Chap. V. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 17 He had fuck a flrong memory, that he could readily rehearfe in the Greek .Zueen language, all St. Paul's epiftles to the Romans and Galatians, and other Elitsjzabo. ath, portions of fcripture memoriters He was a molt pious and religious per- civw fon, undervaluing all worldly profit, in comparifon of the affurance of his falvation. In the year 1563. there were only three preachers in the Wood's univerfity, of whom Kingfmill was one; but after fore time, when Ott' :n. Ox. conformity was preffed, and Sampfon deprived of his deanry, he with-p' a6r. drew from the kingdom, refolving to live in one of the belt reformed churches for doftrine and difcipline, the better to prepare himfelf for the fervice of the church ; accordingly he lived three years at Geneva, from thence he removed to Laufanne, where he died this year, in the prime of his days, leaving behind him an excellent pattern of piety, de- votion, and all manner of virtue. The rigorous execution of the penal laws, made bufinefs for the Chi- r57ó. Bans; many were cited into the fpiritual courts, and after long attend- Proceedings ance, and heavy charges, were fufpended or deprived; the ptarfuivant, aau í- or meffenger of the court, was paid by the mile ; the fees were exor- bitant, which the prifoner muff fatisfy before he is difcharged ; the me- thod of proceeding was dilatory and vexatious, though they feldom called any witneffes to fupport the charge, but ufually tendered the defendant an oath, to anfwer the interrogatories of the court ; and if he refufed the oath, they examined himwithout it, and convicted him upon his own confefiìon; if the prifoner was difmiffed, he was almoft ruined with the colis, and bound in a recognizance to appear again, whenfoever the court fhould require him. We (hall meet with many fad exam- ples of fuch proceedings, in the latter part of this reign,. The honeft puritans made confcience of not denying any thing they were charged with, if it was true, though they might certainly have put their accu- fers on proof of the charge : Nay, molt of them thought themfelves bound to confefs the truth, and bear a publick teftimony to it, before the civil magiftrate, though it was made ufe of to their difadvantage. I havean example of this now before me ; the reverend Mr. Axton, Mr. Axton's minifter of Morton Gerbet, in Leicefierfhire, was cited into the bifhop's exarnination court, three feveral times this year, and-examined upon the reafons of his refufing the apparel, the crois in baptifm, and kneeling at the facrament, which he debated withthe bifhop and his officers, with a decent freedom and courage. At the dole of the debate, the bifhop faid ; BISH. Now Mr..dxton, I would know of you, what you think of the callingof the bithops of England? AxTON. I may fall into danger by anfwering this queflion. BISH. I may compel you to anfwer upon your oath. Z 2 AXT.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=