HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [247 



eldest, named Thomas, was brought up to trade; the second, 

 John, the subject of this memoir ; the third, Peter, a physician, 

 who practised at Uttoxeter; the fourth Josiah, who succeeded his 

 brother John in the living of Ashley, in Staffordshire; and the 

 fifth and youngest, Samuel, was brought up to the church. 



Our author was instructed in the elements of classical learning 

 by Mr. Whitehead, at his grammar-school on Moreton-green, near 

 Congleton, in Cheshire. He was removed in the sixteenth year 

 of his age to Cambridge, and placed under the tuition of Mr. Wil- 

 -liam Chappel, Fellow of Christ's College. His preceptor, who 

 was also the instructor of Henry More, Milton, and other eminent 

 men, was afterwards Bishop of Cork, in Ireland. At college, our 

 author applied himself to eloquence with such success, that he was 

 considered the best orator of the under-graduates in the Univer- 

 sity. He was also distinguished for the extraordinary proficiency 

 which he made in the study of Latin and Greek, but he neglected 

 the Hebrew language. 



When he had taken his degree of B. A. he left the University, 

 and became an assistant to his former master, Mr. Whitehead, who 

 then kept a school with great reputation at Repton, in Derbyshire. 

 He continued at Repton about two years, and then entered into 

 orders, and began his auspicious career as a divine, as curate 

 of Norton-under-Hales, in Shropshire. This curacy lay in the vi- 

 cinity of Bellaport, the seat of Sir Rowland Cotton, who was his 

 constant hearer, nominated him chaplain, and received him as an 

 inmate in his hospitable mansion. Sir Rowland was a proficient 

 in the Hebrew language, and persuaded his chaplain to engage in 

 that study, who applied himself to it with vigour; and when his 

 patron removed with his family to London, at the request of Sir 

 Allan Cotton his uncle, who was then Lord Mayor of that city, 

 Mr. Lightfoot accompanied him thither. He had not been long in the 

 metropolis before he resolved to go to the Continent for improve- 

 ment, and he consequently went down into Staffordshire to take 

 leave of his father and mother. In the course of his journey he 

 came to Stone, which was then destitute of a minister, and by the 

 persuasions of the parishioners he consented to preach there. His 

 idea of going abroad was now relinquished; and having in the year 

 1628 obtained possession of the living, he married the daughter of 

 William Crompton, Esq. of Stone Park. Soon after this event, 

 he quitted his charge at Stone, and removed to London with his 

 family, that he might the more successfully pursue his rabbinical 



