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Chapter III. Prynne's Choice of A Profession

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1877

Extract

During Prynne's residence at Oxford many changes had occurred i n his home at Swainswick. Little Dorothy, his youngest sister, died at the age of six, during his first year at Oriel. His eldest sister Joan had been married to William Kemish, described as of Wickwar, in the county of Gloucester. The circumstances or position of her husband does not appear, but it would seem that he and his wife resided for many years at Swainswick. In January, 1617-18, they had a daughter born, who was named Katherine, and in September, 1619, a son named Arthur. But the event which exercised the greatest influence on the life of Prynne was the death of his father, which occurred on the 5th July, 1620. In compliance with his own directions he was buried in the parish church on the 10th July, and an inscription which at one time commemorated the place of his interment has now disappeared. By his will, which was made on the 1st February, 1618-19, he left his lease of his farm at Swainswick to his son William, charged with the payment of 200l. to his brother Thomas, and the same sum to each of his sisters, Katherine and Bridget. He left to William also a considerable portion of his furniture and plate, with some few articles to his other children, including Joan Kemish, who had no doubt received her portion on her marriage.

Type
Biographical Fragment
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1877

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References

page xxi note a Prynne's book, Lame Giles, his haltings, was directed against him. S. R. G.

page xxi note a Wood's Fasti, i. 392.

page xxiv note a “I, who, by your favours was no stranger to the beginning of the work, and an often refresher of it to your memories, and a poor assistant in laying the first stone, the material stone, as I am now a poor assistant again in this laying of the first formal stone, the word and sacrament, and shall ever desire to be so in the service of this place.” Donne's Dedication Sermon of Lincoln's Inn Chapel. Lond. 4to. 1623, p. 21. A sermon preached by Donne in Lincoln's Inn, “preparing them to build their chapel,” will be found in Donne's works, ed. by Alford, iii. 168.

page xxv note a “Strangers shall not know how ill we were provided for such a work when we began it, nor with what difficulties we have wrestled in the way; but strangers shall know, to God's glory, that you have perfected a work of full three times as much charge as you proposed for it at the beginning : so bountifully doth God bless and prosper intentions to his glory, with enlarging your hearts' within, and opening the hearts of others abroad.” Donne's Sermon on the Dedication of the Chapel of Lincoln's Inn. Lond. 4to. 1623, p. 22.

page xxvi note a Heylyn's Laud, p. 67.