Henry Morgan

, a Welsh man born, became a Student in this University about the year 1515. took the degrees in the Civ. and Can. Law, that of Doctor being compleated in an Act celebrated 17. Jul. 1525. and soon after he became Principal of an ancient Hostle for Civilians (wherein probably he had been educated) called S. Edwards hall, near to the Canon Law Schools, situated sometimes in the Parish of S. Edward, and near to the Church thereof. Afterwards he being esteemed a most admirable Civilian and Canonist, he was for several years the constant Moderator of all those that performed exercise for their degrees in the Civil Law, in the School or Schools pertaining to that Faculty, situated also in the same Parish. Which Schools, Hall, and Church, have been time out of mind gon to ruine, and the ruines themselves ruined. In 1553. ( [••] . Mariae) he was elected Bish. of S. David, upon the deprivation of Rob. Ferrar, which was as it seems in Nov. the same year; and being consecrated thereunto, had the temporalities thereof restored to him (k)(k) Pat. 1. Mar. p. 1. on the 23. of Apr. 1554. In that See he sate till after Q. Elizabeth came to the Crown, and then being deprived about Midsomer, an. 1559. 1559 (2o. Elizab.) retired among his Friends and died a devoted Son to the Church of Rome on the 23. of Decemb. following. Of whose death hear I pray what Joh. Fox (l)(l) In his book of Acts and Mon. of the church, under the year 1558. saith in this manner.—Morgan Bishop of S. Davids who sate upon the condemnation of the blessed Martyr Bish. Ferrar, and unjustly usurped his room, was not long after stricken by Gods hand, after such a strange sort that his meat would not go down, but rise and pyck up again, sometimes at his mouth, sometimes blown out of his nose, most horribly to behold, and so he continued till his death. Thus Fox, followed by Tho. Beard in his Theatre (†)(†) In lib. 1. cap. 13. of Gods judgments. But where, or when his death hapned, they tell us not, nor any author hitherto, only when, which B. Godwin mentions. Now therefore be pleased to know that the said Bishop Morgan retiring after his deprivation to, and near, Oxon, where he had several relations and acquaintance living, particularly the Owens of Godstow in the Parish of Wolvercote, near to the said City, did spend the little remainder of his life in great devotion at Godstow, but that he died in the condition which Fox mentions, there is no tradition among the inhabitants of Wolvercote. True it is, that I have heard some discourse many years ago from some of the Ancients of that place, that a certain Bishop did live for some time, and exercised his charity and religious counsel, among them, and there died, but I could never learn any thing of them of the manner of his death, which being miserable, as Jo. Fox saith, methinks that they should have a tradition of it, as well as of the man himself, but I say there is now none, nor was there any 30 years ago among the most aged persons then living at that place, and therefore whether there be any thing of truth in it may be justly doubted, and especially for this reason, that in the very same chapter and leaf containing the severe punishment upon Persecutors of Gods people, he hath committed a most egregious falsity, in reporting that one Grimwood of Higham in Suffolk died in a miserable manner for swearing and bearing false witness against one Joh. Cooper a Carpenter of Watsam in the same County, for which he lost his life. The miserable death of the said Grimwood was as J. Fox saith, thus, that when he was in his labour staking up a goffe of Corn, having his health and fearing no peril, suddenly his bowels fell out of his body and immediately most miserably he died. Now so it sell out, that in the reign of Q. Elizabeth one Prit became Parson of the Parish where the said Grimwood dwelt, and Preaching against perjury, being not acquainted with his Parishioners, cited the said story of Fox, and it hapning that Grimwood being then alive, and in the said Church, he brought an action upon the case against the Parson, but Judge Anderson, who sate at the Assizes in the County of Suffolk, did adjudge it not maintainable, because it was not spoken maliciously. Pray see in the Abridgment of many cases and resolutions, of the Common Law, written by Judge Henry Rolls, p. 87. sect. 5. tit. Action sur case. But to return; as for our Bishop Hen. Morgan, who died in Godstow house, then own’d by Rich. Owen, did by his last (*)(*) In Offic. Praerog. Cant. [〈…〉] Will and Testam dated in Decemb. 1559. and proved 24. of January following, bequeath his body to be buried in the Church of Olvercot or Wolvercot, to which he gave six shillings and eight pence: Also to two Masters of Arts of Oxon to pray for his Friends Souls, (of which Edw. Pennant Parson of Stanlake near Oxon was one,) four pounds yearly during the term of five years; to Mary Owen his Chymere of Scarlet, to Morgan Philips of Oriel coll. several Legacies, besides the bestowing of his books, &c. By which Will it appears that he did not die in a mean condition, that he was not senseless, affrighted, or any way perturbed.