The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 50
The Life and Death of Zegedine, who dyed Anno Christi 1572.
STeven Zegedine was borne in the lower Fanonia, in the ye…r 1505. brought up in learning, wherein he profited to admiration, and became a Schoolmaster himself; about which time (hearing the fame of Luther and Melancthon) he had a great minde to goe to Wittenberg; but wanting opportunity in sundry reg…rds, he went to the U…iversity at …racovia, where having studied a while, he was made a Reader to others, and grew very famous; and having gotten some money there, he then went to Wittenberg, where he studied Logick and Divinity three years, and then returned into hi… ow… Co…ntrey. And in the City of Thasniadine he instructed Youth in the knowledge of Ar…s, and Preached Jesus Christ also to the Pe…le, before u…know…e unto them: whereupon the King… Treasurer fell upon him, beat him, and drove …im out of the City: there he lost two hundred Books, and was so barbarously kicked by this Tyrant with his iron Spurs, that he was almost slaine.
Thus wandring up and downe as an exile, Anno Chisti 1545. he was called to Iulia, where he was made governour of an illustrious School: and the year after he was sent for to Cegledine, where he was hired to Preach publickly in the Church. There also he married a wife, and after three years stay, he went thence, and was sent for by the Governour of Temeswert to govern the School there, where also he preached to the people: but that Governour dying, there succeeded him one that was a strong Papist, who drove Zegedine from thence. Being again an ex…le, he was called to govern the Schoole at Thurin, where he also preached to the people, who eagerly embraced the Truth, and loved him exceedingly. From thence he wa… called to Bekenese, where he also preached to the people, and read in the Schools: whilest he was there, a Countrey man coming to him said; Sir, what doe you here, when there are some souldiers coming upon you, to slay you? therefore flye hence speedily if you will save your life. Whilest he was speaking, the noyse of th souldiers was heard without; whereupon he slipt into his chamber, but the souldiers breaking in upon him, plundered him of all he had, and binding him, carried him away with them: but behold the gracious providence of God; amongst those bloody Souldiers there was one that favoured him, and conveyed him away, so that swiming over a river, he escaped, and returned home again: shortly after, his fame spreading abroad, he was called to Tholna to govern a School there, and there also he preached to the people: and his former wife being dead, he married another: and not long after he was chosen to Lascovia to be the Pastor there: and was Ordained Minister by the Imposition of Hands, and taught Schoole also: about which time he was made Doctor, and the Superintendent of all that Baronry: he read also in private to many that repaired to him, and intermitted not his pains, no not in sickness, if he had but strength to speak that his voyc… might be heard. Anno Christi 1558. he was removed thence by the authority of the Governour of the Castles to Calmantsem. Anno Christi 1561. the Vayvod of Copasware with his souldiers (being Turks) came upon the inh…bitants of Calmantsem for neglecting to pay their Tribute, as they were at Sermon, and took many of them prisoners, together with Zegedine, and carryed them away to Copasware: the rest that escaped gathered the Tribute, carried it presently to the Vayv…d, entreated his pardon, and the restitution of the prisoners, especially of Zegedine: but he told them, that if they would have them restored to liberty, they must goe and pitition the Bashaw for their release: which they doing, the prisoners were presently relea…ed: but when they afterwards accused the Vayvod to him of Tyranny, and injustice, he required that Zegedine, and some of the chiefe Citizens should come and testifie those things before him: but when Zegedine came, he picked a quarrell with him, and cast him into prison; whereupon his people, by rich presents endeavour'd to procure his release, and when they had almost obtained their request, one whispered the Bashaw in the ear, and told him, that he might have 1000. Florens for his ransome: whereupon he still detained him, and told them that he would not release him till they had paid him a 1000. Florens: but when the money came in slower then he exspected, the barbarous Tyrant chid his Keeper for using him too gently, which (as he said) was the cause that his ransome was not yet paid; whereupon his Keeper bound, and whip't him with thongs, till he was bloudy all over, and almost kill'd him: afterwards the Bashaw promised that i… they would procure the release of the daughter of the Major of Tolne, who was prisoner with the Hungarians, and bring her unto him, he would release Zegedine: her, theref…re, his people of Calmantsem redeemed for three hundred Florens, and presented her to the Bashaw; yet the