Cosin, John

Cosin, John a learned prelate of the Church of England, was born at Norwich Nov. 30,1594. In 1624 he became a prebendary of Durham, in 1628 rector of Brancepath, in 1634 master of Peter-house, and in 1640 dean of Peterborough. The Puritans deprived him of his preferments during the Commonwealth, and even went the length of impeaching him on a charge of being inclined to popery. (For the charges, see Hook, Eccles. Biog., 4:182.) He was acquitted of all these charges, and then retired to France, where he remained until the restoration of Charles II, who raised him to the see of Durham, Dec. 2, 1660, which office he filled with eminent charity and zeal. He died in 1672. Among his writings are, A History of Transubstantiation, and A Scholastical History of the Canon of the Holy Scriptures, published, with his Life, 1673. His whole works are collected in the Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology (Oxford, 1843-53, 5 vols. 8vo).