Clement Barksdale

son of Joh. Barks. was born at Winchcombe in Glocestershire on S. Clements day, 23. Nov. 1609, educated in Grammar learning in the Free-School at Abendon in Berks, entred a Servitour in Mert. Coll. in the beginning of Lent terme 1625, but making little stay there, he translated himself to Gloc. Hall under the tuition and Patronage of Deg. Whear the Principal, where continuing a severe Student several years, he took the degrees in Arts, entred into the sacred Function and in 1637 he supplyed the place of Chaplain of Lincoln Coll. at the Church of Allsaints, commonly called Alhallowes in the City of Oxon. But being called thence the same year, he was made Master of the Free-School at Hereford, Vicar Choral there, and in short time after Vicar of Alhallowes in that City. In 1646, the Garrison of Hereford which had been a little before surprized by the Parliam. Forces, he was rescued out of the danger of that time and placed at Sudeley Castle near the place of his Nativity, where he exercised his Ministry and submitted to the men then in power: And after that he sheltred at Hawling in Coltswold, where he taught a private School with good success. After the Kings restauration, he was, by his Majesties gift, setled in the Parsonage of Naunton near Hawling and Stow on the Wold in Glocestershire, which he kept to the time of his death. He was a good Disputant, a great admirer of Hugh. Grotius, a frequent preacher, but very conceited and vain, a great pretender to Poetry and a writer and translater of several little Tracts, most of which are meer Scribbles: The titles follow.

Monumenta literaria: sive [•] obitus & Elogia doctorum Virorum, ex historiis Jac. Aug. Thuani. Lond. 1640. qu, and several times after with additions or corrections, in oct.

A short Practical Catechisme out of Dr. Hammond, with a paper monument. Lond. 1649. oct.

Adagilia Sacra Novi Testamenti, Selecta & exposita ab Andr. Schotto. Oxon. 1651. in tw. They were drawn into a Compendium by Barksdale.

Nympha Libethris: or the Co [•] swold Muse, presenting some extempore Verses to the imitation of young Scholars. In four parts. Lond. 1651. oct. I have a book in my Study entit.—Annalia Dubrensia. Upon the yearly celebration of Mr. Rob. Dovers Olimpick Games upon Cotswold Hills, &c. Lond. 1636 qu. This book, which hath the running title on every page of Cotswold Games, consists of verses made by several hands on the said Annalia Dubrensia, but nothing of the Cotswold Muse of Barksdale relates to them, which some, that have only seen the title of it, think it to be the same. The said Games were begun, and continued at a certain time in the year for 40 years by one Rob. Dover an Attorney of Barton on the Heath in Warwickshire, son of John Dover of Norfolk, who being full of activity, and of a generous, free and publick Spirit, did, with leave from K. Jam. 1. select a place on Cotswold Hills in Glocestershire, whereon those Games should be acted. Endimion Porter Esq. a native of that County, and a servant to that King, a person also of a most generous spirit, did, to encourage Dover, give him some of the said Kings old clothes, with a Hat and Feather and Ruff, purposely to grace him and consequently the solemnity. Dover was constantly there in person well mounted and accoutred, and was the chief Director and Manager of those Games, frequented by the Nobility and Gentry, (some of whom came 60 Miles to see them) even till the rascally Rebellion was began by the Presbyterians, which gave a stop to their proceedings, and spoyled all that was generous or ingenious elsewhere. The verses in the said book called Annalia Dubrensia were composed by several Poets, some of which were then the chiefest of the Nation, as Mich. Drayton Esq. Tho. Randolph of Cambridg, Ben. Johnson, Owen Feltham Gent. Capt. Joh. Mennes, Shakerley Marmion Gent. Tho. Heywood Gent, &c. Others of lesser note were Joh. Trussell Gent. who continued Sam. Daniel’s History of England, Joh. Monson Esq. Feryman Rutter of Oriel Coll, Will. Basse of Moreton near Thame in Oxfordshire, somtimes a Retainer to the Lord Wenman of Thame Parke. Will. Denny Esq. &c. Before the said book of Annalia Dubrensia is a cut representing the Games and Sports, as men playing at Cudgells, Wrestling, Leaping, pitching the Bar, throwing the iron Hammar, handling the Pyke, leaping over the heads of men kneeling, standing upon their hands, &c. Also the dancing of women, men hunting and coursing the Hare with Hounds and Greyhounds, &c. with a Castle built of boards on a hillock, with Guns therein firing, and the picture of the great Director Capt. Dover on horsback, riding from place to place. But all this being spoken by the by lets proceed with the remaining titles of books written by Barksdale.

Life of Hugo Grotius. Lond. 1652 in tw. Taken from Meursius his Athenae Batavae, and other authors that occasionally speak of that learned person.

Noctes Hiberniae: winter nights exercise. The first night; being seven Decads of sacred sentences put into English vers. Lond. 1653 in one sh in oct.

V. Cl. Elogia Anglorum Camdeniana. Lond. 1653 in about two sheets in oct. Taken from those Elogia which Camden sets down at the end of every year of his Annalls of Qu. Elizabeth.

