Works of Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

the subject, but it has been said that he became a Fellow of his College¹ or alternatively a Master of Arts.² His age at the time of matriculation is also described variously as eighteen, seventeen and sixteen. The last is on the authority of the University Registers, and from this it would follow that he was born in 1622. The date of his baccalaureat is February 18, 1640, and thereafter I find no particulars concerning him until he was ordained by Dr Mainwaring, Bishop of St Davids, and was presented to the living of Llansaintffraid by his kinsman Sir George Vaughan of Follerstone in Wiltshire. Again the date is uncertain, that of 1640, which is usually given, seeming too early.³ In any case he became in this manner the rector of his native parish and was at least in nominal possession till 1649, when he was ejected by a Parliamentary Commission, under an Act for the Propagation of the Gospel.⁴ The more immediate reason was unquestionably that, in common with his brother, he was an ardent Royalist. He had also fought for the King, notwithstanding the fact of his ministry—where or under what circumstances we are never likely to know. But the White King perished in the Royal Cause on January 30, 1649, and Wood says that the loyal but dispossessed subject sought the repose of Oxford to pursue his studies.⁵ He alternated between there

¹ "Was made Fellow of the said House" are the words of Wood, referring to Jesus College, but it is a mistake according to Grosart, who gives no reason. The fact of this Fellowship is affirmed by Foster, ALUMNI OXONIENSES, following Walker's SUFFERINGS OF THE CLERGY.
² Grosart says that he "passed M.A.," but mentions no authority. There is, however, an expression of opinion in the letter from Henry Vaughan to John Aubrey, already quoted : "(I think) he could be no less than Master of Arts."
³ See Grosart, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 301.
⁴ Theophilus Jones says : "He was ousted by the propagators of the gospel in Wales, for drunkenness, swearing, incontinency and carrying arms for the King."—Loc. cit. The last charge implied the others presumably.
⁵ "The unsettledness of the time hindering him a quiet possession of the place"—meaning his cure of souls—"he left it, and retired to Oxon,