Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/447

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Bainbrigg
435
Bainbrigg

to be erected when he died. Among the Cottonian MSS. at the British Museum (Jul. F. vi.) are the following papers ascribed to Bainbrigg: 1. 'Account of Antiquities in Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham, with several Roman inscriptions, drawings of altars, figures, and descriptions of the country' (No. 162); 2. 'Genealogica Gospatriciorum et Curwenorum' (No. 163); 3. 'De Baronibus de Kendala et familia de Bruis' (No. 164). An 'Inscription on the Picts wall sent by Reginald Bainbrigg to Mr. William Camden' is among the Lansdowne MSS. (121 , art. 20). Some Latin elegiacs on the death of Sir Philip Sidney, signed 'R. Banningus,' in the 'Lacrimæ Cantabrigienses' (1587), have been attributed to Bainbrigg.

Another Reginald Bainbrigg, probably an uncle of the schoolmaster and antiquary, was born at Middleton, Westmoreland, about 1489. He took the degree of B.A. at Cambridge in 1506, of M.A. in 1509, and of B.D. in 1526. He was proctor of the university in 1517, instituted to the rectory of Downham in Essex 27 June 1525, and to that of Stambourne, in the same county, 1 Dec. 1526, and became shortly afterwards master of Catherine Hall, Cambridge. He was made vicar of Bricklesea, Essex, 19 May 1530; of Steeple Barmstead, 13 May 1532; of Great Oakley, 11 Jan. 1537–8. In 1537 he was appointed to a prebend stall at Wells. He probably died in 1554–5 (Cooper's Athenæ Cantab, i. 124; Newcourt's Diocese of London).

[Cooper's Athenæ Cantab, ii. 439; Camden's Britannia, ed. Gough, iii. 148, 157; Charity Commissioners' Report (1823), ix. 638–9.]

S. L. L.


BAINBRIGG, THOMAS (d. 1646), master of Christ's College, Cambridge, was 'descended out of the North,' and was not improbably a native of Kirkby-Lonsdale in Westmoreland. He became master of Christ's College in 1620, and was vice-chancellor of the university in 1627. Thomas Baker, the antiquary, calls Bainbrigg 'a severe governor,' and supposes that during his mastership and by his authority the poet Milton was either expelled from the college or rusticated, whereby he missed a fellowship to which another candidate was admitted by royal mandate, 'a circumstance, as is supposed, together with his expulsion, that disgusted him first against the king, clergy, and universities.' Bainbrigg was a benefactor to his college, which flourished greatly under his government. He was accounted a witty man and a good preacher, and a funeral sermon by him, on 16 Oct. 1620, had the effect of seriously awakening the famous independent divine, Dr. Thomas Goodwin, who was originally of Christ's College, but subsequently became a fellow of Catherine Hall.

Dr. Burn (Hist. of Westmoreland, i. 258) states that Hawkin Hall, the most remarkable building in the parish of Kirkby Lonsdale, 'was built by Dr. Christopher Bainbridge, master of Christ's College in Cambridge, in the reign of King Charles I,' adding that 'Dr. Bainbridge was born at this place, and married at sixty years of age, and by his wife had nineteen children.' However improbable the latter part of the tale is, it seems of a piece with the whole; for the name of the master of Christ's College was not Christopher, but Thomas. There was indeed a fellow of the college named Christopher Bainbridge at that period, and it is just possible that he may be the person meant. The story of the nineteen children is repeated in the 'Critical Review' for 1778.

The master of Christ's College died at Cambridge in September 1646, and was buried in the parish of St. Andrew the Great on the 9th of that month. Duport has honoured him with a Latin epitaph.

[MS. Addit. 5821, f. 67, 5863, f. 78; Prynne's Tryal of Abp. Laud, 193; Peck's New Memoirs of Milton, 34, 35; Masson's Life of Milton (1881), 123 n., 239; Cambridge Antiquarian Communications, ii. 154; Critical Review, 1778, p. 258.]

T. C.


BAINBRIGG, BAMBRIDGE, or BEMBRIDGE, THOMAS, D.D. (1636–1703), protestant controversialist, son of Richard and Rose Bainbrigg, was born at Cambridge. He was educated at the university there, proceeded B.A. in 1654, M.A. in 1661, was incorporated M.A. of Oxford in 1669, became proctor at Cambridge in 1678, there graduated D.D. by royal mandate in 1684, and held for many years the posts of fellow and vice-master of Trinity College, Cambridge. He was sometime vicar of Chesterton and subsequently rector of Orwell. He died suddenly at Cambridge, and was buried in Trinity College Chapel, where there is a monument to his memory. In 1687 he published 'An Answer to a Book entitled Reason and Authority, or the Motives of a late Protestant's Reconciliation to the Catholick Church, together with a brief account of Augustine the Monk, and conversion of the English. In a letter to a Friend.' The 'Letter' does not bear Bainbrigg's name, but is generally ascribed to him. It is a courageous and pungent onslaught upon the accredited author of 'Reason and Authority.' The pamphlet assailed — an attack upon Til-