I Yfar^the-fovfliiin^ of, a. allege lA this Celoit^] BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE PEBKINS {FUND 1903 ^ — g= * KIRBY I. The Crest of the Aylesbury family. This is repeated many times on the building, and was perhaps used by the StaiFords, who became possessed of Elatherwick through the daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Aylesbury. 2, 2. The name " Hvmfre Stafard " (the builder of Kiiby) on two panels in the parapet. 3. The Stafford Knot, which is represented in various ways, this being the most common, and the usual representation of the Badge of the Staffords. HALL. 4. The Stafford Crest. 5. The initials H. S. for Humphrey Stafford. 6. The Arms of the Staffords of Elatherwick : Or, a chevron gules, a canton ermine. In the carving the canton is brought down on to the chevron ; the Hne at a b corrects tliis. 7. The initials JI. S. on a panel corresponding with No. 5. 8, 8, 8. Panels with motto and date over the porch of the gi-eat haU. j_ g ^t0tortcal Collettton0 relating to FAMILY HISTORIES, PEDIGREES, BIOGRAPHIES, TRACTS ON WITCHES, HISTORICAL ANTIQUITIES, REPRINTS OF RARE AND UNIQUE TRACTS, &C., &c. THIRD SERIES. fflM* IWortbampton: PRINTED BY J. TaYLOR & SON, COLLEGE STREET. §it C^tifiop^tt 'Ration. THE following papers relating to Sir Christopher Hatton and his financial affairs, are in the hand-writing of Lord Ellesmere, Attorney General at the time of Hatton's decease, now preserved at Bridgewater House. Draft Warrant for payment to Sir Ch" Hatton. Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere " Warrant for Sir Ch. Hatton " and in another hand " A Warrant for Mr Vice-Chamberlyen for 2500 bullyon." " We greete you well & lette you wytte that whereas our trustye & well-beloved servant Ch. Hatton, knight hath made humble complaynt vnto vs, that he by his Servantes factors and deputyes, about.iiij yeares past, disbursed & payed the sum of for dyuers sylks, hauginges & other furnyture of housebolde, bought at Andwerpe for his necefsarye use and provision ; which at the late sacke of Andwerpe were vyolentlye and wrongfullye taken from him by the Captaynes & Souldyers of the Kyng of Spayne : And that for the recovery thereof or satisfaction for the same, he hath made suudrye petycions & meanes, and as yet can gette no redresse as in good equytye he ought to have. Now we consydering his inha- bylyty to beare so great a losse, and myndyng his reliefe in this behalfe, are pleased and content to employe & grant to our said Servante so much of such syluer bullyon brought into our realme by Francis Drake, now knyght, as shall amount & wyll make in standarde syluer now in our mynte to be coyned, to the value of (the coynage being by vs defrayed or allowed) Wherefore 2 Hatton Papers. our wyll and pleasure is that you delyuer vnto our said Servante so rauch of such and the same bullyon as is aforesayd remaynyng in your custodye, as shall amount and wyll make in standarde syluer to be coyned as is aforesaid, to the sayd value of Taking of hym suffycyent bond to our use for the repayment thereof to vs our heyrs or successors, within weekes next after such tyme as he the said Ch. Hatton, his exors or admors shall be thereof fully freed or satysfyed by vs our heyrs or succefsors or by the said kyng of Spayne his heyrs or succefsors of & for the sayd some of And these our letters shall be your suffycyent warrant & dyscharge in this behalfe." The sum is not stated in the draft, but at the back it is indorsed thus: "A warrant for M'^ Vyce-chamberleyn for sBie^oo bullyon." The date may be ascertained, therefore, by seeing when Hatton was vice-chamberlain. He became lord chancellor in 1587, and died in September, 1J91. Account of Sir Ch'' Hatton's liabilities and assets. After the death of Sir Christopher Hatton and Sir William Hatton his nephew, the affairs seem to have got into chancery, and a statement of Sir Christopher's debts and credits was laid before Lord Ellesmere, from which the following particulars are extracted. It had connection no doubt with the debt reported to have been vigorously claimed and enforced by Queen Elizabeth, and which is said to have caused Sir Christopher's death. An Abstract of the Inventory taken in the life tyme of Sr Christopher Hatton Lo. Chauncellor deceased. Jewels ..... Plate ...... Houshold Stuflfe .... Stock & Cattell .... Armor ..... Apparall . . . . Instruments of musicke . Summa 31083 18 4 A note of the debts of the Lord Chauncellor and how he appoynted the same to be discharged, whioh Sir -WiUm Hatton -mdertooke to per forme according to the ohardge given him by his Vncle and subscribed his li. s. d. 7168 15 0 7662 7 11 8953 13 1 4813 14 0 1038 12 4 1385 16 0 61 0 0 Hattoii Papers. name therevnto the 2 of September 1590 which was a yere and two moneths before the Lo. Chaunc. dyed Debts. Vpon Interest Oweing vpon specialities To Artizans &c . The greate Debt li. «. d. 6830 0 0 8200 0 0 1700 0 0 48037 0 0 31000 0 0 10000 0 0 8000 0 0 1800 0 0 2000 0 0 2000 0 0 2000 0 0 3000 0 0 2000 0 0 690 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 1500 0 0 1000 0 0 Summa 64817 0 0 Which debt to the Queene before his death grew to be 4000Ii more. The Discharge. By the Inuentory Churchhill . Wymington & Hough . Wouenoote Eectory . Ely plase Inland Fynes of leases in Cheshire Importer of wynes in certayntie Other-wise in expectation Mr John Poole his debt Sir Rowland Harley The Earle of Oxon . f ainshawes OfBc . -Wooll Money. Summa 65190 0 0 In another part of the same paper "the great debt" of Sir Christopher Hatton is thus divided : To the Queene ..... 18071 12 2 To the Subiect .... 23647 8 6| It also seems that an entent had been issued for the recovery of the money. It appears that after the death of his uBcle, Sir W. Hatton took letters of administration, aad that his -widow was his executrix "and proved the will &_tooke also letters of Adminis tration of the goodes of S' Christopher not administered." It is tnade a complaint against Sir W. aud his widow that they had "exhibited no inventory at all." The following is a statement of the property ia the hands of Lady Hatton after the death of Sir Williara, but the account bears no date; it was probably made, out soon after the death of Sir William, who seems not long to have survived Sir Christ' : — "The Lady Hatton hath a lease for ai years of S' Deux in Kingsnorton in the County of Northampton worth about lo" a yere above the rent. 4 " Hatton Papers. "She hath the Parsonage of Long Buggby in the same County thone moytie for yeres & thother moytie of S' Christopher Hatton of the clere yerely rent of loo''. " She hath another lease there of 2 water milles for terme of 2 yeres after eight yeres expired, -worth 10" a yere " Shee hath a lease of warren out of the Dutchie worth 40" a yere clere " Shee hath a lease of Knaseborough in the same countie for terme of 60 yeres w""" cometh in possession about 3 yeres hence and will be then worth too marks a yere clere. " Since the death of Sir William Hatton there hath bene receiued by my Lady for landes sold by S' William Hatton & per furniture of housebolde, fynes, & some other old debts the some of 2382". " Which her La'ps officers doe affirme to haue been paide for the debts of S"- Christoper and S'' William Hatton." Report of Sir Christopher Hatton's Debts. " The Copie of the Report delivered to Sir John Fortescue under the handes of Sir John Popham Lo Cheff Justice of England Chas Yelverton Tho Flerainge " We her Ma''^ Cheif Justice and Solliciter Generali being required to conferr with M' Attorney General concerning the state of Sir Christopher Hatton's debt, and the Lease of his landes passed by the Lo Treasourers warrant doe finde the same for aniething yet appearing to us to stand thus. " The continewance of the Extent at so low a rate will be a good meane to drawe both the heire male & heire generali to assent to a sale for the speedie payment of her Ma^ debt, to which sale for the speedier satisfaction of her Ma"^ M' Attorney will most willingly assent. And of somuch as shall be so solde to free it of the lease so farr as shall lye in him, and of his wife's dower. And if the heire male or heire generali will not assent to a sale theu shall her Ma*"" by force of this extent and lease taking hold of it according to the lawe enjoye the extent after the rate of one thousand markes by the yere until fortie thousand poundes be peide, which is three score yeres from the beginning of ¦ the last lease, which was made to beginne at the Annunciation of our Ladie in Anno 37°, which is for KIRBY HALL. John Thorpe's Ground Plan. (Reduced). V; ¦.\,LAwidmis.!P]ioto-Iitko. HorSiampI Hatton Papers. 5 six and fiftie yeres yet to come and somewhat more. And by this meanes the overplus of the thousand markes '^ Ann which is reserved upon the lease which is 833'' 6' 8'^ & which her Ma*"^ is to have in advantage above the extent amounteth in the whole in the tyme unto fortie & five thousand three hundred tliirtie and three poundes six shillinges and eight pence over & above her debt being more then was expected upon the making of the lease, whereof she hath already receaved 2916'' 13' 4'' and above which if her highnes please she may deteine besides her debt. " All which will be a meane to drawe the heires the rather to assent to a sale and thereby her Ma"^ sooner satisfied of her debt. "And by this meanes (as it is now founde out) it is verie beneficiall to her 'Ma"® that the landes were extended at so low a rate. " M' Attorney doth acknowledge that this lease was made without lawfull warrant, & yet being under the Great Seale for anie thing yet appearing to us the lease standeth good in lawe; the interest whereof (as is affirmed) remaineth in the Tates and the Lo Hatton hath but the use of it for life, and after is lymitted to the daughter of Sir William Hatton. And yet if the lease shold be yeelded up he saith he hopeth somuch of her JMa"'^ gracious favor seeing the lease standeth good in lawe as that there shall be allowed to his wife her competent dower.- And the said dower being allowed the landes remayning unsold not being, as is affirmed, full 4000" by the yere, and the landes of the heire male which are affirmed by the heire male not to be subject to the extent, being also taken out, then will there growe, as M' Attorney affirmeth, no benefitt to her Mat« to haue the lease yeelded up. " And seeing, as he affirmeth, it cannot be for her Ma"^ benefitt to have it yeelded up (his wifes reasonable dower being admitted) his humble petition is, that it would please her Matie to permitt his wife with her gracious favor to enjoye it for terme of her life only, having no joincture at all made her by her late husband and having paide more in debts then the goodes left her doe amounte unto us hereafter appeareth. "All the Jewells that came to Sir Willm Hatton's hand.es after the death of the Lord Chauncellor were solde to the Countesse of Shrowsburie and others for foure thousand three hundred five poundes three shillinges five pence ob, being solde for present money. " Saveing one blewe saphire which he used to weare at his shirt string, which only came to the La Hattons handes, as M'' Attorney affirmeth the La Hatton will avowe upon her oathe. 6 Hatton Papers. " Which foure thousand three hundred five poundes three shillinges and v'* ob was presently hereupon paide to her Ma"* in parte of payment of her Highnes debt. " For the goodes in Middx the sa[me] being exteflded by the Sherrife of London were by order in the Exchequer to remayne with Sir Willm Hatton as his owne proper goodes for that he paide 2139'" 5» upon sale of his inheritance, in satisfaction of parte whereof he was to retaine the saide goodes, so as those goodes are now deteined as Sir Willm Hatton's owne goodes. " Sir Willm Hatton solde so much landes and leases as amounted to fourtene thousand, six hundred fourscore two poundes, parte whereof was paide towardes her Ma"" debt and the residue for the payments of her subjects debt, which as some of the witnesses examined in this cause doe affirme they haue heard it was her Ma"™ pleasure should in anie wise be paide and as they alleadge may be infured upon the saide order. " Sir William Hatton sold so much of the Lo Chancellors goodes as he receaved, three thousand five hundred seaventie six poundes thirtene shilhnges and nynepence. " All the goodes & chattells wbich were the Lo Chancellors, and were not solde away or altered by Sir Willm Hatton, and came to the Ladie Hattons handes besides the saide goodes in Midd doe not amounte to one thousand poundes, as by an inventorie shewed to her Ma"" Solicitor Generali ready to be exhibited in the Arches doe appeare. "And the Ladie hath paide for Sir Christopher Hatton's debt -with the interest thereof since the death of Sir Willm Hatton foure thousand eight hundred nyne poundes whereof they have shewed the particulars, and as it is affirmed the La Hatton will be ready to affirme upon her oathe. "Out of the state of the goodes & landes of Sir Christopher Hatton solde there hath bene answered to her Ma"« 12164" 18' 10"*. " And to the subject paide in the life tyme of Sir Willm Hattofl 23647" 8» ^^ ob. "And by the La Hatton since [his] Csic) death 4809"* i2». " So with the wante of the Jewells there appeareth unto us there have bene more paide by Sir Willm Hatton in bis life tyme, and by the Ladie Hatton since his death to her Ma"^ and tbe subjects then appeareth to us that the goodes of Sir Christopher Hatton came unto by 1240'' I' 5* ob. " But by lawe her Ma»« ought to bave bene satisfied before the subject." Hatton Papers. Dealing with the Portions of his Younger Sons. " To my Sonne Walter my second Sonne uppon whom for some Causes known to himself I cannot as securely settle what in my love 1 meant him ; yet that he be not wanting of meanes fitt to maintayne him in some moderate way as my Second Sonne I doe hereby declare that I intended to have given unto him All those Lands Tenements and heredit.-i ments which I lately improved and inclosed out of Halliwell Westfenne in the County of Huntingdon whereof there lyeth in a place called the Lake a hundred acres of March ground and neere unto the same fifty acres more of march grounds in the sarae Westfenn severed by Ditches And all those Lands Pastures and enclosed grounds lying and being uppon the Heath adioyneing called Halliwell Heath otherwise Summersham or Bluntisham Heath the said inclosures containeing three hundred and three score acres AU lately improved and inclosed by me And all those severall pastures Marsh and Fenn grounds lately improved by the Queene's Maiesty out of her manners lying in the Soake of Summersham and Halliwell Westfenn. All which severall Closes Pastures Marshes and Fennes which were purchased joyntly betwixt S' Thomas Hatton and me ioyntly containeing in all twelve hundred acres or thereabouts And whereof wee had a fine and other conveyances in law This moity of mine in the said Lands of the Queene together with the before mentioned Lands of mine owne in Halliwell I esteemed a foure hundred pounds per annum and intended them unto my Sonne Walter for his portion But of late it is come to passe that those Lands which I purchased ioyntly with S' Thomas Hatton as also those improvements which I made in the mannor of Halliwell and Needingworth both upon the Heath and in the Westfenn in Halliwell and had severally inclosed and imbanked the same are now of late by violence of the Tennants thereabouts throwne open and the fences pulled downe and destroyed so that the valine of these lands are become of much lefs yeerely worth then they were when I intended them to my sonne Walter And for that I fear he will not be of power or have meanes to reduce the same to the state they were in Therefore I have thought fitt hereby to declare and I do hereby will devise and appointe that whereas I have lately purchased of the Wingfields out of the Manor of Keysone in the County of Hunting don divers Lands and several pasture groundes Conteyning]|in all neere seven hundred acres of pasture for which I had six hundred 8 Hatton Papers. pounds a year rent I do hereby for the reasons aforesaid revoke and make voyd y' intention or guift before mentioned of those lands in Halliwell Needingworth and Summersham Soake to my Sonne Walter And I doe hereby will and devise the said lands and every part and parcell thereof unto my Sonne Edward and his Heires who may better struggle with the said tennants than my Sonne Walter could have done for holding of the same in severalty as I had them . . . . And whereas I have payd for the Lands of Summersham Soake which I bought from the King and Queenes Maiestie it being part of the Joynture the sume of four thousand poundes or there abouts And Sir Thomas Hatton hath or should have paid as much to Mr Harry Jermy who was suiter to the King for the same and had and received our moneyes therefore And he and his Brother Mr Thomas Jermy gave us a statute of tenn thousand pounds for making good of this sale w""" lands are since entred vppon violently by the Tennants of Somersham and the proffitts thereof taken from us after wee had enclosed and fenced the same Now therefore our resent must be to take the benefitt of that Statute for our recompense So that I account it debt due unto me whereof I give & bequeath the one moity to my Sonne Edward the other moity to my Sonne Walter and that all due Course of Law be used & taken for the recovery thereof." A PAPER nxxtRxiB in ^0rt]^ampt0ns]^TO, DATED i6 JULY, 1^90. With Particulars of the "Glassies"- holden at the Bull in Northampton ; And of one Edmond Snape beeinge or pretending to be Curate of S. Peters in Northampton, From the original MS. in the British Museum., MS. tans. 64, folio 51. Itorf^BKiptotr : TAYLOR & SON, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS. 1878, Articles wherewith ye Ministers qf Northarn, ilf Warwick shires are charged, etc. i6 July, 1590. I. ffirst, they have agreed upon, and appoynted amongest them selves certayne generali meetinge, w°h they call Synodes ; and others more particulare in severall Shiers or Diocesses, w°h they call Classes. a. Item, some of the especiall places so appoynted for the Synodes, are — London, Cambridge at tymes of commencement and Sturbridge fFayre, and Oxforde at the A.ct ; becausse at those tymes and places they may assemble w' least suspition. 3. It'm, in the sayde Synodes those there assembled treat and determine of such matters, as are eyther propownded unto them a newe, or have bene debated before in the Classeisas fyt to be considered on and pro vided for : And lykewise what course shalbe holden by the ministers in theyr severall places : w°h beinge concluded upon by the Synode it is holden autenticall, and is decreed to be put accordinglye in ex ecution. 4. It'm, in the Classis beinge a more particulare assemblie of certeyne ministers in severall shires or Diocesses (accordinge to the appoynt- ment of the generali Synodes) meetinge in some private place for the moste parte after a prayer there • conceaved, and a sermon or exercise made; It is signified bysome that were present, what hath bene determi ned in the last Synode : And then they doe deliberate as well for the better execution thereof, as allso what further poyntes they thincke convenient to be presented to the Consideraton of y° next Synode. 5. It'm, accordinge to this place, sondrie, or at least one such Synode — or Synodes have bene holden at everie or some of y" sayde places and tymes afore specified; and namelie at or aboute Sturbridge ffayre tyme last at Cambridge. 6. It'id', at all or some of such Synodes there have mett and bene assembled Dr. Whitakers, Mr. Cartwrighte, Knewstubbs, Travers, Charke, Egerton, Greneham, Warde, ffludd, Chatterton, Perkins, — Dike, Snape, and others ; or some of them. 7. Item at some of the sayde Synodes it hath bene debated, concluded, agreed on, and determined by all or moste voyces ; that Such as cannot preache, are no ministers : that the Sacraments oughte not to be recea ved at their handes; that All one kinde of doctrine must be preached by those thatfavoure that caufse towchinge the erectinge or establishinge the govern-ment : that Everie minister in his charge shoulde by all holie and lawfull meanes endevoure to bringe in and establishe that govern-ment : that Ano athe, whereby a man might be tyed to reveale any thinge, w'* may be penall to him selfe, or his faithfull bretheren, is againste charitie ; and needs not, or ought not to be taken ; or to lyke effect, or some thinge tendinge that waye w' sundrie other poynts. 8. Item, the determinatons made in Synode have bene published & signified^ in sundrie of the Assemblies called Classes, and by them assented unto to be put in execution. Namelie, a Classeis hath bene holden at the Bull in Northampton ; in Mr. Sharpes howsse, minister of iFawesley and in Mr. Suapes chamber ; and in everie or some of them ; where the same Decrees or Articles, and others have bene published and made knowne to be executed. 9. It'm, the ministers in Northampton shier (who especiallye doe — assemble them selves at such Classes,, and namelye were present at y, afore sayde Classes) are Mr. Snape, Stone, minister of i-warkton *-Whart6n, Edwardes of Courtnoll, Spicer of Cookenoe, At kins of Higham, fHetcher of Abington, Larfee of Wellingbo- roughe, Prowdeloe of Weeden, \Kiuge of Coleworthe, Bare- bone, and others ; or some of them. 10. It'm, Mr. Snape declaringe upon a tyme his issue of dealinge at Oxforde about the com inge of Mr. fFavoure th elder ; he decla red this or the lyke forme of wordes to no lesse effect : Viz, he shewed, that in their Classes w°h they have in this shier of North- ' ' ariipton (as-they have in moste places of the lande beside) they had concluded generallye that. The dumbe ministerie shoulde be taught to be noe ministerie at all. II. Item, he the sayde Snape then declared that in the same Classeis they had agreed upon this poynte ; that they shoulde ioyntlye in their se verall Charges and congregations teach all one kynde of doctrine tendinge to the erectinge of the government. 12. Item, he declared in these, or the lyke wordes : How say you (sayde he) if we devise a waye, whereby to shake of all the Anti-chri stian yoke and government of the Bishopps : and will ioyntlie together erect the discipline and government all in one day. But peradventure it will not be yet this'yeare and this halfe. 13. It'm, that they woulde doe these things in isuch sorte by these y'"' Classes, that by the grace of god they (Viz, the Bishopps) shoulde never be able to prevayle againste it. 14. It'm, upon the first of Peter the jth he declared, that in the Churche ot god there oughte not to be anye government by Lo. Bishopps; but that there oughte to be a Christian equali- tie amonge the ministers of god; Nor the ministers of y° worde shoulde goe w' their trowpes and traynes, as theyr manner is at these dayes. IJ. It'm, that the Discipline of the Churche is of an absolute ne- cessitie to the Churche ; And that the Church oughte of necesSitie to be governed by Pastors, Doctors, Elders, Deacons, and Widowes ; w'h he declared out of y"' wordes of Peter ; The Elders, w* are amonge you. &c. 16. That here one, and there one, picked out of the prophane and common multitude, and put aparte to serve the Lorde; maketh the Churche of god ; and not the generali multitude : out of y"* wordes of Peter, But you are a chosen generation. 17. That as nothinge maketh a separatou betwene man and wife, but whoredome : so what soever beinge devised by the brayne of man, & is brought into the Churche to be used iu the outwarde worshippe and service of god (seeme it never so good and godlye, never so holie) it is spirituall whoredome ; out of the seconde Comman dement. 18, It'm, Mr. Snape beeinge demanded how a man coulde be a mi nister of god, that stoode onelye by the authoritie of man in re spect of his outwarde callinge, and fell at his comanndement j Answered, that he had bene in such a perplexitie him selfe; that rather than he woulde have stoode by the vertue of anye letters of Orders, he woulde have bene hanged upon y' gallowes. 19. It'm, Mr. Snape hath at sundrie tymes, or once at y" least in the hearinge of others declared, that before it were longe; it shoulde be seene, that they woulde have this government by Doctors, Pastors, Elders, Deacons, and Widowes; and that in deede all, or some of the sayde ministers afore articula ted have begon in theyr severall Cures to erect them, or some parte of them. It'm, let the paper (w°h is a coppie of a certayne wrytinge sup posed to have bene set downe by him the sayde Snape) be shewed unto him, and let him upon his oathe declare whether he doth ¦ not knowe or beleeve that the same is a true coppie of a wry- tinge set downe under his owne hand, or not. I. Edmonde Snape either heard of or feared a searche to have bene intended for bookes not autorized : and thereupon he caussed to be caried divers sortes of such bookes to one George Bevisa tan ner, desiringe him to lay them up in some secret place ; who bestow ed them thereupon in his barke-howsse. And afterwards the sayde Snape fetched away agayne the sayde bookes or moste of them ; but left 25 or there aboutes of the bookes called (A defence of the eccle siasticall discipline) in 4° againste Mr. Bridges, w' the saide Be- vis, and desired him to sell them after 14. or 16.* and they or some of them were by him the sayde Bevis accordinglie solde. a. It'm, Christopher Hodgekinson obteyned a promisse of y' sayde Snape ; that he woulde baptise his childe : but Snape added sayinge, you must then give it a Christian name allowed in y° sprip- tures. Then Hodgekinson tolde him, that his wives father, whose name was Richarde, desired to have the givinge of the name. Well sayde Snape) yo" must doe as I bid yo", least when yo" come, the Congregation be troubled. Not w'stinge Hodgekinson thinkinge it woulde not have bene made a matter of .such importance, caussed the Childe to be brought to St. Peters; and Snape proceeded iu th' action (thoughe not accordinge to the booke of comon prayer by lawe established) untill he came to the naminge of y° childe : but hearinge them callinge it Richarde, and that they would not give it anye o- ther name ; he stayed there, and woulde not in anye case bapti.se the Childe. And so it was caried awaye thence, and was baptised the weeke foUowinge at AU-hallowes churche, and called Richarde. 