John Jewell

one of the greatest lights that the reformed Church of England hath produced, was born at Buden in the Parish of Berinerber in Devon. 24. May 1522. His Father was Joh’ Jewell, and his Mother of the Family of the Bellamies, who sparing neither labour or charge for his education, was at length, by the care of Joh. Bellamie his uncle, educated in Grammar learning first at Branton, then at Southmoulton, and at length at Barnstaple, in his own Country, under one Walt. Bowen. In which last School being made ripe for the University, he was sent to Oxon. in July 1535 and being entred into Merton Coll. under the tuition of John Parkhurst, (afterwards B. of Norwych) was by him made his Portionist, now called Postmaster, and by his care and severe tuition laid the foundation for greater learning that followed. In the Year 1539. after he (upon examination) had shew’d himself a youth of great hopes, he was admitted Scholar of C. C. Coll. 19. Aug. and the Year after was made Bach. of Arts. So that being put into a capacity by that Degree of taking Pupills, many resorted to him, whom he mostly instructed in private in Protestant principles, and in publick in Humanity, he being about that time Rhetorick reader in his Coll. In 1544 he was licensed to proceed in Arts, which he compleated in an Act celebrated 9. Feb. the same year. When K. Hen. 8. was dead, he shew’d himself more openly to be a Protestant; and upon P. Martyr’s arrival at Oxon, to be an admirer and hearer of him, whose Notary he was when he disputed with Tresham, Cheadsey and Morgan. In 1550 he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences, and during the Reign of K. Ed. 6. became a zealous promoter of reformation, and a Preacher and Catechiser at Sunningwel near Abendon in Berks. Soon after Qu. Mary came to the Crown, he was forced to leave the Nation, and retire first to Frankfort with Henry the eldest Son of Sir Franc. Knollys, Rob. Horne, and Edwyn Sandys, and afterwards to Strasburgh with Joh. Poynet, Edmund Grindal, Joh. Cheek, &c. After Qu. Maries death he returned in 1558, and in the Year following he was rewarded with the Bishoprick of Salisbury for his great learning and sufferings, being about that time appointed one of the Protestant Divines to encounter those of the Romish perswasion when Qu. Elizab. was about to settle a reformation in the Church of England. In 1560 he preached at Pauls cross on the second Sunday before Easter, on 1. Cor. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I have delivered unto you, &c. In which Sermon he shew’d himself the first, who made a publick challenge to all the Rom. Catholicks in the world, to produce but one clear and evident testimony out of any Father, or famous writer, who flourished within 500 years after Christ, for any one of the many articles which the Romanists at this day maintain against the Church of England, and upon any good proof of any such one allegation to yield up the bucklers and reconcile himself to Rome. Now tho Thom. Hardyng and some others undertook him about the controverted articles, yet, as those of the reformed party say, they came off so poorly, and Jewell on the contrary so amaz’d them with a cloud of witnesses in every point in question, that no (c)(c) Vide Godwinum De Praesul. Angl. in Sarisb. p. 409. one thing in that age, gave the papacy so deadly a wound as the said challenge at Pauls cross, so confidently made and bravely maintain’d. This say the Protestant writers; but let us hear what a grand (d)(d) Rob. Persons in A relation of a trial made before the K. of France, an. 1600. between the Bishop of Eureux and the Lord Plessis Mornay—Printed 1604. p. 53. 54. &c. zealot for the Romish cause saith concerning the said matter—“After this Man (meaning B. Nich. Rydley) stepped to Pauls cross in the beginning of Qu. Elizabeths days, about the Year 1559 and 1560 Mr. Joh. Jewell, otherwise called Bishop of Salisbury, and he proceeded yet farther in this brag and fiction, (meaning that what the Fathers said, made for the Protestants) for he protested there, even with feigned tears, that if any one authority, place, sentence or asseveration of any one Father, Doctor, Council, or authentical History, within the first 600 years after Christ, could be brought forth by any man living for any one of those points of Catholick Religion (which he there recited) to be in controversie, that then plainly and sincerely he would subscribe. Against which vain and shameless bragg, when Dr. Hardyng and divers other learned men of our side, began to write from Lovayne, and to bring forth authorities of all Fathers, Doctors, Councils and Histories in great abundance, the first effect of this challenge, that appeared to the world, was a severe proclamation, that