directions and encouragements in the waies of God And particularly the Noble Family of Thomas late Earl of Winchelsey then Vicount Maidstone whose abode at that time was at the Mote a place near Canterbury the exemplary Piety of whose Family and the several Noble Branches thereof was by him in a special manner promoted The like assistance he afforded also to those of the French Congregation in Canterbury whom by reason of his exact knowledge in the French language he was able to edifie very much And at the request of their Eldership he did twice preach to them in that language upon most solemn daies to the great ashonishment and edification of the whole Congregation It is memorable that an ancient French Gentlewoman when she saw him the first time coming into the Pulpit being startled at the smallnesse of his personal appearance and the weaknesse of his look cryed out in the hearing of those that sate by her Hola que nous dira cest enfant ioy Alas what should this Child say to us But having heard him pray and preach with so much spiritual strength and vigour she lift her hands to heaven with admiration and joy blessing God for what she had heard Yet this his faithfull discharge of the Ministry was not without some opposition On the one hand those of the Separation and such as were inclineable thereunto were somewhat troublesome to him but could get no advantage upon him nor did prevail any thing while he remained there upon his hearers On the other side the Cathedralists and their favourers did oppose him fearing it's like lest his godly courses and exact walking might be a blemish to their loose and carnal waies And therefore though the greatnesse of his birth and friends hindered them somewhat from prosecuting of him as probably they would otherwise have done yet once some of the chiefest of them adventured to exhibit Articles against him But his cause and answers proved such as that they were not able to hurt him After three years or thereabouts his Lecture there was put down by the Dean and Arch-Dean upon certain instructions then on foot concerning Afternoon Sermons to the great grief of his godly hearers But not long after upon the petition of great numbers of the Gentry and Citizens to the then Arch-bishop by whose License and authority he had been before established accompanied with the laudable testimony of divers Ministers concerning his Orthodox doctrine and unblamable conversation together with the concurrent testimony of ten Knights and divers others of the Gentry and chief Citizens he was again restored During his continuance here he was twice by the procurement of his Friends at Court likely to be made one of the Prebendaries of Canterbury But he often admired and praised that Providence of God that his Friends endeavours therein succeeded not seeing himself by this means delivered from many temptations and dangers which had been incident if he had been one of that company they being afterward by the succeeding Arch-bishop mainly set on work for the setting up and promoting superstitious innovations After some years he was removed from Canterbury to the Vicaridge of Ashwel in Hartfordshire whereunto he was presented by William Laud the late Arch-bishop of Canterbury which in his defence before the House of Peers in Parliament was by the Arch-bishop insisted upon as one of his good deeds to which he received institution Febr. 7. 1632. where he continued the same zeal diligence and care which he had before discovered in seeking the good of those souls that were committed to his charge Beside his constant preaching there twice every Lords day he did also very frequently preach to them occasionally as any opportunity was offered not willing to let passe any advantage offered of doing them good Wherein notwithstanding the excellency of his learning whereby if he had sought it he might have attained great applause and admiration even from knowing men in the ostentation thereof yet he chose alwaies to condescend to the capacities of his hearers with so much plainnesse as that if possible he might be understood by all even those of the meanest capacities as being most studious both for the matter and manner of his preaching how he might be able most of all to profit those that heard him And on this ground upon any emergent occasions he endeavoured as much as might be to sute his matter thereunto that so the Word of God and the Providence of God might one adde edge unto the other and both joyntly become the more effectuall And for the same reason he did the more approve of Funeral Sermons for that at such times the minds of men especially those more immediately concerned are thereby rendred the more pensive and serious and so the more fit to take impression by the Word On the same ground also was he carefull to observe the advantages of sicknesse or any other considerable afflictions because his Admonitions and Christian Aavice were like to be at such a time the more effectuall when God had as it were softned their heart and opened their ear to hear He was also carefull by Catechizing both in publique and at his own house to instruct in the Principles of Religion not only the Children and youth but even those that were more aged in case he discerned them ignorant and such as stood in need thereof and yet not so as might expose them to scorn and reproach but so as might most conduce to their edfication in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. To which end he had prevailed with those of his Parish at lest the farre greater number of them and those the most considerable persons to concurre with him in it by sending their Children and Servants constantly to be catechized on the Lords day before the Afternoon-Sermon some of whom he catechized publiquely in the Congregation and others more privately in his own house either by himself or his assistant that so that the publique Catechizing might neither be too tedious nor intrench upon the time allotted for other exercises as Praying Reading Expounding Preaching c. nor yet the examination of others for want of time be wholly omitted as also by their own endeavours at home to help on this work and likewise to contribute their assistance in perswading others to the same willingnesse As for those who were more eminent but yet needed instruction he laboured both by his own perswasion and the perswasion of others to work in them a willingnesse to repair to him in private at convenient times that by conferences with them and friendly discourse in a familiar and gentle manner he might bring them to such a sufficiency of knowledge as was necessary for their own salvation And the better to perswade people to a willingnesse thus to receive instruction he used by way of encouragement especially to those of the meaner sort to give Bibles to such as could
Legitimorum in Ecclesia ministrorum nomina qualia sunt Episcoporum Diaconorum separata à suis muneribus in verbo Dei descriptis simpliciter sunt improbanda ad institutionem Apostolicam revocanda ut Episcopus in verbo precibus Diaconus in pauperibus curandis versetur 3. Episcoporum Cancellariis aut Archidiaconorum Officialibus c. regimen Ecclesiae non est committendum sed ad idoneum ministrum Presbyterum ejusdem Ecclesiae deferendum 4. Non oportet ministrum esse vagum liberum sed quisque debet certo cuidam gregi addici 5. Nemo debet ministerium tanquam candidatus petere 6. Episcoporum tantum autoritate potestate ministri non sunt creandi multo minus in Musaeo aut loco quopiam clanculario sed ab Ecclesia electio fieri debet Hisce reformandis quisque pro sua vocatione studere debet vocationem autem intelligo ut magistratus authoritate minister verbo omnes precibus promoveant Per me Thomam Cartwright Master Cartwright being thus driven from the University not long after finding the way for the exercise of his Ministry in England obstructed he went beyond the Seas to visit other reformed Churches where he grew acquainted with the famousest men for Piety and Learning in Christendome with whom he kept correspondence all his life after He was also highly prized by them insomuch as Beza writing about that time into England to a Friend of his hath this expression Est quidam Anglus nobiscum nomine Thomas Cartwright c. Here is now with us your Countreyman Thomas Cartwright then whom I think the Sun doth not see a more learned man c. He was also chosen Preacher to the English Merchants at Antwerp and afterwards at Middleburrough where he did very much good by his Ministry the Lord blessing his labours exceedingly in those parts and when he understood that the Merchants by whom he was maintained through their great losses decayed in their estates he returned his salary to them again Not long after he came over into England being earnestly sollicited thereunto by Letters from Master Dearing Master Fulk Master Wiburne Master Leaver and Master Fox about which time the Non-conformists having drawn up an admonition to the Parliament for the Reformation of the Church Doctor Whitgift who was then preferred to the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury answered the same in Print whereupon the Ministers which wrote the Admonition consulting but not agreeing upon the choice of one to reply to Doctor Whitgift Master Cartwright was at last chosen by lot to undertake it and performed it so well that his very Adversaries were heard to advance and commend him for it Yet was he with divers other of the Non-conformists brought into the High Commission Court where for refusal of the Oath ex Offiicio they were clapt up in prison and afterwards proceeded against in the Star-chamber but it pleased God so to order it by his Providence that those very witnesses which were brought to accuse them did so clear them that they were dismissed and sent home much more honoured and beloved then they were before Whilst Master Cartwright was Prisoner in the Fleet he had thirty pounds sent him from a noble friend of which he took but ten shillings returning the rest with many thanks to the Donor and when the Earl of Leicester offered him the Provostship of Eeaton-Colledge saying that it was a hundred pounds a year more then enough besides the conveniency of the place Master Cartwright answered That the hundred pounds more then enough was enough for him About the year 1580. His fame was so spread through the Reformed Churches that King James then King of Scotland sent for him profering to make him Professor in the University of Saint Andrews whereof twenty years after upon King James his coming into England Master Cartwright makes mention in his Epistle before his Commentary upon Ecclesiastes which he dedicated to King James returning humble thanks for that Royal favour The Arch-Bishop of Dublin also sent for him into Ireland proffering him preferment in that Kingdom He was sent to from divers eminent Divines beyond the Seas wherein they craved his advice for the direction of young men in the method of their studies as also in the behalf of the Churches in general for his counsell in regulating their proceeding in the waightiest affairs Also about the same time the Earl of Leicester preferred him to be Master of his Hospital at Warwick which place was worth to him about one hundred pounds per annum His imployment was to pray with the poor men twice a day to catechise twice a week and to preach once on the Lords day at the Parish Church This place he willingly and thankfully accepted of because he was therein exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Prelates His carriage and deportment was such that there was not a Nobleman or Gentleman of quality in all the Country that looked Heaven-ward or was of any account for Religion and Learning but they sought to enjoy his company and found much pleasure and content therein for his conversation was such that scarce a word came from his mouth that was not of some good use and concernment He was of a very laborious and indefatigable spirit it was his meat and drink to be doing the Will of his heavenly Father so that besides all his paines in Writing and in the Hospital he preached every Sabbath-day in the morning about seven a clock in the lower Parish of Warwick and when he could be suffered in the upper Parish in the afternoon Besides which he preached a Lecture on Satturdayes in the afternoon in the upper Church in which he went over a great part of the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes with singular judgment and profit and this he did of his own free Will without demanding or receiving one penny for his paines And whereas he was sometimes suspended by the Bishops from preaching in the Churches his manner was at those times to preach in the Hospital whither many resorted to hear him though they were sure to be brought into the Bishops Courts for the same Presently after his coming to Warwick the English Seminary at Rhemes published their Version of the New Testament and Annotations upon it in English which coming over into England it was looked upon by all as a Book of dangerous concernment and therefore fit to be answered by the ablest pen that could be found Hereupon as I have heard Queen Elizabeth sent to Beza to request him to undertake the answer but he modestly excused it and returned answer that she had one in her own Kingdom far abler then himself to undertake such a task and upon further enquiry declared that it was Master Thomas Cartwright Then Sir Francis Walsingham a man of eminent place and power who herein as in other affairs was accounted the mouth and hand
of the Queen and State wrote to Master Cartwright earnestly requesting him to undertake the work assuring him also of such aid as should further him in the finishing thereof for which end he sent him one hundred pounds towards the charges of buying Books and procuring Writers which were to be employed by him therein This was Anno 1583. The same year also he was earnestly sollicited by the most learned men of the University of Cambridge by a solemn Epistle with joynt consent written to him to undertake the answer wherein amongst other passages they have these expressions With you we are earnest most Reverend Cartwright that you would set your self against the unhallowed endeavours of these mischievous men either by refuting the whole Book or at least some part thereof It is not for every man Work-man-like to frame Gods Tabernacle but for Bazaleel and Aholiab neither is every one rashly to be thrust forth into the Lords battels but such Captains are to be chosen from amongst Davids Worthies Of which as we acknowledge you to be one by the former battels undergone for the wals of our City the Church we doubt not if you will enter this War which truly you ought to 〈◊〉 according to the Zeal and Piety you bear to your Countrey and Religion but that you fighting for Conscience and Countrey yea even for the very inmost holy place of the Temple will be able to tread underfoot the forces of the Jebusites which set themselves to assault the Tower of David Moreover which may marvellously sharpen the edge of your courage you are not now to fight with a Brother or fellow of the same Religion which maketh the Conflict more faint but with the most inveterate enemies of Jesus Christ c. Then they thus conclude You see to what an honourable fight we invite you Christs business shall be undertaken against Satans Champions We stir you up to fight the battels of our Lord where the Victory is certain which the triumph and applause of the Angels will ensue Our Prayers shall never be wanting unto you Christ without doubt whose cause is defended will be preset with you The Lord Jesus much increase your courage and strength and keep you very long in safety for his Churches good Vale. This was subscribed by Roger Goad William Whittaker Thomas Crook John Ireton William Fulk John Field Nicholas Crane Giles Seintler Richard Gardener William Charke c. But besides these the Reverend Ministers of London and Suffolk did by their several letters earnestly exhort him to this work and Master Cartwright was at last by these importunities drawn to undertake it and neither diligence nor constancy was wanting in him to have carried it on to perfection but he met with such great discouragements and hinderances from Potent Adversaries that he was forced often to lay pen aside yea Arch-Bishop Whitgift sent him a positive command that he should deal no further in it yet afterwards by an Earl and privy Counsellor of great note and some other noble Personages he was at last drawn to take pen in hand again But receiving new discouragements and having such continual employment in the Ministry he lived not to perfect that work Whilst he was at Warwick being silenced by the Bishops he was requested by the Lord Zouch Governour of Gernsey to go with him into that Island with whom he continued some time and in the mean space he substituted one Master Lord a godly and holy Minister then living at Woolstone in his room at the Hospital in Warwick allowing him the greatest part of the profits of the place during his abode there and the rest he caused to be distributed amongst the poor He was far from seeking after great places or great things in the world and for riches he sought them not yea he rejected many opportunities whereby he might have enriched himself His usual manner was when he had good summes of gold sent him to take only one piece lest he should seem to slight his Friends kindnesse and to send back the rest with a thankfull acknowledgement of their love and his acceptance of it professing that for that condition wherein God had set him he was as well furnished as they for their high and great places His manner was not to keep any more money in his purse but what might serve for charitable uses He was very bountifull to poor Schollers He distributed money every Sabbath-day amongst the poor of the Town of Warwick besides what he gave to the Prisoners and upon other occasions both at home and abroad For his Houshold affairs he never troubled himself with them but wholly left them to be ordered and managed by the Prudence of his Wife He was very carefull to regulate and order the businesses of the Hospital for the best advantage of the poor Brethren He continued his diligence and assiduity in his studies even in his old age and his usual manner was to rise at two three and four a clock in the morning at the latest both summer and winter notwithstanding that his bodily infirmities were such that he was forced to study continually kneeling upon his knees He was of a very meek and quiet spirit as appears in those conflicts which he had with Doctor Whitgift and Doctor Sutcliffe wherein he used soft words and hard arguments he could not endure so much as in private to hear his adversaries reproached and if any in his presence used disgracefull speeches of them he would sharply reprove them for it saying That it 's a Christians duty to pray for and not to reproach his adversaries and when Martin Mar-Prelates Book came forth he shewed much dislike of the Satyrical and tart language used therein He was also very humble not enduring to hear any thing spoken in his own commendation or any titles given him which in the least measure savoured of ambition He affected not popularity but avoided it as much as possibly he could Indeed all his ambition was to advance the Kingdom and cause of our Lord Jesus Christ and to promote Gods glory It was the great joy and rejoycing of his heart to hear of the welfare and prosperity of the Churches at home and abroad for this he earnestly and daily prayed and when he heard any ill tydings with Nehemiah he sate down and mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven so that all that conversed with him might easily discern that nothing did affect him in any degree like the good or ill tydings of the Churches state He was frequent in Prayer every day and in his younger years hath risen many times in the night to seek our private places to pray in And as his labours were very great in the work of the Ministry so it pleased the Lord to make them very successefull for the conversion and confirmation of many and for terrour and restraint
