Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v2

260 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Johnson was admonished, and that was Mr. Snape or myself I am not certain which. 4. What things were debated in those meetings or as- semblies ?, The principal thingsconsidered in thoseassemblies, were, how far ministers might yield to subscribe unto the Book of CommonPrayer, rather than forego their ministry. The 4 Book of Discipline" was often perused and discussed. Three petitions were agreed upon to be drawn up and presented, one to her majesty, another to the lords of the council, and another to the bishops. As to the particular things debated, I remember only, the perfecting of the " Book of Discipline," and the subscription to it at Cam- bridge. Also, whether it was convenient for Mr. Cartwright to reveal the circumstances of the assemblies, a little before he was committed. Likewise the admonition of Mr. Johnson at Northampton. And whether the books of Apocrypha might be warrantably read in public worship, as the canonical scriptures. 5. Wereany censures exercised ; what kinds, when, where, upon whom, by whom, and for what cause ? I never saw any censure exercised, excepting admonition once given to Mr. Johnson of Northampton, for improper conversation, to the scandal of his calling : nor was that used with any kind of authority, but by voluntary and mutual agreement, as well by him who was admonished, as him who gave the admonition. 6. Have any ofthe said defendants moved or persuaded any to refuse an oath, and in what case ? I never knew any of the defendants to use words of persuasion to refuse any oath ; only Mr. Snape sent me certain reasons gathered out of scripture, which led him to refuse the oath ex officio; which, I am persuaded, he sent for no other purpose, than to declare that he refused to swear, not of contempt, but for conscience sake.* This is the substance of what is preserved by our histo- rians. Mr. Stone, however, by his longexamination, brought many things to light, extremely offensive to the ruling prelates ; but which, till that time, were perfectly unknown. Though he did not, it seems, give this information out of any ill design, but because he was required upon his oath so to do ; yet many of the puritans were inclined to Fuller's Church Hist. b. is. p. 207-509.-Strype's Whitgift, Appen. p. 159-166.

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