x64 The HISTORY of the Pu APTANS. Chap. V. Ryeen , t fity, is. put unto things indifferent, they darken the light of the gofpel," E4 rs67 The bifhop replied, That the ceremonies and habits, were not commanded of necefty. Towhich Hawkins rejoined, that they had made them matters of necefiìty, as many a poor man had felt to his soft, who had been difcharged of his living for non-conformity. When the bit tophad occa- fionally obferved, that he had formerly faid mats, but was lorry for it; one of them anfwered, he went f1í11 in the habit of a mats- prieft. To which . he replied, that he had rather mintier without the cope and furplice, but for order pike, and obedience to the queen. When forne of the commifhoners urged, them with the reformationof king Edward, one Paid, that "They " never went fo far in his time, as to make a law that none fhould preach " or minifter without the garrments." Sundry other expreflions of warmth palled on both fides ; at length one of them, delivered to juftice Harris, their book of order, [the Geneva book] and challenged any of the corn- mifíìoners to difprove it by the word of God, and they would give over. The bifhop Paid, they reprov'd it not, but they liked not their feparate af- femblìes, to trouble the common quiet of the realm againft the queen's will. But the others, infifted on their fuperior regards to the word ofGod, ?heir finer- In conclufion, the prifoners not yielding to the bifhop, were Pent to Bride- ings. well, where they with their brethren, and fundry women, were kept in Grindal's durance above a year: At length, their patience and conftancy having been life, P. 120. fuf iciently tried, an order was Pent from the lords of the council to releafe them ; with an admonition to behave themfelvesbetter for the future. Ac- cordingly twenty-four men, and (even womenwere difcharged ; the names of the men were, john Smith, yohn Roper, Robert Hawkins, names Ire- land, WilliamNickfon, Walter Hynkefinan, Thomas Rowland, George Waddy, WilliamTurner, yohn Nafhe, JamesAdderton,William Wight, Thomas Lyd- ford, Richard Langton, Alexander Lacy, JohnLeonard, Robert Tod, Roger HawkJivorth, Robert Sparrow, Richard King, Chriflopher Colman, John Benfon, John Bolton, Robert Gates. 'Whether thefe feverities were jufti £table by the laws of God or the land, I leave with the reader. There was a fpirit of uncommon zeal in thefe people, to fuller all extre- Their letters. Edifies for the caufe in which they were engaged. In one of their letters, direéted to all the brethren that believed in Chrfi, the writer, who was but a laymen, lays, The reafon why we will not hear our parifh mini- " hers, is becaufe they will not (land forth and defend the gofpel againft the leavings of popery, for fear of lots of goods, or punifhment of " body, or danger of imprifonment, or elfe for fear of men more than " God." He then calls up their courage, " Awake, O ye cold and lake- " warm preachers, out offleep ; gird up yourfelves with the truth; come " forth, and put your necks [to the yoke] and think with Peter, that perfecution is no ftrange thing; for which of the prophets were not perfecuted
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