wanting so well was he esteemed of on either part and withall advertising him of a very great danger and no lesse deliverance that neer unto his journeys end had betided him Whereunto Master Cartwright in a Letter of March 7. the same year thus replieth Sir It cometh from the abundance of your love to thank me for that which duty it self required at my hands towards Master Bradshaw and therefore the thanks are returned unto you who esteem so highly of duty as to let it go in the account of a Benefit or good turn My hope is the same with yours that the Lord who by deliverance of him from so great a death bindeth him to a straighter obedience hath set such an impression of it in his mind as will be in stead of a watch to waken him every morning to all cheerfull service which his place will require And indeed the Letter he wrote of that matter carrieth that sound and even undertakes so much in his behalf And in one to Master Bradshaw himself after receipt of that from him touched upon in the close foregoing That the Lord our most mercifull Father delivered you from so great a death it pledges unto you deliverances hereafter especially if they be inferiour to this So much the rather as the swimmer sunk like a piece of lead and he that could no more swim then the Iron-head of the Scholars hatchet was graciously born up and therefore by how much the Proverb is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by so much we have cause to praise God that by the Angel of the waters saved you And withall you may help to incourage others against the excessive fear of drowning in passing the Seas Seeing it was more safe to you to passe the winter-Seas even when they rage most then the small brook of Hawston Mills I remembred you to Sir Thomas and my Lady who told me that if any entertainment would have holden you they would not have suffered you to have gone from them and rejoyced much at your gracious escape Subscribed Your assured loving Brother and Fried Thomas Cartwright The Escape in those Letters mentioned was this Master Bradshaw being to leave Guernsey shipped himself for England Nor was his passage by Sea wholly free from hazard for with so violent a storm were they surprized at Sea that the Passengers most of them expected nothing but wrack and a Gentlewoman among them with another whom she much affected attending upon her did in a cord by the waste fasten themselves either to other that they might perish together and draw their last breath or breath it out rather in the mutuall embraces either of other But that storm being allaied and the danger of it over and the Ship with her Passengers now arrived in safety Master Bradshaw having attained London did there hire a Hackney such as are commonly used on that Road to convey him to Cambridge there to enter upon the Fellowship prepared for him and assigned unto him by help of which Beast he got so far on his way in safety that he was now within three miles of his journeys end But danger oft lieth in wait for us where we least of all either expect or suspect it and then many times overtakes and surprizeth us unawares when we deem our selves wholly past danger and are neer approaching our intended much desired and now fully expected Port and have alwaies need therefore both of an eye of Providence constantly on us and of an hand of protection continually over us For being there to passe a small Brook crossing the road near to a Village called Hawston and the Water-mills seated on it thence Hawston Mills he that had escaped so eminent and apparent a danger at Sea lighten on and fell into that unexpectedly that proved much more hazardous on land where no appearance was of ought in that kind for being unacquainted with the course of the stream otherwise passed ordinarily and that daily without danger and having not fetched a compasse far enough as he ought to have done the Beast that bare him plunged suddainly into the Mill-pond or pit and being not able to recover it self therein perished and there left him floating in a strong vertiginous current unskilfull in swimming nor had any such skill in likelihood been available in such a case to have saved him and altogether unable to shift for himself where he must of necessity have gone the same way with the Beast had not either some one occasionally looking out of the Mill or some Passenger on the way espying one floating in that manner and at the very pinch of perishing called hastily on the Miller or those next at hand to let slip down the Flood-gates by means whereof the stiffe current of the water-course was stayed and this Servant of God though not without much difficulty rescued out of the water and delivered unexpectedly out of that his in a manner even desperate distresse And it may indeed justly be deemed a wonder of wonders in regard whereof that venerable Minister of Christ before-mentioned seems to have apprehended the ministry of an Angel used in it that he was not suddainly in an instant either swallowed up in that whirling gulf or hurried away with the violent course of the current and that he should bear up and keep above water so long in a place of that nature For he hath been heard to relate that while he continued thus floating and strugling with that wheeling surface it troubled him not a little that he could not addresse himself as he desired to prepare for his departure though having nothing but death in his eye while his ear was taken up with the voice of some talking in the Mill from whom he supposed yet some help might come though neither was he able to call unto them nor they to hear him Thus even Gods Children themselves find a defect oft in themselves that they cannot with such an exact composure of spirit in times of distress address themselves unto God untill he have pulled away all outward prosperity as well hopes as helps from them But being by a special Providence of God thus recovered and as another Moses drawn out of the water and brought into the Millers house he was there shifted and put into such dry apparell as the Miller himself used to wear in which garb when some of his acquaintance found him who upon tydings of of this occurrent came posting over to him from Cambridge they could not forbear smiling to see him sitting in that habit though not a little affected with the casualty occasioning it and no lesse heartily gladned for the gracious issue that God hath pleased to afford it and expressing much thankfulnesse for his mercy and goodnesse therein manifested The Lord it may seem would hereby fit this his servant reserved to other hot and hazardous services unto a farther and firmer dependance in and under them upon him But thus his Horse lost which
to the Carrier its owner as by his default mis-carrying requiring it was made good being after his escape and recovery somewhat revived and refreshed and fitted again with a wonted Suit he was with some of those his acquaintance accompanied to Cambridge and repaired to the Colledge where having presented himself to the Master he was entertained in the Chamber of one of the Fellows that assigned him being not yet fit to receive him as indeed they came all to very raw Chambers at first and the use of that offered him untill his own could be fitted and furnished for him which being his first entertainment there albeit but a sorry courtesie to speak of yet did so affect him as upon occasion to some of his familiar friends he afterward professed of so ingenuous and gratefull a disposition he was and so prone with thankfulnesse to acknowledge and to set an high rate on the least kindnesse shewed him or meanest office done for him that it laid the ground-work or first stone thereof at least with him for such an Union of inward and entire affection and well fastned knot of unreserved familiarity and strictest friendship as did afterward ensue between them two and so continued not only while they abode in the Colledge together by a mutual communication of their studies counsels courses and purposes either to other but even after also when through distance of abode they were severed the one from the other by a constant course of vicissitudinary writing therein advising either with other and discussing mutually such questions and doubts wherewith either of them were occasionally encountred by meanes whereof they received much help and light either from other and albeit in some particulars either not so clear or not so cleared to their joynt apprehensions their judgment might and did sometime differ which having on occasion professed to a Friend desiring to know their joynt judgment in a case then questioned and seeming to marvell that they two should be of divers minds in ought he made answer that it was no wonder at all it might rather be wondred considering mans condition in intellectuals so impaired and clouded that any two seriously set upon the search of truth should not in many particular cases dissent yea that if in every particularity they should wholly concurre it might seem to savour rather of a cunningly contrived compact or conspiracy then a reall and rational consent yet where by force of argument they seemed convict or any mistake manifested they were ready to yeeld and did indeed in not a few things come home either to other unto their mutual much advantage nor did their remaining differences ever produce any breach or abatement of affection between them but that the knot once knit from the first to the last continued firm and inviolate never loosed nor slackned so long as God was pleased to lengthen out the line of his life In the Colledge he so demeaned himself that though the Fellows were not all of one mind or one way and there were among them as usually in Societies of that nature men of divers dispositions and sub-divisions consequently of companies consisting of such as more familiarly consorted and more inwardly conversed with some few whom selected from the rest they most affected yet so loving and lowly yeelding to all and complying with all was his carriage that notwithstanding he were by some deemed over-strict and would freely as occasion was speak his mind and deliver his judgment yet he retained ever the professed at least good liking and external kind usage from them all Where it will not be amisse to relate a speech of one of them a man by occasion of some discontents strongly and strangely possessed with a spirit of jealousie and suspitiousness of every one even his inwardest and entirest friends which in the end proved his overthrow who having entertained a conceit that something spoken by Master Bradshaw in a dispute should have a glance closely at somewhat that concerned him and having discovered that his suspition to a common bosome-friend of them both by whom also upon disclose of that groundless conceit he was evidently convinced of his errour therein he used these words of him Although I am sure he had a gird at me yet the man is of so kind and loving a disposition that I could not be angry with him though be had broken my head But I cannot let passe one remarkable Instance that may evidently manifest in him a due temper which is not over-frequently found of freedome of spirit and discreet demeanure wisely mixed and well consistent the one with the other During his abode in Guernsey a Question was on foot among Divines of special note on either side yet in debate concerning the lawfulness of some pecuniary contracts wherein Master Cartwright having by writing declared his mind in way of answer to some arguments objected against it Master Bradshaw being required by him freely to discover his judgment therein and seriously to consider of that his answer albeit of himself he would not have adventured to undertake such a task yet being so put upon it he did it freely and largely with as much strength of wit and argument it may not without ground be deemed as any have done that have hitherto dealt on that subject and yet so discreetly and respectively managing the business that though being then of a contrary judgment he used his best forces and strongest endeavoures to shake and shatter Master Cartwrights grounds yet did it not breed any breach between them nor did it that could be discerned lessen Master Cartwrights either affection to him or esteem of him which from time to time as occasion was and as in part hath already been shewed he was ever ready to expresse Howbeit it must withall for a truth be ackowledged that Master Bradshaw howsoever in the Colledge performing a Divinity-Problem as they term it did still stiffely maintain that his former Tenet yet upon farther consideration in his latter dayes he is known to have altered his judgment therein While he stayed in the Colledge that he might with the more freedome employ that talent that the Lord had committed unto him he entred into the Ministry the rather advised as some other also were so to do while admission was yet more easie and the way of entrance lesse obstructed in regard of some things which out of diversity of judgment and tenderness of conscience he stuck at then was by prudent men observing how State-businesses began to be carried deemed like to last long And at the motion of one Master Pigot a religious Gentleman residing at Abington about eight miles from Cambridge he rode weekly over thither there to preach every Lords Day for some good space of time joyning also in a weekly Lecture as he had opportunity with some other neighbour Ministers at a greater Town called Bassingborn not farre thence distant Afterward he
of mind in one of such worth as was this Servant of Christ may the better appear we shall compare the means of maintenance afforded him and his employments whereof he professed before not to deserve so much as so small a pirtance amounted unto the one with the other That the allowance was very small may very justly be deemed when his friends were so much troubled and grieved to think that one of his endowments should be driven to accept so low and slender conditions and the truth is as by his own relation appears the allowance at first agreed upon was but ten pounds by the year his diet fire candle and all kind of attendance as himself draws it out at length to make the most of it That which is here specified not in any wise to asperse the Gentleman whose present condition would not then well afford better termes and yet shewed his good will by free addition to what he stood engaged for even in his first year of abode with him and afterward also as charge grew upon Master Bradshaw though means were not much amended with him yet strained himself unto a farther enlargement as hereafter shall be shewed but to manifest the excceeding and almost unparallel'd modesty of the man esteeming his labours beneath so poor an allowance For his employments that himself so much undervalued what were they Besides his private exercises at set times performed in the Family he preached at first constantly twice every Lords day in a Chappel of some capacity belonging to the Gentlemans House and situate within the Park wherein the House stood and afterward when the resort from other parts more remote grew so great that the place could not well contain them that the more might enjoy the fruit of his Ministry and with the more ease to them though the less to him and the Houshold he was easily induced the Governours of the Family out of their religious disposition well approving thereof and condescending thereunto to bestow his labours as he had before done in the Chappel in a more publick place at a Parish-Church where a Reading Vicar only was at a Village called Stapenhill or Stapenhall about a mile distant from the place of his abode And this he did constantly for above twelve years at least at such times as the Gentleman abode with his Family at Newhall which was the principal place of his setled abode receiving for such his pains among them no consideration at all from the people of the place the most of them deeming him more beholden to them for coming and staying to hear him then themselves to him for coming to preach to them and some of them complaining that they had lost many a good Pistle and Gospel for his Preachings save that on the Lords day for his better ease and refreshment between his forenoon and afternoons employment he was usually entertained at the House of one Master Alexander Buckley who had sometime belonged as a Bayliff or Steward to Master Rediches Family and whose Wife Mistress Anne Buckley a very sweet natured humble and godly woman was both a Mary and Martha to him no lesse diligent to attend his teaching with the one then sedulous to make fitting provision for him with the other and that some of the better affected sort among those that heard him would now and then gratifie him with some kind of Countrey-courtesies when he kept house by himself Having thus spent above a twelvemoneth or more with Master Redich his thoughts began to be more solicitously renewed concerning that businesse of marriage propounded to him at Chatham and so farre forth as hath been formerly shewn embraced then by him which in regard also of some other emergent occasions had hung hitherto in suspence This to proceed in and consummate he much desired not so much in regard of himself as in regard of the other party who had been held in expectation thereof so long already and might deem it some wrong if it should be still so delayed But how this might consist with his continuance in Master Rediches Family he was not able well to conceive and how very loath he was to part with a Family where he had found so much love Howsoever he resolved to break the matter unto them before he would proceed any farther therein that if no fit means of compliance there could be contrived he might with their good leave look out for some other place of employment and they have some convenient space of time for the fitting and furnishing of themselves with some other to succeed with them in his room Upon relation hereof according to such his resolution having taken a fit time for it made unto them enforming them truly and freely in all circumstances how the case stood with him and how he stood affected towards them it was strange to see it is in his own words related how great affection they shewed to bear unto him expressed even with teares that on no condition he must depart from them such course should be taken as that when he should in that kind change his condition he might still conveniently and comfortably abide with them Whereunto he subjoyneth And this indeed is the first hour of my solid comfort that the Lord hath vouchsafed me a standing place where I may settle my self And indeed God was pleased to work in some particulars somewhat strangely and unexpectedly beyond what he was then able to foresee or forecast toward the farther acomplishment of his desire in this kind as hereafter shall be shewed Mean while Master Redich being by occasion of businesses drawn up to London and having taken some lodgings for himself and his retinue neer unto Christ Church with purpose to make stay some good space of time in the City Master Bradshaw abiding there with him was requested to preach sometime at Christ Church which accordingly he did and that with such approbation and good liking of the well-affected in the Parish that the afternoons Lecture there becoming vacant albeit Doctor Milward a man of some note in those times stood for it yet by the greater number of votes in a Vestry purposely for that end assembled Master Bradshaw was chosen to be their Lecturer though not having sought it himself but having been without his privity propounded by some such of them as had been much taken with his former Sermons But the will of God it seems was that he should still adhere to that Family which he was fallen into and where he had found so much affection that which to his dying day also he did For though by some of those who earnestly desired him great means were made to the Bishop yet would he in no wise condescend to give way thereunto Yea such was his malignity against Master Bradshaw that having cited him but by a wrong forename to appear before him to answer for preaching in his Diocesse without his Licence in which regard also the Church-wardens
