stayed about halfe a year, ere I returned. When I came to Mansfield in Nottingham-shire, I found him there their minister, and sick unto the death; at my coming he revived, and in the strength of that joy so far recovered, that within a week he went about the town with me to divers places; but 5 relapsed, and engaged me to preach for him once the next Sabbath following, and in the afternoon at Mansfield Wood-house, within half a mile of Mansfield.' See more ibid. 70, 71. Ibid. p. 74: 'I had a book written with his own hand, of the temptations the Devil haunted him with afterwards, and the answers divers godly and IO reverend ministers gave to those temptations: But the cavaliers got them, and all my books and writings.' The notice of Gower by Kennett in MS. Lansd. 987 f. 330 (printed in Brydges, Restituta, I. 154) is merely the extract from Baker's preface to Fisher's Fun. Serm. given above p. 993 l. 24. J. H. in Nichols, Lit. Anecd. 15 VIII. 503: 'In the memoir of Dr. Humphry Gower...it is stated that he was born at Dorchester. I have some reason to doubt this. The connexion of his father Stanley Gower with that town did not commence till 1650, when he was presented to the rectory of the Holy Trinity, as appears in Hutchins's Dorset. Now Dr. Humphry Gower was born about 1638. 20 At that time his father was rector of Brampton-Bryan in Herefordshire, and resident on his living. He came up to London on being appointed one of the Assembly of Divines. Some account of Mr. Stanley Gower may be found in a MS. life of Mr. Thomas Pierson, who was his predecessor in the rectory of Brampton-Bryan (MS. Lansd. 761 f. 147). I have many other 25 particulars of the life of this divine. He wrote the very singular memoir of Richard Rothwell...; one whom Mr. Gower seems to have made a model for himself. There is also in print a sermon or two of this Mr. Gower's, in the worst taste of the age.' The point is settled by Gower's admission: H. G., of Brampton Brian Heref., son of Rev. Stanley G., educated for 30 three years at Dorchester school under Mr. Crumlum, adm. pensioner 21 May, 1655 aet. 17. Admitted Spalding scholar 7 Nov. 1655. On his undergraduate career see Is. Milles, as cited above, pp. 646, 647. 'On the 18th [Sept. 1681] Dr. Gower, vicechancellour of the university of Cambridge, with the heads of the houses, doctors &c., were [went?] to 35 wait on his majestie at Newmarkett, where the vicechancellour did in a solemn speech in the name of the said university return his majestie their hearty thanks for his resolution to maintain the government as established by law, both in church and state, &c.; which mett with a gracious receptance from his majestie' (Narcissus Luttrell, State Affairs, 1. 127, 128). 40 'We are advised from Cambridge that their majesties and the court sett forward from Newmarkett the 27th [Sept. 1681], and dined at the university of Cambridge, in the colledge of St. Johns, where they were joyfully received by the high sheriff of Cambridgeshire, the vicechanceller and heads of the severall colledges, and by the mayor and aldermen &c. in their for45 malities, the bells ringing, conduits running with wine, and such other publick demonstrations of joy. Their majesties were pleased to view severall of the colledges and the schools, where were severall speeches made to them; the orator of the university [John Billers, B.D. of St. John's] in Latin to the king, and after in English to the queen, in the Regent walk; 50 and the vicechanceller also to the king in Latin, and presented him with a large folio English bible, and in English to the queen, presenting her with a book [by Sir Wm. Dugdale] entituled A View of the late troubles in England. At King's colledge Dr. [John] Copleston, the provost, made two speeches to their majesties; at Trinity colledge Dr. Linnett made a speech in Latin, and Mr. Duke another in English verse; at St. Johns colledge 5 Dr. Gower, vicechanceller, made two speeches in Latin and English, as master of that society, where his majestie and the court were most splendidly entertained at dinner, and were very well pleased with their reception, and so returned again that afternoon to Newmarkett' (ibid. 130, 131. See Cooper's Annals, III. 588-592, chiefly from Echard, III. 638). He was suspected of favoring the nonjurors, and gave an engagement, 12 May 1692, to have his horses forthcoming, if at any time called for (MS. Tanner XXV. f. 340). ΙΟ 25 July 1693. 