Laurence Vaus

, Vaux or Vaulx, so many ways I find him written, was born near to Blackrode in Lancashire, received his Academical education in Oxon, partly, as it seems, in Queens Coll. but mostly in that of Corp. Ch. were he was either Clerk or Chorister, and much favoured by Jam. Brokes Fellow of that house. How long he continued there, or whether he took a Degree in Arts it appears not. About the Year 1540 he applyed his studies to the Theological faculty and was made a Priest, being then esteemed (i)(i) Anon. MS. de quibusd. script. Angl. in man [•] b. quondam Gul. Crowe Ludimag. Cro [•] on. to be Vir eximiae doctrinae pro instruendâ in fide catholicâ juventute. Afterwards he became Chaplain to the said Brokes when he was Bishop of Gloc [•] ster, Warden of Manchester Coll. in his own Country on the death of George Collier (of the Family of the Colliers near to Stone in Staffordshire) in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Mary, and in 1556 he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences in this University. Upon the coming to the Crown of Qu. Eliz. and the reformation of Religion that followed, he left his preferment (in which Will. Byrch of the Family of Byrch hall in Lanc. succeeded 2. Eliz.) and went into Ireland, where he was dispoiled of all he had by thieves, and narrowly escaped death. Thence he went into the Low Countries, where, at Lovaine, he was made a Monk, as (k)(k) Joh. Pits. De illustr. Angl. Script. aet. 16. nu. 1016. one saith, of the order of St. Dionyse, meaning, I suppose, of the Cenobie of St. Dionyse, because there is no such order; where he wrot,

A Catechisme, or a christian doctrine necessary for Children and ignorant People. Lov. 1567. Antw. 1574. printed again 1583. 1599. &c. all in oct. and tw.

An instruction of the laudable customes used in the Cath. Church—This is some editions is entit. The use and meaning of holy Ceremonies in Gods Church.

Godly contemplations for the unlearned—These two last are printed with one, two, or more of the editions of the Catechisme.

Certain brief notes of divers godly matters—Printed with the Catechisme in 1583—99 oct. At length our. Author Vaux making a return into England to propagate his, and strengthen others in, Religion, was apprehended, and imprisoned in the Gate-house at Westminster, where he (l)(l) In Lanc. visit. in the Heralds off. C. 37. at the end. dyed in great necessity, about the Year, as I find (m)(m) Ibid. in P [••] s at supra. it reported, 1570 Fifteen hundred and seventy; but where buried, I cannot justly say, because the register of St. Margarets Church (wherein the Prison called the Gate-house before-mentioned is situated) makes no mention of him in that Year, three years before, or three years after, as I have been informed by the Letters of Dr. Simon Patrick Prebendary of St. Peters Church in the said City, and Dean of Peterborough, afterwards Bishop of Chichester.