John Fell

son of Dr. Sam. Fell sometime Dean of Ch. Ch. by Margaret his wife, daughter of Tho. Wyld of the Commandery in the Suburbs of Worcester Esq. was born at Suningwell near to Abendon in Berks, educated mostly in the Free-school at Thame in Oxfordshire, (founded by John Lord Williams) made Student of Ch. Ch. an. 1636, aged eleven years, took the degrees in Arts, that of Master being compleated in 1643, about which time he was in arms for his Majesty within the Garrison of Oxon, and afterwards was an Ensign. In 1648 he was turn’d out of his place by the Parliamentarian Visitors, he being then in holy Orders; from which year, to the Kings Restauration, he spent his time in Oxon in a retired and studious condition, partly in the Lodgings of his brother-in-law Mr. Tho. Willis in Canterbury Quadrangle pertaining to Ch. Church, and afterwards partly in his House situate and being over against Merton Coll. Church; wherein he and others kept up the devotions and orders of the Ch. of England, administred the Sacrament and other duties to the afflicted Royalists then remaining in Oxon. After the Kings restauration he was installed Canon of Ch. Ch. in the place of Ralph Button ejected, on the 27 of July 1660, and Dean of the said Church on the 30 of Nov. following, being then one of his Majesties Chaplains in Ordinary, and Doctor of Divinity by actual creation. By his constant residence in Oxon in the time of Usurpation, he could not otherwise but behold with grief to what a miserable condition the whole University, and in particular those of his quondam Coll. were reduced to as to Principles in Religion, and he knew that things could not be reformed suddenly but by degrees. His Predecessor Dr. Morley, in that short time that he governed the Coll. restored the Members thereof then living, that had been ejected in 1648, and such that remained factious Dr. Fell either removed or fix’d in loyal Principles; yet when the Organ and Surplice were restored, there were not wanting those that to the great concern and resentment of the Dean, Dr. Dolben, Dr. Allestree, and others, us’d both of them with contempt and Indignity. As by his unwearied diligence he endeavour’d to improve his College with Learning and true Religion, so also to adorn it with Buildings; for no sooner he was setled, but he took upon him a resolution to finish Wolsey’s great Quadrangle. The north side of it which was left void and open in Wolsey’s time, was began to be supplied with Buildings sutable to the rest of the Quadrangle, by his father Dr. S. Fell, and was by him, the College and Benefactors, carried on to the top, and had all the frame of timber belonging thereunto laid; but before the inside could be finished and the top covered with lead, the Civil War began. In that condition it continued expos’d to weather till the Reformers took place, who minding their own concerns and not at all the publick, took the timber away and employed it for their private use. This imperfect Building, I say, was, by the benefaction of Dr. Joh. Fell, the then present Canons, and others of the House, as also by the benefaction ((a))((a)) See Hist. & Antiq. Ʋniv. Oxon, lib. 2. p. 285. a. of certain generous persons that had been formerly Members thereof and of others, quite finished for the use of two Canons, together with that part between the imperfect Building on the north side of the great gate, and the N. W. corner of the said Quadrangle. The next Fabrick that he undertook was that in the Chaplains Quadrangle, and the long range of building joyning thereunto on the East side. For whereas Philip King Auditor of Ch. Ch. had built very fair Lodgings of polish’d Free-stone about 1638, in, or very near that place, whereon the said long range was afterwards erected, they were by carelesness burnt on the 19 of Nov. 1669, and with them the south east corner of the said Quadrangle, besides part of the Lodgings belonging to the Canon of the second stall, which was blown up with Gun [•] powder to prevent the spreading of the fire towards the Library, Treasury and Church. These Buildings being burnt and blown up, were by the care of Dr. Fell rebuilt, viz. the east side of the Chaplains Quadrangle, with a straight passage under it, leading from the Cloister into the Field, which was finished in 1672, and the long range before mention’d, in 1677 and 78. The third Fabrick, which by his care was also erected, were the Lodgings belonging to the Canon of the third Stall, situate and being in the passage leading from Wolsey’s Quadrangle, to that of Peckwater, which were finishing in 1674. And lastly the stately Tower over the great and principal gate next to Fishstreet, began on the old foundation (laid by Wolsey) in June 1681, and finished in Nov. 1682, mostly with the moneys of Benefactors, whose Arms are with great curiosity ingraven in stone on the roof that parts the Gate-house and the Belfry. To this Tower was translated from the Campanile of the Church, the Bell called Great Tom of Christ Church, after it had been several times cast, an. 1683, and on the great Festival of the 29 of May 1684, it first rang out, between 8 and 9 at night; from which time to this, a Servant toles it every night at 9, as a signal to all Scholars to repair to their respective Colleges and Halls, as he did, while ’twas in the Campanile. In 1666. 67. 