The Lives of Twenty-Two Eminent English Divines, Biography 21
The Life of Master Robert Balsom, who died Anno Christi 1647.
RObert Balsom was born at Shipton-Montague, in the County of Somerset. Having spent some years in New-in-hall in Oxford, upon his removall thence, he was entertained by Master Bernard of Batcomb, in the aforesaid County, to teach School, and preach sometimes as his Assistant; under whom he greatly improved his abilities for preaching. Upon the death of Master Bernard, preaching occasionally at a neighbour village call'd Stoke, His call to Stoke.among a company of poor untaught people, one that lived thereabouts, told him, that if such a Minister should come and preach among that people, where there was so small encouragement, he should think that God had a great work to do upon them. Hereupon Master Balsom promised to be their Minister, where he enjoyed about fourty pounds a year.The great successe of his Ministry. The successe of his Ministry there was very great, insomuch that he hath been heard say, that there were but few Sermons that he preached there, but he had intelligence, that some one or other were converted by them.
The troubles growing in those parts, by reason of our Civil Warres, after one or two years abode there, he was forced for his own safety, to betake himself to Warder Castle in Wiltshire, His flight to Warder Castlewhere he had not continued long, but the Castle was besieged by the Kings party. Upon the news of their approach, he was minded to have gone for London, but being desired by Colonel Ludlow, the Governour of that Castle, he remained there during the siege. A little before the Castle was delivered up, as they were in Treaty about the surrender of it, Master Balsom walking upon the roof of the Castle, heard three Souldiers say, That they had sworn upon the Bible, to take away the life of one in the Castle. He asked one of them, Who is that ye mean? Is it our Minister? They replyed, Yes; for he is a Witch: which they affirmed upon this ground, because the Castle had divers times been very strangely relieved with provision.Special providences. As at one time with a herd of Swine coming down to the gates, which they took in; and at another time by some Deer, and Conies, the siege then being not close, but straightning them at a distance. He asked them, what was their names? They told him, they were the three merry boyes: He replyed, your names are very unsuitable to the times. And so after some farther discourse, parted with them.
After the surrender of the Castle, and the enemies entry, they presently seized on Master Balsom, and clapt him up in a close low room. About twelve a clock at night, the key of the room was given to the three Souldiets that had sworn his death: They having received the key, presently entered the room where he was with another Souldier, who was hanged the next morning: No sooner came they into the room, but they put off their hats, and standing still, lookt on him at a distance, saying nothing to him. He suspecting them to be the men that had sworn to take away his life, spake to them thus; Friends, what is your business? are not ye the men that have sworn to take away my life? They answered to this purpose, We have taken a wicked oath, God forgive us, but we will do you no hurt. He desired them to come near unto him, but they stood trembling, perswaded him to make an escape, voluntarily offering him their best assistance. He answered, now I suspect you, you are ashamed to take away my life, now I am in your hands, but would perswade me to a flight, that you might with the more colour kill me in the pursuit. They assuring him, they intended really the setting of him at liberty; He asked what they thought would become of them? They answered, they would go along with him. He replyed, That you shall not do; for if I be taken again, I shall be but in the same case I am; but if you be taken, it will cost you your lives. And therefore I will rather suffer the utmost that God shall suffer them to inflict upon me, then hazard the lives of those that have shewed themselves so friendly to me.
