|54 O W 
dignity of judge of the Common Pleas; which office he 
is (aid to have executed; during five years, with great abi¬ 
lities and integrity. He died in 1598; and was buried on 
the Couth fide of the choir in Weftminfter-abbey, where a 
monument was eredled to his memory. He had the repu¬ 
tation of a learned man, and a patron of literature. He 
■was the author of “Reports in the Common Pleas; 
wherein are many choice cafes, mod of them thoroughly 
argued by the learned ferjeants, and after argued and re- 
folved by the grave judges of thofe times, with many cafes 
■wherein the difference of the year-books are reconciled 
and explained.” Lond. 1656, folio. 
O WEN (John), a diftinguiffied writer of Latin epi¬ 
grams, was a native of Caermarthenfhire, Snd received 
his education at Winchefter-fchool under Dr. Bilfon. In 
15S4 he was admitted a fellow of New College, Oxford, 
where he continued till 1591, when he became rnafter of 
a fchool near Monmouth. In 1594 he obtained the mafi- 
terfhip of the free-fchool at Warwick, where he made 
himfelf celebrated by his (kill in Latin poetry, efpecially 
of the epigrammatic kind. Heisfaid to have experienced 
the poet’s fate of perpetual indigence; but he met with a 
kind patron in bifbop and lord-keeper Williams, his coun¬ 
tryman and relation ; by whom he was chiefly fupported 
in the latter years of his life. He underwent a fevere dif- 
appointment in being (truck out of the will of an uncle, 
who was offended with his attacks upon popery, to which 
religion that relative was inclined. One of his epigrams 
to this purpofe may ferve as a fpecimtfn of that play upon 
words in which much of his wit confifts : 
An Petrus fuerit Romas, fub judice lis eft : 
Simonem Romas nemo fuiffe negat. 
Owen died in 1622, and was buried at bifhop Williams’s 
expenfe in St. Paul’s cathedral. His epigrams have been 
collefted in twelve books, and have been feveral times 
publifhed. In Come of his pieces he imitates the pointed 
turn of Martial with fuccefs; but the greater number 
have little to recommend them, except the purity and 
elegant fimplicity of the language. Several have been 
tranflated both into French and Englifh. 
O'WEN (John), a learned and eminent Engliffi non- 
conformilt divine of the independent denomination, was 
defcended from a refpeftable family in North Wales, and 
born in the year 1616 at Hadham in Oxfordfliire, of 
which place his father was vicar. As he afforded early 
indications of extraordinary natural abilities, his friends 
relolved to give him the advantage of a liberal education ; 
and with that view placed him under the tuition of Mr. 
Edward Sylvefter, a celebrated fchoolmafter at Oxford. 
In this feminary he made fuch a rapid proficiency in 
grammar-learning, that he was admitted into Queen’s- 
coliege, in that univerfity, when he was only about twelve 
years of age.. 
The circumftances of his father, who had a large fa¬ 
mily, not permitting him to afford his fon an adequate 
maintenance, young Owen was liberally fupplied with 
college-expenfes by an uncle, who poffeffed a good eftate 
in Wales, and, having no children of his own, intended 
to make his nephew his heir. Thus fupported, he pur- 
fued his ftudies with incredible diligence, allowing him¬ 
felf for feveral years, it is faid, not more than four hours 
deep in a night; and by fuch inceffant application, under 
the able direction of the learned Dr. Barlow, afterwards 
biftiop of Lincoln, he made a very confiderable progrefs 
in academical learning. At the fame time he did not ne- 
gleft the care of his health, but occafionally indulged in 
fuch recreations as were proper for fo robuft a conftitution 
as his was ; fuch as leaping, throwing the bar, ringing of 
bells, and fimilar exercifes. He was admitted to the de¬ 
gree of B.A. in 1632; and commenced M. A. in 1635. 