'A mandamus is sealed and sent to Dr. Gower, master of St. Johns colledge in Cambridge, to turn out 20 fellows of that colledge 15 refusing to take the oathes' (Luttrell, III. 144). 10 Aug. 1693. 'There was a bill of indictment preferred at the assizes of Cambridge against Dr. Gower, master of St. Johns colledge, for suffering severall of the fellows to enjoy their fellowships, tho' they had not taken the oathes according to the act of parliament; yet the grand jury refused 20 to find the bill, to the wonder of the court' (ibid. 158, 159. See the law reports cited in Cooper's Annals, IV. 25, 26. MS. Tanner xxv. f. 61). 23 Sept. 1693. 'Kings councill are drawing up a prosecution against Dr. Gower in the Kings and the fellows in St. John's colledge who continued in their fellowships without taking the oathes' (Luttrell, ibid. 191). 25 'Yesterday [i. e. 25 Oct. 1693] the court of kings bench granted a second mandamus to Dr. Gower, master of St. Johns colledge in Cambridge, to turn out the non juring fellowes thereof' (ibid. 213). Ambrose Bonwicke, who was admitted to St. John's 24 Aug. 1710, gives some account of the state of the college under Gower (Life, Lond. 1729, 30 12°, p. 19): The greatest happiness of all, and what he valued above the honours and profits he lost with his election to the other St. John's[[Oxford], was the frequent returns of the holy sacrament, which he would have miss'd of there, and could not, I think, have enjoyed at any other house in either of the universities, except Christ-Church in Oxford, which being a cathedral 35 as well as a college, is under a double obligation of conforming it self to the fourth rubric after the communion service.' Pp. 20, 21: And as soon as his books were arrived, he betook himself heartily to his studies, and pursued them in spight of Sturbridge fair, which made most of the other students idle, and by that means deprived him (for 40 want of auditors) of those lectures and instructions of his tutor [Fras. Roper], which would have been more grateful to him than any diversions of that season.' Pp. 21-25, give a detailed account of Bonwicke's studies: 'he was an excellent husband of his time, rising often at four o' th' clock, and sometimes earlier, very rarely exceeding six, and that only when the college 45 prayers were later than ordinary; and never, if he was well, going to bed till near ten.' P. 25: 'Within less than a quarter of a year1 after his coming 1 [Elected 6, admitted 8 Nov. 1710 foundation scholar ad officium Custodis Horologii ']. 5 he was chosen scholar of the house, and the very worthy master, Doctor Gower, told him, 'twas his regular and good behaviour that got him that preferment, and was the likeliest means to get him more.' The value of the scholarship, when corn was high, was more than £10 (p. 26). Bonwicke to his father (pp. 34-39): 'Hond. SIB, 'St. John's Cambr. March 28, 1711. 'Yours of the 26th I received this evening, and agree with you in 10 your opinion of our late excellent master, for alas our good friend and benefactor, and the honour of this college and university, died yesterday about two in the afternoon. He was last week thought to be in a fair way of recovery from the illness I mentioned in my last; but being on Monday in the afternoon taken with an aguish shivering, he thought (they said) himself 15 that he should die. He lay speechless, and I think senseless too, from four the next morning: And upon his death you might see in all faces deep sorrow for the loss of so good a governor, except in those loose youths, who thought he held the reins too tight, and hope now to be no more punish'd for their irregularities. The president [Tho. Thurlin was admitted presi20 dent 6 Mar. 1714, as he had been without a break from 26 Mar. 1683] went the Friday before to his living at Lynn, to administer the sacrament there at Easter, but is sent for back to college; and a schedule is this day affixed to the chapel-door to give notice of the vacancy, and that according to statute. 