Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 28.djvu/123

Howell  party, was driven from his London rectory, was subsequently sequestered for non-residence, and was expelled from West Horsley. He took refuge at Oxford, and on the death of Thomas Westfield [q. v.], bishop of Bristol, was selected by Charles I to succeed him in that important stronghold, just recovered to the royal cause, the king, we are told, 'promising himself good effects from his great candour, solid judgment, sweet temper, and the good repute in which he was held' (ib.) He was consecrated by Ussher in August 1644, and was the last bishop consecrated in England for sixteen years. Howell's episcopate was short and disastrous. Bristol was surrendered to Fairfax by Prince Rupert on 10 Sept. 1645, and all the royalist clergy were violently ejected. The bishop was among the chief sufferers. His palace was pillaged. The lead was stripped off the roof under which his wife lay in childbed, and the exposure caused her death. The bishop himself was so roughly handled that he died in the following year, being buried in his cathedral, one word alone marking the spot, 'Expergiscar.' The citizens of Bristol undertook the education of his children, 'in grateful memory of their most worthy father' (, History of Bristol, p. 330;, Athenæ. 805). Wood records, with evident exaggeration, that while on entering on his episcopate he found but few well affected to the church, he left on his death few ill affected to it (ib.) He is described by Lloyd (Memoirs, p.522) as 'a person of great clearness, candour, solidness, sweetness, and eloquence, with an insight into state affairs, as well as those of his own office.' Of his preaching Fuller writes: 'His sermons, like the waters of Siloah, softly gliding on with a smooth stream, his matter, with a lawful and laudable felony, did steal secretly the hearts of the hearers.'

By his wife, Honor Bromfield of Chalcroft, Hampshire, he had two daughters and six sons, including John, a London merchant; Thomas, fellow of New College, Oxford; George, B.D., rector of Buckland, Surrey; and Arthur, a London merchant, at one time imprisoned as a slave in Turkey.

 HOWELL, THOMAS BAYLY (1768–1815), editor of the 'State Trials,' born in 1768, was son of John Howell of Jamaica. On 23 Jan. 1782 he was admitted of Lincoln's Inn, and was called to the bar in 1790 (Register). He matriculated at Oxford from Christ Church on 27 March 1784, but did not graduate (, Alumni Oxon. 1715-86, ii. 701). When William Cobbett projected a new edition of the 'State Trials,' he secured Howell as the editor. Howell carried the work from the first volume (1809) to the twenty-first (18151814 [sic]), the remaining twelve volumes being edited by his son, Thomas Jones Howell. The notes and illustrations accompanying each trial are excellent. He was F.R.S. (8 March 1804) and F.S.A. He died at Prinknash Park, near Gloucester, on 13 April 1815 (Gent. Mag. vol. lxxxv. pt. i. p.472).

Howell was author of 'Observations on Dr. Sturges's Pamphlet respecting Non-residence of the Clergy. . . in a Letter ... to Mr. Baron Maseres. The second edition,’ 8vo, London, 1803.

His son, (d. 1858), who edited the 'State Trials' (vols. xxii. 1815-xxxiii. 1826), was admitted of Lincoln's Inn on 9 Nov. 1814 (Register). He sold Prinknash after 1842. He died at Eaton Place West, London, on 4 June 1858 (Gent. Mag. 1858, ii. 93). He was twice married (in 1817 and 1851).

 HOWELL, WILLIAM (1638?–1683), historian, born about 1638, was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge (B.A. 1651, M.A. 1655), of which he became a fellow. On 25 Nov. 1664 he was created doctor of civil law, and was incorporated at Oxford on 6 July 1676. He was tutor to John, earl of Mulgrave. On 4 Feb. 1678 he was admitted a civilian (, English Civilians, pp. 99-100), and became chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln. He died in the beginning of 1683. By license dated 3 Aug. 1678 he married Miss Mary Ashfield of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London (, London Marriage Licences, ed. Foster, col. 718). He wrote 'An Institution of General History . . . from the beginning of the World till the Monarchy of Constantine the Great,' fol., London, 1661 (another edition 1662), which he translated into Latin in 1671 as 'Elementa Historiæ,' 12mo, London, for the use of Lord Mulgrave. The history was afterwards brought down 'to the fall of Augustulus,' and published in 1685, with a dedicatory letter to James II by the author's widow. Mary Howell, and a preface by Compton, bishop of London, and others. What is styled the second edition' was issued in three parts, fol., London, 1680-5. The compilation was praised by Gibbon (