and issued over the signature of Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester. Entitled The Severall Divisions and Persons for Classicall Presbyteries in the County of Salop, the scheme envisaged a division of the county or "province" into six areas, each covered by an organisational unit of the Church, termed a classis or classical presbytery. Each classis was given a list of constituent parishes, followed by two lists of personnel: first a list of "Minister fit to bee" of it (corresponding in modern terminology to the teaching elders), and then a list of "Others fit to bee" of it (the ruling or lay elders). Shrewsbury was at the centre of Shropshire's First Classis. As Puritans of the period used the term "saint" either generally to refer to all Christians, or, in a more restricted sense, to Apostles or New Testament figures, the town centre churches were shorn of the honorific title. St Alkmund's became Alkmonds, St Chad's was rendered Cedds. Fisher's church, however, was treated inconsistently, being Saint Maries on first mention, but then simply Maries. Fisher was placed fourth in the list of clergy, below Betton, Paget and Blake, but above the other four ministers, who served rural parishes, including James Smith in Fisher's old home at Upton Magna. The laymen are headed by the mayor of Shrewsbury, Thomas Knight, although it is not stated whether ex officio or in his personal capacity. Other lay elders included Richard Pigot, the headmaster of Shrewsbury School, a number of powerful Shrewsbury merchants, particularly drapers, and gentry from the immediate area, including Fisher's old associate Robert Charlton of Apley. The most powerful figure in the classis, the town and the county was Humphrey Mackworth, as he was the military governor and headed the ruling parliamentary committee, as well as being a member of every other governing committee, an alderman of the town and a JP. He must have been well known to Fisher, as he was a veteran of the lay opposition to Peter Studley at St Chad's, and, as the town's lawyer, had helped defend its control at St Mary's and St Chad's when threatened by Laud's intervention in its charter renewal. Controversy and flight The Puritan coalition was soon in trouble, locally as well as nationally. In 1648 Mackworth was forced to play an active part in the Second English Civil War, precipitated by the king's conspiracy with the Scottish Engagers