Thomas Oke, in Briggate, for which he was assessed 6s. Thomas Oke of the Bull" occurs as subscribing ijs vjd, in 1615, to the Lottery intended for (Virginia), of which the Rt. honorable John Lord Darcye rcevyred lettres from the Counsell," &c. Now, this adventure on the part of the said Thomas Oke invites the suspicion that "The Bull" was not all that a respectable inn should have been. The town had not a few of the 'baser sort' of revellers and gamblers, and the host and even hostess of this inn are described in an old record as themselves excellent gamesters (quovis excellunt simul hospes et hospita lusu). There is a remarkable publication of 1638 entitled" Barnabee's Journal," written in daggrel Latin Verse by its singular author, Richard Brathwait, A.M., a Deputy-Lieutenant, a justice of the peace, and a noted wit and poet. He is usually and only too well designated "Drunken Barnaby." He amusingly depicts in his Journal" visits to various towns, Oxford, Banbury, Woodstock, Leister, &c.

One of the earliest of his visits is Englished thus :—
"In my progresse travelling Northward,
Taking my farewell oth' Southward,
To Banbery came I, O prophane one!
Where I saw a Puritane-one

Hanging of his cat on Monday

For killing of a mouse on Sunday."

Passing through Nottingham, Mansfield, Clowne, he came to "Rothram (veni Rothram usque Taurum), and his six lines in metrical Latin may be given to the general reader in the translation :—

"Thence to th' Bull at Rohram came I,

Where my gold, if I had any,

Left I long I stoutly rored

Till oth' Bridge I broke my forehead,

Whence ashamed while brows smarted,

I by night-time thence departed."

Wasn't it a good fortune, indeed, that our well-primed and well-fleeced visitor at the Bull did not fall into the river at the bridge-foot ?

These illustrations of the state of the town will serve to indicate that the new Vicar, Luke Clayton, being a very conscientious and zealous Puritan pastor, had plenty of room for his good labors as well as many a plea for a stirring sermon

from his parish pulpit. If all were saints, there were no need of preachers. And had all the daily visitors to the "Crown," the "Bull," and host Clayton's hostelry absented themselves from the Sunday services, the Vicar would have had very few of the "faithful" to preach to. But, let it be well appreciated, that as yet all the townspeople, of every grade and sort, as the Prayer Book has it, “All sorts and conditions of men,' went to the grand old church-Sectarian divisions had not yet become acute, though the more devoted church and state worshippers could not but deplore the removal of the Common Prayer Book, while the Presbyterian and Independent and more numerous section exulted in the use of the Free Puritanical Service.

LUKE CLAYTON AS VICAR.

In Calamy's Nonconformist Memorial we have a short but significant representation of this "prophet," as he designates him-" A prophet who had unusual honour in his own country." This would indicate that for once the old saying was not verified, "no prophet is accepted in his own country.' He had been born and lived all his life among these Rotherham parishioners, and his worthy ministry was highly valued by them of all classes. It is further stated by the same memorialist, He was an excellent desputant, and very ready in everything." This need not mean that he favored excessive disputation with any that he disagreed with, but rather that he was ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Further, according to the same recorder, the Vicar for many years preached twice a day (probably twice a Sunday) to a numerous congregation, and catechized the youth in public. On Lord's Day evening, about five o'clock, he constantly repeated the substance of his sermons." Manifestly, no minister could have been more faithful in his sacred office in regard to the spiritual welfare of his people and their offspring. It is a fine tribute to his tender solicitude for the young that he gathered them around him in the church and inculcated upon them the great Christian truths contained in the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments.

And it is evident, that he also possessed the exquisite art of not only instructing the youth of Rotherham in these gospel lessons, but also of calling forth, by pertinent and happy questioning, their intelligent appreciation of the religious lessons he gave to them. For some eighteen years Vicar Clayton continued this most worthy and acceptable ministration in peace and independence under the Parliament and the after Protectorate of Cromwell.

According to the instrument whereby the great Oliver was made Protector, it was declared, "That all should have liberty for the free exercise of their religion who professed Faith in God by Jesus Christ." As it became urgent for the Fundamentals of Religion to be drawn up, in terminis, as a test as regards this toleration, Archbishop Usher was nominated by Parliament to provide the same, but he wisely declined the task, as he was no prototype of our present head of the Education Department. Baxter was next selected, and he proposed the offering to Parliament, the Creed of the Apostles, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments, as the essentials of Christianity, containing all that is necessary to salvation. When it was objected this might be subscribed by a Papist or Socinian, his reply was-" That it was so much the better, and the better to be matter of concord." Yes, Richard Baxter possessed a broad mind and a liberal soul. Would there had been many, many more like him, and possibly the after irreconcilable differences between Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Independents might have been obviated.

Clayton's after eventful career will be related in due

course.