WILCOCKS. 191 that true religion may be freed from popish superstition, and, with the queen's approbation, be again restored by the parliament. But of ourselves we have never attempted to correct or change any thing. We referred all to their judgments, according as the case may seem to them to require. And we hoped that, by this means, the peace of the church, and the reconciliation of brethren, might have been happily promoted. "By this ecclesiastical establishment, which is so con- trary to the word of God, we have all seen a sad schism in the church ; and that most desirable blessing ofpeace, which ought to abound among those of the same religion, has been destroyed. We said nothing of the contempt of good learning, the corruption of true religion,the depraving ofthe ministry, and the increase of sin which it hath occasioned. All this is a sufficient justification of our book. And the corruptions and abuseswhich we have mentioned, are unani- mously acknowledged by all the foreign reformed churches, and by the writings of men of eminent learning, to be very In the conclusion they humbly and earnestly entreat him to be a means of procuring their liberty. They also presented other petitions to other persons of distinction, but apparently to little effect : for they were confined in close prison in Newgate at least fifteen months. A further account of theseproceedings will be found in another place.i. Mr. Wilcocks at length obtained his release from prison, but was at the same time deprived of his living in Honey- lane. Being driven from his flock and his benefice, he preached where he could, as he found an opportunity, though not without frequent molestation from the persecut- ing prelates. For the greatest part of tenyears he preached very frequently at Bovington, in Hertfordshire. He spent a considerableportion ofhis timeand pains in his epistolary correspondence with his numerous friends ; and in his letters he commonly subscribed himself, " Thomas Wil- cocks, the Lord's unworthy servant." Among his numerous and learned correspondents, was the venerableMr. Anthony Gilby, of Ashby de la Zouch, in Leicestershire, to whom he addressed the following epistle, descriptive of the cruel oppressions of the time it " Good Father Gilby, since my separation from you have received letters fromLondon, wherein was certified the Strype's Annals, vol. ii. p. 186. + See Art. Field. t Baker's MS. Collec. vol. mil. p. 441, 442.
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