riages which, before the passing of the act in 1754, seem to have been considered legal, as this congregation used no other. The following is a copy of the entry made in the Church Book on the solemnization of one of these marriages :-"These are to testify to all men that we John Chamberlaine and Abigail Foster, both of Epworth, in the county of Lincoln, have from the day and date hereof, entered into the covenant and state of marriage, according to a solemn contract heretofore made between ourselves, and with the consent of such as are concerned in order thereunto; and we do now in the presence of Almighty God, and of the witnesses hereafter named, ratify the said contract and covenant of marriage, in both which we do in the fear of God mutually and solemnly, and for our parts respectively promise, in the strength of God to live together in the state of marriage, attending to God's ordinance from this day forward; to love one another as husband and wife, and faithfully to perform all the duties to which they are now bound by God's law and the several laws of the land in that case provided till the Lord by death shall separate us. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 27th day of November, An. Dom. 1705. JOHN CHAMBERLAINE. We whose names are subscribed do testify that the above said John Chamberlaine and Abigail Foster, the day and year above written, did mutually take each other into the state of matrimony, acknowledging, contracting, and covenanting, and ratifying the same by words, and by the subscription thereof as above-said. In witness whereof," &c. &c. These Baptists exercised the power of excommunication with no sparing hand; and however correct they might be in observing the apostolical precept, not to associate "with a brother who walked disorderly," they fulminated forth their ecclesiastical censures in terms as absolute and authoritative as were ever made use of by the Pope himself: as the following entries among many others will abundantly prove. "June ye 27, 1706. We the Church of God met at Butterwick. Whereas Isaac Lodson has taken a wife contrary to the law of God, and gone to the Church Church of England, for which transgressions he is set apart by this assembly as a person not fit for com. with the Church of God, until he shall purge himself from these evils. "At the same time we have set apart our brother John Robson for the sins he has committed against Almighty God, in resisting the council of the Church, until he see his evil, and repent and be truly humbled. "Nov. 5, 1750. The agreement of the Church of Christian Doctrine and Practice of the Principles of Religion, recorded Hebs. vi. i. ii. meeting at Epworth, Butterwick, and elsewhere: We have taken into consideration the case of several of our members who have gone over to the Methodists, do adjudge them guilty of disorder, and unfit for christian com. with us.” Then follow several other sentences of excomunication pronounced against persons, "for contempt," amongst other things, " of the power and authority which God had given to his Church." The township of Butterwick comprehends a long tract of that rich land which runs along the Trent; but the lower part of which suffers very much in a wet season from ineffectual drainage, the sluice doors being frequently shut during freshes for nearly three weeks together. One third of the south moor allotted to Vermuyden by his original charter, was wrested from him by the Commoners almost at the commencement of their litigations; and most justly, for it was impossible that the works of drainage which he had executed, could have been of the least advantage to this tract of marshy ground. Before the inclosure of the Isle Commons, and the improvements effected by warping, this south moor was an half fluid substance, almost impassable even in summer, being a peat bog, about sixteen feet deep, and receiving as into a bason the surface water from the high grounds in Owston, Belton, and Epworth. Since the inclosure this ground has been warped, but the weight of the crust of warp has so compressed the peat beneath, that the surface is as low as ever; so that the great evil of an ineffectual drainage can only be cured by the all powerful agency of the steam engine. A great portion of this township belongs to the antient and honourable family of Sheffield, and has been in its possession between five and six hun dred dred years, ever since Robert Sheffield, who was knighted by King Edward the First, married Genette, daughter and co-heir to Alexander Lounde, by whom this estate came. After this we find the Sheffields intermarrying with three of the principal families in the neighbourhood, that of Thomas of Brunham, Sir Roger of Beltoft, knight, and Sir William Ameotts. About the same period of time we find that Robert, the son of Sir Robert Sheffield, in the county of Lincoln, was summoned to appear before the council “ super arduis et urgentissimis negotiis*." In the reign of Henry the Seventh Sir Robert Sheffield was one of the Commanders in that King's army, against John Earl of Lincoln, in the battle of Stoke, near Newark. He was afterwards Speaker of the House of Commons, and Recorder of London; and was one of "the Knyghts † dubbed at the Bridge foote, at the King's entering of London, after the battle of Blackheath, against the Commons of Cornwail, on the 17th day of June 1497." This is the honourable gentleman of whom Leland speaks in his quaint and homely style: "He set up highly the name of Sheffeldes by marriage of the doughter Rymer's Fœdera, A. D. 1245. About this period the Sheffield family appears to have been of considerable consequence in some of the northern counties. We find in Parliamentary Writs, Sir John Sheffield, sheriff of Northumberland in 1307, and a few years previously named in an inquisition taken at York; William Sheffield was bailiff of York, in 1379; Agnes Sheffield prioress of Sinyngthwaite Abbey, in 1428; William