114 LIVES OF THE PURITANS; college, promising to conduct himself quietly and peace- ably. In this letter, he said_ , " That he denied not himself to be one, who, being led by argument taken fromso ip- ture, and the example of foreign churches, thought some thing to be wanting, whereby our church, lately rescued from darkness, might come nearer the original pattern. That when he was aware how his opinion might prove dangerous to be divulged among the unskilful multitude, because it appeared something new to the common people, and was different from the ordinances, he kept to himself the knowledge of the truth, and had ever studiously avoided the promulgation of it in his sermons ; but that in a private senate, and in the Latin tongue, he thought he might use greater, liberty. He had, therefore, in a very learned and wise assembly, explained his opinion more freely in those matters. And that, by so doing, he had ignorantly fallen into the crime of violating a law : and so' was cited to appear in judgment. And that his judges had forbidden him not only the use of water and fire, by -which men live ; but the use of learning too, by which they live well. He, therefore, humbly appealed to his equity and goodness, as the only hope he had left of recovering his place ; praying him to write to the univer- sity for his restoration ; and that hereafter he might be wholly rejected, if he violated the peace either of the church, the state, or the university.". The chancellor, knowing him to be a good scholar, and that he was treated with tyrannical severity, upon receiving this humble and peaceable supplication, made intercession for him, by addressing the following letter to the vice-chancellor and heads of houses :I- " After my very hearty commendations. " Whereas you have expelled William Charke, late fellow of Peter-house, for some speeches used in a sermon which he lately had ad clerum, tending to the dis- turbing the quietness and peace of the church, and manifestly contrary to the orders taken for the maintenance of the same peace. For as much as the said Charke hath been with me, and partly wisely extenuating his fault, and partly very honestly acknowledging that he committed the same by overmuch vehemency of spirit, and promising faithfully never hereafter to deal in this or the like again, that may be-offensive, hath shewed some good parts, ark- Strype's Whitsift; p. 43, 44. + Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxix. p. 313.
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