Pemb. Expos the Holy One or Holy God and in your more private conversing with men and most secret retirements Holinesse to the Lord that under the Law was engraven upon the High Priests Miter and to be worn upon his forehead (q) Exod. 28.36 Exod. 28. should now be written on things of common use (r) Zech. 14.20 N. Annot. in loc Zech. 14. you should consecrate your selves and all your actions to the service of the Holy God the more sincere and constant you are herein with the greater comfort you will give up your account unto the righteous Judge when you shall be called unto it and your account drawes very nigh Jam. 5. (s) Jam. 5.10 Behold the Judge standeth before the door 2. His impartial administration of Justice against Swearers open profaners of the Sabbath unclean persons and other scandalous Offenders wherein he shewed himself another (t) N h. 13.17 Nehemiah and (u) Psal 106.30 Phinehas will but mind you of that which I have cause to be perswaded that you resolve to do And you have advantage to do more in some respects then he had because many of those disorders and pollutions (w) Esay 56. 2-6 of the Sabbath the removing of which found great resistance in those daies have been for many years taken away and yet I dare not say that he was the first that brake the ice and set upon the reformation of abuses upon the Lords holy day for I am informed by one that was an Active Officer in the redressing of those profane abuses that his immediate * Mr. John Sheere Major A.D. 1616. Predecessour in the Office of the Majoralty did begin to reform some open profanations of the Sabbath Whether any did attempt it before is more then I can learn it being long before my coming to the City But God hath a perfect Record of all things that are done by men especially for his names sake whether men take notice of it or no. 3. And for his Charity and beneficence to the poor and other pious uses I leave it to your serious consideration how far he was a pattern to you therein if you think it too much to do as much as he did yet liberality and forwardnesse in well-doing is left as a charge upon you by God himself (x) 1 Tim. 6.17 18. 1 Tim. 6. and he would not have you to forget it Heb. 13. (y) Heb. 13.16 seeing it is well-pleasing to him And you will be no losers by it here but great gainers the more free you are this way you may expect that the Lord will deal the more freely and bountifully with you or yours you have his Word and that 's as good as any bond for you (z) Prov. 11.24 25. Eccles 11.1 Psal 37.26 Esay 32.8 see Prov. 11. Eccles 11. Psal 37. and Esay 32. And this will fâ—rther your account (a) Phil. 4.17 Phil. 4. in the great day of reckoning for then the Lord will take special notice not so much of that which you have laid up for your selves or yours as of that which you have laid out for him and his But I am here prevented in pressing one point of Charity upon you for providing for the poor for in your late act of Charity shall I tearm it or Justice and Mercy meeting together I mean the erecting of a Work house You have taken the best care that the ranging and disorderly poor might be set on work and so be better provided for by their own labour then by being relieved at mens doors and that no (b) Psal 144.14 complaining by that clamorous sort of idle people may for the future be heard in our streets The Lord strengthen your hearts and hands for the perfecting of that righteous and charitable work and for the (c) Psal 41.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pisc Qui prudenter segerit Gen. Translation Judgeth wisely Ainsw Prudently attendeth wise considering the condition of the impotent poor that they being restrained from begging may have no just cause of complaining to God or man by reason of want God hath honoured you above many I beseech you let it be your chiefest care to honour him in the faithful discharge of your duty unto him and of the trust committed by him unto you that this City may be truly stiled the faithful City Esay 1. (d) Esay 1.26 Fidelis in aeternum The City's Motto and we may say with the Prophet Jer. 31. (e) Jer. 31.23 The Lord blesse thee thou habitation of Justice and mountain of holinesse This is the sincere desire of him that is willing to sign himself Sirs Yours to be Commanded in the service of the Gospel Ferdinando Nicolls Exon. Decemb. 24. 1653. TO The READER Good Reader IT is a truth which alwaies God hath made good in his providence that the memorial of the just shall be blessed therefore since the Canon and rule of faith or those Authentick records which we call The Scriptures have been closed up The Lord hath stirred up in every age some that could handle the pen of the writer to continue the memory of his eminent and faithful servants to posterity with praise and honour It would be vain in a case so known to tell you particularly what hath been done in this kind by Dorotheus Sophronius Jerome Gennadius Epiphanius c. and by modern Writers without number the Ancient Church had her Diptychs or publick Tables wherein the names of persons most noted for piety were recorded and though the modern Canonization used among the Romanists be ridiculous and some Sainted that were * Hominum monsira heu quam multi inter homines Scripti sunt in Sanctorum albo qui in arcano dei consilio descripti sunt in reproborum nigro quam multi sunt ac quorum imagines ardent cereis qui ipsi ardent in flamma