" Hitherto the young man had received no religious training;
when he had served his time, however, "hearing in those days great
talk among the vulgar people and especially amongst youth, boys, and
young maids, of a people called Puritans.... I liked their discourse
upon the Scriptures and pleaded for a holy keeping of the Sabbath
day, which my master did not do, nor I his servant."
This must have been about the year 1630--for Muggleton was born in
June 1610--when the Sabbatarian controversy was at its height, and
the feeling of the country was approaching fever heat, and when
Charles the First had resolved to try and govern without a
Parliament, and when Archbishop Abbot was in disgrace, and Laud had
begun to exercise his predominant influence. Muggleton was but little
impressed by "the people called Puritans," and he went on his old
way. When he had nearly served his time, he began to look about him.
The tailor's trade did not seem likely to lead to much, unless it
were combined with something else, and a brilliant opening offered
itself, as he was at work for a pawnbroker in Hounsditch. "The
broker's wife had one daughter alive. The mother, being well
persuaded of my good natural temper, and of my good husbandry, and
that I had no poor kindred come after me to be any charge or burthen
to her daughter, .
Pages:
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293