John Woolton

was born at a Market Town in Lancashire, called Wigan or Wiggen, entred (g)(g) Reg. antiq. coll. Ænean. fol. 90. b. a Student in Brasnose Col. 26. Oct. 1553. aged 18, or thereabouts, having perhaps wore a Gown in the University before that time, supplicated for the Degree of Bach of Arts, in the beginning of 1555. but it doth not appear that he was admitted. Afterwards, as it is said, he went to, or with, his Uncle Alex. Nowel into Germany; to which place several Protestants of England had receeded as voluntary Exiles. In the beginning of Q. Eliz. he returned, and in 1563. being about that time Canon Residentiary of Exeter, he was admitted by the Name of John Wolton, Bach. of Arts to the Church of Spaxton in the Diocess of Wells. In April 1574. he supplicated the venerable congregation of Regents, that he might be admitted to the reading of the Sentences; but whether his desire was granted, or he admitted, it appears not. In May 1575. being then Warden of Manchester College in his own Country, he supplicated under the Name of John Wolton a Minister of Gods Word, and sometimes a Student of this Vniversity, that he might be licensed to proceed in Divinity; but whether that also was granted, it doth not appear. Sure it is, that he being then the designed Bishop of Exeter, was consecrated thereunto in the beginning of August following. He was a Person of great Piety and Reason, and an earnest assertor of conformity against the Opposers thereof, for which he was blamed by many, but commended by more, after his Death. He hath written,

The armour of proof; shewing the firm sortress of defence and haven of rest, in these troublesome times, Lond. 1576. oct.

Of the immortality of the Sou; wherein is declared the Origin, Nature, and Power of the same, &c.

Christian Manual: Or, the Life and Manners of true Christians; wherein is declared how needful it is for the Children of God, to manifest their Faith by their Works.

Castle for Christians, and Fortress for the Faithful, besieged and defended now almost 6000 years.

New Anatomy of the whole Man, as well of his Body, as of his Soul; declaring the condition and constitution of the same, in his first creation, corruption, regeneration, and glorifiration.

Discourse of the conscience; wherein is declared the unspeakable joys and comfort of a good conscience, and the grief of an evil conscience.—All which six Treatises were printed at London, in oct. An. 1576. At length he having sate Bishop about 14 years with great commendations, dyed on the 13th. of March, in fifteen hundred. ninety and three,159 3 [•] 4. and was buried in his Cathedral Church at Exeter, on the South side of the Presbytery or Choire, leaving then a Son behind him named John, Fellow of Allsouls college, Master of Arts, and a Graduat in Physick. Over his Grave was a Monument soon after erected, with an inscription thereon, containing six Verses, two of which run thus:

Ingenium, genium, mores, pietatis honore,

Eloquiumque pium busta perusta tegent.