely given himself up at Antwerp. God wUl at length appear as an avenging judge : to him do you stretch forth your suppliant hands, even to weariness, as Moses did, on behalf of England. t1 This letter seems, from internal evidence, to have been written from Strasburgh, and probably in June or July, 1556.] [2 These were, Thomas Whittle, priest ; Bartlett Green, gentleman; John Tudson, artificer ; John Went, artificer ; Thomas Brown ; Isabel FoBter, wife; Joan Warne, alias Lashford, maid; in 1556. See Foxe, Acts and Mon. vn. 715, &c, and Strype, Mem. m. i. 470.] [3 These were, John Lomas, Ann Albright, Joan Catmer, Agnes Snoth, and Joan Sole. See Foxe, vn. 750, &c. who says the martyr dom took place Jan. 31st.] [4 He was appointed Jan. 1. 1556. Strype, Mem. in. i. 469.] [5 This appointment took place, April 15. Strype, Mem. m. i. 487.] [6 One Mr Kemp came from king Philip about the 19th or 20th of June, with the news that he had deferred his coming for two months longer ; whereat the queen was much cast down, and for several days after Kemp's coming she was not in case to hear any suitors. See Strype, Mem. in. i. 495.] 176 THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. Farewell, most excellent father. Salute, I pray you, that excellent man, and great patron of the English, master Gualter. May Almighty God requite you all ! I am now employed upon his " Antichrist," that the English may see an epitome of that book saluting the pope in English. Again, farewell ; live most happily in Christ. Yours, THOMAS SAMPSON. Should master Gualter have any thing else, which, inserted in [my translation of] his work on antichrist, may be a means of improving it, he will do a service most acceptable to myself and profitable to the church, if he will please to send it me, If not, I shall publish his Antichrist, by God's blessing, just as it is, only a little abridged. Now, for the third time, farewell. In haste. LETTER XCII. THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Lausanne, Aug. 12, 1556. Greeting. The letter, most excellent Bullinger, that you gave me to be delivered to master HaUer, has been of considerable service to me. For when I came to Berne, and found none of my friends there, he arranged matters for me most admirably, not only by entertaining me with the greatest hospitality as his guest, but most diligently procuring me a fellow-traveller to accompany me to Lausanne. And all this he has done, because you had made mention of me in your letter to him. I have therefore to express my thanks to you for having so kindly designed to commend me to so kind a friend ; and I entreat you to convey to him my thanks for the courtesy he manifested towards me. I acknowledge myself indeed most exceedingly obliged to you both. May our great and good God long preserve you as an useful minister of his church ! Salute, I pray you, in my name, my most obliging host, master John James Wickius. Farewell. In haste, Lausanne, Aug. 12, 1556. Yours in Christ, THOMAS SAMPSON. XCIII.] THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 177 LETTER XCIII. THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Lausanne, Sept. 13, 1556. I wrote to you, my excellent Bullinger, as soon as I had arrived at Lausanne, but am in doubt whether you ever re ceived my letter ; so that I think it well now to repeat what I had also written before, namely, that I am by no means unmindful of my duty towards you, and that I both know and acknowledge myself to be on many accounts much in debted to you. This acknowledgment is due both to your kindness, and to that of HaUer, afforded me for your sake. Enrol me therefore, most reverend father, among the number of your friends. Oh ! how much am I indebted to Almighty God, who has so provided for me the privilege of possessing such patrons, whUe my beloved England is in such miserable bondage. I have received from doctor P. Martyr the follow ing account of her servitude, — that PhUip is now arrived in London, where he was received with the general applause of the people. Thomas a Becket is publicly set up as a saint1. Inquiry is made after aU those who refuse to go to mass. Some Friars minor have arrived, and are residing at Winches ter. So far concerning pubhc calamities. Respecting those of individuals, he adds, that judge Hales threw himself into the river2, and so was miserably drowned: such is the punishment of his apostasy. But to return to England : you see how she is compeUed to be in bondage to the Spaniards, the worst of all nations, pretended saints, most degraded children of anti christ, and of the worst kind of idolatry. But it is not only this bondage that is to be lamented, and to which we are involuntarily subject; but that also by which we are willing slaves to our impenitence. This slavery it is that so miserably oppresses us ; this it is that keeps us in bondage within the stone waUs of our hearts, and compels us to be in slave-like [x The image of Thomas a Becket was setup in stone in 1555 over the gate of Mercer's chapel. Strype, Mem. in. i. 333.] [2 See Strype, who says "it was a shallow pond, near his own house, which is shewn to this day." Mem. in. i. 276. A long account of judge Hales is also given in Foxe, Acts and Mon. VI. 710, &c] r i 12 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 178 THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. subjection to most filthy swine ; yea, it almost turns us into swine and dogs ourselves, and yet there is in us no desire of returning to our Father : and albeit this is the only way for our recovery, to obtain from our offended Father reconciliation for Christ's sake, with tears; this only way we disregard, although we are desirous of being thought over careful in every thing else. Hence proceeds apostasy, hence despond ency, or desperate recklessness in impiety. I am complaining to you of these things, my excellent friend, that you may the more earnestly entreat God on our behalf, in proportion to our own neglect ; and also, that I may be aUowed more freely to beseech you, if you have leisure, to give some exhortation and advice to the English, (among whom your influence is very great,) by which they may be instructed how best to conduct themselves at this critical period. If you wUl do this in Latin, there wiU be those who wiU translate your discourse into English. Master Bucer, of pious memory, published a congratulatory epistle1 to the English, when England first received the gospel : and let BuUinger publish something now, by which the godly may be comforted, and the wicked admonished. Should I seem too urgent in this request, I am ready to bear the charge of importunity, provided only you wUl confer this benefit upon our churchy I call it a benefit, because I am most fully persuaded that very many of our people will hence be led to a solid re pentance. And as soon as the Lord shaU have found this to be the case among us, he wiU then shew himself a compas sionate Father, and wUl freely restore to us both the gospel and our country likewise ; and how great a blessing tins will be, any godly person may easily determine. Come then, my excellent Bullinger, if your other engagements, so useful to the church, wUl allow you leisure, come, and direct your attention to what you consider will most profit our afflicted church. May our eternal God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, evermore guide you by his Spirit into all truth ! Your most devoted, THOMAS SAMPSON. I1 This was published in 1548, and entitled, Gratulatio Buceri ad ecclesiam Anglicanam de religionis Christi restitutione. Strype, Mem. n. i. 229.] XCIII.] THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 179 Salute, I pray you, in my name, master Gualter, to whom also I commend the care of our church. I know indeed that he has an exceeding regard for her: may he always retain this, and earnestly entreat God on her behalf; and may he also stretch out his hand to her in her state of languishing ! Salute also master Wickius my host, and our English friends. Give this letter, I pray you, to one of your boys, to take to my brother. May the Lord Jesus bless you and aU yours ! If you wiU do me the favour to reply, master Beza can always forward me your letters. Lausanne, Sept. 13, 1556. LETTER XCIV. THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Lausanne, Oct. 13, 1556. Greeting. Such is your favourable inclination towards England, most learned BuUinger, that I can easily persuade myself that your kindness will pay the same attention to what I requested of you in my intercessory letter, as if I had addressed you more fuUy and frequently upon the same subject. I therefore commend to you my petition for my country England, the state of which is deserving of commise ration in proportion to its wretchedness. Our affairs are indeed getting worse every day. For I have just heard from England, that the earl of Sussex2 has been sent with some troops into Norfolk and Suffolk, to compel the gospeUers to attend mass. What tyranny is this ! Do you not think that the truly pious now stand in need of comfort, and the weak of exhortation? Come then, if you have leisure, most ex cellent father, and address our friends by your letters. Philip has demanded of the councU to be inaugurated, that is, as we [2 Henry Ratcliffe, earl of Sussex, was appointed by queen Mary commander-in-chief of the temporary army raised in the beginning of her reign, and justice of the forests south of Trent. She also entrusted him with the direction of the numerous spies and informers, who were distributed in his counties for the purpose of detecting the protestants. See Lodge's Illustrations, &c. I. 263.] 12—2 180 THOMAS SAMFSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. commonly say, to be crowned king of England ; he has also required ten thousand English troops to be sent to serve under the emperor in the French war. Both requests, however, were denied him. From hence most deadly evils will arise to England, unless Almighty God of his great mercy shall avert them; which that he may do, do you earnestly implore him for Christ's sake, and make some mention of me, if only at the end of your prayer. Yours, THOMAS SAMPSON. Lausanne, Oct. 13, 1556. LETTER XCV. THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, April 23, 1557. I have received your letter, my learned friend, together with the sermon concerning the confession and denial of Christ our Lord. But, as I was about the next day to go to Frank fort, I was neither able to answer your letter, nor to satisfy myself even up to this present time with respect to the object I had in view. Having now returned, and obtained some leisure, I have no other answer to make, save to express my thanks for your kindness, and this not in my own name only, but in that of England. For you have not only performed a most agreeable service to myself, but a most useful one to England, unless we stand in the way of our own advantage. I have already determined with myself to translate that sermon of yours into our vulgar tongue as soon as possible, and thus present it to the perusal of Englishmen. That I did not undertake to have it printed in Latin, is owing partly to the terms of my request, in which I only pleaded for the English ; and partly because I was unacquainted with your wishes on the subject. I leave the Latin therefore to your discretion ; respecting which, however, if I may be allowed to give an opinion, I should say that it is very necessary in this declining age. However, I will execute as faithfully as I can what I have willingly taken upon myself. England owes you XCV.] THOMAS SAMPSON TO HENRY BULLINGER. 181 thanks, and, I hope, wUl pay them. May God of his mercy long preserve you in life and health to his church ! Believe me exceedingly attached to you ; for I am yours, THOMAS SAMPSON. We all commend to your kindness our brethren, who will give you every information respecting our affairs. Strasburgh, Apr. 23, 1557. LETTER XCVI. THOMAS SAMPSON TO PETER MARTYR. Dated at Frankfort, April 8, 1558. Much greeting. Though I have had no letter from you since my reply respecting the Hebrew books, and though no thing has arisen since that time about which it was necessary to write to you ; yet I have now thought it proper to address you, lest I should seem to be wanting in my duty. For the friendship of such a man must not be buried in silence ; and I feel it to be for my advantage to retain your friendship for me by aU possible means. I am writing therefore, in fact, from self-love; for my little writing-desk, so empty of all erudition and knowledge, desires to be replenished with the crumbs which faU from your table : on which account I have, God wUling, decidedly resolved upon visiting you towards the end of May, and will then have some conversation with you respecting my intentions. Meanwhile I must request (I dare not say, Peter Martyr to receive me into his house : this is denied me ; yet I should be very glad if that sentence could any wise be recalled ; but if not, I must request) Julius to look out a lodging for me. I wish to have a bed-chamber to myself. I do not intend staying there beyond three months at farthest. Should Julius find any difficulty in meeting with such a lodging, let him call upon master White in my name, who was my landlord when I was there last ; and if he can procure a separate bed-chamber at his house, I will willingly /engage it, if I can obtain one no where else. I requested also our friend Jewel to receive a parcel from the bearer of this 182 THOMAS SAMPSON TO PETER MARTYR. [LET. letter, and take charge of it till I come. You see what trouble I am giving both to you and yours by my proposed visit ; but you always pardon my importunity, and therefore I treat you with greater freedom. I wUl only add, that, should it be convenient, I shall be glad to hear respecting the receipt of the parcel, and also what is done about the lodging ; and this before the middle of May, namely, before I leave Strasburgh. I have requested Julius to write ; do you also charge him to do so. We have no news from England, except that the queen is wholly occupied in raising money and troops, it may be, possibly, to make war against herself. However this be, a war is threatened. You have, I suppose, heard of the ex tinction of the most splendid of all the masses throughout Europe. I was present at its funeral, and saw the emperor crowned1 without the mass. I have here met with Beza, who obtained from the princes, while they were here, a letter to the French king for the liberation of the prisoners of Christ. What has been done by us besides, I wiU tell you when we meet. Salute your friend Julius, and all your friends in my name. In haste. Frankfort, Apr. 8, 1558. Yours, THOMAS SAMPSON. Peter Perne has my things, and will send them to you; I will pay the carriage when I come. LETTER XCVII. THOMAS SAMPSON TO PETER MARTYR. Dated at Strasburgh, July 10, 1558. By the blessing of God I have returned in safety to Strasburgh, and find all my friends well ; and I am glad to hear that you are well also. I venerate and embrace that holy and inviolable friendship, which you promise me in the [! The college of electors assembled at Frankfort, Feb. 24, 1558, and declared Ferdinand of Austria the lawful successor to Charles V. See Robertson, iv. 267.] XCVII.J THOMAS SAMPSON TO PETER MARTYR. 