178 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. the archbishop, that I hold by the favour of the lord keeper; a prebend inNorwich, I now inform you, that I mean to relinquish it the next half year following. Trusting, that upon the receipt of this my humble submission, you will release me, and grant me a new license to preach. And so committing your lordships, in all your godly and zealous undertakings, to the direction and blessing of Almighty God. Subscribing myself your lordships' most humble petitioner " ROBERT J OHNSON.". What effect this letter produced, weare not able to learn ; but it probably failed to answer the end proposed. We find, however, in the year 1573, that Mr. Johnson was brought into further trouble. He was convened before the Bishop of Lincoln, and required to subscribe to the three curious articles following : 1. " I am content hereafter, in my open sermons andpublic preaching, to forbear to impugn the articles of religion agreed upon in the Synod at London, in 1562, or any of them. 2. " Neither will I speak against the state of the church of England, now allowed by the laws of this realm; nor against the Book of Common Prayer, or any thing con- tained therein. 3. " Neither will I sayor sing, or cause, procure, or main- taM any other to say or sing, any common or open prayer, or minister any sacrament, otherwise, or in any other manner or form, than is mentioned in the said book, till further order be taken by public authority." Mr. Johnson refusing subscription, answered asfollows:- " Whether these articles be such as I ought in duty to sub- scribe, and whether for refusing this subscription, I deserve to be openly declared a forsaker of the church, and the flock committed to my care, and whether it be matter for which I ought to be defamed, . I refer to your worship's consideration, upon the following reasons : " I take it for granted, that there are faults, and such as ought to-be reformed, both in the government of the church, and in the Book of CommonPrayer, upon which I reason. thus. Either there is, or there is not, a reformation intended by those in authority. If there be a reformation intended; then it is good that the people's minds be prepared the more willingly to receive it when it comes, and to persuade them * 'Strype's Parker, p. 357, 325.
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