John Burges

John Burges (Burgess) (1563–1635) was an English clergyman and physician. He held nuanced reformist views on the vexed questions of the time, on clerical dress and church ceremonies. His preaching offended James I of England, early in his reign, and Burges went abroad for medical training. He spent many years building up a practice, and only resumed a relationship of conformity within the Church of England in the 1620s. Life Early years Burges was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, and graduated at that university as B.A. in 1586. He was rector of the small living of St. Peter Hungate in Norwich as early as 1590; it has been conjectured that he was a Norfolk man. Norfolk years When proceedings were taken against Thomas Cartwright and his supporters, Burges identified with the Puritan party of Cartwright. He accepted their position on the surplice and the cross in baptism: they were not unlawful, but they were inexpedient. He left himself in the hands of his congregation; if they would not be scandalised by his wearing the surplice and using the ceremonies, he would conform; if their consciences would be wounded by his submission, he would not. They answered that if he wore the surplice they would not profit by his ministry; and accepting the verdict he resigned.