183 cause of Christ. Besides, I regard with the greatest delight this most useful kind of study, though I am now, through the fault of certain individuals, compelled to put off till another time that which, for the sake of my studies, I had intended to accomplish immediately after the fair : and that is my journey to you ; at the thought of which, as I often turned it over in my mind, and rejoiced exceedingly, so I am now obliged, not without much regret, both to witness and to desire its postponement. I shall come however, I hope, shortly : in the mean time, I entreat you for Christ's sake, let there exist between us that inviolable friendship which you promise ; let there always be in you the same mind, the same desire of assisting me in my little studies, and, aided by the divine blessing, I wUl not neglect the opportunity afforded me. But I wUl give you notice of my coming. Your promise about the Hebrew books is most gratifying ; and I beg that you wUl act altogether in this matter just as if it were your own con cern, and you shall neither find me dissatisfied nor ungrateful. When you have agreed with Perne or others, whom you may think qualified for this business, about the means of obtaining the books, and wiU let me know, I wUl send you the money, together with a list of the books that I wish to purchase. I only add, what you do, do quickly. Master Heton and his wife salute you. He hopes to visit you at Zurich before the end of September. Master Chambers salutes you. All our friends are weU. My wife and our Joanna salute you. The people of Frankfort (I mean the English there) are in a per petual motion, more perverse than useful. Philip is still in England. Almost aU are making preparation for a war with England. But your countrymen on their return from the fair will be fuU of news ; so I wiU make an end of writing. Fare weU, and live most happy in Christ. Affectionately salute for me master BuUinger. Strasburgh, July 10, 1558. Your most devoted, THOMAS SAMPSON. 184 CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. LETTER XCVIII. CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER Dated at London, March 4, [1550.] Although I promised, most learned Gualter, to write to you from Antwerp, and tell you all the occurrences of so long a journey ; yet, to teU the truth, I was so fatigued with riding, that scarce any part of my body, much less my hand, could perform its office. But now, lest I should seem alto gether forgetful of our friendship and mutual promise of cor respondence, I write at length, not, as I had intended, from Antwerp, but from London, where I arrived from Calais with greater difficulty and danger than I had met with through the whole of my previous journey. For thus far I had brought all my property in safety, with the exception of a dog, which in the open plain of Brabant, on this side Bruges, refused to follow me any farther : but on our passage over we fell in with a French pirate, (for the truce of fifteen days was on land only, and did not extend to the sea,) by whom our vessel was very near being captured. And had not the tide, as God so willed it, failed the privateer which was in pursuit of us, we should without doubt every one of us have been taken prisoners. But the matter did not end thus. For after we had waited on the shore seven hours in expectation of the flow of the tide, we did not get off without the greatest danger, and some damage to our property. We were compelled, unless we pre ferred learning French, to run our vessel on shore, sailing and rowing as expeditiously as we could ; in which flight the sailors, as usual in the greatest extremity, that they might more quickly reach the shore, threw overboard whatever first came to hand, without any regard to its value. Among these was my trunk, in which, as you know, were contained my books, and the letters of my exceUent friends. I care very little about the destruction of my own property ; but the loss of the letters of those worthy men, to whose kindness I am so deeply indebted, grieves me most exceedingly. But I hope, when they know of my escape, (such is their friendliness and good-will towards me,) that they will not so much regret the XCVIII.] CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. 185 loss of their letters, and feel angry with me, as praise the Lord with me, who has delivered me from such great and imminent danger. Thus much then of myself ; I now come to other matters. Throughout my whole journey I could have no suspicion what ever of the emperor being at war, as aU things were as quiet as possible ; but when I reached home, I heard that a large fleet was in preparation by him, though what he is intending, or in what direction, I have no certain information. This only I know, and I am very glad of it, that no injury can be done you by sea. I found all my friends and property safe and weU at home, to my great pleasure and delight. The facts were true which I had related to you concerning my brother ; but God, the just judge, and best defender of innocence, de livered him from prison almost at the very time I left you. Hooper is daily setting forth with aU boldness the heavenly- doctrine of our heavenly Father : he is to-morrow to preach before the king1. The bishop of Rochester, by name Ridley2, a worthy minister of Christ, succeeds the bishop of London, who is deprived. Another post is allotted to the bishop of Westminster3, where he wiU do less mischief. Salute in my name aU the brethren in the Lord, and especially that ex ceUent soldier of Christ, and chief minister of your church, master BuUinger, to whom, I pray, make my excuses for having lost his annotations ; and request him at the same time to procure me another copy, when I wUl satisfy the copjrist for his trouble. Salute the reverend presbyter, master PeUican, Theodore [Bibhander] learned in the Lord, Otto, Zuinglius, Wolfius, and the witty Frisius, with all the rest ; as also each of my feUow-countrymen, whose letters I have lost, which you will mention to them, that they may write them over again. Salute your very dear wife in my name, to whom I would have now sent a small present, if I had any means of forwarding it. When an opportunity is afforded me, I will certainly send it. MeanwhUe, I request you, my dear Rodolph, to procure your ApeUes to paint for me the following portraits, P This was on Wednesday, March 5, 1550. See above, p. 75, n. 1.] P Ridley was translated to the see of London, in April 1550, by the king's letters patent. Strype, Mem. n. 1, 338. See above, p. 79.] [3 Bishop Thirlby, who, on the dissolution of the see of West minster in 1550, was preferred to Noiwich. Strype, Cranmer, 129.] 186 CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. those namely of Zuinglius, PeUican, Theodore, master Bul linger, and yourself, holding books in their hands ; of the same size as that oval one of yours which you shewed me, and on wood, not canvass ; and I request you to see that four verses, the subject of which I leave to your discretion, be written underneath. Make an agreement with the painter that the colours be good and carefuUy set off, even though the expense be increased. When finished, let them be packed up in a wooden box, and sent to Burcher, who wUl pay for them. The sooner they are done, the more acceptable wiU they be. And if you think the artist can paint a good likeness of OEcolampadiusJ, I would have it in addition to the other five. Do not take it iU of me, my worthy host, that I impose upon you this trouble : for did I not love you, and think myself loved by you, I should not do so. If life be granted me, you shall not find me an ungrateful guest. Take care that you be well in the Lord. Send an answer, I pray you, as soon as possible, but take care that the painter put his hand to the work as speedily as he can. I leave the whole matter to your fidelity and discretion. London, March 4. Your most attached, CHRISTOPHER HALES. LETTER XCIX. CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. Dated at London, May 24, 1550. I have received your letter, my exceUent Rodolph, by which I learn with very great regret how little honour there is among men, and how few persons there are in whom any confidence can be placed. But I hope that such is the courtesy of your senate, united with the greatest discretion, that they will endeavour to arrange this whole business, whatever it be, to the glory of God's great name ; and I have no doubt [J GEcolampadius died Dec. 1, 1531.] XCIX.] CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. 187 but that the Author of peace will grant them a happy issue. Let us dUigently pray in the mean time that he may be pleased to do this as soon as possible. For godliness has no voice in the midst of arms, the truth of which saying we, alas ! as you well know, have lately experienced in our grievous intestine discords. And I could wish that others, being warned by our example, would lay aside their arms, and learn to lead a peaceable fife in aU godliness, a thing we have but lately begun to understand. But now at length, thank God, we are in the enjoyment of great tranquillity : may our good and gracious God grant that we may employ it to his honour, and the benefit of our neighbours ! John a Lasco2 came back to us ten days since, in consequence of things in Poland not turning out according to his godly desires. His king would not grant him an audience, for fear of the bishops. As soon as I have heard from him how your friend Florian is going on, I wiU let you know in my next letter. Hooper was made bishop of Gloucester two days since, but under godly con ditions : for he wiU not allow himself to be called Rabbi, or my lord, as we are wont to say ; he refuses to receive the tonsure, he refuses to become a pie, and to be consecrated and anointed in the usual way, with many other things, which you shaU hear at another time : from this bishoprick he has two thousand crowns per annum. God grant that he may so pre side over his flock as to afford a godly example to the other shepherds ; and I would desire you, my Rodolph, and the other learned ministers of that church to labour earnestly in his behalf. Your friend Oglethorpe, as I hear, is imprisoned for superstition, and is about to lose, it is said, the presidency of Magdalene college. The new bishop of London is now employed in his visitation3, and threatens to eject those who [2 John a Lasco arrived in England for the first time in September, 1548, upon the invitation of Cranmer, with whom he resided at Lam beth for six months. He returned to Embden in the spring of 1549; but the introduction of the Interim into Friesland accelerated his departure from that country, which he quitted in October, and having resided for some time at Bremen and Hamburgh, he embarked from the last named town, and reached England in the spring of 1550, where on July 24th he was appointed the superintendent of the foreign pro- testant congregation established in London. See Burnet and Strype.] [3 For the injunctions given in this visitation see Ridley's works, Parker Society edition, p. 319.] 188 CHRISTOl'HER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. shall not have come to their senses before his next visitation ; and if I know the man, he will be as good as his word. I wrote to you in my last letter about some portraits; and I now repeat my request, that you will be mindful of me in this matter. Salute in my name your excellent wife Rachel, to whom I send two candlesticks, and twenty dishes, some of them of pewter, and some of wood. I wish indeed that they had all been silver; for the kindness of you both has deserved that from me and a great deal more. Salute moreover in my name all the ministers of your church, and especially masters Bullinger, PeUican, Theodore [Bibliander], Otto, Wolfius, and Zuinglius, my friend Butler too, and John, if he is over yonder, and your merry friend Frisius, and all the rest. Farewell, master Rodolph, and command my services. London, May 24, 1550. Your friend and brother in Christ, CHRISTOPHER HALES. LETTER C. CHRISTOPHER HALES TO HENRY BULLINGER Dated at London, June 12, [1550.] I was exceedingly rejoiced, my most exceUent Bullinger, at hearing from our worthy friend Abel, that you were alive and well : but when he delivered me your letter, I then knew for a certainty that this was the case ; and that you have not yet laid aside from your remembrance our friendship con tracted in the intercourse of a few months, which circumstance I am inclined to attribute to your singular kindness. But I wish that an opportunity may sometime be afforded me of being serviceable in any way either to yourself or any of your friends. I would certainly take care that mutual fidelity, faith, and good-will, should nowise be wanting in myself. As to the pictures, I will endeavour that no offence be occasioned by that matter. And not only in this, but also in every thing else, I will defend, as far as lies in my power, the fame and C.] CHRISTOPHER HALES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 189 reputation of you all ; which I know to be entirely pure from any of those things which can in any way impair the glory and praise of God. I think that my elder brother, John Hales, who was the cause of my quick and sudden departure from you, wiU come over to you this summer from Augsburg. Should he wish to make use of your most prudent counsel in any matter, let him perceive that my recommendation has been of some use towards the attainment of that object. And any kindness you may shew to him will be much more gratifying and acceptable to me than if you had shewn it to myself: which though it may appear to you a bold assertion, yet such is my love towards him, that when I have said every thing, I seem to myself to have said but little. Farewell, most exceUent sir, and beheve that I am yours. Salute in my name aU the most worthy ministers of your church and school, to whom I wish every happiness in the Lord. FareweU. London, June 12. Yours heartily, CHRISTOPHER HALES. LETTER CI. CHRISTOPHER HALES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at London, Dec. 10, 1550. Much health, most exceUent sir. Your letter has been brought to me, wherein I perceive the candour of your mind, and your more than common kindness towards me. Your candour appears, in that you have borne the loss1 I occasioned you with so much courtesy and good temper : although I was entirely free from blame, since it arose not from any fault of mine, but from, I know not whether to call it, the wilfulness or bad faith of the saUors. But however it be, you have afforded me no common pleasure by so kindly inter preting the whole matter. Your exceeding kindness appears in this, that you have both sympathised in my misfortune, and so courteously congratulated me on the favourable state of my affairs. What you say, that I have you in my remem- P Namely, of the letters mentioned above, p. 184.] 