Burton, Henry

Burton, Henry a Puritan divine, was born at Birsall, Yorkshire, 1579, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He was appointed clerk of the closet to prince Charles, but was dismissed in 1625 for criticizing Laud's popish tendencies. In 1626 he became rector of St. Matthew's, in Friday Street, London, and was, in December, 1636, summoned before the Star-Chamber for two "seditious sermons." He was suspended, sentenced to be imprisoned for life, to lose his ears in the pillory, and to pay a fine of £5000. Burton bore his sufferings in the pillory with great firmness, amid the sympathetic cries of the bystanders. He was released from imprisonment in 1640 by the Long Parliament, which restored him to the exercise of his orders and to his benefice. He afterward became an Independent, and died Jan. 7, 1648. His controversial writings were very numerous; a list of seventy is given by Anthony Wood. See Life of Henry Burton (Lond. 1643, 4to).