Chap. VIII. The HIST ORY ofthe PURITANS. 393 " yea, Lord ! for to thee I convert my fpeech, who knoweft all things, Queen " if i have confederated more or lefs withSomers, Darling, or anyof the Elizabeth, reft ; if ever I fet eye on them before they were pofhd, then let me r> " not only be made a laughing-flock, and a by-word to all men, but rafe " my name alto out of the book of life, and let me have my portion " with hypocrites." It has been obferved, that the bithops had now wifely transferred the Puritans profecution of the puritans from themfelves to the temporal courts, fo turned over that inflead of being fummoned before the high carnmjon, they were in_ ro theà zes. didted at the aflizes, and tried at common law; this being thought more advifeable, to take off the odium from the church. Judge Anderfon dif- judge An- covered his zeal againft them this fummerin an extraordinary manner, derfon's fie- for in his charge to the jury at Lincoln he told them, that the country ry. was infefted with brownßs, with difiiplinaries and erectors of prejbyteries; which he fpoke with fo much wrath, with fo many oaths, and fuch re- viling language, as offended the gentlemen upon the bench. He called Strype'sfnn. the preachers knaves, faying, that they would dart up into the pulpit Vol. ult. and fpeak againft body. He was for extending the ftatute of re- P' 264. cufancy to fuch who went at any time to hear fermons from their own parifh churches, though they ufually attended in their places, and heard divine fervice dutifully. When lord Clinton and the deputy lieutenants, and juflices of thofe parts, obtained the bifhop's allowance for a day of fafting and prayer at Lowth, upon an extraordinary occafion, his lordfhip urged the jury to find a bill againft them, upon the ftatute of conventicles. Mr Allen minifter of that parifh, being indidted by means of a re- Mi. Allen's vengeful juflice of peace, for not reading all the prayers at once, (he ufing cRfe. fometimes to omit part of them for the fermon) was obliged to hold up his hand at the bar, when judge Anderfon ftanding up, fpoke to him with a fierce countenance ; and having infinuated Tome grievous faults againft the man (though he named none) called him oftentimes knave, rebellious knave, with more fuch opprobrious language, though it was known all over the country that Mr. Allen was a good preacher ; that he had fub- fcribed ; was efteemed by the bifhop ; was conformable in his affec- tions; and behaved upon this occafion with all humility and fubmiflion. But his lordfhip had Paid in his charge, that he would hunt all the puri- tans out of his circuit. One thing was remarkable in Mr. Allen's arraign- ment, that when upon force point wherein judgment in divinity was re- quired, Mr. Allen referred himfelf to the bifhop (his ordinary then fitting upon the bench), thejudgetook him up with marvellous indignation and laid, he was bothhis'ordinary and bifhop in that place. VOL. L - E e e Thus
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