Mr. BROSTER, of Wormbridge, afterwards conformed. As also did Mr. MALDEN, of Sapy, tho' not to the satisfaction of his conscience; for he used afterwards often to say, It repented him that he did not let his wife and children go a begging, rather than that he had conformed. However, he continued in his living till his death, and always paid a great respect to the Nonconformists. MINISTERS MINISTERS EJECTED OR SILENCED IN HERTFORDSHIRE. ST. ALBANS. HAWORTH. St. Peter's church. Mr. WILLIAM Of St. John's Col. Camb. He was well skilled in the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages. After his ejectment here* he was desired on occasion of the death of some friend, to preach a funeral sermon. Accordingly he had assembled a congregation for this purpose, at some place in the town, but was hindered by some malicious persons who obliged the people to disperse. Upon this, they went to the Cloisters in the abbey, where Mr. Haworth had resolved to perform the service. While he was in his sermon, a party of soldiers came in with a view to apprehend him; when one of the hearers interposing to prevent it, was shot dead on the spot. Mr. Haworth was taken up, and on account of this affair was tried at the assizes: when, tho' he was discharged, he was heavily fined, while the soldier who committed the murder escaped with impunity. He afterwards lived twenty years at Hertford, and preached to a society of Dissenters there. The congregation at Hitchin, of which Mr. Holcroft had been pastor, being dismissed to Mr. Haworth's charge, he used to preach to them about once a month, in a barn belonging to the other society in that town, according to an * He could not have had the living of St. PETERS, but must have been only a preacher there, as John Retchford succeeded William Retchford as vicar, in 1661, and was living till 1700.-N. B. The original account of Mr. Haworth is so confused and imperfect as to require being drawn up afresh, and some words supplied, to render it intelligible. The additions to it, and to several other articles in this county, are communicated by Mr. Isaac James, a native. agreement agreement made in 1687. They used generally to go to Hertford on communion-days, but sometimes met, from both towns, at Bragbury-end, which is about half way. Mr. Edward Hitchin (author of The Infant's Cause pleaded, who was grand father to the late minister of White Row, Spital-fields, London) left the society which now meets in Tyler-street, Hitchin, in 1688, and joined Mr. Haworth's church. The following little anecdote is found in Maurice's Monument of mercy to the Church at Rowell. Mr. Haworth being present at a meeting of ministers in a neighbouring town (probably Kettering) and disapproving of their proceedings, relative to Mr. Davis of Rowell,* questioned their authority, crying out, Quo Jure, quo jure? This unexpected attack produced a sudden silence, upon which some person answered, Nullo Jure. Then, replied Mr. Haworth, It is Injuria." 66 Mr. NATHANIEL PARTRIDGE. Probably he was at St. Michael's church, for it appears that one was ejected there in 1662, from Newc. Rep. Eccles. (vol i. p. 778), where we have this entry: John Cole, A. M. 3 Mar. 1662. per non subscriptionem ultimi Vicarii. Mr. Partridge having once preached at St. Albans, upon those words, Rev. iii. 18. Anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayst see;' a poor man who was as blind in mind as he was in body, went afterwards to his house, and asked him very gravely," where he might get that ointment to cure his blindness ?" [Doubtless Mr. Partridge improved the occasion for saying something to this ignorant creature, with a view to open the eyes of his mind, tho' we have no information concerning it.] After his ejectment, he preached in Old-street, London, many years, and suffered six months imprisonment in Newgate for his Nonconformity. He took a great deal of pains with the condemned prisoners there, not without some good success; and died, in a good old age, Aug. 6, 1684. Mr. Christopher, Nesse published an elegy upon him, some lines of which were so severe, [against court measures] that he was forced for a time to hide from the messengers who were very busy in hunting after him. ALBURY [V.] Mr. FRANCIS COMYNG. It appears from Newc. Rep. that he was admitted to this living before the * See the account of Mr. Davis under the article DESBOROUGH, Nor thamptonshire. |