The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Daniel Tossanus
D. TOSSANVS
The Life of Daniel Tossanus, who dyed Ano Christi 1602.
DAniel Tossanus was born at Mombelgart in Wirtemberg, Anno Christi 1541.His birth and education. His Father was Minister in that town about six and thirty yeares, who carefully brought up this his son in learning, and … fourteen years old sent him to the University of Basil, He goes to Basil.where he continued two years, and then he commenced Batchelor of Arts: From thence Anno Christi 1557 he went to Tubing, … Tibing.and was there main…ain…d to his studyes for two yeares more by the bounty of … Ch…istopher, who did it for his Fathers sake, who for many years had deserved so well of the Church of Mombelgart.
Our Daniel whilst he was at T…bing applyed himself to the study of humane Arts and Philosophy, in which he profited so eminently in a short space, that at the end of two years he was made Master of Arts,He is Master of Arts. and then was sent for …ack by his father to Mombelga…t, where hee preached for a while, and then went to Paris to learne the French Tongue,He goes to Paris. and to proceed in his other studies.
Anno Christi 1560 he went from Paris to Orleance, Thence to Orleance.where he read Hebrew publickly, and after a while was made Deacon in that Church, and two years after Minister, An. Christi 1562 and of his age twenty one, which place he undertook there rather than in his own country, partly because of the great want of Pastors in the French Churches, as also because he agreed with them in his judgement about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament.
At this time there was the most flourishing Church in all France in Orleance, A famous Church at Orleance.consisting of above seven thousand persons, that had excellent Pastors over them: Into the number of which our Daniel being admitted, not long after hee resolved to marry,His marriage. and accordingly, viz. 1565 hee married Mary Covet of Paris, whose Father had been Advocate to the Queen Mother in the Parliament of Paris, and whose Mother being a Widdow, and having embraced the Reformed Religion, transplanted her self with her two daughters to Orleance, for the freer exercise of her Religion.
Whilst he was there,Wars in France the Civil Wars brake out between the Papists and Protestants; and Francis Duke of Guise besieged the City of Orleance, where Monsieur de Andelot, brother to the Admiral of France, commanded in chief: Tossan continued there all the time of the siege, and took extraordinary pains in instructing, exhorting, and encouraging both Citizens and souldiers; and when the City was in great danger to be lost, one Poltrot, who had devoted his life for his Countries safety,Duke of Guise slain. went out, and slew the Duke of Guise under the walls,Gods mercy. whereupon the siege was raised, and the Church there preserved almost miraculously from ruin.
Anno Christi 1567, there brake out a second Civill War; at which time the Papists in Orleance conspired together to destroy all the Protestants,Popish malice. so that they were every hour in danger of being butchered; but it pleased God seasonably to send Monsieur Novie with a small party of souldiers, who entring the City, and joyning with the Protestants, drave out some of the Papists, and disarmed the rest. But after that famous battel at Saint Denis, wherein so many of both sides were slain and wounded, Peace was againe concluded: Yet did the Papists quickly break it, and a great company of Souldiers entering into Orleance, Popish malice.beganne to breath forth threatnings against the Church of Christ, especially against the Ministers of it. Hereupon Tossan was in great danger, insomuch that when he went into the Church to preach, he knew not whether he should returne alive;He is in great danger. and that which most troubled him was, the fear that he had of his wife and two small children. Besides he never went to the Congregation, but some threw stones, others shot bullets at him; and their rage grew so great, that they burned down the barn wherein the Church used to meet together; and every day he heard of one or other of their members that were slain, so that he was compelled severall times to change his lodging: yet one day the souldiers caught him, and pretended that they would carry him out of the City, but indeed intended to have Murthered him, whereupon his wife, great with child, ranne to the Governour, and with much importunity prevailed with him that her husband might stay in the City. And not long after brake out the third Civill War, at which time the Popish souldiers that besieged Orleance were so enraged, that they burned all the places where the Church used to meet, and barbarously slew above eighty of the faithfull servants of Christ in them, yet it pleased God miraculously to preserve the Ministers in that great danger;A miracle of mercy. and Tossan with his Colleagues, by the help of some of the faithfull, was conveighed privately away out of the City in the night, but whilst hee sought to hid chim in a wood, he fel into an ambush, and was taken,He is taken prisoner. and carried prisoner into a Castle not far off from Orleance. His wife, which stayed behind in the