The character he gives of him is, that he was a man of good parts, a solid serious Preacher, of a very humble behaviour, and very useful in his place; that he lived desired, and died lamented.

I have somewhere seen that after the removal of Mr. Root, Halifax was served, till the return of Dr. Marsh, by stipendiary Priests, which from several circumstances, I believe to be true.

22.-RICHARD HOOKE, D.D., instituted June 10, 1662, at the presentation of King Charles II. and inducted the 29th or 30th following.

He died January 1, 1688-9. Being an Author, the farther account of him is inserted in the list of Authors. Arms, Gules, a fess between six fleurs de lis, argent.

23.-EDMUND HOUGH, M.A., inducted June 26, 1689, on the presentation of King James II.

From the first edition of Calamy's Account of ejected Ministers it appears, that this Mr. Hough was turned out of his Fellowship in Jesus College, Cambridge, by the Act of Uniformity; after this, however, he thought fit to conform, and was made Rector of Thornton, in Craven, and Vicar of Halifax.

He died April 1, 1691, and was buried in the chancel at Halifax, with an inscription over him, which see amongst the Epitaphs. Arms, Argent, a bend sable.

Mr. Thoresby had some manuscript sermons of this Vicar in his museum.

In Halifax register is this entry: "Edmundus Hough, A.M. inductus erat in Vicar. de Halifax per Jacobum Roberts, Vicar. de Bingley, 26° die Junii, 1689. Sepultus 3° Aprilis, 1691.-Vir de tota ecclesia tam pietatis quam doctrinæ ergo optime meritus, industrius Pastor, et efficax Evangelii Concionator quondam dignus, Coll. Jesu Cant. Socius, et. Ecclesiæ Thorntonensis doctus et diligens Rector, tandem hujus Ecclesiæ sedulus per biennium Vicarius."

24.-JOSEPH WILKINSON, M.A. instituted Sept. 7th, or 17th and inducted October 26, 1691, having been presented by King William III.

He was first Vicar of Chapel-izod, near Dublin, and Prebendary of Casterknock, in the Cathedral of St. Patrick's, Dublin, afterwards rector of Wigginton, in Yorkshire.

He died December 28, 1711, and was buried in the chancel at Halifax, the 31st following.

For the inscription over him see the Epitaphs.-Arms, Gules, a fess vaire, in chief an unicorn passant or, in a bordure.

25.-THOMAS BURTON, M.A., Rector of Lofthouse, and curate of Yarum, in Yorkshire, was instituted March 28, and inducted April 3d. or 4th, 1712, on the presentation of Queen Anne.

March 1, 1715, he was made Prebendary of the Prebend of Gevendale, in the Cathedral of York. He died July 22, 1731, and was buried in the Chancel at Halifax, without any memorial of him, July 25, 1731.

Arms, Quarterly, first, a fess between three talbots' heads, couped or.-2dly, Azure, a spread eagle and a chief or, first as fourth, second as third.

26.-GEORGE LEGH, LL.D. inducted, as Mr. Wright sais, October 2, 1731, but another account sais, August 2. Presented by King George II.

He has since been made Prebendary of York, in the Bottevant-hall there. He was a Cheshire man, and the arms of his family are, argent, a lion rampant, gules, langued and armed azure, a crescent for difference.

He died the 6th of December, 1775, in the 82d year of his age, and was buried in the Vestry at Halifax, where an elegant monument is erected, with the following inscription: 'Near this place, in the same vault, are deposited the remains of the Rev. George Legh, LL.D. and his two beloved Wives, Frances and Elisabeth; to whose joint memory this Monument is erected.

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He was Vicar of this Church and Vicarage of Halifax above forty four years; during which time he interested himself, with laudable zeal, in the cause of religious liberty and sincerity; being the last survivor of those worthy men, who distinguished themselves by their opposition to ecclesiastical tyranny. He defended the rights of mankind in that memorable Hoadlian controversy.

The Bible he considered as the only standard of faith and practice. To the poor and distressed, and public charities, he was a generous benefactor. By his Will he ordered Bibles to be given for the benefit of the Poor.

He did honour to his profession as a Clergyman and Christian. He was esteemed when living, and in death lamented. He died composed on the 6th of December, 1775, in the 82d. Year of his age. His Wife Frances died Dec. 9th, 1749.-Elisabeth, Feb. 8th, 1765.

27.—The Revd. HENRY WOOD, D.D. the present Vicar of Halifax, was inducted February 14, 1776.

made Vicar of Huddersfield, and afterwards Rector of Thornhill. ... Charlesworth.

Meyrick.