Molinaei Hyperaspistes pag. 48. scarce men and their legends bundles of lyes the very stain and infamy of Christianity yet there is no reason that the true Saints Gods Worthies should be defrauded of their publick honour and buried in obscurity and silence without any Monument of their worth and religious eminency especially when we do consider how much Gods glory is concerned in the credit of his servants as also the profit of others partly that they may be acquainted with the ancient wayes of the Spirit and those Good old pathes wherein the Children of God walked and enjoyed communion with him partly that they may be provoked by their examples to follow them in faith and patience and heavenlinesse and strictnesse of conversation we see many times that examples work more then precepts not onely as they convince but as they do encourage they convince more because they are real we look upon precepts as words spoken of course wherein Religion may be counterfeited at a cheaper rate therefore Noah though a Preacher of righteousnesse is said to convince the world by preparing
THE LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. Ignatius Jurdain ONE OF THE Aldermen of the City of Exeter Who departed this Life July 15th 1640. Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Psal 112.9 He hath dispersed he hath given to the poor his righteousnesse endureth for ever 1 Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Drawn up and published by Ferd. Nicolls Minister of the Gospel at Mary Arches Exon. LONDON Printed for Tho. Newberry and are to be sold at his Shop at the three Golden Lions on Corn-hill by the Royal Exchange 1654. TO The Right VVorshipfull Simon Snow Esquire Major of the City of Exeter the Aldermen and the rest of the Common Councel of that City Honoured Sirs I Have had many thoughts heretofore and some of late to publish a short Narrative of the Life and Death of Mr. Ignatius Jurdain a Worthy Member of your Society and the latter might have been stifled as the former had not the solicitations of some friends both nearer and farther off excited me to carry on my purpose to performance And having set about this businesse and brought it to some issue I have taken the boldnesse to present it unto you and I supposed that it would not be unacceptable to you he being for a long time of your Society and an honour thereunto as unto the whole City His Name no doubt would have lived and that in great esteem though this small memorial of him had never seen the light but yet hereby many may take notice of more particulars then formerly they have heard of and take occasion to recount many more remarkable and praise-worthy qualifications that were in him then have come to my Knowledge I might have added many more things but I have omitted them partly because I was not assured of the certainty of them and partly because I declined Personal reflections which would have sounded very harshly in the eares of many That which hath been done though with much weaknesse and not answerable to his worth hath been out of a desire to honour him that was so zealous for the advancing of Gods glory and to set his example before your selves and others for imitation For the good examples of holy men are as the light side of the cloud (a) Heb. 12.1 Perk. in loc N. Annot. in loc Dyk Dec. of the heart c. 12. to give light to others and to direct them in the Wildernesse of this World towards the heavenly Canaan I know you have a surer and a straighter rule and a brighter light to direct you then any humane examples the infallible and unerring Word of God (b) Psal 119.105 Prov. 6.23 Psal 119. Prov. 6. whereunto you shall do well to take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place (c) 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Pet 1. But yet God himself would have us to observe the commendable examples of good men and to set them before us for our imitation and pattern as (d) Prov. 2.20 Prov. 2. To walk in the way of good men and to be followers or imitators of them (e) 1 Cor. 4.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor 4. but we may not follow the best of men in all things but with a limitation as they follow that exemplary Rule Jesus Christ (f) 1 Cor. 11.1 1 Cor. 11. And I know not whether I should presse the imitation of this renowned Worthy in all things as in his so early rising in the morning to enjoy communion with God in holy meditation the bodily temper of most not being able to bear it so that we may herein rather admire then imitate him He was as I conceive of an Heroical and raised spirit elevated above the * Absit verbo invidia ordinary rank of true Professours of Religion for as Heroical vertue as the Moralists (g) Arist Ethic lib. 7. c. 1. Piccol. Philos Grad 6. c. 1 6. say excells moral vertue in an high and eminent degree so there is a kind of Heroical (h) Keck Sâ—st Eth. lib. c. 5. spiritual vertue as Abrahams Eminency in Faith and the like I may say of this Holy mans intensiveness in zeale for God that excels the ordinary vertue of Christians i 2 Pet. 1.3 Called to glory and vertue I know that some did much undervalue him as a man of meane and low parts they would acknowledge that he was an honest well meaning man but weake and beneath those that were accounted wise men but suppose that his naturall and acquired parts were not so great as some others yet for his zeale and courage for the truth