FOX. 327 branches of useful knowledge. During this close applica- tion, he avoided all kinds of company, and betook himself to the most solitary retirement, often spending wholenights in hisstudy. At length, from this strict andsevere applica- tion, having forsaken his old popish friends, and from the dubiousmanner in which he spoke, when he was obliged to give his opinion on religious subjects, but, above all, from his sparing attendance on the public worship of the national church, in which he had been remarkably strict, he was suspected of alienation from her constitution and ceremonies, and of being infected with heresy. Mr. Foxhaving found the truth, soon became bold and courageous in the profession of it, even in those dark times of popery. He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God in the cause of truth, than enjoythe pleasures of sin for a season. Being deeply impressed with the declaration of our Lord, " Whosoever is ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with his holy angels ;" he deter- mined to venture the loss of all things for the sake of Christ; and, therefore, openly professed himself aprotestant. This he had no sooner done, than he was publicly accused of heresy, and expelled from the college. His adversaries, indeed, thought they dealt favourably in suffering him to escape with his life. Thiswas in the year 1545.. Wood, by mistake, says, he resigned his fellowship, and left the university, to avoid expulsion.t Mr. Fox being expelled from the university, lost the favour of his friends and relations. As he was convicted of heresy, they thought it unsafe, and were therefore unwilling, to countenance or protect him. His father-in- law, in particular, seized this opportunity of withholding from him the estate which his own father had left him. While he was thus forsaken and oppressed, God, in the hour of extremity, raised up an unexpected friend and patron, in Sir Thomas Lucy of Warwickshire. Thisworthy person took him into his house, and made him tutor to his children. Here he found a comfortable asylum from the storm of persecution. While in this situation, be married a citizen's daughter of Coventry, but still continued in Sir Thomas's family till hispupils were grown up. Afterwards, Life of Mr. Fox prefixed to his " Acts and Monuments of the Martyrs." -1 Athena Oxon. vol. i. p. 186.
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