John Bridgwater

. or Aquepontanus as he writes himself, was born (a)(a) Reg. antiq. coll. Ænean. fol. 88. b. in Yorkshire, as the Reg. here quoted saith, but descended from those of his name in Somersetshire, applied his Muse to Accademical Studies, at his first coming to Oxon, in Hart Hall; whence translating himself to Brasenose soon after, took the degrees in Arts, that of Master being compleated in 1556. and about that time entred into Holy Orders. In 1562. May 1. he was admitted (b)(b) Reg. Gilb. Berkley ep. B. & Wells, An. 1562. &c. to the Rectory of Wotto [•] -Courtney in the Diocess of Wells; and on the 14. Apr. 1563. he was elected Rector of Lincoln College, on the resignation of Dr. Francis Babington. On the 23. of May following he was (c)(c) Ibid. admitted Rector of Luccomb, in the said Diocess of Wells, being then also Archdeacon of Rochester, and soon after being made Canon Residentiary of Wells, was admitted Rector (d)(d) Ibid. of Porlock in the Diocess thereof, 16. Apr. 1565. In 1570. Nov. 28. he was (e)(e) Ibid. admitted Master of the Hospital of St. Catherine neay to Be [•] mystre, and in 1572. March 29. to the (f)(f) Ib. sub an. 1572. Prebendship of Bishops Compton in the Church of Wells. In 1574. he resigned his Rectory of Lincoln College, to prevent, as I presume, expulsion, because he was actually, or very near it, a Roman Catholick, and had given great incouragement, during his Government, to the Students under him, to embrace Religion. The same year he left Oxon, carried away with him several Goods belonging to the said College, and taking with him certain young Scholars, left all his preferments, acquaintance, and relations, and went beyond the Sea to Rheimes: Where continuing for a time, did at length (as it is said) enter himselfe into the Society of Jesus. He was esteemed by those of his Profession a good Scholar, and well read in various Authors, as many of his Writings shew; all which being published beyond the Sea, I have only seen these following:

Confutatio virulentae disputationis Theologica, in qua Georgius Sohn professor Academiae Heidelbergensis conatus est docere Pontificem Romanum esse Antichristum à Prophetis & Apostolis praedictum. Aut. Trev. 1589. qu. It must be now known that one Joh. Gibbon a Jesuit, and John Fenne, having taken a great deal of pains in writing the lives and sufferings of several Popish Martyrs, with other matters relating to the Roman Catholick cause; their labours were published under this Title, Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae in Anglia adversus Calvino-Papistas, & Puritanos, &c. Aug. Trev. 1583. in a prerty thick oct. But many things therein being wanting, or defective, our author Bridgwater took more pains in enlarging, and adding to it other matters, with an account of 100 or more Popish Martyrs, which were partly written by the said Gibbon and Fenne; which being so done, it was printed with this Title, like almost to the former, viz.

Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae in Anglia adversus Calvino-Papistas & Puritanos sub Elizabetha Regina, quorundam hominum doctrina & sanctitate illustrium renovata & recognita, &c. Aug. Trev. 1594. in a thick qu. and divided in 3 parts. The Preface to it, dedicated to John Archbishop of Trier; was writ by our author, who subscribes himself at the end, by the Name of Joh. Aquepontanus, who hath also written,

Apologia Martyrum, qua ipsorum innocentia variis rationibus demonstratur, &c. Printed in the third part of the said Concertatio Ecc. Cath.

De persecutione Anglicana.—So Pet. Ribadeneira; (h)(h) In Cat. [〈◊〉] Scriptorum soc. [〈◊〉] —Lugd. 1609. [〈◊〉] but his continuatour Phil. Alegamb doth (*)(*) In l [••] b. Scri [•] t. [〈◊〉] Jesu in he R. in [〈…〉] . attribute that work to Rob. Persins, Entitling it De presecutione Anglicana Epistola, &c. It is printed in the first part of Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae.

A Treatise or Discourse against the six articles, which are wont to be proposed to Martyrs.—This I have not yet seen; nor do I know any thing more of the author, only that he was living in great esteem at Trier in Germany, in fifteen hundred ninety and four. From the said Concertatio Eccles. Cath. Clar. 1594. did Thom. Worthington take most of his materials when he composed his Catalogus Martyrum pro religione in Angliae accisorum, &c. Which, though but a six penny book when it first came forth, yet eleven shillings and more was given for it in a certain Auction, An. 1682. as I shall tell you when I come to speak of the said Worthington.