Ihis ad Casarem, w hich he performed in a learned manner *
He was a divine of puritan principles, and is classed among
the learned writers and fellows of Emanuel college. t He^
was author of " The Saints' Sufferings and the Sinners'
Sorrows/' 1631. -
John Frew en was the puritanical rector of Nordian in
Sussex, a learned divine, and a constant preacher. He died
towards the close of the year 1627, when his remains were
interred in his own church. $ He was father to Accepted
Frewen, archbishop of York. The son was at first inclined
to puritanism, but, upon his introduction to the court, and
obtaining some preferment, it soon wore off. He afterwards
expended .^20,000 in repairing and beautifying the cathedral
of Lichfield, part of which was at his own charge, the rest
was raised by contribution. § Mr. Frewen was author of
" Fruitful Instructions and necessary Doctrine, to Edifie in
the Fear of God," 1587- — " Fruitful Instructions for the
general cause of Reformation, against the Slanders of the
Pope and League," 1589- — " Certain choice Grounds and
Principles of our Christian Religion, with their several Ex-
positions, by way of questions and answers," 1621.
Francis Bright was a minister of puritan principles,
trained up under the excellent Mr. John Davenport. In the
year 1629 he accompanied Mr. Higginsou and Mr. Skelton
to New England ;. and upon his arrival settled with several
of his friends at Charlestown.|f
Mr. Udney was lecturer on a Lord's day afternoon at
Ashford in Kent, enjoying a benefice in the neighbourhood.
Ashford is said to have been the most factious town (the
most addicted to nonconformity) in all Kent; and that
Mr. Udney was invited there by factious persons, such
as were registered in the high commission for holding con-
venticles. He had, however, the king's recommendation to
the place ; but is charged with having always preached con-
* Fuller's Church Hist. b. xi. p. 121. + Fuller's Hist, of Cam. p. 147.
t Wood's AthencB, vol. it. p. 663, 664.
i Le Neve's Lives, vol. i. part i. p. "JSG.
li Prince's Chron. Hist. vol. i. p. 183, 184.— Morse and Pariih's Hist,
p. 36.
ADDENDA. 519
nary to his majesty's instructions, and with holding a benefice
near the place, at which, for the space of ten years, he had
never constantly resided.* Therefore, about the year 1629,
by the particular instigation of Bishop Laud, he was sus-
pended for nonconformity ; but Archbishop Abbot presently
restored him to his ministry, and inhibited the archdeacon from
his jurisdiction; which, says our author, exposed all who
acted in it to scorn and contempt. +
Samuel Blacklock was preacher to a baptist congre-
gation in London. A number of pious persons about the
metropolis having espoused the sentiments of the baptists,
could not be satisfied that any person in England was suitable
to administer the ordinance of baptism ; but hearing that
some in the Netherlands baptized by immersion, they agreed
to send over one Mr. Richard Blount, who understood the
Dutch language, to receive baptism at their hands. He
accordingly went, carrying letters of recommendation with
him, and was kindly received both by the church there, and
by Mr. John Batte their teacher. On his return, he baptized
Mr. Blacklock the minister, and these two baptized the rest
of the company, to the number of fifty-three. The generality
of English baptists, however, accounted all this as needless
trouble, and as founded on the old popish doctrine, that an
uninterrupted succession is requisite to the proper adminis-
tration of the sacraments.:):
Mr. Bradstreet, born of a wealthy family in Suffolk,
was one of the first fellows of Emanuel college, Cambridge,
and highly esteemed by persons distinguished for learning.
Li the year l603 he appears to have been minister at Hobling
in Lincolnshire, but was always a nonconformist to the
church of England. He was afterwards preacher to the
English congregation at Middlebiug, where he was most
probably driven by the severity of persecution. He was
living about the year l630. The first planters of New Eng-
land had the highest respect for him, and used to style him,
" The venerable Mordecai of his country." He was father
to the celebrated Simon Bradstreet, governor of New Eng-
land, who died in 1697, aged ninety-four years."^
* Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 373.
+ Heylin's Life of Laud, p. 201.
â– ^ Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 102, 103.
^ Mather's Hist, of New Eng. b. ii. p. 19.
520 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Mr. Crowder, vicar of Veil in Surrey, was a pious
man, and a frequent preacher, bUt endured cruel persecu-
tion. About the year 1631 he was committed close prisoner
to Newgate for sixteen weeks, and then deprived of his living
by the high commission, wirhout any articles, witness, or
other proof brought against hiift. It was, indeed, pretended
that he had spoken some treasonable words i)i the pulpit;
but the truth vi as, he preached twice on a Lord's day too near
the court, which at that time was not conformable to the
oppressive measures of the ruling prelates.*
Samuel Skelton was a pious and zealous minister in
Lincolnshire, but much harassed and persecuted for non-
conformity. In the year 1629 he accompanied Mr. Higginson
and others to New England. Arrivhig in the Massacluisets
bay, they settled at Naumkeak, which they called Salem,
where their first work was the formation of a chiistian church.
