394 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. years, even to the time of his death; and most probably his brethren shared no better fate.. Upon their suspension, being slanderously aspersed from the press, by one who subscribed himself R. S., they were vindicated against the foul reproaches of this scurrilous -writer. This vindication is at considerable length, though probably it was never printed.f Mr. Fenner, that he might silence calumny, gave a written testimony, that he was suspended merely for refusing subscription to Whitgift's articles. This testimony, dated June 12, 1585, was as follows :--" I, Dudley Fenner, was suspended from the " execution of my ministry, for this cause only, that I " refused to subscribe to the two last articles generally pro- " pounded to theministers at the time of subscription. And 44 this my suspension was pronounced by the archbishop 4c himself. Indeed, I appeared before him and the rest " of her majesty's commissioners, to answer unto other " articles, but this was after my suspension ; neither did I 44 receive any censure or other pain in that behalf, after my 44 answer to the said articles. This, being lawfully called '" thereto, I am ready to confirmby oath. " DUDLEY FENNER."/ Upon Mr. Fenner's appearance before the archbishop and other commissioners, at the time specified in the above testimony, he received much unkind usage. Though he was a man of distinguished learning and piety, the proud archbishop called him a boy, a knave, a slanderer, a libeller, and other foul names, equally contrary to truth, and reproachful to his archiepiscopal character.) Dr. Grey stigmatizes him " on account of his vile republican princi. ples, with holding that it was lawful to take away the life of aking ;" for which, if the good manhadbeen punishedmore severely, than by seven years' suspension, the learned doctor could not but thinkhe would have deserved it.i Such were the illiberalnotions of these bigotted churchmen! Some time after Whitgift suspended Mr. Fenner, he was committed to prison for nonconformity. And having suf- fered twelve months' imprisonment, upon a gfneral sub- scription to the articles, as far as the law required, with a promise to use the Book of Common Prayer, and no other, he is said to have been released. He joined his brethren in MS. Register, p. 585. + Ibid. p. 272-290. t Ibid. p. 585. MS. Remarks, p. 405. N Grey's Review of Neal, p. 72.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=