garded as the suggestion of a fiend disguised as an angel of light; to be resisted as a snare and a temptation to do murder, and gain sacrificial homage to the devil. But, according to Moses, Abraham received as consistent with the divine nature, and not to be for a moment distrusted, the command to offer up his son as a burnt-sacrifice. And Abraham took a journey to a mountain, for the sacrifice was to be on a high place, in accordance with the practice of the Sunworshippers as recorded in history and shown in extant dolmens and circles: "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took fire in his hand and a knife; and they went both of them together." "And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him upon the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." This account is too minute and graphic to admit of any dishonest sophistical twist of meaning. Abraham must have been familiar with human sacrifices in his native land, Ur of the Chaldees. Also with Grove-worship; for it is written, "And Abraham planted a Grove in Beer-sheba, and called there upon the name of the Lord, the everlasting God." And previously we read that he had there digged a well, and that Beer-sheba meant-the well of the oath. Here we have an instance among a thousand others, of the remarkable honesty of the writers of Holy Writ; an honesty conspicuously greater than that of their Christian commentators. The tradition of Abraham's acts, which Moses recorded, appears to have been written down so faithfully and exactly that there is no attempt made to conceal Abraham's belief in the possible acceptability to God of human sacrifices; although the biographer is the same legislator who first made the practice penal. And, throughout the sacred writings the most favourite heroes are so impartially described, that the secret faults of their private lives are exposed with stern and remarkable honesty of portraiture. Mahomet's account of the conversion of Abraham from idolatry, which is given in the sixth chapter of the Koran, is curious, and worth transcribing here:—

"And Abraham said unto his father Azer, 'Why dost thou take graven images for Gods? Verily, thou and thy people are in error.' "Then was the firmament of heaven displayed unto Abraham, that he might see how the world was governed.

"When night came, and darkness overshadowed the earth, he beheld a bright star shining in the firmament, and cried out to his people who were astrologers: 'This, according to your assertion is the Lord.'

"But the star set, and Abraham said 'I have no faith in gods that set.'

"He beheld the moon rising, and exclaimed, 'Assuredly this is the Lord.' But the moon likewise set, and he was confounded, and prayed unto God, saying, 'Direct me lest I become as one of these people, who go astray.'

"When he saw the sun rising, he cried out, "This is the most glorious of all; this of a certainty is the Lord.' But the sun also set. Then said Abraham, 'I believe not, oh my people, in those things

which ye call gods. Verily, I turn my face unto Him, the Creator, who hath formed both the heavens and the earth.""

Thus far we see the extreme probability that Grove-worship, and human sacrifices, were established customs at least 2000 years before Christ. But they must have been established very much earlier, seeing that they had already been carried from the first community by the founders of kingdoms grown important in the days of Abraham. Egypt was already a kingdom with its Pharaohs; the Philistines or Phoenicians were established in kingdoms on the Mediterranean, and several empires flourished in other parts of Asia. It is extremely probable too that some of the family had already found their way, by whatever route, to the American continent, carrying with them the habit of human sacrifices, Asiatic traditions and words, the Asiatic worship of the Sun and Moon, and the stone-structural fashion of Circles, Menhirs, and Pyramids; and had builded one of the latter in close imitation of the tower of Baal or Belus at Babylon. At this era metals were already in use, and silver money too, for a field was bought by Abraham for "four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant." It must have been prior to this era, in much ruder ages, that some wandering families had emigrated northwestward, until they or their descendants reached the British Isles, bringing with them also the fashions of Circles, Menhirs, Cairns, flint implements, Asiatic words, and the custom of human sacrifices to Baal, as well as of the cake to Astaroth; which fashions and customs their successors conserved down to the time of Cæsar. At any rate we have historical evidence that these Sun and Moon worshippers were anciently settled in Britain as well as in Gaul, and that Britain had become a sort of Celtic University to which candidates for the priesthood resorted from Gaul for their better instruction in the mysteries of the office. We may judge from this that in Britain the religion was of venerable antiquity, and that it was more purely preserved here for the same reason that liberty has since been so-because of the insular immunity from frequent hostile invasion and the superposition of reformed faiths, to which the nations of the continent were more exposed. Doubtless human sacrifices, which were an important feature in the Celtic ritual, or Sun-worship, and which even to Abraham appeared not unlikely to be acceptable to the Deity, and which therefore must have been in practice at the dawn of history, were made on the dolmen now prostrate within this curious old relic of Arbor Low, at the same time that altars throughout the inhabited world were smoking with the same unnatural offerings.

