curiously pryeth into the Popish relligion he was inforced to acknowledge that very many errours were crept into the Church which hinder and obsâ—ure the matter of our salvation insomuch that they are no small offence to as many as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and the knowledge of the truth He discovered many corruptioâ—s and changes of sound doctrine he found not so much as word touching seven Sacraments before Peter Lumbard and that the vse of the Supper was delivered vnder one kinde onely contrary to expresse Scriptures that Transubstantiation was a devise of the Schoolemen that the doctrine of the worke wrought called Opuâ— operatum was newly risen that the Masse was turned from a Sacrament to a Sacrifice that in the Church wherein all things were ordeined for the edification of the people all things were now done to the non-edification of them that the adoration of Images was instituted against the expresse commandement of God Demurring for a while as distracted with these thoughts behold the rule of faith lately changed in the Councel of Trâ—nâ— vtterly astonished him For he had observed out of the auncient Writers as well as out of the later ones Luâ— baâ—d Scotus Aqâ—inas and the rest that the rule of faith was to be drawne onely from the holy Scriptures but in the Councel of Trent he beheld humane traditions made equall wiâ—h the Scriptures And seeing he vnderstood these traditions to be nothing else but peevish and crosse expositions of the holy Scriptures devised by the Bishops of Rome and thrust in among the Decretall Epistles as also that the said Decretall Epistles were meerely feigned and suppositions as is confirmed by the testimonies of many learned men and indeed by the confession of the very Papists themselues is acknowledged to be out of all doubt this so great a confusion of things being risen in the Church in these latter ages enforced Gilpin now earnestly desiring nothing so much as true piety to begin to doubt whether the Pope might not be that Antichrist foretould in the Scriptures and the Popish Church plainly Antichristian For what is it to exalt and set vp himselfe against all that is called God insomuch that he sitteth as God in the Temple of God behaving himselfe as God if not this that the Pope is head of the vniversall Church the Lord the Monarch and as it were the God thereof And that the word of the Pope is defended as the very word of God For how shall not he whose word is as the word of God be as God opposing himselfe to God and shewing himselfe that he is God But this word is called the vnwritten word or verbum non scriptâ—m is drawne out of the stinking puddles of the Decretals that is to say patched vp together out of false and fictitious writings And this word which is in no respect worthy to be compared with the word of an honest man is the vnwritten word of God and to be enterteined with the same pious affection as are the holy Scriptures Can Antichrist when he shall come if yet there be another to come more grievously wrong and blaspheme Christ and the holy Scriptures then the Pope doeth And here at the last he demurred as in an exceeding great doubt For who would haue thought the Pope to be Antichrist who durst to speake such a word before Martin Luther Therefore thus he argued with himselfe If the Pope be Antichrist I fee not onely probable but even necessary causes to depart from the Popish Church But if the Pope be not Antichrist I see no sufficient ground for such a departure It is not lawfull to make a seperation from the Church but we are not onely enioyned to come out of the Church of Antichrist but we see the fearefull anger of the living God and heare his dreadfull threates thundered out against those who shall remaine in Babiloâ— that Sinagogue of Antichrist Forasmuch as a voice from heaven speaketh vnto vs. Apoc. 18 Come out of her my people it is denounced that they shal receiue of her plagues whosoever haue beene partakers of her sinnes Here therfore he stoppeda while because except the Pope were manifestly detected to be Antichrist he did not vnderstand how he might seperate from the Church and therefore he applied himselfe by searching reading prayer and meditation to be resolved of this truth He observed out of the Auncient Fathers Tertullian Iâ—rom Ambrose Augustine Chrysostome Cyrill and others that passage wherein Antichrist is described 2 Thess. 