60 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
a very zealous persecutor : probably he would have dignified his 
conduct by a higher title. Among those who were proceeded 
against during his mayoralty by his order, presented by James 
Jackson and Lucas Cocke, churchwardens, were the following : 
Samuel Northcott, senior and junior, Thomas Durant and wife, 
Richard Maine and son, William Allen, his wife, son, and man- 
servant, Captain Burthogg, Daniel Parrett, John Glanvill, Anthony 
Windeatt and wife, Thomas Short, Thomas Spry, Nicholas Gloyn, 
John Merrin, Thomas Spencer, John Daubance, Anthony Field, 
Roger Towle, Jacob Sanders, Charity Mohun, Richard Hall, 
William Stitson, Walter Trowte, Catherine Trowte — Presby- 
terians ; John Trenicke, Thomas Trenicke, Edward Cole, Richard 
Vincent, James Blackburn, Thomas Teate, Josias Pickes, Samuel 
Fletcher, Richard Blagdon, John Bennett — Baptists ; Nicholas 
Cole, Anthony Todd, Arthur Cotton, Margaret Dier, Elizabeth 
Ditford, John Light, Francis Light, Richard Smith, Francis Rawle, 
George Crocker — Quakers. Some of these were prosecuted for not 
attending church, some for not observing the rites of the Church 
as to baptism and marriage. 
Great as was the persistence of the persecutors, that of the per- 
secuted was greater. Writing from Exeter Gaol, 17th of 7th 
month, 1662, Cheare says : " The poor lambs that I have left have 
been visited by the constables again and again at their meetings, 
summoned before the mayor, fined for not coming to church, yet 
have a little strength left to meet in the same place, expose their 
goods to be spoiled, &c, rather than consent to promote that which 
their soul is grieved at." 
That October between forty and fifty were taken in one meeting, 
ostensibly on the ground that they refused to promise not to take 
up arms against the king.* There appear to have been rumours 
about this time that Plymouth was to be the rallying-point of a 
Republican insurrection. 
The Conventicle Act came into operation in July, 1664; and 
1665 was a year of special activity with the dominant party. 
Cheare by the efforts of his sister was released, and returned to 
Plymouth. He enjoyed his liberty a month. Then he was appre- 
hended, lodged a month in the Guildhall prison — a wretched den 
— and finally conveyed to Drake's Island, where he lay until his 
death, after great suffering, on the 5th of first month, 1668. 
* See State Papers. 
