DOWNHAM--FOXLEY. 497 not appear what preferment he obtained ; but he was the first who delivered and afterwards promoted the famous lecture at Bartholomew's church, behind the Exchange. In the year 1640, he united with his puritan brethren, the ministers of the city, in presenting their petition to the privy council, against Laud's cruel book of canons ; in 1643, he was appointed one of the licensers of the press ; and, in 1644, he waschosen one of the London ministers to examine and ordain public preachers.' He was a venerable and celebrated divine ; and he died at a very great age, about the close of the above year. Fuller, who has classed him among the learned writers of Christ's college, Cam- bridge, styles him " a grave divine," and says, " he is memorable to posterity for his excellent work, entitled, The Christian Warfare.". Wood denominates him " it learned and laborious writer."+ THOMAS FOXLEV.-This pious and reverend divine was lecturer at St. Martin's in the Fields, London ; where he suffered grievous persecution from the intolerance of Bishop Laud. This ecclesiastical tyrant put down his lecture, to prevent, as he pretended, the spreading of the plague; whereas the plague was not then in the parish. Upon the suppression of his lecture, Mr. Foxley was deprived, for some time, of the means of procuring a livelihood. After- wards he was brought before Laud, who charged hire"with being- concerned in the purchase of irnpropriations, and thereby endeavouring ' to bring the bishops within the feoffees' girdles." When Mr. Foxley said that this could not be, since the ministers on whom these irnpropriations were bestowed, were sent to their respective bishops to be approved by them ; Laud replied, " that, if he had known him to have been so much concerned in the business of impropriations, he should not have got off so easily as he did before." Mr. Foxley had his study afterwards rifled by pursuivants, when he was apprehended and kept a pri- soner two days ; then carried before Sir John Lamb, who required him to give bond for his appearance before the high commission on the Thursday following. Upon his appearance at the time and place appointed, he, with some difficulty, obtained a week's time to consider whether he Fuller's Worthies,part i. p. 191.-Ilist. of Cam. p.92.-Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 335, iii. 46, 140. Athenm Oxon. vol. i. p. 260. VOL. II. 2 plennillimmiamvs-mfosv Yiefatl,
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