person of incomparable parts." Mr. Wall, in his History of Infant Baptism, says, "Of the professed Antipodobaptists, Mr. Tombes was a man of the best parts in our nation, and perhaps in any." And in the free conference between the Lords and Commons, on the Occasional-conformity-bill, Bp. Burnet, to shew that receiving the sacrament in the church does not necessarily imply an intire conformity, observed, "There was a very learned and famous man at Sa"lisbury, Mr. Tombes, who was a zealous Conformist in "all points but one, Infant-baptism." Dr. Calamy's character of him is this: "All the world must own him to have been a considerable man, and an excellent scholar, how disinclined soever they may be to his particular opinions." died at Salisbury, May 25, 1676, aged 73.

He

WORKS. Christ's Commination against Scandalizers; two treatises...Fermentum Pharisæorum; or the Leaven of Pharisaica! Worship; a Sermon on Matt. xv. 9...Jehovah-Jireh; a thanksgiving sermon...Anthropolatria; or the Sin of glorying in Man... Animadversiones quædam in Aphorismos R. Baxteri de Justificat. --True old Light exalted above pretended new Light; against the Quakers...Romanism discussed, recommended by Baxter...Serious Consideration of the Oath of Supremacy...Suppl. to ditto... Sepher Sheba; a treatise on Swearing...Saints no Smiters; against the Fifth Monarchymen...Theodulia; in defence of hearing Ministers in the church of England... Emanuel ;against the Socinians. ..Animadversiones in Librum G. Bulli, cui titulum fecit, Harmonia Apostolica...The following upon BAPTISM: An Exercit. about Infant Bapt. presented to the Chairman of Committee of Assemb. of Divines...Examen of Mr. S. Marshall's Sermon...Apology for the foregoing...Addition to against Bailie...Antidote against a Passage in Dedicat. of Baxter's Saint's Rest...Præcusor; or, a Fore-runner to a large Review of this Dispute...Antipodobaptism; or, no plain or obscure scripture proof, &c...Ditto, Part II. ..Ditto, Part III... A Plea for the Antipodobaptists; an Answer, &c. to The Anabaptists silenced. Short Catechism about Baptism... Felo de se; against Baxter...Just Reply to Wills and Blinman.

MORTON.

iershire.

Mr. ANTHONY COLLIER. See Glouces

In MAITLAND's History of London is the following copy of an inscription upon a grave-stone, in Bunnhill-fields: ABEL COLLIER, minister of the gospel, and pastor of a congregation, at HALSTED, in Essex, who died May 29, 169, in the 66th year of his age. Query, Whether he was an cjecteted minister, or related to the above. ED.

SILLECK

SILLECK and CAPLE. Mr. ROBERT TAYLOR. He preached alternately at both these places, which are in the same parish, the income of which was very small. He was

a very

affectionate and earnest preacher; using frequently to weep in his public administrations. After his ejectment in 1662, he never took the pastoral care of any people, but preached as he had opportunity, in this and the neighbouring counties, and frequently at Col. Kirle's, who lived near Rosse, where he for the most part resided. He died about 1678, at the age of 45.

WEBLEY [V. 8ol.] Mr. NICHOLAS BILLINGSLEY. He removed from this place to Abergavenny, where he taught a free-school, till, by the good offices of Sir Edward Harley, he was settled at Blakeney, in the parish of Awre, in Gloucestershire, a privileged place: the maintenance of it (which was at least 50l. per annum) depended upon an impropriation, which, by the generosity of a gentleman, had been annexed to a chapel of ease, in the above village. The vicarage, which was worth 80l. per annum, was offered him, but he refused it on the same principle which made him leave Webley. Here he lived very peaceably, while Dr. Nicholson was Bp. of Gloucester, and Mr. Jordan (a moderate and pious man) was vicar of the parish. Mr. Jordan dying in or near 1668, and the Bishop not long after, two succeding vicars were perpetual thorns in his side; nor was Dr. Frampton, the succeeding bishop, his friend; much less Mr. Richard Parsons, the chancellor. After his preaching a visitation-sermon, in which he took great freedom in reproving the clergy for their vices, that gentleman immediately, and in the open street, discovered his resentment, by pulling him by his hair, and uttering these words, "Siriah, you are a rogue, and I'll bind you to your good behaviour." After this, Mr. Billingsley had frequent suspensions, for want of that conformity to which his place did not oblige him; and was put to no small trouble and expence to take them off. He complied so far as to read more or less of the Common-prayer, and to wear the surplice, after the Bishop had given it under his hand, that it was not required to be worn upon the account of any supposed holiness in the garment, but only for decency and comeliness. His Lordship would sometimes treat him with great civility; but yet would send a suspension after him to be read the next Lord's-day.

