William Juxon

son of Rich. Juxon of Chichester, son of John Juxon of London, was born, as ’tis said, within the City of Chichester in Sussex, educated in Merchant Taylors School, became Fellow of S. Johns Coll. in 1598, and Bach. of the Civil Law in 1603, being about that time a Student in Greys Inn in Holbourne near London. Soon after he took holy Orders, and in the latter end of the year 1609, he was made Vicar of the Church of S. Giles in the north suburb of Oxon; where continuing about six years, he was much frequented for his edifying way of preaching. In 1621 he was elected President of his College, and in the next year he proceeded in the Civil Law. In 1626 and after, he did execute the office of Vicechancellour of this University, and in January 1627, he being then one of his Majesties Chaplains in Ordinary, he was made Dean of Worcester in the place of Dr. Jos. Hall promoted to the See of Exeter. On the 10. of July 1632, he was, at Dr. Lauds suit, (then Bishop of London) sworn Clerk of his Majesties Closet; which office was by that great person procured for him to the end ((f))((f)) Dr. Laud in the Breviat of his life or Diary, sub an. 1632. p 17. that he might have one that he might trust near his Majesty, if he grew weak or infirm. In the beginning of the year 1633, he was elected Bishop of Hereford in the place of Dr. Franc. Godwin deceased, was about that time made Dean of the Kings Chappel, and on the translation of Dr. Laud to the See of Cant. (which was on the 19 of Sept. the same year) he was translated to London, that City being then in its height of giddiness and faction. About that time he was called to be one of his Majesties Privy Council, who, finding him to be a person of uprightness and justice, did confer upon him the great office of Lord Treasurer, on Sunday the sixth of Mar. 1635. Which office no Churchman had since Hen. 7 time, as Doct. Laud ((g))((g)) Ibid. p. 20. observes, who adds this, I pray God bless him to carry it so, that the Church may have honour, and the King and the state service and contentment by it. And now if the Church will not hold up themselves under God, I can do no more. In this office which he enjoyed till 1641 he kept the Kings Purse when necessities were deepest and clamours loudest, to the great content of all that had to do with him. In the time of the rebellion, began and carried on by the restless Presbyterians, he suffer’d as other Bishops did, was outed of the House of Lords with his Brethren, and lost the Lands belonging to his Bishoprick, as the rest did. In 1648 he had the honour and happiness, if it may be so called, to attend K. Ch. 1. of blessed memory in his most disconsolate condition, and to administer comfort, ghostly counsel and the Sacrament to him, and to be also present with him on the Scaffold, when he was beheaded before his own door by his most rebellious Subjects, to the great horrour and amazement of all the world. Afterwards this holy Bishop retired to his Mannour of Little Compton in Glocestershire, near to Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, where he spent several years in a retired and devout condition, and now and then, for healths sake, rode a hunting with some of the neighbouring and loyal Gentry. After the restauration of K. Ch. 2, he was translated to the See of Canterbury, on Thursday 20 of Sept. 1660, to the rejoycing of all those, that then loved order in the Church. The solemnization was in the Chappel of K. Hen. 7. at Westminster; where, besides a great confluence of Orthodox Clergy, many persons of honour, and Gentry, gave God thanks for the mercies of that day, as being touched at the sight of that Good man, whom they esteemed a Person of primitive sanctity, of great wisdom, piety, learning, patience, charity and all apostolical Virtues. He died in his Pallace at Lambeth on the fourth day of June in sixteen hundred sixty and three,1663. aged 81 years: whereupon his body being embalmed, was conveyed to Oxon in great Pomp on the 7 of July following, where laying in state the next day, and part of the ninth, in the Divinity School, accompanied always by some of the Heralds of Arms, was then, (after an eloquent speech had been openly spoken by the University Orator in the Convocation house adjoyning, in praise of the defunct, and dispraise of the Presbyterians and Independents) conveyed in great state on mens shoulders (the Heralds and all the Degrees of the University attending) through Catstreet, and so up the High-street to Quatervois, and thence, through the North gate, to S. Johns Coll. After it was placed in the Chappel there, an Anthem sung, a speech delivered near the grave by Mr. Will. Levinz, and the usual service for burial performed by Dr. R. Baylie the President of that College, the body was solemnly inter’d at the upper end thereof before the altar, in a grave wall’d with bricks, adjoyning on the south side to that then made, to receive the body of his Predecessor Dr. Will. Laud, which in few days after was there reburied. As for the benefaction of this worthy Arch-prelate Dr. Juxon (besides that to S. Pauls Cathedral, to the Archbishops Pallace at Lambeth &c.) is mention made ((h))((h)) In Hist. & Antiq. Ʋniv. Oxon, lib. 2. p. 304. b. elsewhere; and as for his estate, that which remained when all his benefactions were disposed, went to his Brothers Son, Sir Will. Juxon Baronet, now living at Little Compton before mention’d. This Dr. Juxon hath only extant one Sermon on Luke 18.31.