John Ellis

received his first breath in the Parish of Llanderkuin near to Harlech in Merionithshire, entred a Student in Hart Hall in the year 1617, and in that of his age 18. or thereabouts, where going through with infinite industry the several classes of Logick and Philosophy, became M. of A. in 1625 and three years after was elected Fellow of Jesus Coll. being then in holy orders. In 1632 he was admitted to the reading of the sentences, and soon after going into Scotland (upon what account I know not) was made and admitted Doctor of his faculty in the University of S. Andrew, on the day before the Cal. of August 1634, and in Oct. following was incorporated in this University. Before that time having taken to Wife Rebecka Daugh. of John Pettie of Stoke-Talmach near to Thame in Oxfordshire Esq. became Rector of Whitfield near that place; which Benefice he keeping till about 1647 was made Rector of S. Maries Church in a Market town called Dolgelhy or Dolgethle in his own county, where he continued till the time of his death, siding with all parties and taking all Oathes. His works are these.

Clavis fidei, seu brevia quaedam dictata in symbolum Apostolorum. Oxon. 1642. 43. oct. Translated into English by Will. Fowler a composer in the Art of Printing—Camb. 1669. oct.

Comment. in Obadium Proph. Lond. 1641. oct.

Defensio fidei: seu responsio succincta ad argumenta, quibus impugnari solet confessio Anglicana, una cum nova articulorum versione. Lond. 1660. He concluded his last day at Dolgethle before mention’d, in sixteen hundred sixty and five,1665. and was buried in the Ch. yard there belonging to S. Maries Church aforesaid. In his Rectory succeeded his Kinsman Tho. Ellis Bac. of Div. sometimes Fellow of Jesus Coll, Son of Griffin Ellis of Dolbehman in Caernarvanshire, who having been well vers’d in British Histories, and a singular lover of Antiquities, made many additionals to the Historie of Cambria published by Dav. Powell, as I have before told you; which being so done, the book was licensed and put into the Press at Oxon. But by that time he had printed 20 sheets or more, out came Percie Enderbie with his book entit.—Cambria triumphans, &c. Or antient and modern British and Welsh Historie. Lond. 1661. fol. In which book, Tho. Ellis finding that Enderbie had seized upon those materials that he had collected for the fabrick of his work, he did desist from going any further, and caused, what had been printed of his work, to be sold for wast paper. He died at Dolbehman . in the beginning of the year (in Apr.) 1673 and was buried in the Church belonging to that town. As for Enderbie who was an Author of no considerable note, as having not had that just education which is requisite for a genuine Historian, hath done his work but very meanly, being mostly a scribble from late Authors, and gives not that satisfaction, which curious men desire to know. And therefore I am perswaded that had Ellis finished his work, ’twould have been more acceptable to Scholars and intelligent Persons, as having had more opportunities and advantages by reason of his birth, and a continual succession of his family in Wales to know such matters, than Enderbie, who was a stranger; (for he was born at, or near to, the City of Lincoln, and knew little or nothing of Wales till he setled there by a clandestine Marriage with the Daughter of Sir Edw. Morgan of Lantarnam in Monmouthshire Baronet) but upon some encouragement received from certain Gentlemen, and from the Library at Lantarnam, he undertook it partly for fame, but more for money, sake. This Person who translated into English The Astrologer anatomiz’d: or, the vanity of Star-gazing Art discovered, written by Benedict Pererius, died at, or near, Carleon in Apr. 1670, leaving some other things (as ’twas said) fit for the press, but if they be no better than his Cambria triumphans, ’tis no matter if they suffer the same fate as the papers of Tho. Ellis did. Besides the beforemention’d John Ellis was another of both his names and a writer, bred in Cambridge, and afterwards Vicar of Waddesdon in Bucks, Father to Philip Ellis bred in Westminster School, but in no University in England, because he had changed his Religion for that of Rome, consecrated a titular Bishop in the Chappel belonging to S. James house in Westminster on Sunday 6. of May 1688.