H. BURTON. 41 these weak and saucy indiscretions, as they are called, was, that in April, 1623, he presented a letter to King Charles, remonstrating against Dr. Neile and Dr. Laud, his majesty's constant attendants, as being much inclined to popery ; which was certainly too true. " From that time," adds the noble historian, " he resolved to revenge himself upon the whole order of bishops ; and so turned lecturer, and preached against them, being endowed with malice and boldness, instead of learning and any tolerable parts.". The above slanderous accusation is founded in ignorance, or prejudice, or both, as will appear to all who will only read his works with impartiality. indeed, Mr. Burton afterwards affirmed his right to the above office, and that Bishop Neile cast him out through envy; and added : " but this was ordered by the special providence of my God, who would not suffer me to rise high at court, lest I should have been corrupted with its preferments."t From whathe has published to the world, he appears to have been furnished with con- siderable parts, and to have been no mean scholar. He was courageous in the cause of truth, and aman of awarm spirit; which led him, on certain occasions, to discover somedegree of heat and indiscretion. The oppressions and cruelties of the prelates Were sufficient to make a wise man mad. But that he resolved to revenge himself upon them, and turned lecturer for that purpose, is easily asserted, but not easily proved. Indeed, the charge of his turning lecturer at all, is certainly incorrect; for in the above year he was presented to the rectory of St. Matthew's, Friday-street, London. Mr. Burton was a person of a most heroical spirit, and never feared the appearance of an enemy, as appears from the account he gave of himself. Speaking of his various citations before Laud, his courage was such, that he says, " I wasi`not at any time before him, but methought I stood over him, as a schoolmaster over his scholars : so great was the goodness of God towards me. Being convened before thehigh commission for my book, entitled, ' Babel noBethel,' Harsnet Archbishop of York, having run himself out of breath with railing against me and my book ; and saying, that.I had dedicated my book to the parliament, to incense them against the higher powers, (meaning the king,) 1 answered, No, my lord, I am none of those who divide the king and parliament, but I pray God unite them together! "' Clarendon's Ilist. vol. i. p. 158.-Wood's Athena Oxon. vol. i. p. 814. -t Burton's Narration of his Life, p. 2. Edit. 1643.
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