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rigid and zealous puritans. And while be expressed his dislike of separation, he was exceedingly grieved about those things which gave the occasion.* Speaking of Blumfield, a wicked persecutor of the pious Mr. Harelson, for not wearing the surplice, he said, "It is a pity that such baits "of popery are left to the enemies, to take christians in. "God take them away from us, or us from them. For God "knoweth they are the cause of much blindness and strife 66 among men."+

At the above period, Mr. Fox presented a Latin panegyric to the queen, for having granted indulgence to several nonconformist divines. But in the year 1575, he addressed her majesty on a very different occasion. During this year a most severe persecution was raised against the anabaptists in London, ten of whom were condemned, eight ordered to be banished, and two to be executed. Mr. Fox, therefore, wrote an excellent Latin letter to the queen, in which he observes, "That to punish with the flames, the bodies of those who err rather from ignorance, than obstinacy, is cruel, and more like the church of Rome, than the mildness of the gospel. I do not write thus," says he, "from any bias to the indulgence of error; but to save the lives of men, being myself a man; and in hope that the offending parties may have an opportunity to repent, and retract their mistakes." He then earnestly entreats that the fires of Smithfield might not be rekindled; but that some milder punishment might be inflicted upon them, to prevent, if possible, the destruction of their souls, as well as their bodies. But his remonstrances were ineffectual. The queen remained inflexible; and though she constantly called him Father Fox, she gave him a flat denial, as to saving their lives, unless they would recant their dangerous errors. They both refusing to recant, were burnt in Smithfield, July 22, 1575; to the great and lasting disgrace of the reign and character of Queen Elizabeth.§

*Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 106.-Strype's Parker, p. 223, 224. + Baxter's Second Plea, p. 56.

Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 104, 105.

On Easter Sunday in this year, a congregation of Dutch anabaptists was discovered, without Aldgate, London; when twenty-seven persons were apprehended and cast into prison, four of whom, bearing fagots at Paul's cross, recanted their dangerous opinions. The two who were executed were John Wielmaker and Hendrick Ter Woort; or, as some of our historians call them, John Paterson and Henry Terwoordt. Previous to their execution, they suffered sixteen weeks imprisonment. The Dutch congregation in London made earnest intercession to the lords of the council, to obtain their pardon; but all to no purpose. The two unhappy

Mr. Fox was a man of great humanity and uncommon liberality. He was a most laborious student, and remarkably abstemious; and a most learned, pious, and judicious divine, and ever opposed to all methods of severity in matters of religion. But as he was a nonconformist, he was shamefully neglected. "Although the richest mitre in. England," says Fuller, "would have counted itself preferred by being placed upon his head, he contented himself with a prebend of Salisbury. And while proud persons stretched out their plumes in ostentation, he used their vanity for his shelter; and was more pleased to have worth, than to have others take notice of it. And how learnedly he wrote, how constantly he preached, how piously he lived, and how cheerfully he died, may be seen at large in his life prefixed to his book." And even Wood denominates him a person of good natural endowments, a sagacious searcher into antiquity, incomparably charitable, and of an exemplary life and conversation, but a severe Calvinist, and a bitter enemy to popery.+

This celebrated man, having spent his life in the most laborious study, and in promoting the cause of Christ and the interests of true religion, resigned his spirit to God, April 18, 1587, in the seventieth year of his age. His death was greatly lamented; and his mortal part was interred in the chancel of St. Giles's church, Cripplegate, London; where, against the south wall, was a monumental inscription erected by his son,‡ of which the following is a translation:

In memory of JOHN FOX,

the most faithful Martyrologist of our English Church,
a most diligent searcher into historical antiquities,
a most strong bulwark

and fighter for Evangelical Truth;
who hath revived the Marian Martyrs
as so many Phoenixes,
from the dust of oblivion,
is this monument erected,
in grief and affection,

by his eldest son SAMUEL Fox.
He died April 18, An. Dom. 1587,

in his seventieth year.

men must perfume Smithfield with their ashes. It is, however, extremely surprising that Fuller attempts to palliate, and even to justify, the cruel barbarity exercised upon these unhappy men.-Strype's Annals, vol. ii. p. 380.-Brandt's Hist. of Refor. vol. i. p. 315. Edit. 1720.—Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 105.

* Fuller's Abel Redivius, p. 381. + Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. P. 186. Stow's Survey of London, b. iii. p. 83.

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Mr. Fox, during his residence at Basil, preaching to his fellow exiles, confidently declared in his sermon, "Now is the time for your return to England, and I bring you the news by the command of God." For these words he was sharply reproved by some of his brethren; but, remarkable as it may appear, they afterwards found that Queen Mary died the very day preceding the delivery of this sermon, and so a way was open for their return home.*

It was Mr. Fox who had the memorable interview with Mrs. Honiwood, often related by historians. This pious lady was under most distressing doubts and fears about the salvation of her soul, and her sorrow became so grievous, that she sunk in despair. This so affected her bodily health, that she appeared to be in a deep consumption, and even on the very brink of death, for about twenty years. In vain did the ablest physicians administer their medical assistance; and in vain did the ablest ministers preach comfort to her soul. At length, Mr. Fox was sent for; who, on his arrival, found her in a most distressed and languishing condition. He prayed with her, and reminded her of the faithfulness of God's promises, and of the sufferings of Christ for her soul. But all he could say appeared ineffectual. Not in the least discouraged, he still proceeded in his discourse, and said, "You will not only recover of your bodily disease, but also live to an exceeding great age; and which is yet better, you are interested in Christ, and will go to heaven when you die." She, looking earnestly at him as he spake these words, with great emotion, answered, "Impossible; I am as surely damned, as this glass will break," and immediately dashed a Venice glass, which she had in her hand, with great violence to the ground; but the glass received not the smallest injury. The event, indeed, proved according to the words of Mr. Fox. Though Mrs. Honiwood was then sixty years old, she recovered from her sickness, and lived the rest of her days, being upwards of thirty years, in much peace and comfort.+