190 CHRISTOPHER HALES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. brance, is indeed true; and not one year only, nor aU the years of my future life, wUl be able to efface that remem^ brance ; as you shall certainly find to be the case, as soon as I shaU meet with any opportunity of shewing it. I have delayed to write respecting the study of medicine at Oxford, and the expenses there, until I could give you a correct statement. I have however learned from a friend, who is resident there, that the university of Oxford is not to be compared with that of Paris or the schools of Italy ; but stiU it is one in which a studious youth may be occupied with great advantage. The same is to be said of Cambridge, but I rather recommend Oxford on account of the greater salubrity of the air. Cambridge, by reason of the neighbouring fen, is much exposed to fever, as I have experienced more frequently than I could wish. With respect to expense, my friend informed me, that thirty French crowns would suffice tolerably well for a year ; to which if other ten could be added, a man might expect to live very comfortably. In my time, ten years since, twenty crowns were a sufficient aUowance; but in these latter days, when avarice is every where increasing, and charity growing cold, and this by a divine scourge, every thing has become almost twice as dear as it was. And this I attribute to no other cause than our proud and Pharaoh-like rejection of the spiritual food of our souls so liberally and abundantly offered. May God have mercy on us, and give us better minds, that we may at length truly and heartily repent ; lest, abusing the singular mercy of God, we should caU down upon ourselves a more grievous retribution ! I have written to master Gualter to procure six portraits to be painted for me, which he writes word that he has done, but has retained four of them for two reasons ; first, because there is some danger lest a door shall hereafter be opened to idolatry ; and next, lest it should be imputed to you as a fault, as though it were done by you from a desire of empty glory. But the case is far otherwise. For I desired to have them on this account, both for an ornament to my hbrary, and that your effigies might be beheld in the picture, as in a mirror, by those who by reason of distance are pre vented from beholding you in person. This is not done, excellent sir, with the view of making idols of you ; they are desired for the reasons I have mentioned, and not for the CI.] CHRISTOPHER HALES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 191 sake of honour or veneration. For except myself, who always desire your reputation and honour in all respects unimpaired, there is no one who knows for what reason these pictures are coming to me. I request therefore, most exceUent sir, that I may be aUowed to obtain from you this favour. Do not, I Pray 70U> shew yourself obdurate in this matter, which is both trifling in itself, and not capable of occasioning injury to any one. FareweU, most accomphshed sir. London, Dec. 10, 1550. Your most devoted, CHRISTOPHER HALES. LETTER CII. CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. Between June 12, 1550, and Jan. 26, 1551. Much health, my exceUent Rodolph. I have received two letters from you, by which I clearly understand your affection for me, and that the commission which I too freely imposed upon you, has been executed by you with the greatest fidelity and diligence. And this I do not so much gather from the result itself, as from the favourable disposition of your mind towards me. I know that every thing was most diligently undertaken by you, and rather 'choose to lay the blame upon my own fate than to entertain the slightest suspi cion of any fault on your part ; so that there was no occa sion for making me any apology. You have indeed admi rably discharged your office, and I certainly consider myself undeserving of so much kindness. You must not therefore suppose that I view the matter in any other light than if the whole affair had succeeded according to my wish. -I am greatly surprised that Burcher should persist in thinking that portraits can nowise be painted with a safe conscience and a due regard to godliness; since there is not a single letter in the holy scriptures which appears reaUy to sanction that opinion. For, if I understand aright, images were forbidden in the 192 CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. sacred books for no other reason, than that the people of God might not be drawn aside from the true worship of one true God to the vain worship of many false gods. And if there be no danger of this, I do not see why pictures may not be painted and possessed, especially when they are not kept in any place where there can be the least suspicion of idolatry. • Who worships the monkey that is placed in your fish-market? Who worships a cock fixed on the church-steeple, as your father-in-law actuaUy has, who is so determined an enemy of idolatry ? Who bows himself before your Charles 1 placed on the top of the tower ? Who is so senseless, as to wor ship a painting or picture deposited in the library ? Sup posing that there are those who honour them when hung up in churches and sacred places, which I by no means approve; yet where is the man so devoid of all religion, godliness, fear of the most high and Almighty God, and so entirely forgetful of himself, as to regard with veneration a little por trait reposited in some ordinary place in a museum ? But it is said that times may occur, when there wiU be danger lest encouragement be given to idolatry by their means. Well then, it may in the same manner be argued, that no image or likeness ought to be made of any thing whatever ! But I am so far from suspecting you of an opinion of this kind, that I do not suppose it is entertained by any man upon earth. Indeed, my worthy friend, if I thought it pos sible that the worship of idols could be re-established by such means, believe me, that if I had the pictures, I would tear them into a thousand pieces with my own hands. Another reason is next alleged, which if I had considered a true one, I certainly, my Rodolph, should never have made this request. I know your disposition, and that of the rest of you. It is impossible that you should ever suppose me capable of thinking so unfavourably of yourself and of the other ministers of your church, whom I consider to be as far removed from all anxiety for display as any persons living. But you have no occasion to fear what others may think of you, as there is no one, or at least very few, with the excep tion of our two selves, who know from what source these pic- P The south tower of the Gross-munster or cathedral at Zurich is called Charles's tower, from a statue placed there, which is supposed to be that of Charlemagne.] CII.] CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. 193 tures will be brought to me. Who lays it to the charge of the Romans of old, that we have their resemblances engraved upon numerous medals ? Who blames Luther, Bucer, Philip [Melancthon], CEcolampadius, and very many others now living, because their likenesses are every where to be met with ? This is nothing extraordinary, but a thing of very frequent occurrence among aU nations, for men fond of learn ing to adorn their studies with the memorials and images of literary characters ; and this I think no one would say is done with a view to the establishment of idolatry. These things are done in general for the sake of ornament, not to do honour to individuals ; so that you need not imagine that you wUl ever become the instruments of some 'impious and ungodly purpose. As to your telling me that each of you has retained his own portrait for himself, I have no right to find fault, since you seem to have done this under the excitement of godly zeal. I know that you are prudent and weU-judging men, and that you have not rashly changed your purpose, which I certainly wish you had not done without being influenced and supported by grave reasons ; and if they had known me weU, they would not have thought they had any thing to fear from such a circumstance. For I am not one who would have the true worship of God adulterated in any, even the least, matter; much less would I wish the reintroduction of gross idolatry, so hateful to the Lord of heaven and earth. Wherefore I request you, my beloved brother in Christ, to explain to them these my sentiments on this subject, and to ask, in my name, permission for me to obtain from their kindness this single request, namely, that the remaining four portraits may be sent me. And if you cannot obtain this, (though I hope otherwise,) I at least beg and indeed insist upon this, that your Zeuxis shall be paid at my expense. For I by no means consider it fair, that those worthy men should pay the penalty of my offence, if offence it be: I have been in fault, and I must bear the blame. In the next place, I entreat you, my worthy friend, that should I not be able to obtain aU the portraits, I may at least obtain the two others, namely, that of Theodore, which you teU me was taken without his knowledge, and as it were by stealth, and also your own ; for I am well assured that you are of r i 13 [ZURICH LETTERS, HI. J 194 CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LETi quite the contrary opinion, unless you have lately very much changed it, or else you would never have had the portraits taken of your wife and little girl. I am now dealing with you upon what you have set your own seal to, as they say; see what reply you have to make. But I know that not only yourself, but that the most excellent master BuUinger is of the same way of thinking, and this too from your own statement. For you teU me that the portrait of CEcolam- padius is taken from the copy which he has in his possession; which if he had considered to be unlawful, I am sure that a man of so much piety and godliness would never have allowed so impious an act. But enough of this. Excuse me if I have dwelt somewhat too long upon the subject. And now respecting the expenses and studies at Oxford ; I have been more dUigent in my inquiry, because the youth was a connexion of yours, and the son of that exceUent man, the senator Cellarius. You must know then, that I have ascertained from an Oxford friend, who has himself tried it, that medicine is so studied there, as that a man may devote himself to literature with great advantage. In the next place, that the expense of living is such, as that thirty crowns a year wUl be amply sufficient; but if ten more be added, there will be no deficiency of means for every proper purpose. And if I may interpose my opinion, I would rather that such allowance should be provided, as that there should be ten pounds too much, rather than one too httle. Should he come hither, I shall most wiUingly shew him every kindness for your sake. Lastly, with respect to the pewter and the cloth, I cannot send them at present, but, God willing, you shall certainly receive them at the next Frankfort fair. Christopher Froschover is now at Oxford ; I have received a letter from him, but have not yet chanced to see him. Your Zurich courtesy will not allow me to refuse any service that he may require. I hear that your wife is in the family-way ; wish her from me a happy delivery. Take care of your health, Rodolph, my very dear brother in the Lord. Salute from me all our godly brethren sojourning among you. Though Butler is named last, let him know that he has not the last place in my friendship. Salute him therefore, and his wife, when you have an opportunity. Although the church of God be oppressed, it cannot be CII.J CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. 195 destroyed. Our godly bishops are planning, for the second time, a more complete reformation of our church. God grant that all things may turn out to the glory of his name ! Amen, Amen. FareweU, my beloved Rodolph. Yours heartily, C. HALES. LETTER CIII. CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. Dated at London, Jan. 26, 1551. Much health, most exceUent Rodolph. You desired me, in your last letter, to send you some of the pewter ware of this country, and some cloth suited for hose. This commis sion I have executed as faithfuUy and dUigently as I could, and I hope that it wiU meet your approval. I have delivered the articles to our friend Richard HUles, who has promised to take care that they shall be handed over to Froschover at Frankfort at the next fair. And that you may know more certainly what you are to receive from him, you must know that I have inclosed in the package six dishes of a larger size, and as many smaller, to which I have added six saucers. There are also twelve plates, which, if I am not mistaken, are of the kind you wished for. They cost six and twenty shillings and seven pence of our money : if this price ap pear to you "too great, I assure you, that not only ware of this kind, but also every thing else, is twice as dear as usual. As to the cloth, I purchased it for seven shillings of our money, which, at the present rate of exchange, amounts to one French crown and two batzen. As you gave me no positive direction in your letter, I have sent as much cloth as wUl make one pair of hose. Should I understand that this expensive kind of cloth meets your approbation, I can easUy contrive for you to have at any time as much as you may require. And now as to the pictures and the labour of the artist. I must again entreat and implore you that, if it be possible, you wiU let me have them. But if I cannot obtain this, at least let the work of the artist be paid for at my expense. 13—2 196 CHRISTOPHER HALES TO RODOLPH GUALTER. [LET. For I do not think it right for me to impose such a burden upon those excellent men. Farewell, my worthy Rodolph, and number me among your friends. Salute in my name all the worthy ministers of your church, together with your excellent wife and our friend Butler. Entreat the Lord con tinually for us in your prayers; for his church was never placed in greater danger. The affair of the bishop of Win chester1 is now going on, and he wiU probably ere long be deprived of his office, together with some other not godly bishops. May Christ grant, (for the whole cause is his,) that other godly men may be appointed in their stead ! London, Jan. 26, 1551. Yours heartily, CHRISTOPHER HALES. The whole cost of the pewter and cloth together amounts to five French crowns and one or two batzen. LETTER CIV. RICHARD H1LLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated [in August, 1540.] Patience, that when you have performed the work of God, you may obtain the promise ! God knows, my most honoured master, how greatly I have always desired to write to you, and how slenderly I am furnished with materials for writing in Latin. He who dealeth to every man the measure of faith, and gifts according to his wiU, has bestowed upon me some httle knowledge of Latin, but not the ability of express ing myself at all clearly in that language, so that I have never yet ventured to write in Latin to any one. But as you have so often chaUenged me with your hortatory and truly com forting letters, and, so to speak, have compelled me to write you something in reply ; and especially as I am persuaded that with your wonted courtesy and kindness you wUl take every thing in good part that wiU anywise admit of a right P For an account of the proceedings against bishop Gardiner, see Foxe, vi. 64, &c. Soames, in. 607.] CIV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 197 interpretation ; I have now sent you this Ul-composed letter, which however I certainly should not have sent at present, had I not previously lost all hope of seeing you this year. I certainly intended to have gone into Switzerland with my wife this present August, chiefly for the sake of paying you a visit ; but my brother Butler, who is now busUy engaged in courting a widow of Strasburgh, has been away with her relatives the whole of this month ; so that unless we choose to travel by ourselves, we are at present obliged to remain