The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Francis Junius – Lucas Trelcatius
F. JVNIVS
The Life of Francis Junius, who died Ano Christi 1602.
FRancis Junius was born in France of a Noble Family An. Christi 1545.His Birth and Parentage. His Grandfather was William Lord of Boffardineria, who for his valiant service in the wars of Navar was rewarded by King Lewis the twelfth with that honour. His Father was Denis, who in his youth studied Law in the most famous Universities of France. His Mother was Jacoba Hugalda which bore nine children, four sons, and five daughters; amongst which this our Francis was born in Biturg. His Mother being sickly, the child was very weak,His weaknes in his childhood. not likely to live one hou…, and therefore was hastily baptised. And during his childhood this weakness continued, which falling into his left legge, caused a soare which was difficultly healed.
When hee was five yeares old his Father beganne to teach him to read as his leisure would permit.His Education. At six yeares old he began to write, and to discover his ingenuity, being of a pleasant disposition, very desirous of honour, quickly angry, and for his age of a grave judgement. Hee did eat his meat eagerly, was very shame-fac'd, which continued with him all his life after. Hee had the publick Schoolmasters for his instructers, besides others that privately taught him at home. At twelve years old he attended the publick Lectures, and began to study the Civill Law, and his Father much encouraged and assisted him therein. Yet one thing much impeded him in his first studies:His Masters harshnesse. For being put forth to School hee met with harsh and severe Masters which used to beat him in a most cruel and barbarous manner, yet his love to learning made him conceal it from his friends.
When he had studied Law about two years, he was sent to Lions to have gone with the French Ambassador to Constantinople, He goes to Lions.but coming too late, after the Ambassadors departure, he staid, and studied there, turning over many bookes, whereof in that place were great plenty. But there he met with great temptations to evill; a woman, and a young mayd labouring upon every opportunity to draw him to lewdnesse.His Tentations. This much troubled him, having been brought up religiously by his parents, whereupon he thought of returning home, but his fathers authority (who commanded his stay there) altered those thoughts,Gods mercys and so, through Gods assistance, he resisted that temptation! But presently fell into another: For as he was reading over Tully de Legibus, He is drawn to Atheism.there came a certain man to him using the words of the Epicure, nihil cur are Deum, nec alieni; that God cares for nothing: And he so pressed it with such subtile arguments, that hee prevailed with him to suck in that damnable principle, and so he gave up himself to vile pleasures for a year, and somewhat more.Gods mercy. But the Lord suffered him not to continue longer therein: For first in a tumult in Lions the Lord wonderfully delivered him from imminent death, so that he was compelled to acknowledge a divine providence therein: And his Father hearing the dangerous waies that his son was misled into sent for him home, where he carefully, and holily instructed him, and caused him to read over the new Testament, of wich himselfe writes thus, novum Testamentum aperio, exhibet se mihi adspectu primo augustissimum illud caput. In principio erat verbum, &c.Iohn 1. When I opened the New Testament, I first light upon Johns first Chapter: In the beginning was the word, &c. I read part of the Chapter, and was suddenly convinced that the Divinity of the Argument, and the Majesty, and Authority of the writing, did exceedingly excel all the Eloquebce of humane writings My body trembled,He is reclaimed. my mind was astonished, and I was so affected all that daie, that I knew not where, and what I was. Thou wast mindfull of me, O my God, according to the multitude of thy mercies; and calledst home thy lost sheep into thy foid. And from that day forward he fervently bent himself to the study and practise of piety,He goes to Geneva. to the great joy, and comfort of his father: Who presently after sent him to Geneva, giving him onelyonly so much money as would bear his charges, intending to sent more after him. But the Civill wars presently beginning in France, he was hindred of his purpose: So that Junius when he came to Geneva, had onelyonly so much money left as would buy him fourbooks, a Bible, Calvins Institutions, Beza's confessions, and an Hebrew Grammer, which for a year together he studied with much diligence. At the end whereof he was sollicited by some of his chamberfellowes to travell with them into Helvetia, which he assented to, and went with them,His travels. having but little mony remaining.