Mr. Wright, p. 165, sais, that John Lake, (afterwards Bishop of Chichester) was Lecturer in 1647; but at p. 61, he had told us, that he was at that time in possession of the living.

It may not be amiss to insert here the form of a declaration enjoined in the Act of Uniformity of public prayer, 14 Cha. II. made by one of these Lecturers, and transcribed from the original.

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"I Thomas Hanson, Clerk, and Mr of Arts, now to be "admitted Lecturer of the Parish Church of Halifax, in the 'county and diocese of York, do declare that it is not law"full, upon any pretence whatsoever, to take armes against "the King: And that I do abhorr that trayterous position "of taking arms, by his authority, against his person, or "against those that are commissionated by him. And that "I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England, as it is now by law established. Tho. Hanson." Then "follows the certificate.

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This declaration and acknowledgement was subscribed by the above named Thomas Hanson, Lecturer of Halifax, "in the diocese of York, before me. Witness my hand and "seal, this second day of October, in the year of our Lord, "1683." In the margin, the small Archiepiscopal seal, and "under it, "Joh. Ebor."

A Mr. Mitchel was hired in 1669, by the consent of the town and parish, either as Lecturer, or Curate, but probably the former; however the Vicar at present chuses both, by

custom.

EPITAPHS IN THE

CHURCH AND

THE

AT

CHURCH-YARD

HALIFAX.

HE method I shall observe herein will be to give those belonging to each respective family apart, in an alphabetical manner, that they may be sooner found by inspection.

ALLENSON.

On a stone of blue marble* in the South Chapel: "Under this marble is interred the body of the reverend and learned JAMES ALLENSON, A.M. Rector of Thornton, in Craven, who died the 26th and was buried the 29th day of November, 1730.

ALDERSON.

On a tomb-stone over ANN ALDERSON, of Bull-close, in the Church-yard: "She was of an admirable, sweet, obliging temper, free from censure, passion, and pride, generous, charitable, and respectful, a person worthy of imitation."

BROADLEY.

In the wall of the south-side, over a door, on a brass plate: "Mr. Jo. BROADLEY, late Minister at Sowerby Chapp. died Feb. 14, 1625, and Mary, his wife, also died March the 2d, 1625, and here lie buried.

*

Here lies interr'd a zealous grave Divine,

Meek, loving, lov'd, only with sin at strife;
Who heard him, saw life in his doctrine shine,
Who saw him, heard sound doctrine in his life;
And in the same cold bed here rests his Wife.
Nor are they dead, but sleep; for he ne'er dies
That waits for his sweet Saviour's word, Arise."

I was more than displeased to find that during the 1880 renovations this blue stone was deliberately cut in two, and a stone covering Vicar Knight had part of the inscription cut off, when half-a-yard at the bottom might have been taken instead, without detriment. This was even worse

than boiling the oak pews!

BATLEY.

Near the font, on a marble monument in the north wall : "Near this place is interred, the body of JOHN BATLEY, late of this town, Salter. A man just in his dealings, exemplary in his life and conversation, a kind and affectionate husband, a tender and indulgent parent, a pious and sincere Christian ; he finished this life, hoping for a happy immortality. To his memory, Susannah, his widow, caused this monument to be erected. He departed the 28th day of July, 1717, aged 66 years, and one day.-In the same place lieth the body of Thomas, eldest son of the said John Batley, who departed this life the 28th day of March, 1702, aged 19 years, 7 weeks and 2 days."

BREARCLIFFE.

On a pillar on the south side of the font: An epitaph on Ester, late wife of EDMOND BREARCLIFFE, of Halifax, who died June 16th, 1629, and on Favour, their son, who died March 5th, 1628.

"Here rest three Saints; the one a little Brother,

The Favour of his scarce surviving Mother:

Then she expired, and bore unto her tomb,

An unborn infant coffin'd in her womb."

This Mr. Brearcliffe, as we are told by Mr. Wright, was, October 1, 1623, made Parish Clerk by Dr. Favour, then Vicar, and having a son christened the 14th of March following, out of gratitude, called him Favour.

BENTLEY.

On a gravestone in the South Chapel: "ELI BENTLEY, Son of Richard Bentley, of Sowerby Dene, M.A. some time Fellow of Trinity College, in Cambridge, and late Minister of the Gospel at Halifax, departed this life July 30th 1675, in the 45th year of his age."

On a stone in the Church-yard: "Here were buried three children of the Rev. Mr. DANIEL BENTLEY, Curate of Illingworth, and of Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of John Wadsworth, late of Holdsworth. Also the Rev. Mr. Daniel Bentley, who was Curate of Illingworth above 30 years, died the 15th of November, 1748."