BOOK a book Calvin's 66 doctrine of tion. may The preface of that writer against Calvin's doctrine began thus, according to this translation. "Thy doctrine, Anno 1578. "John Calvin, (a man much renowned in all the world,) Answering "hath many favourers; but therewithal the same in like against "manner hath many adversaries. But I, who wish there be one doctrine, as there is one truth, and all to conpredestina-"sent thereunto, if it may be, have thought convenient to "admonish thee familiarly of those things which are usually "boasted against this doctrine; that if they be false, thou "wouldest refute them: and send thy refutation to us, that "we may the rather withstand them; and do it with such proof as the people may understand. There be many "things wherein many dissent from thee. But for the pre"sent, he said, he would deal with him of the argument "of destiny, or predestination. Because both this article "moved much controversy in the church, which they "wished might be suppressed; and also, that his [Calvin's] "reason in this argument seemed to be such, as could not "be refelled by those books which hitherto he had pub"lished." 557 66 The articles which this writer had gathered out of Calvin's books (which Beza calleth slanders, and answereth distinctly) were such as these. "I. The first article, that is, the first slander: God, in "the bare and alone determination of his will, hath created "the greatest part of the world to perdition. "II. The second slander: God hath not only predestinate "Adam to damnation, but to the causes of damnation. “Whose fall he did not only foresee, but would it with an "eternal and secret decree; and ordained, that he should "fall. Which that it might come to pass in his time, he "appointed an apple the cause of his fall. "III. The sins that are committed are done, not only by "his sufferance, but also by his will. For it is frivolous "to assign a difference between the sufferance and will of "God. “ IV. All the wicked acts that man committeth are the good and just works of God. XIV. "V. No adultery, theft, or murder is committed, but the CHAP. "will of God cometh in betwixt. Institut. chap. xxiv. "distinct. 44. "VI. That the scripture manifestly witnesseth, that "wicked acts are assigned to God; not only willing, but "the author thereof. "VII. Whatsoever men do, when they sin, they do it "by the will of God: for because the will of God ofttimes "striveth with his commandment. “VIII. The hardening of Pharaoh, and moreover his fro"wardness of mind and rebellion, was the work of God. "And that by the testimony of Moses, who ascribeth to "God the whole rebellion of Pharaoh. "IX. The will of God is the chief cause of the harden❝ing of men." Other articles attributed by this writer to Calvin were, "That Satan was a liar by the power of God. That God "giveth will to them that work wickedness: yea, he mi"nistereth wicked and unhonest affections, not only by suf"ferance, but effectually: and that for his own glory. The "wicked in their wickedness do rather God's work than "their own. We sin of necessity by the sense of God, "when we sin of our own, or at adventure. Lastly, Those things which men commit by their own wicked inclina 66 Anno 1578. his doctrine presented. tion, the same also proceedeth of the will of God." These uncharitable consequences and odious insinuations Calvin and from the doctrine of predestination and the will of man, as wronged stated by Calvin, highly provoked the church of Geneva, and misreInsomuch that Beza, the chief minister there, answered every one of those articles with some sharpness; calling them all downright slanders, calumnies, and lies; and him sycophant, and in one place, devil. " Wilt thou, devil, never "leave thy slander?" And by his learning confuting the adversary's arguments; and appealing frequently to Calvin's own writings; wherein these dangerous doctrines were utterly disallowed and discovered by him. And finally, concludes that this man's doctrine is patched together of the doctrines of papists, anabaptists, Servetus, and Pelagius. VOL. II. PART II. II. BOOK The translation of this book, he that employed himself in the doing of it did think would be of great use to English Anno 1578. readers, his countrymen; especially those that wandered in the way of ignorance, and took part with the wicked cause, for lack of helps. The Way of Now came forth likewise a book of practical religion, in quarto, translated also out of Latin into English, called The Way of Life; written by a divine of fame in the king558 dom of Denmark; being a Christian and catholic institution; comprising principal points of Christian religion; which are necessary to be known of all men. Gratulatio Waldenen sis. The History of the Wars in Italy, in English, writ by din. Gratulatio Waldenensis was set forth this year by Gabriel Harvey. It was a description of the queen's reception of the university of Cambridge at Audley End, in the precincts of the town of Walden in Essex. Printed in Latin by Henry Binneman: in four books. The title of the first book, Gabrielis Harveii Xaîpe: vel Gratulationis Valdinensis liber primus. Ad magnificentissiman principem, et augustissimam reginam Elizabetham Audleianis ædibus regifice exceptam. The second book, to the earl of Leicester. The