It is recorded that it was the extreme and habitual cruelty of the priests of the Sun, who were constantly seeking omens in the entrails of men, women, and children, that caused the ultimate overthrow of their power. Their demand for victims rendered the people also utterly hardened and pitiless, and not only did men in Britain fight, as men do to this day in Western and Southern Africa, for the mere purpose of securing sacrificial victims, but parents offered up their own sons and daughters. I wish this condition of pre- -Christian society in Europe to be especially noted, because, while I shall presently speak of the Christian compromise with Paganism, I shall follow

66

with an apology for the early Fathers. Strabo distinctly states that it was because of the prevalence of human sacrifices in Britain, that the Romans determined to abolish their religion. Yet the Romans themselves were not entirely free from the hideous custom. It was not until the year of the City 657, that human sacrifices were even prohibited by a decree of the Senate. Mankind," says Pliny, "are under inexpressible obligations to the Romans for abolishing so horrid a practice." Yet that prohibition was not effectual, even in Rome itself. We read that after this decree two men were sacrificed as victims with the usual solemnities, in the Campus Martius by the Pontifices and Flamen of Mars in the time of Julius Cæsar, and in the year of the City 708. And, five years later, when Augustus had compelled L. Antonius to surrender at Perusia, he caused a large number of senators and equites, who had sided with Antonius, to be sacrificed as victims at the altar of Julius Cæsar. From these circumstances it has been concluded by some that the senatorial decree referred to by Pliny was directed only against private sacrifices for magical purposes. But even if so it was ineffectual, for we read that boys used to be sacrificed in Rome for magical purposes, in the times of Cicero and Horace. And at about the same period, when Catiline united fellow conspirators to his cause, a slave was murdered or sacrificed, and his blood mingled with the beverage in which they pledged each other to their treason against the republic. From which it is evident that the Romans had relapsed from the merciful teaching of the Reformation which had probably founded their poetic religion. more than 1500 years before Christ. I allude to the reformation effected in Greece by the colony of Egyptians under Cecrops, who settled in Attica and founded Athens. Egypt had then already grown sick of her human sacrifices to Osiris, the Egyptian Sun. Cecrops, when he settled in Attica, appears to have found there in operation the universal custom of bloodshedding, and, erecting the first Grecian altars to Jupiter or Jove-probably synonymous with Jehovah-as the supreme God, he taught his subjects that no sort of cruelty ought to approach the divine altars, and that nothing which had life was to be sacrificed, but rather cakes of corn, since the celestial nature was clement and propitious. If the merciful precepts of Cecrops were ever fully enforced during the fifty years of his reign in Attica, the priests again ultimately prevailed, and the Grecian altars again smoked with animal sacrifices, and even human victims, although not to the extent to which the latter had prevailed among the original Sun-worshippers. Even at Athens, the city of Cecrops, men were, after the death of that good king, occasionally sacrificed to Apollo, the Grecian Sun; and history declares that human sacrifices were customary in Cyprus, Rhodes, Chios, Lesbos, Tenedos, Phocea, Lacedemon, and Crete; and the practice, as I have hinted, was continued by the Romans-the cousins and the co-religionists of the Greeks. History also mentions that human sacrifices were offered in Carthage, Sicily, Sardinia, Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Scythia, Persia, and India-in fact throughout the inhabited world-apart from the Bible evidence which I have quoted.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS OF

ST. MICHAEL'S, STAMFORD.

BY JUSTIN SIMPSON, M. H.S.

(Continued from Vol. XVII. page 92.)

1670-1. Sir Robert Browne, Knt. and Baronett, bur. Mar. 3. (124.)

