George Ritschel

, the eldest son of George Ritschel a Bohemian, by Gertrude his wife, was born at Deutschkana in the borders of Bohemia, on the 13 of Febr. styl, nov. an. 1616, sent by his Relations when 17 years of age to the University of Straesburg, where he continued about 7 years. At length his father dying, and Ferdinando 2. driving the Protestants out of his Dominions, he, rather than he would conform to the Ch. of Rome, agreed with his younger brother, that he should have the Estate to which he was heir, conditionally that he would furnish him with money to travel into foreign parts. Which being agreed to, our Author G. Ritschel went into England, and setling for a time in Oxford, was there, on the 3 of Decemb. 1641, entred into the publ. or Bodleian library under this form Georgius Ritschel Deutchkanan, Bosellus; but the Rebellion breaking openly out in the year following, he went to the Hague, Leyden, and Amsterdam. In 1643 he travelled into Denmark, where he spent above an year at Copenhagen and Sora, and in 1644 he visited Poland, and from Dantzick he went into England, where continuing for some time in London, journied thence to Oxon, took up his quarters in Kettle Hall, (a member of Trin. Coll.) became a severe and constant Student in the Bodleian library, and wrot and published a book during his stay in the University, as I shall anon tell you; but whether he took a degree therein, it appears not. After he had left the University, he became chief Master of the Free-school at Newcastle upon Tyne; whence, after he had continued there several years, he was removed to the Vicaridge of Hexham in Northumberland, where he continued Minister almost 28 years. He hath written,

Contemplationes Metaphysicae ex natura rerum & rectae rationis lumine deductae, &c. Oxon. 1648. oct, dedicated to Sir Cheyney Culpeper, and Nich. Stonghton Esq. Before which is a Preface to shew what Metaphysicks are, and their use. This was reprinted at Frankfort in 1680, by the care of Magnus Hesenthalerus the late famous Professor of Wertemberg, with an Epist. ded. of the said Hesenthalerus to Wolfgangus principal Officer to the Duke of Wertemberg, with the title changed thus, Georgii Ritschel contemplationes Metaphysicae, quas rerum ex natura, rectaeꝫ rationis lumine deductas, Oxoniae Anglorum 1648 olim publicatas ipsummet per Autorem auctas, revisas, emendatas: ab amica Magni Hesenthaleri manu impetratas exquisitio plurium Literatorum voto, &c. He hath also written another book intit.

Dissertatio de ceremoniis Ecclesiae Anglicanae, quâ usus earum licitus ostenditur, & à superstitionis & idolatriae crimine vindicatur. Lond. 1661. oct. This book, which got him great credit with his Diocesan Dr. Jo. Cosin, is commended by Dr. Durell in his S. Eccles. Anglicanae Vindiciae. Afterwards at the request of the said Hesenthalerus, our author Ritschel sent to Wertemberg his Ethica Christiana, in 2 vol. qu. with another Latin quarto called Exercitationes sacrae, which Hesenthalerus desired, and promised to take care of the printing them, and engaged his son to take the like care, if he should die before they were began: Whether they were printed is not yet certain. He also at his death left with his son two MSS. ready for the press, one De fide catholica, and the other against the English Quakers, both in qu. and in Latine. This learned author who for a time had been Tutor in his travels to the sons of the Prince of Transylvania, died on the 28 of Decemb. in sixteen hundred eighty and three, and was buried in the Chancel of the Church of Hexham before mentioned,1683. sometimes a Cathedral dedicated to St. Andrew; in the Vicaridge of which his son named George Ritschel lately of S. Edm. Hall succeeded him. Soon after was a monument put over his grave, with this inscription thereon: Sub hoc marmore sacrae reconduntur reliquiae Georgii Ritschel Patria Bohemi, religione reformati, qui saeviente in Protestantes Ferdinando secundo omnibus gentilitiis haereditatibus exutus, sed Argentorati, Lugduni Batavorum, aliarumꝫ Academiarum exterarum spoliis onustus, quicquid eruditionis in istis florentissimis Musarum Emporiis viguit, secum detulit Oxonium, an. Dom. 1644, qua celeberrima Academia consummatis studiis aliorum commodo studere coepit; & contemplationibus Metaphysicis, vindiciisꝫ ceremoniarum Eccles. Anglicanae, aliisꝫ scriptis eruditissimis editis toto orbe statim inclaruit. Tanta fame auctus Ecclesiam Augustaldensem ad quam electus erat, & cui praefuit annos plus minus 27 magis Augustam & tantum non cathedralem, qualis olim fuerit, reliquit, &c. You may read more of the Encomiums of this worthy person in the sermon preached at his funeral by one Major Algood Rector of Simonbourne in Northumberland, and in an Elegy on his death at the end of it.—Printed at Lond. 1684. quart.