3. It'm the sayde Snape beeinge or pretending to be Curate of St. Peters in Northampton, doth not in his Ministratons reade the Con fession, Absoluton. Fsallmes, Lessons, Letanie, Epistle, gbspell; Administreth the sacraments of baptisme and the supper, marieth, burieth, churcheth or giveth thanckes for weomen after Childe- burthe, visiteth the sycke, nor perfourmeth other partes of his dutie at all, or at least not accordinge to the forme prescribed by the booke of Common prayer authorized ; but in some changeth, some partes omitteth, aud others addeth, choppeth, and mingleth it w' other prayers and speeches of his owne &c, as it pleaseth his owne humor. It'm, sondrie Ministers who mett in one or more Synodes assembled w"'in a yeare and an halfe last past and lesse, concluded and agreed that everie man in his severall charge shoulde indevoure to erect a government of Paste's, governinge Elders, and Deacons : That they shoulde teache and houlde, that all ministers who are called accordinge to the order of the Churche of Englande to be an un lawfuU, or have an unlawfull callinge : And that such allreadie beeinge ministers, as stande alFected well unto their Courses, and whom they dare trust, shoulde be induced to renownce their former callinge by Bishopps, and to take a newe approbaton by them in their Classis, beeinge an assemblie of sondrie ministers w^in a certayne compasse in a shyer, and whereof they have aboute iiij. in a shier, or so manye as convenientlye may be : And that this is the Lordes ordinance, wherebye onelye they must stande in theyr mi- nisterit : And that the lyke approbation shalbe used in those that were not ministers before : And that after such callinge, they that were not ministers afore, may preache untill they be called to some certayne charge. At what tyme if the people of such place call them, then are they to be holden full ministers, and may mini ster the sacraments. Never the lesse it is permitted, that y" shall goe to the Bishoppe for writinge (for their safe standinge in theyr callinge) as unto a Civili magistrate in a matter belonginge onelye to the out warde man, and none otherwise, ffor they holde, that thereby he receaveth not anye power to be a minister; or to lyke effect hath it bene concluded, or is practised amonges' them. It'm, in sondrie places of this realme such their determinatons have bene and are put in vre and practise : namelye in Northampton- shier, in Essex, SulFolke, Norfolke, Warwickshier, De- vonshier, Cornwall, &c. The sayde Snape renownceJ or woulde not stande in his ministerie by the callinge of the Bishoppe, and' was agayne (as afore) allowed or called by the Classis; but woulde not thereupon administer tbe Lordes Supper. But afterwards the parishe of St. Peters afore sayde, or some of them, knoweinge that by reason such determinaton he might not accompte himselfe a full minister, untill some particulare congregation had chosen him; They did thereupon choose him for their minister: And by that callinge and as afore, doth he stande in his ministerie at this present, and not by the callinge of the Bishoppe. Item, one Larke not farre from Wellingboroughe in the sayde shier beeinge not afore a minister accordinge to the churche of Englande had the approbaton of the sayde Snape and others of a Classis up pon tryall made of him : And then was by them willed for his safe standinge to goe to a Bishoppe (as to a Civill magistrate onelye) for writinge. It'm, accordinge to the usuall place concluded on in that behalfe, one Hocknell havinge bene 6. or 7. yeares afore a minister, beeinge to have a benefice was willed to bringe some testimoniall from the ministers of the sayde shier for his sufficiencie and conversaton, (because moste patrones that eyther them selves be so affected, or have frende so bene, have bene dealt w' to such lyke eflfect.) Where upon he cominge to the sayde Snape, was willed to renownce his first callinge, and not to stande by the, Bishopps callinge into the mi nisterie : And had to that purpose by him and his companions of the Classis a text given, and a daye prefixed to preach upon it : w°h was by Hocknell perfourmed before the Classis and others at St. Peters aforesayde. After w"h sermon the Classis alone beinge assembled, Hocknell was willed to stande aloote. Then Penrie began to make a speeche, and to exhorte them to be carefull to call upon god and to deale w' out aflection. in this action, &c. After w°h they fell to consultaton. Some lyked that he shoulde be admitted : and others misliked both becausse he, had not delyve.' red the Metaphore that was in his text; and becausse he was no grecian nor hebritian. Who ovor-weyinge the rest, Hocknell was called for, and in some sorte comended. But y" speaker of the Classis tolde him he must take more paynes at his booke, before they woulde allowe of him as a fytt minister. Whereupon Hock nell fell out w' them, and contemminge theyr Censures did proceede and tooke possession of his benefice. At the end of the MS. occurs : " Sir, Be pleased to Transcribe this Copy, and return it as soon as possible pray send the proof back as soon as you can. From Mr. Leackes in the Old Baily." V, o E-l -J! Mo ha < tu '^citione. QlR Christopher Hatton, the dancing chancellor, was the youngest ofthe /"¦^ three sons of William Hatton of Holdenby; Northamptonshire. The family was an old one, and it was claimed, though on doubtful evidence, to be of Norman lineage. The family lived almost exclusively in Cheshire, until a younger son raarried the heiress of Holdenby. William Hatton, the grandson of this Hatton, was the father of the lord chancellor. His wife was Alice Saunders, daughter of Robert Saunders, of Harringworth, co. Northampton. Christopher was born at Holdenby in 1540, and his two brothers dying in their youth, he succeeded to the paternal estate. Mr. J. M. Rigg, in the Dictionary of National Biography, thus sketches the early life of Sir Christopher : " Hatton was entered at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, probably about 1555, as a gentleman-commoner. He took no degree, and in November 1559 was admitted to the society of the Inner Temple, where, according to Fuller [Worthies, 'Northamptonishire'), he 'rather took a bait than a meal ' of legal study. There is no record of his call to the bar, but the register was not then exactly kept (Bakek, Northamptonshire, i. 196 ; Ormerod, Cheshire, ed. Helsby, iii. 230; Wood, Fasti Oxon, i. 582). At the Inner Temple revels at Christmas 1561, when a splendid masque was performed, in which Lord Robert Dudley, afterwards Earl of Leicester, figured as ' Palaphilos, Prince of Sophie, High Constable Marshal of the Knights Templars,' Hatton played the part of master of the game (Dugdale, Orig. pp. 150 et seq.) Tall, handsome, and throughout his life a very graceful dancer, he attracted the stttention of the queen at a subsequent masque at court, and became one of her gentlemen pensioners in June 1564 (Camden, Ann. Eliz. ed. 1627, ii- 43; Naunton, Fragmenta Regalia, 27; Fuller, Worthies, 'Northamptonshire;' Cal. State Papers, Horn. Xbil -80, p. 242). On Sunday, llth Nov. 1565, and the two following days he displayed his prowess in a tourney held before the queen at Westminster, in honour 2 The Hattons. of the marriage of Ambrose Dudley, earl of Warwick, with Lady Anne EusseU, and he jousted again before the queen at the same place in May 1571 (Strype, Ohehe,^. 133; Nichols, Progr. Eliz. i. 276). Ehzabeth gave him in 3565 the abbey and demesne lands of Sulby, nominally in exchange for his manor of Holdenby, which, however, was at the same time leased to him for forty years, and was two years later reconveyed to him in fee ; she appointed him (29 July 1568) keeper of her parks at Eltham in Kent and Horne in Surrey ; she granted him the reversion of the office of queen's remembrancer in the exchequer (1571), and estates in Yorkshire, Dorsetshire, Herefordshire, the reversion of the monastery De Pratis in Leicestershire, the stewardship of the manors of Wendling- borough in Northamptonshire, and the wardship of three minors (1571 ¦2). She also made hira one of the gentlemen of her privy charaber, though at what date is uncertain, and captain of her bodyguard (1572). It was the custom for the courtiers to raake the queen new-year's presents, for which they received in return gifts of silver plate varying from fifty to two hundred ounces in weight. Hatton, however, always received four hundred ounces' weight of this plate." " Hatton's relations with the queen were very intimate," is the universal verdict. How intiraate will probably never be known. Mary Queen of Sqots accused Elizabeth of being his paramour, and if the letters that passed between them, passed between any two people to-day, they would be regarded as conclusive evidence of that fact. ' But allowance must be made for the stilted language and artificiality of an age when exaggeration was the mark of the courtier. Whether this relation actually existed between the sovereign and her subject, or no ; the relationship between them was at any rate only one degree less. They used the most endearing terms one to another. Hatton never tired of doing her will, she never wearied in giving him riches and favours ; when they were apart he fretted and the queen pined. When he was ill, she visited him daily; when he went abroad for his health, she sent her own physician to look after him She robbed the Bishop of Ely to give him Ely Palace, she made him Vice- chamherlain. Privy Councillor, and Knight, and in Parliament where he represented, first Higham Ferrers and afterwards Northamptonshire, he was the recognised mouthpiece of the sovereign. He was one of the Com mission that tried Mary Queen of Soots at Fotheringhay, and on behalf of Elizabeth intrigued for the illfated Mary's death, throwing the onus of the execution off the shoulders of the queen on to the House of Commons. He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1587, having previously been granted the manor of Parva Weldon in Northamptonshire and estates in other counties ; the keepership of Rockingham Forest and the Isle of Purbeck ; the demesne of Naseby ; some Irish estates ; the sites of four monas teries, &c. Before his death a revulsion to Hatton seems to have come over Elizabeth. She exacted from him large sums that, he at any rate, never expected to have to pay to one with whom he was so intimately connected. The Hattons. % His annoyance and vexatiOb helped on the dissolntion, and he died of diabetes, at Ely House, on November 20th, 1591, at the age of 51. He -was buried in Westminster Abbey, on December r6th. " Hatton had been a friend and to some exteut a patron of men of letters, in particular of Spenser, who gave hira a copy of the ' Faery Queen,' with a dedicatory sonnet (see Spenser, 'Wor'ks, ed. Gilfillan, i. 7) ; of Thotaas Churchyard, who dedicated to him his account of the reception of the queen by the mayor and corporation of Bristol (14 Aug. 1574), his 'Chippes ' and his ' Choise' (Nichols, Progr. Eliz. i. 393) ; and of Christo pher Ockland, who in his ' 'Elprjvapx'.a ' (1582) describes him as ' Splendidus Hatton,' and in his ' Elizabetheis ' (1589) lauds him for his part in the detection of Babington's conspiracy. After his death appeared 'A Commemoration of the Life and Death of Sir Christopher Hattob, Knight, Lord Chancellor of England, with an Epistle dedicatory to Sir William Hatton,' by J. Philips, London, 1591 (a poem more eulogistic than meritorious, reprinted for the Roxburghe Club in 'A Lamport Garland,' 1881) I ' The Maiden's Dream upon the Death of the Right Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton, Knight, late Lord Chancellor of England,' by Eobert Greene, London, 1591, 4to ; 'A Lamentable Discourse of the Death of the Eight Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton,' &c., London, 1591, (Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. i. J.42). Hatton's death was also bewailed in a volume of verse entitled ' Musarum Plangores,' mentioned by Wood, 'Athense Oxon.,' Bliss, i. 583. There is also a high-pitched eulogy of him in ' Polimanteia ; or the Meanes Lawful and Unlawful to judge of the Fate of a Commonwealth against the frivolous and foolish Conjectures of this Age,' by W. C. (William Gierke), Cambridge, 1595. He died unmarried, and left no will. His estates he had settled by deed in tail male first on his nephew, Sir William Newport, and then on his cousin Sir Christopher Hatton. Sir William Newport, who assuraed the narae of Hatton, succeeded to the estates, but died without male issue Oh 12 March 1596-7. Sir William's successor. Sir Christopher Hatton, Was father of Christopher, baron Hatton of Kirby [q.v.} " Hatton wrote the fourth act of the tragedy of ' Tancred and Gismund,' performed before the queen at the Inner Temple in 1568 (Warton, Hist. of Poetry iii. 305). His narae appears on the title-page of a little book entitled ' A Treatise concerning Statutes or Acts of Parliament, and the Exposition thereof,' London, 1677, 12mo, but there is no evidence external or internal by which the authenticity of the work, which is a very slight production, can be determined. His correspondence, portions of which had previously been printed in Murdin's ' State Papers ' and ' Wright's ' Queen Elizabeth and her Times,' London, 1838, was published in its entirety by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas in his elaborate ' Memoirs of Hatton,' London,, 1847, to which is prefixed a fine engraving of his portrait by Ketel. " [Nicolas's Memoir ; Fosb's Livee of the Judges ; authorities cited. "J. M.E." [J. M. EiGG.] 4 The Hattons. Christopher, the first Lord Hatton was the eldest surviving son of Sir Christopher Hatton, K.B., of Clay Hall, Barking, Essex, and afterwards of Kirby, Northamptonshire. Sir Christopher was the cousin of Lord Chancellor Hatton, to whom the estates descended on the death of Sir William Newport without male issue. Christopher, Lord Hatton, was baptised at Barking in July 1605, but it is believed he was born in Decem ber 1602. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, and was created K.B. at the coronation of Charles I. in 1626. In 1636 he became steward of Higham Ferrers and of several manors in the neighbourhood. He was returned to Parliament for Higham Ferrers in 1640. In the civil war he joined King Charles at Oxford, and was made keeper of Olney Park and raised to the peerage, on July 29th, 1643, as Baron Hatton of Kirby. In August 1648 he retired to France, and after the restoration he was appointed Governor of Guernsey. He afterwards forsook his family, says Eoger North, to live in Scotland Yard, London, and " divert himself with the company and discourse of players and such idle people." He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Charles Montagu, of Boughton, Northamptonshire, and had two sons and three daughters. He died at Kirby on July 4th, 1670, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He was a lover of antiquities, and published the " Psalter of David " in which he wrote a " prayer suitable to each psalm." His wife who survived him was killed in an explosion at Guernsey in 1672. Christopher, the first Viscount Hatton, was the elder of the two sons of the first Baron Halton. He was born in 1632. He was with his father in Guernsey where he filled several appointments, was Governor of the Island during his fathers absence, in 1665, and eventually (in 1670) succeeded his father as Baron Hatton and Governor of Guernsey. On the night of December 29th 1672 Hatton had a marvellous escape at Guernsey. The powder magazine blew up. His mother and, his wife (Cecilia daughter of John Tufton second earl of Thanet), and several servants, were killed. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Northamp tonshire in 1670 and custos rotulorum in 1681. In 1683, he was advanced to be Viscount Hatton of Gretton in Northamptonshire. In 1688 he became captain of Grenadiers in the Earl of Huntingdon's regiment of foot, and was the only one of the officers who in November of that year refused to join his commander in an attempt to secure Plymouth for James II. Hatton was thrice married. Of the issue of his firet marriage (with Cecilia Tufton) only one daughter grew. up. She married Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham. His second wife was Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Yelvertoft of Easton Maudit, Northamptonshire. None of her children survived him. In 1685 Hatton married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir WiUiam Haslewood of Maidwell, Northamptonshire. By her he had a numerous progeny. He died in September 1706, and was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, William, who died unmarried in 1760. Henry Charles another son succeeded hira, died the same year without issue and the title became extinct. To the first Viscount Hatton belonged the bulk of the Hatton papers in the British Museum. HISTORICAL SKETCHES The C ongi^egatio ns i^tott^tant ®i&Stnttv& |n jHoRTHy^MPTOJ^pHIRj:. 1700-1800. From a MS. in the possession qf the Rev. G. P. Gould, M.A., of Bristol. For^merhj in the Library of the late Rev. George Gould, qf Norwich. \ii\ ipr^face anb ^ppeniri^. Nort|iam;pton: TAYLOR & SON, "THE DRYDEN PRESS." 1885. To OVT^ Rbadei\s. T N making references from the Library of the late Eev. George Gould, of J Norwich, for materials for a bibUographioal aoooimt of the " Confessions of Faith of the Baptist Churches '' we met -with a most valuable manuscript volume, entitled "A General View of the Congregations of the Protestant Dissenters in England and Wales." The Library was rich in early Baptist Uterature, whioh had been coUected on aocount of the trial — The Attorney- General V. G^)uld — on the Question of Open Communion aud the Baptists of Norwich. We have not been able to trace the writer of the sketches. The sketches on EoweU, Creaton, and Kettering appear in The Theological and Biblical Magazine for 1804, vol. iv. ; printed by J. W. Morris, at Dunstable, who had removed his press from Clipstone in this county. The Editors of the Magazine, in their prefatory notice, say : " Ha-ving received a ooUection of papers from a gentleman in Bedfordshire who has taken considerable pains to trace the rise and progress of many of the Dissenting Chm-ohes, but more especiaUy those of Norfolk and Suffolk, with a view to an intended publication, they hope to be able to lay before their readers some interesting thongh brief particulars, tending to furnish materials towards a general history of Dissenting Churches and Congregations throughout the kingdom. * * • The aooounts already received do not in general go any farther than the year 1774 : it is intended if possible to bring them down to 1800." This wiU account for the extension of the articles printed to a later date than the MS. The MS. was originaUy in two volumes, but the blank leaves have been removed, and the two volumes now fiU the boards of one foUo volume in vellum. It is -written in a, very bold style, and numbers above 200 pages. It is unfortunate that the historical sketches of aU the. Churches mentioned were not oompUed. By the courtesy and kindness of the Eev. G. P. Gould, of Bristol, -who entrusted us with the MS., and in whose Ubrary it is now deposited, we are able to add these sketches to our series of Tracts pertaining to Northampton shire History. Since printing the text, we find that in the Bristol Baptist CoUege Library is a copy, in two volumes, of the same MS. Dr. Culross, President of the CoUege, has very kindly furnished the foUowing particulars : — " The two manuscript volumes in the Library here have no title except a Une in pencU describing them as ' A MS. History of Dissenting Churches.' I have not been able to discover the historian's name, though very probably it is ' Mr. Thompson.' ¦ The facts have beeu obtained from ohuroh-books and other records, aud from the recoUection of ' antient persons.' OccasionaUy the source of information is quoted, as e.g., ' Mr. Crowe,' ' Mr. Cole of Maiden,' ' my accurate friend the Eev. Mr. Harmer, of Wattesfield,' by whom ' this account is drawn up.' The history was at first brought down to 1774 ; but additions and annotations have been made subsequently by J. W., J. Toulmin, John Meen of Hunston HaU, Suffolk, and (largely) by Mr, Isaac James, whose widow presented the two volumes to this CoUege. In an obUterated note at the beginning of the first volume referring to the Bedfordshire Churches, Mr. James says ' I have not added anything to Mr. Thompson's CoUections for Bedfordshire.' The same ' Mr. Thompson ' appears to have given the account of the Cambridge churches. After comparing Mr. Gould's volume with the two in our possession, I have oome to the conclusion, either that it is a ' fair copy' of ours, made between 1774 and 1778 for the author himself, or that Mr. Gould's and ours both are copies of the same original. Tou -wUl observe that in the account of the Northamptonshire Churches the variations are of the most trifling kind." JOHN TATLOR. Northampton, May, 1885. i i i '^^w ^ ^^ 1 m^t >Kjtt|fJs 0f i^t Congregations of i^& '^xohBtunt giss£nl«rs in |tort^amptons|^rrj. No. I. — Arlingborough. No. 2. — Ashley and Corby. No. 3. — Barton. No. 4. — Braunston. No. 5. — BucKBY, Long. No, 6. — Burton Latimer. ^0. 7.— Creaton* R. SHUTTLEWOOD was undoubtedly the father of the dissenting interest in this part of the country. Some considerable time before his preaching at Creaton he lived at Sulby near Walford where he preached in much danger. It is said, that his house standing in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire he has sometimes escaped the constables of the former by retiring into the rooms which stood in the latter, and vice versa ; but' this hath no other authority than common report and the thing seems improbable, it is scarce to be imagined the oflScers of those days were so very scrupulous. The counties are undoubtedly seperated thereabouts. There is now but one house there, though there is reason to believe it was once a village. The people who used to attend him at Sulby fro a great distance found it inconvenient. They to the East began to assemble at Creaton where Mr. Shuttlewood lived and preached in his own house in Little Creaton (a hamlet J of a mile from the larger village) in 1688 at the Revolution. He was concerned in the education of youth for the ministry. Mr. Julius Saunders of Bedsworth and Mr. Thomas Emlin who came the same day to his house, were two of his pupils. Mr. Shuttlewood was buried in Creaton church yard. Some years ago the gravestone was found lying neglected and broken to pieces in the churchyard. It is not now to be found, on w""" account the time of his death cannot be ascertained. The meeting house was built A.D. 1694, and the first or one of the first, who succeeded Mr. Shuttlewood, was Mr. Ironmonger, the next Mr. Baker, and the next Mr. Chambers. Mr. C. died about 1735, when Mr. Hextall succeeded and continued to 1751 when he removed to Sudbury. Soon after this Dr. Doddridge being dead Mr. Warburton was chosen assistant in the morning to Mr. Gilbert at Northampton and after preacher and pastor at Creaton. Mr. Gilbert died in the close of 1760 and Mr. Hextal in the next year came to Northampton, on w"'' Mr. Warburton confined himself to Creaton : but in the spring of 1773 he went from thence and Mr. John Wood their present pastor 1778 [from Sudbury] was unanimously chosen. No. 8. — Crick. (A Lecture.) ^0, 9. — ^aijentrg. HERE were nonconformists in this place very early. There is a house in Drayton (a hamlet adjoining) w* had a door that opened into the fields where con siderable numbers from the town and neighbourhood often assembled late in the night to worship and sometimes had the assistance of some minister. The following account was given about 25 years ago to Dr. Ashworth by Mr. Thomas Porter a member of this church then 80 or upwards, a man of a very respectable character and remarkably sensible. An aged minister, who lived some considerable distance beyond Daventry, in his way to London lay at the Swan (till within these few years one of the principal inns) in this town, where he was taken ill and confined for a week or longer. Mr. Lindsay, who kept the house and all his family behaved to him with much kindness, and it appears to have been a remarkably regular house. The minister on the evening before he departed desired the family to come into his room, where he particularly thanked Mr. Lindsay and each of the family for their civility to him and expressed much satisfaction in the good order of the house, but, said he, something leads me to fear there is not the fear of God in this house ; it grieves me to see such honesty, civility, oeconomy, and decency, and yet religion wanting, w* is the one thing needful. On this he entered into a close conversa tion with them on the nature and importance of real and inward religion w* he closed by telling them, he had with him a little book lately printed w""" he W* give them, and wished them to read it carefully, on w* he gave them Baxter's poor man's family book. This fixes the date to 1672 or later the year in w""" that book was printed. It is not certain who the minister was or that Mr. Lindsay ever saw him again or knew his name, but it is suspected it was Mr. Baxter himself. Mr. Lindsay read the book with pleasure, sent for other of Mr. Baxter's books, and he and some of his children became excellent characters. Upon this he grew weary of the inn and being in plentiful circumstances retired to a house in the middle of the town, which had a small close behind it at the extremity of w* upon a back lane there stood some out-buildings, w"'' he converted into a meeting house. The people enjoyed it during his life having now got a settled minister and formed a church ; this was probably after the Revolution. He always intended and often promised to settle it in form, but dying suddenly it never -Vsras done ; the heir at law was well inclined to it but he being melancholy the people durst not trust to a settlement from him. At length they purchased it of those in whom it vested, repaired it and it continued to be used till 1722 when Mr. Mattocks, then the minister at Daventry built the present place. The old one was by this time much too small, it is still standing, sold & formed into 2 cottages, w* are again annexed to the house where Mr. Lindsay lived, none of whose family are now left. Thefirst settled minister was Mr. And" Barnett. Hepublished a discourse which he called the helmet of hope dated Daventry May 21 1694. He was succeeded by Mr. Thomas son of Mr. John Flavel; to him succeeded Mr. Mason father of Mr. Mason late of Cheshunt. He continued a year or two and then removed to Spaldwick Hunts where he lies buried. He was succeeded by Mr. Cambden, who served this people but a very little while, but whether he died or removed I have not learnt. Mr. Jelly their next minister continued with them a little longer time, and was succeeded by Mr. Dan' Mattock who came before the year 1720 and tarried here scarce 10 years. The congregation was occasionally supplied by neighbouring ministers and candidates for about 2 years. Mr. Joseph Floyd was their next pastor. He was not ordained till May 6, 1736. At midsummer Mr. now Dr. Caleb Ashworth became his assistant and Sept. 25 1746 was ordained co-pastor. In a few years Mr. Floyd resigned and the whole pastoral care devolved on Mr. Ashworth. In the autumn of 1752 the Academy was removed from Northampton to Daventry, over which he presided with reputation twenty-three years. Dr. Ashworth died July I Sth 1775 in the 54th year of his age and was succeeded in the congregation & in the academy by the Rev*. Mr. T. Robins who removed from W. Bromwich to Daventry about Oct. following. No. 10. — Floor and W^eedon. No. II. — Herringworth. No. 12. — Irthlingborough. j^o* 1$. — itettcrtng. EGUN