68. and part of 69, Dr. Fell was invested with the office of Vicechancellour, in which being setled, his first care was to make all degrees go in Caps, and in publick Assemblies to appear in Hoods. He also reduced the Caps and Gowns worn by all degrees, to their former size or make, and ordered all Cap-makers and Taylors to make them so; which for several years after were duly observed, but now, especially as to Gowns, an equal strictness is not observed. His next care was to look narrowly towards the performance of public exercise in the Schools, and to reform several abuses in them; and because Coursing in the time of Lent, that is the endeavours of one party to run down and confute another in disputations, did commonly end in blows, and domestick quarrels, (the refuge of the vanquish’d side) he did by his authority annul that custom. Snce that time as those publick disturbances, which were the scandal of the University, did cease; so likewise that vehemence and eagerness in disputations which was increas’d by those intestine broils having lost the incentives of malice, feuds and contentions did in great measure abate, and at length fall. However Dr. Fell, that he might as much as possibly support the exercises of the University, did frequent Examinations for degrees, hold the Examiners up to it, and if they would, or could, not do their duty, he would do it himself, to the pulling down of many. He did also sometimes repair to the Ordinaries, (commonly called Wall Lectures from the paucity of Auditors) and was frequently present at those Exercises called Disputations in Austins, where he would make the Disputants begin precisely at one, and continue disputing till 3 of the clock in the afternoon; so that upon his appearance more Auditors were then present, than since have usually appeared at those Exercises. It was his endeavour before, and while, he was Vicechancellour, as also the endeavours of some of his friends and fellow-sufferers, to reduce the University to that manner and form, as to Preaching, Disputing, Discipline, Opinion, &c. as ’twas while Dr. Laud was Chancellour thereof; but because of the twenty years interval, wherein a most strange liberty, loosness in manners and religion had taken place, they could not do it; and I remember that many made it a ridiculous thing, that he and they should in the least think of such a matter, which a whole age could not do, nor that also, unless a succession of good Kings came, that should be of the same mind and opinion with Ch. 1. of ever blessed memory. He was a most excellent Disciplinarian, kept up the exercise of his house severely, was admirable in training up Youth, of noble extraction, had a faculty in it peculiar to him and was much delighted in it. He would constantly on several mornings in the week take his rounds in his Coll, go to the Chambers of Noblemen and Gent. Commoners, and examine and see what progress they made in their studies. He constantly frequented divine Service in public four times in a day, and had, besides, Prayers twice every day in his own family. He was a most zealous Favourer of the Ch. of England, and none, that I yet know of, did go beyond him, in the performance of the rules belonging thereunto. He was a great encourager and promoter of Learning in the University, and of all public works belonging thereunto, witness not only the Edifices before mentioned, but his sollicitation for the building of the publick Theater, to the end that the house of God might be kept free for its own use: He likewise advanced the learned Press, and improv’d the Manufacture of Printing in Oxford in such manner as it had been designed before by that public spirited person Dr. Laud Archb. of Canterbury; and certainly it would have been by him effected, as other matters of greater concern relating to Religion and Learning, had not the iniquity of the restless Presbyterians prevented him. He was also a person of a most generous spirit, undervalued money, and disburs’d it so freely upon learned, pious and charitable uses, that he left sometimes for himself and his private use little or nothing. He was an eager defender and maintainer of the University and its Privileges (especially while he executed the office of Vicechancellour) against the Oppugners of them, and always endeavour’d to advance its Liberties; for which he often gained the ill opinions of the Citizens. He was a bold and resolute man, and did not value wha [•] the generality said or thought of him so that he could accomplish his just and generous designs: which being too many to effect, was the chief reason of shortning his days. His charity was so great that he was a husband to the afflicted widow, a father to the orphan, and a tender parent to poor Children. He constantly allowed an yearly pension to a poor man of S. Thomas in the Suburb of Oxon, purposely that he should teach gratis 20 or 24 poor children of that Parish to read; some of which he afterward bound Apprentices or made Scholars. He was a person of great morals and vertues, spent his time in celebacy, of an unspotted life, and unquestionable reputation. On the 8 of Jan. 1675 he was elected Bishop of Oxon by the Chapter of Ch. Ch. by vertue of a Conge d’eslire sent to them from his Majesty, and on the sixth of Febr. following, being then Shrove Sunday, he was consecrated in the Chappel of the Bishop of Winchester at Chelsey near London; at which time liberty was given to him to keep his Deanery in commendam, purposely to keep him in his Coll. that he might do farther good therein, and in the University. No sooner he was setled in his See, but he betook himself to the rebuilding the Palace belonging thereunto, at Cudesden near Oxon: whereupon examining what had been done in order to it by any of his Predecessors, which was no considerable matter, he undertook and finished it, as I have told you in the first vol. p. 634, yet enjoyed but a little time in it. As for his Works pertaining to Learning, they are these.

