538 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. HI. K. Charles I. And the duke of Buckingham not knowing what friends he might want 1628. t 2v among thepopulace, perfuaded the king to admit him oneof thePE INeE'S chaplains in ordinary, and to wait two months in the year, which he did. Soon after this he was chofen preacher of Lincoln-Inn, and upon the re- fignation of Dr. Chadderton mater of Emanuel College, in the year 1622. at which time he took his degree of dottor of divinity. The donor was a fine gentleman, a complete courtier, and in high efteem with the duke of Buckingham, who thought by his means to ingratiate himfelf with the puritans, whole power was growing very formidable in parliament. The duke offered him the bifhoprick of Gloucefler, but the doctor refufed, and chafe rather the letturefhip of TrinityChurch, which he kept till his death. By his intereft in the duke and the prince, he did confiderable fervice for many filenced minifters; he was in waiting when king fames died, and came up with the young king and duke in a clofe coach to London. But fame time after the duke having changed meafures, and finding that he could neither gain over the puritans to his arbitrary defigns, nor feparate the doctor from their interefts, he refolved to (hake hands with his chap- lain. The doctor forefeeing the form, was content to retire quietly to Ills college, where it is apprehended he would have felt Tome further effects of the duke's difpleafure, if God in his providence had not cut him out work of a different nature, which engaged all his thoughts to the time of his death. Dr. Preflon lived a fingle life, being never married ; nor had he anycure offouls. He had a Prong confitution, which he wore out in his fudy and in the pulpit. His difemper was a confumption in the lungs, for which by the advice of phyficians, he changed the air feveral times; but the failure of his appetitewith other fymptoms of a general decay, prevail- ed with him at length to leave off all medicine, and refign himfelf to the will of God. And being defirous of dying in his native country, and amonghis old friends, he retired into Northampton/hire, where he departed this life in a mot pious and devout manlier, in the forty-firft year of his age, and was buried in Fawfley church, old Mr. Dod minifter of that place, preaching his funeral fermon to a numerous auditory July loth. B. XI. 1628. Mr. Fuller fays, " He was an excellent preacher, a fubtle difpu-. P' 3r " tant, a great politician ; fo that his foes muff confefs, that (if not having " too little of the dove) he had enough of the ferpent. Some will not .< flick to fay, he had parts fufficient to manage the broad feat, whichwas offered him, but the conditionsdid not pleafe. He might have been the " duke's right hand, but his grace finding that he could not bring him nor " ° his party off to his fide, he would ufe him no longer;" which (hews him to be an honeft man. His practical works and fermons were printed by his own order after his deceafe. CHAP.
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