[229] The Scottish Dove (November, 1646), relates the commitment of an Anabaptist at Coventry, for preaching up and down the country, and dipping scores of men and women.
[230] "Whereas, at the entreaty of Mr. Calamy and other ministers, as it was represented unto me by certain citizens, I did lately give an allowance to them to meet and dispute with certain Anabaptists; and whence, I understand you, in pursuance of that allowance, there is a public dispute intended on Wednesday next, December 3rd, in the church of Aldermanbury, and there is likely to be an extraordinary concourse of people from all parts of the city, and from other places; and that in these times of distraction there may be hazard of the disturbance of the public peace, I have therefore thought fit, upon serious consideration, for prevention of the inconveniences that may happen thereby, to forbid the same meeting upon Wednesday next, or at any other time, in a public way before I shall receive the pleasure of the honourable House of Parliament touching the same, which, with all conveniency, I shall endeavour to know.
"Thomas Adams,
"Dec. 1st, 1645. Lord Mayor."
Placard in the British Museum.
[231] Bayle's Article on Anabaptists is worth reading.
Bossuet remarks that Socinians and Anabaptists were the only persons who disputed the right of the magistrate to punish men for religious error.—Variations Protestantes, liv. x., c. 56.
Socinus and Zuinglius, besides the Anabaptists, were the principal, if not the only apostles of religious liberty, at the time of the Reformation.
[232] So he is described by Crosby and Palmer. We may presume Allhallows Staining, Fenchurch Street, is meant.
[233] Crosby's History of the English Baptists, i. 288, 289.