that the souldiers had illused Mr. B. and imprisoned him, and that it was not safe for me to go at that season. All my friends diffuaded me, my child being about me in an unusual manner, crying, would by no means be pacified, saying the troopers would kill me. But, notwithstanding, my mind stood to go. But being importuned by my friends to stay, and having been very latterly sought for by name by the souldiers in these parts, and considering the providence in sending H. to my house, by this intelligence, as I was about to leave, and as my promise was not absolute but conditional, I determined to cast myself on my brother for his determination, as he was at my house; and he determining that I should not go, I stayed.' In November, however, we find that he had been into Effex, and remained there for some ten or twelve days. On his return he says: 'I found God graciously present with me, and sensibly answering prayer, in guiding and disposing, and taking care of me in my way, and in giving me many opportunities of service.' He thus continued labouring, not only in the neighbourhood, but also in Colchester itself, for some time, as in 1669 he is reported to Sheldon as having a conventicle in Colchester, with Geo. Done.' He also frequently preached at Chatsham, where the minifter of the parish having another cure,' says Fairfax, by reason whereof he could attend but once a fortnight, did in his absence not only willingly but thankfully indulge to him the use of his pulpit.' About this time we find him preaching at Manningtree, at Marks Tay, and also at Ipswich, at which laft place he tells us that in 1670, Mr. Maidstone presented me in the Ecclefiaftical Court for preaching against the law, and more of the townsmen for assisting me, whereupon I was hindered from the publicke exercise of my ministry.'

On the indulgence of 1672, Stockton took out a license, on the 16th of April in that year, to be a 'Prefbyterian and Independent teacher in Grey Friers House, in St. Nicholas parish,' Ipswich; and on the same day a license was taken out for that house to be a Prefbyterian and Independent meeting house. This was in connection with his friend Henry Havers. On

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the 22nd of May following, a license was taken out for the house of Robert Howlett, 'in St. Martin's Lane, Colchester, to be an Independent meeting house; ' and on that day Stockton took out a license to be 'an Independent teacher' there.

Stockton quietly slept in the Lord, September 10, 1680, in the one and fiftieth year of his age. He bequeathed the greater part of his valuable library to Gonville and Caius College, with five hundred pounds to be laid out by his executors in purchasing a freehold estate or impropriation to be settled on the said college for the maintenance of a scholar there successively for ever; provided that such only be elected thereto as are poor, or orphans, or the sons of poor ministers, of the best and most hopeful parts, obliging them to the study of divinity and the ministerial work, taking special care that such be well grounded and established in the orthodox faith, the true Protestant reformed religion; and in case any such elected shall become corrupted in doctrine and scandalous in life, then, after due admonition and non-reformation, his place to be declared void and another to be chosen in his stead and none to enjoy it more than twelve years.' Besides which, continues his biographer, he hath also bequeathed, in case his only daughter shall die before she shall accomplish the age of one and twenty years, twenty pounds per annum to be settled on the college in New England, for the education of a converted Indian, or any other that will learn the Indian language, to be a minister and go and preach the gospel to the poor Indians.

He published: 1. A Treatise of Family Inftruction.' Lond. 1672, 8vo. Prefixed is an Epiftle addreffed to Parents and Masters of Families, more especialy to such as are Inhabitants of Colchester, in Effex,' in which he says: I have composed this treatise for the use of such as are not provided of better helps, but more especially for you, my dearly beloved friends, among whom I have lived, and with whom I have conversed. My humble and earnest request to you is, that if you have any love to the Lord Jesus, you would express it by feeding his lambs with the sincere milk of His Word; if you have any zeal for

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the glory of God, if any bowels for your posterity, if any desire of their spiritual and eternal welfare, if any regard to the generations that are yet unborn, if you have ever found any comfort in or benefit by the hand of God, that you would bend your minds and set your hearts to this good work of inftructing your children and servants in the knowledge, and training them up in the obedience of the Scriptures; 2. A Scriptural Catechism, useful for all sorts of persons.' Lond. 1672, 8vo.; 3. A Rebuke to the Informers, with a Plea for the Ministers of the Gospel called Nonconformifts and their Meetings; and advice to those to whom the Informers address themselves for affistance in their undertakings.' Lond. 1675. Part IV. of the 'Conformist's Plea for the Nonconformifts,' Lond. 1683, contains several examples of the wretched men with whom Stockton so tenderly expoftulates in the former part of this treatise. One of the busieft in this county was John Hunnucks, of Braintree. The 'Conformist,' who styles himself on his title-page A Beneficed Clergyman of the Church of England,' gives this account of him: He was the son of a wealthy draper and grocer in that town. A pious education and example had little efficacy upon him; but being witty, and capable of the management of his own and his father's trade, was left co-executor with his mother-inlaw, who prudently agreed with him to get into her own hands her part and the portion of one child. He married the daughter of a very wealthy person, had four children by her, observed family duties and wanted not gifts; and was wont to go sometimes to hear the Nonconformists, who were afterwards persecuted by him. Not many months after his wife died he grew wild and debauched, swearing, drinking, and with his drawn sword forcing others to drink up to his measure. In nine or ten years he consumed all his father left him and his children, ran far into debt, and cast himself into prison. The first Lord's day after the act against conventicles came into force, he began to inform, and as 'twas said, he reckoned to get sixty pounds per week by that good trade, after his failing of other trades. During this time he grew more debauched

