of the church. I will none of that; and, therefore, let them either conform themselves, and that shortly, or they shall hear of it."* Some further account of this mock conference, as it is very commonly and very justly denominated, is given in another place.+ Mr. Knewstubs was a learned and celebrated divine, and though the productions of his pen do not appear to have been very numerous, Fuller denominates him one of the learned writers of St. John's college, Cambridge. He continued his zealous and faithful ministry at Cockfield to the day of his death, having laboured at that place forty-five years. He died May 29, 1624, aged eighty years, when his remains were interred at Cockfield, and over his grave a monumental inscription was erected to his memory, of which the following is a translation :§ IN MEMORY of that most humble and affectionate Servant of God, forty-five years the very watchful and faithful pastor of the church of Cockfield; against the Roman Antichrist and his emissaries. At length, worn out with infirmities, he withdrew from this mortal life, never-fading monuments of his Genius, too small for so great a man, Friends maye awile by Arte our Viewe commende, As we may lyve in Heav'n eternally. → Barlow's Account, p. 176, 177. Fuller's Hist. of Cambridge, p. 95. + See Art. Dr. John Rainolds. Peck's Desiderata Curiosa, vol. i. b. vi. p. 22. Mr. Kuewstubs is classed among the generous benefactors of St. John's college, Cambridge. September 1, 1623, he founded two exhibitions for two poor scholars; for which purpose he gave to the college eleven pounds a year, out of certain lands, called squires' lands, at Southminster and Steeple in Essex. He appointed twenty shillings of this annuity for the use of the college, and ten pounds for two poor scholars, to be elected at the general election of scholars, one of them to be out of the north, the other from the south. The former of these was to be a person born within the parish of Kirkby Stephen; or, in case of the want of such a one, any one born in the county of Westmoreland, or educated in the school at Kirkby Stephen: but in the want of such a one, then a person to be chosen out of the school at Appleby. The scholar from the south was to be a person born within the parish of Cockfield in Suffolk; and in the want of such a one, then a person to be chosen from the school at Sudbury. He appointed the nomination of the one to the vice-chancellor, or the incumbent of Kirkby Stephen and the schoolmaster for the time being; and of the other to the incumbent of Cockfield for the time being. He further ordered, that if either of the scholars should be absent from the college upwards of fifty days together, the allowance, during that period, should go to the use of the college; and if absent ninety-one days, he should forfeit his exhibition,* His WORKS.-1, A Confutation of certain Monstrous and Horrible Heresies, taught by H. N. (Henry Nichols) and embraced by a number who call themselves The Family of Love, 1579.-2. Lectures on Various Portions of Scripture.-3. An Answer to certain Assertions. RICHARD CRAKENTHORP, D. D.-This learned divine was born of respectable parents near Strickland in Westmoreland, in the year 1577, and educated in Queen's college, Oxford, where he was chosen fellow. About the year 1603, he became chaplain to Lord Evers, in his mission as ambassador to the court of Germany, by which he became acquainted with many persons celebrated for learning, and visited several of the foreign universities. Upon his return to England he became chaplain in ordinary to King James; and, by the favour of Sir John Levesen, was presented to the rectory of Black-Notely, * Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxiii. This volume is not paged. near Braintree in Essex. In the year 1617, he became rector of Packelsham.* This learned divine attempted to vindicate the famous Dr. John Rainolds from the reproachful imputation of puritanism, but evidently with very little success; and, in fact, while he laboured to clear his friend and favourite of the reproachful charge, he was himself found guilty. He was justly denominated a puritan, as well as Rainolds. The Oxford historian says, " he was a noted preacher, a profound disputant, and a good divine, and was greatly admired and venerated by all great men, especially by those of the puritanical party, being himself a zealot among them." He further adds, "that Dr. Crakenthorp was esteemed by most to have been replenished with all kinds of virtue and learning; to have been a profound philosopher and theologian, a great canonist, and so familiar in the fathers, councils, and schoolmen, that scarcely any in his time went beyond him; and that few authors have written with greater diligence and success."+ He died at Black-Notely, says this writer, "for want of a bishopric," as King James used to say in reproach of such men; and his remains were interred in the chancel of the church at that place, November 25, 1624, aged forty-seven years. Dr. John Barkham, dean of Bocking, preached his funeral sermon, and gave the deceased high commendations for learning and piety. Dr. Crakenthorp sometimes preached the sermon at Paul's cross, and one or more of these sermons was afterwards published. His WORKS.-1. Sermons on several Occasions, 1608.-2. Justinian the Emperor defended, against Card. Baronius, 1616.-3. Introductio in Metaphysicam, 1619.