Republican-Governmennt, p. 37 Tunbridge, p. 263, 267

249, 251, 253

Wells, Clerk, p. 294

-Henry, p. 241
-John, P. 330

Wenman, Lord. p. 39, 111
-Wharley Daniel, p. 218

Mary, his Wife, Ibid.

Whately-
", p. 109
Whately, Town, p. 125
White Fohn, p. 102
Whitehead fohn, p. 132.

→George, p. 136,139,142,
145, 313, 361,427, 431, 437
Wilkinfon John, p. 323
Woodhouse William, p. 341, 342
Woolfey Cardinal, p. 163

Wray,

PAPERS in this BOOK.

1. A Letter from T. Loe, p. 119

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

LIFE

OF

Thomas Ellwood.

A

LTHOUGH my Station, not be ing fo Eminent either in the Church of Chrift, or in the World, as others who have moved in higher Orbs, may not afford fuch confiderable Remarks as theirs; yet, inasmuch as in the Course of my Travels through this Vale of Tears, I have paffed through various, and fome uncommon Exercises, which the Lord hath been graciously pleased to fupport me under, and conduct me through: I hold it a matter excufable, at least, if not commendable, to give the World fome little Account of my Life, that in Recounting the many Deliverances and Prefervations, which the Lord hath vouchfafed to work for

me, both I, by a grateful Acknowledgment thereof, and Return of Thanksgivings unto him therefore, may, in fome measure set forth his abundant Goodness to me; and others, whose Lot it may be to tread the fame Path, and fall into the fame, or like Exercises, may be encouraged to perfevere in the way of Holiness, and, with full affurance of Mind to truft in the Lord, whatsoever Trials may befal them.

To begin therefore with mine own Beginning. I was Born in the Year of our Lord, 1639. 1639, about the Beginning of the Eighth Month (fo far as I have been able to inform my self:) for the Parish Register, which relates to the time (not of Birth, but) of Baptifm, (as they call it) is not to be relied on.

1641.

The Place of my Birth was a little Country Town, called Crowell, fituate in the upper fide of Oxfordshire, Three Miles Eaft-ward from Thame the nearest Market-Town.

My Father's Name was Walter Ellwood; and my Mothers Maiden-Name was Elizabeth Potman: both well defcended; but of declining Families. So that what my Father Poffeffed (which was a pretty Estate in Lands, and more, as I have heard in Monies) he received (as he had done his Name Walter) from his Grandfather Walter Gray; whofe Daughter, and only Child, was his Mother.

In my very Infancy, when I was but about two Years Old, I was carried to London. For the Civil War, between King and Parliament, breaking then forth; my Father (who favour

ed

ed the Parliament-Side, though he took not Arms) not holding himself fafe at his Country Habitation (which lay too near fome Garisons of the King's) betook himself to London, that City then holding for the Parliament.

There was I bred up (though not without much Difficulty, the City Air not agreeing with my tender Conftitution) and there continued, until Oxford was furrendred, and the War, in Appearance, ended.

In this time, my Parents contracted an Acquaintance, and intimate Friendship with the Lady Springett; who being then the Widow of Sir William Springett (who died in the Parliament Service) was afterwards the Wife of Ifaac Penington, Eldeft Son of Alderman Penington of London. And this Friendship devolving from the Parents to the Children, I became an early and Particular Play-fellow to her Daughter Gulielma; being admitted,as fuch,to ride with her in her little Coach, drawn by her Footman about Lincoln's-Inn-Fields.

I mention this in this Place, because the Continuation of that Acquaintance and Friendship having been an Occafional Means of my being afterwards brought to the Knowledge of the Bleffed TRUTH, I fhall have frequent Caufe, in the Course of the following Difcourfe, to make honourable Mention of that Family, to which I am under fo many and great Obligations.

Soon after the Surrender of Oxford, my Fa- 1646. ther returned to his Eftate at Crowell; which