Henry Mason

was born in a Market Town in Lancashire called Wygan or Wiggin, became a Servitour of Brasn. Coll. in the beginning of 1592, elected one of Humph. Ogles Exhibitioners thereof 2. Nov. 1593, took one degree in Arts two years after, entred into Holy Orders, and became Chaplain of Corp. Ch. Coll. in 1602. The next year he proceeded in Arts, and seven years after, was admitted to the reading of the Sentences. At length being made Chapl. to Dr. Jo. King B. of Lond. was by his endeavours, as I suppose, made Rector of S. Andrews Undershaft in that City; where by his exemplary life, edifying and judicious preaching and writing he did great benefit, and was by all that knew him accounted a true Son of the Church of England. His writings are these.

The new art of lying, covered by Jesuits under the veil of Equivocation. Lond. 1624. qu. there again 1634. in tw.

Christian humiliation: or, a treatise of Fasting, with a brief discourse of Lent. Lond. 1625. qu.

Epicures Fast: or, a short discourse discovering the licentiousness of the Rom. Ch. in her religious Fasts. Lond. 1626. in qu.

Tribunal of the conscience: or, a treatise of examination. Lond. 1626. 27. qu.

Short discourse declaring the condition of Worldly cares, with some remedies appointed for them. Lond. 1628.

Certain passages in Mr. Sam. Hoards book entit. Gods love to mankind, &c.—Answer’d by Dr. Twisse under the name of Additions, in his Riches of Gods love to the vessells of mercy, &c. as I have told you before in Dr. Twisse.

Hearing and doing the ready way to blessedness. Lond. 1635. in tw.

Rules for right hearing of Gods word—printed with the former book.

Several Sermons, as (1) The Christians fast, &c. on Matth. 4.2. Lond. 1627. qu. (2) Contentment in Gods gifts; or some Sermon notes leading to equanimitie and contentation, on Joh. 20.3.4.5.6. Lond. 1630. in tw. (3) Sermon on Luke 11.28. This I have not seen, nor a MS. in fol. containing matters of Divinity, which he left in the hands of his acquaintance Dr. Gilb. Sheldon, afterwards Archb. of Cant. From whom it came to Dr. Dolben Bish. of Roch. afterwards of York, in whose possession it was when he died. At length when the Puritan or Presbyterian began to be dominant in 1641, our Author Mason through vexation, occasion’d by that Party, was forced soon after to leave his Rectory of S. Andrew beforemention’d, purposely to make room for a godly brother. Afterwards he retired with his goods and books to Wygan his native place, where living in obscurity for some years, (not without vexation by the Rebels) surrendred up his most pious and devout Soul to him that first gave it, in his house situate, and being in a street there called Scoles, in the beginning of August in sixteen hundred forty and seven,1647. and in that of his age 74 or thereabouts, and was buried on the seventh day of the same month in the yard or cemeterie, close to the ground-work of the pillar or buttress at the east end of the Church at Wygan: He had before given to the poor of that Town 13 l. per an. to bind poor children apprentices, his librarie of books to the School; and a considerable number of Bibles to the poorer sort of people for their children there.