Thomas Gawen

son of a Minister of the City of Bristow of both his names, was born in a market Town in Glocestershire called Marifield, educated in Wykehams School near VVinchester, made perpetual Fellow of New Coll, an. 1632, aged 22 years, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders, travelled, was at Rome, and accidently sometimes fell into the company of John Milton the Antimonarchist. After his return, he became Chaplain to Dr. Curl Bishop of VVinchester, who gave him a Prebendship in that Church, and the Rectory, as I conceive, of Exton in Hampshire, he being then much valued for his Learning, Greek and Latin Poetry. About the latter end of 1642, he having the year before left his Fellowship, he was appointed by the said Bishop to be Tutor to his son, then a Commoner of Magd. Coll, where being esteemed a person of admirable breeding, his company was much desired and courted by reason of his travels and discourse, which savoured at that time nothing of Popery, but rather an aversion from it; of which great notice was taken among those with whom he commun’d. Afterwards upon the delivery up of his charge, and a foresight of the ruine of the Ch. of England, he travelled again to Rome with the heir of the Dorcestrian Pier ponts, spent some time there and in other parts of Italy, and returning thro France, met with an intimate friend of his (then lately of Magd. Coll.) at Paris, with whom having several conferences, that person found his discourse changed, and some tincture therein of the Romish dye. Whereupon he acquainting Dr. Steph. Goffe of the person, he desired his company, but could not by any means perswade him to come within the verge of the Court of the Queen Mother of England then there, and the reason of it was, as they conceived, because he would keep his opinion undiscovered, to the end that he might afterwards gain some profit from the Ch. of England. After his Majesties return, he was restored to what he had lost, became Rector of Bishops-stoke in Hampshire and of Fawley, but the last he never enjoyed, because not inducted thereunto. About that time he being discovered to be what he was, a Rom. Catholick, he willingly left all he had, and to prevent danger that might ensue from his clerical brethren, he procured himself, by the endeavours of Dr. Goffe and L. Abbat Mountague, to be sworn a Servant to Henrietta Maria the Qu. Mother before mentioned. Afterwards he went a third time to Rome, married an Italian woman well born, and had a child by her; but because he had nothing with, left, her and the child, and returned to his native Country, his wealth being kept for the children of his brother, who was then P. of the P. P. at London. About that time he took up his quarters in the City of VVestminster, lived a retired life, a perpetual Student in religionary Controversies, and wrot many things, of which some are extant, as,

A brief explanation of the several mysteries of the holy Mass, and of the actions of the Priest celebrating, very necessary for all Roman Catholicks, for the better understanding thereof. Lond. 1686. oct.

Certain Reflections upon the Apostles Creed touching the Sacrament.

Divers Meditations and Prayers, both before, and after the Communion.—These two last, go and are bound with the Brief Explanation, &c. Other things also which he left behind him, that are not as yet, I suppose, extant, are (1) A treatise of mental prayer. (2) How to gain a Jubilee or Indulgence. (3) Of the name of God Jehovah. (4) Meditations belonging to spiritual exercise. (5) Treatise touching the reading of Saints lives, &c. And among the Translations into Latine which he made, was Joh. Cleavelands Poem called The Rebel Scot; and among those from Spanish into English The life of S. Vincent of Caraffa the General of the society of Jesus. He died in his house situated in the Pall-Mall within the Liberty of the City of VVestminster, on the 8 day of March in sixteen hundred eighty and three,1683/4. and was buried in the Church of S. Martin in the Fields within the said City, leaving then behind him the character among men, especially those of his perswasion, of a learned and religious person.