Background
Thomas Gage was born on March 10, 1719 probably in Firle, Sussex.
(The policy, which for many yeares hath upheld the erring ...)
The policy, which for many yeares hath upheld the erring Church of Rome, hath clearly and manifestly been discovered by the many Errors which in severall times by sundry Synods or Generall Councells, (which commonly are but Apes of the Popes fancy, will, pleasure, and ambition) have been enacted into that Church. And for such purposes doth that man of Sinne, and Antichristian tyrant, keep constantly in Rome so many poor Pensionary Bishops as hounds at his table, smelling out his ambitious thoughts, with whom he fills the Synods, when he calls them, charging them never to leave off barking and wearying out the rest of the Prelates, untill they have them all as a prey unto his proud and ambitious designes; from which if any of them dare to start, not onely their Pensions shall be surely forfeited, but their souls shall bee cursed, and they as Hereticks Anathematized with a Censure of Excommunication latæ sententiæ. Hence sprung that Master-piece of Policy, decreeing that the Pope alone should be above the Generall Councell, lest otherwise one Mans pride might be curbed by many heads joyned together; And secondly, that Synodicall definition, that the Pope cannot erre, that though the Councels power, wisdome and learning were all sifted into one mans brain, all points of faith straitned into one head and channell; yet the People should not stagger in any lawfull doubts, nor the learned sort follow any more the light of reason, or the sunshine of the Gospel, but all yeelding to blind Obedience, and their most holy Fathers infallibility, in the foggie and Cimmerian mist of ignorance, might secure their souls from erring, or deviating to the Scylla or Charybdis of Schism and Heresie. What judicious eye, that will not be blinded with the napkin of ignorance, doth not easily see that Policy only hath been the chief Actor of those damnable Opinions of Purgatory, Transubstantiation, Sacrifice though unbloody (as they term it) of the Mass, Invocation of Saints, their Canonization or installing of Saints into the kingdom of heaven, Indulgences, auricular Confession, with satisfactory Penance, and many such like: All which doubtles have been commanded as points of Faith, not so much to save those wretched souls, as to advance that crackt-brain head in the conceits of his Europæan wonderers, who long agoe were espyed out by the Spirit of John wondring after the Beast, worshipping him for his power, and saying, Who is like unto the Beast, who is able to make warre with him? Revel. 13. 3, 4. Thus can Policy invent a Purgatory, that a Pope may be sought from all parts of Europe, nay now from East and West India's, to deliver souls from that imaginary Fire which never God created, but he himself hath fancyed, that so much glory may be ascribed to him, and his power wondered at, who can plunge into torments, condemn to burning, and when he list, deliver out of fire. Much more would he be admired, and hisgoodnesse extolled, if he would deliver at once all those his Purgatory Prisoners without that Simoniacall receipt of money.
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Thomas Gage was born on March 10, 1719 probably in Firle, Sussex.
During his school years Thomas became firmly attached to the latter church.
He graduated from Westminster in 1736.
An ensign by 1740 at the latest, Thomas Gage served in England and on the Continent, being transferred to America in 1755. Capable service during the Seven Years' War- in the Braddock, Ticonderoga, and Montreal campaigns, and in various administrative assignments - led to his appointment in 1763 as British commander-in-chief for North America. While holding this post, he was named governor of Massachusetts in 1774, at the same time that Parliament passed the Coercive Acts in retaliation for the Boston Tea Party of the previous year. Aware that the Massachusetts patriots would fight, if pushed, and that only a large army could subdue them, Gage pursued a cautious policy. The king's ministers were not interested in moderation, however; in a dispatch that reached him on April 14, 1775, Gage was ordered to take vigorous action, without reinforcements. This dispatch, and not Gage's own initiative, resulted in the march to Lexington and Concord on the morning of April 19, which resulted in the first engagements of the Revolution. Removed from command in October 1775, Gage returned to England.
Gage's position in New England was difficult. To the Americans he seemed tyrannical, to the British weak and indecisive. In reality, he acted as prudently as his orders permitted. Not a great man, Gage was nevertheless a brave soldier, a competent administrator, and a devoted public servant.
(The policy, which for many yeares hath upheld the erring ...)
Thomas married to Margaret Kemble on December 8, 1758.
His son Henry inherited the family title upon the death of Gage's brother William and became one of the wealthiest men in England.