same in the pulpit of St. Mary's church; but whether he performed the latter we have not been able to learn. After this, he was most probably released from prison, and was restored to his fellowship in the college, which he appears to have enjoyed in the year 1590.* The year following he was chosen one of the proctors of the university.+ EDMUND LITTLETON was a zealous puritan, who took an active part in promoting the associations. Though it does not appear at what place he exercised his public ministry, he was a man of considerable eminence, and always desirous to obtain a more pure reformation of the church. He united with his brethren in perfecting the "Book of Discipline;" and when it was finished, he joined with them in subscribing it.‡ On account of his zeal and activity to promote the desired ecclesiastical discipline, he was apprehended, with many of his brethren, in the year 1590, and carried before the high commission. He and some others were of opinion, that it was their duty to take an oath in all cases, when required by their superiors. He, therefore, took the oath ex officio, and discovered many things relative to the associations; for which he was most probably released. When he was apprehended, his papers were seized, and carried away, and produced as evidence against him and his brethren. Among these was the following declaration, subscribed by the persons whose names are subjoined. "The brethren assembled together in the name of God, having heard and examined by the word of God, and according to their best abilities and judgment, a draught of discipline essential and necessary for all times, have thought good to testify concerning it as follows:-We acknowledge and confess the same to be agreeable to God's most holy word, so far as we are able to judge or discern of it, excepting some few points, which we have sent to our reverend brethren of this assembly, for their further resolution. "We affirm it to be the same which we desire to be established in this church, by daily prayer to God, which we promise (as God shall offer opportunity, and give us to discern it so expedient) by humble suit unto her majesty, her honourable council and the parliament, and by all → Strype's Annals, vol. iii. p. 592. ↑ Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 423. + Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. 149. § Strype's Whitgift, p. 331–333. other lawful and convenient means, to further and advance, so far as the laws and peace of the present estate of our church will suffer it, and not enforce the contrary. We promise to guide ourselves and to be guided by it, and according to it. "For a more special declaration of some points more important and necessary, we promise uniformly to follow such order, when we preach the word of God, as in the book is by us set down, in the chapters of the office of ministers of the word, of preaching, of sermons, of sacraments, of baptisms, and of the Lord's supper. "Further, also, we follow the order set down in the chapters of the meetings, as far as it concerneth the ministers of the word. For which purpose, we promise to meet together every six weeks in classical conferences, with such of the brethren here assembled, as for their neighbourhood may fit us best, and such others as by their advice, we shall desire to be joined with us. "The like we promise for provincial meetings every half year from our conferences to send unto them, being divided according to the order following. Also, that we will attend the general assembly every year, and at all parliaments, and as often as by order it shall be thought good to be assembled. "JOHN OXENBRIDGE, THOMAS CARTWRIGHT, DANIEL WIGHT, EDWARD LORD, EDMUND LITTLETON.", From the above curious declaration, we have a more clear and correct insight into the proceedings of the puritanical associations, and into the nature and design of their intended ecclesiastical discipline, than from all the raillery and misrepresentation of Dr. Bancroft and other bigotted historians. The private assemblies of the puritans are stigmatized by these writers, as having been dangerous, seditious, and amounting almost to treason; but the above paper will sufficiently refute and expose the shameful slander. Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xv. p. 71. EDWARD LORD was some years vicar of Woolston in Warwickshire, but greatly persecuted for nonconformity. During Mr. Cartwright's exile at Guernsey and Antwerp, he took care of his hospital at Warwick; for which that reverend divine allowed him part of the profits, and gave the rest to the poor. He subscribed the "Book of Discipline," and united with his brethren in their private assemblies; for which, in the year 1590, he was appre hended, and convened before the high commission and star-chamber, and cast into prison, where he remained a long time.+ He underwent many examinations before his spiritual inquisitors, but refused to take the oath ex officio. On one of these occasions, he is said to have inquired "what would become of archbishops, bishops, &c. when the reformation should thrust them from their rich livings, that the country might not be pestered with beggars?" He gave some account of various private meetings and conferences among the brethren; and said, "that the painful preaching ministers now, are worse suppressed, than by the papists in the time of Queen Mary, who professed open enmity against them, and had law against them, which is otherwise now with us." Mr. Lord was an eminently holy man, an able preacher, and an excellent divine. Upon his deprivation at the above period, he was succeeded in the pastoral office at Woolston by Mr. Hugh Clark, another excellent puritan.