John Bale

John Bale, D. D.—This laborious and celebrated divine was born at Cove, near Dunwich, in Suffolk, November 21, 1495. His parents being in low circumstances, and incumbered with a large family, he was sent, at twelve years of age, to the monastery of Carmelites in Norwich ; and from thence to Jesus College, Cambridge. He was educated in all the superstitions of the Romish church; but afterwards he became a most zealous and distinguished protestant. The account of this change in his sentiments is from his own pen, therefore we shall give it in his own words:—" I wandered," says he, " in utter ignorance and blindness of mind both there (at Norwich) and at Cambridge, having no tutor or patron; till, the word of God shining forth, the churches began to return to the pure fountain of true divinity. In which bright rising of the New Jerusalem, being not called by any monk or priest, but seriously stirred up by the illustrious the Lord Wentworth, as by that centurion who declared Christ to be the Son of God, I presently saw and acknowledged my own deformity ; and immediately, through the divine goodness, I was removed from a barren mountain, to the flowery and fertile valley of the gospel, where I found all things built, not on the sand, but on a solid rock. Hence I made haste to deface the mark of wicked antichrist, and entirely threw off his yoke from me, that I might be partaker of the lot and liberty of the sons of God. And that I might never more serve so execrable a beast, I took to wife the faithful Dorothy, in obedience to that divine command, Let him that cannot contain, marry." Bishop Nicolson, with great injustice, insinuates, that a dislike of celibacy was the grand motive of Bale's conversion. ^u He was converted," says this writer, " by the procurement of Thomas Lord Wentworth; though, in truth, his wife Dorothy seems to have had a great hand in that happy work."*

Bale no sooner experienced the power of converting grace, than he publicly professed his renunciation and abhorrence of popery. In one of his books, speaking of the idolatrous and superstitious worshippers in the Romish church, he pathetically adds : " Yea, I ask God mercy a thousand times; for I have been one of them myself."t Having felt the power of divine truth on his own mind, he conferred not with flesh and blood, but began, openly and fervently, to preach the pure gospel of Christ, in opposition to the ridiculous traditions and erroneous doctrines of the Romish church. This exposed him to the resentment and rsecution of the ruling clergy; and for a sermon which preached at Doncaster, in which he openly declared against the invocation of saints, he was dragged from the pulpit to the consistory of York, to appear before Archbishop Lee, when he was cast into prison. Nor did he meet with more humane treatment in the south. For a similar offence, he experienced similar usage from Stokesly, bishop of London. But by the interference of the celebrated Lord Cromwell, who had the highest opinion of him, and was then in high favour with King Henry VIII., he was delivered out of the hands of his enemies. Upon the death of this excellent nobleman, and the publication of the Six Articles, with the shocking persecution which immediately ensued, he could find no shelter from the storm, and was obliged to flee for safety. He retired into Germany, where he became intimate with Martin Luther and other distinguished reformers, and continued with them about eight years. While in a state of exile, he was not idle, but diligently employed in his own improvement, and in writing and publishing several learned books, chiefly against the popish superstitions.}

After the death of King Henry, and the accession of Edward VI., Bale was invited home, and presented to the benefice of Bishopstoke in Hampshire. While in this situation, as well as when in exile, he wrote and published several books against the errors of popery. In the year 1550, he published a work, entitled " The Acts and unchaste Example of religious Votaries, gathered out of their own Legends and Chronicles." Mr. Strype calls it a notable

* Biog. Britan. vol. i. p. 6S2. Edit. 1778. + Strype's Parker, p. 143.

t Fuller'! Church Hist, b. iz. p. 88.—Abel Redmvui, p. 504-506.

book; and says, he designed to complete this history in four books, which should detect the foul lives and practices of the monastics, both men and women. He published the two first parts, which he dedicated to King Edward, and intimated that the other two should presently follow; but it is supposed they never came forth. He, at the same time, published " An Apology against a rank Papist, answering both him and the Doctors, that neither their Vows, nor yet their Priesthood, are of the Gospel, but of Antichrist." This was also dedicated to the king. The Apology begins thus: ^u A few months ago, by chance as I sat at supper, this question was moved unto me, by one who fervently loves God's verity, and mightily detesteth all falsehood and hypocrisy : Whether the vows expressed in the xxxth chapter of Numbers give any establishment to the vow of our priests now to live without wives of their own ?" This piece was answered by a certain chaplain; and Bale published a reply. During the above year, he likewise published his " Image of both Churches," being an exposition of Revelation. Also, " A Dialogue or Communication to be had at table between two Children." And " A Confession of the Sinner, after the Sacred Scripture."* By these and similar productions of his pen, he so exposed the delusive superstitions and vile

the party; and Bishop Gardiner, the cruel persecutor, complained of him to the lord protector, but most probably without success, t

