492 LIVES OF THE. PURITANS. afterwhich the Bishop of Lincoln presented hirIl to thevicarage of Humberstone in his own county. Hewas indefatigably la- borious, and preached mostly three times on the Lord's day, and not unfrequently four times ; but he did not hold his living above two or three years. For, scrupling the lawfulness of using the surplice, the cross in baptism, and the admission of persons of profane character to the Lord's supper, he re signed it into the hands of the bishop ; but, through his lordship's connivance, he continued to preach for two or three years longer in different churches. When he resigned the benefice of Humberstone, the bishop offered him a better living ; but he resisted the temptation, and modestly refused to accept it. About the year 1636 he left the ,\ church entirely, renounced his episcopal ordination, and joined himself to the puritans. This exposed him to numer- ous difficulties and hardships. He was driven out of Lin- colnshire, and, at length, out of the kingdom, for his noncon- formity. Upon his going to Boston, probably with the view of being sheltered from the storm, he was apprehended by virtue of a warrant from the high commission, and, for some time, put under confinement. But, by his serious discourse, he so terrified the conscience of his keeper, that he set open the prison doors, and suffered him to depart. Having thus escaped the snare of his persecutors, he removed with his family to London ; but, being still harassed by the high com- mission, he resolved to escape the violence of his enemies, and to depart into a foreign land. After suffering numerous hardships, being persecuted from one place to another, he took shipping in the river,Thames, and, after many difficulties during the voyage, at length safely arrived at Boston in New England. When he went abroad he had only sixfarthings of his money left, only his wife had saved five pounds unknown to him, which she then gave him. Mr. Knollys continued in America about five years, at the expiration of which period he, returned to England upon the invitation of his aged,father, and arrived in London, Decem, her 24, 1641. The dreadful massacre which during that year deluged Ireland with blood, was succeeded the following year by the civil wars which burst forth between the king- and the parliament. Mr. Knollys, not long after his arrival again reduced to great poverty, and, after paying for his lodgings, had only sixpence left; but having many friends, he met with unexpected kindness and relief. For his better support, he took under his care a few scholars, whom he continued to instruct in his own house upon Great Tower-hill,
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