The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 81
The Life and Death of Daniel Tossanus, who dyed Anno Christi 1602.
DAniel Tossanus was born at Moumbelgard in Wertemburge Anno Christi 1541. his Parents carefully brought him up in learning, and at fourteen years old, sent him to the Univers…ity of Basil, and after two years study there, he commenced Batchelor of Arts: from thence he went to Tubing, & was there maintained to his studyes for two year… more by Prince Christopher, at the end whereof he commenced Master of Arts, and then was sent for back by his father to Moun…pelier, where he Preached for a while, and then went to Paris to learn the French Tongue, and proceed in his other studyes: Anno Christi 1560. he went thence to Aurelia, where he read Hebrew publickly: there he was first made Deacon, and two years after Minister; which place he undertooke there rather then in his owne 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: he also marryed a wife Anno Christi 1565. Whilst he was there, the civill Wars brake out between the Papists, and Protestants: and Francis Duke of Guise besieging the City of Aurelia, where Mounseur de Andelot, brother to the Admirall of France, commanded in chie…e: Tossan continued there all the time of the siege, and took extraordinary pains in instructing, exhorting, and encowraging 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, went out, and flew the Duke of Guise under the Wall's; whereupon the siege was raised, and the Church there preserved almost miraculously from ruine. An. Christi 1567. there brake out a second civill War: at which time the Papists in Aurelia conspired together to destroy all the Protestants, so that they were every hour in danger of being butchered, when it pleased God to send Mounser Novie with a small party of Souldiers, who entring into the City, and joyning w…th the Protestants, drove out some of the Papists and disarmed the rest; but after that famous battell at Saint Danis, wherein so many of both …ides were slain, and wounded, Peace was againe concluded: though the Papists quickly brake it, and a great company of Souldiers entring into Aurelia, they began to breath forth threatenings against the Church of Christ, especially against the Mi…isters of it; hereupon Tossan was in great danger, i… somuch that when he went into the Church to Preach, he knew not whether he should come out alive: & 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 hi… lodging: yet one day the Souldiers caught him, and pretended that they would carry him out of the City, but intended to have Murthed him, whereupon hi… wife, great with childe ran to the Governor, and with much importunity prevailed that her husband might stay in the City: and the third civill War braking out, the Popish Souldiers in Aurelia 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 dang…r: and Tossan, by the help of some of the faithfull, was conveyed privately away out of the Ci…y in the night, but whilst he fought to hide himselfe in a wood he fell into an ambush: and was taken, and was carryed to Prisoner into … Castle not far of from Aurelia: which sad newes coming to his wife, she left no meanes untryed for his delivery: and a… last, for a great sum of mony, she procured his release, whereupon he went to Argim…nt: and hi… wife putting her self into the habit of a ma…d-servant, went towards Argimont after him, where Renata, the daughter of Lewis the twelf…h of France, and Dowager of Ferrara, lived in a very strong Castle, and was a great …iend to the Protestants, entertaining many that fled to her for succour: b…t as his wife was going thitherward after him, she wa… take… by some Souldiers, and carryed back to the Governour of Aurelia: but it pleased God to stir up his owne wife, …nd daughters to intersede for her, by whose importunity, th… …overnor set her free, and gave her leave to go to Argim…t, whither it pleased God to carry her in sa…ety through … thousand dangers, and where she found her husband: and whilst she was there, she was brought to bed of a daughter… to which the Dutches was Godmother; But the King of France hearing that his aunt the Dutches had sheltered … ny of the Protestants, sent to her to turn them al ou… o… … Castle, or else he would presently besiege it, and slay them all: hereupon Tossan with his wife and three children, wen… presently to Sancerra, which was the nearest place of … there went also a long with him two or thr…e hund… Wagones loaden with children, and in thei… passage th… lay many Troops of the enemies, especially a… a river … which they were to passe, purposing to destroy them: … it pleased God to stir up some Protestants thereabout… t… horse and arm themselves, and to profer themselv… … guard to those Wagons, who sought often with thei… en… mies, and by Gods speciall providence conducted them all in safety to Sancerra: There Tossan continued a year, an… then with his wife, and one or two of hi… children, he we… to Momblegart to visit his father and friends, …nd … (the Wars being la…ly ended in France) th… Church of A… relia could not suddenly gather themselves together… …e continued and Preached in his fathers place who wa… … grown old for a year: But some Ministers of S…u…gard a… cused him for Preaching Calvinism and Zwinglinism, & woul… have him revoke, and recant the same, or else … Preach no more in publick: her…upon he w…o… at Apol… gy to the Senate of S…utgard: and Anno Christi 1571. he was called back to Aure…ia … yet the times were not so peaceable tha… h… could Preach there, but he Preached to his people in a Castle not far from it, which b…longed to Hierom Grosl…tius, a most godly Noble-man: there repaired to hear him out of the City a very great multitude of people, whom the Popish party at their returne home, received with many scorns, and …eproaches, threatning ere long to fire the Castle, & a… that were in it: yet they continue… constant, and Tossan living with that Noble-man, performed his office with all diligence, and fidelity: Anno Christi 1572. brake forth that abominable massacre at Paris, wherein King Charles the nin…h, falsifying his faith, caus…d the Admirall