FOX: .335 -rigid and zealous puritans. And while he expressed his dislike of separation, he was exceedingly grieved about those things which gave the occasion.. Speaking of Blum- field, a wicked persecutor of the pious Mr. Harelson, fornot wearing the surplice, he said, " It is a pity that such baits " ofpopery are left to the enemies, to take christians.in. u God take them away from us, or us from them. For God " knoweth they are the cause of much blindness and strife " among men."+ At the above period, Mr. Fox presented a Latin panegyric to the queen, for having granted indulgence to several nonconformist divines. But in the year 1575, he addressed her majesty on averydifferent occasion. During this year a most severe persecution was raised against the anabaptists in London, ten of whomwere condemned, eight ordered to be banished, and two to be executed. Mr. Fox, therefore, wrote an excellent Latin letter to the queen, in which he observes, " That to punishwith the flames, the bodies of those who err rather from ignorance, than obsti- nacy, is cruel, and more like the church ofRome, than the mildness of the gospel. I do not write thus," says he, " from any bias to the indulgence of error; but to save the lives of men, being myself a man ; and in hope that the offending parties may have an opportunity to repent, and retract theirmistakes." He then earnestly entreats that the fires of Smithfieldmight not be rekindled; but that some milder punishment might be inflicted upon them, to prevent, if possible, the destruction of their souls, as well as their bodies.t But his remonstrances were ineffectual. The queen remained inflexible ; and though she constantly called him Father Fox, she gave him a flat denial, as to saving their lives, unless they would recant their dangerous errors. They both refusing to recant, were burnt in Smithfield, July 22, 1575 ; to the great and lasting disgrace of the reign and character of Queen Elizabeth.§ Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 106.-Strype's Parker, p. 225, 224. + Baxter's Second Plea, p. 56. Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 104, 105. § On Easter Sundayin this year, a congregation of Dutchanabaptists was discovered, without Aldgate, London ; when twenty-seven persons were apprehended and cast into prison, four of whom, hearing fagots at Paul's cross, recanted their dangerous opinions. The two who were executed were John Wielmaker and Hendrick Ter Woort ; or, as some of our historians call them, John Paterson and Henry Terwoordt. Previous to their execution, they suffered sixteen weeks imprisonment. The Dutch congregation in London made earnest intercession to the lords of the couucil, toobtain their pardon ; but all to no purpose. The two unhappy sum.= mmes.o.
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