During Bale's abode at Bishopstoke, where he lived retired from the world, he waited upon the king, who was then at Southampton. His majesty, who had been informed of his death, was greatly surprised and delighted to see him; and the bishopric of Ossory, in Ireland, being then vacant, he summoned his privy council, and appointed him to that see. Upon which the lords wrote the following letter to our author:

^" To our very lovinge friende Doctour Bale. After our " heartye commendacyons. For as much as the kinges " majestie is minded in consideracyon of your leariiinge, ^'' wysdome, and other vertuouse qualityes, to bestowe upon " yow the bishopricke of Ossorie in Irelande presently " voyde, we have thought mete both to give yow knowledge " thereof, and therewithall to lete you understands, that ** his majestie wolde ye made your repayre hyther to the

* Strype's Eccl. Memorials, vol. ii. p. 263. t Burnet's Hist, of Refor. vol. ii. p. IS.

" courte as soon as convenientley ye may, to thende that if " ye be enclined to embrace this charge, his highnesse may " at your comynge give such ordre for the farther pro" ccdings with yow herin, as shall be convenient. And " thus we bid yow hartcly farewell. From Southampton, " the 16 daye of August 1552. Your lovinge frendes, W. " Winchestre, F. Bedford, H. Suffblke, W. Northampton, " T. Darcy, T. Cheine, F. Gate, W. Cecill."*

Bale, at first, refused the offered preferment, on account of his age, poverty, and ill health; but the king not admitting his excuses, he at length consented, and went soon after to London, where every thing relative to his election and confirmation was dispatched in a few days, without any expense to him. He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, assisted by the Bishops of Kildare and Down; and Hugh Goodacre, a particular friend of his, was, at the same time, consecrated Archbishop of Armagh. There was, however, some dispute about the form of consecration. Dr. Lockwood, dean of the church, desired the lord chancellor not to permit the form, in the Book of Common Prayer lately set forth by the parliament in England, to be used on this occasion, alledging that it would cause a tumult, and that it was not consented to by the parliament of Ireland. The lord chancellor proposed the case to the archbishop and the bishops, who agreed in opinion with the dean. Dr. Goodacre wished it might be otherwise, but was unwilling to enter into any disputation about it. But our author positively refused being consecrated according to the old popish form, alledging, that as England and Ireland were under one king, they were both bound to the observance of the same laws. Upon which, the lord chancellor ordered the ceremony to be performed according to the new book, and afterwards entertained the bishops at d inner. +

This celebrated divine having entered upon his new charge, did not become indolent, nor yet rise in worldly grandeur, but was constantly employed in his beloved work of preaching the gospel, labouring to the utmost of his power to draw the people from popery to Christ. He spent a great part of his income in the purchase of books, manuscripts, and records, for the purpose of publishing certain learned works which he had then in contemplation.

Upon the accession of Queen Mary, and the return of popery, Dr. Bale was again exposed to the resentment and

• Biog. Britan. vol. i. p. SSS. + Ibid.

cruel persecution of his popish adversaries. All his endeavours to reform the manners of his diocese, to correct the lewd practices and debaucheries of the priests, to abolish the mass, and lo establish the use of the new Book of Common Prayer set forth in England, were not only rendered abortive by the death of King Edward, and the accession of Mary, but exposed him so much to the fury of the papists, that his life was frequently in the utmost danger. At one time in particular, they murdered five of his domestics, who were making hay in a meadow near his house; and he would in all probability have shared the same fate, if the governor of Kilkenny had not seasonably interposed by sending a troop of soldiers to his protection. This, however, served only as a defence against the present outrage. It did not in the least allay the fury of his adversaries, who were implacably enraged against him for preaching the doctrines of the gospel. He could find no permanent security among them, and was obliged to flee for safety. He did not, indeed, withdraw from the storm till after his books and other moveable articles were seized, and he had received certain information, that the Romish priests were conspiring to take away his life.

