Gabriel Powell

, Son of Dev. Powell mentioned under the year 1590. was born at Ruabon in Denbighshire (of which place his Father was Vicar) and baptized there 13. Jan. 1575. educated in Grammar learning in those parts, entred into Jesus coll. in Lent term 1592. took the degree of Bach. of Arts, and then departed for a time. It must now be known that Gabr. Goodman Dean of Westminster having founded a Free School at Ruthyn in Denbighshire, in 1595. he appointed one Rob. Griffith to be the first Master thereof. To him succeeded Rich. Parry, afterwards Dean of Bangor and B. of St. Asaph, and to him, as ’tis said, Gabr. Powell our author, but in what year, I find not. Sure ’tis, that while he remained in the Country, he did exercise himself much in the reading of the Fathers, and in the studies of Philosophy, and laid a foundation for several books that he intended afterwards to publish. But being not in a possibility of compleating his endeavours where he remained, he therefore retired to Oxon, became a Commoner of St. Maries hall, published certain books while he was there, and supplicated to be Bach. of Divinity, but whether really admitted, it appears not. So that his name being famous for those things he had published, especially among the Puritans, Dr. Rich. Vaughan B. of London called him thence, and made him his domestick Chaplain, gave him a Dignity, and would have done much for him had he lived, but he dying in 1607. our author lived not long after. He was esteemed a Prodigie of Learning in his time, being but a little above 30 years of age when he died; and ’tis thought, had he lived to the age of man, he would have gone beyond Jo. Rainolds or any of the learned Heroes of that age. His works are these.

The resolved Christian, exhorting to resolution, &c. Lond. 1602. oct. third edit. There again 1616. &c.

Prodromus. A Logical resolution of the first Chapter of the Epist. of St. Paul to the Rom. Lond. 1600. Ox. 1602. oct. Printed there again in Lat. 1615. oct.

Theological and Scholastical Positions concerning Usury.—Pr. with Prodromus.

The Catholicks supplication to the King for toleration of Catholick Religion, with Notes and Observations in the Margin. Lond. 1603. qu.

A Supplicatory parallel-wise, or Counterpoise of the Protesatants to the said King.—Printed with the Cath. supplic.

Reasons on both sides for, and against, toleration of divers religions—pr. with the Cath. suppl.

A consideration of Papists reasons of state and religion, for a toleration of Popery in England, intimated in their supplication to the Kings Maj. and the state of the present Parliament. Oxon 1604. qu.

The unlawfulness and danger of toleration of divers religions, and connivance to contrary worship in one monarchy or kingdom. printed 1605. qu.

Refutation of an Epistle Apologetical, written by a Puritan-Papist to perswade the permission of the promiscuous use and profession of all sorts of Heresies, &c. Lond. 1605. qu.

Consideration of the deprived and silenced Ministers arguments for their restitution to the use and liberty of their Ministry, exhibited in their late supplication to this present Parliament. Lond. 1606. qu.

Disputationes Theologicae de Antichristo & ejus Ecclesiae, lib. 2. Lond. 1605. 06. oct. In the Preface to this book, dedicated to the University of Oxford, the author doth enumerate all those of the said University that have wrote or acted against the Pope and Court of Rome. But therein having fixed most of them on certain colleges and halls, as if they had studied and been educated in them, hath committed many errours. Among them are, (1) That Gualo Britannus studied in the Kings hall in Oxon, before 1170. (2) That John Baconthorpe was of Oriel college, which cannot be, because he was a Carme, and was in great renown before that coll. was founded. (3) That Cardinal Philip Repingdon was of Merton coll. whereas it appears from Record that he was of Broadgates hall, now Pemb. coll. (4) That Pet. Payne and Hen. Parker were of Alls. coll. whereas they were in great renown, and far in years before that coll. was erected, &c.

De Adiaph [•] is these Theologicae & Scholasticae, &c. Lond 1606. Translated into English by T. J. of Oxon.—Lond. 1607. qu.

Rejoinder unto the mild defence, justifying the consideration of the silenced Ministers supplication to the Parliament.

Comment on the Decalogue—Printed in oct. This I have not yet seen, and other things, which probably he hath written. He departed this mortal life at London, in sixteen hundred and seven, 1609 but where buried, I know not yet. His Patron Dr. Vaughan Bishop of London died in the beginning of that year, and Gabr. Powell died very shortly after, as I have been informed by one or more ancient Divines that remembred him.