BECON. 167 where he was for some time hospitably entertained by the Marquis of Dorset. Here he contracted a familiar acquaint ante with Mr. JohnAylmer, afterwards the famous bishop of London, whom he calls his countryman.. He next removed into Warwickshire, where he still occupied the office of tutor to gentlemens' sons. Upon this last removal, to his great joy, he met with his old friend, the famous Hugh Latimer; who, about twenty years before, while they were at Cambridge, had been instrumental in bringing him to the knowledge of thegospel. During the reign of Henry VIII. the city of Canterbury was more hostile to the reformation than most other,places ; therefore, upon the accession of King Edward, Archbishop Cranmer placed in that city six of the most distinguished preachers tor learning and piety ; among whomwas Mr. Becon. The others w: reNicholas Ridley, afterwards bishop of London and martyr, Lancelot Ridley, Richard Turner, Richard Beasely, and John Joseph. The ministry of these learned divines proved a great blessing to the place, and, by their labours, many persons were brought to embrace the gospel.t Also, during the reign of the above excellent prince, Mr. Becon, justly denominated a worthy and reve- rend divine, became chaplain to the protector Somerset, and was made professor of divinity in the university of Oxford, Where he gained much reputation4 But upon the accession of Queen Mary, he was apprehended in London, with Mr. Veron and Mr. John Bradford, and committed tothe Tower. Here he remained above seven months in close confinement, meeting with most cruel usage ; and having been made rector of St. Stephen, Walbrook, London, in 1547, he was deprived of both his office and benefit§ It was, indeed, nearly miraculous that this zealous reformer escaped the fire. While many of his brethren, and even those committed with him to the Tower, suffered at the stake, a kind providence constantly watched over him, and atlength delivered him from the rage of all his enemies. During the reign of King Henry and former part of Queen Mary, Mr. Becon, to conceal himself from his malicious foes, who narrowly watched for his life, went by the name of Theodore Bazil, and in the proclamation of the king, in 1546, as well as that of the queen, in 1555, he Strype's Aylmer, p. 7. + Strype's Cranmer, p. 161, 425. Churton's. Life of Nowell, p. 21.-Lupton's Divines, p. SS1 . § Strype's Cranmer, p. 423.-Newcourt's Repel% Eeel. vol, 1. p. 540.
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