Translation of the above Lines. Thomas Baker, ejected Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. What? Sever such an holy head as thine? What? With thy pious blood defile the hand? To heav'n ascend;-God calls thee from above. Fisher was master of this college, and bishop of Rochester in 1504. He was indicted and beheaded, for denying the supremacy of Henry VIII. Contemporary with him was Erasmus, who, at the invitation of Fisher, came to Queen's, and was there resident about seven years: but an ample account has already been given of Erasmus. Another eminent person, who flourished A. D. 1550, was John Poynet, first bishop of Rochester, and thence translated to Winchester: he had been previously fellow of this college. He was author of a celebrated book on the Nature and Substance of the Body and Blood of Christ, and one of those employed in drawing up the articles of religion. The celebrated Catechism, also, published in Edward VI.'s reign, ascribed, by some, to Dean Nowel, is by others, ascribed to him. Being a public work, it might be a joint production of several, but in which Poynet might have a great share. Bishop Godwin speaks of him as having extraordinary skill in the Greek and Hebrew languages, and as acquainted with some of the modern, and as a sort of prodigy in mathematics. He invented a curious clock, for the use of Henry VIII. on which were not only marked the hours and the days of the month, but the lunar variations, and the ebbing and flowing of the sea. He died at Strasburgh, August 11, 1556, being only 40 years of age. John Bradford, for whom see Fox's Martyrology, was also of this college, and Tayler, Bishop of Lincoln, author of a Treatise on the Marriage of Priests. Sir Thomas Smith, who became an eminent statesman in Elizabeth's reign, had been fellow of this college. I have spoken of him before. He was considered as a great benefactor to both Universities, and in favour of them, in 1557, according to the author of the Statesmen of England, he proved himself a knowing politician, by an act then passed, concerning the leases granted by colleges. The same author observes, you might there observe him a leading man among the statesmen; here most eminent among divines; at once the most knowing and pious man of that age. John Jocelyne, Esq. edited Gilda Epistola de Excidio Britanniæ, et Castigatio Ordinis Ecclesiastici. He was the secretary of Archbishop Parker, and mentioned as one of those who assisted him in his Antiq. Brit. Ecclesiæ, and in his Privilegia Eccles. Cant. though his name does not occur either in the last editors, or in the bishop's, preface. To this list, several other names might be added, before the ejectments in Charles II.'s reign; as Dr. Bullock, who wrote against Luther: he was the friend of Erasmus: Thomas Brightman, who published the curious Commentary on the Revelations, and on the Articles: Dr. Davenant, a learned writer, and a famous Calvinist, De Præsul. Angliæ. p. 238. b P. 371. who published the substance of his Lady Margaret's lec tures, &c. one of those sent by King James to the Synod of Dort: and Mr. John Goodwin, the celebrated Arminian controversialist, just mentioned. These, and others, might be mentioned, but I forbear. Of the 19 members ejected from this college, as noticed in the Querela Cantabrigiensis, I am not aware of above one or two, much known as writers; but Mr. Walker shews peculiar zeal and industry in the Vindication of Dr. Edward Martin, ejected from the mastership. Among the ministers ejected from the University, at the Restoration, as noticed by Dr. Calamy, I find none that were of this college: several, however, of eminence, who inclined to these principles, were of Queen's ; of this number, was John Preston, first fellow of Queen's, afterwards master of Emmanuel: he was a leader among the puritans, wrote a book on the "Attributes of God," and a volume of sermons. He was S. T. B. Oct. 2, 1622, and next year S. T. P. He had been chaplain to James I. and preacher of Lincoln's Inn. Dr. William Bates, also called the Silver Bates, from his melodious voice and eloquent discourse, was of the same college, and same principles. Dr. Preston died July 20, 1640. His life was written by Mr. Ball, first of this college, afterwards fellow of Emmanuel, and who, beside this life, wrote some theological pieces. Dr. Horton, who was master of Queen's, inclined to Presbyterianism: he was author of 46 sermons on the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and 100 or two on select passages of the Old and New Testament. John Trueman, S. T. B. fellow, A. 1645, favoured the same principles, though but a moderate dissenter: he was distinguished for his metaphysical and critical learning. He published sermons, entitled, the Great Propitiation, which have been highly spoken of, with a discourse on Justification by Faith without Works. He was a strict Calvinist. He wrote also a book against Bishop Bull's Harmonica Apostolica, and some other controversial pieces. He died at Clare Hall, A. 1671. Widely different in theological opinions from most of the divines last mentioned, was John Smith, a native of Oundle, Northamptonshire. He came to the University April 5, 1636, was first a student of Emmanuel College, under Dr. Whichcote, and afterwards fellow and tutor of Queen's. He read mathematical lectures in the schools with great applause". According to Bishop Patrick, he was " eminent as a philosopher, a mathematician, historian, and Hebrician, and qualified to be a physician, lawyer, and general linguist." He died Aug. 7, 1652, at the age of 35. His posthumous work, entitled Select Discourses, was delivered as college lectures, and is replete with learning: it was first published in 1659, with an appropriate preface. The 4to. edition, by Dr. Worthington, who edited also the works of the famous Joseph Mede, is accompanied with a short account of his life and death, and a funeral sermon, by Simon Patrick, fellow, at the time, of Queen's, and afterwards Bishop of Ely. He left his books to the college, which were many, and choice, and several splendid, and costly. He was interred in the college chapel. 2 Bishop Patrick's account of the author's life and death. Smith's writings are not doctrinal; but he appears to have been a Socinian, and very conversant, and embued with the writings of the Platonists. Simon Patrick was a learned and candid Arminian divine, whose Commentary has been much admired: he also published the Parable of the Pilgrim, the Friendly Debate, and the Christian Sacrifice. He was first made Bishop of Chichester, and was translated in 1691 to Ely. He died in 1700. Nathaniel Bacon is claimed for Bene't College. There was one of this name A. M. of Oxford, in 1672, and of Catharine Hall M. B. 1667: but the person intended here was the author of a most excellent work, entitled, an Historical and Political Discourse on the Laws and Government of England. R. Smyth assigns him to Queen's; and I find, by the Book of Graduates, a Nathaniel Bacon took his A. B. degree from Queen's in 1662, his A. M. in 1666. It would be wrong to overlook two authors, to whom this work is, occasionally, indebted; one is John Weevor, author of a learned and useful work for dates, &c. entitled Ancient Funeral Monuments, within the united Monarchie of Great Britain and Irelande, and the Islands adjacent. He died in 1632. The other is Thomas Fuller, first student of this, afterwards fellow of Sidney College. He was author of the History of the Holy War, and Pisgah Sight of Palestine: but his most famous works are his Church History of Great Britain; (to which is annexed his History of the University of Cambridge) and his English Worthies. Fuller published a platform of the latter work before, entitled, ABEL REDEVIVUS; the joint production of se |