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 in 1619 gave him the prebend of Kilroot [see ]. When another of their number, Robert Blair, arrived in the country in 1623, although he plainly apprised the bishop of his aversion both to episcopacy and the prayer-book, Echlin kindly said: ‘I hear good of you and will impose no conditions on you. I am old and can teach you ceremonies, and you can teach me substance. Only, I must ordain you, else neither I nor you can answer the law nor brook the land.’ Blair then tells us: ‘I answered him that his sole ordination did utterly contradict my principles; but he replied both wittily and submissively, “Whatever you account of episcopacy, yet I know you account a presbytery to have divine warrant. Will you not receive ordination from Mr. Cunningham and the adjacent brethren, and let me come in among them in no other relation than a presbyter?” This I could not refuse, and so the matter was performed’ (, Autobiography;, True Narrative). From being the patron of the presbyterian clergy Echlin soon turned to be their bitter foe. In 1631 he suspended Blair and Livingstone from the ministry. Ussher interfered on their behalf, and they were restored. Next year they were proceeded against again and deposed, along with two others. Blair now travelled to London and obtained from the king such liberty as enabled them to resume their ministry. But in 1634 the bishop cited them again, and formally deposed them. There is extant an account of a remarkable conference which took place between him and Blair on this occasion (printed by, History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, from a manuscript in Bibl. Jurid. Edin.). Shortly afterwards Echlin sickened. When the physician was called in and inquired what ailed him, it is said that for some time he refused to answer, but at length, speaking with great difficulty, replied, ‘'Tis my conscience, man!’ to which the doctor rejoined, ‘I have no cure for that’ (, Autobiography). He died on 17 July 1635, at the Abbacy, a house which he had built for himself at Ardquin, near Portaferry, co. Down, and was buried at Ballyphilip close by. He left two sons and four daughters, many of whose descendants still live.

[Genealogical Memoirs of the Echlin Family, by the Rev. J. R. Echlin; Ware's Bishops of Ireland; Blair's Autobiography; Adair's True Narrative; Reid's History of Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Scott's Fasti; Cotton's Fasti; Burke's Landed Gentry.] 

ECTON, JOHN (d. 1730), compiler, a native of Winchester, was employed in the first-fruits department of the office of Queen Anne's Bounty, where he ultimately became the receiver of the tenths of the clergy. He died at Turnham Green, Middlesex, 20 Aug. 1730 (Hist. Reg. vol. xv., Chron. Diary, p. 55). His will, bearing date 7 July 1730, was proved at London 8 Sept. 1730 by his widow, Dorothea Ecton (registered in P. C. C. 255, Auber). Therein he desired to be buried in Winchester Cathedral. He appears to have left no issue. He devised all his ‘manuscript bookes, papers, and collections’ to his wife and Dr. Edward Butler, vice-chancellor of the university of Oxford, ‘to be jointly att their discretion disposed of in the best manner for the publick service;’ but he desired that such as were found completed and likely to prove useful might be published. Ecton was a good antiquary and musician. He was elected F.S.A. 29 March 1723 ([], Chron. List. of Soc. Antiq., 1798, p. *3). His collection of music and musical instruments he bequeathed to James Kent, the church composer [q. v.] His library was sold in 1735.

He published: 1. ‘Liber Valorum et Decimarum; being an Account of the Valuations and Yearly Tenths of all such Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Wales as now stand chargeable with the Payment of First-Fruits and Tenths … (Some Things necessary to be … performed by a Clergyman upon his admission to any Benefice),’ 8vo, London, 1711. Of this once useful compilation seven editions appeared between 1723 and 1796, the best being that published as ‘Thesaurus Rerum Ecclesiasticarum,’ 4to, London, 1754, and again in 1763, with additions by Browne Willis. In 1786 John Bacon (1738–1816) [q. v.], having changed the title of the book to ‘Liber Regis’ and made a few additions, published it as entirely his own work, without even revising Ecton's preface. He himself did not add one line of introduction, as is erroneously stated in Nichols's ‘Literary Anecdotes,’ ix. 5n. This conduct, for which Bacon and his publisher, John Nichols, deserved equal blame, was severely commented on in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ for 1786 and 1787 (vol. lvi. pt. ii. 1027–8, vol. lvii. pt. i. pp. 135, 304–5). 2. ‘A State of the Proceedings of the Corporation of the Governours of the Bounty of Queen Anne for the Augmentation of the Maintenance of the Poor Clergy, from … 1704 to Christmas, 1718,’ 8vo, London, 1719; 2nd edition, ‘with a Continuation to Christmas, 1720,’ 8vo, London, 1721.

[Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ix. 5–7; Gough's British Topography, i. 117, 118, 131*.] 

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