The foUowuig mei)wmbiUa from the sources enumerated above each, con- tain all that I have been able to collect about the family and name.
I. Catharine-Hall ' Registers.'
(1.) John Sibbes, B.A. 1635 (mentioned in ' WiU '). (2.) Richard . . . B.A. 1664, M.A. 1668. (See entry in Thurston ' Register,' Mo. 2.)
(3.) Robert . . . B.A. 1675. (4.) Richard . . . B.A. 1716.
II. Tostock ' Registers.'
The merest fragment of the ' Registers ' of Tostock has been preserved ; and the first occurrence of the name of Sibbes therein, it will be observed, is long posterior to his death.
1. Hannah Sibbs, the daughter of Thomas Sibbs (probably a grand- nephew), and Elizabeth his wife, was baptized the 6th day of January 1679.
2. Francis, ye daughter of Thomas Sibbes and Elizabeth his mfe, was baptized ye 5th of June 1683.
*^* See an entry from Thurston * Register,' of her marriage.
3. Richard, the son of Thomas Sibbs and EUzabeth his wife, was bap- tized May ye 1st 1688.
From the ' deaths ' we find ' Thomas Sibbes was bmied January ye 18th 1690,' and * Elizabeth Sibbes, widow, was buried, August 9th 1706.'
4. John Nunn and Sarah Sibbes (probably a grand-neice), both of this parish, were married, April 12. 1697.
Of this marriage were born : —
(1.) Mary, ' baptized December ye 80th 1702.'
(2.) John, * baptized January ye 9th 1706.' (Died in a few days.)
(3.) Esther, ' baptized May ye 26th 1708.'
« Qu. 'Vile litigations?'— Ed.
CXlii APPENDIX TO MEMOIR.
Of ' Sarah Sibbes ' ^= Mrs Nunn, we read, ' Sarah, the wife of John Nunn of Thurston, was buried here, April 28th 1719.' A ' Frances Nunn of Rattlesden, was buried, Feb. 18. 1725.'
A third branch is as follows : —
5. ' John Limner of Chevington, and Ehzabeth Sibbes (probably another gi'and-niece), of this town, were married, August ye 23d 1700.'
There was issue : —
' Esther, daughter of John Limner and Elizabeth his wife, . . baptized Octob. ye 15th 1701.'
III. Thurston ' Registers,' as Tostock.
Only two occurrences of the name of Sibbes are found : —
1. Titulus Matrimonii, 1707.
' Robert Steggles of Tostock, and Frances Sibbes of Thurston, married, Ap. 23.' (See under Tostock, No. 2.)
2. ' Mr Richard Sibbes, clerk, rector of Gedding65 years, aged 93, Feb. 2. 1737.'
This was doubtless the * Richard ' of the Cambridge list (supra No. 2). He was probably non-resident. Li the ' registers ' of Gedding, only one entry during the whole period of his incumbency, bears his signature as ' rector.'
IV. Bright's ' Brights of Suffolk ' [ante pp. Ixxxv— vi).
In the family papers of ' the Netherhall Family,' John Sibbes, no doubt he Doctor's nephew, appears as a 'witness' in a dispute about a 'meadow' (page 127). On the back of a letter (January ye 6th 1703), is a memor- andum by Thomas Bright, relating to accounts and rents, under the heads of Thurston, Pakenham, Barton, and Tostock, in which, among others, occur the names of ' John, Robert, and Thomas Sibbes,' perhaps ' tenants' on the estate. Finally, in a letter, ' June 10. 1729,' a Mr Howard writes to the famous beauty, ' Mary Bright,' that ' yesterday he view^ Mr Sibbs' copy- hold lands, held of her manor.'
C, page cxxvi.— SUCCESSORS OF SIBBES IN HIS OFFICES.
1. ' Pkeachek,' Gray's Inn.
!18th November 1635. Hannibal Potter, Dr of Divinity, chose preacher.
9th February 1641. Mr Jackson is chose lecturer, to preach twice of a Sunday.
28th May 1647. Mr Horton chose preacher.
13th January 1662. Mr Caley, preacher and lecf of this Society, if he please to accept thereof.
12th November 1662. Mr Cradock chose lecf, w**" same allowance as Mr Wilkins.
2. ' Master,' Catherine Hall, Cambridge.
There was a keen contest for the ' Mastership.' The subsequently cele- brated Bishop Brownrig was appointed. For interesting notice, with refer- ences, of Brownrig, and for the papers relating to the disputes, consult Mr Mayor's ' Autobiography of Matthew Robinson ' (pp. 130-146) ; also * Garrard's Letter to Strafford (September 1. 1635, Strafford's Letters, vol. i. p. 462).
¥
A DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST.
A DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST.
NOTE. The title-page, ■which is given below,* of the original and only early edition of the ' Description of Christ ' bears, it will be observed, that it consists of tho ' lead- ing— i. e., introductory — sermons to that treatise called the Bruised Reed.' Hence its position in our reprint. It seemed proper to place the two together.
The ' Description,' as having been published posthumously, will not compare in finish with the more famous ' Bruised Reed,' and, indeed, occasionally (as at p 6, line 10 from bottom, p. 13, line 8 from bottom), partakes very much of the nature of those ' notes ... by some who had not perfectly taken them,' to which Sibbes deprecatingly refers in his address to the ' Christian reader,' prefixed to the latter. Still, in substance, if not in composition, the ' Description ' is valuable ; and having been published in the ' Beams of Divine Light ' according ' to the doctor, his own appointment,' it carries his authority. It is to be hoped that in no after-reprints will the ' Description ' and ' Bruised Reed ' be disjoined. G, f