14 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 



Sure I am that having a bcnifice promised him, he took priestly orders from 

 the hands of Dr. Robert Skinner Bishop of Oxon in Trin. Coll. Chap, on the 

 21st of December An. 1645, and two days after he was instituted Yicar of 

 Compton Chamberlayne in Wilts, by the presentation thereunto of Sir John 

 Fenruddock, who gave him also the lecturer's place in the church there. After- 

 wards being settled as much as the then times could permit, he continued there 

 in good repute, till he was among other religious and conscientious divines 

 ejected for refusing the presbyterian Covenant. Being thus deprived by un- 

 reasonable men, he rented a little farm at Tisbury, lived as a grazier in the 

 times of the usurpation, was knowing and consenting to the generous, yet un- 

 fortunate insurrection of the Cavaliers at Salisbury in the latter end of 1654, 

 at which time they were headed by the most loyal and valiant Colonel John 

 Penruddock son and heir of the aforesaid Sir John Penruddoek, for which he 

 the said Mr. Martin suffered for a time by close imprisonment, and had without 

 doubt gone to pot could the rebels have found sufficient witnesses that he had been 

 engaged in the said plot or insurrection. However being made one of the trustees 

 of the estate of the said Colonel, he by his prudence, preserved it from sequestra- 

 tion, was in a condition to cherish his distressed family, and take his children under 

 his roof. He was a person of great modesty, well skilled in the Latin Greek 

 and Hebrew languages, and versed in all such learning as was necessary to make 

 him a compleate divine, and therefore after the restoration of his Majesty King 

 Charles II. when ancient learning began to be in repute again, he became much 

 esteemed by the ministers and loyal gentry of his neighbourhood, was restored 

 to what he had lost, and by the favour of Thos. Freeke Esq.* was made rector 

 of Melcombe Horsey in Dorsetshire in January an 1660. When Dr. Earl was 

 translated from Worcester to Salisbury (latter end September 1663) he made 

 choice of our Author Martin to preach his primary visitation sermon, and in- 

 tended his further promotion in the church, but being untimely taken away, 

 (died November 1665), his design failed, t However when Dr. Seth Ward be- 

 came bishop of that place he collated him to the prebendship of Yatsbury in 

 the church of Sarum by the resignation of Mr. Dan Whitley on the 10th of 

 Dec an 1688 (about which time he made him his dean rural for the deanery of 

 Chalke) and soon after upon a vacancy, the dean and canons would have elected 

 him a canon resident, but his modesty would not permit him to give them any 

 encouragement. In the month of Octob 1675 he was made Chaplain to Charles 

 Earl of Nottingham, and in the beginning of Oct. 1677 he was collated by the 

 said bishop Ward (who had singular respect for him and his learning) to the 

 prebendship of Preston in the said Church of" Sarum ; with his rectory, vicar- 

 idge and lecture (little enough for such a modest and learned person, and so 

 great a sufferer for his loyalty as Mr. Martin was) he kept for some time after 

 the prince of Orange came to the crown . At length sticking to his old principles, 

 and denying the oaths of allegiance to him and his queen was deprived of all, 

 except his lecture, which being worth about £30 per an was all that he had 

 left to keep him till the time of his death as was reported but Bp Burnet in 



* Mrs. Penruddock's brother, 

 f Dr. Alexander Hyde, brother of Sir Robert Hyde, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, was 

 Bishop of Salisbury, from December, 1665, to August 22nd, 1667, -when he died and was succeede-i 

 by Dr. Ward. 



