NOTES ON ROMAN DEVON. BY R. N. WORTH, F.G.S. (Abstract of Paper read at Plymouth, July, 1892.) THE writer corrected an erroneous ascription in his Presidential Address upon Roman Devon. The funereal slab in Musgrave's Alley, there described and figured, was not, it had transpired, found in Exeter, but at Tarragona, in Spain. He also reported the occurrence of a large brass of Nero, at Newton Ferrers; and the discovery, by Mr. F. Haverfield, Christ Church, Oxford, that a tile in the Taunton Museum, from Hannaditches, bore the inscription "leg ii aug," which that gentleman held to prove that there must have been a military occupation at Seaton by the troops who baked it. Mr. Worth regarded the fact as very curious, in its bearing on the statement of Ptolemy touching the presence of the Second Augustan Legion at or near Exeter, but could not see it proved that Hannaditches-at any rate structurally-was, as he had already stated, "much if at all beyond a farm place." Men of the Second Legion might have been stationed there, and have made the tile, but there was no evidence even then of Hannaditches being more than an outpost. Mr. Haverfield had likewise been fortunate enough to find stamped on one of the ancient blocks of Cornish tin a head and lettering, presumably of fourthcentury date. This discovery, too, was most interesting; but Mr. Worth regretted his inability to see that it really carried them any further in the direction of Roman authority in the sister county than he had already indicated-" friendly intercourse for the purpose of trade rather than conquest or dominion." ON THE CAUSES AFFECTING THE ORIGIN BY TRELAWNEY SAUNDERS, F.R.G.S. (Read at Plymouth, July, 1892.) SAMUEL HIERON: A DEVONSHIRE VICAR IN THE REIGNS OF ELIZABETH AND JAMES I. BY THE REV. S. G. HARRIS, M.A. (Read at Plymouth, July, 1892.) How far Samuel Hieron is generally known in this county, or among members of the Devonshire Association, I will not venture to guess; but the fact that his works have been published in several editions, in his lifetime and since his death, testifies that he was a man of some fame, and his works are well known to book collectors in this county. One member of this Association, at all events, to whom we are indebted for "A Few Sheaves of Devon Bibliography," published in our Transactions for 1889 and 1890-the Rev. John Ingle Dredge-has, I have reason to believe, been preparing some bibliographical notes on the numerous publications of Samuel Hieron; which will, I hope, appear in our Transactions, in an additional "Sheaf of Devon Bibliography." Our county, though extensive, is not so large but that many members of the Association living at a distance from the place of his abode may possibly feel an interest in the subject of this paper, and, even if not disposed to read all, or any, of his voluminous works that have come down to us, may be glad for genealogical or other reasons to see brought together the names of representatives in the 16th and 17th centuries of some of our well-known Devonshire families, to whom, after the fashion of the period, Samuel Hieron was anxious to dedicate portions of his writings. Samuel Hieron was Vicar of Modbury in this county-reckoned now to be about twelve miles from Plymouth, but then probably two or three more, owing to a circuitous route through winding Devonshire lanes-in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and down to the year 1617 in the reign of James I. The year when he became Vicar, I have learnt, through the kindness of Arthur Burch, Esq., the Registrar of this Diocese, was 1599, and the present Vicar of Modbury informs me that at the time when the Parish Register of Modbury begins, viz., March 25th, 1601, Samuel Hieron was Vicar, and had at that time twelve children, eight sons and four daughters; that he was buried there on June 17th, 1617; but that his age is not mentioned-only the fact that he was "Vicker." It is clear from his writings that he was a man of learning, and was wont to express himself with much strength of language on the subject of religious controversy, taking the line of thought and argument which, I suppose, many of the clergy of that period were likely to take; and he seems to have been well acquainted with the ladies and gentlemen of this county. His father had been a schoolmaster and great friend of Mr. John Fox, author of the well-known Book of Martyrs, by whom he was persuaded to give up teaching and to enter the ministry. He laboured for many years at Epping, in Essex, where this son was born. How many other children the father left behind him, the editor of some of Samuel Hieron's works, the Rev. Robert Hill, in 1620, after Samuel's death, professed his ignorance; but stated his opinion that "this one was instead of and above many." "And as though" (in the quaint language of the period employed by this Mr. Robert Hill) "that good Elkanah would even from the cradle dedicate him to God, he called his name Samuel—that is, heard or appointed of God; and as if God Himself would assigne him for the sacrifice of his people, hee appointed he should be surnamed Hieron, that is, one fit for this spirituall sacrifice." "To the end he might prove a profitable teacher " (this Mr. Hill goes on to say)," he was first educated by his learned father, and from him conveyed to the King's Schoole (that is, Eton College) near Windsore, from whence hee was chosen to King's Colledge in Cambridge; where hee made such progresse in a few yeares, that at his first shewing of himself in that Colledge, hee preached with such approbation and applause, that to mee, who heard him often in his yong yeares, he seemed rather a Bachelor in Divinitie, than a Bachelor of Artes, and rather a Divine of fortie, than foure and twentie yeares age; yea, hee was so much admired, that hee became of such note, whilst he stayed in London, that many Congregations, yea, and the Innes of Court greatly desired to enjoy his Ministrie." 