254 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " strength to, undergo the trial." He then orde,red his, servant to provide a long garment, in which he might go decently to the stake, and desired it might be got ready with all expedition ; " for I know not," said he, " how " soon I may have occasion for it."* As soon as he was apprehended, he set out for London, in expectation of the fire and faggot. But on his journey to the metropolis, we are informed, that he broke his leg, which unavoidably detained him some time on the road. The persons con- ducting him, took occasion from this disaster maliciously to retort upon him a frequent observation of his, viz. " That nothing happens to us but what is intended for our good." And when they asked him whether he thought his broken leg was so intended, he meekly replied, that he had no doubt of it. And, indeed, so it soon appeared in the strictest sense. For before he was able to travel, Queen Mary died, and he was set at liberty. Thus he again escaped out of the hands of his enemies. Mr. Gilpin having obtained this providential deliverance, returned to Houghton through crowds of people, express- ing the utmost joy, and blessing God for his happy release. The following year he lost his friend and relation Bishop Tonstal;± but soon procured himself other friends. Upon the deprivation of the popish bishops, the Earl of Bedford recommended him to the patronage of Queen Elizabeth, who offered him the bishopric of Carlisle ; and according to Wood, he was much pressed to accept itt The Bishop of Worcester, his near relation, wrote to him expressly for this purpose, and warmly urged him to accept, the offer, declaring that no man was snore fit for such kind of preferment§ After all, Mr. Gilpin modestly refused. No arguments could induce him to act contrary to the dictates of his conscience. The accounts given us by Bishop Nicolson and Dr. Heylin of Mr. Gilpin's behaviour on this occasion, are extremely disingenuous : they both ascribe it to his lucrative motives. The former intimates that the good man knew what he was about, when he refused to part with the rectory of Houghton for the bishopric of Carlisle : the latter supposes that all his Biog. Britan. vol. vii. Sup. p. 72. t Bishop Tonstal was one of the politest scholars of the age, and a -man of the most amiable character. He published a hook, entitled De drte Supputandi, which was the first book of arithmetic ever printed is England, and passed through many editions.-Granger, vol. i. p, 95. Athense Oxon. vol. LI). 593. Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 63.
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