[644]William Chillingworth[CA], D. D.,—vide Anthony Wood'sAntiq. Oxon.in Trinity College—was borne in Oxford. His father was a brewer.
About anno ... he was acquainted with one ... who drew him and some other scholars over to Doway, where he was not so well entertained as he thought he merited for his great disputative witt. They made him the porter (which was to trye his temper, and exercise his obedience): so he stole over and came to Trinity College againe, where he was fellowe.
William Laud, A. B. C.[645], was his godfather and great friend. He sent his grace weekly intelligence of what passed in the university[CB]. Sir William Davenant (poet laureat) told me that notwithstanding this doctor's great reason, he was guiltie of the detestable crime of treachery. Dr. Gill[CC], filius DrisGill (schoolmaster of Paules schoole), and Chillingworth held weekely intelligence one with another for some yeares, wherein they used to nibble at states-matters. Dr. Gill in one of his letters calles King James and his sonne, the old foole and the young one, which letter Chillingworth communicates to W. Laud, A. B. Cant. The poore young Dr. Gill was seised, and a terrible storme pointed towards him, which, by the eloquent intercession and advocation of Edward, earle of Dorset, together with the teares of the poore old Doctor his father, and supplication on his knees to his majestie, were blowne-over. I am sorry so great a witt should have such a naeve.
Absentem qui rodit amicum,Qui non defendit alio culpante, solutosQui captat risus hominum famamque dicacis,Fingere qui non visa potest, commissa tacereQui nequit: hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto.
Absentem qui rodit amicum,Qui non defendit alio culpante, solutosQui captat risus hominum famamque dicacis,Fingere qui non visa potest, commissa tacereQui nequit: hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto.
Horat.lib. I, sat. iv.
He was a little man, blackish haire, of a saturnine complexion.
The lord Falkland (vide
He lies buried in the south side of the cloysters at Chichester, where he dyed of themorbus castrensisafter the taking of Arundel castle by the parliament: wherin he was very much blamed by the king's soldiers for his advice in military affaires there, and they curstthat little priestand imputed the losse of the castle to his advice. In his sicknesse he was inhumanely treated by Dr. Cheynell[CD], who, when he was to be buryed, threw his booke into the grave with him, saying, 'Rott with the rotten; let the dead bury the dead.' Vide a pamphlet of about 6 sheets writt by Dr. Cheynell (maliciously enough) where he gives an account of his life.
This following inscription was made and set-up by Mr. Oliver Whitby[CE], his fellowe-collegiate at Trinity College and now one of the prebendarys of this church:
Virtuti sacrum.Spe certissimae resurrectionisHic reducem expectat animamGulielmvs Chillingworth,S. T. P.Oxonii natus et educatus,Collegii StaeTrinitatis olimSocius, Decus et Gloria.Omni Literarum genere celeberrimus,Ecclesiae Anglicanae adversus Romano-CatholicamPropugnator invictissimus,Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis Praecentor[XLIV.]dignissimus;Sine Exequiis,Furentis cujusdam Theologastri,Doctoris Cheynell[XLV.],Diris et maledictione sepultus:Honoris et Amicitiae ergo,AbOlivero Whitby,Brevi hoc monimento,Posterorum memoriae consecratus,Anno Salutis,1672.[646]
[XLIV.]This is a mistake; he was not Chantor of the Church, but Chancellor of the Church of Sarum, whose office was antiently to read a lecture in Latin, quarterly, in the pulpit in the library, either in Theologie or the Canon Lawe. Since the Reformation 'twas commuted into preaching on the Holy-dayes. He never swore to all the points of the Church of England.
[XLIV.]This is a mistake; he was not Chantor of the Church, but Chancellor of the Church of Sarum, whose office was antiently to read a lecture in Latin, quarterly, in the pulpit in the library, either in Theologie or the Canon Lawe. Since the Reformation 'twas commuted into preaching on the Holy-dayes. He never swore to all the points of the Church of England.
[XLV.]Minister of Petworth.
[XLV.]Minister of Petworth.
My tutor, W. Browne[CF], haz told me, that Dr. Chillingworth studied not much, but when he did, he did much in a little time. He much delighted in Sextus Empeiricus. He did walke much in the College grove, and there contemplate, and meet with somecod's-heador other, and dispute with him and baffle him. He thus prepared himselfe before-hand. He would alwayes be disputing; so would my tutor. I thinke it was an epidemick evill of that time, which I think now is growne out of fashion, as unmannerly and boyish. He was the readiest and nimblest disputant of his time in the university, perhaps none haz equalled him since.
I have heard Mr. Thomas Hobbes, Malmesb. (who knew him), say,that he was like a lusty fighting fellow that did drive his enimies before him, but would often give his owne party smart[647]back-blowes.
