The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 44 – Biography 45
The Life and Death of William Farellus, who dyed Anno Christi 1565.
WIilliam Farellus was born in the Delphinate of a Noble family, Anno Christi 1589. and sen… to Paris to be brought up in learning, and was one of the first that mad… a Publick Profession of the Gospell in France: but w…en persecution arose, he fled into Helvetia, where he grew in…o …amiliarity with Zuinglius, …ec…lamp…dius… and Hall…rus. Anno Christi 1524. he went to Basil, where he prof…rred a publick Disputation with the Popish Divines of that place, but the Masters of the University would not suffer it, till the Senate interposing their autohrity, and then Farellus set up his Theses publickly, which he also maintained by desputation: but the Bishop and his Associates drove him from Basil: from thence he went to Mont-pelier, and to some other places, where he Preached the Gospell with so much fervor and zeal, that all might see that he was called of God thereunto. He coming to Metin Preached in the Chuch-y…rd belonging to the Dominicans, who by ringing their be…l… thought to have drowned his voice, but having a strong voyce, he did so thunder it out, that he went on audably to the end of his Sermon. Anno Christi 1528. he, with Virete went to Geneva, where they planted the Church, and propagated the Gospell; and where, by his earnest obt… station, Calvin was forced to make his aboad. Anno christi 1553. the Genevians, though they owed themselves to him, yet were carried on with such fury, that they would have condemned Farell to death. And afterwards they did such things against him, that Calvin wished that he might have expiated their anger with his blood. And from thence he went to Neocome, where he discharged his Pastorall office with singular diligence and zeal. When he heard of Calvins sicknesse, he could not satisfie himselfe, though he was seventy years of age, but he must goe to Geneva to visit him. He survived Calvin one yeare and odd MonethMonth, and dyed age 76. years, anno christi 1565. He was very godly, learned, innocent in life; exceeding modest, stout, and sharp of wit; and of such a strong voyce, that he seemed to thunder in his speech; and so fervent in Prayer, that he carried his Hearers into heaven with him.
Renowned Farell liv'd a life,
Not spotted with the staines of strife:
He lov'd the thoughts, the name of Peace
His vertues had a large encrease;
Earth was his scorn, and Heav'n his pride:
In Peace he liv'd, in Peace he dy'd.
The Life and Deoth of Vergerius, who dyed Anno Christi 1565.
PEter Paul Vergerius excellently learned both in the Law, and Popish Divinity: he was sent by Pope Clement the seventh, as his Legate into Germany to improve his uttermost abilities to hinder a Nationall Councill: where accordingly he bestirred himselfe to hinder and endamage the Lutherans, and to encourage the Popish Divines in opposing of them. Anno Christi 1534. Paul the third sent for him to Rome to give him an account of the state affairs in Germany: after which he sent him back into Germany, to promise the Princes a Generall Councill to be held at Mantua, but withall to perscribe such rules about coming to it, as he knew the Protestant Divines would not accept of: he had in charge also to stir up the Princes mindes against the King of England, and to profer his Kingdome to whosoever would conquer it, and to try if by any meanes he could take off Luther, and Melancthon from prosecuting what they had begun. Anno Christi 1535. he was called home againe by the Pope, and when he had given him an account of his Legation, he was sent presently to Caesar to Naples, to stir him up to take Armes against the Lutherans. Anno Christi 1537. he was againe sent into Germany; and also Anno Christi 1541. to the Convention at Wormes: after which he was called back to Rome, and the Pope being to make some Cardinals, intended to make Vergeri… one, but some suggested that he had been so long in Germany that he smelled of a Lutheran, which made the Pope to alter his purpose, which when Vergerius heard of, he went into his owne Country, purposing to clear himselfe by answering some of Luthers books; but it pleased God, that whilst he read them with an intent to confute them, himselfe was converted by them; whereupon he retired himself to his brother the Bishop of Pole, and communicated his thoughts to him: his brother at first was much as…onished, but after a while was perswaded by him to read, and study the Scriptures, especially in the point of Justification by Faith, whereby it pleased God that he also saw the Popish Doctrines to be false, and so they both became zealous Preachers of Christ to the people of Istria: but the Divell stirred up many adversaries against them, especially the Fryars, who accused them to the Inquisitors: whereupon Vergerius went to Mantua to his old friend Cardinall Gonzaga: but there he could not stay in safety, whereupon he went to the Councill of Trent to purge himselfe: but the Pope by his Legate, stopt him from being heard there: from thence he went to Venice, and so to Padua, where he was a spectator of the miserable condition of Francis Spira; which so wrought upon him, that he resoved to leave his Country, and all his outward comforts, and to goe into voluntary exile, where he might freely professe Christ; and accordingly he went into Rhetia, where he Preached the Gospel sincerely, til he was called from thence to Tubing, by Christopher Duke of Wurtenburge, where he ended his dayes, Auno Christi 1565.
Those Popish errours which at first bore sway
In our Vergerious heart, were chast away
By the encreasing sun of truth; his minde
(Which was before all drosse) was refin'd:
And from a cruell enemy; became
A perfect friend, and boldly would proclaime
The reall truth; fear'd not to be withstood.
Thus brave Vergerius turn'd from bad, to good.