SOME PARTICULARS

OF

THE LIFE OF THOMAS BECON.

Thomas Becon, or Beacon, was one of the most active of the English Reformers; and by his writings he contributed much to the diffusion of the truth. He was born in Suffolk about A. D. 1510, and was educated at Cambridge, where he took his bachelor's degree in 1530. The preaching of Latimer appears to have been very useful to him, and he became a zealous teacher of the gospel. On this account Becon was persecuted by the Romish clergy, and was apprehended by Bonner in 1544, when he was compelled to make a public recantation at Paul's Cross, and to burn his little treatises, which had attracted considerable notice. Some of them had been printed under the name of Theodore Basil,* and were prohibited in the proclamation against heretical books, in July, 1546.

Finding there was no safety for him in London or its vici nity, Becon travelled into Staffordshire and Derbyshire, where he remained in seclusion until the accession of Edward VI. During this interval “ he educated children in good literature, and instilled into their minds the principles of christian doctrine.” But the account of Becon's proceedings at that period is best given in his own words, as related in his tract, “ The Jewel of Joy."

" What gentleness I found for my godly labours at the hands of some men in these parts ye know right well. Therefore when neither by speaking, nor by writing, I could do good, I thought it best nct rashly to throw myself into the ravening paws of those greedy wolves, but for a certain space to absent

* Becon had two sons, whom he named Theodore and Basil, probably from his having assumed that appellation.

B

ness,

myself from their tyranny, according to the doctrine of the gospel.—Leaving mine own native country, I travelled into such strange places as were unknown to me, and I to them. And yet, I thank the Lord my God, who never leaveth his servants succourless, I, although an unprofitable servant, in that exile and banishment wanted no good thing. Let the voluptuous worldlings take thought for the belly, and be careful for this present life; I have learned in that my journey to cast my care upon the Lord my God, who abundantly feedeth so many as trust in him, and depend on his liberality and good

For one house I found twenty, and for one friend a hundred. I could wish nothing for the provision of this life, but I had it plenteously, God so caring for me, his unprofitable and wretched servant.

“ After I had taken leave of my most sweet mother, and my other dear friends, I travelled into Derbyshire, and from thence into the Peak, whither I appointed my books and my clothes to be brought. Mine intent was, by exercising the office of a schoolmaster, to engraft Christ and the knowledge of him, in the breasts of those scholars whom God should appoint unto me to be taught. I found them of very good wits and apt understandings.—Coming to a little village, called Alsop in the dale, I chanced upon a certain gentleman, called Alsop, lord of that village, a man not only ancient in years, but also ripe in the knowledge of Christ's doctrine. After we had saluted each other, and taken a sufficient repast, he showed me certain books, which he called his jewels and principal treasures.-To repeat them all by name I am not able, but of this I am sure, that there was the New Testament after the translation of the godly learned man, Miles Coverdale, * which seemed to be as well worn by the diligent reading thereof, as ever was any portass or mass book among the papists.—I remember he had many other godly books, as the Obedience of a Christian man, the Parable of the wicked Mammon, the Revelation of Antichrist, the Sum of Holy Scripture, the book of John Frith against Purgatory,t all the books published in the name of Theodore Basil, with divers other learned men's works. In these godly treatises this ancient gentleman, among the

* The first testament printed in English, about twenty years before the time here referred to.

+ These were writings of Tindal and Frith.

mountains and rocks, occupied himself both diligently and virtuously.—But all the religion of the people consisted in hearing matins and masses, in superstitious worshipping of saints, in hiring soul carriers to sing trentals,* in pattering upon beads, and in such other popish pedlary. Yet the people where I have travelled, for the most part, are reasonable and quiet enough, t yea and very conformable to God's truth. If any be stubbornly obstinate, it is for want of knowledge, and because they have been seduced by blind guides.

“ While I was in the Peak I learned that Robert Wysdom was in Staffordshire. He was the same to me as Aristarchus was to Paul. Desiring greatly to see him, I bade my friends in the Peak farewell, and made haste towards him. When I came to him, I not only rejoiced to see him in health, but also gave God thanks that he was so well placed and provided for. I found him in the house of a certain faithful brother, called John Old, a man old in name, yet young in years, and yet ancient in true godliness and christian life. He was to us as Jason was to Paul and Silas. He received us joyfully into his house, and liberally, for the Lord's sake, ministered all good things unto our necessities. And as he began, so he continued, a right hearty friend, and dearly loving brother, so long as we remained in that country. Even as blessed Paul wished to Onesiphorus, (2 Tim. i.) so wish I to him, and with the same words pray for him, The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. After we had passed certain days in the house of that most loving brother, refreshing ourselves with the comfort of the holy scriptures after so many grievous tempests, troublous storms, and painful labours, our dear brother Robert Wysdom was called away by letters, which was to us no small pain and grief.