and cause of God his close communion with God and indignation against sin I dare boldly say he did excell the most of men And they that have greater parts of knowledge and wisedome should be provoked by his example to act the more vigorously for God for every man must give an account of the improving his talents for the (k) Mat. 25.15 behoof of the Lord that hath intrusted them therewith remembring that of our Saviour (l) Luk. 12.48 Luke 12. To whom much is given of him shall much be required There be three things which in the ensuing Narrative you shall find very commendable in him his Piety Justice and Charity wherein I shall crave leave to commend him to your imitation and if you shall exceed him therein I know no good man that will blame you though I cannot secure you from the Scorpion like lash of the virulent tongues of wicked men 1. For his Piety all that knew him and did not look upon him with an evill eye will give testimony to it and it will be your honour to stand up zealously for God and to walk sincerely and uprightly before him and as under his eye who seeth not only all your actions but your seeret intents purposes and designs whether you look with a squint-eye upon your sinister self-ends or with a single eye aime at his glory in all your undertakings And you should let it appeare that you are on the Lords-side (m) Exod. 32.26 now so many Apostat se and revolt yea deeply (n) Esay 31.6 revolt from him I speak it not in way of doubt or jealousie of you for many blesse God for your stedfastness in the faith in these declining dayes and your constant attending upon the Lords holy Ordinances both on the Sabbath and Week dayes is very exemplary not onely to those of inferiour rank in this City but to others that either see or hear of your forwardnesse therein But Holinesse should appear also in the whole course of your conversation both in your publike administrations of Justice for you judge not for man but for the Lord 2 Chron. 19. (o) 2 Chr. 19.6 And the Seat of Justice is the place of the Holy Eccles 8. (p) Eccl. 8.10 N. Annot. in loc
An Ark Heb. 11.8 and they incourage because in them we see that the exercise of godlinesse though difficult yet is possible when men that are subject to like passions and have the same interests and Concernments of flesh and blood that we have can be thus mortified self-denying heavenly holy now examples have this force not onely when the Saints are alive and liable to present notice and observation but after their death when transmitted to posterity by faithful records yea then many times they work more their infirmities being buried with them and their lives do then rather instruct then Exasperate * Pascitur in Vivis livor post fata quâ—escit living Saints standing in the way of interests are more hated and looked upon with prejudice but usually there is a greater esteem of the dead how often do Gods Children live envied and die Sainted All this is prefaced Reader to induce thee to a more serious consideration of the present memorials of that holy man Mr. Ignatius Jurdain in some sense the Wonder and Phoenix of his Age and place of abode concerning whose piety and frequent communion with God his constant heavenlinesse his charity in giving lending and entertaining his doing justice with impartiality and diligence thou wilt have a more particular account in the ensuing story only give me leave from my self to suggest a few passages and observations 1. That for his temper he was a man of a raised Zeal and Heroical spirit one of those rare examples which the Lord giveth the World now and then and therefore his actions are not to be measured by an ordinary standard 2. Seldom or never did any come into his company but he would discourse with them about holy things asking the younger how they hoped to be saved the more grown if they professed Religion whether they had any assurance which if they denyed he would tell them that he was even ashamed of them in good earnest saith he I would study the promises and go into my closet and lock the door and there plead them to God and say that I would not go forth till he gave me some sence of his love 3. His entertainment at his Table was free and sufficient but frugal and sober if his Wife at any time excused the slendernesse of it he would say * Humilis cibus tâ—nius potussunt divitiae Christianorum Hieron Brown bread and Kennel water is good fare with the Gospel I have often heard him say so there is somewhat a like saying of Mr. Greenham's and possibly Mr. Jurdain might borrow it thence it suiting so well with the temper of his spirit 4. A formal man had once preached a Sermon at the Cathedral about heaven the discourse was for the most part frothy and beneath the dignity and worth of such an argument Mr. Jurdain was present as well as my self after Sermon I went to his house being to receive a Letter from him for Oxford after many good instructions he asked me if I had been at the Sermon that morning I told him yea and did you saith he hear those wonderful things which God hath provided for them that love him and so readily picked out all those passages which were any way subservient to use and profit 't was wonderful to me to see how an holy heart can draw comfort out of any thing the Sermon as Mr. Jurdain repeated it to me was another kind of Sermon and seemed to be very savoury and spiritual I remember with what warmth and vigour he