Morgan Philipps

or Philip Morgan a Monmouthshire Man born in the Dioc. of Landaff, became a student in the University in 1533 or thereabouts, made so great a progress in Logick and Philosophy, and became so quick and undermining a Disputant, that when he was Bach. of Arts, he was commonly called Morgan the Sophister. In the Year 1538 he was elected Fellow of Oriel Coll. being then an year standing in the Degree of Bachelaur, and taking that of Master of Arts, he entred into the sacred function. In 1546 he was made Principal of St. Maries Hall, and three years after was one of the Triumviri that undertook a publick disputation in the Divinity School with Pet. Martyr. In 1550 he resign’d his Principality, being then Bach. of Div. and in the beginning of Qu. Maries Reign he became Chauntor of St. Davids Cathedral. Whereupon, and because of his absence from Oriel Coll. for more time than was allowed, he was denounced non socitis in 1554. In the beginning of Qu. Elizabeth he left his preferment, friends, and country for Religion sake, spent most of his time at Lovaine and Doway, and wrot several books, as ’tis said, but I have seen only these following, which go under his name, viz.

Defence of the honour of Mary Queen of Scotland, with a declaration of her right, title, and interest to the Crowne of England. Leig. 1571. in 2 books in oct.

A treatise shewing that the regiment of Women is conformable to the Law of God and nature, in one book. Ib. 1571. oct.

These two treatises, containing three books, were published under his name, but written as a noted (g)(g) Camden in Annal. Reg. Elizab. sub an. 1569. & Gul. Vdall qui illum lequitur in Hist. Vitae & mortis Mariae Scotorum Regine-Lond. 1636. Angl. oct. p. 145. Author tells us by Joh. Lesley Bishop of Rosse in Scotland, upon occasion of sundry Pamphlets that came out against the marriage of Mary Qu. of Scots to be had with the Duke of Norfolk, and the right by which she claimed to become heir unto England. Which Bishop, as ’tis farther added, did afterwards ingeniously acknowledge in his Commentaries, that he had his arguments for her right of succession secretly from Sir Anth. Browne Chief Justice of the Common-pleas, and from Serjeant Joh. Carryll an excellent common Lawyer of the Inner Temple. So that if Morg. Philipps was not the Author of the said treatises, I cannot justly say that he wrot any thing else, only his,

Disputatio de Eucharistiae Sacramento in Univ. Oxon habita contra D. Pet. Martyrem, 31. Maii, an. 1549. Lond. 1549. qu. &c. See more in Pet. Martyr an. 1562. and in Will. Tresham 1569 &c. But let our Author Camden, and his follower here quoted, say what of Leslie’s being the Author of those books, and other judge of the matter, as he, and they, please; while I tell you that a writer (h)(h) R. Doleman alias Rob. Persons in his conference about the next succession to the Crown of England, part. 2. cap. 1. before Camden in time, and equal with him in learning, as to the studies he professed, reports, that the said “ Morgan Philipps a Man of good account for learning among those that knew him, was thought to have written the said treatises (divided into three books) by the advice and assistance of Sir Anth. Browne: which thing is made the more credible by the many authorities of our common Law, which there are alledged. The first book doth endeavour to clear Mary Q. of Scots for the murther of the Lord Darley her Husband, which by many was laid against her. The second doth handle her title to the Crown of England, and the third doth answer the book of Joh. Knox the Scot, entit. Against the monstrous government of Women. But not long after the said book was published, John Lesley Bishop of Ross in Scotland (who at that time was Embassador for the said Qu. of Scots in England) did more largely handle in the second book of a treatise which he published, her title to the Crown of England, &c.” Thus he; so that according to this Authors opinion here quoted, Lesley had no hand in the said treatises, but in another different from them, which I think is most true. At length, after our Author Morg. Philipps had suffered about 17 years exile, died at Lovaine, 1577 or rather at Doway in Fifteen hundred seventy and seven; for on the 15. Feb. the same years, was a Commission (i)(i) Reg. of Administrations in the Will-Office, Lond. which begins 1. Jan. 1571. fol. 141. b. granted from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to George Farmour of Estneston in Northamptonshire Esq. to administer the goods, debts, chattels, &c. of Morgan Philipps Clerk, sometimes Chauntor of the Cath. Ch. of St. David, who lately died in parts beyond the Seas.