то DANIEL LISTER, Esq. OF HACKNEY, GRANDSON OF THE REV. DANIEL NEAL, IN GRATEFUL TESTIMONY OF THE ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT WITH WHICH, INDUCED BY STRONG ATTACHMENT TO THE CAUSE OF GENERAL LIBERTY AND PIOUS VENERATION FOR THE NAME OF HIS WORTHY ANCESTOR, HE HAS POLITELY AND GENEROUSLY FAVORED THE UNDERTAKING, THIS NEW EDITION OF THE HISTORY OF THE PURITANS IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT, THE EDITOR. MORE ORE than half a century has elapsed, since the work, now again offered to the public, made its first appearance. The author gave it a second edition in 4to. In 1755 it was printed at Dub lin, on the plan of the first impression, in four volumes octavo. The English editions have, for number of years, been scarce: and copies of the work, as it has been, justly, held in high estimation by Dissenters, have borne a high price. Foreigners also have referred to it as a book of authority, affording the most ample information on that part of the English History, which it comprehends.* A republication of it will, on these accounts, it is supposed, be acceptable to the friends of religious liberty. Several circumstances concur to render it, at this time, peculiarly seasonable. The Protestant Dissenters, by their repeated applications to Parliaments, have attracted notice and excited an enquiry into their principles and history. The odium and obloquy, of which they have recently be come the objects, are a call upon them to appeal to both in their own justification. Their History, while it brings up to painful review scenes of spiritual tyranny and oppression, connects itself with the rise and progress of religious liberty; and necessarily brings forward many important and interesting transactions, which are not to be met with in the general Histories of our Country, because not falling within the province of the authors to detail. The Editor has been induced, by these considerations, to comply with a proposal to revise Mr. Neal's work. In doing this, he has taken no other liberty with the original text, than to cast into notes some papers and lists of names, which appeared to him too much to interrupt the narrative. This alteration in the form of it promises to render it more pleasing to the eye, and more agreeable to the perusal. He has, where he could procure the works quoted, which he has been able to do in most instances, examined and corrected the references, and so ascertained the fairness and accuracy of the authorities. He has reviewed the animadversions of Bishops Maddox and Warburton, and Dr. Grey; and given the result of his scrutiny in notes; by which the credit of the author is eventually established. He has not suppressed strictures of his own, where he conceived there was occasion for them. It has been his aim, in conducting this work, through the press, to support the character of the diligent, ac curate, and impartial Editor. How far he has done this, he must leave to the candid to determine. Whatever inaccuracies, or mistakes, the eye of criticism may discover, he is confident, that they cannot essentially affect the execution of the design, any more than the veracity of the author. The remark, which Mr. Neal advanced as a plea, in his own defence, against the censure of Bishop Maddox, will apply with force, the Editor conceives, to his own case; as in the first instance it had great weight. "The commission of errors in writing any history of times past, (says the ingenious Mr. "Wharton, in his letter to Mr. Strype) being altogether unavoidable, ought not to detract from the "credit of the History, or the merits of the Historian, unless it be accompanied with immoderate os" tentation, or unhandsome reflections on the errors of others."+ The Editor has only further to solicit any communications, which may tend to improve this impression of Neal's History; or to furnish materials for the continuation of the History of the Protestant Dissenters from the Revolution, with which period Mr. Neal's design closes, to the present times: as be has it in contemplation, if Providence favor him with life and health, to prepare such a work for the press. Taunton, 13th June, 1793. * Mosheim, Dictionnaire de Heresies, and Wendeborn. + Mr.Wharton discovered as many errors in Mr. Strype's single volume of Memorials of Archbishop Cranmer, as filled three sheets: yet Mr. Strype's collections were justly entitled to the commendations of posterity, as a work of great utility and authority. See Neal's Review, p. 6. 8vo. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 1324 bou TATE of religion before the reformation. Statute of provisors. of penal laws against heretics. King Henry VIII's birth and character. Cardinal Wolsey's legantine power. King moves for a divorce from his Queen. King breaks with the pope. Act of supremacy. Against ap- peals. King's divorce. Pope's authority over the church of England taken away. Laws against heretics repealed. Clergy's submission. Act for revising the canons. Oath of succession and supremacy. Re- formation of doctrine. Books printed. Supplication of the beggars; answered with severities. Monasteries visited. Monasteries suppressed. Their revenues. Bible translated into English. Death of Queen Anne Bullen. Articles of religion devised by the King. Pope excommuni- eates the King: occasions insurrections. King's injunctions. Abstract of the institution of a christian man. Bible set up in churches. Hin- drances of a further reformation. Persecution of the protestants. Lam- bert burned. Statute of the six articles. Sad effects of it. Acts in fa- vor of the prerogative. Lord Cromwell's death. Mixed executions of 154° the protestants and papists. Abstract of the erudition of a christian THE justice of the English reformation argued. Regally debated. difference compromised. Sentiments of the reforming clergy about the KING Edward's last will. Queen Jane proclaimed. Queen Mary enters London. Her declaration about religion. Suffolk men punished. Reformers imprisoned. Foreigners commanded to leave the kingdom. Popery restored by parliament. Proceedings of convocation. Wyat's rebellion. A visitation. Numbers of the clergy ejected. Queen's second parliament and marriage. Disputation at Oxford. Reformers' decla- ration of faith. Cardinal Poole arrives from the pope. The kingdom reconciled to Rome. Laws against the pope repealed. Queen restores the church lands. Laws against heretics revived. Protestants burnt. Bonner's cruelty. Petition from beyond sea in behalf of the martyrs. Mr. Bradford burnt. Bishops Ridley and Latimer. Bishop Gardiner's death. Archbishop Cranmer burnt. Further cruelties. The numbers that were burnt in this reign. Rise of the controversy about predesti- nation. Arians. Some recant. Private congregation of protestants. Their sufferings. Many go into a voluntary exile. Rise of the puritans. Their manner of worship. The troubles at Frankfort. Disputes about ceremonies and the service book. They appeal to Calvin. Dr. Cox restores the use of the service book. Mr. Knox banished. Congrega- tion divides: part go to Geneva. Remarks. Congregation at Frankfort divided a second time. The magistrates' advice to them. Their new book of discipline. Death of bishop Poynet. A visitation of the uni- versities. Princess Elizabeth, her sufferings. Calamities of the nation. Ad- STATE of the nation. Preaching forbid. Return of the exiles. prived. Consecration of archbishop Parker. Principles of the reform- ties against the puritans. Licences taken away. University of Cam- CHAPTER V. From the Separation of the Protestant Non-Conformists to the death of OBJECTIONS of the puritans against the hierarchy of the church.-- Pro. |