prpr XT j£H]^Ll±i£ra..h..hijdxi pjri»_ U j j i-U fw. j*-J y-J L™ Ira a-1* prr* rJ JH&iiH^ X J3J ijuuiiLMUiunuta TH KELiIGIOL/; H YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL LIBRARY Gift of Wayland and Williams library Vcc^ THE RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY ENGLAND. vf* ,o€ V BY S7 R. PAT T I SON. As rivers of water in u dry place. — Isaiah xxxii. 2. THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY : 56, Paternoster Row; 65, St. Paul's Churchyard; axd 164, Piccadilly. Yale Divinitv Library LS2.2 P27Sr- And, like a happy infant, Faith Can play attiong the graves. Trench. ILOKDUN PRINTED BY EDWARD KK10HT, MIDDLE STREET, E.C. PREFACE. The comparatively small area of the British Isles has, for upwards of a thousand years, been a stage whereon has been fully played out successive acts in the great drama of . social history, on a scale and with a completeness nowhere 5. else displayed. The scenery .of the transactions remains with tlus, though the actors have departed. The bare connection of 3 names and places would be dry and useless ; but a reference *_jto the associated events connected with religion, cannot fail to -'give interest and value. We have sought to register and arrange for use such instances, not only for the resuscitation ~-3 of worthy memories, but for present practical influence. In -Jithis we but follow the highest precedent. Jehovah, in Appealing to His ancient people, frequently reminds them of "2the spots where He had displayed to them His power and love. ~Our blessed Lord also enforces His exhortations and warnings ^by reference to the localities which had been distinguished by ^His presence. In fact, we follow the natural method of enlisting association in order to quicken knowledge, excite ofaith, and promote gratitude and courage. It is the office and ^excellency of our reason to trace such connections. The spread of religion in Great Britain cannot be assigned read in the same. After that it was lent to John Knight, who at length delivered the book to the vicar at Rickmansworth. In 1 52 1, three brothers named Butler, and a good woman named Ashford, were brought before Bishop Longland, for "reading two hours together in a certain book of the Act of the Apostles, at Chesham, in Ashford's house." Cheshunt, Herts.— The site of the college founded at Trevecca by the Countess of Huntingdon in 1768, removed to this place ire 1792. Hard by the college is a lane known as Dr. Watts' Walk, from a tradition that it was the Chester] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Chichester favourite resort of the good doctor on his visits to Richard Cromwell. In a house near the church lived and died Richard Cromwell. Hedied July 12, 1712, aged eighty- six. It is to be hoped that in his timid quiet life, he developed that which his father desired for him in a letter to his father-in-law, in April, 1650 (Carlyle's Cromwell, vol. 11.): "Some letters I have lately had from him have a good savour; the Lord treasure up grace there, that out of that treasury He may bring forth good things." Chester. — A Roman temple of Corinthian architecture was dis covered here by Sir William Tite. The city is connected with the ministry and tragic end of George Marsh, the remarkable itinerant gospeller of the early Reformation. He has left traditional memorials of his work throughout the coun ties of Cheshire and Shropshire. In the Lady Chapel of the cathe dral here was held the consistory court which condemned him for heresy. At Boughton, one mile from the city on the south-east, on the banks of the Dee, is the spot where he was burnt to death. He had been apprehended at Dean, near Bolton, and taken before Justice Burton at Smith- hall Hall. Whilst there, being strongly urged to conform, he stamped with his foot, saying — " If my cause be just, let the prayer of thy unworthy servant be heard." The stone is said to have long retained the impress of his foot. Dean was thencefor ward noted as a stronghold of evangelical religion. Matthew Henry came to reside here in 1687, and lived here until 17 12, when he yielded to the so licitations of his numerous friends in London, and settled at Hackney, He died on a journey from Chester in 1 7 14, and was buried in Trinity Church here on June 25. The cathedral library contains, as its choicest treasure, a MS-. Bible of the twelfth century. Chesterton, Warwickshire. — In the reign of Henry v., John Lucy, vicar, was indicted for har bouring the good Lord Cobham, and for heresy. He was found- guilty, but on the intercession of powerful friends was released by the king. Chichester, Sussex. — An in scription still preserved proves the existence here, in Roman times, of a temple dedicated to Neptune and Minerva. In the cathedral is a tablet to the memory of William Chillingworth, who died here in 1643. Thomas Bradwardine was born here about 1290. He became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1349. He was a mathematician and physicist of remarkable attain ments, and an evangelical Chris tian. (See Canterbury) He wrote in the manner of St. Augus tine against Pelagianism. Foxe gives the names and resi dences of seventeen persons who- were put to death here by burning,. for heresy, during the short reign of Queen Mary. One of the martyrs here in 1555, viz., Thomas Iveson, a carpenter of Godstone, was condemned by Bonner for denying the real presence, and burned at Midsummer. Cathedral. — The walls of the- 41 ¦Chippenham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Churton Lady Chapel are covered with marks and inscriptions, " which were cut perhaps as memorials of vows." In the library there is a ms. treatise of St. Augustine, of the thirteenth century. It is satis factory to find this, as reminding John Lambert, for holding reformed doctrines. Collins, a lawyer, for mocking the mass. Dr. Barnes, William Garrett, and William Jerome, Vicar of Stepney, Lutheran doctrines and books. 1545. Mistress Anne Askew, for reformed doctrines, and denying the real pre sence ; and the following for the like: Nicholas Belinian, a priest. John Adams, a tailor. John Lascelles, a gentleman of the Household. 1555. John Rogers, the first martyr in Queen Mary's reign. Thomas Tomkins, a weaver. John Cardmaker, Vicar of St. Bride. John Warne, or Warren, a citizen and clothworker. His wife soon after burned at Stratford, under circum stances of shocking barbarity. John Bradford, "Good Master Brad ford, the grete precher." John Leaf, an apprentice. John Philpot, Archdeacon of Win chester. 1556. Thomas Whittle, a priest. Bartlett Green, a lawyer of the Inner Temple. John Tudson, an artisan. John West, an artisan. Thomas Brown. Isabel Foster. 102 Joan Warne, her maid. Robert Drakes, minister. William Tyms, curate. Richard Spurge, a shearman. Thomas Spurge, a fuller. John Cavel, a weaver. George Ambrose, a fuller. 1557. Thomas Loseby, Henry Ramsey, Thomas Thirtle, Margaret Hide, and Agnes Stanley. For avowing the Pro testant doctrine to be the true faith, and denying the mass. Burnt to gether in one fire. John Hollmgdale. William Sparrow. Richard Gibson. John Rough, a Scottish priest, good preacher, and accomplished, excel lent man. Margaret Mearing, wife of a citizen. 1558. Ctithbert Sympson, deacon of a con gregation in the city. Racked twice. Hugh Foxe. John Devenish. Henry Pond, Reinald Eastland, Robert Southam, Matthew Riccarby, John Floyd, John Holiday, and Roger Holland. " Godly and innocent persons," who assembled secretly in a back close in the fields by the town of Islington, to pray and meditate on God's Word. The last in this illustrious catalogue was an intelligent, de voted young layman of the city, named Holland, before mentioned. He uttered at the stake words remarkable for their literal fulfil ment : " After this day, in this place shall there not be any put to the trial of fire and faggot." Southwark, Surrey. — In 1642, the first of the public con troversies between the Pasdo- baptists and the Baptists respect ing the mode and subjects of baptism was held here between Dr. Featly, Mr. Kiffin, and others. John Bacon, celebrated as a sculptor, and celebrated also as a Christian, by Cecil's memoir of him, was born here, November 24th, 1740. Whilst a youth, working for his living, he took nine prizes in successive years in Stepney] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [The Tower the Society of Arts competition, and having taught himself sculp ture, he gained at twenty-nine the first gold medal ever given by the Royal Academy. He died in 1799. The epitaph on his monument in Westminster Abbey was written by himself : — " What 1 was as an artist, seemed to me of some importance while I lived ; but what I really was as a believer in Christ Jesus, is the only thing of importance to me now.'1 Stepney. — During the Commonwealth, Mr. Burroughs preached here at seven o'clock in the morning, and Mr. William Greenhill at three in the after noon, whence Hugh Peters called them the "morning and evening stars of Stepney." Temple, The.— The order of Knights Templars, instituted with the professed object of guarding pilgrims to Palestine, moved its headquarters to the Temple from Holborn in 1135, shortly after its foundation. The order was suppressed by Pope Clement in 1309. Tottenham Court Road. — The Whitefield Tabernacle was built in 1756, on a site which was then surrounded by fields and gardens, and had but two houses on the northern side. When the foundation stone was laid, White- field preached from Ezra iii. 2. At the opening service he chose as his text, '' Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. iii. 1 1). Without exaggeration it has been said that thousands have been converted within these walls. Tower, The. — The first distinguished sufferer for con science sake here was the good Sir John Oldcastle, called Lord Cobham, who was first imprisoned in 1413. He escaped, was re taken in 1417, was immured here, and shortly afterwards suffered a cruel death by burning. Here in 1599 was born Lucy, the daughter of Sir Allen Apsley, the governor, afterwards Mrs. Hutchinson. In her celebrated memoirs she give a most interest ing account of her parents. She writes of her mother, " The wor ship and service of God within her soul and in her house, and the education of her children, were her principal care. " She was a constant frequenter of week day lectures, and a great lover and encourager of good ministers, and most diligent in her private reading and devotions." In June, 1688, the old fortress received the seven bishops, com mitted for refusing to publish throughout their dioceses the king's declaration of indulgence to Papists and dissenters. In the Beauchamp Tower, among the inscriptions traced by unfortunate inmates during their incarceration, is one by Walter Paslew, of whom we have no further account than the sentence itself affords : " My hope is in Christ." On January 10th, 1645, Arch bishop Laud was beheaded on Tower Hill. Anne Askew is one of the few married women whom history has refused to acknowledge, save by her own ennobled maiden name. She was the daughter of 103 Walworth] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Westminster Sir William Askew. By reading the Scriptures she obtained a pure and simple faith in Christ. On her denial of the doctrine of tran substantiation she was arrested, illegally racked in the Tower by the hands of the Lord Chancellor himself (Wriothesley), carried in a chair to Smithfield, and on her refusal to recant, burned to death. • Walworth. — Joseph Swain, who wrote the Walworth Hymns, was born in 176 1, became a most successful Baptist minister, and died whilst still young, in 1796. Warwick Lane. — Half way down the Lane, on the east side, is the Bell Inn. At this inn, or rather at a former one, on the same spot, died the holy Archbishop Leighton, in 1684. Westminster. — The Abbey was built on the site of a Roman temple consecrated to Apollo. The first Christian church was founded here by Sebert, king of the West- Saxons, in 610, and dedicated to St. Peter. In the year 1065, King Edward the Confessor (whose shrine re mains) dedicated the building, according to the chronicle : " At midwinter, King Edward came to Westminster, and had the minster then consecrated, which he had himself built, to the honour of God and St. Peter, and of all God's saints." On the same night the good king was seized with his fatal illness. In the Chapter-house was held the trial of Bilney and Arthur, one of his fellow-workers in the evan gelical cause. The latter was an advanced Puritan, ere Puritanism had a name. He affirmed that 104 every one who knew the Gospel should go forth and preach in every place. Arthur, however, yielded to the pressure of authority for the time, and so saved his life. The tomb of Edward the Sixth reminds us of that sad day for England, July 6th, 1553, on which the good young prince, the hope and trust of Protestants through out Europe, died. On the 8th of August he was buried, with, it is said, " the greatest moan as ever was heard or seen." In 1559, while the English Church was yet in process of formation, there was a solemn disputation held here on the ques tions between Catholics and Pro testants. The disputants were nine on each side. Both Houses of Parliament attended, with a vast number of people. The Romish side began, and insisted on the right of the Church to make changes, to use the Latin tongue, and to ordain rites. The Protestant side appealed to Scrip ture as their final authority, and delivered in their paper, after reading it, amidst shouts of ap plause. On July 1st, 1643, the famous Westminster Assembly of Divines met here, inaugurated by both Houses of Parliament. It was afterwards driven by the cold into the Jerusalem Chamber. It continued in session for five years, six months, and twenty-two days, and produced not only x>ur fa miliar friend, the Assembly's Ca techism, but a Confession of Faith and a Directory of Worship. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, who died Dean of Westminster in 1881, was born at Norwich (of Westminster] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Longner Hall which his father was bishop), and was trained under Dr. Arnold, at Rugby. He soon became pro minent as a literary man, and was characterised by active bene volence, latitudinarian doctrines, genial and charitable temper, and fascinating manners. His Life of Dr. Arnold, his fewish Church, and other numerous works display great attainments and varied ac complishments, and were written during a long and busy public life. Westminster, New Palace Yard. — Dr. Alexander Leighton, father of Archbishop Leighton, was pilloried and publicly whipped here in November, 1630, for writ ing against prelacy. His punish ment was, to be committed to the Fleet prison for life, to pay a fine of ,£10,000, and be degraded from the ministry, to be publicly whip ped, to have his nostrils slit, and ear cut off, and, after an interval, to have the I atter process repeated. On hearing the sentence, Arch bishop Laud raised his cap, and publicly offered thanks to God for it. Whitehall.— Here, on the 3rd of September, 1658, expired Oliver Cromwell in the midst of one of the wildest storms ever known in England. As the wearied great man lay a-dying, he said, " I would be willing to live to be further serviceable to God and His people, but my work is done, yet God will be with His people." He expressed much self - abasement, and at times heartfelt consolation and peace. Mrs. Godolphin, a lady of evan gelical principles, who remained serious and good even at the court of Charles the Second, sought out and visited the poor and destitute, especially orphan children. A charming picture of her work is given in Evelyn's Diary. Long Ditton, Surrey. — A cu rious anecdote is told of Mr. Richard Byfield, incumbent, at the time of the Commonwealth. Mr. Byfield and his patron, Sir J. Evelyn, quarrelled about re pairing the church, and Cromwell arranged that they should meet in his presence. The patron al leged that the clergyman reflected on him in his sermons ; the clergy man denied having made any special reference to him. The Protector, turning to Sir John, said, " Sir, I doubt there is some thing indeed amiss ; the Word of God is penetrating, and finds you out. Search your ways ! " This he spake so pathetically and with so many tears- that Sir John, Mr. Byfield, and others present fell to weeping also. The Protector made them good friends,. and gave £100 towards the re pairs of the church. Longner Hall, Shropshire. — The seat of the Burtons. The grounds contain the tomb of Ed ward Burton, who, having em braced the opinions of the Re formers, and dying at the acces sion of Queen Elizabeth, before a change could be effected in the incumbency of St. Chadda's, was denied burial in the church, and therefore interred in his own garden. " Here," says old Foxe, "he is as near the kingdom of heaven, as if he had been buried in the midst of the church." 105 Loseby Hall] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Lydeard Lawrence Loseby Hall, Leicesiershire. — The seat of the Hutchinsons. Here Lucy Hutchinson wrote a great part of her memoir of her husband. In the dedication, "To my children," she says, " Desiring, if my treacherous memory have not lost the dearest treasure that ever I committed to its trust, to relate to you his holy, virtuous, honourable life." Here she wrote, " Let not excess of love and de light in the stream make us for get the fountain. He and all his excellencies came from God, and flowed back unto their own spring : there let us seek them, thither let us hasten after him, let us cease to bewail among the dead that which is risen, or rather, was im mortal." Loughborough, Leicestershire. — John Howe was born here in 1630. His father was appointed to the living by Archbishop Laud ; but on the latter discovering the Protestantism of his protege', he was ejected. At seventeen years of age, Howe was sent to Cam bridge, and two years afterwards to Oxford. At twenty-four, he went to Great Torrington. (See Great Torrington) Lowestoft, Suffolk. — Three miles from this is Oulton Hall, the property of the late George Borrow, the adventurous author of The Bible i?i Spain, and other works. Lutterworth, Leicestershire.— John Wycliffe, the " Morning Star of the Reformation," was rector from 1375 to 1384. He was born in 1324, probably at Wycliffe, near Richmond in Yorkshire, where his family had property. 106 He went to Merton College, Ox ford, acquired the epithet of the " Gospel Doctor," and soon began open controversy with the men dicant friars and the papacy. He was cited before the Bishop of London, and once before the papal delegates at Lambeth, to defend his opinions. In 1380 he produced the great work of his life, a complete English trans lation of the Bible, at which he had laboured for many years. After an eventful and noble life, the details of which our limits forbid us to trace, he retired to this place, and died in 1384. The pulpit of carved oak, the chair, and portions of the vest ments of the great reformer are still preserved and shown. Lydeard St. Lawrence, Somer setshire. — Here was born in 1620, Dr. Thomas Manton, one of the famous nonconforming divines. He had to preach before the mayor and aldermen in the city on one occasion, whilst incumbent of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and having been listened to by an admiring audience, he dined with the Lord Mayor. On returning, a poor man followed him, and pulling him by the sleeve, asked him if he were the gentleman who had preached, saying, " Sir, I came with hopes of getting some good to my soul, but I am dis appointed. I could not understand a great deal of what you said ; you were above me." The doctor replied with tears, " Friend, if I did not give you a sermon, you have given me one, and, by the grace of God, I will never play the fool to preach so again." Lyme] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. LMadeley Lyme, Dorsetshire. — One of the victims of the "Bloody Assizes" under Judge Jeffreys was a young man named William Hewling, who, having been in arms, with his brother Richard, to aid the Duke of Monmouth against James the Second, on the ground of the king's intention to restore popery, was executed here on the 12th of September, 1685. His conduct after his surrender was so becom ing a Christian, and his cause was so popular, that the sad journey from Newgate to Lyme awak ened public expressions of deep sympathy. As he passed on the road from Dorchester, and through (the valleys, then richly covered with corn, he said, "This is a glorious creation, but what then as the paradise of God, to which we are going ? 'Tis but a few hours and we shall be there, and for ever with the Lord." He was not twenty when he died. Lymington, Hampshire. — This was the first preferment of Wolsey, afterwards the proud Cardinal. Sir Amyas Paulett had him put in the stocks here for drunkenness, as it is said, for which he subsequently found op portunity of plaguing the justice. Lymp stone, Devon. — Samuel Tapper, of Exeter College, Oxford, an extremely learned, pious man, was minister here after the Act of Uniformity for many years. He had great aptitude and skill in Greek and in philology, but was a plain successful preacher, and a man of great benevolence, living away in charity nine-tenths of his income. " A steady exam ple of walking closely with God." Lynn, Norfolk. — Simon Miller, " a godly and zealous man in the knowledge of God and His truth," was charged with heresy in speak ing against the mass, and was allowed on his parole to go home and set his house in order. He returned to Norwich Castle, and was burned about the 13th of July, 1557. He cheered by his good hope the natural fearfulness of one Elizabeth Cooper, of St. Andrew's, Norwich, who suffered with him. Lyvedon, Northamptonshire. — The ruins of the unfinished build ings commenced by Sir Thomas Tresham, a Protestant, who, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was converted to Romanism, are re markable for the numerous ex ternal carvings of the symbols of our Lord's life and sufferings, and sundry ordinary Romanist in scriptions. Among the sentences on the upper storey of the build ing it is satisfactory to decipher : " Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri." Far down the ages now, Much of her journey done, The pilgrim Church pursues her way, Until her crown be won. The story of the past Comes up before her view ; How well it seems to suit her still, Old, and yet ever new ! M. Madeley, Shropshire. — The good John Fletcher and his wife raised this quiet village into religious notoriety. The little oak pulpit from which he 107 Maidstone] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Malpas preached still does duty, and the communion table is shown at which he used to dispense the heavenly feast Vith a rapture almost unearthly. " God is love " was ever the language of his heart and life. Mrs. Fletcher (Miss Bosanquet) is well known in the annals of religious life in England. Mr. Fletcher died in 1785 ; his widow in 1809. Maidstone, Kent. — In June, 1556, five women and two men were burned together here for denying transubstantiation ; viz., Joan Bradbridge of Staplehurst, Walter Appleby of Maidstone, Petronil his wife, Edmund Allin of Frittenden, Katherine his wife, John Manning's wife, of Maid stone, and " Elizabeth, a blind maiden." John Newman, one of the three martyrs burnt at Saffron Walden, was a native of this place. He shrewdly confuted the learned doctors who interrogated him at his trial, saying he relied on the Scriptures and nothing but the Scriptures. His short argument against Romanist dogma is in genious and able. Thomas Hitton, a preacher, was persecuted for holding re formed opinions in 1530, and after much severe handling, was burned here. (See Uxbridge) Maldon, Essex. — One of the numerous victims of Bishop Bon ner in the first year of Queen Mary, was Stephen Knight, whose prayer when kneeling at the stake is recorded by Foxe, and is a specimen of the holy constancy which characterised the simple but intelligent countrymen who 108 were swept off in this terrible blast of persecution. In 1582, George Gifford became vicar of this parish, and dis tinguished himself by his ability as a divine and a preacher. He wrote with equal force against the High Churchmen and Inde pendents, and yet was persecuted and imprisoned by the Court of the High Commission. He was liberated about 1620, and died in the same year. He was a laborious writer on divinity in general, and on the questions of his day. Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire. — The ruins of a superb abbey of Benedictine monks. The south porch is decorated with orna ments representing scriptural subjects. It was founded in 670, burned by the Danes in 878, and rebuilt in Norman and Early English style. Malpas, Cheshire. — Reginald Heber was born here in 1783. In 1803, he wrote his celebrated prize poem, Palestine, at Oxford. He became vicar of Hodnet in 1806, and during his life there he composed many hymns ; some possessing a high degree of ex cellence. In 1823, he became Bishop of Calcutta, where he laboured incessantly, and died in active service in 1826. Shortly before his death, on his journey, in view of a pass in the Hima layas, he says, " My eyes filled with tears, everything around was so wild and magnificent, that one appeared as nothing, and I felt myself as if climbing the steps of the altar of God's great temple." It was even so ! Malvern] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Manchester Malvern, Worcestershire. — Langland, author of Piers Plow man's Vision, was a monk here, about 1362. He despised the Lollards, then rising into no toriety, whilst he undoubtedly held several of their tenets. Many passages in his writings are condemnatory of the doc trinal errors of the Romish system, and plainly point to Christ as the only Saviour. Manaton, Devon. — Mr. John Nosworthy, M.A. of Oxford, who was born here in 161 2, lived a life of laborious service, for the most part in this place. He was an Oriental scholar and a good man. He embraced poverty under the Act of Uniformity, and was much persecuted for preach ing in the neighbourhood. Thus he was reduced to great straits. Once, when he and his family had breakfasted, and had nothing left for another meal, his wife lamented her condition, and said, " What shall I do with my poor children ?" He persuaded her to walk out with him, and seeing a little bird, he said, " Take notice how that bird sits and chirps, though we can't tell whether it has been to breakfast ; and if it has, it knows not where to go for a dinner. Therefore be of good cheer, do not distrust God, for are we not better than sparrows < Before dinner-time, it is related, they had plenty of provision brought to them. Mancetter, Warwickshire. — Mistress Joyce Lewis, a gentle woman born, delicately brought up,married as her second husband, Thomas Lewis of this place. She became thoughtful concerning her salvation, and took counsel with some of her neighbours who were inclined to Protestantism. She was accused at Lichfield of neg lecting the sacraments of the Church, committed to a foul prison with her maid, condemned to death, and, with much serenity of spirit, faith, and devotion, was burned alive. A tablet has been placed to her memory in Man cetter Church. Manchester, Lancashire. — John Bradford was born here. He was first paymaster of the English troops in France, then a law student in the Temple. He became converted under the preaching of Latimer, and went to Cambridge, where he was encouraged by Father Traves and by Bucer. After being ordained, he was sent by Ridley to preach the truths of the Reformation as one of the itinerant preachers of King Edward vi. He was as signed to Lancashire, and per formed the duty with diligence and enthusiasm. Local tradition yet points to the spot at Blackley where, in the presence of the people, he knelt down and prayed that the everlasting gospel might be preached in Blackley to the end of time, by ministers divinely taught to feed the flock with wisdom and knowledge. Within a month after Queen Mary's accession he was apprehended, and cast into gaol for heresy. Then followed two years' im prisonment, characterised by marvellous work in correspond ence, afterwards by repeated examinations, ending in sentence 109 Newton Lane] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Maraziorc of death. After his condemna tion he wrote letters of a most touching character. In June, 1555, he was removed from the Poultry Counter to Newgate, and burned the next day in Smithfield. His short life and heroic death were most fruitful for the truth. Manchester was the head quarters of the Commission issued by Queen Elizabeth for promoting the Protestant religion. In the reign of James 1., Richard Murray, Warden of the College here, preached before the king from the text, " I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," and was told afterwards by the king that " the gospel had much more reason to be ashamed of him." When John Wesley was preach ing at Salford in 1747, the people threatened to play the fire-engine on him. The city of Manchester was made the seat of a bishopric in the year 1S47. Newton Lane. — The place whither the celebrated Pilgrim Press of Martin Marprelate was removed from Fawsley, and where it was discovered and broken up. The strict law against printing without license doubt less aggravated the tone of the anonymous authors in this cele brated controversy. The large attendance here in the early part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, at the monthly lectures of the Puritan ministers, and the appearance of the audience on such occasions are described in a picturesque passage by Dr. Halley, Lancashire, p. 72- Manningtree,Essex. — Matthew Hopkins, witchfinder, lived here. He caused no less than sixty poor deluded creatures to be hanged as witches in one year ; after which he himself was ac cused of the same offence, tried by his own tests, found guilty, and hung. (See Coggeshall) Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts. — Here, in 1649, George Fox entered a place of worship and attempted to speak to the people, but they fell on him and cruelly beat him, put him into the stocks, and finally stoned him out of the town. Maplescamp, Kent. — This manor is held on the easy con dition, that, if the king should come to Maplescamp to hear mass, then the Lord of the Manor shall fine him a penny for an oblation. Marazion, Cornwall. — About half a centuiy ago, whilst the recollection of Wesley's journeys was still fresh, a Methodist minister, after preaching in the chapel at St. Hilary Downs, rose from the table before he began his mid-day meal, and vowed that he would not feast where Wesley had sat in the saddle and eaten strawberries for want of a dinner. He actually went out to fast and pray on the downs in commemoration of the event. J. Wesley records in September, 1781 : " Going through Marazion I was told that a large congregation was waiting. So I stepped out of my chaise and began im mediately. We had a gracious shower." Market Harborough] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Melbourne Hall Market Harborough, Leicester shire. — In 1673 the Rev. Mr. Clarke founded a meeting of Pro testant Dissenters. He and his flock were compelled to stand for hours together in the water under Chain Bridge to elude the vigil ance of informers. John Nelson, the early Metho dist preacher, was here mobbed and attacked by all the town. He was assaulted in a very determined manner, and only saved his life by great courage and power in preaching. Markfield, Leicestershire. — Here, in 1586, was born Thomas Hooker, who was converted whilst a student at Cambridge. He became lecturer at Chelmsford, where his faithfulness and zeal endeared him to the people and effected a considerable reforma tion in the town and neighbour hood. He ceased preaching by reason of his nonconformity, but was continually urged to resume his ministrations. He was driven abroad by persecution, and ulti mately went to New England, where he helped to found Hart ford in Connecticut. He was esteemed "the father, the pillar, and the soul of the new colony." This good man said, when dying, to one of his brethren who told him that he was going to receive his reward, " Brother, I am going to receive mercy." Marks Tey Hall, Essex. — Here died Mrs. M. Honeywood, at the age of ninety-three. Fuller, the ecclesiastical historian, relates that, being in an agony of soul, and finding all the counsels of divines ineffectual, she threw a Venetian glass with violence to the ground, exclaiming, " I am as surely condemned as this glass is broken." The glass rebounded, was taken up whole, and was pre served in the family, for by this incident comfort was given to the afflicted lady. Martham, Norfolk. — Thomas Hitton, in 1529, being accused of heresy, was apprehended as he was journeying to Dover to emigrate. He underwent several examinations, and was finally condemned and burned. Marton, Warwickshire. — Wil liam Parkins, of this place, whilst a dissipated young scholar at Cambridge, was smitten to the heart by a casual observation made by a woman in the street to her child. He was converted, and became a profound and searching preacher, engaging also in the work of prison visitation. He gained much popularity by his fervent addresses in the pulpit, and continued incumbent of St. Andrew's at Cambridge till he died in 1602. Mayfield, Sussex. — This plea sant village was the scene of a terrible martyrdom during the persecutions under Queen Mary in 1556. On the 24th of Sep tember, a shoemaker, a currier, and two others were burned to death here for denying transub stantiation. Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire.— At old Melbourne Hall, Richard Baxter stayed, and wrote his Saints' Everlasting Rest, which he had planned in thought at Kirkby Mallory, in Leicestershire, after his retirement from his brief in Melton Mowbray] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Middleton Teesdale office as chaplain in the parlia mentary army. Melton Mowbray, Leicester shire. — Dr. Jacomb, a much- esteemed Puritan preacher, was born here in 1622. He was min ister of Ludgate, from 1647 till his ejection under the Act of Uni formity in 1662. He emphatically preached Christ, and "his great design was to convince sinners of their absolute want of Christ, that they might be led to Him by His convincing Spirit, and from His fulness receive divine grace." He died in 1687. Mendlesham, Suffolk.— Two of the numerous Suffolk martyrs were natives of this parish. They were summarily condemned in 1 545, for denying the doctrine of the real presence, and burned in the market-place at Bury, in presence of about two thousand people. Kirby, one of them, amidst the tears of the spectators and officials, recited at the stake the Te Deum and the Belief, and other prayers in the English tongue. The people shouted with admiration and applause, as these two unlettered men sealed their faith with their blood. This neigh bourhood suffered in 1556 under the infliction of an over-zealous popish loyalist, Sir John Tyrrel, knight, who persecuted and drove from Winston and Mendlesham a great number of gentle and simple folk for denial of the pope's supremacy, of the mass, and for affirming " that Christ Jesus was their life and only righteousness, and that only by faith in Him, and for His sake, all good things were freely given them ; also for- 112 giveness of sins and life ever lasting." One of the latest of the martyrs under Queen Mary, William Sea man, was a husbandman of this place, who had a wife and three young children. He was betrayed by a near neighbour, accused of heresy concerning the real pre sence, and executed at Norwich on the 19th of May, 1558, with two others. Menhenist, Cornwall. — The parish church is said to have been the first place where the Liturgy in English was used. Merton, Surrey. — It was at the priory here, in 1236, at a parlia ment, that the prelates attempted to introduce the Roman law, and were met by the memorable reply of the barons, " Et omnes comites et barones una voce responderunt, quodnolunt leges Anglice mutare." This place is famous for the council held here in 1300 concern ing tithes. Micklefield, Yorkshire.-Samuel Hick, the "village blacksmith," was an inhabitant of this village. After he became a Wesleyan local preacher, he went everywhere preaching the gospel with rare success for nearly half a century, and became famous for his elo quence, strength, wit, and de votion. He appears to have been an evangelist who never flagged or became tired. Middleton Teesdale, Durham. — One of the true evangelists of the sixteenth century was John Rogers, who spent his alternate Sundays for many years in preach ing in Teesdale and Weardale ; Middleton Teesdale] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Monk Wearmouth encouraged by the eagerness of people to hear the Word, he was heedless of the difficulties and in conveniences of his long journeys, but was constantly travelling and preaching among the miners in these remote and inclement regions. Jacob Rowell was converted at Allendale in 1747, as he was going to a cock-fight, by listening on his way to a Methodist preacher in the street. The preacher was Christopher Hopper, and the casual hearer was pierced as by an arrow. He began to exhort his neighbours, was adopted by Wesley, and devoted himself to the work of evangelization in Teesdale, Weardale, Allendale, Lunedale, Arkendale, and Swale- dale, travelling afterwards to Al ston, and across the Tyne to Hexham. He had to endure not only the hardships incidental to journeying across the fells in all weathers, but the persecutions and violence of men opposed to godliness. At Middleton, where he was expected, a mob of miners, headed by the chief men of the place, attacked him, and one of them tried to trip him up as he was crossing the burn, where Heude Bridge now stands. The miner overshot the mark, and himself fell sprawling into the stream. The incident turned the tables, and the preacher passed on in peace. He gathered in up wards of four hundred hopeful converts in the dales, and was called,"Fell-em-in-th-nick," which in Northumbrian dialect means, " Strike them down in the path," in allusion to the quickly con vincing power of his sermons. Minchinhampton Common, Gloucestershire. — On Sunday evening, July 1st, 1739, White- field, then twenty-four years of age, after preaching at seven in the morning in his brother's field at Gloucester, and in the forenoon and afternoon to a crowded con gregation at Readwick, seven miles off, preached here on the common to 20,000 people on foot and horseback. Minster, Kent. — The high ground above Prospect House was probably the scene of a most important event in the history of religion in England, the first meeting of Augustine, the papal missionary, with King Ethelbert. The Saxon king, seated with his nobles around him, received the procession, which was headed by a large silver cross and a gilded picture of Christ. The monks came on chanting the Litany. They obtained the king's consent to remain as teachers, and went on to Richborough and Canter bury. Missenden, Great, Bucking hamshire. — In 1 5 18, Christopher Shoemaker of this parish, an itinerant evangelist and Scripture- reader, was indicted because he went to the house of John Say, " and after other matters of talk, read to him out of a little book the words which Christ spake to His disciples." He was burned at Newbury. Monk Farley, Wiltshire. — Bishop Jewell died here in 1571. (See Berryn Arbor) Monk Wearmouth, Durham. — At this place, called Wearmouth, 113 Morden] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Moulsey Bede, afterwards "the Venerable," was born about 673. Benedict Biscop, founder of the religious house there, adopted him, as he was an orphan, and placed him therein. Bede was ordained deacon, and afterwards went to live at Jarrow, another house of Benedict Biscop's, where he la boured and taught. Morden, Dorset. — Mr. Eden Bennet, M.A., the ejected in cumbent of this parish, was a stirring preacher, a devoted worker, a good Hebrew scholar, of a catholic spirit, and constant and unwearied in his Master's work until his death in 1673. Morpeth, Northumberland. — Dr. William Turner, a distin guished Puritan physician, was born here. The ignorance of the people led him to become a preacher in the reign of Henry the Eighth, for which he was imprisoned ; and he afterwards became prebendary of York. He published the first English Herbal, and was the leading naturalist and one of the foremost scholars of his day. He was a most popular preacher. He died in 1 568, and was buried in St. Olave's in the city, leaving a reputation fully justifying his epitaph there, " He fought bravely as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Robert Morrison, who became the eminent Chinese translator and missionary, was born here in 1782. In 1807, he went forth on apparently the most difficult enter prise ever engaged in by mortal man. He had to master a sealed language, to compile its grammar and lexicon, then to translate the 114 Scriptures into it. Hewasamanof amazing faith, courage, piety, and perseverance. It was a memor able day in evangelical annals when, on his return to England after seventeen years' absence, he stood on the platform of the Bible Society at the annual meeting, with the Chinese Scriptures in his hand. He died at his work, in China, in 1834. Morval, Cornwall. — Here died, in 1695, the rector, Mr. Jonathan Wills, a diligent and successful preacher. He was the son of a Puritan rector of the same parish, and in his youth was a wild extrav agant soldier in the king's troops, who caused great grief to his good father. He was obliged, for some offence, to quit the army, where upon his father invited a godly minister to meet and aid him in offering prayer for the young man's conversion. Whilst they were together at Plymouth, and actually in prayer, the son burst in, fell on his knees, and entreated forgiveness. In due time he brought forth "fruits meet for repentance." He went to Oxford, obtained a fellowship, and ulti mately was appointed to this living. Moulsey, Surrey. — Here was first set up the printing-press from which issued the famous Mar- prelate Tracts. Penry and a few ardent young reformers, touched with the ignorance and ungodli ness of the rural population of Eng land and Wales, and dissatisfied at finding the impracticability of working the parochial system under the bishops, whose exclu sive divine appointment they Musbary] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Newark doubted, resolved in conference to set up a printing-press and print tracts against the established system, in spite of the legal pro hibition of the Star Chamber. Mrs. Crane, at Midsummer, 1588, provided a place here for the work, where Penry at this time spent a few weeks. Here, at the close of the year, he passed the short time that remained to him before imprisonment and a martyr's death. His leading ob ject, in pursuit of which he gave his life, was the evangelization of Wales. Musbury, Devon. — In this ob scure village, Mr. Richard Tarrant preached after he was ejected. On being apprehended and taken before the magistrates at Honiton, Sir Courtney Pole told him that he might be discharged if he would promise not to preach again. The good man replied that he could not promise, as he would not answer it to his Lord and Master, Mr. Moore preached his funeral sermon in his orchard. Mylor, Cornwall. — Thomas Tregoss, the vicar, was ejected under the Act of Uniformity, but continued to preach, and was frequently imprisoned. In Laun- ceston jail, " he was very cheerful in his own spirit ; and exceedingly useful to many by his warm dis courses in all the times of his confinement." After the law was passed which prohibited preach ing to more than five persons present together, he managed to carry on his work by preaching to different people five times on the Sabbath, both morning and even ing, and again on every Tuesday and Thursday. He died 1671. Think'st thou, perchance, that they remain unknown, Whom tktni know'st not ? By angel trumps in heaven their praise is blown ; Divine their lot ! N. Narborough, Leicestershire. — Mr. Matthew Clarke, of Trinity College, Cambridge, ejected from this parish, continued to preach about the country whenever he could get an opportunity. He suffered imprisonment, hid him self in Charnwood Forest, and ultimately became minister at Harborough. He was an able, indefatigable man, and a plain, useful preacher. Nately Scures, Hampshire. — A parish near Winchfield Station, remarkable in possessing the smallest parish church in the South of England, now that the church at St. Lawrence, in the Isle of Wight, has been length ened. Newark, Nottinghamshire. — Dr. Thomas White, Bishop of Peterborough, gave by will in 1690, money, since laid out in land, upon trust to distribute £10 yearly among twenty poor families or persons of forty years of age, who should, before the receipt thereof, "exactly and distinctly repeat " the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, and the Ten Commandments, without missing or changing one word therein." US Newbury] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Newcastle-on-Tyne This is still administered. A hus band and wife are to be reckoned as one in the portion, but must both make the repetitions, other wise they are not entitled to the gift. In 1760, Thomas Lee, one of Wesley's lay-preachers, was as saulted here, dragged from his horse, beaten, and drenched with water. The mob offered to let him go if he would promise not to preach here again, but he re fused, and in the end the truth triumphed. Dr. John Lightfoot, the Hebraist, was born here in 1602. Newbury, Berkshire. — In the early days of the Reformation this place was a centre of Lollard- ism. Thomas Man, a martyr burnt at Smithfield in 1518, terms the fellowship here "a glorious and sweet society of faithful favourers." An event occurred here in 1556, the account of which is thus re corded by Foxe : " The history and martyrdom of a learned and virtuous young man, called Julius Palmer, sometime Fellow of Mag dalen College, in Oxford, with two other martyrs, John Gwin and Thomas Askin, burned together in Newbury, at a place there called the Sand-pits." Mr. Palmer was an interesting and noble character, and all were men of more than average piety and intelligence. Newcastle-on-Tyne, North umberland. — It was in St. Nicholas' Church here that King Charles I., when a prisoner, gave out a hymn. The officiating clergyman of the day " improved " his appearance among the con- 116 gregation by announcing as the hymn after sermon — Why dost thou, tyrant, boast thyself, Thy wicked words to praise ? His majesty, however, was not to be sung at in this fashion without an effort, for he stood up and called for the fifty-sixth Psalm, beginning — Show mercy, Lord, to me, for man Would swallow me outright — which hymn was actually sung. Wesley, onhis first journeyto the north, entered this town, and was shocked at the unparalleled pro fanity of the people on Sunday morning. He walked down to Sandgate, the lowest quarter of the town, and standing at the end of the street, began to sing the hundredth Psalm. Hearers came round him, and he preached from the text, " He was wounded for our transgressions." He an nounced that he should come again at five o'clock, and an enor mous multitude assembled at that hour. " I will heal their back- slidings," was the text. Then the great work began, and when Wes ley left they were eagerly be seeching him for more of the bread of Life. Thomas Binney, one of the most vigorous of evangelical writers and workers in this busy age, was born here in 1798. His contributions to theology consist mainly of his sermons on Hebrews xi.- To the service of song he added at least one choice hymn, but his greatest power lay in his teaching and in his life. His con sistent conduct set an example of Christian integrity and faithful ness to a large circle of merchants and young men. Newhouse] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Northampton Newhouse, Lincolnshire. — A house of White Canons was founded here in 1140. New Passage, Gloucestershire. — Whitefield, on his journey to Cardiff in March, 1739, was de tained here for twelve hours. The clergyman of Cardiff, who hap pened to be also delayed, refused at first to go into the boat with Whitefield ; the latter and his companion sang hymns, until the pilot complained that he could not hear the voice of the look-out- man. Newport Pagnell, Buckingham shire. — " Cowper's Bull," the Rev. William Bull, was pastor of the Independent congregation here from the year 1764 to his death in 1 8 14. He was a wise, witty, faithful minister, and a friend of Cowper, Newton, Toplady, and Ryland. Mr. Bull and Mr. New ton not only exchanged visits, but thoughts, topics, and heads of sermons. Their friendship was a realization of true Christian bro therhood in the work and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Cow per's letters show the playful af fection with which he regarded his friend. In the church here, in the year 1647, was held a public disputation respecting baptism, before a great assembly of ministers and others, presided over by Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Richard Carpenter. Newton Abbot, Devon. — Wil liam Yeo, M.A. of Oxford and Cambridge, was incumbent during the Commonwealth. " He found the town very ignorant and pro fane ; but by the blessing of God upon his labours, the people became intelligent, serious, and pious." He was much harassed after the Act of Uniformity by persecutions. The sessions of fered a reward of forty shillings to any one who should apprehend a dissenting minister, and he was forced to escape by hiding himself in the fields during deep snow. Newton Longueville, Bucking hamshire. — The rectory of W. Grocyn, the first Greek pro fessor at Oxford, and tutor to Erasmus. Nibley Knoll, Gloucestershire. — Here stands the tower erected in commemoration of William Tyn- dale, who began his active life as chaplain in the family of Sir John Walsh, of Sidbury Hall. He left this post in 1528 to embark in his heroic but perilous life-work of translating and producing the English Bible, on account of which he was strangled and burnt at Vilvorde, near Brussels, in obedience to the demands of the King of England, October 6, 1536. The foundation stone of the pre sent monument was laid in 1863. We may apostrophise him in the words of Quarles : And when the latest breath of fame Shall want her trump, to glorifie a name, He shall survive, and these self-closed eyes That now lye slumbring in the dust shall rise, And fill'd with endless glory, shall enjoy The perfect vision of eternall joy. Norham, Northumberland. — At this place the Culdees, mis sionaries from Iona, are said to have first preached the gospel in Northumberland. It was an ciently called Ubberford. Northampton.