the election was disallowed by ‘mandamus from the powers then in being.’ A resolve to go to Padua was defeated by want of money. On 13 April 1650, however, he was elected fellow of St. John's. He now resumed his studies, and particularly that of physic, which he meant to make his profession. He ‘showed his seniors vividissections of dogs and suchlike creatures in their chambers.’ Sir Thomas Browne (‘Dr. Brown of Norwich’) sent him ‘epistolary resolutions of many questions.’ But after studying medicine ‘not two full years,’ he was persuaded by his mother to accept presentation to the family living of Burneston, Yorkshire. He went into residence in August 1651. Meanwhile his medical advice was in great request, and Sir Joseph Cradock, the commissary of the archdeaconry of Richmond, procured him a license to practise as a physician. He had much success, especially in the treatment of consumption.
Both Robinson and Cawdry had scruples about the act of uniformity, which their bishop, Brian Walton [q. v.] of Chester, took great pains to satisfy (Newcome, Diary, 8 Aug. 1662). Robinson had much respect for nonconformists; and he allowed some of them to preach in his parish (Newcome, Autobiogr. pp. 218, 227, 295, &c.; Calamy, Account, p. 158). Plurality and non-residence he ‘utterly detested,’ and was ‘of my Lord Verulam's judgement’ as to the desirability of many other church reforms. He wrote his ‘Cassander Reformatus’ to ‘satisfy the dissenters every way,’ but did not publish it. In September 1682 he resigned the living of Burneston in favour of his nephew, and removed to Ripley, where, for two years, he managed Lady Ingleby's estates (‘Diary of George Grey’ in Surtees's Durham, ii. 15). At Burneston he erected and endowed two free schools and a hospital.
In 1685 or 1686 he began his ‘Annotations on the New Testament,’ which he finished in December 1690. The occasion of this undertaking was his disappointment with Poole's ‘Synopsis,’ in the preparation of which he had assisted. The ‘Annotations,’ in two large finely written folios, recently passed to the Rev. Dr. Jackson of the Wesleyan College, Richmond.
Among Robinson's versatile tastes was one for horses. He bred the best horses in the north of England, and, while staying with his brother Leonard in London, was summoned to Whitehall by Charles II for consultation respecting a charger which Monmouth afterwards rode at Bothwell-Brigg. He also began a book on horsemanship and the treatment of horses, but thought it ‘not honourable to his cloth to publish.’ Some of his ‘secrets’ were embodied in the ‘Gentleman's Jockey and Approved Farrier’ (1676, 4th edit.). He died at Ripley on 27 Nov. 1694, and was buried in Burneston church (Whitaker, Richmondshire, ii. 130). He left an estate of 700l. per annum, his skill in affairs being ‘next to miraculous.’ He married, on 12 Oct. 1657, Jane, daughter of Mark Pickering of Ackworth, a descendant of Archbishop Tobie Matthew [q. v.], but had no children. Their portraits, formerly at Burneston, have perished. Thoresby mentions that ‘A Treatise of Faith by a Dying Divine’ contains an account of Robinson's character. This, with a manuscript introduction in Robinson's writing, recently belonged to J. R. Walbran, esq., of Fallcroft, Ripon.
[The Life of Matthew Robinson was printed in 1856 by Professor Mayor in pt. ii. of Cambridge in the Seventeenth Century, from a manuscript in St. John's College Library, with numerous notes, appendix, and indices. It purports to be, with the exception of the last four pages, an autobiography. It was completed by Robinson's nephew, George Grey. The latter's son, Zachary, supplied chronological notes and corrections. See also Baker's Hist. of St. John's College (ed. Mayor); Thoresby's Diary, i. 75, 281–2; and authorities cited.]
ROBINSON, NICHOLAS (d. 1585), bishop of Bangor, born at Conway in North Wales, was the second son of John Robinson, by his wife Ellin, daughter of William Brickdale. The families of both parents came originally from Lancashire and Cheshire respectively, but appear to have been settled at Conway for several generations (Dwnn, Heraldic Visitations, ii. 113–14; Wood, Athenae Oxon. ii. 797–8, footnote; Arch. Cambr. 5th ser. xiii. 37). Robinson was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. in 1547-8, and within a twelvemonth was made a fellow of his college, by the command, it is alleged, of the royal commissioners for the visitation of the university. In 1551 he commenced M.A., was bursar of his own college in 1551–3, and a proctor in the university for 1552, dean of his college 1577–8,. and vice-president of his college in 1561. Plays written by him were acted at Queens' College in 1550, 1552, and 1553, the last-mentioned being a comedy entitled 'Strylius.' In 1555 he subscribed the Roman catholic articles. He was ordained at Bangor by Dr. William Glynn, first as acolyte and sub-dean on 12 March 1556–7, then deacon on the 13th, and priest on the 14th, under a special faculty from Cardinal Pole, dated 23 Feb.
