XIV. "V. No adultery, theft, or murder is committed, but the CHAP. "will of God cometh in betwixt. Institut. chap. xxiv. "distinct. 44. "VI. That the scripture manifestly witnesseth, that "wicked acts are assigned to God; not only willing, but "the author thereof. “VII. Whatsoever men do, when they sin, they do it "by the will of God: for because the will of God ofttimes "striveth with his commandment. "VIII. The hardening of Pharaoh, and moreover his fro"wardness of mind and rebellion, was the work of God. "And that by the testimony of Moses, who ascribeth to "God the whole rebellion of Pharaoh. "IX. The will of God is the chief cause of the harden"ing of men." Other articles attributed by this writer to Calvin were, "That Satan was a liar by the power of God. That God "giveth will to them that work wickedness: yea, he mi"nistereth wicked and unhonest affections, not only by suf"ferance, but effectually: and that for his own glory. The "wicked in their wickedness do rather God's work than "their own. We sin of necessity by the sense of God, "when we sin of our own, or at adventure. Lastly, Those things which men commit by their own wicked inclina"tion, the same also proceedeth of the will of God." Anno 1578. his doctrine These uncharitable consequences and odious insinuations Calvin and from the doctrine of predestination and the will of man, as wronged stated by Calvin, highly provoked the church of Geneva, and misrepresented. Insomuch that Beza, the chief minister there, answered every one of those articles with some sharpness; calling them all downright slanders, calumnies, and lies; and him sycophant, and in one place, devil. "Wilt thou, devil, never "leave thy slander ?" And by his learning confuting the adversary's arguments; and appealing frequently to Calvin's own writings; wherein these dangerous doctrines were utterly disallowed and discovered by him. And finally, concludes that this man's doctrine is patched together of the doctrines of papists, anabaptists, Servetus, and Pelagius. VOL. II. PART II. II. BOOK The translation of this book, he that employed himself in the doing of it did think would be of great use to English Anno 1578. readers, his countrymen; especially those that wandered in the way of ignorance, and took part with the wicked cause, for lack of helps. Life. The Way of Now came forth likewise a book of practical religion, in quarto, translated also out of Latin into English, called The Way of Life; written by a divine of fame in the king558 dom of Denmark; being a Christian and catholic institu tion; comprising principal points of Christian religion; which are necessary to be known of all men. Gratulatio sis. The History of the Wars in Italy, in English, writ by din. zabeth's Gratulatio Waldenensis was set forth this year by Gabriel Harvey. It was a description of the queen's reception of the university of Cambridge at Audley End, in the precincts of the town of Walden in Essex. Printed in Latin by Henry Binneman in four books. The title of the first book, Gabrielis Harveii Xaipe: vel Gratulationis Valdinensis liber primus. Ad magnificentissiman principem, et augustissimam reginam Elizabetham Audleianis ædibus regifice exceptam. The second book, to the earl of Leicester. The third, to lord Burghley. The fourth, to the earl of Oxford, sir Christopher Hatton, and sir Philip Sidney. And to conclude: this year also was printed, in a fair folio, the history of the excellent Italian historian, Guicciardine; translated into English by Geffrey Fenton: containing the wars of Italy and other parts, continued for many years unGuicciar- der sundry kings and princes: wherein much history of religion is interspersed; and of stirs occasioned by the pope. The editor dedicated this his translation to queen ElizaQueen Eli- beth. In his epistle he took notice, " of her great skill in skill in his- history; wherein she, far above all other princes, had a "most singular insight and judgment. And concerning "state and government, [which that book chiefly treated "of,] God had expressed in the person of her majesty, a "most rare and divine example to all other kings of the "earth, for matter of policy and sound administration. All "law of reason, of equity, and of other impression whatso"ever, did challenge to appropriate the address of the work tory and government. 66 "to her. In whom, for her inspired science and spirit to CHAP. "judge of monuments and events of things; and for the 66 66 66 XIV. felicity of her government in seasons so perilous and con- Anno 1578. "spiring, all kings and kingdoms and nations round about "her, rose up to reverence, in her form of governing, that property of wisdom and virtue; which, it seems, God "had restrained to her majesty only, without participation "to any of them. And in that regard they held her, as he "added, the sacred and fixed star: which light God would "not have put out; though the devices of men on all sides were busy to draw clouds and dark vails to obscure "it," &c. And again; "That God had raised and esta"blished her majesty a sovereign prince of several nations "and languages: and with the fruits of a firm and con"tinued peace, had plentifully enriched the people of her "dominions; restored religion and the church of Christ, "to dwell anew among us; made her strength awful to all “her neighbours; and lastly, had erected her seat upon a "high hill