MORLEY. 175 saying, dost thou forsake the devil' ?' -and will you have this child baptized in this faith?' for wilt thou be baptized in thisfaith ?' Upon the reading of the indictment, the judge asked me what I had to say why sentence should not be executed against me. I answered, that I had endured punishment already from the commissary. And when the judge inquired whether I had been sopunished, the com- missary said I had ; but he did not know whether it was for this offence or some other. I was, therefore, committed to prison.". In the year 1584, Mr. Morley made the following record: -" The first day of June was two years, I was committed to the Clink, by the Archbishop and the Bishop of London. I was there confined seven weeks, and to this hour, I know not for what cause. I was fetched by the pursuivant upwards of forty miles, which was attended with great expense, as well as hinderance of my usefulness. I have never received any recompence for false and unjust imprisonment; neither can I obtain liberty to use my ministry with a good conscience. So that I am now ready to go a begging; yet, if allowed, I might, through the blessing of God, do some good to myself and the afflicted church of Christ, of which I am a poor member. EZECHIAS MORLEY."1- It appears from the above, that Mr. Morley was for a long time suspended from the exercise of his ministry. After- wards, being driven out of Norfolk, he preached at Ridg- well in Essex. And during the above year, warrants were issued by Archbishop Whitgift, 'the. Bishop of London, and other ecclesiastical commissioners, requiring certain laymen to appear before them at St. Paul's, to prove several charges against Mr. Morley. Upon their appear- ance before their lordships, they were required to answer the following articles of inquiry : 1. " Do you, and all of you, know Ezechias Morley, preacher ; and how long have you known him ? 2. " It is objected against you, that you have been at divers preachings and lectures of the said Morley, in the, church of Ridgwell in Essex, since Easter. 3. " That you have often, or some times, been, within these two years, at the said Morley's lectures, preaching's. MS. Register, p. 42e-422. + Ibid.
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