John Bond

(Bondius) a most noted critick in Greek and Latin learning of his time, was born in Somersetshire, educated in Grammaticals in Wykehams School near Winton, became a Student in this University about the nineteenth year of his age, an. 1569. took a degree in Arts 4 years after, being either one of the Clerks or Chaplains of New coll. and much noted for his proficiency in Academical learning. In 1579. he proceeded in Arts, and had soon after the Mastership of the Free-School of Taunton St. Mary [•] Madg. in his own, Country conferred on him by the Warden and Society of New coll. At which place continuing many years, he did exercise such an admirable way of teaching, that many departed thence so excellently well grounded in humane learning, that they proved afterwards eminent either in Church or State. At length being in a manner worn out with the drudgery of a School, he did for diversion, I cannot say profit, practice Physick, tho he had taken no degree in that Faculty in this University, and became at length Chief Secretary to the Lord Chancellour of England (Egerton) if one (*)(*) Tho. Coryat in his Letters from the Court of the Great Mogul, &c. Lond. 1616. p. 45. of his admirers may be credited. As for his writings, which are used by the Juniors of our Universities, and in many Free-Schools, and more admired and printed beyond the Seas, than in England, they are these.

Commentarii in Poemata Q. Horatii Flacci. Printed 1606. oct. and several times after beyond the Sea, and at London.

Comment. in sex Satyras A. Persii. Lond. 1614. oct. published after the author’s death by Rog. Prows, who married his Daughter Elizabeth. He hath at least written, if not published, other things, but such I have not yet seen. He yielded up his last breath on the third of Aug. in sixteen hundred and twelve, 1612 (being then possessed of several lands and tenements in Taunton, Wilton near Taunton, and in Newenton,) and was buried in the Chancel of the Church at Taunton before-mentioned. Over his grave was this Epitaph soon after put.

Qui Medicus doctus prudentis nomine clarus,

Eloquii splendor, Pieridumque decus.

Virtutis cultor, pietatis vixit amicus,

Hoc jacet in tumulo spiritus alta tenet.

