Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/51

 at secret flight as impracticable. In a letter (26 April) he commanded Firebrace 'heartily and particularly to thank, in my name, A. C. F. Z., and him who stayed for me beyond the works, for their hearty and industrious endeavours in this my service.' The cipher letters are supposed to stand for Francis Cresset, Colonel William Legg, groom of the bedchamber, Abraham Doucett, and Edward Worsely. The person 'who stayed beyond the works' appears to have been one John Newland of Newport, who had provided the vessel for the king's use. On the day before his execution Charles charged Dr. William Juxon to recommend Firebrace to Prince Charles as one who had been 'very faithful and serviceable to him in his greatest extremities.' After this we lose sight of Firebrace until the Restoration, when he petitioned to be appointed to one or other of the posts which he had held under the late king. The petition, which was supported by a certificate from Juxon, then archbishop of Canterbury, of Charles's recommendation, was granted, and Firebrace was appointed to the several offices of chief clerk of the kitchen, clerk-comptroller-supernumerary of the household, and assistant to the officers of the green cloth. He died on 27 Jan. 1690-1.

Firebrace married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Dowell of Stoke-Golding, Leicestershire; secondly, Alice, daughter of Richard Bagnall of Reading, relict of John Bucknall of Creek, Northamptonshire; and thirdly, Mary, of whom nothing seems to be known except that she was buried in the north cloister of Westminster Abbey on 1 Feb. 1687-8. By his first wife he had issue four sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Henry, became a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and entered the church; his second son, Basil (d. 1724), went into business, was sheriff of London in 1687, and was created a baronet on 28 July 1698. In December 1685 a royal bounty of 1,694l. was paid him (Secret Services of Charles II and James II, Camd. Soc. p. 114). Reference is made to him in Luttrell's 'Relation.' The dignity became extinct in 1759. The original form of the name Firebrace, sometimes spelt Ferebras, is said to have been Fier à bras; the family was probably of Norman lineage.

 FIRMIN, GILES (1614–1697), ejected minister, son of Giles Firmin, was born at Ipswich in 1614. As a schoolboy he received religious impressions from the preaching of John Rogers at Dedham, Essex. He matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in December 1629, his tutor being, D.D. [q. v.] At Cambridge he studied medicine. In 1632 he went with his father to New England. While at Boston, Massachusetts, he was ordained deacon of the first church, of which John Cotton was minister. At Ipswich, Massachusetts, he received in 1638 a grant of 120 acres of land. He practised medicine in New England, and had the repute of a good anatomist. About 1647 he returned to England, leaving a wife and family in America. He was shipwrecked on the coast of Spain; Calamy relates, as a 'well-attested' fact, that at the very time when he was in danger of being drowned, his little daughter of four years old roused the family in New England by continually crying out 'My father!'

In 1648 Firmin was appointed to the vicarage of Shalford, Essex, which had been vacant a year since the removal of Ralph Hilles to Pattiswick. At Shalford he was ordained a presbyter by [q. v.] and others. He is returned in 1650 as 'an able, godly preacher.' He appears to have been a royalist in principle, for he affirms that he was one of those who 'in the time of the usurpation ' prayed for 'the afflicted royal family.' Very soon he got into controversy on points of discipline. He was a strong advocate for the parochial system, insisted on imposition of hands as requisite for the validity of ordination, and denied the right of parents who would not submit to discipline to claim baptism for their children. With Baxter he opened a correspondence in 1654, complaining to him that 'these separatists have almost undone us.' The quakers also troubled his parish. In ecclesiastical politics he followed Baxter, preferring a reformed episcopacy to either the presbyterial or the congregational model, but laying most stress on the need of a well-ordered parish. He actively promoted in 1657 the 'agreement of the associated ministers of Essex' on Baxter's Worcestershire model.

After the king's return he writes to Baxter (14 Nov. 1660) that he is most troubled about forms of prayer; these, he says, 'will not downe in our parts.' He is ready to submit to bishops,' so they will not force me to owne their power as being of divine authoritie,' and adds, 'some episcopacies I owne.' In spite of the persuasion of his seven children he refused to conform. As the result 