Ecclesiastical History. 3 



'* Mr. Robert Peck. — This light, having been by the persecuting prel- 

 ates ' put under a bushel,' was, by the good providence of Heaven, fetched 

 away into New England, about the year 1638, where the good people of 

 our Hingham did ' rejoice in the light for a season.' But within two or 

 three years the invitation of his friends at Hingham in England persuaded 

 him to a return unto them ; where being, though a great person for stat- 

 ure, yet a greater for spirit, he was greatly serviceable for the good of the 

 church." 



In " Blomefield's Norfolk " is the following : — 



•' 1605, 7 Jan. Robert Peck, A.M. Tho. Moor; by grant of Francis 

 Lovell, Knt., he was ' a man of a very violent schismatical spirit ; he 

 pulled down the rails and levelled the altar and the whole chancel a foot 

 below the church, as it remains to this day ; but being prosecuted for it by 

 Bishop Wren, he fled the kingdom and went over into New-England, with 

 many of his parishioners, who sold their estates for half their value, and 

 conveyed all their effects to that new plantation, erected a town and col- 

 onie, by the name of Hingham, where many of their posterity are still 

 remaining. He promised never to desert them ; but hearing that Bishops 

 were deposed, he left them all to shift for themselves, and came back to 

 Hingham in the year 1646. After 10 years' voluntary banishment he 

 resumed his rectory, and died in the year 1656.' His funeral sermon was 

 preached by Nathaniel Joceline, A. M., pastor of the church of Hardingham, 

 and was published by him, being dedicated to Mr. John Sidley, high- 

 sheriff ; Brampton- Gurdon and Mr. Day, justices of the peace ; Mr. 

 Church, Mr. Barnham, and Mr. Man, aldermen and justices in the city 

 of Norwich. 



" 1638, 25 Mag. Luke Skippon, A.M., was presented by Sir Thomas 

 Woodhouse, Knt. and Bart., as on Peck's death, he having been absent 

 about two years. And in — 



"1640, 11 April, the said Luke was reinstituted, the living being void 

 by lapse, it appearing that Peck was alive since Skippon's first institution ; 

 and now two years more being past, and he not appearing, it lapsed to 

 the Crown, as on Peck's death. But in — 



" 1646, Peck came again, and held it to his death." 



A controversy which seriously affected the harmony of the 

 church and town arose in 1644. The cause was insignificant in 

 comparison with the principles it involved. Anthony Eames, 

 who had been Lieutenant, was chosen Captain of the company of 

 militia, and was presented to be commissioned by the Council. 

 Before this was accomplished, dissatisfaction arose, and Bozoan 

 Allen was selected. " Winthrop's Journal " gives a long account 

 of the affair, which is quoted at length in Lincoln's " History of 

 Hingham." Mr. Lincoln's comments are valuable, and he leaves 

 nothing new to be gleaned. The writer of this chapter, with a 

 filial respect for the opinions and industrious research of one 

 whose interest in this town and its history were unceasing, pre- 

 fers to insert the narrative as given by him rather than to 

 attempt any description of his own. 



