Imatges de pàgina
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IX.

"bitter, being in a torture at the approach of it. For there SECT. "are twelve hours in the day; which being spent, the sun "sets; being not spent, the light diffuseth itself to mor- Anno 1550. "tals: nor does it set before the time prescribed by God come; nor doth it stay longer than the appointed end of "its course. Not so much as an hair falleth to the earth "without the will of our heavenly Father, at whose com"mand they all fall, and without it they remain; giving 66 us to understand, that life and death are governed by his "authority and pleasure. And we should not be afraid of "what he provides, nor shun what he sends, nor decline "what he commands. But I have no time for further discourse of these things, by reason of my business; nor "have you leisure to read them, by reason of your indisposition. You will therefore excuse me, that here I make "a stand. Farewell in Christ, dear Haddon. March 19, anno 1551. [i. e. anno 1550 exeunte.]"

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This was the sum of Cheke's Christian as well as eloquent letter to the sick Haddon; wherein he shewed himself a true friend, in the spiritual comforts and counsels suggested to him. But Haddon (though at this present low ebb of health) at length recovered, and lived to be made use of both by King Edward and Queen Elizabeth. To the latter whereof, after she had employed him in embassies abroad, he became Master of her Requests. And as he not long after this was preferred by the King, so was Cheke: the one to be President of Magdalen college in Oxford, anno 1552; the other, as a special mark of the King's favour, to the honour of knighthood this ensuing year, as we shall hear by and by.

F

CHAP. IV.

From the time of Cheke's knighthood, to his being made a
Privy Counsellor and Secretary of State.

SECT. I.

Cheke is knighted.

Honours FOR in the year 1551, and in the month of October, was

conferred by

and others.

the King a great advancement to honour granted unto certain of the upon Cheke nobility: Henry Grey, Marquis of Dorset, who married a daughter of the late Duke of Suffolk, (which daughter he had by Mary of the royal blood,) was created Duke of Suffolk; John Sutton, alias Dudley, Earl of Warwick, was created Duke of Northumberland; Paulet, Earl of Wilts, was created Marquis of Winchester; Sir William Herbert was made Lord Cardiff, and soon after Earl of Pembroke ; and at the same time, for the greater splendour of the day, the King knighted his Secretary Cecil, his schoolmaster Cheke, and two that were chief gentlemen of his privy chamber, Nevyl and Sidney.

The King's To which I add the King's gift to him about six months gift to him. before, namely, in May, to enable him the better to main

tain the port and honour that he was ere long to be invested with. It was a gift in fee simple to John Cheke, Esquire, (as it is set down in the warrant book,) in consideration of the surrendry of an hundred mark rent, granted him by letters patents, dated the 26th of August, in the second year of his reign for twenty-one years, if it should so long please the King, of all the manor of Stoke juxta Clare (as he had before given him the site of the college, and other lands belonging to it) in the counties of Suffolk and Essex, with divers other lands, tenements, &c. all to the yearly value of 1457. 19s. 3d. To hold all the premises in capite, by the fortieth part of a knight's fee, (except the Fuller Mill in Stoke, and the Guildhall house there,) the Pistery pasture, and other premises in Spalding, and the rec

II.

tory of Sandon, and other premises in Sandon; to be holden SECT. as of the manor of Greenwich by fealty only, paying yearly to the King for the manor of Stoke 47. 17s. 7d.

SECT. II.

Cheke inquisitive after Dr. Redman's declaration concerning religion at his death.

Anno 1551.

ter to Cheke

NOTHING of moment passed at Cambridge, or relating Yong's letto the members of it; but Sir John Cheke was inquisitive concerning about it. Dr. Redman, Master of Trinity college, some Redman. time fellow collegian with Cheke, one of the learnedest and gravest men in that University, in the month of November, anno 1551, departed this life. A man he was of such great esteem for his deep knowledge in divinity, and acquaintance with the ecclesiastical fathers and writers, and skill in the Scriptures, that his words bore a very great weight and authority. This Doctor was reckoned rather of the Popish side, than that of the Protestants. He owned outwardly transubstantiation and justification by works; though in other matters he was more loose from the corruptions and superstitions of the Roman Church. But coming to lie on his deathbed at Westminster, the learneder sort attended him, and prayed him, as a dying man, (since the world had such a deference for his learning,) to declare impartially his thoughts of several matters then controverted in the Church, which he promised he would do most sincerely. His answers were all in favour of the Reformation, and particularly he shewed the rottenness of those distinguishing Papal doctrines before mentioned, which he seemed outwardly to have adhered to. There were then present Wilks, Master of Christ's college, Cambridge; Alexander Nowell, Master of the King's school at Westminster, and divers others; and particularly Mr. Yong, B.D. of Trinity college, none of the most earnest favourers of religion, and a great opposer of Martin Bucer, but a learned man. Cheke, desirous to know the truth of these things, sent to the said Yong, praying him

edit. p. 870.