the Rev* Mr. John Maidwell M.A., who was ejected from the parish church there by the act of uniformity 24th Aug 1662. See Noncon. Mem, vol. ii., pag. 224-229. After his ejectment he often preached in his own and other houses sometimes escaping from lawyer Esq'r and others that beset him, with difficulty. It is uncertain what time he opened a meeting house publickly : but it is pretty certain it was some years before the toleration act. The meeting house is still in being tho' now made another use of. It seems to have been large enough at first to contain 3 or 4 hundred people. Their first settlement seems to have been congregational, or what is usually called independent, which hath continued the same ever since. The church book onlj- says, the following persons have engaged to walk together in church fellowship according to the rules of the gospel under the ministry of Mr. Maidwell pastor. The church seems to have consisted of 2 Elders 2 Deacons 35 men in Kettering 55 women in Kettering 38 men from the country round Kettering 53 women from the country round Kettering in all 185 some of which lived at a considerable distance from Kettering therefore could only attend occasionally. It is not certain whether these were all in communion at their first settlement or whether some of them were not added afterwards, and no mention made of those that may have during the ministry of Mr. Maidwell who died here Jan. 9, 1692 aged 83 years. He was buried in the chancel of the parish church, a plain stone lies over the grave, with a latin inscription, but now worn so as not to be intirely read. He left a son in trade at Kettering, who conformed, as did all his descendants. Mr. Maidwell was succeeded in the pastoral office by the Rev*. Thomas Milway sometime before June 1694, who seems as hath been thought to have removed from Bury. (Noncon. Mem. vol. i., p. 203). At his settlement there seems to have been the two elders and two deacons that were chosen at the first settlement, 66. men and 106 women, making in all 176 church members. This Mr Milway died at Kettering and was buried there Apr. 3, 1697, having received into church communion 21 men and 43 women besides those at his first settlement among them — one was by dismission from Mr. Doolittle's church in London, and four said to have been unjustly cast out of the church at Rowell by Mr. Davis. Mr. Milway was succeeded by the Rev*. William Shepherd, who removed from the meeting at Oundle but does not appear to have been pastor at Kettering, as the church book does not mention him. He died at Kettering, and was buried there March 21, 1698-9 as appears by the parish register. Mr. Shepherd was succeeded by the Rev*. William Terry, who it hath been said came from Hitchin, and became pastor at 10 Kettering, where he continued 8 or 9 years, during W^"" time there were added to the church communion thirty-six persons. He afterwards removed — it was supposed to London. Rev*. John Wills succeeded Mr. Terry. He commenced pastor there 5th May 1709, and received into church communion twenty five persons between then and August 29 1712, about which time he was charged by the church with scandalous sins particularly lying and other bad conduct for which he was admonished, on w"'' he set up another meeting in Kettering, where he continued a few years, and removed to Willingham in Cambridgeshire . Mr. Thomas Milway son of the aforementioned Mr. Milway succeeded Mr. Wills at the old meeting house at Kettering and commenced pastor there Nov. 11, 1714. He continued there with much acceptance and success till Apr. 1721, when he removed to Ipswich with his wife a son and two daughters — the son afterwards became a minister. The Rev* Thomas Saunders succeeded Mr. Milway. He had his education under his uncle the Re-v*. Julius Saunders, and was first settled as pastor with a small people at Coventry, on whose removal to Kettering they dispersed among the neigh bouring congregations. Mr. T. Saunders settled as pastor at Kettering Nov 1721, where h« continued his ministry with great approbation and success, being much beloved by his people and respected by all that knew him. He died at Kettering July 31 1736 aged forty two years, and was buried inthe meeting-house- yard there. He left one daughter about 10 years old, who, in the latter part of her life, conformed,* She died at Kettering, Sept. I, 1772. The Rev*. Benj. Boyce succeeded Mr. Saunders, he was educated under the late Dr. Doddridge at Northampton. Being near finishing his studies he came to preach occasionally at Kettering some considerable time, and one year statedly upon trial. After which they chose him for their pastor, to w""" office * In the possession of Mr. John Taylor, of Northampton, is a miniature portrait of this lady. The foUowiug particulars are inscribed on the back of the frame : "Hepzibah the only Daughter that lived of the Ueverend Thomaa Saunders Minister at the Great Meeting House at Kettering. Boru at Brandreeu iu the Parish of Kings Norton Worcestershire December 26 : 1725 brought up by Mrs. Worcester in Kettering. Died Sept. 1 : 1772 unmarried. last years she conform'd. Buried in Kettering Church, this drawn about 20 years of age. he was set apart 7th May 1740, where he continued discharging the duties of the ministerial office, with great care and faithful ness as one that must give an account, till he died Oct. 24, 1770 aged 54 and was buried at his own appointment in his mother's grave, in which his wife was also afterwards buried, in the meeting-house, over w* is a handsome stone. Soon after the death of Mr. Boyce the Rev*. John Fuller, who was near finishing his studies under the Rev*. Dr. Conder at Mile-End, was recommended to the people, who invited him to preach among them sometime, and on Aug. 6th, 1772 hewas set apart to the pastoral office there ; but some of the people not being satisfied and more becoming so Mr. Fuller gave up the pastoral care of them Aug. 14th 1774 since -w"'' time there hath been no settled minister. During the ministry of the first Mr. Milway, Wm. Wallis one of the ruling elders took upon him to administer baptism to some of the members of the church, he therefore desired a dismission, which they granted Oct. 29 i6g6 and he set up a small seperate meeting in a little house in Kettering, -where a few of the members attended on his preaching, (there is an account of only 7 or 8 church members going off with him.) This was the beginning of the baptist meeting in Kettering. He was succeeded by his son Mr. Thonias Wallis, whose people afterwards joined Mr. Wills, who set up another meeting more considerable than Wallis's about the year 1713. He, it is said, was a popular preacher of good pulpit abilities and drew away between 30 and 40 church members from the old meeting to him : but he not staying long and they being convinced of their mistake in leaving the communion of the church of w"'' they were a part, all except 2 or 3 returned under the ministry of Mr. Millway who succeeded. The church covenant of Mr. Wills and his people bears date July 15 171-5. After Mr. Wills' removal to Willingham, the people chose a baptist preacher and they have had a succession of baptist ministers ever since. Mr. Wills's first people having purchased a convenient house and garden, well situated near their then meeting house vested it in Mr. Wills, intending it for the dwelling house of their minister for the time being : but Wills having got it so secured 12 to him at his removal from them to his new meeting in Kettering he sold house garden and premises and kept the money. The people have never had a house for their minister since. The first settlement was congregational, they chose 2 ruling elders and 2 deacons (as before mentioned) since then they had 2 ruling elders and 4 deacons. The last elder died a few years ago and there hath been none chosen since. At the death of Mr. Boyce there were near 140 church members, since then something more than 20 have died, which hath reduced the number under what it ever was since Mr. Maidwells time. Then it seems to have had the most commun icants : for not only those that were his former communicants but several from other towns at a distance joined him some of whom may be supposed to have joined meetings situated near thern as more convenient for by comparing the number of church members in diff'erent periods that is at the settlement or death of the ministers the number hath a little gradually decreased, although the congregation & the interest on the whole hath increased ; for at the first settlement the meeting house would hold but between 3 & 400 if so many, afterwards it had two or three alterations and additions. About the year I think 1 715 it was threatned and thought in danger of being pulled down by a mob (when there was some disturbances given to meetings in the county) but was prevented by an apprehension of its being well guarded within side by the people armed for that purpose. What defence was made I can't say, but no mischief was done. The people increasing under Mr. Tho's. Saunders and the meeting house being old and thatcht the people opened a subscription among themselves and purchased a cottage house and tenement in the middle of the town (which is all copyhold, the fine at the will of the Lord) of Robert Dextor for ;^8o, the 7th May 1722 which was soon after pulled down and a meeting house of stone & slated was built 5oJft. by 45ift. within the walls, with three galleries so as to contain about 800 people, on which erection some gentlemen near or at London gave a very handsome brass candlestick w* 24 sockets, and a watch dial, but am not sure this watch was the same gift or whether a gift at all. ^3 The meeting house is held in trust by five persons chosen by the men in church communion w* five persons must be in the said communion and must give a deed or obligation to five other persons of the subscribers that they will hold it in trust only for the purposes intended &c. and that on the death of four the survivor shall surrender the place to five other church members chosen as before &c., which hath been done ever since its first settlement. About the year 1728 an hundred pounds more was raised by the people to pay off' that sum mortaged on it at its first erection and about ;^2o for a repair of a beam &c. About the year 1740 or 1741 the roof failed, so that it was found necessary to take it off, accordingly a subscription was opened to pay the charge, when it was done in a complete and strong manner. Then also a few more pews were made over the stair cases and in some places were only forms were, so it now holds to sit down allowing 21 inches for each person — 327 on the ground floor, in the pews 120, in the aisles the gallery pews 247, back seats 50 making in all 744 besides additional seats at ends of pews &c. so that full 800 may sit down, which in the afternoon in summer is nearly full. There is a small piece of ground adjoining the meeting house w""" has had two additions to it but is still small, it is used as a burying ground. There hath been some donations lost by the mortmain act, and other defects in the donors, so that it hath only twenty shillings a year left by ^ Langley, the interest of ;^30 by Mr. Wright, and 30s. a year left by Mr. Nunneley to the minister, & 50s. a year to the poor. The ministers salary is ;£'6o a year, till these last 8 years it was ,^75. The subscribers and church members have all been allowed to vote in the choice of their minister, Mr. Thomas Saundejs published a funeral sermon w""" he preached at Woodford near Kettering (1722) entitled, the blessedness of pious persons after death, from Rev. And I heard a voice, &c. Also a letter written in his last illness to his people, which was by his direction publickly read immediately after his funeral sermon, and was afterwards printed at Northampton 1736. His funeral sermon was 14 preached at Kettering Aug. 8, 1736, by Rev'd Mr. David Some from Harborough from i Cor. xv. 10, was also published 1736. There are five sermons complete in MSS. of Mr, Saunders's in the hands of N. CoUis of Kettering. Mr, Boyce wrote a short letter to his people in his last illness without any particular view to his remove though done when he was hardly able to write or speak. The letter was printed after his death and dispersed among his people. There are several sermons of his in MSS. in several hands. His funeral sermon from i Thess. iv. 13. 14. by Mr. Gregson and a funeral oration over the grave by Mr. Addington were both at request printed together. No, 14, — itilsiig, |R. WORTH, the vicar of Kilsby in 1662 though a nonconformist was permitted for several years to continue in his place, and Mr. Fowler on his ejection from the neighbouring rectory of Crick removed thither,' attended the pubiick worship of the church on Lord's days and repeated a sermon in his own house in the evenings to such as chose to attend. The labours of these two excellent men were blessed to several families in the village and laid the foundation of a society, which is now become somewhat numerous. When they were removed by providence the people who had imbibed the principles of nonconformity under their ministry were too few to think of forming themselves into a church. They often procured week-day lectures from the . ministers of Daventry and Buckby, and statedly attended on Lord's days at one of these two places, though more than five miles distant. Their numbers gradually increased ; till being too many to meet in a private house in 1738 they purchased one and fitted it up for a meeting house, and the ministers of Daventry and Buckby agreed to preach alternately ^very sabbath day morning. In 1750 the numbers being increased to more than a hundred they were obliged to build a gallery. In the latter end of that year with the hearty concurrence of the ministers by whom the lecture had been preached they invited the Revd, Thomas Strange to be their minister, on whom 15 they still attend with great pleasure and thankfulness and whose labours it pleased God to bless in such a manner that in two years they were obliged to add two other galleries. In 1763 the society consisting of more than two hundred persons and having a good prospect of further increase a fresh enlargement of their place was thought highly expedient. But the house being only timber and plaister probably two hundred years old and upon an accurate examination the frame being found in many places so decayed, and the whole in so bad a condition that any alteration would endanger the whole building, they found it necessary to erect a new place capable of containing the congregation and of being enlarged if the increase of the auditory should require it. Accordingly that same year 1763 by the assistance of their christian friends the present place of worship was erected, the whole 'expence amounting to near ;£"400, One hundred and seventy of which they raised among themselves. No. 15. — Middleton Cheney. No. 16. — Moulton. No. 17. — Northampton. No. 18. — Oundle. No. 19. — Potters Pury. No. 20. — Ringstead. No. 21. — Rode. No. 22, — motuell, jlHIS society seems to have been formed by the pious and successful labours of Mr. John Beverley fellow of Trinity college Cambs^ whose labours were owned for the conversion of many. It was not till the latter part of his life that he settled at Rowell : but how or by what means his steps were directed hither I cannot find. In the year 1656 about 30 persons in whose conversion he had been instru mental formed and united in church fellowship on the strict i6 congregational plan and entered into covenant with each other the tenour of which was to walk together in gospel faith and order as a particular church in the performance of all duties towards God, towards each other and towards all men in the strength of the spirit of Christ and according to his word choosing Mr. J. Beverley their pastor 2 elders and 2 deacons. Under his ministry many of the inhabitants of the town were awakened and received into the church. He wrote (i) a tract entitled the grand point of church matter (2) a tract in two parts one in english the other in latin against Hornbeck — de indepentismo — each in 7 chapters the latin part was published (3) a tract against free admission with special reference to the contradictions of one Timson printed 1659. There was a fourth tract designed and also begun by him in a letter to one Mr. L., minister at Hinckley which was to contain 3 parts the first treating of church institution, the second of church government the third of church restitution or reformation. Upon Mr. Beverley's death w""" happened June, 1658 the church unanimously invited Mr. Tho' Browning, who had preached 5 years with great success at Desborough till the famous J'ear 1662, when he with 2000 more were turned out of the established church for nonconformity. This, their unanimous call he accepted of, saying he was not only willing to spend his pains but his life in their service. Many of his own people joined the church at Rowell. He was committed to North ampton jail says Dr. Calamy for the crime of preaching and yet w* not give over. He continued pastor of this church 23 years during w"' time it was greatly strengthened & enlarged under his ministry notwithstands the many sore persecutions that were upon them. He died May 9 1685. The church were occasionally supplied by neighbouring ministers till Feb. 3. 1689, when they made choice of Mr. Rich* Davis, who was then a member of a church in London to w'"" Mr. Thos. Cole was pastor & the 7th Mar. following he was set apart to the work among them by fasting and prayer and the imposition of the hands of their own elders : but upon notice of their design several of the neighbouring ministers, who had been sent to behold (as it was said) their faith and order withdrew, saying there was no business for them. Mr. Davis continued pastor of this church 25 years. He died Sept, 11, 1714 in the 56th year of his age. 17 He published the following tracts, i. The doctrine of union to Christ, and justification in Him before & upon faith. 2. A vindication of truth & innocency. 3. Triumph of the saints over death w* an account of Mr. Biggs conversion on his death-bed. 4. The true gospel sight and sense of sin. 5. Faith the grand evidence of our interest in Christ. 6. Many precious meditations in verse commonly called Mr. Davis's hymns. Dr. Calamy con. vol. ii. p. 638 takes notice of some very singular fits w"" w""" Mr. Davis's hearers were seized and w""" for some time made a great noise. The best and most authentick account I can get of this matter is that several women belonging to this church were frequently seized with them whereby they were whilst those fits lasted incapable of any motion, or thrown into that which was irregular and violent. They were often seized with them in the pubiick assemblies and the worship of God interrupted to the amazement of many and the no small reproach of religion itself. In a little piece entitled monuments of mercy or some of the distinguishing favours of Christ his congregational church at Rowell by Matthias Maurice printed 1729 some ace' is given of these fits by the author, who had conversed with several who had been afflicted with them and with others, who had been eye witnesses and according to the best judgment he could form of them says, they were only hysterical and that they prevailed in the neigh bourhood before Mr. Davis came into this county. It appears from the church book that on Lord's day Aug. 22 1714 the church invested Mr. Maurice of Oulney to preach to them as an assistant to Mr. Davis and the 26th Sept. following called him to succeed Mr. Davis in the pastoral office on Lord's Day, Nov. 21 1714 Mr. Maurices's dismission from the church he belonged to at Rhudyrestred in Wales heing read he was taken into the fellowship of the church at Rowell and the 6 Jan. foUowing was as the church book expresses it solemnly set apart to the pastoral office by fasting & prayer in the presence of the messengers of the churches. Mr. Maurice died Sept. i, 1738 in the 54th year of his age. On June 3 1741 Mr, Jonathan Saunderson was ordained pastor. Dr. Doddridge on this occasion preached to the people and Mr. HaU of London gave the charge. Mr. Saunderson died April 16 1747 in the 30th year of his age and was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Gregson the present pastor April 20th 1748. Dr. Doddridge took the confession of faith. Dr. King preached to the people and Dr. Guise gave the charge The church and congregation consists of about 600 & are upon the increase. Mr. Maurice published social religion exemplified in X dialogues. Faith encouraged & an impartial scriptural consider ation of the unpardonable blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in prayer on Rom, viii. 26. A sermon on opening the new meeting house from Psalm cxxii. 4. Several sermons on evangelical love, 'Various tracts on baptism. Acts & monuments of mercy. No. 23. — Rushden. No. 24. — TOWCESTER. No. 25. — Walgrave. No- ^S.—mitltovti, Sometime before the year 1700 a meeting in a bam was opened at Welford half way between Lutterworth and Creaton about 7 miles from each. A son of Mr. Shuttlewood sometimes preached there. What became of him I cannot learn : but it is certain Mr. Norris settled them in a church state in the year 1700. The second time he administred the Lord's supper this church consisted of 40 communicants. He died Feb. 8, 1738, Mt 63. He was succeeded by the Revd. Mr. Sam' King who was ordained Sept, 22 1742, The church at present consists of 91 members & 420 hearers, exclusive of servants. ^0. ^S. — mteUinQfJovouQff, |HERE being a considerable number of people in Wel lingborough and the neighbouring towns which stood in relation to the church at Rothwell under the pastoral care of Mr, Davis by their desire a dis mission was granted in order to their forming themselves into a distinct church and on the 22nd Oct, 1691 about 72 persons 19 were embodied and the same day gave a call to Mr. Bilson to preach the word to them w"'' he accepted & Nov. 3, 1691 was ordained their pastor in which relation he continued till his death w* was on Dec. g, 1724. What the number of hearers were in his time I cannot ascertain but I suppose from the place in which they met they could not exceed 200. Towards the end of his life the people were divided & in a disorderly way set up an opposite meeting which much grieved him & his strength failing by reason of age, the church gave an invitation to Mr. Grant a inember of the church at Rothwell to assist him (Dec. i. 1722), which he accepted and his ministry meeting with acceptance those who had seperated, broke up their meeting and returned. He was ordained copastor with Mr. Bilson Feb. 23 1723 in which station he continued with good acceptance until his death w""" happenned on the 23rd March 1771 more than 48 years from his first coming. When Mr. Grant by reason of age and infirmity was unable to go through his labours he desired the church to look out for an assistant who hearing of Mr. John Carver of Kirtling Cambshire applied to him and his gifts being approved the church gave him a call w* he accepted and came to Welling borough Nov. 29 1770 &June2oi77i was ordained pastor. A little while before he came a part of the congregation, not any of the church, seperated and formed into a church at Irthlingborough but the loss is made up in numbers and their places filled. The present state of the people compared with the former is flourishing and consists of upwards of 500 hearers who are at present unanimous and the church increas ing. Mr. Bilson published a pamphlet intitled, The new and living way to eternal happiness, by way of question and answer. Mr. Grant published nothing. No. 29. — Weston. No. 30. — Woolaston. No. 31. — Yardy Hastings, 20 Kntrex. I Arlingborough 2 Ashley and Corby 3 Barton 4 Braunston 5 Buckby Long 6 Burton Latimer 7 Creaton 8 Crick (a lecture) 9 Daventry IO Floor and Weedon 1 1 Herringworth 12 Irthlingborough 13 Kettering 14 Kilsby 15 Middleton Cheney 16 Moulton 17 Northampton 18 Oundle 19 Potters Pury 20 Ringstead 21 Rode 22 Rowel 23 Rushden 24 Towcester 25 Walgrave 26 Welford 27 Weldon monthly lecture 28 W^ellingborough 29 Weston 30 Woolaston 31 Yardy Hastings 32 Yelvertoft monthly lecture Clipston, Ould, & Burton, monthly lectures. %i^pn)ih. MS. History of Dissenting Churches. Note relating to the authorship of the above history, which is in the Bristol Baptist College Library (Catalogue No. Ha 32-3); kindly supplied by Mr. Nickalls, a son of the late Rev. John Nickalls, of Clipston, and who is now a Student in Bristol College. Ivimey in his History of English Baptists, vol. iv., p. 265, speaking of Caleb Jope, who was assistant minister at Broadmead and tutor in the Baptist Academy, writes : — " ' He was an imprudent man," says the Rev. Josiah Thompson, "aud in the year 1719 removed to Exon." ' This quotation I have found to be taken from the above MS. history. It is, therefore, quite clear that Ivimey believed the history to be the work of Josiah Thompson. In 'Wilson's History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches, vol. IV., p. 235, we get the following account of the Rev. Josiah Thompson : — " Mr. Flower (of Unicorn-yard) was succeeded by the late Rev. Josiah Thompson, son to a Baptist minister of the same name, at Kingston-upon-Thames. He was ordained at Unicorn-yard, April 17, 1746, and resigned his charge there at Michaelmas, 1761. During the latter part of this time he was assisted by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Caleb Evans, and preached in the afternoon to Dr. Savage's congregation in Bury Street. At that time he resided in St. Mary Axe. After he left Unicorn-yard he retired to Clapham, where he lived handsomely on a fortune he had left him, and spent the remainder of his days. He did not officiate very often as a preacher, being considered very unpopular ; and though his property gave him weight with his denomination, he does not appear to have given general satisfaction in the disposition of it. He died in the month of June, 1806, at the advanced age of 82. The bulk of his property he 24 bequeathed away from his own relations to the younger branches of a family with which he had been on terms of peculiar intimacy. It is said that he was employed three times to present addresses to the throne on behalf of the Protestant Dissenting Ministers." Upon examination of the MS. history we find it is written in three different hands. The latest handwriting is by Mr. Isaac James, whose widow gave the history to the Baptist College Library. This Mr. James, as we learn from the preface of 'Wilson's history, was exceedingly well-informed in the history of Dissent. From a note in yol. XI. of Wilson's history we learn Mr. James contemplated writing a History qf the Dissenters in Bristol ; this work was never accom plished. But it is clear from the Bristol volumes that he had, made considerable progress in collecting the necessary materials. (See preface to Fuller's Rise and Progress of Dissent in Bristol.) The next hand-writing we suppose to be Josiah Thompson's. All other writing is of a round clerkly style; in the last-named writing we find many corrections in the hand we suppose to be Josiah Thompson's. From the foregoing facts, I gather that the Rev. Josiah Thompson collected the material for a history of Dissent ; being a man of wealth he employed clerks to copy for him, whos^ work he corrected. The Rev. Isaac James obtaining this MS., added information which he had collected for his proposed history. j^OBEl^T RaIKES .INS HISTORICAL & BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OP fHE l^A'KEg "pAMItY, Notices of the Formation qf the Earliest Sunday Schools in Northamptonshire. Wi%tl§ l^pp^ntri-^: A List of Publications hy Northamptonshire Authors, or issued from the Press in Northamptonshire, relating to Sunday Schools; BOOKS PRINTED BY THE RAIKES FAMILY At Northampton and Gloucester ; A Brief Account of the Originators of Sunday Schools; Miatorieal Notes, etc., ete. ^axibm ; ELLIOT STOCK, 62 PATEENOSTEE EOW. , ^OtlgBmpiOtl : TATLOE & SON, PEINTEES AND PUBLISHEES. GiiOUCEbtbb: C. H. Teoicas, the Cifoss. 