The Life of Mr John Hieron, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of the places where he exerciſed his Miniſtry, and ſome few Occurrences mentioned that betided him in thoſe places.
MR. Thurſcroſſe was very deſirous of his ſtay, and gave him ſome proſpect of preferment by or from him, yet that place being at ſo great a diſtance from his Father, he would not bear his ſtay there, but after he had continued about a year and half, called him home to him.
Sect. 1. His next place was Eggington, where he was Houſhold Chaplain to Sir H. Leigh, and did preach at Newton-Sulney, which was very near him, where Sir Henry was to procure a Miniſter, for which he had his Table, and the keeping of an Horſe, and Ten pounds per Annum. Sir Henry was a diſcurſive Man, and ſometimes detained this ſtudious Man too long at Dinner, who yet a little againſt his temper concealed his uneaſineſs, and wrote thus in his Almanack againſt the day of his coming to Eggington, Acceſſus ad Proſopopaeiam, Apr. 29th. 1631. By which he meant he muſt now perſonate another Man, and not act like himſelf, nor follow his own Genius. He was not for meals to be devourers of time, nor converſe to ſwallow up ſtudy. His Study was his Paradiſe, and the ſwallowing of Books his moſt delightful Meat and Drink. Sometimes when long ſitting at Table was wearyſom to him, he took the liberty to leave them, and to walk into the Garden, or to go into his Chamber. Sir Henry valued him much, and was ready to teſtifie it; and now 1632, his time of Commencing Maſter in Arts being come, he went to take his Degree, and Sir Henry by Intereſt procured him a Buck, to be ſent to him to entertain his Friends, which the Lord …tague did out of a Park of his near Cambridge, and ſent it by his own Servant to prevent further charge. And Sir Simon Every (who marryed Sir Henry's Daughter) gave him ſomething towards his Charges. Upon his return he was ſought to by the good Lady Heyrick, to whom he went and paid his reſpects, but would not leave Sir Henry (though he had the offer of a double Salary) who was a noble generous ſpirited Gentleman, and had obliged Mr. Hieron by manifold Conveniences, giving him much liberty, and all the reſpect that might be. About this time Catharine Counteſs of Cheſterfield, a Religious Lady of Noble Extraction ſent to him to preach her a Fryday Lecture (though I think the Counteſs kept it as a Faſt upon account of the Death of her Eldeſt Son the Lord Stanhope) every Week, which was preached either in the Hall, or in the Chappel at Bratby, which he accepted. She gave him great reſpect, allowed him to uſe Miniſterial freedom, which he took, being no flatterer, and ſhe bore, being a good Chriſtian. One inſtance may be worth noting here. A difference aroſe about precedency, the Counteſs judged her Gentlewoman ought in right to take place of a Baronets Daughters, and expected they ſhould acknowledge it, and then ſaid, She would put her Maid in her Pocket rather than ſhe ſhould give them any offence. But they not willing to yield it, the Counteſs ſent to the Earl Marſhal to decide it, who ſaid the Counteſs was in the right. Mr. Hieron being to preach at Repton Exerciſe (famous not only for a Sermon, but alſo for the work of Prophecying, by one Miniſter after another opening Scripture) the Counteſs being there, he preached on that Text, Bleſſed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. And in an uſe of Inſtruction he commanded them that were there preſent to hear Gods words, ſtriving for the good of their Souls, whilſt others were ſtriving for precedency on Earth, &c. This the Counteſs was ſo quick as to obſerve, and ſpeak of it to Sir Henry Leigh, who had taken no notice of it, but ſo humbled her ſelf before the word, thatReader, No…e, Great Perſons did not think it below them to frequent …ctur…s in th…se dars. ſhe never ſpake of it to Mr. Hieron. Their Memory is precious that did ſo, their names and memory will rot, that are above, againſt, neglect, and contemne ſuch practices. If great people be good, they will heed what they hear and bear reproof. And let all Chriſtians and Miniſters believe that faithful dealing is the true way to reſpect, and that of the wiſe Man will be verified, Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man ſhall find more favour afterward than he that ſlattereth with the tongue. A wound that's friendly is better than a deceitful kiſs. Prov. 27. 6.
Here again he had ſome calls a way by perſons of Great Note, but he continued at Eggington, until Michaelmas, 1633.
