RAINOLDS. 179 was nominated one of the, puritan divines to attend the conference at Hampton-court. On the side of the episco- palians, were Archbishop Whitgift, eight bishops and eight deans, with the king at the head ; and on the side of the puritans, were Dr. Rainolds, Dr. Thomas Sparke, Mr. Lawrence Chadderton, and Mr. John Knewstubs, all no- minated by the king.* Dr. Rainolds, in the name of his brethren, humbly presented the following requests : 1. 66 That the doctrine of the church might be preserved pure, according to God's word. 2. " That good pastors might be planted in all churches, to preach the same. 3. " That church government might be sincerely minis- tered, according to God's word. 4. " That the Book of CommonPrayer might be fitted to more increase ofpiety." These requests contained all or most of wliat the chief puritans desired ; and however reasonable they may appear, not one of them was granted. When the puritan ministers wished to discuss those things, for which they were pro- fessedly called together, the king would not allow them to proceed: but rising fromhis chair, he said, " If this be all " that your party have to say, I will make them conform, " or I will hurry them out of the land, or else do,worse." They were much insulted, ridiculed, and laughed to scorn.+ Sir Edward Peyton confessed, that our divine and his brethren had not freedom of speech; and finding it of no use to attempt a reply; they held their peace.t This con- ference was therefore justly called, The mock conference of Hampton-court ; and, says the judicious historian, was only a blind to introduce episcopacy into Scotland.§ In the year 1604, the king appointed Dr. Rainolds, on account of his uncommon skill in Greek and Hebrew, to be one of the translators of the Bible; but he did not live to see the work completed.0 He was seized with the con- sumption of which he died, when in the midst of this labo- rious undertaking ; yet he continued to afford his assistance even to the last. During his sickness, his learned Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 7.-Strype's Whitgift, Appen. p. 237. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. x. p. 10.-Barlow's Account, p. 170. t Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 18. Rapin's Hist. of Eng. vol. ii. p. 162. .11 This was the present authorized translation, which his majesty com- mitted to the care of forty-seven reverend and learned persons, divided into six companies, to whom he gave the requisite instructions for the work.----Biog. Brit.. vol. ii. p. 528; Edit. 1778,
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