that true religion may be freed from popish superstition, and, with the queen's approbation, be again restored by the parliament. But of ourselves we have never attempted to correct or change any thing. We referred all to their judgments, according as the case may seem to them to require. And we hoped that, by this means, the peace of the church, and the reconciliation of brethren, might have been happily promoted.

"By this ecclesiastical establishment, which is so contrary to the word of God, we have all seen a sad schism in the church; and that most desirable blessing of peace, which ought to abound among those of the same religion, has been destroyed. We said nothing of the contempt of good learning, the corruption of true religion, the depraving of the ministry, and the increase of sin which it hath occasioned. All this is a sufficient justification of our book. And the corruptions and abuses which we have mentioned, are unanimously acknowledged by all the foreign reformed churches, and by the writings of men of eminent learning, to be very foul."

In the conclusion they humbly and earnestly entreat him to be a means of procuring their liberty. They also presented other petitions to other persons of distinction, but apparently to little effect: for they were confined in close prison in Newgate at least fifteen months. A further account of these proceedings will be found in another place.+

Mr. Wilcocks at length obtained his release from prison, but was at the same time deprived of his living in Honeylane. Being driven from his flock and his benefice, he preached where he could, as he found an opportunity, though not without frequent molestation from the persecuting prelates. For the greatest part of ten years he preached very frequently at Bovington, in Hertfordshire. He spent a considerable portion of his time and pains in his epistolary correspondence with his numerous friends; and in his letters he commonly subscribed himself, "Thomas Wilcocks, the Lord's unworthy servant." Among his numerous and learned correspondents, was the venerable Mr. Anthony Gilby, of Ashby de la Zouch, in Leicestershire, to whom he addressed the following epistle, descriptive of the cruel oppressions of the time:

"Good Father Gilby, since my separation from you I have received letters from London, wherein was certified the

Strype's Annals, vol. ii. p. 186.

Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxxii. p. 441, 442.

+ See Art. Field.

stirs and troubles there. When I had read them, I thought it meet to make you partaker of such news as was sent unto me, to the end that you and all the godly there with you may pour forth earnest supplications for our brethren who are now in bonds, and under the cross, for the testimony of the truth. Thus standeth the case. Mr. Fulwer, our dear friend and brother in the Lord, with divers others, are prisoners in the same Compter, and for the same cause that our brother Edmunds is. Our brother Johnson, minister of the church without Temple-bar, and others with him, are laid in the Gatehouse at Westminster. Our brother Wight and others with him are committed to Newgate.

"The ministers of London were called by the archdeacon and Dr. Hames, the bishop's chancellor, to Lawrence church in the Jewry, and then subscribed, and were commanded to put on their trash; as surplices, &c. on the Sunday following. Amongst them, none had more deceived the godly than one Wager, who had many times been, but only in words, against the popish regimen and ceremonies retained and used in the English church; but now by his subscription hath allowed all. The Lord grant that, as he hath fallen with Peter, and denied the truth, so he may, if it be his will, rise with him again. This subscription is required, not of ministers alone, but of the common people, such as they call puritans. Scribbled in haste from Coventry, this 21st of December, 1573.

"By yours to command in the Lord Jesus,

"THOMAS WILCOCKS."

Mr. Wilcocks, in about six weeks after the above, addressed another epistle to the same venerable divine, containing a further account of oppressions and cruelties exercised upon the poor persecuted puritans. It contains, indeed, some other interesting facts worthy of being communicated to posterity; and the whole is so excellent, and so exactly characteristic of the writer, that it would be an inexcusable omission to withhold it from the inquisitive reader. The following is an exact copy:*

"Grace and peace from God.

"Father Gilby, news here is none good; for how may we look for good in these evil times? The commissioners go forwards in their haughty proceedings: God, if it be his will, stay their rage. Three of them that they have imprisoned are dead already. What shall become of the rest

* Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxxii. p. 439, 440.

the Lord knoweth. We here persuade ourselves of nothing but great extremity. The Lord grant us patience and strength in his truth for ever. The godly here desire your earnest prayers to the Lord for them, and heartily salute you in the Lord, especially my brother Edmunds, the Lord's prisoner, unto whom you promised, at my being with you, to write some letter of comfort. Surely a letter from you to him would much encourage him in the ways of the Lord; and, therefore, I desire you at your convenient leisure to write somewhat as it shall please the Lord to move you.

"Dr. Whitgift's book is not yet come out, but we look for it daily. Our brother Cartwright is escaped, God be praised, and departed this land since my coming up to London, and, I hope, is by this time at Heidelberg. The Lord bless him, and direct him in all things by his Holy Spirit, that he may do that which may serve for the advancement of his glory, and the profit of his church. His earnest desire is, that you and all the godly should remember him in your earnest and hearty prayers; therefore, I the more boldly and willingly now make mention of him.

"The commissioners caused Beza's Confession, translated into English, to be burnt in Stationers'-hall, on Thursday the 28th of January last. The pretence was, that it was ill translated: but I suppose rather because it over plainly dissolveth the popish hierarchy, which they yet maintain. From my house in Coleman-street, this 2d of February, 1574. Yours assured in the Lord,

"THOMAS WILCOCKS." Many of the letters written by Mr. Wilcocks were answers to cases of conscience. He was highly celebrated for his knowledge of casuistical divinity. Multitudes who applied to him under spiritual distress, obtained, through the blessing of God, both peace and comfort. Most of his epistles were written particularly to promote family and personal religion among his numerous connexions. Our author observes, that he had seen a large folio volume of his letters in manuscript; and, from the long list now before me, it appears that many of them were addressed to persons of quality. Mr. Wilcocks was intimate with the celebrated Sir Peter Wentworth, who had the highest respect and esteem for him.❤

Sir Peter Wentworth, member in several of Queen Elizabeth's parlia ments, was a man of great piety, strong resolution, excellent abilities, and always zealous for the privileges of parliaments and a further reformation

VOL. II.

