Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/59

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF LISBON COLLEGE.
49

with Stillingfleet, Clagget, and others among the most celebrated Protestant champions of that period. Indeed it is no small honour to Lisbon College that her sons, as we have seen, bore so large a share in the conflict waged in defence of the Church at that time, and bore away the laurels of victory against the ablest and most learned opponents the Established Church has ever produced. " No man," says Dodd, "was better qualified to come off with reputation in a personal conference than Mr. Goodin. He was naturally bold and intrepid; had a strong voice, a ready utterance, and generally made choice of such topics, as afforded him matter to display his eloquence and make an easy conquest." The Revolution of 1688, obliged him to withdraw from the public advocacy of his religion, but did not prevent him from continuing assiduously to labour in the same sacred cause. He died in Audcliffe in Lancashire, in the year 1695.

The Rev. Andrew Bromwich, a native of Oscott, Staffordshire, was admitted into the College in 1668. The Annals do not give the date of his departure on to the Mission, but mention the following particulars concerning him: "that he was born of Catholic parents, and went through his studies with success; after taking Holy Orders he returned to England, and laboured for some years in the conversion of souls, until, in the reign of Charles II, he was apprehended, and underwent a long imprisonment in Staffordshire, before he was brought to trial: he suffered much during his imprisonment from hunger and thirst, and was finally condemned to death for his religion by Sir William Scroggs. The violence of the persecution soon after abating, he was set at liberty. He then returned to his home and property at Oscott, and took charge of a few Catholics here and in the neighbourhood, until his death in 1702. He was buried in the family vault at Handsworth. His antique chair of very rude construction is still preserved at Oscott. From this humble foundation and residence of Andrew Bromwich, has been raised the present extensive College of St. Mary's, Oscott." Gillow.