LEVER. 221 godly honour ; which God for his mercy in Christ grant unto the queen's majesty, unto you and all other of her honourable council, amen. By yours at , commandment, faithfully in Christ, " THOMAS LEVER." Mr. Lever was a person greatly beloved, especially by persons of learning and real worth ; but the above letter was, most probably without its desired effect. Hewas a most learned and popular preacher at court ; and though he was a decided nonconformist, he obtained a connivance for some time. In the year 1566, when many excellent minsters were silenced for refusing the habits and ceremonies, he is said to have been still allowed to preach ;4, but the year following, he was deprived of his prebend in the church of Durrham.t There were at this period numerous puritans confined in the various prisons about London, for refusing conformity to the established church ; when Mr. Lever wrote a letter, dated December 5, 156$, to those who were confined in Bridewell. In this excellent letter, he first endeavours to comfort the prisoners under their manifold afflictions ; then declares that though the popish garments were not in them- selves unclean, he was resolved, by the grace of God, never to wear the square cap and surplice; "because," says he, " they tend neither to decency nor edification, but to offence, dissention, and division in the church of Christ." He would, therefixre, use his utmost endeavours to get them, abolished ; and adds, "that he would not kneel at the communion, because it would be symbolizing with popery, and would look too much like the adoration of the host. 't Though he was a fixed nonconformist, he was a man of a peaceable spirit, and of great moderation, and constantly opposed to a total separation from the church. These excellent qualifications could not screen him from the persecutions of the times : for he was not only deprived of his prebend, as observed above, but, in June 1571, he was convened before Archbishop Parker and others of the high commission at Lambeth. What prosecution he under- went on this occasion, we are unable fully to ascertain, only our historian bymistake observes, that he resigned, or was deprived of his prebend.§ Strype's Parker, p. 223, Baker's MS. Bailee. vol. i, p. 151, t MS. Register, p. 18, 19. 6 Strype's Parker, p. 325.-Grindal, p. 170.
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