The Reader is now to know that there was another John Bond, but after the time of the former, Son of Dennis Bond of Dorchester in Dorsetshire, who having been educated in his youthful years under John White, commonly called The Patriarch of Dorchester, and from him sucked in most dangerous principles, was sent to Cambridge, and placed, I think, in S. Johns coll. where he took the degree of Bach. of Civ. Law. Afterwards he was made a Lecturer in the City of Exeter, and carried himself conformable for a season. But when the times turned, in 1641. and he saw that the Puritan began to be uppermost, then did he Preach very seditiously, and published what he had said under this title, A door of Hope: Also holy and loyal activity. Two Treatises delivered in several Sermons in Exeter. The first on Psal. 126. 1, 2. and the other on Exod. 17. 11.—Lond. 1641. qu. Both which do contain most scandalous and rebellious stuff, besides what he preached in a Serm. in the said City before the Deputy-Lievtenants.—Lond. 1643. qu. So that having thus began his pranks, and shewed himself a zealous Brother for the Cause, and a rank Covenanteer, he was made Preacher or Minister of the Savoy in the Strand near London, (in the place of Joh. White before-mentioned, when he passed over the water to Lambeth, to take possession of the Rectory there, belonging to Dr. Dan. Featly,) one of the Assembly of Divines, and about that time Doctor of the Laws. This J. Bond, by the way you must know, being scarce warm in the Pulpit, but he began to threaten Heaven with some of his Divinity, by telling the auditory with great zeal, that they ought to contribute, and pray, and do all they were able to bring in their Brethren of Scotland, for the setling of Gods Cause; I say this is Gods Cause, and if ever God had any Cause, this is it; and if this be not Gods Cause, then God is no God for me, but the Devil is got up into Heaven, &c. About the same time he became a frequent Preacher before the Long-Parliament, and hath 3 or more Sermons preached before the Members thereof published, as, (1) Salvation in a mystery, &c. on Jer. 45. 25. Lond. 1644. qu. It was a Fast Serm. pr. before the H. of Commons, 27. Mar. 1644. (2) Ortus occidentalis, or a dawning in the West, &c. on Isa. 25. 9. Lond. 1645. qu. ’Twas a Thanksgiving Serm. for the Parliament Forces their gaining of Bathe, Bridgwater, Sherbourne Castle, &c. preached before the H. of Commons 22. Aug. 1645. and on the eleventh of Dec. following the said Jo. Bond was made Master of the Hospital called the Savoy under the great Seal. (3) A Thanksgiving Serm. before the H. of Com. on Psal. 50. 23. Lond. 1648. qu. preached on the 19. Jul. 1648. In which year he had a Serm. published, intit. Grapes among Thornes, preached before the H. of Commons. In all which Sermons, as in others, which he delivered in London and Westminster, are contained many strange positions, rebellious doctrines, religious cantings, and I know not what. About that time he was made (*)(*) One Joh. Bond Doct. of the Law, was a Recruiter in the Long-Parliament for Melcombe Regis in Dorsetshire, and so he continued till 1653. Master of Trinity hall in Cambridge, which Mr. Jo. Selden refused, and in 1654. he was made an assistant to the Commissioners of Middlesex and Westminster, for the ejection of such, whom they then called scandalous and ignorant Ministers and Schoolmasters. These things I thought fit to let the Reader know, that posterity may distinguish between the said two Bonds, the first a polite and rare critick, whose labours have advanced the Common-wealth of learning very much; and the other an impudent, canting, and blasphemous person; who by his doctrine did lead People to Rebellion, advance the cause of Sathan much, and in fine, by his, and the endeavours of his Brethren, brought all things to ruine, meerly to advance their unsatiable and ambitious desires. He lived, as I conceive, to the Restauration of K. Ch. 2. an. 1660. being then about 49 years of age; but when, or where he died, I cannot yet learn. His Father Dennis Bond before-mentioned, who was Son of Joh. Bond of Lutton in Dorsetshire, and he the Son of Dennis of the same place, was bred up to the Trade of a Woollendraper in Dorchester; being then a constant hearer and admirer of Jo. White aforesaid, was elected Burgess (with Denzil Hollis) for the Borough of Dorchester (of which he was then Alderman) to serve in that unhappy Parliament which began at Westminster 3. Nov. 1640. In which, shewing himself an active person, first under the opinion of a Presbyterian, and afterwards of an Independant, was design’d and prick’d down for one of the Judges of K. Ch. 1. an. 1648. but whether he sate, when Sentence was passed upon him, I cannot justly say it, notwithstanding one or more authors say, that he did then sit, and was numbred among the Judges. On the 14. Feb. next following the decollation of that King, he was appointed one of the 30 persons for the Council of State, and ever after shewed himself a Devoto to Oliver’s interest. On the 30. of Aug. 1658. being then Monday, and the windiest day that had before hapned for 20 years, he paid his last debt to nature, being then tormented with the Strangury and much anxiety of Spirit. At which time, as the then vulgar talk was, the Devil came to take away Oliv. Cromwell, who then lay on his death-bed, but being not prepared for him, he gave Bond for his future appearance, and accordingly on Friday following being the 3. of Sept. he made good his promise. The carkass of Dennis Bond was buried in the Abby Church of St. Peter at Westminster, where continuing about three years, was (with the bodies of other Cromwellians) taken up in the month of Sept. 1661. and buried in St. Margarets Church-yard adjoyning, before the back-door of the lodgings belonging to one of the Canons of Westminster. I find one John Bond to be author of a Pamphlet intit. A whip for the Judges, Bishops, and Papists, &c. Lond. 1641. Of another also called, The downfal of the old Common-Counsel-Men.—Pr. there the same year, and of a third intit. The Poets recantation. Lond. 1642. qu. but I take this John Bond to be different from the other Joh. who was a Presbyterian, and afterwards an Independant. I find another John Bond later than all the former, who is now, or at least was lately, a Barrester of Grays-inn, who wrote and published, A compleat Guide for Justices of the Peace, &c. in two parts. Lond. 1685. in oct.