A search made into matters of Religion

Abstract

Chapter I.

Of my Doubts, my Acquaintance and first Conference with an old Catholic Man.

To the end, gentle reader, that thou mayest better understand the nature of the case that fell out to me, I have thought it expedient to lay down a brief relation of my state and condition, before I fell into any doubt about religion at aII. Thus then, in brief, the matter passed with me. I was brought up from my tender years in London, by the care of my very good patron Sir Francis Walsingham, councillor and secretary to the late Queen (Elizabeth), under the fatherlike tuition of Mr. Humphrey Walsingham, my near kinsman. I was by him placed for several years in St. Paul's School, where I had my first beginnings both of learning and religion, never once doubting of the truth of any position held by the Protestant's Church.

When I came to sufficient years to be able not only to follow sermons, but to rend books of controversy written by Protestant authors, I was not negligent therein, as my often and diligent reading in the writings of Fox, Jewell, Calvin and Beza may bear me witness. By which readings and conferences with others of the same religion, I became so fervent, that I resolved to make myself one of the Protestant clergy ; and for the accomplisihment thereof, l procured myself, in the year 1603, to be made deacon, by the hands of my Lord Bishop of Ely; and having taken that degree, I thought it incident to the same not only to confirm myself, in that way, but others also whomsoever I could...[Excerpt]