When Doctor Kettle, (the president of Trin. Coll. Oxon.) dyed[CG], which was in anno <1643> Dr. Chillingworth was competitor for the presidentship, with Dr. Hannibal Potter and Dr. Roberts. Dr. Han. Potter had been formerly chaplain to the bishop of Winton, who was so much Dr. Potter's friend, that though (as Will Hawes haz told me) Dr. Potter was not lawfully elected, upon referring themselves to their visitor (bishop of Winton), the bishop (Curle) ordered Dr. Potter possession; and let the fellowes gett him out if they could. This was shortly after the lord Falkland was slaine, who had he lived, Dr. Chillingworth assured Will Hawes, no man should have carried it against him: and that he was so extremely discomposed and wept bitterly for the losse of his deare friend, yet notwithstanding he doubted not to have an astergance[CH]for it.
Notes.[CA]William Chillingworth was elected Scholar of Trinity June 2, 1618 (then of St. Martin's parish, Oxon, aged 19), and Fellow, June 10, 1628.[CB]For another instance of reports sent to Laud (who was Chancellor of Oxford 1630-41) about Oxford matters, see Clark's Wood'sLife and Times, ii. 238.[CC]Alexander Gill matr. at Trinity College, June 26, 1612, was Clerk at Wadham College, April 20, 1613, but rejoined Trinity and from thence took his D.D., March 9, 1636/7. He was usher to his father in St. Paul's School 1621-28, being removed for the offence here related.[CD]Francis Cheynell, a native of Oxford (like Chillingworth), Fellow of Merton 1629, D.D. July 24, 1649.[CE]Oliver Whitby, matr. at Trinity, Oct. 15, 1619; Archdeacon of Chichester, Dec. 23, 1672.[CF]William Browne, of Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, aged 16, elected Scholar of Trinity May 28, 1635, M.A. March 18, 1641/2.[CG]Anthony Wood, in a marginal note, objects—'This cannot be: Dr. Kettle died after Chillingworth.' But Wood is wrong. Kettell died in July 1643; Chillingworth in January, 1643/4; Potter was admitted President August 8, 1643.[CH]'Astergance,' apparently an Aubrey form for 'abstergence,' i.e. consolation. The meaning perhaps is:—although Chillingworth was grieved for Falkland's (or Kettell's) death, he had looked for the consolation of being promoted to the Presidentship of his College.
[CA]William Chillingworth was elected Scholar of Trinity June 2, 1618 (then of St. Martin's parish, Oxon, aged 19), and Fellow, June 10, 1628.
[CA]William Chillingworth was elected Scholar of Trinity June 2, 1618 (then of St. Martin's parish, Oxon, aged 19), and Fellow, June 10, 1628.
[CB]For another instance of reports sent to Laud (who was Chancellor of Oxford 1630-41) about Oxford matters, see Clark's Wood'sLife and Times, ii. 238.
[CB]For another instance of reports sent to Laud (who was Chancellor of Oxford 1630-41) about Oxford matters, see Clark's Wood'sLife and Times, ii. 238.
[CC]Alexander Gill matr. at Trinity College, June 26, 1612, was Clerk at Wadham College, April 20, 1613, but rejoined Trinity and from thence took his D.D., March 9, 1636/7. He was usher to his father in St. Paul's School 1621-28, being removed for the offence here related.
[CC]Alexander Gill matr. at Trinity College, June 26, 1612, was Clerk at Wadham College, April 20, 1613, but rejoined Trinity and from thence took his D.D., March 9, 1636/7. He was usher to his father in St. Paul's School 1621-28, being removed for the offence here related.
[CD]Francis Cheynell, a native of Oxford (like Chillingworth), Fellow of Merton 1629, D.D. July 24, 1649.
[CD]Francis Cheynell, a native of Oxford (like Chillingworth), Fellow of Merton 1629, D.D. July 24, 1649.
[CE]Oliver Whitby, matr. at Trinity, Oct. 15, 1619; Archdeacon of Chichester, Dec. 23, 1672.
[CE]Oliver Whitby, matr. at Trinity, Oct. 15, 1619; Archdeacon of Chichester, Dec. 23, 1672.
[CF]William Browne, of Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, aged 16, elected Scholar of Trinity May 28, 1635, M.A. March 18, 1641/2.
[CF]William Browne, of Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, aged 16, elected Scholar of Trinity May 28, 1635, M.A. March 18, 1641/2.
[CG]Anthony Wood, in a marginal note, objects—'This cannot be: Dr. Kettle died after Chillingworth.' But Wood is wrong. Kettell died in July 1643; Chillingworth in January, 1643/4; Potter was admitted President August 8, 1643.
[CG]Anthony Wood, in a marginal note, objects—'This cannot be: Dr. Kettle died after Chillingworth.' But Wood is wrong. Kettell died in July 1643; Chillingworth in January, 1643/4; Potter was admitted President August 8, 1643.
[CH]'Astergance,' apparently an Aubrey form for 'abstergence,' i.e. consolation. The meaning perhaps is:—although Chillingworth was grieved for Falkland's (or Kettell's) death, he had looked for the consolation of being promoted to the Presidentship of his College.
[CH]'Astergance,' apparently an Aubrey form for 'abstergence,' i.e. consolation. The meaning perhaps is:—although Chillingworth was grieved for Falkland's (or Kettell's) death, he had looked for the consolation of being promoted to the Presidentship of his College.