were checked and threatned that suffered it upon his non-appearance he proceeded so far as to send out an Excommunication against him which he for the mistake before-mentioned little regarded only by advice for some time kept out of the way untill the Bishops translation or evection rather unto the lofty pitch of his Primacy which shortly after did ensue During his stay in these parts looking down to Chatham he there consummated that businesse which hitherto had been delayed And in regard that Master Redich with his Wife and retinue were by reason of his urgent affairs in divers kinds likely to continue for a longer space of time in the City then at first was expected Master Bradshaw having brought up his Wife with him from Chatham did for a while board her with a sister of hers before married and seated in the City and afterward took part of a tenement for himself and her who being a woman that affected employment for their better support taught there a few Scholers Much about this time by occasion of that formall conference acted and transacted at Hampton-Court wherein some of our chief Prelates endeavoured to possesse the Kings Majesty with a prejudice against those that made suit for a Reformation of things amisse in Church-affairs his disaffection to whom he had himself also in some writing of his partly discovered already and to perswade him that for Ecclesiastical affairs all things were so well setled that no Reformation needed but some strict injunction only of a precise conformity unto and constant observation of things already established which began thereupon in many places with much vigor to be pressed It came to passe that many Books came abroad being privately printed wherein divers godly Ministers who were of a contrary judgment declared their grievances laid down their exceptions set forth their grounds of dissent and returned answer to the Arguments produced and urged against them to induce them to Conformity For Books of this nature search was made in the City for one more especially among the rest that had it seems given our great Clergy-Masters most offence and Master Bradshaw being known to abide then in the City a man in much suspition with them two Pursuivants accompanied with Master Norton the Kings Printer were sent with Commission to search his house both for it and him Whither accordingly repairing but not finding him at home they enforced his Wife to open his Closet or Study the Chests Trunks Boxes and Presses to make search for such Books but found nothing For the truth is and there was a good Providence of God in it after that Master Bradshaw was that morning gone out not above half an hour before that this business fell out his Wife looking into his Study and seeing some of those Books there to prevent future danger which yet she then little deemed or dreamed to be so near at hand as it proved to be afterward had taken them out from thence and cast them into a hole between two Chimneys where being covered over with old besomes they remained undiscovered But howsoever they could meet with nothing of that which they looked for yet on his Wife they seized who would rather have had him her they took and led unto Doctors Commons where having presented her before Doctor Stanhop Doctor White and a third party whom she knew not a number sufficient to make up a compleat High Commission Court they examined her yet without oath first Where her Husband was whereunto she answered she knew not then What meanes of Maintenance she had and from whom to which she made answer that she gat her living by her work and teaching of a few young Children after that What Children she had she told them none yet but one she hoped in her belly being then great with Child which was her first-born Sonne now a Minister of the Gospel afterward born in that House they then dwelt in in Thred-needle-street and baptized in the Church near thereto adjoyning where the Minister of the place somewhat thick of hearing by a mistake instead of Jonathan naming him John which name therefore he bare afterward and doth to this day But after divers such questions to little purpose propounded and answered in conclusion they told her that they knew well enough that the Book they then searched for was none of her Husbands making though he might have a hand in the venting of it and withall that if they had been disposed they could have had him for all his keeping in a Lancashire Gentlemans house So they termed Master Redich because his own Lands of Inheritance lay in those parts Thus hauing parlied with her they dismissed her not suffering those greedy Harpyes the Pursuivants who were eager upon her for their fees to exact ought from her only binding her at a daies warning to appear again before them Thus through Gods goodness and watchfull eye over his Servant too regardlesse in some sort of his own safety having escaped the snare that was set for him he returned after some space of time Master Rediches main businesses being now dispatched together with him and his unto their former place of abode at Newhall taking his Wife and little one together also along with him Being there arrived the Gentleman both enlarged his maintenance and assigned him and his Wife certain Chambers in his own House conveniently furnished as also herbage in the Park for a certain number of Kine and of Swine and some Poultry together with a convenient room for a Dary wherein she might exercise her huswifery which she very well could do and accordingly did Now while they thus lived together in Master Rediches House Master Bradshaw went on cheerfully in his wonted course both of private exercises for the instruction of the Family and of publick employment on the Lords day for the benefit of others also abroad But the old Lady Ferrers Mistresse Rediches Mother a woman of a great spirit and a resolute Papist though not an absolute professed Recusant could by no means brook Master Bradshaw and the lesse now because married and for that he had brought his Wife also to live with him in House with them yea she had conceived such an extream hatred against him professing to hate him above any man in the world that she had made a vow that she would never set her feet in the house where he was and it was therefore feared not without some just ground of suspition that the Family might from her fare the worse for him But the hearts of all men and women also are in Gods hand and he can wind and turn them which way he will and when a mans waies do please the Lord he can if he see it good yea doth oft when he seeth it will be for the good of his make of his utter foes his Friends And even so fell it out here For the Lady notwithstanding this her extream disaffection so deeply
rooted and so vehemently expressed yet in processe of time being enduced by some that were in credit and repute with her to visit her Son-in-law and Daughter and make stay for some time which they much desired in house with them and being withall informed and assured by them of Master Bradshaws mild and moderate demeanure and his meek kind and lowly carriage she was over-wrought by them contrary to that her former unnaturall and irreligious engagement to repair thither and take up her lodging with them where it pleased God withall not long after her accesse thither being now an eye-witnesse her self of what she had formerly heard by report of him from others so to alter that her former disaffection to Master Bradshaw and to cast it into a clean contrary mould that all that beheld and observed her carriage on all occasions towards him wondered exceedingly at it to see so strange an alteration and such not unexpected only but unusuall carriages in her For albeit she were otherwise a Gentlewoman as of very proper and personable presence and in that regard much admired by the Scottish Queen that suffered here whom she also much affected so of her self no lesse forward to take and keep state yet she used Master Bradshaw with very much courtesie and complement at table drinking to him and carving for him resorting twice a day constantly to prayer with him and the Family and speaking reverently of him yea whereas formerly she could not be induced to hear any of our Ministers preach howsoever for fashion sake and to escape penalty of Law she might sometime repair to hear the Liturgy read yet was she content to hear Master Bradshaw and commended his Sermons Which the better to work upon her he wisely framed to such subjects as he deemed would best serve to take off such false imputations as are wont by the adverse party to be cast upon our Profession and Preaching as if we were utter enemies to mortification and good works For first out of Matth. 5.16 he took occasion to speak of the necessity and nature of good works the ground from whence they spring and the end that must be aimed at in them and after that out of Psal. 51. of repentance and mortification with both which discourses she seemed to be very much affected What farther work these things had upon her after her departure thence we are not able to say but certain it is that while she abode there she seemed to be much better disposed not towards Master Bradshaw only but contrary to what was formerly feared and strongly suspected toward her Son-in-law and Daughter also For before she went thence she sealed them a Lease for three years of the Land they held from her with abatement of an Hundred pounds by the year of the rent formerly paid and a remission of thirty pounds by the year besides otherwise accruing to her God might blesse the House for his Josephs sake and her continued good opinion of and affection to Master Bradshaw she farther manifested by her free consent to have an House built for him and his Wife to live in on a parcell of land that she had interest in which was accordingly with as much speed as might be not long after effected Then which saith he so modest and moderate were his affections for the things of this life I desire no more worldly things then that I may be setled in that little House and rest there in quiet which these times give small hope of This he conceived the lesse hope of because the Bishop under whom he had hitherto lived quietly about this time deemed not like long to continue and indeed shortly after deceasing it was given out that Bishop Neal translated from Rochester was to succeed that which he much dreading in divers of his Letters had oft up Lord keep us from Rochester and so he did indeed though not immediately yet not long after For Doctor Abbots Dean of Winchester who came in between them sate not long there but before many moneths expired stept from Litchfield to London But Bishop Neal was the man whom all the pious as well private men as Ministers in these parts mis-doubted would do the most mischief And indeed presently upon his entrrnce that boisterous Prelate began in so fierce and furious a sort to bestir himself and kept such a busseling and blustering among them that howsoever one that then abode thereabout writing somewhat freely of him saith The more he shufflled in his Lions skin the more he made his Asses ears to appear and exposed himself to derision and contempt even with the meanest yet it was by the most feared that unlesse God in much mercy should put a ring into his Nose he would in likelihood root up all effectual means of piety within the precincts of his power And the rather had Master Bradshaw cause to expect little favour all rigour rather that might be from him in regard of some neighbouring loiterers that should have been labourers as he was in the Lords work who not enduring to see others affected and followed for doing that which they should have done but did not themselves were therefore bitter enemies to him and were in great grace with the Bishop Besides that it was reported that the Bishop was minded to reside some space of time at Drakelow a place not far distant from Newhall whose neighbourhood was like to prove no more beneficial to Master Bradshaw then the brass pots company in the Fable to the earthen pitcher But as dangers oft befall us where we least mis-doubt or suspect ought much lesse expect any so the Lord on that wise disposing things for the safety of his servants and the enuring of them to a constant dependance on his providence it falleth out sometime on the other side that we prove least assailed or annoyed from thence whence we have been most affrighted with the greatest expectation of much damage or sore distresse So it fell out with Master Bradshaw here For howsoever in one of his Letters he manifesteth his fears to that purpose that in regard of the considerations before-mentioned he much doubted that Zone would be too hot for him yet in another afterward he signifieth that he had not as yet heard ought from him or of any complaints that had been made to him against him Nor indeed doth it appear that he was at any time after molested or disturbed in the exercise of his Ministry by either of them by what means soever the Lord was pleased so either to represse or divert as well the malice of the one as the might of the other that neither of them should fasten to any purpose upon him untill the year before he died About this time Master Redich bestowed his eldest Daughter Mistress Grace Redich in marriage with Sir Robert Darcie Son and Heir to Sir Edward Darcie a Kentish Knight a very religious Gentleman in great favour and repute with
Book but blow it off and in this tune he continued untill a rumour came into the University that the King would shortly come to visit them King James was happier in his education then his Mother would have had him It pleased God to breed a Buchanan on purpose for to guide his younger years and by that time he was ripe Scotland was grown acquainted with Geneva and the King no stranger unto Calvins way The News awakened all the University and there were few but promised to themselves some good from this fair gale that seeing promotion came neither from the East nor from the West nor from the South Psal. 75.6 it must and would come from the North and the Proverb be inverted and be Omne bonum ab Aquilone Doctor Harsnet Master of Pembroke-hall was then Vice-Chancellour a prudent well-advised Governour who knowing well the critical and able apprehension of the King was very carefull and sollicitous to pitch upon the ablest in every faculty for Actors in that solemn entertainment and himself made choice of Master Preston to answer the Philosophy Act and sent unto him to provide himself He was ambitious enough by nature and had this news come a little sooner nothing had been more suitable to his design and inclination But now the Gentleman was Planet-struck grown dull and phlegmatick Master Cottons Sermon had so invaded him that Kings and Courts were no such great things with him especially when he understood that another was resolved on for answerer Doctor Wren was then a very pregnant Scholar in Pembroke-hall and also Chaplain unto Bishop Andrews and thought fit to be imployed in this Commencement service but was not willing to have any other place but answerer the Vice-Chancellour urged his promise and engagement unto Master Preston and his opinion of his great ability but nothing would serve The Vice-Chancellors Colledge and the Bishops Chaplain must have Precedency which he most seriously excused to Master Preston and endeavoured to reconcile him to the first opponents place which he declined as being too obnoxious unto the answerer who is indeed the Lord and Ruler of the Act but there was no removing now and so he goes about it with much unwillingnesse being rather driven then drawn unto it His great and first care was to bring his Argument unto a head without affronts or interruptions from the Answerer and so made all his Major Propositions plausible and firm that his adversary might neither be willing nor able to enter there and the Minor still was backed by other Syllogismes and so the Argument went on unto the issue which fell out well for Master Preston for in Disputations of consequence the Answerers are many times so fearfull of the event that they flur and trouble the opponents all they can and deny things evident which had been the case in all the former Acts there was such wrangling about their Syllogismes that fullied and clouded the debates extreamly and put the Kings acumen into straits but when Master Preston still cleared his way and nothing was denied but what was ready to be proved the King was greatly satisfied and gave good heed which he might well do because the question was tempered and fitted unto his content namely Whether Dogs could make Syllogismes The opponent urged that they could an Enthymeme said he is a lawfull and reall Syllogisme but Dogs can make them he instanced in an Hound who hath the major Proposition in his mind namely The Hare is gone either this or that way smels out the minor with his nose namely She is not gone that way and follows the Conclusion Ergo this way with open mouth The instance suited with the Auditory and was applauded and put the Answerer to his distinctions that Dogs might have sagacity but not sapience in things especially of prey and that did concern their belly might be nasutuli but not logici had much in their mouthes little in their minds unlesse it had relation to their mouthes that their lips were larger then their understandings Which the opponent still endeavouring to wipe off with another Syllogisme and put the Dogs upon a fresh scent the Moderator Doctor Reade began to be afraid and to think how troublesome a pack of Hounds well followed and applauded at last might prove and so came in into the Answerers aid and told the Opponent that his Dogs he did believe were very weary and desired him to take them off and start some other Argument and when the opponent would not yield but hallowed still and put them on he interposed his authority and silenced him The King in his conceit was all this while upon New-market heath and liked the sport and therefore stands up and tells the Moderator plainly he was not satisfied in all that had been answered but did believe an Hound had more in him then was imagined I had my self said he a Dog that stragling far from all his fellows had light upon a very fresh scent but considering he was all alone and had none to second and assist him in it observes the place and goes away unto his fellows and by such yelling arguments as they best understand prevailed with a party of them to go along with him and bringing them unto the place pursued it unto an open view Now the King desired for to know how this could be contrived and carried on without the use and exercise of understanding or what the Moderator could have done in that case better and desired him that either he would think better of his Dogs or not so highly of himself The Opponent also desired leave to pursue the Kings game which he had started unto an issue but the Answerer protested that his Majesties Dogs were alwaies to be excepted who hunted not by common Law but by Prerogative And the Moderator fearing the King might let loose another of his Hounds and make more work applies himself with all submisse devotion to the King acknowledged his Dogs were able to out-do him besought his Majesty for to believe they had the better that he would consider how his illustrious influence had already ripened and concocted all their Arguments and Understandings that whereas in the morning the reverend and grave Divines could not make Syllogismes the Lawyers could not nor the Physicians now every Dog could especially his Majesties All men acknowledged it it was a good bit to close with It was grown late and so the Congregation was removed unto the Regent-house and the King went off well pleased with the businesse The other Acts were easily forgotten but the discourse and Logick of the Dogs was fresh in mouth and memory the Philosophy-act applauded universally The King commended all the Actors but above all the Opponent It was easie to discern that the Kings Hound had opened a way for Master Preston at the Court if he were willing yet many of the great ones put him in mind and promised all assistance and encouragement Sir Fulke Greevill
imperium adoptato nihil in vultu mutatum quasi magis imperare posset quam vellet His honours altered nothing in him but gave encouragement to all the godly Party and his Sermons at Lincolns-Inne much wrought upon the Parliament so that a bold Petition was contrived and presented to the King at Whitehall from both Houses of Parliament April 23. 1624. against the spreading and increase of Popery and the Indulgence given unto Priests and Jesuites King James was in the evening of his glory his Party in the Court under a cloud another Sun almost in view and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or day-star already risen and accordingly he answered warily to their Petition bewails his want of information as the reall ground of this their trouble which otherwise he had prevented acknowledged that whilest the Treaties lasted with Spain and Austria he was obliged to comply but now both being broken off he would be rigid and severe against the Priests and Jesuites bids them find out a way for to restrain the growth of Popery and he would second them but resolves to pay the Duke of Buckingham for all this and gives order to the Earl of Bristol to prepare an information for that end but the Match with France and other intervenient accidents obstruct it for the present The Duke having told tales out of School and broken off the Match with Spain was much obliged to further and promote the French which he did seriously excuse to Doctor Preston upon this ground that there was not any Protestant for to be had and for to marry with a subject had alwaies been unlucky and fatal to the Kings of England that the French would not be ridged in religious observations but the Doctor constantly opposed only acknowledged this difference that Spanish Popery was an absolute ingredient to their intended Western Monarchy but French was not so and so this was lesse evil But the French found out this obligation and were untractable unlesse the Duke would aid the King of France against the Rochellers This was a hard chapter for one so much obliged unto the Puritans and Doctor Preston and he therefore declined all he could but nothing else would serve and he knew King James lay ready to take advantages so in Conclusion eight Ships were granted to oppose the Rochel-fleet and many colours sought to cloude it and hide it from the world but from that time Doctor Preston doubted of the Saint-ship of the Duke of Buckingham whom otherwise he honoured and loved very much But it was high time for the Duke to look about him King James was not to learn now how for to play his Game he was an old but not a foolish King Eccl. 4.13 and therefore failed not to make Provision and lay rods in pisse that he might use upon occasion Kings use for to account an ague in the Spring their Physick yet Physick till March be past is not good but this ague antidates the moneths and comes in February The King was then at Theobalds and the Ague was made but small account of He feared death but was the most impatient and disordered of any living what rules soever the Physicians gave he would observe none which intemperance might very well occasion the growing strength and vigour of the disease which howsoever more and more increased and at last began to be considerable then he began to take advice and to submit to rules but now it was too late for March 27. 1625. on the Lords day in the morning about ten of the clock at Theobalds the King dies Doctor Preston then attended in his moneth and was sometimes hastened to the Prince to comfort him and sometimes to the Duke and indeed it was a very mournfull morning Death is a serious thing and knocks alike at Pallaces as at the meanest Cottage King James was very much beloved of all his servants some of the Huntsmen could not be gotten from him the Prince and Duke were both of them retired and wept exceedingly But Sir Edward Conwey and some of the Lords drew up a Wiring and proclaimed Charles Steward King with all his Titles and hast was made to pack away to London The Prince and Duke and Doctor Preston in Coaches shut down hasten to White-hall and there he is proclaimed again with more formalities and the Lord Maior and the City sent to where it was done with much solemnity and great rejoycing of the people for the Prince had that exceeding happinesse to come upon the stage unprejudiced For he had never interposed nor acted but in the Spanish businesse and that succeeded to his great advantage so that if he listed he might have been as popular as ever any were This fall occasions many alterations in the Court the Bishops generally and Doctor Prestons enemies and all that had contended with the Duke were Crest-fallen King James was like enough to have out-lived the Duke of Buckingham who had been very sick since his return from Spain but all is altered and the Duke does all But he had many things to do the affronts received in Madrid and at the Counsel-table by the Agent were to be sent back by a puissant and mighty Navy and Provisions made accordingly King James to be interr'd a Parliament to be summoned the French Lady to be sent for and brought into England which the Duke especially intended and spake to all the Gallants of his Retinue to attend him and to many other of the Gentry and Nobility throughout the Kingdome But he found it hard thus in the morning of the Kings affairs to be abroad there being then a Parliament and the sicknesse much encreasing in the City so he was constrained to employ the Earl of Holland and attend himself at home All were not gratified in this great revolution and mutation of affairs and the discontented Party murmured and let flie at the Duke and the sicknesse much encreasing began to make a mutiny and it was much desired that the Parliament might be prorogued till some other more healthfull and lesse dangerous time But the Navy against the Spaniards and the pressing wants of all sorts that depended on the Court would not permit so it was only adjourned to Oxford yet there the sicknesse was as soon as they and some of their Members smarted for it but hast was made to gratifie the new King and the Provisions for the Navy went forward many men ingaged and the King resolved to attend that businesse as admitting no delay There was one thing that invited Doctor Preston to a journey that year and that was a strong suspition that the plague was in the town in which case there is a liberty to dissolve the Colledge without any detriment unto the Officers and Members of it He was not willing to omit the opportunity because he had many invitations into the West The Bishop of Salisbury he desired to consult withall about a Book of Master Montagues that was commended to him by
