William Rainolds

, second Son of Rich. R [••••] ids, a sufficient Farmer, third Son of Rich. Rainolds, was born at Pynhoc alias Pynhawes (the Seat of his Ancestors) near to the City of Exeter in Devonshire, educated in School learning in Wykeham’s Coll. near Winchester, elected Probationer of New Coll. in 1560. and two years after was admitted perpetual Fellow. In that House, where then was a severe Discipline kept up, he became a most noted Philosopher, a quick Disputant, and one much noted for his sincere love to the Protestant Cause. In 1566. he proceeded Master of Arts, and about that time he took Holy Orders In 1572. he left his Fellowship, and retiring to Hart Hall, lived there in the quality of a C [••] moner: All which time he was earnest for Reformation, while John his Brother of C. C. Coll. stood affected to the Roman Catholick Religion, as it is said, This difference in judgment proved a firebal of C [•] ntention between, and engaged, them in a strong Duel, and set Disputes; whereupon both being strengthned by each [〈◊〉] Arguments, our Author Willaim turned a zealous Catholick, and John a strong Puritan. Whereupon Dr. Will. Alabaster a learned Divine, and an excellent Poet, made an Epigram on them, a copy of which you may see (m)(m) In [•] ist. & Antiq liniv. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 139. a. elsewhere. This is the reason commonly received among Protestants, for each others conversion, but false. for the dispute was, if you will believe one that then lived, between John, and Edmund, Rainolds of C. C. C [•] ll. as I have told (n)(n) Ibid. [〈◊〉] p. 300. b. you elsewhere. So that now there being no pretence left for William’s conversion by disputing with his Brother John, you may take this reason following, different from the other, if your charity will permit you to believe a R. Catholick (o)(o) Rob. Persons in A relation of a trial made before the K. of France, between the Bishops of Eureux and the Lord Plessis Mornay. Printed 1604. p. 57. 58. Author, as he had received it from the mouth or Pen of Will. Rainolds, which is this—Mr. William Rainolds being first an earnest Professor and Preacher of the Protestant Religion in England, and much engaged among the Puritans in Northamptonshire, (as he was wont to tell,) he fell in the end to read over Mr. Jewel’s Book, and did translate some part thereof into Latin; but before he had passed half over, he found such stuff, as made him greatly mistake of the whole Religion, and so he, leaving his hopes and commodities in England, went over the Sea, and the last year of Jubilee, to wit, 1575. he came to Rome, and brought that Book with him, and presented both himself and it to the Tribunal of the Inquitsition, of his own free motion and accord, where I guess the Book remaineth still, if it be not burned; and himself after absolution received for his former Errors (which he with great humility and zeal required, and my self also at that time spake with him in that place) he returned into France and Flanders, and there lived many years, with singular edification for his rare Vertue and Learning, &c. Thus a zealous Romanist, whom I have here quoted in the Margin. Afterwards our Author Will. Rainolds went to Rheimes in France, where being kindly received by Dr. Will. Allen President of the English College there, was shortly after made Professor or Reader of Divinity, and of the Hebrew Tongue. Afterwards he went to Antwerp, where he wrote, mostly under the Name of Will. Rosseus, these things following:

Resutation of Mr. W. Whittaker’s Civils against the Annotations of the New Testament. Par. 1583. oct.

De justa republicae Christiane in reges impios & haereticos Authoritate. Antw. 1592. oct. &c.

Catholick Faith concerning Christ’s last Supper, against Berengarius and Bruce. Antw. 1593. oct. This Bruce was the same, as it seems, with Rob. Bruce a Scotch Minister.

Paraphrase on the New Testament—MS. in the English coll. of Benedictines at Deiulward in Loraine.

Calvino-Turcismus, i. e. Calvinisticae perfidiae cum Mahumetanâ collatio, & dilucida utriusque sectae confutatio. Antw. 1597. Col. Agr. 1603. oct in four Books. Which Books being left imperfect, were corrected, finished, and published, out of his Notes, by his dear Friend Will. Gifford Dean of St. Peter’s Church at L’isle. This Book endeavours to prove that Calvin’s Religion is worse in condition, and less probable in reason, than that of the Turks, and hath less ground and substance therein, than the other, The copies of which, stealing over the Sea into England, were answered by one who writes himself T. M. S. in a Book bearing this Title, De Turco-Papismo. Hoc est de Turcorum & Papistarum adversus Christi Ecclesiam & fidem conjuratione, eorumque in Religione & moribus concensione & similitudine. Lond. 1598, 99. qu. ibid. 1604 in oct. To which Book are added 4 more against the said Calvino-Turcismus. In the Preface to the first that came forth, the Author saith, that Will. Rainolds his going over to the Church of Rome, was because he was not compos mentis, as being somewhat distracted for the love of the Wife of one M. a famous Women of Oxon, &c. The said Rainolds also translated from English into Latin all the Works of Tho. Harding, with a large Preface to them, as I have elsewhere told you; but for want of Money they could not be Printed: Also Dr. Will. Allen’s Book entit. A true, sincere and modest defence of English Catholicks, &c. which Book W. Rainolds did also much increase. And what else he hath written, Pitscus will (*)(*) In lib. Dr. illustr. Angl. Script. Aet. 16. nu. 1040. tell you, who adds that he deceasing at Antwerp in Flanders, 1594 in fifteen hundred ninety and four, was buried in the Chancel of the Church of the Bigwins there, on the South side of the Altar. Soon after was a stone laid over his Grave, with this inscription thereon. Honorabili Domino D. Gulielmo Reginaldo, alias Ressaeo pio exuli Auglo, viro doctissimo, & hujus Ecclesiae Ministro. Obiit 24. Aug. 1594, &c. T [••] w. Rainolds had five Brothers, the eldest of which was named Hierom Fellow of C. C. College, and Master of Arts in 1557. who continuing in the Roman Catholick Religion, practised Physick in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth’s Reign; but soon after left the University, and whether he went beyond the Seas, and was Doctorated there, I cannot tell. Under this Hierom Rainolds, our Author William, who was the next Brother, did receive most of his tuition, while he was a Junior in Oxon. The third Brother was Edm. Rainolds before-mentioned, Fellow of C. C. College also, who leaving that House because he was in animo Catholicus, retired to Glocester Hall, where living many years in the condition of a Tutor, dyed a wealthy Man. The fourth Brother was James Rainolds, Master of Arts, and Fellow of Exeter Coll. The fifth and youngest was Nicholas, who lived at Pynhaws on the Lands of his Ancestors, Father to Will. Rainolds of Cassington near to Woodstock in Oxfordshire Gentleman, sometimes a Member of Glocester Hall, (under his Uncle Edmund,) from whom I formerly received a writing under his hand, concerning his Ancestors and Relations for three Generations above him, part of which is here mentioned.