CHAP. Anno 1550. Cheke is afflicted at Bucer's death. SECT. VIII. Concerned about the death of Bucer, the King's Professor at Cambridge. THOUGH Cheke was gone from the University, yet he bore a great share in the affairs there. The latter end of the year 1550, Martin Bucer, whom the King had sent thither to read divinity, died; which did very much affect him, considering the great loss the University sustained in being deprived of such a man, whose readings had been so beneficial to the students there, for the enlightening them about the truth of religion, and freeing their minds from the corrupt notions that had hitherto so infected the study of theology; and, as Cheke himself wrote to Peter Martyr upon this occasion, that the Cantabrigians had been in this respect happier than others, that God had sent so great a man to them, and that Christ's discipline took such deep root by him. Bucer's death was bitter to Cheke upon this public account; and not therefore only, but because of that dearness and friendship that was between them. Which Nicolas Car (one of Cheke's University friends) well knowing, could not but by a letter relate to him the sad news of his death. And that for this reaCarri Epist. son, Quis enim illo charior tibi? quem is dilexit te magis? &c. i. e. "For who was dearer to you than he? "whom did he love more than you? for whom did he per"form more offices of respect and love? and whom did 66 you embrace as you did him? So that he, methinks, was happy, who had a value for such a man as you; and you "most happy in holding so strait a conjunction with so 66 holy and learned a man as he." in mort. Buc. Writes to Martyr the news of Bu 66 And knowing how heavily the other pious and his fellow foreigner, and Professor at Oxford, Peter Martyr, must cer's death. needs take his death, Cheke thought good, in a consolatory letter, to acquaint him with it; beginning, Ita natura fert, &c. And to give you a taste of his pious spirit, I shall translate some passages of his said letter: "He VIII. 66 thought," he said, "that such a man as he [Peter Mar- SECT. "tyr] was, would bear moderately and christianly the "death of that grave and religious man; and that his na- Anno 1550. "ture would not shew itself so repugnant to the will of "God, as to suffer any too vehement disturbance to enter "into his mind in such a common and natural accident, to "which all were subject. You know," said he, "whose "he was when he lived; who dwelt in him; how he was "not his own, nor at his own command, who had devoted "himself wholly to the service of Him by whom he was re"deemed. And since God gave him not to us, but lent him “for some time, shall we bear it the more bitterly that God "hath called for him, and not rather give him thanks that " he hath so long left him with us? That his years and "age was such, that though he were worthy of longer life, 66 yet nature could not extend it further. And when he "had led a most constant life, and with the same con"stancy finished it, with how much joy ought his friends "and acquaintance to be affected, that he was thus taken "away by God, that malice might not pervert his mind; " and that by the constancy of his death he might com"plete and crown the innocency of his life. And who is "there that can doubt of the Divine power, wisdom, and "goodness? Nor ought we to contend with him, but to "submit ourselves to his greatness and power: that we "take with a thankful mind whatsoever is offered to us "from so great an Author, lest we be found stubborn in "crying out against his doings, or weak in not bearing "what he lays on us, or ingrateful in taking amiss what "he sends. But it is a very fond thing, and unworthy of "the spirit of Christ, to think that we can do any thing "better than the rule of Divine Providence hath ap66 pointed; the foolishness of which [Providence] doth far "exceed all the reach of human understanding. But wis"dom can be seen by none, when nothing spiritual or "divine can affect our understanding, in many respects “ depressed and dark, unless brought in by the light of the "Spirit. But they that think God is good and favourable III. CHAP. "unto his people, (who turneth all things to good, not "only miseries and afflictions, but even sinful and wicked Anno 1550. " actions,) how can they persuade their minds, that this is 66 unprofitable, hurtful, and damageable to those that be"long to him? of whom he taketh so exact a care, that "not a hair of their heads falls to the ground without his "will. And when in all our prayers to God we join this, "that his will may be done, how inconstant and light "shall we be, if before we ask of God to do what he 66 pleaseth, but afterwards we cannot bear that which we "have asked: and that which we prayed for before, we "now do pray against; not bearing that change, whereby "God would have his people exercised and instructed to 66 patience and suffering. For although we have lost a great ornament and pillar of integrity, religion, and doc"trine; yet he is not to be lamented, who is gone to his "Father's inheritance, for which we here are labouring "with misery; neither is the state of the Church to be "lamented, which hath sent away so great a man to hea66 ven. Nor ought we to lament