the Duke of Buckingham to peruse and give his sense upon it Master Shervil the Recorder of Salisbury was a Bencher of Lincolns-Inne and a very good friend of his he had divers Friends at Dorchester and was desirous to be sea-sick and was still enticed forward and at last resolved to wait upon the King and Duke at Plimmouth whether they were gone to see the Navy set sayl Whilest he was there the Rochel fleet was broken by those ships the King lent and Mounsieur Sabeeza came into Falmouth with the remainder and thence to Plimmouth with most lamentable out-cries against the Duke who seemed to be very much affected with it and made mighty Promises of wonderfull repairs but Doctor Preston failed not to set that businesse home he did believe the Duke was over-ruled to lend them and sorry when he saw the sad effects But whilest the Duke was thus detained in the West the Earl of Bristol and the Lord Keeper Williams combined against him and drew in many to their Party among others the Earl of Pembroke and divers great ones in the House of Commons and was so incouraged and heartned in it that the Earl of Bristol May 1. 1626. preferred in the House of Lords twelve Articles against the Duke of Buckingham tending to prove That the Duke had promised unto the Pope and Ministers of Spain to make the King a Papist and over-ruled him against the judgment of the Earl of Bristol to write unto the Pope with the title of Sanctissime Pater That his carriage in the matters of Religion was so offensive that he stuck not to kneel before the Host as often as he met it That he was so licentious and unchast in his behaviour that the Spanish Ministers resolved not to have any thing to do with him That when he could not bring about the Match to his own particular advantage he used means to obstruct it and break it off That he had informed King James of all these things who promised to hear him and leave the offender unto Justice and that not many daies before his sicknesse The Duke had now reason to look about him and was very able so to do and first he labours to divide the Party by drawing off the Earl of Pembroke by promising his Daughter to the Earl of Mountgomeries Sonne which afterward he did accomplish then he endeavoured to oblige the Puritans by gratifying Doctor Preston all the waies he could and particularly in the businesse of the Colledge-suit by depriving Bishop Williams of the Seal and giving it to Sir Thomas Coventry who was one of the Colledge-counsel yea he went so far as to nominate the Doctor to the King to be Lord Keeper and the King was so firm to him that the Earl of Bristol could do no good and so withdrew his Articles Doctor Prestons Friends were Newters all this while and looked on neither engaged for him nor against him which was sadly represented to the Duke by the Bishops and that Party who wondered he should dote upon a man that either could not or would not own him in his need bad him consider whether Puritans were like to be his Friends whose waies were toto coelo different and told him plainly he could not have them both If he adhered to those that sought their ruine they must adhere to such as would support them so that the Duke was in a great strait and knew not what to do Doctor Preston also was importuned to put it to an issue and if he would not leave the rotten and corrupted Clergy then to leave him and because there had been informations against that Book of Master Mountagues they propounded it might come to a debate and not remain as now it it did unsetled The Doctor and the Duke were both of them unwilling to an open breach loved for to temporise and wait upon events But Doctor Prestons friends would not be satisfied but urged a conference whereunto they were incouraged by some Orthodox and very learned Bishops and at last it was concluded by two religious Noble-men that a conference there should be the Bishop of Rochester and Doctor White then Dean of Carlisle on the one side and the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield and Doctor Preston on the other A day was set a Satturday in Hillary-Tearm at four of the clock in the afternoon the place was York-house and Doctor Preston sent to in the morning for to attend it The Noble-men came unto the Bishops lodgings about two of the clock and sent for Doctor Preston to them who gave many reasons why he could not go but they were resolute and taking the Bishop with them went without him but the Doctor considering and fearing his absence might betray the cause and give encouragement unto the other side went afterward himself unto the place and sate by as an hearer silent untill all was done but talking afterwards occasionally of falling from grace the Bishop shewed that a godly man might go far and yet return by the instance of the Prodigal Luk. 15. but Doctor White exclaimed against any that should think the Prodigal in acts of drunkennesse and whoredome not to be fallen from grace and urged that of the Apostle Rom. 1.32 That those that do such things are worthy of death that is said he in a state of everlasting death and therefore fallen from grace so 1 Cor. 6.9 10. shall not inherit the Kingdome of God that is are not sons for if sons then heirs Rom. 8.17 But Doctor Preston answered that these sins made indeed a forfeiture of all their interest into the hands of God and he might make the seisure if he pleased but did not unto those which were his children and in Covenant with him as two Tennants by not paying of their Rent or keeping Covenants forfeited their Leases yet the Lord might seize the one and not the other as he pleased But the Bishop and the Dean both cried out this was the way to all licentiousness and looseness To which the Doctor answered That the seed of God as the Apostle calls it 1 Joh. 3.9 remained in the sinning Saint or Sonne and would repair him as in water there remains a principle of cold even when it boyleth over that will undoubtedly reduce it when the heat and fire is removed as in Peter David Sampson and others was apparent so that they could not run out into all licentiousnesse for the spirit lusted against the flesh that they cannot do the things they would Gal. 5.17 and though he did not disinherit them and blot their names out of the Book of life Phil. 4.3 yet he might and would withdraw his favour imbitter all their comforts Mat. 26.75 raise trouble to them from their dearest interests 2 Sam. 12.11 fill them with anguish Psal. 38.3 4. which in reason will keep them from running out seeing the evil is commensurable unto that good of pleasure or profit their sinne afforded and if need be he can
instruct the ignorant to satisfie the doubtfull to settle the wavering to comfort the dejected and to encourage all sorts in the exercises of Religion He was much in the house of Mistresse Katherine Redich of Newhall in Derbyshire widdow to Alexander Redich of Redich in Lancashire Esquire his bosome Friend his antient acquaintance and constant dear Friend to his death who survived him not above eight daies the grief for his death hastening as it was supposed her end In her house at Hamstead near London August 21. 1624. he fell sick of a violent Feaver which put him into such danger that the Physicians doubted of his Recovery he over-hearing some intimation of it when he thought none were in the room the Curtains being drawn about his bed he was over-heard by one in the room to speak audibly those words of Psal. 118.17 I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. At that time there was as little hope of his preaching as of his recovery But God in great mercy soon after restored him both to health and liberty The next year viz. June 20. 1625. he was licensed by Doctor Ridley then Vicar-general to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury to preach in the Diocesse of London Lincoln and Coventry and Lichfield under the Seal of that office By vertue of which License he began to preach August 3. 1625. in Ashby Church aforesaid those eight Sermons on Psal. 35.13 concerning Fasting Prayer and Humiliation for sinne which were published since his death viz. 1632. according to his own Copy left under his hand by his Son Master Samuel Hildersam September 28. 1625. he began his one hundred and fifty two Lectures on Psal. 51. published in the like nature 1635. After the last forementioned licensing he was silenced again March 25. 1630. by notice given him from the Court at Leicester of the Kings instructions for every Lecturer to read service in Surplice and Hood and he began to preach again Aug. 2. 1631. and so continued till December 27. 1631. which was the last Sermon that he preached Soon after he fell sick of his last sickness and discerning it to increase he sent for his forenamed Sonne dwelling at West-Felton in Shropshire fourty nine miles from Ashby He with his Wife came to him withall convenient speed January 13. and stayed with him till his death Their company and attendance at that time as alwaies formerly was very contenting and comfortable And of his Daughter-in-law who was by himself propounded as a meet Wife for his dearest Son and in whom he ever took much delight he was heard with affection to ingeminate these words Never man had a kinder Daughter-in-law His disease though not discerned to be so at the first proved the Scorbute the which being a dull and melancholick distemper indisposed him to speak much yet as he shewed wonderfull patience through his whole sicknesse so he used many holy and heavenly expressions to those that attended him or came to visit him who he being so much beloved and honoured in the Countrey were not a few He suggested unto some dear Friends his fears that Wolves would ere long come in amongst them and thereupon earnestly exhorted them to continue stedfast in the truth which they had received And occasion being given to mention those words 1 Tim. 3.5 How shall he take care of the Church of God looking to his Son he said Oh Son Son that care of the Flock is the main thing The most godly people in those parts his constant hearers who had been either converted to Christ or edified and confirmed in grace by his Ministry being very sensible of the great losse which not themselves only but the whole Church of God also would sustain by his death that they might not seem negligent in the use of any means within their reach to prolong his life and their own comfort did resolve amongst themselves to set apart a day that they might solemnly in publique seek the Lord by fasting and Prayer in his behalf wherein they had the hearty help of Master Simeon Ashe both in the morning and afternoon by Sermons and Supplications who did more owe himself unto Master Hildersam then to any other man having been first placed in the University under the tuition of famous Master Thomas Hooker fellow of Emanuel Colledge and afterwards directed and encouraged in his Ministry by his great care and love March 4. being the Lords day he grew very weak and was prayed for in the Congregation in Ashby Church both at the morning and evening exercise His Sonne prayed with him divers times that day and whilest he was praying the last time he departed and slept in the Lord between nine and ten of the clock that night viz. March 4. 1631. Thus he who had diligently heretofore kept the holy rest of the Sabbath did in the close of the Sabbath rest from his labours and having glorified God often both in publique and private on that day before was at last on that day received into glory Master Herring his dear and familiar friend being then at Coventry was sent for the next day and came and preached the Lecture in Ashby Church on Tuesday March 6. in the morning Master Hhildersam having taken order in his Will that there should be no Funeral-Sermon at his Burial and then spake like himself holily discreetly learnedly and affectionately concerning the losse that that Congregation the Countrey and whole Church had sustained by the death of him that was lately dead In the afternoon of that day his body was born by neighbour-Ministers to the grave accompanied by a great multitude both of Ministers and others who expressed much sorrow and lamentation He lived in Ashby aforesaid for the most part yet being often forced to remove his dwelling of fourty three years and six moneths with great successe in his Ministry love and reverence of all sorts He was very charitable to the poor himself and in exciting of his auditors to contribute towards their relief In few Countrey-Congregations in England the Collections for the poor were so large as they were at the Quarter-daies at his Lectures The losse of poor Ashby by his death was exceeding great for he was the Peace-maker amongst neighbours and the Patron of the poor wickednesse was checked and godlinesse cherished by his great care and wisdome He was a Friend to every one in a good cause and it was his unwearied delight to be Christianly seviceable in any kind He lived to a great age considering that his pains in preaching did ordinarily weaken him so much sixty eight years and five moneths yet this happinesse God vouchsafed to him which was more then ordinary that he out-lived not his parts but as his graces increased towards his end so his abilities of invention judgement memory elocution decayed not in his age He left a precious memory behind him had Letters of commendation written in the
hearts of many of which some live here some in glory His Books will prove more durable Monuments of his name then that his Sonne erected for him in Ashby Church And yet his Name with the lively picture of his Person lives in his worthy Son Master Samuel Hildersam whose learning Cambridge knew while he was Fellow of Emanuel Colledge and whose present ministerial labours and pious conversation at West-Felton in Shropshire do perpetuate the honour of his reverend Father whose very memory he doth much reverence and whose rich Vertues both personal and ministerial he doth happily imitate And his good help from his Fathers Papers and other waies hath most conduced to the drawing up of this faithfull relation that God may be glorified and many souls may be edified by this famous example thus presented unto publick view Dr. TAYLOR The Life of Doctor Thomas Taylor sometimes Pastor of Aldermanbury London who died Anno Christi 1632. THomas Taylor was born at Richmond in Yorkshire of worthy and godly Parents His Father was Recorder of that Town and a very Gaius or Onesiphorus to the silenced Ministers of England and to the exiled Ministers of Scotland He brought up divers Sonnes into the Ministry This Sonne of his as the other was of a Child trained up in the holy Scriptures which are able to make wise to salvation Afterward as age came on he was well grounded in other Learning and was sent to Cambridge where he became Fellow of Christs Colledge as one that should do the Lord Christ abundance of good service He was there most painfull and unweariable in the study of Tongues Arts Sciences all sorts of Exercises about them and especially for Divinity which was his Profession One while he was Hebrew Reader to the Colledge Being soon ripe he entred into the Ministry at the age of one and twenty years In Queen Elizabeths time he was called to preach at Pauls Crosse and preached the Sermon in King James his time In the course and work of his Ministry he spent thirty five years with all diligence and painfulnesse even to the very end when by right he might have spared himself living in all sincerity and godly purenesse with entire love of souls with all watchfulnesse with meeknesse wonderfully quickned with zeal He was an utter enemy of Popery Arminianisme Antinomianisme and other Sects which crept up in those times as appeareth partly by his writings Amidst all his pithy Discourses he was also an excellent and nimble Orator and wound up his matter with a good farewell even when at times it was but ordinary And from this course he would scarce suffer himself to be withdrawn at any time to refresh his spirits by a little freedom Yea sometimes when he was drawn forth into the Countrey for recreation by the solicitation of Gods people he escaped not without his usuall burden Or he spent his vacant time in preparing Books for the Presse which were both many and very usefull and will be to posterity who have cause to blesse God who giveth gifts to men and publique mindes that they may profit farre and near both hearers and strangers all debtors to him And men of understanding observed a great Seal put to his Ministry in several places whereto he was called Some converted others confirmed others comforted in the way of God And in these times of division wherein many Professors have turned into by-waies those that were his constant Hearers continue in that way stedfast and unshaken in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Yea at Reding there was a generation of young Preachers who under his Ministry grew up in knowledge and holinesse and some eminency of gifts profiting by him and his pains there and some professe it at this day Perhaps also in the great City of London and at Cambridge Neither was he altogether for the publick but pious in private and not only in the course of his Family but in keeping Fasts among the godly of the place which in those daies was something a dangerous exercise And to make them solid Professors indeed he put them upon a weekly way of handling Chatecheticall points of Divinity that is every week to conferre of one of the heads of Religion according to the Catechisme subjoyned to Mr. Dods Treatise on the Commandments still proving the Doctrines by Testimonies of Scripture For other personall qualifications he was a man full of love alms-deeds and mercifull consideration of the needy though not with a Trumpet And he was a man blest of God with all the blessings of wisdome Prov. 3.16 Length of daies riches and honour He had every where both godly and great Friends and is likely still to have among those that shall converse in his worthy works In that his holy and blessed course he drew on toward his end It was his Clymacterical year of 56. Having over-laboured himself with preaching in the City he betook himself to his Countrey-house at Isleworth to be a little refreshed But having inflamed and corrupted his blood by preaching he soon fell into his mortall disease a Pleurisie for curing whereof though no meanes were wanting yet the desired effect through the Counsel of God followed not In the beginning of his sicknesse he set his house in order most holily and as became so worthy a Father and then bad farewell to all as one throughly prepared for his departure full of Faith and Patience and joy in the holy Ghost a great help in that acute disease Carefull of the welfare of the Church at home then in danger to be corrupted grieved for the evils he knew in some mens dealings Rejoycing greatly in the midst of the apprehension of death for the happy proceedings of the heroicall King of Sweden then victorious in Bavaria And once when he was told he must a little help himself by cheerfulnesse he fell into a most contentfull discourse of those noble deliverances and victories and more would have spoken if weaknesse had permitted But especially his joy in God and in the conquest of Christ Oh said he we serve a good Lord who covers all imperfections and gives great wages for little work and in mercy he hath provided for me some of the greatest With other holy speeches full of faith and joy which his infirmity would not suffer him to utter perfectly In which manner he languished by degrees and at last on the Lords day being the usuall day of his principall labours he was dismissed of all and went to keep a perpetuall Sabbath in heaven where now he resteth from his labours and his works follow him even a full reward in endlesse glory which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive what things those are which God hath prepared for them that love him The Life of Master Hugh Clark who died Anno Christi 1634. HUgh Clark was born at Burton