The life of the most learned, Rev. and Pious Dr. Hen. Hammond. Lond. 1661 &c. oct. Before which time, he was supposed to be author of The interest of England stated: or a faithful and just account of the aimes of all parties now pretending; distinctly treating of the designments of the R. Cath, Royalist, Presbyterian, Anabaptist, &c. Printed in 1659 in two sh. in qu. but how true it is, I cannot tell, because I heard of it but very lately, and that from no considerable hand. It was answered by March. Nedham as I have told you in my discourse of him.

The vanity of scoffing; in a letter to a Gent. Lond. 1674 qu. No name is set to it, only then generally reported to be his.

Responsio ad epistolam Thomae Hobbes Malmsburiensis. See at the end of Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon.

Several Sermons as (1) The Character of the last days, preached before the King, on 2. Pet. 3.3. Oxon. 1675. qu. (2) Serm. preached before the H. of Peers, 22. Dec. 1680, being the day of solemn humiliation, on Matth. 12.25. Oxon. 1680. qu. &c.

Account of Dr. Rich. Allestree’s life—This is in the preface before the said Doctors Forty Sermons, published by our author Dr. Fell, who also reviewed and illustrated with marginal notes the works of S. Cyprian, which he published under this title Sancti Caecilii Cypriani Opera recognita & illustrata, per Johannem Episcopum Oxoniensem. Pr. 1682 fol. in the printing house joyning on the east side of the Theater, erected at the charge of the University of Oxon on the motion of Dr. Fell, an. 1674. To which book were added Annales Cyprianici, by Dr. John Pearson Bishop of Chester. He also translated into English Of the Unity of the Church. Printed also in the same house 1681. qu. Written originally by S. Cyprian. See more of his works in Pat. Young in the first vol. p. 794 and in Ger. Langbaine and Tho. Willis in this, p. 141 and 403. Dr. Fell also published or reprinted every year while he was Dean of Ch. Ch, viz. from 1661 to the time of his death, a book, commonly a classical author, against New-years tide to distribute among the Students of his House. To which books he either put an Epistle, or running notes, or corrections. These I have endeavoured to recover, that the titles might be known and here set down, but in vain. The first piece which he published of the incomparable author of The whole duty of man, was The Ladies Calling; before which he put an Epistle to the Reader, giving an account after what a private manner the copy thereof, accompanied with a letter, was conveyed to his hands. This Epistle is left out in the folio edit. of that authors works, as also Dr. Hammonds Epistle before The whole duty of man, and that of Dr. Humph. Henchmans before The Gentlemans Calling, which two books had been published by the said Doctors. Dr. Fell also published in the year 1675 two other pieces written by the same author, viz. The Government of the Tongue, and The Art of Contentment, and last of all The lively Oracles given to us, &c. which was first printed at Oxon 1678. oct. In 1684 all the works of the said excellent author were printed together in a pretty large folio, and fair character, at Oxon and London. The whole duty of man, The decay of Christian piety, and The Gentlemans Calling (which altho published by Dr. Henchman some years before The decay of Christian Piety, is in this Edit. placed after it) make the first part, which is printed at London, and the four pieces above-named make the second part, printed at Oxon. Before the whole volume is placed a general preface of Dr. Fells composition; wherein among other things he points at no less than five spurious pieces, which have expresly, or by a designed implication boldly usurp’d on the name and authority of this unknown celebrated author. In this edition of his works compleat, Dr. Fell hath inserted in the margin of the four last pieces, which make the second part of the said vol. (if not too, of The Gent. Calling, and The decay of Christ. Piety) the heads and contents of each section, with useful marginal abbreviations, which were till then wanting in all the parts, except only in The whole duty of man. He caused also at his own proper charge the Hist. and Antiq. of the Univ. of Oxon, to be translated into latine, and kept two men in pay for doing it, besides what he did himself, which was considerable, and the Author, which was less: And being so done he caused it, at his own charge also, to be printed with a good character on good paper; but he taking to himself liberty of putting in and out several things according to his own judgment, and those that he employ’d being not careful enough to carry the whole design in their head as the Author would have done; it is desir’d that the Author may not be accountable for any thing which was inserted by him; or be censur’d for any useless repetitions or omissions of his Agents under him. At length this most godly, learned and zealous person, having brought his body to an ill habit and having wasted his spirits by too much zeal for the publick, he surrendred up his pious soul to God, to the great loss of learning, and of the whole University, about three of the clock in the morning of the tenth of July (being then Saturday) in sixteen hundred eighty and six,1686. leaving then behind him the general character of a learned and pious Divine, and of an excellent Greecian Latinist and Philologist, of a great assertor of the Church of England, of another Founder of his own College, and of a Patron of the whole University. He was buried on the 13 day of the same month in the Divinity Chap. which is the Isle most northward from the choir of the Cathedral of Ch. Ch. in a little vault built of brick, under the Deans seat on the right hand, and under the seats adjoyning Eastward: His Monument long since promis’d by his Executors, is yet to be expected.