DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0301
WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 269
JOHN EARLE.
On the return of Charles II. to take possession of his kingdom, the govern-
ment and affairs of the nation soon resumed their former course and character,
when this excellent and learned man was appointed Dean of Westminster*. The
particular date of his instalment does not appear; but it must have been very
soon after the restoration• as, on the 5th of July, in the year distinguished by
that happy event, four new prebendaries were regularly installed.
He was born in the city of York, in the year 1601, and educated at Merton
College, in Oxford. In 1631, he became chaplain to Philip Earl of Pembroke, who
presented him to the rectory of Bishopstone, in Wiltshire, and was also appointed
chaplain and tutor to the Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. He was like-
wise made chancellor of the cathedral of Salisbury. In common with the rest of
the loyal clergy, he suffered for his affectionate attachment to his sovereign; and
being deprived, on that account, of his ecclesiastical preferments, he went over to
France, where he was appointed chaplain and clerk of the closet to his unfortu-
nate sovereign, who had sought a refuge in that kingdom after his disastrous de-
feat near Worcester.
The short time of Dean Earle's government of this church, is chiefly remark-
able for the large sums of money expended by the chapter for public, religious,
and charitable uses. In the repairs of the church, furnishing it with suitable or-
naments, augmenting the vicarages in its patronage, in abatements to tenants,
in a gift to the king, and for the redemption of slaves in Turkey, upwards of
twenty-four thousand pounds were expended-f-.
* He is called by Lord Clarendon, Earles, which orthography has undeniable authority from his
own signatures.
t The charge made by Bishop Burnet against Lord Clarendon, for suffering persons in particular
situations, to waste, or make an improper use of, the large sums of money which passed through
JOHN EARLE.
On the return of Charles II. to take possession of his kingdom, the govern-
ment and affairs of the nation soon resumed their former course and character,
when this excellent and learned man was appointed Dean of Westminster*. The
particular date of his instalment does not appear; but it must have been very
soon after the restoration• as, on the 5th of July, in the year distinguished by
that happy event, four new prebendaries were regularly installed.
He was born in the city of York, in the year 1601, and educated at Merton
College, in Oxford. In 1631, he became chaplain to Philip Earl of Pembroke, who
presented him to the rectory of Bishopstone, in Wiltshire, and was also appointed
chaplain and tutor to the Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. He was like-
wise made chancellor of the cathedral of Salisbury. In common with the rest of
the loyal clergy, he suffered for his affectionate attachment to his sovereign; and
being deprived, on that account, of his ecclesiastical preferments, he went over to
France, where he was appointed chaplain and clerk of the closet to his unfortu-
nate sovereign, who had sought a refuge in that kingdom after his disastrous de-
feat near Worcester.
The short time of Dean Earle's government of this church, is chiefly remark-
able for the large sums of money expended by the chapter for public, religious,
and charitable uses. In the repairs of the church, furnishing it with suitable or-
naments, augmenting the vicarages in its patronage, in abatements to tenants,
in a gift to the king, and for the redemption of slaves in Turkey, upwards of
twenty-four thousand pounds were expended-f-.
* He is called by Lord Clarendon, Earles, which orthography has undeniable authority from his
own signatures.
t The charge made by Bishop Burnet against Lord Clarendon, for suffering persons in particular
situations, to waste, or make an improper use of, the large sums of money which passed through