BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. A. D. The following selection comprises such persons as were either born in Yorkshire, or from their long residence in the county, may be considered to have been naturalized;-persons, who, by 1851 their enterprize, genius, learning, bravery, piety, benevolence, scientific, or other pursuits, rendered themselves more than ordinarily attractive among their contemporaries, and objects of attention for the consideration of posterity-to instruct by their wisdom, encourage by their example, or warn by their miscarriages and defects. Chronological, rather than alphabetical order, has been observed, as most in harmony with the Annals: but even in this case, a given space of time is apportioned for a certain number of names, allowing the range of a few years for the notice of those persons, of whom nothing can be ascertained with regard to the precise period of their birth. It may be remarked, for the further guidance of the reader, as well as by way of explanation,- 1. That several names are omitted in this selection, of persons figuring in the Annals, who stood more or less connected with the events of the times in which they lived, but respecting whom it has been deemed unnecessary to add more: 2. That others will be found, to whom reference is made in the body of the work, who seemed to demand further notice ;- -a notice, however, which would have been out of place, whether in the text or as a foot note, as it would, if given earlier, have drawn attention from the more important facts and events associated with the history of the times: 3. That a few persons have been introduced, in humble circumstances-in russet costume-who, though their fame was far from being trumpet-tongued, exercised, nevertheless, a certain modicum of influence on society, and, if not permitted to stand by the side of the more gorgeous flowers that adorn the gardens of the great, may be allowed, like the daisy of the field, the wild hedge-rose, the cowslip, the primrose, and the forget-me-not, to have a glance bestowed upon them, while gemming the humbler walks of life. 4. That while the list presents, at one view, the biographical wealth of the county, it is still to be characterised as comprising a selection only-sufficient, though by no means perfect; and to be valued chiefly for the sake of reference, as the notices could not, with propriety, have been introduced into the body of the work, and if they had, would have failed to produce the effect in an isolated form, which they are calculated to accomplish according to present arrangement. A. D. 150 to 200 Coilus, the father of Lucius, who embraced Christianity, and was the first crowned head in the world that became a convert to the religion of Jesus, lived, died, and was buried in York. Constantine the Great, emperor of the Romans, the son of Constantius Chlorus, by his wife Helena, was born about the year 272. On the death of his father, at York, in 306, was proclaimed by the army; soon after which, he married Fausta, the daughter of Maximian, who endeavoured to depose him, but failed in the attempt, and destroyed himself. Maxentuis, son of Maximian, declared war against Constantine, but was defeated; in which contest Constantine professed to have seen a luminous cross in the heavens, on which he was induced to embrace Christianity. Italy was reduced. 200 to Entered Rome in triumph, and received from the senate, the rank 300 600 to 700 of Augustus, in conjunction with Licinius and Maximin, the former of whom married his sister, Constantia. War shortly after broke out between Licinius and Maximin, in which the latter was slain. Licinius formed a conspiracy against Constantine; who, after one or two battles, put his competitor to death. In possession of the empire, Constantine formed the design of forming a new seat of government, for which purpose Byzantium was selected, which from thence took the name of Constantinople. Built numerous churches, and visited Jerusalem. Consented to the banishment of Athanasius; strictly adhered to the confession of Nice, and refused to re-establish Arius. He died in 337. Several of his epistles and edicts still extant.-Univ. Hist. Cadman, a monk of Streanshall, or Whitby, who flourished about the seventh century, or the beginning of the eighth. Broke the trammels of prejudice and custom, sang in his native tones and idiom, and, by the strength of his intellect, placed himself at the head of the class to which he belonged. Once acted in the capacity of a cowherd. Composed several poems on the Bible histories, and on miscellaneous religious subjects.