Chap. X. 17Je HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. 739 which the·committee of religion prefented him to the living of Fordbam King in E!Jex. In 1643 he removed to Coggejhal/ in the fame county, where Charles II. he firll declared himfelf an independent, and gathered a church according ~ to the difcipline of that people. He often preached before the long · parliament, even about the time the king was beheaded, but always kept his fentiments in referve upon fuch a fubject. Soon after, lieutenant general Cromwe/1 took him into his fervice, as a chaplain in his expedition to Ireland; and when the general marched to Scotland, he obtained an order of parliament for the doctor to attend him thither. Upon his return, he was preferred to the deanry of Chrifi Church, and next year to the vice– chancellorfhip of Oxford, where he prefided with great reputation and prudence for five years. He always behaved like a gentleman and {cholar, and maintained the dignity of his character. The writer of his life fays, that though he was an independent himfelf, he gave moft of the vacant livings in his difpofal among theprejbyterians, and obliged the epifcopal party, by conniving at an affembly of about three hundred of them, almoll over againll his own doors. The Oiford hiftorian, after having treated his memory with moft opprobrious language, confeffes, that he was well fkilled in the tongues, in rabinnical learning, and in the jewijh rites and cuftoms, and that he was one of the moll genteel and faireft writers, that appeared againft the church of England. The doctor had a great reputation among foreign protellants; and when he was ejected by the acl: of uniformity, was invited to a profeilori11ip in the United Pro. vinces. He was once alfo determined to fettle in New-England, but was fiopt by exprefs order from the council. He was pallor of a confiderable congregation in London, and died with great calmnefs and compofure· of mind, on Bartholamew day 1683· His works are very numerous, and il:ill in efteem among the diffenters; though his fiile is a little intricate and perplexed. This year the king, by the affiftance of the tories and roman Catholics, r684. cornpleated the ruin of the conllitution, and a!fumed the whole O'OVern- Further fuf– ment into his own hands. The whigs and non-conformifls were ftruc"'k withfe~ings oftbt terror, by the fevere profecutions of the heads of their party. Mr. R::~r~·. P· Hampden was fined forty thoufand pounds, Sir Sapmel Barnadifton ten 354, 356. thou!imd pounds, for defaming the evidence in the Rye-Hozlje plot. Mr. Eachard, P· Speke two thoufand, and Mr. Braddon one thoufand. pounds, for report- 10 43, 1044 • ing that the earl of Ejfex had been murdered in the 'lower. Mr. John Duttoncolt one hundred thoufand pounds, for Jcanda!um magnatum againft the duke of York, who now ruled all at court; Oates was fined for the lame crime one hundred thoufand pounds, and never releafed till after th.e revolution. Thirty-two others were fined or pilloryed for lib~lling the kmg or the duke of York. In fhort, the greatell: part of tqe h1ftory 5 B 2 of
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