WITHERS. 249 great trouble. Archbishop Parker cited him before the high commissioners, to answer for what he had done ; and upon his, appearance; is lordship demanded his license to preach in that seat onearning. He therefore produced the letters of the,,university, by which, in the year 1563, he was nominated and appointed one of the twelve university preachers. The archbishop pronounced this license defec- tive, being in the name of the vice-chancellor, masters, and scholars alone, without the name of the chancellor. He wrote, at the same time, to Sir William Cecil, the chancel- lor, urging him to exercise his authority.. By these pro- ceedings, Dr. Witherswas most probably forbidden preach- ing any more at Cambridge ; but it does not appear whether hesabred my other punishment. Upon the above commotions, he travelled to Geneva, Zurich, and other places, =where he became intimately ac- quainted with Ballinger, Gaulter, and otherlearned divines. Having remained among his new friends a few years, he returned to England ; and, in October, 1570, was made archdeacon of Colchester ; and, in November, 1572, was admitted rector of Danbury in Essex. He submitted to the ceremonies for the sake of peace, though he never approved of them.+ In the year 1583, upon the publication of Whit- gift's three articles, and the oppressive measures which im, mediately followed, he wrote tohis worthy friend the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, expressing his strong objections against such rigorous proceedings. In this letter, dated from Dan bury, February 19, 1583, he addressed the treasurer as follows :t " My duty to your honour in most humble manner pre- - poised, with my most earnest prayer to God for you. Your continual care of the church, and the importunity of m3, friends, have enforced me to write to your lordship con- cerning the present controversies in the church. I have long wished the church were rid of some timings, in the re- taining ofwhich I can see no advantage. The silencing of ministers is like a man who, being angrywith his shepherd, forbidshim to feed his sheep, yet appoints none other in his place, and so the sheep starve in the fold. Your care to have insufficient ministers removed, is commendable and godly. " With regard to the subscription to the Book of Common Prayer, now urged, though I think reverently of the book; Strype's Parker, p. 192-194. 1. Ibid. p. 198, 199. Strype's Annals, vol. iii. Appen. p. 62-64.
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