Richard Corbet

sometimes Student, afterwards Dean of, Christ Church, was consecrated Bishop of Oxford in 1629. (tho in some respects unworthy of such an office) and translated thence to Norwych in the beginning of 1632. He died in the latter end of July in sixteen 1635 hundred thirty and five; under which year you may see more of him among the writers. After his death a Native of the Parish of S. Peters Cheap in London named Dr. Math. Wren B. of Hereford was translated to Norwych; the temporalities of which See were (e)(e) Pat. 11. Car. 1. p. 25. restored to him 24. of Nov. 1635. being elected thereunto on the tenth day of the same month. Afterwards upon the death of Dr. Franc. White Bishop-Almoner, he was translated to Ely; the temporalities of which were restored to him (f)(f) Pat. 14. Car. 1. p. 35. on the 5. of May 1638. where he sate to the time of his death. He (by the way I must tell you) was the Son of Franc. Wren Citizen of London, (a branch of the Wrens of Binchester in the Bishoprick of Durham,) and being an eminent Scholar in his youth, became first a Student in Pembroke hall in Cambridge, then Greek Scholar and Fellow of that house, and soon after Chaplain to Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester. Afterwards he was made Master of Peter house, Vicechancellour of the said University, Chaplain to K. Charles 1. when he was Prince, (whom he attended after he had taken his journey to Spain) as also when he was King, Prebendary of Winchester, Dean of Windsor, (in which honourable Dignity he was installed 24. Jul. 1628.) sworn Registrary of the most noble Order of the Garter, 23. of Sept. following, and in 1633 became Clerk of the Closet, in the place of Dr. Will. Juxon. In 1634 he became Prebend of Westm. in the room of Dr. John Wilson, and near upon that time Bishop of Hereford. But continuing there not long, he was translated to Norwych, as I have before told you: And being made Dean of the Chappel Royal, upon Juxons advance to the Treasurers staff, an. 1636, he was translated to Ely in the beginning of 1638, as ’tis already said. In all which offices his deportment was with such gravity, exemplary piety, and Government with no less prudence, that upon the beginning of the unparallel’d rebellion raised by the Presbyterians, commonly then called Puritans, who had an implacable hatred for him, for his pride, insolence, and high hand used towards them, as they frequently reported, he was by them miserably persecuted, and grievously oppressed by plunder of his goods, seizure of his estate, and by a strait and tedious imprisonment in the Tower of London, which he endured with great patience and magnanimity near 18 years. After his Majesties return he was set at liberty, was restored to his Bishoprick of Ely, and notwithstanding his former losses, performed several acts of Piety. Among which, was his building a new Chappel in Pembroke hall before mentioned; which being beautified with splendid and decorous Furniture, and amply endowed with an annual revenue, was, upon the Feast of S. Mathew, (21. Sept.) in 1665. solemnly consecrated and dedicated by himself in person, and by his Episcopal authority, to the honour of Almighty God. A noble and lasting Monument of the rare piety and munificence of that great and wise Prelate, and in every point accorded to his character; which was then so well known, that the sole nomination of the Founder was a sufficient account of the elegance and magnificence of the foundation. Before evening service, the exterior or outer Chappel, and the Cloyster leading to it, (a new Fabrick of Sir Robert Hitchams foundation) were by his Lordship also consecrated, for places of Sepulture to the use of the Society, together with a cell or vault at the east end of the chappel under the Altar, for a dormitory for his Lordship. He paid his last debt to nature in Ely House in Holbourn near London, on Wednesday 24 of Apr. 1667. aged 81 years and upwards. Whereupon his body being embalm’d, was conveyed to Cambridge, and deposited with great solemnity in a stone coffin in the vault before-mention’d. This worthy and learned Bishop hath written (1) Increpatio Bar. Jesu: sive Polemicae adsertiones locorum aliquot S. Scripturae ab imposturis perversionum in catechesi Racoviana. Lond. 1660. qu. remitted into the ninth vol. of the Criticks. (2) The abandoning of the Scotch covenant. Lond. 1661. qu. (3) Epistolae variae ad viros doctiss. Among whom are to be numbred Ger. Jo. Vossius: As also two or more Sermons; one of which is on Prov. 24. 21. printed 1627. and another on Psal. 44. 18. printed in 1662. both in qu. &c. He left behind him several Sons, who will be mention’d elsewhere.