here, though I do not expect to have so much leisure time again for a whole year. Do not, I pray you, mention this to any one ; but he is at present uncertain whether she wiU marry any body, and I am afraid she will hardly become bis wife, by reason of a disorder under which she has long been suffering, even during her late husband's lifetime. It has often come into my mind to write you the news from England, and the changes that are continually taking place; but I have been prevented by a becoming modesty from persevering in my intention; for I not only write Latin as barbarously and ungrammaticaUy as I speak it, but even the words themselves fail me. Relying, how ever, upon your wisdom and good nature, by which you know how to be unlearned among the unlearned, that you may unite them to Christ, I send you herewith a summary of those matters respecting the state of our kingdom last year, which I have gathered from the letters of brethren worthy of credit, and which I had intended to communicate to you in person. I only request you to receive in good part what has been written, though in a rude and barbarous style, with a friendly disposition towards you. As to the state of our commonwealth before the feast of Easter last passed (namely in the year 1540), I hope you have been sufficiently informed by our aforesaid brother Butler. For in my letters to him I described very care- fuUy, as far as my abilities would allow me, all the events that had occurred, and this that he might afterwards com municate them to the learned and godly men yonder, and especiaUy to yourself. I received your letter dated on the sixth of this month, and also the one you had previously forwarded by that Frenchman, at the same time, and heartUy thank you for them both ; and especially because you thought 198 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. fit therein to afford me such true and godly consolation from the holy scriptures, and so diligently to exhort me to patience and longsuffering, in which graces I am greatly deficient. In the next place I have received from your letter, by God's blessing, this great benefit, namely, that I have considered and deliberated much more carefuUy and discreetly than before, what it is to leave one's first love, and how unbe coming it is for a Christian to return to his vomit ; and how fearful a thing it is for any one to fall into the hands of the living God ! Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who has doubtless oftentimes comforted you in your tribulation and distress, that you may thereby be more able to comfort them which are in any trouble ! Meanwhile however, that you may know the state of my affairs, it is as foUows. When I perceived that there was no place left for me in England, unless, as Ustazades1 replied to the king of Persia, I chose to become a traitor both to God and man ; I forthwith left the country, but on the pretext of carrying on my trade in this place. This motive how ever is known by all my godly acquaintance to be a false one, and also suspected to be such by my ungodly adver saries. But as I have not been indicted for heresy, or summoned before the courts of law, aU my property yonder is at present tolerably safe ; so that I remit to England at every fair, for the purpose of importing a fresh supply of cloth, the money that I receive both here and at Frankfort. I have mentioned this with the view of making you acquainted with my affairs, lest, in case you should hear any report of my voluntary exile in these parts, the account of my troubles in England should fail of being noticed. MeanwhUe, I freely confess to you, (though it would not be safe for me to make the same acknowledgment to every one,) that I have determined not to return thither, unless it should first please God to effect such a change, as that we may serve him there without hinder- ance, and without being forced to sanction what is evil. My wife, thank God, makes provision for our comfort here quite as weU, or indeed better than myself. Although, by God's help, P See Historia Tripartita, Lib. m. cap. ii. p. 325-6. of Auetores Histories Ecclesiastical, Basil. 1533. Also, Pilkington's "Works, Park Soc. Ed. p. 637.] ii CIV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 199 I do not doubt of my perseverance even unto the end, I entreat you to pray the Lord for us, that he which hath begun a good work in us may perform it until the day of Christ. Our brother Butler returned to England after the last Frankfort fair ; but so miserable was the state of things in that country, that he did not remain there more than eighteen days. Furthermore, I entreat you for God's sake not to mention to any one what I am now writing, except to masters Theo dore Bibliander, PeUican, Leo Judae, and other godly and learned men of the same stamp ; and above all, let it not be known as coming from any Englishman. And I implore you not to let them read my letter, for fear they should ridicule, as it deserves, my rash and foolish presumption in writing in this unpolished and unconnected manner. I should have given my letter to Butler, if he had been at home, or to some other Englishman in this place, to be put into better Latin, only that I am not willing for them to know (though I do not distrust them) that I have communicated so many things to all of you together ; lest probably, when they are writing to England, they may, with a good intention, acquaint some godly person or other, who, without sufficient caution, as frequently happens, wiU2 I thank you much for the information you give me respecting Falckner; and I request that if there are any other pious and God-fearing men yonder, who are in the habit of purchasing English cloth, you wUl let me know their names, that, should they at any time wish to obtain some cloth from me upon credit, I may let them have it. For I do not feel disposed to credit any persons with any large sum, except the people of Zurich, and a few, it may be, at Schaffhausen : wherefore, if you wiU do me this favour, I shall be much obliged. I wUl pray Christ to requite you in return, for whose sake I know that you love me ; just as you hate the ungodly for the devU's sake, and for his image in them, as did the. prophet David, and all holy men besides. How well do we learn by daUy experience the truth of that verse of Solomon, The righteous abhor the wicked, and those who are in the right way are abominable to the ungodly. FareweU, honoured pas tor, most happily in the Lord, and may Christ, the chief P The remainder of this sentence is altogether unintelligible.] 200 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. Shepherd, grant you so to fulfil your ministry, that when he shaU appear, you may not be ashamed, but have confidence, and obtain the incorruptible crown of glory promised to those who are like you. Amen. My wife dutifully salutes you, and especially your wife. We both of us very much desire to visit you. You have no need to wish for us, for we cannot in any way be of comfort or service to you, but in many ways a hinderance and impediment to your studies. Again fareweU in Christ, my very dear master, and do not, I pray you, for get to salute in my name your godly wife, and joint heir with yourself of the kingdom of heaven. Yours heartily, R. H. LETTER CV.1 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at [London, 1541]. Before Whitsuntide three persons were burned in the suburbs of London, in that part of the city belonging to the diocese of Winchester, because they denied transubstantiation, and had not received the sacrament at Easter. And as these things took place in the diocese of Winchester, it was re marked by many persons that these men were brought to the stake by the procurement of the bishop ; just as he burned, shortly after, a crazed man of the name of Collins2. This man had previously been kept in prison for two or three years, but I do not exactly know for what reason. Once, as he was passing by a crucifix, to which processions had some times been made, (principally by the Spanish saUors on their arriving safe in harbour,) he aimed an arrow at the idol, and [i This letter is quoted by Burnet, in. 215, &c. " It is writ," he says, (226) "with much good sense and piety, but in very bad Latin;" which indeed in some places renders it very difficult to find out the meaning.] [2 Collins became insane through the evil conduct of his wife, who deserted him for another. He was burned in 1538. See Foxe, v. 251.] CV.] ^ RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 201 striking its foot, called out to it to defend itself, and punish him if it were able. Many persons, however, say that this was not the cause of his imprisonment ; but rather, because he was wont to exclaim against the nobUity and great men of the kingdom, and rashly to bring forward against them many passages of holy scripture, especially the prophets, wherein there was any mention made of unrighteous judgments, or the cruel treatment of neighbours and dependents. Meanwhile, I know this for a fact, that when Lambert was confined with him in the same prison, (that Lambert3, namely, who was condemned by the king himself for his opinions respecting the eucharist, a short time before Burcher fled from England,) four or five days before he was brought to the stake, this Collins was not so crazy or ignorant but that he was able to bring forward and apply very expeditiously and aptly on Lambert's behalf, against the bishops and other ungodly per sons who appeared against him before the royal tribunal4, various passages from the New Testament, and from the Psalms, such as these, " Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, &c." " The Lord knoweth the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be for ever." [Ps. xxxvfi. 18.] " The wicked shaU not dweU with thee, neither shall the unrighteous stand in thy sight." " Thou hatest aU workers of iniquity, thou shalt destroy all that speak leasing." [Ps. v. 5, &c. vulgate.] "The Lord abhorreth the bloody and deceitful man; they shall not live out half their days," &c. [Ps. Iv. 23.] Now to other matters. Before the feast of John the Baptist it began to be whispered about that the king intended to divorce his queen, Anne, the sister of the duke of Gelderland, though he had married her publicly with great pomp, in the face of the church, on the feast of Epiphany, after last Christmas. This was first of aU whispered by the courtiers, who observed the king to be much taken with another young lady5 of very P For a full account of the proceedings against John Lambert, see Foxe, v. 181, and Soames, n. 324. He was burned in Smithfield in 1538.] P The king determined to hear the cause in person, and West minster Hall was prepared for the purpose. Soames, n. 327.] t8 This was Catharine, daughter to Lord Edmund Howard, and niece to the duke of Norfolk.] 202 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. diminutive stature, whom he now has. It is a certain fact, that about the same time many citizens of London saw the king very frequently in the day-time, and sometimes at mid night, pass over to her on the river Thames in a little boat. The bishop of Winchester also very often provided feastmgs and entertainments for them in his palace ; but the citizens regarded aU this not as a sign of divorcing the queen, but of adultery. After a few days, Cromwell1, the king's vicegerent in causes ecclesiastical (for such was his official designation) fell from the king's favour, and at the beginning of June was sent to the Tower of London, from whence he never went forth till the twenty-eighth of July, when he was beheaded, together with another nobleman, the lord Hungerford2, whom they charged with having attempted to calculate the day when the king should die. I know nothing for certain as to the cause of Cromwell's execution, because he was not brought for examination before the tribunal, as had always been the case heretofore with all noblemen, and especiaUy when accused of treason against the king. But it was commonly said by most persons, and with great probability, that the real cause of his execution was, that he did not support the king, as Win chester and the other courtiers did, in his project of a divorce, but rather asserted that it would neither be for the king's honour, nor for the good of the kingdom. Not long before the death of CromweU, the king advanced him, and granted him large houses and riches, and more pubhc offices, together with very extensive and lucrative domains ; (and in the same way he also endowed queen Anne, a short time before he beheaded her.) But some persons now suspect that this was aU an artifice, to make people conclude that he must have been a most wicked traitor, and guilty of treason in every possible way ; or else the king would never have executed one who was so dear to him, as was made manifest by the presents he had bestowed upon him. It was from a like artifice, as some think, that the king conferred upon Crom- P For an account of Cromwell's fall, see Foxe, v. 398, and Soames, ii. 409.] P Walter, lord Hungerford, was accused, among other crimes, of ordering Sir Hugh Wood, one of his chaplains, and one doctor Maud lin, to use conjuring, that they might know how long the king should live. See Burnet, I. 580.] CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 203 weU's son Gregory3, who was almost a fool, his father's title, and many of his domains, whUe he was yet Uving in prison ; that he might more readUy confess his offences against the king, at the time of execution, and that his majesty might not be provoked to take back the presents and estates that he had bestowed. There are, moreover, other parties who assert, with what truth God knows, that Cromwell was threatened to be burned at the stake, and not to die by the axe, unless at the time of execution he would acknowledge his crimes against the king ; and that he then said, " I am altogether a miserable sinner. I have sinned against my good and gracious God, and have offended the king." But what he said respecting the king was carelessly and coldly pronounced by him. Our sins have doubtless deserved this change in our affairs, because, when God sent forth his word amongst us, it was not regarded by us as the word of God, nor were we suffi ciently thankful to its author; but we have been dreaming that it was understood by our own strength and ability, and have constantly ascribed its success to the conduct of some, and the learning of others, whUe we fancied that God was all the while asleep and inactive. Wherefore the Lord, purposing gradually, but not aU at once, to manifest his mercy towards us, as well as his power in the general course of his providence, has taken away, together with purity of doctrine, those individuals also upon whose wisdom we so much depended for support ; willing that his providence should herein be shewn forth, by frustrat ing and destroying our expectations from men, and our boasting that interfered with his glory ; and manifesting too his mercy, by permitting these things to be graduaUy taken away, together with those persons in whom we trusted; and this, that, being so often deceived in our expectations from the creature, we might place all our confidence in him alone, and acknowledge him as the continual agent, as well as the original source, of all grace and goodness. This long-suffering of God, so tempered with instruction, ought to have worked repentance in us, unless we had been a stiff-necked people. But such was the wretched ness of our condition, that we did not consider it was the Lord's teaching : but as soon as he had destroyed the hopes P Gregory Cromwell was summoned to parliament 28th April, 1539, and created, by patent, Baron Cromwell, 18th Dee. 1540. Ob. 1551.] 