66

He

He once ordered him to read prayers, and not preach at all for a quarter of a year. A person who stood by, saying, "I hope your lordship is not against preaching the gospel, he replied, "Well, let him go on with his beloved preaching.

He continued in this place till the Revolution, when the Bishop was turned out as a Nonjuror, and was succeeded by the valuable Dr. Fowler. Before he actually came from London to the palace, the chancellor had again used his authority to suspend Mr. Billingsley, whom he still accounted his enemy, for having once told him the truth. At length, wearied out with the troubles he met with, he resolved to quit the place. The Bishop blamed the chancellor for what he had done, and expressed his desire to have Mr. Billingsley return; accordingly the place was kept vacant for a year. But he determined to return no more, and from that time he employed his ministry among the Dissenters in different places in Gloucestershire. He at length became very feeble thro' his great age, and died at Bristol, Dec. 1709. His elder son Richard, died minister at Whitchurch, in Hampshire, a very worthy man: father of Mr. Samuel Billingsley, late of Peckham. See Vol. I. p. 402. His younger son Nicholas, was minister at Ashwick, in Somersetshire.

WESTON. Mr. JOHN SKINNER

WHITCHURCH (or RICKARDS CASTLE.) Mr. WILLIAM WOODWARD. A great and good man; much respected by Sir E. Harley and E. Littleton, Esq. of the Moor, to whom he dedicated a sermon or two. He was a tutor, in Oxford, and educated Mr. Flavel, of Dartmouth. After his ejectment he travelled to Turkey, and visited Smyrna and Aleppo. He at last settled at Leominster, where he was pastor of a considerable congregation till his death in 1691 or 2. Dr. Walker relates a story concerning his cruelty to the wife of the sequestered clergyman, which cannot be credited without better evidence, as it no way agrees with the character given of him by all that knew him. Probably this is the person mentioned in the university of Oxford, Vol. I. p. 221.

Mr. BOYLE and Mr. WOTTON were ejected in this county, but at what places is uncertain.

Mr.

Mr. BROSTER, of Wormbridge, afterwards conformed. As also did Mr. MALDEN, of Sapy, tho' not to the satisfaction of his conscience; for he used afterwards often to say, It repented him that he did not let his wife and children go a begging, rather than that he had conformed. However, he continued in his living till his death, and always paid a great respect to the Nonconformists.

MINISTERS

MINISTERS EJECTED OR SILENCED

IN

HERTFORDSHIRE.

ST. ALBANS. St. Peter's church. Mr. WILLIAM SHAWORTH.

HAWORTH. Of St. John's Col. Camb. He was well skilled in the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages. After his ejectment here he was desired on occasion of the death of some friend, to preach a funeral sermon. Accordingly he had assembled a congregation for this purpose, at some place in the town, but was hindered by some malicious persons who obliged the people to disperse. Upon this, they went to the Cloisters in the abbey, where Mr. Haworth had resolved to perform the service. While he was in his sermon, a party of soldiers came in with a view to apprehend him; when one of the hearers interposing to prevent it, was shot dead on the spot. Mr. Haworth was taken up, and on account of this affair was tried at the assizes: when, tho' he was discharged, he was heavily fined, while the soldier who committed the murder escaped with impunity. He afterwards lived twenty years at Hertford, and preached to a society of Dissenters there.

§ The congregation at Hitchin, of which Mr. Holcroft had been pastor, being dismissed to Mr. Haworth's charge, he used to preach to them about once a month, in a barn belonging to the other society in that town, according to an

He could not have had the living of St. PETERS, but must have been only a preacher there, as John Retchford succeeded William Retchford as vicar, in 1661, and was living till 1700.-N. B. The original account of Mr. Haworth is so confused and imperfect as to require being drawn up afresh, and some words supplied, to render it intelligible. The additions to it, and to several other articles in this county, are communicated by Mr. Isaac James, a native.

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