Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754 v1

Chap. VI. 2'he HISTORY of the PURITANS. 255 could only read ; and for removing one Wood from his living on the fame !2Jeen aecount. Sir Robert Vermin and Sir John Higham Knights, and Robert F.lISSI. ;zabeth, 14fhfield and Thomas Badley Efquires, gentlemen of Sufolk and Norfolk, tmj and of the number of the aforefaid juftices, gave in their anfwer to the bifhop's articles in the name of the reft ; in whièh, after afferting their own conformity to the rites and ceremonies of the church, they very juftly tax his lordfhip with cruelty, in keeping men fo many years in prifon, without bringing them to a trial, according to law ; and are afhamed that a bifhop of the church of England fhould be a patron of ignorance, and an enemy to the preaching of the word of God. Upon this the juftices were difmiffed. But though the lord treafurer, lord North, Sir Robert fermin and others, wrote to the bifhop, that Mr. Handfön, who was a learned and ufeful preacher, might have a licence granted him, the angry prelate declared peremptorily, that he never fhould have one, unlefs he would acknowledge his fault, and enter into bonds for his good behaviour for the future. While the bifhops were driving the puritans out of the pulpits, the Puritans re nobility and gentry received them into their houfes, as chaplains and tutors ceived into to their children ; not merely out of compaffion, but from a fenfe of their genttemen's real worth and ufefulnefs; for they were men of undiffembled piety andfam :lies. devotion;. mighty in the fcriptures; zealous for the proteftant religion.; of exemplary lives; far remote from the liberties and fafhionable: vices of the times; and indefatigably diligent in inffru6ting thofe committed to their care. Here they were covered from their oppreffors they preached in the family and catechifed the children ; which without all queflionhad; a confiderable influence upon the next generation. The papifts were very altive all over the country; fwarms of jefuits Execution of came over from the feminaries abroad, in defiance of the laws, and.tpread Campion tbe: their books of devotion and controverfy among the common people.;. they ei, and_ had their private conventicles almoft in every market town in England ; in the northern counties they were more numerous than the proteftants. This put the government upon enquiring after their priefts ; many of whom were apprehended, and three were executed (viz.) EdmundCam- pion, a learned and fubtle jefuit, educated in Cambridge, where he conti nued till the year 1569. when he travelled to Rome, and entered himfelf into the fociety of .7efus, 1573. Some. years after, he came into England, and travelled the countries to propagate the catholic faith. Being apprehended, he was put on the rack to difcover the gentleman who harboured hirn1 and afterwards was hanged, drawn, and quartered, when he was hut 41 years of age. The other a that fuffered:with 'him, were Ralph Sherwin;., and fldexander Bryant. Thefe were executed for an example, but the reff were fpared,. beèauh. the queen's. match with the duke of Anjou, ,was ftill de...

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