Upon this, they had him forth into the fresh air, and in the mean time made clean his room, and so left him. The next morning, a Councel of War was call'd, and as they were debating to put him to death, a Captain of the Councel stood up, and said, I will have no hand in the blood of this man, and so went out of the room, and no farther progresse was made as concerning him. Afterwards they carried him in a Cart to Salisbury;His remove to Sarum. As he was carried through the town to the Prison, the people of the town entertained him with great scorn and contempt; and that night another Councel of War was call'd, and packt for the purpose, by which he was condemned to be hang'd.He is condemned to be hanged. Hereupon the High Sheriff of the County went unto him into the Prison, and after much ill language that he used towards him, he told him that he was come to tell him, that he must prepare himself to die, for he was condemned by the Councel of War, to be hang'd the next morning at six a clock; but withall, assured him, that if he would ask pardon of the King for his offence, and serve his Majesty for the future, as he had formerly served against him, he should both save his life, and have what preferment he could reasonably desire. He answered, for me to ask pardon where I am not conscious of an offence,His courage and constancy. were but the part of a fool; and to betray my conscience in hope of preferment, were but the part of a Knave; and if I had neither hope of heaven, nor fear of hell, I had rather die an honest man, then live a fool or a knave. The next morning he rose about five a clock, being something troubled that he had slept so long: About six a clock the Officers came into the room to bring him forth to execution. While he was preparing to go with them, he heard a Post ride in, asking hastily, Is the Prisoner yet alive?A special Providence. His remove to Winchester. who brought with him a Reprieve from Sir Ralph Hopton, to whom he was carried to Winchester. As he came to the gates of the town, Sir William Ogle the Governour met him, and told him, that he would feed him with bread and water for two or three daies, and then hang him. Then he was brought to Sir Ralph Hopton, who spake to him thus; Master Balsom, I little thought one day that you should have been my Prisoner, and I cannot but wonder, that such men as you should be engaged in a rebellion against the King. To whom he replyed, Sir, I cannot but wonder, that such men as you should call this rebellion. Sir Ralph desired him to give him an account of the grounds, upon which he and his party proceeded, promising him, that he should not suffer for any thing that he spake to him. After about half an hours discourse, he committed him to his own Marshall, with this charge, Keep this man safe, but use him well. The Marshall received him, and after some little rough entertainment, upon his entrance into his house, he at length used him with great seeming respect. Long he had not been there, but a Gentlewoman came to him with a pottle of Sack,He is urged to recant. urging him to preach a Recantation Sermon the next morning before the Lords, promising that if he would so do, the King would make him a Doctor. He replyed, Sure you do but mock me; for should I preach upon such short warning, the Lords would never hear such extempore stuff; but if you be in good earnest, and would make me a Doctor indeed, then let me have the same Law ye use to give your Doctors, viz. a quarter of a years time to make a Sermon, and by that time you may know more of my mind.
The next morning an Order was brought for the conveying of him to Oxford, whither he was accordingly carried.His remove to Oxford. He lighted first at the Blewbore, whither they brought a company of the Queens followers, who with much fury oftentimes swore, that he should not go alive out of the room. But the Musqueteers, who were set as a guard upon him, desired them to be quiet, telling them that he was their Prisoner, and should not suffer there, but they would suffer with him. Thence he was conveyed to the Castle, where after two or three daies abode, he enjoyed the same liberty with other Prisoners; And a while after, he set up an Exposition Lecture in the prison twice a day: To which, not only the Prisoners, and some of the Souldiers, but divers Courtiers, and many out of the town often came. Being prohibited once or twice to go on in this Exercise, he answered, if ye are weary of me, I am not willing to trouble you any longer; ye may turn me out of your doors when you will; but while I have a tongue to speak, and people to speak to, I will not hold my peace.
After some moneths of imprisonment, he was released by exchange.His Release. As he was departing thence, some Courtiers and others, that had formerly shewed him some favour, perswaded him to close with their party, and to stay with them. He utterly refusing, divers of them accompanied him out of town; and as they were parting, one of them said; Sir, If any of us should fall into your hands, we should desire no better entertainment then you have had amongst us. He replyed, Gentlemen, I could wish that ten thousand of you might fall into our hands within this monethmonth, that you might see how kindly we would deal with you. Thence he was sent for by the Lord Generall Essex to be Chaplain in his Army,He is sent for by the Earl of Essex. with whom he continued, during his command.
