MR. COOPER was the pious rector of Alton in Hampshire. In the year 1634 he was suspended by Dr. Rone and Sir John Lamb, visitors to Archbishop Laud, for refusing to read the Book of Sports; and he continued under the cruel sentence about seven years. In 1641, his case being laid before the house of commons, it was resolved, “That his suspension was illegal; that the sentence should be taken off; that he should be restored to his living; and that Dr. Rone and Sir John Lamb ought to make him reparations for the damages he had sustained." EDMUND SMALL was minister at Holm in Lincolnshire, but persecuted in the high commission and deprived of his benefice. In the year 1641, having remained a long time under the ecclesiastical censure, his case was laid before the house of commons; and, after due examination, it was resolved, "That the sentence of his deprivation was illegal; and that he should be restored to his living."+ MR. SMITH was suspended by Sir John Lamb; and having remained a long time under the sentence, his case, in the year 1641, was laid before the house of commons. After due examination, the house resolved, "That he had been illegally suspended; and that Sir John Lamb ought to give him reparation and satisfaction for his damages sustained by that suspension."‡ JOHN SPENCER was an unordained and popular preacher in the city of London; for which he was brought into trouble, with several others, in the year 1641. It is said that one Robinson, a clerk in the custom-house; John Spencer, a horse-courser; Adam Banks, a stocking seller; John Durant, and one Greene, being complained of for their lay-preaching, were summoned to appear before the house of commons. On their appearance, the speaker reprimanded and threatened them, saying, "That the house had a general distaste to their proceedings; and that, if they should offend in like manner in future, the house would take care that they were severely punished." It does not, however, appear whether Mr. Spencer and his brethren obeyed this order. He is Nalson's Collection, vol. ii. P. 454. + Ibid. p. 446. Ibid. p. 265, 270. 2 M classed among the zealous sectaries; and Edwards says, he was formerly Lord Brook's coachman, and an early preacher.. HANNIBAL GAMMON, A. M. was born in the city of London, in 1585, and educated in Broadgates-hall, Oxford. He was afterwards beneficed at Maugan in Cornwall, where he became a very popular preacher. On the commencement of the civil war he espoused the cause of the parliament, and was chosen one of the assembly of divines. Wood says, "he was much followed by the puritanical party for his edifying and practical preaching."+ He was author of "An Assize Sermon," 1621.-"A Sermon at Lady Roberts's Funeral," 1627.-"Praise of a Godly Woman, a Wedding Sermon," 1627.-" God's Smiting to Amendment, an Assize Sermon," 1629. MR. WAINWRIGHT was a beneficed minister in the county of Suffolk; but he resigned his living, worth two hundred pounds a year, on account of his nonconformity. He would not hold his benefit any longer, because he deemed it antichristian; and after he had given it up, he said, "I have ever since asked God forgiveness for holding it." According to my author, he boasted that he had pulled down the bishops, and that he would do the same by the presbyterians. JOHN SIMS was a minister of the baptist persuasion, who preached at Hampton. In a journey to Taunton he was prevailed upon to preach in the parish church of Middlesoy. This gave so much offence to the dominant party, that he was seized by virtue of the act against unordained ministers; and the letters which he was to deliver to some pious friends were taken from him. These, with his examination, were sent to London, by way of complaint against him, and printed. The charges specified in the examination were, his preaching when unordained, and denying infant-baptism. He acknowledged the latter, and pleaded against the former, that," as Peter was called to preach, so was he."s Edwards's Gangræna, part iii. p. 49. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 26. Edwards's Gangræna, part iii. p. 81. Ibid. p. 50.-Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 232, 233. JOHN FOXCROFT, A. M. was educated in Magdalen-hall, Oxford, and afterwards minister at Gotham in Nottinghamshire; where, according to Wood, he continued a puritanical preacher several years. Upon the commencement of the civil war, he joined the parliament, was molested by the royal party, and chosen one of the assembly of divines, and he constantly attended. Removing to London, he became a frequent preacher in the city; and he preached sometimes before the parliament. One of his sermons is entitled, "The Good of a Good Government, and Well-grounded Peace, being a Fast Sermon before the House of Commons, on Isa. xxxii. 1, 2.”—1646.* RALPH MARSDEN was a pious minister of puritan principles at West Kirby in Cheshire, where he was succeeded by Mr. John Murcot, another puritan, who married his daughter. He died minister of Great Neston in the same county, January 30, 1648. He had four sons in the ministry; Samuel, Jeremiah; Gamaliel, and Josiah, all silenced nonconformists at the restoration. NICHOLAS DARTON, A. B. was born in Cornwall, in 1603, and educated in Exeter college, Oxford. Having entered into holy orders, he became minister of Killesby in Northamptonshire. He was always accounted a puritan ; so that, on the commencement of the civil war, he joined the presbyterians, and espoused the cause of the parliament.