THE EPISTLE TO SCIPIO, A VIEW OF A SEDITIOUS BULL, A TREATISE ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, LETTERS, AND MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. EDITED FOR The Parker Society, BY THE REV. JOHN AYRE, M.A., OF GONVILLE AND CAIUS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MINISTER OF ST JOHN'S CHAPEL, HAMPSTEAD. Cambridge: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. M.DCCC.L. BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF JOHN JEWEL, SOMETIME BISHOP OF SALISBURY. "IF (says one of Jewel's earlier biographers in the quaint style of his times) rare and admirable qualities of our ancestors do deserve a thankful acknowledgement of posterity, then most deservedly ought the singular natural endowments and supernatural graces of this reverend prelate live and flourish in perpetual memory; by whom, as an especial means, the sincere religion we now profess received much vigour and strength after her long suppression in the time of superstition. For, although it hath been the singular felicity of the church of England above some others, that in it this sacred order of bishops hath brought forth some famous martyrs, many most worthy doctors and pastors, as instruments to purge and refine the gold of the sanctuary; yet such a jewel in all respects, such nature with such grace, so heavenly learning in so heavenly a life, such eminent gifts in such eminent place, so fruitfully distilling their wholesome and sweetest influence to the refreshing and cherishing of the church of God, have not been frequently found in these later times1." This is high commendation; but few perhaps who are acquainted with the works of bishop Jewel will be disposed to think it undeserved, or will fail to see exhibited there a master mind stored with the richest treasure, natural and spiritual, of abundant learning. To trace the personal history of such a man cannot be uninteresting. John Jewel was a native of Devonshire. He was descended of a good family, and was born May 24, 1522, at Buden, in the parish of Berinber, or Berryn-arbor, where his ancestors had been settled for almost two hundred years. His father John Jewel married a lady of the name of Bellamy, with whom he lived about fifty years in wedlock, and had by her ten children. To his mother the future prelate was peculiarly attached: her memory he so cherished as to bear always her maiden name upon his private seal. From her brother, John Bellamy, rector of Hampton, he received the rudiments of his education, being placed under his charge when seven years old. He was afterwards removed successively to Braunton, under Thomas Stotes, Southmolton, under Anthony Simons, and Barnstaple, under the charge at this last place of Walter Bowen, a man whose care was so gratefully acknowledged, that for his sake the very name of Bowen was always a sufficient recommendation to Jewel's favour for those that bore it. Whilst at school he was attacked by the small-pox; and this was the most serious illness he had, till in more advanced life he injured his health by his severe application to study. But already in his youth his diligence was remarkable. To a natural quickness of parts he added a patient industry; and his forwardness was tempered with such simplicity and modesty as to win the affections of his tutors, and to inspire them with the highest expectations of his future career. Life prefixed to editions of 1609, 1611. |