Ormerod, Oliver

Ormerod, Oliver a noted English Churchman of king James I's reign, flourished as rector of Huntspill, Somersetshire, and died in 1626. He was a great polemic, and wrote severely against Papists and Puritans. Among his works the most noted is The Picture of a Puritane (Lond. 1605, 4to), which, though it deserves to be passed by as unworthy in tendency, claims the recognition of scholars because of the thorough knowledge of men and things which it exhibits. It is replete with classical allusions, and abounds in quotations from the Church fathers, the schoolmen, and other abstruse writers. Other noteworthy productions of Ormerod's are, The Picture of a Papist (1606):— A Discovery of Puritan Papisme and a Discovery of Popish Paganism (1612, 4to). See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. 23:389. (J. H. W.)