home and abroad so was he particular in minding his special Friends before the Lord and the spirituall welfare of his children was so much upon his heart that he daily desired to lodge them in Gods bosome yea he seldome gave thanks either before or after meat especially towards the end of his life without some touch of tendency towards his children in reference unto whom this was one constant Petition That they might never seek great things for themselves in this world And his own practice from his youth proved the sincerity of his heart in this suit because he never looked after nor would entertain any motion of removing for wealth or worldly promotion though his charge was great and his eminency both in ministerial and scholastical gifts with the power of godlinesse which did shine in his whole conversation gained him many Friends and rendred him in their account a man more meet for a place of publique note and resort then the village where he dwelt When the Prelatical opposition against the Non-conformists was hot and high he spake thus unto a Neighbour-Brother Be confident that although all who are now known Non-conformists were dead and gone yet God would rather raise some out of our ashes to protest against Episcopacy and the Ceremonies then suffer that cause to fall unto the ground He would say The Fathers wanted some of our light but we want more of their heat He was exemplarily carefull to preserve Gods Ordinances from pollution and contempt and therefore did alwaies take great pains with his people to prepare them for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper In his Sermons he was wont to tell his Auditours that their persecuting impoverishing imprisoning and thrusting daggers into their Ministers bodies would not be more grievous then their unworthy communicating at the Lords Table and their unanswerable walking unto the Ordinances of grace dispenced amongst them And when Parents presented their children in the Congregation to be baptized he would very affectionately lay open their duty pressing Sacramental ingagements home to their hearts with strong Arguments and authority ministerial Though no man was known by his Friends who more dis-relished the corruptions in Church-Government and in administrations of holy worship yet he hath sufficiently published unto the world his great dislike of the way of separation from our Church-Assemblies upon such pretences Thus he spake unto a Friend who had moved him to maintain our Church-communion against the Separatists How little am I beholding unto you who drew me from more profitable studies to peruse those sapless speculations He much lamented in his Prayers before God the first breakin gs out of Independency in England both in respect of the present offence and the wofull consequences thereof whereof he was much afraid yea he did very often tell his Friends both in the time of his health and last sicknesse that if God should give opportunity and hopes of Church-reformation that we might be eased of our present grievances the Brethren of the new separation would be found the greatest obstructers thereof His remembrance of the History of former Separations with which he was fully acquainted and his prudential fore-sight of the diducts which would necessarily follow from their Principles viz. Anabaptisme c. together with his wise insight into the dispositions of some persons who then appeared therein these were the grounds of his foretelling the confusions the spreading of pernicious errours and hinderances of Reformation which we since have sadly suffered under These Reasons of his Prediction which is noised abroad are expressed lest any should imagine him to have inclined to regard injections and impulsions of spirit which some cry up as prophetical His distaste whereof may be evidenced by this one instance viz. Being asked by one who much pretended unto immediate inspirations besides Scripture whether he at any time had experience thereof in his own heart His answer was this No I blesse God and if I should ever have such phantasies I hope God would give me grace to resist them When there was discourse concerning the new or rather the renewed errours which were broached he would ordinarily say A good Treatise of the sufficiency of the Scriptures would put an end unto these matters His exceeding love to study and his great modesty caused unwillingnesse to go far from home or to appear publique in any kind And if the extraordinary importunity of some much esteemed Friends had not conquered this aversnesse he would in probability never have printed any thing in his own name or have come into the company of persons of chief place and quality yea God was pleased in both these waies to make him serviceable For besides the profit which many have received from his printed Books he was happily instrumentall by conference to preserve some men of chief esteem in regard of their Piety Parts and places of command in the Countries where they lived from warping towards the waies of new separation upon the sollicitation of such who were busie sticklers therein Upon the calling of the Parliament in the year 1640. some hopes being conceived that he might be an instrument of publique benefit to the Church by dealing with some Parliament-men that if further Reformation of things wofully out of order could not be procured men unconformable to the Ceremonies might not be thrust out and kept out of the Ministry in that regard He thereupon took a journey into London with his neighbour and endeared Brother Master Langley but receiving small encouragement to his hopes and endeavours in that kind he returned home with sorrow upon his heart complaining of the many symptomes of Gods displeasure which he saw ready to break out against poor England and resolved to do what service he could in any other way And being convinced that his labours might be profitable to the Church both in the present and succeeding ages he was resolved to lay forth himself for publique service in any kind as his good Friends should advise and in pursuance hereof he designed these three works viz. 1. A Treatise of the Church 2. An Exposition of obscure Scriptures out of all the original Languages 3. A more full Systeme of Divinity by the enlarging of his Catechism For all which he had much good Provision under hand when the Lord saw cause to put an end to his labours And here all those must silence their hearts who knowing him may be apt to judge his removall at this time to be unseasonable with these words which were much in his mouth when God checked hopes by crosse Providences The Lord is wisest God is most wise Many conflicts he had with men of greatest strength as was imagined to maintain the new pathes into which divers had stepped aside But the truth is never was any of them able to stand up under his Arguments Though God was pleased to take him away whom some in scorn called
When he was Bishop he was a constant Preacher and Performer of Family-duty both evening and morning and kept his Servants and Attendants in good order Being called to London in the beginning of the Parliament he made at Westminster a worthy and zealous Sermon wherein he inveighed against the corruptions that were crept into the Church especially in respect of Ceremonies so eagerly prest by sundry Bishops as bowing to the Altar and such like innovations His Sermon was well approved of by the best but he seeing the tumults that were then raised in London about the Parliament House and hearing that he himself was censured as Popish because a Bishop he took it grievously to heart sickned and died there about the great climactericall year of his age He was a great favourer of zealous Professors and Lecturers and therefore he was accounted by many a Puritanical Bishop and indeed some at the Court in King James his time said That Organs would blow him out of the Church He was well skilled in the Hebrew tongue and for his further Progresse therein disdained not to learn of one of the Fellows even when he was Provost He utterly disliked the Book of sports for Recreation on the Sabbath day and told a Minister with whom he was acquainted that if it were sent down to his Diocesse he would sleight it and urge none of his Jurisdiction to read it He was of a weak constitution of body melancholick and lean as being a hard Student and therefore to recreate his spirits he loved vocal musick and to this end he sent divers times for such Scholars in the Colledge as could sing well and he would bear a part with them in his lodgings after supper where they made most excellent melody He was the last Bishop that died as a Member of the Parliament and was Bishop of Carlisle some fourteen years The Life of Master Richard Sedgwick who died Anno Christi 1643. RIchard Sedgwick was born at East Deereham in the County of Norfolke Anno Cbristi 1574. His Father was a Clothier but by reason of a great losse by fire fell into decay He had an Uncle living in Yorkshire who was very rich and of large yearly revenues having no Children whereupon he took this Richard in his tender years home to himself and put him to School with an intent to make him his heir but God had laid up a better portion for him His Uncle and his Family were prophane hating the power of godlinesse and wedded to games and sports yet even in such a Family God visited him in mercy and awakened his soul by working in him hearty desires after himself While the rest of the Family were at their games and dancings he would be in a corner mourning His Uncle at first thought his retirednesse to have been bookishnesse and therefore rebuked him gently and called upon him to take more liberty but at last perceiving the truth of the thing he began to hate him and to deal roughly with him and not being able to bring him to his will cast him out of his Family saying that a Puritane should never inherit his land Before this his Father died and his Mother being industrious and sparing out of the little means she had left her maintained him at Peter-house in Cambridge where he profited greatly in all kind of learning He began the exercise of his Ministry in Kent where he being called to preach in the Cathedral at Canterbury in his Sermon touching the corruption of the Prebends and their Cathedral service he so far displeased them as that by threats they brought him to condescend through weaknesse to promise to recant and a day for this was appointed Upon his return home and his second thoughts he became very sad and in his perplexity took his Bible and opened it and at the first lighted on that encouraging Word of God to Jeremiah Jer. 1.7 8. Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord. By this he was so strengthened that he resolved to stand to what he had formerly delivered whatsoever dangers did attend him At the time appointed he preached again in the Cathedral having a very large Auditory both of the Countrey and City in which Sermon he confirmed what he had before delivered earnestly pressing the Prebends to reform the abuses amongst them By this they were so offended that they complained of him to the Bishop and so persecuted him that he was forced to forsake his place and to retire himself into private and was entertained for a time by Sir Edward Bois the elder a man eminent for Piety in those daies During this his retirement he came upon occasion to London and by the meanes of Master Egerton Pastor at Black-fryers was received into the Family of Sir Edward Anslow who lived in the City during the winter and in summer at Crawley in Surrey a place destitute of a preaching Ministry In this Family his encouragement was great but his labours aboundant Every day his usuall course was to pray in the morning at six a clock with the Husbandmen and at ten to pray with the rest of the Family and expound a Chapter in which course he went through the four first Books of Moses His course at night was after Prayer to catechize the Family by turns wherein he used no respect of Persons the meanest not being left out and the chiefest not forborn On the Lords day during his abode at Crawley he preached twice constantly and after publique exercise called the whole Family in private to render an account of what was delivered in publique In the winter when the greatest part of the Family was at London under an able Ministry he was ready to help others and by Providence was called to improve his talent at Battersey in Surrey Master Wybourne a Reverend Divine who constantly preached in that place having by a fall broke his legge and being disabled thereby to continue his labours desiring his assistance At this place the people were so affected with his Ministry that they requested him to continue to preach among them promising to strain themselves to provide him maintenance He had a fair call and opportunity denying himself to answer it for Sir Edward Anslow about this time had an estate befallen him in Hertfordshire whither he resolved to go to dwell in which place was an able and godly Minister Master Sedgwick seeing that by continuing in this Family he should not have occasion of exercising his publique Ministry relinquished fifty pounds annuity during his life assured to him by this worthy Knight and accepted of this call to preach at Battersey Before his departure out of this Family he married a Wife of an honest and Religious stock in the City of London He had not long exercised
his gifts at Battersey bringing glory to God but the devil again raised up persecution against him One Master King Church-warden of the place was offended at him because he freely reproved sinne and boldly spake against the corruptions that were then in the Church by this man he was presented into the Commissaries Court and by his means cited to appear to answer certain Articles This was about the latter end of Queen Elizabeths reign not long before the coming in of King James Upon this citation he resolved to appear and came to London and being at the door of the Commissaries house Master Egerton his faithfull and Reverend Friend by Providence passing by came to him and having saluted him told him he had heard of the opposition made against him at Battersey and asked him if he would accept of a Call to go beyond the Seas his answer was having returned thanks for his kindnesse that he could not as yet resolve him forasmuch as he stood accused at present and was resolved what ever came of it to defend those Truths that he had publiquely delivered but yet professing a willingnesse to follow Providence whithersoever the Lord should call him Appearing before the Commissary he met with courteous usage and was friendly dismissed for at this time those men feared a change to be brought in by King James Not long after this he was called by the Merchant-adventurers to be Minister to their company beyond Sea whither breaking through all discouragements he went During his abode beyond the Sea at Stoade and Hamborough which was about the space of eleven years and an half he by the advice of the godly learned erected and established Discipline in that Church God did greatly blesse his Ministry and he begat among that little company many Sons and Daughters unto God He had Communion with the Netherland-Dutch Church at Stoade and at Altenon near Hamborough and with the godly that came out of England admitting them being desirous to come to the Lords Table In his Ministry he was very searching many coming and confessing those things which he had never heard of till it came out of their own mouthes In his carriage he was affable and courteous yet grave and awfull so that many durst not for fear do those things that otherwise they were disposed to The Merchants here found the benefit by the orderly carriage of their Factors there Yet here the Devil was not quiet for one of the prime Merchants taking exceptions against his impartiall dealing in his Ministry and the order in the Church threatned by such a day naming it to have him over into England but before that day came himself was summoned by death to another place He was very charitable himself allowing something yearly towards the maintenance of the suspended Ministers here and greatly furthered charity in others By his direction and encouragement Master Jones a rich Batchelour and one of the Elders of his Church bequeathed many thousands of pounds to pious uses which to this day speaks his praise He was eminent in self-denial for being made Executour by the said Master Jones of his last Will and Testament whereby he might have gained much to himself he never rested till he had caused him to alter his Will and to place others in his room Upon the dissolving of that company of Merchants he came over into England and being disappointed of a place in London intended for him by Master Jones he went to Monmouth in Wales and for some time held the Lecture setled there Afterward a Chappel being erected at Wapping he was called to that place and became the first Minister there Here he abode to his death being holy and exemplary in his life and conversation and aboundant in labours preaching constantly thrice a week and catechizing on the Lords day besides The tendernesse of his fatherly care and love of this people he expressed all the time of his living with them but especially in the time of the great sicknesse when remaining with them he preached constantly every Lords day and the Fast dayes notwithstanding all the danger that he was in the infection in that place being much spread and very violent The Providence of God over him at that time was very remarkable For although all the Families round about him were infected and his house adjoyned to the place of Burial yet neither himself nor any of his Family were any waies smitten with it Many were his labours in private being much sought unto both for counsell and for comfort What successe God gave unto his Ministry was evident by the many souls won and built up by him He was very studious and wrote much yet was alwaies averse from publishing any thing though often requested saying that the many Books that were daily set forth hindred the study and reading of the Holy Scriptures Once he committed to the Presse a Catechism fitted for his own Congregation and before his death had finished a large Tractate of the body of Divinity which still lies by He sought the good of all and was a precious savour unto some in whose hearts to this day his memory flourishes He foresaw the ensuing distractions with a grieved heart and raised himself up to comfort by contemplating the approaching time wherein Christ and his truth and his waies shall have the preheminence His judgement concerning some hath proved true asserting often that their principles would not if they continued in them suffer them to sit down on this side Anabaptism He was a Friend of truth and peace and an Instrument of refreshing the bowels of the poor many strangers for his sake giving in largely towards their relief Having finished his course being spent with labours he quietly and comfortably ended his daies and according to his last words went unto his God Anno Christi 1643. and of his age 69. having continued his Ministry at Wapping six and twenty years The Life of Master Julines Herring who died Anno Christi 1644. IUlines Herring was born in Flamber-mayre Parish in Mountgomery-shire 1582. His Father within three years after returned with his Wife and Family into Coventry where his Ancestors had been chief officers of the City in their course almost for the space of two hundred years and where he himself also was Sheriff and Maior living and dying in good estimation there This Julines his Son having had his first education in Shropshire with Master Perkin Minister at More-Chappel his Mothers near Kinsman where he learned the Principles of Religion was brought home unto Coventry where he was trained up in Learning under Reverend Master Tovey who then was Head Schoolmaster there While he was a school-boy he was noted for his diligence in reading the holy Scriptures delighting in those Chapters especially which treat of Faith in Christ and of repentance from sin to God And even then in
