Gents Mag 1793 p.1081

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1793 p.1081
Bernard Gilpin
	Memoirs of Bernard Gilpin MEMOIRS OF BERNARD GILPIN. (Accompanied with an elegant Portrait.) BERNARD GILPIN was born in the year 1517, about the middle of the reign of Henry the Eighth. His forefathers had been seated at Kentmire Hall, in Westmorland, from the time of King John, in whose reign this estate had been given by a baron of Kendal to Richard Gilpin as a reward for services thought very considerable. From this gentelman the estate of Kentmire descended to the father of Bernard, Edward Gilpin, who had several children, of which Bernard was one of the youngest; an unhappy circumstance in that age, which, giving little encouragement to the liberal arts, and less to commerce, restrained the genius and industry of younger brothers. No way, indeed, was commonly open to their fortunes but the church or the camp. The inconvenience, however, was less to Mr. Gilpin than to others; for, that way was open to which his disposition most led him. From his earliest youth he was inclined to a contemplative life, thoughtful, reserved, and serious. Perhaps no one ever had a greater share of constitutional virtue, or, through every part of life, endeavoured more to improve it. The Bishop of Chichester hath preserved a story of him in his infancy, which will shew how early he could discern not only the immorality, but the indecorum, of an action. A begging friar came on a Saturday evening to his father's house; where, according to the custom of those times, he was received in a very hospitable manner. The plenty set before him was a temptation too strong for his virtue; of which, it seems, he had not sufficient to save appearances. The next morning, however, he ordered the bell to toll; and, from the pulpit expressed himself with great vehemence against the debauchery of the times, and particularly against drunkenness. Bernard Gilpin, who was then a child upon his mother's knee, seemed for some time exceedingly affected with the friar's discourse, and at length, with the utmost indigniation, cried out, "He wondered how that man could preach against drunkenness, when he himself had been drunk only the night before." Instances of this kind soon discovered the seriousness of his disposition, and gave his parents an early presage of his future piety. His first years were spent at a public school, where, we are told, he soon distinguished himself. From school he was removed to Oxford; and, at the age of sixteen, was entered upon the foundation at Queen's college. He now determined to apply himself to divinity, made the Scriptures his chief study, and set himself with great industry upon gaining a thorough knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages. He was very soon taken notice of, and looked upon as a young man of good parts and considerable learning; he was also admired and beloved for a remarkable sweetness in his disposition, and unaffected sincerity of manners. He took the degree of Master of Arts at the usual time, and, about the same time, was elected a Fellow; soon after which, he removed to Christchurch* upon a
	* Cardinal Wolsley laid the foundation of Christ-church college on the site of the priory of St. Frideswide; but his disgrace and death hindered him from completing it.
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