2 7. He which now withhouldeth shall let till he be taken out of the way to be so interpreted as vnderstood of the Romane Empire that the Romane Empire which now held preheminence should keepe possession vntill Antichrist shall come who shall possesse the seat of the Romane Empire And moreover whereas it is said in the same place that Christ shall not come againe except there be a departâ—râ— first he observed this thing to be fulfilled likewise He perceived first a very maine departure of the Church of Rome from her primitiue simplicity and truth And secondly a second departure or seperation no lesse manifest to wit of that of the Reformed Churches from the Church of Rome Mr. Gilpin would often say that the Churches of the Protestants were not able to giue any firme and solid reason of their seperation besides this to wit that the Pope is Antichrist For he vnderstood that a departure was commanded from the Church of Antichrist by that heavenly iniunction Goe out of her my people and be not partakers of her sinnes lest ye reciue also of her plagues Revel 18. 4. In which place S. lohn wisely foretelleth that the people of God should be called out of the Synagogue of Antichrist that here was no third thing to be thought vpon that either the Church of Christ was not to be forsaken or the Pope to be accounted Antichrist out of whose Church the Church of God is called forth by an heavenly voice command And now event which is the most vndoubted interpreter of Prophecies hath prooved all these things vnto vs We haue seene already many Ages agoe that Kingdome taken away which ruled over all in the time of the Apostles and in the roome thereof an Ecclesiasticall Kingdome erected such an one as was never seene in the Church in former Ages We haue beheld the fearfull departure of the Church of Rome from the auncient purity and integrity of the Church We haue observed and doe daily the people called as it were by a voice from heaven comming out of Babylon that is to say out of the Church of Antichrist Our eyes haue seene these things fulfilled which we haue read of as being foretould so many Ages agoe These things mooved the mind of Mr. Gilpin wonderfully to follow that Church which was shewed vnto him out of the word of God The Church of Rome kept the rule of faith intire vntill that rule was changed and altered by the
of them in which of these points reformation should begin in expectation of which thing I returned from Paris the more willingly answer was made vnto me that no way mâ—st be given to the ignorant multitude If say they we once confesse any errours at all they will straightway cry out that many other things also are worthy to be reformed besides those which we shall yeeld vnto them and so they will be still growing vpon vs that we shall never haue done reforming These things wounded me grievously and draue me to seeke out for peace of conscience After these things having preached two or three Sermons at Newcastle I began to explaine my conscience more at large where there were gathered twelue or thirteene Articles against me and sent to the Bishop And now had mine adversaries of the Clergy whom I had grievously provoked obtained what they had long looked for Nor would they giue over vntill the Bishop had called me before their faces to examine me in the point of the Sacrament The Bishop shewed me as much favour I suppose as he durst In Transubstantiation he would not trouble me onely he inquired concerning the reall presence which I granted and so was freed out of that danger And as touching the reall presence I found not my selfe fully resolved I supposed that therein lay hid a mystery aboue my capacity Neverthelesse my conscience did sometimes chide me for that I had before them yeelded in expresse words to a point which seemed vnto me doubtfull But I hoped that God would pardon mine igâ—orance and in time bring me to a greater light of knowledge The winter following Qâ—eene Mary departed this life and then I had begun to explaine my minde more fully For before that time for I must needes confesse the truth weaknesse ignorance and the terrours of mine adversaries had somewhat restrained me About Easter I was accused to the Bishop vpon many Articles both out of the Diocesse of Yorke and of Durham all which things neverthelesse hurt me no further then thus that the Bishop incited thereto by the complaints of mine adversaries struck my name out of his last Will and Testament forasmuch as the Plebeians and ordinary sort of people were extremely offended with me Now I in that I lost the Bishops Exequutorship found my selfe eased of a great burthen and was glad thereof But as for the favour of the multitude I hoped in time through the goodnesse of God to recover it againe that my preaching might profit the more to edification for otherwise I never desired the loue of the vulgar In harvest came the visitors and Doctor Sandes sent for me to Aukland and appointed me