296 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. the slander of his enemies; as if his lordship had dealt with him only according to his deserts; but what degree of justice there is in this representation, the foregoing state- ment offacts will best determine. WILLIAM NEGUS was minister at Leigh in Essex, but suspended by Bishop Aylmer in the year 1584. Mr. Negus gives us the following account of this ecclesiastical censure : The causeof my suspension,"says he, ,4 was this: being convened before the bishop at Waltham, andhe demanding whether I hadworn the surplice since my coming to Leigh, my answer was, that I had it not, so I had not refused it. There was none offered me, nor was there a surplice in the parish. He then inquired whether I would wear it, when there was one provided. My answer was, that I desired his favour to proceed in my ministry, until a surplice was procured; and that be knew my unwillingness to wear it. He was not satisfied with this answer, but urged me to say that I would, or that I would not wear it. But I abiding by my former answer, and desiring that I might be accepted, he thus concluded : Seeingyou will not promise, to wear it, we suspend you until you do promise.' . The good man was thus silenced for refusing to wear the clerical garment. Having received the episcopal censure, twenty-eight of his parishioners, who subscribed themselves his hungry sheep now without a shepherd, signed a most affectiOnate and pressing letter, earnestly beseeching him to wear the sur- plice. Though they wished that the linen garment were utterly abolished, they anxiously desired him, for the sake of their advantage, to conform. But he found it impossible, with a good conscience, to wear that garment in the public worship of God, which to him appearedwholly founded in superstition, and the very badge of antichrist; and so he quietly submitted to be deprived.t JOHN Sraoun was minister first at Yalding, then at Cranbrook in Kent. He was a man of good learning, most exemplary piety, peaceable behaviour, and a faithful, laboriousf and very useful preacher; but was repeatedly persecuted for nonconformity. He entered uponhis troubles MS. Register, p.568. 1- Ibid.
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