1880, f* I\^E FACE. A correspondent of one of the Northampton newspapers having asked a question about Robert Raikes' connection with Northampton, we were happy to be able, in response, to contribute to the local weeklies under the -title of "Robert Raikes, the Elder, and his Son the Founder of Sunday Schools," various details of interest and importance. These, together with entirely fresh information kindly communicated to us since, we have thought well worthy of preservation in a more permanent form, and hence the compilation of this pamphlet. Whilst giving a history of the formation of the earliest Sunday Schools in Northamptonshire we are enabled to furnish many details' concerning the establishment of a Printing Press in Northampton by Robert Raikes, the father of the Founder of Sunday Schools, in connectibn with W. Dicey. From this press a newspaper was issued — the Norih^unpton Mercury, still in the hands of the Dicey family, besides a variety of curious literature throwing Ught on the I Sth century life. It is remarkable that whilst in the sixteenth century a private printing press was set up surreptitiously in Northamptonshire, at Ii"awsley Park ; or, as an old tract gives it, " between the skye and the grounde wythin a myle of an Oake," — ^under the patronage of the Knightleys, it Was not until a century and a half had elapsed that the exercise of fhe Art of Printing became practicaUy free in Northampton. It is very ' gratifying to think that whilst in the history of our country Northamptonshire has produced some of the most eminent statesmen and warriors, in the eighteenth century one was" connected by residence with the town, who was destined to play a part fuUy as important to the welfare of the people as any royal or ofEcial services of king or statesman. Feeling sure that all who have taken part in the Sunday School Centenary Services, which have just been held in this town, will, with many others, be glad to have an addition to other somenirs of this season, we iv, issue these memorials more definitely relating to the connection of the Raikes famUy with Northampton as anotiier contribution to' the historical annals of Northamptonshire. Our best thanks are due to the Rev. P. M. Eastman, who has kindly- edited these pages ; Mr. W. H. AUnutt, the Bodleian ; Mr. W. C. HazUtt, of Kensmgton; the Rev. R. B. HuU, Vicar of All Saints; the Rev, J. PhiUips, Rector of Weston FaveU; the Rev. H. leirson, London; Mr. D. Sheffield, Earls' Barton ; Mr. J. Westley, BlLsworth ; several members of the staff of the Gloucester youimal; and many others in town and county, for valuable aid rendered. JOHN TAYLOR. Northampton, November, 1880. ^nM i»iks anir iflrilmpton^p Simkg 3t\aals. On Saturday, June 26, 1880, a monument erected in the fore court of the Unitarian Chapel, Essex Street, Strand, in honor of the originators of the Sunday School movement, was "unveiled by Mr. Henry Richard, M.P. The pedestal, which is to be " surmounted by a life-size marble statue representing a Sunday School boy, seated, with the Bible on his knees, looking up for the teacher's explanation," is " eight and a half feet high with moulded entablature and base, in stone, and with bowed front and side panels in polished granite for inscriptions." Upon this, and immediately below the statue, are carved the words of Christ " I"eed my lambs," and " Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God." Below, on the carved face of the pedestal is the following inscription : ERECTED TO COMMEMOEATE IHB CHBISTIAS EPFOETS OP THE OEIGINATOES OE SUNDAY SCHOOLS [membees ob vaeious ohiteohes] fbom the time of CAEDINAL BORROMEO, 1580, 10 THAT OF THEOPHILUS LINDSEY & EOBERT EAIKES, 1780; IN aEATITUnB TO GOD POE HIS BIBSSINa ON STTNEAY SCHOOL LABOUES ETJEINa THE PAST OEN TUEY ; AND IN TEEVBNT HOPE THAI THE TIME MAT SOON OOME WHEN DrFFEEENOES OE OPINION WILL NO LONOBE SEPAEATB DISCIPLES OP CHBIST IM WOEKS OP TTSEPULNESS. 1880. "BT THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE AEE IIT DISCIPLES, IP TE HAVE LOVE ONB TO ANOIHEB."— JOHN MIL, 36, Tht Names of the Originators of Simday Schools which arf carved on ihe left hand side of the Pedestal are .'-t- Cabdinal Boebomeo [Roman Catholic], Milan, 1580. Kev. Joseph Alleinb [Nonoontormist], Bath, 1668. Mes. C. Boevey [Church of England], JTlaxley, 1717. Bev. Theophilus Lindsey [Unitarian], Catterick, 1764. Mes. Catheeinb Cappe [Unitarian], Bedale, 1765. Miss Hannah Ball [Methodist], High Wycombe, 1769. And on the right — Mb. William King [Whitfieldite], Dursley, 1774. Mb. Jambs Heys [Presbyterian], Little Lever, 1775. Eev. Thomas Kennedy [Episcopalian], Downpatrick, 1776. Rev. David Simpson [Chureh of England], Macclesfield, 1778. Rev. Thomas Stock and Me. Robeet Raikes [Church of England], Gloucester, 1780. * From this, it is evident, that the very earliest Sunday School of whieh we have any record was opened in Milan, by a Romanist, in 1580. This School, originated by Cardinal Borromeo, nephew of Pope Pius v., and Archbishop of Milan, is still held in the Cathedral of Milan, but while religious instruction is given, the Bible itself has always been, and alas still is, excluded. The honor of inaugurating the first Sunday 'School in England, the earliest really worthy of the name, belongs to that noble Puritan Divine — Joseph Alleine, of Bath, whose effort originated in the year 1668. Not until a century later did the last named of these twelve — to whom alone other memorials have been dedicated, commence a like work in Gloucester, and yet Eobert Raikes is ever spoken of as the " Father and Founder " of this institution. Nor is this noble designation conferred on him unjustly. "While the grand idea had had a place in many minds, and borne practical fruit here and there in a -few isolated instances, the actual establishment of the Sunday School as a popular institution — a general form of Christian enterprise and usefulness, was owing doubtless to the enthusiasm and zeal of Robert Raikes. Of this honor even his friend and coadjutor the Rev. Thomas Stock, A.M., as to whose real share in the origination of the enterprise there has been, and still is, no little controversy, must not be permitted to deprive him. "Whether 'Raikes first mentioned it to Stock, or Stock to Ruikes, or whether some one else was beforehand in mentioning it to one of them, the Sunday School idea was not a new one, and such Schools not only had previously * A brief sketch of each of these worthies, givea by tho promoters of this monument, we append at tbe close. eristed, but did then exist, as both these gentlemen knew well. As Dr. Punshon well says : " The thought of gathering the children-as old in its conception as the days of the prophet Joel-commended to His followers by one of the most beautiful symbolisms of the Saviour's Ufe, recognized as one of the comeUest' expressions of the Divine tenderness of Christianity, must, in the nature of things, have been bom almost simultaneously into more hearts than one. God sows His seeds of Truth broadcast and they spring up in different furrows when His time of harvest comes." But, obviously, special honor is due to Raikes inasmuch as it was Le who first drew the attention of the public to this new scheme of benevolence, by puhlisUng information and suggestions on the subject, which, being copied from his Gloucester Journal into London papers, elicited the sympathy of all true philanthropists for that which had previously been a matter of rare individual effort, but must now become a recognized agency, of the universal Church of Christ. In the biography of this noble man, and in the details connected with the origin and working of early Sunday Schools, all must be deeply interested. For ourselves an additional and strong bond of union with Robert Raikes consists in the fact of his father having been honorably connected with our local Printing Press. The grandfather of our hero, the father of Eobert Raikes, the elder, was " A clergyman of the same name, who lived at Holder nesse, in Yorkshire." The date and place of birth, of the elder Raikes, — " Raikes, tho Printer," as he was called, we have not been able to ascertain. The earliest mention we have of him is by Thomas Gent, of Tork, in his autobiography, where he says: " In the Year 1718, " It was my chance, one day, to be sent for by the Eev. Mr. Smith, near Poster lane, who told me he had heard of my character, and as Mr. Crossgrove was breaking off partnership with Mr. Hasbert, of Norwich, if I would accept of his place, or take so much standing wages as would subsist me, and part of the business for encouragement, he would recommend me : after some consideration, we struck up an agreement ; and, a few hours after, I had a letter of encouragement from Ireland, as also a mournful one from my parents, that they were very infirm, and once more extremely desirous to see me before they died. On this I relinquished my intended journey to Norwich, though the stage-coach was ordered to r«;oeive me; but took care to recommend Mr. Eobert Eaikes in my room, who is now settled master in Gloucester." * From "Notes on Printers and Printing in the Provincial Towns of England and "Wales," by "W- H. AUnutt, of the Bodleian, * Tin Life of Thomas Gent, Printer of Ym% Londpn,. 1832, p. 77. we leam that Eaikes set up a press at St. Ives, in Huntingdonshire, in 1718, before he commenced at Northampton. The earliest specimen from his press we have met. with is— ""Vol. I. Numb. 2. st Ives Post Boy : or, the Loyal Packet. Beinga CoUection of the most Material Occurences, Foreign and Domestiok. Together with an Account of Trade. Monday, June 23, 1718. To be Oontinued Weekly. Si. Ites in Huntingdonshire : Erinted by R. Raikes? (Price three Half-pence.") 4o. The Bodleian Library possesses Nos. 2 to 36, except 12, 27, 33, and 34. No. 3 and all following have fuller imprint, viz., the added words " in 'Water-Lane, near the Bridge, where Advertisements are taken in, and all sorts of Books Printed." No. 36 is dated Feb. 16, 1718-19. No, 1 was printed in folio ; but is not in Bodley.. The Sf. Ives Mercury was in existence in 1720. All the infor mation we, gather of this Paper is the allusion to it in the North ampton Mereury, in the Introduction, May 2, 1720 : " With what Care and Exactness we ahall quit ouraelves of this undertaking has beenalready premis'd to the St. Ives Mercwy.oi the two preceding Weeks." Raikes must have been connected with the paper, otherwise the extract would not have appeared. On Monday, May 2, 1720, Raikes and Dicey put forth the "Northampton Mercury, or the Monday's Post. Being a Collection of the most Materiial Ocourrenoea, Foreign & Domestiok. Together with an Account of Trade." NoETHAMPToN ; Printed by H. Eaikes and W. Dioey, near All Saints' Church, where Advertisements and Letters of Correspondents are taken in, and all manner of Books printed." As a curiosity of literature, " The Introduction " to the Mercury we give in extenso at the close, together with other illustrations of the works issued by the firm of Raikes and Dicey, which seems to have been represented in Gloucester by Mr. Raikes and in Northampton by Mr. Dicey. Ultimately the branch at Northampton became the sole property of the Diceys (still proprietors of the Mercury'), while the busineps at Gloucester came into the hands of the Eaikes family, with whom it remained for some eighty years. In 1722, on April the Qth, Eaikes, in conjunction with W. Dicey, issued the first number of another provincial newspaper, said to be the ninth in order of time-^2'^e Gloucester Journal, an admirable paper which still deservedly fiourishes, and details of which we give in the Appendix. " It was to the Gloucester property that Eobert Raikes the younger, • t'he founder of Sunday Schools, was boru heir. In a house iu Palace* yard, just beneath the shadow of Gloucester's grand Cathedral, he first saw the light of day, on September 14th, 1735. His birthplace, bearing no indication of its distinguished associations, still remains standing among the private dwellings within the Cathedral precincts, and for many years it was inhabited by the late distinguished musical composer, Dr. "Wesley. Of Eaikes' mother little is known, save that she was the daughter of the Eev. Eichard Drew, and was 25 years younger than her husband. " Toung Eaikes was pre-eminently favoured in his birth. He was heir tothe most splendid patrimony boy or girl can have— to the influence of a good home, of a father of fine character, large enterprise, chivalrous daring, and true beneficence. That father had started the Gloucester Journal, and was its printer, publisher, and editor ; he had made it a power in the county of Gloucester and beyond ; gained high repute as a philanthropist and man of business, and whilst diligent as a ' newspaper man ' was devoting his time and bis loving care to the prisoners who were rotting in Gloucester gaol." On the death of his father, on September 7th, 1757, when he was but 22 years of age, " he had the sense not only to take to his father's printing business, and apply himself with energy to its mastery, but also to appropriate, by inspiration aud imitation, his father's incorruptible purity, love of progress, and spirit of philan thropy. The ' paper ' . grew in power and usefulness ; the business increased in range and profit, and the career of active sympathy with the ignorant and the criminal, initiated by the father, was not only sustained, but widely extended by the son ; so that Eobert Raikes was known by many and esteemed by a few, as a prison philanthropist, years before John Howard began his crusade against the enormous iniquities of the eighteenth century gaols. So he was unwittingly qualifying for his chief work as the Father and Founder of Sunday Schools by doing the humble duty that lay next him in visiting the criminal inmates of Gloucester Castle, appealing for help through his paper on their behalf, and becoming thoroughly acquainted with the causes of their degradation and suffering. He was faithful in that 'little,' and God was training him, by that faithfulness, for his wider aud greater work." "In 1767 he was married at St. James's Church, London, to Anne, only daughter of Thomas Trigge, Esq., of Newnham, Gloucestershire, and sister to Sir Thomas Trigge, and Eear-Admiral John Trigge. At the ripe age of 67, after a business life of 45 years, he retired upon a well-earned competency. It was on the i2th April, 1802, that he took his farewell of the readers of his newspaper;" to the direction of which Mr. D. 'Walker (Iato printer of the Hereford Journal) succeeded. The following was printed and published by Eaikes, and very probably introduced by him into the Sunday Schools, where at the outset the rudiments of a secular as well as a religious education were given : " The Elements of English Grammar ; with a Concise View of the Principal Eigures of Ehetoric. By Gr. N. Ussher. "The Third , Edition Improved. Price One Shilling and Sixpence. "Let it be considered, bow many ideas we owe to "tbe nse and practice of speech; and bow far " Grammar exercises the tmderstanding, and " facilitates its operations." Rotjsseatt. Glocestes : Printed by B. Eaikes. Sold by T. ETans, Fatemoater.row, London ; and by J. W^asbbonme, Glocester. UDCCxcni. Dedicated " To Lady Onise, of Highnam-Conrt, in the Connty of Glocester." One of the books for the use of Sunday-schools issued from Eaikes' Press contains an interesting sketch of the first schools established in the village of Boughton Blean, Kent. It furnishes a curious specimen of the instruction bestowed upon the scholars in the first Sunday-schools. It was printed in 1794. In size it is about four inches square. It contains 120 pages, and its title is as follows : " The Sunday Scholar's Companion, consisting of Scripture Sentences, Disposed in such Order as wiU quickly ground Toung Learners in the Funda mental Doctrines of our most Holy Eeligion, and at the same time Lead Them Pleasantly On, from Simple and Easy to Compound and Difficult Words. GiovcESTEEJ-Printed by B. Baikes, Ac, &c. m.i)CO,xoit." At one time Gloucester was famous for its pin-making, and there is a tradition that the invention of pins was due to the ingenuity of an inhabitant of Gloucester named Tilsby. This tradition was incorporated in the foUowing verse composed at Gloucester by Charles Dibdin : " The ladies, Heaven bless them all ! As sure aa I've a nose on ; In former times had only thoms And skewers to stick their clothes on. No damsel then was worth a pin, Whate'er it might have cost her. Till gentle Johnny Tilsby Invented pins iu Grloucester." The art of pin-making has long since passed away .from Gloucester, but in Eaikes' day it was one ot the staple industries of the city, and afforded occupation to a large number of workers, principally children. " It was at the house of a Mr. King, in St'. Catherine's parish, that the first Gloucester Sunday School was opened, in the month of July, 1780. Mr. King was at that time steward to Mr. Pitt, who represented Gloucester in Parliament for some years. Prior to the establishment of the school, Mr. Eaikes andthe Eev. T. Stock went to Mr. King's house, and engaged the services of Mrs. King as the first teacher, at a salary of Is. 6d. per Sunday, of which sum Mr. Eaikes contributed a shilling and Mr. Stock sixpence. Mrs. King continued to teach for three "years, at the end of which period she died. Her husband then undertook the office of teacher, and retained it for many years." " For three years the Sunday Schools gradually extended in Mr. Eaikes' neighbour hood, to which they were then confined, and several clergyman contributed to the success of the scheme by their personal attentions." The position of Mr. Eaikes as proprietor and printer of the Gloucester Journal enabled him to make public this new scheme of benevolence, and a notice inserted in that paper on November 3, 1783, having been copied into the London papers, attention was soon drawn to the subject. This notice is worthy of quotation in full ; it reads : -"Some of the clergy in diflferent parts of this county, bent upon attempting a reform among the childreu of the lower class, are establishing Sunday Schools, for rendering the Lord's Day subservient to the ends of instruction, whioh has hitherto been prostituted to bad purposes. Farmers, and other inhabitants of the towns and villages, complain that they receive more injury in their property on the Sabbath, than all the week besides : This in a great measure proceeds from the lawless state of the younger class, who are allowed to run wild, on that day, free from every restraint. To remedy this evil, persons duly qualified are employed to instruct those that cannot read, and those that may have learnt to read, are taught the catechism, and conducted to church. By thus keeping their minds engaged, the day passes profitably, and not disagreeably. — In those parishes, where this plas has been adopted, we are assured, that the behaviour of the children is greatly civilized. The barbarous ignorance in whioh they had before lived, being in some degree dispelled; they begin to give proofs that those persons are mistaken, who consider the lower orders of mankind as incapable of improvement, and there fore think an attempt to reclaim them impracticable, or at least not worth the trouble." The now famous number containing this first public reference of Baikes to the Sunday School enterprise, the present proprietors of the Journal 'have reproduced in old-fashioned style and with old-fashioned type, -as an appropriate souvenir of these Centenary seryices. 8 This anonymous paragraph, in which his own share in the enterprise is modestly ignored, led Colonel Townley to solicit further information. In the letter which Mr. Eaikes wrote in reply, and which at Colonel Townley's request was inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine for June, 1784, he says : " GHoucester, Nov. 25. [1783.] " Sir, "My friend, the mayor, haa just communicated to me the letter which you have hononred him with, enquiring into the nature of the Sunday schools. The beginning of this acheme waa entirely owing to accident. Some business leading me one morning into the suburbs of the city, where the lowest of the people (who are principally employed in the pin-manufactory) chiefly reside, I was struck with concern at seeing a groupe of children, wretchedly ragged, at play in the street. I asked an inhabitant whether those children belonged to tbat part of the town, aud lamented their misery and idleness. — Ah ! Sir, said the woman to whom I was speaking, could you take a view of this part of the town on a Sunday, you would be shocked indeed ; for then the street ia filled with multitudes of these wretches, who, released on that day from employment, spend their time in noise and riot, playing at chuck, and cursing and swearing in a manner so horrid, as to convey to any serious mind an idea of heU, rather than any other place. We have a worthy clergyman, said she, curate of our ' parish, who has put some of them to school ; but upon the sabbath, they are all given up to foUow their inclinations without restraint, as their parents, totally abandoned themselves, have no idea of instilling into the minds of their children principles, to which they themselves are entire strangers. " This conversation suggested to me, that it would be at least a harmless attempt, if it were productive of no good, should some little plan be formed to check this deplorable profanation of the sabbath. I then enquired of the woman, if there were any decent, well-disposed women in the neighbourhood, who kept schools for teaching to read. I presently was directed to four : to theae I applied, and made an agreement with them, to receive as many children as I should aend upon the Sunday, whom they were, to instruct in reading, and in the church catechism.— For this I engaged to pay them each a ahUling for their day's employment. The women seemed pleased with the proposal. I then waited on the clergyman before mentioned, and imparted to hirn my plan ; he was so much satisfied with the idea, that he engaged to lend his assistance, by going round to the schools on a Sunday afternoon, to examine the progress that was made, and to enforce order and decorum among such a set of httle heathens. " This, Sir, was tha commencement of the plan. It is now about three years since we began, and I could wish you were here to make enquiry into the effect. — A woman who lives in a lane where I had fixed a school, told me some time ago, that the place was quite a heaven upon Sundays, compared to what it used to be." On the 24th of May, 1784, Eaikes again brought the subject forward in the Journal, and from that time on for several years his paper "teemed with notices of new schools and" testimonies to their value." In addition to this first School in St. Catherine Street, opened by Messrs. Stock and Eaikes conjointly in July, 1780, a second was shortly after opened by Eaikes alone, in the parish of St. Mary de Crypt, and a third by Mr. Stock alone, in the back premises of 103 Northgate Street. "Whatever pride Mr. Stock may have justly felt as to his own part in the organising and working of these first Schools in Gloucester, and in that other School which he had opened at Ashbury, the flrst scene of his ministrations, as early as 1777 or 1778, the scholars of which subsequently carried a silk banner, bearing, in golden characters, the words, "The first Sunday-school in the kingdom, established yf the Rev. Thomas Stock," he himself did not hesitate to award the palm to his coadjutor. He writes on Feb.2, 1788: "The undertaking originated in the pariah of St. John's, iu this city, of which I was' curate. The fact is as follows: — Mr. Eaikes, meeting me one day by accident at my own door, and in the course of conversation lamenting the deplorable state of the lower classes of mankind, took particular notice of the situation of the poorer children. I had made, I replied, the same observatisn, and told him if he- would accompany me into my own pariah we would make some attempt to remedy the evil. We immediately proceeded to the business, and procuring the names of about ninety children, placed them under the care of four persons for a stated number of hours on the Sunday. As minister of the parish, I took on me the principal superintendence of the schools and one- third of the expense. The Progress of this institution through the Mngdom is justiy to be attributed to the constant representations which Mr. Eaikes made in his own paper of the benefits whieh he perceived would probably arise from it." The controversy on this point may therefore well be aUowed to die. Nor were these two noble men alone in the work. Miss Sophia Cooke, afterwards wife of the Eev. Samuel Bradburn, a young Methodist lady living with her uncle Alderman "Weaver, was associated with them from the first ; if indeed she had not herself formed a Sunday School at a still earlier date for the instruction of the children in her uncle's pin-factory. We are told that " on a Sabbath in the mouth of July, 1780, Eobert Kaikes, passing along the streets of Gloucester with his friend and fellow-citizen, 'lawyer "Weaver,' was moved by the lawless boisterousness of swarms of ignorant and illclad children to exclaim, ' Surely something can be done for the benefit of these neglected children I' Miss Cooke stepping forward from her uncle's side, promptly replied, 'Tes, Mr. Eaikes, you gather them into School next Sunday and I will be your first teacher.' " True to her word she did walk side by side with Eaikes at the head of his troop of wild children when first he conducted them to Church. Somewhat later an interesting incident transpired in the parish of Painswick, where an annual festival of a most disgraceful character had frora time immemorial been held on the 24th of September. Mr. Eaikes, in a letter dated Oct. 7, 1786, says: "It occurred to us that an attempt to divert the attention of the vulgar from their former brutal prostitution of the Lord's-day, by exhibiting to their view a striking picture of the superior enjoyment to be derived from quietness, good o*der, and the exercise of that benevolence which Christianity peculiarly recommends, was an experiment worth hazarding. We thought it could do no mischief; it would not increase the evil. It was immediately determined to invite the gentlemen and .people of the adjacent parishes to view the children of the Sunday-schools, to mark their improvement in cleanliness and behaviour, and to observe the practicability of reducing to a quiet, peaceable demeanour, the most neglected part" of the community, those who form the great bulk of the people." Thia most probably was the very earliest public Sunday School demonstration. The following sermon was preached upon the occasion : " The Piety, Wisdom, and Policy, of promoting Sunday-Schools. