many land-marks, to direct their followers in the way to Zion. And indeed, the examples of good men are then most cogent, and shine with greatest lustre, when, having laid aside with the flesh all human infirmities, their virtue stands exalted above the reach of envy, and their praise beyond the power of detraction.

Farewell!

JOSEPH BESSE.

London, the 9th day of the

month called April, 1726.

LIFE OF RICHARD CLARIDGE,

&c.

CHAPTER I.

RICHARD CLARIDGE, the eldest son of William Claridge, of Farmborough, in the county of Warwick, yeoman, and of Isabel his wife, both sober and religious persons, of good reputation, and well to pass as to outward circumstances, was born at Farmborough aforesaid, in the Tenth Month, then called December, 1649.

He was brought up to learning from his childhood, and having a natural desire after, as well as aptitude for it, surpassed many of his equals in years at the grammar-school, and early attained a competent knowledge both of the Latin and Greek tongues.

Being well accomplished with grammatical learning, and ripe for university studies, he was entered at Baliol College, in Oxford, on the 30th day of the Eighth Month, 1666, being the seventeenth year of his age.

From Baliol College, he was removed to St. Mary's Hall (so called) in the same university, on the 15th of the Fifth Month, 1668; and had some encouragement from Richard White, then vice-prin

B

cipal of the said Hall, and senior proctor of that university.

Here he gained the reputation of being a good orator, philosopher, and Grecian; and it being the custom of the house, for the under-graduates, to perform some learned exercise, in the hall, before they stood for their degrees; he, among several other candidates, was pitched upon by Dr. Crowther, the then principal, to read a Greek lecture, which he performed with general approbation, and took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in the term called Trinity-term, 1670.

On the 10th of the month called July, 1670, being, as his letters of ordination phrase it, the Lord's-day, he was ordained deacon, in the cathedral church of Christ, Oxon, as the said letters call it, by Walter Blandford, then Bishop of Oxford; having first passed the examination of Dr. Thomas Barlow, provost of Queen's College there, and archdeacon of the archdeaconry thereof, who was also afterward Bishop of Lincoln.

On the 30th of the month called March, 1672, he was ordained priest, in the King's Chapel at Westminster, by the said Walter Blandford, then Bishop of Worcester; (that being a better bishopric by some hundreds per annum ;) having first, the following testimonial in Latin, of his sober life and conversation, &c.

Englished thus:

"To all faithful Christians, to whom this writing shall come, greeting.

"Whereas our beloved in Christ, Richard Claridge, Bachelor of Arts, hath desired our letters testimonial of his commendable life, and good conversation, to be granted him: We, will

ing to gratify his so honest request, do by these presents testify, that the aforesaid Richard, ever since we have known him, hath led a godly and sober life, and diligently followed his studies; and in matters of religion hath not, so far as we know, either held, or taught any thing, but what is exactly agreeable to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, and well approved of the same. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our names and surnames.

"Dated 23d March, 1671-2."

"LEONARD SYMONDS, B. D. and

Vicar of Croppedy, in Oxfordshire. GEORGE ASHWELL, B. D. and Rector of Hanwell, in Oxfordshire. RICHARD JONES, Rector of Edgcott, in Northamptonshire."

To the persons who signed the foregoing testimonial, he was well known, being at that time their near neighbour and intimate acquaintance; having supplied the cure at Wardington, near the places above mentioned.

On the 2d of the month called April, 1673, he had institution from Walter Blandford, Bishop of Worcester, to the rectory of Peopleton, in the said county and diocese. And on the 27th of the same month, he was inducted into the said rectory, by John Slade, vicar of Upton-Snodbury, in the county and diocese aforesaid, by virtue of a mandate from Timothy Baldwin, Knight, and Doctor of Laws, Principal Official to Dr. William Hodges, rector of Ripple, and archdeacon of the archdeaconry of Worcester.

At Peopleton, he taught a grammar-school, and kept boarders for several years; some of his scholars went to Oxford and Cambridge, and took degrees there, and afterward had ecclesiastical preferments.

He was thrice married: twice while he remained