Hugh Curwyn

, or Coren, was descended from an antient Family of his name in Westmorland, but whether born in that County I cannot tell, became a Student in this University in one of the Inns or Hostles frequented by Civilians and Canonists, or in Brasnose coll. (or both successively,) about 1521. took one degree in Arts, holy Orders, and some years after was made one of the Chaplains to K. Hen. 8. In 1532. he proceeded in the Civil Law, and about that time was a great promoter of the Kings marriage with Anna Bulleyn. In 1533. when Frier Peto (afterwards a Cardinal) had inveighed much against it in his Sermon, or Sermons, before the King at Greenwich, Dr. Curwyn the next Sunday following hapned to Preach there, at which time he spake as much for the marriage, as Peto had against it, uttering there several things against it, and wondred why a subject should behave himself so audacious as he did before the Kings face, &c. After this he was prefer’d to the Deanery of Hereford, where he continued all K. Edwards time. At length when Q. Mary succeeded (to whom he was Chaplain) she nominated him Archbishop of Dublin: Whereupon being consecrated thereunto in S. Pauls Cathedral at London 8. Sept. 1555. he was in few days after designed (i)(i) Jac. Waraeus in Com. de praesul. Hibern. edu. 1665. p. 120. by the said Queen (then at Greenwich) Chancellour of the Kingdom of Ireland. In 1567. he supplicated Q. Elizabeth to have the Bishoprick of Oxford conferr’d upon him, being desirous to spend the remainder of his days in peace. So that soon after being elected thereunto by the Dean and Chapter of Ch. Ch. in Oxon, the Queen (k)(k) Pat. 9. Elizab. p. 2. consented to the election on the eighth of Octob. and gave (l)(l) Pat. 10. Elizab. p. 10. him the temporalities belonging to that See 3. of Decemb. following, the same year. About that time he setled at Swinbroke near to Burford in Oxfordshire, (having then no House or Pallace belonging to his See,) where dying in the latter end of October, was buried in the Parish Church of that place on the first of Nov. 1568 in fifteen hundred sixty and eight. He had a Kinsman named Rich. Coren a Lancashire man born, who was admitted Scholar of Corp. Ch. coll. in 1519. and afterwards taking the degrees in Arts and one in divinity, was made Canon of the first foundation of the colledge of K. Hen. 8. at Oxon, and when Doctor of his Faculty, Archdeacon of the diocess of Oxon, 1534. and about that time Canon of the Kings Chappel of S. Stephen within the Pallace of Westminster. This I thought fit to let the Reader know, that each person might have his right, that is, that the Archdeaconry of Oxon, might be intitled on Dr. Rich. Coren, and not on Dr. Hugh, which most authors that occasionally mention him, do tell you.