242 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. not unwilling to grant him favour, if the queen approved of it.. It is, indeed, very doubtful whether the favour was ever obtained ; for the unmerciful proceedings of the above prelate against the puritans, were almost unparalleled.t BERNARD (.3 B. D.-This celebrated person was born of an ancient and honourable family, at Kentmire in Westmoreland, in the year 1.517, and educated in Queen's college, Oxford. He made the closest application to his studies, and uncommon progress in useful learning. Having determined toapply himself to divinity, he made the scrip- tures his principal study ; and with a view to his better acquaintance with them, he resolved by the greatest indus- try to gain a thorough knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages. He had not been long thus employed before he was noticed as a young man of excellent parts and considerable learning; and became exceedingly admired and beloved for the 'sweetness of his disposition, and the politeness of his manners. At the usual term, he took his degrees in Arts, and was elected fellow ofhis college. His reputation was, indeed, so great, that he was chosen to supply the college newly founded by Cardinal Wolsey4 Strype's Aylmer, p. 81. f The zeal and assiduity of Bishop Aylmer in defence of the church of England, is said to have recommended him to the particular favour of Queen Elizabeth. Though in the early part of his life he declaimed against the wealth' and splendour of bishops, and spoke with vehemence against their lordly dignity and civil authority, and was an avowed advocate of what was afterwards called puritanism ; yet, as he rose in ecclesiastical prefer- ment and worldly grandeur, he changed his opinions, and became the most, violent in the opposite sentiments. And notwithstanding he is styled a person of extraordinary wisdom, a worthyprelate, and a blessing to the church ; he was certainly one of the most unfeeling and cruel persecutors, of which the pages of history afford sufficient proof. He was preceptor to Lady Jane Grey ; and, on the accession of Queen Mary, he went into exile. His escape was very remarkable. Being a little man, the merchant of the ship inwhich he made his escape, put him into a wine butt, with a partition in the middle ; so that he was inclosed in one end of the cask, while the searchers drank wine drawn out of the other.-He was a' man of great courage, and had one of his own teeth drawn, 'to encourage Queen Elizabeth to submit to a similar operation. When he wished to rouse the attention of his audience while he was preaching, he usually took his Hebrew Bible out of his pocket, and read them a few verses, and then pesumed his discourse. He was remarkably fond of bowls, even on the Lord's-day, when he commonly used very unbecoming language, to the great reproach of his character.-Stcype's Ayinzer, p. 5l5-292.-Wood's ..zithence, vol. t. p. 611.-Biog. Briton. vol. t. p. 384-391. Edit. 1778.- Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 208. 4.4" The following memoir of Mr. Gilpin is cilia), collected .(rota the " British Biography," vol. iii. p. 98-.
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