BOOK wicked idol the mass was, and what a difference there was III. between the Lord's supper and that: and what popes Anno 1554. brought in every part of the mass, and put them together, as it was then used. Humfrey. Traheron. Fox. Laurence Humfrey, while he was in exile, wrote a book in Latin, intituled, Optimates, being instructions for noblemen, in three books. It was printed at Basil by Oporinus, and dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, soon after her entrance upon her kingdom. The reason of this his discourse was out of an universal love to mankind, and desire to better the condition of the world, whose welfare depended so much upon the sobriety and virtue of those of noble rank and quality: "Since nobility, as he wrote, widely spread "itself through all the regions and coasts of Christendom, "and was preferred to places of trust and honour in all "princes' courts, and was the very nerve and strength of "commonwealths: and since from it issued the greatest helps or hinderances to the public safety, pure religion, "the lives and manners of men: therefore he thought, "the gentry and nobility being imbued with right and "christian opinions, not formed to the corrupt rules of "antiquity, kings would govern better, the ministers of "ecclesiastical matters would more faithfully perform their functions, and the common sort would more diligently 66 66 66 discharge all necessary offices, and the whole common"weal might seem more healthfully to breathe, to live, and "to recover and persist in a good constitution." Beside this excellent book both for the matter and elegancy of the Latin style, he printed two or three other things at Basil; and he wrote, while he was abroad, a Commentary upon the Prophet Isaiah. But I know not whether it were published. Bartholomew Traheron, library-keeper to King Edward, and Dean of Chichester, made divers readings to the English congregation upon the beginning of St. John's Gospel; and after printed them, against the wicked enterprises of the new start-up Arians in England. John Fox, famous to posterity for his immense labours in his Acts and Monuments, was received by the accurate and learned printer Oporinus of Basil, for the corrector of his press. He published (and which, I think, was the first thing XV. he published, and his first-fruits) a Chronological History of CHAP. the Church. The first part from the first times unto Martin Luther. This book he presented unto Oporinus, with an Anno 1554. handsome epistle: wherein "he desired to be received by "him into his service, and that he would vouchsafe to be "his learned patron, under whom he might follow his stu“dies, being one that would be content with a small salary: 359 promising him, that, if he would employ him either there, "at Basil, or at Argentine, or some university, (which he "should rather choose,) Aut me (said he) destituent omnia, “aut efficiam, Christo opitulante, ut omnes politioris literaturæ homines intelligant, quantum Operiano et nomini et "officina debeant.” 66 ments. While he was here employed by Oporinus, at spare hours His Acts he began his History of the Acts of the Church, in Latin: and Monu. which he drew out more briefly at first; and, before his return home into England, well near finished. Having here completed the copy, which was but the first part of what he intended, but making a just volume in folio, he sent this work to Basil to be printed: and so it was in the year 155—. It remained many years after in those parts in great request, and was read by foreign nations; although hardly known at all by our own. Being now in peace and safety at home, Fox reviewed this his work, and, in the year 1566, first published it in English very voluminous, because of those many relations of the persecutions in Queen Mary's days, that came to his hands. All this work he did himself, without the help of any amanuensis, nor had he any servant to do his necessary domestic business; being fain to be often diverted by his own private occasions from his work. He afterwards enlarged these his labours into three large volumes, which have since undergone many editions. But to look back to what he published in his exile: there Books by him pubcame to his hand all the trials and examinations of the lished in learned martyr Joh. Philpot, Archdeacon of Winchester, exile. drawn up by himself; and, finally, his death, being burnt in Smithfield, 1555. These things Fox put into Latin, (as he had an excellent Latin style,) and printed with this title; Mira ac elegans cum primis Historia, vel Tragedia potius, de tota ratione examinationis et condemnationis J. Philpotti Ar III. BOOK chidiaconi Wincestrice, nuper in Anglia exusti: Ab autore primum lingua sua congesta; nunc in Latinum versa, Interprete Anno 1554. J. F.A. He had also a great hand in publishing of Zonaras and Balsamon upon the Apostles' Canons in Latin: to which he set this title; Enarrationes, seu Commentarii in Canones Sanctorum Apostolorum et Synodorum, tum quæ Universales, tum quæ Provinciales: Quæque item et privatim quorundam priscorum Patrum propriæ extiterunt. Autoribus Jo. Zonara Monacho religiosa et Sanctæ Glyceria: Qui prius Drungarius, seu Præfectus erat Bigla, et summus Secretarius. Atque etiam Theodoro Balsamensi; qui prius ecclesiæ Antiochena Diaconus, Librarius seu custos chartarum, et Præpositus Blachernensium, deinde et Archiepiscopus est factus ejusdem Ecclesiæ simul et totius Orientis. Which probably was a book printed at Oporinus's press, over which he had care; and made this title, and perhaps translated it into Latin. Translates Cranmer's into Latin. Here at Basil Fox was set on work by Peter Martyr to book of the