Barnes, Thomas (1617-1620)

Comments

VENN: Matriculated sizar from QUEENS', Easter, 1613. Born at Soham, Cambs. B.A. 1616/7; M.A. 1620. Ord. deacon (Peterb.) 16 Mar. 1616/7; priest (London) 1 Mar. 1617/8, age 22.

When ordained priest, 1 March 1617/8, noted as constituted to serve cure, Witham, Essex.

He published a number of godly works in the 1620s. The title-page of The Gales of Grace, or the Spirituall Winde: Wherein the Mysterie of Sanctification is opened and handled (1622); describes him as Preacher of God'Word at Much Waltham in Essex, and was dedicated to the congregation of that parish.

Three works, all published in 1624, describe him as Preacher of God's Word at St Margaret's in New Fish Street (Sions Sweets, or the spouses spikenard, and mystical myrrhe; The Wise man's Forecast against the Evill Time; and Needfull Helpes: against Desperate Perplexitie & Deepe Securitie). The last he dedicated toMr Thomas Wood, Pastour of St Margretts in New-Fish-Streete; with the rest of the Parishioners, my loving friends, the comforts of Gods chosen in Grace here, in Glory hereafter.

He dedicated The Court of Conscience (1623) to the godly patrons Katherine, Lady Barnardiston of Witham and her third husband William Towse, 'both my much respected friends'. He dedicated Vox Belli (1626) to Sir Horace Vere. Other dedicatees of his works included Sir John Eliot and the prominent lay puritans, and patrons of the godly, Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston (Suffolk) and Sir Francis Barrington
and his wife Joan Lady Barrington (Essex, in separate works).

See also J. Gyford, Public Spirit: Dissent in Witham and Essex, 1500-1700 (Witham, 1999), 74.

Evidence