13 days hence, viz. on the ninth of April, a new master will be 2 5 chosen, and Doctor Jenkin (they say) will, without opposition, be the man. Thus has it pleased God to take to himself from us, a man indeed too good for us, as he had a little before a better. For to night being in Mr. R's [Roper's] chamber, Before we begin to read, says he, you shall hear a letter, in which I have an account of the death of bishop Ken....We are order'd to 30 make verses upon the melancholy occasion against Saturday, with which I must necessarily be busied to morrow [Thursday in Holy Week], tho' against my inclination. For tho' such sorrowful subjects may be proper, yet I could have wish'd the puzzling our heads with verses might have been let alone till another time, because they will be apt to discompose our minds, 35 and keep them out of better thoughts and fitter for this holy week, especially this latter part of it. To direct us in the observance of which, Mr. Anstey sent to all or most of his pupils on Monday, (as Mr. Edmondson had done to his the week before) a book entitled, The use, measures and manner of Christian fasting; especially with regard to the most holy Passion-Week; 40 by Mr. Brome one of our senior fellows, a particular friend to the master, and who always lived in the lodge with him. Tho' I have most of it that's useful in short in Mr. Nelson, and should have liked Mr. Seller's book [Abednego S. The devout communicant assisted with rules for the worthy receiving of the blessed eucharist. Lond. 1686. 8vo] much better to employ 45 my time on this great week, yet I thought it very improper to refuse it, and that it were better to be at a small, tho' unnecessary charge, than seem to put an affront on Mr. Anstey and the author, if not the master also to whom the book's dedicated.' Bonwicke to his father 5 Apr. 1711 (pp. 39, 40): The body of our late ex50 cellent master was interr'd on Thursday night; but the funeral is not to be performed till next Saturday. He has been a noble benefactor, having left by his will two exhibitions of 10l. each; all his books to the library; his country-seat at Thriploe, valued at 120l. per annum, to the master, after the death of Mr. West, his nephew and heir, and 500l. to buy a living for the college. Besides private legacies, as 100l. to Mr. Brome, who is also to have 5 the use of his books as long as he stays here; to his sizer, and to another who had been his sizer, whom (being a relation of bishop Gunning) he had just made fellow tho' but middle batchelor, 1ol. each for mourning; and five pounds to him who is to make his funeral oration.' He also gave a copy of Baker's edition of Fisher's Funeral sermon, kept 10 among the MSS. (I 42. See also K 17 and L 21). To Gower is dedicated: The Use, Measures, and Manner (Especially with Regard to the most Holy Shewn In Two DISCOURSES On the SUBJECT. To which is added A SERMON on ACTS xvij. 34 Lately preach'd at THRIPLOE, near CAMBRIDGE. By EDMUND BROME, B.D. Omnis qui fe ad Ecclefiam pertinere gloriatur, Legi- CAMBRIDGE: Printed at the UNIVERSITY-PRESS, for Ri. Thirlbourne, 8vo. pp. 16 and 242. 5 ΙΟ 15 20 VIRO admodum REVERENDO DOCTISSIMOQUE, HUMFREDO GOWER, S.T. P. Coll. Sti JOHAN. in Acad. CANTAB. PREFECTO Dignissimo; SS. Theol. pro Dna MARGARETA PROFESSORI Eximio; Jejuniorum Ecclesiasticorum CULTORI Assiduo; PATRONO, denique, Suo in Æter- Hanc Jejuniorum Ecclesiasticorum ̓Απόδειξιν ἅμα καὶ ̓Αποδοχήν, In Animi Gratissimi, Summæque, quà par est, Observantia Humillimè Dicat, Consecratque, Omni Cultu & Obsequio Devotissimus, ED. BROME. See further Blomefield's Hist. Norf. Ix. 96. Gower's will is in MS. Baker XII. 190, and particulars of him ibid. 195. His accounts as vice-chancellor ibid. XL. 69, partly printed by Cooper, Annals, III. 592. 25 In 163 Gower gave a certificate to the astounding precocity of William Wotton, who graduated B.A. in that year (Nichols, Lit. Anecd. IV. 259). His arms are on the flag-stone, above the inscription given in the text, and there was also in the old antechapel a funeral escutcheon bearing the same arms, impaled with the college arms (CHARles Yate). 30 He published: A sermon preached before the king at Christmas, 1684, from Gen. III. 21, 22. Lond. 1685. 4to. (Nichols, Liter. Illustr. VIII. 532; in the Bodl., and in St John's library). His funeral sermons on Gunning are dedicated to bp. Fras. Turner. Letter to Dr. Geo. Thorp; begs Sancroft's interposition against a manda35 mus for a fellowship for Hen. Felton, 7 Jan. 1673 (MS. Tanner clv. f. 132). To Dr. Hen. Paman, in behalf of Wm. Stanley for some place in Sancroft's household, 31 May, 1681 (ibid. xxxvi. f. 30). To Dr. Fras. Turner; proposed commencement at Cambridge in honour of the chancellor, Chr. Monk, d. of Albemarle, 30 May, 1682 (ibid. clviii. 40 f. 58). |