Having on this occasion appointed a day of solemn fasting
and prayer, Mr. Skelton was chosen pastor, and Mr.
Higginson teacher. t Mr. Skelton survived his colleague, and,
after enduring many painfid hardships, entered into the joy
of his Lord, August 2, l634.| He was a man endowed with
a strong faith, a most heavenly conversation, and was well
furnished with ministerial abilities. §
Humphrey Barnet was minister at Uppington in
Shropshire, where he and Mr. Wright of Wellington were
accounted the first puiitans in the county, for no other reason
than their sedulous preaching and their sober and pious lives,
though at that time they were both conformable to the estab-
blished church. He was a celebrated preacher, and much
admired by the country people, who tiocked to hear him twice
every Lord's day, a practice then not very common. When
the Book of Sports came forth, instead of reading it, he
preached. against it; for which he was cited to appear before
the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, aird forced to leave the
diocese. Being driven from the people of his charge, he
removed into Lancashire, where he closed his labours and
sufferings, probably about the year l634.|| Mr. Joshua
Barnet, silenced m 1662, was his son.H
* Huntley's Prelates' Usurpations, p. 161.
+ Prince's ChroD. Hist. vol. i. p. 18.3, 189.
4: Mather's Hist, of New Eng;. b. iii. p. 76. ^ Hist, of New Eng. p. 22.
II Calatny's Contin. voK ii. p. 726.
5 Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol, iii. p. 150.
ADDENDA. 521
Mb. Brodet was a zealous puritan minister, but shame-
fully persecuted by the intolerant prelates. For pieaching
against proiisne sports on the Lord's day, and some other in-
siancep (â– > uoncoiiformity, he, together with many others, was,
about the year 1634, prosecuted in the ecclesiastical courts,
subjected to heavy fines, and suspended or degraded from his
ministry.*
Richard Denton, a pious and learned man, was bom
in Yorkshire, and afterwards preacher at Halifax in that
"county. Having laboured at this place for some time, and
with good success, the storm of persecution which drove
multitudes out of the kingdom, forced him to New England ;
where iirst at Wethersfield, then at Stamford, " his doctrine
dropt as the rain, his speech distilled as the dew, as the small
rain on the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass."
He was a little man, but he had a great soul, and a well-
accomplished mind; and, though he had but one eye, he had
a deep insight into those things which eye hath not seen.t
John Vincent was born in the west of England, and
died in the rich living of Sedgtield, in the county of Durham.
It is observed of this excellent man, that he was so harassed
and tossed about for his nonconformity, that, though he had
many children, no two of them were born in the same county.
He was living in the year 16344 Mr. Thomas and Mr.
Nathaniel Vincent, both ejected nonconformists, were his
sons.§
John Trask was born in Somersetshire, and afterwards
removed to London, where he discovered his zeal for non-
conformity. He opposed the observance of the first day of the
week, maintaining the obligation of the fourth command-
ment, and the necessity of keeping the seventh day as the
sabbath of the Lord. For these opinions, he was, about the
year 1635, convened before the triljunal of the star-chamber,
and sentenced to be set in the pillory at Westminster, and to
be whipt from thence to the Fleet, where he was ordered to
* HunUey's Prelates' Usurpations, p. 175.
+ Mather's Hist, of New Mng. b. iii. p. 95.
J Calamy's Contin. vol. i. p. 30.
§ Palmer's Noncon. Mem, vol. i, p. 155, 304.
522 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
remain a prisoner. It is said, that about three years after he
wrote a recantation of his schismatical errors.*
Adam Blackman was a pious and useful preacher, first
in Leicestershire, then in Derbyshire. But having endured
the severity of persecution in his native country, he went to
New England, and settled first at Guildford, then at Stratford
in the new colony. Many pious friends accompanied him
from England, who said to him, " Entreat us not to leave
you, or to return from following after you. For whither you
go, we will go ; and your God shall be our God." He was
a man of great holiness, a plain and profitable preaclier, and
a most worthy divine. He went to New England probably
about the year l636.t
Thomas Warren was a puritan minister, and some time
curate at St. Lawrence's church, Ipswich. On account of his
nonconformity, he was admonished by Bishop Wren's chan-
cellor to observe the good orders of the church, and to certify
his obedience on a future court-day : but, to avoid suspension,
he gave up his curacy and left the place. It is observed, that
he had no license to preach in the diocese of Norwich, nor
had he produced his orders. He is charged with neglecting
all the orders of the church and the rules of divine service,
and with having quoted many dangerous passages in the
pulpit, tending to the disparagement of the state and disquiet
of the people. He was, therefore, cited to appear before the
bishop ; but, having left the town and removed into Bedford-
shire, he heard no more of it.t
William Herrington was some time curate at St.