our own afflicted (as they 66 appear) and decaying affairs, who should place more hope and safety in the Spirit of Christ, than in the voice ❝even of an Apostle. But let us," as he subjoined, "learn "hence to draw away our thoughts unto Christ, and again "and again to beg his saving Spirit; that the Church, "being, as it were, devoid of all outward defence, may be "refreshed by the inward aid of his Spirit; and while we "are deprived of our so great a parent, may be relieved by the authority of his Spirit.But why do I thus "discourse with you? While I talk with you, I comfort "myself; and while I meditate the ease of your sorrow, I "seek some medicine for mine own disease: not so much 66 studying what is fit for me to write to you, as what 66 seems convenient to ease mine own grief." And then, as a further means to comfort Peter Martyr, (to whom he wrote all this,) when he should hear with what honour and respect his funerals were celebrated by the University, Cheke descended to shew him how he was interred in the VIII. University church: that his corpse was attended thither by SECT. the Vice-Chancellor, the Doctors, and others that had obtained degrees in the University, and by all the rest of the Anno 1550. Scholars; and likewise by the Mayor of the town, and the townsmen, who joined themselves with the University, the more to honour his funerals, to the number, in all, of three thousand persons. And that after the customary prayers were said, Haddon, Doctor of Laws, and Orator of the University, made an excellent Latin oration, setting forth the praises of the great man deceased; and Dr. Parker, Head of a college, [he that was afterwards advanced to be Archbishop of Canterbury,] made a sermon in English. That the next day they resorted to the church again, when Dr. Redman, another venerable man of the University, preached a sermon upon the occasion; and the students did their parts, in honouring his hearse with copies of verses. And lastly, that the good Archbishop Cranmer took care of his family; and that the University had wrote to the King and his Council in that behalf. All this did Cheke impart to Martyr, concerning Bucer's death, by a letter sent to Oxford. vice to the Bucer. To which I may add another letter upon the same sub- Cheke's adject, by the same pen, sent to Cambridge to Dr. Parker University afore-mentioned, who was Bucer's executor: it is extant, concerning and remaining among the MSS. of Bene't college, and lately published in the Memorials of Archbishop Cranmer. Therein he signified, that he had delivered the University's letter to the King, and spoke with the Lords of the Council, and with Archbishop Cranmer, for Bucer's widow. That he doubted not, but " she would be well and worthily "considered. That the University had not done so great "honour to Mr. Bucer, as credit and worship to themselves. "The which, if they would continue in, as they ceased not "to complain, they might be a great deal better provided "for than they thought they were. That if they would “have sought either to recover or to increase the good "opinion of men, they could not have devised wherein by "more duty they might worthily be commended, than in III. 66 CHAP. "following so notable a man with such testimony of ho66 nour, as the child ought to do to his father, and the Anno 1550." lower to his superior. And though he doubted not, but "the King's Majesty would provide some grave, learned 66 man to maintain God's true learning in his University, 66 yet he thought, that of all learned men, in all points, "they should not receive Mr. Bucer's like; whether his "deepness of knowledge were considered, or his earnestness in religion, his fatherliness in life, or his authority "in knowledge. He wished that what was wanting 66 now by Mr. Bucer's death, they would, by diligence and "wisdom, fulfil in themselves; and what they praised in Cheke de- "others, would labour to obtain themselves." Then he papers for prayed Dr. Parker, that Bucer's books and scrolls unwritthe King's ten might be sent up, and saved for the King, that he, library. choosing such as should like him best, might return the other without delay; except Mrs. Bucer thought some other better thing to be done with them, or that she should have loss by them, if they should not be in her ordering. He was tender of being in the least prejudicial to the benefit of her whose husband he so much valued, however desirous he was to furnish the young King's library with the books and MSS. that once belonged to a man of such worth and note as Bucer was. sires Bucer's Cheke's SECT. IX. Cheke piously writes unto Dr. Haddon, being sick. MENTION was made of Dr. Haddon. He was Doctor consolatory of Laws, of King's college, and one of the topping men of Haddon. the University for piety, good learning, and especially for letter to a cleanly Ciceronian style, and was one of Cheke's chief friends. At this very time he laboured under a dangerous lingering sickness, that had brought him very low. And yet, in the midst of it, however indisposed he was, his respects to Bucer put him upon pronouncing an oration at his funerals, as was shewed before, when he seemed in all outward appearance to be the very next man to follow him. Cheke |