translate into Latin Archbishop Cranmer's book of the SaSacrament crament: that is, his large dispute with Winchester. Which Fox fell upon, while Cranmer was yet in prison. In quo [libro] videbit spero, (saith he, in a letter to Oporinus,) propediem universa Germania, quicquid de causa Eucharistica vel dici vel objici, vel excogitari a quoquam poterit. But this never saw the light, the manuscript thereof yet lying in my hands. In 1557, Fox set forth a little book, pleading the 360 cause of the afflicted with their persecutors, and comforting the afflicted. Of which Thomas Lever, who was preacher to the English congregation at Arrow, gave this character, in a letter which he sent to Fox, who had presented him with this book: Letter to "SALUTEM P. in Christo, Charissime Frater; Literas "tuas accepi, et libellum parvum, in quo magna cum erudi"tione, et pientissimo zelo, causam afflictorum apud perse"cutores tyrannos sic agis, ut omnes, qui curant aut impios "admonendos, aut pios consolatione recreandos, id plene a Foxii MSS." te perfectum videant. Quod ipsi bene curatum velint. Et quoniam meæ vocationis munus in hujusmodi admonitionibus et consolationibus versatur plurimum, scias velim, quod misso ad me parvo libello, magnum dedisti mihi be 66 XV. "neficium. Dignum igitur, nihil habens, quod tibi pro me- CHAP. "ritis rependam, exiguum aureolum mitto, rogoque acci"pias, ut certum indicium mei animi erga te tuaque studia; Anno 1554. "quibus alendis augendisque tantum nunc polliceor, quan"tum unquam potuero, præstare. Vale in Christo, et mihi "saluta Uxorem tuam atque omnem Familiam: Rogoque "ut mei, meique ministerii memores sitis in precibus vestris apud Deum. Iterum vale, vivens in Domino. Aroviæ, "7. Novemb. 1557. 66 "Tuus fideliter in Christo, Th. Leverus." Fox also wrote an expostulatory letter to the lords spiritual and temporal of England, to desist those barbarities that were then used towards innocent men in England: killing, burning, imprisoning, sequestering them without all mercy. The letter, so pathetically penned, deserves a place in the Appendix, for the preservation thereof. Num. LXXXV. To all these English writers, during their exile, must John Bale the antiquarian be added; who now published Bale. and printed in Basil his admirable book of Centuries, giving an account of the lives and writings of all such as were born, English and Scotish. John Knokys, or Knox, another fugitive, is the last I shall Knox. mention, fearing I have been too large in this digression already. He was a Scotchman, but had lived in England, in King Edward's days, with great respect; and very zealously preached the Gospel in London, Buckinghamshire, Newcastle, Berwick, and other places of the north and south parts. He wrote now an epistle to the faithful in those places, and to all others in the realm of England. "Where"in he earnestly dissuaded them from communicating in the "idolatry then established; and to flee, as well in body as "spirit, having society with the idolaters: and that as they "would avoid God's vengeance: as the burning of cities, 66 laying the land waste, enemies dwelling in the strong "holds, wives and daughters defiled; and children falling "by the sword. Which he assured them would happen to "the nation, because of its return to idolatry, and refusing "of God's mercy, when he so long had called upon them. "This his affirmation, he said, would displease many, and 66 66 66 more. 66 " content few. But, to confirm them in the belief of what " he had said, he bad them recollect what he had formerly spoke in their presence, and in the presence of others: a great part whereof was then come to pass. He mentioned particularly what he said at Newcastle and Berwick, be"fore the sweating sickness, and what at Newcastle, upon "All-Saints day, the year in which the Duke of Somerset "was last apprehended: and what he said before the Duke "of Northumberland in the same town, and other places Also what he said before the King at Windsor, Hampton Court, and Westminster; and what he said “in London, in more places than one, when both fires and "riotous banquetings were made for the proclaiming "of Queen Mary. He foretold these present calamities; "not that he delighted in them, as he said, or in the plagues that should befall this unthankful nation. No, hist "heart mourned: but if he should cease, he should then do "against his conscience and knowledge. Then he pro"ceeded to give them the ground of this his certitude: "which he took from the Scriptures. And so, in conclusion, "he counselled them, as they would avoid the destruction "that was coming, that they should have nothing to do "with the abominable idol of the mass; that is, the seal "of that league which the Devil had made with all the pestilent sons of Antichrist, as he phrased it." 66 66 It may be inquired, how these exiles were maintained, considering the great numbers of them, and the poverty of many. God stirred up the bowels of the abler sort, both in England, and in the parts where they sojourned, to pity and relieve them, by very liberal contributions conveyed unto them from time to time. From London especially came often very large allowances: till Bishop Gardiner, who had his spies every where, got knowledge of it; and, by casting the benefactors into prison, and finding means to impoverish them, that channel of charity was in a great measure stopped. After this, the senators of Zurick, at the motion of Bullinger their superintendent, opened their treasures unto them. Besides, the great ornaments then of religion and learning, Melancthon, Calvin, Bullinger, Gualter, Lavater, Gesner, and others, sent them daily most comfortable letters, |