Nicholas's church, Ipswich, where he met with similar usage
as Mr. Warren, mentioned in the preceding article. He was
admonished by his diocesan's chancellor to observe the good
orders of the church, and to certify his obedience on a future
court-day: but, to avoid furdier trouble, he resigned his
curacy. It is insinuated, that he and Mr. Warren, after they
were admonished, raised a great clamour, and deserted their
cures : and it is added, that they refused to observe the orders
* Panel's Heresiography, p. 16!, 184. Edit. 1662.
f Msi.hei's Hist, of New Ena:land, b. iii. p. 94.
J Wren's Parentalla, p. 96, 97.
ADDENDA. 523
of the chuicli only through fear of losing the means of their
support, and not from any dislike to them.* This, however,
is exceedmgly improbable. They were certainly in greater
danger of losing their cures and support by refusing the
ecclesiastical orders, than by a universal conformity.
Nicholas Beard was a puritanical curate in one of the
churches in Ipswich, but suspended by the intolerant proceed-
ings of Bishop Wren. The principal cause for which he was
thus censured was his refusal to produce his letters of orders
and his license to serve the cure. This tyrannical prelate,
it is said, was not hasty to restore him, because he had some
years before overheard him inveigh very bitterly in his sermon
against the state, and against a noble earl and great officer of
the realm. His lordship was also informed, that Mr. Beard
was of a very turbulent spirit, and was suspected of having
been the secret promoter of a riot committed by a dangerous
concourse of mean people against the bishop himself.+ Had he
been suspected of so atrocious a crime, he ought to have been
tried in a court of justice ; and, if proved guilty by a regular
course of law, to have been punished according to his
deserts. But guilty or not guilty, his lordship, without
waiting the formality of law, was determined to stop his
mouth.
William Green was curate of Bromholm, but, about
the year 1636, was suspended by Bishop Wren for noncon-
formity. It is said that many defects were found in him, par-
ticularly his refusal to wear the clerical habit. This was
certainly his greatest defect. Afterwards, however, upon his
submission, he was absolved, and only his license to preach
taken from him, for being illiterate and formerly a man of
trade. j:
William Powell was minister in the diocese of Nor-
wich, and suspended or deprived by the arbitrary proceedings
of Bishop Wren. It is said he was treated thus " for many
defects against the canons, and had absolution soon after
granted to his proctor, without coming for it himself." Mr.
* Wren's Parentalia, p. 96. + Ibid. p. 94.
t Ibid. p. 9§.
524 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Richard Raymund, another puritan minister, experienced
similar treatment, on account of his nonconformity.*
William Kent was minister in the city of Norwich,
and suspended for his nonconformity. It is observed, " that
Bishop Wren's chancellor suspended hihi about ten o'clock
in the forenoon, and absolved him before three in the after-
noon of the same day, without receiving any fee for his
admission." He died soon after his troubles. Messrs.
Hudson, Brown, Mott, Ward, and many others, were among
the great sufferers from Bishop Wren's intolerant pro-
ceedings.f
Mr. Davenish, minister of Bridgwater in Somersetshire,
was suspended by Bishop Pierce of Bath and Wells, about
the year 16:36, for preaching a lecture in his own church on a
market day, though it had continued ever since the time of
Queen Elizabeth ; and he refused to absolve him till after he
had faithfully promised to preach it no more. When his
lordship absolved him upon this promise, he said, Go thy
way; sin no more, lest a zoorse thing befall thee, lliis tyran-
nical prelate put down all the lectures in his diocese as
factious and nurseries of puritanism, and said, I thank
God, I HAVE NOT ONE LECTURE LEFT IN MY DIOCESE,
hating the very name.t He enjoined Mr. Humphrey Blake,
churchwarden of Bridgwater, to do penance, because he had
not presented Mr. Davenish for expounding the church cate-
chism on the Lord's day afternoon, and using a short prayer
before he entered upon that exercise. " This," said his lord-
ship, " was against his orders and comfiiands."§
Mu. Barret was rector of Barwick in Somersetshire, but
prosecuted by Bishop Pierce for refusing to observe his
oppressive injunctions. This divine, and many others, in-
structed their parishioners in the principles of religion by
catechizing them on a Lord's day afternoon ; for which they
were sharply reproved by this prelate, and threatened to be
severely punished if they persisted in the practice. His
* Wren's Parentalia, p. 94.— Riishworth's Collec. vol. iii. 5). 353.
t !bid. p. 9V, 95.— Rushwortli'.- Collec. vol, iii. p. 353.