Dr. Leland's reflections are not at all favourable to the memory of our prelate. After calling him the violent and acrimonious oppugner of popery, and relating his rigid and uncomplying conduct at his consecration, he adds: " That Bale insulted the prejudices of his flock without reserve, or caution. They were provoked; and not so restrained, or awed by the civil power, as to dissemble their resentments. During the short period of his residence in Ireland, he lived in a continual state of fear and persecution. On his first preaching the reformed doctrines, his clergy forsook him, or opposed him ; and to such violence were the populace raised against him, that five of his domestics were slain before his face; and his own life saved only by the vigorous interposition of the civil magistrate. These outrages are pathetically related ; but," he adds, " we are not informed what imprudencies provoked them, or what was the intemperate conduct which his adversaries retorted with such shocking barbarity."* /

When Dr. Bale fled from the fury of his enemies, he went first to Dublin, where, for some time, he concealed himself. Afterwards, a favourable opportunity offering,

he endeavoured to make his escape in a small trading vessel, bound for Scotland, but was taken prisoner by the captain of a Dutch man of war, who rifled him of all his money, apparel and effects. This ship was driven by distress of weather into St. Ives in Cornwall, where our author was taken up on suspicion of treason. The accusation was brought against him by one Walter, an Irishman, and pilot of the Dutch ship, in hopes of obtaining a share of Bale's money, which was in the captain's hands. When our author was brought to his examination before one of the bailiffs of the town, he desired the bailiff to ask Walter, *' How long he had known him ? and what treason he had committed ?" These interrogatories being proposed, Walter replied, that he had never seen him, nor ever heard of him, till he was brought into their ship. Then said the bailiff, " What treason have you known by this honest

fentleman since ? For I promise you he looks like an onest man." " Marry," said Walter, " he would have fled into Scotland." " Why," said the bailiff, " know you any impediment why he should not have gone into Scotland ? If it be treason for a man, having business in Scotland, to go thither, it is more than I knew before." Walter was then so confounded, that he had nothing more to say. The captain and purser deposed in favour of Bale, assuring the bailiff'that he was a very honest man, and that Walter was a vile fellow, deserving no credit. This they did, lest they should be deprived of the money and other articles which they had taken from our author.

Dr. Bale being honourably acquitted, the ship sailed, and, in a few days, arrived in Dover road, where he was again brought into danger by false accusation. One Martin, a Frenchman by birth, but now an English pirate, persuaded the Dutch captain and his crew, that Bale had been the principal instrument in pulling down the mass in England, and in keeping Dr. Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, a long time in the Tower; and that he had poisoned the king. With this information the captain and purser went ashore, carrying with them our author's episcopal seal, and two letters sent him from Conrad Gesner and Alexander Alesius, with commendations from Pellicanus, Pomeranus, Melancthon, and other celebrated reformers, who were desirous to become acquainted with the doctrines and antiquities of the English church. They also took from him the council's letter of his appointment to the bishopric of Ossory. All these things served to aggravate the charge. The episcopal seal was construed to be a counterfeiting of the king's seal; the two letters were heretical; and the council's letter a conspiracy against the queen. When the captain returned to the ship, it was proposed to send Bale to London; but, after some consultation, they resolved to send two persons, with information to the privy council. This determination, however, was relinquished, upon Bale's strong remonstrances to the captain, and offering to pay fifty pounds for his ransom, on his arrival in Holland.

He was carried into Zealand, and lodged in the house of one of the owners of the ship, who treated him with great civility and kindness. He had only twenty-six days allowed him for raising the money agreed upon for his ransom, and could not obtain the liberty of going abroad to find out his friends. In this state of perplexity and distress, he was sometimes threatened to be thrown into the common gaol, sometimes to be brought before the magistrates, sometimes to be left to the examination of the clergy, at other times to be sent to London, or to be delivered to the queen's ambassador at Brussels. At length his kind host interposed, and desired the captain to consider, how far he had exceeded the limits of his commission, in thus using a subject of England, with which nation they were at peace. This produced the desired effect, and the captain was willing to take thirty pounds for his ransom, as he should be able to pay it, and so discharged him.»

