The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 85 – Biography 86
EDWIN SANDES ARCHRI…
The Life and Death of Edwin Sands, who dyed Aug. 8. Anno Christi 1588.
THis learned Doctor and famous Divine, was descended of vertuous and godly Parents, and bred up in the knowledge of the liberall Arts, being well grounded in the rudements of Learning; he was sent to the famous University of Cambridge, where he tooke the degree of Doctor in Divinity, and afterwards was Master of Katharine-Hall, and Vice-Chancellour of the said University, at that time when Iohn Duke of Northumberland came thither with his Army to proclaime the Lady Iane Gray Queen of England, in opposition to Queen Mary. Hereupon the Duke required Doctor Sands to Preach on the morrow in relation to the businesse then in hand. Though the warning was short, and the businesse in agitation very weighty, yet he undertooke to Preach; so rising at three of the clocke the next morning, he tooke his Bible in his hand, and after he had prayed a good space, he shut his eyes, and holding his Bible before him, earnestly prayed unto God, that it might fall open where a most fit Text should be for him to Preach on that day: The Bible (as God would have it) opened at the beginning of Ioshua, where he found a very pregnant text of Scripture for the present occasion, viz. Ioshua 1.16, 17, 18. He that shall consider the Auditory, the time, and other circumstances, shall easily see that this Text most fitly served for the purpose; and as God gave the Text, so he gave him such discretion, wisdome, moderation and sincerity in the handling of it, that he cavsed the stoutest of them there present to shed teares abundantly.
Shortly after, when the Duke was taken, and Queen Mary proclaimed, one Master Mildmay was sent to apprehend Doctor Sands, and to carry him to the Tower of London; who coming unto Doctor Sands, he told him, that he marvelled that so learned a man as he, should so unadvisedly run himselfe into danger. To whom he answered, I am not ashamed of bonds, but if I could doe as you can doe, I need not to fear bonds; you came downe armed against the Queen, and now you are for the Queen; before a traytor, now a friend. But I cannot thus dissemble, and with one mouth blow hot and cold.
As he rode in at Bishops-gate London, a wicked woman hurled a stone at him, which gave him such a blow on the breast, that it almost feld him off his horse. To whom he mildely said, Woman, God forgive thee. While he was in the Tower, one Iohn Bowler was his Keeper, a perverse Papist, yet at length, by the sweet and gentle perswasions and grave counsell of this holy man, he was so far wrought upon, as to favour the Gospell, and afterwards became a zealous professour of it. Upon Sir Thomas … yats insurrection, Doctor Sands was removed unto the Marshall-sea, where God gave him great favour in the eyes of his Keeper, so that he used him very courteously. After nine and twenty weekes imprisonment in the Tower, and nine in the Marshalsea, through the mediation of his friends, he was set at liberty: But Gardiner Bishop of Winchester repenting of what he had done, presently used all meanes possible to apprehend him againe; yet through the goodnesse of God and the help of his faithfull friends, he got safe out of London, and went to the Sea-side to take shipping for Flanders; while he stayed at Milton-shore, waiting for a Ship, he was kindely entertained by one Iames Mower and his wife. Now his wife was barren, having bin married abovt eight years; to whom at parting Doctor Sands said, Be of good comfort, for ere that a whole year be past, God shall give you a Sonne. And accordingly it came to passe; for that day twelve months, lacking but one day, she was delivered of a Son.
He remained in Germany all the reigne of Queene Mary, and returned unto London the same day that Queen Elizabeth was crowned. The Queen highly esteemed him for his singular piety and learning, and shortly after bestowed great preferment upon him. He was made Bishop of Worc…ster the 21. day of December, 1559. He did succeed that famous Archbishop Grindall in two places, to wit, in the Bishoprick of London, and the Archbishoprick of Yorke, the one in 1570. and the other in six years after. And when he had enjoyed that promotion of Archbishop 12. years, he departed this life Aug. 8. 1588. about the age of 60. and lyes buried in the Collegiate Church in Southwel in No…inghamshire: A man, of whom it is hard to be said, whether more famous for his singular vertues and learning, or for his Noble Parentage and Of-spring which he left behinde him; for he left many Childen, of which three were Knights and excelently well qualified Gentlemen, either for body or minde. But his Sonne Sir Edwin Sands proved the learneder, and more famous and deare to his Countrey.
There is a Booke of famous Sermons extant in Print of this Prelates, which is counted a worthy Peece, and doth sufficiently declare his Piety and Schollarship to succeed…ng Ages.
He that will spake his praises well
Must study first what 'tis t'excell:
He daily labour'd to oppose
The Churches most unsatiate Foes;
The truth he would be sure to vent
Though he endur'd imprisonment.
Read but his Works, and th…u shall finde
His body was imprisn'd, not his minde.
G…RVAS BABINGTON.
The Life and Death of Gervas Babington.
THis Prelate as he was excellent for his parts, so was he of a very fai… descent, being born in the County of Nottingham, of the ancient family of the Babingtons in the said County, where he drew in the first rudiments of Literature, till by his worthy Parent… he was sent to Cambridge, and was admitted into that worthy Society of Trinity Colledg, Doctor Whi…gu… being then Master.
This Babington proved so famous in Schol…ership, that having his degrees, he was made Fellow of the same Colledge; and giving himselfe to the study of Divinity, he proved a worthy Preacher in that University. After, being Doctor in Divinity, he was called by Henry that Noble Earl of Pembrooke, to be his Chaplaine, by whose favour he was first made Treasurer of the Church of Landaffe in Wales, after he was elected Bishop of the same, 1591. and when he had sitten four years in that See, for his singular Piety and Learning, he was by Queene Elizabeth translated to the Bishopricke of Exeter, where he scarce stayed three years, but he was made Bishop of Worcester, and in the middest of all these preferments he was neither tainted with Idlenesse, or pride, or covetousnesse, but w…s not onelyonly diligent in preaching, but in writing bookes, for the understanding of Gods Word; so that he was a true patterne of Piety to the people, of Learning to the Ministery, and of Wisedome to all Governours: Whereupon he was made one of the Queenes Counsell for the Marches of Wales. He was Bishop of Worcester abovt the space of 13. years: He dyed of an Hecticke Feaver, and so changed this fraile life for a better in the yeare of our Lord 1610. not without the great griefe of all, and had all funerall Rites bestowed on him, befitting so great and so grave a Governour, and father of the Church; and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Worcester, in the MonethMonth of May. His Workes extant are these that follow.
1. Consolatory Annotations upon Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 2. VponUpon the ten Commandements, the Lords Prayer, and the Articles of the Creed. 3. A comparison or collation betweene humane frailty and faith. 4. Three worthey and learned Se…mons.
Renowned Babington spun out his dayes
In truth and peace, and had the ecchoing praise
Of every tongue; his worth was priz'd by all
That lov'd religion; nothing could recall
His heart from goodnesse; peace, and love did rest
Within the closset of his se…ious breast:
Therefore let every tongue proclame and cry
The fame of Babington shall never dye.