In this jorney he spent three weeks,His poverty. and at Bern saluted Musculus, and Hallerus. At Zurick, Martyr, Bullinger, and Gualter: and at Neocom, Farrel & so returned to Geneva again. Not long after hee began to be pinched with want, and thereupon resolved each other day to dig in the Town-ditch to supply his necessities withall. But it so fell out by Gods providence that a young man,A speciall providence. a Tailor, whose Mother had formerly lived over against Junius his Mothers house in France, and had often been relieved by her, profered him both mony, and lodging in his house. With him therefore he lived almost seven months (yet with much inconvenience to his studies) till a peace being made in France, his Father sent Mony to him. Whilst he lived with his hest, to prevent his being burthensom to him, for four moneths together he fasted from his dinners, spending that time in walking, meditation, and prayer: And at supper he never eat but two eggs. But by this abstinence, he so weakned, and dried up his body, that his strength was much decaied,He weakens his body by abstinence. till by the advice of his friends, changing his custome, and mending his Commons, he by degrees recovered it again.
His Father not willing that he should study Divinity, sent for him home; but he wrote to him desiring that for the improvement of his studies hee would be pleased to allow him a longer stay. But before his letter came, his Father was cruelly murthered: which sad newes coming to him,His Father murthered. he wrote to his Mother not to be sollicitous for him, for that he would maintain himself by his own labors: And thereupon hee taught Latine, Oreek and Hebrew to some youths, and so followed his studies besides,His Industry. that he brought his bodie into a dangerous distemper.
It fell out also that about that time the Head-School master of Geneva dying, the Minister of Noso…om was sent for to supply his room, and Junius was profered to Preach in his place, which he refused, excusing himselfe for that as yet hee had not so fitted himselfe by his studies for the work of the Ministry as he desired.
Shortly after there came a Messenger from Antwerp, desiring that a Minister might be sent to the French Church that was gathered there,He is chosen to Antwerp. and Junius being judged fit for that service, he was sent thither, which fell out to be just at that time when the Navie went from thence to fetch a Bride for Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma, by which meanes there was great expectation of good both in Flanders, and Brabant; But it proved far otherwise,The inquisition brought into the Ne herlands. for the Navy shortly after returning, brought together with the Bride, the King of Spaines letters Patents for the setling of the Spa…sh Inquisition in the Belgick Provinces. For the preventing of which yoke, some of the Nobility met together at Bruxels, sending for Junius to come to them, who coming, found but about twenty men together, to whom he Preached, and prayed that they might be delivered from that cruell yoke; After which they entred into consultation how they might free …emselves frmo it,Popish malice. which was Anno Christi 1565. This first meeting was in the house of two Noblemen [brothers] for which two yeares after they lost their heads, and their house was pulled down to the ground.
Junius was afterwards sought for at his lodging in Antwerp, Miracles of mercy to him.but it pleased God that just at that time he was gone to Breda to visit the Church there, by which meanes God delivered him from that danger. Yet the enemies laid another snare for him, pretending a disputation at a certain City in Flanders, at which Junius was requested to be present; but he was no sooner come thither, and gone into his Inne, but a Townsman came running to him to tell him, that the Officers were coming to seize upon him: Whereupon he was conducted out at a back door, and led from one place to another, by which meanes he escaped the unjust violence of his adversaries.An other danger. Afterwards at Gaunt he was in like danger, yet the Lord wonderfully delivered him, so that he got to Antwerp in safetie.
When hee came backe to Antwerp he was not suffered to continue in his Pastoral Office: Whereupon, by the advice of the Brethren,He goes to Limburg. he went to Limburg, leaving his Clothes, and Library behind him, all which he there lost: Yet neither was he there in safety, but so many snares were laid for him, that he escaped death very narrowly several times, the Almighty Lord still protecting him.
There was near that place an old woman,Strange tentations. having manie children, that for thirteen years together had conflicted with grievous despair, crying out that shee, and all her children were damned; A strange example.The Priests had often by their exorcisms sought her cure: The neighbours had bound her in chaines, and beaten her yet all in vain: for she brake the chaines, and run into the Woods hiding her self from the society of all men, insomuch that she was thought to be possessed with the Divill. Shee being brought to Junius, he examined her in private of the cause of her distemper: Shee told him that all her Neighbours said that she was damned, because she had come so seldome to Mass, whereas indeed she was hindred from it by the care of her many small children; Junius hereupon informed her out of Gods word that she had not sinned at all therein; for that it was according to Gods will, that shee should take care of her children,Gods mercy. who preferr's mercy before sacrifice: And also that the Mass was not the service of God, &c. By which meanes she was quieted in her conscience, and went away satisfied, to the great astonishment of all her neighbors.
