HILDERSHAM. 381 style him cousin Hildersham; therefore, by her majesty's favour, he was released from the above ecclesiastical censure.. Mr. Hildersham being a divine of great celebrity, was called, in the year 1596, to preach the assize sermon before judge Anderson, at Leicester. Though it is said to have been " a godly and learned sermon," the judge could not conceal his displeasure, even while-he was in the church. Anderson was no sooner seated upon the bench, than he required the jury to bring an indictment against the preacher, but they refused ; " and it would have been diffi- cult," adds our author, "to have found ajury in Leicester- shire, that would not have been ashamed of doing it." The angry judge was so mortified and offended, that he brought Mr. Hildersham afterwards into some other troubles; from which, however, the Lord mercifully delivered him. In the year 1598 an attachment was issued from the high commission to apprehend him ; but whether he was taken into custody, or he concealed himself till the storm subsided, we have not been able to learnt On the accession ofKing James, numerous petitions were presented to his majesty and the parliament, for a further reformation ofthe church. Mr. Hildersham, being a leading person among the puritans, and universally beloved by all the enemies of superstition and oppression, was appointed, withseveral ofhis brethren, to present these petitions, and, if required, to defend them by disputation. Among these was the millenary petition, subscribed by upwards of a thousand ministers, "desiring reformation of certain cere- monies and abuses ofthe church."t At the Hampton-court conference, our worthydivine, together with Mr. Stephen Egerton of London, and Mr. Edward Fleetwood of Lanca- shire, presented a number of requests to his majesty, earnestly desiring a further reformation in ecclesiastical matters. It was impossible for Mr. Hildersham to act in this public capacity without being particularly noticed. The eyes of the jealous prelates were fixed upon him. There- fore, in the year 1605, he was silenced by the Bishop of Lincoln for nonconformity. Afterwards, he obtained some favour from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, who allowed him to, preach occasionally in his diocese, particu- . MS. Chronology, vol. iii. A. D. 1631. p. 4. 4 Clark's Lives annered to Martyrologie, p. 114-115. Fuller's Church Hist. b. sr. p. 21-23.
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