Infidell falsified his promise, and kept him still prisoner: then the Prince of Transilvania sent Ambassadors, and a rich present to the Bashaw, requesting the release of Zegedine, yet nothing would prevail: many, pittying his miserable captivitie, came to visit him, and gave him money, but his cruell Keeper extorted most of it from him. B…ing lo…den with heavy chains, the Citizens, with much importunity, prevailed to get him leave once a day to come to the Christians to whom he preached, and so returned to prison againe: yet God stired up the hearts of some of the Courtiers to commiserate his deplorable condition. During his imprisonment the Bashaw used all means both by threats, and promises to draw him to abjure the Christian Religion, and to turne Turk: but he alwayes answered him stoutly, That such arguments might prevaile with children, but could not prevaile with him. Having leave at last to lye amongst the other Prisoners, he wonderfully refreshed, and comforted them by his godly exhortations, and consolations drawn from the Scriptures, whereby they were much confirmed in the Christian Faith: and whereas before they were almost pined through want of food, God so stirred up the heart… of some to bring reliefe to Zegedine, that all the rest of the prisoners were provided for plentifully thereby. Remaining thus in prison he was not idle, but wrote there his Common-places, and some other Works: thus he remained in Prison above a year, in which time three of his children dyed, which added much to his a… fliction, and though his people had used the intercession of all their great men there about for his liberty, yet all prevailed not, till it pleased God that a Noble Baron, and his Lady passing by that way, saw this worthy man of God in so miserable a plight, that the Lady much pitied him: and afterwards being in Child bed, and ready to dye, she requested her Lord (who loved her dearly) for her sake to improve all his interest in the Bashaw to procure Zegedines liberty; which he with an oath promised to perform, and accordingly engaged himselfe to the Turk that he should pay 1200. Florens for his ransome: thereupon he was released, and went about to diverse Cities to gather his ransome, and God so enlarged mens hearts towards h…m, that in a short time he carried 800. Florns to this Baron, and so returned to his people at Calman…sem. The year after being 1564. as he was going by coach to Buda, when the horses came near the great river Danubius being very hot, and dry, thy ran violently into the river: but behold the admirable providence of God, when they had swam some twenty paces in the river, they turned back again, and drew the coach, and him safely to the shore.
The same year, by the Imposition of Hands, he ordained three excellent men Ministers. About that time there came a bragging Fryar, and challenged him to a Disputation, which he willingly accepting of; the great Church was appointed for the place, and many of both sides resorted thither; and the Fryar came with much confidence, his servants carrying a great sacke of Bookes after him: but in the Disputation, Zegedine did so baffle him, that all his friends shrunk away with shame, and the Fryar, with his great sack, was left all alone, so that himselfe was fain to take it on his own shoulders and goe his way. About that time the Vaivod, who had before betrayed him, coming to the place where Zegedine was, desired to speake with him, and requested him to forgive him, professing that he could rest neither night nor day, he was so haunted with apparitions, and the Furies of his own conscience; which Zegedine easily affented unto.
In the year 1566. Zegedine being very hot, invited a friend to goe with him to the River of Danubius to bathe himself: but as they were swiming, his friend looking about him, saw not Zegedine, and wondering what was become of him so suddenly, at last he spyed his hoarie hairs appearing above water, and swimming swiftly to him, Zegedine was sunk; whereupon, he diving to the bottome of the river, caught hold of him, and drew him forth, carrying him to a Mill that was not far off, where he laid him to bed: about midnight Zegedine coming to himself, enquired how he came there, and who drew him out of the River; hi… friend told him the whole story, and kept him carefully till he recovered. In the year 1572. he fell into a mortall dsease, which so much the more afflicted him, becaus… he could not sleepe; whereupon he sent for a Chirurgion, who gave him a bitter potion, which caused him to fall a sleepe, but after a little while he quietly breathed forth his last, being sixty seven years of age.
How full of patience, how divine
Was this our learned Zegedine?
Though cast in prison, and restrain'd
From food, yet he the truth maintain'd.
His heart resolved from his youth
Rather to starve, then starve the truth.
For Disputations, few there were.
That could with Zegedine compare:
His rare example lets us know,
Patience o'recomes the greatest woe.