Soon afterwards, archbiftiop Land, the chancellor of the 
univerfity, having enjoined the obfervance of fome new 
regulations with which Mr. Owen was diffatisfied, he re- 
iufed fubmiffion to them. This refufal greatly offended 
E N. 
his uncle; and induced many of his friends to forfake 
him, as infefted with puritanifm. The refentment of the 
Laudean party alfo by degrees rendered his fituation in 
the college fo uneafy, that he found himfelf obliged to 
leave it in the year 1637. Soon after this, he was or¬ 
dained prieft by the bifliop of the diocefe, and became 
chaplain to fir Robert Dormer, of Afcot in Oxfordfhire, 
as well as tutor to his eldeft fon. Afterwards he became 
chaplain to lord Lovelace, of Hurley in Berkfhire, in 
whofe family he refided at the commencement of the civil 
wars, when he openly avowed thecaufeof the parliament. 
This conduct was fo highly relented by his uncle, who 
was a zealous royalift, that he immediately difcarded him, 
fettled his eftate upon another perfon, and died without 
bequeathing him any thing. Lord Lovelace, however, 
though he had joined the king’s party, continued to treat 
his chaplain with great civility; but, that nobleman 
going at length to the king’s army, Mr. Owen left his 
lioufe, and went to London, where he foon became a per¬ 
fect convert to the principles of the nonconformifts. 
In the year 1642 Mr. Owen firft made himfelf known 
to the public as an author, by publifliing his book enti¬ 
tled “ A Difplay of Arminianifm ;” which met with fo 
favourable a reception, that it laid the foundation of his 
future advancemetit. Such was the impreffion which it 
made on the committee for difmiffing from the church 
fcandalous minifters, that they fer.t him a prefeiytation to 
the living of Fordham in Effex; where he fettled, and 
married a lady whofe excellent qualities greatly contri¬ 
buted to the happinefs of his life. When he had been at 
Fordham about a year and a half, the fequeftered incum¬ 
bent died ; upon which the patron, who was not friendly 
to Mr. Owen, prefented another perfon to the living. 
Care was foon taken, however, to repair his lofs by another 
benefice in the fame neighbourhood ; for the earl of War¬ 
wick, who was patron of the church of Coggefhall, a 
market-town about five miles from Fordham, very readily 
gave him that living. 
Hitherto Mr. Owen had connected himfelf with the 
Prefoyteria ns; but he had not been long at Coggefhall, 
before he declared himfelf in favour of the principles of 
the Independents: and he formed a church there accord¬ 
ing to the difcipline of that feff, which continued many 
years in a flourifhing condition. Mr. Owen’s fame now 
became widely fpread ; and, upon the prevalence of the 
independent party, he was fent for to preach before the 
parliament on one of the faft-days in 1646. When Col- 
chefter was befieged, in 1648, Fairfax, whofe head-quarters 
were for fome days at Coggefhall, became acquainted 
with him; and, upon the furrender of that town to the 
parliamentary forces, our divine preached the thankf- 
giving-fermon there on that occafion. He was again 
called upon to preach before the houfe of commons, on 
the next day after the execution of king Charles I. but he 
kept his fentiments on that fubjedt in fuch referve, that 
his friends could not juftly make exceptions againft him, 
nor his enemies take advantage of his w’ords another day. 
Mr. Owen’s (ervices were'fo acceptable to the commons, 
that he was afterwards frequently appointed to preach be¬ 
fore them; particularly on the 28th of February 1649, 
being the day of humiliation and prayer on occafion of 
the intended expedition to Ireland. At this difcourfe, 
Cromwell, wdio had never heard Mr. Owen preach, was 
prefent, and was greatly pleafed with his performance. 
Within a day or two, while Mr. Owen was waiting for 
admiffion to pay his refpedts to Fairfax, before his in¬ 
tended return to Coggefhall, Cromwell came into the 
room, and diredtly advancing to him, and laying his 
hand familiarly on his fhoulder, faid, “ Sir, you are the 
perfon that I muft be acquainted with.” Mr. Owen re¬ 
plied, “ That, fir, will be much more to my advantage 
than yours.” “ We (hall foon fee that,” faid Cromwell; 
and, takinghim by the hand, led him into Fairfax’s garden, 
where he converfed with him about the intended expedi¬ 
tion to Ireland, and defired that he would accompany 
4 him. 