The Romish priests who repeated masses for thirty days, to deliver souls from purgatory.

+ The midland counties were not disturbed by the tumults excited by the Romish priests, in Norfolk and in the west and north of England.

Robert Wysdom, or Wisdum, was minister of St. Catherine's, in Lothbury, and a laborious preacher of the truth; he was compelled to recant, with Becon, in 1544. He wrote an exposition on the ten commandments, for which he was imprisoned in the Lollards' tower. Several of the psalms and hymns of the old version were written by him. On the accession of queen Mary, he escaped to the continent, and became archdeacon of Ely in the reign of Elizabeth

Notwithstanding, we submitted ourselves to the good pleasure of God, with this hope and comfort, that his return to his old familiars should be greatly to the advancement of God's glory, and to the quiet of his christian studies, whereof might spring hereafter no small advantage to the christian public weal. And so we, wishing one another the assistance of God's Spirit, repentance of our former life, strength of faith, and perseverance in all godliness to our last end, departed, yea, and that not without tears.--He was ever virtuously occupied, and suffered no hour to pass away without good fruit. He is a man in whom the fear of God reigneth unfeignedly.

“ After his departure, according to my talent, I brought up youth in the knowledge of good literature, and instilled into their breasts the elements and principles of Christ's doctrine, teaching them to know their Lord and God, to believe in him, to fear and love him, and studiously to walk in his holy ways from their cradles, even to the yielding up of their last breath. I doubt not but Christ was so deeply graven in their hearts at that time, that he is not yet worn out, neither as I trust shall be so long as they live. — The people were not in all points commonly so superstitious as the people of the Peak, they savoured somewhat more of pure religion. This I think came to pass through certain English books that were among them, and through travellers to and from London.

“ After I had spent a year and somewhat more in that country, in the virtuous education and bringing up of youth, I departed into Warwickshire, where, in like manner as before, I freely enjoyed the liberality of my sweet and dear friend, John Old, who, impelled by urgent causes, had removed into that country. There likewise I taught divers gentlemen's sons, who I trust, if they live, will be ornaments to the public weal of England, both for the preferment of true religion, and for the maintenance of justice.

“ I travelled in Derbyshire, in the Peak, in Staffordshire, and in Leicestershire, yet Warwickshire was to me the most dear and pleasant. In Leicestershire-1 pass over the other, I had acquaintance only with one learned man, a countryman of ours, called John Aylmer, * a master of arts of the university of

• Aylmer was active in promoting the Reformation. He was tutor in the family of the marquess of Dorset, who was afterwards duke of

Cambridge, a young man singularly well learned both in the Latin and Greek, teacher to the children of my lord marquis Dorset ; but Warwickshire ministered unto me the acquaintance and friendship of many learned men.

“ First comes to my remembrance master Latimer, a man worthy to be loved and reverenced by all true-hearted christian men, not only for the pureness of his life, which before the world hath always been innocent and blameless, but for the sincerity and goodness of his evangelical doctrine, which, since the beginning of his preaching, has in all points been so conformable to the teaching of Christ and his apostles, that the very adversaries of God's truth, with all their menacing words, and cruel imprisonments, could not withdraw him from it. But whatsoever he had once preached, he valiantly defended the same before the world, without fear of any mortal creature, although of ever so great power or high authority; wishing and minding rather to suffer, not only loss of worldly possessions, but also of life, than that the glory of God, or the truth of Christ's gospel, should in any point be obscured or defaced through him. His life was not dear unto him, so that he might fulfil his course with joy, and the office that he received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of God's favour. He might well say with the holy psalmist, 'I spake, O Lord, of thy testimonies and ordinances in the presence of kings, princes, and rulers, and I was not ashamed.'

“ His noble fame and virtuous renown is well known, not only in this realm of England, but also in foreign countries, among both learned and unlearned. I have known him twenty years ago, in the university of Cambridge; to whom, next to God, I am most specially bound to give most hearty thanks for the knowledge, if I have any, of God and his most blessed word.

“ I was sometime a poor scholar of Cambridge, very desirous to have the knowledge of good letters; and in the time of my being there this godly man preached many learned and christian sermons, both in Latin and English, at all of which for the most part I was present; and although at the time I was Suffolk, the father of Lady Jane Grey. During the Marian persecation he took refuge on the continent, and was afterwards bishop of London. John Old was a teacher of youth, and vicar of Cobington, in Warwickshire. He was afterwards a prebendary of Hereford, and an exile for religion.