Then he went to Barwick, where he was received with great affection of the people,His going to Barwick. and saw in a short time great successe of his labours in the Ministry. During his abode there, two things were very remarkeable: One, whereas there was a Child that had been strangely visited with such a weaknesse, as neither Physicians or Divines could guesse at the cause, or find out the cure; Hereupon Master Balsom moved some Christians there to seek God with him, by Fasting and Prayer, which accordingly they did,A special Providence. and obtained a suddain and extraordinary answer. For as the Mother of the Child came home from the Exercise, her Child met her, and told her, she was very well, who before had kept her bed of a long time.
The other thing remarkable was this; A Scottish Lord, by name, the Lord of Granson, took up his habitation for a time in Barwick, and brought with him his Family. In which, amongst others, was the Steward of his house, formerly reputed a godly man, who was very much afflicted in mind: Master Balsom came to visit him, and administred some comfort to him for that time. But two or three daies after he being sorely afflicted again, Master Balsom was sent for, who finding him very much weakned and worn out by the violence of temptation, began to speak comfortably to him. But perceiving that no words of comfort would fasten on him, he whispered to him in his ear to this purpose, I doubt there is something within, that you should do well to discover. Whereupon immediately the mans tongue swelled out of his mouth, insomuch that he was not able to speak. Master Balsom continued speaking to him, till at length, to the astonishment of those in the room, being many, and some of them persons of quality, a shrill voice was heard, as from out of his throat (having not any use of his tongue) to this purpose:Possession. Satan. What dost thou talking to him of Promises, and free grace? He is mine. Master Balsom apprehending it to be the voice of the Devil, replyed:
Balsom.No Satan, thou dost not know any man to be thine while there is life in him.
Satan.But this is a notorious wicked wretch, and therefore is mine.
Balsom.The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.
If God would let me loose upon you, I should find enough in the best of you, Satan.to make you all mine.
Balsom.But thou art bound Satan. And so turning himself to the people, with a smiling countenance, he said, What a gracious God have we, that suffers not Satan to have his will upon us?
Satan.Then the Devil began to curse and swear, and blaspheme the Trinity in a most fearfull and horrible manner.
Balsom.The Lord rebuke thee.
But this man is mine, for he hath given himself to me; Satan.and sealed it with his blood.
I do not believe that the father of lies speaketh truth,Balsom. and I do believe, how confident soever thou art, that thou wilt lose thy hold before to morrow morning.
The Devil continued to curse and swear further, saying,Satan. How canst thou endure to hear thy God blasphemed? I will never give over blaspheming so long as thou stayest in the room.
I will pray for him.Balsom.
Wilt thou pray for a man that is damned?Satan.
I will go home and pray for him,Balsom. and get all the force I can in the town to joyn with me. After this, there being no more voice heard, Mr. Balsom went home about eleven a clock at night, where he found in his house divers Christians, which he intended to have sent for, waiting for him; and upon the sight of them, he spake to them to this purpose: Friends,A special Providence. I wonder at the providence of God, in bringing you hither at this time, for otherwise I must have sent for you. And so declaring to them what had hapned to the afflicted man, he desired them to spend some part of the night with him, in seeking God for him, which accordingly they did. The next morning Master Balsom going to visit him again, found him in a comfortable condition; and asking of him, how he did? He answered, Through the goodnesse of God, I have overcome, and am now as full of comfort, as I was before of trouble. And so continued all that day cheerfull, but in great weaknesse, and the next morning died, no disease appearing upon him.
After some time of Master Balsom's abode there, he was earnestly intreated to return into his own Countrey, to which, for some important reasons he was inclined, but was as earnestly importuned by many of the inhabitants of Barwick, either to abide with them, or to return again to them. And after many other Arguments, as he was just parting with them, as their last Argument to perswade him to stay with him, they presented him with a list of about threescore that had been (as they were verily perswaded) savingly wrought on by his Ministry,The great successe of his Ministry. during the time of his continuance there. He left them, but with a mind of returning to them again, if providence crost it not, but his return was prevented by his death, which hapned about two year after,His death. as he was endeavouring to get himself free from the place, where he then was, to return to them. In which space of time he did much good, as in converting many, so in reducing many that were drawn away by Sectaries.