LIVES OF THE BISHOPS OF EXETER

JOHN GAUDEN. - With the Restoration of the Monarchy re-appeared public confidence and individual security. One of the first acts of the Government of King Charles II. was to reinstate the Church of England in her pristine rights and privileges, as enjoyed before the usurpation. Exeter, in consequence, recovered its dignity of an episcopal see.

Dr. John Gauden before mentioned, Dean of Bocking, in his native county, Essex, and Master of the Temple, was consecrated Bishop in Westminster Abbey on 2nd December, 1660, by the Primate Juxon. Unquestionably he was a man of considerable ability: yet his three letters in Thurloe's 'State Papers,' (vol. v. pp. 589, 600), are too frothy, too replete with unmeaning liberality, to redound to his credit and character. His works are enumerated by Wood, in the 'Athenas Oxonienses.' Whether he was the author of the or the Portraiture of King Charles I., has long been a mooted question? but the probability is in the Doctor's favour; and such he was believed to be, by King Charles II. and his royal brother.

Within a fortnight after his consecration, Dr. Gauden had reached Salisbury on his road hither. He arrived in Exeter on 21st December, 1660, and must have been gratified by his reception in the diocese. To use the words of Izacke, an eye-witness, "he was in the way saluted by sundry gentlemen, both of the city and the country, and being attended on by several coaches, and some hundreds of horse, was with great joy and solemnity brought herein." The mayor, as the king's escheator, had been ordered to restore to his lordship the temporalities of the see within the city and suburbs since 25th August last past. But his palace having been used as a sugar refinery, and not being in a state to receive him, his lordship accepted the accommodations offered him by a respectable lady, Mrs. Alice Ford, relict of the late mayor, Thomas Ford.

On 13th January following, he ordained forty-four presbyters and deacons in his cathedral: three months later he departed for London, as it appears that his brother, Sir Dennis Gauden, had placed his excellent house at Clapham at his disposal (Lysons' 'Environs of London,' vol. i. p. 162). He returned in the following September, and after a stay of nearly ten weeks took his final leave.

Before his departure, he left with his chaplain fifty pounds, to be bestowed amongst our parochial poor, 'Act Book,' No. ix. p. 159. His complaints of the poverty of his see induced King Charles II. to translate him to Worcester, 10th June, 1662; but he can scarcely be said to have experienced the benefit of the change, dying of the strangury on the 20th September following, aged 57. His widow erected his monument in Worcester Cathedral. Aubrey states that the bishop was tho author of a treatise on 'Artificial Beauty.' Did he not publish a 4to. on the Liturgy? He certainly wrote the life of the celebrated Richard Hoker.

Arms: - Azure, a chevron between three Leopards' faces or.

Previous Bishop Return to list of Bishops Next Bishop