Zit LIVES OF THE PURITANS. WALTER TRAVERS, B. D.-This celebrated divinewas educated in Trinity college, Cambridge; where he took his degrees in arts, and was incorporated in the same at Oxford. Afterwards he travelled to Geneva, where he formed an intimate and abiding acquaintance with Beza and other learned divines. Upon his return to Cambridge, where he remained for some time, he took his degree in divinity. In 1572, he was member of the first presbyterian church in England, erected at Wandsworth in Surrey. While the prelates rigorously imposed subscription upon ministers, and required an exact conformity to the estab- lished church, many learned persons, who had conscientious objections against the English mode of ordination, went abroad to Middleburg, Antwerp, and other places, and received ordination according to the foreign reformed churches ; which, in their opinion, was much more agree- able to the word of God. Among those whose convic- tions led them to adopt this course was Mr. Travers, who went to Antwerp, and was there ordained by the presbytery. His honourable testimonial, dated May 14, 1578, is the following :+-44 For as much as it is just and reasonable, 44 that such as are received into the number of the ministers 44 of God's word should have a testimonial of their voca- " tion ; we declare, that, having called together a synod of Si twelve ministers of God's word, and almost the same " number of elders, at Antwerp, on May 8, 1578, our very " learned, pious, and excellent brother, the reverend Doctor " Gaulter Travers, was, by the unanimous votes and ardent " desires of all present, received and instituted into the " ministry of God's holy word, and confirmed according " to our accustomed manner, with prayer and imposition " of hands ; and the next day after the sabbath, having " preached before a full congregation of English, at the " request of the ministers, he was acknowledged and " received most affectionately by the whole church. That "Almighty God would prosper the ministry of this our " reverend brother among the English, and attend it with " great success, is our most earnest prayer, through Jesus " Christ. Amen. Given at Antwerp, May 14, 1578, and signed, "JOHANNES TAFFINUS, V. D. M. " LOGELERIUS VILERIUS, V. D. M. JonANNES HOCHELCUS, V. D. M." See Art. John Field. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 214.
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