Thomas Worthington

, Son of Rich. Worthington by Dorothy his Wife, Dau. of Tho. Charnock of Charnock in Lanc. was born at Blainscough near to Wygan in that County, and being fitted for the Univ. in those parts, he was sent to Ox. about 1566. but to what house of learning, unless to Brasnose coll. I cannot tell. After he had been drudging in the studies of Logick and Philosophy for about 4 years, he took a degree in Arts, which being compleated by Determination, he left the University, his Country, and Friends, and crossed the Seas to Doway, where he was received with great humanity into the English college, in Feb. 1572-73. Soon after he took upon him the Priesthood, and in 1577. he was promoted to the degree of Bach. of Divinity, and the year after being translated to the English college at Rheimes, was thence sent into England to gain Proselites, but being taken at Islington near to London, in the house of my Progenitor Rich. à Wood his Friend and Countryman, an. 1584. was committed Prisoner to the Tower of London, where remaining some months, was at length released, set on Shipboard with Dr. Jasp. Heywood, Edw. Rishton, Joh. Colleton, and others, and wa [•] ted over the Seas to the coast of Normandy, where they were left to shift for themselves. In 1587. he being about to return into England, he was sent by Cardinal Alan to Sir will. Stanley a Colonel, to whose Regiment in the Low Countries he was by him made Chaplain. In 1588. he was promoted to the degree of D. of D. in the University of Trier in Germany, and in 89. he was sent for to Doway by the Jesuits (whom he was always affraid to offend) to assist Dr. Rich. Barret President of the English college, in the Government of that place. In 91. he was sent to Bruxells, and remitted to the Camp, to exercise the office of Chaplain again; where, with other Exiles, they acted (*)(*) See Camdens Annals of Q. Eliz. under the year 1594. many things which tended much to the destruction of the Q. of England, and not long after returned to Doway again, and by the command of Cardinal Cajetan, Protector of the English Nation, he was made President of the English coll. there, ann. 1599. At length being grown old and unfit to govern, returned into England, lived sometimes in London and sometimes in Staffordshire. But that which is to be farther noted of him is, that having for the most part of his life lived in the habit of a Secular Priest, did about six months before his death take upon him the order and habit belonging to the Society of Jesus. His works are,

Annotations on the Old Testament. Duac. 1609. in two Tomes in qu.

Catalogus Martyrum pro Religione Catholicâ in Angliâ occisorum ab an. 1570. ad an. 1612. Printed 1612. and 14. in oct. Before which book is,

Narratio de origine Seminariorum, & de Missione Sacerdotum in Anglia. This Catalogue and Narration, taken mostly from a collection, intit. Concertatio Eccl. Catholicae in Anglia, &c. could not be sold more than for six pence when it was published, (for it contains but 4 sheets in oct.) yet in 1682. when the choice Library of Mr. Rich. Smith (mentioned before in Sir Joh. Davies) was sold by way of Auction, Dr. Tho. Marshall Dean of Gloucester, and Rector of Linc. coll. gave eleven shillings and six pence, being then great bidding for, before he could get, it.

The Anchor of Christian Doctrine, wherein the most principal points of Christian Religion, are proved by the only written word of God, &c. Doway 1622. in two thick quarto’s, containing four parts, viz. the first vol. one, the other three. These two quarto’s were, as one (†)(†) Jo. Gee at the end of his book called, The foot out of the Snare, &c. saith, printed at London, and sold by the author in his lodgings in Turnbull-street for 14 shillings, which might have been afforded for five.

The Mysteries of the Rosary.—This I have not yet seen. He also corrected and translated the Doway Bibles, and translated into Lat. and published, Anti-Haeretica motiva, &c. written by Rich. Bristow.—Attrebat. 1608. in two Tomes in qu. before which he hath put a lame account of the author. This person Tho. Worthington who was esteemed very learned among those of his perswasion, and had hazarded his life, and done great service for the Cause, did quietly lay down his head, and submit himself to the stroke of death in the house of one Bidulph, Esq of Bidulph, commonly called Biddles in Staffordshire (near to Congleton in Cheshire,) 1626 about sixteen hundred twenty and six, and was buried in the Parochial Church there, (as I have been informed by one of his Society who was well acquainted with him,) having some years before his death been made titular Archdeacon of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.