Dr. Bale having obtained his liberty, retired to Frankfort, where he and the other English exiles were favoured by the magistrates with the use of one of their churches. Having obtained so great a privilege, their next object was to agree to certain forms of worship: driven from their own country, and now comfortably settled in a foreign land, they thought it their duty to make certain improvements upon the reformation of King Edward. They entered, therefore, into a mutual and friendly consultation upon the subject, and agreed to the following things:—" Having perused the " English liturgy, it was concluded among them, That the " answering aloud after the minister should not be used; the " litany, surplice, and many other things also omitted, " because in the reformed churches abroad such things " would seem more than strange. It was further agreed " upon, that the minister, in the room of the English con

" fession, should use another, both of more effect, and also " framed according to the state and time. And the same ^K ended, the people to sing a psalm in metre in a plain tune, " as was and is accustomed in the French, Dutch, Italian, *' Spanish and Scottish churches: that done, the minister to ** pray for the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, and to pro" ceed to the sermon. After the sermon, a general prayer " for all estates, and for our country of England, was " devised: at the end of which prayer was joined the Lord's ^'' prayer, and a rehearsal of the articles of belief; which " ended, the people to sing another psalm as afore. Then " the minister pronouncing this blessing, The peace of God, ^u &c. or some other of like effect, the people to depart. ^u And as touching the ministration of the sacraments, sundry " things were also by common consent omitted, as supersti" tious and superfluous."*

Our learned and pious divine undoubtedly took an active part in the formation of the church at Frankfort. The pious exiles having comfortably settled their new congregation, entered into a friendly correspondence with their brethren who had settled at other places. In their letter addressed to the exiles at Strasburgh, signed by John Bale, William Whittingham, John Fox, and fourteen others, they conclude by saying: " We have a church freely granted to preach " God's word purely, to minister the sacraments sincerely, " and to execute discipline truly. And as touching our " book, we will practice it so far as God's word doth assure ^" it, and the state of this country permit."t They wrote also to their brethren who had fled to other places, signifying how comfortably they were settled, and inviting them to Frankfort. Upon the arrival of Dr. Cox J and his friends,

• Troubles of Frankeford, p.». + Ibid. p. 20.

$ Dr. Richard Cox had been preceptor and almoner to King Edward, and dean of Oxford and Westminster, but was now fled from the persecution of Queen Mar;. Me was a high churchman, a bigot to the English ceremonies, and of too imperious a disposition. On his return home, Queen Elizabeth made him Bishop of Ely, which be enjoyed to his death. He scrupled for some time to officiate in the royal chapel, on account of the queen's retaining the crucifix, with lights on the altar; and when he consented, it was, he said, with a trembling conscience. He was violent in his opposition against the puritans, as well in hUowncountry, as at Frankfort. He wrote to Archbishop Parker, to go on vigorously in reclaiming or punishing them, and not be disheartened by the frowns of those court-favourites who protected them ; assuring him, that he might expect the blessing of God on his pious labours. When the privy council interposed in favour of the puritans, and endeavoured to skreen them from punishment, he wrbtea bold letter to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh; in which he warmly expostulated with the council, tor meddling with the affairs of the church, which, he

who broke through the conditions of the new-formed church, interrupted the peace of the congregation, and, in effect, drove them from the city, they lied to other places. Dr. Bale retired to Basil in Switzerland, where he remained until the death of Queen Mary. The church at Basil was also exercised with contentions, of which our author, in a letter to one of his friends, gives a very deplorable account, severely censuring those who were of a contentious spirit.*

