Chap. III. 7he HISTORY of the PURITANS. 537 the way. He therefore refolved upon an academical life, and took upon K. Charles I him the care of pupils, for which he was qualified beyond molt in the univerfity. Many gentlemen's Eons were committed to his care, who trained themup in the fentiments of the ,firft reformers ; for he affefted the very ftile and language of Calvin. When it carne to his turn to be ca- techift, he went through a whole bodyof divinity with fuch general accep- tance, that the outward chapel was ufually crouded with ftrangers before the fellows came in, which created him envy. Complaint was made to thevice-chancellor of this unufual way of catechifing, and that it was not fafe to fuller Dr. Prefton to be thus adored, unlefs they had a mind to fet up puritanifm, and pull down the hierarchy; it was therefore agreed. in the. convocation houfe, that no ftranger, neither townfm.an nor fcholar, fhould upon any pretence come to thofe lectures, which were only defigned for the members of the college. There was little preaching in the univerfity at this time, except at St. Mary's, the leétures at Trinity and St. . 4ndrews, being prohibited; Mr. Pre /ton, therefore, at the requeft of the townfinen . and fcholars of other colleges, attempted to fet up an evening fermon at St. Buttolph's, belong- ing to Queens College; but when Dr. Newcomb commiffary fto the bi- fhop of. Ely heard of it, he came to the church and forbid, it command- ing that evening prayers only fhould be read : There was a vaft croud, and earneft entreaty that Mr. Prefton might preach, .at leaft for that time, but the commiffary was inexorable, and to prevent further importunities went home with his family; after he was gone, Mr. Prefton was prevailed with to preach; and becaufe much time had been fpent in debates, they adventured for once to admit the fervice that the fcholars might be prevent at their college prayers. Next day the commijary went to New - market, and complained both to the bifhop and king; he reprefented the danger of the hierarchy, and the progrefs of non- conformity among the fcholars, and affured them that Mr. Prefton was in,fuch high_ efteem, that he would carry all before him ifhe was not thoroughly dealt with. Being called be- fore his fuperiors, he gave a plain narrative ofthe fact ; and added, that he bad no defign to affront the bifhop or 'his commiffary. The bifhop faid, the king was informed that he was an enemy to forms of prayer, which Mr. Prefton denying, he was ordered to declare his judgment upon that head, in a fermon at St. Buttolyh church, and fo was difmifíed. Some time after King lames being at New-market, Mr. Prfton was appointed to preach before him, which he performed with great applaufe, having a fluent fpeech, á commanding voice, and a ftrong memory, to deliver what he had prepared without the afíïflance of notes. The king fpake familiarly to. him ;, and_ though his majefty expreffed a diflike to force of his puritan notions, commended his oppofing the arminians. Vol. I. Z z z Arid
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