affair, attested by the hand of Abraham Hartwell, notary public, is now before me, it will be proper to transcribe it. The above commissioners decreed, "That the said John Walward shall, upon some Sunday in the afternoon, deliver a sermon in the parish church of Alhallows in Oxford, wherein he shall not in any way, either covertly or openly, impugn any part of the government ecclesiastical now received and used in the church of England; but shall stir up all his hearers to unity, peace, obedience, and the good liking of the laws, orders, and present government of this church; and shall, also, in such his sermon publicly and distinctly read, without any addition, diminution, or alteration, the form of words following, signifying that he is so enjoined by authority for his demerits." Then follows the form of his recantation, expressed in these words: "Whereas I, John Walward, the 22d of February last, "preaching in this place, amongst other things, did utter, "That the order of a Jewish synagogue governed by an eldership, which I untruly affirmed to be still observed in "Germany and Spain, was established by Jesus Christ and "his apostles to continue for ever, to admonish, to suspend, "to interdict, and to excommunicate in every congregation: "that the same was practised by the apostles, and long after " in the better times of the church: that those who are put "in authority, according to the laws of this land, by the "bishops and other ecclesiastical persons, to see such "censures executed, are not sufficiently warranted thereto, "but are in danger of God's heavy judgment; therefore, "the pastor of the congregation where the offender dwelleth, "hath an interest, and ought to have a dealing therein.' "And, whereas, I did then also affirm matter to the de"praving of the office of archdeacons, and the canons agreed "upon in the last convocation, and confirmed by her "majesty's authority: and did avouch a necessary, sub"stantial, and unalterable platform of government and dis"cipline to have been left by Christ, for hearing, ordering, " and determining all cases and causes of censure, which I "then said ought of necessity to be by the ministry and "presbytery of the congregation where the offender "dwelleth, to the impeaching of her majesty's authority "in causes ecclesiastical, to the discredit of the present government of the church of England wherein I live, to "the breach of the unity and peace of it, and to an ill example and offence to others. And further, whereas I "promised after my said sermon, if I might be suffered to "continue my divinity lecture, I would not meddle in any "matters tending to the disturbance of the peace and unity "of the church, or just offence of any. I did, notwith"standing, shew myself the same man I was before, by "bitter and factious speeches, and complaining that I was "thus treated, as I thought, without just desert. I do here, "therefore, in the sight of God, and you, my brethren, "frankly acknowledge, my unadvised dealing herein, and 66 my oversight in the former points, heartily desiring you "all to be satisfied with this my unfeigned and humble "submission."* When Dr. Walward appeared before his ecclesiastical judges, he was obliged to enter into a bond of one hundred pounds to make this debasing public recantation; and in case he failed to perform it according to the order and form prescribed, he should not only forfeit his hundred pounds, but within four days appear again at Lambeth, to receive such censure as his case might deserve. For the better execution of the above decrees, a letter was addressed to the vicechancellor of Oxford, requiring and authorizing him to see that they should in all points be duly executed; and in case of Walward's failure in complying with them, to bring him again before the high commission at Lambeth.+ This learned divine was thus debased by the tyrannical prelates! He was compelled to sacrifice the right of private judgment, and the liberty of conscience, at the shrine of their usurped power and authority. JOHN GARDINER was the laborious minister of Malden in Essex, but deprived of his ministry, and most cruelly treated. His sufferings would have moved the compassion of any man, excepting Aylmer, bishop of London. The bishop committed him to Newgate for matters scandalously laid to his charge seven years before, of which he had even been cleared by a regular course of law. He requested his lordship, that he might be bailed; and if he was found guilty, that he might have punishment without mercy. The account of his barbarous usage is given in a supplication which Mr. Gardiner sent to the bishop, dated Septem ber 7, 1586; in which he expressed himself as follows:§ * MS. Register, p. 800. + Ibid. p. 801. § Ibid. p. 752. "To the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop "of London. 66 "My duty in humble-wise remembered, my lord. I am "cast into Newgate by your lordship, for a matter which "about seven years past, was slanderously raised against me. I was by course of law cleared, and the Lord God "who searcheth the hearts, before whom you and I shall "shortly appear, doth know, and him I call to witness, "that I was and am falsely accused. I have been extremely "sick in prison. I thank God, I am amended, but am yet "so ill, that the physicians say my infection from the prison "will be very dangerous. I have a poor wife and five "children, who are in a lamentable case. I had six at the "beginning of my imprisonment; but by reason of my "sickness in prison, and my wife being constrained to "attend upon me, one of my children, for want of some "body to oversee them, was drowned in a tub of wort, "being two years and a half old. If your lordship have no "compassion on me, yet take pity upon the widow and "fatherless, (for in that state are now my wife and poor "infants) whose tears are before the Lord. I crave only "to be bailed; and if I am found guilty of any breach of "law, let me have extremity without any favour. Your 66 lordship's to command in Christ. "JOHN GARDINER." It does not appear how long Mr. Gardiner remained in prison, nor what other punishment he endured. He was a member of the presbyterian church erected at Wandsworth in Surrey; and he united with his brethren in subscribing the "Book of Discipline."