Edmund Bunney

Edmund Bunney, B. D.—This zealous minister was born at Vach, near Ch ill'ont St. Giles, in Buckinghamshire, in the year 1540, and educated in the university of Oxford; where, on account of his great knowledge of logic and philosophy, he wiis elected probationer fellow of Magdalen college. He was the son of Mr. Richard Bunney of Newton, usually called Bunney-hall, near Wakefield in Yorkshire. His father, designing him for the law, removed him from the university, and sent him fo the inns of court, where he continued about four years. Mr. Bunney, not liking the law, resolved to study divinity, for which his father cast him off, and disinherited hiin.» Upon this he returned to Oxford, and in 1565, was elected fellow of Mcrton college, and admitted to the reading of the sentences. There was not at this time a single preacher in his college, and the greatest scarcity through the whole university; but Mr. Bunney was chosen preacher to the society. In this situation, he soon became a very eminent, constant, and popular preacher.t He used frequently to visit the university, for many years after he left it; when he was constantly engaged in preaching; anil, by his sound doctrine and holy life, was the means of doing unspeakable good, especially among the scholars. He also travelled like an apostle, over most parts of England, every where preaching the word. Hereby he incurred the displeasure and censure of many. But, to acquit himself of all blame, he wrote " A Defence of his Labour in the Work of the Ministry." This he dispersed among his friends, though it docs not appear that it was ever published. But because he was a thorough Calvinist, and a zealous puritan, Wood denominates him " a busy, forward, and conceited man, and a most fluid preacher." According to (his writer, he seldom or never studied his sermons, but prayed and preached extempore; and, in the opinion of many, was troubled with the divinity squirt: and, hcuilds, (hat, by the liberties which he took in his preaching, he did a great deal of harm.f The same author, indeed, styles him " an excellent writer, an eminent preacher, and a learned theologist.'H Mr. Strype calls him ** an eminent writer and divine."||

About the year 1570, Mr. Bunney became chaplain to Grindal, Archbishop of York, who gave him a prebend in

• Wood'i Athens Oion. vol. I. p. 364.

♦ Wood's HUt. and Anliq. of Oion. vol. II, p. 159. t Athrnx Oxon. vol. i. p. 301, 365.

S Ibid. p. 395,717.—Hist, and Anliq. vol. ii. p. 162. jj Strype's Annalt, vol. iii. p. 609.

that church, and the rectory of Bolton-Pcrcy, near the city of York. After holding the rectory twenty-five years, he resigned the living, when he was made sub-dean of York. He died at Ciiwood in that county, February 26, 1617, aged fifty-seven years. His remains were inferred in the south aisle joining to the choir of the cathedral of York; and over his grave is his effigy carved in stone and fixed in the wall, with a monumental inscription to his memory, of which the following is a translation:

Edmcsd Buxney,
born of the ancient and noble family of the Bmincy«,
was Bachelor of Divinity,
and oucc Fellow of Mcrtou College, Oxford,
Pastor of the parish of Bolton-Percy,
a very worthy Prebendary of St. Paul's, Loudon;
of St. Peter's, York;
and St. Mary's, Carlisle,
lie spent a great part of his time in going about
from place to place in preaching,
leaving, for the love he had to Christ,
the patrimony bequeathed him by his father,
to his brother Richard.
He died February 26,
in the year 1617.

His Works.—1. The Summ of the Christian Religion. 1576.— 2. An Abridgment of John Calvin's Institutions,1580.—3. A Treatise of Purification, 1581.—1. The Coronation of King David. 1588.—5. A necessary Admonition out of the Prophet Joel, concerning the hand of God that late was upon us, and is not clean taken off as yet, 1588. —6. A brief Answer to those idle and frivolous Quarrels of R. P. (Robert Parsons) against the late edition of the Resolution, 1589.— 7. Divorce for Adultery, and Marrying again, that there is no sufficient Warrant so to do, 1610.—8. The Corner Stone; or, a form of Teaching Jesus Christ out of the Scriptures, 1611.