278 History of the Priory of Monkton Farley. 



On this champion of the Reformation thus connected with the 

 present subject a few words must be bestowed. Bishop Jewell was 

 of a Devonshire family, a very learned and accomplished Oxford 

 scholar, and one of the refugees at Zurich during the reign of Queen 

 Mary. Soon after his return he was appointed Bishop of this dio- 

 cese, and held the see about twelve years. He was lame (from an 

 accident), of a thin and spare body, and had a wonderful memory, 

 which he greatly assisted by artificial contrivances of his own in- 

 vention. His friends would try him by giving him thirty or forty 

 strange words in Welsh or Irish. These he would read over once 

 or twice, and then repeat them backwards or forwards in the order 

 in which they were written. A further auxiliary (more common 

 in those days than now), was the system of common-place books, 

 filled with notes and references for argument and illustration of 

 various subjects. These, by the use of his memoria technica, he 

 could summon to his aid in a moment, as his opponents in theolo- 

 gical controversy found to their cost, when crushed under a mass 

 of learned authorities. If he had to preach he had only to read a 

 sermon over while the bell was ringing, and he could carry it all 

 in his head. His life was most laborious. The day's work began 

 at four in the morning, and seldom finished before twelve at night. 

 With such continual work, added to the labour of travelling and 

 preaching about his diocese, it is not surprising that his life was 

 shortened. He had engaged to preach at Lacock on Sunday, 16th 

 September, 1671, and on his way thither met a gentleman, who, 

 observing him by his looks to be very ill, advised him to go back, 

 telling him that it was better the people should lose one sermon 

 than the preacher altogether. He would not be dissuaded, but went 

 on and finished his task with much difficulty. On the Saturday 

 following he died here, and was removed for burial to Salisbury 

 Cathedral. 



By Order of the Long Parliament for Confiscation of Episcopal 



Estates, Farley was sold, in February, 1648, for £2439 lis. 6d„ 



to William and Nathaniel Brooke and Francis Bridges.^ It was 



in due time restored to the Bishop. The next owners under him 



' Coll., Top., and Gen., 1,-126. 



