292 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VII. El%abeth, wrote to the treafurer, 01 that he had rather die, or live in prifon all 1584. " days of his life, than relax the rigor of his proceedings, by Chewing " favour to one, which might give occafion to others to expert the fame, gu215rr,B.'II ,< and undo all that he had been doing; he therefore befeeches his lordthip not to animate this froward people by writing in their favour." Sir Francis Knollys the queen's kinfman, and treafurer of her chamber, fe- eonded the treafurer, befeeching his grace to open the mouths of zealous preachers, who were found in doctrine, though they refufed to fubfcribe to any traditions of men, not compellableby law.. But all was to no purpofe ; B. IX. for (as, Fuller -obferves) " This was the conftant cuftom ofWhitgift; if p. 21,8: " any lord or lady fued for favour to any non-conformift, he would pro- fefs how glad he was to ferve them, and gratify their delires, affuring them for his part, that all poffible kindnels thould be indulged to them, but at the fame time, he would remit nothing of his rigor. Thus he " -never denied any man's delire, and yet never granted it ; pleating them o for the prefent with general promifes, but fill kept to his own refolu- Lion; whereupon the nobility in a little time, ceafed Making any further applications to him, as knowing them to be inrffeétual." Some of the minifers were indif ed at the affixes, as Mr. Beaumont of Fa ll Thorp, Mr. Wilton of Aldham, Mr. Hawkdon of Fryan, Mr. Seredge of Ea/l Having- field, for omitting the crois in baptifm, and for not wearing the furplice once every month, and at every communion. Moft of them were de- prived, or to avoid it, forced'to quit their livings and depart the country. Mr. Dyke Among thefe were the excellent Mr. Dyke, preacher firft at Coggelhae fbfpesded. in Egex, and afterwards at St. Albans in Hertfordfhire, whole chara&et was without blemith, and whole practicái writings difcover him to he a divine of confiderable learning and piety; he was fufpended, and at lad deprived, becaufe he continued a deacon, and did not enter into priejl's. orders, which (as the hilltop fuppofed) he accounted popifh. He alga refufed tawear the furplice, and troubled his auditory with notions that Eie par;/hio- thwarted the eftablifhed religion. The parifhioners being concerned for the . nero petition lots of their minifer, petitioned the lord Burleigh to intercede for them, for birn. getting forth, That they had lived without any ordinary preaching till. Life of Ayl- " within thefe four or five years, by. the want of which they were un merrP 303." acquainted with their duty to God, their fovereign, and their neigh- " boors; but that of. late it had pleated the Lord to vifit them with the. " means of falvation, the ordinary miniftry of the word, in the perfon of " Mr. Dyke,, an authorized minifer,, who according to his function, had. ... been painful and profitable, and both in life and doétrine, had carried. o himfelf peaceably and dutifully among them, fo as-no man could jufly. " find fault with him, except of malice. There were Come indeed, that +S could not abide to hear their faults reproved, but through his preach- ing.
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