THOMAS GRESHOP, A. M. was educated in All-Souls college, Oxford; a nonconformist of great learning and piety in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and a most loyal subject under her majesty's government. In the days of Edward VI. he went as chaplain in the army of Lord Gray of Wilton, in his expedition against the Scotch rebels. He translated into English, " A Treatise concerning a Declaration of the Pope's usurped Primacy;" written in Greek, above 800 years ago, by Nilus, archbishop of Thessalonica. JAMES ROSIER was vicar of Winston in Norfolk, but a zealous nonconformist to the ecclesiastical ceremonies, particularly in refusing to wear the surplice. Though he was willing to conform in all points as far as the word of God allowed, he was, in the year 1573, suspended from his ministerial exercise.t DR. PENNY was a puritan minister of considerable eminence and popularity in London. In 1565 he was appointed by the lord mayor to be one of the preachers at the Spital the following Easter; which no sooner came to the ears of Archbishop Parker than he put a stop to it, on account of his nonconformity. He is, nevertheless, included in the list of peaceable nonconformists, who are said to have been gently treated, and were favoured with a license, or a connivance, to preach and hold ecclesiastical preferments. He afterwards gave up the ministry and turned physician, most probably on account of the oppressions of the times. He was living in the year 1573. One Thomas Penny united with several others in addressing a letter, in 1577, to the celebrated Mr. Cartwright, in which they declare their firmness in the cause of nonconformity; but whether this was the same person we cannot learn.§ MR. SPARROW was a puritan divine of considerable eminence; but in the year 1573 was apprehended and carried first before the council, then the high commission. Being examined about Mr. Cartwright's opinions, and not answering to the satisfaction of his spiritual inquisitors, he was MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 373. (8.) + Strype's Parker, p. 452. See Art. Gawton, Ibid. p. 213, 243, 414. cast into prison, and threatened with banishment, if he would not conform.* MR. WALSH was preacher at Little Waldingfield in Essex, but, in 1573, was obliged to leave the place for nonconformity. He afterwards preached in Suffolk, where he was esteemed a holy and painful divine, a great light in his time, and famous for his ministerial labours, his fervent zeal, and abundant charity. Mr. Samuel Crook, another worthy puritan, married his eldest daughter.‡ MR. FULWER was a puritan minister in London, but treated with great cruelty by the ruling prelates. He was a man of most exemplary piety, and greatly esteemed by his brethren, but cast into prison for nonconformity. Towards the close of the year 1573, he was, with several of his brethren, confined in the Compter; but how long he remained we have not been able to learn. MR. LOWTH was some time minister at Carlisle, but, in 1574, was prosecuted in the high commission of York for nonconformity. Having compared the severe proceedings of Archbishop Grindal and other commissioners to the Spanish inquisition, he was charged with slander. But the principal crime alleged against him was, that, though he had laboured in the ministry about sixteen years, he had never been ordained according to the practice of the church of England. After receiving the ecclesiastical censure, he made suit to the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury for pardon; which, said Grindal, was intolerant. Grindal, therefore, wrote to his brother of Canterbury, and prayed him, if it were in his power, to stay Mr. Lowth's pardon. This, as might be expected, Archbishop Parker promised to do with all faithfulness. JOHN BROWN was chaplain to the Duchess of Suffolk, but, in 1573, was convened before the council; and being * Strype's Parker, p. 412, 413. + Ibid. p. 452. Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 205. Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxxii. p. 441, 442. Strype's Grindal, p. 185, 186. 1 Strype's Parker, p. 480, 481. examined upon certain articles, he was suspended from his ministry. The year following, he was concerned in Undertree's sham plot. Though Undertree had written many letters in his name, yet, when the case was brought under examination, the whole was proved to be a forgery, and Mr. Brown's innocence was proved and announced in open court. He wrote certain letters, with ten questions proposed and answered, addressed to his brethren in the ministry, copies of which are still preserved. One John Brown, B. D. was made canon of Windsor in the time of Queen Mary, and canon of Westminster in 1565, which he resigned, or was deprived of, in 1572; and died in 1584; but whether this was the same person it is difficult to ascertain.