Robert Asty, ejected from Stratford, was the son of a minister at Feltwell in Norfolk, born in 1607; his sister married Mr. Cradock, a minister in Warwickshire.* On Mr. Phillips' ejectment from Wrentham by Bishop Wren, Mr. Asty was instituted to the rectory,† and was minister there till Mr. Phillips' return. He married Ellen Bentley, by whom he had four

"A daughter of Mr. Asty, once of Feltw[ell] Nicholas], (who married Mr. Cradock, minister, (Warwickshire) and her brother is parson of Wrentham by Henham), wrote to her father that, lately in these times [1640] her husband, Mr. Cradocke, had intelligence in the night, that certaine cavaliers that night wolde kill him; he fled out of bed, went not in the highway, but over hedges, by pathes, &c., appointing his man to meet him with a horse. The cavaliers came, raged that they cold not find him; the wife gave good wordes; they threatned to kill her; she entreated, and avowed that he was fled, she knew not whether; they plundered, tooke a chest of linnen, and sought for more; but some from the parliamentary quarters came to rescue, and beate a drum; so the cavaliers fled, yet tooke all the horses of Mr. Cradocke and that linnen. Mr. Cradocke and his company be gotten to Coventry, and dare not use theire parsonage.”—Diary of John Rous, p. 129.

+ See p. 424. His wife "was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bently, her father an eminent godly minister, her mother a very gracious, holy gentlewoman, who lived at Plumsted, in Norfolk. She was wonderfully melted into the will of God, and lived always out of her own will resigned up to God to be disposed of as he pleased, and was greatly satisfied in

children; Ann, born 1638, married Whight, died 1677; Elizabeth, born 1639, died 1640; Mary, born 1641, married - Bowyer, died 1676; Robert, who was minister at Norwich. After leaving Wrentham he was admitted to the living of Stratford, whence he was ejected in 1662. He died in 1667.* Robert Asty, of Norwich, was baptized at Wrentham, Jan. 4th, 1642[3], was admitted to the church at Coggeshall, January 17th, 1668 [9], married Lydia, the eldest daughter of the Rev. John Sammes,† February 23rd in the same year. He lived at Dedham, and kept a school there. He had seven children; Robert, born 1669, [died 1671]; Robert, 1671; Lydia, 1673, [died 1679]; John, afterwards of Armingland; Mary, born 1677; Elizabeth, 1679; Deborah, born and died in 1681: the first two were born at Dedham, the rest at Norwich. The account of his going to Norwich is given pp. 261, &c. He died October 14th, 1681. His wife died after a second apoplectic fit, February 2nd, 1696-7, aged about 48.

John Asty, of Armingland, was born September 12th, 1675.§ "Some observations of Divine Providence concerning" himself, relating to his education and introduction to the ministry at Armingland, are embodied ante pp. 328, 9; he then continues :

"I removed from Mr. Fleetwood's family about a year and three quarters after his death and came to London October 14th, 1710, being called to the pastoral office by the church of Christ in Rope-makers' Alley. I was set apart April 4th, 1711. The ministers were Mr. Trail, Ridgley, Foxon, Watts [who] preached, Mr. Collings, Clark [who] prayed, and myself concluded the work of the day." The next entry in the diary refers to the fears entertained of the reintroduction of Popery with the Pretender; some persons in high places being known to favour the design.

"A memorable day was 23rd of June, 1714, observed in our church by fasting and prayer for this nation and the whole interest of God's church which were apprehended, not without cause, to be in the greatest danger. It was a day of fervent prayer: a very visible and mighty assistance did run thro the whole work what he chose for her; she hath said, the will of God is sweet to her in every condition, and under much bodily weakness, if the Lord would have her live to be sick she was content; yet latterward was mostly tryed in the fire of affliction, when her husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Nonconformity, instead of repining, she said she was glad they had such a house, and accommodations to leave for Christ, and with all freeness and readiness resigned up all to him." Funeral Sermon by Owen Stockton, and Life by Samuel Petto, London, 1681. "The Lord took my dear mother to himself, January 7th, 1677 [8], upon Munday morning about 3 a clock, in the 72nd year of her age. She had long lived in the full assurance of God's love, and went triumphantly home to her father's house."-Diary.

* "The Lord took my dear ffather to himself ye 29th Decr., 1667, between 2 and 3 a clock in ye morning, being Lord's day. He departed about the 60th year of his age." Diary.

John Sammes, ejected from Coggeshall, and first pastor of the Congregational church there; he died in 1672. "The Lord took my ffather Sammes to himself Dec. 12th, about one of the clock in the afternoon, being taken with an apoplexy, as was judged, about 6 of the clock in the morning of the same day, 1672. He was preparing to preach upon 2 Cor. v. 2, 3, that day he dyed. He was studying till about 6 a clock in the morning as he lay in bed: as soon as he had putt out his candle to refresh himself with a little sleep [he] was violently seized by his distemper, and spake not many words after." His wife died November 13th, 1689, in the 71st year of her age.

See p. 264.

§ "I baptized my daughter Lydia and son John in a publick church meeting upon the 8th of December, 1675, wherein I first entered upon the execution of my office in the church at Norwich." Afterwards, when restraints were put upon the churches, he records that My daughter Elizabeth was baptized at a church meeting at my own house in Norwich, July 3rd, 1679."

of the day, ministers and people exceedingly affected.* I myself and others were much encouraged from the experience of the Divine presence that day, and did [take] it as a token for good that deliverance would come, though we knew not which way, nor when it would appear.

"About 5 weeks after, July 29th, the Q. [Queen Anne] was taken ill. and died August 1st. Immediately succeeds K. George to the throne of these kingdoms, and thus at once our fears are banished, our dangers given to the wind, and the most agreeable prospect of tranquility and peace set before us: for the making of this salvation compleat we humbly depend upon the Great God, while we praise Him and say Great and marvellous are Thy works, oh Lord God Almighty. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."

