CRICK--G ILBY. 279 his brethren, he is represented by some of our historians, as a fiery and furious opposer of the discipline in the church of England.. Upon the accession of Queen Mary, and the commence- ment of her bloody persecution, he became an exile in a foreign land. He was among the first who retired to Frankfort, where he was deeply involved in the troubles occasioned by the officious interference of Dr. Cox and his party. When the order of church discipline, highly esteemed by many, was presented to the whole congregation, and rejected by the zealous episcopalians, " Mr. Gilby, with a godlygrief, as was openly manifest, kneeled down before them ; and with tears in his eyes, besought them to promote the desired reformation, solemnly protesting, that, in this matter, they sought not themselves, but the glory of God only : adding, that he wished the very hand which he then held up, might be struck off, if godly peace and unity could thereby be promoted."+ Such was his truly generous spirit ; and such his fervent zeal for the peace and unity of the church ! Upon the unkind usage at Frankfort, Mr. Gilby removed to Geneva. Afterwards, lie united with his brethren in writing a letter to those who still remained at Frankfort, defending the lawfulness of their departure, against the slanderous reports of thosewho stigmatized them as schismatics. This letter, signed by eighteen persons, among whom was the famous Mr. John Fox, breathes a most condescending, humble, and healing spirit.t During Mr. Gilby's abode at Geneva, he assisted Coverdale, Sampson, and other learned divines, in the translation of the Bible.§ After the accession of Queen Elizabeth, our divine returned from exile, and was greatly admiredand beloved by all who sought a thorough reformation of the English church. He is, indeed, exceedingly reproached by several of our bigotted historians. Dr. Bancroft says, that Mr. Gilby, with the rest of the Geneva accomplices, urged all states by degrees, to take up arms, and reform religion themselvesby force, rather than suffer so much idolatry and superstition to remain in the land.l Another peevish writer, with an evident design to blacken his memory, says, " That in obedience to John Calvin, the supreme head of Geneva, Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 167. Troubles at Frankeford, p. 30. Ibid. p. 47. § See Art. Coverdale. 8 Bancroft's Dangerous Positions, p. 62. Edit, 1640.
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