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Painswick, in the County of G-looester, on Sunday, the 24th of September, 1786; by Samuel Grlasse, D.D., F.R.S. Kector of Wanstead in Essex, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty. " To endeavour to inspire tbe Oommou People with such *' sentiments as are suited to their earthly condition, and oal- " culated to promote their everlasting felicity, is the most " honourable occupation of the most worthy Citizen." Mr. Hanway. Published by the deaire of the Minister and Parishioners, &c. London : Printed for, and sold by, Mess. Rivingtou,_ in St. Paul's Church-Tard, and Mr. Gardner, in the Strand, m.doo.lxixvi. N.B. The Profits (if any) will be applied to the Benefit of Sunday-Schools." Dedication. " To Mr. Eobert Eaikes, of the city of G-locester, an instructor of the ignorant, and a father to the poor ; to whose- piety ajid zeal, in the first institution and subsequent encouragement of Sunday-schools, every friend to religion is indebted ; the following Discourse, preached at his request, is inscribed, as a token of friendship, approbation, and esteem, by the Author." Eaikes was himself present while thia sermon was preached, and the preacher alluded to him as follows — " Of the original author of these excellent Institutions, I forbear, for obvious reasons, to say any thing, both because this is not a place for language, which might bear the semblance of flattery, and because bis merit in this good work is beyond all praise." n The Sunday School in this village was first established in 1784 by Mr. Webb. In 1785 Eaikes reports : ' "Upwards of 200 children have been taught to read, but that whioh far more strongly recommends the institution is the singular change inthe manners of the children. Heretofore, their lives were marked with brutality and profaneneaa ; bnt now there prevails, in a striking degree, a senae of subordi nation and of due respect to their superiors, quietness and decency in their behaviour, and an attention to cleanliness in their persons." Three year later Eaikes records that from this same school at Painswick no lesa than " 200 children have been put out to service, and they now conduct themaelves in such a manner as to give the fullest satisfaction to their employers, both with respect to honesty, industry, and behaviour." This School was distinguished moreover by its Clothing Club. In the letter referred to above, written by Eaikes, Oct. 7, 1786, he "Mr. Webb proposed that such children as by increase of industry would bring a penny every Sunday towards their clothing, should be aaaiated by having that penny doubled. This haa had an admirable effect ; the children now- regularly, bring their pence every Sunday; many of them have been clothed, and the good conaequencea of laying up a little are powerfully enforced. . It ia pretty evident that were every parish in this kingdom bjessed with a man or two of Mr. Webb's active, true, and benevolent mind, the lower clasa of people in a few yeara, would exhibit a material change of character, and justify that superior policy which tends to prevent crimes rather than to punish them," So was it everywhere. As this hallowed institution spread, Sunday wakes and revels disappeared, and the work-day morality of the people rose so markedly in harmony with the progress of this enterprise that everywhere in effect, if not in so many words, all able to judge could endorse the noble testimony of the Gloucestershire magistrates, who, at the Easter Quarter Sessious of 1786, passed a iinanimous vote to the effect that " the benefit of Sunday Schools to the morals of the rising generation is too evident not to merit the recognition of this Bench and the thanks of the community to the gentlemen instrumental in promoting them." Por nearly thirty years Mr. Eaikes was permitted to witness the growing extension of Sunday-schools, and he' was deeply thankful that the Divine blessing had so remarkably attended theae humble seminaries. Of the success of his work he had the joy of publishing another notable evidence in his Gloucester Journal of May 2, 1785. In a letter from Bisley, dated April 9tb, we there read : " By the strenuous exertions and attention, which a few of the principal persons of this parish have given to the simple mode of iutroduoing among the children of the poor a little knowledge of thek duty to theh; Creator, and their fellow creatures, by coUecting them on Sunday mornings under the eare of judicious instructors, a great and general reform in the manners and behaviour . of the children has already taken place. We now find our gardens and henroosts secure from the depredations that were formerly so frequent. The children are become orderly in behaviour, cleanly in their persons, and diligent and tractable in their employment. A blessing seema to have attended this amendment of morals, for there is now work for all the industrious. If any Bisley beggars, are, therefore, found atroUing the country, the police will do well to give them a flogging, and send them home to their parish." Every now and again similar reports were furnished from other places where Schools had through his influence been established. On one occaaion Eaikes had the honor of more than an hour's conversation with Queen Charlotte, who ever after took lively interest in the movement. From 1809 to 1811 his health was declining. On the evening of the 5th of April, 1811, he experienced an oppression on his chest. A. physician immediately attended him, and declared that his case was hopeless ; in little more than half an hour he expired, in his native city, Gloucester, and in the 75th year of his age. In the south aisle of the ancient church of St. Mary de Crypt, Gloucester, this venerable philanthropist was buried. There is an inscription on his monument, the first part of which relates to his parents. We copy the remainder concerning the founder of Sunday-schools : Eoberti etiam horum Filii natu maximi Qui Scholis Sabbaticis hic primum a se institutis necnon apud ahos felici opera studioque auo commendatis. Obiit die Apr : 5'o. Anno (Salutis 1811 1 .astatis suBB 76. The following is a translation : Also of Eobert, their eldest son, by whom Sabbath-schools were first instituted in this place ; and were also, by his successful exertion and assiduity, recommended to others. He died on the 6th day of April, In the year { °^ "J^'^^s^l^^tion 18U Tlie following notice of his death appears in the Northampton Mercury, April 13, 1811 : " Died.] Yesterday se'nnight, suddenly, at his house in Gloucester, Eobert Eaikes, Esq. a'ged 75, formerly au eminent printer of that city ; who, in the year 1793, [1783] first instituted Sunday Schools, and by his philanthropic exertions contributed to the adoption of them in different partaj)f the kingdom," 13 Of course this enterprise, like every other good work, met at first with many hindrances and severe rebuffs, even in quarters from whieh the reverse might have been expected, but it received also the urgent commendation and hearty support of many of the Bishops and other leaders of Christian thought and service. As a sufficient illustration of this we will simply quote words of the venerable John Wesley, whoae followers have ever been zealous in this work. On July 18, 1784, he wrote after preaching at Bingley : "Before service I stepped into the Sunday School, whioh contains two hundred and forty children, taught every Sunday by several masters, and superintended by the Curate. So many children in one pariah are restrained from open sin, and taught a little good manners at least, as well as to read the Bible. I find these schools springing up wherever I go. Perhaps God may have a deeper end therein than men are aware of. Who knows but some of these schools may become nurseries for Christians." Again on July 17, 1787, in his 84th year, he writes to the Eev. Eichard Eodda, of Chester : " I am glad you have taken in hand that blessed work of setting up Sunday Schools in Chester. It seems these wOl be one great means of reviving religion throughout the nation. I wonder Satan has not yet sent out some able champion against them," And again, only a few months before his death he wrote to his brother Charles : "I am glad you have set up Sunday Schools at Newcastle. It is one of the noblest institutions whioh has been seen in Europe for some centuries, and will increase more and more, provided the teachers and inspectors do theu: duties. NothiQg can prevent the increase of the blessed work but the neglect of the instruments. Therefore be sure to watch over these with all care, that they may not grow weary in well-doing." But of course the best witness to their utility was the teatimony borne by masters of pin-factoriea, magistrates, and others who had ample opportunity of marking unbiassedly the effect produced on the children and through them on the parents and the homes. Everywhere the result was amazing, and all had to testify as did Bishop Porteus in his Episcopal Charge at Chester iu 1786, after only two years trial : "Their good influence, I am assured, has been very apparent. A viaible alteration for the better has taken place in the appearance and oonduot ot the children. They are now become more cleanly in their persons and dress, and more decent and orderly in their behaviour both on the Lord s^day and on ether days. Many of them, who did not so much as know their '^V^^^^Z »ow read tolerably well, can repeat and seem to comprehend their catechism, and make a good use of their Bibles and prayer-books. .And, what is a very material circumstance, a sense of virtue and religion has manifestly communi cated itself fromthe children to manyof the parents." In May of the same year, speaking on the Eise and Progress of Sunday Schools, he saya : " During my residence at Cheater last summer, I received several letters from clergymen, both in the diocese and out of it, respecting theae Schools. In general, I was, I muat oonfeas, from the first disposed to approve and encourage them,, and accordingly, as far as private correspondence went, I did so. But as they were then quite novel inatitutions, and some persons of worth and judgment had, I found, their doubts and apprehensiona conceming them, I thought it prudent, before I went further, to wait a little, tUl time and expe rience and more accurate inquiry had enabled me to form a more decided judg ment of their real value and their probable effects. The consequence is, that the information' I have of late received concerning them from varioua quarters (but especially from the great manufacturing towns in my diocese), has con firmed the favourable opimon I was originally inclined to entertain of them." In bringing the subject before hia clergy he adds the wise and genial recommendation to use " the utmost caution not to make Sunday a day of rigour, but to maintain it as a day of pleasant rest, by allowing the scholars sufficient time for cheerful conversation and above all, for enjoying the fresh and wholesome air and sunshine in the fields or gardens with their relations and friends." With thia sentiment Eaikes himaelf would most heartily concur, for we find him even to the last striving to gladden as well as instruct the children for whom he laboured. " As one of Mrs. Boevey's last wishes and endeavours was to leave a pleaaant memory in the minds of her little pupils at Flaxley, so Eaikes in his will directed that his Sunday scholars should follow his remains to the grave, each receiving a shilling and a plum-cake — the laat of the many indulgences they owed to his genial good nature." As an accurate record of the way in which the early Sunday Schools were conducted, we may quote from the Gloucester Jowrnal of^July 3, 1880, the following statement by Mrs. Summerill, now living in Gloucester,* who was one of Eaikes' scholars : " We went to school at 9 o'clock every Sunday morning.- About 50 boys and 50 girls attended. Our bonnets and tippets were taken off when we went to school, and others of white linen given us. We had to wear those till the aftemoon, so that we were obliged to come to aftemoon school to get back our own. After school we were taken to church, which was over about 12.30. We * Three other of Robert Eaikes' scholars are also living iu Gloucester, and all took part itt the recent Centenaiy celebration iu that city. ^5 went to chtirch again at 3, and after chui-ch had school till 6. After morning church Mr. Eaikes used to hear us all say the Collect for the day in church and whoever said it best had a penny. Mr. Eaikes was always at church himaelf. In school the Bible and the Catechiam were taught ua. Tickets were given for rewarda, and for a certain number of tickets a Prayer-book. I remember having one with red covers. School always began aud ended with prayer and singing one of the hymns at the end of the Prayer-book. I was never tired of school. They used to be very happy days. I often, look back on them with pleasure. I attended the funeral of Mr. Eaikes with the other children. All the scholars followed him to the grave. We all received on the day of the funeral a piece of cake as big as a saucer, and a shilling. On his next birthday after the funeral we all went to a house iu Bolt-lane, and had a good dinner of roast beef and plum pudding." From the very first the practice of making presenta to scholars has prevailed, the children at Pattishall, in our own county, receiving for instance at their Anniversary, Whitsuntide, 1789, " Straw hats and blue bands to ail the girls, black hats and blue bands to all fhe boys ;" and thoae at Wellingborough frequently being «Driched with hats, stockings, bonnets, frocks, &c. All this only reminds us of our own Christmas trees and annual gatherings, and the bun and orange are not modern discoveries ; but how strange it seeras now-a-days to note that in addition to the one or two shillings or even more received as wages, "rewards for diligence" were bestowed upon the teachers also in these early Schools. Verily much has changed since those days when cleanliness of peraon, decency of dress, purity of language, aud the rudiments of reading and writing were novel and hard lessons, and slates and sponges in at least as great requisi tion as Bibles, and even since the days of which Ancient Simeon in his Centenary Address to Scholars, just issued by the Sunday School Union, tells us, when he says : "The first Sunday School I attended was in a small country town, and there we had long narrow wooden trays, filled with sand, in which, with our fore-flngers, we used to trace the letters of the alphabet. Then came what were called ' battledores ' — thin pieces of wood, having printed on each side words of two or three syllables. The next stage was a Spelling-book, and so on to Catechisms and long passages of Scripture and Hymns, to be learnt during the week stod repeated to ' teacher ' on Sunday." The expenses incurred in the working of these Schools was often very considerable ; and ingenious methods of raising funds were sometimes adopted, such even aa we should not consider quite permissible. For instance we read that " At Stony Stratford, July 4th, 1787, the tragedy of Jane Shore was performed for the beneflt of Sunday-schools by Mr. Shatford's company ; and also in the same generoua manner at Daventry, for the advantage of the poor in general." i6 The amazing rapidity with which the system spread, and the sublime manifestation of Christian self-consecration which it every where evoked soon did away with all this ; and while it rendered the feeing of humble instructors as needless as on so large a scale it would be impossible, it substituted in its place voluntaryism pure and simple, men and women of refinement and high social standing coming forward and offering themselves freely for the service. Little indeed did the Gloucester Journalist imagine that when the Centenary of his first School came round, the Lord Chancellor of England, together with his two immediate predecessors in office would be engaged in Sunday School instruction. Within seven years of that noteworthy July, 1780, as many as 250,000 scholars, we are informed, had been enrolled in the various schools. To-day the teachers in England alone outnumber that figure by tens of thousands, and the scholars are to be counted by millions. Throiighout the world it is estimated that there are now some twelve million scholars with about one and a half million teachers. The light which Eaikes had kindled seemed speedily to set the nations in a blaze. Formerly what few sparks had been lighted fiickered dimly and alone, or else for want of fanning died out ; now every point the torch touched caught the flame at once, and the glorious glow spread with intense celerity throughout the length and breadth of the land. From England it was quickly wafted to Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and America, and the Sunday School organization became international long before any formal Union arose to bind the scattered links in one. A letter written by Eaikes, June 20th, 1785, to his friend William Pox led this gentleman to organize, with the aid of Jonas Hanway, Henry Thornton, Samuel Hoare, and others, on September the 7th 1785, the " Society for the Establishment and Support of Sunday Schools throughout the kingdom of Great Britain," thefirst "Sunday School Society." Within less than one year this Society had opened five Schools in London ; and within ten years it had circulated "91,915 spelling books, 24,232 Testaments, and 5,360 Bibles for use in 1,012 Schools, containing about 65,000 scholars." Before the close of the century, this Society alone had paid upwards of four thousand pounds to hired teachers. But the real and permanent estabUshment of the Sunday School Agency occurred when unpaid teaching became tte rule. " The idea of conducting Sunday Schools by unpaid teachers is said to have originated in a meeting of zealous Wesleyan office- 17 bearers, one of whom, while the others were lamenting their inability to hire teachers for want of funds, said, ' Let us do the work our selves.' Wesley records that as early as 1785 the masters in the School at Bolton gave their services gratuitously, and a few years later the same practice became general in Stockport. Every succeeding year added to the number of unpaid teachers, the Nonconformist churches being especially ready to recognise the advantages of voluntary Sunday School labour. By degrees paid teachers were entirely superseded, and gratuitous instruction became the universal rule." In Gloucester itself the work had virtually, if not even literally, died out, owing to the want of resources. But in 1810, about twelve months before the death of Eaikes, unpaid teaching was made general in Gloucester, chiefly through the efforts of six young men, who had heard of the success of the plan in oth€f places. Lamenting the decline of Sunday Schools in the city of their origin, these young men banded themselves together with the determination to revive them. All their efforts were, however in vain, until having resolved to do the work themselves, " gathering one niglit after business hours around a post at the corner of a lane, within twenty yards of the spot where Bishop Hooper was martyred, they clasped each other by the hand, and with reverently uncovered heads resolved that, come what would, Sunday Schools in Gloucester shouldbe re-established. As a fund to start with they subscribed a half-crown each, and then, dividing the city into districts, they canvassed it for scholars. On the following Sunday upwards of 100 children attended, and from that time forward the work progressed." Among the very eariiest promoters of this glorious world-wide work are names of no small interest to ua, and a glance at these will bring us to consider the origin and authors of the earliest Sunday Schools established in this county. First in the liat we may meDtion Stephen Prust, Esq., of Bristol, father of our revered friend the Eev. E. T. Prust. In 1811, Mr. Prust enabled " a poor but pious and indefatigable man named William Smith " to open an adult Suniaj School in Bristol "for instructing the adult poor to read the Ho'ly Scriptures." Under his fostering care this soon grew into a Society for the same purpose,' which within two years of the first testing of the enterprise maintained eight Schools for men, with 147 scholars, and eight for women, with 197 scholars. Extracts from the early Eeports shew what good work this Society effected. i8 In 1814 Mr. Prust sent to Mr. Divie Bethune, a Christian philan thropist in Wew Tork, such a narrative of the history and progress of these Adult Schools as served not only to call general attention to that subject, but to rouse the Christian enthusiasm to found Sunday Schools and Sunday School Unions throughout the New World. The first Sunday School in London was formed by the Eev. , Eowland Hill, in connection with Surrey Chapeh This building was opened on June 8th, 1783 ; the School began, it is believed, about a year later. In this School-room, and directly as the result of Sunday School work, the Eeligious Tract Society was formed on May 8th, 1799, and in the same room on the 13th July, 1803, the Sunday School Union was inaugurated. The second annual sermon in aid of this institution in 1805 was preached in New Court Chapel, London, by Dr. Bunting, a kindred spirit, thoughnot otherwise related, to men of the same name who have long been foremost in Sunday School work in Northampton. His text was taken from Nehemiah vi. 3, "1 am doing a great work." It excited unusual interest, went through three editions, and produced yery marked beneficial results. And now coming nearer home, and going even further back, we must note the good work done by the Eev. Thomas Jones, rector of Creaton. In the year 1791 the Eev. T. Charles who had already done good service to the cause pf Sunday Schools in Wales, was gladdened by a wonderful religious awakening in Bala and elsewhere largely attributable to the influence of the Sunday School instruction. The demand for Welsh Bibles became imperativel. Mr. Charles who had previously felt the need and vainly sought to supply it, was now aided by Mr. Jones who had been much impressed on the subject during a visit to Wales in this year 1791. This gentleman " made application to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in 1792 to print an edition of 10,000 copies of the Welsh Bible, and offered security to pay for 5,000 as soon as printed. The proposal was reluctantly accepted, but afterwards declined, on the ground that such an edition was not wanted. Mr. Jones then interested his diocesan. Dr. Madan, the Bishop of Peterborough, iu the object, whose influence succeeded in 1796, in obtaining a resolution of the Board to print the number required. 'The edition was published in 1799, and liberally offered for sale at one half the cost price. It was no sooner published than sold, though not one fourth part of the country, according to Mr. 19 Jones* account, was supplied." This tardy and inadequate supply only served to intensify the demand. No further grant could however be procured, and this misfortune, as it seemed, weighing heavily on Mr. Charies' mind led to the conception by him' of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Dec, 1802, and its full organisation in March, 1804. Thus Mr. Jones, of Creaton, was not only a great Sunday School man, but had much to do with the origination of a Society for the circulation of the Scriptures. Sunday Schools were established in both Creaton and Spratton in 1787. Still earlier, among the very flrst patrons of Sunday Schools in this county, was Sir James Stonehouse, Bart., Physiciau at North ampton Infirmary, well known aa the intimate friend of the Eev. James Hervey, of Weaton Favell, and of Dr. Doddridge. The latter was indeed his spiritual father, having been instrumental in his conversion from atheism not long after his settlement at North ampton in 1743. They were moreover together tbe founders of the Infirmary. In 1754 Dr. Stonehouse married Mias Sarah Ekins, Dr. Doddridge's ward. In 1763 after some twenty yeara of usefulness as a Christian Physician at Northampton, and in the 47th year of his age, he took Holy Orders and removed to Bristol aa a clergyman. He wrote several Eeligious Tracts which were used in the early Sunday Schools. One of his works entitled the " Eeligious Instruction of Children Eiscommerided," was published by the Christian Knowledge Society in 1774, some years before the formation of Schools by Eaikes. The earliest copy we have met with is "The Second Edition," printed at Bristol 1775. The fifth edition was reached during the author's life. Another of the tracts he issued was " Materials for Talking familiarly with children of all Banks on the Subject of Eeligion." Printed at Bath, 1795. This subject had been prominently in his thoughts long before. In a little work published as early as 1758, entitled " Considerations on some Particular Sins, and on the Means of doing Good Bodily aud Spiritually," he lays down as one ot his Eules, " Talk familiarly to children about Eeligion, as a delightful employment, and on which their present comfort as well as everlasting happinesa depends." And in his list of " Means, &c.," he includes " S'^y. By promoting Eeligious Societies, Sunday Schools, and Houses of Industry, and if we can, by superintending them." A small collection of " Prayers for the Use of Private Persons, Families, Children, and Servants," which he published in 1773, and which reached its 13th edition jjefore his death, was used in Sunday Schools. The rules of the. School at Stroud, e.g., printed in 1784 by Eaikes, and drawn up by the Eev. W. Ellis, Chaplain to the Earl of Ducie, a nobleman who did much to help on the Sunday School cause, instruct " the master (or daine) appointed by the spbscribers," "to teach reading, the church catechism, and some short prayers from a little collection by Dr. Stonehouse." The earliest School established in the county was formed at JVellinghorough, by W. Corrie, Esq., in 1785, and maintained at his expense. This School, which was held in Silver Street, and'had 130 scholars on its books in the flrst year, and of which Cheese Lane is almost certainly the present representative, seems subsequently to have developed into three Schools, or departments, two for children of Church people, and one for those of Dissenters. In 1786 Schools were opened at Hardingstone, with 94 children ; Towcester, where three Schools sprang up, with 240 children ; Pattishall, with 80 children ; Eothersthorpe, with 50 children ; Peterborough, where two Schools were opened ; and Farfchinghoe. At Hardingstone the School was so numerous that au assistant was also engaged. In 1787 two Schools were opened at Brixworth, with 120 children; one at Cul worth, with 70 children; at Weston Favell, at Spratton, at Creaton, at Pitsford, at Moulton ; at Welford, with 168 children; at West Haddon, with 147 children; at Long Buckby with 200 children ; at Floore, with 200 children ; at Crick, with 166 children. In 1788 Schools were opened at CoUingtree with 40 children • Byfield with 98 children; Duston with 50 children; in 1789 a School is opened at Earl's Barton with 50 children; in 1790 at Great Brington with 100 children. In 1791 one is opened at Eavensthorpe, with 120 children • another at Church Brampton with 40 children ; in 1793 one at Brigstock with 100 children. In 1800 another School is opened at Eavenathorpe, and in 1805 Blisworth appears in the list. In 1811 Corby, Thrapstone, has its Sunday School ; in 1812 there is one at Daventry, in connection with the Independent Chapel ; in 1814 at Kingsthorpe. In 1815 Eothersthorpe and Weedon Independent Chapel each had a School. In Northampton itself the wprk was inaugurated in the year 1788 (in which no less than nine other Schools were started in the county) by St. Giles' and All Saints', with Schools of about 100 children each. ai From the All Saints Parish Eegisters for 1659 we get the following interesting paragraph. " A.D. 1669. At a Vestry holden Nov. 2ud. 1659. before Thomas Collins, Mayor, William Selby, and Joseph Sargent, gentlemen, Justices of the Peace of the said Towu, John Friend & Eichd. Maaaingberd Churchwardens and others the inhabitants of the parish of 'all Saints « * » " It is also agreed & ordered that all persons within this parish under the age of fifteen years shall give their attendance in the public congregation to be catechised iu such Manner, and by such Division, and at such times as Mr. Ford shall direct and appoint." , ¦ Thus long before the beginning of the Sunday School instruction the Vicar was wont to catechize ; but John Mulliner, the Periwig-maker who left this employment, when he joined the Quakers in or about 1667, leads us to queation whether this catechizing alvyays waa condiicted discreetly, for he says : " When I was a Hearer of Simon Ford, » * » * * they [Quakers] have come into the Assembly at Alhallows with ^Sack-cloth and Ashes upou their Heads, bare foot and bare-headed, whioh I did at that very time, very much strange at : And another time I saw another come into the School, wheu they were acting their parts in strange Dreseea, and wished them, to train up their Children in the Fear of the lord; and they did lay violently upon him with their .Sticks, so that I was much troubled to see it." In this School at All Saints' Christmas Boxes were given for several successive years of 2d., each to the scholars and 6d. each to the teachers. Gratuities of 2/6 each to three teachers and 6d. each to 140 children are recorded in July, 1787, and in January, 1789, we read : " By cash lost on 10 light guineas 8/-, " an entry which tells its own tale to those who remember how common in those days was the crime of "clipping" the coin. Here too were used the "battledores" spoken of by Ancient Simeon; as witness the following record : " 1792, July 5. By cash paid Mr. Burnham for 50 Battle-^'. 