§ DAVID THICKPENNY was curate of Brighthelmstone in Sussex, a man of good learning, and much beloved by his parishioners; but, in 1575, he was suspended by the Bishop of Chichester for nonconformity. He was charged, indeed, with the novel doctrines of the Family of Love; but, upon his examination, the charge was proved to be false. Although his innocence was fully proved, and his suspension taken off by Archbishop Grindal, he was soon after brought into fresh troubles for the same cause. EDWARD CHAPMAN was educated in Trinity college, Cambridge, where he maintained, in a public disputation, that Christ, at his death, did not descend locally into hell. He also observed, that for ministers to hold two or more livings was unlawful; by which he gave great offence to the ruling ecclesiastics. He had a prebend in the church of Norwich, and was minister at Bedford; but, in 1573, was deprived by the Bishop of Lincoln. Having received his lordship's sentence, he made complaint to the court, which occasioned the bishop some trouble.** In the year 1577, Mr. Chapman, and several of his brethren, fell into the hands of Bishop Aylmer, who recommended, as a just punishment for their nonconformity, that they should be Bent into the most barbarous parts of the kingdom, where + Ibid. p. 466. Strype's Parker, p. 412, 413. Strype's Annals, vol. i. p. 583. they might be profitably employed in reclaiming the people from ignorance and popery. This he recommended, not because he liked them, but because he wished to get rid of them.❤ RALPH LEVER, A. M. was educated in King's college, Cambridge, and afterwards archdeacon of Northumberland, but he resigned this preferment in 1573, when he was succeeded by Mr. Francis Bunney. In 1577 he succeeded his brother, the celebrated Mr. Thomas Lever, as master of Sherborn hospital, near Durham. He was one of the canons in the church of Durham, and deeply concerned in drawing up the articles against Mr. Whittingham, whom he most probably succeeded in the office of dean. He is, notwithstanding this, denominated a puritan. His assertions concerning the canon law, the English papists, and the ecclesiastical affairs of this realm, are still preserved. One of the same name was rector of Snatterton in Norfolk, in 1588, where his remains were interred, June 3, 1605; but whether this was the same person is perhaps doubtful.|| WILLIAM DREWET was committed to Newgate by the bishops, in 1580, for not consenting, it is said, to the traditions and filthy ceremonies of antichrist. He was of opinion, that men could not worship God in spirit and in truth, so long as they maintained human traditions, worldly ordinances, and popish ceremonies. How long he remained in prison we are not able to learn.¶ 1 JOHN NASH, a zealous puritan minister, was committed prisoner to the Marshalsea for nonconformity. From the prison he wrote a bold letter, dated January, 1580, to the bishops and clergy in convocation. In this letter, a copy of which is still preserved, he styles himself The Lord's Prisoner, and boldly exposes the manifold errors and corruptions of the established church.** * Strype's Aylmer, p. 55, 56. + Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 356, 671. Strype's Parker, p. 275. Strype's Annals, vol. i. p. 319. ii. 514. Blomefield's Hist. of Norfolk, vol. i. p. 285. MS. Register, p. 289. ** Ibid. p. 291-298. MR. EVANS, a worthy and conscientious minister, was presented by the Earl of Warwick to the vicarage of Warwick; but Dr. Whitgift, then bishop of Worcester, refused his allowance. When the worthy earl sent him to his grace, requesting that he might be admitted with a favourable subscription, the bishop said, "O, I know you, Mr. Evans, to be worthy of a better place than Warwick. I would very gladly gratify my lord; but there is a Lord in heaven whom I fear; and, therefore, I cannot admit you without subscription." Though the good man offered to subscribe in all points as far as the law required, the bishop would not admit him, unless he would enter into bonds to observe all things in the Book of Common Prayer. Upon this, Mr. Evans boldly addressed him, saying, "Will the law then permit you thus to play the tyrant, bishop? I shall see a premunire upon you one day for these pranks." RICHARD PROWD was a puritan minister of Burton-uponDunmore. In the year 1580 he wrote a very affecting letter to Lord Burleigh, giving a melancholy account of the state of religion, produced by the suppression of the religious exercises; and by forbidding ministers and others meeting together, to pray for the preservation of the protestant religion in so dangerous a crisis as the present, when there was a prospect of the queen's marriage with a papist. He expressed his doubts to his lordship whether he dealt so plainly with her majesty as the importance and his knowledge of these things required, and warmly urged him to interpose in the present alarming crisis. But it does not appear what effect this letter produced.+ JOHN HOOKE was minister at Wroxall in Warwickshire, but was suspended in 1583 for nonconformity. This was doubtless for refusing subscription to Whitgift's three articles. He continued a long time under the ecclesiastical sentence, and whether he was ever restored is rather doubtful. His annual stipend was only 5l. 6s. 8d.; |