Humphrey Chambers

a Gentlemans son, was born in Somersetshire, became a Communer of University College in 1614, aged 15 years, stood for a Fellowship in Merton Coll. in 1619, but put aside as insufficient, notwithstanding he, like a vain man, had a little before taken occasion to display his Oratory in a flourishing Speech on the death of a Student of Univ. Coll. not in the Rectory or Chappel as the custom is, but in a pew set in the middle of the Quadrangle on purpose. After he had taken the degree of Master of Arts, he entred into holy orders, and in June 1623 was made Rector of Claverton in his own Country, on the death of Joh. Bewshen. Afterwards he took the degree of Bach. of Div. and was esteemed by the neighbouring Ministers an orthodox man: But when the times began to change in 1641, he sided with the Presbyterians, took the Covenant, was made one of the Ass. of Divines, and maintained a horse and man at his own charge in actual service against the King. Soon after he had the rich Rectory of Pewsie near to Marlborough in Wilts. bestowed on him for his good service, by Philip Earl of Pembroke, as I have been informed; for from thence a loyal person had been ejected. In 1648 he was actually created Doctor of Div. in the Pembrochian Creation and had several boones bestowed on him by that Convention called by the Presbyterian the Blessed Parliament. After the Kings Restoration he was suffer’d to keep his Parsonage because no body laid claim to it, he being then accounted the prime leader of the Faction in those parts; but when the Act of Conformity was published, he quitted it and his life together. He hath written and published,

Several Sermons. as (1) Divine ballance to weigh religious Fasts in, Fast-sermon before the H. of Com. 27 Sept. 1643, on Zach. 7.5.6.7. Lond. 1643. qu. He was also one of three that preached before the House of Lords on the 22 of Oct. 1644, being a Fast sermon upon the uniting of the Army together; but whether ’twas printed I find not. (2) Pauls sad farewell to the Ephesians, preached at the funeral of Mr. Joh. Grayle Minister of Tidworth in Wilts. on Acts 20.37.38. Lond. 1655. quart. and others which I have not yet seen.

Motive to peace and love—Printed 1649. qu.

Animadversions on Mr. W. Dells book intit. The crucified and quickned Christian. Lond. 1653. qu.

Apology for the Ministers of the County of Wilts. in their meetings at the election of Members for the approaching Parliament. In answer to a letter sent out of the said County, pretending to lay open the dangerous designs of the Clergy in reference to the approaching Parliament, by some of the defam’d Ministers of the Gospel of the same County. Lond. 1654, in 4 sh. in qu. In the writing of which Apol. Dr. Chambers was assisted by Joh. Strickland, Adoniram Byfield and Pet. Ince, Presb. Ministers.

Answer to the charge of Walt. Bushnel Vicar of Box in Wilts. published in a book of his intit. A narrative of the proceedings of the Commissioners appointed by Oliver Cromwell for ejecting scandalous and ignorant Ministers, &c. Lond. 1660. quar.

Vindication of the said Commissioners.—Printed the former. He was one of the number of Assistants belonging to the said Commissioners, and carried himself very severe against the Ministers. What other books he hath published, I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he was buried in the Church of Pewsey before mention’d, on the eighth day of Septemb. in sixteen hundred sixty and two, with no other ceremony than that we would use to a dog;1662. and about the same time was his wife buried there also. In the said Rectory succeeded Rich. Watson D. D. sometimes Fellow of Gonvill and Caies Coll. in Cambridge, Chaplain to James Duke of York, and afterwards Prebendary of Wells and Salisbury, as I shall elsewhere at large tell you.