Howell, Lawrence

Howell, Lawrence a distinguished Nonjuror, was born soon after the Restoration, about 1660. He studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1684, and M.A. in 1688. Having entered the Church, he was ordained in 1712 by the nonjuring bishop, Dr. Hickes, who had taken the title of suffragan bishop of Thetford. He soon after published a pamphlet entitled The Case of Schism in the Church of England truly stated, for which he was committed to Newgate, convicted, and condemned to three years' imprisonment, besides whipping, a fine of £500, and degradation. This latter part was remitted him, however, by the king. He died in Newgate in 1720. Whatever his errors, the punishment appears to have been disproportionate to his offence. He was a man of extensive learning and great capacity. He wrote Synopsis Canonum S.S. Apostolorum et Conciliorum AEcumenicorum et Provincialium ab Ecclesia Graeca

receptorum (1708, fol.): — Synops. Canon. Eccles. Lat. (1710-1715, fol.) — A View of the Pontificate from its supposed beginning to the end of the Council of Trent, etc. (London 1716, 8vo) — Desiderius, or the original Pilgrim; A divine Dialogue (from the Spanish) (London 1717,12mo) — A complete History of the Holy Bible, with additions by Rev. Geo. Burder (London 1806,3 vols. 8vo) — Certain Queries proposed by Roman Catholics, etc. (London 1716); etc. — Darling, Cyclopedia Bibliographica, 1, 1563; Hook, Eccl. Biog. 6, 199; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé 25, 313 sq. (J. N. P.)