N. BROWN. 277 the vice-chancellor, dated June 26, 1573, in which his lordship wrote as fellows :-" Mr. Brownwas with me," says he, " five or six days past, to entreat me, that by my means to you and others, he might forbearthe execution of a certain order by you as vice-chancellor prescribed, to pronounce a certain declaratory sentence, in a sermon to be made by him now at the commencement. In which matter I had no disposition to deal ; yet by the importunity of his sorrowful petition, and purpose not to offend in any such cause wherewithhe hath been charged, I did with my pen write suddenly a few lines, to shew my inclination to have him favoured, and so dismissed him. Since which time, he is this day returned tome with a letter from SirThomas Smith, the queen's majesty's principal secretary, whereby you shall see how I am entreated to procure more favour for him. Andyet without hearing you and others, who best know his cause, I dare not precisely require any alteration of your orders, but do recommend the party, who bath a good report, to be as favourably ordered, as he may find his repair tome hath in some measure relieved him, without hurting the public cause of good order. "* This pacific address from the treasurer proved ineffectual. The tyrannical vice-chancellor and his reverend colleagues refused to observe the generous instructions of the chan- cellor. Mr. Brown still remained under their ecclesiastical oppressions ; and on account of the cruel usage he met with, he again laid his distressing case before Burleigh, July 6, 1573; but whether with any better success, we have not been able to learn.$ The year following, a puritan divine of the same name, and no doubt the same person, was concerned in Undertree's sham plot, when many letters were forged in his name. After examination, his innocence, with that of his brethren, was made openly and perfectly manifest.t Upon Mr. Brown's removal from the university, he became minister at Norton in Suffolk, where he was afterwards molested for nonconformity. For, in the year 1583, on the publication of Whitgift's three articles, he refused subscription, and, with many others, was immediately suspended. How long he continued under the ecclesiastical censure, or whether hewas ever restored we are unable to ascertain.§ Sirype's Parker , vol. xxix. p. 371, 372. + Ibid. vol. iv. p.56. t Ibid. p. 466. S MS. Register, p. 436, 437. ti
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