unworthy wretch, but especially for his mercy shewed unto me in Jesus Christ, in whom I believe to have remission of my sins, and to be justified by his blood. My body I commit to the earth, from whence it was taken, in steadfast hope of a glorious resurrection unto life everlasting, through the mercy and merits of the same Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning my earthly goods, wherewith God hath blessed me, I give all my lands freehold and copy, that are deviseable by law, or the custom of the manor, unto Christopher my eldest son, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, and for default of such heir, to William Fulke my younger son, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, and for default of such heirs, unto my heirs female, to be equally divided among them: and this I understand both of such lands as I have in possession, and also of those lands whereof I have the remainder or reversion of the last will of Christopher Fulke my dear' father. "Also I give and bequeath the customary lands that I have in Tanton called the Fullance, to William Leonard my brother-in-law, upon condition that he shall convey them over to my son Christopher, if the custom of the manor will permit it; but if the custom of the manor will not permit such conveyance, then I will that Margaret my wife, within one year after my departure, shall surrender the same to the use of my son Christopher, or else to have no benefit of this my last will and testament. "I will that my antiquities shall be preserved to the use of Christopher my son, if he shall have delight in them at his full age, or else to the use of my son William at the like age, if he shall have delight in them, or else to be sold to some one that delights in antiquities, and the price to be equally divided among my daughters. Also I will that my books be preserved to the use of Christopher my son, if it shall please God to call him to the study of divinity, or else to the like use of William, if God shall call him to the same study but if neither of them shall study divinity, I will that they shall be sold to the most advantage, and the price of them to be equally divided among my daughters. Whereas I owe ten pounds and some odd money to Pembroke hall, I will that the same be paid into the hands of him that shall succeed master in my room, in the presence of the treasurer of the college. Also in respect of divers benefits I have received of the said college, for a sign of thankfulness, I give unto the master and fellows of the college of Mary Valence, one piece of plate made in fashion of an acorn, with a cover, which I will have to be called Dr. Fulke his cup, to be used only at commencements and solemn feasts. The rest of all my goods moveable, as money, plate, cattle, household stuff, prized reasonably according to the value, I will to be equally divided between Margaret my wife and my four daughters, Mary, Hester, Elizabeth and Ann, to be delivered unto them at the full age of twenty-four years; or at the day of their marriage, if it shall please God that they shall marry before that age: so that they match in the fear of God, with the consent of their mother, if she be living, or of their uncle Samuel, if he be living. And if any of them depart this life before their marriage, or the year before said, then I will that their portion be equally divided among them that are living. Also where I have a lease for three lives of a farm in Horsheath which is set over to my son Christopher, I will that my three daughters shall enjoy it successively, as they be named in the same, and that my son Christopher shall make conveyance unto them so soon as he shall be of lawful years. I will that the profit of my lands, until my son Christopher come to full age of twenty-one years, my wife's dowry excepted and ten pounds a year abated for the education of my son Christopher, shall be by my executors preserved and equally divided between my wife and my four daughters, in manner and form aforesaid. “Also, I make Margaret my wife, and Samuel Fulke my brother, executors of this my will, in witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal this twelfth day of August, in the one and thirtieth year of the reign of our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth. " WILLIAM FULKE." The above will was proved October 9, 1589, before Humphrey Tyndall, deputy to Tho. Nowell, vice-chancellor of Cambridge. Our celebrated divine was author of many other learned works besides those already mentioned, most of which were written against the papists. His WORKS.-1.Anti-prognosticon contra Predictiones Nestradami, Lovi, Hilli, &c., 1560.-2. Sermon at Hampton-Court, 1571.-3. Confutation of a Libelle in Forme of an Apology made by Frocknam, 1571.-4. A goodly Gallery, or Treatise on Meteors, 1571.—5, Astrologorum Ludus, 1571.-6. Metpomaxia, sivi, Ludus geometricus, 1578.-7. Responsio ad Tho. Stapletoni Cavillationes, 1579.8. A Retentive against the Motives of Richard Bristow; also, a Discovery of the Dangerous Rock of the Popish Church, 1580.-9. A Defence of the Translation of the Holy Scriptures in English, 1583. -10. Confutation of Will. Allen's Treatise in Defence of the Usurped Power of the Popish Priesthood. JOHN GARBRAND, D. D.-He was born in the city of Oxford, educated in grammar learning at Wickham school, near Winchester, and in 1562, was admitted perpetual fellow of New College, Oxford. Afterwards, he became rector of North-Crowley in Buckinghamshire; and by the favour of Bishop Jewel, obtained some preferment in the church of Sarum. In 1582, he took his degrees in divinity. Upon the death of Jewel, whom he highly admired, he collected and completed several of his learned works: As, 1. A View of a Seditious Bull sent into England from Pius V. Pope of Rome, 1569.