216 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. the university, earnestly soliciting that Mr. Broughton, notwithstanding his preferment at Durham, might still con- tinue to hold his fellowship. The Earls of Hiutingdon and Essex, at the same time, warmly espoused his cause, and jointly addressed a letter; dated February 24, 1580, to the worthy chancellor, in his favour. 'The two noble persons speak in this letter in high commendation of Mr. Broughton's learning, obedience and circumspection ; and observe, that onlywant of maintenance in the university had induced him to accept of the above prebend, which, however, he was more willing to resign than lose his place in the university. "This," it is added, 44 shewed the good mind that was in him.". Lord Burleigh addressed a letter, dated October 20, 1580, to Dr. Hatcher, the vice-chancellor, and Dr. Hawford, master ofthe college, in which heexpresses with great warmth his disapprobation of their conduct, and the conduct of the fellows, in their unjust treatment of Mr. Broughton.+ Therefore, after much opposition, he was, in 1581, by an order from this generous and worthy statesman, again admitted to his fellowship ; though it does not appear whether he returned anymore to the college.# In the mean time he very generously resigned the office of taxer of the university.§ Mr. Broughton having left the university, removed to London, where he had many worthy friends, amongwhom were the two earls already mentioned ; also Sir Walter Mildmay, and others. About the same time, he entered upon the ministerial function; but still pursued his studies with uncommon assiduity, usually spending fourteen or sixteen hours a day in the most intense application. In his preaching, he commonly took a text out of the Old Testa- ment, and a parallel text out of the New Testament, and discoursed pretty largely upon them in their connexion, then concluded with a short and close application of the dpctrine. His preaching soon rendered him exceedingly popular, and he was very much followed, particularly by persons celebrated for learning. But that which rendered him most' known to the world was the publication of his book, entitled, " A Consent of Scriptures." It was the fruit of immense labour and study, and is a kind, of system of scripture chronology and genealogy, designed to shew from the scriptures, the chronological order of events from Baker's MS. Collet. vol. iv. p. 91. + Ibid. vol. x. p. 306. Strype's Annals, vol. ii. p. 612-614. Baker's MS Collec. vol. iii. p. 423.
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