John Salkeld

fourth Son of Edw. Salkeld Gent. second brother to George Salkeld somtimes of Corby Castle in Cumberland Esquire, lineally descended from Sir Rich. Salkeld Kt, Lord Warden of Carlile in the time of K. Ric. 3, was born at Corby Castle, and when very young journied through Oxon beyond the Seas, but in what house he was entred, unless in Qu. Coll. I cannot tell. His continuance there, as I have been informed, was so short (occasion’d by his Religion) that we can scarce reckon him among the Oxonians. For so it was that his Father soon after conveyed him into Spain, entred him among the Jesuits in the University of Conimbria, where, as also at Corduba and Complutum he continued among them in the condition of a Jesuit many years, and was Assistant in the studies to the famous Jesuits Franc. Suarius (who was his fellow student several years) and Mich. Vasquez. Afterwards he was sent into Portugall, where he read Philosophy about six years, then into the English mission, but being taken and brought before K. Jam. 1, who had several times heard of him and his eminency for learning, he entred into divers disputes with him at several times. At length being overcome by his solid arguments, Salkeld turned Protestant, was recommended to Dr. King Bishop of London for maintenance, and in Nov. 1613, became, by the presentation of his Majesty, Vicar of Wellington in Somersetshire, (being then Bach. of Div.) where he used to boast of his conversion and to stile himself the Royal Convert. In 1635 he was made Minister of Church Taunton in Devonshire worth to him about 200 l. per an. whereupon one Walt. Travers was instituted Vicar of Wellington in his place, on the 16. of July the same year. But after the Civil Wars broke forth he suffer’d for the Royal cause, being esteemed by the obstinate and incredulous Presbyterians a Papist in his heart, or at least popishly affected. He was a Person profoundly read in Theological and other Authors, and K. Jam. 1. doth stile him in his works the learned Salkeld, of which character he would often glory. His works are,

A Treatise of Angels, &c. Lond. 1613. oct. dedic. to K. Jam. 1.

Treatise of Paradise and the principal contents thereof, &c. Lond. 1617. oct. ded. to Sir Franc. Bacon L. Keeper of the Great Seal. He gave way to fate at Uffculme in Devonshire (having for 14 years before been sequestred of Church Taunton) in the month of February in sixteen hundred fifty and nine, aged 84 years or more,1659/60. and was buried in the Church there, as I have been informed by his son John Salkeld of Uffculme before mention’d, Gent. He then left behind him several things of his composition fit for the Press, among which were two concerning Controversies between Rome and the Church of Engl. and another of the end of the world; which last, and one of the former, were conveyed to London by his son, to his Kinsman Sir Edw. VValker Garter K. of Arms, who communicating one of the said former things to Dr. Sam. Parker Chaplain to Dr. Sheldon Archb. of Canterbury, to know of him whether it was fit to be printed, he found it a solid piece, and the Author of it learned, but the design Cassandrian, &c. as by his letters I was informed.