of France, and so many Noble and Gentlemen, Doctors, Pastors, Advocates, and Professors to be so inhumanely bu…chered, that a more horred villany was never heard of in the world before it: where amongst others this Hieronimus Gros…ius was also murthered: which news coming to Aureli… the Papists rejoyced, and …ung; 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 of the Massacre, and the Murther of her husband at Paris; and it pleased God so to order it, that a certain Popish Nobleman, as he was traveling towards Paris, was turned into this Castle to enquire after newes, just at the same time when this sad news was brought thither; but he supposing that it was imposible that the Protestants which were so numerous there, could be so easily su…pressed, and thinking rather they stood upon their defence, resolved to returne home againe, and tooke with him this Lady with Tossan and his wife, and children: thus it pleased God that he was delivered from certain destruction by the humanity, and industry of a Papist: for the very next morning the inhabitants of Aurelia came to the Castle brake open the gates, slew som maids that were left to keep it, plundering all, and amongst the rest, Tossans goods and Library, raging extreamly that they had missed their prey which they most sought after: This Noblemans house that carryed them with him was near to Arg…mont: but Tossan apprehending himselfe not safe …here, he with his wife, and children removed to an other place where he was acquainted, and presently after the Dutches of Ferrara sent for him and his family, his wife being againe great with childe, and hid them in a Turret in her Castle, and sustained and fed them there: and when the rage of the Papists was somewhat abated, he with his wife and children travelled through many dangers into Germany, and being sent for by that pious Prince Frederick the third Elector Palatine, he went with his family to Heidleberg where he found so much love, and bounty from the Prince and his Courtyers, and the Academicks, that he almost forgot his former miseries: but the world being unworty of such a Prince, it pleased God to take him away Anno Christi 1576. four years after Tossan came thither: and his Son Lodwick succeeding him, Tossan amongst others was dismissed: But Prince Cassimire, [Lodwicks Brother] called him to Neostade, and placed him over the Churches there: and after Vrsins death, he made him Professor in that University: he was also over the Church of strangers, and Preached to them in the French Tongue, till they had chosen themselves a Pastor: he … Moderator in a Synod at Neostade: Shortly after L…dwicke the Elector Palatine dying, Cassimire was made Guardian to his Son, during his minority, whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advice, and counsell he might reforme the Churches; but when he came thither, his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him, and raised m…ny false reports, but he remembred that of Seneca, vir bonus, q…d honestè se facturum putaverit, faciet, etiam si peric…losum sit: ab honesto nullâ e deterrebitur: ad turpia, nullam spe invitabitur. An honest man will do that which he judges right, though it be dangerous: he will be deterred from that which is honest by no meanes; he will be allured to that which is dishonest by no meanes: His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held: but Prince Cassimi…e first sent for them to argue the case before him, and then appoin…ed … Publick disput…ion, wherein they could prove none of tho…e thing… …hich they charged them with; whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the tim… to come, and to study peace: but nothing would prevaile …o …llay their spleen… …ill they were removed into other Countries… The care of choosing Pastor… to the Churches, Tutors to the young Prince, Schoolmasters and Professors to the Universi…y, was devolved upon Tossan; all which he discharged with much fidelity: There also he commenced Doctor in Divinity; But as his cares …nd p…ins incre…sed, so hi… sorrow …lso, partly by reason of …n unh…ppy qu…rrell th…t fell out between the Students and Citizen… of Heidleberge, p…rtly by the death of hi… dear wife with whom he lived twenty two years in wedlock.
In the year 1588. he marryed …gaine, and disposed of his daughter… also in marryage to godly and learned men: Not long after Prince Cas…mire dyed, which much turned his griefe: but Frederick the fourth, being now come to hi… age, was admitted into the number of the Electors, …nd was very carefull of the good, both of the Chu… & University. An. Christi 1594. Tossan was choosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg, and the year after there brake out a grievous Pestilence in that City, 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. he b…ing grown very old and infirm, laid down his Professors place, though the University, much opposed it, and earnestly sollicited him to retain it still, b… God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors, and …orrowes: for having in his Lectures expounded the booke of Iob to the end of the 31. Chapter, he concluded with those words: The words of Iob are ended; Presently after falling sick, he 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; he also made his W…ll, and set down therein a good confession of his Faith, and so departed quietly in the Lord Anno Christi 1602. and of his age sixty one. He was a very holy man, exemplary in his life, had an excellent wit… strong memory: eloquent …n speech, was very charitable, and chea…full in his conversation, and kept correspondence with all the choycest D…vines in those times.
Germane Tossanus doth deserve likewise,
That we his honoured name should memorize;
Who notwithstand all th'afflictions great
Which furious faithlesse Popish Foes did threat,
And prosecute him with, from place to place,
And him, and his dear wife with terrours chace:
In danger oft of death, yet mightily
The Lord preserv'd them from Romes cruelty.
He was a learned and laborious Preacher,
And alwayes 'gainst Romes errors, a Truth teacher…
Eloquent, witty, holy, humble, wise,
And now his soul blest Heaven …eate…es.