Cressy (or Cressey), Sir Hugh Paulin

Cressy (or Cressey), Sir Hugh Paulin a Roman Catholic clergyman, was born at Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, in 1605. He was educated at the free grammar-school of his native town, and at Merton College, Oxford; in 1626 was elected a fellow of his college; subsequently took holy orders and became chaplain to Thomas, lord Wentworth, and afterwards to Lucius, Aord Falkland, who promoted him to the deanery of Laughlin, and a canonry of Windsor. He travelled in Italy, and in 1646, while at Rome, embraced the Roman Catholic faith. He- resided for seven or more years in the college of Douay, where he changed his name to Serenus de Cressey. After the Restoration he came to England, and became chaplain to the queen. Shortly before his death, which took place in 1674, he retired to Grinstead, in Sussex. He published, Narrative of the Conversion unto Catholic Unity of Hugh Paulin (Paris, 1647, sm. 8vo; 1653, 8vo; the last ed. contains an answer to J.P., author of the preface to lord Falkland's work on infidelity): — Sancta Sophia (Douay, 1657, 2 volumes, 8vo): — R.C. Doctrines no Novelties (1663, 8vo): — Church Hist. of Brittany (1668, fol.; completed only to about 1350). See Church of England Magazine, March 1845, page 162; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.