no such book written in English by the Catholick party should be received or read in England, under great punishments. By which Provision Mr. Jewell thinking meetly well defenced, he plyed the pulpit often, and renewed his challenges many times, and perceiving notwithstanding that Dr. Hardyngs confutation was come into England, he answered the same with a long volume of Rhetorical words, and stuffed the Margent thereof with the shew of infinite Authors, as tho the whole world had been for him, and none for the other side: And with this he deceived the People then, and doth to this day, such I mean that have not commodity or learning, or other means to examine those places, and to find out the manifold lyes and falsifications therein contained. And this was the gain by all likelyhood that Mr. Jewell pretended to his cause by that work, knowing full well that this sort of Men is far the greater, which would be gained and settled in his doctrine before the learneder sort (who are but few in comparison of the other) could have time, books, and commodity to discover and refute him, and when they should do it, they should hardly be believed &c.—How many learned Men lightly of our Nation have taken upon them seriously to go over that book of Mr. Jewells, and to examine it by the Authors themselves with any indifferency of mind, have for the most part been thereby converted to Catholick Religion, though never so great Protestants before: Of which sort I have heard relation of many, but of some I can testifie my self, for that I have heard it from their own mouths, who of earnest Protestants were made most zealous Catholicks by that means principally; of which number I think it not inconvenient to name here some two or three, omitting others, which for just respects may not be named. The first of them is Sir Tho. Copley, made Lord afterwards in his banishment by the King of France, who oftentimes hath related unto one, with much comfort of his soul, how that being a zealous Protestant, and very familiar to Robert the late Earl of Leycester in the beginning of Qu. Elizabeths days, when Mr. Jewells book was newly come forth, he being also learned himself in the Latin tongue, took pains to examine certain leaves thereof, and finding many falshoods therein, which were inexcusable (as they seemed to him) he conferred the same with the said Earl, who willed him that the next time Mr. Jewell dined at his table, he should take occasion after dinner to propose the same, which he did soon after: And receiving certain trifling answers from Mr. Jewell, he waxed more hot, and urged the matter more earnestly: which Jewell perceiving, told him in effect That Papists were Papists, and so they were to be dealt withal; and other answer he could not get. Which thing made the good Gentleman to make a new resolution with himself, and to take that happy course which he did to leave his Country and many great commodities, which he enjoyed therein, to enjoy the liberty of conscience, and so both lived and died in voluntary banishment, &c. The second example which I remember of mine own knowledge is Mr. Doctor Stevens, a learned Man yet alive, who being Secretary or Chaplain to Mr. Jewell, and a forward Man in the Protestant Religion at that time, espyed certain false allegations in his Masters book, whilst it was under the print in London, whereof advertising him by Letters, (for that he supposed it might be by oversight) the other commanded notwithstanding the print to go forward, and passed it over as it was. Which this Man seeing, that had a conscience, and sought the truth indeed, resolved to take another way of finding it out: And having found it in the Cath. Church, where only it was to be found, he resolved also to follow it, and so he did, and went voluntarily into banishment for the same, where yet he liveth to this day in France, &c.—As for the third example,” which is Will. Rainolds, I shall remember from my before quoted Author, when I come to speak of him, and in the mean time proceed to speak of Jewell. In the beginning therefore of the Year 1565, he, tho absent, was actually created Doctor of Div. and the year following, when the Queen was entertain’d by the Oxonian Muses, he shew’d himself a profound Theologist in moderating at Divinity disputations in St. Maries Church. The learned Camden (e)(e) In Britan. in Wilts, in Sarisb. ibid. saith that he was a wonderful, great and deep Divine, a most stout and earnest maintainer of our reformed Religion against the adversaries, by his learned books. That he was a Man (f)(f) Idom in Annal. R. Elizab. sub an. 1571. ad sin. of a singular ingenie, of exquisite erudition in Theologicals and of great piety. As for Jewells writings the titles of them follow.

