48 Records of the Rising in the West, A.J). 1655. 



a year. He was also forced to abscond, and fly for his life ; of 

 which he was several times in danger. Then he gives Mr. CoUyer's 

 story :— 



" At the time of his ejectment and till his return, he had eleven children, 

 who with his wife were turned out in a very deep snow, and forced to stand not 

 a little while, in the open street, before any Neighbours would or dar'd admit 

 them into their houses. But even then they had but cold comfort ; for they 

 were forced to lie six nights in a barn, before they could procure anything like 

 a bed to lie on. This their misery was not a little aggravated by its being a 

 time (which also held a great while) when wheat was 10, 11, 12, nay 13'. a 

 bushel ; and even Barley at 7 or 8'. So that you may imagine they were happy, 

 if they could get barley bread. But this is certain, that they lived almost the 

 whole time as poorly, and in as mean cottages as any in the parish, or I believe 

 any where else. Her children went daily to Grovely "Wood, about a mile-and- 

 a-half off, for dry wood, which they brought back in bundles upon their 

 shoulders. This lasted till they were dispersed, either to service, or to the 

 lowest condition in the army, or to hard labour in Jamaica ; except those who 

 were bound to mean trades in London. Of all which my father was the only 

 one who met with friends, being the youngest of eleven, who placed him in 

 Winchester School, &c." 



Then proceeds Mr. Walker :— 



" Mr. Collier out-lived all his miseries, and Sep. IS**", 1660, was restored to 

 his parsonage, having then been about 15 years deprived of it ; during which 

 time the bare income of his living was at least 5000^. The person who robbed 

 him of it was one Giles, who is to this day a proverb in the parish for his 

 litigiousness. He used to preach, as is said, with a pistol about him, which 

 most commonly hung to his neck." 



The 18th September, 1660, must have been a glad day in the 

 parish of Steeple Langford. " The Loyal Rector " was, with his 

 faithful wife and sharer of his misfortunes, conducted in triumph to 

 the Rectory, amidst the hearty cheers of his parishioners. We can 

 picture them now riding in one of the heavy phaetons of the period, 

 the horses taken out, and replaced by sturdy arms and ropes ; Mrs. 

 Collyer with a drinking-glass attached to her hat, one of the few 

 things which she had saved from her home, well-known to her 

 sympathising friends as a relic of her old generous hospitality.^ It 

 is probable from what is said by the Rev. Arthur Collyer as to 

 certain of his uncles being sent to Jamaica, applies to Henry and 



1 Benson's Memoir and Remains of Rev. Arthur Collyer, A.D. 1837. 



