as drum-major in August 1620 was ordered to impress twenty-eight drummers and fifers to serve in the ships sent against Algerine pirates (ib. 1619–23, p. 172). A Richard Gosson was in April 1614 a merchant of the East India Company (ib. 1611–16, p. 229).
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 675; Collier's Preface to School of Abuse (Shakespeare Soc.); Arber's Reprint, 1868; Collier's Bibliographical Cat.; Collier's Hist. of Engl. Dramatic Poetry.]
GOSTLIN, JOHN (1566?–1626), master of Gonville and Caius College, belonged to a family which sent many members to Cambridge. He was born in Norwich in or about 1566, and was the son of Robert Gostlin of that city. After being at school at Norwich for six years he was admitted at Caius College, 22 Nov. 1582, as a scholar. He graduated A.B. 1586–7, A.M. 1590, and M.D. 1602 (incorporated M.D. at Oxford, 1612). He was elected to a fellowship about Easter 1591–2, which he retained till he became master, 26 Feb. 1618–19. On the death of Dr. Legge (12 July 1607) ‘seven of the fellows chose Dr. Gostlin master, but because there was some ambiguity in one of the seven the Earl of Salisbury, then chancellor, vacated the election and appointed Dr. Branthwayt, then fellow of Emmanuel, master’ (Baker MSS. v. 24). Gostlin then retired to Exeter, where he practised physic, and was returned as M.P. for Barnstaple in 1614. After Dr. Branthwayt's death (1618) the fellows immediately met and chose Gostlin. The king's letter was brought soon after, recommending a divine, but they renewed their choice, and it was acceded to (Cal. State Papers, 1607, 1619). In 1623 he was appointed regius professor of physic, to which he was recommended by Dr. Isaac Barrow as being ‘the best man of his profession in the university’ (ib. 1623, pp. 605, 619). He was twice vice-chancellor of the university, dying during his second tenure of the office, 21 Oct. 1626. There is an account of his death in Mead's ‘Letters’ (Harl. MS. 390). His will is dated 19 Oct. 1626, and was proved (P. C. C.) 6 Dec. 1626. He was buried in the college chapel, where there is a monument to him. There is a portrait of him in the college lodge. He does not appear to have published any works. He was a benefactor to Gonville and Caius and St. Catharine's colleges. At the former he founded scholarships of the value of 40l. a year (College Records; Baker MSS.; Cooper, Athenæ Cantabr.; and other sources). There is a special commemoration for him in the college.
[Authorities cited above.]
GOSTLIN, JOHN (1632–1704), fellow and benefactor of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, son of John Gostlin, himself a former fellow of the college, was born at Dickleburg, Norfolk (baptised 29 Jan. 1632), and educated under Mr. Lancetter at Diss and Moulton in the same county. He was admitted at Caius 6 July 1647. He afterwards left and became a fellow of Peterhouse, but was elected fellow of Caius by royal mandate (1 June 1661). There is a petition from him to the king among the State Papers, requesting to be thus admitted on the ground that he had been debarred from such preferment in the time of Dr. Dell, ‘for his known loyalty,’ and that he was related to a former master of his own name (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1661). He graduated A.B. 1650, A.M. 1654, M.D. 1661. He appears to have resided pretty constantly in Cambridge after his return to Caius College, where he was made president (i.e. vice-master) in 1679. He died in college and was buried in the chapel, 3 Feb. 1704. He was a liberal benefactor; leaving 500l. for the increase of the scholarships founded by his relative the master, as well as the advowson of the rectory of Hethersett, Norfolk.
[College Records, and authorities cited.]
GOSTLING, JOHN (d. 1733), chorister, was born, probably at Canterbury, about the middle of the seventeenth century. Thomas Purcell, the uncle of the composer, wrote a letter dated 8 Feb. 1678–9 to Gostling, in which he says that the composer was engaged on a work which would cause Gostling, then at Canterbury, to be sent for to London (see Grove, Dictionary). Accordingly, on 25 Feb. Gostling was sworn a gentleman extraordinary of the Chapel Royal, and on the 28th was admitted in ordinary on the death of William Tucker. The entry in the Cheque Book describes him as ‘a base from Canterbury, Master of Arts.’ It is fairly certain that he is the John Gostling who took the degree of B.A. from St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1672. Gostling was famous for the compass and power of his voice. The opening passages of Purcell's ‘They that go down to the sea in ships,’ an anthem written for Gostling, and at his own request, is a lasting witness to its compass. Gostling officiated as one of the ministers at the coronations of James II and William and Mary. He afterwards became a minor canon of Canterbury, vicar of Littlebourn, sub-dean of St. Paul's, and prebendary of Lincoln (25 Oct. 1689). He died 17 July 1733. His son William is noticed below.