* NICHOLAS STANDEN was educated in the university of Cambridge; he became rector of St. Magaret-Pattens, London; but was deprived, it is supposed, for nonconformity, in 1568. He was a learned and religious man, an orthodox divine, and ever zealous for a reformation of the church; often meeting with his brethren to promote the desired object. About the year 1570, he was chaplain to the Earl of Warwick, in his expedition against the rebels in the north. In 1572, he was a member of the presby Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 103.-Neal's Puritans, vol, i. p. 423. terian church erected at Wandsworth in Surrey.* About two years after this, he was accused of being concerned in Undertree's sham plot; and with Mr. Bonham, another puritan minister, was cast into prison: but upon their examination, being found innocent, they were both acquitted, and released by order of the council.+ Mr. Standen and Mr. Bonham were convened before the high commission for nonconformity, and committed to prison, where they remained a long time. After having endured a shameful confinement, together with the sickness of the prison, they were released by order of the queen, as will appear more at large in another place. Mr. Standen, with other nonconformable ministers, wrote an answer to this question, "Whether the ministers, for certain ceremonies laid upon them under pretence of policy only, may forsake their ministry?" Upon this question, he gives his opinion with great freedom, particularly against the use of the cross in baptism. He proves with great clearness, that the use of the cross in that ordinance, is wholly founded in superstition; that it can answer no good purpose whatever, but oftentimes a bad one; and consequently, that it ought to be laid aside. This divine being always anxious to obtain better regulations in the church, united with his brethren about the year 1586, in subscribing the "Book of Discipline."|| JOHN FIELD, A. M.-This excellent divine was a great sufferer in the cause of nonconformity. There having been several persons of the same name, has rendered it rather difficult to distinguish them; yet this Mr. John Field appears to have been fellow of Lincoln college, Oxford. Wood intimates, that he was afterwards a famous preacher at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London; but this is rather doubtful.** It is certain, however, that he was the excellent minister of Aldermary church, in the city. The puritans having in vain sought for a further reformation from the queen and the bishops, resolved in future to apply to the parliament, and stand by the constitution. Accordingly, they made all the interest in their power among the members, and compiled a treatise, setting forth *Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 103. + Strype's Parker, p. 466. (8.)-Parte of a Register, p. 409. ** Athenæ Oxon, vol. i. p. 188. their numerous grievances in one view. This was drawn up by Mr. Field, assisted by Mr. Thomas Wilcocks, and was revised by several of the brethren. The work was entitled "An Admonition to the Parliament ;" with Beza's letter to the Earl of Leicester, and Gualter's to Bishop Parkhurst, for reformation of church discipline, annexed. It contains the platform of a church; the manner of electing ministers with their several duties, and their equality in government. It then exposes, with some sharp language, the corruptions of the hierarchy, and the tyrannical proceed ings of the bishops. The Admonition concludes with a petition to both houses, that discipline, more consonant to the word of God, and agreeable to the foreign reformed churches, may be established by law. Their attempt to procure an establishment of their own opinions, Mr. Peirce justly observes, was the greatest fault in the book, or in any of the attempts which the puritans made. With unanswerable evidence they exposed the corruptions of the established ecclesiastical government, and particularly the persecution and tyranny by which it was upheld. But I fear, says he, could they have obtained their desire of the parliament, the platform which they proposed, must have been established by some persecuting laws; which I cannot find that Christ ever appointed his ministers to use for the advancement of his kingdom. All compulsion, and all enforcing of ecclesiastical discipline, by civil penalties, is quite contrary to the spirit of christianity. Mr. Field and Mr. Wilcocks presented the Admonition themselves to the parliament; for which, July 7, 1572, they were sent to prison; and after examination, they were, by the instigation of the bishops, committed to Newgate.+ Upon this, the book, already printed, was suffered to go abroad, and it passed through no less than four editions in about two years, notwithstanding all the vigilant endeavours of the bishops to suppress it. + The two prisoners were indicted, and sentenced to suffer imprisonment one whole year, which they did accordingly. After having suffered confinement some months in a most loathsome prison, by which their health was greatly impaired, they petitioned their noble friend, the Earl of Leicester, to procure their removal to some other prison, where they should meet with better usage. Their wives and children also presented a petition to the same Peirce's Vindication, part i. p. 84, 85. + MS. Register, p. 118. Strype's Parker, p. 347. L |