§ He published "The true and absolute Bishop, with the Converts Return unto him," 1641.-" Ecclesia Anglicana; or, a clear and protestant Manifesto, as an evangelical Key sent to the Governor of Oxford, for the opening of the Church-doors there, that are shut up without prayers or preaching," 1649.-And "Several Sermons." HENRY ROBOROUGH was chosen one of the scribes to the assembly of divines, and, about the same time, appointed rector of St. Leonard's, East-cheap, London, which he held to his death. He was one of the committee of divines appointed to examine and ordain candidates for the ministry ;¶ *Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 827. Ibid. vol. ii. p. 112. Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 140. and he united with his brethren, the London ministers, in their declaration against the king's death. The profits of prining the Directory being given to him and Mr. Byfield, the other scribe to the assembly, they are said to have sold the copy-right for several hundred pounds.+ Mr. Roborough died in the year 1650, and was succeeded in his living by Mr. Matthew Barker, one of the silenced nonconformists in 1662.; ABRAHAM PEIRSON was born in Yorkshire, where he probably laboured in the ministry, but was driven by the severity of the times to New England. On his arrival, about the year 1640, he was invited to be first pastor of the church at Southampton on Long Island, where he continued about eight years. He then removed, with part of the church, to Brainford, where he probably continued the rest of his days. He left behind him the character of a pious and prudent man, and a true child of Abraham.§ HOWEL VAUGHAN was a pious minister, of the baptist denomination, in Wales. A baptist church having been formed at Olchon, about the year 1633, which is said to have been the first separate church in Wales, Mr. Vaughan, being one of its members, was chosen to the pastoral office. His name was Vaughan, but wrote by some Ychan, or Fychan, which is the Welsh spelling of Vaughan. He attended the associations of ministers in the Principality; and his name is among those who signed the minutes of the association at Abergavenny, in the year 1653.¶ ROBERT MATON, A. M. was born at Tudworth in Wiltshire, in the year 1597, and educated at Wadham college, Oxford. Having entered upon the ministerial work, he was probably beneficed in his native county. He was a zealous millenarian; and upon the commencement of the civil wars, the press being open, he published his sentiments to the world in the following articles:-" Israel's Redemption; or, a Prophetical History of our Saviour's Kingdom on Earth," 1642." A Discourse of Gog and Magog, or the Battle of Calamy's Contin. vol. ii. p. 743. Fuller's Church Hist. b. xi. p. 222. Mather's Hist. of New England, b. iii. p. 95. I Thomas's MS. Hist. p. 45. the Great Day of God Almighty," 1642.-" A Comment on the twentieth chapter of Revelation," 1652.-" Israel's Redemption Redeemed; or, the Jews general and miraculous Conversion to the Faith of the Gospel, and Return to their own Land, and our Saviour's Personal Reign on Earth, proved from the Old and New Testament," 1646.-This he republished with additions, entitled, "A Treatise of the Fifth Monarchy; or, Christ's Personal Reign on Earth a Thousand Years with his Saints," 1655.* PETER PRUDDEN was born in the year 1600, and afterwards preached in Herefordshire and on the borders of Wales, where God marvellously blessed his pious labours. But he was driven from his station by persecution, when he fled to New England, and was accompanied by many worthy persons. Upon their arrival, they settled for a short time at New-Haven, then removed to Milford, where he was chosen pastor of the church, and lived many years an example of piety, gravity, and christian zeal. He died about the year 1656, aged fifty-six years. He had a remarkable talent for softening and composing exasperated spirits, and for healing contentions.t ROBERT BOOTH was a minister of puritan principles, and ornamented with a most excellent character. He was first curate at Sowerby in Yorkshire, then vicar of Halifax, where his remains were interred, July 28, 1657. "He was a man of that worth and excellency in learning and divinity, that he deserved the title of an Apollos, and seemed, like Jeremiah and the baptist, to be separated from the womb to the ministerial office; so temperate and healthful, so industrious and indefatigable in the labours of his study, and so divinely contemplative in the exercises of his mind, that he approved himself to be made up of virtue, being a stranger to all things but the service of heaven. When he spoke to his congregation from the pulpit, it was with that power of truth, and elegance of style, that he charmed his hearers into love and admiration." Mr. Ely Bentley, his assistant and successor at Halifax, was ejected in 1662.§ * Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 123. |