He remained excommunicated till K. James's proclamation of pardon, After the liberty, he preached at Wincaunton and some other places, where he was much beloved. He was a humble, chearful, courteous man, who delighted in doing good. In controversial matters he was much of Mr. Baxter's judgment, but had a great respect for all good men. was contented with his condition, and mortified to the world, so as to be the same in all changes: a man of the primitive stamp; of a plain, honest, sincere heart, and an unblamable life. He died in March, 1700, in his 70th year,

He

MONKTON (West). Mr. ROBERT DRAKE. A very considerable man, but there is no memorial of him.

MONTACUTE. Mr. OLIver.

NORTON (under Hamden) [R.] BENJAMIN COLLINS.

PARRET (South) [R. 100l.] Mr. JEREMIAH FRENCH. Of Camb. univ. Born in Suffolk. He spent a considerable time in the university, where he was intimate with Dr. Whichcote, who invited him with Mr. Fairclough, to bear him company in a visit to his parish at Melles. He married a person of some fortune at Clifton in Dorsetshire, and settled at Newport in the isle of Wight, where his ministry was acceptable and useful. The day Charles I. was hurried away from Caresbrook castle near that town, Mr. French preached in the morning on Hos. v. 2. in the afternoon on Tit. i. 16. and used great freedom of speech; for which he was made a prisoner in the castle three months, and then was carried by sea to London, and tried for his life. But he got off, tho' not without much expence, on promising never to preach at Newport any more. He afterwards had the vicarage of Yeovil, in Somerset; but the people complaining that his preaching was too precise and sharp for them, made him uneasy, and in a year and a half he removed to South Parret, where he continued ten years to very good purpose. Upon his ejectment from hence, in 1662, he lived upon his estate at Bradford Abbis, and preached there and about the country, as he had opportunity, till the Indulgence in 1679 when he kept a meeting in his house, and had a good auditory. When the liberty expired, he had several warrants out against him; but they could not be executed for want of knowing his given name. He was once followed by a troop of horse, and narrowly escaped; upon which he left his

house

house, and durst not return even to see his wife upon her death-bed. At length trouble so broke his spirits, that on May 10 or 11, 1685, he fainted away and died, in the 60th year of his age.

PITMISTER [V.] Mr. THOMAS FORWARD. Of NewInn Hall, Oxford. Upon quitting the university, he was for some time curate to Mr. Sedger of Broad Clift, and afterwards settled in this parish upon the death of Mr. Travers. He much lamented K. Charles's death, and was against observing Cromwell's thanksgivings for his victories. He was repeatedly offered his living again by the patron, upon the death of several succeeding vicars; but he persisted in his Nonconformity, tho' he had but little to support himself and a large family. He died in Dec. 1687. It was observed, that his religious management of his family was attended with wonderful success.

PUDDIMORE [R. S.] Mr. JOSIAH WYAT. A pious man, and a laborious preacher.

PURLOCK [R.] Mr. ALEXANDER ROBINSON.

RISTON [Chap.] TIMOTHY BATT, M. A. Of both universities. He was a native of this county, and born Nov. 30, 1613. The eldest son of a Puritan, who designing him for the ministry, trained him up in grammar-learning at the best school within his reach, and then sent him to Wadham Col. Oxf. from whence he removed to Eman. Col. Camb. where he took his degrees, and having a good elocution, was called Silver-tongu'd Batt. He was afterwards chaplain to Sir Robert Pye, sen. whom he attended in the unfortunate expedition, under the Earl of Essex, into Cornwall. He then went to London, and during the war, exercised his ministry at Mimms in Middlesex, where he gained the affections of the people, and was afterwards kindly received by those of them that were living, when he visited them in 1685. In 1689 he went to Ilminster, and after a short stay there removed to Creech in this county, where he continued till the Restoration. This being a sequestered living, he was then forced to quit it, and was presented by a neighbouring gentleman to the small living of Riston, where the Bartholomew-act ejected him. He had good offers if he would have conformed, but could not accept them. His delight was in his Master's work, in which be continued as he had opporunity, till within a few months of his death, tho' he was

George Newton, M.A.

from an original Painting in the Possession of John Hayne Provet Esq. Tanston,

blind above two years; and God owned him even to the last. The following instance deserves to be recorded: He used to preach once in five or six weeks near Columpton in Devonshire. A prophane and lewd young man came thither one Lord's-day to hear him, on purpose to make a jest of what he said. The sermon was upon these words, Fools make a mock at sin; and it pleased God to make it the means of his conversion: after which he became a serious Christian. Mr. Batt died in July, 1692, with those words of St Paul in his mouth, I have fought a good fight, &c.

SHEPTON MALLET [R.] Mr. DAVID CALDERWOOD. STAPLEGROVE [Chap.] Mr. JOHN GARDENER.

STOKE-TRUSTER. Mr. JOHN BATT. Of New-Inn Hall, Oxf. Born in Wilts, at Kingston Deverill, Aug. 15, 1613. He was ordained by Dr. Pierce, Bp. of Bath and Wells. He first entered upon the ministry as curate to Mr. Swanton at Sutton, and afterwards was presented to this parsonage, which he held several years. After being silenced in 1662, he lived privately, and seldom preached. He had a - good estate, and left charitable legacies to poor Nonconformist Ministers. He died in July, 1684, aged 71.

TAUNTON St. Magdalen's. GEORGE NEWTON, M. A. Of Exeter Col. Oxf. [entered in 1617, aged 16, took his degree of M. A. 1624]. He was a minister's son, a native of Devonshire born in 1602. He began his ministry at HillBishops, near Taunton, and in 1631 he was presented to this living by Sir W. Portman and Mr. Robert Hill. In the time of the civil war, when this town underwent a famous siege, he spent a year or two at St. Albans, and preached in the abbey; but when Taunton was reduced, he returned to his place and his employment, with two or three other ministers who had accompanied him in his absence. His preaching was plain, profitable, and successful. He was eminent for his meekness and prudence. He kept out of the town those divisions that did so much mischief in other places. After he was silenced, being convinced it was his duty to continue his ministry, he took care to preach at those times when he might be least exposed. He died June 12, 1681, aged 79. He was a good scholar, much of a gentleman, and a very useful preacher. Wood says, "He behaved himself conformably for a time, but upon the breaking out of the rebellion he sided with the Presbyterians,

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