eited before the Queen and her council, to anfwer for misdemeanors. He charged them with countenancing Copping, Tyler, and other diforderly clergymen; they were accused of contempt of his lordship's jurifdiction, in refusing to admit feveral ministers which he had ordained, because they were fo ignorant that they could not read, and for removing one Wood from his living on the fame account. Thefe Juftices gave in their anfwer to the charge which the Bifhop brought against them, wherein they afferted their conformity to the rites and ceremonies of the church, and justly reflected upon his lordship for his cruelty in keeping men in prifon for so many years, without bringing them to a trial, according to the laws of their country, and expreffed their aftonishment, that a Bishop of the church of England, fhould be a patron to ignorance, to ignorance, an enemy to the word of God, and the gofpel of Christ. Upon this the juftices were difmiffed. : While the Bishops were rigorously perfecuting the diffenters, the nobility and gentry fhewed them favour they received them into their house, in the character of chaplains and tutors to their children; not merely because they were perfecued, but because they found them to be perfons of real worth, and usefulness. They were in general men of true piety, fkilful in the fcriptures, and zealous defenders of the proteftant religion : they indulged themfelves in none of thofe fafhionable pleasures and vices which were customary in thofe times; but were faithful in difcharging their duty 1 duty, and fulfilling the truft which was committed to them. In this fituation they were cover ed from the violence of their perfecutors, and preached in thofe families, and inftructed their children; which was of great fervice to the fucceeding generation. The papists were now bufy over the whole kingdom; fwarms of jefuits came over from the foreign colleges, and practifed upon the subjects of England; they fpread their Books of devotion and controversy over all the nation, among the common people; they had private meetings in almost all the market towns in England; but in the north they were moft numerous, and fuperior even to the proteftants. This alarmed the ministry, and made them enquire after their priests; many of whom were apprehended, and three were put to death, viz. Edmund Champion, Ralph Sherwin, and Alexander Bryant. Champion was treated in a moft barbarous manner; he was first tortured, afterwards hanged, drawn, and quartered, to the everlasting infamy of thofe who advised fuch cruelty. It is a great difgrace to the proteftant religion, when its friends and votaries make ufe of the weapons of Rome to defend it; no friend of chriftanity can in his heart approve of perfecution in any fhape whatsoever; and to torture, a papist because he is not of our opinion, is, in the firft inftance, to turn papift and renounce the proteftant religion. " The rest of the Roman catholics were fpared, because the Queen's match with the Duke of Anjou 1 Anjou was ftill depending. Elizabeth about this time fent affistance to the proteftants in the Netherlands; for which they delivered into her hands the most important fortreffes of their country, to be garrifoned by the English. She in like manner fent aid to the French proteftants, who were at open war with their own King, and ordered a collection to be made over all England for relief of the city of Geneva, which at this time was befieged by the Duke of Savoy. Thefe acts were not quite confiftent with her own principles; but Elizabeth made all her principles fubfervient to her policy and interest. This year the clergy were put in great by 1582. fear, a new commiffion which the Queen granted to fome of her hungry courtiers; it was called a commiffion of concealment, by which they were authorized to enquire into the titles of church lands and livings; all forfeitures, concealments, or lands, for which parish the could produce no legal title, were given to these commiffioners. The articles of enquiry were aimed againft the Puritans, through them they made fad havock with the patrimony of the church. The queries they asked on thefe occafions were fuch, as few of the clergy were able to anfwer, or by anfwering them, they expofed their livings to the mercy of these rapacious courtiers, who were not eafily fatisfied with goods of that fort. What right have you to your parfonage? How came you by it? Who ordained you? At what age were you ordained? Have you a licence? Were you you married under the hands of two Juftices of the peace? Do you read the whole fervice? Do you use all the rites, ceremonies, and ornaments appointed by the Queen's injunctions? Have you publicly read the articles and fubfcribed them? These were the questions which were ordinarily afked at the clergy by thefe commiffioners of concealments. The church-wardens in every parishwere examined upon oath concerning their ministers, and the church-lands, with a fpecial intention to fequeftrate them to the purpose of the commiffioners. This effectually alarmed the bishops, and brought them to their knees before the Queen: they begged, that her Majesty, out of regard to the church, would fet afide that commiffion; which accordingly she did. About this time, Mr Robert Wright, chaplain to Lord Rich, was grievously perfecuted by the Bishop of London. While his Lordfhip lived, he protected him and his family, but as foon as Lord Rich died, the Bishop of London apprehended him, and fent him to the Gatehouse, for faying, that to keep the Queen's birth-day as a holy day, was to make her an idol. After Mr Wright had been imprisoned for feveral months, he petitioned the bishop to be brought to his trial, or admitted to bail; but all the answer which his Reverence was pleased to give, was, that he deferved to lie in prifon seven years. This was cruelty worthy of a Bifhop, who, instead of feeding his flock, did all that was in his power to devour them. This feverity of the Bishop, made others have compaffion upon the prisoner; and especially the keeper of the jail, who Vol. II. G g gave gave him leave to go to vifit his wife, who was lying in childbed. One Dr Ford meeting him, told the Bishop, who fent for the keeper, and demanded his prifoner; the keeper pleaded the neceflity of the cafe, and faid, that it was an act of humanity due to any man in the like circumftances; but the bishop threatened to complain of him to the Queen, and have him turned out of his employment. Mr Wright, hearing of the danger the keeper was in, returned immediately to prifon, and wrote to the Lord Treasurer in his behalf, upon which the keeper was forgiven. Aylmer was one of these men who, instead of be◄ ing difpofed to mercy by the diftrefs of others, rather heightened his cruelty in proportion to the greatness of the affliction; other men's fufferings were sport to this Dignitary, and his greatest pleafure was to fee other people in pain. He called Mr. Wright before the commiffioners, and examined him concerning the book of common prayer, rites and ceremonies, praying for the Queen, and the church, and concerning the established form of ordination of minifters. He was charged with preaching without a licence, and with being only a layman, becaufe he was ordained by one of the foreign churches. The charges which were brought against him, he answered very pertinently; but all that he could fay was to no purpose, for the Bishop would not allow his orders, and pronounced him a layman, uncapable of holding a living in the church. This proceeding was expressly contrary to law; for the ftatute of the 13th Elizabeth, cap. 12. admits the ordination of a Scotch presbytery, or any of the reformed churches. There |