Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sadler, Anthony
SADLER, ANTHONY (fl. 1630–1680), divine, son of Thomas Sadler, was born at Chitterne St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1610. He matriculated at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, on 21 March 1628, graduated B.A. on 22 March 1632, was ordained by Dr. Richard Corbet [q. v.], bishop of Oxford, when only twenty-one, and became chaplain to the Sadler family in Hertfordshire, to whom he was related. During the following twenty years he was curate at Bishopstoke, Hampshire, lived (Wood says beneficed) in London six or seven years, and was chaplain to Lettice, lady Paget, widow of Sir William Paget. By her he was presented in May 1654 to the rectory of Compton Abbas, Dorset, but was rejected by the triers in spite of his certificates from William Lenthall [q. v.], then master of the rolls, and Dr. Thomas Temple. On 3 July he was examined before Philip Nye [q. v.] and four other commissioners. He then printed ‘Inquisitio Anglicana,’ London, 1654, 4to, containing the examination, with comments and complaints. Nye replied with ‘Mr. Sadler re-examined,’ 1654, 4to, in which he declared that Sadler ‘preached not always for edification, but sometimes for ostentation.’ Much graver charges were brought against him later. An order in council was given in December to three members to examine him (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1654, p. 410). He probably lived about London until the Restoration, when, one authority says, ‘being very poor, but well stocked with wife and children, he went up and down a birding for a spiritual benefice.’ He preached an approbation sermon at Mitcham, and was presented to that living by the patron, Robert Cranmer, a London merchant. Sadler soon instituted a suit against Cranmer for dilapidations. It lasted two years and a half. Cranmer had Sadler arrested for libel, but he was liberated after a few days, on giving his bond in 500l. to relinquish the living on 10 April. He was accused of disorderly practices and omitting to perform divine service. He wrote from the Borough prison on 25 Nov. 1664 a petition to George Morley, bishop of Winchester, ‘Strange Newes indeed from Mitcham in Surrey,’ London, 1664. Sadler next obtained an appointment to Berwick St. James, Wiltshire; but in 1681 Seth Ward, bishop of Salisbury, complained to Archbishop Sancroft of his debauchery. Archdeacon Robert Woodward (afterwards dean) advised him, 21 May 1683, to submit to suspension by the bishop, but he petitioned the archbishop against it (Coxe, Cat. of Tanner MSS. p. 1091). Wood is wrong in saying he died in 1680. More accurate is Wood's description of him as ‘leaving behind him the character of a man of a rambling head and turbulent spirit.’
Sadler wrote: 1. ‘The Subjects' Joy,’ 1660, 4to, a kind of semi-religious drama. 2. ‘The Loyal Mourner, shewing the murdering of King Charles I. Foreshowing the restoring of Charles II,’ London, 1660, 4to. The latter portion, which he pretends was written in 1648, contains the lines:
And now is seen that maugre rebel's plots,
The name of C. R. lives, and O. C. rots.
3. ‘Majestie Irradiant,’ a broadside issued in
May 1660. 4. ‘Schema Sacrum,’ verses, with portraits of the king and archbishop, 1667; reprinted without the cuts in 1683.
Another Anthony Sadler (fl. 1640), was admitted to Exeter College, Oxford, in 1621; graduated M.A. 1624, and M.D. 1633. The same or another (more probably of Cambridge) was presented to West Thurrock rectory, Essex, on 19 Dec. 1628 (Newcourt, Rep. Eccles. ii. 592), and died there on 20 May 1643. His dying confession, entitled ‘The Sinner's Tears,’ London, 1653, 12mo, was published by Thomas Fettiplace, master of Peterhouse, Cambridge (reprinted 1680, 1688).
[Kennett's Register, pp. 191, 215, 268, 330; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. iii. 1267, and his Fasti, i. 460; Foster's Alumni Oxon. early ser. iii. 1298; Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, i. 175–8, ii. 356; works above mentioned; Manning and Bray's Hist. of Surrey, iii. 695; Notes and Queries, 4th ser. iii. 483; Hanbury's Hist. Mem. iii. 425–429. There are no entries for 1610 in the Chitterne parish register.]