City, hearing this sad news, left no means untried for his delivery; and at last,His release. for a great summe of money, shee procured his release, whereupon he went to Agrimont; and his wife, putting her self into the habit of a Maid-servant, went towards Agrimont after him, where Renata, the daughter of Lewis the twelfth of France, and Dowager of Ferrara, lived in a very strong Castle, and was a great friend to the Protestants, entertaining many that fled to her for succour: But as his wife was going thitherward after him, she was taken by some Souldiers, and carried back to the Governour of Orleaence, but it pleased God to stir up the Governours wife and daughters to intercede for her, by whose importunity she was set free,Gods mercy. and had leave to goe to Agrimont, whither it pleased God to carry her in safety through a thousand dangers, and where she found her husband. And whilst she was there, she was brought to bed of a daughter, to which the Dutchesse was Godmother:The K…gs malice. But the King of France hearing that his Aunt the Dutchesse had sheltered many of the Protestants, sent to her to turn them all out of her Castle, or else he would presently besiege it, and slay them all. Upon which message, Tossan, with his wife and three children, went presently to Sancerra, He goes to Sancerra.which was the nearest place of safetie. There went also a long with him two or three hundred Waggons loaden with children, and in their passage there lay many Troops of the enemies, especially at a River over which they were to passe, purposing to destroy them; but it pleased God to stir up some Protestants thereabouts to horse,Gods mercy. and arm themselves, and to proffer themselves as a guard to these Waggons, who fought often with their enemies, and by Gods special providence conducted them all in safety to Sancerra. There Tossan continued a year,He goes to Mombelgart. and then, with his wife, and one or two of his children, he went to Mombelgart to visit his Father and friends; and because (the wars being but lately ended in France) the Church of Orleance could not suddenly gather themselves together, he continued, and preached in his Fathers place, who was now grown old, for a year: But some Ministers of Stutgard accused him for preaching Calvinism and Zuinglinism, His new troubles.and would have him to revoke, and recant the same, or else he must preach no more in publick. They also summoned him to appear at Stutgard to give an account of his opinions, and by conference with them to reform the same, framing himself wholly to their mindes, upon which onelyonly condition they would let him live in his own country, and preach therein. Hereupon he wrote an Apology to the Senate at Stutgard, shewing the reasons why at that time he could not goe thither; and Anno Christi 1571 when it had pleased God after those terrible storms to restore peace to the Church at Orleance, he was called back thither: Yet the times were not so peaceable that he could preach there, but he preached to his people in a Castle not far from it, which belonged to Hierom Groslotius, a most godly Noble man,He preaches in a Ca…le. and there repaired to hear him out of the City, a very great multitude of people, whom the Popish party at their return home received with many scornes and reproaches,Popish rage. threatning ere long to fire the Castle and all that were in it; yet did the faithfull overcome all dangers with their constancy, and Tossan living with that Nobleman, performed his Pastoral office with all diligence, and fidelity, though at that time he was very sickly.
Anno Christi 1572 brake forth that abhominable Massacre at Paris, The Massacre at Paris.wherein Charles the ninth, falsifying his faith, caused the Admirall of France, with many Noblemen, and Gentlemen, Doctors, Pastors, Advocates, and Professors to be so inhumanely butchered, that a more horrid villany was never heard of in the world before it: At which time amongst others this Hieronimus Groslotius was also murthered.
The newes of this Massacre comming to Orleance, the Papists rejoyced and sung, seeking to murther and destroy all the Protestants that were in, and about that City: Tossan at this time was in the Castle with the wife of Groslotius, who heard … the Massacre, and the Murther of her husband at Paris; and it pleased God so to order it, that a certaine Popish Nobleman, as he was travelling towards Paris, was turned aside into this Castle to enquire after news, just at the same time when this sad news was brought thither: But he, supposing that it was impossible that the Protestants which were so numerous there, could be so easily suppressed, and thinking rather that they stood upon their defence, resolved to return home again, and took with him this Lady, with Tossan, A special providence.and his wife, and children. Thus it pleased God that he was delivered from certain destruction by the humanitie, and industry of a Papist: For the very next Morning the inhabitants of Orleance came to that Castle,Popish cruelty. brake open the Gates, slew some maids that were left to keep it, plundered all, and amongst the rest, Tossans goods, and Library, raging extreamely that they had missed their prey which they most sought after.