Exhortatio ad Oxonienses. See in his life written by Laurence Humphrey, printed in 1573. p. 35.

Exhortatio in Coll. Corp. Ch. sive concio in fundatoris Foxi Commemorationem. See there again p. 45. 46. &c.

Concio in templo B. Mariae Virg. Oxon, an. 1550 in 1. Pet. 4. 11. preached for his Degree of Bach. of Div. A Copy of which is printed in his life, written by L. H. before-mention’d, p. 49. Translated into English by R. V.—Lond. 1586. oct.

Oratio in Aula C. C. Chr. spoken to the society, when he was ejected from among them, in 1554.

Epistola ad Scipionem Patritium Venetum de causis cur Episcopi Angliae ad concilium Tridentinum non convenirent, an, 1559. This also is printed in an appendix to the second edit. of the translation of the Hist. of the Council of Trent, made by Sir Nath. Brent—Lond. 1629. fol.

Letters between him and Dr. Hen. Cole upon occasion of a Sermon that Mr. Jewell preached before the Queen and her Council. Lond. 1560. oct. This Letter-Combat began 18. March 1559 and continued till 18. May 1560.

Sermon at Pauls cross the second Sunday before Easther an. 1560, on 1. Cor. 11. 23. Lond. 1560. oct. In which he gave out a bold challenge against the Papists, as I have before told you.

Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae. Lond. 1562. oct. Which book was so much esteemed by the Men of Zurich and all Protestants, that it was translated almost into all tongues, to the end that it might be generally known. The Council of Trent held at that time, saw, and censured, it, and appointed a Frenchman and an Italian to answer it, but they hung back, and would, or rather could, not. It was several times printed in England, and beyond the Seas, and in Greek at Oxon. 1614. oct. This book was, soon after its first publication, translated into English by Anon. with this title. An Apologie or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state of Religion used in the same. Lond. 1562. qu. But Tho. Hardyng coming out with a confutation of it, our Author published,

A defence of the Apologie of the Church of England, containing an answer to a certaine book lately set forth by Mr. Harding, and entit. A confutation, &c. in 6 parts Lond. 1564. 67. fol. Translated into Lat. by Tho. Braddock Bach. of Div. and Fellow of Christs Coll in Cambr.— printed beyond the Seas 1600 fol. Soon after the first publication of the said Defence, Hardyng publishing A detection of certaine errours in the said Defence, our Author came out with,

An answer to Mr. Hardings book entit. A Detection of certaine errours, &c. Lond. 1565. Lov. 1568. Afterwards followed,

A reply to Mr. Hardings answer: By perusing whereof the discreet and diligent reader may easily see the weake and unstable grounds of the Rom. Religion, in 27. Articles. Lond. 1566. fol. Therein also is an answer to Mr. Hardyngs preface to his aforesaid answer. This reply of Jewell, is translated into Lat. by Will. Whitaker Fellow of Trinity Coll. in Camb.—Genev. 1585. fol. and with it is printed his Apologie.

A view of a seditious Bull sent into England from Pius 5. Bishop of Rome an. 1569. Delivered in certain Sermons in the Cath. Ch. of Sarum, 1570. Lond. 1582. oct.

A treatise of the Holy Scripture, gathered out of his Sermons preached at Salisbury 1570. Lond. 1582. oct.

Exposition on the two Epistles of the Apostle St. Paul to the Thessalonians. Lond. 1594. oct.

A Treatise of the Sacraments, gathered out of his Sermons.— Lond. 1583. oct.

Certaine Sermons preached before the Qu. Majestie at Pauls cross and elsewhere—They are in number at least 13, viz. on Josh. 6. 1. 2. 3.—Haggat; 1. ver. 2. 3. 4.— Psal. 69. (g)(g) This on Psal. 69. ver. 9. was reprinted by it self, an. 1641. in qu. with an answer of the same author to some frivolous objections against the government of the Church. 9. &c. All which Books, (the five first excepted) Sermons, and Apolgie, are printed in one Vol. in fol—Lond. 1609. with an abstract of his life set before them (but full of faults) written by Don. Featly. Besides them he hath left behind him these MSS, which, as I conceive are not yet printed, viz.

A paraphrastical exposition of the Epistles and Gospels throughout the whole Year.

A continuate exposition of the Creed, Lords prayer, and 10 Commandements.

Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galathians.

Com. on the Epist. of St. Peter.—At length this worthy prelate paying his last debt to nature at Monkton-Farley 23. 1571 Sept. in Fifteen hundred seventy and one, was buried almost in the middle of the Choire of his Cathedral at Salisbury. At which time Giles Laurence Archdeacon of Wilts. preached the funeral Sermon, and Will. Holcot of Buckland in Berks. (formerly a Lay-preacher) administred at the funeral. See more of Joh. Jewells works in Job. Garbrand under the Year 1589.