222The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. V. .teen bifhop was a zealous protefiant, and a great enemy to c,opery ; a learned Ehzabeth, divine, a faithful paftor, a diligent and conftant pre-cher, and an exam- rai4' ie to his flock, in ra hteou ne s in faith, in love, in ; ace, inword, and in t..ir°a.JP g l' .l > .f > purity. He was exceeding hofpitable, and kept a table for the poor ; and was univerfally beloved, honoured, and efteemed, by his whole diocefe. This chara ,ter is given him (lays Mr. Strype) by one that knew him well, Thomas Becon, a native of Nor, folk, and of known eminence in thofe days. He was made bifhop of Norwich, 1560. and died of the (lone this year, in the 63d year ofhis age. Religious al: Sundry well difpofed perfons in the parifhes of Bal/ham in Cambridge- lembties broke , , e, and of Strethall inEgèx, met together on holidays, and at other times, after they had done work, to read the fcriptures, and to confirm one ano- ther in the chriftian faith and praétice ; but as loon as the commifioners were informed of their affemblies, the parfons of the parifhes were fent for, and ordered to fupprefs them; though the honeft people declared themfelves conformable to the orders of the church, and that they met to- gether after dinner, or after fupper, upon Holidays only, for their ownand their families inftrullion, for the reformation of vice, and for a further acquaintance with the word of God : Theoccafion of their affemblies we have in their own words, " For that heretofore (fay they) we have at ". divers times, fpent and confumed our holidays vainly, in drinking at the ale-houle, and playing at cards, tables, dice, and other vain paftimes, not " meet for us, and fuchof our calling and degree, for the which we have " been often blamed of our parfon ; we thought it better to bellow the time in foberlyand godly reading the fcriptures, only for the purpofes " aforefaid, and no other. We do not favour or maintain any of the at opinions of the Anabapti/ls, Puritans, Papßs, or Libertines, but would be glad to learn our duty towards God, our prince, and magiftrates, to- " wards our neighbours and our families, in fuch fort as becomes goodand tf faithful, and obedient fubjeds, and is it our greateft and only defire, to " live, follow, and perform the fame accordingly, as God (hall give us L. ofParker, " grace. " But our archbifhop had rather thefe poor people fhouldbe P. 473 drinking and gaming at an ale-houle, than engaged in a religious affembly, not appointed by public authority. Sampfon re- The reverend Mr. Sampfon, late dean of Chrift Church, Oxon, was this floe bis Teo- year firuck with the dead palfy on one fide, which made him refign his sure. leéture in the church at Whittington college, which he had held to this time, and for which he had iol. a year : le was in the gift of the Cloth- workers company, to whom he recommended Mr. Deering for his fuccef for ; but Deering being filenced for non -conformity, the archbifhoputterly refufed him, which SAMPSON complained of in a letter to the treafurer, laying, " That though my lord of Canterbury liked not to take pains in " the
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