Richard Bristow

another most zealous Person for the R. Cath. cause, was born of honest Parents within the City of Worcester, educated in Grammar learning under one Rog. Golbourne M. A. (the same I think who was a Reader in St. Bernards Coll. in the Year 1540) saluted the Oxonian Muses in 1555, but whether he was then entred into Exeter Coll. I know not. One Bristow I find to be Chaplain of Ch. Ch. in 1549. 50. and 51. but him I cannot take to be the same with the former, because he of Ch. Ch. seems then to be Master of Arts. As for our R. Bristow he took the Degree of Bach. of Arts in the beginning of the Year 1559, that also of Master in 1562, and was Junior of the Act celebrated 13 of July the same Year, at which time he was entred in the Proctors book as a member of Ch. Ch. About that time, having obtained great credit among the Academians, for his admirable speeches spoken while Junior of the Act, he applyed himself to the study of Divinity, became noted in the University for his acute parts, and being recommended therefore to that singular lover of learning Sir Will. Petre, was by him promoted to one of his Scholarships or Fellowships in Exeter Coll. in July 1567, where exercising himself much in Theology, did in a set disputation in the Divinity School put the Kings Professor (L. Humphrey) to a non-plus, as those of our Authors perswasion do report. At length being convinced that he had erred in his opinion, left the Coll. in 1569, his Religion, and the Kingdom, went to Lovaine and became acquainted with Dr. William Allen, who made him the first Moderator (or Prefect of studies) in the English Coll. by him founded at Doway, took upon him the Priesthood, being the first in that Coll. that did so, and read the publick lecture of Divinity there. In 1573 his said Scholarship or Fellowship of Ex. Coll. being pronounced void, because he had been absent several years, John Petre Son of Sir W. Petre before-mention’d did put into his room Mr. Oliver Whiddon Archdeacon of Totness 27. Oct. but resigned it in the latter end of Nov. following. Afterwards upon Dr. Allens instituting another Seminary at Rheimes, Bristow was sent for, and the care of that place was committed to him also, in 1579, while another was his substitute at Doway: About which time he took the Degrees in Divinity, partly at Doway and partly at Lovaine, and became famous in those parts for his Religion and learning. He hath written,

A brief treatise of diverse plaine and sure wayes to find out the truth in this doubtful and dangerous time of heresie, containing sundry motives unto the Cath. Faith; or, considerations to move a Man to believe the Catholicks, and not the Hereticks. Antw. 1599. in tw. and before, at another place. Dr. W. Allens testimony of this treatise is prefixed, dat. 30. Apr. 1574, wherein he saith that the said book contains with great perspicuity, order, and art divers most excellent works, whereby to discern in Religion the true judgment of the Catholick Church from the false vanity of the Hereticks, &c. that it is also in all points Catholick, learned and worthy to be read and printed. These motives were answered by Dr. Will. Fulke of Cambridge.

Reply to Will. Fulke, in defence of Dr. Allens scrowle of articles, and book of Purgatory. Lov. 1580. qu. Whereupon Dr. Fulke came out with a rejoinder the Year following.

Anti-Heretica Motiva, omnibus catholicae doctrinae orthodoxis cultoribus pernecessaria. Atrebat. 1608. in two tomes in qu. This large book, which contains most, if not all the former motives, was translated into Lat. by Thom. Worthington a Secular Priest (afterwards a Jesuit) an. 1606. and by him published at Arras two years after.

Demands (51 in number) to be proposed by Catholicks to the Hereticks.—Several times printed in oct. This also was answered in a book entit. To the seminary Priests late come over, some like Gentlemen, &c. Lond. 1592. qu.

A defence of the Bull of P. Pius 5.—He also collected and for the most part wrot Annotations on the New Testament, translated into English at Rheimes. And was also as it seems Author of,

Veritates aureae S. R. ecclesiae autoritatibus vet. patrum, &c. Printed 1616. qu. for the name of R. Bristous Anglus is set to that Book. At length after our Author had lived at Rheimes about two years, went privately into England (by his Physicians advice) for healths sake in 1581, and going to London, was kindly received by, and entertain’d in the Family of, one Bellamie, (Rob. or Jerome Bellamie as it seems) a sincere and constant Lover of R. Catholicks and their Religion. But his distemper being gone too far, dyed the year following, and was by Bellamie buried pivately, 1582 but where, unless near to Harrow on the hill in Middlesex, where the Bellamies had a seat and Lands, I know not. In the Year 1682 I received a note from one of the English Coll. in Doway, whereby I was instructed that Rich. Bristow was made D. of D. at Doway, from whence he was sent into England, where he died not far from London 18. Oct. 1581. But this note I reject, because that what I have said already of his death, I had from the writings of one that knew him, viz. Tho. Worthington, who published his Motives.