The diary ends with a reference to the great drought and sickness in the summer of 1719, and there is appended to it a copy of a letter signed by nine London ministers, and addressed to Mr. John Asty, April 16th, 1700, whilst at Armingland Hall, stating that the Congregational Church at Amsterdam had been for some years destitute of a pastor, urging him to supply the vacancy there, but this he declined.

For further account of John Asty, see Wilson's Diss. Churches II., 537— 545; and see also Prot. Diss. Mag. I., 511; III., 445; and VI. 259; which is not wholly correct in the early part. Mr. Asty died January 20th, 1729-30, aged 57. In Noncon. Memorial III., 288, is a letter from Dr. Owen to Mr. R. Asty relating to his call to Norwich; the date should be 1674 [5].

ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA.

W. Greenhill. In pages 116 and 159 Mr. Greenhill is described as of Ockley, which was supposed to be intended for Otley. In the Institution Book it is recorded that William Greenhill was admitted to Ockley in Hartismere Hundred, February 20th, 1628, and his successor, John Gordon, July 30th, 1638. This settles the doubt, and the place must be Oakley, near Eye.

YARMOUTH. The Rev. Eliezer Birch came from Dean Row, near Winslow, Cheshire, where he was succeeded by Mr. Hugh Worthington. Matt. Henry's Diary. See Wilson's Historical Enquiry, p. 209; where there is an account of his ordination.

The Rev. Richard Frost and Mrs. Rebecca Martyn, both of Great Yarmouth, were married at Wrentham June 20th, 1734. Wrentham Register. Thomas Howe. "Pray send for Mr. Howe's 'Funeral Sermon for Mr. Frost of Yarmouth.' It is an excellent discourse, and admirably_fitted to lend to poor melancholy dejected christians." Orton's Letters, I., 200. "Mr. Thos. Howe was a native of Northampton, and began his studies under Dr. Doddridge. Mr. Frost had been many years laid aside from public service, and had laboured under such mental depression as rendered the sermon above recommended particularly seasonable." Palmer's note to the above.

1785, October 20th. There was a meeting of the Association [at Yarmouth] two years before the time, on account of the settlement of Mr. Samuel McNeely, who had been pastor six years in another place [Abbot's Rooding]. The service thus conducted: Mr. Sykes began with prayer; Mr. Carter then prayed; Mr. Harmer preached from Heb. xiii. 20, 21; Mr. Newton then prayed, and Mr. Towle concluded. Denton and Wattisfield Church Books.

• See p. 183.

On Wednesday, the 6th November [1793], the Rev, Mr. Phene, from Homerton, was ordained at Yarmouth, the Revs. Messrs. Driver, Bocking, Carter, Atkinson, and Lowell, took parts in the service. "The leading characteristic of Mr. Phene's confession was the union of orthodoxy with candour. Mr. Carter's charge was highly judicious, and Mr. Lowell's sermon was a word in season.' Evan. Mag. 1794, pp. 118, 9.

Mr. Barton was ordained at Garden Street, Sheffield, May 7th, 1806. Evan. Mag., 1806, p. 379.

NORWICH. Mr. Robert Forsaith (p. 270) removed to Oundle, and was afterwards tutor at Daventry and Northampton. He died June 27th, 1797, aged 50. Prot. Diss. Mag., 1797, p. 280.

GUESTWICK (p. 327). Rev. Robert Drane, a great-nephew of Rev. Thos. Harmer, died suddenly at Cardiff, August 25th, 1877. Obituary Year Book, 1878.

LYNN (p. 347). The resignation of the Rev. D. Amos is announced.
WORTWELL (p. 351). Mr. Eastman resigned in 1877.

SUDBURY, Friar Street (p. 449). The Rev. J. M. Blackie, LL.B.,
Liverpool, succeeded Mr. Steer in 1877.

from

SUDBURY, Trinity (p. 450). The Rev. G. Hollier removed to Stansfield in 1877, and was succeeded by the Rev. G. H. White from East Bergholt. STANSFIELD (p. 520), See immediately above.

EAST BERGHOLT (p. 525). The Rev. G. H. White removed to Trinity Chapel, Sudbury, in 1877.

STOWMARKET (p. 537). The Rev. Jonah Reeve resigned at the close of

1877.

FRAMLINGHAM (p. 539). The Rev. H. Goddard resigned in October, LINGHA

1877.

BRANDESTON (p. 544). The Rev. G. Burgoyne, from Great Eversden, came in October, 1877.

Appendix I. In the MS. Register, p. 437, the Suffolk names are given, and the places in which about thirty ministered. See also Brook I., p. 46. Appendix II. In pp. 46, 126, it is stated that Mr. Fleming was deprived by Dr. Edm. Scambler. It appears that Dr. Edm. Freeke was diocesan at the time. Dr. Scambler was not elected Bishop of Norwich till December 15th, 1584.

ERRATA.

Page 18, line 5 from bottom; for "many" read "may.'

69,

"

9

"

95,

"" 15

"

175,

"

20

"

for "Modus" read "Maden."
for "countries" read "counties."
for "counties" read "countries."
for "country" read “county."
for "members" read "numbers."
for "Blakie" read "Blackie."
for "Jermy" read "Jenny."

503, bottom line; dele "grandfather of John Wesley.'
514, line 26 from bottom;

9 from top; for

15

for

384. The Rev. Theophilus Atkinson, not Timothy, is now at Pacaltsdorp. The last clause of the paragraph is misplaced.

N.B. The following mere lists are not comprehended in the general
Indices:-

Canons and Constitutions of Conventicle Act, 173, 202,