Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/128

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116
History of the Church and Manor of Wigan.

fifteen years of age, in 1524, he was by the care of his unkle Dr. Henry Standish,[1] bishop of St. Asaph, sent to Brazennose College (Oxford), where making great proficiency in logic (he) was elected scholar or probationer-fellow of Cor. Chr. in January 1528, partly by the endeavours made in his behalf by one Mr. Ed. Standish, fellow of Brazennose (who was either his brother or uncle) and partly by the said doctor. After he was settled in that college he went through the usual classes of logic and philosophy with unwearied industry, became a most noted disputant, took the degrees in arts (and) holy orders, and drudging much in the faculty of divinity proceeded doctor therein, an. 1542, at which time he was one of the fellows of Whyttington college in London; and having a chamber in Brazennose, took commons there when he receded to the university for conversation with men and books."[2] Gn 3rd December, 1543, he was admitted to the rectory of St. Andrew, Undershaft.[3] "In the time of King Edward VI. he seemed to be a zealous reformer, was then made rector of Wygan in his own country, and took to him a wife, who lived not long with him, for when Queen Mary came to the crown they were separated."[4] He was presented to a stall in Worcester cathedral, 12th July, 1550, and installed 2nd August following.[5]

In June 1552, as one of the King's chaplains, he had a licence to enjoy his prebend in the church of Worcester as though he were resident;[6] and in the same year he had another licence of non-residence granted to him (being then described as a prebendary in the church of Worcester and one of the King's ordinary chaplains), to have the said prebend, being in any other

  1. Repertorium Ecclesiasticum, folio, Lond. 1708, vol. i. p. 275. In Wood's Athenæ vol. i. p. 92 note, Henry Standish, bishop of St. Asaph, is said to have been of the ancient family of Standish of Burgha in the county of Lancaster (Kennet); and in the text he is said to have left legacies to Ralph Standish, Lord of Standish in Lancashire, his near kinsman, to Agnes Worthington, his sister, and Will. Standish his natural brother.
  2. Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses, ed. Bliss (1818), vol. i. p. 235.
  3. Ibid.
  4. Ibid.
  5. Le Neve's Fasti
  6. Strype's Memorials, vol. iv. p. 270.