Barnes

AMBROSE BARNES (1627 - 1710)

Memoirs of the Life of Ambrose Barnes was published by the Surtees Society in 1876, as an abridgment of a 1716 manuscript, signed only 'MR' in the possession of the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle. From it we learn a good deal about Newcastle lore and customs, and the civic and religious upheavals at the time of the Civil War.

Barnes was born in Yorkshire, but on 1 August 1646 he was apprenticed to William Blackett, merchant-adventurer of Newcastle, then, after a year, to Samuel Rawling. Barnes assisted in counting the money that was paid to the Scots when King Charles I was handed over in Newcastle to the parliamentary commissioners early in 1647.

Two outbreaks of plague occurred during Barnes' apprenticeship, during one of which he became infected and was shut up alone in an empty house near the Exchange. He survived and eventually became an alderman in 1658, but the restoration of Charles II meant that magistrates like Barnes would have to 'go out' (to the delight of the Quaker, George Fox q.v.). Though the town and county had declared for the king in the Civil War, there were many of the opposite persuasion, like Robert Blakiston the regicide. Barnes was a friend, it appears of Colonel Axtel, one of the most zealous parliamentary leaders, whom he met in Newcastle. Axtel was one of Charles I's judges and behaved insultingly towards the monarch during the trial. After the restoration he was executed, along with others of the regicides. Ambrose Barnes' last sight of him in London is related. A cavalier keen to see Axtel executed, went to Tyburn, but returned to Furnivall's Inn, tearful and ruffled: 'What a man has the world lost! He made a prayer that caused my hair to stand on end! Oh, what will become of me? The man has gone to heaven! Axtel is surely gone to heaven!'

Barnes was mayor of Newcastle 1660-61. The Act of Uniformity was passed in 1662, and on 4 August, all the clergymen who would not subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer were ejected from their livings. Ambrose Barnes, along with the other non-conformists was persecuted and spent time in Tynemouth castle. This persecution of the Dissenters culminated in 1684, when Judge Jeffreys sat at Newcastle assizes. The formidable judge was able and impartial in civil cases, but in criminal law it was otherwise. Barnes tells us that Jeffreys would sit 'drinking to filthy excess till two or three o'clock in the morning, going to bed as drunk as a beast.' When the court sat, Jeffreys with his raileries and jests then acted the part of a harlequin.' (Jack Pudding erased).

Barnes himself escaped the judge, however. When James II 'came in' in 1685, Barnes became an alderman again. Under William III he again evaded persecution. Barnes' old age was penurious as he had suffered heavy losses in shipping, collieries and lead mines. His son-in-law left him embroiled in debts, and family relationships were strained. Barnes suffered with resignation. He was buried in All Saints churchyard.

Barnes wrote 'Breviate of the Four Monarchies', an 'Inquiry into the Nature, Grounds and Reason of Religion', and 'Censure upon the Times and Age he lived in'. These are in the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Library in manuscript and have been published in extract only.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
AMBROSE BARNES (1627 - 1710) Memoirs of the Life of Ambrose Barnes was published by the Surtees Society in 1876, as an abridgment of a 1716 manuscript, signed only 'MR' in the possession of the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle. From it we learn a good deal about Newcastle lore and customs, and the civic and religious upheavals at the time of the Civil War. Barnes was born in Yorkshire, but on 1 August 1646 he was apprenticed to William Blackett, merchant-adventurer of Newcastle, then, after a year, to Samuel Rawling. Barnes assisted in counting the money that was paid to the Scots when King Charles I was handed over in Newcastle to the parliamentary commissioners early in 1647. Two outbreaks of plague occurred during Barnes' apprenticeship, during one of which he became infected and was shut up alone in an empty house near the Exchange. He survived and eventually became an alderman in 1658, but the restoration of Charles II meant that magistrates like Barnes would have to 'go out' (to the delight of the Quaker, George Fox q.v.). Though the town and county had declared for the king in the Civil War, there were many of the opposite persuasion, like Robert Blakiston the regicide. Barnes was a friend, it appears of Colonel Axtel, one of the most zealous parliamentary leaders, whom he met in Newcastle. Axtel was one of Charles I's judges and behaved insultingly towards the monarch during the trial. After the restoration he was executed, along with others of the regicides. Ambrose Barnes' last sight of him in London is related. A cavalier keen to see Axtel executed, went to Tyburn, but returned to Furnivall's Inn, tearful and ruffled: 'What a man has the world lost! He made a prayer that caused my hair to stand on end! Oh, what will become of me? The man has gone to heaven! Axtel is surely gone to heaven!' Barnes was mayor of Newcastle 1660-61. The Act of Uniformity was passed in 1662, and on 4 August, all the clergymen who would not subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer were ejected from their livings. Ambrose Barnes, along with the other non-conformists was persecuted and spent time in Tynemouth castle. This persecution of the Dissenters culminated in 1684, when Judge Jeffreys sat at Newcastle assizes. The formidable judge was able and impartial in civil cases, but in criminal law it was otherwise. Barnes tells us that Jeffreys would sit 'drinking to filthy excess till two or three o'clock in the morning, going to bed as drunk as a beast.' When the court sat, Jeffreys with his raileries and jests then acted the part of a harlequin.' (Jack Pudding erased). Barnes himself escaped the judge, however. When James II 'came in' in 1685, Barnes became an alderman again. Under William III he again evaded persecution. Barnes' old age was penurious as he had suffered heavy losses in shipping, collieries and lead mines. His son-in-law left him embroiled in debts, and family relationships were strained. Barnes suffered with resignation. He was buried in All Saints churchyard. Barnes wrote 'Breviate of the Four Monarchies', an 'Inquiry into the Nature, Grounds and Reason of Religion', and 'Censure upon the Times and Age he lived in'. These are in the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Library in manuscript and have been published in extract only.
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