Simon Birckbek

son of Tho. Birck. Esq. was born at Hornbie in Westmorland, became a Student in Queens Coll. in the year 1600, and that of his age 16, where he was successively a poor serving child, Tabarder or poor child, and at length Fellow, being then Master of Arts. About which time (viz. 1607.) entring into holy Orders, he became a noted Preacher in these parts, was esteem’d a good Disputant and well read in the Fathers and Schoolmen. In 1616 he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences, and the year after became Vicar of the Church of Gilling and of the Chappel of Forcet near Richmond in Yorksh. by the favour of his Kinsman Humph. Wharton Esq. Receiver general of his Majesties Revenues within the Archd. of Richmond, the Bishoprick of Durham and County of Northumberland. In which place being setled, he was much esteemed by the Clergy and Laity of the Neighbourhood, for his exemplary life and conversation. He hath written,

The Protestants evidence, shewing that for 1500 years next after Christ, divers guides of Gods Church have in sundry points of Religion taught as the Church of England now doth. Lond. 1634. 35. qu. There again with many additions in fol. an. 1657. This book was valued by Selden and other learned men; because therein the Author had taken great and worthy pains in producing out of every Century Witnesses to attest the Doctrine of the Ch. of Engl. in the points by him produced against the contrary doctrine of the Trent Council and Church of Rome.

Answer to a Romish Antidotist. Lond. 1657. at the end of the former book, printed in fol.

Treatise of Death, Judgment, Hell and Heaven.—He was buried in the Chappel of Forcet before mention’d, on the 14 of Sept. in sixteen hundred fifty and six,1656. near to the Font there. Over his grave was soon after a grey marble stone laid, with an Inscription thereon engraven, which for brevity sake I shall now pass by, and only tell you, that this our Author Birckbek submitted to the men in power in the times of Usurpation, and therefore kept his Benefice without fear of Sequestration.