and vile, reckoning this amongst his glories, that he had converted and brought more to church than all the preachers ;'* 4. Counsel to the Afflicted.' This book was occasioned by the great fire of London in 1668. Shortly afterwards a similar calamity laid a great part of the city of Bofton, N. E., in ruins. Stockton hearing of this, sent a confiderable number of copies of this Counsel' for gratuitous diftribution among the sufferers. After his death, there was published, 5. Consolations in Life and Death, wherein is shewed that interest in Chrift is a Ground of Comfort under all the Troubles of Life and Terrors of Death. How they that have an interest in Christ may retain the same. Began in a funeral sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Afty, and since much enlarged.' Lond. 1681, 12mo. † To this volume there is prefixed a dedicatory epiftle by Samuel Petto, the ejected rector of Sandcroft, in the county of Suffolk, who was afterwards paftor of a church at Sudbury; 6. 'The Best Interest, or a Treatise of a Saving Interest in Christ.' Lond. 1682, 12mo. To this also there is a dedicatory epiftle prefixed by Samuel Petto; 7. 'A Warning to Drunkards; delivered in several sermons to a congregation in Colchester, upon the occasion of a sad providence towards a young man dying in the Act of Drunkenness.' Lond. 1682. To this volume there is prefixed a dedicatory epiftle by John Fairfax. It is addressed 'To the Right Worshipful Ralph Crafield, Esq., and Nathaniel Laurence, Esq., Aldermen of Colchester and Juftices of the Peace for the county of Effex,' from which it appears that these gentlemen were personal friends of Stockton's. I

Stockton's MSS. are, 1. A large number of sermons, all

⚫ See ante p. 344; Conformist's Plea 72, 74.

Ellen was the wife of Robert Asty, the ejected minister of Stratford, in the county of Suffolk. Her life is appended to the volume.

Laurence was Mayor of Colchester in 1672, 1679, and 1683. He died May 5, 1714, and was buried in St. James' Church, where there is a monument to

his memory. Crafield, or rather Creffield, for so the name appears on his gravestone, in the chancel of St. Nicholas' Church, was Mayor in 1668, 1673, 1677, and 1680. His was knighted by Anne in 1713, and died in June, 1732. His widow left 3 a year to the poor of the parish of Trinity. Mor. MSS. Col. Mus.; Mor. Col. 166, Ap. 22.

written out pretty fully, eight of which bear the date at which they were preached marked on them One of these was preached on the Lord's day after the proclamation of Charles. It is another illustration of the simplicity of numbers of the victims of that monarch's treachery in relying on his large professions made when he was yet in exile; 2. A Treatise of Glorifying God, ready for the press; 3. Practical Questions concerning the Peftilence; being a letter to the Inhabitants of Colchester; a thick small 4to., also ready for the press; 4. His Diary, inscribed Observations and Experiences of God's dealings with my Soul, and other memorable passages of His Providence, taken and recorded since April 1, 1668;' 5. Diary of Mrs. Stockton. *

COLCHESTER.-Edward Warren. Ejected from the vicarage of St. Peter's. He signs his name in the parish register, as appears from several entries with which I am favoured by the Rev. H. Cadell, the present vicar, Edward Warren, alias Sidling.' He appears to have been of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, and to have taken the degree of M.A. in 1646. The return for the parish of St. Peter's in 1650 is, 'Mr. Carter presented, but not admitted; Mr. James supplies the cure.' Carter was presented by Sir Henry Audley. The name of Warren first appears in the register in 1657, when there is an entry of the baptism of Sarah, his daughter; in January, 1659, there is an entry. of the baptism of his son Edward; and in December, 1661, of the baptism of Rachel, his daughter. August 25, 1662, the very day after the Bartholomew Act came into operation, there is an entry of a baptism with the signature of 'Edward Hickeringill, vicar.' After his ejectment Warren continued in the town, and it is said 'practised

* Cal. Acc. 292; Cont. 456; License Book, S. P. O. p. 340. "The true dignity of St. Paul's Elder; exemplified in the life of that reverend, holy, zealous, and faithful servant and minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Owen Stockton, M.A., sometime fellow of Gonvil and Caius College, in Cambridge, and afterwards preacher

of God's word at Colchester, in Essex; with a Collection of his Observations, Experiences and Endeavours, recorded by his own hand. To which is added his Funeral Sermon, by John Fairfax, M.A., sometime fellow of C. C., in C., and afterwards rector of Barking, in Suffolk.' London, 1681. 12mo.