-Wright's Life of Cadman. Henry I., the youngest son of William the Conqueror, was born at Selby, 1069. Was crowned by Maurice, bishop of London, at Westminster, August 5th, 1100. Alured, of Beverley, an old English historian, was canon and treasurer of the church of St. John, in Beverley, and died about the year 1128. Wrote a Chronicle of the English Kings, which was published by Hearne, in 1716. Hoveden, Roger de, an English historian, was born in Yorkshire, and flourished about the year 1204: held some place in the court of Henry II., and was both a lawyer and professor of theology at Oxford. His Annals, beginning at the year 731, and ending in 1202, were printed by Sir Henry Savile, among the Historici Anglici," 1595; and again in 1601.-Nicolson's Library. 66 Holywood, or Scarobosco, John, was born, as is generally supposed, at Halifax. He became canon regular of the order of St. Augustin, in the monastery of Holywood, in Nithsdale; after which he went to Paris, where he became professor of mathematics, and died in 1256. His works are,-De Sphæra Mundi;-De Anni Ratione, seu de Computo, Ecclesiastico;-De Algorismo. Baston, Robert, an English poet of the thirteenth century, was born in Yorkshire. Became prior of the carmelite monastery at Scarborough, poet laureat, and public orator at Oxford. Poetry tolerable for the age in which he lived. He died about the year 1310. Wickliffe, or Wycliffe, John, the "Morning star of the Reformation," was born at a village of the same name, in Yorkshire, in 1324. Became a commoner of Queen's College, and afterwards of Merton College, Oxford, where, in 1360, he distinguished himself by asserting the rights of the university against the Friars, who inveigled the students from the colleges of their convents. Wrote some tracts against those mendicants, for which he was chosen master of Baliol College, and soon after archbishop Islip appointed him warden of Canterbury-hall. Deprived of the wardenship on the death of his patron, by his successor Langham, who issued a mandate to that effect. Wickliffe appealed to the pope, who confirmed the decree of the archbishop. Obtained the favour of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was appointed King's chaplain, and obtained the living of Lutterworth, in Leicestershire. In 1372, took his doctor's degree, and read lectures. Nominated one of the King's commissioners, to require of the pope not to interfere in ecclesiastical benefices. The treaty carried on at Bruges, but nothing concluded, upon which the parliament passed an act against papal usurpations. Exposed the tyranny of the pope, who, in 1377, denounced the reformer as a heretic, and required the archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishop of London, to proceed against him. Wickliffe was supported by the duke of Lancaster and earl Percy, who appeared with him at St. Paul's, February 19th, 1378. High words between the bishops and the temporal lords. The populace destroy the duke's house in the Savoy. Wickliffe, thus countenanced at court, undertakes a translation of the Scriptures into English, which he completes, and increases the number of his enemies. Several copies of this translation from the Vulgate, still extant, but only the New Testament as yet printed. Attacked the doctrine of transubstantiation in 1381, in a piece entitled-" De Blasphemia," which was condemned at Oxford. Went thither and declared his faith, pledging himself to defend it with his blood. The marriage of the king with Anne of Luxembourg, favourable to reform, being an exemplary princess, and a friend to scriptural knowledge. The writings of the reformers sent into Germany, where they produced an abundant harvest. On leaving Oxford, Wickliffe received a citation from the pope to appear at Rome, but answered, that " Christ had taught him to obey God rather than man." Died of palsy at Lutterworth, in 1384.