1he HISTORY o/ the PuRITANs. Vot. u. Ch~;;f II. Ba(;pfi~~· k~uffet~dl eleven 1 months himpridfonmf e 1 t~t 1 i?c Ilcbefler gaol, in a 1683 . na y tn ~ng o e, to t 1e great ~.zar. o 11~ 1re. Mr. French of ~ 'Iown-M~ulm, w~s confined fix months 1t1 lvlaufjtone common gaol, in a hard wtnter, Without fire or cand le, o.r any private apartment. Of Mr. Mr. Salkeld, the ejeCted· mini!l:er of Worlington in Sz!Jfolk, was fined Sahlkeld and one hundred pounds, and committed to the common gaol of St. Edmzmd'fot ers. b c r · · · h · ury, 10r 1aymg, popery was commg mto t e natzon apace, and no care taken to prevent it. He lay in prifon three years, and was not difcharged till the year I 686. Mr. Richard Stretton fu ffered fix months imprifonment this year, for refufing the Oxford oath, in company with ten minifl:ers more, who were Calamy, p. alfo his fellow -prifoners. Mofl: of the diffenting miniil:ers were forced to· 627, &c. lbift their places of abode to avoid difcovery, and travel in long nights and cold weather, from one village to another, to preach to their people. If at any time they ventured to vifit their families in a dark night, they dur!l: not ftir abroaci, but went away before morning. Some fpent thei r time in woods and folitary places; others being excommunicated, removed with their effects into other diocefes - great numbers of the common people, taken at private meetings, were convitl:ed as rioters, and fined ten pounds a-piece; and not being able to pay, were obli'ged to remove into other counties, by which they !oil: their bufinefs, and their families were redu– ced to want. I forbear to mention the rudenefs offered to young women, fame of whom were fent to Bridewell, to beat hemp among rogues and thieves: others that were married and with child, received irreparable da– mages; even children were terrified with confl:ables and halberdeers break– ing open houfes, of whom I myfelf ( fays Mr. Peirce ), being very young, was one example; and the writer of this hi!l:ory could mention others. London cafes In the mid.fl: of thefe violent proceed_ings, the divines of t.he chu~ch of publijhul. England publ!lbed the London cafes agam!l: the non-conformtfts, as tf the danger of religion arofe from that quarter; they were twenty three in number, and have fince been abridged by Dr. Benne!. Thcfe cham– pions of the church, were very fecure from being anfwered, after Mt·~ Peirce. p. Delaune had fo lately !oil: his life, for accepting fuch a challenge. They 25g. mufl: therefore have the field to themfelves, for if their adverfaries writ,. they were fure to be rewarded with fines, and a prifon; but fince the re– turn of liberty, they have been anfwered feparately by Mr. Nathaniel 'Iay– !tJr, Mr. JamnPeirce, and others. Death of IJr This year died Dr. 'John Owen, one of the mo!l: learned of the inde– John Oweh. pendent divines; he was educated in Qyeen's College Oxon, but left the univerfity in I 637, being diffatisfied with Laud's innovations. He was a ihiet calvini.ft. and publilbed his di.JP!ay of arlninianifm in 1642, for . which.
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