24 INTRODUCTION. time, and, refusing to subscribe, was immediately sus- pended. Mr. Becon, another celebrated reformer, being cited, and refusing to subscribe, was immediately seques- tered and deprived. Mr. Allen was cited, and received the like censure. Many others were suspended anddeprived, who, having wives and children, laboured under great poverty and want. Being driven from their ministerial employment, some, to procure a livelihood, betook them- selves to trades, some to husbandry, ancrsome went to sea.. The principal reasons of these arid other learned divines now refitting conformity, were-1. Because those things which the prelates required, were unsupported by scripture and primitive antiquity.-2. They were not received by other reformed churches.-And, 3. They savoured very much of the errors and superstitions of popery.+ On these grounds, they disapproved of some things in the Book of Common Prayer, and forbore the use of the habits and ceremonies. In the year 1565, the archbishop and his brethren in commission, not content with exercising all their own au- thority .to its fullest extent, sought the favourable assistance of the council, and enfOrced an exact conformity to the ecclesiastical establishment with still greater rigour. They convened the London ministers before them ; and when they appeared in court, Mr. Robert Cole, a clergyman,t being placed by the side of the commissioners in priestly apparel, they were addressed in these words : -6, My masters, and ye ministers of London, the council's pleasure is, that strictly ye keep the unity of apparel, like this man who stands here canonically habited with a square cap, a scholar's gown, priest-like, a tippet, and, in the church, a linen surplice. Ye that will subscribe, write Volo; those that will not subscribe, write Nolo. Be brief: make no words." When some of the ministers offered to speak, they were immediately interrupted with the command, " Peace, peace; and apparitor, call over the churches : ye masters, answer presently under the penalty of con- tempt."§ In the conclusion, sixty-one promised confor- mity, but thirty-seven absolutely refused, being, as the archbishop acknowledged, the best among them. These Strype's Grindal, p. 99. + MS. Remarks, p. 161. t This Mr. Cole, for his subscription and conformity, was preferred by the archbishop to the benefice of Bow and Allhallows, London.-Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxvii. p. 387. Strype's Griodal, p. 98.-Annals, vol. It. p. 963.
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