274 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. persons of rank. Byhis labours he brought the town to much more sobriety and knowledge of true religion.". Though he was a decided puritan, and scrupled conformity in various particulars, he wrote with great zeal against the Brownists, and in defence of the church. But all these things were mere trifles, so long as he did not admire the ceremonies, nor come up to the standard of conformityre- quired by the prelates. Therefore, having preached the doctrine of limited obedience to the civil magistrate, corn plaints were brought against him, and he was immediately suspended and cast into prison. This was in the year 1584. About the same time, this learned divine, and other ministers of Essex, to the number of twenty-seven, pre- sented a supplication to the lords of the council, earnestly soliciting a redress of their grievances ; though it does not appear with what degree of success. The ministers who subscribed this supplication were highly celebrated for learning, piety, and usefulness, many of whom were already suspended for nonconformity. Ia the supplication they express themselves as follows : " We cheerfully and boldly offer this our humble suit untoyour honours, being our only sanctuary upon earth, next to her majesty, to which we can repair in our present necessity : and most of all we are encouraged, when we consider how richly God hath adorned your honours with knowledge, wisdom, and zeal for the gospel, and with godly care and tender love to those who profess the same. Most humbly, therefore, we beseech your honours, with your accustomed favour in all godly and just causes, to hear and to judge of our matters. We have received the charge of her majesty's loyal and faithful subjects, to instruct and teach our people in the way of life ; and every one ofus having this sounded from the God of heaven, Woe be unto me, if Ipreach not the gospel, we have all endeavoured to discharge our duties, and to approve ourselves both to God and men. Notwith- standing this, we are in great heaviness, and some of us already put to silence, and the rest living in fear ; not that we have been, or can be charged, we hope, with false doc- trine, or slanderous. life ; but because we refuse to subscribe that there is nothing contained in the Book of Common Prayer contrary to the word of God.' We do protest in the sight of God, who searcheth all hearts, that we do not refuse from a desire to dissent,or from any sinister affection ; Strype's Aylmer, p. 110.
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