Chap. V. the HISTORY of the PURITANS. 79x conftitution ; for this purpofe they made intereft among themembers, and Queen compiled a treatife, letting forth their chief grievances in one view; it was Elizabeth, drawn up by the reverend Mr. Field, minifter of Aldermary London, , aílifted by Mr. Wilcox, and was reviled by feveral of the brethren. It Their fit was entitled an ADMONITION TO THE PARLIAMENT ; with Beza's admentttan. letter to the earl of Leiceer, and Gualter's to bifhopParkhurJl, for refor- mation ofchurch difcipline, annexed. It contains the platformof a church ; the manner of electingminifters ; their feveral duties, and their equality in government. It then expofes,the corruptions of the hierarchy, and the proceedings of the bithops, with Tome feverity of language. When Mr. Pearfon, the archbifhop's chaplain, taxed the authors with this in prifon, Mr. FIELD replied, " This concerns me; the fcriptures of the Old and " New Teftament ufe fach vehemency; we have ufed gentle words too " long, which havedone no good ; the wound grows defperate and wants a corrofive ; it is no time to blanch or few pillars under mens elbows, " but God knoweth, we meant to touch no man's perfon, but their " places, and abufes." The admonition concludes with a petition to the houles, that a difcipline more confonant to the word of God, and agreeing with the foreign reformed churches, may be eftablifhed by law. The authors themfelves, viz. the reverend Mr. Field and Wilcox, pre- Mini/ters fenced it to the houle, for which they were fent for into cuftody, and by ed°=tp p =t- the influence of the bithops committed to Newgate, Oblober 2d. Upon fined. this, the book-already printed was fuffered to go abroad, and had got 3 or M.S. p. r 19,. q editions within the compafs of two years, notwithftanding all the en- p.'35 deavours of the bifho s to find out the refs. Life of Par- The im rifonmentof the two minifters, occafioned the drawing up aSec p. p g P Secondadmo frcond admonition, by Mr. CARTWRILGHT, lately returned from beyondnition. fea, with an humble petition to the two houles, for relief againft the fubfcription required by the ecclefiaftical.commiflioners, which they re- prefent had no foundation in law, but was an aft of fovereignty in the crown, and was againft the peace of their confciences; and that many. had loft their places and livings for not complying ; they therefore be- leech their honours, to take a view of the caufes of their nonfubfcribing, that it might appear they were not difobedient to the church of God,.. or to their fovereign r and they molt humbly entreat, for the removal and abolithing of filch corruptions and abufes in the church,, as with - held . their compliance. " The matters; fay they, contained in the admonition,. " how true foever they be, have found fmall favour; the perlons that " ° are thought to have made it, are laid up in no werfe prifon than New- " gate; the men that let upon them are no worfe than bifhops;. the " name that goeth of them is no better than rebels; and great words there are, that their danger will. yet prove greater.. Well, what foever inlaid 66 . or,,
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