— In 1267 there was a great gathering of nobles 117 Northampton] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Northampton here, and one hundred knights became crusaders, and assumed the cross in the presence of Henry in. and his court. St. Sepulchre's Church, near the old north gate, is one of the four churches in England built under the direct influence of the descrip tion brought by the crusaders of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. It has been restored under the charge of the late Sir Gilbert Scott. The other three imitations are at Cambridge, Little Maplestead, and the Temple in London. The shire only records one martyr, thanks, says Fuller, to Pool, the merciful Bishop of Peter borough. This one was John Kurde of Syresham, a shoemaker, condemned by the archdeacon in All Saints' Church, and burned to death in the stone pile outside the north gate. The vicar of St. John, standing by, offered him his pardon if he would recant, but he said he had received his pardon by Jesus Christ. The name of good Dr. Dod dridge (born in London, 1702) is associated with this town, where he resided during the greater part of his active busy life, and preach ed in the chapel standing near St. Peter's Church. When he was considering the proposal that he should come here in 1729, he was minded to decline it ; but he says, " I passed through a room of the house in which I lodged where a child was reading to her mother, and the only words I heard dis tinctly were these, 'And as thy days, so shall thy strength be.'" He preached his last sermon to his congregation here in 175 1, 118 from Romans xiv. 8. Doddridge left a valuable legacy to the Church of Christ in his fervent hymns, which express a deep sense of gratitude for spiritual benefits, and a reverent appre ciation of the grandeur of his theme. Celestial Spirit, teach our tongue Sublimer strains than Moses sung, Proportioned to the sweeter name Of God the Saviour, and the Lamb. All Saints' Church contains the monument of Sir James Sten- house, who came to the town a young infidel physician, and was converted under Dr. Doddridge's influence. He afterwards took orders, and rendered good service by writing and preaching in favour of the great evangelical revival. In 1739, young Whitefield (then aged twenty - four) visited this place. He was most courteously received by Dr. Doddridge, and preached on the Common to 3000 hearers. Two days afterwards, he preached on a Thursday in the the same place, at about eight in the morning, to a much larger audience. Again, on May 7, 1750, Whitefield records that he had a private interview here with Dr. Doddridge, Dr. Stenhouse, the Rev. James Hervey, and the Rev. James Hartley. On the following morning he preached to Dr. Dod dridge's students, and in the after noon to above 2000 hearers in a field. Lady Glenorchy inher fournal, in 1777, writes in June, " I arrived safe at Edinburgh ; was much comforted on my way hither by a sermon from Mr. Ryland, junior, at Northampton, on Psalm cxix. 117, "Hold Thou me up, and I North Petherwyn] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Norwich shall be safe ; and I will have respect unto Thy statutes con tinually." This town, at the close of the last century, became associated with the origin of modern missions, owing to the residence and pasto rate here of John Ryland the elder, one of the pioneers in this noble work. He was an accomplished scholar, a wise and witty man, and an energetic preacher. He also wrote a few good hymns still in use. (See Achurch) North Petherwyn, Devon. — Mr. Thomas Rowe, M.A., the son of an attorney in this parish, through the persuasion of an old servant in the family, entered the ministry from Exeter College, Oxford. He became incumbent of Litchett, but was ejected after the Act of Uniformity. Thence forward he preached in Dorset shire, principally at Wimborne, during the remainder of a long life. He was a holy, active man, an admirable practical preacher, and the means of the conversion of many. Norwich, Norfolk. — In the chamber still existing beneath the Guildhall, Bilney was imprisoned, before he was led out to his mar tyrdom in the Lollards' pit. Cicely Ormes, wife of Edmund Ormes, worsted-weaver, dwelling in St. Lawrence's parish, aged thirty-two, was apprehended for sympathizing with a sufferer at the Lollards' pit on occasion of a martyrdom there. She was tried and condemned for heresy, and on the 23rd September 1557 was burned, after a clear devout ex pression of her faith and hope in Christ. Matthew Parker, the second Protestant Archbishop of Canter bury, was born here in 1 504. He became chaplain to Queen Anne Boleyn, and rapidly advanced in preferment, but was degraded under Queen Mary. He was elected Archbishop by Queen Elizabeth in 1559, and published at his own expense the Bishops' Bible. He ruled with great severity against the rising Puri tanism, and died May 17, 1575, leaving a literary reputation which has given his name to the Parker Society, and a religious reputation damaged by his yielding to the imperious dictates of his royal mistress. This was also the birthplace of Thomas Goodwin, one of the greater lights of Puritanism, and a man of learning, breadth, and power of mind. He was appointed president of Magdalen College, Oxford, in January, 1659, and was a member of the Westminster Assembly. On the Restoration he was deprived of his office, but continued to preach in London until his death in 1679. His works occupy 4 vols, folio. Here Sir Thomas Browne set tled in 1636, wrote his works, and died in 1682. He was buried in the church of St. Peter Mancroft. The experience of this keen and accomplished free-lance in the field of philosophic thought is worth recording. " There are, as in philosophy, so in divinity, sturdy doubts and boisterous objections, wherewith the un- happiness of our knowledge toy nearly acquainteth us. More of 119 Norwich] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Nutshalling these hath no man known than myself, which I confess I con quered, not in martial posture, but on my knees." The great and good Mrs. Fry (Elizabeth Gurney), was born here in 1780. She appears to have been awakened to spiritual things by the preaching of William Savory, an American Friend, in 1798. She enters in her journal : — " I wish the state of enthusiasm I am in may now last, for to-day I have felt that there is a God." She devoted her mature life to the improvement of prisons and prisoners, with great courage, per severance, and Christian zeal. In her last illness she said to her maid, " Pray for me. It is a strift, but I a7n safe." The word she used is an old form of the word striving or struggle. Cathedral. — In the centre of the vaulted roof of the nave is an orifice formerly used for lower ing a man with a censer at Whit suntide, to fill the church with clouds of incense, whilst a dove and flakes of lighted tow were loosed to represent the descent of the Holy Spirit ! In July, 1499, a certain godly man named Babram was burned for his anti-popish sentiments. But the most distinguished of many martyrs who laid down their lives for the truth at the Lollards' pit here was Thomas Bilney. Although he had been persuaded to recant, yet his conscience would not let him rest ; he was appre hended a second time, and on his declaring his conviction against the invocation of saints, worship of images, and some other popish tenets, was cruelly burned in 1 531. He was most intensely devout, and full of love and kindness to the poor, the sick, and the lepers. He was the means of the con version of Latimer and many more ; a scholar " of strict and temperate diet, given to good letters, and very fervent and studious in the Scriptures, labori ous and powerful in disputes, a preacher to the prisoners and comfortless." Nottingham. — The monthly prayer-meetings for missions, for the revival of religion and the success of the Gospel, were first proposed at the Baptist Associa tion meeting held here June 3rd, 1784.. This town is justly proud of the memory of Henry Kirke White, who was born here on March 21, 1785, and died at Cambridge, 19th October 1806. He was a true poet, a true student, a true Chris tian, one whose short career has been more fruitful of good than the lengthened lives of many others. Nutshalling, Hampshire, near Redbridge. — At the close of the seventh century, a small Benedic tine monastery existed here, in which Winfrid of Crediton (Boni face) the future Apostle of Central Germany, passed his earlier years. I would not depart from memory's land For all that the eye can view, For there's dearer dust in memory's land, Than the ore of rich Peru. Oakham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHS. [Oldbury o. Oakham, Rutlandshire. — Jere miah Whitaker, who died in 1654, a popular Evangelical minister in London, was schoolmaster here, and distinguished himself as a lecturer and constant preacher. The lectures were during the seventeenth century the most con siderable method of evangelical usefulness. The great labours of the lecturers are satirically alluded to by Wither : — Nor is it up and down the land to seek To find those well-breathed lecturers, that can Preach thrice a Sabbath, and six times aweek, Yet be as fresh as when they first began : Nor is it such - like things performed by number, Which God respects. Oakington, Cambridge-Francis Holcroft, an ejected fellow and rector, continued to preach, and organised a scheme for supplying the county with gospel ministry. For this he was confined in Cam bridge Castle for twelve years ; but he preached within his prison, and throughout his after life was considered pastor of all the churches in the district. " There is scarce a village in Cambridge shire," says his biographer, " but some old person can show you the barn where Holcroft preached." He was a fervent, faithful man, of lion-like couragejoinedto winning affability. Oathill, Somerset. — Captain Scott was quartered near this place about the year 1760. He had been accustomed to religious reflection, and was laughed at by his brother officers for reading the daily psalms and lessons. Here, whilst on a shooting excursion, he was overtaken by a storm, and sought refuge in a farm-house. The captain and the farmer talked of religion, and the latter dis played so much good information regarding the plan of salvation that his visitor inquired how he obtained it. He replied that a famous man, Mr. Romaine, was preaching at a neighbouring hall, which he pointed out. The cap tain went there the following Sunday. Mr. Romaine preached from the text " I am the way." The truth brought life and peace to the captain's soul. He became a preacher, and spoke everywhere in his regimentals, and then sold his commission to become one of Whitefield's preachers. Ockbrook, Derbyshire. — A Moravian settlement, one of the three in England ; the other two being Fulneck, near Leeds, and Fairfield, near Manchester. It is well-known by its extensive and popular boarding schools. Odell, Bedfordshire. — Sir Os wald Butler, rector of this parish in 1 5 56, was compelled by Cardinal Pole to do penance in his own church for the offence of living with his own wife. Oldbury, Shropshire. — Hugh Broughton was born here in 1 549, trained by Bernard Gilpin, and made Fellow of Christ College, Cambridge. He was a learned Hebraist, and had many contro versies both in England and Hol land concerning the purport and meaning of the Scriptures. He died on August 4th, 1612, and was buried in St. Antholin's Church, London. 121 Oldcastle] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Ongar Oldcastle, Monmouthshire. — The home of the valiant knight and martyr, Sir John Oldcastle. (See London) Old Cleeve, Gloucestershire. — John Hooper,the martyred Bishop of Gloucester, was a monk here. On embracing the principles of the Reformation he fled abroad, married at Zurich, was promoted by King Edward vi., and cruelly burned to death at Gloucester un der Queen Mary. In the preface to his admirable treatise on Christ and His office, published at Zurich in 1547, he says, "I have written this little book, containing what Christ is, and what His office is, that every godly man may put to his helping hand to restore Him again to His kingdom." (See Gloucester) Old Sarum, Wiltshire. — John of Sarum was born here in 11 10. He rose into eminence as a philo sopher among the schoolmen, but his admiration of Becket led him to extravagant eulogy of that pre late. He was more devoted to his order and the papacy than to Christ and His gospel. In the year 1220, the see was removed from this place to Salisbury, by Bishop Poore. It had been re ceived from Sherborne, and the latter took it from Ramsbury. Old Weston, Huntingdonshire. — About a rood of land is vested in the parish clerk for the time being on condition of his strewing the church floor with ivy on the feast-day, in July. Olney, Bucks.— The poet Cow- per lived here, at one corner of the market - place, adjoining the 122 rectory, then occupied by John Newton, from 1767 to 1780. Here he wrote his contributions to the Olney Hymns ; here he entered upon a decided course of Christian work and experience. He was to be found praying by the bedside of the sick cottager or visiting and relieving the poor families in the town. His letters and his poems breathe of the happy and useful local influences which surrounded him at this time. In an interval of mental disturbance, Cowper had the impression that it was God's will for him to go and drown himself at a particular place in the river Ouse. He entered a carriage, and told the coachman to drive him to the place. The latter, after wandering about for some time, professed his inability to find the place, and drove the poet home. Then Cowper forth with sat down and wrote off the wonderful hymn, " God moves in a mysterious way." Newton was a genial, sociable man, with all his pungent religious experiences and convictions. He was a powerful preacher, but a still more potent personal friend. He influenced by his advice, either by letter or word of mouth, numberless individuals who ap plied to him, amongst others Scott, Milner, Cowper, Wilber force, and Hannah More. His Cardiphonia and published letters have also been useful to thou sands. Ongar, Essex. — This place was the residence of a succession of individuals of the Taylor family, distinguished by their contribu tions to current evangelical litera- ¦Ordsall] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Oundle ture. The two Isaac Taylors, seniorandjunior,and Jane Taylor, all lie interred in the little burial- ground attached to the Indepen dent chapel. Ordsall, Nottinghamshire. — The rector of this parish in the days of the Commonwealth, Sir Marmaduke Moor, was con demned by the parliament to have his living sequestrated and his lands forfeited for "the heinous and damnable offence of playing cards with his own wife." Orpington, Kent. — Mr. Francis Cornwall was incumbent here in Archbishop Laud's time, and was imprisoned for refusing to conform to ceremonies. He became a Baptist minister. Ossett, Yorkshire, near Dews- bury. — Benjamin Ingham, one of the Oxford Methodists, married Lady Margaret Hastings, and settled here. He introduced a modified Moravianism, founded eighty societies, and acquired an immense influence throughout the West Riding by his piety. Otham, Kent. — Here was born George Home, the popular and pious Bishop of Norwich, and devout writer on the Psalms. He was born in 1730, and became president of Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1768. He was wise, witty, and good. Among his mis cellaneous thoughts occurs the following : " To preach practical sermons, as they are called, i.e., sermons upon virtues and vices, without inculcating those great Scripture truths of redemption, grace, etc., which alone can incite and enable us to forsake sin and follow after righteousness, what is it but to put together the wheels, and set the hands of a watch, forgetting the spring which is to make them all go ? " Otley, Yorkshire. — John Wesley writes in July, 1770, " It rained all the time I was preaching at Otley to a numerous congregation, and they drank in the Word of Life just as the thirsty earth the showers." Ottery St. Mary, Devon.— Mr. Cobbins, the ejected vicar of Tat- terton, a man of piety and pro perty, preached in his own house here, for which he was harried, fined, and constantly in trouble, so that he sold his property and emigrated to Holland. During his last imprisonment at Exeter he was the instrument of convert ing a poor criminal there doomed to execution. Oundle, Northamptonshire. — It is said that Zion Chapel, here, occupies the site of a monastery founded by Wilfrid, one of the apostles of Anglo-Saxon Chris tianity, in the middle of the seventh century. Oundle was the birthplace of the deluded enthusiast, William Hocket, who proclaimed himself to be the Messiah, and attempted to create a community, but was hanged in Cheapside in 1591. Foxe says of this place : "T. Henson, a worthy maintainer of the preachers of the gospel, was so assaulted here (on account of his religion), that he never durst come to his house, but died, in Queen Mary's time." This was the living of a zealous 123 Owthorpe Hall] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Oxford Puritan called George Wigginton, who, in 1587, was much harassed and frequently imprisoned for non conformity. He was vicar of Ledbergh, and was deprived of that benefice. For the offence of hearing him preach, after his deprivation, about one hundred and forty of his people were called to appear at York and other places, sixty or eighty miles from their home, and most _ of them were excommunicated. Owthorpe Hall, Notts.— Built by the celebrated Colonel Hutch inson, who resided here. The church, too, was entirely built by him. Oxford. — In 1 1 66, at a council held here, thirty Germans, reputed heretics, were examined and con demned, branded with hot irons, and discharged ; all persons being prohibited from giving them shel ter or sustenance. The result of this inhumanity is said to have been that all of them perished by hunger and cold. In 1219, at a council of bishops, a man, who assumed the name and pretended to bear the wounds of Christ, was condemned to be crucified at Adderbury. An assembly was held here on November 18th, 1382, against the Lollards, or Wycliffites, and an other in 1409. Thomas Gressop, a man of learning and piety in the days of the Reformation, was an army chaplain in the reign of Edward the Sixth, and afterwards became a reader in the University, and preacher at St. Paul's. He was the writer of the well-known lines 124 first affixed to the Geneva Bible in 1578, beginning, — Here is the spring where waters flow, To quench our heat of sin ; Here is the tree where truth doth grow, To lead our lives therein. During the reign of Mary, Cardinal Ormonde was sent to purge Oxford of all traces of the Reformation. The commissioners went through the colleges, and burnt all the English Bibles and heretical books they could lay hands on. They proceeded to disinter the body of the wife of Peter Martyr ; she had only spoken in German, so no one could be found to testify to her heresy, but her coffin was taken up nevertheless. In Queen Eliza beth's time, the body was re-in terred, and her bones mixed with those of St. Frideswide, in order, as Burnet says, "that she might run the same fortune with her" in the future. Magdalen College Chapel. It was here that in the first year of the reign of Edward the Sixth, before the public abolition of the mass, Thomas Bickley, a fellow, broke the consecrated host with his hands, and stamped it under his feet. He was an exile during the reign of Queen Mary, and died Bishop of Chichester in 1596. Dr. Ferrar of Carmarthen, Bishop of St. David's, was burned in the market-place on March 30th, 1555. See his monument in the place where he suffered : " For adhering to the Protestant re ligion." Among illustrious men con nected with the University, who have by their scholarship pro moted the study of Holy Scrip- Oxford] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Pakefield ture, must be ranked Benjamin Kennicott, canon of Christchurch in 1770, who died at Oxford in 1783, after having occupied the last thirty years of his life in col lating the Hebrew Scriptures. The day after his great work was completed, his wife, who had been his daily reader, asked him what took they should now take. He replied, " Oh, let us begin the Bible." St. Giles's. William Hanby, by his will dated in 1622, gave to this parish ^40, upon condition that on the 10th of March for ever, in the morning, about five or six o'clock, the inhabitants ring one peal with all the bells, and about eight or nine o'clock, should go to service and a sermon, and in the sermon give God thanks for de livering the testator from papistry and idolatry to the light and truth of His blessed gospel. Richard Cecil, in 1773, went in an unsettled mind to Oxford. He had tried the pursuit of business and pleasure, and was just begin ning to look at religion with the view of ascertaining whether happiness could be found in it, but was morbid from previous disappointment. Walking in the Botanical Garden, he noticed a fine pomegranate tree cut almost through the stem near the root. On asking the gardener the reason, he replied, " Sir, this tree used to shoot so strong, that it bore nothing but leaves. I was therefore obliged to cut it in this manner ; and when I had cut it almost through, then it began to bear plenty of fruit." He went back to his rooms comforted and instructed ; for the gardener's words had seemed to be a di vinely-sent parable applicable to his state. The dead are like the stars, by day Withdrawn from mortal eye, But not extinct, they hold their way In glory through the sky. P. Padstow, Cornwall. — Dr. Hum phrey Prideaux was born here on May 3rd, 1648. He became suc cessively a Westminster scholar, diligent student at Christchurch, Oxford, Hebrew Lecturer, and Dean of Norwich. Amongst many smaller works, he wrote a Con- nexion of the History of the Old and New Testametit. He died in 1724. Pakefield, Norfolk. — In this remote village the Rev. F. Cun ningham, afterwards of Lowestoft, lived and laboured, in primitive pastoral style, for sixteen years. He was the brother of the well- known vicar of Harrow, and was truly a faithful and evangelical minister, devoted to his people as a father to his children. Every morning the rectory bell was rung in the village as a signal for prayers in the families, and every evening the church beil was sounded out for the same purpose. Every Sunday evening, the labours of the day were concluded by a public general catechising in the schoolroom, on the services of the day, in which neither young nor old, rich nor poor, master nor ser vant, were spared the questioning of the pastor. 125 Papworth] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [PertenhalF Papworth - St. Agnes, Cam bridgeshire. — The property is held under the condition of feeding two poor persons, on behalf of the souls of the ancestors of John Russell, the lord of the manor. Parham, Kent. — Among the very numerous objects of great interest at the seat of the Curzon family here, are copies of the Mazarin, German, and Greek first Bibles. Patrington, Yorkshire. — The grand church at this place is probably of the epoch of Edward the Third, and is extremely beau tiful. It has an Easter sepulchre in four compartments, the most perfect in England. Paulerspury, Northamptonshire. — The birthplace, in 1761, of William Carey, " to whose energy the Protestant missions of the nineteenth century owe their origin." He was a journeyman shoemaker, whose father and grandfather had filled the post of parish clerk. He became a preacher among the Baptists, and from a perusal of Cook's voyages conceived the design of com municating the gospel to the heathen. He died at Calcutta in 1834. Peak, Derbyshire. — In the moorland district, George Fox, in 1647, found some people who sympathised with his desire to live a purer life towards God and man than the prevalent standard required. They began to give public testimony and hold meet ings. The same thing occurred also at Duckinfield near Man chester, and Broughton in Leices tershire. 126 Pegwell Bay, Kent.— Here, at Ebbesfleet, landed St. Augustine and his band of missionaries ; an invasion which brought in the gospel, encrusted though it then was with human inventions. Pehembury, Devon. — The birthplace of Mr. Richard Saun ders, who was ejected from Lark- bear, and became a most popular and useful preacher in West Devon. " He was one of those who were at that time called New Method ists." " He had a body of divinity in his head, and the spirit and soul of that body in his heart." Penshurst, Kent.— It was here, in 1566, that Sir Henry Sidney wrote to his son Philip (little Philip soon to become great, and dear to history and the Muses) : " Let your first action be the lifting up of your mind to Al mighty God, by hearty prayer, and feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer, with con tinual meditation, and thinking of Him to whom you pray, and of the matter for which you pray." Nor did the son, in his illustrious life, and scarcely less illustrious death at Arnheim, forget the lesson. The last of his sonnets concludes with — Then farewell, world ! thy uttermost I see ; Eternal Love ! maintain Thy life in me ! Pertenhall, Bedfordshire.