Francis Woodcock

son of Rob. Woodcock was born in the City of Chester, applied his mind to Academical studies in Brasn. Coll. in Easter term 1629, aged 15 years, took a degree in Arts, holy Orders from a Bishop, and then left the House, and had a Cure of Souls bestowed on him. But being always puritannically affected, he sided with the Presbyterians upon a defection of a predominant party in the Long Parliament, an. 1641, became a Lecturer of S. Laurence Ch. in the Jewry in London, a Covenantier, one of the Assembly of Divines, and at length by ordinance of Parliament dat. 10. Jul. 1646, was made Parson of S. Olaves in Southwark, having for some time before exercised his function in that place. He hath written and published,

The two Witnesses, in several Lectures at S. Laurence Jewry, on Rev. 11. with the great question discussed, Whether the two Witnesses were slain or no. Lond. 1643. qu. made extant by vertue of an order of the Committee of the H. of Commons bearing date 27 of Apr. the same year. This book was afterwards reprinted.

Several Sermons, as (1) Christs warning-piece, giving notice to every one to watch and keep their garments, Fast-sermon before the H. of Com. 30 Oct. 1644. on Rev. 16.15. Lond. 1644. qu. (2) Lex Talionis: or, God paying every man in his own coine, Fast-serm. before the H. of C. 30 Jul. 1645 on 1 Sam 2.30. latter part. Lond. 1645. qu. (3) Joseph parallel’d by the present Parliament in his sufferings and advancement, Thanksgiving sermon before the H. of C. 19 Feb. 1645. for reducing the City of Chester by the Parl. Forces under the command of Sir Will. Brereton, on Gen. 49.23, 24. Lond. 1646. qu. What other things he hath extant I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he dying in sixteen hundred fifty and one,1651. or thereabouts, was buried in the Church of S. Olaves befotementioned. One of his sirname was by Act of Parl. dat. in Mar. 1659—60, appointed among several other Ministers to approve of Ministers of the Gospel according to the Presbyterian way, which Act came soon after to nothing. He is the same person who was afterwards a frequent Conventicler, and has one or more Sermons extant in The morning exercise methodized. Lond. 1676. qu.