Brownrig, Ralph

Brownrig, Ralph (Lat. Brunricus), bishop of Exeter, was born at Ipswich in 1592, and educated at Cambridge, where he became master of Catharine Hall. In 1621 he became prebendary of Ely, and in 1631 archdeacon of Coventry. In 1641 he was nominated to the see of Exeter, and elected March 31, 1642. In 1645 he was ejected from his mastership on account of a loyal sermon which he preached before the university; and having been also deprived by the Parliament of the free exercise of his episcopal powers, and of the revenues of his see, he was obliged to retire to the house of Mr. Rich, in Berkshire, where he lived in private until the year before his death, when he was permitted to preach at the Temple. He died Dec. 7, 1659. He was an excellent scholar and preacher; his sermons were edited by his successor, Bishop Gauden, with a life of Brownrig (Lond. 1665, 2 vols. fol.), reprinted with 25 other sermons (1674, 3 vols. fol.). Hook, Eccl. Biog. 3, 184; Landon, Eccl. Dict. 2, 420.