spake of it even to this day and hope that I never shall forget it 5. This is not to be forgotten his sending a Letter to the late King and expostulating with him about his setting forth the Book concerning sports and recreations on the Lords day which was inclosed in another to the Bishop of Exeter to desire him to convey it and notice being given to the Bishop that Copies of it were divulged possibly by the transcriber he thought he could not conceal it with safety and therefore carried it to the King who when he had read it in a great Anger said he would hang him But the Bishop a pious man fell upon his knees and besought his Majesties pardon alledging That God had not a better servant nor his Majestie a better Subject in the whole Land When the Bishop returned from his moneth of attendance Mr. Jurdain went to visit him and after civilities past the Bishop said Ah Mr. Jurdain would you put me upon so hot a service you know there are many eyes upon me meaning the Archbishops faction who suspected him as a favourer of Puritans Yea my Lord replyed M Jurdain there are eyes upon you the eyes of God and his holy Angels to see how you discharge your Office and Duty as the Kings Chaplain and a Bishop of the Church 6. Now and then when he had leisure he would often go to his neighbours shops and admonish them to take heed that the cares of the World did not deadden their spirits to heavenly things telling them If they had many thousands it would not still the cry of conscience purchase the least fovour from God not so much as ease the pain of the teeth or keep off one fit of an ague yea if mony were thrown to the dogs they would not so much as smell at it 7. He would often perswade his fellow-Magistrates to a liberal provision for the poor and when they would ask him where they should have money he would Answer God will provide rather then the poor shall want let us sell our Gownes 8. When he distributed money to the poor with his own hands in a time of great infection and so some asked him if he were not afraid of the plague What saith he afraid of Gods visitation let us fear rather the plague sore of our own heart 9. In his troubles in the Star-Chamber when one told him he was sorry the Lord-Keeper was against him he Answered I have a greater Lord-Keeper then him the Lord is my keeper I shall not be afraid 10. 'T is not amisse to observe what others thought and said of him I remember a godly man observes of him that in every businesse though in some he adventured far the Lord carried him thorough with reputation and so compares him with another of great parts who though godly was alwaies foiled in every undertaking Drunkards and frequenters of the Ale-house were afraid of him he was their usual bugbear their Memento in the middle of their excesse was It is time to be gone Mr. Jurdain will come by and by the ordinary sort of men were convinced of his integrity I have over-heard men carnal and vitious at a time of election of Burgesses for the Parliament speaking to one another if you choose any choose Jurdain he will be right for the Common Wealth and do the City se vice he was twice chosen Burgesse for the Parliament and twice Major of
Idolatry Prophanenesse and other evils whereby God was most highly dishonoured was most eminent and remarkable He was a man of an Antilaodicean temper he had well Learned the Apostles direction (s) Rom. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in some Copies Rom. 12. To be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord and not the time He was not like another (t) Ignatius Ioiola the founder of the Order of the Jesuites Camerar Hist Obs l. 4. c. 9. Ignatius that was a man of fire that was set on fire of hell to promote the cause of the Prince of darknesse but he had an holy fire kindled in his heart from heaven whereby he did burn with zeal for the advancing of Gods glory and an holy indignation against sin and error he would if it had been possible have burned up all the drosse and filth that did corrupt the truth of God and was contrary to the way of holinesse And therein he was very like unto u Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 30. Hist Magdeb. Cent. 2. â— 10 Fox's Acts Monuments in the 3. of the Ten Persecutions He was a strict observer of the Sabbath Ignatius the Martyr He was a very strict and consciencious observer of the Christian Sabbath the Lords day He did then rise very early as on other dayes if not earlier and did stir up those of his family to an early rising on that day saying This is Gods day and as we do expect that our servants should rise early to go about our work on our dayes so God expects our early rising on his day to go about his work and service And he did then very carefully attend upon the Lords holy Ordinances the feet of them that dispenced the Gospel were very beautiful in his eyes w Rom. 10.15 Rom. 10. more beautifull then their faces to many others he was one of those Saints that sate down at Gods feet to receive his Word x Deut. 33.3 Act. 22.3 Chap. 21.16 Senesco semper aliquid addiscens Deut. 33. as Disciples at the feet of their teacher Act. 22. and he was very desirous and willing to learn of any that came with the Lords message unto him he was a Mâ—ason an old Disciple Act. 21. A Disciple when he was old it never entred into his heart to cast off Ordinances no not when he had attained an high degree of Perfection He was a