254. 2he HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap.VI. Queen without being accountable to daffes, convocations, fynods, councils, or Elizabeth, any jurifdiEtion whatfoever r575 tM, Someof their reafons for withdrawing from the church are not eafily RCafns of anfwered : They alledged, That the laws of the realm, and the queen's their fepara- injunEtions, had made feveral unwarrantable additions to the inftitutions riou. of Chrift. That there were feveral grofs errors in the churchfervice. That thefe additions and errors were impofed and made neceffary to com- munion. That if perfecution for confcience fake was the mark ofa falfe church, they could not believe the church of England to be a true one. They apprehended further, that the conftitution of the hierarchy was too -bad to be mended ; that the very pillars of it were rotten, and that the ftruëture mutt be begun anew. Since therefore all chriftians are obliged to preferve the ordinances of Chrift pure and undefiled, they refolved to lay a new foundation, and keep as near as they could to the primitive pattern, though it were with the hazard of all that was dear to them in the world. Remarks. This fcheme of the Browni/is, Teems to be formed upon the pradtice of the apoftolical churches, before the gifts of infpiration and prophecy were ceafed, and is therefore hardly praéticable in thefe latter ages, wherein the infirmities and paßïons of private perlons, too often take place of their gifts and graces. Accordingly they were involved in frequent quarrels and di- vifions ; but their chief crime was their uncharitablenefs, in unchurching the whole chriftian world, and breaking off all manner of communion in hearing the word, in public prayer, and in the adminiftration of the facra- ments, not only with the church of England, but with all foreign reformed churches, which though lets pure, ought certainly tobe owned as churches of Chrift. Severities a- The heads of the. Brownifls, were Mr. Brownhimfelf and his com- gai>rjt them. pardon Mr. Harrifon, together with Mr. Tyler, Copping, Thacker, and others, who were now in prifon for fpreading his books; the two lait being afterwards put to death for it. The bifhop of Norwich ufed them cruelly, and was highly difpleafed with thole who (hewed them any countenance. When the prifoners above-mentioned, with Mr. Handfon and Tome others, complained to the juftices at their quarter-feflions, of their long and illegal imprifonment, their worfhips were pleafed to move Strype's 1Pn- the bifhop in their favour ; with which his lordfhip was fo diffatisfied, nais, P. 2r. that he drew up twelve articles of-impeachment againft the juftices them- felves, and caufed them to be fummoned before the queen and council, to anfwer for their mifdemeanors. In the articles, they are charged with countenancing Copping, Tyler, and other diforderly clergymen. They are accufed of contempt of his lordfhip'sjurifdiEtion, in refufing to admit divers minifters whom he had ordained, ,becaufe they were ignorant, and could
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