Thomas Bilson

, Son of Harman Bilson, (the same, I suppose, who was fellow of Merton coll. an 1536) Son of Arnold Bilson, son and heir of Arnold Bilson a Native of High Germany, by his Wife, the Daughter (natural or legitimate, I know not) of the Duke of Bavaria, was born in the City of Winchester, fitted for the University in Wykeham’s School there, admitted Perpetual fellow of New coll. after he had served two years of Probation, an. 1565. took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders and became a most solid and constant preacher in these parts and elsewhere. Afterwards he was Schoolmaster, (say some) then Prebendary of Winchester, Warden of the coll. there, Doctor of Divinity, and at length Bishop of Worcester; to which See being consecrated 13. June 1596. was translated thence to Winchester in the year following, and made one of his Majesties Privy Councellours. He was as reverend and learned a Prelate as England ever afforded, a deep and profound Scholar, exactly read in Ecclesiastical authors, and with Dr. Rich. Field of Oxon. (as Whittaker and Fulke of Cambridge) a principal maintainer of the Ch. of England, while Jo. Rainolds and Tho. Sparke were upholders of Puritanism and Non-conformity. In his younger years he was infinitely studious and industrious in Poetry, Philosophy and Physicks, and in his elder in Divinity. To which last his genie chiefly inviting him, he became so compleat in it, so well skill’d in Languages, so read in the Fathers and Schoolmen, so judicious in making use of his readings, that at length he was found to be no longer a Souldier, but a Commander in chief in the spiritual warfare, especially when he became a Bishop, and carried prelature in his very aspect. His works are,

Of the true difference between Christian subjection and unchristian rebellion, wherein the Princes lawful power to command and bear the Sword, are defended, against the Popes Censure, and Jesuits Sophismes in their Apology and defence of English Catholicks. Also a demonstration that the things reformed in the Church of England by the Laws of this realm, are truly Catholick, against the late Rhemish Testament. Oxon. 1585. Lond. 1586. in 4. parts, in a thick oct. In the third part of which, is answer’d Dr. Will. Allens Defence of Engl. Cath. before mention’d. It must be now noted that whereas in England the interest of the State had a great influence upon the doctrine of Obedience, Qu. Elizabeth therefore conceiving it convenient for her worldly designs to take on her the protection of the Low-Countries against the King of Spain, did employ our author Bilson to write the said book of Christian subjection, &c. In which, to justifie the revolt of Holland, he gave strange liberty in many cases, especially concerning religion, for Subjects to cast off their obedience. But this book which served her designs for the present, did contribute much to the ruine of her Successor K. Ch. 1. (which one (*)(*) Hug. Paul. de Cressey in his Exomologesis, &c. cap. 11. calls a just judgment of God) For there is not any book that the Presbyterians have made more dangerous use of against their Prince (Ch. 1.) than that which his predecessor commanded to be written to justifie her against the King of Spain. However our authors (Bilson) Successor in Winchester, I mean Dr. Morley (a)(a) In his Vindication of himself against divers scandalous reflections made upon him by Mr. Rich. Baxter, cap. 3. Sect. 6. saith that tho Bishop Bilson was in an errour, yet he was not so much for the resisting of Kings, as Mr. Rich. Baxter is.

Of the perpetual government of Christ his Church, wherein are handled, the fatherly superiority which God first established in the Patriarks, and after continued in the tribe of Levi, &c. Also the points in question at this day touching the Jewish Synedrion, &c. Lond. 1593. qu. &c. Printed in Lat. at Lond. 1610.

The effect of certain Sermons touching the full redempton of mankind by the death and blood of Ch. Jesus; wherein besides the merit of Christs sufferings, the manner of his offering, the power of his death, the comfort of his Cross, the glory of his Resurrection are handled, &c. Lond. 1599. qu. The clearing of certain objections made against the aforesaid doctrine.—The said Sermons being preached at Pauls Cross, made great alarums among the puritanical brethren. Whereupon they mustering their forces and comparing their notes, sent them to Hen. Jacob an old Dessenter, to have them published, with his collections, under his own name. But the matter of the controversie coming to the Queens knowledge, (she being at Farnham castle belonging to the B. of Winchester) she signified her pleasure to Bilson that he should neither desert the doctrine, nor suffer the Function, which he had exercised in the Church of England, to be trodden and trampled under foot by unquiet men, who both abhorred the truth and dispised authority. Upon which command, the Bishop did set himself upon the writing of that learned Treatise (chiefly also delivered by him in Sermons) entituled,

A survey of Christs sufferings and descent into Hell. Lond. 1604. fol. See more in Hen. Jacob. He also published,

Sermon at Westm. before K. and Qu. at their Coronation S. James day, 28. Jul. 1603. on Rom. 13. 1. Lond. 1603: oct. and wrote,

He also, with Dr. Miles Smith, added the last hand in the translation of the Bible, commanded by K. James 1. At length after he had gone through many employments, and had lived in continual drudgery, as ’twere, for the publick good, surrendred up his pious soul to God on the 18. 1616 of June in sixteen hundred and sixteen, and was buried saith (*)(*) Fr. Gedwin in Append. ad. Com de. praesul. Angliae. one, on the south side of Westminster Abbey Church near to the Monument of K. Rich. 2. or as the Register hath it, near to the entrance into S. Edmunds Chappel. One John Dunbar a Scot, who writes himself Megalo-Britannus, hath a learned Epigram (b)(b) In lib. Epigr. Lond. 1616. in oct. cent. 2. Epig. 40. on him, which may serve for his Epitaph.