Though we have already mentioned Dr. Bale as an author, it will be proper to renew the subject. He published a celebrated work, containing the lives of the most eminent writers of Great Britain. It came out at three different times. He first published his " Summarium illustrium majoris Brytanniae Scriptorum," Wesel, 1549. This was addressed to King Edward, and contained only Jive centuries of writers. Afterwards he added four more, and made several additions and corrections through the whole work. The book thus enlarged, was entitled " Scriptorum illustrium majoris Brytanniae, quam nunc Angliam et Scotiam vacant, Catalogus; a Japhcto per 3618 annos usque ad annum huuc Domini 1557," &c. It was completed and printed at Basil, while the author was in a state of exile. The writers, whose lives are contained in this celebrated work, are those of Great Britain, including England and Scotland. The work commences from Japhet, one of the sons of Noah, and is carried down through a series of 3618 years, to the year of our Lord 1557. It is collected from a great variety of authors: as, Barosus, Gennadius, Bede, llonorius, Boston of Bury, Frumentarius, Capgrave, Bostius, Burellus, Trithemius, Gesner, and our great antiquary John Leland. It consists of nine centuries, comprising the antiquity, origin, annals, places, successes, and the most remarkable actions, sayings, and writings of each author, in the whole of which a due regard is had to chronology ; and with this particular view, " That the actions of the reprobate as well as the elect ministers of the church may historically and aptly correspond with the mysteries described in the Revelation, the stars, angels, horses, trumpets, thunderings, heads, horns, mountains, vials, and plagues, through every age of the same church." There are

said, ought to be left to the determination of the bishops. He, also, admonished their lordships to keep within their own sphere; and told them, that he would appeal to the queen, if they continued to interpose in matters not belonging to them.—fTood't Athena Oxon. vol. i. p. 161.—Biog. Briton. T«l. iv. p. 398,399.

• Strype's £ccl. Mem. Toi. iii. p. 243. Appen. p. 107.

appendixes to many of the articles; also an account of such actions of the contemporary popes as are omitted by their flatterers, Carsulanus, Platina, and the like; together with the actions of the monks, particularly those of the mendicant order, who, he pretends, are meant by the locusts in Revelation ix. 3, 7. To the appendixes is added a perpetual succession both of the holy fathers and the antichrists of the church, with instances from the histories of various nations and countries; in order to expose their adulteries, debaucheries, strifes, seditions, sects, deceits, poisonings, murders, treasons, and innumerable impostures. The book is dedicated to Otho Henry, Prince Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of both Bavarias, and Elector of the Roman Empire; dated from Basil in September, 1557. Our learned divine was, therefore, laboriously employed while in a foreign land.

In the month of February, 1559, he published a new edition of this celebrated work, with the addition of Jive more centuries, making in all fourteen; to which is prefixed an account of the writers before the deluge and the birth of Christ, with a description of England from Paulus Jovius, George Lilly, John Leland, Andrew Althamerus, and others. 1 his impression is dedicated to Count Zkradin and Dr. Paid Scalechius of Lika.*

On the accession of Queen Elizabeth, Dr. Bale returned to England, but not to his bishopric in Ireland. The queen, during her minority, and while exercised with troubles under her sister Mary, shewed the highest respect for him, and even honoured him by sending him a book which she had translated into French. It was too manifest, however, that she afterwards drew her affections from him: but whether this was on account of the puritanical principles which he imbibed while abroad, or from some other cause, we do not undertake to determine. During the few years that he lived under her majesty's government, he contented himself with a prebend in the church of Canterbury, where he continued the rest of his days, still refusing to accept of his bishopric. " One may wonder," says Fuller, " that being so learned a man, who had done and suffered so much for religion, higher promotion was not forced upon him; seeing about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, bishoprics went about begging able men to receive them, t

It ought to be recollected, that many of the pious

* Biog. Briton, vol. i. p. 5SS, 5S4.
t Fuller's Worthies, part iii. p. 61.

reformers, while in a state of exile, and living among foreign protestants, were led to examine more minutely the grand principles of the reformation; and they acted upon those principles, as we have already observed, while dwelling in a foreign land. Nor did they forget their principles on their return to their native country. Notwithstanding their want of success, they constantly endeavoured, as the times would permit, to obtain a more pure reformation of the English church. This was the case with Dr. Bale, and was undoubtedly the reason of his refusing to accept his former preferment. Though it does not appear that he gave his reasons for this refusal; yet it is evident, says our author, that, while he was a zealous opposer of the Romish superstitions, he was a leading person among the nonconformists, and was against the use of the English rites and ceremonies: he opposed the divine institution of bishops, and was a zealous advocate for the discipline of the foreign reformed churches. It was a settled principle with him, that the government of the church by bishops, did not exist till the beginning of the seventh century. These are his own words:—" In the year 607, the church " began to be ruled by the policy and government of " bishops, which government was especially devised and ^u invented by the monks."* From the above facts, Dr. Bale, with great justice, stands first on the list of our puritan worthies. He was summoned to assist in the consecration of Archbishop Parker, but refused to attend, no doubt on account of his puritanical principles.t He died at Canterbury in the month of November, 1565, aged sixtyeight years ; and his remains were interred in the cathedral at that place.} Several of our historians are greatly mistaken in both the time and place of his death. ^