The disputation at Winchcombe, 9. Nov. 1653. Oxon. 1653. oct. This disput. was between Barksdale then Minister of Sudeley, Respondent, and Christoph. Helme Minister of Winchcombe and Joh. Wells Min. of Tewksbury, Opponents. It was printed again at London, 1654, with some papers both before and after, containing several Letters and other matters; published by N. N. The said papers being reviewed, wherein are contained some short notes concerning the government of the Church, the Liturgy and forms of Prayer, Ordination and power of Ministers, were reprinted at Lond. 1657. oct.

An Oxford conference of two young Scholars, touching their studies. Lond. 1659. in one sh. in oct.

A modest reply, in three Letters, touching the Clergy and Universities. Lond. 1659. oct.

Several Sermons as (1) The Sacrifice; at S. Maries in Oxon, on Psal. 51.17. Lond. 1655. oct. (2) The Kings returne; at Winchcombe, 24. May 1660, on 2. Sam. 15. part of the 25. verse. Lond. 1660. qu. (3) Sermon at Glocest. on Psal. 122.6. Oxon. 1680. qu. &c.

Of Contentment, a little treatise. Lond. 1660 in 240. and 1679. which is the fourth edit.

In defence of the Liturgy. Oxon. 1661. in one sh. in qu.

Memorials of worthy persons. Two Decads. Lond. 1661. in tw. The third Decad was printed at Oxon. 1662. in oct. The fourth there also, 1663. in oct.

A remembrance of excellent men, &c. Lond. 1670. oct. This, which goes for the fift Decad, contains the characters of 9 Divines, and one Lay-man, taken, and scribled as the rest of the Decads were, from the Sermons preached at their Funerals, their Lives, and Characters occasionally given of them, in publick authors.

Masora. A collection out of the learned Master Joannes Buxtorfius’s Commentarius Masoreticus. Lond. 1665. oct.

Collection of Scriptures illustrated by Mr. Rich. Hooker. Lond. 1675. oct.

Three Ministers communicating their collections and notions touching several Texts, at their weekly meetings. Lond. 1675. oct.

Letter touching a College of Maides, or a Virgin-Society.—Written 12. Aug. 1675. Printed in half a sh. in oct.

Hugonis Grotii Annotationes selectae, and VII Capita S. Matthaei Oxon. 1675 in two sh. in oct.

Behold the Husband man. A short discourse on Jam. 5.7. Lond. 1677. in tw.

Learne to die, a little discourse. Lond. 1679. oct.

Bezae Epitaphia Selecta. Lond. 1680. oct. Angl. Lat.

Sententiae Sacrae. Lond. in oct. Angl. Lat.

Aurea dicta. The Kings gratious words for the Protestant Religion of the Church of England, collected from his Majesties Letters, Speeches, &c. Lond. 1681. in 3. sh. in qu.

Memorials of Alderm. Whitmore, Bish. Wilkins, Bish. Reynolds and Alderm. Adams. Lond. 1681 in 3 sh. in oct. Collected from the Sermons preached at their Funerals.

Religion in verse. Ox. 1683 in 1. sh. in oct.

The old Gentlemans wish. or the reformed old Gentleman.—Printed on half a side of a sheet of paper 1684.

Of authors and books—Pr. on one side of half a sh. of paper, 1684.

A Grateful mention of deceased Bishops—Pr. on one side of a broad sh. of paper 1686. Written, as the two former papers, in dogrel Rime; and other things of the like stamp.

He hath also translated from Lat. into English. (1) A discourse 1. of God and his Providence. 2. Of Christ his miracles and doctrine. Lond. 1652. in tw. sec. edit. Written originally by H. Grotius. There were some annotations put on that Discourse by Barksdale. (2) H. Grotius his judgment in sundry points controverted, out of his vote for the Churches peace: printed with the former translation. (3) The Mourner comforted, written also by way of an Epist. Consolatory by the said H. Grotius: printed also with the former. (4) Of authority in sacred things. Lond. 1651. oct. (5) Part of the Law of War and Peace. Pr. in oct. (6) For the truth of Christian Religion, &c. the first part—Lond. 1669 in tw. fourth edit. (7) Against Paganisme, Judaisme, Mahumatisme, &c. the sec. part—Lond. 1676. oct. (8) Part of the Hebrew Commonwealth. Lond. 1653 in tw, Written by Pet. Cuneus. (9) The learned Maid, or whether a Maid be a Scholar? A logick exercise. Lond. 1659 oct. Written by Anna Maria [•] Schurman, whose picture [〈◊〉] before the said translation, aged 52 years an. 1659. (10) A conference of faith. Lond. 1679. in tw. Written by Sebast. Castelio. (11) Of Obedience, his modest Apol. and defence of himself. Printed with the Conference, and written originally by the said Castelio. (12) S. Cyprian of Virgins, of Prayer and of Patience, also S. Basil of Solitude Lond. 1675. oct. &c. He also published somthing of Will. Higford, as I have told you in him, under the year 1657, p. 133. and several little things written by other persons, which I have not yet seen. At length Mr. Barksdale having lived to a fair age, he concluded his last day on the 6. of January or thereabouts,1687/8. in sixteen hundred eighty and seven, and was buried in the Chancel of the Church at Naunton in Glocestershire before mention’d, leaving then behind him the Character of a frequent and edifying Preacher, and a good Neighbour.