204 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. we had reposed in one individual, we raised up to ourselves another in whom we placed our confidence ; untU at last God has taken them all away from us, and has inflicted upon us such a want of sincere ministers of the word, that a man may now travel from the east of England to the west, and from the north to the south, without being able to discover a single preacher, who out of a pure heart and faith unfeigned is seeking the glory of our God. He has taken them aU away. (And here I mean queen Anne, who was beheaded, together with her brother ; also the Lord Cromwell, with Latimer1 and the other bishops.) Oh the great wrath and indignation of God ! yea, rather the far greater mass of our sins, by reason of which the tender severity of God could not but inflict upon us this punishment ! But whither am I wandering ? It is as though a swine should endeavour to instruct Minerva. I wUl therefore return to the subject. At the time when the lord Cromwell was imprisoned, the king held a pubhc assembly of the nobUity, bishops, and cer tain of the citizens, according to the custom of this country, and which our people caU a parliament ; in which were pub lished more than forty-eight new statutes, (and the king in tends them to be of perpetual obligation,) of which I here only mention a few, but not all, of those which concern religion. The foUowing is the title of one statute, thus set forth by the king and parhament : A bUP for moderating the penalties inflicted upon priests for incontinence. You have heard, I know, my honoured master, of the statute that was put forth among us in the year 1539, against six articles3 of the chris tian rehgion. One clause of it, if you remember, provided that priests were to put away their wives, upon pain of being con demned as felons, upon the first conviction. But by the same statute it was allowed priests to commit fornication once or twice; but if they were detected a third time, they were to P Latimer resigned his bishoprick July 1st, 1539, in consequence of his opposition to the statute of the Six Articles.] P This bill was brought in on the 16th July, for moderating the statute of the Six articles in the clauses that related to the marriage of the priests, or their incontinency with other women. By it the pains of death were turned to forfeitures of their goods and chattels, and the rents of their ecclesiastical promotions, to the king. Bumet, I. 453 ] P These articles are given in Burnet, I. 416 ; Soames, n. 368 ; Foxe, v. 262 ; Strype, Mem. i. i. 542.] CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 205 be hung as they do thieves in this country. Felony has from olden time been punished among us with the gallows, if the thing stolen exceeded the value of six batzen. The king has considered the punishment provided by the statute, namely, that aforesaid, the title of which you have heard, of hanging upon a third conviction, to be too severe, or, as we say, ex treme. And it is therefore the king's pleasure for parliament to enact, that priests should for the first offence be punished by fine ; then, upon a second conviction, by the loss of one benefice, if the priest should have more than one ; and for the third time, by the forfeiture of all their temporal goods, together with all their preferment whatever, and perpetual imprisonment during fife. And yet meanwhUe it does not appear to the king at aU " extreme " still to hang those cler gymen who marry, or who retain those wives whom they had married previously to the former statute. Another bUl bears the foUowing title, "An Act to dissolve the king's pretended marriage with the lady Anne of Cleves." I wUl procure this that you may have it translated into Latin, word for word. And yet, what is pretended shortly after the preamble, that the commonalty of the realm have had many doubts and perplexities respecting that marriage, is altogether false. For not a man would have dared to open his mouth to mention such doubts and perplexities, even if they had existed, which was not the case. What a termination wiU the godly expect to this biU, which is thus founded upon falsehood ! It is false too, what the statute declares, that the nobility and members of parliament petitioned the king to refer the whole matter concerning this marriage to the consideration of his clergy : whereas it is certain, that no nobleman or citizen would have dared to utter a single word about that business, either openly or in secret, untU they had perceived that the king's affections were alienated from the lady Anne to that young girl Catharine, the cousin of the duke of Norfolk, whom he married immediately upon Anne's divorce. As to the reply of the archbishop of Canterbury and the other bishops to the king's letter, requiring them to examine and decide upon the case, "that they had found Anne of Cleves was still a maid, and had never been carnally known by the king4," P The answer which the council wrote to the English ambassador at Paris was, that the queen herself affirmed that her person had not 206 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. this is a fikely thing forsooth! Who, judging of the king by his fruits, would ever believe him to be so chaste a character ? Especially when he was in such a hurry as to send for her before Christmas, and to have her alone with him every day in his chamber, and in public, as a queen, during five or six months. This single pretended fact was, as far as I can conjecture, that which these five courtiers, the bishops1, with their episcopal brethren so gravely considered, and weighed, and sifted, as you find in their reply above men tioned. Our preachers, in all their sermons, used to pray for her in these terms, " The most noble queen Anne, the right lawful wife of our sovereign Henry VIII." &c. This bill, moreover, gives indemnity to aU those persons who had spoken, or taken any measures, against the king's marriage with queen Anne. But this was done with a view to deceive, as though there were any such persons to be pardoned. Let aU England stand forth and produce even a single in dividual of this stamp, if it can. And those parties who endeavoured to promote the dissolution of the same marriage, have no need of a pardon from parhament, since it is most certain that they would never have made the attempt without the sanction and approval of the king. By the authority, too, of the same parhament, the king has imposed many burdens upon his subjects. For there was granted him a fifth of all the yearly revenues of the bishops, and the benefices of the clergy, in addition to the tenths which he annually receives from them. From the laity, as well the nobility, as citizens and peasantry, there was granted him the tenth of all their yearly income, patrimony, and lands ; and from those who have not any patrimony or yearly revenue, there was granted the king a twentieth of their monies, goods, cattle, fruit, and all kind of property what" been touched by king Henry ; that a learned convocation had judged the matter ; that the bishops of Durham, Winchester, and Bath, were known to be great and learned clerks, who would do nothing but upon just and good grounds ; so that all persons ought to be satisfied with these proceedings, as she herself was; and here the matter ended. Burnet, in. 223.] [i The case was referred by convocation to a committee, consisting of the two archbishops, the bishops of London, Durham, Winchester, and Worcester, and six others, doctors of divinity and law. Strype, Mem. i. i. 558.] CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 207 ever. The north of England, however, where the rebellion took place immediately after the execution of queen Anne, was now excused these payments by the favour of the king. Moreover, this business was so artfuUy managed, that the archbishop of Canterbury and the other lords spiritual (as these carnal persons are caUed) offered the king, of their own accord, the payment of this money, in the name of all the clergy, because the king had delivered them from the yoke and bondage of the Roman pontiff. As though they had ever been, when subject to the pope, under such a yoke as they now are ; when all their property, and life itself, are at the king's disposal ! In like manner too, the laity made the king a voluntary grant of this money, which they are bound by parliament to pay under a heavy penalty. But every thing is given freely and voluntarUy in this country ! In the same parhament, too, the king published a general, or, so to speak, an universal pardon, by which he forgave the nobility and others of his subjects all heresies, treasons, felo-v nies, with many other offences against the laws and statutes of the realm, committed before the first of July, 1540, (with the exception of such crimes as might fairly be interpreted as, having been committed by word or deed against the royal person;) and also voluntary homicides, robbing churches, and many crimes of the like nature. It was however provided that this act of indemnity was not to extend to the lord CromweU; nor to doctor Barnes2, Thomas Garrard, William Jerome, three preachers who were then in prison for the sake of the gospel ; nor to the two sons of a certain marquis (who had been beheaded,) and of the lord Montague3, the brother of Pole, an Englishman, a cardinal of Rome. The name of him [who was beheaded] was marquis of Exeter: he would have been the heir4 to the throne, had the king P For a full account of these martyrs, who were burned in Smith- field in July 1540, see Foxe, v. 414—438. Soames, H. 430, &c. See below, p. 209.] P Dr Lingard observes that our historians are ignorant of the attainder, and even of the existence of the son of lord Montague. H© is mentioned however in Cardinal Pole's Epistles, ii. 197, as well as in the text. Lingard, iv. 284.] P Henry Courtenay, 17th earl of Devon, and marquis of Exeter, was son of Catharine, youngest daughter of Edward IV., and con sequently first cousin to Henry VIII.] 208 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. been without lawful issue. Many other also of the nobUity were excepted from this pardon ; among whom was the popish bishop of Chichester, and a man of the name of WUson (who had, on a former occasion, been pardoned by the king, and set at liberty after two years' imprisonment for his support of the pope), together with some other priests, who, as they maintained the supremacy of the pope, would not admit the king's title, wherein he styles himself " supreme head of the church of England." AU anabaptists too were excepted, and sacramentaries, as they are caUed, and aU those who do not admit transubstantiation ; and those, likewise, who afiirm that every kind of death, together with the time and hour of the same, is so certainly appointed, foreordained, and determined, that neither the king can change it by the sword, nor any one prevent it by his own rashness. These are the very words of the statute. A little before the aforesaid pardon was granted, very many persons, especiaUy the preachers of the gospel, were imprisoned in every part of England ; and at London four or five of the prmcipal of them. They made search too after Doctor Crome1, a man of great gravity and wisdom, (who, to gether with Latimer, was the first who in our times sowed the pure doctrine of the gospel ;) he, when he heard from a certain Nicodemean individual that he was denounced, went privately to the palace, and falling on his knees before the king, (after he had first informed him of the cruel treatment of some preachers and citizens at London,) prayed him for God's sake to put a stop to these severities, and of his wisdom and godliness to apply a remedy. The king forth with gave order, that no further persecution should take place on account of religion, and that those who were then in prison should be set at hberty, upon their friends giving security for their appearance whenever they should be called for. The king, probably, as you have heard, was partly in duced to grant this indulgence, in the hope that when these things were once set at rest, and the old errors (as he con sidered them) forgiven, the people would be more quiet and ^obedient in future. I am aware, nevertheless, that it is usual for his clemency to bestow pardon upon his subjects in P A full account of Dr Crome is given in Strype, Mem. in. i. 167. Burnet, in. 223.] CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 209 this way (some particular crimes, as in the present case, always excepted), after they had allowed him by their liberality (as they have now done) to scrape together a large sum of money ; or when, by authority of parliament, they have entirely released him from the payment of every penny that he had borrowed from them. Soon after the dissolution of parliament, namely, on the thirtieth of July last year, were executed six of those men who had been excepted from the general pardon. Three of them were popish priests, whose names were Abel, Powell, and Fetherston2, and who refused to acknowledge the king's new title, and his authority over the clergy. They were dealt with in the usual manner, first hung, then cut down from the gaUows whUe yet alive, then drawn, beheaded, and quartered, and their limbs fixed over the gates of the city ; but the heads, in general, of as many priests or monks as are executed in this city, are fixed on the top of a long pole, and placed upon London bridge, as a terror to others. The re maining three were preachers of the gospel, and of no mean order ; their names were Barnes3, Gerrard, and Jerome. They were first brought from the Tower of London, and drawn on a sledge through the middle of the city to a place caUed Smithfield, where they were tied to one stake, and burned at the same place where the others were executed. This place had never been used before, as far as I remember, for the execution of any persons excepting heretics. They remained in the fire without crying out, but were as quiet and patient as though they had felt no pain ; and thus they com mended their spirits to God the Father by Jesus Christ. I could never ascertain, though I have made diligent inquiry, the true reason why these three gospellers were excepted from the general pardon ; so that I can conjecture none more P For an account of these persons, see Foxe, v. 438. Burnet, I. 477. Soames says that " Powell and Abel were two political pam phleteers, on the queen's side, during the ferment occasioned by Catharine of Aragon's case, who, together with another Romish partizan, named Featherstone, were notorious for their opposition to the royal supremacy." Hist. Ref. n. 439.] [»Dr Robert Barnes had been prior of the Austin friars at Cam bridge ; Thomas Gerrard (or Garrett) was curate of All-Hallows, in Honey-lane; and William Jerome was vicar of Stepney. See the authorities quoted above, p. 207, n. 2.] 