* Fuller's Abel Red. p. 380.-Clark's Marrow of Eccl. Hist. p. 793. + Mrs. Honiwood, in the days of Queen Mary, used to visit the prisons, and to comfort and relieve the confessors. She was present at the burning of Mr. John Bradford in Smithfield, and was resolved to see the end of his sufferings. But the press of the people was so great, that her shoes were trodden off her feet; and she was obliged to go barefoot from Smithfield to St. Martin's, before she could procure a new pair for money. This excellent lady had three bundred and sixty-seven children lawfully descended from her sixteen from her own body, one hundred and fourteen grandchildren, two hundred and twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and nine VOL. I.

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Mr. Fox was uncommonly liberal to the poor and distressed, and never refused giving to any who asked for Jesus's sake. Being once asked whether he remembered a certain poor man whom he used to relieve, he said, "Yes, I remember him, and I forget lords and ladies to remember such."-As Mr. Fox was going one day from the house of the Bishop of London, he found many people begging at the gate; and having no money, he immediately returned to the bishop and borrowed five pounds, which he distributed among the poor people. After some time, the bishop asking him for the money, Mr. Fox said, "I have laid it out for you, and have paid it where you owed it, to the poor that lay at your gate;" when his lordship thanked him for what he had done.*

As Mr. Fox was going one day along the streets in London, a woman of his acquaintance met him; and as they discoursed together, she pulled out her Bible, and with too much forwardness, told him she was going to hear a sermon; upon which, he said to her, "If you will be advised by me, go home again." But, said she, then when shall I go to church? To which he immediately replied, "When you tell no body of it."+

Mr. Fox, it is said, used to wear a strait cap, covering his head and ears; and over that, a deepish crowned, shallow-brimmed, slouched hat. His portrait is taken with his hat on, and is supposed to have been the first English engraving with a hat.‡

His WORKS.-1. De Christo Triumphante, 1551.-2. De censura seu excommunicatione ecclesiastica, 1551.-3. Tables of Grammar, 1552.-4. Commentarii rerum in Ecclesia gestarum, 1554.-5. Articuli, seu Aphorismi aliquot Johannis Wiclevi &c., 1554.-6. Collectania quædam ex Reginaldi Pecocki Episc. &c., 1554.-7. Opistographia ad Oxonienses, 1554.-8. Locorum communicam Logicalium tituli & ordinationes &c., 1557.-9. Probationes & Resolutiones de re & mataria sacramenti Eucharistici, 1563.-10. De Christi crucifixo, 1571.-11. De Oliva Evangelica, 1587.-12. Concerning Man's Election to Salvation, 1581.-13. Certain Notes of Election, 1581.-14. De Christo gratis justificante, contra Jesuitas, 1583.15. Disputatio contra Jesuitas & eorum argumenta, 1585.—

great-great-grandchildren. She lived a most pious life, and died a most christian death, May 11, 1620, in the ninety-third year of her age. Her remains were interred in Markshall church in Essex, where there was a monumental inscription erected to her memory.-Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 85.

*Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 382.

+ Clarke's Marrow of Eccl. Hist. p. 796.

Peck's Desiderata Curiosa, vol. i, 1. xv. p. 9.

16. Eicasmi, seu Meditationes in Apocal. S. Johannis, 1587.— 17. Papa Confutatus.-18. A brief Exhortation, to be read in the time of God's Visitation.—He published several translations of the works of other learned men: but his most celebrated work is his "History of the Acts and Monuments of the Martyrs,” commonly called "The Book of Martyrs."

JOHN WILSON was born in the parish of Kildwick in Yorkshire, and ordained deacon according to the order of the church of England; when he obtained a license from the Archbishop of York to preach at Skipton, in the same County. He was a pious, faithful, and useful preacher, but endured much severe usage for nonconformity. Archbishop Sandys receiving complaints against him, sent his pursuivant with all haste to apprehend him, and bring him before the high commission. Upon his appearance before their lordships, and inquiring what charges were alleged against him, he was told that he must obtain two sureties to be bound in two hundred pounds for his future appearance. Accordingly, he obtained the securities demanded, and, January 9, 1587, appeared again before the archbishop and other commissioners at Bishopsthorp, when he underwent the following examination :

Archbishop. You are brought before us for certain disorders, contempts, and disobedience, by you committed, to which you must answer as they shall be objected against

you.

Dean. You must answer as truly as if you were sworn. A. He must be sworn, and answer upon his oath. Hold him a book, and let him take the oath.

Wilson. If the law require me to be sworn, I am contented. But I think it doth not compel a man to accuse himself; and I hope I shall not be urged to do more than the law requireth.

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A. If you refuse to be sworn, answer as you will; but be sure, if I prove any thing against you which you deny, you' shall smart for it.

W. Let me have the law, and spare not. But because I mean to deny no truth objected against me, whether I be sworn or not, I am, therefore, contented to answer upon my oath. (He then took the oath.)

A. Read the first article against him.

Fathergill. You have taken upon you to execute the office of a minister for the space of three years, without any warrant so to do.

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