- Rev. John Donne, the rector at the time of the Act of Uniformity, was ejected, and went to live at Keysoe. He preached in the woods and other obscure places, for which he was imprisoned at Bedford, and thereby injured in health. He died, leaving a widow and five children apparently with- Pesnall] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Plymouth out means of subsistence, but it is recorded that the providence of God kept them from want. Pesnall, Suffolk. — Good, meek Mr. John Manning, when ejected from this place, could not be re strained from preaching. It is said of him that there was scarce a gaol in Suffolk to which he was not committed at some time or other, in the latter part of his life. He obtained such favour from his gaolers that they some times trusted him to go home and visit his family and people. He died in 1694. Peterchurch, Herefordshire — The church is a fine specimen of Romanesque or Norman archi tecture, but contains a very un- ecclesiastical memorial, in the shape of a roughly carved sem blance of a fine trout, intended to represent one caught in the river hard by. There is an endowment of an acre of land, the rent to be paid to a person for keeping dogs out of church. Pilton, Devonshire. — In the church here, 'as well as in many others throughout England, the stand which supported the pulpit hour-glass is still remaining. Pinhoe, near Exeter, Devon shire. — Dr. Reynolds was born here in 1549. He was brought up as a Papist, but became a Protestant, a Scripture-student, andacelebratedpreacher. Various honours and offices were conferred upon him : he was one of the disputants at the Hampton Court Conference, and one of the trans lators of the Bible. He died in 1607, leaving the reputation of having been one of the greatest scholars and best men of the age. The stand which supported the hour-glass still remains on the pulpit. Plaistow, Essex. — The Friends' meeting-house here was the ac customed resort of Mrs. Fry, Joseph John Gurney, and others well-known for their efforts in the cause of religion and humanity. Plashet.Essex. — Plashet House was the residence of Mrs. Fry from 1808. Here she received the visit of royal and distinguished personages; here also she indulged her love of natural scenery and of wild flowers, filling the plantations with primroses collected by her self with her children and nurse. Plymouth, Devonshire. — Abra ham Chere, minister of a Baptist Church at Plymouth, was appre hended in 1602, for holding an unlawful conventicle. He endured five years' confinement in different prisons, and was then banished to the rocky islet of St. Nicholas, in Plymouth Sound, where he re mained in bonds until his happy death in 1608. He was a man of unusual piety and sweetness of disposition, and a laborious and useful preacher. His tracts and letters are all well worth reading. George Hughes, Fellow of Pembroke College, was an able, active preacher, first at Tavistock, where he was the means of great reforms, and then at St. Andrew's, . Plymouth. He was imprisoned for nine months on St. Nicholas Island, for nonconformity in 1662. In the darkest days of his trial, 127 Plymouth] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Portsmouth he wrote to a friend, "Be not discouraged on account of suffer ings. The cross is the way to the crown. If we suffer with Christ, we shall reign with Him. The dead cause of Reformation, for which we now suffer, shall rise and revive again. Salvation shallcome to the churches. I die, but you shall live to see it." This indeed was the case. He instituted meet ings of the ministers of Devon, of di fferent d enominations, for mutual edification. In 1804, in Stillman Street, was born John Kitto, a child of poor parents. He was employed as a mason's labourer, and whilst so engaged fell from a ladder and became totally deaf. After a sad experience of misery and neglect, he was taken into the workhouse, then apprenticed by the parish to a shoemaker. He was cruelly used and overworked by his master, and public indignation being aroused, he was removed and made sub-librarian at the town library. He had learned in the workhouse to know something of religion, and became more and more interested in it. He began to write ; travelled to the East as companion ; then engaged in a rapid succession of literary work, principally Biblical, leaving a marvellous monument of per severance and industry. After a long life of useful labour, he died in 1854. A few days before his departure, he wrote to a friend, " My Lord is calling me 'up hither' to the higher ¦ room in which He sits, that I may know more of His grace, and that I may more closely understand the inner mysteries of His kingdom." 128 Poole, Dorsetshire.-The church record here contains an entry of expenses at the inn for drink to the mob and its leader, who were employed to drive out the Methodists, when Charles Wesley visited the town on one of his preaching tours. Porlock, Somersetshire. — An. epitaph in the churchyard here displays some peculiarities of the Somersetshire dialect : As us am, so must you be, Therefore prepare to follow we. Port Eliot, St. German's, Corn wall. — This old family seat de rives interest, not only from the remains of the ancient cathedral of Cornwall here, but from the memory of its possessor in the days of the Commonwealth, Sir John Eliot, the statesman and Christian. In 1632, whilst con fined in the Tower, he writes to his friend, the great John Hamp den : " How perfect is His hand that has given His Son unto us, and through Him has promised likewise to give us all things — relieving our wants, sanctifying our necessities, preventing our dangers, freeing us from all ex tremities, and dying Himself for us ! What can we render ? " He diedafterfouryears'imprisonment,inflicted by Charles I., on the 27th of November, 1632. Portsmouth, Hampshire. — A public disputation was held here in 1699, by the authority of King William III., between the Pres byterians and the Baptists. Three champions were chosen on each side, and the speeches lasted from ten a.m. to five p.m., after which both parties claimed the victory. Prescot] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Rainham This town was the scene of the life and labours of Pounds, the pious, courageous, indefatigable shoemaker, who led the way to the establishment of ragged schools in towns. Prescot, Lancashire. — There is a small endowment here for teaching poor children, and for purchasing " godly books de monstrating the infiniteperfectness of the one only supreme God, and teaching the duties we actually owe to Him as such, and to each other as equally the work of His hand." Pulford, Cheshire.— In 1153, a Cistercian monastery was founded here by Robert, the Earl of Chester's baker, the monks being enjoined to pray for the earl while he was a prisoner in the hands of King Stephen. Pusey, Berkshire. — The pro perty of the learned possessor of this name. The estate is said to have belonged to his family ever since the days of King Canute. It is held on the tenure called cornage, i.e., by the presentment of a horn, and the horn to be so used is preserved here as an heir loom. It is an ox horn, with a silver ring, bearing the inscription, " I, King Knoute give William Pewse this horn to hold by this londe." The manor is held on the condition of saying every day five Paternosters for the souls of the king's ancestors. In the thirty- first year of the reign of King Edward ill., the owner made the required recitation before the Barons of the Exchequer at Westminster, saying also the Hail Mary and the Lord's Prayer. Pyrton, Hertfordshire. — In 1644, the incumbent, Mr. Henry Denne, having ceased to believe in infant baptism, was appre hended by the orders of the Commonwealth committee of Cambridgeshire, and sent to gaol for expressing his views. He was released by the London committee. He died in 1658, leaving behind him the reputation of " the ablest man in the kingdom for prayer, expounding, and preaching." Oh ! who shall lightly say that Fame Is nothing but an empty name ! When memory of the mighty dead To earth-worn pilgrim's wistful eye, The brightest rays of cheering shed That point to immortality? Quainton, Buckinghamshire. — The church contains the monu ment of Richard Brett, a learned Grecian and Orientalist, and one of the translators of the Bible. Dear beauteous Death, the jewel of the just, Shining nowhere but in the dark, What mysteries do lie beyond thy dust, Could man outlook that mark ! Rainham, Norfolk. — Thomas Cawton, born here in 1605, at tained considerable renown as a faithful minister and accom plished man. He became rector of Wivenhoe in Essex, and greatly K 129 Raithby Hall] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Reading reformed the people. Having removed to St. Bartholomew, near the Exchange, he distinguished himself as a royalist, and was imprisoned. He fled to Rotterdam, acquired great fame as a scholar and a preacher, and died in 1659. It is said that he had " few equals in learning, and scarcely a superior in piety." Raithby Hall, Lincpln shire. — In Wesley's days, this was the seat of Robert Carr Brackenbury, Esq., a man of wealth, literary culture and taste, as well as of profound personal piety. He became a preacher among the Wesleyans. It is said of him, " His whole being, body, soul, and spirit, were one oblation to God." Ralegh, Nottinghamshire. — There is a tradition here that, many centuries ago, the church and a whole village were swallowed up by an earthquake. It was the custom of the people at Christ mas time to go out and lay then- ears to the ground to listen for the sound of the old bells, which were said to chime down in the earth at this time. Similar legends are attached to Tunstall, in Norfolk ; Fisherty Brow, near Kirkby Lonsdale ; Crosmere, near EUesmere, and one or two other places. Ramsbury, Wiltshire. — The original seat of the bishopric, founded in 909, transferred to Sherborne, again removed to Old Sarum, and finally established at Salisbury. Mr. Henry Dent, of Wadham College, who was ejected from this living in 1662, continued to 130 preach by stealth in the woods and fields, amidst much persecu tion. For some time he walked weekly to Lambome woodlands, above four miles, to preach and talk to the poor people there. Towards the close of his life the times were more peaceable. He died about 1695, his last words were : " An interest in Christ is worth ten thousand worlds." Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. — The abbey here was celebrated for the learning of its monks and the excellence of its library. Ravenstone Dale, Westmore land. — In this wild dale, now opened up and traversed by the Midland Railway, there is an old church where formerly a small bell, called the Saint's Bell, was wont to be rung after the Nicene Creed, to call the dissenters to the Reading, Berkshire. — In the summer of 1 532, when Sir Thos. More, Lord Chancellor, was set ting himself so strongly against the rising Protestantism as to render any promotion of Scrip tural knowledge dangerous, a young man was apprehended here because he would give no ac count of himself. He was placed in the stocks and half-starved, until he sent for the school master of the town, who was so charmed with his learning that he used his influence with the magistrates to obtain his discharge. This was no other than John Frith, the Cambridge scholar, and the friend and asso ciate of Tyndale in Germany, in the great work of translating and Reading] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Ribchester printing the Bible in English. Frith went on to London, and tried to return to Germany, but was apprehended, condemned for denying the doctrine of the real presence, and cruelly burned to death at Smithfield in 1533. In 1539, the abbot here and two of his monks suffered death as traitors, for refusing to deliver to the visitors an account of the property of the monastery. William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born here in 1573. He was beheaded in 1645. The Rev. W. B. Cadogan, a noted evangelical preacher of the last century, was vicar of St. Giles's in the town. Cennick, a joint labourer with Wesley and Whitefield, was a land surveyor here in 1737. He ultimately joined the Moravians. He wrote several expressive hymns, which retain their places in our service of song, among which may be mentioned one that well describes the habitual tenor of his thought : Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone. In 1759, Charles Simeon was born here, who became, by his consistency, ability, and industry as an evangelical minister, the literary and doctrinal leader of the evangelical party during the fifty-four years that he was rector of Trinity Church at Cambridge. He was truly an eminent Christian, and left a fine impression on the successive generations of young men who came beneath his influence. He died in 1836. This was the native place of " good old Dr. Marsh," well known to the past generation for his evangelical labours, and better known perhaps to modern readers as the father of Miss Marsh. Dr. Marsh was ordained in 1800, and here, at Brighton, at Kidder minster, and elsewhere, strove earnestly for the progress of Christ's kingdom on the earth. Redmarley, Worcestershire. — The residence and burial-place of George Shipside, brother-in- law and friend of Ridley the martyr. Redruth, Cornwall. — The build ing here, called the Round House, contains a large room used for Methodist prayer-meetings. Here with eight persons began what is called in Cornwall, the great revival of 18 14. A wave of true spiritual earnestness went forth from this place at that time, which spread over all the west of Cornwall. Reigate, Surrey. — This town was a special centre and resting- place for pilgrims to the shrine of Thomas 5 Becket at Canter bury. The present market-house occupies the site of the chapel of St. Thomas, an ancient oratory and dormitory of the pilgrims. At the Priory, in 1656, died the incomparable Archbishop Usher. His last words were : " O Lord, forgive me ! especially my sins of omission ! " Rettendon, Essex. — John Deri- fall, a labourer, fifty years of age, of this parish, was one of the thirteen martyrs burned together at Stratford in 1556. Ribchester, Durham. — A Ro man temple dedicated to Minerva existed in this place, as is shown 131 Richmond] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Rochford Hall by several inscriptions found and preserved. Richmond, Yorkshire. — In the churchyard here, Herbert Knowles (who died when still young) wrote the well-known stanzas beginning Methinks it is good to be here, If Thou wilt let us build, — but for whom ? Nor Elias nor Moses appear. Ridley Hall, Northumberland, near Haydon Bridge. — Derives its name from the Ridleys of Wil- moteswick, its former proprietors, to which family Bishop Ridley belonged. Ringwood, Hampshire. — Mr. Compton South, B.D. of Oxford, who was ejected from Odiham in 1662, exercised his ministry here after the indulgence, though he lived at a distance of eighteen miles, among a " sober, intelligent, and unanimous people." He received hospitality at the house of Lady Lisle, at Moyles Court, until this excellent and noble lady was judicially murdered by the infamous Jeffreys, in 1685, on the charge of harbouring Mr. Hicks. Ripon, Yorkshire. — At the dedication of the church here, on the site of- the present grand edifice, Archbishop Wilfrid offered four copies of the Gospels, written in gold characters on vellum, and superbly bound. Rochdale, Lancashire. — Here was buried, in 1619, amidst many of his loving converts, Richard Midgley, born in 1530, a famous Puritan, whose labours as a faith ful pastor, a powerful preacher, and able, courageous evangelist, produced very deep and wide spread results.. 132 Roche Abbey, Yorkshire. — A Cistercian foundation, now in ruins. The beauty and solemn loneliness was enhanced, in the eyes of the monks, by the fancied resemblance of one of the preci pices to the outlines of Christ on the cross. This was held in deep reverence, and was indeed an object of pilgrimage as " Our Saviour of the Rock." The figure has disappeared with its super stitious uses. Rochester, Kent. — Among other memories that linger round this place should be recorded the Christian diligence of good Nicho las Ridley, the martyr, who was made Bishop of Rochester in 1547, and of whom his biographer says that " he so travelled and occupied himself by preaching and teaching the true and whole some doctrine of Christ, that never good child was more singularly loved of his dear parents than he of his flock and diocese;" "to whose sermons the people re sorted, swarming about him like bees." In 1672, Nicholas Thorogood having been ejected from Monck- ton under the Act of Uniformity, licensed a room, and in spite of opposition, instituted regular re ligious services. He was im prisoned and fined for preaching in divers places in the county. The cathedral library contains several early printed Bibles, and the Complutensian Polyglott. Rochford Hall, Essex —Here lived in humble piety, Mary Boyle, daughter of the first Earl of Cork, sister of the celebrated Robert Boyle, who became Count- Rockingham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Romsey ess of Warwick. She founded a refuge, to afford temporary shelter and food to indigent poor in London, and relieved poor min isters, whether conformists or others. She was instant in prayer, and termed it " Heart's-Ease." She had " a seraphic zeal for the glory of God, and a great love for immortal souls." Rockingham, Northampton - shire. — It was in the castle, and by the forest of Rockingham, that Anselm stood face to face with the power and the wrath of the Red King. It was in the castle of Northampton that his imitator, Thomas a Becket (says Mr. Free man), " the artificial saint, with stood, in another spirit, a king of another mould, when cross and sword met in more than a figure as hostile weapons." Rolvenden, Kent. — In 1555, John Frankesh, the pious vicar of this parish, was accused of heresy with John Bland, Nicholas Shet- erden, and Humfrey Middleton. They were found guilty of denying the doctrine of the real presence, and after several arguments, in which they much distinguished themselves by Scriptural know ledge, they were condemned by Gardiner, and all burned together on the 12th of July. The letters of Sheterden and of Bland are truly interesting, able, and pathetic. The former, in a letter to his mother, written the day before his death, speaking of the Word of God, says : " Dear mother, em brace it with hearty affection ; read it with obedience ; let it be your pastime." "Your child, written with his hand, and sealed with his blood, Nicholas Sheter den, appointed to be slain." Romford, Essex. — Francis Quarles, author of the Et7ible7ns, was born in 1592, at Stewards, in this parish. He obtained the post of cupbearer to the Queen of Bohemia, became secretary to Usher whilst the latter was Bishop of Armagh, and served Charles the First. He is said to have died of grief in 1644, by reason of his losses of MSS. and other property in the king's cause. We cannot forget that he wrote on the side of religion and virtue, and exercised his ingenuity, after the fashion of the day, in quaint metaphors and allusions in elucid ation or recommendation of spi ritual truth. The following is a fair specimen of his style : Even as the needle, that directs the hour, Touch'd with the loadstone, by the secret power Of hidden nature, points upon the pole ; Even so the wavering powers of my soul, Touch'd by the virtue of Thy Spirit, flee From what is earth, and point alone to Thee. When I have faith to hold Thee by the hand, I walk securely, and methinks I stand More firm than Atlas. Romsey, Hampshire. — In the western wall of the porch of the interesting Norman church is a bas-relief carving of Christ on the cross, with the remarkable addi tion of a hand reached down from above. The Hon. and Rev. Gerard T. Noel died whilevicar of this parish, in 1851. He is known not only as an evangelical preacher of great faithfulness, but as the writer of a few good hymns. To him we owe that general favourite, " If human kindness meets return." 133 Rothbury] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Ryton Rothbury, Northumberland.— This town was the scene of a deadly feud between two rival residents and their followers when Bernard Gilpin, "the Apostle of the North," came to preach. Both parties attended to hear him, but could not restrain their mutual rage in church, and clashed their swords in the clergyman's pre sence. Gilpin with difficulty pre vented them from engaging in combat then and there ; but he was ultimately successful, not only in restraining their violence, but in inducing them to forego their enmity, and live peaceably with one another. Rotherham, Yorkshire. — The birthplace of Robert Sanderson, who became Bishop of Lincoln, and occupies a place in Walton's charming biographies. He was born in 1587, and died in January, 1663. On the monument to Mr. Shaw, one of the ejected ministers, here, is a eulogistic inscription : Ta7n Barnabas, quam Boanerges. Roxby, Yorkshire. — This village on the sea coast was the birth place of Robert Newton, a cele brated and successful Wesleyan minister, who began to preach in 1798. For upwards of fifty years he was an eloquent evangelical orator, attracting crowds of people in all parts of the kingdom. His last words were, " Christ Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, the Life of the dead." Rushden Church, Northamp tonshire. — William Maye, who died in 1631, left the interest of ;£ioo to the parish, "so long as 134 the world indures ;" and ordered that a prayer, which he had had inscribed on one of the walls of the church, should be " for ever " kept in repair. Rushton Hall, Northampton shire. — This was the property and residence of the Treshams, one of whom, Francis, was concerned in the Gunpowder Plot, being, as is supposed, the writer of the famous letter which led to its discovery. He died in prison in 1605. In 1832, while a lintel above a doorway was being removed, a Roman breviary fell out, and a hollow place in the wall was found to be filled with books and r\^ss. These had probably been con cealed by the wife of the conspir ator. The house at Rushton was built by Sir Thomas Tresham, the father of Francis, and is orna mented with Scripture texts and mottoes in great profusion. Under the gable is the inscription : " Quis separabit nos a charitate Christi?" Rye, Sussex. — Wesley, in 1773, complains of the people here, that though they would come to hear him, they would not part with " the accursed thing — smuggling." Ryhall, Rutlandshire.— Here is said to have been buried Saint Tibba, a holy virgin of Godman chester. She is the patron saint of the art of falconry. The presen t hunting cry, "Tantivy!" is said to be a corruption of Sancta Tibba, used in the former sport. Ryton, Northumberland. —In 1578, Francis Bunney became rector here. He was a prebendary of Durham, an admired and popu- St. Albans] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [St. Germans lar preacher, warm in defence of the principles of the Reformation, and " much given to charity." He had strong leanings towards non conformity, but enjoyed the favour and indulgence of two successive bishops of Durham. He died in 1617, and his epitaph commences My bark now having won the haven, I fear no stormy seas ; God is my hope, my home is heaven, My life is happy ease. s. St. Albans, Hertfordshire. — The martyrdom of Alban, a citizen of the Roman town Veru- lamium, for the offence of shelter ing a Christian priest, and refusing to sacrifice to idols, in the year 304 or 305, is well established by tradition, though one may reject the embellishment of miracle with which the monkish chronicles have encumbered the narrative. The great abbey church was founded in 793 by Otfa, King of the Mercians. Soon after the Con quest the present extensive build ings and others were begun, and a grand ecclesiastical establish ment was consolidated. This town was the scene of one of the latest martyrdoms, that of George Tankerfield, who was burned in a meadow near the east end of the abbey on August 26th, 1555- St. Austell, Cornwall. — In a cottage about a mile from the town, was born Samuel Drew, shoemaker, student, metaphy sician, preacher, and editor. He climbed from the lowest round of the social ladder, and attained distinction as a writer on most difficult themes, retaining never theless throughout life the cha racter of a humble Christian. He was born in 1765, and died at Helston in 1833. St. Bees, Cumberland. — The birthplace in 15 19 of Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canter bury. He was a public preacher at Cambridge, and one of the chosen disputants at an argument held before King Edward the Sixth to display the grounds of the Protestant faith. He fled to Frankfort during the persecution under Queen Mary, and on his return was preferred to the see of London, where with great slow ness and reluctance he put in force Queen Elizabeth's orders against separatists. He was transferred to York, and afterwards to Canter bury ; but when the queen asked him to suppress the evangelical lecturers, then becoming common throughout the kingdom, he re fused. For this he was suspended for a time from his archiepiscopal functions, and was never tho roughly restored to royal favour. He helped Foxe in his Acts and Mo7M77ie7its, and was a man of much piety and moderation. He died on July 6th, 1583. St. Germans, Cornwall. — Solomon Carswill was ejected from this living by the Act of Uniformity, and ministered after wards to a congregation in Essex ; but he returned to St. Germans, and preached in his own house till within a fortnight of his death, at the age of eighty-nine. 135 St. Hilary Downs] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Salisbury St. Hilary Downs, Cornwall. — In 1742, John Wesley and John Nelson stopped their horses to pluck and eat the blackberries on the roadside, for the people in the villages were not hospitable, hardly knowing what to make of them. St. Ives, Cornwall. — Mr. Thos. Tregoss was born here of a good family. He graduated at Exeter College, Oxford, preached at St. Ives and Milor, and was ejected and imprisoned for private preach ing at Launceston, Bodmin, and Exeter. In 1742, Charles Wesley came at the invitation of one of the " societies " which propagated Methodism. He was assailed by a mob, and the preaching-house was totally wrecked. They dared him to speak, but he undauntedly proclaimed Christ crucified, and overcame the tumult. The place became a centre of Methodism. John Wesley writes on Sunday, September 14th, 1760 : " At five p.m., I went once more into the ground, and found such a con gregation as I think was never seen in a place before (Gwennap excepted) in this county. Some of the chief of the town were not now on the skirts, but in the thickest of the people. The clear sky, the setting sun, the smooth still water, all agreed with the state of the audience." St. Margaret's, Kent. — An en dowment of five roods of land for ringing the curfew bell every morning at eight o'clock, was be queathed by a shepherd who fell over the cliff. 