too many and too great concessions to the adverse party. The Elector of Brandenburg was very desirous that he should subscribe this document, and at his request, the Senate of Strasburg allowed Bucer to visit him at Augsburg; but persisting in his refusal, the Elector was much displeased, and he returned home with much peril, having to pass through the Duchy of Wurtemberg, which was filled with the imperial forces. Soon afterward the obnoxious document was forced upon the Strasburgers by the Emperor; and a violent persecution rising against the reformed preachers, Bucer and his colleague Fagius accepted the kind invitation of Archbishop Cranmer, to take refuge in England, and assist the work of reformation in that happier country. Leaving Strasburg on the fourth of April 1549, with consent of the government, they arrived in England without any untoward accident, and were hospitably entertained at Lambeth, from whence they were removed to the University of Cambridge, to be employed in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. Bucer had the ordinary salary of divinityprofessor trebled, out of regard at once to his great worth, and his situation as a foreigner settling in England with a wife and numerous family. Fagius began a course of lectures on the Old Testament in the original, and Bucer on the New: the former commencing with the prophecy of Isaiah, and the latter with the Gospel of St. John, The University admitted Bucer to his office without any public cere mony at his particular desire. He held however some disputations; and his learning, integrity, and unassuming manners, became the admiration of all the gownsmen, while those who attended his lectures were particularly struck with his address in reconciling seeming contradictions in the sacred Volume.

These two learned foreigners

were scarcely seated in their academic chairs, ere they felt the fatal effects of change of climate, and mode of life. Fagius soon yielded up his spirit to God who gave it; Bucer lingered for a few months. He was so unwilling to cease his employment, that when his illness prevented his attendance at the public schools, he lectured at his own house, and on the follow ing January resumed his occupation; but experienced a severe relapse after thirty days, from which he never recovered. He then resigned himself to heavenly meditation and prayer. He earnestly besought God to preserve his newlyadopted country from those crimes which had brought down so much vengeance on Germany, and expressed his desire that King Edward VI. might endeavour to carry into effeet the ecclesiastical regulations which he had drawn up, and that they might be established in the kingdom.

Mr. Bradford called on him one day, when he was absorbed in divine contemplations; and though this pious and exemplary young man, at that time fellow of Pembroke Hall, was especially dear to him, (having by his persuasion left the study of law for that of divinity, and become a strenuous supporter of the reformed doctrine,) yet he would not be diverted from that silent communion with his God and Saviour, in which he delighted to indulge through the whole of his sickness. Regarding him with that sort of filial reverence which Timothy felt towards Paul, Bradford spake to him of the promises made to believers, and sought to console him by alluding to his past life, his faithful walk with God, his diligence and usefulness as a teacher, and exhorting him to east all his care on his Redeemer; but Bucer, who seemed disturbed at this well-meant interruption, replied, "I do not wish to be drawn away from the subject on which I

am thinking by the conversation of any one. I am beholding Christ crucified; God is abiding in my heart; I meditate on nothing but heaven; except, indeed, that I long for my departure." He refused support, observing, that another kind of life was all his desire. The physicians told him, he should recollect the duty he owed to others. "Well," said he, " you must have your way!" Bradford visited him at another time as he was going to preach, entreating to be remembered in his prayers, on which he burst into tears, replying, "Cast me not off, O Lord, in my old age, when my strength faileth me!" but immediately added, "He hath grievously chastised me; but he will never cast me off-no, never cast me off!" When admonished to arm himself for the conflict with Satan, who would thrust sore at him, that he might fall, he answered in an exulting manner, * 1 have no part in the devil-I am wholly and solely in Christ.-Far, far be it from me, that I should not now experience the most endearing consolations!" An eclipse of the moon occurring, his medical attendants and friends had a sort of superstitious apprehension, that his lamp of life would fade at the same time; but when Bradford came the next morning, and explained to him the cause of their solicitude, he held up three fingers, and looking to heaven, answered, "He, He rules and orders all*.'

He expired on the 27th of February 1551, in his sixty-first year. By order of the Vice Chancellor, his funeral was attended by the whole University: Dr. Haddon, Master of Trinity College, preaching before, and Dr. Parker, Master of Benedict, after the interment. The mayor and corporation, and a multitude of the commonalty, joined the academics in showing respect to the memory of the deceased

Bates, Vitæ Select. Viror. p. 263.

professor; and as Dr. Haddon's oration was in Latin, so Dr. Par ker's was in English, for the accommodation of the townsmen, when the whole assembly was dissolved in tears. The following day there was a communion at St. Mary's, and Dr. Redman preached a third discourse on the subject of his death; which was followed by laudatory verses from different scholars, among whom the two sons of the Duchess of Suffolk, a lady who had paid much attention to Bucer during his illness, were particularly approved.