(124.) "1660-1, Mar. 23, Rt. Whatton, Ald., The Alderman, comburgesses, and capitall burgesses or comon councell at the last hall (7th) wth one assent and consent did order and agree that the Rt. Hon. John, Earl of Exeter, Sr Rt. Browne, Baronet, William Montague, esq., William Stafford, esq., John Wildbore, gent., and Thomas Colby, gent., be made free, and are hereby freely admitted to their freedom. Sir Robert Browne paid over 10s. to the Alderman and undertook to pay that amount annually for distribution amongst the poor."-Corp. Rec. Sir Robert, I am inclined to believe, was the 3rd and last Baronet of that name, of Walcot, Northamptonshire, a hamlet about 3 miles to the south of Stamford. Sir John Browne, alias John de Werkes, of the Company of Mercers, served the office of Lord Mayor of London in 1480, and was son of John Browne, of Oakham, Rutland. His first wife being Alice, daughter and heiress of William de Swineshead, and his second, Anne Betwood. By the latter he left a son, Sir William, Lord Mayor of London in 1507, and by the former a successor. Robert, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who married Isabel, daughter and heiress of Sir John Sharpe, Kut., and had two sons, Robert, his successor, and Edward, Knight of Rhodes, and one daughter, Isabel, married to George Quarles, of Ufford, The elder son, Robert Browne, of Walcot, near Stamford, one of the Privy Chamber to Henry VIII., married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edw. Palmer, of Angmering, Sussex, and left, with a younger son, John, of Welley, Wilts, a successor, Robert, of Walcot, who married Margaret, daughter and heiress of Philip Barnard, of Alderham, esq., and relict of Sir Barnard Whetstone, of Woodford-row, Essex, by whom he left a son and heir, Sir William, K.B., who died in 1603. He was succeeded by his brother, Sir Robert, also of Walcot, created a Baronet 21st Sept., 1621. His first wife, Anne, daughter of Roger Copstock, died s.p., his second was Elizabeth, daughter of John Doyley, of Chiselhampton, Oxon, esq. (grandfather of John Doyley, esq., created a Baronet by Charles II., July 7th, 1666), by whom (who wedded secondly Sir Guy Palmes, of Ashwell, Rutland, Knt.), he left at his decease, in 1623, a son, Sir Thomas, who married Anne, daughter of the above-named Sir Guy Palmes, Knt., and dying in 1635, left issue two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne; the latter married Lord John Poulet, of Hinton St. George, Somerset. Sir Thomas was succeeded by his uncle, Robert, who dying unmarried, the Baronetcy expired. The family estate of Walcot passed from a family of that name to the Brownes temp. Henry VII., in whose possession it remained till 1662, when it was purchased by Bernard Walcot, esq., who, about 1674, sold the estate (including the manors of Walcot, Southorpe, and Pilsgate, and lands at Barnack and Bainton), to Sir Hugh Cholmeley, who pulled down the old house, and built the present one. It was afterwards purchased by the Hon. Sidney Wortly Montague, and sold by him to John Noel, esq., 4th and youngest surviving son of Baptist Noel, Viscount Campden, by his fourth wife, Elizabeth Bertie, eldest daughter of Montague, Larl of Lindsey. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Bennet, Lord Sherard, and widow of Edward, Lord Viscount Irwin, and on his decease in 1719, this estate fell to John Noel, esq., his eldest son, M.P. for Rutland. It now belongs to R. H. C. Nevile, esq. Sir Robert Browne, the last Baronet, after the sale of the family estate came to reside at Stamford, which at this period was a kind of metropolis, several of the surrounding resident gentry having a town house here. The arms of the family are-Azure, a chevron between three escallops within a bordure engrailed or.

1670. Elizabeth, dau. of Tobias Azlocke, bur. Mar. 4.

Mr. Charles Thorogood, bar. Mar. 7.

1671. Edmund, son of Edmund and Mary Azlacke, bapt. July 1.

Elizabeth, dau of Lenard and Sarah Ashton, bapt. Aug. 20.

Matthew, son of Matthew and Elizabeth Wiche, bapt. Sept. 2, bur. Aug. 4, 1672.

William, son of John Wotton and Tabitha, bapt. Nov. 11.

Edward, son of Edward Curtis, gent., and Frances, bapt. Nov. 12.

Cranmore, son of Daniel Wigmore, gent., and Frances, bapt. Nov. 27, bur.
Aug. 16, 1672.

Mr. Joseph Parry, clerk, and Mary Rayuer, mar. July 14.
Frances, dau. of Edward Curtis, mayor, bur. Nov. 21.
Richard Burnham, Millen", bur. Aug. 23. (125.)

(125.) Nov. 7, 1647. Jeremiah Cole, Ald. At this hall Richard Burnham is respited his freedome untill further deliberacon be had whether it be convenient or necessary to admit him to scott and lott. He was ultimately admitted, as I find it recorded on the 30th Jan., 1648-9, "the hall agreed that Richard Burnham, millener, should be admitted to scott and lott for xli. ffyne, five pounds whereof he hath paid down to John Palmer, chiefe chamberlaine, and to give a bill of his hand for the payment of the other 5li. at Lamas next and give security to discharge the towne from his charge and then to be sworne "-Corp. Rec. In 1650 he was Overseer of the Poor, and Churchwarden in 1657.

1671. Mrs Ann Meares, widd., bur. Oct. 25.

ffrancis Caldecott, bookseller, bur. Nov. 21.