136 St. Mellion, Cornwall.— Crock- adon House, in this parish, was the residence of the Trevisa family, one of whom, Nicholas, translated into the vernacular — but did not publish — portions of the Bible, in the reign of Richard the Second. St. Neots, Huntingdonshire. — History records the name of one Hugh, of this place, a commen tator on St. Luke's Gospel, in the dark ages. He died in 1340. St. Osyth, Essex.— The nunnery here is said to have been attacked by the Danes about 870, and the absurd legend long presented to the credulous, was that after the Danes had beheaded Osyth, the wife of the King of East Anglia, and foundress of the house, she took up her head and carried it three furlongs to the site of the present church. Saffron Walden, Essex.— (See Uxbridge) Salisbury, Wiltshire. — In the days of King Henry the Seventh, Lawrence Ghest, "a comely and tall person," was burned here for denying the doctrine of tran substantiation. At his execution they brought his wife and seven children to move him to recant, but in vain. He renounced all to follow Christ. The city furnished its full con tingent to the noble army of martyrs. In 1556, John Maun- drell, a farmer who had embraced Protestant truth by reading Tyn- dale's Testament, so that he " de lighted in nothing so much as to hear and speak, of God's word, never being without the New Sandown] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Sawley Abbey Testament about him, although he could not read himself." John Spicer, a mason, and William Coberley, a tailor, were cruelly burned at two stakes in a place between Salisbury and Wilton. At the stake John Maundrell was offered a pardon if he would re cant. "Not for all Salisbury!" exclaimed the Christian hero. Cathedral. In accordance with the symbolism and picture teach ing so universal in the churches before the Reformation, the whole vaulted roof of the presbytery and the choir was covered with scenes descriptive of the work of the months and the operation of the seasons, " to symbolise the hallow ing of human labour by the Son of Man ;" and in the western part, " with the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the witnesses of His Godhead, and surrounded by the glorious company of the Apostles and the four Evangelists, the figure of our Lord in glory ap peared on a boss in the centre of the crossing of the choir-tran sept" (Walcott). In the library is a Bible of the thirteenth century. Hooker and Chillingworth were canons of Salisbury. Sandown, near Deal, Kent. — In a wretched ruinous castle, so called, which stood about half a mile north of Deal, Colonel Hutchinson was imprisoned, with out crime or even accusation, and here he died on September nth, 1664. He was a man of lofty, ardent piety and strong faith. The picture of his imprisonment, his heroic and beautiful content under treatment by which he was slowly killed, and his love of the Bible and of nature is deeply interesting. After his death the body was taken to Owthorpe, the family seat in Lincolnshire, through London, where, of course, the anti-Puritanical fashion then prevailed. His heroic widow, in the last passage of her celebrated memoir, describes this in words of unconscious sublimity : " He was brought home with honour to his grave through the domi nions of his murderers, who were ashamed of his glories, which all their tyrannies could not ex tinguish with his life." Sandwich, Kent. — William Shrubsole was born here in 1729. He was a shipwright at Sheerness, became converted through read ing a volume by Isaac Ambrose, and established a society or Bible class for Sunday afternoons. This society built a meeting-house, in which he laboured with much success and blessing until his death in 1797. He was a man active and intelligent in his call ing, useful in society, and valuable as a minister. He maintained himself and his family by his salary in the dockyard, and his religious services, though regular, were rendered gratuitously. Sawley Abbey, Yorkshire. — This was not very far from Whalley Abbey, and complaints came from the latter that the officials of the former bought up provisions and made them scarce and dear. A chapter was accord ingly held in 1305, at which the monks of the respective founda tions were exhorted to live in mutual love, and it was ordered that any Sawley monk offending 137 Scalesby] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Selsea against Whalley should be sent to the latter for punishment, and vice versa. Scalesby, Yorkshire. — In the churchyard is a good specimen of a Puritan epitaph, on Richard Blaylock : This stone is fixed to let you know When I the Jordan cross'd, My Joshua my pilot was Therefore I am not lost. My faith doth now drive back the flood, My feet touch Sz'on's shore ; My Saviour welcomes me on land, — I'll praise Him evermore. Scarborough, Yorkshire. — George Fox was confined in the castle here for refusing to take an oath, and remained immured for three years, under circumstances of great cruelty and hardship. During his imprisonment he ap pears to have preached the gospel faithfully to every one within his reach. He was discharged in 1666. Scrooby, Nottinghamshire. — From this place went forth Wm. Brewster, who led the Pilgrim Fathers. He was the tenant of the Manor-house, and postmaster, a man of superior abilities, who had seen foreign countries. He was one of the Mayflower pilgrims, and became a distinguished mem ber of the little settlement in Massachusetts. Nothing now remains of the manor-house save a gatehouse converted into farm buildings. The church is older than the Puritan epoch, but dis plays nothing remarkable. Seabridge, Staffordshire.— John Machin was born here in 1624. At Cambridge he instituted a meeting of the students for re ligious purposes. He settled at Ashbourne, explored the dark 138 corners of the neighbouring moor lands, and carried the gospel there. He afterwards went to Tamworth, and preached through out the district, until ejected by the Act of Uniformity. He soon after died in the prime of life, leaving a high character for holiness and spiritual mindedness. Seamer, Yorkshire. — It was here that the insurrection in favour of the Roman Catholic religion broke out in the year 1 549. The rebels were soon overawed into submission, and the ringleaders were executed at York. Seathwaite, Lancashire. — In this parish, Robert Walker was curate for sixty-seven years, of whom Wordsworth gives an ac count in a note to the third volume of his poems, and writes : As in those days When this low pile a gospel teacher knew. Whose good works formed an endless retinue: Such priest as Chaucer sang in fervent lays ; Such as the heaven-taught skill of Herbert drew, [praise. And tender Goldsmith crowned with deathless Selborne, Hampshire. — The home of Gilbert White, described in his well-known work. The good naturalist was not indifferent to religious truth. He sings : Adown the vale, in low sequestered nook, _ Where skirting woods embrace the dimpling brook, The ruined convent lies ; here wont to dwell The lazy canon 'midst his cloistered cell, While papal darkness brooded o'er the land, Ere Reformation made her glorious stand. He bequeathed ,£100, the annual income of which is to be expended in teaching poor children of the parish to read. Selsea, Sussex. — In the year 1075, Stigand, the bishop, removed the see from this place to Chichester. Sempringham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Sheffield Sempringham, Norfolk. — This village was the birthplace of a Norman knight, Sir Gilbert de Sempringham, who took orders in 1 148, and obtained leave from the Pope to found a new order of monks. His reputation for sanctity attracted alarge following, and he built houses for both sexes, thirteen in all. He was canonized in 1202. Not a vestige remains, save green mounds, of the ex tensive conventual buildings once standing here. Settle, Yorkshire. — Giggleswick Church is worth a visit for the sake of the carved panels in the pulpit and reading desk, probably of Elizabethan date, representing the march of the Israelites into Canaan. The dalesmen of this and the adjoining district were famous for their carvings in black oak, which now are much valued and sought after as furniture. Shakerley, Lancashire. — In this town dwelt Jeffery Hurst, a nailer, who married the sister of George Marsh, the martyr. As Hurst was a faithful Protestant, he left his wife and family, in the early years of Queen Mary's reign, to avoid persecution, coming home occasionally, and holding secret communion with sixteen or seven teen others, under one of the devoted preachers who carried on their ministrations in mortal peril. He was detected with a trans lation of Tyndale's Testament, but the accession of Queen Eliza beth freed him from further perse cution. Shalford, Essex.— Mr. Giles Forman, a very popular minister, ejected from this parish in 1662, was converted when a school-boy through Mr. Rogers of Dedham. That minister, observing a number of boys crowding into the church as he was preaching on a week day, cried out, " Here are some young ones come for Christ ; will nothing serve you but you must have Christ?" Shebbear, Devon. — At North Furze in this parish, was born, in 1795, James Thorne, who was, practically, the founder of the denomination called at first Bry- anites, and now Bible Christians. Mr. O'Bryan, a Methodist local preacher, had been the means of spiritual profit to the Thornes ; and when he left the Methodist Connexion and went to America, Mr. Thorne continued the public religious engagements of the late minister around Shebbear. This led to the foundation of a separate denomination. James Thorne was a man of superior mind, energy, and perseverance, and added to his preaching labours the oversight of the Connexion, the editorship of a magazine and a weekly newspaper, and the care of a farm. Sheffield, Yorkshire. — James Montgomery, the poet, is asso ciated with this town, where he spent the whole of his life after his boyhood. As editor of the Sheffield Iris newspaper he was maligned, prosecuted, and im prisoned for a supposed attack on the constitution ; but on another party coming into power he was triumphantly released. He was converted to spiritual religion in 1806, just as his poetic fame was 139 Shepton Mallet] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Shotledge beginning to spread. He felt the need of solid religious peace, sought it through a belief in the work of Christ, and was ever after engaged in promoting His cause and kingdom. He closed his long and useful life in 1854. Dr. Pye Smith, the amiable and talented president of Homerton College, was born here. He was well known for his active zeal and excellent temper during a long life of usefulness, and added to his fame by the publication of Scrip ture Testi7nony to the Messiah. Shepton Mallet, Somersetshire. - — Simon Browne, a learned Pro testant dissenter, was born here in 1680. He was a vigorous up holder of revealed religion against the infidelity of the times, and published a work in defence of Christianity in 1752. Sherborne, Dorsetshire. — When Aldhelm, in the year 705, went to Canterbury to be conse crated Bishop of Sherborne, some ships arrived at Dover. He went to see if they had brought over any books, and finding a copy of the whole Bible, he bought it for Sherborne. William of Malmes- bury, writing four hundred years afterwards, tells us it was still preserved there. About the year 1073, by a de cree of Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, the see was removed from this place to Old Sarum. It had previously been at Rams- bury, Wilts. Mr. Francis Bamfield, who was silenced here by the Act of Uniformity, was a man of good family, a student of Wadham College, Oxford, and a very active 140 clergyman. He anticipated later times by his effort to distribute Bibles and good books. He was imprisoned for holding services in his own house. During his confinement of eight years he preached frequently, often daily, and gathered a church within the gaol. He afterwards took the oversight of a Baptist church at Pinner's Hall, where he was again apprehended for preaching, and was treated with great harshness. He died in Newgate in 1684. Shipham, near East Dereham, Norfolk. — There is a library here in a room above the church, which is rich in early printed books, and contains an illuminated psalter of the fifteenth century. Shiplake, Oxon. — The Rev. James Grainger, author of the well-known Biographical History of E7iglatui, died at the com munion table, whilst in the act of administering the sacrament here, on April 14th, 1776. Shoreham, Sussex. — Here stands the vicarage once occupied by Vincent Perronet, the father of Charles and Edward Perronet, who went out as preachers with Wesley. Edward was the writer of the much-used hymn, " All hail the power of Jesus' name." Shotledge, near Malpas, Ches hire. — Here was born "that justly famous and reverend man," John Dod, Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, incumbent of Han well, where for upwards of twenty years he was a successful laborious evangelical minister. When he was driven out for nonconformity, he preached much in the Midland Shrewsbury] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Southampton counties. He ultimately became minister of Fawsley,in Northamp tonshire, and earned a large re putation for his conversation and ministerial abilities. He died in 1645, aged about ninety-eight. Being once invited to offer his opinion on the stately house of Holdenby, where he was visiting, he desired to be excused, and on being urged, he said, " I see more of God in the beautiful flower I hold in my hand than in all the fine buildings in the world." Shrewsbury, Salop. — In 1769, Mr. Richard Hill persuaded his new friend, Mr. Romaine, to come and preach at St. Chad's church here, which he had obtained from the rector for this purpose. Mr. Romaine preached according to his wont, in exaltation of the person and work of Christ. After the service, Dr. Adam, the incum bent, followed him into the vestry, and said in an angry tone, " Sir, my congregation is not used to such doctrine, and I hope will never hear such again." _ This led to a controversy in print, in which Romaine successfully main tained that the evangelical doc trines now revived were the gen uine doctrines of the Reformation. Sible Hedingham, Essex.— Dr. Henry Wilkinson, Junior Prin cipal of Magdalen Hall, ejected by the Act of Uniformity, preached here privately afterwards. His library was distrained for fines in consequence, and books of great value were damaged and carried off. Yet he pressed Christians to be loyal, meek, and patient. He was a friend of Archbishop Usher. Sibthorpe, Nottinghamshire. — Thomas Seeker, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born here in 1693. Signing Hill, Durham. — This is the highest point on the road from Castle Eden to Durham, and the spot where in olden days travellers were accustomed to make the sign of the cross on first coming in sight of the cathedral. Slackstead, Hampshire. — The residence of Thomas Sternhold, the coadjutor of Hopkins in pre paring the old metrical version of the Psalms in the Book of Com mon Prayer. Soham, Cambridgeshire. — A very ancient religious establish ment was here. St. Felix, first bishop of the East Angles, is said to have built a monastery in 630. His see was afterwards removed to Dunwich. The Danes ravaged and burnt the place in 870. It was here that Andrew Fuller, the poor pastorof a Baptist church, entered, in the year 1776, upon a thorough examination of the system of High Calvinism then prevalent among the Baptists. He communicated the progress and results of his studies to Mr. Sut- cliffe of Olney, and Mr. Ryland, junior, of Northampton, and matured and enunciated that modification of dogma which, as afterwards fully expounded by him, came to be called Moderate Calvinism. This has since prac tically superseded the stricter doctrine. Southampton, Hampshire. — Isaac Watts, the incomparable hymn writer, was born here in 141 Southelem] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Sowerby July, 1674. He made verses from his youth, and was a most diligent writer. By his abilities and cha racter he did much to sustain the character of evangelical truth in a lifeless age, and by his hymns he has continually fed the faith and fervour of the children of God. Doddridge, in a letter to Watts, says that after he had been preach ing to a congregation of working people he gave out the hymn, " Give me the wings of faith to rise," when the minds of the people were so much affected that they could hardly sing for weeping. (For notice of subsequent life see London, Stoke Newington) Southelem, Suffolk. — In 1430, Nicholas Belward was charged with being a Wycliffite, for he "hath a New Testament which he bought at London for 4 marks and 40 pence, and taught Wil liam Wright and his wife, and wrought with them continually, by the space of one year, and studied diligently upon the said New Testament." The price paid for a MS. Testament, just before the diffusion of books by printing, was equal to about ten pounds of pre sent money. South Leigh, near Witney, Oxon. — John Gambold, the vicar, was an early friend of John Wesley, who preached his first sermon here. South Mailing, Sussex. — The cemetery behind the chapel here contains the grave of the religious enthusiast, William Huntington, who generally appended to his name the letters S.S., or Sinner Saved. (See Lewes) 142 South Ormsby, Lincolnshire.— This was the living of Samuel, father of John Wesley, where, on fifty pounds a year, he and his noble wife toiled hard in the early days of their married life. He wrote a metrical life of Christ, and other pieces, satirized for their dulness by the wits of the day, who could not admire their goodness. He sang : Let earth go where'it will, I'll not repine, Nor can unhappy be, whilst heaven is mine. He was the author of the fine hymn, " Behold the Saviour of mankind." South Petherton, Somerset shire. — Thomas Northcote Toller, an eminent Independent minister at Kettering, and the intimate friend of Robert Hall at Leicester, was born here in 1756. He was a man of commanding presence, vigorous intellect, refined taste, and sound Scriptural knowledge. Southwell, Nottingham. — Dis tinguished by the founding here of one of the earliest British churches, by Paulinus, who had been sent as a missionary to Eng land by Pope Gregory VII. Sowerby, Yorkshire. — Here, in a house which still stands, Arch bishop Tillotson was born in 1630. He was the son of a Puritan clothier, and was at first a preacher among the noncon formists, but afterwards took orders and obtained rapid and deserved preferment in the Church of England. He died Archbishop of Canterbury in 1694. It is re lated that the old Yorkshire clo thier went to call on his son when the latter was archbishop, and on Spalding Moor] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Staindrop his asking if John Tillotson was at home he was treated by the servant with ridicule ; but as soon as the archbishop heard of his arrival, he hastened to the door, and went down on his knees before the servants to beg his father's blessing. Spalding Moor, Yorkshire. — A cell was founded here on the edge of the moor for two monks, one of whom acted as guide to travellers across the waste, and the other remained to pray for their safety. Speen, Berkshire. — William Twiss, Prolocutor of the Assem bly of Divines, was born here. He became preacher at Newbury, and was highly esteemed. Fuller says, " His plaine preaching was good, solid disputing better, pious living best of all." Speke Hall, Lancashire. — The seat of the Norreys family, built in 1598. The panelling of the great hall is surmounted by mot toes, one of which runs thus : " Slepe not till ye hathe consedered howe thow hast spent ye Daye past. If Thow have well don, thank God ; if other ways, Repent ye." Spetchley, Worcestershire. — Elizabeth, wife of the celebrated Bishop Burnet, was buried here 1708-9. She was an accomplished and pious woman, who busied herself in establishing schools for the poor in the district where she dwelt. Spittal-on-the-Street, Lincoln. — A hamlet on the old Roman road, which contains a hospital for poor widows founded in the sixteenth year of Edward 11. Every inmate is entitled to one shilling a week, a load of coals annually, and the services of the chaplain. Sporle, Norfolk. — James Cooke, of this parish, in 1506, directs by his will that his executors shall hold a bout of drinking for his soul in the church. Stadham, Oxford. — The great Dr. Owen was born here in the year 161 6. Such was his early proficiency that he was admitted to the University at about twelve years of age. He went to London, and sought for Aldermanbury Church to hear Dr. Calaniy ; but he was disappointed, for the doctor did not preach, and a stranger from the country took the service. Owen never could hear of this person again, but the sermon was blessed to the re moval of all his religious doubts and perplexities. He became a man of great and deserved renown for learning and piety, and com manded the respect and esteem of all parties in the most turbulent times. After the Restoration, and the re-imposition of penal laws against nonconformity, he retired to Ealing, writing there the last of his many books, which had for its theme, Meditations 071 the Glory of Christ. He died in 1683. Stafford. — Izaak Walton, the biographer of George Herbert, and author of the Co7npleat Angler, was born here in 1593. He be came a bookseller in Fleet Street and died in 1683. Staindrop, Durham. • — Raby Castle, the magnificent ancient H3 Stalbridge Park] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Staplehurst seat of the Duke of Cleveland and his ancestors, the Vanes, was once the property of the celebrated Sir Henry Vane, the ardent politician of the Commonwealth, who was barbarously condemned and ex ecuted as a regicide after the Restoration. He was a man of pure, exalted, and devout Christian character. His religious works are prolix and mystical, but his hold of evangelical tenets was firm, and his conduct consistent. Stalbridge Park, Wiltshire. — In the old Manor-house, now a farm, lived from 1646 to 1650 the great and good Robert Boyle, son of the Earl of Cork. Here he made his first chemical experi ments. Here too he was a dili gent, faithful, and learned student of the Word of God. His fine treatises, the first, On the high Ve7ieration Man's hitellect owes to God j the second, <9« the True Place of the Supernatural ; and the third, On the Style of Holy Scripture, are, like many others of his works, of real value in the history of Christian thought and progress. Stamford, Lincolnshire. — The ruins of St. Leonard's here, a Benedictine monastery, date from the twelfth century. In 1424, one of the friars, named William Russell, was bold enough to preach in the town sermons against the celibacy of the clergy, and the divine right of tithes. Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. — Henry Wye, a brewer, thirty-two years of age, of this parish, was one of the thirteen martyrs burnt together at Stratford in 1556. 