How opposite was the scene soon after exhibited, at the accession of Queen Mary to the throne, and the advancement of Cardinal Pole to the Primacy, and the Chancellorships of the two Universities! In 1557, the Popish party, once more triumphant, instituted a regular process against the bones of Bucer aad Fagius; and the solemn farce, as detailed by Fox, would provoke a smile, did it not bear such marks of deadly enmity against the memories of these excellent persons, as merge a feeling of ridicule in a sensation of pity for the deluded state of the actors. Scott, Bishop of Chester; Ormanetto, an Italian datary of the Pope; Watson and Christopherson, Bishops Elect of Lincoln and Chichester; and Cole, Provost of Eton; were appointed commissioners to visit Cambridge, and destroy the relics of these reputed heretics. A citation was dispatched to Dr. Perne, Vice Chancellor, directing him to order all the graduates to attend him at St. Mary's on the 11th of January, with the statute books, and other documents, that inquiry might be made into the abuses of the University. After some preliminaries were settled, the commissioners were met on their approach by the heads of houses with due ceremony, and conducted to the lodgings of Dr. Christopherson, Master of Trinity,

where they were welcomed with a congratulatory address from one of the fellows, to which answer was made by Dr. Watson. The next day they passed an interdict against the two churches of St. Mary, and St. Michael, where the remains of Bucer and Fagius were deposited.

On the third day, which was the eleventh, as appointed, the doctors and masters assembled in great numbers at Trinity College, having the University Cross borne before them, a carpet and cushion being placed at the entrance for the visitors. The Vice Chancellor then sprinkled holy water on their Lordships, and would have incensed them, but they declined that honour with a show of humility. Then Master Thomas Stokes, public Orator, addressed them in the name of the University, lamenting with considerable eloquence the injuries which religion had sustained during the late reign, and the ascendancy of the reforming party in the state, and congratulating the university and country on the blessed change which was taking place under the auspices of the Cardinal Legate of the Holy See.

At the conclusion of his oration, the Bishop of Chester rose to express the satisfaction of the visitors at their reception, and their conviction, that the graduates would assist them in the prosecution of their work. The procession moving on to the King's College, a mass of the Holy Ghost was performed, during which the postures of the Italian datary were observed by all present, that they might be instructed in the modes and forms most agreeable to the Romish church. They all proceeded next to St. Mary's, where Master Peacock preached against heretics, such as Bilney, Latimer, Ridley, &c. Dr. Harvey produced the Cardinal's commission, which was read by Master Clarke; and the Vice Chancellor exhibited the citation, with a paper containing

a list of the members of the Univer sity. Dr. Brassey, Provost of King's, a venerable divine, hearing his name called over, stood up and observed, that "he had attended the summons in common with the rest; but, as, by the foundation of his college, the Bishop of Lincoln was visitor, and he was under a penalty if he suffered strangers to interfere, he protested against being understood to take part with the commissioners, unless they could show a paramount jurisdiction." This interrup tion greatly displeased the commissioners, who replied, that it was well known no persons were exempt from the authority of the Cardinal.

At

They assembled again the following morning at King's, and settled the ceremonies which were to be observed; giving notice, that they expected the head of each house, attended by the fellows, to meet them at the gates, with a cross, holy water, and incense. They resolved to begin with King's College; but when they came to the gates, the Provost and Fellows, either by accident or design, were not ready to receive them. length Dr. Brassey made his appearance, with an apology, but added the same protest as before. The Bishop of Chester, his personal enemy, frowned and reddened, observing that his objections had been answered before, and admonishing him to desist from such unprofitable altercation. They heard mass, and examined the state of the chapel, and then proceeded to the Provost's lodgings, to swear the head and fellows to a true report. After this kind of inquisition had continued for two or three days, a convocation was held respecting the proceedings against Bucer; when it was determined, that as his doctrine was heretical, it was against the canons that his body should, have Christian burial; that no room should be left

for such persons to be huried; for in the places where they lay they infected and polluted the very elements. Having come to a similar conclusion relative to Fagius, the Vice-Chancellor was directed to superintend their exhumation. At a subsequent meeting at St. Mary's, Dr. Harvey presented a mandate from the Cardinal to this effect, and the Vice-Chancellor exhibited the condemnation of the University, praying that the two heretics might be cited to appear, or any other in their name, on the next Monday. A citation was accord ingly read and publicly posted..

On the eighteenth, which was named for the day of trial, the of fenders did not appear, either by themselves or their attornies; whereupon the Court, willing to treat their contumacy with lenity, issued a second process, and deferred judgment to the 26th, when the Corporation were warned to be present, that no solemnity might be wanting in so important a matter. The University and Corporation having taken their places on that day at St. Mary's, the Commissioners ascended a platform, and the Vice-Chancellor with much gravity presenting them a copy of the second citation, the Bishop of

Chester addressed the assembly, assuring them that the Commissioners were ready to proceed against the heretics, according to their desire. He then read the sentence of condemnation, and commanded their bodies to be dug up, and being degraded from holy orders, to be delivered over to the secular power. On February 1st, the Vice-Chancellor went to St. Michael's and St. Mary's, and swore the persons employed as to the identity of the skeletons, which were enclosed in chests, and borne to the market-place, where they were placed on end, and fastened to a post with chains, surrounded by faggots, which being set on fire, some

condemned books were thrown in to be consumed with them. While this was transacting in the market-place, Dr. Watson preached to the gownsmen against the reformed doctrines, and shortly after the interdict was taken off from the churches, and the Bishop of Chester bearing the host, and followed by the masters with lighted tapers, concluded the ceremonies by going to St. Mary's, and praying for the Divine blessing, now that God's wrath was appeased, and order restored to the services of religion.