136 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. aforesaid, executor. Ile also bequeaths tohis father, Tho. Perkins, and his mother, Anna Perkins; ten pounds a piece, and to every of his brethren and sisters, five pounds a piece, and to his son-in-law, John Hinde, his English Bible.". JOSIAS NICHOLS was a worthy minister of the gospel, an humble servant of Christ, and a man of distinguished eminence in his day. Certain writers in defence of the church and its ceremonies, having charged the puritans with being as factious, seditious, and as great enemies to the queen, as the papists ; Mr. Nichols, in answer to these malicious imputations, published a book, entitled " A Plea for the Innocent; or, a Defence of the Puritans," 1602. The author proves that the charges against the puritans were malicious and false. He fully answers all the calum- nies and slanders cast upon them, and, with great impar- tiality, blames both parties in those things wherein they were culpable. The book is written with great modesty, humility, and temper, and with great reverence of the bishops ; in soft and gentle language, with'ood strength of argument, liveliness of affection, and a deep sense of the common danger then threatening both the church and the state.+ In this work, he observes, in defence of himself and his brethren, " We subscribe willingly to the book of articles, according to the statute in that behalf provided : viz. to those articles which only concern the confession of the true faith, and the doctrine of the sacraments, as the statute expressly conunandeth and limiteth.":t Mr. Nichols subscribed the " Book of Discipline."§ THOMAS CARTWRIGHT, B. D.-This most celebrated person was born in Hertfordshire, about the year 1535, and educated in St. John's college, Cambridge. He possessed excellent natural parts, applied to his studies with uncom- mon assiduity, and made amazing progress in the various branches of useful literature. He allowed himself only five hours' sleep in the night, to which custom he closely adhered to the end of his days. Having been about three years at the university, upon the death of King Edward, Baker's MS. Collec. vol. ii. p. 544. 4 MS. Remarks, p. 535. t Plea for the Innocent, p. 21. Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 423.
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