constant noter of Sermons even when he was old not for his own benefit alone but for the good of his family to whom he did constantly repeat the Sermons And if he found himself overtaken with drowsinesse in hearing the Word an infirmity incident to age his manner was to stand up and to rowse up himself that he might hear the more attentively He knew that Religion consisted not in hearing and repetitions and Profession but in practise and therefore his care was to digest his hearing and knowledge into an holy conversation y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Epist ad Rom. His exciting of others to good And being desirous not to go to heaven alone but to draw others with him his usual course was when he went with his family to attend upon the Lords holy Ordinances to give an exhortation to his children and servants that they should consider into whose presence they were going and whom they were to hear even that great God to whom they were to give an account of every word which they did hear and be careful to lay it up for their practise and not say my Father or my Master would not afford me the time for if they did he would protest against them in the day of Judgment And as he was going to the Congregation on the Week dayes he would often find some of the Country people come to the Market early in the morning and he would ask them where they did live and they answering five or sixe or more miles off be thereupon did take occasion to shew them how vain a thing it was to pursue the World and to neglect the care of their precious soules and ask them how they could rise so early to get the world and not rise as early to get interest in Jesus Christ and to attain the favour of God and assurance of eternal happinesse And then he would look back upon his family and say here you see these people can rise betimes to get a little part of the world and your will hardly arise early to get the assurance of the favour of God which is far better then the whole world His speaking of the Sermons which he heard After his return from Sermons he would be speaking to those that went with him of what they heard exhorting them to be mindful of it and put it in practise and one of the company being troubled at the hearing of him to presse such things upon them told him that he had heard many good Sermons * The name of the Cathedral at St. Peters but never heard one at the great Conduit before to whom he replyed Sirs are ye troubled to be put in mind of the Word of God I pray God the time come not when you are in hell that you wish you had not only practised the Sermons which you heard at St. Peters but had received good counsel from the VVord at the great Conduit also His Assurance Thus by his diligent attending upon and carefull applying the means of grace and Gods blessing upon them he attained a very great measure of assurance a kind of Plerophory such as the Apostle speaks of (z) 1 Thess 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thess 1.5 much Assurance and (a) Col. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2. Full of assurance of understanding by which he was carried as with a full faile to holy duties If we consider the measure and the constancy of it there be few Christians that have attained so much Assurance was much in his tongue and heart and it was that which he earnestly laboured for and obtained by fervent prayer and diligent use of the means God gave him the (b) Rom. 8.16 Testimony and (c) Eph. 1.13 seal of his Spirit and so assured him of his eternal love in Christ of his adoption and eternal happinesse in heaven God gave it as part of his reward for his sincere and faithful service He had sometimes more then ordinary illapses and incomes of the Spirit for the strengthening of his assurance His extraordinary Comforts I le instance one particular alone He being at a Sermon and attending heedfully to those discerning and differencing marks of uprightnesse which were then laid down and one mark being more powerfully pressed and coming fully home to his condition he being in a deep and serious meditation and reflecting upon himself and finding it to be truly in him it seemed to him as if one struck him upon the shoulder incouraging him
and they that knew him will mervail not that so much is said but that no more 2. He was as eminent for Justice as for Piety when he was advanced to the chiefest place of Government in the City His Justice to be the * A. ◠1617. Major of that Honourable Corporation he was an exemplary Magistrate not only in the year of his Majoralty but ever after so long as he lived he looked not upon it as a place of honour onely but as an office of trust wherein he might honour God and do Justice to men and reform those evills which abounded then in that place He did not glory so much in having the Sword carried before him though it were a singular honour to that City Henry the seventh that the Kings Sword should be taken from his side and delivered to the Major to be carried before him as a signal testimony of his favour and their loyalty and courage in the insurrection of Perkin Warbeck as he was desirous to draw forth the sword of (w) Rom. 13.4 Justice against evil doers and not to hold it in vain Rom. 13. His impartial administring of Justice He was observed to be one that did impartially administer Justice and without respect of Persons did punish evil doers of what quality or condition