:j: Pryiine'i- Cant. D.iome, p. 377.
S Impeachment of Bp. Pierce, p. 3, 4.— Prynnc's Cant. Doome, p. 37».
ADDENDA. 525
lordship said, " That this was catechizing sermon-wise, and
AS BAD AS PREACHING." He also charged them, " That
tliey should not ask any other questions, nor receive any other
answers from the people, than those contained in the Book
of Common Prayer." Those who refused to obey his
lordship were convened before him, and punislied for their
disobedience ; among whom was Mr. Barret, who, as
the reward of his transgression, was commanded to do
penance.*
Mr. Salisbury was a pious and zealous divine, and an
avowed enemy to popery and arminianism. In the warmth
of his zeal for the welfare of Zion, in his sermon on Matt,
xxiv. 6., he made use of the following expressions : — " How
many thousands have made shipwreck of faith and a good
conscience, renounced our true church, stept aside to armi-
nianism, and from thence, being the widest gate open to
Kome, relapsed to popery ! 1 bus are we scattered in our
Jacob, and divided in our Israel. The Low Countries not
long since, if not still, sighed as deeply, and mourned as
strongly, finding themselves ovei grown with arminianism.
And what a faction is likely to Ije in our deplorable England,
between popery and arminianism together, except God be
more merciful, and our state more vigilant and mindful ! We
shall see sooner than tell, and feel sooner than see." — For
only using these expressions, the good man was convened
before Archbishop Laud, and endured other troubles.!
Mr. Jeffryes was some time preacher in the diocese of
Bristol, but driven from liis place by the oppressions of the
times. Archbishop Laud gives the following account of
him : — " In the diocese of Bristol, in 1638, the bishop found
out one Jeffryes, who commonly administered the blessed
sacrament of the Eucharist, being either not in holy orders at
all, or at least not a priest. As soon as he was discovered he
slipt out of the diocese ; and the bishop thinks, that he now
serves in a pecuhar under the dean and chapter of Wells."
The archbishop then adds, " 1 will send thither to know the
certainty, and see the abuse punished, if I can light upon the
person."^
* Impeachment, p. 4. — Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 378.
+ Ibid. p. 362. I Wharton's Troubles of Laud, toI. i. p. 5»5.
52G LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Henry Page was the pious vicar of Ledbury in Here-
fordshire, who, in the year 1638, was complained of to
Archbishop Laud, and prosecuted in the high commission for
refusing to read the Book of Sports. But that which proved
an aggravation of his crime, was his uttering the following
opprobrious and disgraceful expressions, as they were called :
" Is it not as lawful to pluck at a cart-rope on the sabbath
day, as at a bell-rope ? Is it not as law ful for a weaver to
shoot his shuttle on the sabbath-day, as for a man to shoot his
bow ? And is it not as lawful for a woman to spin at her
wheel, or for a man to go to his plough, as for a man to
dance that devilish dance J"*
Ralph Smith was a minister of puritan principles, who,,
in the year 1629, to escape the severities of persecution, fled
to JSew England. He accompanied Mr. Higginson and the
first planters of the Massachusets colony. + He settled for
a short time at Natasco, but was afterwards chosen pastor of
the church at Plymouth, to vshich office he was separated by
fasting and prayer, with the imposition of hands from the
elders of the church. He was a grave man, of a good under-
standing, and much beloved by his people. For the space of
two years he had Mr. Roger Williams for his assistant.}: He
was living as pastor of this church in the year 1638.^
Ephraim Hewet was minister of Wroxhall in Warwick-
shire, but persecuted for nonconformity. Archljishop Laud,
in the account of his province in 1638, says, " He hath taken
upon him to keep fasts in his parish, by his own appoint-
ment, and hath contenmed the decent ceremonies com-
manded by the church. My lord the Bishop of Worcester
proceeds against him, and intends either to reform or punish
him."||
Dr. Jenningson, the pious lecturer at Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, was much persecuted for nonconformity. In the year
1639, by the instigation of Archbishop Laud, he was
* Pryiine's Cant. Doome, p. 149, 150.
+ Prince's Chron. Hist. vol. i. p. 18;^.