much good but of no blood nor division between the two Nations He was one of Gods special Remembrancers in behalf of England begging fervently that the Lords and Commons in Parliament might be preserved from the two destructive rocks of pride and self-interests He poured out his soul before the Almighty that he would appear for the Non-conformists cause in England and set up the Presbyterial Government according to the Scripture Rules He often professed himself to be no enemy unto the Persons of Bishops but an opposite to their Pride and Prelaticall Rule When news came unto him of the Battell at Edge-hill thus he spake with tears Oh Lord wilt thou write Englands Reformation in red Letters of her own blood yet preserve thine own People and maintain thine own cause for Jesus Christ sake He greatly bewailed the obstructing of Church reformation in England by them who professed themselves zealous for Reformation and it was no small offence unto him to hear of the Letters which came from some Independents at London into Holland wherein falshoods were reported to the reproach of some Presbyterians his known godly Friends in England He was a true Nathaniel indeed in whose spirit there was no guile and therefore all falshood and unworthy juglings were an abomination to his heart There was an holy harmoniousnesse in his whole conversation his life was a well-spun thread from the beginning to the end and tended much to the honour of his Profession and particular Calling Although he walked exactly with God and maintained the comfort of constant peace with him yet Satan was suffered to give him one furious assault the night before he died as was perceived by those who were then with him for rising upon his knees with his hands lifted up he spake these words He is overcome overcome through the strength of my Lord and only Saviour Jesus unto whom I am now going to keep a Sabbath in glory And next morning March 28. 1644. being the Sabbath day about the time when he was wont to go unto ministerial work in the publique Congregagation and the sixty two year of his life he was taken from his labours into rest unto the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven where he shall sing Hallelujahs for evermore The Life of Master John Dod who died Anno Christi 1645. IOhn Dod was born in Cheshire at a town called Shotlidge bordering on Wales not far from Malpus His Parents had a convenient estate worth a hundred marks a year which went to the eldest Brother This John was the youngest of seventeen and much beloved of his Parents He was sent to School to West-Chester and when he was about fourteen years old he was disposed of to Jesus Colledge in Cambridge where though he had little acquaintance yet the Lord prospering his studies he was chosen first Scholar and after Fellow in that Colledge he there remained near sixteen years The manner of his Conversion was thus The Steward or Boucher of the Colledge accused him to the Master for the non-payment of a considerable summe of money due for one of his Pupils which Master Dod had truly paid but he forgot to set it down Hereupon there was a vehement contest betwixt them about this businesse and the vexation of mind that he should be accounted a defrauder did so trouble Master Dod that he fell into a Feaver and was dangerously sick yet all this while he was but in a natural estate For though he had some good skill in the Theorick part of Divinity yet he was without any application and his affliction was this that he should be blamed for that which he from the Law and light of nature hated All his sorrow as yet was but worldly sorrow and as himself saies he neither did nor could tell how to pray At length the Lord put into his heart that Scripture Rom. 7. The Law is spiritual but I am carnal and sold under sinne and presently his sins came upon him like armed men and the tyde of his thoughts was turned and he left musing how he was wronged and seriously considered how he had offended God and he betook himself to great humiliation and earnestly besought the Lord for pardon and peace in Jesus Christ. Yet for some time he could find no comfort but going on to seek the Lord there follows after much humiliation much consolation and the Lord sealed to him that his sins were washed away with the blood of Christ. Then did he desire his accuser to come to him and told him that though he had accounted him to be his great enemy yet now he acknowledged him to be his good Friend for that he was a means to bring him unto God And afterwards it so fell out by Gods good Providence that it came to this mans remembrance that Master Dod had paid him the money and he was very sorrowfull for the wrong which he had done him and did him all the right he could for the healing of his name and Master Dod said that he had not a more faithfull Friend in all the Colledge during his abode there then this man proved When he was some years standing Master of Art he was appointed to oppose in the Philosophy Act at the Commencement which he did with great approbation insomuch as it was desired that he should dispute again the next Commencement but that he avoided When he preached his first Sermon in the University he had bestowed much pains about it binding himself to words and phrases but in his Sermon he was at a Non-plus whereupon he resolved afterwards never to pen his Sermon verbatim but his usuall manner was to write only the Analysis of his Text the proofs of Scripture for the Doctrines with the Reasons and Uses and so leaving the rest to meditation in which course he never found defect And whereas Doctor Fulk Doctor Chaderton Doctor Whitaker and some others had their frequent meeting to expound the Scriptures and therein they chose the Epistle to the Hebrews they were pleased from their loving respect to Master Dod to take in him amongst them While he continued Fellow of Jesus Colledge by the importunity of some godly people of Ely he went weekly and preached amongst them in that City where the Lord gave a great blessing to his Ministry His removall from Cambridge to Hanwel in Oxfordshire was thus occasioned Master Cope afterwards Sir Anthony Cope a man of eminent note who was much wrought upon by Master Dods Ministry sent a Letter to Doctor Chaderton to provide him a Minister for Hanwel which was then vacant Doctor Chaderton moved Master Dod to go to the place and after he had been a while and preached severall Sermons by the desire and consent of the people and by the approbation of the neighbour Ministers who had heard him he was setled as their Pastor While he was at Hanwel he preached twice every Sabbath catechizing also
in the afternoon and kept a Lecture on the Wednesday constantly and besides this he was one of the five Ministers who held up the Lecture at Banbury He gave himself much to Fasting and Prayer and as his seeds-time was painfull so his Harvest was gainfull hundreds of souls being converted by his Ministry He was given to Hospitality delighting therein keeping a constant Table on the Sabbath and on the Wednesdays Lecture upon which daies he had not under eight or twelve persons commonly dining with him and he spent the time amongst them in spiritual exhortation and conference He was about thirty years old when he came to Hanwel and continued there above twenty years where he had twelve Children by his dear Wife formerly Anne Bound Daughter-in-law to the worthy Servant of Jesus Christ Master Greenham of Draighton near Cambridge and Daughter to Doctor Bound she was one that truly feared God and after her decease by the perswasion of some Friends he took to Wife Mistresse Cleiton who then lived at Stratford Bowe she also was a godly woman and he was contracted to her by Master Egerton of Black-Fryers and married by his ancient and loving Friend Doctor Gouge But to return back again to Hanwel it pleased the Lord to give a great blessing to his Ministry in that place yet he had much trouble from the envy of some Ministers that lived about him who though they seldome preached themselves yet they would not suffer that their people should go from them and hence he was frequently questioned in the Bishops Courts And besides this though some of Hanwel were very courteous and kind yet there were some others who were glad to get from him what they could and to keep from him what they could thinking that that which he had was too much Upon a time Master Dod took a journey to Draighton to bemoan himself to his Father-in-law Master Greenham by reason of his crosses and hard usage Master Greenham heard him what he could say and when he had done answered him thus Son Son when affliction lieth heavy sin lieth light This deserves the rather to be remembred because Master Dod used often to blesse God for it saying also that if Master Greenham had bemoaned him which he expected he had done him hurt and he forgot not this speech in his old age but made excellent use of it for himself and others He was suspended from his Ministry at Hanwel by Doctor Bridges Bishop of Oxford And suspecting what would follow the Sabbath before he went to the Visitation he gave his hearers a farewell Sermon out of that text I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered the people did attend unto him with sad countenances and weeping eyes Being thus driven from Hanwel he preached at Fenni-Compton in Warwickshire where he had but small means but he was desirous to be doing good From thence he had a fair call unto Cannons-Ashby in Northamptonshire where he lived quietly divers years preached over the whole Prophesie of Danel with some other Scriptures having much kindnesse from Sir Erasmas Dryden in whom there was a rare mixture of Piety and Learning and good affection from Master Cope He was silenced from preaching at Ashby upon a complaint made against him by Bishop Neal to King James who commanded the Arch-bishop Abbot to silence him Then he ceased for some time to preach publiquely yet in regard of his heavenly gift in conference he might have been said daily to preach privately he was in his element when he was discoursing of heavenly things And God in goodnesse so ordered it that when he was restrained from publique preaching yet himself conceived that at that time his life was no lesse profitable then it had been in former times He had much employment in comforting such as were wounded in their spirits being sent for not only nigh at hand but also into remote Countries There was a Gentlewoman who had a great worldly estate and a loving Husband but she was so sadly assaulted with tentations that she often attempted to make away her self Master Dod was sent for to come to her and the Lord so blessed his Councels Exhortations and Prayers that she did not only recover out of her anguish of spirit but she was afterwards taken notice of for her singular Piety and the Lord so ordered that this affliction was not only the means of her Conversion but also of her Husbands so that both of them were a great mercy in the Countrey where they lived promoting Religion according to their power and entertaining and cherishing godly people She lived divers years quieted in her heart and being rich in good works and when she lay on her death-bed Master Dod was sent for to her again who spake of heaven and to fit her for that glory she told him that she felt the comforts of God and that she could as hardly at that time forbear singing as formerly in child-bearing she could forbear crying and shortly after she died There was a Gentlemen related to a noble Family so perplexed in his mind that he hath been known in hard frosts to go barefooted that the pain of his feet might divert his thoughts Master Dod was sent for to him who was his spirituall Physician to heale him It would be long to insist on all particulars of this nature the Lord having made him a happy Instrument for the good of many When he had spent some years in this kind of service by the care and industry of Master Richard Knightley of Preston a worthy Patriot after the death of King James his liberty was procured for preaching again publiquely and then he was setld at Fausley where he preached twice every Lords day There he went over the Gospel of John the Epistle to the Colossions and other Scriptures He was much given to Hospitality at Fausley as he had formerly been at Hanwel so that there was scarce any Sabbath in the year in which he did not dine both poor and rich commonly three or four poor persons besides those that came from other places to hear him He had so large an heart that upon occasion he hath given to some three shillings to some ten shillings to some twenty shillings and when the poor came to buy butter or cheese he would command his maid to take no money of them At Fausley he had quietnesse from the Courts as also at Ashby for in neither of those places was there any Church-wardens He was beholding at Fausley to the Right Worshipfull Family of the Knightleys where his bones was laid He used to bear crosses with much patience and meeknesse being wont to say that Sanctified afflictions were great promotions quoting that of the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. is much more precious then gold which he conceived to signifie the affliction that
after the seeking of spiritual illumination in hearing and reading c. and divine assistance in religious duties not contenting our selves with the use of parts and accomplishments or grace received but to look higher saying David that could preach excellently and had Nathan and Gad the Prophets also to preach yet cryes out for teaching thereby shewing that all that teaching would not do unlesse God teach also And Davids cryes Open mine eyes he had the light without but he must have light within viz. sight else he could not see the wonders of the Law though he had the Law He used to presse much to meeknesse and a sweet disposition to affability charity and cheerfulnesse not to be rigid sour tart nor sad least the world should think that we served an hard Master Being above eighty years old his pains were very great yet not painfull to him He preached almost all day long on the Lords day yet said it was no great matter to pay money when one had it all the labour was to get it He opened a Chapter and prayed in his Family after preached twice in publique and in the interim discoursed all dinner while but eat very little He brought in many with him to dinner besides his four or six constant Widows if his Wife began to doubt of her provision at sight of so many he would say Better want meat then good company but there is something in the house though cold This is not a day to feast the bodies but souls At first sitting down he would bid them help themselves and one another and see that none want Let me said he bid you but once for I would not speak a vain word to day After both Sermons the house would be filled and he being sate in his chair used to say if any have a good question or a hard place of Scripture to open let them say on and when he was faint he would call for a small glasse of Wine and Beer mixt and then to it again till night He was excellent in preaching occasionally from the creatures as he walked or rode His Ministry was so spiritual and yet so plain that poor simple people that never knew what Religion meant when they had gone to hear him could not choose but talk of his Sermon It mightily affected poor creatures to hear the Mysteries of God by his excellent skill that way brought down to their own language and dialect He was so holy and spiritual both in life and doctrine that he silenced even desperate and devillish opposers of Religion It was a discredit for any to speak evil of him because it must needs expresse much malice and all men most generally in his latter time at least honoured him He was very successefull in making peace though between desperate and almost implacable adversaries and some of them wicked mightily convincing them with Gospel-arguments to the overcoming and quieting of their spirits He would answer any questions propounded that were but fit for a Divine to speak to yet shewing his approbation or dislike of the question according to the honesty and spiritualnesse or curiosity and lightnesse of it When mean inferiour people came to speak with him if he was walking in the Church where he used most to study that he might have room to walk in being troubled with the stone or elsewhere if he thought them bashfull he would meet them and say Would you speak with me And when he found them unable to state their question he would help them out with it taking care to find the sore but would answer and deal so compassionately and tenderly as not to discourage the poorest soul from coming again to him If any questioned him about Ceremonies about which many then suffered he was very wary in dealing not shy in speaking his judgment but carefull of advising them according to their strength He would bid them take heed of being led meerly by the imitation of any body 〈◊〉 other mens arguments but look to their Scripture-light and see 〈◊〉 â—â—guments they had to bear them out and whether they could 〈◊〉 alone in that case if they should survive their patterns He would not have them make a businesse about lesser things and then fall off from what they began to professe Being to advise a young man in his choice of a yokefellow he bad him look principally after Godlinesse Men talk of a portion grace is the bâ—st portion The wise woman buildeth up the house viz. The godly c. Not the rich Some use to say There is a portion and civility and we will hope for grace But saith he rather make sure grace and hope for riches There 's far greater reason for it For Godlinesse hath the Promises riches hath none A Sonne or Daughter of God shall be provided for He would say he that could answer two questions well might have comfort in any place or condition viz. Who am I and what do I here Am I a Child of God and am I in my calling or way He hath given his Angels charge to keep thee in all thy waies And that the knowledge of two things would make one willing to suffer or die viz. What Heaven is And that it 's mine I said one if a man were sure To whom he answered Truly Assurance is to be had and what have we been doing all this while He used to say they that hope to go to Heaven as most do and had not good evidence for it were like a man that passing by a great house and estate would say This is mine but being bid to shew his title would say some body must have it and why not I Such is most mens title for Heaven During the time of his last sicknesse it pleased the Lord to try him by grievous pains most bitter and sharp of the strangury but when he had any intermissions he was breathing out such speeches as tended to the praise of God and to the edification of those that attended him He slept little all the night or day long before his death in all which time he imployed his attendants which were about him to read the Scriptures which he expounded to them And when his strength was spent with speaking he retired himself to Prayer and Meditation When he felt his paines returning he would intreat those that were about him to pray to God for him either to give him deliverance or patience His tentation a little before his death and his wrestlings with Satan were great so were his victories He spake to one that did watch with him all night about two of the clock in the morning that he had been wrestling with Satan all that night who accused him that he neither preached nor prayed nor performed any duty as he should have done for manner or for end but he said I have answered him from the example of the Prodigal
