..... Bir Peter Wentworth's character and imprisonment Account of the famous John Speed ..... Roger Cotton remarkable for reading the Bible A peculiar method of teaching Hebrew ib. 148 THE LIVES OF THE PURITANS. JOHN UDAL. This celebrated puritan was educated in the university of Cambridge, and was a man of excellent parts, great learning, genuine piety, and untarnished loyalty to Queen Elizabeth, but a great sufferer on account of his nonconformity. He was preacher about seven years, at Kingston-upon-Thames; but afterwards deprived, imprisoned, and condemned; and, at last, he died quite heart-broken in prison. Some of his hearers at Kingston, taking offence at his faithful warnings and admonitions, brought complaints against him to those in power, when he was put to silence by the official, Dr. Hone, and committed to prison. But by the unsolicited favour and influence of the Countess of Warwick, Sir Drue Drury, and other excellent persons, he was released, and restored to his ministry. September 26, 1586, he was convened before the Bishop of Winchester, and the Dean of Windsor, when they entered upon the following conversation : Bishop. Mr. Udal, you are beholden to Warwick. She hath been earnest for that you will submit yourself. you, my lady of and telleth me, Udal. I thank God for her ladyship's care. I am contented, and always have been, to submit to any thing that is just and godly. B. What you will do, I know not. Hitherto you have not done it; for you refused to swear according to law. U. By your honour's favour, I never refused to swear, so far as the law doth bind me. B. No! Wherefore then were you committed? U. You know best. I was contented to swear, if I might first see the articles. B. That is a slender foundation to stand upon. U. It is to me a matter of great importance. For with what conscience can I call the Lord to witness, and protest by his name, that I will answer I know not what? Dean. Mr. Udal, the things objected against you, I dare say, are against your doctrine, or your life, which are no secrets. B. Nay, they charge nothing against his life, but his doctrine only. U. The greater is the mercy of God towards me. For I have given the greater offence by my life; but it hath pleased him so to keep my sins from their sight, that I might suffer for his sake. Your restraining me from my ministry, makes the world believe, that the slanders raised against me are true; the ignorant call in question the gospel which I have preached; and thus a door is widely opened for every wicked man to contemn the doctrine of our Saviour. Here the bishop laid all the blame on Mr. Udal, and discovered so hard a heart against the suffering church of God, that Mr. Udal burst into a flood of tears, and was constrained to turn aside, to weep for the space of half an hour. Upon his return, he was addressed as follows: B. Will you answer the articles charged against you, that these things may be redressed? U. If I may first see them, I shall be satisfied. B. Mr. Hartwell, write to the register to let him see them; then go with him to some of the commissioners to swear him. U. This will be a long course. I pray you, that, in the mean time, I may continue my ministry, for the good of the poor people. B. That you may not. Now that you are suspended, you must so abide, until you be cleared. U. Then whatsoever becomes of me, I beseech you, let the poor people have a preacher. B. That is a good motion, and I will look after it. Mr. Udal then receiving the letter, departed; and the articles being shewn him, he was taken to Dr. Hammond to be sworn, who said, "You must swear to answer these articles, so far as the law bindeth you.' "Do you mean, said Mr. Udal, "that I shall answer them, so far as it appeareth to me, that I am by law required?" And finding that he might, he took the oath, and delivered to the register his answers to all the articles in writing. These articles, with the answers, are now before me, and are |
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