14 [ZURICH LETTERS, III.] 210 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET.) likely, than that the king, desiring to gratify the clergy and the ignorant and rude mob, together with the obstinate part of his nobility and citizens, appointed these three victims, as he probably considered them, as it were for a holocaust, to appease those parties, or to acquire fresh popularity with them. I think however, that they would not have had more than one, or at most two of them in the same year, only that the clergy and the greater part of the nobUity and common-. alty might pay more readily the money granted to his majesty by parliament. If any one should assert that these three per sons were burned on account of their preaching and doctrine, it then appears strange that they were not brought before the judges, and condemned by due course of law, as had always been the practice in such cases before this instance. Then again, in my opinion, the parliament did not deal justly, if it condemned them for their doctrine. For I know this for a fact, that from the twelfth of July, 1539, (on which day the bill1 by which the truth was condemned began to take effect,) untU the day when they were apprehended, they never once opened their mouths expressly against that statute, either in their public preaching or private conversation, except when they found that they were with honest and godly men, and sufficiently safe from their enemies. They were committed to prison in Easter-week of the following year, 1540, even after they had in many things submitted to the king in their sermons at Easter2. Thus we see that neither the king nor his parha-. ment could justly condemn them to death for their doctrine, unless they chose to assert that all those opinions, which in the statute aforesaid they condemned as heresy, were not par doned before that appointed day, the twelfth of July. And if this were the case, it was then only an artifice and a snare to entangle men, thus to fix and appoint a stated day when the act was to begin to take effect. I am here more brief, by P Namely, the Act of the Six Articles.] p By certain complaints made to the king of them they were enjoined to preach three sermons the next Easter following, at the Spital; at which sermons, besides other reporters who were thither sent, Stephen Gardiner also was there present, sitting with the mayor, either to bear record of their recantation, or else, as the Pha risees came to Christ, to trip them in their talk, if they had spoken any thing awry. Foxe, v. 420.] CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 211 reason of a httle book printed in German, concerning the pro- test of the said Robert Barnes at the stake, where he acknow ledged that he did not know for what reason he was brought thither to be burned. In the week following the burning of these preachers, were executed many others of those who had been excepted from the general pardon. The reason of their execution is unknown to me ; but it was reported to have been for treason against the king. However, to confess the truth, people were not so active in inquiry, or in investi gating matters, as they were wont to have been, because it is now no novelty among us to see men slain, hung, quartered, or beheaded ; some for trifling expressions, which were explained or interpreted as having been spoken against the king ; others for the pope's supremacy ; some for one thing, and some for another. The bishop of Chichester, however, and doctor Wilson, such a papist as Eckius3, were set at large by the king, notwithstanding they had been ex empted out of the general pardon. The crime of treason, as I hear, which they had committed against the king, was the send ing some alms to the papist Abel4, when reduced to the great est distress from having been long kept in a most filthy prison, and, as the papists here affirm, almost eaten up by vermin. And now I am about to say somewhat of that learned and godly man, doctor Crome. At this time (as had always been his practice, whenever any storm arose that seemed to do injury to the truth) feeling the necessity of the case, he preached with more zeal than ordinary, until the approach of Christmas. And on that day those who were his enemies on account of the gospel, brought together against him some articles which they aUeged to be heretical. Meanwhile the clergy set up their champion WUson, to oppose the purer doctrine of Crome, and to affirm the falsehood of whatever truths he had preached. This those wise children of this world did with the greater readiness, that they might have a better handle for accusing Crome (as though it was through his preaching that such a controversy had arisen in the city P John Eckius was professor in the university of Ingoldstadt, where he died in 1543. He is memorable for his opposition to the reformation, and his controversial writings against Luther, Melanc thon, &c] [* See above, p. 209, n. 2.] 14—2 212 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. of London), and so for bringing him forth to answer for' himself either before the king or his council. Which object they effected after a few days. For after Christmas-day they were both of them forbidden to preach, until either the king or his councillors should hear the case and determine it ac cording to their pleasure. After Christmas- day, 1540, (for our people begin to reckon the new year from the feast of the annunciation of Mary), a day having been appointed for the appearance of both parties, namely, Crome and Wilson, the enemies of Crome produced against him, as impious and heretical, nearly thirty passages from his late sermons ; the sum of which, as far as I am able to judge, is as follows : " No works can justify in the same manner as Christ does, nor do they so satisfy as he satisfied by suffering for us> For he is the only oblation, and price of redemption, &c. "No truth is necessary to be believed or obeyed by us under the penalty of sin or eternal death, unless it be some where expressly revealed to us in the holy scriptures, or can truly, piously, and justly be collected and deduced from them. " To offer masses for the dead is plainly contrary to holy scripture, and is a superstition. And it was first," he says, "introduced into the church by means of a vision, yea, rather a delusion of Satan, in the time of pope Gregory." "The king himself confesses, with his bishops, in his Institution1 of a Christian Man, that the masses scalce cceli, ordained by the pope, are altogether unprofitable to the dead. But this is the principal kind of mass for the departed, by reason of the prayers, &c. Wherefore, if these masses profit not, much less do others. Again, if the mass were profitable to the dead, the king and parliament have done wrong in destroying the monasteries, where so many masses were en dowed and celebrated for the dead. P The passage referred to is this : " Wherefore it is much neces sary that such abuses bo clearly put away, which under the name of purgatory hath been advanced ; as to make men believe that through the bishop of Rome's' pardons souls might clearly bo delivered out of -purgatory, and all the pains of it ; or the masses said at Scala Cceli, or other where, in any place, or before any image, might likewise deliver them from all their pain, and send them straight to heaven; and other like abuses." The Institution of a Christian Man. Loud. 1537. Ed. Oxford, 1825, p. 211.] CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 213 " Those who teach men to pray to the saints, if only that they may pray for us in the same way as here we pray for each other, inculcate a practice neither necessary nor useful. " The church of Christ is the spouse of Christ. But she must certainly be an imperious and pert wife, who should speak and exercise authority above her husband. You call us seditious preachers, and say that we introduce new doctrine ; but you speak falsely. For you are the seditious parties, who defend superstition and human traditions, and refuse to obey with us the word of God, and to listen to the voice of Christ. " Men wonder that we preachers cannot agree together. But this is not to be wondered at. For they teach the com mandments of men ; we, on the contrary, those of God alone. And yet, if they would give over preaching their dreams, falsehoods, human traditions, and puerilities, and would preach, as we do, the word of God only, we should forthwith come to an agreement. " The church of Christ is suffering, and ever will suffer, persecution, as some parties have suffered of late among our selves. And though the world tried to persuade them, it was by no means able to overcome them. Neither, I hope, shall you conquer us, notwithstanding your persecution of us. For you would be able to say that you had conquered us, if you could prevail with us to speak as you do. But we should then be liars like yourselves, and chaplains of the devil, as you are." When the king and his council had received these and other like articles, of which Crome was accused, they allowed him a certain time wherein to answer them. Which when he had done, (as appears from the royal injunction which he was ordered to recite to the people,) his reply was beyond doubt a manifest confirmation of the articles alleged against him ; for he persisted in affirming that they were true and orthodox. The king, however, whether from a secret horror, or fear of the people, (or from the working of God, in I know not what other manner,) were he to condemn to death so eminent a man, who was, as it were, a father in religion, would not deliver him to the flames to be sacrificed as a burnt-offering, like Barnes and the others ; but sent him a certain paper, with which he was to comply in all respects, as you shall now hear ; for tlm following is a copy of it : 214 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. "THE JUDGMENT OF THE KING RESPECTING Dr CrOME, on the 18th January, in the year of our Lord 1540. The king's majesty, having received the answer of Edward Crome, doctor in divinity, to certain articles about which he was examined by chosen commissioners appointed by his ma jesty on that behalf; the king's excellency, too, being advised that the said doctor Crome was so manifestly persuaded in his heart, as he confessed in his answer subscribed with his own hand, and laid before his majesty ; the king, out of his most godly benignity, and accustomed goodness and mercy, is content for this time to relax the rigour and severity of the laws which his majesty might justly execute against the said Crome. Moreover, his royal majesty, being desirous of establishing a christian peaceableness and tranquillity among his subjects, by an uniform agreement in the office of preach ing, has determined as follows, &c." The king then enjoined Dr Crome to preach on a certain day in Lent, at London, in St Paul's church-yard, (namely, that of our principal church,) and there recant aU the pre ceding articles. Then at the end of this royal document there was added the following, which Crome was to repeat, after he had read his recantation : " Moreover, his majesty makes this known to all his subjects, that if the said Crome shaU hereafter be accused of these or the like articles, the se verity of the law shaU be executed upon him without any favour." Against Crome's assertion, that masses did not be nefit the dead, it was objected at the trial, that he had preach ed in that article expressly against the royal statutes, which enacted that private masses had been properly retained in the church of England, by reason of the many advantages that Christians receive from them. But the statute does not specify those advantages; so that Crome answered, that he under stood them to be, the commemoration of the death of Christ by the ceremonies of the mass, and also prayers for the Uving; especially as the king had abolished so many monasteries. This evasion did not avail him, for the king enjoined him in his instructions to read his recantation of that article in these terms : " Public and private masses are a profitable sacrifice as well for the living as for the dead. And although masses and other prayers and helps profit the departed, yet the king's majesty and the parliament have piously and justly abolished CV.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 215 the monasteries in his realm." For what reason, it was not added. You have here the sum of the king's judgment respecting Dr Crome in this matter. Now when the Sunday came, on which he was to recant, he preached a godly discourse, and at the end of it told the people, that he had received a written document from the king's majesty which he was ordered to read to them. And after he had read it, he committed the congre gation to God in a short prayer, and so went away : whereas the king certainly intended him to receive that writing as a specimen of the doctrine which he was to follow in his' sermon; and also to extol to the skies his wisdom, learning, and mercy, as doctor Barnes and the two others had done, when they preached at Easter, and yet were burned notwithstanding. It certainly was not the king's intention that Crome should read his judgment so carelessly, and then go away as he did: wherefore I am afraid that the clergy will not let him off thus. For immediately after he was forbidden by the king to preach any more, as he had before forbidden Latimer, bishop of Worcester, and Shaxton, bishop of Salisbury ; who by the providence of God, as I think, (and as also is evident from their having been so long preserved by him in this dangerous world,) were defivered from death by the general pardon. Those two bishops were a long time under restraint, because they would never give their sanction to the statute published against the truth in the year 1539, as the other Ecebolian bishops did at once. But how favourable to them the king now is, and how much he appreciates their sound and pure doctrine, is evident even from this, that he has not only pro hibited them from preaching, but also from coming within two or three German nfiles of our two universities, the city of London, or their own dioceses! 0 atrocious deed, thus to drive away faithful shepherds from their flocks, and intrude ravenous wolves in their stead ! God will not, I hope, allow this tyranny much longer. MeanwhUe, you perceive how much iniquity abounds among us, and therefore that in many respects charity is growing cold. Farewell in the Lord ! May our good and gracious God long preserve you in safety to us, and for the edification and comfort of his church ! Amen, Amen. 216 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET, LETTER CVI. RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Frankfort, Sept. 18, 1541. Grace and perseverance in the truth from the Lord, &c. I received, my revered master, three days since, your pious and consolatory letter, dated on the 31st of August ; on account of which I consider myself exceedingly indebted to your kindness, for having so condescended to correspond with me, a worm, and not a man, (as the world accounts me,) and also so frequently and in such comforting terms. Falckner wrote to me for the black and red cloth, which I send you by Conrad Eblie, that it may be for you to fix and determine whether Falckner shall have it upon credit. For he owes me already about a hundred florins, to be paid here at Frankfort at the next fair, besides forty-five which (as he writes me word) Christopher Froschover ought now to pay me, but which I doubt whether I shaU ever receive : for he says in reply, that he is wiUing to pay these same forty- five florins for Falckner, should he have a good sale at the fair, but not otherwise. The black cloth contains fifty-five Frankfort ells ; the red fifty and a half. The black cloth is tolerably good and strong, but I had sold all my best before Falckner's letter was delivered to me. I inquired after it of the above-named Christopher at the beginning of the fair ; but he denied that he had any letters for me, because he hardly knew who I was. I met him afterwards, and he found Falck ner's letter for me. The price of forty ells of that cloth is twenty-two florins. I have sent you also another piece, of a better sort, which I have left at this fair, and which contains forty-five ells. Should it seem adviseable to you, I wish Falckner to have this, in case he declines the black. But this cloth bears a higher price, namely, twenty-eight florins for forty ells, reckoning sixteen batzen to a florin. Falckner knows that we are accustomed to receive this value for every florin. I pray you to dispose of whatever cloth he may leave to some one else, and lay out the amount this year for the benefit of the poor, (if you have among you any who are exiles for the gospel's sake). If you decline doing this, by reason of not having among you exiles of this description, (and I admit no CVI.