1 These offers, however, he declined, and accepted, on the nomination of the Provost, Sir Henry Savil, the vicarage of Modbury-then, as it still is, in the patronage of Eton College. In that same parish, according to the testimony of the said Mr. Robert Hill, Samuel Hieron "did so demeane himself till he dyed, that not only the people of Modbury, but many other places of that Countie were much comforted by his paynes in preaching. He was reverenced of the poore, admired of the rich, countenanced of the great ones, and respected of all. He was not so vaine glorious as to publish Bookes for his owne glorie, but being importuned by such as heard him, was constrayned to offer that to their eye, which was preached to their eares." I will only add on this point that if any descendants or members of the families of those ladies and gentlemen of Devon to whom Samuel Hieron dedicated portions of his works should happen to hear or read this paper, they may be pleased to learn that while he felt he could only repay the love of his many friends in Devon with dedications of his labours, yet in his choice of patrons for his writings "he would choose none" (as Mr. Hill testifies) "but some worthy Theophilus." Readers of Hieron's works, which consist largely of sermons, as well as readers of volumes of sermons published in the two following centuries, will be struck with the extreme lengthiness of the sermons, as contrasted with the custom of the present day. For very many of them an hour-glass would certainly not have sufficed, and I am disposed to think that for some of them an hour-glass would have to be turned upside down once, if not more. They further illustrate, somewhat vigorously, the state of feeling, at the end of Elizabeth's reign, and in the reign of James I., on points in dispute between the churches of England and Rome; but into such matters of controversy I am sure I shall best consult the feelings of other members of the Devonshire Association as well as my own, by declining to enter. I may, however, point out that the language employed in Hieron's works does well illustrate the state of our language, among educated persons, about the period when the English version of the 1 The Register of the Diocese at the date, 4th July, 1599, as Mr. Burch has courteously informed me, records that "Samuel Heron (sic), M.A., was instituted to Modbury, (then vacant by the death of Robert Boothe) on the presentation of Henry Savill (sic), Provost of the College Royal of the Blessed Mary of Eaton near Windsor in the County of Bucks, and the same College." Bible, of 1611, was put out. It will further illustrate, from the various modes of spelling made use of, the truth of what I may venture to call now an acknowledged maxim, that "Spelling is a Modern Innovation."2 You would not, I am sure, thank me for giving you general extracts from Hieron's sermons; but I have discovered one sermon that was delivered in "Plimmouth," as he spells your good town; and therein I have noted a few sentences, addressed especially to Plymouth merchants of the time of James I., and which for their local interest you may forgive me for presenting to you: "Look we unto ourselves, our own sinnes muster together before our eyes in no small troupes, enough to wound the dullest heart. Cast we our faces to others, we see 'the world lying in wickednesse,' and 'hell even enlarging itself' to receive it: Examine we the times, many things tell us plainly, that surely God is not well pleased. . . . You are here, many Merchants, and much of your trading stands upon exchange. Well is he in his owne opinion who can put away some ill conditioned ware for a more currant commodity. Behold here the best exchange which you ever made. 'Let your Laughter be turned into Mourning, and your Joy into Heavinesse.' Sure I am, a commodity it is, for which (which all desire) you shall receive a very quicke and plentifull returne. Quicke it will be: 'For yet a very little while, and he that shall come will come, and he will not tary'; and it will be plentifull; for they which now goe weeping, shall return with joy,' nay, which is more, 'they shall bring their sheaves."" If any should desire to see some expression of the bitterness of feeling engendered by the gunpowder plot, in 1605, and by the general belief that Guy Fawkes and his fellowconspirators were prompted by a desire not only to destroy the Royal Family, but also to restore the ascendancy of the Roman Catholic religion, I will refer them to a sermon preached by Samuel Hieron between that date and the year of his death in 1617, on a "Commemoration Day of the deliverance from the Gun-powder Treason," at page 441 of the first volume of his works. Members of the Devonshire Association will share my thankfulness that the "Odium Theologicum," although not dead, is usually expressed in 2 I may add, in further illustration of the indifference of our forefathers on the subject of spelling, that Samuel Hieron himself, whose name is thus spelt throughout his published works, is called "Heron" in the Diocesan Register at the time of his institution in 1599, and "Herne on July 17, 1617, when it is recorded there that Robert Holdsworth was instituted to the vicarage then vacant by the death of Samuel Herne, the last incumbent. |