Henry Bright (teacher)

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Henry Bright (1562–4 March 1626/1627[A]) was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher.[1] Probably educated at King's Worcester himself, he went on to Brasenose College, Oxford as a “plebian” and then to Balliol College,[2] where he took a BA (1584) and Masters (1587).

Starting at King’s Worcester in 1689, he also held a number of paid positions within the Church of England, including at Broadwas (1591-1607), Tredington (1607-), a canonry at Hereford Cathedral (1607-) and Worcester Cathedral (1618-).[3]

Fuller claims that “this Master Bright [was] placed by divine Providence in this city in the Marches that he might equally communicate the lustre of grammar learning to youth both of England and Wales”. Pupils did attend the school from both countries. The school under Bright also provided yearly “exhibitions” of 2/- for pupils he sent to colleges at Oxford and Cambridge.[3]

His reputation was also echoed by Anthony Wood in his Fasti Oxoniensis:

He had a most excellent faculty in instructing youths in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, most of which were afterwards sent to the universities, where they proved eminent to emulation. He was also an excellent preacher, was resorted to far and near ... The posterity of this Hen. Bright do now live in genteel fashion in Worcestershire.[4]

Pupils

Bright is principally remembered for the pupils he taught and frequently sent to Balliol many of whom became well known. They include:

Epitaph

Bright’s epitaph can be found in Worcester Cathedral and is quoted in Latin by Fuller.[1]

Stop, stranger, and read.

The famous schoolmaster,

Mr. Henry Bright,

who presided over the Royal school

here founded for full 40 years ;

than whom no one was more industrious, learned or skilful

in successfully teaching Latin, Greek and Hebrew,

as witness both Universities which he sufficiently supplied with numerous learned youths ;

also for the same number of years & more a doctor of divinity

and for 7 years a greater canon of this church,

he often here and elsewhere played the part of the holy herald of God with great zeal and effect ;

pious, learned, upright, frugal, deserving well alike of state and church,

worn out at last by his strenuous labours by day and night from the year 1562 to 1626,

on the 4"' of March sweetly rested in the Lord. [10]

 Mane, Hospes, et lege.

Magister Henricus Bright,

celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha,

qui Scholae Regiae istic fundatae

per totos quadraglota annos summa cum laude praefuit :

Quo non alter magis sedulus fuit scitusve aut dexter

in Latinis, Graecis, Hebraicis Literis feliciter edocendis :

Teste utraque Academia, quam instruxit aifatim numerosa pube literaria ;

Sed et totidem annis coque amplius Theologiam professus,

et hujus Ecclesise per septennium Canonicus major,

sepissimè hie et alibi sacrum Dei Praeconem magno cum zelo et fructu egit ;

Vir pius, doctus, integer, frugi, de Republicâ deque Ecclesia optimè meritus,

à laboribus perdiu pernoctuque ab anno 1562 ad 1626,

strenue usque extant latis, 4to Martii suaviter requievit in Domino."

References

A As the legal year at this time began on 25 March, Bright's death is recorded as having taken place in 1626, but this date is now regarded as falling in 1627. (Full explanation.)

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas Fuller (1662), The history of the worthies of England (The History of the worthies of England ed.), London: J.G.W.L. and W.G 
  2. ↑ http://archives.balliol.ox.ac.uk/History/gazetteer.asp Balliol Gazeteer
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Leach, Arthur Francis (1913), Documents illustrating early education in Worcester.685 to 1700, London: Printed for the Worcestershire Historical Society, by M. Hughes and Clarke, p. lxvii-lxix 
  4. ↑ Anthony à Wood (1691), Athenae oxonienses (Athenae Oxonienses = ed.), London: Printed for Tho. Bennet ... 
  5. ↑ Patrick Woodland, ‘Beale, John (bap. 1608, d. 1683)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1802, accessed 7 Feb 2011]
  6. ↑ Hugh de Quehen, ‘Butler, Samuel (bap. 1613, d. 1680)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4204, accessed 7 Feb 2011] Butler was attending King’s College by 1626, the year of Bright’s death, according to this article.
  7. ↑ John Jones, ‘Good, Thomas (1609/10–1678)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/10944, accessed 7 Feb 2011]
  8. ↑ C. D. Gilbert, ‘Hall, Thomas (1610–1665)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/11990, accessed 7 Feb 2011]
  9. ↑ Len Travers, ‘Winslow, Edward (1595–1655)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2006 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29751, accessed 7 Feb 2011]
  10. ↑ Translation in: Leach, Arthur Francis (1913), Documents illustrating early education in Worcester.685 to 1700, London: Printed for the Worcestershire Historical Society, by M. Hughes and Clarke  p244
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