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 217 other claim,) I then wish you to make over the same sum to master Calvin for the same object. I am thinking moreover of sending you, by the Conrad above-mentioned, a fifth piece of cloth, of another colour, which a great number of my country men are accustomed to wear. I have much pleasure in making you a present of this, as being the stoutest. If you decline accepting it (which I hope you will not), you shall pay the money for it when I come. The price is thirty-two florins. Both here and at Strasburgh I am beginning to sell some cloth of the same colour, which has hitherto been very little in use. I cannot, by reason of my engagements, write this letter over again, either in a better or a larger hand. For I am here alone. At Strasburgh likewise I have no domestics, except one female servant. I have left them aU but one in England; for I have stiU 'an establishment in that country, such as it is. I only brought one servant with me from England, who at that time appeared to every one to be most zealous; and certainly, as long as he lived with me there, he was truly pious : but after he had seen the simpli city of the religious worship in this country, and especially not having his friends with him, and abundance of provisions and meat in the larder, as with us, he seemed to me very much to wish to return home. When I discovered this, I discharged him, after having given him a letter, by which he might obtain a situation with another master in the same line of business. I previously, however, set before him, as well as I was able, the wickedness of falling away from the truth on any ground of superstition. He left me notwithstanding ; but I hope that he stUl continues to savour of Christ in some measure. He is now living with a certain merchant, who in the time of liberty, three years since, professed the gospel among us after his way. But what indeed am I saying ? I scarcely know any one (with the exception of learned teachers,) who had a greater knowledge of religion than our friend Peterson. My late servant requests you to send his letters to Clare : I have inclosed them in my own letter, which in addition to this I have already sent you by Froschover. After he returned home from Strasburgh, from which place he fled with the greatest danger, he could not be compelled by the severest threatenings of his master; but said that things were optional, and indifferent, and I know not what. 218 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LETj By what means or by what persons he has been thus in fatuated, I know not; but this I know, that before my departure he voluntarily attended masses for the departed, and now does so on every feast-day through almost the whole autumn, as is the custom here. His wife indeed had a tolerable fortune ; he had with her, as I think, above three or four hundred golden angels of our money. My wife requests you to be kind enough to ask Falckner to send hither to Strasburgh, as soon as possible, a hundred, or at the least eighty pounds of the best butter. If he cannot contrive to send so large a vessel to my house, I wish him to send it to my friend, John Burcher, (who lodges either with master Myconius or master Isengrinius,) that he may send it to Basle for me, and I will pay whatever expense he may have incurred. I gave Christopher Froschover for you an English cheese with this mark +, wrapped in a linen cloth. My wife wished me to send one of the same kind to you and your wife, that you might make trial of our cheese as we do of your butter. But I would not have you return any thanks for this. I would not indeed on any account that you should trouble yourself to write your thanks for things of such little value as the trifling presents of my wife. I wiU dUigently salute brother B. in your name. I do not understand the other matter about which you wrote. I shall therefore say nothing about it, lest I should stiU more cast down the mind of him who is sufficiently cast down already. Should he happen to be summoned and sent for home, and should refuse to come, he wiU lose all that he now has. He is now anxious upon this subject, but more especiaUy because, if that event should take place, it is not likely that he will obtain the lady1 he wishes to marry; one who is truly pious, but, as I hear, from some constant disorder unsuited to the married state. Farewell. Yours, RICHARD HILLES. P.S. I am not a citizen of Strasburgh, for fear of losing the privileges I already enjoy in England and Brabant. The senate of Strasburgh is very well disposed towards me. I pay them ten florins every year. I have not taken any oath. It has happened, honoured sir, that before this my letter P See above, Lett. CIV. p. 197.] CVI.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 219 was sealed, Christopher Froschover has paid me the forty-five. florins owing to me by Falckner, and which were to be paid at this fair. He offered also to be answerable for whatever cloth I might choose to send to the aforesaid Falckner : so that there is no occasion for you to keep by you the cloth which I have above stated I would send you by Conrad Eblie ; excepting only that black cloth at twenty-eight florins, to gether with those eight eUs of yours, at thirty-two florins, as I above stated. I request you also to be kind enough to tell Falckner, that it has just come into my mind how often he used to speak to me about the yeUow cloth ; and that I have therefore sent him thirty-one ells by the aforesaid Conrad, together with thirty-one eUs and a half of white cloth, and twenty ells of green. The price of these is the same as that of the two entire pieces above-mentioned, namely, twenty-two florins for forty Frankfort ells. I request you, in case he should refuse any of these pieces of cloth, kindly to take them under your care, tUl I send you word by letter to whom you may deliver them ; unless you should happen to know any friend of yours who wUl take them at the same price, and send me the amount without faU by master Christopher Froschover, at the next Frankfort fair. For he has given me a bill in Falckner 's name for one hundred and three florins and six batzen, which is the exact price of the two entire pieces, with these last half pieces that I mentioned above. All these cloths, of which I have made mention in this letter, with the exception of your eight ells (which I have not cut from the same cloth that Conrad Eblie bought of me, lest you should perhaps wish to have another ell), are stamped upon their leaden seal with this my mark in the margin (x). You wUl receive, together with this letter, the opinion of our friend Capito on original sin. I have no news from England this fair, except that the king has not yet returned to London from the northern parts of the kingdom ; whither he proceeded with one thousand soldiers, after a new fashion, and a great number of tents, after the French fashion, to reduce a rebellious and very superstitious people. About twenty persons (of whom about twelve had formerly been monks) had endeavoured, five2 months since, secretly to raise P The northern countries broke out in open rebellion in April, 1541. Sir John Neville was their leader, but, with several of his ac complices, perished by the hand of the. executioner. Soames, n. 475.] 220 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER, [LET. a new disturbance in those parts : they were beheaded, hung, and drawn, after our custom, the June following, at London and York, which are the two principal cities in the kingdom. The king, before his setting but, beheaded also the mother1 of our countryman the cardinal, with two" others of our oldest nobility. I do not hear that any of the royal race are left, except the nephew of the cardinal3, and another boy', the son of the marquis of Exeter. They are both children, and in prison, and condemned, I know not why, except that it is said that their fathers had sent letters to Rome to the pope, and to their kinsman, the cardinal. The king's son by the third wife is still alive, but I do not speak about him. There is also living a natural son of king Ed ward, whose daughter Henry VII., the father of our pre sent king, married after the death of Richard the second [third]. But shortly before I left England he was sent from Calais (where he had formerly been the king's lieutenant, and, as you know, too near upon France,) to the Tower of London, the receptacle for such persons, where he was im prisoned by parliament at the same time as lord Cromwell was condemned, and still remains there waiting for the king's pardon. This illegitimate old man, when at Calais, was a most grievous persecutor of the gospel. (Edward left two sons, heirs of his kingdom, under the protection of the afore said Richard, their uncle. This Richard privately put to death these two amiable youths, his nephews, and for nearly P Margaret, countess of Salisbury, the mother of Cardinal Pole, had been kept in close confinement in the Tower since 1539, on sus picion of having carried on a secret correspondence with her son, by means of the rector of Warblington, a parish on the Hampshire coast, within a few miles of her seat at Cowdray, in Sussex. She was be headed on the green within the Tower, on May 27, 1541, on the rising of the new disturbances in Yorkshire. See Soames, n. 359, 475.] p One of these was lord Leonard Gray, deputy of Ireland, who was beheaded for suffering his nephew, proclaimed an enemy to the state, to make his escape. The other was Thomas Fynes, lord Dacre of the south, for having murdered a poor man who resisted him in an attempt to steal deer. He was hanged on the 25th of June. Soames, n. 477.] P Cardinal Pole was a younger son of sir Richard Pole, earl Montague, and had several brothers.] P This was Edward Courtenay, who was restored in blood and honours by parliament, Oct. 10, 1553. lie died in 1556, s. P., when all his honours became extinct.] CVI.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 221 three years held forcible possession of the kingdom.) Another of the chief nobility, a most cruel tyrant, not long after, fell from his horse, who was galloping of his own accord ; but he never afterwards spoke a word, for he miserably broke his neck. This was the earl of Essex5, whose property and lands, with his great manors and riches, Cromwell immediately obtained, but not for any length of time, as I know you have heard before now, if you have received the former letter sent by Froschover6. Strasburgh, Sept. 25. The king has appointed Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, and the chancellor of the king dom, (both of whom are now considered as our friends,) to be bis deputies in the south of England. But immediately on the king's departure they burnt at the stake in London, for fear, (as our Enghsh gospeUers think,) a young man7 eighteen years of age, on account of his entertaining the Lutheran opinion touching the eucharist. He did not alto gether deny a corporal presence, but asserted, as our Wycliffe8 did, that the accident of bread did not remain there without the substance. Again fareweU. The son of that great light of the world, master Zuinglius, is dead here, or rather has fallen asleep ; as have also many others, of whom there were the greatest hopes, in the coUege of Strasburgh. Once more fareweU, and live happily in the fear of the Lord ! p Henry Bourchier, earl of Essex, was killed by a fall from his horse in 1539. Thomas Cromwell was raised to the earldom 17th of April of the same year, and obtained all the property that fell to the crown on the decease of his predecessor, but was beheaded and atr tainted the year following. See Soames, II. 402. Burnet, in. 216.] p See the preceding letter, p. 217.] p This was Richard Mekins, a boy according to all accounts not above fifteen years of age, and both illiterate and very ignorant, who had said somewhat against the corporal presence of Christ's body in the sacrament, and in commendation of Dr Barnes. See Burnet, i. 481. Foxe, v. 441.] p "Of all the heresies that have ever grown up in the holy church of God, none is more abominable than that which makes this vener able sacrament an accident Without a subject." Wycliffe's Trialogus, B. iv.] 222 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LETj LETTER CVII. RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Nov. 23, 1541. The consolation of the Holy Ghost in your studies, at tended as they sometimes are with so much anxiety ! I received, most learned sir, your very gratifying letter on the twentieth of November. For your loving me as a brother (as I have frequently perceived to be the case from your former letters) I return you my warmest thanks, I now repent of having sent Falckner the cloth, because he is annoyed at my having sent him so much. I should not have sent him the black undipped cloth, of which he com plains, had not his letter been delivered to me so late at Frankfort. Nevertheless, I cannot let him have that cloth for eighteen florins; for it cost me more than twenty florins in England. Still, however, as it is now yonder, and especiaUy as the texture is so thick, and the wool coarse, I wiU be con tent with twenty florins, if he chooses to keep it. If he does not hke to do so, I pray you to receive back the cloth from him, and keep it by you until I write you word about it after next fair, or sooner. For I may probably think fit, if Falckner should dechne it, to devote it to another purpose. I did not reckon the fine cloth at more than twenty-eight florins. I sold Falckner some of the same quality, and at the same price, at the last Strasburgh fair. And yet I hardly know what to say about that cloth, as your merchants think it so dear, except that you advise master Falckner to return it to me next Lent, by some carrier of bis ac quaintance, who wUl pass through this place on his way to Frankfort. For I have no doubt but that I can sell it here at the same, or perhaps a greater price. If Falckner sends back the cloth, he will very much oblige me by sending at the same time three reams of the best paper that is manufactered by master Froschover. A ream contains twenty quires, and is called in German ein Riecks. I am greatly in want of paper of that sort. I have