1 author of a work entitled, " An Exposition of the xiii. chap. of the Revelations of Jesus Christ," 1619. This came out after his death, in which the publisher observes, that it was the author's desire and purpose to have published a work upon the whole of Revelation, but was prevented through the malice of the prelates, who several times spoiled him of his goods, and kept him many years in prison. A minister of the same name was A. M. and rector of Babcary in Somersetshire, in the year 1587; but whether he was the same person it is difficult to say.* JOHN MORTON was one of Mr. John Smyth's disciples at Amsterdam, from whom he received baptism by immersion. He afterwards came to England, was a zealous preacher of the sentiments of the general baptists, and a sufferer in the cause of nonconformity. He was contemporary with Mr. Helwisse, and a popular preacher in the city of London.+ He is supposed to have been the author of a book entitled, "Truth's Champion," a work in high repute among those of his own persuasion.‡ MR. HUBBARD was a learned divine, and episcopally ordained, but afterwards he separated from the church of England. A congregation of separatists having been formed in Southwark, London, in the year 1621, he was chosen to the office of pastor. The pastor and members of this church resolving afterwards upon a removal, most probably on account of the oppressions of persecution, accompanied him to Ireland, where he died. Having lost their pastor, they returned to their native country, and settled in the vicinity of London, choosing the famous Mr. John Canne for their pastor.§ JOHN YATES, B. D. was fellow of Emanuel college, Cambridge, and afterwards minister of St. Andrew's in the city of Norwich. About the year 1625, Dr. Montague having published his Appello ad Cæsarem, declaring himself in favour of arminianism, and making dangerous advances towards popery, Mr. Yates answered it in a work entitled, * Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 816. Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 276-278. + Bailie's Anabaptism, p. 93. Ibid. p. 163, 164. Ibis ad Cæsarem, which 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. He was author of "The Saints' Sufferings and the Sinners' Sorrows," 1631. JOHN FREWEN 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 Expositions, 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. Higginson and Mr. Skelton to New England; and upon his arrival settled with several of his friends at Charlestown.|| 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 conventicles. 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. Wood's Athenæ, vol. ii. p. 663, 664. Le Neve's Lives, vol. i. part i. p. 236. p. 36. + Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. 147. Prince's Chron. Hist, vol. i. p. 183, 184.-Morse and Parish's Hist. trary 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 suspended 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 congregation 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 administration 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. In the year 1603 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 Middleburg, where he was most probably driven by the severity of persecution. He was living about the year 1630. The first planters of New England 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 England, who died in 1697, aged ninety-four years."§ * Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 373. MR. CROWDER, vicar of Vell in Surrey, was a pious man, and a frequent preacher, but endured cruel persecution. About the year 1631 he was committed close prisoner to Newgate for sixteen weeks, and then deprived of his living by the high commission, without any articles, witness, or other proof brought against him. It was, indeed, pretended that he had spoken some treasonable words in the pulpit; but the truth was, 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 nonconformity. In the year 1629 he accompanied Mr. Higginson and others to New England. Arriving in the Massachusets bay, they settled at Naumkeak, which they called Salem, where their first work was the formation of a christian church. Having on this occasion appointed a day of solemn fasting and prayer, Mr. Skelton was chosen pastor, and Mr. Higginson teacher.+ Mr. Skelton survived his colleague, and, after enduring many painful hardships, entered into the joy of his Lord, August 2, 1634. 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 puritans 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 estabblished church. He was a celebrated preacher, and much admired by the country people, who flocked 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, and 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 1634. Mr. Joshua Barnet, silenced in 1662, was his son. * Huntley's Prelates' Usurpations, p. 161. § Hist. of New Eng. p. 22. MR. BRODET was a zealous puritan minister, but shamefully persecuted by the intolerant prelates. For preaching against profane sports on the Lord's day, and some other instances of nonconformity, 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 born 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 first 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 wellaccomplished mind; and, though he had but one eye, he had a deep insight into those things which eye hath not seen.+ JOHN VINCENT was born in the west of England, and died in the rich living of Sedgfield, 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 1634. 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 nonconformity. He opposed the observance of the first day of the week, maintaining the obligation of the fourth commandment, and the necessity of keeping the seventh day as the sabbath of the Lord. For these opinions, he was, about the year 1655, convened before the tribunal 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 * Huntley's Prelates' Usurpations, p. 175. + Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 95. Calamy's Contin. vol. i. p. 30. Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. i. p. 155, 304. |