6/6." We find also, 1801. £ s d. April 6. Paid J. Stoddard for 124 Bene's at 23. each 10 8 12. Mr. Wright by order Mr. Stoddart for 30 Benes 6 0 August 10. Eevd Mr. Stoddart for Benes . . . . 15 2 The " bene " evidently being some small reward for " good " conduct. The Eev. John Stoddart was Master of the Northampton Grammar School, held in Gregory's Chapel, 1797—1828, and assisted in later years by his son William. Eariy in the present century the Dissenters of Castle Hill, College -Lane, and Kingswell Street, (Quakers), had, one united School. "Xhe BcboJars attended Divine Service morning and afternoon at aa one or other of the three meeting-houses alternately, but aa a rule, the boys and girls were not allowed to attend the same seryice. At the commencement it was the custom to give to each scholar a half penny every Sunday, provided he attended twice and his conduct was good. This custom however having been found to place temptation in the way of the children, who frequency purchased sweets before they reached their homes, prompt cash payments were suspended, and quarterly settlement substituted." This arrangement seems to have fallen through in 1810 or 1811 when separate Schools were formed at College Lane and Castle Hill, At this time there were but about 15 or 20 children instructed bv two persons, paid by the joint subscribers of the three Churches. In September, 1810, a Committee of six persons was formed to inaugurate College Lane School, which from the very outset was a success. Some of the earliest rules of this School are worth noting one being as singular aa interesting — It was enacted "That the School consist of no more than one hundred and fifty children none of whom shall be adinitted under the age of seven years nor continued in the School more than fonr years." From the first the School waa supported by voluntary contributions, and the scholars who were to be " clean and decent" were instructed gratuitously by adherents of College Lane Meeting in reading, spelling, and writing, as well as scripture truths. Bach child was provided with pencil and sponge, and from 50. to ISO tickets of merit were distributed each Sunday. " Value of the tickets, four to one penny." A Sermon was preached for the benefit of College Lane School, AprU 25 1813 by the Eey. T. N. Toller of Kettering. ' ' From the "Early History of Sunday Schools, in North amptonshire," by the Eev. W. J. Bain, we quote the particulars of the commencement of the School at Castle Hill : " A separate and distinct girls school in connection with Castle Hill was . established during the ministry of the Eev. John Horsey, and superintended by Misses Horsey, Taylor, and Hainea, one of whom conducted the school in tum- the teachers also only attending like their superintendent once in three weeks' The general classes were assembled in the gaUery, the writing claes occupied the table pew in the Summer and the vestry in the Winter; and prizes oonaiating of clothing, books, and other articlea were distributed half-yearly the money rewards referred to in the uuited school having been abolished." ' In 1815 a General Sunday School, independent of all religious organisations was attempted with some 300 scholars. It dwindled however until in or about 1823 it expired, owing "to the tendency in the religious bodies to have each their own schools." Mr. George Paker, the Historian ofthe County, was one of its early supporters j as Mr. B. Stevenson was Treasurer ; and Mr. E. Dennis, Secretary. From the report for 1816 we copy the following : "Formed upon no System of Exclusion, employing no Methods of Proselytism, it receives indifferently Children of all religious Denominations, requiring merely their Attendance ou Divine Service every Sunday Morning, at such Places of Worship only, as their respective Parents, by a written Order, shall direct. — No particular Creed, Catechism, or Tenet of any religious Sect, is inculcated in the School, — the Bible, or Extracts therefrom, being the only theological Works used." A School was also opened by the Wesleyan Methodist in King's Head Lane in 1816. The following items wo extract from the Accounts of the Weston Favell Sunday School, which was commenced early in the year 1787, when the Eev. Eobert Knight, who married the sister of James Hervey, was Eector : Eeed from ys Communion at Easter [1787] Eeed of the Eev. Mr. Knight Of Mr Smyth, Attorney, Northton Lord Eobert Spencer Eec Kiii|>, with Ms. body-guoird'of tried and trusted friends, drew nealr to the little Nartb^mptooEdlire town^ a strange foreboiiug of evil seemed to haive taken- hold on the hearts of all, and though ' thef spokei not of % each one felt its ehilliti^ influence ; smd silenee, strange- and mmirnful', fell upon the eourtl{y train.. Peihapa> t^a ' feeling of depressk)n> was in some measure oeeasibn^ hyr a change of tactics' on the part of Charles^ who< a fewdtQca- sin«e had beeB> busily planning an expeditiou designed tin rescue the North ont of' the hands, of tke Pailiaxarait, hat on learning the altered eendition of aif airs, at Oztovd' faad abandoned this project, and ordered' au immediate) advance to Daventry. Mrfai and Ms men, it was knowB^ were! eager to encounter tfae Eoyalist forces, expecting am easjr victory, over them? fatigued as they were bjr the- loi^ continued sie.se of Leicester, and by rapid:- maircliiingfS' to and fro. Nevertheless, Charles went aa< bi's: way fiiUy detoAnined to meet and' tO' flight them. The road they were now traversing was lijttlie more- than a mere horse-track, winding through open pastnie^ dotted- here and there with clumps of asb or beech. As- tlie cavallcade passed through the outsUrts of a group lasger- than ordinary, and marked' the< increasing' violeneo' of the- wind and the ominous patterofraindropson'thelBavesaJjOve' them, tfaey; with one consent, put spurs to their* borses and increased their pace to a- rapid canter. When they emerged into the open ground> once- more, Charles, glancing hastily around, turned to his nephew and' abruptly asked : " Know ye how manyof these league-long miles' yet lie betwixt us and our resting place ? " Rupert drew up alongside-his- leader, and repUed': " Scarce two, your Majesty; were yonder clump of trees removed we might even- now behold the scattbred habita tions of the town. A few- yards further, and the churctt leaps into view." While he spoke, a loud laugh— harsh and dissonant enough to startle the most self-possessed of men — rang out from an old hawthorn bush beside the road, and as the eyes of the king turned wonderingly in that direction, the tall, lank figure of a man advanced a few paces from the shelter of the foliage, and halted before him. Half expecting some message, thongh the dress and manner of the man forbade the idea of ita heing a friendly one, Charles drew rein, and the stranger, in a voice as little musical as his laugh, exclaimed : ¦ 'I Church and State 1 The unholy alliance of Super stition and Mammon against Truth I I say to thee, man, beware! The Lord hath declared Hia judgment, and delivered thee to the spoiler. Laud and Strafford are fallen, and Finch hath fled, and now the day of thy doom is at hand. Eepent, I say, and cleanse thy soul of its sin, ere the time of probation be past. Hear the word" " Hold thy peace, knave, an' thou wouldst keep thine ass's ears uncropp'd " ; angrily interrupted Eupert, to whom the rampant apirit of Puritanism was as the javelin of the Spanish bull-fighter — a goad that lashed him into fniy. " An ass's jawbone sorely smote the Philistines in days of old," was the stolid answer, " Instruments weaker and more vile than I have served the Lord in time of need. He respects not the great and mighty ofthe land, but seeks His chosen among them that are humble and meek. Again I aay, repent, 0 king ; for aurely as the rain now faileth on thee and on me, so surely the hand of the Lord shall faU upon thee — yea, heavily ! " " Peace, fool ! " cried Rnpert ; " my hand shaU be heavy on thee an' thou still not thine insolent tongue. I pray your Majesty," he continued, tuming to the King, " heed not this madman's vain discourse ; thc rain now faUeth fast, and shelter were a welcome thing." Charles, during this brief colloquy, had kept his haughty eyes fixed on the stranger's face, while a slight smile cm-led Ms lips. Now, flinging a gold coin at his feet, he said : " There's payment for thy counsel, friend ; now, wouldst thou serve thy king, lead to the inn in yonder towu as speedUy aa in thee hes." " I serve not the sous of Belial," was the uncourteoua reply, " and for thy gold, keep it to win new minions for thy Court — it buys them, soul and hody too." The choleric Eupert, impatient of this long delay in the fast-falling rain, now clapt spurs to his horse, and, drawing his rapier, dashed forward with the warning word. The sturdy Puritan, unprepared for this sudden move ment, stumbled in attempting to avoid the animal, aud, receiving a smart blow on the rear of his person with the side of the rapier, disappeared headlong into the bushes whence he had emerged ; while the Cavaliers, eager to escape the drenching which threatened them, resumed their journey at a smart trot, and in a few minutes were wel comed by the obsequious host of the Wheat Sheaf Inn at Daventry, CHAPTEE II. Four days have elapsed since Charles and his retinue took np their quarters at the Wheat Sheaf Inn. The Boyal army is encamped upon the Borough Hill, and the time has been fully occupied in re-victualling Oxford and in prepariiig for the coming of Fairfax and his troops. On the last day, the llth of June, they have marched from Slony Stratford to Wootton ; their next day's march VviU hring them to Kislingbnry ; and couutry people, coming to Dainlry in the evening, tell of the grim joy there is amongst the soldiers of the Parliament at the near prospect of an encounter with the foe. So night draws on, and Charles, taking counsel with his chieftains, resolves to remain in his present position and await the issue of the approaching conflict.. The announcement of this determination is hailed with satis faction in the Eoyalist camp, where the prosjiect Of a battle is eagerly welcomed ; for the Cavaliers, were ever impatient to engage the enemy, when near enough to strike a blow, and at this time they believed their numbers greaUj to exceed those of the Eoundheads, and so counted victory certain. About ten o'clock the king retires to rest, several of his attendants occupying au apartment adjoining his Ma jesty's chamber, while sentinels are posted around the house, and at various points in and about the vUlag0. Profound silence gradually settles over the place, broken only by the tread of the sentinels, or by an occasional challbngb as they encounter each other in their vigils. Midnight is past, when suddenly au unwonted distijrb- ance in the King's chamber arouses the attendants. Hur riedly they enter, and find his Majesty sitting up in his bed, exhibiting signs of great agitation and alarm. But they see nothing which they cau imagine to be the cause, either of bis disturbed condition or of the noises they have heard. " What calla ye hither ?" qcestioned Charles. " Why are your faces painted pale with fear ?" " We heard, your Majesty," their chief replies, " strange sounds within your chamber — a load noise as of an angry voice, and groans, aud gasping sighs. Sounds full of fear and wondrous strange — we know not, what they mean.", " 0 frienda," the trembling monarch criea, " vhe sounds ye heard were wrung from me by deep distress. Sleeping I lay, dreaming ot happy days long passed, when suddenly, athwart the pleasant scenes my fancy drew, there came a shadow, and a sense of fear which I could not define ; and then, dark aa in life, and with an added terror in the chill and moveless lustre of hia eye, I saw the awful form of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, long my friend, and to whose arm and brain I trusted undeceived. But his foes triumphed, and I, faithless, gave him to tbe block. Thus when I aaw his stern eyes fixed with steady .gaze on mine, my ."leart stood still, and tremblingly I ci-ied, ' Art thou not dead? I thought thy blood was spilled for me ! ' ' 'Tis true, my liege,' he ansvrered, ' I did die, as men ¦) who trust to princes' favour do ; but yet I came not to upbraid thee, but once more, as in the daya ere yet my spirit fied its earthly tenement, to be thy friend and coimsellor — the guardian of thy good. Take heed, take heed, I aay, tarry no longer here ; there ia a foe at hand whom thou may'at never hope to queU hy force of arms. Hie thee then northward, shun the coming fight, if thou would'st have thy future fortunes fair 1 ' So having said he vanished and I woke, trembling and fuU of fear and wonder. What may this ghostly shape portend? Methinks 'twere best to heed its wturning and avoid the rebel host." " My liege, your thoughts are yet under the influence of th^s startling, dream. But pray yon, sire, consider ; what you have seen is but an insubstantial vision of the night, a phantom shape your troubled fancy wrought ; perchance tlfe product of your evemng meal — the fruit of a disordered system. That it hath in it much of mystery is but to say it is a dream ; but I beseech your Grace, let it not weigh against the many reaaona why we should not fail to meet the loud-voiced vaunting rebels. A few mUes only divide us from their camp, and to move northward now would look like flight — m)re than all else disastrous to thy cause. Let men not say that England's monarch feared to meet a hirehng rabble of lewd serving men." " Thou'rt insolent, sirrah I " the monarch fretfully rejoins. " Not even thv thoughts ahould dare impute dishonour to thy King." " Pardon, my liege. T sought only to win thy thoughts ffom an unwelcome theme. Dismiss this vision from thy mind, and seek forgetfulness in sleep. To-monow thou wUt look with other eyes on this imagined warning. I pray thee let it trouble thee no more." " Fain would I sleep, bnt this feU shape hath banished slumber from mine eyes. But go ye to your couches ; it may be that in the silence sleep shall visit me again. Be near me lest I need ye." The attendants thereupon withdrew, aud the King aleeps fitfnUy until the morning, rising fuUy determined to obey the injunction of his shadowy visitant, uor tempt the issne of the forbidden fight. CHAPTER IIL On the succeeding mom mnch wonderment was eicited by the account of the King's visionary warning, and the probability of his being influenced by it was discussed with conaiderable animation. E was late in the day ere his council were summoned to attend hia Majesty, and they found faim pale, preoccupied, and irritable. He received the news i.f the reported advance of the Parliamentary army from Stony Stratford to Wootton with marked agita tion, and hurriedly anuounced his determination to proceed northward withont delay. This avowal drew fi-oru the fiery Rnpert an indignant protest. "What, sire 1" he cried, " Shall English gentlemen fly at the coming of a mob of tapatera ? Ood forbid I Foul •hame it were npon tbe StU'irt name that men should say we feared to meet these hireUngs oftfae rebel Parliament. But yesterday your Majesty approved onr wish to fight ; whence comes this altered mood ?" " Thou hast ever too much appetite for flghting," an swered Charles. " We deem it not expedient to give battle here, but to march further north, where we may place ourselves to better vantage to engage our foea. Moreover, I have had this night a warning which 1 dare not disregard ; oue who hath passed the portal of the grave stood by my bed, and urged me, in most solemn sort, to shun a conflict here, for that araidst the foe was one no force of arms might overcome." " And shall a dream confound the cause of England's King?" Rupert exclaimed, " Hath your Majesty consi dered how dearly a retreat might cost us now? " "We are well persuaded ot tfae wisdom of our cfaoice," said Cfaarles, " If we move on to Leicester we may draw more Foot from Newark, and await tfae coming of tfae reinforcements we expect ; so strengtfaened, we shaU meet the foe with steady confidence, and haply win some victory worthy of our cause," "Danger lurks even iu delay," the Prince rejoined, " Here we are posted well to meet a foe of greater atrength than Fail-fax' present force ; botfa horse and foot are fresh, and eager for the fray. What arguments more strong than these?" Charles, with a gesture of impatience, rose and hurriedly ejaculated : " Why seek to drag me to my fall ? So surely as I linger here I lose what little yet remains of my once kingly state, I pray yon let me hold the semblance whUe I may." " Your Majesty is too much moved bj the remembrance of a dream," said the Lord Astley, " take comfort in the thought that many loyal hearts are witfa you faere, ready to dare all and endure aU for your sake." " I know it well," cried Charles, walking wilfa hasty footsteps to and fro ; " 't's for those loyal faearts I grieve, for well I know they give their friendship and devotion to a falling cause, and where they merit much tfaey ahall win but disaster and a name unjustly tarnished. Woe is me." After a whispered consultation with the others, Rupert laughingly addressed the king : "Methinks the evU spu-it of yonr nightmare lingers yet with yonr Majesty, let ua therefore quit tfais queation for the nonce, and give the moru to some more lightsome task. What think yOn, sire, of a merry faour with hawk or hound?" The king paused in his walk with clouded brow, conscions that if he accepted this proposal he virtually gave up hig determination to go northward, he yet lacked the strength of will to persevere in his opposition to Rupert. Turning to tv e Lord Astley, he inquired : " What think you ; may we give au hour to pleasure ? " " Surely, year Majesty." " So belt then; let us despatch all needful business and depart." And ere an hour . bad passed the king went fortlt (¦hunting with bis gaily-B{i|iarelied court, CHAPTER IV. Wfaen tfae Royal pr.rty returned late in tfae evening of that day it waa evident the pleasurable excitement of the chase faad failed to clear from thc king's brow the gloomy ahadowa wfaicfa faad rested there in the early morning-time. Nor did the intelligence that greeted his coming tend to brighten his clouded aspect. For during tfae afternoon a party of faorse belonging to the army of the Parliament had ventured vrithiu a short distance of the Royal camp, creating no little alarm in the ranks of the leaderlp.ss Cavaliers. After observing the strengtfa and position ofthe king's forces, and making prisoners of certain stragglers who fell ,in tfaeir way, tfaey returned to Kialingbury, where it was ascertained Fairfax and his army were now encamped. Little comfort, it may be guessed, had Charles in this near neighbourhood of that foe against whom, if he gave credence to the warning of fais dream, hia arms might Hot prevail. And now the deep impression of that disregarded warning was renewed with added force, so that his thoughts, already tinged with dark forebodings of his falling fortunea, took a still more aombre tone aa he dwelt upon tfae chances of tbe coming struggle — for he saw that it was now too late to avoid a meeting, even if he were prepared to yield to the promptings of an undefined aud perhaps causeless dread. At length, recognising the necesaity for prompt and decisive action, he called his officera arouud him and dis cussed witfa them the wisest course to follow. As it appeared likely, from the unexpected bolduess of the enemy (tor hitherto the Cavaliers had accustomed themselves fo look somewhat contemptuously on their opponents — too hghtly estimating their prowess — mistaking, indeed, the absence of those showy qualities wfaich distinguished themselves for lack of courage), that little time would be aUowed to elapse before tfaey advanced to actack the Eoyal camp, it was resolved to faold their present strong position, making every preparation to render their defence as perfect as the scant time would allow. These matters kept the king busily engaged througfaout the evening, and about an faour before midnight he retired, wearied with tfae excitement of tfae day, aud soon waa sleeping faeavily. But not for long thia tranquil rest continued. The faour of twelve faad scarcely paaaed ere the attendants were faastily summoned by a call from fais Majesty, and upon entering fais chamber they found him bathed in perspiration, and in a state of extreme agitation. In answer to their inquiries, he told them that the apparition of the previous night had again appeared to nim ; but changed iu that his aapect now was angry and menacing. "Scarce were mine eyelids closed," he said, " when once again the ghostly form of yesternight appeared, but full of wratfa and msgeaty - terrible in the condemnation of his eye mi IB bis stern refroachfnl words. 'Wfay hast thon dis-^ 10 regarded me ? ' he cried, ' Ungrateful and perverse, I fear tfay folly yet will cost thee dear ; heed now the words I speak — for I may visit thee no more— if but another day thou lingerest here thy cause is lost beyond repair. Up and away I Let nothing tempt tfaee to remain, or thon shalt rue it everpiore. Eemember aud obey 1 ' And witfa a gesture of command he slowly faded fi;ojo, my y,iew." After a moment's pause, duriug. which tfae attendants confusedly endeavoured to re-assure hini, Charies, re sumed '. " Ciill up mine officers. !@id tfaem make instant preparations to depart. No force on, eartt, shftll win me. from this fixed resolve, Hasten 1 I say ; the dawn sfaall see us on our way." And despite, tfae fierce opposition aud mocking jibes of Euijei-t, or the more respectful persuasion of otfaers, to this determination he adhered ; so tbat by tfaree in tfae morning of tfae 13th, June the Eoyal army was in motion ; and General Fairfax, riding near to Floore about tfaat time, aaw numbers of tie EoyaUsts riding fast over Borough HUl, whicfa at first inclined him to believe tfaey were preparing to advance against him. But returning to Ilia headquarters about five o'clock fae leai;ued from fais Scout- master, Q-eneral Watson, that 1;he Cavaliers were drawing off from Borough, HiU in tfag, djreqtion of Har borough, and this intelligence was eonflrraed by otfaer scouts who came iuto camp later. Fairfax therefore called, a council of war, to determine vshat course to pursue, and, while they were yet debating there arrived Lieut.