Zachary Crofton
Encyclopedia
Zachary Crofton was an Anglo-Irish nonconforming minister and controversialist, in England from the 1640s.
in Cheshire
, from which he was expelled in 1648 for refusing to take the engagement
. He then came to London, and was for some time minister of St. James's, Garlick Hythe, and then obtained the rectory of St. Botolph, Aldgate. He held that position until the Restoration
, when he was ejected for nonconformity. He was prosecuted (in some fashion) in 1657 for whipping his servant girl, Mary Cadman. The case became notorious, and the theme of a 1661 play The Presbyterian Lash, by Francis Kirkman
. Crofton had defended himself in 1657 under the pseudonym Alethes Noctroff.
He has been called "the best known Presbyterian controversialist in the Restoration", and advanced a presbyterian position that was both royalist and anti-episcopal. He began a controversy with Bishop John Gauden
respecting the solemn league and covenant
, for the defence of which he was committed to the Tower of London
. The date has been debated; he is recorded as sent to the Tower on 23 March 1661 (New Style). Daniel Neal
's History of the Puritans states that this controversy took place before Crofton's ejectment, and that he was turned out of his parish despite his support for the Restoration. The arrest of Crofton came after mail was opened in a scare about presbyterian sentiment in the capital.
Crofton, with his wife and seven children, returned to Cheshire, where, after another short imprisonment, the cause of which is unknown, he supported himself by farming, or by keeping a grocer's shop. In 1667 he again came to London and opened a school near Aldgate. He died in 1672. He published a large number of pamphlets and tracts, mostly of a controversial character, and a few sermons.
Life
He was born in Ireland and principally educated at Dublin. He came to England about 1646. His first living was at WrenburyWrenbury
Wrenbury is a village in the civil parish of Wrenbury cum Frith, the unitary authority of Cheshire East, and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, from which he was expelled in 1648 for refusing to take the engagement
Engagement controversy
The Engagement Controversy was a debate in England from 1649-1652 regarding loyalty to the new regime after the execution of Charles I. During this period hundreds of pamphlets were published in England supporting 'engagement' to the new regime or denying the right of English citizens to shift...
. He then came to London, and was for some time minister of St. James's, Garlick Hythe, and then obtained the rectory of St. Botolph, Aldgate. He held that position until the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, when he was ejected for nonconformity. He was prosecuted (in some fashion) in 1657 for whipping his servant girl, Mary Cadman. The case became notorious, and the theme of a 1661 play The Presbyterian Lash, by Francis Kirkman
Francis Kirkman
Francis Kirkman appears in many roles in the English literary world of the second half of the seventeenth century, as a publisher, bookseller, librarian, author and bibliographer...
. Crofton had defended himself in 1657 under the pseudonym Alethes Noctroff.
He has been called "the best known Presbyterian controversialist in the Restoration", and advanced a presbyterian position that was both royalist and anti-episcopal. He began a controversy with Bishop John Gauden
John Gauden
John Gauden was an English bishop of Exeter then bishop of Worcester and writer, and the reputed author of the important Royalist work Eikon Basilike.-Life:...
respecting the solemn league and covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
, for the defence of which he was committed to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. The date has been debated; he is recorded as sent to the Tower on 23 March 1661 (New Style). Daniel Neal
Daniel Neal
Daniel Neal was an English historian.Born in London, he was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, and at the universities of Utrecht and Leiden...
's History of the Puritans states that this controversy took place before Crofton's ejectment, and that he was turned out of his parish despite his support for the Restoration. The arrest of Crofton came after mail was opened in a scare about presbyterian sentiment in the capital.
Crofton, with his wife and seven children, returned to Cheshire, where, after another short imprisonment, the cause of which is unknown, he supported himself by farming, or by keeping a grocer's shop. In 1667 he again came to London and opened a school near Aldgate. He died in 1672. He published a large number of pamphlets and tracts, mostly of a controversial character, and a few sermons.