, a man of wit and learning in the seventeenth century, was born
, a man of wit and learning in the seventeenth century, was born at Fawsley in Northamptonshire, in what year is not mentioned. He was half brother
to Dr. John Wilkins, bishop of Chester, by the mother’s
side. He was admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, in
1645, but is supposed for some reason to have left that soon
for Wad ham college, Oxford, where he obtained a scholarship, and took the degree of B. A. July 6, 1649. In
July 1651 the parliamentary visitors admitted him probationer fellow, although he, does not appear to have been of
their principles, and in the same month he commenced
master of arts. In 1658, while he served the office of
junior proctor, a controversy took place respecting the
wearing of caps and hoods, which the reigning party considered as reliques of popery, and therefore wished to aboJish the statute which enjoined them. This he contrived
to oppose with so much success that all the power of the
republicans was not sufficient to carry the point, and these
articles of dress continued to be worn until the restoration.
Of this affair, which he calls “the most glorious action of
his life,
” he has given a full account in his Life of Dr.
Ward, bishop of Salisbury, and expresses his displeasure
that Antony Wood should, in his “Annals,
” have passed
over an event so honourable to him.