-Gen.eral Croinwell with some, 600 faorse, who. were welcomed with shouts of joy by the whole army. Immediately drums beat, truiipets sounded to horse, and ^e entire host was drawn np ready to march ; whUe a party of horse, under Major Harrison, was despatched to Daventry to bring further tidings of the enemy's movements. On their return, confirming the direction the Eoyalists had. taken, a strong body of horse, under command ot Colonel Ireton, was told off to follow and faU on tfaeir rear if he saw fit ; while tfae main army set off towards Harborough, halting that nigbt at Guils borougb, at whicfa place uew a waa brought the General of good, service done by Iretpn in falling on the rear of the Boyal army at Naseby, wfae;:e he took many prisoners and spread great consternation througfaout their ranks. CHAPTEE V. To return to the King and the progress of events in the Eoyal camp. After the hurried march of the day tfae main portion of tfae army took up their quarters in Market Harborough, where Prince Eupert and otfaer principal officers also re mained ; Charles and fais personal attendants going ou to Lubbenham HaU, tfae residence of Major Hawkswortfa ; wfaile the rear of the army, as already mentioned, stopped short at Naseby, until, scared by tfae incursion of Ireton aud fais troops, tfaey beat a hasty retreat to Harborongb, and startled their comrades with tbe mm of the unexpected nearness of tbe Bonndheadi, 11 It was eleven at night before intelligence of this attack was conveyed to Charles, hy whoin it was received vrith au unreasonable amount of alarm. In truth, it suited too weU the tenour of his tfaoughts — tte repeated warning of his dreams, and the fears engendered by his superstitious regard of auch omens, induced a state of mind wfaich rendered calm reflection an impossibility. Acting nnder the infiuence of the terror occasioned by tfais apparent confirmation of hia fears^ he inaiated On quitting, at that late hour, tfae lonely house which gave him sfaelter in order to join Eupert at Harborough, where tfae preaence of the army would at leaat ensure him against absolute danger. Arriving at tbe hostelry where Eupert had fixed his quarters, Charles sent to request the attendance of the Prince and other chief officers. On their arrival a councU of war was held, and the question of their future action discussed. Eupert, as usual, pressed eagerly for an engagement, declaring tfaat tfae Parliamentary force was unequal to cope with that of the Eing, being inferior iu iiumber both of Horse and Infantry. Many uf the older soldiers, with wfaom the Eing sided, urged that it was be:>t to avoid fighting ; bnt after a somewhat heated debate it was agreed to give battle, inasmuch as the enemy was too close at faand to make it probable a collision could be long delayed, if, iudeed, it were possible even now to withdraw before Fairfax was upon tfaem. Tfais point being settled, it was further determined not to wait an attack where they now lay, but early in the morning to go out and seek the euemy. So paaaed the night, and the snn rose upon that memor able day — Saturday, the Mth of June, 1645. At an early hour the army of the King was set in order, upon a rising gronnd about a mile on the southem side of Harborough. ¦The main body of the Foot, about 2,500 men, was under the command of Lord Astley ; Prince Eupert led the right wing of Horae, numberiug about 2,000; the left wing, consisting of some 1,600, being under Sir Marmaduke Langdale. The reserve comprised the King's Life Guards, led by the Earl of Lindsey, with Prince Eupert's Eegiment of Foot and the King's Horse Guards, both under the Earl of Licfafield, numbering in aU some 1,300 men. Aa the ground occupied by tfae army presented many advantages for receiving or making a charge, it waa deemed advisable to atay there aud wait the coming of the enemy. So they remained in position, patiently expectant, untU eight o'clock, when they began to wax incredulous of the intention of Fairfax to engage them. A scout was there upon sent out to gain information as to the Eoundheads, but he, not going far enough afield, neither saw nor heard anything of them, and returned without news. Im mediately after his return a rumour spread amongst the soldiers that Fairfax was retiring, and Prince Eupert presently moved forward witfa a body of faorse and inus- keteers to test the truth of this report. 12 He had barely proceeded a mUe, however, when he leai-ned that Fairfax was rapidly advancing, and ere long beheld the vau of his army in full marcfa. Bash and im petuous aa ever, Eupert sent back a messenger to request that the army should move forward, and pressed on with his faorse. The messenger, probably not remembering the exact words he had to deliver, said " tfaat tfae Prince desired tfaey should make haste." In obedience to this order, they quitted the advantageous position they had occupied, and in some hurry and disorder advanced in tfae direction of Naseby. About ten o'clock they came in sight of the enemy, whom they found posted on a rising ground of considerable ascent, tfaeir elevated position enabling them to ascertain the strength of tfaeir opponents and to place tfaeir forces to advantage. Prince Eupert stayed not until a proper disposition of tbe Eoyal ranks had been made, but led his horse to tfae charge almost before tfae larger portion of tfae army had reached the foot of the hill ; and so commenced tfae great battle of Naseby, which it is needless here to describe, the result of wfaich proved so disastrous to the fortunes of Eing Charles. CHAPTEE VI. The fight at Naseby is ended, having lasted nearly three hours, leaving Fairfax and CromweU undisputed masters of the field. There have perished on the King's side more than 600 men, including 150 officera 'and gentlemen of quality. The broken ranks of the Eoyalists were pursued by the enemy's horse for a great way — some, it is said, within two miles of Leicester, a distance of eighteen nules ; numbers being slain or made priaoners aU along the route. The total number taken in the fleld faas been variously estimated at from 4,000 to 5,000, including nearly 500 officers, besides the King's footmen and housefaold ser vants; the rest common soldiers. In addition to this large number ot prisoners, there fell into the hands of the Parliamentary soldiers a consider able amount of booty, inoludinK the riches of the Court and the King'a officers, and a vast quantity of plunder brought from Leicester ; while the whole of the Eoyalist artUlery was left ou the field, with 8,000 otfaer arms, the Duke of York's standard, and more than one hundred other colours. The loss of the King's cabinet, witfa many private letters of the greatest consequence, was uot the leaat misfortune that befel the Eoyal cause on this un lucky day. At night, Charles arrived, by way of Leicester, at Ashby de la Zouch, and shortly afterwards, with about 2,500 faorse, passed through Cheshire into Wales. Sir Marmaduke Langdale, with about au equal force, repaired to Newark ; these being aU that could be got together at that time. In September following, Bristol surrendered to the Parliament ; and but a short time afterwards tfae Earl of Lichfield suffered sore defeat under tfae waUs of Chester. 13 More grievous still, the total rout of the large force raised by tfae Marquis of Montrose iu Scotland — tfae last army of any importance tfaat took tfae field for the Eoyal cause — foUowed immediately. Berkeley Castle and Devizes next gave up the straggle, aud Newark remained almost tfae only place of strengtfa tfaat faeld out for tfae King. In October, Charles, vrith tfae small remnant of fais army, made his way to Newark, tfainking to remain tfaere nntU able to make terms vritfa the Parliament. But again was he doomed to disappointment ; fae had quar relled vritfa Prince Eupert, believing faim to faave betrayed Bristol iuto the bands of the Parliament, and now Sir Bichard Willis, the governor of Newark Castle, warmly taking ifae part of tfae Prince, was dismissed by tfae angry monarcfa, and, witfa other disappointed leaders of the Eoyal cause repaired to Belvoir, taking witfa them large numl-ers oftfae King's supporters. And now it seemed as if the fortunes of the King faad fallen to their lowest ebb. Almost forsaken of those who had been fais friends, knowing not wfaom to tmst, vrithout an army, and relentlessly pursued by tfae Parliament, he knew not wfaere to turn for faelp or comfoi«t. Pain would we trace tfae varied progress of tfae tfarone- less monarcfa tfarougfa tfae years tfaat follow, down to tfaat last unhappy scene of aU, wfaen the fallen Stuart, pre maturely grey, bent bis submissive but still stately head to tfae block, and passed for ever from the troubles of tbis earthly life. Bnt for tfae time our task is done ; let tfae poet end our story with his warning words : — " Let these sad scenes an useful lesson yield. Lest future Naseby'a rise in every field." WILLIAM CAREY Account op the Services IN CONNEOTION WITH The Carey Centenary^ At Moulton, on Thursday, May 27, 1886. SERMON BY Rev. H. B. ROBINSON, of Kettering; ADDRESSES By the CHAIRMAN— The Rev. J. T. BROWN, of Northampton; Rev. j. LITCHFIELD, of Kingsthorpe ; AND Revs. J. J. COOPER, T.GASQUOINE, A. B. MIDDLEDITCH, Of Nortliampton. %\t ^\amnM llissionarg: a fom, &a Itariannt |arnm||am. The History of the Baptist Church at Moulton, B-r THE Pastoe, Ebv. W. A. WICKS. ^ppenKtaf of iEJctracts from iSlSS. anO )^rmte9 ftecorUis. The DRYDEN PRESS, TAYLOR & SON, 9 College Street. l^onlwn : ALEXANDER & SHEPHEARD, 21 Furnival Street, E.C. 1886. STi)? IPrsUctt press. Taylor & Son, Printers, 9 College Street, Northampton. r R E F A C E, The holding of the Centenary Services in commemoration of Dr. Carey's ministry at Moulton, a,ppeared to offer a favourable opportunity for giving a digest of the history of the Baptist Church in and about that village, from as early a period as possible. As time would not permit of all the events connected with that history being given in the paper read by the Pastor at the meeting, an Appendix has been added, containing Extracts from Church Books and other MSS. and Prinfed Eecords, not accessible to the general reader ; the' whole forming au interesting addition to the literature of Northamptonshire Church History. JOHN TATLOE. Northampton, July 1, 1886. p O N TENTS, Page Sermou by the Bev. H. B. Eobinson 1 Address by the Chairman, Eev. J. T. Brown .... 3 „ „ Eev. J. Litchfield 7 „ „ Eev. J. J. Cooper 9 „ „ Eev. A. B. Middleditch 11 „ „ Eev. T. G-asquoine 12 The Shoemaker Missionary, by " Marianne Eamingbam" . 16 History of the Baptist Church at Moulton . . . . 17 The Baptists in the CromweUiau Army 25 Baptist Confession of Faith, 1651 26 Original Letters and Papers of State, 1649, addressed to Oliver Cromwell 26 Eeligious Census of the Province of Canterbury, 1676 . . 26 List of Baptist Meeting Houses, etc., 1717-1729 ... 26 Q-eneral Baptists in Northamptonshire ... 27 Legacies belonging to the Church at Moulton .... 27 John Painter 27 The Stangers 27 George Evans 28 Members of College Lane Church resident at Moulton. . . 29 Texts and Times of Preaching by Dr. Eyland at Moulton . 30 ¦William Carey 32 Edward Sharman . _ . 33 Thomas Burridge 36 Francis Wheeler 35 Joseph Lea 36 The Northamptonshire Association of Baptist Churches . 36 Succession of Baptist Ministers at Moulton, 1786-1882 . . 36 $§e Catt^ Cen^enatg, Moulton. PR. CAREY was called to the pastorate of the Moulton Baptist Church during the year 1786. Centenary Services were held to commemorate the event on Thursday, May 27, 1886. The following pages contain particulars of the meetings, which were well attended, and of a highly interesting nature. Amongst the Ministers present were the Revs. J. T. Brown, Northampton; H. B. Robinson, Kettering; W. A. Wicks, Pastor of the Church ; T. Gasquoine, J. J. Cooper, A. B. Middleditch, and C. Ward, Northampton; J. Litchfield, Kingsthorpe; J. G. Scott, Guilsborough ; D. McLaren, Creaton j E. Broom, Milton; A. Laishley, Old ; A. C. G. Rendell, Earls Barton ; T. Ruston, Long Buckby. In the afternoon there was a service in the chapel ; the devotional part was conducted by Rev. A. B. Middleditch, and sermon was preached by The Rkv. H. B. ROBINSON, From I. Chronicles, xii., 3 a, " Men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do And all their brethren were at their commandment." They were men (he said) who saw the national crisis and all its possibilities of danger or of strength; men whose trumpet notes could lead, and Israel's judgment follow ; men who discerned the coming man, and who sprang to his side to share his struggles and aid his triumph. And "all their brethren were at their commandment." The larger Israel — the Church of Christ — has always needed such men, and to that Israel they are sent : its apostles and prophets. It was a man of this stamp that that Church had invited to the Pastorate loo years ago; a man of humble birth, of humble occupation, of few advantages, but of lofty aud heroic spirit. While he laboured there he mused, and while " he mused the fire^ burned. Then spake he with his tongue;" and in spite of the stern " Sit down young man " of one older than he, and the cold incredu- lousness of others, the Word of God " was in his heart as a burning fire shut up in his bones, and he was weary of forbearing, and he could not stay." With missions on the conscience, missions on the brain, and missions on the heart, he asked but for some strong hand to hold the rope, and went down into the great mine of heathendom, that he might gather living jewels for the Redeemer's crown ; and eventually " all his brethren were at his commandment." Such men never die. You could bury some men wjth their bodies. They uttered their last word and you forgot it. It was nothing to men that they had ever lived. Others you could never bury. They walk the earth in all the majesty of living influence through all the ages. It was part of their heritage. A few men imagine that they have nothing to do with the times ; they are only pilgrims here ; it was nothing to them that empires tottered and plots were hatched ; they took no part in political life, and imagined they were above it; commercial crises were nothing to them ; tbey belonged, they sard, to One whose " kingdom was not of this world." Happily, all their brethren were not "at their commandment." The true man discerned that the Church was here to lead the times, to feel the- fresh touch of the times, to see its needs and mould it into beauty and power. Meu of discernraent recognised inevitable changes and asked — (i) What new facilities are afforded for carrying on needed work ? (a) What fresh conditions demand the application of hitherto overlooked truths ? (3) What new events must be studied in the light of old principles ? (4) What is the probable destiny of uew movements, and what new fields are likely to be occupied by developing thought? He could not say how far Carey had been moved by these things ; more is in a man's heart than is seen in a biography. The great revival under Whitfield and Wesley was barely half-a-century old. The Sunday School spirit was just stirring into real power. India was presenting responsibilities and possibilities that could only be overlooked by the dull and neglected by the supine. A man of discerning eye would see in all these the signs of the times. But it may be that he took a view of his times that seemed very commonplace ; and yet, in the face of a powerful press which some men foolishly imagined was to supersede the pulpit ; and a secularism which demanded the fruits pf Christianity without a living Christ, and a vaunted progress in invention, in art and science, and in secular education, it was a view we needed to take now; and notice — (i) That the commaud to carry the gospel to all humanity had never been recalled. (2) That the times offered no invincible and special hindrances to our work. (3) That the age has discovered nothing fitted to supersede the gospel we preach. Still the cross is the one great uplifting power in the world. Let them emulate Carey's zeal, and throw new energy into mission work. Let them bring that spirit to bear upon their own neighbourhood, and not neglect the men who are dying under their very eaves. Let them not be afraid to adopt new methods, acting thoughtfully. Let them not be afraid of being called heterodox. Andrew Fuller was tbe heterodox theologian in the Baptist denomination. Carey was the Radical Christian worker. Such men stand alone for a time, but eventually the times come round to them, and "all their brethren are at their command ment." Above all let them, in the spirit of their Master, be earnest and active ; for the time was flying, and life should be full of holy thought and self-sacrificing toil. Let them remember Carey then, not, by keeping his centenary alone, but by ever living in his spirit. At the conclusion of the service a Tea was provided in the School-rooms adjoining, by the ladies of the congregation, and In the evening a Public Meeting was held in the Chapel, the Rev. J. T. Brown, of College Street Chapel, Northampton, presiding. After singing the hymn, POME, let us join our cheerful songs With angels round the throne ; Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, But all their joys are one. &o.. The Rev. E. R. Broom, of Milton, read a portion of Scripture trom the Psalms, and offered prayer ; after which the following address was delivered by the Chairman, The Rev. J. T. BROWN. I am very glad to see that we have such a large attendance on this interesting occasion. I can easily imagine that some stranger looking in might ask. What is the meaning of our gathering here to-night? Why do we come to this particular spot; and what is the purpose that we have in view ? And I need not remind you, friends, that we have to go a considerable distance in order to find a reason or answer to these enquiries. We have to go back a hundred years in order that we may know why it is that we are here in i886. It 4 is a long or short period according to the standard we take in viewing it. Looked at in relation to the life of a nation or to the history of our earth it is but a short period ; but when we think of it in relation to pur own personal life and the few days which are allotted to man upon the earth, it becomes an impressive sum to our imagination. At that period to which our thoughts are turned the present world had not come into existence at all ; with very rare exceptions indeed all that were contemporary with Dr Carey have passed utterly away. Death — restless, omnivorous Death — has carried them all off the stage where they once lived and acted as we do now ; and the grave has swallowed them up. Itis a new world altogether to-day. One cannot help thinking during the steady flow of years since, what changes have come to pass, what memorable events have occurred and what progress has been made in many directions : at home, abroad, in our own country and its far-off dependencies ; in almost every department of human activity; in science and art, in political movements, or in national life and develppment ; and, most gratifying to us, the expansion, the work, and achievements of Christian zeal — affording cause, on the one hand, to excite surprise, and on the other to kindle a spirit of devout thanksgiving. If there had been a prophet in that day — but I suppose among its wonderful things Moulton has never produced one of these — if there had been a prophet in that day with vision far-sighted enough, and clear enough, to have foretold in particular detail what we and others since have witnessed, he would certainly have been deemed like Joseph with his dreams ; and his utterances would have been considered as wild words of a romantic fancy. Nor is anything more striking and more remarkable than the growth, the present breadth, the multiplied activities and hopeful aspects of missions to the heathen, with which Dr. Carey's name is associated as their modern founder, and their inspiring spirit. I think we in Northamptonshire have great cause to rejoice that Carey was born and nourished here; that this part of our country did give a man of such eminence and might, of such spiritual magnificence, and of such achievements, to the church and to the world. Our county is not least among the thousands in Israel in this respfect. It has produced many noble sons in the course of time : poets, that occupy a very high place as lasting singers who delight us to-day with their song ; and writers, too, of no mean rank on the literary roll. It has produced men of various kinds whose character, whose work, whose memory belong to the wealth and glory of old England. And there are three persons — looking at men of more modern date — three persons in whom, I think, for their characters, their powers, and their achievements, we in Northamptonshire, and Christian folks especially, may rejoice and be exceeding glad. With William Carey we couple Andrew Fuller, his firm friend and ally: a man of majestic intellect, who rendered immense service to the cause of truth; ahd with him William Knibb, who did more by his eloquence and fire to kindle the spirit of this nation so that at length, and after a very long struggle, it completed by one resplendent act, the work of emancipating the slaves, which Wilberforce and Clarkson began. But neither among the more ancient or modern is there anyone who stands out in bolder form, or who has left a deeper irapression of himself upon the world ; one who has done more divine or enduring work ; one who has risen to higher place or gained a more brilliant reputation, than he who was once termed in derision "the consecrated cobbler." I think we have reason to rejoice in the fact that William Carey was born among us. And there seems to me something marvellous when we think of what he was and what he became ; his vast labours — labours manifold and of a heroic kind ; whereto the cause he begun has grown, and what has sprung out of that thought that lodged in him so long before it could get out — that contagious feeling which he cherished ; when you look at that in connection with his humble origin. William Carey owed nothing to birth, to rank, to outward condition. Here — when he became the minister here — he was comparatively little known ; teaching children, and preaching to the poor, but with a soul that was travelling the world over and embracing all nations in its affection and sympathies. He drew nothing from the churches connected with him ; from Paulerspury where he was born, or Hackleton where he made or mended shoes, or Barton, Moulton, and Leicester where he preached. But they have drawn from him a distinction. Nobody knew him then. Those that were in association with hira did not know how great William Carey was. The secret of his greatness and prospect of his future illustrious career were hidden from himself and them. None of the men who thought most of him, and hoped for more, knew to what a magnitude he would grow, or that he would becorae of such account that it would be a matter of pride that he was associated with any place. I thiuk we feel that pride to-night, being here where for a time he laboured. But to me it is not the after parts of Dr. Carey's achievements that are most impressive. We look back from that loftiness to which he attained to trace the germs and signs of the greatness which crowned his latter days. He was great at the end of that course : he was great, too, in other ways at the beginning. The qualities which wrought in the larger sphere and have brought him such renown, were quietly manifesting themselves in obscure places. Dr. Carey, Founder of Missions, the great linguist, the celebrated Trans lator, Professor of Sanscrit in the College of Fort William, the man that came at length to sit together with princes and receive the respect of society, has overshadowed the William Carey of humbler village ministries and labours. Our eyes have been drawn away from the deeper qualities which were hidden in him, and which were the foundations and moulding forces of that very life and work which haye drawn the respect of the world. A hundred years ago in this place, at Hackleton, at Earls Barton and at Leicester, William Carey was shewing the worth aud greatness which have raised him so high in our regard. In the very trials and discouragements, the sore travail and exercise of his soul ; in the chequered and weary strivings which he had to endure during the days of waiting and preparation, he displayed the nobility of his soul and character. In the occupation of his mind with the one great thought and purpose ; the fervour of passion with which he embaced it : ever uppermost, never lost sight of ; the loneliness of soul that found no fellow ship or sympathy with what he deemed of such imperial necessity and such inspiring grandeur ; the burden of the Lord upon him ; the fire which consumed hira ; in his profound, tender compaj^sion for the heathen, and his personal consecration to the work ; it is in these things, more than in the after achievements, that we find the true greatness of the man whose name is a power of inspiration to-day. And let us think what a lofty life he is living now. He is gone and yet here; dead but living. He lives in the fruits of his work; in the translations which he made; in the subtle influences which have survived him and will continue : in the number of Societies and the multitude of missionaries which have entered into his labours, and owe their inspiration to this source. He lives ! He lives in the very thoughts that are stirring our hearts now ; and, I hope, will live yet more iu the freshened interest, the stronger purpose, and in the profounder sense of obligation which the reference to him to-night shall produce. We are here not to worship heroes; but we are here to think of him, that touching him in thought we may be brought a little nearer to him ; that by communion with the dead we may cherish and manifest a like-minded devotion. There are points in which even the thought of becoming like him cannot be 1 entertained. He is like a star that shines above us, and which we cannot reach ; we can only look up and admire. But there are points where we may imitate him : in the interest he took in this subject; his tender pity for the perishing peoples; in the oneness of his soul with the Lord whom he loved ; the entrance into the largeness of diviue purposes, and his desire for the spread and triumph of His kingdom ; in the patience that did not tire, the persistence that did not give in; the heart that felt; the brooding thought; in the love which will pray and give an3 work, we may in some measure follow in the way of his steps. May the spirit of Elijah fall upon those who succeed him — not one, but all Elishas. May Moulton Church, may Northamptonshire Churches, may the Churches of our land feel the inspiration which moved Carey ; and in personal devotion respond to motives which constrained him to go to India when none others would, and there were few to bid him " God speed ! " My wish and prayer is that this may be so for many a year, until it shall not be wanted. One of our brightest glories is what we attempt to do in this way. Lord ! may Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven. The pastor (Rev. W. A. Wicks) followed, giving a Sketch of the History of Moulton Baptist Church (seep. 17); after which was sung the hymn, /LL hail the power of Jesus' name ! Let angels prostrate fall : Bring forth the royal diadem. And orown Him Lord of all. &o. THE Rev. J. LITCHFIELD then addressed the meeting as under : — Amongst the ancient Romans there was a festival which occurred only once in a ceutury. It was considered a happy omen for the reign during which this festival was held ; and the heralds who announced it called the people-to come and see what none of them had seen before, and none of them would live to see again. Supposing there had been nothing peculiar in this case, and we were reviewing the history of the most ordinary house of prayer, a place where the true gospel had been preached and borne fruit ; this commemoration would relate to nothing little or insignificant. The gathering of Christian disciples into a Church, be their number ever so small, gives visibility to the Kingdom of Christ. Each instance of conversion is the saving of a soul from death ; and when mention shall be made of Rahab and Babylpn np more, " it shall be said of Zion, this man was born there." 