written this letter on a sheet of such paper as I require ; but should he have any of a better quality, I wish he would send one or two CVII.j RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 223 reams more, for Miles Coverdale, and the other English who are here. I will pay Froschover or Falckner for this paper, God willing, at the next fair. I request, moreover, master Froschover to pay you yonder on my account fifteen florins and twelve batzen for hah? the entire piece of fine black cloth, intended for the use you know of, (if Falckner wUl forward it to me here,) and I wiU faithfully repay the amount to Froschover at Frankfort. I am satisfied with your proposal respecting the other half pieces of cloth; namely, that Falckner may retain them, on condition that, if he is able to dispose of them, he shaU pay me the money at the next fair ; if not, he is to deliver them afterwards to some one at Frankfort, whom I wUl point out to him. I have sent some maxims to your excellency, not that you may write back your opinion respecting them, for I cannot desire such an interruption to your studies on my account; but I shaU be greatly obliged to you, if, when I come, you will condescend to teU me what you think about them. Salute, I pray you, my dear brother Falckner, and thank him in my name for the butter, which has been of great use to my famUy this winter. Request him too to remember the paper above-mentioned. He wishes me to let him know whether I have yet received your letter from the Frenchman, Von Homberg. In my last letter, if you remember, I informed your exceUency of my having received it. I purpose send ing you by the bearer a quart of fenugreek1, if he does not refuse to take it with him. My wife salutes yours, and do you also salute her in my name. May the God of all might preserve you from the baneful pestUence, and protect you under his wing, that his kingdom may be more widely ex tended by you on earth, and your reward be so much greater in heaven ! Amen. Yours in the Lord, RICHARD HILLES. P. S. I have sent the fenugreek to Basle, to John Burcher, an Englishman, who lodges at the house of master Myconius or Isengrinius. P Fenugreek was considered to possess many medicinal qualities: a decoction of it was recommended for diseases of tho chest. John son's Gerarde's Herbal, Lond. 1636, p. 1197.] 224 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER CVIII. RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, May 10, 1542. Health and perseverance in the truth of Christ ! After I returned home safe from Venice, I received your letter written on the 31st of March, and was affected on the perusal of it with no smaU delight, that you were engaged about a work so pious and so useful to the church, as to have it in contemplation to publish some books of commentaries upon Matthew. May our great and good God prosper your in tention, and give it a happy issue! Nothing has yet been done with H. Falckner at Frank fort respecting the fine cloth, and there is no reason why he should expect that I either will or can abate him a single batz. If, however, there should be left any of the same quality, I am content that he should send it me here to our fair ; and I shall be as wiUing to receive the remainder of the cloth as the money itself; for I am well aware what kind of cloth it was. I scarcely charged eleven batzen and a kreutzer for a Frankfort ell. And if I had the same cloth here, I could soon sell it by the piece at twelve batzen for a Strasburgh ell. I entreat you, my master, that we no longer defer the appropriation of that money, which I have destined out of the produce of this same cloth for the use of the poor exiles, namely, half the price of the same, or, if you choose, the whole of it. For I have already given master Calvin some money for the like purpose, although I mentioned not a word to him about you or that cloth, and never intend to do. Distribute therefore, what I have desired of my own free-will to be applied to the poor by your instrumentahty ; whether you choose to retain either the price of half the cloth, or, if need so require, of the whole. For the more I devote to them through you, so much the less do I leave to be applied to the like object by myself. Whatever I do in this matter, I do it voluntarily and cheerfully, and without a murmur. I therefore pray you, that, whether you deter mine to retain half the sum, if you prefer it, or the whole CVIII.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 225 sum, as I prefer myself, you wiU let me know by letter at our next fair. For I desire that, immediately on the receipt of this letter, you receive from IT. Falckner thirty-one florins and a half (reckoning sixteen batzen to a florin) on account of that cloth ; so that when Falckner shall come, there may be no occasion for any farther reckoning between him and me respecting it. Should he object, that he does not choose to purchase the cloth at that price, I pray you in that case to receive from him what is left, and sell it there, if you can, to your friends, or (which I would prefer for fear of inter rupting your studies) take care that it may be forwarded by some merchant to me here, and I will in return faithfully send you the amount in money to Zurich. I am glad that you have commended to me by letter Peter Hurtzel, and especiaUy Andrew Rappenstein; and if my wife had known as much at the last fair, she would not have required C. Froschover to be surety for them. I beg however that they wUl not be offended at what my wife did in this business ; for she had never seen them before, nor, as I remember, had ever heard them commended by me as they deserve. Those two honest men dealt honourably with me at Frankfort at the preceding fair ; for they owed me at that time about one hundred and thirty-three florins, all of which, save three, they sent me by master Conrad Eblie. But Henry did not act by me with so much good faith : for he owed me at the last fair (besides the fine cloth above-men tioned) near two hundred florins; out of which1 he has only paid forty-six florins and fourteen batzen for a friend of mine at Basle ; and these he paid so long after they were due, that my friend was obliged to send bis servant from Strasburgh to Basle, during Lent, with twenty out of those forty-six florins, because Falckner, even in so small a matter, had not performed what he had promised. My brother Butler, as I hear by letter, sold his whole patrimony in England last Lent; but he had not then re ceived the whole amount. And I am in fear for him, lest, when what he has done shaU have come to the king's ears by means of his sister's husband, who belongs to the court, he may be forbidden again to leave the kingdom. Elliot is studying the civil law, or, to speak more properly, the laws P A word is here unintelligible in the MS.] r i 15 [ZURICH LETTERS, III. J 226 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. of our realm, in which he has made such proficiency, that he is now holding an office, from whence he derives an annual income of nearly two hundred florins. But Bartholomew Traheron has, with much difficulty, retired from court into the country, where he is about to marry the daughter of a gentleman who favours godly doctrine ; and with this young lady he will have a yearly income, as I hear, of one hundred and twenty florins, for sixty years, out of some estate which is leased to him for that time by his father-in-law for a certain sum. He intends, moreover, to teach grammar, and to keep a school for little boys, in some smaU town in that district. Respecting the state of the kingdom at large I have nothing certain to communicate, except what I imagine you must have heard these three months, namely, that the king has beheaded his wife, Catherine Howard, whom he married immediately after his divorce from Anne of Cleves. This Catherine was condemned upon a great suspicion of adultery (as is universaUy reported by the English) with two gentle men, who had also intercourse with her before the king married her. The lady Rochford too, the widow of that nobleman who was capitally punished, as you know, for incest with his sister, queen Anne, was beheaded at the same time. This widow, as they say, was privy to the ficentiousness of that Catherine who was lately beheaded : for she used often to sleep with the queen ; and when she knew her once to have been a long time absent from her bed-chamber in a private place, at the same time, as they say, that one of those gentlemen who were beheaded was there, she nevertheless refrained from mentioning the circumstance to the king. The old duchess dowager of Norfolk is also condemned to perpetual imprisonment in the Tower of London, and like wise lord William Howard, a brother of the duke of Norfolk, because they were cognizant of the vicious life of queen Catherine, when the king first fell in love with her, and did not acquaint him with it before that hasty marriage had taken place. One of the parties1, who was first hanged, and afterwards beheaded and quartered, for adultery with the queen, was one of the king's chamberlains ; and two years P This, probably, was Culpepper, who was a gentleman of the privy chamber. See Holinshed, m. 823. Ed. 1808.] CVIII.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 227 before, or less, had violated the wife of a certain park-keeper in a woody thicket, while, horrid to relate ! three or four of his most profligate attendants were holding her at his bid ding. For this act of wickedness he was, notwithstanding, pardoned by the king, after he had been delivered into custody by the villagers on account of this crime, and hive- wise a murder which he had committed in his resistance to them, when they first endeavoured to apprehend him. God, who is just, wiU not always suffer wickedness, either here or elsewhere, to go unpunished. You cannot, without danger to my affairs, write me any thing concerning the christian religion : besides, if you could, I am not worthy of such honour. I have therefore to return many thanks to your benevolence for your favourable incli nation towards me; and I pray you to confer this honour upon some one else, who may be worthy of it. I received your cheese before sealing this letter, and I am very sorry that you have spent so much money on my account; and most of all, that you are Ul of a fever. But all the works of the Lord are just judgments, who chastiseth those whom he loveth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. I pray you to accept, as a present from me, those eight ells of cloth, and not to send the money ; for I heartUy wish you to keep it, and to make use of the cloth, if you please, as a token, such as it is, that I love you in the Lord, and have a real affection for you. After having read over again this barbarous letter of mine, I was so ashamed of it, that I was almost determined to tear it, and not to write to you at aU ; and I certainly should have done so, had you not invited me to write to you upon the state of aU our affairs. And now, my most esteemed master, fareweU in Christ : for in future I have no intention of writing to you again, except, perhaps, by some amanuensis when necessity obliges me. My wife salutes you, and your most amiable lady. Deign also to salute your wife in my name. Once more, fareweU in God, who is our portion in the land of the living, and our hope in eternity ! Amen. Yours, you know who, RICHARD HILLES. 15—2 228 RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. [LET. LETTER CIX. RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. Dated at Strasburgh, Dec. 18, 1542. I received your books, most esteemed master, together with the letter ; and I feel more gratitude for them in my heart than I can express with my pen. And yet, had I known that you were about to present me with those books, I should certainly have bought a copy for myself at Frank fort, and not have said a word to you about them. For why should I lay an additional burden upon your kindness, after the great expense you have already incurred there on my account? I wish, sir, I had consulted you sooner about reading authors and studying histories. For first I read Bernard Justiniani1 on the affairs of the Venetians, the Tripartite History2, and the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, together with his Evangelical Preparation, and Demonstra tion. I do not so much regret having read them, only that I now perceive from your letter, that I could have employed the time I spent in perusing them to better purpose. The Demonstration of Eusebius was rather wearisome to me, because the holy scriptures are every where explained so absurdly, if I may use such an expression, especiaUy with respect to the word3, and against the Jews4. He seems, P Bernard Justiniani or Giustiani was nephew of the patriarch of Venice of that name. He went many times to Rome as ambassador from the republic, and died in 14S9, leaving several works, the princi pal of which is, a History of Venice, printed in 1492.] P The Tripartite History is a compilation by Cassiodorus from the Latin translations of the ecclesiastical histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret.] [3 Hilles probably refers to the third chapter of the fourth boot of the Evangelical Demonstration of Eusebius, in which he discusses the nature of Christ, the Logos ; which, ho says, God produced from himself, as the sun produces his light,' or the flower its scent, &c. The passage is too long to quote.] P The object of the second book of the Evangelical Demonstration is to prove the vocation of the gentiles, and the rejection of the un believing Jews.] CIX.] RICHARD HILLES TO HENRY BULLINGER. 229 moreover, to entertain wrong notions about free-wiU5, the marriage of the clergy6, and the fifth chapter of Matthew. I found some things, however, in that work which pleased me exceedingly; for instance, his opinion respecting the new testament, and about Daniel's seventy weeks7. I ran through these books before I came to Zurich; and also TertuUian, whom I found to be such as you had commended him to me. I was not so much displeased with the difficulty of his style, as I was delighted and profited by bis remarkable piety, simplicity, and right judgment respecting the eucharist, as weU as on many other points. I collected many things from him, (as also from the ecclesiastical histories,) by which I shall be able to stop the mouths of many of my countrymen, who are always telling us, that to the pure aU things are pure ; that God is a spirit ; that he only requires of us our heart, and a mind weU imbued with knowledge, — and the like epicu rean sentiments. I happened to light upon that author on sale here in the market, on which occasion (not, as I think, without the pro vidence of God) I bought and read him over. But as he was scarcely known to- me by name before, he procured me this advantage, namely, of affording the first handle for my pouring forth my questions to you when I was with you. Not however, thank God, that I am ignorant of what has been observed by many, and as you weU know, that the opinions of this writer are frequently to be rejected ; and that in other places he must be read with judgment, even in the treatise De prcescriptione Hazreticorum : as when he says, that one must not dispute with heretics8, nor must they be P The following passage may perhaps be referred to. ToOtoi> yap dnao~n ¦jrvxv v o/W hrjjuovpyos imeo"rr) J? rmv ydaav dvax