or sanctuary, and put into her hands the balance "of power and justice, to peaze and counterpeaze at her "will the actions and counsels of all the Christian king“doms of her time." This I thought worthy the extracting from the grave writer; who lived in, and was an observer of these very times: to shew what honour and reputation she had by this time of her reign attained to among her subjects, and through the Christian world, for her great wisdom, learning, favour, and protection of true religion, and abilities in government, and awful respect among the princes of the earth. forth abroad For what books of note of religious subjects were pub-Books of lished abroad, I transcribe a paragraph of the famous Hel- religion set vetian divine, Rodolphus Gualter, in an epistle to Cox, bi- in Germany. shop of Ely: Ego his nundinis [Francofurtensibus] nihil 559 in lucem dedi præter sermones Germanicos X. de pane vita, Jesu Christi, et ejus vera manducatione; ex Joannis sexto cap. Quos si aliquando Latinos fecero, ad te mittam. Julius se mittere dixit Benedicti Talmanni libellum, quo novum illud et portentosum de ubiquitate corporis Christi II. BOOK dogma, egregie confutatur. Sub prelo est liber doctissimus de orthodoxo consensu ecclesiæ veteris in negotio cœnæ Anno 1578. Domini. The sum of which words was, his mention of three books: one was, ten sermons of his concerning the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, and the true eating of him; from St. John, chap. vi. Another, A confutation of the new and monstrous doctrine of the ubiquity of the body of Christ: by Benedict Talman. A third, Of the orthodox consent of the ancient church in the business of the Lord's Supper: being a very learned book. CHAP. XV. The queen's match with the French king's brother; concerted. Provoked by a seditious book against it. Issueth out a proclamation: the sum thereof. Stubbs the author punished: remains prisoner in the Tower. His petition. A nobleman (thought to be sir Philip Sydney) writes to the queen, upon the parliament's suits to her to marry. The earl of Leicester under dislike with the queen about this French match. His protestation, and offer of exile. Anno 1579. THIS year 1579, the French match with queen Elizabeth The French was earnestly concerted. Which some of her wise statescerted ear- men thought necessary, for the security of the kingdom: nestly. match con The arch bishop of the earl of that there might be an heir of the queen's body to inherit the crown: though the difference of religion (monsieur being a papist) did create a great fear and disturbance in most men's minds. So that both bishops and preachers, as well as the generality of her subjects, dislike it utterly. The queen thought fit to cast forth some expressions to York's ad- Sandys, archbishop of York, about this affair. And he, in vice of it to his correspondence with the earl of Shrewsbury, thus wrote Shrews- from London, March 5, how matters then went: viz. bury. "That things were very uncertain: and that he had omit"ted writing to him, because these uncertain times could bring forth no certainties. That the French matter had 66 XV. "been long on sleep, and seemed as dead, but was now re- CHAP. "vived again. That monsieur of late had writ most kind "letters, claiming promise, and yielding to all conditions, Anno 1579. "That the king had sent a treating message by his legyard "ambassador here. That the earl of Leicester, Hatton, "and Walsingham, had very earnestly moved her majesty "to go forward with this marriage, as her most safety. "That hereupon letters were sent by post, as well to mon- 560 "sieur as to Semyer. [Who was here last year courting "the queen.] And the answer was given to the ambassa"dor here to his satisfaction. So that, as the archbishop "proceeded, it was looked for that both Semyer and other "French commissioners should be here before Easter, to "make up a conclusion. But what would be the end, added "the archbishop, or to what effect this will come, God "knew, and not man. Yet, as he subjoined, it was but a "few days past, her majesty cast out speeches to him tend"ing that way. But that if these commissioners came, the parliament would hold; if they came not, it was like they “would be prorogued until Michaelmas." arrived. But before he concluded his letter, he writ the news: The French That at that very time he understood the French ambassa-ambassador dor and the rest of the French gentlemen were arrived, to solicit this great affair: who were courted by the chief men of the court. And the earl of Leicester treated them at his house at Wansted: he and his company dining with him there. And it being now resolved, that monsieur d'Anjou, the king's brother, should come over to wait upon the queen in way of courtship, the council was exceeding busy in preparing and ordering matters for his reception, in order to carry on the treaty. This was the archbishop's news. "The lord Gilbert Talbot wrote to the said earl, his The coun"father, that the earl of Leicester, and the lord treasurer, nest in "though scarcely free of a fit of the gout, (which, as the council "said lord Gilbert merrily wrote, the lord treasurer was coming. "not then at leisure to entertain,) for five days together, in "the beginning of April, had sat in privy-council, from eight of the clock in the morning, till dinner-time: and sellors ear upon his |