FRANCIS DILLINGHAM
He was a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. After the translation was finished, he became parson of Dean, his native place, in Bedfordshire. He also obtained the rich benefice of Wilden, in the same County, where he died a single and wealthy man. "My father," says worthy old Thomas Fuller, "was present In the bachelor's school, when a Greek act was kept* between Francis Dillingham and William Alabaster, to their mutual commendation. A disputation so famous, that it served for an era or epoch, for the scholars in that age, thence to date their seniority."
*(That is, a debate carried on in the Greek tongue.) From this, it would seem, that he was not without reason styled "the great Grecian." He was noted as an excellent linguist and a subtle disputant, and was author of various theological treatises. His brother and heir, Thomas Dillingham, also minister of Dean, was chosen one of the famous Assembly of Divines at Westminster; but on account of age, illness, and for other reasons, did not take his seat. Francis Dillingham was a diligent writer, both of practical and polemical divinity. He collected out of Cardinal Bellarmine's writings, all the concessions made by that acute author in favor of Protestantism. He published a Manual of the Christian faith, taken from the Fathers, and a variety of treatises on different points belonging to the Romish controversy.ROGER ANDREWS
Dr. Andrews, who had been Fellow in Pembroke Hall, was Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. He also became Prebendary of Chichester and Southwell. He too was a famous linguist in his time, like his brother Lancelot, the Bishop of Winchester, whose life has been already sketched as President of the first company of the Translators.
THOMAS HARRISON
He had been student and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; and was now Vice-Master of that important seminary. Thomas Fuller records the following instance of his meekness and charity. "I remember when the reverend Vice-Master of Trinity College in Cambridge was told that one of the scholars had abused him in an oration. 'Did he,' said he, 'name me?' Did he name Thomas Harrison?' And when it was returned that he named him not, 'Then,' said he, 'I do not believe that he meant me." We have a strong evidence of his reputation in the University in another duty which was assigned him. "On account of his exquisite skill in the Hebrew and Greek idioms, he was one of the chief examiners in the University of those who sought to be public professors of these languages.
*(Harrisonus Honoratus, etc. a C. Dalechampio. Cantab, 1632. P. 7)ROBERT SPAULDING
Dr. Spaulding was Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. He succeeded Edward Lively, of whom we have briefly spoken, as Regius Professor of Hebrew.
ANDREW BING
Dr. Bing was Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge. In course of time he succeeded Geoffry King, who was Dr. Spaulding's successor, in the Regius Professorship of Hebrew. Dr. Bing was Subdean of York in 1606, and was installed Archdeacon of Norwich in 1618. He died during the times of the Commonwealth.
These brief notices suffice to shew that the members of this company deserved their places among the translators. The quiet and uneventful lives of these secluded students and deep divines have left no strongly marked incidents on the historic page. But their learning still lives and instructs on the pages of their immortal work.
The third company of the Translators, composed of Oxford divines, met at that famous seat of learning, and was fully equal to any other of these companies in qualifications for their important undertaking. The part assigned to this division was from the beginning of Isaiah to the end of the Old Testament.
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