The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 59 – Biography 60
The Life and Death of Peter Boquine, who dyed Anno Christi 1582.
PEter Boquinus was borne in Aqritane, and being in his youth brought up in learning, he entred into a Monastery in Biturg; where afterwards he was made the Prior, and was very much beloved of all the Covent. But it pleased God in the midst of all his riches and honors, to discover the Truth to him; and thereupon, after the example of Luther, Bucer, O…colampadius and Peter Martyr, he resolved to leave all, and to follow Christ, whose example divers of the Fryars also followed. From thence he went to Wittenberg, travelling through Germany, and by the way he went to Basil, where he wintered, by reason of the Plague very rise at that time in many Countries: there he diligently heard the Lectures of Myconius, Caralostadius, and Sebastian Munster: from thence he went to Lipswich, where he stayed three weeks, and so went to Wittenberg; coming thither he had some converse with Luther, but more with Melancthon: and whilst he was there, Bucer …ent to Melancthon to request him to send an able man to Argentine to supply Calvins place, who was now gone backe to Geneva; whereupon Melancthon requested Boquine to goe thither, which he accordingly did, and began to read upon the Epistle to the Galatians. Shortly after Peter Martyr came thither also. But Boquine finding that the Ecclesiasticall and Scholasticall affaires went but slowly forward in that place, upon the request of a friend, he resolved to goe backe into France: and so taking Basil in his way, he went to Geneva, where he heard Cavin preach, and from thence to Biturg, where (hoping that the French Churches would have been reformed) he began to read Hebrew, and to expound the Scriptures. About that time Francis King of France being dead, the Queen of Navar came into those parts, about the marriage of her daughter: to whom Boquine went, and presented her with a booke about the necessity and use of the holy Scriptures; whereupon she undertooke his Patronage, and allowed a yeerly stipend, appointing him to Preach a publicke Lecture in the great Church in Biturg: which place he continued in so long as he had hope of doing any good; but when he saw that there was no hope of any further Reformation, and that his enemies lay in wait for his life, he gave it over of his own accord: yet the Fryars and Papists would not let him alone, but cited him to the Parliament at Paris, and afterwards brought him before the Archbishop of Bi…urg; so that he was in great perill of his life, but God raised up some good men to stand for him, whereby he was delivered from the present danger: then he resolved to flye into England; but hearing of King Edward's death, he altered his purpose, and by the perswasion of a friend, he resolved to return to his people in Germanie; and so accordingly he went to Argentine, and when he had scarce beene there a monethmonth, it so fell out that the French Church in that place wanted a Pastor, and chose him to that office; yet for sundry reasons he refused to acc…pt of it, till by the perswasion of Iohn Sturmius, and some other friends, he was content to preach to them till they could provide themselves of another. In the year 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg, being sent for by Otho Henrie, Prince Elector Palatine; who was about to reform his Churches: there he was made the publicke Professor of Theologie, and met with much oppositions and manifold contentions in that alteration; which he bore with much prudence: there he continued in the execution of his place twenty yeares under Otho and Frederick the third; after whose death in 1576. by reason of the prevalency of the Heterodox party, he, with other Professors and Divines, was driven from thence: and it pleased God that immediately he was called to Lusanna, where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor, so long as he lived. In the year 1582. on a Lords day he preached twice, and in the evening heard another Sermon, then supped chearfully, and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad; then went to visit a sick friend, and whilest he was comforting of him, he found his spirits to begin to sinke in him, and runing to his servant, he said unto him, Praie; saying further, Lord receive my soule, and so he quietly departed in the Lord, in the year 1582.
This loyall convert carefully did strive,
To make Religion and true vertue thrive:
By his example many Fryars went
To séek for Christ, and leave their discontent:
They banish'd former erro…s to imbrace
The truth, and fill themselves with heav'nly grace:
But sudden death made B…quines heart to faint;
He liv'd a Convert and he dy'd a Saint.
WILLIAM GRINDALL.
The Life and Death of William Grindall.
WIlliam Grindall was born in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning, first … School, and then in the University of Cambridge, where being admitted into Pembrooke-Hall, he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow, and afterward Master of that house: and Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety, and learning, made him his Chaplain, and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixt, who intended to prefer him, but that he was prevented by an immature death. In the bloody dayes of Queen Mary, Grindal, amo…gst many others, fled into Germany where he continued al… her raign; but coming back in the begining of Queen Elizabeth, she pre…erred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward entended him to, making him Bishop of London, wherein he carryed himselfe worthily for about eleven years; and Anno Christi 1570. he was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of Yorke, where he continued about six years; and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Cant…rbury, wherein he lived about seven years more, and then falling sick at Croydon, he resigned up his spirit unto God that gave i…, An. Christi 1583. and of his Age 64. Both in his life, and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity… at Saint Bees in Cumberland, where he was born, he erected a Free-school, and endowed it with 30 l. per Annum for ever. To Pembrok Hall in Cambridg, where he was educated, he gave 22 l. a year in Lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer, one Fellow, and two Schollars, to be chosen out of the foresaid Schoole of Saint Bees: he gave also much money to the said Colledge. To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge he gave lands for the maintenance of one Fellow from the said School: To Christ's Colledge in Cambridg he gave forty five pounds. To Queen'… Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per Annum in lands to maintain one Fellow… and two Scholars out of the aforesaid School: and at his death he gave his Library, which was a very great and good one, to that Colledge; besides a great sum of mony. To eight Alms-houses in Croydon he gave fifty pounds per Annum: and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work.
True vertue rain'd in Grindals brest,
His Charity bespeakes him blest:
He loved peace, and hated those
That dar'd to prove Religio…s foes…
Renowned Ridley took delight
To see his vertue shine so bright;
He like a star gave light to all
That sat in darknesse, pinch'd with thrall,
And thus this glistring star went downe,
And set in Heav'n with much renowne
Where now he beares his part, and sings
Blest hallalujahs to the Kng of Kings.