Though our divine was a decided nonconformist, he was a person of great moderation. He acknowledged the church of England to be a true church, and her ministry to be a true ministry, but greatly encumbered with the superstitions and corruptions of popery. He also occasionally attended the public service of the church, and was a divine of great learning and piety; yet, for the single sin of nonconformity, he was often prosecuted in the ecclesiastical courts, and often suspended and deprived. In the year 1581, he was, convened before his superiors and suspended from his ministry; and, in 1591, he was cast into prison. He died in the year 1608, and the fifty-ninth of his age. Wood, not knowing that he was a puritan, gives a very high character of him, styling him a frequent writer and translator, a laborious preacher, a noted casuist, a grave divine, and a person greatly esteemed in his day.+

His WORKS.-1. An Exposition on the book of Canticles, or Solomon's Song, 1585.-2. An Exposition on part of Romans viii., 1587.-3. A short and sound Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon, 1589.-4. An Exposition on the whole book of Psalms, wherein is contained the division and sense of every Psalm, &c., 1591. (These four articles were collected and published, in 1624, under the care of Dr. John Burgess, who married the author's daughter. It was in one volume folio, entitled, "The Works of the Reverend Divine, Mr. Tho. Wilcocks.")-5. A Summary of short Meditations, touching certain Points of the Christian Religion, 1579.-6. A Concordance or Table, containing the principal Words and Matters which are comprehended in the New Testament, 1579.—7. An Answer to Banister the Libertine, 1581.-8. A Glass for Gamesters, or such as delight in Cards and Dice, wherein they may see not only the Vanity, but also the Vileness of those Plays, plainly discovered and overthrown by the Word of God, 1581.-9. A Form of Preparation for the Lord's Supper, 1581.-10. The Substance of the Lord's Supper shortly and soundly set forth, 1581.-11. A comfortable Letter for afflicted Consciences, written to a godly Man greatly touched that way, 1584.-12. Three large Letters for the Instruction and Comfort of such as are distressed in Conscience, 1589.-13. The Narration of a fearful Fire at Woburn in Bedfordshire, 1595.— He also published the following translations into English:-1. A Catechism, 1578, by Fountein.-2. Three Propositions, 1580, by Calvin.-3. A Treatise of the Church, wherein the godly may discern the true Church from the Romish, 1582, by Bertrand de Loques.-4. A Discourse of the true visible Marks of the Catholic Church, 1588, by Beza.-5. Two Sermons on the Sacrament of the

of the church. In the year 1592, for making a motion in the house of commons for entailing the succession, he was, by the queen's tyrannical order, committed to the Fleet, and three other members to the Tower, for the same offence.--MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 417. (20.) 617. (2.) * Ibid. p. 617. (4.) + Wood's Athenæ Öxon, vol. i. p. 261.

Ibid.

Lord's Supper, 1588, by Beza.-6. Bertram the Priest concerning the Body and Blood of Christ, 1582.-7. Meditations on Psalm ci., 1599, by Phil. Morney Lord of Plessis.

JOHN SMYTH, A. M.-This zealous puritan was fellow of Christ's college, Cambridge, and a great sufferer for nonconformity. He was a popular preacher; and having, in one of his sermons before the university, maintained the unlawfulness of sports on the Lord's day, he was summoned before the vice-chancellor. During his examination, he offered to prove, that the christian sabbath ought to be observed by an abstinence from all unnecessary worldly business, and spent in works of piety and charity; though it does not appear what punishment was inflicted upon him.* A divine of his name, beneficed at Mitcham in Surrey, was a member of the presbyterian church erected at Wandsworth in that county, in the year 1572; but it is not easy ascertain whether he was the same person.+

to

Mr. Smyth afterwards separated from the established church, and embraced the principles of the Brownists. In the year 1592, he was one of their leaders, and cast into prison, with many of his brethren, for their nonconformity. After being confined more than eleven months, he was called before the tribunal of the high commission, when he expressed his great surprise, that in matters of religion and conscience, his spiritual judges should censuré men with imprisonment and other grievances, rather than some more christian and equitable methods. In the course of his examination, one of the commissioners asking him, whether he would go to church, he answered, that he should dissemble and play the hypocrite, if he should do it to avoid trouble; for he thought it was utterly unlawful. The commissioner then said, "Come to church and obey the queen's laws, and be a dissembler, an hypocrite, or a devil, if thou wilt." Upon his refusal, he was sent back to the Marshalsea, some of his brethren to the Clink, and others to the Fleet; where they were shut up in close rooms, not being allowed the common liberty of the prison. Here they died like rotten sheep, some through extreme want, some from the rigour of their imprisonment, and others of infectious distempers. Though Mr. Smyth

Strype's Annals, vol. iii. p. 341. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 103. Strype's Annals, vol. iv. p. 134.

§ Ibid. p. 134-136