Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/356

320 CHURCH OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE. children," that Mr. Hull was filling the office of school- master. Cromwell's committee afterwards granted £50 towards Hull's maintenance, but he did not much longer remain at Dunheved. From the MSS. at Lambeth Palace we note a memoran- dum, that "on the 10th December, 1656, there was shown to the Commissioner, on approbation of publique preachers, a nomination by the mayor and commonalty of Launceston, of Mr. William Oliver, to the curacy of the Parish Church of Launceston, in the County of Cornwall," and that Oliver was thereupon appointed to such curacy. Mr. Oliver entered upon his parochial duties, and continued minister until the year 1663, when he was ejected under the Act of Uniformity, passed by Car. II. in 1662. He had not entirely escaped calumny while officiating here. On the 2 1st January, 1660-1, Peter Blewett of Launceston gave sureties for good behaviour, "for having said that Mr. William Olliver, minister of this towne, was a base rogue." There is a tablet to Oliver's memory at the eastern end of the south aisle of the church. He is there stated to have been a Master of Arts, and of Exeter College, Oxford. He died on the 6th July, 1681. During his curacy — viz., on the 27th April, 1658, the borough jury made a presentment, which might well be repeated even to-day — " The want of a memoriall or table in the church to record guifts and benevolences." We hope at another time to be able to publish a list of numerous now-forgotten " benevolences " to Launceston. Mr. Oliver was succeeded by the Reverend John Ruddle, who has himself recorded the fact that he began his ministry at Launceston, "at ye feast of our Saviour's nativity, 1663." We see that Mr. Ruddle took advantage of a space left in the Register Book, at the end of the year 1655, to make this entry : " Hereafter follow marriages by Laymen, according to ye prophanes and giddynes of the times,