146 NOTES ON A MINUTE BOOK. 



the gift of tlie Trustees of the Grammar School and Napier's Mite 

 Almshouse. AVhether Master Mayor and the Company dealt in 

 the matter as patrons, or only as influential advisers, at the time 

 of Avhich we are speaking, I know not. In either case they busied 

 themselves much in the matter. On Sept. 22, 1648, Master 

 Ben, Rector of All Saints', is to be " desired with the assistance of 

 [Master Cole]. . . to ride unto Exter" to treat with one Master 

 Ford and also with Master Gower, and to propose " for the 

 encouragement of the minister " that he shall have .£120 p. ann : 

 and " 60'' in lew of the Ester Booke," and a house, "and that 4 

 sufficient men shall engage to pay him 40" euy quarter, clear of all 

 taxes." Master Ben, we cannot but fancy, may have thought that 

 a good Rector of Holy Trinity would not be so far to seek, and 

 that he need not be sent riding up and down to search for one. 

 But after journeying to "Exter" and, it seems, having come to 

 an understanding, not with Ford but with Gower, he is despatched 

 in the other direction. On Oct. 19, 1648, "it is agreed that 

 Master Ben be desired to ride into the Isle of Weight to have 

 conference with Master Marshal, Master Charroll, Master Vines, 



and Mr. Seaman of the *Assembly noAV at Newport 



touching Master Gower and to know their judgm^^ of 



his .... fittness to succeede Master White in this Towne." 

 Their " judgm^s" were favourable, doubtless, for in C. 9, under Jan. 

 24, 1648 (9), is a record of Gower's induction. He is said to have 

 been " chosen by the major part of the feoffees of the said Parsonage, 

 with approbation of the inhabitants of Trinity and Peter's." Master 

 Gower seems to have won the good-will of the burgesses. At least 

 the providing a new parsonage looks like it. On March 24, 1651 

 (2) we find mention of a house " w^** Master Loder hath purchased 

 for this Companie to be a house for the minister." And on March 

 31 we find £100 named as " the fine agreed upon with ]\raster 

 Gardiner for his house upon the Cornhill." It is true that this 

 fine and £50 for repairs were to be paid first, indeed, by the 



* In connection probably with the nef>ociations with the King which 

 were begun on Sept. 18, 1648. Pict : Hist : of England, iv., 384. 