144 Stanford Rivers, Essex. — The second Isaac Taylor, the author of many thoughtful and accom plished works, among which stands pre-eminent the Natural History of Enthusiasm, lived here for forty years, and, with his wife and two daughters, lies buried in the churchyard. Stanhope, Durham. — In the deep retirement of this moorland parish, Bishop Butler formulated the propositions of his immortal Analogy, which proves to all men that the religion of the Bible, the religion of Christ Jesus, is in com plete accord with the course and constitution of nature. Stanley Green, Gloucestershire. — In 1735, John Wesley writes in his Journal: "Between five and six, I called on all who were present (about 3000) in Stanley, on a little green near the town, to accept of Christ. I was strength ened to speak as I never did be fore, and continued speaking near two hours. The darkness of the night, and a little lightning, not lessening the number, but in creasing the seriousness of the hearers." Stanmore, Middlesex. — This was the place to which Hetty, John Wesley's favourite sister, a poetess of refined Christian character, retired from the uncongenial at mosphere of her husband's home in Frith Street, Soho, where she had endured much suffering. She writes a touching letter to her brother John descriptive of her newly-found peace in Christ. Staplehurst, Kent.— This small town was distinguished by its Stapleton] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Steyning early and consistent Protestant ism, which brought its usual painful consequences in the days of persecution. Alice Potkins, a married woman, was one of the many condemned to death for denial of transubstantiation in 1556. She perished with John Archer of Cranbrook, and two others, from hunger, it is said, in the castle gaol of Canterbury. Alice Bendon was informed against by her own husband, and confined in the bishop's prison at Canterbury. Her sorrowing brother, who sympathized with her, discovered her place of con finement by her singing, and supplied her with bread thrust be tween the bars with a pole. She experienced spiritual depression through the straitness and soli tariness of her confinement, but received comfort one night when she rehearsed the Psalm, " Why art thou so heavy, O my soul?" She was burned with six others. At the fire she could send no memorial to her brother save a lace, which she asked the keeper to take to him, as " the last band she was bound with except the chain." Stapleton, Somersetshire. — Hannah More was born here in 1745. Early in life she entered fashionable literary society, but afterwards, under the influence of religion, she devoted herself, with her sisters, to the work of the religious education of the poor on the Mendip Hills and district of Cheddar, persevering amidst obstacles now hardly credible. She then endeavoured to intro duce evangelical piety into higher circles, and acquired great influ ence for good, which she wielded with diligence, judgment, and great ability. She died at Clifton on the 7th of September, 1833. Staveley, near Newby Bridge, Lancashire, not far from the southern end of Windermere. — From this place the Act of Uni formity drove the Rev. Gabriel Camelford, who thereupon became a minister at large in the lake- country, preaching wherever he could gather a company, and admitting to communion " all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth." Thus was formed a truly catholic Congreg ational Church, which long con tinued to flourish. Stean, Northamptonshire. — In the church is the monument, dated 1683, of Sir Thomas Crewe, and his wife, Temperance Bray. The latter was the precursor of the noble women who have given themselves to good works, for her epitaph records that " her hand, which had good blood in every vein, yet was not dayntie, nor did disdayne salve to apply to Lazarus' sore." Steyning, Sussex. — In 1555, John Launder, of Godstone, was apprehended on being overheard at prayer with twelve others at Brighton. He was found guilty before Bonner of denying the doctrine of the real presence, and burned at Lewes on July 22nd. His English Bible was thrown into the barrel in which he stood, to be burned with him ; he tossed it out again to the people, but the sheriff had it thrown in again. H5 Stock] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Stone Stock, Essex. — Memorable as containing the parsonage of Wm. Unwin, son of Cowper's friend Mary Unwin, to whom the poet wrote the inimitable satirical lines on his tithe-audit troubles : Come ponder well, for 'tis no jest, To laugh it would be wrong, The troubles of a worthy priest, The burthen of my song. Stoke, Suffolk. — In the time of the persecution under Queen Mary, a band of believers as sembled here, and contrived to worship by themselves without going to mass. Stoke Hammond, Buckingham shire. — In this parish, not far from Leighton Buzzard, was born, in 1640, Benjamin Keach, a power ful preacher, copious writer, and keen controversalist, of the Baptist persuasion. His books were long popular for their evangelical senti ment and pointedness. His work on Metaphors, and his two al legories, on the Travels of God liness and Ungodliness, may be read with interest and profit. He was a voluminous hymn writer, but these compositions have been superseded by others, containing equal orthodoxy and more poetry. He triumphed over persecution in the dark days of the Restora tion, and ultimately became the laborious and useful minister of a prosperous Baptist church on the Surrey side of London, at Horselydown, from which the church now presided over by Mr. Spurgeon has descended. Stoke Newington, Middlesex. ¦ — This place is inseparably con nected with the name of Dr. Watts, who was for thirty-six 146 years the honoured guest of Sir Thomas and Lady Abney, at a mansion occupying part of the area which is now the Abney Park Cemetery. After having given to the Church its permanent songs of praise, and sustained a high Christian character through out his life, Dr. Watts died in 1748. His distinct publications. many of them elaborate treatises, number forty-six. Stoke Prior, Worcestershire. — Here, about 1852, Joseph Sturge, after making a preliminary at tempt at Birmingham, turned a farmhouse into a reformatory, with accommodation for sixty boys, selected from the criminal and outcast population. He gave them moral and religious training, and found situations for them. Stoke - upon - Trent, Stafford shire. — John Lightfoot, D.D., re nowned for his Hebrew and Rab binical knowledge, was born here on March 29th, 1602. He went to Cambridge, took orders, de voted himself to the study of languages, and became rector of Ashley in Staffordshire. He was appointed vice-chancellor at Cam bridge under the Protectorate, was a zealous promoter of the Polyglot Bible, and generally dis tinguished himself in the cause of Biblical learning. He died in 1675. Stone, Kent.— John Clark and Dunston Chittenden, both of this parish, perished with two others, whilst imprisoned in Canterbury Castle, in 1556, on the charge of heresy regarding the doctrine of transubstantiation. There- were Stonham, Little] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Stratford fifteen persons in gaol together for this offence. Stonham, Little, Suffolk. — William Browne, the incumbent, at the death of Edward the Sixth, was informed against for some Protestant expressions in a ser mon, by a zealous constable of his parish. He was persecuted, imprisoned, deprived of his living, and, with his wife, cast out into the wide world. Stowell Park, Gloucestershire. — Under Chadworth Woods here were discovered considerable re mains of Roman occupation, which are carefully preserved and pro tected. They are unusually in teresting, for they indicate the existence of a Christianized people. Stowford, Devon. — John Prid eaux was born here in 1578. Having vainly tried to obtain the office of parish clerk at Ugborough, he learnt a little Latin under difficulties, walked to Oxford, and became a servitor in Exeter Col lege. He devoted all his spare time to study, was admitted a member of the college, became a fellow, and finally was made Bishop of Worcester in 1641. He died at Bredon on July 29, 1650, leaving to his children no legacy, but " pious poverty, God's bless ing, and a father's prayers." Stratford, Essex. — In August, 1555, was burned here one Eliza beth, the widow of John Warne, who had preceded her by suffer ing a fiery death in the previous May. She was seized whilst engaged in prayer and worship at a house in Bow Lane, Cheapside. Some short time after this the son of these devoted parents suffered for the same crime of heresy, namely, the denial of the doctrine of transubstantiation. The 27th of June, 1556, was memorable for the horrible sight of the wholesale martyrdom here of thirteen persons, who were burned together for denying the doctrine of transubstantiation. They were all Essex people of the lower middle class. The eleven men were tied to three stakes, and the two women were left loose in the midst. They re fused to abjure, saying that their faith was founded on Christ crucified. Of them it may be said, in the words of the poet : I ask them whence their victory came, They, with united breath, Ascribe their victory to the Lamb, Their triumph to His death ! One of them was a young wife, twenty-one years of age. The beginning of September, 1556, witnessed another exciting scene in this place. Twenty-two confessors, Essex men, appre hended at Colchester for heresy, were marched to London to take their trial before Bonner. They were met here by companies of good men, who came to comfort and strengthen them, andattended them all the way to Fulham, where the crowd numbered above one thousand persons. Here was born, in 1 575, William Gouge, who became one of the most useful and energetic of the evangelical ministers of London as incumbent of Blackfriars. He was the author of The Whole Armour of God, and a useful little treatise on the Lord's Prayer. It is recorded of him that "there H7 Strood] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [S waff ham was scarce a lord or lady, or citizen of eminence in or about the metropolis, that were piously affected, but they sought his ac quaintance, and were ambitious of his company, and found much benefit to their souls' welfare." This was also the birthplace, in 1605, of his son, Thomas Gouge, who, in 1638, was appointed to the large metropolitan living of St. Sepulchre. He remained here until his death, and became noted not only for his evangelical faithful preaching, but for his efforts to do good in regard to the social condition of his people. He was the originator of in dustrial schools and institutions, of Bible distributions in Wales, and of many plans which fore shadowed the missionary and philanthropic efforts of after times. Strood, Kent. — A singular es cape befel William Wood, a baker here, who was in 1558 charged with heresy concerning the real presence in the sacrament. He was examined by the chancellor of the diocese, and by Dr. Chedsey. These two fell out so violently concerning the proper definition of the word transubstantiation, that in a furious passion with each other they bounced out of the judgment seat and left the heretic, who thereupon quietly escaped. Sudbury, Suffolk.— Dr. Richard Sibbes, that "grave and solid divine," to whom we are indebted for The Bruised Reed and The Soul's Conflict, was born near this place. He went to Cam bridge in 1595, and became suc cessively lecturer at Trinity Col- 148 lege, and preacher at Gray's Inn. In the latter capacity he was a popular metropolitan orator on the Puritan side for several years. He died in 1635. Sudeley, Gloucestershire. — It is said by the historians that the first Protestant sermon ever preached in England was de livered in the chapel of Sudeley Castle by Miles Coverdale, at the funeral of Queen Catherine Parr, who had resided here. Sunning, Berkshire.— Anthony Faringdon was born here in 1596. He was an eloquent preacher of sermons still admired, but was ejected under the Commonwealth, for persisting in the use of the Book of Common Prayer. Sutton Ashfield, Nottingham shire. — Abraham Booth, a young schoolmaster, invited by Mr. Venn, of Huddersfield, about 1760, to preach in his kitchen, became a useful Baptist minister. He was the author of the Reign of Grace. Swaffham, Norfolk. — In this place, near the fens, was born, in 1735, the eccentric but able Robert Robinson. He records that he was converted in 1752 by hearing Whitefield preach. He became minister of a Baptist church at Cambridge, and soon sprang into note as a most power ful writer on political subjects and ecclesiastical history. Before his death in 1790 he had cultivated an acquaintance with Dr. Priestley, which appears to have diminished his fervour and disturbed his faith. He wrote, amongst other fine hymns, " Come, Thou Fount of every blessing." Swaffham Prior] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Tadcaster Swaffham Prior, near New market, Cambridgeshire. — At Reak, in this parish, was born Dr. Thomas Gibbons, an eminent dissenting minister of the last century, and a useful evangelical writer. He lived long enough to share in the prospect of the general diffusion of the gospel throughout the world, which he indicated in his well - known hymn, " Great God, the nations of the earth." Swanage, Dorsetshire. — John Wesley, in 1774, writes : " In the evening, I preached in a meadow near Swanage to a still larger congregation, and here at length I found three or four persons, and all of one family, who seemed really to enjoy the faith of the gospel." Swannington, Leicestershire. — In 1662, George Fox preached here to an assembly of Friends, but the meeting was broken up by Lord Beaumont with a com pany of soldiers. Fox was com mitted to prison with some of his hearers, but it was difficult to find any one willing to take them ; and when at last five were driven off in a cart, they preached as they went, and were escorted by a large band of sympathisers. On their arrival at Leicester gaol, Fox preached to the felons there. Swanton, Norfolk. — Henry Ainsworth, the eminently learned Puritan divine, was born here about 1570. He was ranked with the early Brownists, and banished in 1593 to Holland, where he lived in great poverty. Amongst other works which he wrote at Am sterdam was a compilation of psalms for public worship, which was carried by the Pilgrim Fathers to New England. It was a psalm book, a commentary, a metrical version, and a tune-book, all in one. Swartmoor, Lancashire. — The Elizabethan mansion of Swart moor Hall, one mile from Ulver- ston, now a comfortable resi dence, formerly belonged to the Fells, and to George Fox. One of the rooms is pointed out as the study of Judge Fell ; and the uppermost of the three front windows was Fox's study, from which he is said to have occasion ally preached. The first Quakers' meeting-house ever built stands about half a mile from the hall. Part not with these old names, each one of which Bears in its bosom precious histories, The life-deeds and death-conflicts of the men From out whose loins we spring, the men of might And wisdom, who have won such victories Of truth for us. Tadcaster, Yorkshire. — The village of Healaugh, three miles from this town, is said to be on the site of a religious foundation, originated in the seventh century by a lady named Keen. She was the first woman in the kingdom of Northumbria who devoted her self to God in conventual seclusion, and was a disciple of St. Hilda, at Whitby. In July, 1776, John Wesley writes : — "I preached about noon with an uncommon degree of freedom, which was attended 149 Tarring] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Thetford with a remarkable blessing. A glorious work is dawning here, against which nothing can pre vail." Tarring, East, Sussex. — Of good Mr. John Earl, the ejected minister of this place in 1662, it was said that he lived much, though not long. He laboured amidst extreme hardships, and died at the age of thirty-five, in 1669. Taunton, Somersetshire. — One of the numerous victims of the "Bloody Assize," in 1685, was Benjamin Hewling, who was con demned for having joined Mon mouth and the rising against Popery and James the Second. He was twenty-two years of age, and was a devout Christian, of uncommon abilities and sweetness of temper. His brother, William Hewling, was of like character, and was also executed at Lyme. They were nephews of William Kiffin, an eminent London mer chant and Baptist, and their sad fate made a deep impression throughout the country. Tavistock, Devon. — Thomas Larkham, M.A., the ejected min ister of Larkham, under the Act of Uniformity, was established here by the Duke of Bedford and the parishioners, but was so greatly harassed by prosecutions, it is said, in every court in England, that he went to America. He afterwards returned, and con tinued, with various interruptions, a most holy, useful, and learned ministry, in this place, until his death in 1669, "lamented by pious persons of all persuasions." 150 In 1745, Thomas Adams, one of Whitefield's preachers, was at tacked by the mob with the fire- engine, which they endeavoured to play on him and the congrega tion. On his next visit, in 1749, he says, " I was rudely treated ; for whilst I was praying, some of the baser sort brought a bull and dogs, and disturbed us much, but I hope good was done." Tetbury, Gloucestershire. — On a tablet in the west cloister of the church is the following singular inscription . "In a vault under neath are several of the Saunders, late of this parish. Particulars the last day will declare. Amen." Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. — There is an endowment in this parish of £100 South Sea Stock, the dividends to be applied to the sick poor, " without any regard to differences of political and re ligious opinions." Thame, Bucks. — At the Grey hound Inn, in 1643, John Hamp den died of wounds received on Chalgrove Field. He expired praying for his country, for for giveness of his sins, and for acceptance through Christ. He was attended by his friend, Dr. Giles, rector of Chinnor, and by Dr. Spurston, the chaplain of his regiment. Although his wound was received in the face of the enemy, it is supposed that it was caused by the bursting of his own pistol, which had been unskilfully and negligently overloaded by his servant. Thetford, Norfolk. — In the year 1094, the see was removed from this place to Norwich, by Herbert Losinga. Thorney Abbey] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Tilseley A synod is said to have been held here in 572, under Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury. Thorney Abbey, Lincolnshire. — The place of the imprisonment and death of Reginald Peacock, Bishop of Chichester, who had embraced some of the tenets of Wycliffe. He wrote a treatise in defence of the sole authority of Scripture, which he afterwards retracted ; but notwithstanding this he was silenced in 1457, imprisoned, deprived of all writing materials, and allowed only a a breviary, a mass-book, a psalter, a legend, and a Bible. Three of the hermits of Thor ney Abbey received canonization, St. Tancred, St. Torthred, and St. Tone. This parish, which is fifteen miles from the outlet of the great Fen drain constructed by Rennie and Telford, was the scene of a strange thanksgiving. The news that the water which flooded the land was moving off through the works, came to Thorney on Sun day morning during service-time, when all flocked out, clergyman and all, to see the great sight, and own the blessings which the skill and perseverance of the engineers had brought about. Thornton, Cheshire. — The early reformer, Bernard Gilpin, was for a time rector here. Thorpe Mandeville, Northamp tonshire. — On one of the church bells is the following quaint in scription, of the date, 1639 : Let Aaron's bells continually be rung, The Word still preached, and an Halle lujah sung ! Thundersley,Essex. — Amongst the names of six Essex men burned at Smithfield, in April, 1556, occurs that of Robert Drakes, parson of this parish, who had learned the truth from Dr. Tay lor, of Hadleigh, and had been ordained deacon by Cranmer, and appointed minister by Ridley. He was imprisoned, and after many examinations, during which he stedfastly adhered to the Pro testant doctrines, suffered martyr dom with five others. Thurcaston, Leicester. — The birthplace of Hugh Latimer. The farmhouse in which he is said to have been born, the farm culti vated by his father, the pasturage for the " hundred sheep and thirty kine," the old church, the font, and the hills and woods of the forest not far off, are all closely asso ciated with his memory. Here he stored his mind with a fund of rural facts, which afterwards served to illustrate and adorn his forcible sermons. Tickhill Castle, Yorkshire.— A round tower of early Plan- tagenet date. On the old oak door of the gatehouse is a carved inscription : " Peace and grace be to this place." Tilbury, West, Essex. — This is the place where St. Cedd, apostle of the East Saxons, founded one of his two religious houses. There was a Roman settlement here. Tilseley, Norfolk. — Aylmer Hall was the birthplace of John Aylmer, who became tutor to Lady Jane Grey, about 1521. An exile for religion in Queen Mary's days, in 1553; he was 151 Tingewick] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Tiverton afterwards made Bishop of Lon don, and became a vigorous champion of Episcopacy against the Puritans. He died in 1594. Tingewick, Buckinghamshire. • — Here, during the early Reforma tion, dwelt Richard Collins, a great reader to the faithful. He was denounced to Bishop Lang- land for this occupation, and for having in his possession a book of Luke, one of Paul, Wycliffe's Wicket, and a gloss of the Apoca lypse. Thomas Collins, his father, had also a book of the Epistles. Many persons were impeached for going to Collins's house, and hear ing portions of Holy Writ. The Scriptures, in Wycliffe's trans lation, in separate books, which must have been in MS., were much distributed and read at this time, in all this district. The brother, John, and sister, Joan, were also accused. Tintern Abbey, Monmouth shire. — These beautiful ruins date from the twelfth century, and mark the home of a fraternity of Cistercian monks founded 1131. Tirling, Essex. — In 1643, a public disputation concerning infant baptism was held here between Mr. John Stalham, the vicar, assisted by his neighbours, Mr. Newton, and Mr. Gray, with Mr. Batt, a physician, and Mr. Thomas Lamb, a manufacturer. Mr. Stalham, who was ejected under the Act of Uniformity, formed a Congregational Church here. He died in 1681 or 1683. Tisbury, Wiltshire. — When Cornelius Winter of Bath came to preach here, he was struck with 152 the comely appearance and reli gious earnestness of a stone cutter's apprentice. Mrs. Turner, the wife of a wealthy manufacturer, who wished to establish preaching here, had the same impression. The lad was sent for, and came in his working apron ; they talked with him, and were charmed with his piety and intelligence. Mr. Winter assisted him to overcome his difficulties, and to consider the ministry as his destination. He made such marvellous progress that he began to preach at the age of sixteen years, and before he was twenty-one had delivered over one thousand sermons. This lad was William Jay, and at the time of his death, at the age of eighty-four in 1853, he was the honoured, useful, eminent minister of Argyle Chapel, Bath. Titchfield, Hampshire. — The birthplace and residence until marriage of the pious and heroic Lady Rachel Wriothesley, wife of William, Lord Russell. Tiverton, Devonshire. — The church of St. Peter here is remark able for containing in the porch and chapel on the south side, richly ornamented sculpture illus trative of the Bible. John Rowe, M.A., son of the excellent John Rowe, of Crediton, and father of Thomas Rowe, a minister in London, was born here. He was preacher in Westminster Abbey in 1654, and was a pious, able, useful man. He delivered a discourse before the Parliament, on the subject, " Man's duty of magnifying God's works." Many of his sermons were published. Toddington] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Truro Toddington, Gloucestershire — In this parish, in the year 1530, died a " worshipful esquire," named William Tracy, who had passed a life of good repute. After his death, on his will being brought forward for probate in the eccle siastical court, it was found that he had expressed himself therein as relying for salvation on the merits of Christ only, ignoring the mediatorship of saints and angels, and that he left no money to the priests to say masses for his soul. The deceased was ad judged a heretic, and although two years had elapsed since his death, his remains were taken out of the earth and burned. Tooting, Surrey.— The Inde pendent Meeting here is said to have been founded by Daniel Defoe. Torrington, Devon. — John Howe (clarum et venerabile nome7i), though born at Lough borough in Leicestershire, is asso ciated with this town, where he preached to a numerous and flourishing'congregation for many years. During the Commonwealth, he became one of Cromwell's chaplains. He was ejected by the Act of Uniformity, after which he settled in London. As an evan gelical writer he is known as the great John Howe. Tottenham, Middlesex. — Here, in 1796, was born one of the greatest of missionaries, John Wil liams, the apostle of Polynesia, who fell a martyr to his zeal, at Erromanga, in 1839. Totteridge, Herts. — Richard Baxter lived here in enforced re tirement from 1665 to 1672, after his release from prison, where he had been confined for a breach of the Act for the Suppression of Conventicles. Trowbridge, Wilts.