base fellows and base scabbs." The name of the man who spoke thus is Francis Rowley. They were spoken in the house of Francis Saunders, vintner in Whitchurch. He hath been also heard to say that it is a better deed to kill one of our religion than to give a hungry man a meal's meat, who is ready to starve. This Rowley lives in Whitchurch. If this man were apprehended and the words examined by some careful Justices of the Peace I think they could be proved. Postscript. After writing the above I acquainted my patron Mr. Barker with Rowley's words, and his purpose is to open this business to Sir Richard Newport. With civil war looming in the summer of 1642, Fisher and Barker worked through local landed gentry networks to mobilise support for the Puritan and Parliamentarian causes. Much was hoped of Newport, who was closely connected by marriage and proximity: Newport's sister, Margaret, had been married to John Barker, Walter's brother from whom he had inherited the estate, and his home at High Ercall Hall made him a close neighbour. Fisher did all he could to persuade Newport to side with Parliament, with the help of Barker's cousin, Robert Charlton of Apley Castle. However, a local royalist gentry circle around Francis Ottley pre-empted their efforts, seizing control of Shrewsbury and inviting Charles I to bring his army from Nottingham to occupy the town. Charlton and Barker tried to send a large sum of money down the River Severn to the Parliamentarians at Bristol but it was intercepted by the Sheriff, John Welde, at Bridgnorth. Charlton escaped but Barker was detained. Newport, after affecting indecision, gave the king £6000 in exchange for becoming Baron Newport. Fisher seems to have fled the scene, perhaps to London. There is no record of a replacement being installed at Upton Magna. London On 23 January 1643 the House of Commons resolved "That the Profits belonging to the Parish Church of St. Albon's, Woodstreet, shall be forthwith sequestred: And that Mr. Fisher, an orthodox Divine, be appointed to preach there to the Parishioners, in the Stead and Place of Dr. Watts; and to receive the Profits thereof." The House of Lords confirmed this on 3 March, giving considerably more detail of the case, which increases the probability that this was the Samuel Fisher who had been driven out of Shropshire. Watts had