both time and place to preach against the primacy of Durham But he himselfe preaching the day before whiles he seemed vtterly to deny a reall presence had so wounded my tender conscience that the night following I could not sleep at all and I was much troubled in my minde whether I should preach the next day or not At the last I went almost out of my bed into the pulpit where I know not how it happened whether it was through my disquiet of conscience or want of sleep or in that I had offended God to goe vp against my conscience but me thought I did never feele such a want of vtterance and yet in my iudgement I had provided matter enough and waighty reasons The next day all the Ministers in the Diocesse were met to subscribe Now so it was that in a point or two of the Articles my conscience did not appeare to me so well resolved as I could haue wished Therefore I stept a little out of the way hoping that I might escape from being called But when my Curate came to the booke who I supposed would never haue stood at it by reason of some discourse I had formerly with him he withdrew himselfe as vnwilling to subscribe and thereupon I was called for and the booke held out vnto me when straightwayes I had these thoughts in my selfe My greatest confidence is reposed in this religion because it giveth glory to God and authority to the word of God for the rooting out of superstition and humane doctrines Onely mine heart doubted in certaine points of smaller consequence which God as â— hope shall in time reveale vnto me If I shall refuse I shall be a meanes to make many others to refuse and so consequently hinder the course of the word of God Therefore I subscribed and the night follovving I sent vnto Doctor Sandes my protestation touching those tvvo points vvhich had troubled me He being nothing offended tooke my protestation very courteously so my Curate subscribed also and the day follovving fell sicke And vvhiles I vvas gone along vvith the visitors to Kendall and Lancaster he dyed before my returne having not beene sicke a whole weeke Some supposed that subscription killed his heart others said his infirmity proceeded from excessiue drinking God onely knoweth what was the cause of his death In processe of time me thought I grew more and more strengthened and resolved but I will confesse the truth I had many and grievous temptations which would not let me sleepe for many nights and draue me betwixt sleeping and waking into such dreames as I think few men ever had the like My nature did ever desire to avoid controversies My chiefest comâ—ort and indeavour was to preach Christ and salvation through Christ plainly and sincerely and to comfort my selfe in the most sweet promises of holy Scripture and in pouring out my prayers to God The insatiable covetousnesse that could be restrained by no bounds of temperance and moderation together with the pride and carnall liberty and other vices of the same ranke which raigned among all sorts and degrees of people but most of all in vs the Priests and Ministers who ought to be as we are termed the Salt of the earth haue oftentimes broke my sleepes But recovering I quieted my selfe in God saying surely how much more the iniquity of men doth abound of 〈◊〉 the more glorious shall God appeare in purging sanctifying and preserving his elect people in the midst of a froward generation I was ever sollicitous and wary either in subscriptions or oathes not to be catched in a trap It appeared enough to me and suâ—ficient for the Doctours of the Church that all men were satisfied in the Scriptures and the Articles of the faith In other things as they are agreeable to Scripture because the holy Scripture ought to holde soveraigne place and preheminency aboue all the writings of all men I remember when I went to be admitted into Orders by the Bishop of Oxford that the Bishops Chaplaine did administer an oath vnto vs that we should allow the Ordinations already made or hereafter to be made Touching which oath when he considered somewhat seriously what it was to oblige our selues to ordinations to come concerning which we could resolue vpon nothing these things not only much