— The liv ing of Crabbe the poet, whose declining years appear to have been solaced by the comfort of a true faith in the doctrines of the Cross. He died in 1832. Truro, Cornwall. — The Rev. Samuel Walker, born at Exeter in 1 7 14, exercised a faithful, powerful evangelical ministry here. He became curate in 1746, but was converted, as he tells us, some years afterwards, and altered his style of preaching in consequence. Great crowds now attended his ministrations, and much local dis turbance was occasioned ; he sympathised with Whitefield. and entered into correspondence with the leaders of the new evangelical revival. He became exhausted by his incessant labours, and on his death-bed he penned with diffi culty a few lines to old Mr. Conon of Truro, who had first led him to the knowledge of the Saviour, " I stand and look upon the other world with an established heart. I see the way prepared, opened, and assured to me in Christ Jesus." Dr. Haweis, Rector of Aid- winkle, chaplain to Lady Hunt ingdon, one of the band of Wesleyan itinerants, and a hymn- writer, was born here. This was the birthplace, in 178 1, of Henry Martyn. His memor able career as a missionary to India, and his lonely death whilst crossing Persia by the overland route, are familiarly known. His 153 Trysail] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Twyford character is a model of self-deny ing zeal and devotion to the one absorbing purpose of advancing the kingdom of Christ. He went to Cambridge in 1797, to India in 1805, and died at Tokat on Octo ber 1 6th, 1 8 12. Trysail, Staffordshire. — An en dowment of five shillings per quarter is to be paid to a poor man who shall engage to awaken the sleepers, and whip dogs out of church during divine service ; it was founded in 1725. Tunbridge, Kent.— Mrs. Mar gery Polley, wife of Richard Polley, was in 1555 condemned for deny ing the doctrine of transubstantia tion, and went to the stake at Dartford singing a psalm. Joan Beach, a widow of Tun bridge, was condemned in 1556 for being a " Sacramentary," i.e., one who denied the Romish doc trine of the real presence. She was burned to death with one John Harpole, at Rochester. The confession of belief made by Mrs. Beach, on which she was con demned, is that " the sacrament of the altar under forms of bread and wine, is not the very body and blood of our Saviour in sub stance, but only a token or re membrance of His death to the faithful receiver, and that this body and substance is only in heaven, and not in the sacra ment." Tunbridge Wells, Sussex. — One of Whitefield's last public services in England was the open ing of the Countess of Hunting don's Chapel in Tunbridge Wells, on July 23rd, 1769. Early in the 154 morning, a number of persons assembled in front of her lady ship's dwelling, in the open air, and sang and prayed until the time for public worship. The chapel was thronged, and the sermon was said to be a marvel lous piece of sacred oratory. Turvey, Bedfordshire. — The home of the Rev. Legh Richmond from the year 1805 until his death in 1827. Here he wrote The Fathers of the English Church, and from this place he went forth on missionary journeys through out England which tended greatly to the spread of the gospel. Tutty/s Village, Sussex. — A hamlet in Frant parish, two miles from Tunbridge Wells, which is so named in commemoration of James Tutty, of Brenchley, who suffered martyrdom for the truth at Canterbury in 1555, with four others. Twickenham, Middlesex. — In a little cottage on the Staines road, now pulled down, Joanna Southcott, the so-called pro phetess, lived and reigned in the midst of her delusions. Twyford, Buckinghamshire. — Rodolph Bradford, of this place, was one of Latimer's early friends and co-workers for doctrinal re formation. A warrant was applied for to arrest him, but his subse quent history does not appear. Twyford, Leicestershire. — One of the few men who, during the lethargic times of the commence ment of the eighteenth century, endeavoured to arouse the Church of England to a sense of its depar ture from the zeal and principles Tytherton] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY "Waddesdon of the Reformation, was Robert Seagrave, born in this parish in 1693. He endeavoured to replace the moral preaching which then prevailed by thorough gospel teaching. He left the Establish ment in order that he might have greater freedom in preaching, and was a useful and successful min ister in London. The hymn, " Rise my soul, and stretch thy wings," with several others still popular, were written by him. Tytherton, Wiltshire. — The Moravian settlement here was founded as a Methodist establish ment in the early days of the Wesleyan revival, by Mr. Con- nicker, who, upon the occurrence of the division between Wesley and Whitefield, carried his build ings here to the Moravians, and the schools and chapel and sister- house have grown up into im portant institutions. Oh that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall ; There join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all 1 u. Upminster, Essex. — Dr. Der- ham, the precursor of Paley, in stating the argument from design in creation, was rector from 1689, to 1735, and lived at High House, near the church. He wrote Phy- sico-, Astro-, a7id Christ- Theology. He was one of the many pious naturalists who have employed their knowledge in demonstrating and illustrating the glory of God. Uppingham, Rutland. — This was the rectory of Jeremy Taylor. He was married here to Phcebe Londisdale on May 27th, 1639. Up-Street, Kent. — This village, about five miles from Canterbury, was the scene of one of the small beginnings of modern evangelical preaching. About the year 1796, a zealous Wesleyan from Margate came over and began preaching in a field under a tree. After some time he was invited into a cottage, which was subsequently licensed, and afterwards a small chapel was built. Urchevant, Wilts. — John Bent, of this place, a tailor, was burned at Devizes in 1532, for denying the doctrine of transubstantiation. Usk, Monmouthshire. — John Evans, a Baptist minister and voluminous writer of useful evan gelical works, was born here. He died in 1827. Uxbridge, Middlesex. — This place was one of the centres of the early Reformation, and therefore of the early persecution. Several became martyrs to their denial of the doctrine of transubstantiation, and were burned on the Lynch Green by the Windsor road. Oh ye, who proudly boast, In your free veins, the blood of sires like these, Look to their lineaments. Dread lest ye lose Their likeness in your sons. w. Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. — A Latin inscription on a monu ment here records the pastorate of Henry Wilkinson, an old Puritan, born in 1566, and for forty-six 155 Wainfleet] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Walton-on-Thames years incumbent of this living. He was a member of the West minster Assembly, and author of a popular catechism, and lived and worked amidst his own people in great usefulness and peace. He died in 1647. Wainfleet, Lincolnshire. — Amongst other endowments, Ed ward Barth gave ,£35 per annum on condition that the incumbent should preach and read prayers over every Sunday throughout the year, in lieu of every other Sunday as theretofore. One of the names which shine out in the annals of mediaeval scholarship is that of William Wayneflete, head-master of Win chester School in 1429, first master of Eton College, Bishop of Win chester in 1442, founder of Mag dalen College, Oxford, and Lord Chancellor in 1456. He died in August, i486. Wall, Northumberland. — Some interesting memorials of the his tory of religion occur here. In the cemetery lies a mutilated Roman altar. During the repairs of the chapel, a silver coin of King Oswald was found, and it was here that he raised the stand ard of the cross, and defeated the Britons under Cadwalla. The chapel was built here by the monks of Hexham to commemorate the latter incident. Walsingham, Norfolk. — A famous place of pilgrimage to "Our Lady of Walsingham." An image in a small chapel was the object of devotion here, and many alleged miracles, wrought in the name of the Virgin, attracted a constant stream of pilgrims of all 156 classes, from royalty downwards, and of many countries. Henry vm. was the last of the royal devotees, and, after having walked hither barefoot from Barsham, left a gold chain around the neck of the figure. This was one of the shrines which aroused the in dignation of Latimer in his ser mon before Convocation, He says, " Brethren and fathers, if ye pur pose to do anything, what should ye sooner do, than to take utterly away these deceitful and juggling images ?" Waltham Abbey, Essex. — Is otherwise called Waltham Holy Cross. The latter relic was the occasion of the building of the abbey, now represented by the portion of the nave forming the fine and interesting parish church. It was an observation made by Cranmer when staying at Rome- land, adjoining the abbey, which led to his introduction to Henry vm., and so had a most material effect on the English Reformation. William Halliwell, a smith of this parish, aged about twenty-four, was one of the thirteen martyrs burnt together at Stratford in 1 5 56. Thomas Fuller, author of The Church History, Worthies, and other works, was incumbent here from 1648 to 1658. Walton-upon-Thames, Surrey. — On a stone near the pulpit in the parish church is cut the famous verse on the real presence, the authorship of which is tradition ally ascribed to Queen Elizabeth : Christ was the Worde and spake it ; He took the bread and brake it ; And what the Worde doth make it, That I believe and take it. Wantage] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wednesbury Wantage, Berks.— The birth place and property of King Alfred. We like to think of this model prince engaging himself in trans lating the Psalter into English. Death surprised him whilst thus occupied in 901. Wantage was also the birth place of Bishop Butler, author of the famous Analogy. Warbleton, Sussex. — Richard Woodman, an ironmaster here in the days of Queen Mary, was apprehended for heresy, and taken before Bonner. After thirty-two separate examinations, in all of which he persisted in avowing his adherence to Scripture against tradition, he was condemned and burnt at Lewes in 1557. Wood man was a fine instance of a stout-hearted English confessor of the manufacturing middle class. Warnford Park, Hampshire. — The church here was founded by Wilfrid of York, who preached the gospel throughout this district about the year 665. Warrington, Lancashire. — In the reign of Queen Elizabeth this place was occupied by a famous preacher, Mr. Gellibrand. He is said to have stammered in ordi nary discourse, but to have had no trace of this in praying or preaching. Warwick. — Mary, the wife of Charles, Earl of Warwick, was a sister of the celebrated Robert Boyle. She was born about 1612, and died about 1678. For up wards of thirty years she gave open testimony by her holy, useful life and courageous conversation in favour of the doctrines of the gospel. Her few publications give evidence of her ardent, ma tured, and faithful Christian cha racter. Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. ¦ — A religious foundation existed here from an early date. First, there was a cell to the abbey of Ely in the twelfth century, then a church of the Knights Templars, and next, in 15th Edward III., it was converted into an abbey for nuns of the order of St. Clare. At the dissolution there were twenty-five nuns. Water Stratford, Buckingham. — John Mason, the hymn-writer, was incumbent of this parish for twenty years before his death in 1763. Baxter says of him, that "the frame of his spirit was so heavenly, his deportment so hum ble and obliging, his discourse of spiritual things — and little else could we hear from him — so weighty, with such apt words and delightful air, that it charmed all that had any spiritual relish." The well-known hymn, " Now from the altar of our hearts," is by him. He has been still better known as the author of A Treatise on Self- Knowledge. Watlington, Oxford. — A sect called Anointers, from their be smearing new members with oil, arose here in the seventeenth cen tury, but had a very brief career. Wednesbury, Staffordshire. — A mob of colliers assembled, and roughly handled John Wesley whilst he was preaching here in 1742. The ringleader of the riot attempted to kill him ; but this very man was converted through Wesley on a subsequent visit, 157 Weedon] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wendover " The sound of family worship in a house in the evening was a signal for breaking and destroying pro perty, and beating the inmates, in 1744." Weedon, Northamptonshire. — Wulptere, one of the kings of Mercia, had his palace or dwelling here. His daughter, Werburga, afterwards canonized, converted her father's house into a nunnery, which was, however, destroyed by the Danes. Weekely, Northamptonshire. — Near the church is a hospital, founded by Sir Edward Montague in 1614, and bearing on its front the motto," What thou doest, doe yn ye Faith." Wellington, Somersetshire. — One of Dr. Doddridge's favourite pupils, Risdon Darracott, became minister at this place, and by his eloquence, sound doctrine, and burning zeal, acquired the appell ation of " The Star of the West." At the age of forty-two, he was called away by death from a career so intensely active and evangelical that its influence was felt locally for at least a century afterwards. Wells, Somersetshire. — In the reign of William the Conqueror, Bishop Giso restored the ruined church here and enlarged the buildings, which were, however, demolished by John de Villola, his successor, who removed the see to Bath. After two successions and great disputes, the claims were both admitted, and thence forward the bishops have united both cities in their title. Dr. George Bull, Bishop of St. David's, an eminent divine, who 158 wrote many learned works in de fence of the English Church, was born here in 1634. He refused to acknowledge the Commonwealth, but pursued his studies, and be came incumbent of St. George's, Bristol. He was a good and learned man of the High Church school. Welwyn, Hertfordshire. — Dr. Young, the author of the Night Thoughts, was presented to this liv- inginjuly, 1730, andremainedhere until his death in 1765. His life does not appear to have impressed his parishioners or his friends so much as might have been ex pected from his writings. He was a serious, contemplative man, and wrote a tragedy for the pur pose of giving the profits of its publication to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He raised this gift to .£1000. There are many fine evangelical senti ments expressed in the Night Thoughts, such as the following : And was the ransom paid? It was, and paid (What can exalt thcbounty more?) — for you. Wem, Shropshire. — In April, 1762, John Wesley writes, " I could find no one who either ex pects or desires my company. It remained only to go into the market-house. But neither any man, woman, nor child cared to follow us, the north wind roared so loud, and rain poured from every quarter. However, before I had done singing, two or three crept in ; and after them, two or three hundred ; and the power of God was so present among them, that I- believe many forgot the storm." Wendover, Buckinghamshire. — There is a field adjoining the Wensley Dale] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [West Routon town, called, Witches' Meadow. The legend runs that the church was to have been built here, but after it had been begun the witches carried off the materials, and placed them on the present site. Wensley Dale, Yorkshire. — James Allen, one of the early Methodist itinerant evangelists, a man of great modesty, piety, and worth, was born here in 1734. He wrote many good hymns, among them, the inspiriting ode so often sung : Glory to God on high ! Let praises fill the sky ; Praise ye His name : Angels, His name adore Who all our sorrows bore ; And saints cry evermore, Worthy the Lamb ! Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire. — The birthplace of Joshua Marsh- man in 1767, one of the band of Serampore missionaries, and co adjutor with Dr. Carey in founding missions to the East Indies. Westbury-on-Severn, Glouces tershire. — The widow of Simon Fish, the issuer of the Supplica tion of Beggars, which is said to have decisively influenced King Henry VIII. in favour of the Re formation, lived here, having married James Bainham of this place. He was a zealous pro moter of the gospel in opposition to Roman errors, and was im prisoned, condemned, and ulti mately martyred in London, before Newgate, in 1532. Westerham, Kent— Here was born the eminent martyr John Frith. He was committed to the Tower, and thence, in the custody of the archbishop's man and a guard, walked from Fulham to Croydon, when both the latter gave him advice and opportunity to escape into the thick woods on each side of Brixton causeway. The prisoner deemed the attempt would, if successful, bring dis honour on the cause of his Lord, and refused. At Croydon he distinguished himself greatly by his learning during his examina tion. West Kington, Wiltshire-This small parish was the incumbency and retreat of Latimer from 153 1 to 1535. He had become wearied by controversies for the faith, at Cambridge, at court, and in Lon don, and came down here to teach in the church and in surrounding parishes the simple gospel. His preaching created great disturb ance, and served as a rallying- point for the many who were now bent on abandoning Romish doc trine, even at the hazard of their lives, and groping for the blessed truth of salvation by Christ alone. He held hot controversy with one Sherwood, who was a man of renown in the adjoining parish of Derham, and a stout upholder of the pre-Reformation creed and practice. West Routon, Yorkshire. — Here was born, in 1601, Henry Jessey, the son of the minister. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, and obtained a living, but about 1634 was ejected for nonconformity. He preached occasionally ; and in 1635, came to London, where he accepted the charge of a congreg ation of Protestant Dissenters, which had been formed by Henry Jacob in 1616. After ten years' 159 West Thurrook] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Weymouth ministry, and much study, he became a Baptist, and formed a church of open communion. On Sundays, in the morning, he preached at St. George's Church, Southwark ; in the afternoon, to his own congregation ; and in the week-days he addressed the sol diers in the hospital and at Ely House. He greatly promoted love and union among Christians, by arranging for conferences and meetings, and was a diligent student of Oriental languages, with a view to a more correct trans lation of the Scriptures. He was also very charitable to the poor, and collected for distressed Jews at Jerusalem. At the Restoration he was again ejected, and being committed to prison for his re ligion, he died there full of peace and joy, on Sept. 4th, 1663, leav ing the reputation of having been one of the most accomplished, gentle, industrious, and faithful men of the time. West Thurrock, Essex. — The ferry by the church was the gather ing place for pilgrims from the north, to the shrine of St. Thomas k Becket at Canterbury. Weston Favell, Northampton shire. — At the village of Harding- stone, two miles from this place, was born James Hervey, author of Meditations a7nong the Totnbs. By reason of his long residence at Weston Favell, the place is in separably associated with his name. He occupied a plain house in a lane near the church, and had built a better, but was removed to the "better country" before he could occupy it. He died in 1758, with the words, 160 " Precious salvation " on his lips. In his lifetime, after the publica tion of his books, there was a considerable resort of admiring visitors to this rural village. Westwood Park, Worcester shire. — Here Lady Pakington is said to have assisted Bishop Fell in writing The Whole Duty of Man. Wethersfield, Essex.— The in cumbent of this parish, during the contest between Whitgift and the Puritan party in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was the excellent Mr. Richard Rogers. He was styled the Enoch of his day, and was much admired as a preacher. A gentleman once said to him, " I like you and your company very well, only you are too pre cise." "Oh, sir," replied Mr. Rogers, " I serve a precise God." He died about 1612. Weymouth, Dorset. — In 1663, John Wesley, of Winterbourne Whitchurch, who hadbeen ejected for nonconformity, came to this town with his wife and a young family, but the corporation made an order forbidding him to settle, imposed a fine of ^20 on his landlady, and a penalty of five shillings a week on himself. He took refuge at Preston, a village three miles away, in a house offered to him rent free. There he lived and died. Samuel, the father of John and Charles Wesley, was one of his children. He was a man of sterling piety, who was often imprisoned, but preached wherever and whenever he could, both in the coast villages and on board the vessels in the harbours. Whaddon] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wiokes Whaddon, Bucks.— The birth place of Richard Cox, a friend of Peter Martyr, and one of the Protestant refugees at Frankfort, in the reign of Queen Mary. He subsequently became Bishop of Ely, and assisted in the transla tion of the Bishops' Bible, and in the compilation of the English liturgy. He died in 1581. Whitby, Yorkshire. — The abbey has been the scene of some me morable events. In 664, a great council was convened there to determine whether Easter should be kept at the old British date, or according to Roman computation. Here lived the famous Abbess Hilda, and the more famous monk Caedmon, who sang of the creation and Biblical history in Saxon verse. Aldrich, the American poet, says of Whitby : Here, oft the sweet strains of an Ave Mary Have stolen through the twilight still and clear, And the wild cadence of a Miserere Has struck upon the midnight's startled ear. . . Thy glory has gone by ! and thou art stand ing In lovely pomp upon thy sea-washed hill, Wearing in hoary age a mien commanding, And in thy desolation, stately still. Whitchurch,Hampshire.-Here, on the 18th of August, 1784, died John Haime, one of the foremost of the remarkable band of men who came forward as Wesley's lay-preachers. Haime, as a young man, passed through a season of religious gloom, in which John Bunyan's Grace Abomiding was made useful to him. He was a soldier, and fought at Fontenoy ; abrave, sensitive, spiritual-minded man, who glorified God, and honoured Christ through a long and adventurous life. Near this place, on the old posting-road, is the venerable White Hart Inn, where J. H. Newman, in December, 1832, whilst waiting for the Falmouth Mail, began the Lyra Apostolica, with the lines, " Are these the tracks of some unearthly friends?'' White Notley, Essex.— George Searles, a tailor of this parish, was committed to Colchester gaol in 1556 ; thence transferred to the Bishop of London's coal-house, and to the Lollards' Tower, and finally imprisoned in Newgate, which he quitted only to join the band of martyrs, thirteen in all, who were burned together at Stratford, in 1556. Wicken, Cambridgeshire. — The birthplace, in 1754, of Andrew Fuller, a noted Baptist minister, and the first secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society. He wrote, The Gospel its OW71 Witness, and numerous treatises in support of evangelical truth. Fuller was the first exponent of the modern form of doctrine known as moderate Calvinism, and was a powerful opponent of Antinomianism. After a most active life of religious usefulness, he died in the year 1815. His epitaph says, "The originality of his genius, aided by undaunted firmness, raised him from obscurity to high dis tinction in the religious world." Wickes, Essex. — John Routh, a labourer, twenty-six years of age, of this parish, was one of the thirteen martyrs burned together at Stratford, in 1556. M 161 Wickham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Winchester Wickham, Kent. — Here lived Gilbert West, the author of an excellent book on the Resurrection of our Lord. He was the chosen friend of the great Lord Chatham, and of Lord Lyttleton. He was undoubtedly a man of consider able accomplishments and culti vated taste, as well as an earnest Christian. Dr. Johnson said of him, that " he was one of the few poets to whom the grave might be without terror." In the latter part of his life he applied himself wholly to the study of the Scrip tures, with the view of removing the objections often urged against the cordial acceptance of the Gospel. Wickwar, Gloucestershire. — On the 22nd of November, 1744, Cook,oneotWhitefield's preachers, came here. He writes : "As soon as I began preaching, the mob came with sheep-bells tied to a stick, and so they did ring them. They had also frying-pans, horse- rugles, a salt-box, and a post-horn. Some of the mob did put their mouths to the window, and made a noise like that of dogs, and they called me false prophet, and all manner of names they could think of." Wight, Isle of, Hants.— The conversion of the inhabitants of the island from Paganism to Chris tianity is said to have taken place in the seventh century, under Ceadwalla, who had become en lightened in consequence of the efforts of Bishop Wilfrid among the South Saxons. Wilburton, Cambridgeshire.