hang him Then he was brought to Sir Ralph Hopton who spake to him thus Master Balsom I little thought one day that you should have been my Prisoner and I cannot but wonder that such men as you should be engaged in a rebellion against the King To whom he replyed Sir I cannot but wonder that such men as you should call this rebellion Sir Ralph desired him to give him an account of the grounds upon which he and his party proceeded promising him that he should not suffer for any thing that he spake to him After about half an hours discourse he committed him to his own Marshall with this charge Keep this man safe but use him well The Marshall received him and after some little rough entertainment upon his entrance into his house he at length used him with great seeming respect Long he had not been there but a Gentlewoman came to him with a pottle of Sack urging him to preach a Recantation Sermon the next morning before the Lords promising that if he would so do the King would make him a Doctor He replyed Sure you do but mock me for should I preach upon such short warning the Lords would never hear such extempore stuff but if you be in good earnest and would make me a Doctor indeed then let me have the same Law ye use to give your Doctors viz. a quarter of a years time to make a Sermon and by that time you may know more of my mind The next morning an Order was brought for the conveying of him to Oxford whither he was accordingly carried He lighted first at the Blewbore whither they brought a company of the Queens followers who with much fury oftentimes swore that he should not go alive out of the room But the Musqueteers who were set as a guard upon him desired them to be quiet telling them that he was their Prisoner and should not suffer there but they would suffer with him Thence he was conveyed to the Castle where after two or three daies abode he enjoyed the same liberty with other Prisoners And a while after he set up an Exposition Lecture in the prison twice a day To which not only the Prisoners and some of the Souldiers but divers Courtiers and many out of the town often came Being prohibited once or twice to go on in this Exercise he answered if ye are weary of me I am not willing to trouble you any longer ye may turn me out of your doors when you will but while I have a tongue to speak and people to speak to I will not hold my peace After some moneths of imprisonment he was released by exchange As he was departing thence some Courtiers and others that had formerly shewed him some favour perswaded him to close with their party and to stay with them He utterly refusing divers of them accompanied him out of town and as they were parting one of them said Sir If any of us should fall into your hands we should desire no better entertainment then you have had amongst us He replyed Gentlemen I could wish that ten thousand of you might fall into our hands within this moneth that you might see how kindly we would deal with you Thence he was sent for by the Lord Generall Essex to be Chaplain in his Army with whom he continued during his command Then he went to Barwick where he was received with great affection of the people and saw in a short time great successe of his labours in the Ministry During his abode there two things were very remarkeable One whereas there was a Child that had been strangely visited with such a weaknesse as neither Physicians or Divines could guesse at the cause or find out the cure Hereupon Master Balsom moved some Christians there to seek God with him by Fasting and Prayer which accordingly they did and obtained a suddain and extraordinary answer For as the Mother of the Child came home from the Exercise her Child met her and told her she was very well who before had kept her bed of a long time The other thing remarkable was this A Scottish Lord by name the Lord of Granson took up his habitation for a time in Barwick and brought with him his Family In which amongst others was the Steward of his house formerly reputed a godly man who was very much afflicted in mind Master Balsom came to visit him and administred some comfort to him for that time But two or three daies after he being sorely afflicted again Master Balsom was sent for who finding him very much weakned and worn out by the violence of temptation began to speak comfortably to him But perceiving that no words of comfort would fasten on him he whispered to him in his ear to this purpose I doubt there is something within that you should do well to discover Whereupon immediately the mans tongue swelled out of his mouth insomuch that he was not able to speak Master Balsom continued speaking to him till at length to the astonishment of those in the room being many and some of them persons of quality a shrill voice was heard as from out of his throat having not any use of his tongue to this purpose What dost thou talking to him of Promises and free grace He is mine Master Balsom apprehending it to be the voice of the Devil replyed No Satan thou dost not know any man to be thine while there is life in him But this is a notorious wicked wretch and therefore is mine The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin If God would let me loose upon you I should find enough in the best of you to make you all mine But thou art bound Satan And so turning himself to the people with a smiling countenance he said What a gracious God have we that suffers not Satan to have his will upon us Then the Devil began to curse and swear and blaspheme the Trinity in a most fearfull and horrible manner The Lord rebuke thee But this man is mine for he hath given himself to me and sealed it with his blood I do not believe that the father of lies speaketh truth and I do believe how confident soever thou art that thou wilt lose thy hold before to morrow morning The Devil continued to curse and swear further saying How canst thou endure to hear thy God blasphemed I will never give over blaspheming so long as thou stayest in the room I will pray for him Wilt thou pray for a man that is damned I will go home and pray for him and get all the force I can in the town to joyn with me After this there being no more voice heard Mr. Balsom went home about eleven a clock at night where he found in his house divers Christians which he intended to have sent for waiting for him and upon the sight of them he
where he continued his former diligence as well in the exercise of Religion as the improvement of his learning both in his private Study and in the performance of Exercises in the University and Colledge notwithstanding the exemption which Fellow-Commoners in Colledges are ready to plead from the performance of them After that he had there taken the degree of Master of Arts about the year 1622. he was in the year 1623. constituted Fellow of Queens Colledge in that University where although he were a Gentleman that beside his Fellowship had an estate of his own and so had the lesse need in point of maintenance to take that trouble of Pupils upon him yet not satisfying himself to take a place upon him without performing the Office thereunto belonging he took many Pupils of whom he was more then ordinarily carefull being very diligent both in praying with them in his Chamber and instructing them in the grounds of Religion as also keeping them to their studies and the performance of disputations and other exercises of learning privately in his Chamber beside the more publique exercises required of them by the Colledge to the great benefit of those that were his Pupils While he was Fellow of Queens Colledge about the year 1624. he was solemnly ordained to the work of the Ministry whereunto from a Child he had addicted himself And about the year 1626 was called to the publique exercise thereof as a Lecturer in the City of Canterbury where for divers years notwithstanding the great oppositions he there met with from such as were enemies to the power of godlinesse he did with much diligence and very great successe discharge that great work to the spiritual edification and comfort of many yet alive to whom his memory to this day is precious The occasion of his coming thither was this Coming from Cambridge to give a visit to his Brother Sir Thomas Palmer at Wingham he did at the intreaty of some Friends preach a Sermon at the Cathedral Church in Canterbury and that with so much true Zeal and reall savour of Piety as did much affect the godly hearers The report hereof coming to the knowledge of Master Delme a godly faithfull prudent and laborious Minister of the French Church in Canterbury he made a journey to Wingham on purpose to gain a further knowledge of him and acquaintance with him with whom he was already not a little in love from that good report he had heard of him though as yet by face unknown to him and hereby not only obtained the knowledge of the man but was also by his gracious and savoury discourse and carriage very much confirmed in that good opinion which he had before conceived of him And this was the first foundation of that intire and Christian friendship which with much spiritual advantage to them both was contracted between these two holy men which continued and increased daily to their mutual comfort and contentment while they were both living and the memory thereof is still precious to him that doth yet survive After this before his return to Cambridge having at the request of Master Delme preached a second Sermon at Saint Georges Church in Canterbury on a week day Lecture the most godly and best affected in the City were more and more taken with him and expressed great desires of enjoying his Ministry amongst them if it might be obtained Hereupon Master Delme with divers others of the most considerable Gentlemen and Citizens having earnestly sought direction from God in a matter of such concernment did seriously advise about it and being first assured of the concurrent desires of many others did by letters and messages to Cambridge signifie to him the desire of the godly in that City that he would undertake to preach a Lecture amongst them This invitation after mature deliberation he thought good to accept of preferring the opportunity and probability of doing good in that populous place before the hopes of preferment either in the University or elsewhere which by reason of his many Friends and acquaintance great at Court and otherwise he might likely have attained unto holding steady to that resolution which long before that time he had taken up so to imploy himself as might probably most promte the Work of God whatever became of his own advantages Whereupon a License being obtained for him from George Abbot then Arch-bishop of Canterbury authorizing him to preach a weekly Lecture on the Lords day in the afternoon at Alphage Church in that City He left his Fellowship in the University and undertook this work During his abode in this employment he did much edifie the people there both by sound doctrine and exemplary conversation His Sermons were altogether spiritual and heavenly full of solid explications and practicall applications of the Word of God whereby the City was well seasoned as with savoury salt and much preserved from those innovations and corruptions both in doctrine and Worship which in those dayes were creeping on apace by reason whereof that leven of formality which many of the Cathedralists were promoting who preferred pompous Ceremonies before the power of Godlinesse was stopped from spreading and corrupting so much as otherwise it might have done For although he was not then perswaded of the unlawfulnesse of the then Government and some Ceremonies then in use yet he could no way approve of the corrupt innovations coming on in those daies but did with all wisdome and zeal reprove them countenancing goodnesse and good men And by this means he was a great stay and comfort to the godly Ministers and People both in the City and Countrey thereabouts whom not only by his publique preaching but by many other Christian and Ministerial helps administred in his more private Converses he did very much incourage in true Piety Of this very many Families in that City had great experience even those of the meanest ranke whom he was wont often to visit as he had opportunity that he might the better understand their spiritual condition admitting also persons of all ranks freely to apply themselves unto him as they had occasion and to partake the benefit of private Conferences Prayers and other religious exercises as likewise affording his Christian advice and direction in cases of difficulty especially to distressed Consciences in which cases by most of his prudent and judicious resolutions he was frequently consulted with as a kind of Oracle And that not only during his abode at Canterbury but wherever else the Providence of God did cast him And herein he had an excellent ability and dexterity and took much delight in it And his assistance he afforded not only to those of that City but also to many of the most Religious Families of the Nobility and Gentry thereabouts to whom both by his personal Converses and his Christian letters of which there are great numbers yet to be seen he afforded frequent
need of Instruction to those of an inferiour rank many of whom were extreamly ignorant by reason that amongst such a great multitude of people there had in former times been so great a scarcity of preaching together with divers other reasons of the like nature which did more then countervail what could be alledged on the other hand his obligations also to those of Dukes-place not being absolute they judged it most fit that he should leave Dukes-place and undertake that charge at Westminster To this their resolution he consented yet with his Proviso that those of Dukes-place should be first provided of an able faithfull Pastor to succeed him being utterly unwilling to leave them destitute And accordingly having prevailed with Master Thomas Young since Doctor in Divinity and Master of Jesus Colledge in Cambridge to succeed him there who was also an eminent Member of the Assembly of Divines a man of great Learning of much Prudence and Piety and of great ability and fidelity in the work of the Ministry he took his leave of them commending them to the grace of God and the pious care of his Successor taking on him the charge of those belonging to the new Church in Westminster and was the first Pastor of that Church He was here also eminently faithfull and laborious in the work of the Ministry in publique praying reading expounding preaching administring the Sacraments and Catechizing with brief and clear expositions and confirmations of the Principles of Religion as had been his usual custom in other places Beside which he was also one of the seven that by appointment of Parliament did carry on that daily morning Lecture at the Abby-Church insomuch that it seems almost a Miracle that so weak a body as his should possibly be able to do so much as constantly he performed continuing oft-times to speak in publique for the space of six or eight hours on a Sabbath day beside much time spent in more private exercises of Prayer Repetitions c. in the Family yet when his Friends have perswaded him to favour himself judging so much pains to be more then his body could endure his answer hath been that his strength would spend of it self though he did nothing and it could not be better spent then in Gods service Yea so far was he from favouring himself in this kind that it was a rule with him which he constantly observed never to favour himself by declining any ministerial exercise which he was requested to perform whether in publique or private if he were possibly able to perform it Neither did he here neglect what had been his constant practice elsewhere to afford private assistance to those of his flock and others as he had opportunity But what time he could gain from the more publique affairs of the Assembly he spent for the most part in such duties not willing to lose an hour which could be imployed in doing good And to this end beside that free accesse that persons of all ranks might have unto him as they had occasion he spent much time in visiting them at their own Families to communicate some spiritual good to them as Directions Consolations and Encouragements in the waies of Godlinesse which made his company both very profitable and much desired Hereby besides others very many considerable Families of the Nobility and Gentry whose practice commonly hath a great influence on others were much quickned and encouraged in the visible practice of Godlinesse and the power of Religion which thereby was much improved And very many of them are ready upon all occasions to professe that it was their great happinesse to be acquainted with him and bewail the want of it as a great losse And he was hereunto the more fitted for that he was naturally of a loving and friendly disposition of a courteous and affable carriage even towards inferiours and those of mean rank especially if he discovered in them signes of grace which he did honour and encourage wherever he met with it Hereby he gained much love and and affection from those with whom he had to do by reason whereof his counsel and advice became so much the more effectual To which we may adde also his birth and education and his frequent conversing with persons of quality to whom he was related and allied by reason whereof he was well qualified with such accomplishments as might render his company acceptable as knowing well how to give due respect to all according as their places and conditions did require and yet to preserve the honour and reverence of his Ministerial authority which by the gravity sobriety and holinesse of his conversation was much secured In that great Ordinance of the Lords Supper which in these broken and distracted times hath been in many places wholly laid aside and in many more too much neglected he took much care and pains how to manage that great businesse so as might be neither displeasing to God â—o justly offensive to good men The difficulty herein hath been not concerning the manner of administration which hath afforded lesse matter of contest but concerning the persons that might be judged fit to be admitted thereunto which to many men hath been attended with so much perplexity that they have apprehended a necessity of a totall intermission and almost an impossibility of administring it in any tolerable manner while on the one hand they durst not promiscuously admit all by reason of the great ignorance of many and the prophanenesse or loosenesse of others and yet on the other hand saw not how they might be able for want of authority to debar any waiting still for the setling of a Government in the Church whereby this great difficulty might in some measure be removed Till at length through the long intermission of this Ordinance those that are prophane and carnal begin to slight and scorn it and those of better principles do too much abate in their affections to it And that remedy which though late began at length to be applyed in beginning to establish the Presbyterian Government hath been yet so much defective in want of power and so much exposed to scorn and reproach which men of prophane or turbulent spirits cast upon it either from principles of prophanenesse or of seperation or from some other bitter root which renders men unwilling to have their lusts errours unlawfull liberties or licentious courses in any kind whatsoever to be checked or contradicted that the matter is now almost grown desperate unlesse God will be pleased in special favour to afford some unexpected remedy Herein this holy man did manifest a great measure of singular Prudence and Piety wisely avoiding both rocks Neither totally omitting the Celebration of the Sacrament nor yet promiscuously admitting all unto it but those only of whose sufficient knowledge he was assured and whose lives so far as he could discern were unblamable and free from scandal And this he did not only of late years
Minister Yet long life how full of troubles soever it be is to be esteemed amongst the blessings of God seeing his promise implies so much and not only so but because our lives may many waies serve to his glory and long life is not only an honour but a pledge of his favour Even as it is to him whom a Prince long implies in his service having had experience of his fidelity many years together Hereupon he earnestly requested her to pray that if it was the will of God he would imploy her yet longer in his service for the further enlargement of his Gospel and that he would grant unto her such recovery of health and such a good disposition of body that with renewed strength she might be enabled to finish her course much more nobly then ever heretofore To this she replied That in regard of her own particular her life was not dear unto her seeing so long as she lived in this frail flesh she was still prone and apt to sin against God only she said her care was somewhat for her Children which God had given her in respect that they should be deprived of her in their young years yet saith she I doubt not but though he should please to take me from them himself will become a Father to them and a Protector over them as he hath ever been to me in my greatest afflictions and therefore I commit them wholly to his government and fatherly care Then the Minister blessed God for working in her Majesty this assurance of Faith and ability to cast her care upon the Providence of God intreating her still to persevere therein which would sufficiently seal unto her the truth of her Faith And thus saith he did the Patriarchs in times past commit the care of their posterity into the hands of God as may appear by the severall blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob But yet he told her that it was very requisite that she should make choice of such who for their sincerity both in life and Doctrine might continue to water in these young Princely Plants the seeds of Piety that had been sown in them by her so great pains and industry seeing it was to be hoped that the example of her Faith and constancy in the service of God wherein she had gone before them would serve as a perpetuall inducement to them to follow her noble vertues And whereas she had declared that death was not terrible to her because it was the way by which she was to passe to her eternal rest he told her that Christians had little cause to fear death in regard that they should not die at all according to that of our Saviour He that lives and believes in me shall never die Joh. 8.51 For saith he to speak properly death is no death to them but a sweet sleep being often so called in the Scriptures and therefore Christ for their sakes hath overcome and triumphed over it in his own person so as now we may cry out with St. Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory After this he admonished her to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tend to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne further declaring that by this her chastisement she might discern what she had deserved if God should enter into judgment with her not only in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her own personall sins seeing the best in the world are in themselves but poor miserable and wretched sinners yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternal death and damnation At these words she began with her eyes and hands lifted up to Heaven to acknowledge that the sins which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up but yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole trust would be mercifull to her From hence the Minister took occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ Adding The whole have no need of a Physician but the sick And Christ saith He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things whereas in the mean while he sends the rich empty away Of these things saith he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your counscience by how much the more the holy Spirit of God witnesseth to your spirit that you are the Child of God and enables you to cry Abba Father For what is Faith else but a firm trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed Son But the Minister fearing lest by his long discourse he might be troublesome or cause her too much to spend her spirits would have given over which she taking notice of earnestly requested him not to forbear speaking to her about these matters of life and eternal salvation adding that now she felt the want of it in regard that since her coming to Paris she had been somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the Word of God And therefore I am the more glad said she to receive comfort out of it in this my great extremity Then did the Minister endeavour to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joys were that the faithfull possesse in the presence of God which the Scriptures intending to discover tell us that Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what those things are which God hath prepared for them that love him For saith he it is as if a King minding greatly to honour some Noble personage should bring him to his Court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Jewels Eved so will the Lord one day reveal to all his Elect and faithfull people his magnificence and glory with all the Treasures of his Kingdom after he hath gathered them home to himself decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality Therefore saith he since this happinesse is so great your Highnesse ought to be the lesse solicitous about leaving this transitory life and know that you are to change this earthly Kingdom for an heavenly Inheritance These temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using to enjoy for ever those things which are eternal and everlasting For your faith being now firmly set upon our Lord Jesus Christ you may be assured to obtain eternal salvation by him Then did he proceed to propose to her this question Madam Do you verily believe that Jesus Christ came into the world to save you and do you expect the full forgivenesse