About this time the peace of the Church at L…mburg was much disturbed by the Anabaptists,Anabaptists disturb the Church. and Papists: Junius went often to the Anabaptists and reasoned with them peaceably, and calmly, whereupon they quickly decreased, both in their number, and credit. But the Papists cast aspersions upon him to make him odious, and amongst the rest, that he was a Monster, and had cloven feet;Popish malice. They came also to Church to disturb him in his Sermons, but notwithhanding all their endeavours his auditory stil increased. And when they had challenged him to Disputations, they allwaies pretended one excuse or other when the time came, to evade the same. But from secret plots, they brake out into open violence; where upon the Magistrates perswaded him to retire himself from the danger,Flight in pe… secution. and in a dark rainy night they conveyed him …t of the City, and so he went to Heidleberg, where he was courteously entertained by Prince Frederick the third,He goes to Heidleberg. and afterward chosen Pastor of the Church of Schaenavia which was near unto that City.
But the year after,A great plague. the pestilence greatly afflicting …hat Church, he was sent (though against his will) to the Camp of the Prince of Orange, who was going into the Low-countries, and (when meeting with many inconveniencies in that employment) he would have returned into Germany, the Pr. of Orange would not consent, but detained him to preach still to him;He returnes to Heidleberg. yet at last he returned to Heidleberg, and endeavoured to compose some differences that in his absence were sprung up in the Church of Schaenavìa.
The Prince Elector Palatine often perswaded him to goe back to the Prince of Orange, and he as often excused it; but at last he commanded him peremptorily to goe; but it so fell out that as he was going over the bridge of Heidleberg, he was grievously bitten in his right leg by a dog, and so he obtained leave to stay.
He continued there to the year 1592, and assisted Tremelius in Translating the Bible out of Hebrew.
The Elector being dead,Bible translated. hee was sent for by Prince Cassimire to Neostade; and afterwards was sent for by the same Cassimire (being Guardian to the young Prince) to Heidleberg again. Yet not long after, with the consent of the Prince, hee left Heidleberg to goe into his own country: But when with his family he came to Leiden, he was much importuned both by the Magistrates and the University to stay there; and though he would fain have excused it,He is made Professor in Leiden. yet at last they prevailed, and made him the Professor of Divinity in that University, which place he discharged with much diligence, and commendation for ten yeares space. At the end of which, a great plague spreading all over Holland, he fell sick of it, and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God, Anno Chr. 1602, and of his age 57.His death.
When Gomarus, his Colleague, came to visit him in his sickness, and had spoken comfortably to him, Junius told him, that he quieted himself in God, who would doe for him that which was most for his glory, and his own good.
His Works are these.His Works. Commentarius in Danielem. In Psal. 101. In Apocalypsin. In Jonam Prophetam. With many others set down by Verheiden.
The Life of Luke Trelcatius, who died Ano Christi 1602.
LUke Yrelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542,His birth and education. and brought up by his Aunt, who was Abbesse of a Nunnery. His first Education was in the School at Doway, where (being of an acute wit) he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane arts: From thence he went to Paris, and whilst he studied there,He goes to Paris. it pleased God that he fell into acquaintance with John Mercer the Hebrew Professor, and with Peter Ramus, by converse with whom hee was exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion, so that he forsooke his Aunt, and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders.
From thence he went to Orleance, He goes to Orleance.and from thence to Sancerra in the 28th yeare of his age; and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars, he came into England; and at London he taught a School,He comes into England. by which he maintained himselfe eight yeares. Then was hee called by some Merchants into Flanders to be their Pastor; but enjoying little peace there,His several imployment…. he went to Bruxels, where hee continued in the exercise of the Ministry six years, and then meeting with opposition, he went to Antwerp, and that City being presently after besieged, he was forced to stay there for eight moneths. After which, being sent for to divers places, at length he was, by the consent of his brethren in the Ministry, fixt at Leiden, where hee was made Pastor of the French Church, which place he supplied faithfully for the space of seventeen years. He had scarce been there two yeares, when for his cellent parts and learning hee was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also; and at last, having acquired much honour in both his offices,His Death. hee dyed of the Plague, Anno Christi 1602, and of his age 60.