-4. A Defence of Constantine, with a Treatise of the Pope's Temporal Monarchy, 1621.5. Logicæ libri quinque, de prædicalibus, prædicamentis, etc., 1622.6. Tractatus de Providentia Dei, 1622.-7. Defensio Eccl. Anglicanæ contra M. Anton. de Dominis Archep. Spalatensis injurias, 1625.†— 8. Virgelius dormitans; or, a Treatise of the first General Council held at Constantinople, an. 553, under Justinian the Emperor, 1631.— Though he left numerous manuscripts, it does not appear whether any other articles were ever published. Newcourt's Repert. Eccl. vol. ii. p. 443, 459. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 417, 418. Archbishop Abbot calls this work "the most exact piece of controgergy since the reformation."-Leigh on Religion and Learning, p. 172. WALTER TRAVERS, B. D.-This celebrated divine was educated in Trinity college, Cambridge; where he took his degrees in arts, and was incorporated in the same at Oxford. Afterwards he travelled to Geneva, where he formed an intimate and abiding acquaintance with Beza and other learned divines. Upon his return to Cambridge, where he remained for some time, he took his degree in divinity. In 1572, he was member of the first presbyterian church in England, erected at Wandsworth in Surrey.* While the prelates rigorously imposed subscription upon ministers, and required an exact conformity to the estab lished church, many learned persons, who had conscientious objections against the English mode of ordination, went abroad to Middleburg, Antwerp, and other places, and received ordination according to the foreign reformed churches; which, in their opinion, was much more agreeable to the word of God. Among those whose convic tions led them to adopt this course was Mr. Travers, who went to Antwerp, and was there ordained by the presbytery. His honourable testimonial, dated May 14, 1578, is the following:+" For as much as it is just and reasonable, "that such as are received into the number of the ministers ❝of God's word should have a testimonial of their voca❝tion; we declare, that, having called together a synod of "twelve ministers of God's word, and almost the same "number of elders, at Antwerp, on May 8, 1578, our very "learned, pious, and excellent brother, the reverend Doctor "Gaulter Travers, was, by the unanimous votes and ardent "desires of all present, received and instituted into the "ministry of God's holy word, and confirmed according "to our accustomed manner, with prayer and imposition ❝of hands; and the next day after the sabbath, having "preached before a full congregation of English, at the "request of the ministers, he was acknowledged and "received most affectionately by the whole church. That "Almighty God would prosper the ministry of this our "reverend brother among the English, and attend it with great success, is our most carnest prayer, through Jesus "Christ. Amen. 66 "Given at Antwerp, May 14, 1578, and signed, "JOHANNES TAFFINUS, V. D. M. * See Art. John Field. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 214. Mr. Travers, soon after his ordination, became assistant to Mr. Cartwright, then preacher to the English merchants at Antwerp. He was a person highly distinguished for prudence, learning, and piety; and, therefore, upon his return to England, the Lord Treasurer Burleigh made choice of him for his domestic chaplain, and as tutor to his son Robert, afterwards Earl of Salisbury. The treasurer was, indeed, a constant friend and patron of the nonconformists, and discovered his affectionate regard for them through the whole of his life. In the face of the whole nation, therefore, he countenanced this learned and excellent divine, and received him into his family, notwithstanding his nonconformity. Mr. Travers could not conscientiously subscribe; on which account he was incapable of any considerable preferment in the church, which, we may suppose, his noble patron was ready to bestow upon him. The lecturer's place at the Temple becoming vacant, the learned gentlemen of that society invited him to accept it; and, as no subscription was requisite for that office, he complied with their invitation. In the year 1584, a short time before Dr. Alvey, master of the Temple, closed his eyes in death, the doctor, with the learned gentlemen of that society, recommended Mr. Travers for his successor. Dr. Alvey the master, and Mr. Travers the lecturer, lived together some years in great amity and love. They mutually united in carrying on the work of reformation in the place; and, with much zeal, wisdom, and resolution, they joined in promoting true christian piety among the learned benchers, by whom they were both very highly esteemed.+ The above recommendation was presented to the treasurer, who communicated the same to the queen, signifying to her majesty his approbation of their choice. But, by the powerful endeavours and superior influence of Archbishop Whitgift, he was rejected, and Mr. Richard Hooker, author of " Ecclesiastical Polity," was nominated to the office. Whitgift most vigorously opposed the admission of Mr. Travers, and signified to the queen," that he was one of the principal authors of dissention in the church; that he contemned the Book of Common Prayer, and other orders as by authority established; that he sought to promote innovation; and that he was only ordained abroad, and not according to the form of the church of England." Mr. Travers, however, MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 513. (14.) + Ibid. p. 431. (8.) |