HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 367 



procured Harrison a wicked elevation and popularity, among those 

 "who admired anarchy, rebellion, and military tyranny, highly sea- 

 soned by religious professions ; but he did not long enjoy his ho- 

 nours. He was at length executed as a traitor ; his head was set 

 up at Westminster hall ; and his quarters upon the gates of the 

 city of London. Thus disgracefully perished one of the many 

 persons who, under the most showy pretences, would gladly have 

 entailed to their posterity a form of government, which the people 

 of this country never was, and we hope never will be, long dis- 

 posed to support : a government which opens the door to every 

 species of oppression, by raising those to govern others who have 

 neither prudence nor judgment to govern themselves who are 

 clamorous for principles which, wherever they have power, either 

 in their own families, or over their other immediate dependents, 

 they rarely reduce to practice. Monarchy, and that only, suits the 

 genius, and sober and rational character of Englishmen.* 



The other person mentioned, as a native of this place, was 

 doubtless honest in his mistaken principles ; and, as his personal 

 history is not very generally known, we shall dwell upon it at a 

 somewhat greater length. This person is the celebrated JOHN 

 GOODWIN, a learned divine and most acute and zealous defender 

 of Arminianism, who, as Grangerf remarks, " made more noise in 

 the world, than any other person of his age, rank, and profession." 



Mr. Goodwin was born in the year 1593, as we are informed by 

 an intelligent gentleman, who is descended from him in this neigh- 

 bourhood.! Every account, hitherto printed, states the place of 

 his birth to be unknown ; and it is but just to add, that our own 

 authority is tradition. He received his academical education at 

 Queen's College, Cambridge, where he soon became known by his 

 learning and talents, and for being a smart disputant. Upon his 

 leaving college he was admitted into orders, and became much ad- 

 mired for the erudition and elegance which distinguished his pul- 

 pit compositions. 



He preached sometime in the country, and removed to London in 

 the year 1632. The year following he was presented to the vi- 

 earage of St. Stephen's, Coleman-street. At this time the Arch- 

 bishop Laud took upon himself the government of the English 



Beauties of England and Wales, Vol. X. p. 1077. 



t Biographical Hist, of Eng. 



J Yet Granger quotes a MS. in Lambeth Palace, which says : " Johannes 

 Goodwin, Norfolc, became Fellow of Queen's College in Cambridge, in 1611" 

 Biog. Hist, of Eng. Vol. III. p. 42. (note.; 



3 A 



