276 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. archbishop ; but his grace having consulted his brother of London, told the treasurer that he was a ringleader of the nonconformists ; that .he himself had received complaints against him, and was determined to bring him before the high commission.' Mr. Gifford had many friends, and was much beloved by his- numerous hearers. The parishioners of Maldon, therefore, presented a petition to the bishop, in behalf of their minister, signed by fifty-two persons, two of whom were bailiffs of the town, two justices of the peace, four aldermen, fifteen head 'burgesses, and other respectable people. In this petition, they shewed that his former accusations had been proved to be false ; that the present charges were only the slanderous accusations of wicked men, who sought to injure his reputation and usefulness ; that they themselves and a great part of the town had derived the greatest benefit from his ministry ; that his doctrine was always sound and good; that in all his preaching and catechising he taught obedience to magis- trates; that he used no conventicles ; and that his life was modest, discreet, and unreprovable. For these reasons they earnestly entreated his grace to restore him to his ministry.i- Indeed, the distresses of the people in Essex were at this time so great, that the inhabitants of Maldon and the surrounding country presented a petition to parlia- ment for the removal of present grievances. In this peti- tion, now before me, they complain, in most affecting lan- guage, that nearly all their learned and useful ministers were forbidden to preach, or deprived of their livings ; and that ignorant and wicked ministers were put in their places.t These endeavours proved ineffectual. Mr. Gifford did not enjoy his liberty for several years, as appears from a supplication of several of the suspended. ministers in Essex, presented to parliament, dated March8, 1587, when he was still under the episcopal censure. It will be proper to give the substance of it in their own words : In most humble and reverent duty to this high and honourable court of parliament, sundry of the ministers and preachers of God's holy word in the county of Esser, present this our earnest supplication, and lamentable complaint, beseeching you upon our knees for the Lord's sake, and the sake of his Strype's Whitgift, p. 152. Strype's Aylmer, p. Iii, 112. t MS. Register, p. 748.
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