William Good

was born in the ancient Town of Glastenbury in Somersetshire, educated in Grammar learning there, admitted Scholar of C. C. Coll. 26. Feb. 1545, afterwards Fellow, Master of Arts 1552, and about that time Humanity reader in the said College. After Queen Mary came to the Crown, being then a most zealous R. Catholick, he was promoted to an Ecclesiastical Benefice in his own Country called Middle Chinnoke, and to a little Prebendship in the Church of Wells called Comba octava, in Nov. 1556, besides the rectory of a School in the said City. All which he keeping till Qu. Elizabeth came to the Crown and for some time after, he voluntarily left them, and his native Country for Religion sake, and retiring to Tourney in Flanders, entred himself there into the Society of Jesus, in 1562 aged 35. After he had served his probationship, he went into Ireland with Father David the titular Archbishop of Armagh, who left no stone unremoved there for the settling of that Kingdom in the Catholick faith and obedience. Four years being spent in that Country, not without some danger, he went to Lovaine, where he met with Rob. Persons about to enter into the said Society, whom he strengthned with many arguments in order thereunto. In 1577 he was called to Rome to take upon him the profession of the four vows; which being done, he went into Sweeden and Poland in the company of Anth. Possevin to settle certain affairs relating to the society. Two years after he returned to Rome, and became Confessor to the English Coll. there, newly converted from an Hospital dedicated to the Holy Trinity, to a Seminary for the educating the youth of England that profess the R. Cath. Religion. Vir fuit probatae virtutis & doctrinae, (as one (u)(u) Pet. Ribadeneira in Bib. scriptorum [•] oc. Jesu in Lit. G. of his society saith) atque imprimis in historiis Sanctorum Angliae optimè versatus, quorum res gestas in templo collegii Anglicani curavit coloribus exprimi, quae subinde in aes incisae prodierunt tacito ipsius inscriptae,

Ecclesiae Anglicanae Trophaea. Robnae 1584. fol. In the Library also of the English Coll. at Rome there is extant a Manuscript digested according to the years of Christ and Kings of Britaine containing the Acts of the Saints of Britain. Which book is said there among those of England to have been composed and written by our Author Good, who dying at Naples 5. July (according to the accompt there followed) in Fifteen hundred eighty and six, 1586 was buried in the College of the Jesuits there, who have yet a great respect for his name: One or more of whom have promised me a copy of his Epitaph, if there be any, but no answer have I yet received.