% Ibid. p. 188, 189.— Neal's Hist, of New Eng. vol. i. p. 115, 141.
^ Morton's Memorial, p. 108.
II Wharton's Troubles of Laud, vol. i. p. 554.
ADDENDA. 527
questioned in the high commission at York. The articles of
his examination, together with the doctor's answers, were sent
to Lambeth, for the archbishop's consideration. This was
going the sure way to work. And the good man was so
cruelly harassed in the various ecclesiastical courts, that he
was obliged to quit the place, and the kingdom too ; when, to
avoid the fury of his tyrannical persecutors, he fled to New
England.*
JrtHX Jemmet, lecturer at Berwick-upon-Tweed, was
barbarously handled for his nonconformity. The outstretched
arm and tyrannical oppressions of Archbishop Laud, were
carried so far north. For, in December, 1 639, he caused the
Bishop of Durham to apprehend him by a pursuivant, to
silence him from preachmg any more at Berwick, and to
banish him from the town, without any article or witness
ever being examined against him.t
John Stoughton, D.D. was fellow of Emanuel col-
lege, Cambridge, where he most probably received his educa-
tion. He is classed among the learned writers and fellows
of that college, and is denominateci a pious and learned
divine. t He w as rector of St. Mary's church, Aldermanbury,
London ; where he succeeded the excellent Dr. Thomas
Taylor. Here, for the space of seven years, he was a laborious,
orthodox, and useful preacher; but having occasionally touched
upon the popish and arminian innovations, he was, by the
instigation of Laud, prosecuted in the high commission.^
He died in the year 1639, when he was succeeded by Mr,
Edmund Calamy, the ejected nonconformist.]! He was author
of " Choice Sermons," 1640. — " Heavenly Conversation,
and the Natural Man's Condition," 1640. — " A Form of
Sound Words, with the Righteous Man's Plea to true Hap-
piness."
Mr. Burchell was minister at St. Martin's, Micklegate,
York, where he was much esteemed by persons of piety.
Previous to the civil wars, when the nonconformists were
* MS. Remarks, p. 901.— Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 382- + Ibid.
J Fuller's Hist, of Cam. p. 14t. — Leigh ou Religion and Lparniug, p. 330.
^ Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 362.
Jl Palmer's Noucon. Mem. vol. i. p. 7T.
528 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
severely persecuted, he was a zealous puritan, and kept con-
venticles iu the house of Dr. Scott, dean of Yoric, ihouirh
unknown to him. The doctor being much addicted to cards
and other games, had not the least concern about puritanism.
But Mrs. Scott, the dean's wife, being much inclined to con-
venticles, her house was chosen not only as the most con-
venient place, but the most secret and secure in those pei ilous
times. Lady Bethell, with other persons of quality, and
those in meaner circumstances, united in these private reli-
gious exercises.*
Thomas Scott was a zealous puritan minister in the
diocese of Norwich, but suspended for nonconformity. He
was under the ecclesiastical censure, said Bishop Wren, when
he first entered personally into the diocese ; and, with all
tender and respectful usage, he absolved him for three months,
then for six months, and, at the expiration of that period, for
eight or nine months longer. During this period, Mr. Scott
sent his lordship several letters, expressing his grateful ac-
knowledgments of these favours. After all, it seems ex-
tremely doubtful whetiier he was ever fully restored to his
ministi^. He died in the year 1640.+ There were two
ministers of the same name, who lived about this time ; but
it is difficult to say whether either of them was this Mr.
Scott. t
William Madstard was a pious minister at Bridgnorth
in Shropshire, where, towards the close of life, he had the
celebrated Mr. Richard Baxter for his assistant. He was a
nonconformist, particularly in refusing to wear the surplice
and the use of the cross in baptism ; but a man of an exemplary
christian character. Mr. Baxter denominates him " a worthy
pastor, a grave and severe divine, very honest and con-
scientious, and an excellent preacher ;" but adds, " he was
deeply afflicted with a dead-hearted, unprohtable people.'*
He died, together with his wife, of a malignant fever, in the
month of July, l64l, at an advanced age. Mr. Baxter
preached his funeral sermon.^
* MS. Chronology, vol. iii. A. D, 1640. p. 12.
+ Wren's Parental ia, p. 94.
:{: Wood's Athenae Oxon. vol. i. p. 846. — Granger's Eiog. Hist. vol. i.
p. 367.
§ Sylvester's Life of Baxter, part i, p. 15, 20.
ADDENDA. 529
Mr. Cooper was the pious rector of Alton in Hamp-
shire. In the year 1634 he was suspended by Dr. Rone
and Sir John Lamb, visitors to Archbishop Laud, for refusing