This Noblemans House, that carried them with him, was near to Argimont: But Tossan apprehending himself not safe there, with his wife, and children removed to another place where he was acquainted, and presently after the Dutches of Ferrara sent for him, and his Family, his wife being again great with childe,Gods mercy. He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara. and hid them in a Turret in her Castle, and sustained, and sed them there. And when the rage of the Papists was somewhat abated, hee, with his wife, and children travelled through many dangers into Germany, and shortly after was sent for by that pious Prince Frederick the third,He goes into the Palatinate. Elector Palatine, to come to him to Heidleberg, whither he went with his Family, and where he found so much love, and bounty from the Prince and his Courtiers, and the Academicks, that he almost forgot his former miseries.
All the while that he lived in Heidleberg, he was Preacher to the Elector, shewing such Faithfullnesse, Diligence, Candour,His faithfulnesse. and other Virtues as became a faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, whereby he was very deare to the Elector, who often consulted with him about the waitiest matters of Religion: And Anno Christi 1575 he sent him with some other of his faithfull Counsellors to Amberg to visit the Churches, and to compose some controversies which were sprung up amongst them about matters of Religion, which trust he performed with singular zeale, and diligence.
But the world being unworthy of such a Prince, it pleased God to take him away Anno Christi 1576, four years after Tossan came thither. And his Son Lodwick a Lutherane succeeding him, Tossan amongst some others, was dismissed:He is dismised. But Prince Cassimire [Lodwicks Brother] who knew the impostures of the Vbiquitarians better then his brother, and who had undertaken to defend that faith whereof his Father had made a confession in his Will, called him to Neostade, He is called to Neostade.and placed him over the Churches there: And after Ursins death, made him Professor in that University. In which place he interpreted the holy Scripture: He also undertook the ca…e of the Church, which was collected of the Exiles,His painfulnesse. who wanted a Father; and Preached to them in the French Tongue. Anno Christi 1578. He wa… Moderator in a Synod at Neostade: And Prince Cassimire did alwaies esteem so highly of his advise,He is much esteemed. and Counsell, that he sent for him often, neither would determine any thing in Ecclesiasticall affaires without his assent: and when Prin…e and Ambassadors came to Neostade, being moved with his same, they would alwaies visit him, and received such abun…dant satisfaction by converse with him, that ever after they held corespondence with him.
Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying, Ca…imire was made Guardian to his son during his minority, whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg, that by his advise, and counsell he might reform the Churches:He is sent for to Heid…eberg. But when he came thither, his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him, and raised many false reports,His opposition. but he remembred that of …eneca, vir bonus, quod honestè se facturum put averit, faciet, etiam si periculosum sit: ab honesto null… re dete…rebitur: ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur. An honest man will do that which he judges right, though it be dangerous: He will not be deterred from that which is honest, by any meanes; hee will be allured to that which is dishonest, by no means. His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held. But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him, and then appointed a Publick disputation, wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with; whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come, and to study peace. But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene, till they were removed into other Countries.
The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches, Tutors to the young Prince, Schoolmasters, and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan; all which he discharged with much fidelity. Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus, the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil, He is made Professor.in whose roome Tossanus (though very unwilling) was substituted: and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University,Commenceth Doctor. he commenced Doctor in Divinity. But as his cares, and paines increased, so his sorrow also, partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students, and Citizens of Heidleberg, partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock, which fell out in the year 1587.His manifold …fflictions. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again, and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly, and learned men.
Not long after Prince Casimire died,P. Casimire dyeth. which much renewed his griefe: But Frederick the fourth, beeing now come to his age, was admitted into the number of the Electors, and was very carefull of the good, both of the Church, and University.
Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg, and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie,A great plague His constancy. which drove away the students. But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people, and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained.
Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old, and infirme, laid down his Professors place,His weaknesse. though the University much opposed, and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still, but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors, and sorrows: For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter, he concluded with those words; The words of Job are ended. Presently after falling sicke,His faith. hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture, I have fought the good fight of Faith, &c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death, and I will give thee the crown of life: Wee have a City not made with hands, eternall in the heavens, and many other such like. Hee also made his will, and set down therein a good confession of his Faith,His Death. and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602, and of his age sixty one.Hi… character. He was a very holy man, exemplary in his life: had an excellent wit; strong memorie: Eloquent in speech, was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation, and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times.
He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes:His work…. and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne.