Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v1

49 INTRODUCTION. us to hear them; for though our own fountains are dried up, yet if we seek for the waters of life elsewhere, we are cited into the spiritual courts, reviled, and threatened with ex- communication." The ground of this scarcity was the vlblence of the high commission, and the narrow terms of conformity. Most ofthe old incumbents, says Dr. Keltridge, were disguised papists, more fit to sport with the timbrel and pipe, than to take into their hands the book of God.± The common topic of conversation nowwas the Queen's marriage with the Duke of Anjou, a notorious papist4 All true protestants were displeased and under alarming apprehensions. The puritans in general protested against the match, dreading the consequenceof having a protestant body, under a popish head. Mr. John Stubbs, a student of Lincoln's-inn, and a gentleman of excellent abilities, published a book, entitled TheDiscoverie of the Gaping Gulph, whereinto England is like to be swallowed by another French marriage, if the Lord forbidnot the banns, by letting her Majestic see the sin and punishment thereof." It no sooner came forth, than the queen issued her procla- mation to suppress thebook, and apprehend the author and printer. Stubbs the author, Singleton the printer, and Page the disperser, were apprehended, and sentenced to have their right hands cut off. Singleton was pardoned, but Stubbs and Page were brought to a scaffold erected at Westminster; where, with terrible formality, their right hands were cut off, by driving a cleaver through the wrist with a mallet; but as soon as Stubbs's right hand was cut off, he pulled off his hat with his left, and, to the great amazement of the spectators, exclaimed God save the Queen.t Ile was then sent to the Tower, where he re- mained a long time; but afterwards proved himself a loyal subject, and a valiant and faithful commander in the wars in Irelaftd. Msny of the puritans being dissatisfied with the terms of conformity, and the episcopal ordination of the church of England, went to Antwerp and other places, where they received ordination according to the practice of the foreign reformed churches. Among these were Messrs. Cartwright, Fenner, Ashton, Travers, and Wright. The last, upon his return, became domestic chaplain to Lord Rich; but for saying, that " to keep the queen's birth-day as an MS. Register, p. SM. t Strype's Aylmer, p. 22. Strype's Annals, voi. ii. p. 566. S Kennet's Hist. of Eng. vol. ii. p. 487.

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