writings. He died on 30 Nov. 1708, in his seventy-eighth year, and was buried in his church, where his gravestone in the chancel bears a long inscription in Latin, from which the title ‘Reverendus admodum Dominus’ and the following words were erased (according to Colchester tradition, by Compton's order): ‘tam Marti quam Mercurio clarus, quippe qui terra mariq. Militavit non sine gloria, Ingeniiq. vires scriptis multiplice argumento insignitis demonstravit; sacris tandem ordinibus initiatus.’ His portrait (1706), engraved by J. Nutting from a painting by J. Jull, is prefixed to his ‘Miscellaneous Tracts.’ After settling at Colchester he married, and had ‘many children … all well provided for’ (ib. iii. 47). Two sons, Thomas and Mathias, and four daughters survived him. His private character was never assailed.
Throughout his writings, highly spiced with a random jocularity which he excuses as being natural to him, Hickeringill is a tenacious advocate of Erastianism (cf. his ‘Lay Clergy’). In his ‘Priestcraft’ is a strong infusion of rationalism; he denies infallibility to the Bible, and defends his position with some critical research. Of his pamphlets there are two disorderly collections (indicated by M. T. and W. in the list below), viz. ‘Miscellaneous Tracts, Essays, Satyrs,’ &c., 1707, 4to (seven parts, with separate titles and paging, the first printed 1705, the rest undated); and ‘Works,’ 1709, 8vo, 3 vols. (printed in 1708, see i. 353; in vol. ii. p. 353 immediately follows p. 208; so in vol. iii. p. 145 follows p. 135); reissued with new title-pages 1716 and 1721. His chief separate publications are:
- ‘Jamaica View'd,’ &c., 1661, 12mo (map by Colonel Edward D'Oyley, commander of the forces in Jamaica, dedication to Charles II, commendatory verses ‘To my Honoured Friend, Capt. Edm. Hickeringill,’ signed ‘G. E. Med. D.’); 2nd edit. 1661, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1705, 8vo (new map; this edition forms the first part of M. T.)
- ‘An Apology for Distressed Innocence … Sermon [1 K. xxi. 12, 13] … 30 Jan. 1662,’ &c., 1662 (?); 1700, 4to; reprinted W. i. 270.
- ‘Gregory, Father Greybeard, with his Vizard off … a Letter to our old friend R. L. from E. H.,’ &c., 1673, 8vo (to L'Estrange; on Marvell; see above).
- ‘Curse Ye Meroz: or, the Fatal Doom … Sermon [Jud. v. 23],’ &c., 1680, 4to, four editions same year; reprinted W. i. 220, mispaged 120 (see above; answered in ‘The Plotter's Doom,’ 1680, 4to, and ‘Observations on a late Famous Sermon,’ 1680, 4to).
- ‘Reflections … By A. B.,’ &c., 1680, 4to (answer to ‘Observations,’ &c.; probably by Hickeringill).
- ‘The Naked Truth. The Second Part,’ &c., 1681, fol. (anon.); 2nd edit. same year (title suggested by ‘The Naked Truth,’ 1675, by Herbert Croft, D.D. (1603–1691) [q. v.], with which it has nothing in common, being an attack on the exactions of spiritual courts, with tables of just fees; Hickeringill avows the authorship in a letter, 20 Nov. 1680, printed in 2nd edit.; two other parts appeared, disclaimed by Hickeringill, Works, ii. 6).
- ‘A Vindication of The Naked Truth, the second part … By Phil. Hickeringill,’ &c., 1681, fol. (against ‘Leges Angliæ,’ by Dr. Francis Fullwood. Cf. Works, ii. 6).
- ‘News from Doctor's Commons … Mr. Hickeringill's appearance there, June 8, 1681,’ &c., 1681, fol., reprinted W. ii. 176 (has appended ‘Essay concerning Sequestrations’ and ‘Impartial Narrative’ of the trial for barratry).
- ‘The Horrid Sin of Man-Catching … Sermon upon Jer. 5, 25, 26 … at Colchester, 10 July 1681,’ &c., 1681, 4to; 2nd edit. same year; 4th edit. 1682, fol.; reprinted W. i. 171 (preached without notes, written out and sent to press next day).
- ‘News from Colchester … Letter to … an honest Whig,’ &c., 1681 (?) reprinted W. i. 394 (signed A. B., 17 Aug. 1681).
- ‘The Black Non-Conformist Discover'd in More Naked Truth,’ &c., 1682, fol., reprinted W. ii. 1 (dedicated, 4 Dec. 1681, to Sancroft, archbishop of Canterbury; title insinuates that bishops are nonconformists, as practising illegal ceremonies, &c.).
- ‘Essays on Several Subjects, in Two Parts,’ reprinted M. T. (seven papers on excommunications, sacrilege, probate, &c. of uncertain dates).
- ‘The Mushroom … in answer to … The Meddal,’ &c., 1682, fol., reprinted W. ii. 353 (the poem, a scurrilous attack on Dryden, is dated London, 17 March 1681–2).
- ‘The Character of a Sham-plotter or Man-catcher,’ &c. 1682 (?); reprinted W. i. 212.
- ‘Scandalum Magnatum: or, The Great Trial at Chelmnesford … betwixt Henry, bishop of London … and E. Hickeringill,’ &c., 1682, fol.
- ‘The Test or Tryal … of Spiritual-Courts,’ &c., 1683, fol.; reprinted M. T. (dated 11 Jan. 1682–3).
- ‘The Trimmer … Debate with the Observator,’ &c., 1683 (?); reprinted W. i. 353 (dialogue; written early in 1683).
- ‘The History of Whiggism,’ &c., 1683 (?); reprinted W. i. 1 (dialogue between Tory, Whig, and Tantivee; two parts).
- ‘The Most Humble Confession and Recantation,’ &c., 1684, fol.
- ‘Modest Enquiries proposed to the Convention of Estates,’ &c., 1689, 4to.
- ‘A Speech without Doors,’ &c., 1689, 4to.
- ‘A Dialogue between Timothy and Titus about the Articles and Canons,’ &c., 1689 (Davids; not seen).
- ‘The Ceremony-Monger,’ &c., 1689,