CHAP. for a just account of the declaration that grave and reveIV. rend man had made. In answer to which he sent him a Anno 1551. large letter, the original whereof fell into the hands of John Fox, first Fox, the Martyrologist; and he printed it in his first edition of his Acts and Monuments. The translation whereof into English remaineth in the after editions. It began, Etsi animus mihi non mediocri dolore perculsus est, vir amplissime, propter immaturam (nisi ita Deo visum) et Alebilem sanctissimi et eruditissimi viri D. Redmanni mortem; adeo ut luctu et mærore multum stupefactus, vix tandem semet aut ad agendum aut ad cogitandum expediat; tamen cum id tuam amplitudinem me facere velle intelligam, libenter me ipse colligo, atque quæ ab ipso pio et docto Redmanno bonæ memoriæ viro, dum adhuc diuturna infirmitate contabescens certam mortem expectaret, de religionis controversiis, quibus hodie Christi sponsa Ecclesia misere divexatur, pronuntiata audiverim, fideliter et vere hisce meis literis enarrare instituo: i. e. 66 Al"though, worthy Sir, I am struck with no small grief " at the untimely (had it not so pleased God) and deplo"rable death of Dr. Redman, that most holy and excellently learned man, so that much overcome with "mourning and sorrow, I scarce can recover myself freely "to do or think any thing; yet since I understand it is 66 your pleasure I should do it, I willingly recollect myself, ❝ and do resolve faithfully and truly to declare in this my letter, what I heard the pious and learned Redman of "good memory speak, while he was wasting with sick66 ness, and expected certain death, concerning the con"troversies of religion, with which the Church, Christ's 66 spouse, is miserably vexed." Then he shewed Cheke how Mr. Alexander Nowell, one that was always a lover and valuer of him, accosted him once, being near his end, to shew his mind concerning certain points to him and the rest present; and what they should look upon, as though it were an oracle from heaven. The points were these concerning his judgment of the Bishop and see of Rome; concerning purgatory; whether the wicked eat the

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II.

body of Christ; whether Christ be present in the Sacra- SECT. ment, and be to be worshipped there; concerning the carrying about of the Sacrament in solemn pomps and pro- Anno 1551. cessions; concerning commemoration of the dead, justification by faith, and the merit of good works. To all which, that reverend man gave his resolution the Protestant way, as Yong shewed Cheke at large in his letter, which he thus concluded: Atque hæc quidem sunt, quæ ego ad questiones sibi propositas, eum respondisse audivi. Nec vero usquam (quod memini) ab ea quam ab ipso enuntiatam audivi sententia deflexi. D. noster Jesus Christus has turbulentas, quibus Ecclesia jactatur, tempestates compescere dignetur, miserumque suum ovile miserabiliter jam dissipatum et dispersum propitius intueatur et aspiciat, propter nomen sanctum suum. Ipse tuam amplitudinem gubernare dignetur et servet. Londini, 3 Novembr. &c. i. e. "And these are the things " which I heard him answer to the questions to him pro"pounded. Nor have I ever myself (as far as I remem"ber) wandered from that opinion which I heard declared

Amen.

by him. Our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafe to allay these "stormy tempests, with which the Church is tossed, and 66 regard and look in mercy upon his poor sheepfold, mi66 serably dispersed and scattered for his holy name sake. "Amen. May he vouchsafe to rule and keep you. Lon"don, the 3d of November, &c."

SECT. III.

Cheke's disputations concerning the Sacrament.

of the con

others,

ABOUT this time Cheke, with some others, was en- A relation gaged in two disputations, or rather friendly conferences, ferences of privately with Feckenham, (who was afterwards Dean of Cheke and St. Paul's and Abbot of Westminster,) and one or two about the more of his party, in the great controversy of the real presence in the Sacrament. The first was held at Secretary Cecil's house, and the latter at Sir Richard Morison's. The auditors were but six, viz. the Lord Russel, Sir Tho

Sacrament.

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