THESE are to certify, whom it may concern, that we whofe names are here fubfcribed, having perfonal knowledge of Jofeph Maifters, do teftify, that he hath behaved himself ftudioufly, pioufly, and defervingly, during his refi'dence in the university.'

Henry Hickman, B. D.
George Cowper, A. M.
John Brett, A. M.

AFTER fuch ufage, fays Dr. Calamy, Mr. Maifters had little heart to ftay any longer in the university; and therefore quitted it, after near five years continuance there, and lived, and followed his ftudies in private, preaching occafionally, as he had oppor tunity. At length he fettled with a worfhipping fociety of chriftians, at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, and was ordained to the ministry, October 30, 1677, and continued exercifing his miniftry afterwards there, and in the city of London, fometimes more publickly, and fometimes more privately, as the times would allow, for fifty years, till his death.

Allen.

Mr. Richard Allen, a man of great pi- Richard ety and moderation, of whom I fhall make more mention hereafter. When preaching a lecture, on a Thursday, was, with ten more feized, and carried to Newgate. He was fined ten pounds, and the rest some VOL. III. marks;

M

marks: He lay there about fix or seven weeks. His friends having fome interest in the sheriffs, became bound for his good behaviour, and obtaining a remiffion of his fine, he was discharged; the rest paying their fines, were discharged also.

AT another time, he was preaching in White's-alley, Moorfields, they met about five of the clock in the morning, the better to conceal themselves; but fome troopers came in upon them, and abused the people very much; threw one of the forms at Mr. Allen in the pulpit, broke down the galleries, and did about forty or fifty pounds damage to the meeting houfe.

K. James

II. anno

1684.

CHA P. II.

From the beginning of the reign of king James II. to the glorious revolution under king William III. of immortal memory.

K

ING James II. being now upon the throne, all the former heats and animofities against him, on the account of his being of the Roman-catholick religion, in the late reign, feemed now to

be

be quite forgot, amidst the loud acclamations of the people at his acceffion.

Dr. Welwood* fays, 'The firft fpeech he • made as king, the day his brother died, 'gave hopes of a happy reign; and even ⚫ thofe that had appeared with the greatest 'warmth against him before, were willing ' now to own themselves to have been mi' staken, and were ready to express their repentance for what was paft. For he 'told them, that fince it had pleased Almighty God, to place him in that station, and that he was now to fucceed to fo good and gracious a king, as well as fo very kind a brother, he thought fit to ' declare to them, that he would endeavour to follow his example, and especially in that of his great clemency, and ' tenderness to his people; and that tho he had been reported to be a man for 'arbitrary power, yet he was refolved to make it his endeavour to preferve the government of England, both in church ' and ftate, as it was then established by law. That he knew the principles of the church of England were for monarIchy, and that the members of it had fhewn themselves good and loyal fubjects; 'therefore he would always take care of it, and defend and fupport it. That he 'knew that the laws of England were fufficient to make the king as great a

Anno

Baxter tri

ed.

C

monarch as he could wifh; and that as he would never depart from the just rights and prerogatives of the crown, so he would never invade any man's pro< perty: Concluding, that as he had often hitherto ventured his life in defence of this nation, fo he was refolved to go as far as any man in preferving it, in all its juft rights and liberties.'

BEFORE the meeting of the parliament, 1685. which was called for the 19th of May, Oates, Dangerthree perfons, viz. Oates, Dangerfield, and field, and Baxter, which were odious to the king, the papifts and the prevailing party, were brought to their trials before the lord chief justice Jefferies, at the King's-bench bar the 8th and 9th of May 168, 85. The partiality with which these persons were tried and condemned, will scarcely be denied: For as well during this reign, as in the latter part of the former, all the juries were packed, and had engaged before hand to be guided by the court.

THE cruel fentences paffed against Oates, and Dangerfield, are facts fo well known, that I fhall omit them, and only take notice of Jefferies's conduct in the trial of Mr. Baxter, for his paraphrafe on the New Teftament; wherein it was pretended, that there were several feditious paffages,and highly reflecting on the bifhops; which may fhew the judge's partialiaty, with refpect to the whole.

Monf.

Monf. Rapin fays, Jefferies laying afide, on this occafion, the office of a judge, to turn evidence, affirmed, that · Baxter was an enemy to the name and thing, the office and perfons of bishops; and feverely reprimanded the counfel, probably for defending their caufe too well. Then speaking to Baxter, he faid; Richard, thou art an old fellow, an old knave, thou haft written books enough to load a cart, every one as full ' of fedition, I might fay treafon, as an egg is full of meat; had'ft thou been whipped out of thy writing trade forty years ago, it had been happy. Thou pretendeft to be a preacher of the gofpel of peace, and thou haft one foot in the grave; it is time for thee to begin to think what account thou intendeft to give. But leave thee to thyfelf, and 'I fee thoul't go on, as thou haft begun; but, by the grace of God, I will look ' after thee. I know thou haft a mighty party, and I fee a great many of the 'brotherhood in corners waiting to fee what will become of their mighty Don, ' and a doctor of the party (Dr. Bates) at your elbow; but by the grace of God Almighty, I will crush you all.

THE chief juftice, in fumming up the evidence, faid; it is notoriously known, that there has been a defign to

* Hift. of England, Vol. II, p. 744.
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• ruin