Z72 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VII. Z een " tinue (fill our labours in the gofpel, we would gladly and willingly do Efizaoeth, " any thing that might procure that blet?ing, effeeming it more than all trß " the riches in the world ; but if we cannot be fuffered to continue in our " places and callings, we befeech the lord to thew greater mercy to thofe " by whom this affüclion fha11 be brought upon us, and upon the people MS,p595. u committed to our charge, for whomwe will not ceafe to pray, that the 623. " goodwork which the lord has begun by our labours, may ffill be advanced, to that day when the lord fhall give them and us comfort one in ano- " ther, and in his prefence everlaffing happinefs and eternal glory." This petition was prefented to theconvocation, in the firff feßionsofthe next par- liament, in the name of the miniflers ofLondon that had refu/ed tofubfcribe the articles lately enforced upon them ; with anhumble requeft to have their doubts fatisfied by conference, or any other way. Mr. Barber, Among the fufpended minifters of London, was the learned and virtuous Field, and Mr. Barber, whopreached 4 times a week at Bow church: His parifhion- peded.nfnf ers to the number of r zo, figned a petition to the lord mayor and court of M.S. p. 400, aldermen for his releafe, but that court could not obtain it. March 4th the 568, &c. learned Mr. Field and Mr. Egerton were fufpended. Mr. Field had been often in bonds for non-conformity ; he was miniflerof lildermary, and had admitted an affembly of minifters to be held at his houfe, among whom were fume Scots divines, who being difaffe led to the hierarchy, the affem- bly was declared an unlawful conventicle, and Mr. Field fufpended from his miniffry for entertaining them; but the reft were deprived for not fubfcribing. Petitìanr of Many gentlemen ofreputation both in city and country, appeared for the gentlemen fufpended minifters, as well out of regard to their poor families, as for the andparì fake of religion, it being impofíìble to fupply fo many vacancies, as were their toners made in the church upon this occafion. The gentlemen of Norfolk, Com- fier:. bridgefhire and Kent, interceded with the archbifhop, alleging that it was very hard to deal withmen fo feverely for a few rites and ceremonies, when they were neither bereticks norfchifmaticks, and when the country wanted their ufual preaching. The parifhioners of the feveral places from whence the minifters were ejeded, figned petitions to the lord treafitrer, and others ofthe queen's council, befeeching them in the bowels of yefus Ghrifl, that M.S. p 457. their minifters being of an upright and holy converfation, and diligent preachers of the word of God, might be reftored, or otherwife (their livings being only of fmall value) their fouls would be in danger of perifhing for lack of knowledge. ? Iîexpetition The inhabitants of Malden in Efex fent up a complaint to the council, " That fince their minifters had been taken from them for not fubfcribing tocertain articles neither confirmed by the law of God, nor of theland; they had 111
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