Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/21

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woman whofe Extra6l and Ellate were Confiderable." Under the preaching of the well-known Puritan ministers, Dodd and Hildersham, and others of less note, he became a Nonconformist, and ever after adhered most strictly to the views which he thus adopted.

In 1616 Henry de Clinton, Earl of Lincoln, died, his title descending to his son Thomas. The latter survived but three years to enjoy his honors, and left to his son Theophilus, a young man, a large estate heavily encum- bered with his father's debts. In this emergency, Dudley was recommended to the young Earl as steward, by Lord Saye and Sele, Lord Compton, and others who had satisfied themselves of his worth and ability. He accordingly took the entire charge of the Earl's large estate, and, by his skil- ful management, in the space of a few years entirely freed the estate from the debts with which it was laden. By many important services which he rendered, and also by his fidelity and constancy in the discharge of his duties, he greatly endeared himself to the family. For nine or ten years, he continued to be the Earl's steward ; but, after that, growing weary of his laborious position, he left the Earl's service, and removed to Boston, in Lincolnshire. He there formed an intimate acquaintance with the vicar of that town, the Rev. John Cotton, who was to be his companion at Boston, in the New World. As his services were again much needed by the Earl of Lincoln, he was obliged to return to his family, and there he remained most of the time, until he left the country.*

script life, printed in " The Sutton-Dudleys," pp. 24-38. — "Dudley Gene- alogies." Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts Bay. Boston: 1795. Vol. i. p. 21, note *. — "Herald and Genealogist," Vol. ii. pp. 409-426; Historic
 * Mather's Magnalia. London: 1702. Bk. ii. pp. 15-17. — Old manu-

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