-Life by Lewis. A. D. 1200 to 1300 1300 to 1400 A. D. 1300 to 1400 Gascoigne, Sir William, chief-justice of the King's Bench, [referred to in the Annals, vol. ii., p. 78]—was born at Gawthorp, in 1350. Became sergeant-at-law, in 1398; and on the accession of Henry IV., was made one of the justices of the Common Pleas, from whence he was removed to the King's Bench in 1401. Refused to pass sentence upon archbishop Scroop, as a traitor, by the king's command, as being contrary to law The scene of the Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry V., striking the judge, when on the bench, is admirably described by Shakespeare. The great earl of Strafford, in the reign of Charles I., was a descendant of Sir The latter died in 1413, leaving several children. Biog. Brit. Gower, John, an English poet, was most probably born in Yorkshire. [Slightly noticed in the Annals, vol. i. p. 104.] It has to be added, that Caxton states him to have been born in Wales, where at this day is a tract of land which is called by his name. In Blair's Chronology, it is said "John Gower, of Stitenham, Yorkshire, the first English poet, died this year, 1402." Gower studied the law. Was a member of the middle temple, where he contracted an intimacy with Chaucer. His first work, entitled "Speculum Meditantis," of which there are two copies in the Bodleian Library. His next work "Vox Clamantis," in Latin, of which several copies are extant. The work on which his fame rests, is the Confessio Amantis," first printed by Caxton, in 1493; an English poem of a moral nature, and very severe on the vices of the times. Died in 1402, and was buried in the church of St. Saviour's, Southwark, where his monument yet remains.-Todd's Illustrations of Chaucer. Langtoft, Peter, an English historian, so named from Langtoft, in Yorkshire. Was a canon of the order of St. Augustine, at Bridlington, and died at the beginning of the reign of Edward II. Translated from the Latin into French verse, Boscam's Life of Thomas á Becket, and compiled in the same language a metrical Chronicle of England; printed by Hearne, in 1725, in 2 vols, 8vo.—Gen. Biog. Dict. Rolle, Richard, of Hampole, supposed to have been born about four miles from Doncaster, some time about the beginning of the reign of Edward III. Devoted himself to a life of austerity and divine meditation in a cell near the monastery of Hampole. Was an A. D. 1400 eremite of the order of St. Augustine, and a doctor in divinity. Admitted among the Sancti Confessores of the Church. His works, very numerous, but mostly comments upon portions of Scripture, 1300 to and on the offices of the Church, written in Latin. Wrote several pieces of English rhyme, viz,-A Paraphrase of part of the Book of Job,-of the Lord's Prayer,-of the Seven Penitential Psalms, -and the Pricke of Conscience. Some of his works passed through the press of Wynkyn de Worde, and some of the great libraries possess a portion of them in manuscript.-Offic. de. Sanc. Ricard. Herm. Perkyns, or Parkin, Robert, one of the chaplains to the ladies of the Hampole nunnery, wrote in English verse, "A History of the Blessed Jesus from the Evangelists and Ancient Doctors." The manuscript was once in the library of Thoresby, the Leeds antiquary, from whence it passed into that of the late Mr. Heber, and was sold with the rest of the books of that celebrated collector.— Poets of Yorkshire. Flemming, or Flemminge, Richard, an English prelate, was born at Crofton, and educated at University college, Oxford. In 1406, was presented to a prebend in the church of York, and was some time a zealous supporter of Wickliffe's doctrines, which afterwards he opposed. Became rector of Boston, and in 1420 bishop of Lincoln. Sent to the council of Sienna, in 1424, and four years after, executed the decree passed for the burning of Wickliffe's bones. Founded Loncoln college, in Oxford. Died in 1431.—Biog. Brit. William of Nassington, (place of birth uncertain,) was a proctor or advocate in the Ecclesiastical Court at York, and translated, as is supposed, about the year 1480, into English verse, a theological tract, entitled, "A Treatise on the Trinity and Unity, with a Declaration of God's Works, and of the Passion of Jesus Christ."Warton. John of Waldenby, (place of birth uncertain,) was connected with William of Nassington, and was an Augustine Friar, of Yorkshire, and a student in the convent of his order, at Oxford, of which he became the provincial, and distinguishing himself as an opposer of the doctrines of Wickliffe.-Warton. Baynes, Ralph, an English prelate, was born in Yorkshire, and educated in St. John's college, Cambridge. He went to Paris on taking his doctor's degree, and became professor of Hebrew in that university; but on the accession of Queen Mary he returned to England, and was consecrated bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, of which he was deprived in the next reign. Wrote Prima Rudimenta in linguam Hebraicam, 4to, and Comment. in Proverbia Salomonis, folio. Died 1559. Flemming, Robert, nephew of Richard Flemming, was educated at Oxford, and in 1451, was made dean of Lincoln. Visited Italy. Admired for his learning and eloquence, particularly by Pope Sixtus IV., to whom he presented a Latin poem. Died in 1483. 1400 to 1500 |