— Henry vil. and his son Prince Henry were entertained for several 162 days at the seat of the Archdeacon of Ely here, now the parsonage, when they came to visit the shrine of St. Etheldreda at Ely. Willesley, Derbyshire. — Sir Thomas Abney, the friend and patron of Dr. Watts, one of the founders of the Bank of England, was born here in 1639. Willimoteswick, Northumber land. — The seat of the Ridley family, and the birthplace of Bishop Nicholas Ridley, the martyr. Winchelsea, Kent— Under a large tree by the side of the church, Wesley preached his last open-air sermon. Winchester, Hampshire. — A Roman station. Two temples are said to have been erected here, one dedicated to Apollo and the other to Concord. Winchester is connected with the introduction of Christianity into the kingdom of Wessex by Bishop Byrinus, who came to England at the command of Pope Honorius I. (625-638). Dorches ter was the seat of the first bishop ric in Wessex, but soon afterwards Agilbert was assigned a diocese, of which this city, called by the Saxons Virtancasster, was the centre. An important Church council was held here in 855, attended by three of the Anglo-Saxon kings, at which it was decided that, by reason of the depredations of the Danes on the property of the Church in Wessex, a tenth part of that kingdom should be granted to the Church. Another council was held here in 1076, respecting Church discipline. Winchester] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Windsor St. Swithin, the patron saint of the cathedral, was ordained priest in 830, and nominated Bishop of Winchester in 832. In the tenth century his remains were transferred to a shrine in Winchester Cathedral. The trans lation was fixed for the 15th of July, but it was deferred by a forty days' rain, which has given rise to the popular weather pro verb concerning St. Swithin's day. An illustrious victim of the persecution under Queen Mary, was John Philpot, a knight's son of this county, and student of the law in New College, Oxford. He became Archdeacon of Win chester, and was chosen to dispute in convocation concerning the doctrine of the real presence. He was apprehended and imprisoned, and after a year and a halfs con finement, was arraigned and in- quisitorially examined during several successive days. He tastedofthe rigours of the Lollards' Tower, and of the bishop's coal- house, but stedfastly and learn edly advanced and defended Protestant ' doctrines, and was ultimately burned at Smithfield on the 1 8th of December, 1555, repeating the 106th, 107th, and 108th Psalms. His prayers and letters testify to his noble Chris tian character. In July, 1558, Richard Ben- bridge, a single man, a gentleman, was also condemned for dis believing in transubstantiation, and most cruelly burned. Lady Lisle was tried here. Her attainder was reversed by Parliament after her death. We may well agree with the author of the book called the "Bloody Assizes," that " had those persons who suffered about Monmouth's business fell into the hands of cannibals, some of them, at least, had escaped better than they did from Jeffreys." Bishop Ken was at the gram mar school here, and composed his Morning and Evening hymns, for a manual of prayer to be used by the Winchester scholars. The library of the cathedral contains, among its literary trea sures, an illuminated copy of the Vulgate. The see was held about the year 1000 by St. Elphege, who is said to have coined the church plate to relieve the poor during a sore famine. In the vacant space above the reredos was a jewelled rood, over which King Canute, as the story runs, hung his crown. Wincle, Cheshire. — A retired village in the hills between Buxton and Macclesfield. In the early part of the eighteenth century it is recorded that the inhabitants had preaching but very seldom, paying what they chose for it. Windsor, Berkshire. — This town was the residence, in 1543, of fourteen persons, who were ac cused to Bishop Gardiner of hold ing various Protestant opinions. Three of these, Robert Testwood, who was engaged in preparing an English Concordance, Henry Filmer, one of the churchwardens, and Anthony Peerson, a popular clergyman, were burned together at Windsor, with such faith and constancy, " that many who saw their patient suffering, confessed that they could have found in 163 Wingham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wirksworth their hearts at that present mo ment to have died with them." Walter Harte, a studious pious churchman, who stoutly refused to share in the revolution of 1688 and its consequences, was Canon of Windsor. He was a diligent student of the Fathers, and wrote much sacred poetry, which is characterised by a reverent and loving spirit. Wingham, Kent. — In the church, in 1360, Elizabeth, widow of John Plantagenet, was married to Sir Eustace Dabrieschescourt She had previously taken religious vows at Waverley, and for this breach was condemned to repeat daily the seven penitential Psalms and the fifteen Songs of Degrees. Once a year she was also com manded to visit the shrine of St. Thomas, and to fast upon bread and pottage. The penance was performed for fifty-one years. Herbert Palmer, president of Queen's College, Cambridge, was born here in 1601. He was a man of learning and piety, and sus tained the character of a devout exemplary divine during the troublous times of the Common wealth. Wingrave, Buckinghamshire. — Three quarters of an acre of land are held in trust for the purpose of furnishing rushes to strew the floor of the church in Lent. Winteringham, Lincoln. — Thomas Adam was rector in 1740. He was converted, as Stillingfleet relates, by reading the first six chapters of the Epistle to the Romans ; and was the author of Private Thoughts, which 164 still deservedly holds its place as a devotional treatise. Winterton, Norfolk. — It was Dr. Warner, the clergyman of this parish, who accompanied Bilney to the stake. " Warner could scarce speak for weeping, but Bilney gently smiled, inclined his body towards him, spoke a few words of thanks, and added in Latin, ' Feed your flock, feed your flock, that when the Lord cometh, He may find you so doing.' And, ' Farewell, good master doctor, and pray for me,' and so Warner left sobbing and weeping." Winwick, Lancashire. — Charles Herle, the prolocutor of the As sembly of Divines, spent the last years of his life, after his ejectment from his rich living, and the ces sation of his temporal honours, in the peaceful and useful discharge of his duties as parish minister. He was much beloved, and passed away in 1659, leaving an un blemished reputation. Winyates, Northumberland.— Dr. Robert Morrison, the eminent missionary to the Chinese, the first translator of the Bible into that difficult language, and the author of a Chinese grammar and dictionary, was born here in 1782. He died in 1834. Wirksworth, Derbyshire. — Here died Dinah Evans, wife of Seth Evans. Both husband and wife were converts to Methodism in the last century, and both were preachers. She was a woman of rare refinement and womanly tenderness, an eloquent preacher, and an indefatigable worker for Wisbeach] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wolsingham her Lord. In the open air, in barns, in cottages or chapels she preached with great sweetness, power, and success throughout this part of Derbyshire and ad jacent counties. She has been exquisitely described as Dinah Morris in Ada77i Bede by George Eliot, where she is represented as marrying Adam ; but it was Seth whom she actually married, and he survived her only to die of grief for her loss, after many years of joint and happy usefulness in the Lord's work. Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire. — William Wfolsey, a constable, and Robert Pygot, a painter, were prosecuted for heresy in 1555. They were found guilty of deny ing the doctrine of the real pre sence, and were burned to death at Ely. A huge parcel of con demned books, including the Scriptures, was cast into the flames at the same time. Both secured a copy of the Bible, and held it close to their hearts until the fire consumed them, whilst they were singing the hundred and sixth Psalm. John Feckenham, the last abbot of Westminster, and a firm op ponent of the Reformation, was buried here. Here in 1795, the year of the formation of the London Mis sionary Society, was born William Ellis, who became the distin guished missionary to the South Seas and Madagascar, and the pioneer of the gospel in many islands. He lived to witness grander results than any material conquest could achieve. Thomas Clarkson, the eminent Friend, whose labours originated and sustained the successful crusade against the slave trade, was born here on March 26th, 1760. He gained a prize for an essay on slavery, and spent his life in working for its abolition, conjointly with Wilberforce. He died in 1846, at Playford Hall, in Essex. Woburn, Bedfordshire. — The abbot here was a dire foe to the Reformation, but nevertheless the Scriptures were received and read by stealth. "The wife of John Scrivener, smith," is one of those informed against in 1518-1521. This may have been in the recol lection of the people when a few years afterwards, 1535, the abbot was hung on a tree in his own park, for denying the king's supre macy. The bishop s prison here for heretics was a dungeon called " Little-Ease." Wokingham, Berks. — Richard Palmer in 1662 left lands in trust to pay the sexton for ringing the church bells every morning at four, and every evening at eight, to remind the inhabitants of early rising and timely resting, to guide strangers in winter nights, and to remind all of the resurrection and the last judgment. £1 a year is now paid, and the bell duly rung. Wolsingham, Durham. — In June, 1788, John Wesley writes : " Desiring to pay one more visit to the loving society in Weardale, I set out early, and drove through wonderful roads to Wolsingham, a town near the entrance of the vale. I could not preach abroad, because of the storm, and the 165 Wolverhampton] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wootton house would not near contain the people. However, as many crowded in as could, the rest got near the doors or windows." This busy place, now abounding in lime and lead works, was in ancient times the chosen religious retreat of St. Godric, who lived here for nearly two years as a hermit. Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. — Religion here is much older than manufactures. Long before the black country became famous, Wulfere, first Christian king of Mercia, is said to have established a monastery here in 659. The present church was founded in the reign of Ethelred II., by Wulfruna, widow of Athelm, Duke of Northampton. There is an endowment here of five shillings to be paid to keep boys quiet at the time of prayer and service. Woodbridge, Suffolk. — This place is associated with the Quaker poet, Bernard Barton, who served here as a clerk in Alexander's bank, from 1810 until his death in 1849. He was the author of the well-known hymn beginning, " Walk in the light, and thou shalt know," and pub lished many volumes of poetry, in stinct with pure faith and feeling. Wood Eaton, Oxfordshire. — At the Manor-house here, Richard Taverner, A.M., lived and died. He was one of the advanced Greek scholars chosen by Car dinal Wolsey to give renown to his new college. He was per secuted and imprisoned for op position to Rome, and was after wards harassed fornonconformity. He wrote on the Scriptures and on prayer, and died in 1575. 166 Woodmancote, Sussex. — Two of the martyrs burned at Lewes in 1556, Thomas Harland, a car penter, and John Oswald, a farmer, were inhabitants of this parish. Woodstock, Oxfordshire.-Here King Alfred is said to have trans lated into Saxon, Boethius' De Consolatione Philosophic. And here Queen Elizabeth was kept in confinement by her sister Mary. At the lodge here, at Midsum mer, 1680, John, Earl of Roches ter, who had been an avowed infidel, as well as a notorious profligate, was arrested on his journey from his estate in Somer setshire, and felt himself touched by the hand of God. Conversa tion with Bishop Burnet brought him to repentance and faith in Christ Mr. Parsons, his mother's chaplain, read to him the fifty- third chapter of Isaiah, and re lates : " He said to me, that as he heard it read, he felt an inward force upon him, which did so en lighten his mind and convince him, that he could resist it no longer ; for the words had an authority which did shoot like rays and beams in his mind, so that he was not only convinced by the reasonings he had about it, which satisfied his understand ing, but by a power which did so effectually constrain him, that he did ever after as piously believe in his Saviour as if he had seen him in the clouds." He died here in July, 1680. Wootton-under-Edge, Glouces tershire. — In September, 1556, two men were condemned and burned for denying transubstan tiation, and others were perse- Worcester] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Worcester cuted to death for the same offence. Joan Dangerfield, mother of ten children, one only a few days old, perished with her hus band and her infant, and the husband's mother, from exposure, cold, and hunger, occasioned by the persecution. Sir Matthew Hale was born here in 1609. This admirable judge and exemplary Christian has left a record of his daily meditations, entitled, The Ktiow- ledge of Christ Crucified. Worcester. — In the year 780, King Offa gave to the church here, amongst other things, a great Bible. On the 20th of July, 1240, a council was held here, at which a number of constitutions were enacted. John Badby, the second suf ferer under the fearful statute, '• De Heretico Comburendo," 2 Hen. IV., c. 15 (1401), was a tailor of this city, who had embraced the tenets of the Lollards against transubstantiation. We have re ferred under Smithfield to his martyrdom there in the presence of the famous Prince Henry and a crowd of the notables. He re fused to abjure, resisted the tempt ing offers made by the prince himself, and died calling on the name of the Lord. In the last year of the reign of Henry VHL, a lad named John Davis, nephew of Thomas John son, an apothecary here, for reading the New Testament and other good books in English, was cruellv imprisoned in a dungeon at the' Guildhall, called the Peep hole, frightened, worried, and whipped. The death of the king occasioned his release, and he afterwards became a profitable minister of the Reformed Church. The books of St. Michael's Church, among other entries showing the progress of the Re formation, contain an entry of a contract made with a plasterer to wash out the wall-pictures, and write Scripture texts in their place at twopence per yard. The cathedral library contains a 14th century Psalter and a MS. Wycliffe Testament of 1 38 1. The injunctions at the time of the Reformation were successively carried out in this edifice ; in 1538, the relics were buried; in 1 547, no candles were allowed at Candlemas; in 1 55 1, the high altar was taken down ; and May, 1560, the great image of the Virgin and the crucifix were burnt in the cathedral yard. The image of the Virgin was found to be a sham, for when it was stripped, it turned out to be that of a bishop, ten feet high. In the north walk is the stone inscribed with the single word, " Miserrimus." It marks the grave of the Rev. T. Morris, vicar of Claines, who refused to take the oath of allegiance to King William III., and lived, after the revolution, on the charity of his friends, until his death at the age of eighty-eight Thomas Badland, a clergyman who had been ejected from Wil- lenhall for nonconformity, settled here, and gathered a congregation to which he ministered as pastor for thirty-eight years. His monu ment in St. Martin's church de scribes him as " a faithful and profitable preacher of the gospel." 167 Worthenbury] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [Wymondham In 1658, there was an assembly of ministers held in the city, under the leadership of Baxter, in order to promote ecclesiastical peace and unity. All sects of Christians were exhorted to cultivate charity and to sink such minor differences as were non-essential to vital re ligion. Baxter published a pam phlet in furtherance of the object, entitled, fudgt7ient and Advice of the Asse7nbly. Worthenbury, Cheshire. — When Mr. Philip Henry, the father of the well - known com mentator, was here, he became attached to Miss Matthews, whom he afterwards married. Her friends objected to the courtship on the ground that Mr. Henry was a stranger, and no one knew where he came from. " True," replied Miss Matthews, "but I know where he is going, and I should like to go with him." Wotton, Surrey. — In the churchyard is the monument of William Glanville, who died in 1708. By his will he directs that forty shillings apiece shall be paid annually to five poor boys of the parish, who, on the anniversary of his death should, with their hands on his gravestone, repeat by heart the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the Commandments, and 1 Cor. xv., and write legibly two verses of the same chapter. These ob servances are still kept. Wrington, Somerset. — Locke was born in an old thatched house standing on the northern side of the churchyard in 1632. Dr. Watts, on hearing of Locke's last illness, writes, referring to 168 his recent retirement and study of the Scriptures : And must the man of wondrous mind, Now his rich thoughts are just refined, Forsake our longing eyes. Reason, at length, submits to wear The wings of Faith ; and, lo, they rear Her chariot high, and nobly bear Her prophet to the skies. Mrs. Hannah More lived here in the pursuit of good works amongst the peasantry for twenty- five years. Wycliffe- on -the-Tees, York shire. — The chief residence cf the family whence sprang our great translator and godly reformer. Wymeswold, Leicestershire. — Here, during an important part of his life, from 1835 to 1853, Henry Alford D.D., held the living. He distinguished himself by ripe scholarship, and by a diligence truly indefatigable. To him we are indebted for many short poems, a few hymns, many sermons and essays, and most of all for his invaluable work, The Greek Testa77ient with Notes. Wymondham, Norfolk. — In the year 1557, Richard Crashfield, an inhabitant of this place, was ac cused of heresy concerning the doc trine of transubstantiation. Upon his examination, the chancellor said to him, " Do you not believe this, that after the words be spoken by the priest, there is substance of Christ's body, flesh and blood ?" to which Crashfield replied : " I do believe that Christ's body was broken for me upon the cross, and His blood shed for my re demption, whereof the bread and the wine are a perpetual memory ;" and the next day in like manner, — " My faith is fully grounded and Wymondham] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [York established, that Christ Jesus, the Easter Lamb, hath offered His blessed body a sacrifice to God the Father, the price of my re demption." Whereupon he was condemned, and forthwith burned, at Norwich on the 5th of August. Wymondham was the residence of " a very aged worshipful lady of good family and fortune, Lady Anne Knivet, well towards a hundred years of age, a firm Protestant, exceedingly hospitable, both in money and meat, to the persecuted people, much threat ened, but never hurt." She was born in the reign of Edward IV., and died in that of Elizabeth. This parish enjoys an endowment by the Rev. John Hendry, who in 1722 bequeathed ,£400 to be in vested in land, and the rent to be paid to the vicar, on condition of his preaching two sermons on every Sunday throughout the year, and .£13 10s. for preaching a ser mon on every Friday in Lent. Say not, our age is wiser ; if it be, 1 1 is the wisdom which the past has given That makes it so ; for in these names is written That wondrous wisdom that has made us wise. Y. Yarm, Yorkshire. — An endow ment was bequeathed by William Chalmer, in 1799, of ,£100 in the funds, the interest to be paid for a Sunday eveninglecture quarterly, on the following subjects : 1. Education and example. 2. Baptism. 3. Redemption. 4. On the wisdom of God in Creation. Yarmouth, Norfolk. — There is an ancient church library here, of some two hundred volumes. The church of St. Nicholas is reckoned to be the largest parish church in England. It contains a stained glass window in memory of Sarah Martin. (Seep. 34.) Yelling, Huntingdonshire. — In 1771, Henry Venn, of Hudders- field, became rector, and his ardent love for souls led him to preach in the houses and barns of the farmers throughout this and the surrounding parishes. His ministry was much blessed. York. — An inscription found here, proves the existence of a heathen temple in the days of the Romans, dedicated to Serapis. Alcuin, the scholar, sometime preceptor and cousellor to Charle magne, promoter of schools and of religious learning, was born here in 724. He wrote comment aries on several books of Scripture, and some dogmatic and ecclesias tical works. Charlemagne con sulted him as to how best to spread Christianity among the pagan Huns. He recommends him to select good preachers, use great mildness, and cites the example and words of Christ. He died at Tours on May 19th, 804. A MS. of the Bible, believed to have been written by Alcuin, was sold in London, in 1836, for £1500. Until the reign of Henry I., an order of Culdees continued to serve in the Minster. Among other treasures in the Minster library, it possesses the MS. of the later Gospels in Saxon, on which the officers of the cathedral were sworn, from the York] RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY. [York Conquest to the days of Queen Elizabeth. It also has John Eliot's Indian Bible. A council of the clergy was held here in 1195, on discipline. In the church of St. Crux is a wooden lectern, with the Bible attached to it by a chain. In the Marian persecution, Edward Freese, a painter's ap prentice, betrayed his religion by painting some sentences of Scrip ture as ornaments for borders of hangings. He was the far-off pre cursor of the printers of coloured texts. He was cast into prison for this offence,fed with sawdust bread, and by such other cruelty, driven into imbecility; while his wife was brutally destroyed by a kick from the porter of the Bishop of London at Fulham, as she pressed forward to visit her poor husband. Margaret Clitherow, «& Middle- ton, a Roman Catholic martyr, was born here about the year 1556. Hersympathieswerearoused by reflecting on the sufferings of the Catholic priests, so hotly persecuted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; and, in spite of the sanguinary laws against harbour ing them, she devoted her life to this service. After having been several times imprisoned, she still deliberately braved the law, and the officers, on searching her house, discovered the secret chamber and chapel furniture. She was condemned to be pressed to death, as she would not plead, and the sentence was barbarously carried out in York Castle, in March, 1586. In spite of her errors as a Romanist, she appears to have had a firm trust in the atonement of the Saviour. She died a victim to a law that was both disgraceful and wicked. For thirty years prior to 1691, Ralph Ward, a scholar of both Universities, an accomplished preacher, and a charitable and liberal man, promoted and sus tained the cause of evangelical Christianity here. He held philo sophical disputations with scholars, visited the sick, guided the doubt ful, served the poor, and was excommunicated, fined, and im prisoned for nonconformity. Lord Wharton's charity, founded in 1692, directs that the profits of the property conveyed by him to trustees, should be expended in the yearly purchase and dis tribution of English Bibles and Catechisms and the metrical Psalms, among poor children able to read, and that the 1st, 15th, 25th, 27th, 101st, 113th, and 145th Psalms should be learnt by the children to whom the books are given. Sermons were also to be preached at York and twenty- one other places annually, on the sufficiency and excellence of the Holy Scriptures, without mention being made of the founder of the bequest in sermon or prayers. This is continued, and the ex penditure amounted in 1819, to ,£616 1 7.y. id. Dear dead ! they have become Like guardian angels to us ; And distant heaven, like love, Through them begins to woo us ; Love that was earthly, wings Its flight to holier places ; The dead are sacred things That multiply our graces. 170 PUBLICATIONS Ieligious f ract Society. ©lvnV/1 6, The History of the Church of Christ. By the Rev. Joseph Milner. Revised and continued to the close of the Reformation in Germany. With Portraits. In 6 Vols. Cr. 8vo. l%s. the Set in cloth bds., 30J. half-bound. The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe. Revised and Corrected, with Appendices, Glossary, and Indices. By the Rev, Josiah Pratt, m.a. Also an Introduction, Biographical and Descriptive. By the Rev. John Stoughton, d.d. In Eight Volumes. Royal 8vo. "With Plates. £2 10s. the Set ; red edges ^,3. The History of the Reformation. By Dr. Merle D'Aubigne. Post %vo. edition, in five vols. 301. half-bound ; 42s, morocco. Cheap edition, in one large vol., 8s. cloth boards ; 12s. half-bound ; 16s. morocco. Quarto edition, with steel engravings, 2U. elegantly bound in cloth, 60s. in morocco. The History of England. From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Year 1852. By the Rev. Thomas Milner, a.m., i2mo. Two Maps. $s. cloth. Ancient Egypt. By Rev. G. Trrvor, m.a., Canon of York. Crown 8vo. Map. 4-r. cloth boards. Brazil: its History, People, Natural Produc tions, etc. Maps and Engravings. Fcap. 8vo. 4s. cloth boards. Elements of English History. By J. C. Curtis, b. k.r New Edition. Fcap. 8vo. Limp is. ; cloth is. 4