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reviled Mr. Sherwood, and called him rebel, &c. which he bore patiently, only making this reply, “That as he was a minister of the gospel, and at the church where there was so great an assembly, he could not but have compassion on the multitude, and give them a word of exhortation." Mr. Robinson said, "But did ever man preach from such a rebellious text?" "Sir," replied Mr. Sherwood, "I know man is a rebel against his Creator, but I never knew that the Creator could be a rebel against his creature." -On which Robinson cried out, "Write his mittimus for Launceston jail.” And then turning to Mr. Sherwood, said, "I say, Sir, it was a rebellious text." Mr. Sherwood looked him full in the face, and addressed him in these words: Sir, if you die the common death of all men, God never "spake by me."-He was then sent to prison, where he found favour with the keeper, and had liberty to walk about the castle and town. Robinson returned hoine; and a few days after, walking in the fields, a bull that had been very tamne, came up to a gate where he stood, and his maid servant before him, who had been milking, when the creature turning her aside with his horns, ran directly upon Robinson, and tore out his bowels! This strange Providence brought to mind what had passed at the sessions. In a little time Mr. Sherwood getting leave to return home, was sent for to Penzance, where some justices met. He immediately went, though he expected no other than to be sent back to jail.But when he came there, Mr. Godolphin came out, and taking him into another room, said, "Sir, I sent for you to know how you came to express yourself in such a manner, when we committed you? You know, Sir, what has since befallen Mr. Robinson, &c." Mr. Sherwood replied, “Sir, I was far from bearing any malice against Mr. Robinson, and can give no other answer than that, when we are called before rulers for his name's sake, whom we serve, it shall be given us in that very hour what we shall speak." To which Mr. Godolphin replied, "Well, Sir, for your sake, I will never more have a hand in prosecuting Dissenters." And he was as good as his word. -[N. B. This extraordinary story is well attested. See Calamy, vol. iii. p. 215.]— The same story, as to the substance of it, is related, with

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Among the magistrates in this county, one of the most noted for his fiery zeal against the Quakers, was Major Robinson, a justice of the peace, and member of parliament. He had been active in sending many of them to

prison;

tinued in the place where he had been public minister, and was much valued by the sober part of the gentry. He was a general scholar, a profound critic, and a good orator. At the beginning of K. James's reign, he was tried at the assizes at Launceston, upon the 35th of Eliz. and resolved to abjure the realm; but upon a farther hearing at the King's Bench bar, he was acquitted. He left some valuable MSS.

ST. GERMAIN's. Mr. SOLOMON CARSWILL. After his ejectment he preached at his own house gratis, till within a fortnight of his decease, when he was about 89 years of age.

GUENNAP [V.] Mr. JOHN Langsford.

ST. HILARY [V.] Mr. JOSEPH SHERWOOD. After his ejectment by the Bartholomew-act, he resided at St. Ives to the day of his death, which was about the year 1705. He was a constant faithful preacher at that place, and at Penzance, seven miles distant, alternately every Lord's-day, besides lectures on the week days. He was of a sweet engaging temper; and though for a long time he laboured under very great indisposition of body, and constant pains, yet he was unwearied in his work, both in his study and in the pulpit. Soon after his ejection he was cited to the spiritual court for not going to church. He appeared, and gave for a reason, That there was no preaching, and that he could not, with any satisfaction, attend there only to hear the clerk read the prayers; but promised to go the next Lord's-day, if there was a sermon. Finding, upon enquiry, that there was no minister then, he did not go, and so was cited again, and gave the same answer. The Lord's-day following, being informed by the churchwarden, who was his friend, that there would be no sermon, he determined to go to church, when great numbers out of curiosity followed him. He seated himself in the clerk's desk all the time of prayers, and then went up into the pulpit, and prayed, and preached from these words, I will avenge the quarrel of my covenant. The rumour of this action was soon spread abroad; but such was the people's affection to Mr. Sherwood, that though there was a crowded congregation in a great church, his enemies could not get any one to give information against him, till, by artifice, they got an acknowledgment from his friend the churchwarden, and by threats frightened him into a formal information. He was then carried to a petty session of justices, where one Mr. Robinson sat as chairman, who greatly reviled

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reviled Mr. Sherwood, and called him rebel, &c. which he bore patiently, only making this reply, That as he was a minister of the gospel, and at the church where there was so great an assembly, he could not but have compassion on the multitude, and give them a word of exhortation." Mr. Robinson said, " But did ever man preach from such a rebellious text?" "Sir," replied Mr. Sherwood, "I know man is a rebel against his Creator, but I never knew that the Creator could be a rebel against his creature." -On which Robinson cried out, "Write his mittimus for Launceston jail." And then turning to Mr. Sherwood, said, "I say, Sir, it was a rebellious text." Mr. Sherwood looked him full in the face, and addressed him in these words: "Sir, if you die the common death of all men, God never spake by me."-He was then sent to prison, where he found favour with the keeper, and had liberty to walk about the castle and town. Robinson returned hoine; and a few days after, walking in the fields, a bull that had been very tame, came up to a gate where he stood, and his maid servant before him, who had been milking, when the creature turning her aside with his horns, ran directly upon Robinson, and tore out his bowels! This strange Providence brought to mind what had passed at the sessions. In a little time Mr. Sherwood getting leave to return home, was sent for to Penzance, where some justices met. He immediately went, though he expected no other than to be sent back to jail.— But when he came there, Mr. Godolphin came out, and taking him into another room, said, "Sir, I sent for you to know how you came to express yourself in such a manner, when we committed you? You know, Sir, what has since befallen Mr. Robinson, &c." Mr. Sherwood replied, “Sir, I was far from bearing any malice against Mr. Robinson, and can give no other answer than that, when we are called before rulers for his name's sake, whom we serve, it shall be given us in that very hour what we shall speak." To which Mr. Godolphin replied, Well, Sir, for your sake, I will never more have a hand in prosecuting Dissenters.". And he was as good as his word. -[N. B. This extraordinary story is well attested. See Calamy, vol. iii. p. 215.]— The same story, as to the substance of it, is related, with

