William Fulman

the son of a sufficient Carpenter, was born in a town famous for the birth, or at least habitation, of Sir Phil. Sidney, called Penshurst in Kent, in the month of Nov. 1632, and being a youth of pregnant parts while the most learned Dr. Hammond was Parson of that place, he took him into his protection, carried him with him to Oxon in the time of the troubles, procur’d him a Choristers place in Magd. Coll. and caused him to be carefully educated in Grammar learning in the School joyning to that house, under the tuition of Mr. Will. White the vigilant Master thereof: And being there well grounded in School learning, that worthy Doctor put him upon standing for a Scholars place in Corp. Ch. Coll. where shewing himself an exact Proficient in classical learning, was forthwith elected in 1647; and put under the tuition of an excellent Tutor but zealous Puritan, named Zach. Bogan. The next year he was ejected, among other young men, by the Parliamentarian Visitors, to the great loss of his learning; and tho his Patron Dr. Hammond was involved in the same fate, yet he took him closer to him, and made him his Amanuensis, in which office he found him very serviceable and useful. After he had arrived to the state of man, he became, by that Doctors endeavours, Tutor to the son and heir of the antient and gentile family of Peto of Chesterton in Warwickshire, where he found a comfortable harbour during the time of the Church of Englands disconsolate condition. At length, upon his Majesties return, he was restored to his Scholarship, was actually created Master of Arts, and made Fellow of his House; where continuing several years a severe Student in various sorts of learning, was, upon the death of Mr. Rich. Samwaies, presented by the President and Fellows of his College to the Rectory of Meysey-Hampton near Fairford in Glocestershire, where he finished his course. He was a most zealous son of the Church of England and a grand enemy to Popery and Fanaticism. He was a most excellent Theologist, admirably well vers’d in ecclesiastical and profane history and chronology, and had a great insight in English History and Antiquities; but being totally averse from making himself known, and that choice worth treasured up in, his great learning did in a manner dye with, him. Had his indulgent Patron lived some years longer, or he himself had taken those advantages as others did for their promotion in the Church upon account of their sufferings for the Royal cause, he might without doubt have been a Dean; but such was the high value that he set upon himself and his sufferings, that he expected Preferment should court him and not he it. Besides also he had not in him a complisant humour, unless sooth’d up, flattered or admired, neither any application, whether to advantage himself in learning, experience, or for his own commodity, and therefore not known, and so consequently, as his merits deserved, not so much admired, as otherwise he would have been. He wrot much, and was a great Collector, but published little, as

Academiae Oxoniensis Notitia. Oxon. 1665. qu. Published again in the same vol. at London 1675, with very many additions and corrections taken from Historia & Antiquitates Univ. Oxon, published the year before; the several sheets of which, as soon as they were wrought off from the Press, were by its Author sent to Mr. Fulman at Meysey-Hampton.

Appendix to the Life of Edm. Stanton D. D. wherein some passages are further cleared, which were not fully held forth by the former Authors. Lond. 1673. in 1 sh. in oct. Written upon the publication of the partial Life of that Doctor by one Will. Mayow a Nonconformist Divine. See more in Edm. Stanton, under the year 1671.

Corrections of, and Observations on, the first part of The History of the Reformation of the Church of England. Which Correct. and Observ. are remitted into the Appendix to the second vol. of the said Hist. of the Reform. written by Gilb. Burnet D. D.—Lond. 1681. fol. p. 411. &c. But the Reader may be pleased to know that some of the said Observations are omitted, and others curtail’d, to the great dislike of their Author, who had applied himself with very great care and diligence for several years, on the like Subject of The History of Reformation, and so consequently was abler to judge more critically of such a matter than other persons. He also reviewed the whole copy of the second vol. of the said Hist. of the Reform. before it went to the Press, and with great judgment did correct such errors that he found in it. He also with great pains sought after, and found out, the Works of K. Ch.. 1. of ever blessed memory, and collected them into one large vol. with intentions to write the Life of that most religious Prince, and to set it before them; but he being unexpectedly taken with the Small Pox, the Bookseller R. Royston employed Rich. Perincheif D. D. to draw up a history of it. Which being so done, not without the notes of Fulman, it was printed before the said Collection, with the name of Perincheif to it, an. 1662. fol. and so consequently the whole work was look’d upon and esteemed as due to him, which otherwise was to have been due to Fulman. Our author also did take a great deal of pains in writing the Life of the famous Joh. Hales of Eaton, and had obtained many materials towards it, but for want of application to persons for farther information of the man, that work was left imperfect. Also the Life of his founder Rich. Fox Bishop of Winchester, with an account of the learned Men, Writers, Bishops, &c. of C. C. Coll, but for want of application also, and endeavours to obtain Record from several Offices in Lond. and Westm. to which I did often advise him, and tell him where matter migh be had, that work was also left imperfect: And what he did as to the publication of the works of Dr. Hammond, I have already told you in the life and character of that person. At length this our learned author being overtaken with a malignant fever, in a very unseasonable time, which he did not, nor would take care to prevent the danger that might ensue, died of it at Meysey-Hampton early in the morn. of the 28 of June in sixteen hundred eighty and eight,1688. leaving then behind him a great heap of Collections, neatly written with his own hand, but nothing of them perfect. All which being afterwards conveyed to C. C. Coll. to be, according to his desire, put into the Archives of the Library of that house, what had it been for those that had the care, to have permitted the author of this Work the perusals of, them, when they could not otherwise but know that they would have been serviceable to him in the promotion of this Work, then almost ready for the Press. But such is the humour of the men of this age, that rather than they’ll act a part for the public good and honour of learning, they’ll suffer choice things to be buried in oblivion. Mr. Fulman, who died to the reluctancy of many learned men, was buried in the Churchyard, at the east end of the chancel of the Ch. at Meysey-Hampton before mentioned, near to the body of his then late wife, named Hester, Grandaughter, by the father, of Dr. Rog. Manwaring sometimes Bishop of S. David.