18 



Broughton Gifford. 



tions and readings in of the several Rectors are recorded up to the 

 middle of the last century, with the exception of Mr. John Rogers, 

 1742, where a leaf has been cut out. Good Doctor Proby seems to 

 have been seized with illness 1675, and not to have attended to the 

 Register after that time. His name re-appears at the bottom of 

 the page for 1680 together with " Phillip Carpenter, minister" (cu- 

 rate). In the interval the clerk's hand is observable, but not very 

 legible. Charles Micheii appears as minister 1682, and continues 

 officiating during the remainder of Dr. Proby's incumbency (he 

 was buried January 3rd, 1685), and also during the incumbencies 

 of Anthony Beeby and Nathaniel Resbury, till the induction of 

 William Hickes 9th September, 1689. 



This last Rector is more full than any other in his comments and 

 notices on subjects of interest within his parochial sphere, whether 

 strictly ecclesiastical or secular, or even physical. We are most 

 thankful to him ; he certainly provided for, if he did not anticipate, 

 the demands of the parochial historian. He resigned in the spring of 

 1733, and it is curious to trace the declining vigour and boldness in 

 the formation of his letters during forty-three and a half years. 

 When the pen at last dropt from his hand, it was with evident 

 difficulty and with much blotting, that for once more, he traced 

 largely (as if his sight failed him) his own name and those of the 

 churchwardens. In very different style indeed are the decided, 

 rather small, and clearly defined letters of "William Hickes, Rector, 

 and William Harding and Edmund Lewis, Guardians," in 1690. 

 To judge him by his registers and the memoranda there, he was a 

 keen, observant man, not unkindly, but tenacious of his own rights 

 and of the law, very bitter against dissenters in the way of disci- 

 pline, but very zealous too in his endeavours to compel them to come 

 in by more spiritual ministrations. He was not without a touch 

 of humour, was somewhat of a gossip, and believed in ghosts and 

 apparitions. Like most active minded men, he was given to emula- 

 tion. Does Dr. Proby tell you that he baptised, three sets of twins, 



Canterbury 1597, that parchment register books should be provided, and trans- 

 cripts made in them from the paper books previously in use: the correctness of 

 the transcripts and future entries being certified by the Clergy and Churchwar- 

 dens at the foot of each page. 



