Edmund Bunney

, elder brother to Francis Bunney before mentioned, was the Son of Rich, Bunney of Newton, otherwise called Bunney-hall in the Parish of Wakefield, and of Newland in the Parish of Normanton, in Yorkshire Esq by Bridget his Wife, Daughter and coheir of Edw. Restwold of the Vache near to Chalfont St. Giles in Bucks. (who died 1547.) descended from Richard and Philipp de la Vache, Knights of the illustrious Order of the Garter in the time of K. Rich. 2. These Bunneys (by the way it must be known) pretend that their Ancestours, descended from the Bunneys of Bunney, a Town so called, near to the ripe of the River L [•] ir by Orleans in France, came with William the Conquerour into England, and setled themselves at a place in Nottinghamshire called from them Bunney rise; but how they can make that out, seeing their name is not in the original and genuine Copy of Battle-Abbey roll, I cannot yet understand. This our author Edm. Bunney, whom I am farther to mention, was born at a house called the Vache before mention’d, (being then imparted) an. 1540. sent to this University at 16 years, of age in the fourth year of Q. Mary, and about the time he took the degree of Bach. of Arts, he was elected Probationer Fellow of Madg. coll. being then noted to be very forward in Logick and Philosophy. Soon after he went to Staple Inn, and thence to Greys Inn, in either of which he spent about two years, for his Father, intended him for the Common-Law, being his eldest Son, but he resolving for Divinity, was cast off by his Father, (tho a good man, as he the Son (f)(f) In thes Defence of his labour in the work of the Ministry MS. faith, and one that fled for his Religion in Qu. Marys days) so that returning to Oxon, he took the degree of Master in the latter end of 1564. and in the year following was elected fellow of Merton coll. at which time Hen. Savile was elected Probationer. For which a act, tho the Society had no preceedent, yet there was a necessity for it, because there was not one then in that Society, that could, or would, preach any publick Sermon in the college turn, such was the scarcity of Theologists, not only in that House, but generally throughout the University. In the year 1570. he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences, and about that time became Chaplain to Dr. Grindall Archb [•] of York, who gave him a Prebendship of that Church and the Rectory of Bolton Percy, about six Miles distant thence. Which Rectory after he had enjoyed 25. years, he resigned, and maintaining himself with the profits of his Prebendship, (being also Subdean of York) and other Dignities, mention’d in his Epitaph following, he preached and catechized where there was most need. I have heard Dr. Barten Holyday say, that when he was a Junior in the University, this our author Bunney (who had a bulkey body and a broad face) did several times come to Oxon, accompanied with two men in black Liveries with horses, and did preach or catechize in some Churches there, and near to it, where was none to do that office, particularly in Allsaints Church, to whom many resorted and took Notes. Also that whatsoever he had given to him by way of gratuity, he would bestow on his men; and farther added that by his seeing holiness of life and soundness of doctrine, many Scholars (particularly himself) were induced afterwards to take holy Orders. He would travel over most parts of England like a new Apostle, and would endeavour to act as the Apostles did. So that being blamed for it by many, as if there were none to be found to do that office but he, and looked upon by others as a forward, busie and conceited man, he therefore wrote his Defence of his labour in the work of the Ministry, and dispersed several copies of it abroad among his friends and acquaintance. The truth is he was the most fluid Preacher in the Reign of Qu. Elizabeth, for he seldom or never studied for what he was to deliver, but would preach and pray extempere, as our beloved Saints did in the time of the rebellion under K. Ch. 1. and after; insomuch that many were pleased to say he was troubled with the Divinity squirt. I have heard some of our Ancients, who remember him, report, that he was a severe Calvinist, and that by the liberty he took, did a great deal of harm by his Preaching in Corporation-Towns, as many then did. and some Gentlemen also, with Licenses obtained from the Queen under pretence of a scarcity of Divines. He hath written,

The summ of Christian Religion, in two parts. The first intreateth of the Trinity, and the second of the Commandments. Lond. 1576. oct.

Abridgment of Jo. Calvin’s Institutions, Lond. 1580. oct. Translated into Engl. by Edw. May.

Scepter of Judah, or what manner of Government it was, that unto the Commonwealth, or Church of Israel, was by the Law of God appointed. Lond. 1584. oct.

Of the Coronation of K. David, wherein out of that part of the History of David, that sheweth how he came to the Kingdom, we have set out what is like to be the end of these troubles that daily arise for the Gospels sake. Lond. 1588. qu.

Necessary admonition out of the Prophet Joel, concerning that hand of God that of late was upon us, and is not clean taken off as yet, &c. Lond. 1588. oct. The Reader is to understand that Rob. Persons a Jesuit did put out a book intit. Christian Exercise appertaining to Resolution, &c. in two parts. The first of which coming forth before the other, our author Bunney did correct, alter, and made it fit for the use of Protestants, adding thereunto of his own composition,

A Treatise of Purification. Lond. 1584. or thereabouts, in oct. But the Jesuit in the next edit. of the said Resolution, did much complain of our author for assuming to himself the labours of another person, and of spoiling his work and the impression thereof. Whereupon our author put out another book intit.

A brief answer unto those idle and frivolous quarrels of R. P. against the late edition of the Resolution. Lond. 1589. oct. He hath also written,

Of Divorce for Adultery, and Marrying again, that there is no sufficient Warrant so to do. Oxon. 1610. qu. At the end of which is a note to shew that Rob. Persons was many years since answered.

The corner Stone: Or, a form of teaching Jesus Christ out of the Scriptures. Lond. 1611. fol.

A defence of his labour in the work of the Ministry.—MS. written 20. Jan. 1602. He also translated, as some say, into the English tongue, or as others, perverted it, that excellent book of Joh. Gerson, or rather of Tho. de Kempis, intit. Of the imitation of Christ; but whether true I know not, for I have not yet seen such a thing. He ended his days at Cawood in Yorkshire 26. Febr. in sixteen hundred and seventeen,1617-18. and was buried in the south Isle joyning to the choire of York Cathedral. Over his grave is a fair Monument in the wall, with his Effigies carved from stone, and this inscription by it. Edmundus Bunnaeus ex nobili Bunnaeorum familia oriundus, S. Th. Bac. coll. Mertonensis in Ox [•] n. olim Socius, Parochiae de Bolton-Percy Pastor, Ecclesiarum (*)(*) Preb. of Oxgate in the Church of St. Paul. B. Pauli London, B. Petri Eborum, & B. Mariae Carleol. Praebendarius dignissimus; concionator frequentiss, vicatim & oppidatim praedicando multos annos. consum si [•] , cum ob amorem christi haereditatem paternam fratri Ri [••••] [••] uniori relinquisset. Obiit die mensis Febr. 26. an. 1617.

Haec senis Edmundi Bunney est quem cernis imago,

A quo Bunnaei villula nomen habet.

Clarus [•] rat tanti, tumuit neque sanguinis aestu,

Haeres patris crat profuit esse nihil.

Denotat aetatem gravitas, resolutio mentem,

Zelum Scripta, aciem Pulpita, facta fidem.

Vasa sacro librosque dedit post funera templo,

Et bona pauperibus, caetera seque deo.