of all your sins by the shedding of his blood for you Yea said she I do believing that he is my only Saviour and Mediatour and I look for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sins of all his people and therefore I am assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promise in him will have mercy upon me During all the time of her sicknesse she ceased not to continue in such fruitfull and comfortable communications sometimes intermixing them with most affectionate sighs to God as a testimony of that hope and desire she had of enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to the felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised to bestow upon me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by words only but by her constant and cheerfull countenance so farre forth as the vehemency of her disease would suffer thereby giving a clear testimony to all that beheld her that the fear of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith The Minister also went often to prayer with her the usual tenor whereof was this which follows O Lord our God We confesse here before thy Divine Majesty that we are altogether unworthy of thine infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre from deserving to be heard of thee in our requests that we are rather worthy that thou shouldst reject both our persons and our prayers But seeing it hath pleased thee to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beseech thee freely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousness of thy dear Son that through him our selves and our services may be well pleasing unto thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out to us by thine hand who art a most just Judge in regard that we have every way provoked thee to wrath by our infinite sinnings against thee yea by our rebellions which now testifie against us For alas Lord our life hath been no way answerable to that perfect obedience which thou by thy holy Law dost justly require at our hands which we from day to day do transgress and therefore do here cast down our selves at this time before thy glorious presence unfeignedly acknowledging our misery and wretchedness from the very bottom of our hearts Yet Lord mercy is with thee and because thou art our Father therefore thou desirest not the death of sinners but rather that they should convert and live For this cause we now fall down before the throne of thy grace with confidence of obtaining thy wonted mercy which thou hast promised to such as call upon thee in truth beseeching thee who art the Father of mercies to have compassion on all such as thou hast humbled under thy mighty hand but more especially on this thy Servant the Queen who lieth here before thee sick of a dangerous disease that as thou hast righteously afflicted her for her sinnes which she also doth with us acknowledge so it would please thee in pardoning them all to her for thy beloved Sons sake to grant that she may profit by this thy correcting hand for the time to come Above all O Lord give her a sweet sense yea full assurance of thy eternal joys that so she may with the greater patience take down this bitter potion ministred unto her from thy hand and that the sole desire of enjoying thy presence may cause her to forget all worldly greatness and magnificence knowing that they are nothing in respect of the glory which is now set before her Endue her also with meekness of minde to bear the tediousnesse of her affliction for though the spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak yea full of resisting and unbelief that so receiving all things from thee as from a Father she may the more willingly submit her will to thine And because O good God thou hast made her hitherto an happy Instrument for the advancement of thy glory and defence of thy poor afflicted people we pray thee if it may stand with thy good pleasure restore her to health again that so the excellent work that thou hast by her means begun may not be left unperfected but by vertue of this her deliverance she may with renewed strength undertake the same in better sort then ever heretofore especially for the well educating and training up the Children that thou hast given her But Lord if thou hast a purpose now to call her home to thy self who are we that we should contradict thy holy will Only we pray thee that thou wouldst confirm her more and more in the knowledge of thy blessed Gospel and thereby also in the certainty of her salvation which thou hast given her by Faith in thy Son Jesus Christ that thus she may not cease to sanctifie and call upon thy holy Name to her last breath And as touching our selves who are here by thy good providence gathered together about her being in bodily health give us to know the uncertainty and brevity of our life that so according to our duty we may behold the same in this mirror that thou hast set before us as knowing that even the greatest in the world are subject to the same calamities as well as the small that so our chief care may be to employ the remainder of our time to thine honour and service All which we crave of thee in the Name of Jesus Christ thy Son our only Mediatour and Advocate Amen During the time of prayer she ceased not with hands and eyes lift up to Heaven to fetch many deep sighs especially when mention was made of the mercy of God in Christ which he extendeth to poor sinners so that all present might evidently see that her heart and affections were joyned to the Prayer that was made by and for her And whilst she thus lay she still continued in her holy desires to depart hence that she might be with Christ taking great delight in the holy and Christian exhortations which were made to her by many godly and learned men who came to visit her to whom also she manifested no small testimonies of that faith and hope which she had in God touching the salvation of her soul by her holy and savory speeches which for brevity sake are omitted Yea although the Lord exercised her much with the sense of her inward disease yet could you not at any time discern any speech favouring of discontentment or impatience to proceed out of her mouth nay scarcely so much as a groan But if at any time she found any refreshings from the violence of her disease there being no malady so vehement which hath not some intermissions and breathing times
upon Trent in the County of Stafford August 15. 1563. of honest Parents who were very carefull of his education both in Religion and Learning and when he was fitted for the University they sent him to Cambridge where he was admitted into Jesus Colledge under the tuition of Master Duport afterwards Doctor Duport and Master of that Colledge in that place he followed his study very hard and his Proficiency was very exemplary but after two years and an half the air not well agreeing with his constitution he removed to Oxford and continued there till he was Master of Arts. He was a good Logician and a very acute disputant The first place that he was called to exercise his Ministry in was about Oundle in Northamptonshire where he met with a people that for the generality of them were very ignorant and ungodly and much addicted to the Prophanation of the Lords day by Whitson-ales Morris dancing c. which sinnes Master Clark in his Ministry much set himself against endeavouring from Gods Word to convince them of the evil and denouncing Gods judgments in case of their obstinate perseverance in such provoking courses but they having been alwaies trained up in such practices and having their hearts hardened against admonition still persevered in their former courses and that the rather because they were opposed by the Word of God therein but the judgment of God found them out for this their wickednesse For shortly after on a Lords day the Leader of the Dance being a lusty young man in the midst of their prophane pastimes suddainly fell down and died Yet these obdurate persons though a little affected for the present soon shaked off their fears and returned to their vomit again Master Clark the Sabbath following took occasion from this sad dispensation of God to shew them the greatnesse of their sinnes and how highly God used to be displeased with those which took liberty to prophane his holy day withall quoting Jer. 17.27 If thou wilt not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day c. Then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof and it shall devoure the Pallaces of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched opening urging and pressing it home upon their consciences yet still they kicked against these warnings and the evening following returned to their sports again Amongst these there was a Smith that was a chief Ring-leader But it pleased God the very next day that two Husbandmen coming to his Shop to sharpen their plough-shares a spark from the red hot iron as he beat it on the anvil flew into the thatch which both the Smith and his neighbours saw and stood gazing upon it and might at first with one of their fingers have pulled it down that thatch being low but God took away their power of moving towards it so that they saw it at first burn like a candle then like a torch and presently the whole shop was on a fire and the men running out both Shop House and all the Smiths goods were consumed in the fire and yet a Neighbours House that stood very near it escaped The second remarkeable judgment was again by Master Clark pressed upon their consciences yet nothing would prevail but as if they had made a Covenant with death and were at an agreement with hell they still persisted in their ungodly practises and God who threatens to walk contrary to them that walk contrary to him pursued them with one judgment after another and amongst others this was very remarkable That upon the Sabbath day which they had highly prophaned by drinking dancing c. in the night when they were retired to their several homes there was heard a great noise and ratling of chains up and down the town which was accompanied with such a smell and stink of fire and brimestone that many of their guilty consciences suggested unto them that the devil was come to fetch them away quick to hell This so terrified and wrought upon them that they began to give better heed to the Ministry of Gods Word and to break off their prophane courses for the greatest part so that there was an eminent reformation wrought amongst them at least sixteen of those poor souls being effectually wrought upon and brought home to Christ and some others that relapsed to their former waies God pursued them with his judgments till he had brought them to beggery During Master Clarks abode in this place he had experience of Gods gracious protecting him from the rage of some desperately wicked men and amongst others this is very remarkeable Master Clark having on a day pressed Gods judgments against some sins that he saw some of the people much addicted to there came the next morning a lusty young man a serving man to enquire for him as desirous to speak with him Master Clark being made acquainted with it sent for him up into his chamber and knowing his vitious life took occasion sharply to the reprove him and to tell him of the danger that he was in by reason of the same in case he persevered in his lewd courses This round and faithfull dealling through Gods mercy wrought so effectually upon him that falling upon his knees he intreated him to forgive him Master Clark answered that he should beg pardon at the hands of God against whom he had sinned for he knew not for his own part wherein he had offended him yea said the other I have not only offended God by sinning thus and thus against him but you also for I came hither with a full resolution to stab you with this dagger here at my back but God hath so overawed my spirit that I have not had power to move an hand to acccomplish such a wickednesse and this resolution of mine proceeded from the Sermon which you preached yesterday which so terrified my conscience that my whole body fell into such a trembling that I was not able to sit whereupon I rose up and set my back to a Pillar to stay me yet neither would that prevail to stay my trembling c. But now if you please to forgive me I shall by Gods grace never entertain any such desperate thoughts again Maher Clark freely forgave him and after some wholesome and seasonable admonitions dismissed him About this time the schism and errors of the Brownists began to spread in Northamptonshire and Master Clark had many bickerings and disputations with some of the chief of them whom he mightily confuted and through Gods grace reclaimed some of them Anno 1590. He was sent for by Roger Wigstone Esquire who lived at Woolstone in the County of Warwick by whom he was chosen to succeed Master Lord an able and eminent Divine in the pastoral charge in that place and having preached sometimes amongst them he was freely chosen by the People also Then having his presentation from Master Wigston who was a Gentleman of eminent Piety in those daies and
a great friend to godly Ministers He went to Doctor Overton Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry for his institution but the Bishop having designed the living for one of his Chaplains he endeavoured to perswade Master Clark to desert his title to it promising that he would remember him when some other preferment should fall Master Clark considering his fair and direct call to the place and therefore hoping that God had a work for him to do there he absolutely refused to gratifie the Bishop in his request telling him that he could not with a good conscience do it and therefore importuned him for his institution Then did the Bishop set his acutest Chaplains upon him to examine and dispute with him hoping thereby to get some ground of exeception against him but when that prevailed not he framed other excuses to defer the instituting of him one while alledging that his Register was not with him and then that he had so many daies allowed by the Law ro make enquiry after him And hereby he made Master Clark to ride three or four journeys without attaining his desire and this the Bishop did that the Living might fall into the Lapse Master Clark perceiving his drift told him that if he refused any longer to grant him institution he would bring his Quare impedit against him which occasioned the Bishop at last to grant it him but withall he sent at several times sometimes an Apparitor sometimes one of his Chaplains and other subtill persons to attend his Prayers and Sermons to see if they could catch any advantage against him and upon trivial occasions cited him oft to his Court and thereby much molested him At last the Bishop himself being at Coventry upon a Sabbath day he with some of his Servants came in the morning to Woolstone being but four miles off and coming into the Church he set him down in a seat just before Master Clark none else of the Congregation knowing him Master Clark seeing the Bishop abated nothing of his zeal and fervency in preaching and applying of the Word insomuch as the Bishop being much netled by the Sermon shifted and shufled up and down as if he had sate upon thornes an honest man by observing it fetched him a quishion first to sit on and then another to lean on but yet the Bishop seemed very restless The Sermon and Prayer being ended the Bishop said openly This is an hot fellow indeed but I will coole him Master Clark hearing it replyed My Lord if I have not faâ—thfully delivered the truth of God I beseech you declare what I have said amisse that I may make my defence here before my people The Bishop answered as before You are an hot fellew indeed but I will coole you and so departed Master Clark replying It 's good to be zealous in the work of the Lord. After this the Bishop picked a quarrel against him and suspended him from preaching whereupon Master Clark used to expound the Word then did the Bishop suspend him from expounding whereupon he catechized with exposition and application then was he suspended from catechizing also Whereupon at the usuall times in the Church he caused an honest man that was his neighbour to read a Chapter and at the end of every verse to ask him the meaning of it and what instructions and uses might be gathered out of it This so angred the Bishop that he proceeded to Excommunicate him Whereupon Master Clark repaired to Doctor Whitgift Arch-bishop of Canterbury and from him procured his Absolution and as he returned homewards about Dunstable he met Bishop Overton going towards London to whom he shewed his Absolution and so went on in his Ministry as before This so irritated the Bishop that he still suborned some to watch him in all his publike Prayers and Sermons about which time the persecution growing hot against the Non-conformists Master Clark in his Prayer requested of God to forgive the Queen her sins though in modest expressions This the Bishop being informed of and supposing that he had now gotten that advantage which he had long waited for he charged Master Clark with treason and caused him to be committed to the common Jayle in Warwick where he lay bail being refused till the Assises and then the Bishop caused him to be arraigned at the Bar and had so exasperated the Judge against him that he would have had the Jury to find the Bill But it pleased God to stir up the heart of a noble Gentleman a Justice upon the Bench from that good report which he had heard of Master Clark to stand up and publiquely to tell the Judge that before Master Clark should have any wrong he would kneel before the Queen for him This so prevailed with the Jury that he was acquitted Upon his release Master Clark repaired again to Arch-bishop Whitgift complaining to him of all this wrong which he had received from the Bishop the Arch-bishop very worthily sent for the Bishop and upon a fair and equal hearing of the businesse betwixt them he enjoyned the Bishop to go down and in Master Clarks Church upon a Sabbath day before the Congregation to acknowledge the wrong which he had done him which the Bishop accordingly did perform and ever after upon all occasions was Master Clarks great friend so long as he lived Not long after the Devill stirred up new adversaries against him in his own Parish his Ministry being very quick powerfull and searching so that some wicked persons that found themselves to be galled by it railed upon him threatning to kill him so that Mr. Clark being a strong lusty man for a time walked not abroad without his Rapier in his hand for his own defence At last one of these wicked men whose conscience the Ministry had galled vowed his death and as Master Clark was coming from Coventry he way-layed him in a Wood. Master Clark in the evening came alone homewards with nothing but a wand in his hand whereupon this man rod up to him and falling into discourse with him Master Clark took the opportunity to reprove him for his disordered life and so laid open Gods judgments due to him for the same that he fell into a great trembling confessed his intention to have killed him and begged pardon Yet still he persisted in his wicked waies and Gods judgments found him out at last for though he had a very good Living yet he fell into misery and want and died in Warwick Jayle for debt Master Clark had in his Parish a Chappel of Ease which had two townships belonging to it one of them two miles from the Parish Church the Chappel it self near two miles from it and the profits of both the tythes being impropriated scarce amounting to a competent maintenance for one man Master Clark was fain to supply them both himself And indeed God had extraordinarily fitted him for it having given him a