third, to lord Burghley. The fourth, to the earl of Oxford, sir Christopher Hatton, and sir Philip Sidney. And to conclude: this year also was printed, in a fair folio, the history of the excellent Italian historian, Guicciardine ; translated into English by Geffrey Fenton: containing the wars of Italy and other parts, continued for many years unGuicciar- der sundry kings and princes: wherein much history of religion is interspersed; and of stirs occasioned by the pope. The editor dedicated this his translation to queen ElizaQueen Eli- beth. In his epistle he took notice, " of her great skill in skill in his- "history; wherein she, far above all other princes, had a "most singular insight and judgment. And concerning "state and government, [which that book chiefly treated zabeth's tory and government. 66 of,] God had expressed in the person of her majesty, a "most rare and divine example to all other kings of the "earth, for matter of policy and sound administration. All "law of reason, of equity, and of other impression whatsoever, did challenge to appropriate the address of the work 66 "to her. In whom, for her inspired science and spirit to CHAP. "judge of monuments and events of things; and for the XIV. 66 66 66 felicity of her government in seasons so perilous and con- Anno 1578, spiring, all kings and kingdoms and nations round about her, rose up to reverence, in her form of governing, that property of wisdom and virtue; which, it seems, God "had restrained to her majesty only, without participation "to any of them. And in that regard they held her, as he "added, the sacred and fixed star: which light God would "not have put out; though the devices of men on all sides "were busy to draw clouds and dark vails to obscure "it," &c. And again; "That God had raised and esta"blished her majesty a sovereign prince of several nations "and languages: and with the fruits of a firm and con"tinued peace, had plentifully enriched the people of her "dominions; restored religion and the church of Christ, "to dwell anew among us; made her strength awful to all "her neighbours; and lastly, had erected her seat upon a "high hill or sanctuary, and put into her hands the balance "of power and justice, to peaze and counterpeaze at her "will the actions and counsels of all the Christian king"doms of her time." This I thought worthy the extracting from the grave writer; who lived in, and was an observer of these very times: to shew what honour and reputation she had by this time of her reign attained to among her subjects, and through the Christian world, for her great wisdom, learning, favour, and protection of true religion, and abilities in government, and awful respect among the princes of the earth. forth abroad For what books of note of religious subjects were pub-Books of lished abroad, I transcribe a paragraph of the famous Hel- religion set vetian divine, Rodolphus Gualter, in an epistle to Cox, bi- in Germany. shop of Ely: Ego his nundinis [Francofurtensibus] nihil 559 in lucem dedi præter sermones Germanicos X. de pane vitæ, Jesu Christi, et ejus vera manducatione; ex Joannis sexto cap. Quos si aliquando Latinos fecero, ad te mittam. Julius se mittere dixit Benedicti Talmanni libellum, quo novum illud et portentosum de ubiquitate corporis Christi II. BOOK dogma, cgregie confutatur. Sub prelo est liber doctissimus de orthodoxo consensu ecclesiæ veteris in negotio cœnæ Anno 1578. Domini. The sum of which words was, his mention of three books: one was, ten sermons of his concerning the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, and the true eating of him; from St. John, chap. vi. Another, A confutation of the new and monstrous doctrine of the ubiquity of the body of Christ: by Benedict Talman. A third, Of the orthodox consent of the ancient church in the business of the Lord's Supper: being a very learned book. CHAP. XV. The queen's match with the French king's brother; concerted. Provoked by a seditious book against it. Issueth out a proclamation: the sum thereof. Stubbs the author punished: remains prisoner in the Tower. His petition. A nobleman (thought to be sir Philip Sydney) writes to the queen, upon the parliament's suits to her to marry. The earl of Leicester under dislike with the queen about this French match. His protestation, and offer of exile. Anno 1579. THIS year 1579, the French match with queen Elizabeth The French was earnestly concerted. Which some of her wise statescerted ear- men thought necessary, for the security of the kingdom: nestly. that there might be an heir of the queen's body to inherit the crown: though the difference of religion (monsieur being a papist) did create a great fear and disturbance in most men's minds. So that both bishops and preachers, as well as the generality of her subjects, dislike it utterly. match con The arch bishop of The queen thought fit to cast forth some expressions to York's ad- Sandys, archbishop of York, about this affair. And he, in vice of it to his correspondence with the earl of Shrewsbury, thus wrote Shrews- from London, March 5, how matters then went: viz. bury. the earl of "That things were very uncertain: and that he had omit"ted writing to him, because these uncertain times could bring forth no certainties. That the French matter had 66 |