276 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " Christmas, and January 25, last past, was noted to have " preached offensively; speaking aswell against the manner " and form of makingand ordering of ministers and deacons " in the church of England, as by law established : also, " against such priests as were made in the time of King " Henry andQueen Mary, saying that they were not to be " admitted into the ministry without a new calling. I now " let you understand, that I never meant so. For I do here " acknowledge and openly protest, that the manner and " form of ordering ministers and deacons in the church of " England, now established, is lawful and to be allowed. " Also, that the priests made in the time of King Henry and " Queen Mary, now allowed, and now exercising any " function in the church, are lawful ministers of the word " and sacraments, without any newordering, otherwisethan " is prescribed by the laws of this realm."* Mr. Brown refused to comply with the above tyrannical requisition. He would not defile his conscience by doing that which was contrary to the convictions ofhis ownmind. He considered it to be his duty to obey God, rather than men, though theywere the spiritual rulers of an ecclesias- tical establishment. He was, therefore, detained in prison a considerable time, but afterwards obtained his release. Notwithstanding this, his troubles were not over. After his deliverance from prison, he was repeatedly convened before the vice-chancellor and heads of colleges. On one of these occasions, the vice-chancellor commanded him to deliver another sermon in St. Mary's church, on a particular day, and at the usual hour of public service, requiring him to read openly and distinctly a paper, which the vice- chancellor should deliver to him. He also charged him " to accomplish the same humbly and charitably, without any flouting, girding, twisting, or overthrrarting any man, and without using any words or gesture tending to the discredit of any person, or to the stirring up or maintaining of any contention or dissention."+ That which the learned eccle- siastic delivered to him, and commanded him to read before the public congregation, was a kind of revocation of his opinions; but he remained inflexible, and would not comply with the tyrannical imposition.t On account of the cruelty withwhich he was treated, he presented his distressing case to Lord Burleigh, the chan- cellor, who warmly espoused his cause, and sent a letter to Strype's Parker, p. 391. 392.-Baker's MS. Collet. vol. iv. p. 55, 56. t Ibid. vol. iii. p. 395, 396. t Ibid. p. 399, 400.
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