Sect. 2. From Eggington he removed to the Town of Aſhborne. Mr. Joſeph Taylor Lecturer and School-Maſter there, falling into weakneſs, was diſabled from his Service, and being a weighty honeſt Man, much deſired to have the School and Lecturers place well ſupplyed. Purſuant to this deſign Mr. Lees of Aſhborne (every way a ſubſtantial man) took a journey to enquire after one Mr. Patrick, then, I ſuppoſe, Schoolmaſter at Leiceſter, motioned to Aſhberne School. And in the Crown-Inn-gate at Derby Meeting Mr. Hieron, and one Mr. Wheeldon, who had been enquiring for the Cambridge Carrier, asked them, Whether they were Leiceſter-ſhire Men? They anſwered no. Inquired, Why he asked that queſtion? He replyed that one Mr. Patrick was motioned to Aſhborne as a Sbhool-Maſter, and he knew not but that one of them might poſſibly have been the Man. Mr. Hieron went on, but Mr. Wheeldon ſtepped back to him, and told him, if they wanted a School-Maſter, they could not have a fitter than his Friend there, meaning Mr. Hieron. And gave a character of him, which ſo well pleaſed Mr. Lees, that at his return home, he acquainted Mr. Pegge (an Attorney of great note and buſineſs, and inclined to good men, an Inhabitant in Aſhborne) and Mr. Taylor with what he had heard, They took notice of it, and Mr. Pegge wrote to Mr. Gilbert Ward of Tickenhal (an Ingenious man, a man of Wit, Worth, and Buſineſs) who knowing Mr. Hieron well, gave an account of him to ſatisfaction. Which being received, Mr. Taylor wrote to Mr. Jackſon then Miniſter of Sutton, (a learned, ſober, grave, and weighty man, of whom Mr. Hieron uſed to ſay, He was Logical in every thing) to deſire him to bring Mr. Hieron to Aſhborne, which he did, and there they offered him the School-Maſters place at Aſhborne. He promiſed to accept it, if they could and would fairly procure it for him. Thus by a paſſage, which to us is accidental, and a meer contingency, was this worthy man brought into their thoughts at Aſhborne, but an higher Hand, and a wiſer Purpoſe directed it.
Mr. Taylor (then grown unable for the School and Lecture both) ſet himſelf to work, and improved his Intereſt in the Company (conſiſting of Three Governours, and Twelve Aſſiſtants) in whom the Right of Election lay, and ingaged Ten of them for Mr. Hieron. But now it beginning to be noiſed abroad that the School would be vacant, one Mr. Cox put in for it, who, though he could not gain the Majority of the Governours and Aſſiſtants, yet having got ſome of them, and ſome Intereſt made by ſome great Neighbours who influenced upon the Heirs of the Founders of the School (who had a kind of a Negative Voice) Three whereof were then remaining, two whereof were gotten for Mr. Cox, and the third for Mr. Hieron. The Major part of them had power to ſtop the Election, and ſo it occaſioned a great conteſt. When Mr. Taylor ſaw what oppoſition they were like to meet with, he would not have reſigned until the Coaſt were cleared, and therefore procured Mr. Whiting to teach School for him. But he perceiving there was no hope that he ſhould be the man choſen, withdrew his hand, and left Mr. Taylor (by reaſon of his weakneſs) under a neceſſity of reſigning. Which he did, and two more of the Governours and Aſſiſtants being brought over, Twelve of the Fifteen choſe Mr. Hieron. But the Heirs of the Founders not conſenting, the Election was not ratified, and ſo it fell to the Biſhop of the Dioceſs to chooſe. Mr. Hieron by the Biſhops Order was examined by Mr. Baſier the Biſhops Chaplain, who commended him much for his skill in the Tongues. The Biſhop readily gave him his Title. But then a queſtion aroſe, whether Biſhop Morton being now Elect of Durham, could act as Biſhop of Coventry and Litchfield: Hereupon Applications were made to Arch-Biſhop Abbot, who in the vacancy of the Biſhoprick was Biſhop of it. And the Arch-Biſhop gave him his Title. But then it came to a new Diſpute, that it muſt be the Biſhop of the Dioceſs that only could give a Title, and therefore it could not be done until the Biſhopprick were filled. By and by it was, Biſhop Wright was inſtalled, then each ſide applyed to him, and neither ſide appeared empty; for ſo was the manner then. He deferred the deciſion until he ſhould in his Viſitation come to Aſhborne; which he did, and when there moved that they ſhould wave Mr. Cox and Mr. Hieron, and by a great Neighbour one Mr. Mountney was propounded, and both ſides ſat down. Mr. Hieron was content, he was at eaſe where he was, and having the Lecture at the truly Honourable the Counteſs of Cheſterfield, for which ſhe promiſed him but Ten pounds per annum, but gave him Twelve; he judged his Salary competent, and ſo was ſatisfied. But the Lord had higher buſineſs at Aſhborne for Mr. Hieron, than a Free-School Tho▪ when the Election of the Governours and Aſſiſtants was made void for want of Confirmation by the Heirs of the Founders, when Biſhop Mortons▪ Title was queſtioned, and the Biſhops would not ſatisfie neither, Mr. Hieron could have been content to have declined all further proſecution of the buſineſs. But he was deſired ſtill to ſtand for it, and his Friends promiſed that if he went without it, they would chooſe him Lecturer, and they proved as good as their words. Men wiſe and unbiaſſed pitched upon him, in whom worth was, and after the Lecturers place was void by Mr. Taylors death, the Truſtees for the Lecture choſe Mr. Hieron Lecturer. Mountney proved bad and immoral, a great diſhonour to the School, and a vexation to the Town, who ſought to the Biſhop to remove him, who alledged he could not. Then the Governours of the School ſtopped his Sallary▪ and after articled againſt him in the High Commiſſion, but that way giving them no Relief, they were at laſt forced to ſue him at Common Law, and it came to a Tryal before Judge Hutton (or his Collegue) and they caſt him and ejected him.
