BILDERSHAM. 383 Lichfield. Though, upon Mr. Hildersham's examination before the bishop and many others, his innocence was made perfectly manifest in open court, he continued under the episcopal censure a long time ; and, to the unspeakable grief of: many, the two exercises at Repton and Burton-upon- Trent were put down. In addition to this, December 8, 1612, letters missive were issued from the high commission, requiring his appearance before the ecclesiastical judges. Upon his appearance at the time and place appointed, he was judicially admonished, then prohibited from ever preaching, catechizing, or attending upon any part of the ministerial function, either in public or private, until he should be lawfully restored. What a pity was it, that so excellent and peaceable a divine should have been struck dumb, even after his innocence had been proved and acknowledged by the bishop in a court of justice!. This, indeed, savoured too much of the tyrannical oppression of antichrist. When Mr. Hildersham was restored from the above unchristian sentence, we have not been able to learn. But in the year 1615, he was again prosecuted in the high com- mission; and, for refusing the oath exofficio, was committed first to the Fleet, then to the King's-bench, where he con- tinued 'a long time. During his tedious and painful con- finement,a certain noblemanmade application toArchbishop Abbot for his release; when the angry archbishop protested, " that unless he would submit to what the commissioners required, he should die and rot in prison.+ Abbot, it is said, was a prelate of great learning and piety ; but he was esteemed a puritan in doctrine; and in discipline, too remiss for one placed at the head of the church.# But, surely, this did not appear, at least on the present occasion. Mr. Hildersham, upon givingbond to appear when called, was at length released from confinement. In September, 1616, the commissioners sat at Ashby, to examine certainwitnesses against Mr. Hildersham and his two friends, Mr. Thomas Dighton and Mr. John Holt.4 * Clark's Lives, p. 117, 118. MS. Chronology, vol. iii. A. D. 1631. p. 14. t Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 341. The nonconformists, both ministers and private christians,were now barbarously prosecuted in the ecclesiastical courts; among, whom Were these gentlemen, both natives of Ashby. One of them was imprisoned in the. Gatehouse, the other in the Fleet ; and having endured confinement for some time, they were brought forth, November 21, 1616, under the care of their keepers, when they received the following sentence in the high com.
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