8 Let the sect which occupies a place of worship be what it may, only let Christ be their trust and rejoicing, and they who pass by have reason to say "TheLord bless thee,! O habitation of justice and, mountain of holiness I " Here has been seen the hoary head of the righteous," which is a crown of glory." Here have been heard tbe voices like those of old, which filled the temple with the cry of " Hosanna ! to the Son of David." Here the stranger has had the secrets of his heart made manifest ; the mourner has put on garments of praise ; the orphan has been taught to say, " When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." It has been the birthplace and the home of piety. The tempted, the tried, the weary, have here found rest. Its modest front seems ever to ask, "Who is on the Lord's side?" It speaks to the ungodly of a sanctuary into which they may not enter ; and though here they may cross the threshold, there is a fellowship to which they are strangers. It is the first place to which many of you were taken in infancy; the last to which old age fondly clings ; and while tbe living worship within, around its precincts are peaceful chambers of the dead. When we think of the principles of which the sanctuary is an embodiment and expression, and of the sacred influences which it sends forth over men's homes and lives ; when we remember how much it has been a check to vice and a stimulus to all that is pure and of good report, we need not wonder that the Christian should say. Angels that make Thy Church Shall witness my devotion there. If then this were a common chapel anniversary, the occasion would gather around it associations of deep and sacred interest. Eternity exalts and hallows everything which it takes into connection with itself; the redemption of the soul is precious; nothing is little that points to Calvary and heaven ; no wonders will compare with the wonders of grace. But with what intensity do these reflections come upon us when we think of a "period so long as ioo years: long in comparison with the life of man, and especially with the best part of that life. What displays of grace, what diversities of religious experience rise in the review. In that time, often have tbe foun dations of rock and of sand been built upon. Often has an abundant entrance into the Kingdom been ministered to some ; while others have been saved yet so as by fire. Often has the blade matured into the ear, and that again ripened for the harvest; and often, too, has the green shoot withered away because it had no depth of earth. Here has been many times the morning cloud aud the early dew ; and also the shock of corn fully ripe in the season. The pulpit and the pews alike have had many successive occupants. Grey heads have disappeared ; others fast growing grey ; ministers, deacons. Church members, have finished their course. Your fathers, where are they ? The Chairman then called upon The Rev. J. J. COOPER who said : I understand the object of this meeting is to keep green in our memory the name of Dr. Carey j to form, if we can, some estimate of his work, and stimulate others to follow in his steps. This is not easy, for his steps were far apart from the common ways of men. The Lord Jesus said wheresoever His gospel was preached the story of the woman who broke over him a vase of ointment should be told for a memorial of her. Carey did something like that in a higher sense. The Bible was a sealed book, and he broke the seal, and poured its ¦ precious truths on the head of India, and the perfume is spreading to this day. Thomas Fuller, in his own quaint way, said of Northamptonshire, that it is an apple which has no core to be cut out, and no rind to be peeled off. He had an evident appreciation of the county, and as much as that may be said of many Northamptonshire people. In the apple, the aim of nature is to preserve what nestles in the heart of it — the seed after its kind. Except for eating purposes an apple would not be improved by taking out the core and cutting off the rind, but we do not want the county eaten. In the past it has been wealthy in honoured men, and we may hope its wealth is not yet exhausted. Of cpurse we know what Fuller means. We have been deeply stirred as we have again heard the story of Carey's life. Carey, Marshman, "Ward — these three were great and heroic men, but the greatest of these was Carey. All gave theraselves to India for Christ's sake, but he gave India the Bible as well as himself. It is not easy for us to see all this njeans. Dr. H. Rogers tells us a dream in one of his writings. Probably it was a waking dream. But he tells us he dreamt that the world awoke one morning to fihd the Bible a blank book. Every letter was gone. Not only from the Bible as a book; but from every book which had contained quotations from it, all was gone and a blank remained. Just think what that would mean to us ! Shakespeare had great gaps in it ; most of the poets had lost many of their charms ; and so on through all the literature of our land, all the Bible truths and words were gone. Gone from all places except from the hearts in which it was stored in love. Many who had never cared for it before were now greatly distressed. If that were our case to-day what vi^ould England be) But something like that was the case in India. Its millions knew nothing of its promises which cheer us, nothing of its doctrines which sustain us, nothing of the inspiring hfe of him about whom the book is written. The Bible was a blank book in India till Carey gave it the words of life. We shall estimate the woi k he did just as we value and believe the Bible. Think of no one in England knowing anything about Jesus Christ ! I have read of a lady who was passing a gipsy camp. She asked permission to enter one of the tents, and at last obtained it. There lay a boy who was dying. She bent down and whispered in his ear that glorious truth " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten SPn, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." There was no response. A second tirae she repeated the epitome of all that is precious in the book. Still there was silence. A third time the words were uttered; and the boy opened his eyes, and said, "I never heard of him before ; please thank him for me.'' We are shocked to find anyone here who does not know something about the Christ of God. Yet such was the condition of India, that Christ was unknown till Carey gave it the Bible. I have long had respect for leather, and that respect has been . increased of late years. But I thought a great deal more of it when I heard that Carey, in teaching his boys geography, not being able to buy a globe, taught them from one made by himself of leather. His mind was saturated with a knowledge of peoples and places on the globe, and of their wants and woes ; and- he had no rest in his spirit because they knew not God. Does not this show us the spirit of the man ? It shows us how intense his zeal was for the God he loved, and how anxious he was that others should know Him who had redeemed the world. It is a pathetic story. In this man's heatt a fire was burning, yet it was suppressed because his plans were opposed and his schemes thought wild. But because the fire was there, lighted by Gpd's pwn love, it made itself manifest ; and to-day it gleams amidst the millions of India. h IVES of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time. Dr. Carey speaks to us to-day, to young men, to young women. He has made the path of honour and glory easy for you. Will you commemorate this day by giving yourselves to the service of man for the Lord's sake ? Who will say this day : Lord, here am I, send me ! THE Rev, A. B. MIDDLEDITCH, in response to the Chairman's invitation, briefly spoke as follows : — Mr. Wicks made one remark which I venture to question, viz., that the speakers on the platform were anxious to give their speeches. When I came I had no idea of having to inake a speech upon this auspicious occasion ; and it is with some reluctance that I venture to address you, lest I might mar the joy and brightness of the meeting. Perhaps a word to young men, speaking on the hint thrown out by Mr. Cooper, would be in harmony with this happy and joyous centenary of William Carey. Many references have been made to-day to the apparently insurmountable difficulties that shrouded and clouded the early days of Carey — the difficulty of humble origin ; the difficulty of open and pronounced opposition, so tersely embodied in the words of the afternoon preacher, " Sit down, young man;" the difficulty of every door seeming to close as he stepped out into the great undertaking of his life. It may be tbat some of Carey's difficulties are yours ; not in degree but in principle. In your heart there may be burning that holy fire of earnest desire to serve Christ, but you are pressed down because of the difficulties of the way. You may have made known your desire to work for the Master, but the stern " Sit down, young man," is ringing in your ears ; for by some strange ordering when we want to sit down they say " Stand up," and when we want to stand up they say " Sit down." But I would most earnestly say, let Carey's grand example inspire us; remembering that, having planted his foot on the ladder of God's work, he never faltered or failed until by the Grace of God he reached its highest point. When he was sternly bidden sit down, called a fanatic and a madman, he did not resent but calmly endured, holding on his way. He was not rebellious, he did not throw up his noble ideal ; but with a manly, noble, heroic courage — a courage equal in my opinion to any shown in his life — he was unfaltering and steadfast in his loyalty and love to Christ and the heathen world. If God has planted any holy impulse in our hearts, never let ' difficulties hinder us (they are insignificant to Carey's) ; but with holy daring let us be true to our convictions at all cost. We may not all be Careys in position, but we can if we w.ill be Careys in spirit. May God help us to live in his spirit ; doing all, daring all ; and God, yea, even our own God, will help us. 12 After reading the hymn 245 (which was written by Krishna Pal) the Chairman said that although there had before been a convert to Christianity— a descendant of the Portuguese,.yet Krishna Pal wasthe first Christian convert from heathenism. He spoke of the joy the baptism of this first Hindoo must have been to the three men who had waited so long. The hymn was then sung by the congregation. PTHOU, my soul, forget no more. The Friend who all thy misery bore : Let every idol be forgot. But, O my soul, forget Him not. Jesus, for thee, a, body takes. Thy guilt assumes, thy fetters breaks , Discharging all thy dreadful debt ; And canst tbou e'er Buch love forge t ? Eenoimoe thy works ,and ways wit h grief. And fly to this most sure relief ; Nor TTim forget who left His throne. And for thy Ufe gave up His own. Infinite truth and mercy shine In Him, and He Himself is thine : And canst thou, then, with sin beset. Such charms, such, matchless charms forget ? Ah ! uo : till life itseK depart, ¦His name shall cheer and warm my heart ; And, lisping this, from earth I'll rise. And join the chorus of the skies. Ah ! no : when all things else expire. And perish in the general fire, This name all others shall survive. And through etemity shall Uve. The Rev. T. GASQUOINE said that it had been his privilege during the last two or three days to tread ground made sacred by many tender Nonconformist raemories. After briefly mentioning the names of Thomas Toller, T. N. Toller, the three Bulls of Newport Pagnell, he passed on to Fuller and Carejr, and continued : I think you will see that there are two things about these men who have left their mark in the world. First there was a strong personality. Carey and Fuller were real men. And besides that there is a spiritual force which has passed down to our own time ; and this is, after all, what will be found in every true minister, even though he be called to walk in narrow paths. It was so with Him, the Great 13 Minister — for the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, you will remember, speaks of Christ as a rninister — it was so with Christ. What do I mean when I say Christ ? It is an easy word to utter ; as easy as any common word. But who is Christ ? The word Christ represents the personality of oue who lived eighteen centuries ago in this world of ours, in Jerusalem and Palestine ; and it represents a spiritual force which is felt now. There is the personality, -the man Jesus who lived so many centuries ago ; and this is what those about us who reject the Ghristian faith have to explain. They bave to explain that historic life, and the secret of its wondrous influence on the history of the nations. But we have recognised more than this personality. We are conscious of a spiritual force which is felt now. Meri tell us that as secular education is increasing, so scepticism is growing in India. There may well be these difficulties in India. England, at first evangelized by Christian Missions, has never yet been brought out and out into the-Kingdomiof Christ. .,Ooce in my hfe — may it never happen to me again— I have spoken to a lad at my own door, a lad of ten or twelve years, and, mentioning to him Jesus, he said- he, had never heard of Him. England has not yet been brought to the feet of Christ. But there is many a sadder sight than of a lad who had not heard of Jesus. A sadder thing is to find that there are men who think of Jesus as a man who lived centuries ago, but have never felt Christ in them ; are not conscious of that tender spiritual force. The Christ who is crucified is not merely the Jesus who was hung upon the tree so long ago; hut he is crucified in us now when he is not loved, not trusted. Christ who rises now is not merely Jesus who rose so many years ago from the grave just outside Jerusalem — it is sometimes even difficult for us to understand all that actually occurred then — but it is the living Christ, the Word of God, who rises and speaks and rules in our hearts now. Our Saviour ! Our King ! Now it is this which Carey felt ; he was lifted up to a fellowship with the living Christ. Carey cared for all the subjects of the King. Carey cared for those who lived far away in India ; and he said to himself, "These are the subjects of my King, and to these I must go with the Gospel of the King." Let us feel Christ in us. I tell you, I for one believe there are great events before the Church of God. If Carey came back he would perhaps be dispirited if he counted up the number of Christiana in all our Missions in India. But I believe he would fall on his knees before the King when he observed the movement among the people ! the yearning for light and truth. And is not this the condition of England too ? There is a great movement,_and God is preparing to 14 bless us. As I walked along the ridge from Kingsthorpe to Moulton, and looked down on one side to the town of Northampton, and on the other to the beautiful champaign country, with its woods and meadows and villages, I reminded myself of our difficulties in work both in town and country; but remembered too that they both belonged to the King. We make top much of our difficulties. The more I read of history, the more I am convinced that our difficulties are really no greater than they ever were. Just think of what we have in part heard of to-night — Carey, when this chapel needed rebuilding, being afraid to go forth to beg, lest his little school, on which he depended for a livelihood, should fall away; and yet being able to raise from his own people only £1, toward the sSioo needed. We ought to be ashamed of ourselves making so much of our diffi culties. There are difficulties of course, and it would be a sad day for England and for Christian workers when there were not ; but God will bless us if only we live, as Carey and Fuller lived, in fellowship with Christ the King. The cordial thanks of the meeting to the speakers was proposed by the Rev. W. A. Wicks ; and after singing the hymn, PO ye messengers of God ; Like the beams of morning, fly ! Take the wonder- worMng rod ; Lift the Saviour's cross on high. &c.. The Rev. J. Laishley, of Old, offered prayer. The benediction was pronounced by the Chairman. The Shoemaker Missionary. By particular desire we insert the following Poem, which appeared in the Christian World of June 3, i886 : — THE greatest things in quiet places grow ; And men are like the trees, which need the Ught And free fresh air to make them strong for Hie. The noblest deeds in silence are thought out ; And plans are born while only stars look on, And hopes are whispered to the birds and flowers, Which keep the secret. So the grand oaks grow That once were acorns : so the grand deeds, too. That once were only dreams. ~ A little village in Northamptonshire Became the home, a hundred years ago, Of a young man, poor and unlearned at first, Whose thoughts were clarion-calls he needs must hear And dared not disobey. He read the news How India, with its costly merchandise, Its wondrous wealth, and vast extent of land Did now belong to England. And he read How Agni, Soma, and a host of gods Were worshipped by the Indians, and his heart Was filled with longing to go forth, and tell The Grood News of the love of Jesus Christ, And the glad Heaven wbich He has made the Home For all the peoples of the Father's world. Great need had he of patience. No one cared To Usten to the visionary talk Of him they deemed fanatic. So he took The Uttle village church they offered him. And when the stipend, ten or fifteen pounds. Proved aU too meagre, made the village shoes. And mended them ; and taught the village boys. Making a globe of leather for his school, i6 And giving lessons in geography — Chiefly of India. But the Moulton fields Were his prayer-places, and the silent trees Looked down the while he made his high resolves, And the calm stars smiled witb approving Ught, And now and then the wakeful nightingale Might hear another plaintive lay than hers Break through the stillness, and, " O Lord, how long ? " Come from the Ups of Carey. Much he tried To get the ear of others. At aU meeting times, When ministers togetber came for talk, He was among thera, and iu earnest words Eleaded the duty of the modern Church To care for India. " God has given the land To us," he cried, " and we must win it back To Christ. Oh, brothers, why stiU hesitate ? Let us go forward, and expect great things From God, and then attempt great things for God Who will not disappoint us." Angrily Au older mau cried out, " Sit down, young man." Tet was not Carey silenced. Many days Passed on before he had his heart's desire : — And then, behold, in far off Serampore The man of Moulton ; honoured, learned, praised. Professor in the coUege ; translator Of the most Holy Book he loved so weU, Leader of modern missions, whose good name Was spoken in our EngUsh Parliaments And in the homes of India ; so he Uved : And, Uke a tree whose leaves for heaUng grew. In stately strength and beauty reared his head. Because his great true heart was brave for God. MABIAimE Fasninohaju. By the Pastor, The Rev. W. A. WICKS. 4 A '^^^H ^9 ^p ^ B ^^^s T THOUGHT some few days ago that you ought to have at this I meeting a brief history of the Moulton Baptists. I therefore dipped into the " Memoirs of John Stanger," waded through the Church Books, and put numerous questions to the silvery-headed, and am consequently prepared to lay before you some true statements concerning difficulties faced and fought, and concerning Christian work planned and accom. plished bythe Baptists in this village. Allow me to commence by making reference to a Mr. Stanger and a Mr. Staugbton. Mr. Stanger was a sturdy Nonconformist farmer, who for daring to preach the gospel had to suffer under the Conventicle Act. Warrants were several times issued for the seizure of his goods and cattle. He was mostly unfortunate enough to lose his goods, but generally fortunate enough to save the beasts. How ? His neighbours were kindly disposed, and his house stood on the borders of this county; bence, when the 'neighbours came and informed him that his enemies were coming, he instantly arose, gathered the beasts together, and drove them over the river into Rutlandshire. Mr. Staugbton was a Baptist Minister, who also had to suffer under the Conventicle Act. He languished in North ampton Jail for three years and a half; at the same time that the immortal Bunyan lay a-dreaming in Bedford prison. Now Mr. Stanger's son William married Mr. Staughton's daughter; and after residing in several parts of Northamptonshire came to live at Moulton, somewhere about the year 1710, possibly a little later. Whilst this William Stanger and his wife lived here, he held a dual position, viz., that of farmer and pastor. During the week he carefully cultivated the soil, and on the sabbath he faithfully preached to the members of the little General Baptist Church. From an old document — which would delight the eyes of antiquarians — it appears that a certain Mr. George Cox, of whpm little is now known. i8 and a few zealous riien from Northampton, were connected with the early founders of this little General Baptist Community. But who the actual founders of the Church were, and what the precise date of establishing the Church was, cannot be determined.* When good William Stanger died, in the year 1740, his son Thomas immediately succeeded him in tbe farming business; and subsequently in the pastoral office. He is said to have been a plain unlettered preacher ; but so consistent was his conduct that he won the esteem of all, and so warm were his sermons that he was the means of doing good to very many. His own house was the place where the members of his flock assembled-for worship. He was, however, obliged, after a time, to hire a school-room ; and managed, a few years later, through much self-denying labour, to erect a small chapel. He had to ask Mr. William Painter, the village school master, to be his co-pastor ; owing to the numerous services which he had to conduct in the many surrounding villages. Let it be stated concerning Stanger that he served " not the Church for filthy lucre's sake, but of a ready mind;" for it is not probable that he received more than sSio during the whole of his ministerial work. When he died, somewhat suddenly, in the year 1768, he was greatly lamented. It could be said of him even as of Stephen, " Devout men made great lamentation over him." After Thomas Stanger fell asleep no one seems to have been chosen to fill the vacant pastorate. His widow became very anxious about the Church. She feared things would not prosper, but deter mined to do her best to make them succeed. And her son records that it was by her resolution and influence that the people were kept together " when their different views and altercations were tending to dissolve the Church or shut up the Meeting-house." When this Deborah, this mother in Israel, was called to her reward (some 13 years after her husband), the things she had dreaded came to pass. The members of the Church got loose in their theological views, ultimately became Unitarian, and soon dispersed. A little time passed — how short a period cannot be stated — and some preachers belonging to the Particular Baptist body came over to Moulton and commenced holding services in the little deserted chapel. They are described as sturdy orthodox men. The Holy Spirit applied their words to the hearts of the hearers. Those who professed faith • It is clear that whilst the General Baptists at Moulton were prospering under the ministry of the Stangers, there were some Particular Baptists in the viUage who enjoyed the ministry of Mr. Geo. Evans, to whom reference ifl made in the Appendix; these Particular Baptists, a little later on, held services in the house of a Mr. Feavers, and were enroUed as members of the Church at College Lane. No connected record can be given of them. 19 were baptized, and brought into Christian fellowship. Thus a Cal vinistic, Baptist Church was formed. The members on the 1 6th of June, 1785, met together and agreed to ask a young 'man named William Carey to be their minister. The invitation on being received was duly accepted. After Mr. Carey had profitably ministered to the people for a little over twelve months, at a Church Meeting held Nov. 2, 1786, it was " Agreed universally " to call him "to the Office of Pastor," which was accordingly done. On the ist February in the following year he " agreed to accept the call," and it was forthwith determined that he should be ordained in the autumn. The Ordination Services were most successful. Dr. Ryland " introduced the service and received the call and confession ; " Mr. John Stanger, of Bessel's Green (a descendant of the Stangers before referred to), offered the ordination prayer ; Mr. Sutcliff, of Olney, gave the charge from 2Tim. iv., j., " Make full proof of thy ministry ; " Mr.Edmonds, of Guilsborough, then prayed ; Mr. Fuller next mounted the pulpit, and preached from Psalm Ixviii. 18., "Thou hast received gifts from men." This was not, however, deeraed sufficient, so they had another discourse (how they liked sermons then-a-day) from the words " Rejoice with trembling." Of William Carey it could not be said he waa "passing rich with £\q a year," for he only received ^10 per annum from the Church, and £(, from a fund in London. In order to enlarge his income he was obliged to keep a school, from which he received about 7/6 per week. He, however, found that he was unfit for the post of school-master, so he closed the school and turned to his old trade of shoemaking ; and once a fortnight he might have been seen walking to Northampton with a bag full of shoes for delivery to a government contractor, and then returning home with leather for another two weeks' work. This noble little man met his Church soon after his ordination, and with them drew up and signed a Covenant. That Covenant is in use to-day ; all members on being received into the Church sign it. It is somewhat lengthy, and is designed to promote the purity and well-being of the Church. The Lord so blessed Carey's labours here, that in a short time it became necessary to enlarge the sanctuary ; it was also needful to do some thing to the building for another reason : the walls were so ruinous as to render it unsafe to meet between them. The following letter was therefore written and sent forth : — Letter of Seguest on behalf of the Chtjeoh at Mototon. To aU those who are generously disposed to encourage the PubUcation of the everlasting Gospel ; with a View to the Honour of the Great Eedeemer, and the Salvation of perishing Sinners, the following Case is humbly submitted. — Dear Brethren, We are a very poor Congregation of the Baptist Denomination, who assemble for Divine Worship at Moulton, near Northampton, and are possessed of a 20 imiiall old Meeting-House, whioh is exceedingly out of Eepair, and one Side Wall is become so ruinous, that we are justly apprehensive it wiU be dangerous to nieet there