Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Barnard, John (d.1683)

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1043267Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 03 — Barnard, John (d.1683)1885Robert Harrison

BARNARD or BERNARD, JOHN, D.D. (d. 1683), the biographer of Dr. Heylyn, was the son of John Barnard, and was born at Castor, in Lincolnshire. He was educated at the grammar school of his native place, and at Cambridge, where he was a pensioner of Queens' College. In 1648 he proceeded to Oxford, where, by preferment of the board of visitors, he was granted the degree of B.A. on 15 April, and on 29 Sept. following was presented to a fellowship of Lincoln College. In 1651 he proceeded to his M.A. degree, and became then for some time a preacher in and near Oxford. He married the daughter of Dr. Peter Heylyn at Abingdon, and afterwards purchased the perpetual advowson of the living of Waddington, near Lincoln, which he held for some time, together with that of Gedney in the same county. Conforming after the Restoration, he was made prebendary of Asgardby in the church of Lincoln 13 April 1672, and in the year 1669 was granted the degrees of B.D. and D.D. in succession.

Barnard was the author of a pamphlet in three sheets quarto, entitled ‘Censura Cleri, against scandalous ministers not fit to be restored to the church's livings in prudence, piety, and fame.’ This was published in the latter end of 1659 or beginning of 1660, ‘to prevent such from being restored to their livings as had been ejected by the godly party in 1654–55.’ His name is not set to this pamphlet, and Wood says he did not care afterwards, when he saw how the event proved, to be known as its author. He is best known as the author of ‘Theologo-Historicus, a true life of the most reverend divine and excellent historian, Peter Heylyn, D.D., sub-dean of Windsor’ (London, 1683, 8vo). This was published, according to the author, to correct the errors, supply the defects, and confute the calumnies of George Vernon, M.A., rector of Burton in Gloucester, who had brought out a life of Dr. Heylyn in 1682. Printed with ‘Theologo-Historicus’ was an answer to Mr. Baxter's false accusation of Dr. Heylyn. Barnard also wrote a catechism for the use of his parish, and left behind him a manuscript tract against Socinianism, which was never printed. He died on 17 Aug. 1683 at Newark, while on a journey to the Spa, and was buried in his own church of Waddington.

[Wood's Athenæ (Bliss), iv. 496; Kippis's Biog. Britann.]

R. H.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.16
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page Col. Line  
239 i 5-4 f.e. Barnard, John (d. 1683): for Asgarty read Asgardby