distracted me but troubled nine or ten more who were sworne with me men farre better schollers then my selfe For my part â— resolved to be sworne to no writings but with this exception so farre onely as they are agreeable to the word of God Now how much it distressed my minde that an oath should be exacted in doubtfull caâ—es I haue explainâ—d in another discourse for the quiet of my conscience And this I may boldly say that since â— tooke the â—â—urse to explaine mine infirmities by writing not fearing who tooke notice of them so that it might benefit my selfe or others I haue found exceeding peace and quiet of consciâ—nce and â— am day by day more edified and consumed by the reading of Scripture And in this case â— praise God that when I found my selfe most distressed and weake my faith in the mercies of God was so firme as â— assure my selfe that if at that very instant I should die yet I haue had aâ—d doe retaine that confidence that these distractions could nothing hindâ—r my salvation I am resolved with St. Pâ—â—l I 〈◊〉 obtained mercy for I did it igâ—orantly and vvith Iob Although the Lord kill me yet will I trust in him Yet I haue full many a time asked God mercy for these offences infirmities ignorances and all other things and will ever doe so whiles I shall liue in this world God be mercifull vnto vs all Thus farre Mr. Gilpin THou seest Reader Mr. Gilpins vpright dealing He speaketh nothing of his owne vertues but he is wholly taken vp with the acknowledgement and enumeration of his weaknesses Perhaps some Criticks will laugh at the simplicity of the man but I herein admire his Apostolick spirit who after the example of blessed Paul dare not boast of himselfe but boasteth in his infirmities that Christ may dwell in him Neverthelesse howsoever he is wholly taken vp with declaration of his owne infirmities and hath of set purpose spoke nothing of his owne vertues yet this is apparant that he was twice accused by his back-friends to Bishop Tonstall in the dayes of Queene Mary But Bishop Tonstall who abhorred to shed blood was a sweet defence to Mr. Gilpin against the divers informations of his enemies At the last he was accused to Bâ—nner Bishop of London who gaue order to a Messenger for his apprehension Mr. Gilpin perceived the imminent danger for he had notice that a Messenger was dispatched to attach his body and perceiving the reliefe which he had found in Tonstalls clemency would now faile him he prepared his holy soule for Martyrdome commanding William Airy the Steward of his house to provide him a long garment that he might goe the more comely to the stake But the sodaine death of Queene Mary freed the man from this danger After the publication of the Councell of Trent when by chance there happened some discourse betwixt Mr. Gilpin and Thomas Levery and Levery had asked the question what Mr. Gilpin thought touching that Councell The Fathers of the Councell of Trent saith he haue done the Church a very shrewd turne for that which was indifferent before times they leaue not so now I remember that Bishop Tonstall often tolde me that Pope Innâ—cent the third had done very vnadvisedly in that he had made the opinion of Transubstantiation an Article of faith seeing in former times it was free to holde or refuse that opinion Moreover the Bishop tolde me that he did not doubt but that himselfe if he had beene in that Councell could haue prevailed with the Pope to haue let that businesse alone And what he iudged concerning Transubstantiation the same may a man resolue touching all Popery after the publication of the Councel of Trent for that which was indifferent before now they doe not suffer so to be Therefore I suppose that the times of our forefathers though oppressed with much ignorance were happier farre then the ensuing Ages can be vnder the Papists because they haue now altered in the Councel of Trent many institutions of the auncient Church For whereas they haue placed a part of the rule of faith in Traditions that is a thing which was never done in the Church before Many things which were permitted to be taught in the Church formerly touching Iustification and the Sacraments are not now tolerated And vpon these occasions the Fathers of the Councel of Trent haue laid vpon other Churches a necessity of making a seperation from the Church of Rome wherein me thinks that they haue not dealt advisedly For the Church is thereby distracted into differences and factions and whatsoever was formerly indifferent in doubtfull points the Fathers of Trenâ— haue made it all necessary and tooke vpon them a very hard taske There were some Papists who perceiving Mr. Gilpin quite alienated from the Popish religion which he had first beene of in the dayes of his ignorance in his youth tooke many courses to haue recalled him if they could possibly Amongst them was one Thomas Gelthrop a man well descended and a kinsman of Mr. Gilpins This man wrote a letter to Mr. Gilpin wherein he dealt earnestly with him not to forsake the religion of his forefathers In that letter Gelthrop amongst other things inserted these words You haue a great and a good report both at London and in all other places And I am of this opinion