But while Mountney proved ſo ill, and ſuch a vexation, Mr. Hieron proved like himſelf, and an honour to his place, and ſatisfaction to the Town. He built upon Mr. Taylors foundations, and both preached and lived as that Worthy Predeceſſor did. And though Mr. Taylor was dead, yet he lived, and the work was carryed on by his Succeſſor. Here Mr. Hieron continued, labouring in Word and Doctrine, and procured from Biſhop Wright a Licence for a weekly Lecture to be preached at Aſhborne, which was upheld by many very able men, that ſo by the mouths of many Witneſſes what was preached on the Lords day might be confirmed, and that by mutual converſe Miniſters might be edified and comforted, as well as people advantaged.
I ſuppoſe it was about October in the year 1635, that he married the Relict of Mr. Taylor, who had then, by her former Husband two Children, a Son, and a Daughter. An happy Choice he made, and very happily they lived together. She was an holy Soul, underſtanding and prudent, loved her former Husbands good Acquaintance, and brought them to be Mr. Hieron's Acquaintance. Thoſe of them that I knew honoured her indeed, and ſo did all that knew her. She was the Daughter of Parents▪ that were conſiderable, and of very good reputation in Aſhborne. She had many Brethren and Siſters, (ſome of whom I knew) and I think I may truly ſay, that few Families produced more perſons of good brains, and excellent behaviour. I knew none of them mean in the World, and ſome of them made a conſiderable Figure in it.
Here Mr. Hieron pitched, and ſtaid till the Civil Wars came on in England, and then, though a quiet Man, and fain would have continued at his work, yet could not, but was forced to make many withdrawments for ſecurity, which did much diſturb and tire him, and his Family were put into many …ghts by ſearches for him; ill Neighbours informing them of T…bury, and ſolliciting them to take him (who had no other provocation for him, but only the faithful diſcharge of his duty) He loath to live a Priſoner in a place ſo like Hell, where his Righteous Soul muſt have been upon a pepetual rack, reſolved to remove himſelf and his Family, with ſome part of his Goods to Derby. And no ſooner was he and his Family gone, but his Houſe was plunder'd, and his Books (hidden ſecurely as he thought) diſcovered by ſome ill Neighbours taken likewiſe. This was in the year 1643.
Sect. 3. About two Moneths after his coming to Derby, the Inhabitants of Breadſall, a Town two little Miles diſtant from Derby, being deſtitute of the Exerciſe of the Miniſtry among them made their complaints to Sir John Gell, then Governour of Derby, who anſwered them, Find out any ſit man, and I will put him in. They applyed themſelves to Mr. Hieron, he anſwered, He was out of employment, but would not move a foot toward getting the place. They returned to Sir John, who offered the place to Mr. Hieron's Father occaſionally there; but he deſired Sir John rather to beſtow it on his Son, which he immediately did, and cauſed an Order of the Committee to be drawn for that End; and ſent a Command to the Conſtable of Breadſal to come on the Sabbath morning, and convey him to the place, and ſecure him. They went back to him to acquaint him with what was done, he told them he would not go, unleſs the Order was ſealed to take with him. The Order was perfected, and the Conſtable came on the Lords day, and took him with him to Breadſall, where he performed the work of the day, and returned to Derby at night. Thus he continued about ten moneths going to Breadſall on the Sabbath days, officiating there all the day, returned to his Family at Derby at night. But after that time, having ſome more probable proſpect of Safety at Bradſall, he removed his Family thither, November 1. 1644. And there continued quietly during the War, and afterwards till the 24th. of Auguſt, 1662▪ that ſetled Uniformity by ſo many breaches, and rendings of Miniſters and People, as the Proteſtant part of the World never ſaw before. Amongſt the reſt this conſcientious Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt was catched in the Nooſe; for no better are ſuch Impoſitions than ſnares to the truly conſcientious, who are not for leaping from one mode of profeſſion to another, are not for wrig…ing out themſelves by diſtinctions and evaſions, but would do all in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, without any equivocations, endeavouring to maintain a principle of honeſty in the World.
I ſhall cloſe this Section and Chapter with a few remarks. Here may you ſee how Gods Providence finds work for them that have a mind to work, willing minds do not ordinarily want opportunities long, but God opens a door for them. See again how God diſpoſeth the forced flights of his Miniſters to ſpread the Goſpel into other places. He that muſt not preach at Aſhborne ſhall preach at Bradſall; when his ſeed-time was over at Aſhborne, God …d this Spiritual ſeeds-man another field. God diſtinguiſheth betwen flying Hirelings, and Shepherds that are forced away. God ſeemed by this Providence to approve his flight. And you laſtly ſee how ſeekers after the word do find it, here was a people that could not live without the Ordinances, and God caſt upon them not a bare Doer, but a Workman, not only a man in a Miniſterial habit, but a man of a Miniſterial Spirit. The greateſt mercy that ever befel Bradſall, if they did know in his day the things of their peace. It was his day of Service, their day of advantages: a price indeed was in their hands, happy they that had hearts to it, as ſome of them I hope had.