S. WARD. 453 of Ipswich in Suffolk ; but his reputation vas so great, that be had the superintendence of the several parishes in that populous town, and was greatly beloved by the numerous parishioners. However, he had his foes, as well as his friends, and was prosecuted by Bishop Harsnet for non- conformity. In the year 1622, upon his prosecntion in the consistory of Norwich, he appealed from the bishop to the king ; who committed the articles exhibited against him to the examination of the lord keeper Williams. The lord keeper, announcing the result of his examination to his majesty, is said to have found Mr. Ward not altogether blameless, but a man easily to be won by fair dealing ; and persuaded Harsnet to take his submission, and not remove him from Ipswich. The truth is, the lord -keeper found that Mr. Ward possessed so much candour, and was so ready to promote the interests of the church, that he could do no less than compound the troubles of so learned and industrious a divine.t He was, therefore, released from the prosecution ; and most probably continued for some time without molestation, in the peaceableexercise of his ministry. But this was not the end of his troubles. He afterwards fell into the hands of Archbishop Laud, whose tender mercies were cruelty. In the year 1634, for certain words delivered in his sermons, he was prosecuted in the high commission court. And the year following, for preaching against bowing at the name of Jesus, and against the Book of Sports, and having said, 64 that the church of England was ready to ring changes in religion, and that the gospel stood on tiptoe ready to be gone;" he was suspended in the high commission, enjoined a public recantation in such form as the court should appoint, and condemned in costs of suit. Upon his refusal to reproach his understanding, and defile his conscience by a public recantation, he was corn-, mitted to prison, where, to his great disgrace and unspeak- able loss, he remained a long time. Laud was the principal person in procuring this cruel sentence.$ Mr. Ward, having endured the severity of imprisonment for some time, and having at length obtained his release, fled from the storm, and retired to Holland ; where he first Fuller's Worthies, part iii. p. 70, 71. + }locket's Life of Abp. Williams, p. 95. Edit. 1693. It is observed, that, Olson the censure of Mr. Ward, the Bishop of Norwich would have allowed his people another minister ; but they would have Mr. Ward, or none.-Busliworth's Coll.. vol. ii. p. 301.-Wharton's Troubled of Laud, vol. i. p. 541.
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