BALE. 105 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 toestablish the useof the newBook ofCommon Prayer set forth in England, were not only rendered abor- tive 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, theymurdered 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, how- ever, served only as a defence against the present outrage. Itdid 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 wereseized, 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; Biog. Britan, vol. i. p. 535.
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