Now! Then! A secret Presbyterian assembly is discovered at York

Excerpt

Before Robert Waller, Lord Mayor of York. Francis Thomlinson, grocer, William Lister and Henry Sparlinge, say, that, this day, being informed of a tumultuous meeting at one Mrs. Rooksbye’s house without Micklegate bar, they, together with Alderman Constable, went there about 8 or 9 of the clock this morning, and demanded entrance, but were denied. Whereupon by order of the said Alderman Constable they were admitted, and they found there the following persons, to wit, Mr. Andrew Taylor, Ralph Ward, a pretended minister, John Gowland, of Knapton, William Banckes, Thomas Raine and his wife, Jane Dodsworth, Richard Fisher, Abraham Smyth, William Garforth, James Beverley, William Gowland and Elizabeth his wife, Richard Overend, of Foulforth, Henry Whales and Joshuah Habber, John Ridsdale, of Naburne, Charles Waterhouse, Hannah Thompson, John Carter, Anne Walker, Alderman Dawson’s wife, Mercy Puckeringe, Abigall Taylor, Judith Robinson, Knightley Hickson, of Leeds, Katherine Hobson, Francis Ward and Mary Ward, Mathew Birkett, Obediah Lupton, Robert Slayter, Martin Hotham, William Halleday, of Huntinton, Thomas Blackett, and diverse others unknown to these deponents; some of whom they found in lofts above the garrets, and Mr. Ward and Mr. Taylor in a closet locked up; and the rest in several other rooms.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Raine:

There was a large number of Nonconformists at that time in the city. The chapel in St. Saviourgate was not yet built, and their meetings for religious exercises were held in private houses. There was frequently an assembly, according to Oliver Heywood, at the house of Mr. Andrew Taylor in Micklegate. On this occasion the meeting was held at the house of Mrs. Rokeby. She was either the mother or the wife of Thomas Rokeby, Esq., (afterwards a judge,) at that time the great legal adviser of the Nonconformists in the North of England. In his private note-book he speaks of his having had a share of imprisonment. Possibly he had got into trouble for affording shelter to some of the persecuted ministers of his party.

Mr. Ward and Mr. Taylor were fined 507. each, and were committed to Ousebridge gaol. Oliver Heywood saw Mr. Ward there in the course of the following year.

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Original

Before Robert Waller, Lord Mayor of York. Francis Thomlinson, grocer, William Lister and Henry Sparlinge, say, that, this day, being informed of a tumultuous meeting at one Mrs. Rooksbye’s house without Micklegate bar, they, together with Alderman Constable, went there about 8 or 9 of the clock this morning, and demanded entrance, but were denied. Whereupon by order of the said Alderman Constable they were admitted, and they found there the following persons, to wit, Mr. Andrew Taylor, Ralph Ward, a pretended minister, John Gowland, of Knapton, William Banckes, Thomas Raine and his wife, Jane Dodsworth, Richard Fisher, Abraham Smyth, William Garforth, James Beverley, William Gowland and Elizabeth his wife, Richard Overend, of Foulforth, Henry Whales and Joshuah Habber, John Ridsdale, of Naburne, Charles Waterhouse, Hannah Thompson, John Carter, Anne Walker, Alderman Dawson’s wife, Mercy Puckeringe, Abigall Taylor, Judith Robinson, Knightley Hickson, of Leeds, Katherine Hobson, Francis Ward and Mary Ward, Mathew Birkett, Obediah Lupton, Robert Slayter, Martin Hotham, William Halleday, of Huntinton, Thomas Blackett, and diverse others unknown to these deponents; some of whom they found in lofts above the garrets, and Mr. Ward and Mr. Taylor in a closet locked up; and the rest in several other rooms.

202 words.