The character of no man has been more variously represented than that of our author, as will appear from the different testimonies concerning him. Bishop Montague censures him for his unjustifiable freedom in speaking and writing; yet he thinks him of credit and weight in many things. Valerius Andreas calls him an impious wretch and a wicked apostate; but at the same time allows him his merit as a writer. Vossius charges him with disingenuity in his accounts of ancient writers. But of all the authors, who have censured Bale, no one has fallen upon him with

• MS. Chronology, vol. i. p. 49. (2.) t Strype's Parker, p. 54.

t Biog. Britan. vol. i. p. 534.

S Lopton's Modern Divines, p. 201.—Fuller's Worthies, put ill. p. 61.

greater severity than his follower John Pits. The following are some of those invcnomed arrows which he has shot at him:—" This writer," says he, " did not so much enlarge Leland's catalogue, as corrupt it in a monstrous manner. For he has stuffed it full of lies and calumnies, and spoiled Leland's work, by his own barbarous style. He says many things worthy, indeed, of the mind and mouth of an heretic, but absolutely void of all civility and moral honesty, some things plainly unworthy of a christian ear.—If we except his slanders against men, and his blasphemies against God, the poor wretch has nothing of his own, which deserves our notice.—I hoped to have found at least some gem of antiquity in that dunghill: but -more unlucky than Esop's cock, I was disappointed in my expectation." He brands him with the name of Baal, and calls him an apostate Carmelite monk, and a married priest. Such are the foul accusations brought against our divine, by this bigotted papist. Wharton charges Bale with paying very little regard to truth, provided he could increase the number of enemies to the Romish church; and adds, that, for the most part, he settled the chronology of the English writers •with his eyes shut. Bishop Nicolson says: " The groundplot of his famous work was borrowed from Leland; and the chief of his own superstructure is malicious and bitter invectives against the papists."*

It will be proper on the contrary to observe, that Gesner denominates Bale " a writer of the greatest diligence;" and Bishop Godwin gives him the character of a laborious inquirer into the British antiquities. Dr. Lawrence Humphrey says, that Vergerius, Platina, and Luther, have discovered many errors and frauds of the papists; but that Bale hath detected them all. Valentine Henry Vogler says, " it will be less matter of wonder, that Bale inveighs with so much asperity against the power of the pope, when it is considered that England was more grievously oppressed, by the tyranny of the holy see, than any other kingdom. Though he rendered himself so odious to the papists, his very enemies could not help praising his Catalogue of English writers."+

It is generally allowed that Bale's sufferings from the popish party, is some apology for his severe treatment of them: He wrote with all the warmth of one who had escaped the flames. Granger observes, that his intemperate

zeal often carries him beyond the bounds of decency and candour, in his accounts of the papists. Anthony Wood styles him " the foul-mouthed Bale; • but, the above writer adds, some of his foul language translated into English, would appear to be of the same import with many expressions used by that writer himself.t Perhaps some allowance ought to be made not only for his resentment of what he had suffered, but for the age in which he lived. It would be doing him great injustice, to form our ideas of him from the popish authors, many of whom were exceedingly exasperated against him, on account of the vehemence with which he had attacked the errors and superstitions of the papal see.

Dr. Bale's writings are prohibited by the church of Rome, among those of the first class of heretical books. The Index Expurgaloriui, published at Madrid in 1667, calls him a most impudent and scurrilous writer against the see of Rome, the Mass, the Eucharist, and one that is perpetually breathing out poison; for which, it forbids the reading of his works for ever.} His writings were numerous, a list of which, according to the subjects, is given below : the exact titles cannot now be ascertained.

