moderator of many of the Presbyterian provincial assemblies that were held in
Preston.^225 There are no extant comments from Ambrose regarding these experiences,
but they do reinforce the earlier impression that he was a contemplative in action.
London provides the most distant region away from Lancashire. This is
reflected both through the actions of Parliament and from specific experiences that
occurred there. Ambrose was summoned to London in May 1649 because he signed
the document against the Agreement of the People. He records his final diary entry
on May 28, 1649, “[u]pon serious consideration of the manifold miscarriages both in
church and state, which I observed since my coming to London, I had some
resolutions to spend the remainder of my uncertain days in a more retired and private
way.”^226 The far ranging importance of this event includes his introduction to Lady
Mary Vere. Lady Mary and her husband, Horace, were well known for their support
of the Puritan cause. While apparently this was the only occasion that they met, Lady
Mary provided for the financial needs of Ambrose and he in turn dedicated all three
editions of Media to her.^227 Undoubtedly the most significant outcome from his
London visit was his decision to withdraw and seek greater solitude from the clamor
and commotion of the turbulence of Preston. This single transformative event
eventually led to his move to Garstang. There were a number of factors motivating
Ambrose: on the one hand was the deep desire and conviction that he felt drawn to a
place of greater solitude and silence so that he might spend more time with God in
contemplation and less time embroiled in conflict and controversies. But on the other
hand, Ambrose realizes that this move includes a high price and will create a greater
(^225) Nightingale, Isaac Ambrose, Religious Mystic (^) , 17-8 and Shaw, Minutes
Manchester Presbyterian Classis 226 , 24:406.
227 Ambrose, Ambrose, MediaMedia (1650), 85. (1650, 1652, 1657), Epistle Dedication.^