Sarah, dau. of Francis Wingfield, esq., bur. Dec. 13. (126.)

(126.) Another dau. of Francis W., esq., by his second wife Lucy. She was bapt. at All Saints', Stamford, three days before.

1671-2. Richard Newcombe and Ellen Preston, mar. Feb. ò.

Edmund Sharpe and Phebe Blackburne, mar. Feb. 23. (127.)

(127.) Edm. S. Mercer paid £10 to the Chamberlains, Wm. Anthony and Phille mon Uffington, 20 Mar., 1672-3, and took up his freedom, elected a cap. bur. 10 Aug., 1675; Alderman 4 Oct., 1677; Mayor 1678-9. He was dec. in 1701, as on the 28 Aug. in that year Francis Wilcox was elected an alderman in his room. In 1675 Edm. S. was one of the Overseers of the Poor. Mr. Wilcox, who was elected an Alderman in his room, was a son of John W., of Collyweston, bound apprentice to Samuel Parker, of Stamford, mercer, 25 Dec., 1676; Constable for this parish 1686-7; one of the Overseers of the Poor 1687; and Churchwarden in 1689, 1691, and 1712. He appears to have violated the Municipal regulations regarding the taking in of inmates, as the following entry from the books will show --"1692: Apl. 27. Thos. Linthwait, Mayor. At this hall itt is ordered and agreed upon that Mr. ffrancis Willcox shall be discharged from taking in any inmates upon pain of suffering aud paying ye penaltye of ye constitution in yt behalfe made."

1671-2. Steven Featherston and Margaret Featherston, mar. Feb. 27. Mary, wife of John Hardye, bur. Jan. 4.

1672. Samuel, son of Mr. John and Elizabeth Rogers, bapt. May 29. Richard, son of Mr. Matthew Wyche and Elizabeth, bapt. Aug. 14. Mr. Christopher Lake, bur. June 11.

Anne, dau. of Mr. Daniel Clarke, bur. Dec. 9. (128.)

(128.) In the Churchwardens' book of accounts for St. John's Parish, I find the following entries:-"1589. Itm. payd to Thomas Clarke the last day of March for mending of the west wyndowe iijd. 1614-5. paid to Mr. Clark for 12 foote of new glass and a foote of old glass viijs. ; paid for removing the ladders to mend the windowes ijd." Rowlande C. was Collector of Poor in 1628; Edward C. Overseer of Poor in 1654, Sidesman, or Assistant 1670; and Ch. W. 1671-2.

1672. Elizabeth, dau. of Mr. John Rogers, bur. Dec. 11.

1672-3. Hannah, dau. of Tho. Pilkington, esq., bur. Jan 15. (129).

(129.) This family is met with very early in the Municipal Records. Robtus Pylkington, "journyngman," paid ijs. and admitted 5 Nov., 1554; Robert P., baker, paid vjli. xiijs. iiijd. and admitted 24 Mar., 1634-5; Thos. P., late apprentice to Thos. Thorogood, mercer, admitted 23 July, 1672, elected a cap. bur. in the room of Rt. Cammock, and then an alderman in the room of Thos. Hawkins, who had removed from the town 29 Aug., 1672; he appears to have got into difficulties, as the following extract will show :-"1680, Aug. 26, Edw. Sharpe, Mayor. Whereas Mr. Thos. Pilkington late alderman of this borrough, by reason of a statute of bankrupt wch was sued out against him did flee from ye corporacon of Stamford, and hath been absent for above ye space of one whole year last past, by wch means and for other circumstances wch he lyes under is thought to bee incapable to doeing further service in this corporacon. Therefore at this hall it is ordered yt it shall bee putt to ye vote whether hee shall bee removed from his office of alderman, and another chosen in his stead or noe the same to bee determined by ye major pte of ye votes of ye Mr. Alderman and c'll here assembled. The major pte of wch have voted that hee shall bee removed and another fitt pson to be elected in his place and stead."

1673. Martha, daughter of Daniel Wigmore, esq., bapt. Oct 4.

Thomas, son of Leo. Ashton and Sarah, bapt. Oct. 25.

Alice, daughter of Mr. Silvester Embline and Mildred, bapt. Dec. 4, bur. 21
May, 1675.

John Buttery and Ann Cleppole, mar. Mar. 27.

Mr. Jeremiah Goodnap and Mrs. Ann Langton, mar. Aug. 5.
Edward Azlock, Braiser, bur. Oct. 30.

1673-4. Thomas Stoyt and Elizabeth Phillips, mar. Feb. 6. (130.)