-2. A short Treatise of the Holy Scriptures, 1582.-3. An Exposition on the two Epistles to the Thessalonians, 1582.-4. Certain Sermons preached at Paul's Cross, 1583.-5. A Treatise of the Sacraments, gathered out of certain Sermons preached at Salisbury, 1583. Dr. Garbrand died towards the close of the year 1589, and his remains were interred in the church of North-Crowley. Wood says, he was accounted a good poet, an eminent theologian, and a noted preacher, but a severe puritan.* By his last will, he gave a quantity of his books to New College library. DUDLEY FENNER was a divine of excellent learning and piety, and, for some time a celebrated tutor in the university of Cambridge, where he had Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Travers, and other distinguished persons for his pupils. Upon his removal from the university, he became minister at Cranbrook in Kent; but being dissatisfied with the episcopal ordination of the church of England, he went to Antwerp, and was ordained according to the manner of the reformed churches at that place, renouncing his former ordination. During his stay at Antwerp, he preached, with Mr. Cartwright, to the English congregation in that city. But upon his return to England, he was brought into many troubles for nonconformity. In the year 1583, universal subscription to Whitgift's three articles being required of the clergy, Mr. Fenner and sixteen of his * Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 194, 195. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 198.-Heylin's Hist of Pres. p. 290. brethren, all ministers of Kent, waited upon his lordship, and signified that they could not subscribe with a good conscience. Therefore they humbly desired to know the result of his proceedings, and whether they might be favoured with a license to continue in their beloved work of preaching. This they did, in a letter addressed to the archbishop, dated January 30, 1584; in which they express themselves as follows:*" Our duty in most humble "manner unto your grace presented. Whereas our coming "to your lordship in so great a company, was that every "one might be resolved, being in your lordship's judgment "offensive. Notwithstanding many of our doubts have "been heard, and by your lordship's great pains, favourably "interpreted, we were in the end dismissed without any "certainty of your lordship's pleasure. We have thought "it meet, therefore, to signify these two things to your 66 grace:-1. That we are not resolved in our consciences, "of the most of our former doubts, and have yet many ❝others not mentioned, which we judge of equal weight."2. That seeing we are not in our consciences, satisfied "to subscribe, we humbly desire to understand your grace's "favourable purpose, in proceeding with us, and whether "we shall receive license to depart or no. "Your grace's most humble to command in the Lord.. "DUDLEY FENNER, "JOSEPH NICHOLS, "JOSEPH MINGE, "RICHARD HOLDEN, "ANTHONY BRIMSTONE, ROBERT GOLLeford, LEVER WOOD, ANTHONY HILTON, JOHN GRIMESTONE." In the conclusion, the archbishop suspended them all; upon which, Sir Thomas Scot and twenty-six respectable gentlemen in Kent, feeling the great loss of so many excellent ministers being silenced, all waited upon his lordship. From the conversation which they had with the archbishop, now before me, it is manifest how exceedingly solicitous they were to procure their restoration. But his grace being immoveable, their generous endeavours proved ineffectual.+ Mr. Fenner continued under suspension many years, even to the time of his death; and most probably his brethren shared no better fate.* Upon their suspension, being slanderously aspersed from the press, by one who subscribed himself R. S., they were vindicated against the foul reproaches of this scurrilous writer. This vindication is at considerable length, though probably it was never printed. Mr. Fenner, that he might silence calumny, gave a written testimony, that he was suspended merely for refusing subscription to Whitgift's articles. This testimony, dated June 12, 1585, was as follows:- I, Dudley Fenner, was suspended from the "execution of my ministry, for this cause only, that I "refused to subscribe to the two last articles generally pro"pounded to the ministers at the time of subscription. And "this my suspension was pronounced by the archbishop "himself. Indeed, I appeared before him and the rest "of her majesty's commissioners, to answer unto other "articles, but this was after my suspension; neither did I "receive any censure or other pain in that behalf, after my "answer to the said articles. This, being lawfully called "thereto, I am ready to confirm by oath. "DUDLEY FENNER." Upon Mr. Fenner's appearance before the archbishop and other commissioners, at the time specified in the above testimony, he received much unkind usage. Though he was a man of distinguished learning and piety, the proud archbishop called him a boy, a knave, a slanderer, a libeller, and other foul names, equally contrary to truth, and reproachful to his archiepiscopal character. Dr. Grey stigmatizes him "on account of his vile republican principles, with holding that it was lawful to take away the life of a king;" for which, if the good man had been punished more severely, than by seven years' suspension, the learned doctor could not but think he would have deserved it. Such were the illiberal notions of these bigotted churchmen! Some time after Whitgift suspended Mr. Fenner, he was committed to prison for nonconformity. And having suffered twelve months' imprisonment, upon a general subscription to the articles, as far as the law required, with a promise to use the Book of Common Prayer, and no other, he is said to have been released. He joined his brethren in MS. Register, p. 585. + Ibid. p. 272-290. Grey's Review of Neal, p. 72. Ibid. p. 588. |