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Among the magistrates in this county, one of the most noted for his fiery zeal against the Quakers, was Major Robinson, a justice of the peace, and member of parliament. He had been active in sending many of them to

prison;

the addition of some circumstances, in Besse's Sufferings of the Quakers, where there is also a further account of the infamous persecutor Robinson, the whole of which shall be given below.

ST. ISSY [V.] STEPHEN REVEL, M. A. of Exeter Col. Oxf. The son of Mr. Thomas Revel, of Hunsdon, in Ermington parish, Devonshire, where he had a good estate. He many years survived this his son, who died of a consumption, July, 1671, at about forty years of age. He was an excellent Greek scholar, and a man of a very pleasant temper. He married the daughter of Mr John Vincent, who was sister to Mr. Thomas and Mr. Nathaniel Vincent, so well known as eminent ministers. On account of his early decease, his father left his estate to his grandson, a very worthy gentleman.

ST. JUST [V.] Mr. EDWARD SHEFFIELD.

LANDRAKE [V.] GASPER HICKES, M. A. of Trin. Col. Oxf. He was the son of a minister, and born in Berkshire. He was a good scholar, a celebrated preacher, and a member of the Westminster Assembly. Being ejected in 1662, he preached as he had opportunity, but met with much trouble. Continuing (after May 30, 1670) to preach in his family, to the number that the Conventicle-act allowed, with others under sixteen years of age, Mr. Winnel, the young parson of Landrake, was so enraged, that he informed against him, as keeping conventicles, and had his house searchprison; and hearing that the jailor had given some of them leave at times to go home and visit their families, he complained against him at the assizes, and had him fined 100 marks for his good nature. It was this man's diversion to harrass the Quakers, and the disturbing their meetings be sportively called Fanatic hunting. The dismal exit of this violent persecutor was remarkable. Not long after [the above] assize, he sent one day to a neighbouring justice to go with him a fanatic hunting. On the day appointed for that sport, he ordered his man to meet him with his horse some distance from the house. He then went into a field, where he was used to play with a bull, and fenced at him with his staff, as he was wont to do; but the bull ran fiercely at him, -struck his horn into his thigh, and so lifting him up, threw him over his back, and tore up his thigh to his belly; and when he came to the ground he broke his leg. The bull then gored him again, and roared, and licked up his blood. Several workmen came up, but could not beat off the bull, till they fetched dogs to bait him. The major's sister, hearing of this disaster, came and said, "Alas, brother, what a heavy judgment is this!" He replied, "It is a heavy judgment indeed!" He was carried home, and soon died. This tragical end was much remarked, and many were of opinion, that the divine justice was eminently conspicuous therein. Besse, vol. i. P. 118.

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ed by the officers of the parish, who found but four persons there above the age of sixteen, besides his own family. He rode from justice to justice to convict him, but the gentlemen in the neighbourhood would give him no countenance, being sensible that the law was not violated. Hereupon he went into Devonshire, where he found some justices for his purpose, who convicted him; and taking it for granted that he preached, though there was no proof of it, they levied 40l. upon him. Hereupon Mr. Hickes appealed to the next general sessions, where, contrary to law, he was denied a jury, and the justices passed judgment upon him by vote; and his appeal being hereby made unjust, they besides the 40l. gave treble cost against him, and at the same time loaded him with foul reproaches.

WORKS Several Sermons before the Long Parliament.→→ The Life and Death of David: a Funeral Sermon for Wm. Strode, Esq.-The Advantage of Afflictions: a Fast Sermon before the House of Peers, Jan. 28, 1645.

LANIVET [R.] Mr. HENRY FLAMANK. He was a branch of an ancient and reputable family in this county. He had been chaplain to Sir Hardress Waller, when he was governor of Pendennis. He was a very genteel man, of considerable learning, great natural abilities, a clear head, a strong memory, and lively affections. His method of preaching had something in it so peculiarly convincing, that it seldom failed of some success. Instances of his usefulness were obvious in most places where he occasionally exercised his ministry. He had a majestic mien, and yet a most obliging affability in common conversation. Such a happy mixture of seriousness and good nature, is rarely to be met with, especially so recommended by those stated evidences of sincerity, which rendered him unsuspected of affectation or ill design. He was very much esteemed by the more serious gentry of the Western counties, and beloved as well as reverenced by meaner persons, who were far from being friends to the generality of his character. He was a very strenuous opposer of addresses to K. James II. upon his Declaration for liberty; not only refusing to sign any himself, but earnestly dissuading other persons from it. He was also very much against the taking off the penal laws and tests, then pressed with so much eagerness, and had the courage, as well as honesty, freely to declare it to the perambulators sent about the country to promote that design. Some time after K. James's Declara

VOL. I. NO. 8.

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