166 LIVES OF TIIE PURITANS. THOMAS CAREW was born of the ancient and worthy family of his name in Cornwall, educated in the university of Oxford, and, entering upon the sacred function, became a frequent and zealous preacher. He received ordination from the Bishop of Worcester, and was licensed by Arch- bishop Grindal and Bishop Aylmer, from whom, on account of his excellent preaching, he received high com- mendations. He afterwards became minister at Hatfield Feverel, in Essex; but having acquainted the bishop by letter, that in the county of Essex, within the compass of sixteen miles, there were twenty-two nonresidents, thirty insufficient and scandalous ministers, and, at the same time, nineteen ministers silenced for refusing subscription , his lordship, instead of being pleased with the information, convened Mr. Carew beore the high commission, and charged him, without the smallest evidence, with settingup a presbytery, and contemning ecclesiastical censures. It was further alleged against him, " That he was chosen by the people ; that he had defaced the Book of Common Prayer; that he denied that Christ descended into the regions of the damned ; and that he kept persons from the communion, when there was more need to allure them to it". These charges being brought against him, the bishop, to make short of it, tendered him the oath ex officio; upon the refusal of whichMr. Carewwas immediately committed to the Fleet, and another minister sent to supply the place. His successor was soon found guilty of adultery ; and when the parishioners petitioned Bishop Aylmer for his removal, and the restoration of their former minister, his grace said, " That he would not, for all the livings he had, put a poor man out of his living for the fact of adultery."+ Mr. Carew having left an account of his troubles, let us hear him speak for himself. " The bishop," says he, " first granted me a license to preach, and much commended my preaching; but afterwards, upon the complaint of secret enemies, he sent for me, and took it fromme. Before I had been at Hatfield above seven weeks, because I would not wear the surplice, he suspended me, and I continued under suspension half a year. Myparishioners were at consider- able expense and trouble in presenting many supplications unto him, that I might be released from suspension and restored to my ministry, but without success. Afterwards MS. Register, p. 651, 655.-Strype's Aylmer, p. 120, 121. 4 MS. Register, p. 653, 654.
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