His Works, while he was a papist.— 1. A Bundle of Things worth knowing.—2. The Writers from Elias.—3. The Writers from Bcrtbold. —4. Additions to Trithemius.—5. German Collections.—6. French Collections.—7. English Collections.—8. Divers Writings of diven learned Men.—9. A Catalogue of Generals.—10. The Spiritual War. —11. The Castle of Peace.—12. Sermons for Children.—13. To the Synod of Hull.—14. An Answer to certain Questions.—15. Addition to Palaonydorus.—16. The History of Patronage.—17. The Story of Simon the Englishman.—18. The Story of Francus Senensis.—19. The Story of St Brocard.—20. A Commentary on Mantuan's Preface to his Fasti.

He wrote the following after he renonnced popery:—1. The Hcliades of the English.—2. Notes on the three Tomes of Walden.—3. On his Bundle of Tares.—4. On Polydore dc Rerum Inventionibus.—5. On Textor's Officina.—6. On Capgrave's Catalogue.—7. On Barnes's Lives of the Popes.—8. The Acts of the Popes of Rome.—9. A Translation of Thorp's Examination.—10. The Life of John Baptist. —11. Of John Baptist's Preaching. ^—12. Of Christ's Temptation.—

* Wood's Athens, vol. I. p. 60.

+ Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. I. p. 139, 140.

t Biog. Britan. vol. i. p. 535.

S The title of this piece Is, " A Comedy, or Interlude, of Johan Baptyst's Preachynge in the Wilderness; opening the Crafts of Hypocrytes," and is printed in the " Harleian Miscellany." *' There was a time," says Mr. Granger, " when the lamentable comedies of Bale were acted with, applause. He tells us, in the account of bis vocation to the bishopric of Ossory, that bis comedy of John Baptist's Preaching, and his

13. Two Comedies of Christ's Baptism and Temptations.—14. A

Comedy of Christ at twelve years old.—15. A Comedy of the Raising of Lazarus.—16. A Comedy of the High Priest's Council.—17. A Comedy of Simon the Leper.—18. A Comedy of the Lord's Supper, and the Washing'of the Disciples Feet—19. Two Comedies (or rather Tragedies) of Christ's Passion.—20. Two Comedies of Christ's Burial and Resurrection.—21. A Poem of God's Promises.—22. Against those that pervert God's Word.—23. Of the Corrupting of God's Laws.—24. Against Carpers and Traducers.—25. A Defence of King John.—26. Of King Henry's two Marriages.—27. Of Popish Sects.—28. Of Popish Treacheries.—29. Of Thomas Beckefs Impostures.—30. The Image of Love.—31. Pamarhius's Yragedies, translated into English.—32. Christian Sonnets.—33. A Commentary on St John's Apocalypse.—34. A Locupletation of the Apocalypse.— 35. Wickliffe'sWar with the Papists.—36. Sir John Oldcastle's Trials. —37. An Apology for Barnes.—38. A Defence of Grey against Smith. —39. John Lambert's Confession.—40. Anne Askew's Martyrdom.— 41. Of Luther's Decease.—42. The Bishops Alcoran.—43. The Man of Sin.—44. The Mystery of Iniquity.—45. Against Anti-Christs, or False Christs.—46. Against Baal's Priests, or Baalamites.—47. Against the Clergy's Single Life.—48. A Dispatch of Popish Vows and Priesthood.—49. The Acts of English Votaries, in two parts.—50. Of Heretics indeed.—51. Against the Popish Mass.—52. The Drunkard's Mass.—53. Against Popish Persuasions.—54. Against Bonner's Articles.—55. Certain Dialogues.—56.To Elizabeth the King's Daughter. —57. Against Customary Swearing.—58. On Mantuan of Death.—59. A Week before God.—60. Of his Calling to a Bishopric.*—61. Of Lcland's Journal, or an Abridgement of Leland, with Additions.— 62. A Translation of Sebald Heyden's Apology against Salve Regina. —63. A Translation of Gardiner's Oration of true Obedience, and Bonner's Epistle before it, with a Preface to it, Notes on it, and an Epilogue to the Reader.—But his most capital work was.his Lives of the Writers, already noticed.—Bale's Collectanea is preserved among the Cottonean Manuscripts, and now deposited in the British Museum.