Sheffield sheriff of York, in 1457; George Sheffield, brother of Dr. William Sheffield, dean of York, both of whom died in 1497, the dean having also held. the rectory of Epworth, in the Isle of Axholme. His tomb in York Cathedral was accidentally laid open many years since, by the removal of some old pavement, when his body was found in a stone coffin, arrayed in a silken habit, and adorned with fringe, being wrought about the borders with texts of scripture in gold letters. Part of the habit, with the soles of his shoes, were preserved in the vestry. He was also treasurer of York Cathedral in 1485. It appears also that a family of the name of Sheffield was settled in the Manor of Balderstone. Ralph de Sheffield married Dionysia the heiress of those lands. Thomas, his son, removed to near Warmsworth, in Yorkshire. He had a grant of free warren from King Edward the Second in the fourth year of his reign, for his land at Braithwell, Balderstone, Sheffield, Wadesley, Owlerton, Ecclesal, Greasborough, and Stainton. William Sheffield dean of York, we know was the son of Sir Robert Sheffield, one of the progenitors of the Duke of Buckingham; and therefore it is probable that all these families had one common origen. † Bed. Cotton, Claud. c. iii. doughter and sole heir of one Delves*, to whom besides was descended the landes of Gibthorpe and Babington. This Sheffelde the Recorder began to build stately at Butterwic, as it appearith by a great tour of brick." His son Robert, the ninth in descent, resided in this stately brick tower at Butterwick, and a younger brother was living at Beltoft. Edmund the next heir, in compliance with the will of King Henry the Eighth, was created Lord Sheffield of Butterwick, by King Edward the Sixth two days before his coronation; but the next year had the misfortune to lose his life in action with the rebels of Norfolk. His horse fell with him into a ditch near Norwich, and having pulled off his helmet to let them see who he was, a butcher slew him with his club. Fuller says, "great was his skill in music, who wrote a book of sonnets according to the Italian fashion." The next individual in whose person this illustrious family was further honoured and ennobled was Edmund Sheffield. He was in that celebrated sea-fight against the Spanish armada, and for his valorous deportment and memorable services therein was knighted by the Lord Admiral, and made a Knight of the Garter, a certain token of his merit; for Queen Elizabeth was not wont to confer such marks of honour but on those who deserved them. In 1616 he was constituted President of the Council for the northern parts of England, by King James the First, and created by Charles the First Earl of Mulgrave, in Yorkshire, A. D. 1625. This nobleman was twice married:-first to Ursula daughter of Sir Robert Terwhit, of Ketelby, in the county of Lincoln; and the second time to Mariana, daughter of Sir William Irwyn, knight, who brought him three sons, James, Thomas, and Robert, and two daughters. By his first wife he had also a numerous progeny of five daughters and six sons; five of whom by a very sad fatality died violent deaths. Sir John, Edmund, and Philip were drowned in their passage of Whitgift ferry over the river Ouse, with all their attendants, in December, 1614. George broke his neck in a new riding house, said to have been made out of an old consecrated chapel. Edmund William * Sir John D'Elves, of Helderstone, in the county of Stafford, knight. William was drowned in France, and Charles the only survivor died a bachelor*. The great grandson of this first Earl of Mulgrave became one of the most eminent noblemen of his day. He was appointed to various places of honour and trust, and advanced to the highest dignities which the Crown has power to bestow upon a subject, being created Marquis of Normanby in Lincolnshire, the sixth of William and Mary 1703, and in the second year of the reign of Queen Anne, Marquis of Normanby and Duke of Buckinghamshire. He was also appointed Governor of Hull, Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Steward of the Household to Queen Anne, *It appears that somewhere about this period the Sheffield family had obtained possession of the property on the other side of the Trent, and had removed their residence from West Butterwick to the house at Normanby, the interment of the second Earl of Mulgrave taking place there, as appears from a curious MS. called "The State of the Hearse of the Right Honourable the Earl of Mulgrave at Normanby, 1658," now in the possession of Charles Anderson, Esq. of Lea. The corpse covered with a white sarcenet sheet and pall of black velvet over it, lying within a raile hung about with black. Upon the corpse at the head an helmet, with the crest and wreath. Upon the breast a cushion, and on it a co ronet. Upon the body, the sword and target. Over the feet the spurrs. The sides of the hearse hung with escutcheons single and impaled. Six stands within the railes, and on each a wax light. A chayre of state, and on it a cushion, over it a canope. At the head of it a great escutcheon with all his quarterings, crest, and supporters. Tower escutcheons above, a single one, and one impaled. Below one impaled, and a single one. 1 At the head the great banner with all his quarterings. 2 At the feet the guidon of honour, being only the crest and wreath exemplified in the banners. On the dexter side, three banners. 1 His owne single coate. 2 His own impaled with Anderson his mother. 3 Cranfield with sa. on a saltire, or five martlets sa. on the sinister side. 1 His owne coate impaled with his Countesse. 2 His owne coate impaled with Terwhit his grandmother. 3 Countess's coate impaled with Shepherd her mother. At the feet of the corpse about two feet distant, two white staves erected. Wax tapers in several candlesticks hung aloft. The whole room in black, top, floor, and sides Six gentlemen mourners standing by the side of the corpse. The کہ |