HUMPHREY. 365 for refusing to wear the popish habits. Accordingly, March 3, 1564, bothHumphrey and Sampson, with four other divines, were cited before Archbishop Parker and his colleagues, at Lambeth. Upon their appearance, the archbishop urged theopinions of foreign divines : as, Peter Martyrand Martin Bucer, with the view of bringing them to conformity. This, indeed, proved ineffectual ; for their judgments remained unconvinced. They requested that they might be dismissed, and return to their usual exercises at Oxford ; but this the archbishop refused, intending to bring them before the council. After attendance for some time, they prepared a supplication, in a very elegant, but submissive style, which they presented to the Archbishop, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Ely, and Lincoln, and other commissioners. In this supplication, they protested before God, how great a grief it was to them, that there should be any dis- sention about so small a matter as woollen and linen, as they styled the cap and surplice. But it comforted them, that, under Christ, the captain of salvation, they all professed the same gospel, and the same faith ; and that in the matter of habits, each party followed the dictates of their own minds, where there was often room for liberty, and always for charity. They alleged the authorities of Augnstin, Socrates, and Theodoret, to spew that in their times, there was a variety of rites and observances in the churches, yet unity and concord. They had many and powerful reasons for this address : as, " That their consciences were tender, and ought not to be grieved.-That they were not turbu- lent, nor obstinate, nor did they study novelty, nor refuse to be convinced, nor attempt to disturb the peace of the church.-That they were certain, that things in themselves indifferent, did not always appear indifferent, even to persons of a tender conscience.-And that the law for restoring the ceremonies of the Romish church, was con- nected with bondage and superstition." They also added, " Because these things do not seem so to you, you are not to be condemned by us ; and because they do seem so to us, we ought not to be condemned by you." They beseech their lordships,therefore, that if there be any fellowship in Christ, they would follow the direction of divine inspiration, about things in their own nature indifferent, " that every one might be persuaded in his own mind. "* They wrote, also, to the Earl of Leicester, but all to no Strype's Parker, p. 166, 161 IV,
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