that either you will doe the Church a great deale of good if you adhere vnto it or else which God forbid you will stirre vp more mischiefe in the Church then ever Arrius did That sinne aboundeth it is not the fault of the Masse or of the Mattins but the pernicious doctrine and filthy life of the Clergy and of others They haue already reformed the Communion and haue published a booke of the reformed Leiturgy But this reformation hath not removed the evill because we see the people growne farre worse then before These things I found out amongst M. Gilpins papers but I could not possibly get any more out of them the most of them were so exceeding worne and defaced Vnto this letter Mr. Gilpin made answer which I found entire The Letter had this superscription To his Coozen THOMAS GELTHROP And thus it was GRace and peace Your large Letter was brought vnto me when I had small leisure to answer it as he can tell you who bringeth back this vnto you Howbeit I thought it not fit to let him come back without an answer albeit the conclusion of your letter gaue me small incouragement to write For who would take the paines to write vnto you seeing you are fully resolved and determined as you affirme never to be perswaded from your opinions by any argument a man can bring It could not chuse but be a most grieuous thing to the Prophet Ieremy vvhen he cryed out to the people Hear the word of the Lord that they should ansvver vvith a stiffe necke we will not heare But let vs leaue these things to the divine operation vvhich is
many back friends especially among the Clergy whose faults he had touched to the quick There was at that time among the Clergy of the Bishoprick of Durham one Tonstall Parson of a Church in that Diocesse This man was very hot against Gilpin accused him often to the Bishop as an heretick and one that deserved to be burnt as other hereticks were But the Bishop could not indure to shed blood and therefore dealt mildly with him and preserved him from the proiects of his enemies I haue heard Anthony Carleton relate and he at that time lived in the Bishops house that the Bishops Chaplains at a certaine time had some discourse with Gilpin about Luther and that one of them had asked him what hee thought of Luther and his writings Gilpin confessed that had not read the writings of Luther I propounded vnto my selfe said he this course first of all to search the Scriptures diligently and to be acquainted with the expositions of the Fathers vpon them As for the writings of the Neoterickes I haue onely looked vpon them howbeit I refuse them not when and where they agree with the Auncients One of them commended Mr. Gilpins resolution and said it would be well with the Church if all men would duely respect the writings of the Fathers for then the vpstart opinions of late writers would not so much disturbe the Church such as are of these of Luther But Gilpin answered if Neoterickes and late writers produce the opinions of the auncient Fathers the novelty of the men is not to be disdained but the antiquity of the doctrine is to be reverenced They hereupon subtilly draw on Gilpin into a disputation concerning the Sacrament of the Altar propounding therein two questions the one concerning the Reall presence the other concerning Transubstantiation Touching the Reall presence Gilpin confessed that he had no very strong Argument wherewith in his iudgement he might oppose the Reall presence For I suppose saith he that therein lieth hid a great mystery such a one as is aboue my capacity rather to be adored then disputed vpon They asked then what he thought of Transubstantiation He answered that there was no necessity why we should beleeue those things which haue no solid foundation in the word of God Doe you not then beleeue said they as the Church beleeues Gilpin replyeth that the Church had not alwayes held that as an Article of faith I am saith he of the Catholick faith and the Catholick faith changeth not But in this point I see alterations such as the Catholicke faith is not capable of They demanded what alterations in faith he had observed touching the Sacrament of the Altar He replyeth I doe not finde that in the Church in former ages there was any thing spoken or writen about Transubstantiation Peter Lumbard was either the first or at least one of the first that brought in the alteration of the auncient faith And what doe you your selues thinke Is the bread in Transubstantiation converted into the flesh and blood of Christ They answer that they beleeue so absolutely But saith Gilpin Peter Lumbard who was the first man that made an alteration of the faith of our forefathers in this point himselfe did not