A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



was the real apostle of the Baptists, and continued to lead them on Derwent- 

 side until his death in 17 17.*" But Blackett, already mentioned, was a more 

 important man, and being possessed of some means was able to consolidate the 

 work at Beechburn, his residence near Bishop Auckland, which for some 

 years became the Baptist head quarters in the northern counties, until Ham- 

 sterley succeeded to a position which it maintained for at least a century.*^* 



It is curious that the first toleration of Nonconformist congregations, 

 though for a brief time, synchronized with the death of Cosin. For a year 

 from the beginning of 1672, royal licences were granted in England to certain 

 ministers.**^ The returns for these indulgences in county Durham show that 

 seven Presbyterians and two Independents applied for licences. There were 

 no Baptist applicants, nor were there any in Northumberland. Of all the 

 counties in England, Westmorland alone supplied fewer instances. Even 

 Rutland had more than Durham. The places in which the licensed ministers 

 were to preach were : — Presbyterian : Bishop Auckland, Brancepeth, Darling- 

 ton, Durham, Lamesley, Stanhope, Sunderland ; hidependejit : Stanhope, 

 Stockton, West Pans near South Shields. After the frequent mention of 

 Nonconformity in the previous years, this paucity of recognized congregations 

 is at first sight remarkable. It is of a piece with what we find in the early 

 eighteenth century,"" and is explained partly by the circumstances of the 

 county which was so largely ' held under the church ' as the people describe 

 their tenure, and partly by the fact that the places represented are just those 

 towns (with the exception of Gateshead) in which, generally speaking. Dis- 

 senters would be likely to congregate. 



A long interval followed the death of Cosin. A contemporary paper 

 gives the reason for this delay, ascribing it to the king's wish to look into the 

 revenues of the see, and to consider some change of government.*^^ Discredit- 

 able rumours gained currency as to the use made of the revenues,*'^ but nothing 

 came of the proposed alterations save the long demanded concession of parlia- 

 mentary representation which Cromwell had allowed during his supremacy. 

 Of course all palatinate offices and prebends were filled sede vacatite by the 

 king. Some trouble arose between Charles and the chapter, who had ever 

 since the Restoration lamented the king's frequent demand to dispense with 

 the residence of prebendaries who were royal chaplains."^ The vacancy of 

 the see let down somewhat the rigid carefulness which Cosin had tried to 

 effect.*'* Grenville, the archdeacon of Durham, strove by numerous visitations 

 to restore a better standard of clerical life and work. His charges and letters 

 show that licentiousness and even atheism abounded in the county ; that small 

 irregular conventicles did exist ; that the clergy were inclined, in many 

 instances, to make themselves and their office too cheap and contemptible ; 



"' Douglas, Hist, of the Northern Baptist Churches (1648-1845), 127. 



*«» See further, ibid. 



**' An account and summary are given in the Cal. S.P. Dom. for 1673. 



''" A rough return for 171 5 is given in Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 32057. 



*" 'A successor to Bishop Cosin will not be nominated until the King has issued his commission for 

 governing that county Palatine and revising its revenues,' Ryi/al Hal! MSS. (Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xii, 

 App. vii), 87. 



"' Given in Hutchinson, Hist. Dur. i. 



■"' Cal. S.P. Dom. 1673, pp. 37-, 397-8,472-3. Dispensations of residence are frequent during the reign, 

 cf. Cal S.P. Dom. 1673-5, p. 286. 



'^' This was the lament of Archdeacon Grenville, Surtees Soc. Puil xlvii, 15, 16 ; cf ibid, xxxvil, 177. 



58 