soever they were that did transgresse the Law whether they were of the City or strangers that came thither they should not if complaint were made to him escape condigne punishment such as the Lawes of the Land or custome of the place did award An instance of it To give but one instance of many there was a Gentleman of quality whose name I spare that was complained of for swearing five Oathes and other misdemeanors thereupon Mr. Jurdain sent a Constable with a Warrant to bring him before him but the Gentleman gave the Constable menacing termes so that he durst not execute his office whereupon M. Jurdain sent one Constable more who brought the Gentleman to him and he being in his Court when he came after divers good admonitions given him and telling him that though he were never so great a Gentleman That he could no more go to heaven so long as he took such courses than he could eat that stone pointing to a great stone in his Court he required him to pay five shillings for swearing which he did as also to give in sureties for his good behaviour but this the Gentleman refused to do saying he was a stranger thereupon Mr. Jurdain bad the Constables to carry him away to prison till he should find sureties which they did and as he was going into the prison door he desired to return back again and he would give baite which he did and then having received many good instructions though he were a man of a very high spirit gave him many hearty thanks with promise of amendment for the future The Bridewell could witnesse how many disorderly persons were sent thither by his Warrants more then any other of the Justices of his time And the Stocks and whipping Posts could testifie what Swearers Drunkards unclean Persons and such like notorious offenders were punished principally by his executing of Justice And if any of the Offenders that were liable to the censure and penalty of the Law desired to be spared he would tell them Here be my Children whom I dearly love and if any of them should commit such offences they should suffer as you must do and therefore I cannot remit of the penalty of the Law How fair pretences soever they made he caused the Law to be executed on them yea and the more severely because of the greater dishonour that redounded to the name of the holy God thereby When some scandalous Offenders whose names I omit for the grosse sin of Uncleannesse were accused and questioned before the Court and some for by-respects did plead for them to have them spared he desired that the Watchmen that were at the Gates to keep out the Plague it being a time that the sicknesse was in some neighbouring Townes should be called home for the Plague was in the Guild-Hall of the City and he told them that if they did not execute the Law upon them he would complain of them to the Councel Table and thereupon after much contest there was order taken for their severe and just punishment He was very vigilant especially in his Majoralty when the Government of the City lay most upon him both to prevent and remove disorders so that he would go with the Constables in Person to search for idle and disorderly persons on Sabbath dayes at night and at the end of the Assizes and Sessions and Fair weeks His Zeal against Swearing He did not onely execute Justice but he shewed himself very zealous therein and the greatest indignation against those evils whereby God was most highly dishonoured as swearing and Sabbath-breaking swearing was most odious to him and had there been a greater penalty then was at that time appointed by the Law of the Land he would most gladly have inflicted it But he punishing as many as were brought before him struck such an awe into most that some that lived then in the City and near the place of the greatest concourse of people the Corn-Market observed that they did not hear an oath sworn for many years together A notable instance of it I have heard it credibly related that being summoned to appear at the Star-Chamber for an act of Justice wherein it was supposed that he went somewhat beyond the strict letter of the Law of which I shall hereafter give an account and being in the presence of some of his Judges and hearing them to swear divers oaths he told them That they must pay for every oath that they had sworn or otherwise he would make it farther known Against the Profaning of the Sabbath When he was Major he did much reform the open profaning of the Sabbath for whereas the Fullers had wont to set their Mills a going on the Sabbath he put a stop upon them for that whole day knowing that that day was fully to be dedicated to God and his worship and service and whereas it was usual to sell fruit and herbs and other things on the Lords holy day and Bowling and Cudgel-playing and other profane pastimes were then much used by his zeal and vigilancy and the care of good Officers under him they were wholly removed though not without much reluctancy and opposition and (x) He contended with unreasonable men as Paul with beasts at Ephesus 1 Cor. 15.32 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and as Ignatius the Martye from Syria to Rome Ignat. Epist ad Rom. Epist ad Tars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danger at the first for there were Commotions and Tumults and great resistance but by his constant zeal for God and his day they were suppressed and quel'd * His Constancy in the execution of Justice And not