beleeue as you doe For in his fourth booke the eleuenth distinction F. thus he hath it there is no Transubstantiation but of bread into flesh and wine into blood And if that be true then doubtlesse it followes consequently that in the Transubstantiation of the bread there is no blood And now saith he how will you reconcile these thinges They stood at a stand as hauing nothing to answer because the words of Lumbard plainely deny that in the Transubstantiated bread can be any blood or in the wine his flesh Whom when Gilpin had obserued to stagger in this point take notice now saith he of the immutabillity of the Catholicke faith we see the alteration of Transubstantiation For when Lumbard had broached this doctrine that there was a kinde of change he would haue it non otherwise vnderstood then thus that the bread onely should be changed into flesh and the wine onely into blood Nor did men at that time dreame of any other conversion in the Sacrament of the Altar vntill the fiction of concomitancy was broached by Thomas Aquinas He was a man that vnderstood well the difficulty of this point and therefore he vnderpropped it with Concomiâ—ancy that forsooth by reason of Coâ—comitancy there is both flesh and blood in the Transubstantiated bread But these are the inventions of later men whereas the Catholicke relligion abhorreth invented alterations in matters of faith While they were houlding this disputation without speakeing aloud because they were close at the Bishops backe who at that time sate before the fire for it was in the winter season the Bishop leaned his chaire somewhat backwards and harkened what they said And when they had done speaking the Bishop turning to his Chaplaines vseth these words Fathers soule let him alone for he hath more learning then you all Whilest he liued at Essingdon he preached the word of God constantly to the people Now so it was that the Archdeaconry of Durham was annexed to the rectory of Essingdon Therevpon Mr. Gilpin for a time supplyed both places And when by chance he had notice that the Bishop was so carefull of him that he had a purpose to encrease his maintenance he made answer that he was provided for sufficiently and even somewhat more then sufficient already and desired the Bishop that he might haue his good leaue to resigne either the Rectory or the Archdeacons place for saith he the one of them will be sufficient me thinkes both together are to heauie a burthen for me Hereat ihe Bishop seemed to be mooued with him and said haue nor I tould thee before hand that thou wilt die a begger I found them both combined and combined I will leaue them Not long after he bestowed vpon Mr. Gilpin the Rectory of Houghton being a very large Parish contayning 14. Villages with very large possessions Mr. Gilpin being setled at Houghton persevered most constantly in the duties of the Ministry and repaired the decayed houses His Parsonage house seemed like a Bishops Pallace nor shall a man lightly finde one Bishops house amongst many worthy to be compared to this house of his if he consider the variety of buildings and neatnesse of the sâ—ituation Whiles Mr. Gilpin liued at Houghton he was touched with a care not of that parish onely but of many more for he sawe and was much greiued to see many congregations through the distast of impropriation as they call it to be even dispersed and destitute of Pastors For the parsonages being in the possession of Laymen there remained not maintenance for a Minister for the Lay-men sought out for poore base preistes who were onely able to read prayers to the people morning and evening nor did the one vse to require or they take care to performe
overruleth vs all so that the truth may be propagated and God glorified Gods will be done concerning me After the Sermon they met all together at dinner all men were afraid that the Bishop would haue done Mr. Gilpin some shrewd turn for his Sermon and silently expected what would become of the matter After dinner Mr. Gilpin commeth to the Bishop to see him and to take leaue of him and so to returne homewards It shall not be so said the Bishop for I will bring you to your house And so Mr. Gilpin returned home in the company of the Bishop And when they were now come to Mr. Gilpinâ—â— house and walked within into the parlour the Bishop vpon a sodaine caught Mr. Gilpin by the hand and vsed these words vnto him Father Gilpin I acknowledge you are fitter to be Bishop of Durhams then my selfe to be Parson of this Church of yours I aske forgiuenesse for errours passed forgiue me father I know you haue hatched vp some chickens that now seeke to pick out your eyes but so long as I shall liue Bishop of Durham be