Letter founde in the Studie of the right reverend father in God, and moste godly pastor of Christe's flocke, John Jewell late Bishop of Salisburye, within certeine monthes after his forsaking this Earthly dwellynge."-This is dated Salisbury, August 30th, 1569.

Several entire Letters, together with copious extracts from others, may be seen in Burnett's History of the Reformation, Vol. 3. B. 6. Strype's Life of Archbishop Parker also contains one on a question of a right of Marriage; and in the Library at Zuric there is a large Volume of them still preserved.

TESTIMONIES.

Peter Martyr's Letter of Congratulation to Bishop Jewell on receiving a Copy of his Apology for the Church of England.

Most worthy Prelate, and my much esteemed Friend,

By the kindness of the Bishop of London, a copy of your Apology for the Church of England, and the first that has reached this country, has been received. In your last letter you indeed rather only intimated the probability of its appearing, than gave any positive pledge to that purpose: the distance, however, prevented its reaching us earlier than about the middle of July—a sufficient proof of the many inconveniences and delays arising from that cause. And allow me to state, that it has not only amply answered my expectations in every respect, which was to be expected from the approbation and delight with which I read all your works; but also the expectations of Bullinger, his Sons, and Sons-in-law. Gualter and Wolfius also bestow their highest praises upon the temper, wisdom, and eloquence with which it is written: giving it as their opinion, that a more perfect work has not issued from the press in the present times. I heartily congratulate you upon this happy effort of your genius; which cannot but bring at once edification to the Church, and honour to your Country: and I publicly call upon you, not to relax in pressing forward in that course which you have thus gloriously begun. For

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although we have a good cause, yet the defenders of it are few, when compared with its enemies: and those enemies, too, seem to have become of late fully awake to the necessity of recommending their cause to the ignorant by a flowing elegance of style, and all the arts of sophistry. I particularly allude to those numerous imitators of Staphylus and Hosius, and to many other writers of the same class, who at the present time have become such strenuous advocates of the absurd legends and erroneous doctrines of Popery. Since however you have raised such a general expectation of your talents by your profound and most elegant Apology, I would remind you, that all good and learned men promise themselves that the truth of the Gospel during your life. will never fear the want of an able advocate against the attacks of its enemies; and much do I rejoice, that I have lived to see that day, in which so luminous and elegant a production has proceeded from your pen. May God, our heavenly Father, of his goodness grant, that you may benefit mankind with many a future offspring of your Talents, which shall not in excellency fall below the present model.

Zuric, Aug. 24, 1562.

As an Handmaid also to the Holy Bible this * year Bishop Jewell's Latin Apology was first printed, though written the year before. Which book was approved by the allowance and authority of the Queen, and published by the consent of the Bishops and others. It was entitled in English, An Apology or Answer in Defence of the Church of England: with a brief and plain Declaration of the true Religion professed and used in the same. The occasion and grounds of writing it, as the author himself

* Anno 1562.

reported, were the slander devised by the Papists against this late Reformed Church:-and highly necessary it was that a justification should be set forth of what was done by the Reformation. Upon which so many aspersions were cast. This Jewell's able pen happily undertook, and of what esteem and Reputation it was in the Church of England in these times appears by a state-book set forth the year after*; "I refer you to the Apology which our Church hath placed openly before the eyes of the whole Christian world, as the common and certain pledge of our Religion." So that it was written upon a state account by the common advice and consultation, no doubt, of the College of Divines that were then met about Reformation of the Church. And so the Reverend author himself shewed in his Epistle to Queen Elizabeth before his Defence, viz., that it contained the whole substance of the CATHOLIC FAITH then professed and freely preached throughout all the Queen's dominions; that thereby all Foreign Nations might understand the considerations and causes of her doings in that behalf. As in old times did Quadratus, Melito, Justin Martyr, Tertullian and other Godly learned Fathers upon the like occasion, as well to make known the Truth of God, and to open the Grounds of their profession, as also to put the Infidels to silence, and to stop the mouths of the Wicked.-Strype's Annals of the Reformation under Queen Elizabeth. A. D. 1562. vol. i. pp. 424-6. Ed. Oxford. 1824.

Bishop Jewell was preferred unto the see of Salisbury the first yeere of Queen Elizabeth, a Jewel indeed as in

* Ad Apologiam ablego, quam Ecclesia nostra tanquam communem et certam nostræ Religionis obsidem palam in oculis orbis Christiani collocavit.-Gual. Haddon. Epist. Hieron. Osorio.

name,

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"Re GEMMA fuit, nomine GEMMA fuit." though he could not maintain the Port his Predecessors did, finding his houses decayed, and Lands all leased out, yet kept very good hospitality, and gave himselfe withall much to writing books, of which divers are extant, and in many men's hands, viz., His APOLOGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; His Challenge, answered by Harding; His Reply to the said Answer; all in English, and all in such estimation even untill this day, that as ST. OSMOND in William the Conquerour's time gave the pattern for form of service to all the Churches of England, so MR. Jewell's writings are a kind of rule to all the Reformed Churches of England, and hardly is there any controversie of importance handled at this day, of which in his works is not to be found some learned and probable Resolution.-A Briefe View of the State of the Church of England, by Sir John Harrington, knight, pp. 88-9. Lond. 1653.

At Strasburgh, Bishop Jewell laid the plan of his excellent Apology for the Church of England; though he did not finish it till happier times: a work, in which its many admirers found it hard to say, whether candour, and humanity, or sense, learning, and a well-tempered zeal for Religion were more conspicuous.-Gilpin's Life of Archbp. Cranmer, p. 195.

This most excellent Vindication of our Reformed Church was written by the truly learned author in elegant Latin.Biographia Britannica.

As it was one of the first books published in this Reign, so it was written with that strength and clearness, that it, together with the Defence of it, is still to this day reckoned