§ ANDREW KING was a divine of considerable eminence, but, in 1573, was apprehended and cast into prison for nonconformity. Being brought before the lords of the council and the high commission, and examined concerning some of Mr. Cartwright's opinions, and not answering to the satisfaction of his spiritual inquisitors, he was sent back to prison, and threatened with banishment if he would not conform. What other sufferings he underwent at this time, we have not been able to learn. However, in the year 1590, he was again apprehended, together with Mr. Cartwright and many others, and cast into prison, where he remained a long time. During his imprisonment, he and his brethren were often carried before the high commission and the star-chamber, where they met with * Clark's Lives annexed to Martyr. p. 20. Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xv, p. 74. Strype's Parker, p. 412, 413. + See Art. Cartwright, § Clark's Lives, p. 20, 129, most tyrannical and cruel usage." On one of these occasions, the following interrogatories were proposed to him:-"Whether have you refused to use, or have you used in your sermons, the queen's majesty's whole title by law established under her, namely, defender of the faith, in all causes, and over all persons, as well ecclesiastical as civil, in these her realms and dominions, and supreme governor next and immediately under God? For what cause have you so refused, or not used the said style? and were you admonished to use it?-Whether did you know or had heard before the 19th day of November, 1588, the said day was by and under her majesty's authority appointed to be solemnized and celebrated with thanksgiving unto God, for our happy deliverance from the intended invasion of the Spaniards? And did you that day, nevertheless, absent yourself from the parish church, and neither said divine service, preached, nor procured any other, then and there to do it? What was the cause, and what was your very true and only purpose and intent in so doing?"+ Though Mr. King refused the oath ex officio, these inquiries were evidently designed to force him to accuse himself, and then to condemn him upon his own confession: but it does not appear what answers he gave, or whether he absolutely refused. MALANCTHON JEWEL was a zealous minister of Christ, but met with much cruel usage for his nonconformity. He was tried at the public assize at Exeter, and condemned upon the statute for confirming the Book of Common Prayer, to suffer five months' imprisonment. He met with this unjust and inhuman treatment, though he had previously applied to the bishop, for the removal of his doubts and scruples, but could not obtain the favour. the year 1590, he was again apprehended, and cast into prison; he was frequently taken before the high commis sion and the star-chamber, and remained under confinement about two years.§ In Though he refused the oath ex officio, the following inquiries were proposed to him, and he was required to give his answer: Whether have you devised, penned, received, or delivered any English books or pamphlets, being contrary to the laws or statutes of this realm, since her majesty's proclamation in that behalf? And have you * See Art. Cartwright. MS. Register, p. 585. + Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xv. p. 78. § See Art. Cartwright. affirmed of them, or some of such books, at Houlsworthy in the county of Devon, or elsewhere, (in commendation of them) that they contained no untruths; nor used words to the like effect? How many of every sort of such books have you had, of whom, and how have you bestowed them? -Whether in your speeches, sermons, or some of them, have you thought or affirmed, that it is of necessity, and in all places, to have churches governed by elderships of pastors, doctors, elders, or such like? Or, that the offices of archbishops and bishops, as they are practised in this realm, are the offices of antichrist; and that the archbishop and lord bishops, as you term them in contempt, were beasts, members of antichrist, and chimney sweepers; and that they persecute godly ministers; and by persecuting them, did purify them, and pollute themselves?-Whether have you taught openly, that no jailer ought to receive any man (though he be committed by any authority) into their prisons, except they first know the cause, that such were certainly offenders? And that her majesty's judges of assize, who affirmed that you have submitted yourself and promised conformity, did belie you, with other terms of reproach? And affirmed in pulpits, that justices were now become tyrants? or have you used any words to the like effect of these, or any of them? when, and where?Whether did you baptize the child of one Asher, a pretended minister, who then made a public profession of his faith; and amongst other things, said he believed Christ had appointed his churches to be governed by pastors, doctors, elders, and deacons,' and in that faith desired baptism for his daughter, whom he named, The Lord is Near; and did you thereupon, and in that faith and profession baptize the child?"-How tyrannical and ridiculous were these proceedings! What answers Mr. Jewel gave, or whether he absolutely refused to answer, we cannot learn. EDWARD SNAPE was educated most probably in the university of Cambridge; afterwards he became minister at St. Peter's church, Northampton. He was a decided nonconformist, a laborious preacher, and a zealous advocate for a more pure reformation of the church. It is observed, Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xv. p. 77. |