secure no man shall injure you Mr. Gilpins friends that is all good men began to rejoyce and to giue God thanks acknowledging the powerfull hand of God in that the Bishop being so offended with him was so prevented by the power of God as that the thing which he had purposed for his disgrace should turne to his greater credit In the meane while Mr. Gilpin reaped the fruit of a pious life in all plentifull manner After that age began to grow vpon him there was in the towne of Newcastle one Genison who had received to home a sonne of his owne brothers lately returned from the parts beyond the seas This Genison was much aggrieved for that his brothers sonne was as hee vnderstood made a Iesuite whereupon hee sent the young man to Mr. Gilpin intreating him to haue a care of him and to disswade him if he could possibly from his wicked and dangerous opinions After that Mr. Gilpin had often conferd with him he found the young fellow most insolently proud and armed with boldnesse and impudence corrupting the holy Scriptures with certaine new and vnheard of expositions Whereupon Mr. Gilpin wrote to his vncle Mr. Genison that he was a most audacious young fellow and câ—me not to him to be instructed but to teach him rather The young fell our saith he thinking I know not how a great deale too well of himselfe had an hope to draw me at these 〈◊〉 no acknowledge certaine abrurdities I see that the Iesuites have found out 〈…〉 away all respect and set vpon men with impudency They dare proue the Invocation of Saints from Abraham Isaae and Iacob This fellow doth obstinately affirme that the Church of Rome hath not erred in any one thing Their most horrible errours touching Indulgences falsified Miracles falsified Reliques Pilgrimages worshipping of Images and the rest of the same sort all these this wonderfull man findeth out in the Gospell And hee standeth vpon it stiffely that all these things are good and holy I desire not to haue any more to doe with such a monstrous kinde of men with such fierce natures who open their mouths against heaven for what is it to open their mouthes against heaven if this be not so violenty and disgracefully to handle the holy Scriptures They haue devised and daily doe devise horrible strange expositions such as were never heard of before in the Church of Româ— I therefore desire to rid mine hands of this fellow as of a scabbed sheepe for feare he might infect my whole flocke After that his leane body was quite worne out with diversity of paines-taking at the last even feeling before hand the approach of death he commanded the poore to be called together vnto whom hee made a speech and tooke his leaue of them Afterwards he did the like to others He fell sick about the end of Febrâ—ary and after many exhortations vsed to the schollers to his servants and to divers others at the last he fell asleep in the Lord in great peace the fourth day of March in the yeare of our Lord 1583. and in the 66. yeare of his age He was tall of stature and slender being hawke-nosed His clothes were ever such as cost not very deare He could never away with gay apparell In things belonging to his owne body he was very frugall and retained the austerity of the auncient In things which might tend to the good of others he was exceeding bountifull especially towards poore people and schoolers He desiâ—ed still to keep his dores open for the intertainment of any poore 〈◊〉 In his owne house he 〈◊〉 and â—ent at the most foure and twenty schollerâ— sometimes fewer but seldome The greater 〈…〉 boorders were poore mâ—ns sonnes vpon whom he bestowed meat drink and cloth and education in learning He was wont to enterteine his Parishioners and 〈◊〉 at his table not only at the Christmas time as the custome is but because he had a large and wide Parish and a great multitude of people he kept a table for them every Sunday from Michaelmas to Easter He haâ— the Gentlemen the husband men and the poorer sort set â—â—very degree by themselues and as it were ordered in ranks He was wont to commend the marryed estate in the Clergy howbeit himselfe liâ—ed and dyed a single man He bestowed in the building ordering and eâ—â—â—blishing of his schoole and in providing yearly stipende for a Schoole-master and vsheâ— the 〈…〉 hundred pounds out of which schoole he supplied the Church of England with great store of learned men He was carefull to avoid not onely all evill doing but even the lightest suspicioâ—s thereof And he was accountedâ— Saint in the iudgements of his very enemies if he had any such Being full of faith vnfeigned and of good workes he was at the last put 〈◊〉 his grauâ— as a heap of wheat in due time swept into the 〈◊〉 FINIS