Henry Bright (teacher)
Encyclopedia
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College
, Worcester
. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller
as an exceptional teacher. Probably educated at King's Worcester himself, he went on to Brasenose College, Oxford
as a “plebian” and then to Balliol College
, where he took a BA (1584) and Masters (1587).
Starting at King’s Worcester in 1689, he also held a number of paid positions within the Church of England
, including at Broadwas
(1591-1607), Tredington
(1607-), a canonry at Hereford Cathedral
(1607-) and Worcester Cathedral
(1618-).
Fuller claims that “this Master Bright [was] placed by divine Providence in this city in the Marches that he might equally communicate the lustre of grammar learning to youth both of England and Wales”. Pupils did attend the school from both countries. The school under Bright also provided yearly “exhibitions” of 2/- for pupils he sent to colleges at Oxford and Cambridge.
His reputation was also echoed by Anthony Wood
in his Fasti Oxoniensis:
many of whom became well known. They include:
and is quoted in Latin by Fuller.
The King's School, Worcester
The King's School, Worcester is an English independent school refounded by Henry VIII in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral on the banks of the River Severn in the centre of the city of Worcester...
, Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
as an exceptional teacher. Probably educated at King's Worcester himself, he went on to Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
as a “plebian” and then to Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he took a BA (1584) and Masters (1587).
Starting at King’s Worcester in 1689, he also held a number of paid positions within the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, including at Broadwas
Broadwas
Broadwas or Broadwas-on-Teme, is a village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 307...
(1591-1607), Tredington
Tredington
Tredington is a small village near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, England.The village has a school and a church, St John the Baptist. The steps, base and shaft of the churchyard cross are 14th century; the cross is modern...
(1607-), a canonry at Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
(1607-) and Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
(1618-).
Fuller claims that “this Master Bright [was] placed by divine Providence in this city in the Marches that he might equally communicate the lustre of grammar learning to youth both of England and Wales”. Pupils did attend the school from both countries. The school under Bright also provided yearly “exhibitions” of 2/- for pupils he sent to colleges at Oxford and Cambridge.
His reputation was also echoed by Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
in his Fasti Oxoniensis:
He had a most excellent faculty in instructing youths in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, most of which were afterwards sent to the universities, where they proved eminent to emulation. He was also an excellent preacher, was resorted to far and near ... The posterity of this Hen. Bright do now live in genteel fashion in Worcestershire.
Pupils
Bright is principally remembered for the pupils he taught and frequently sent to BalliolBalliol
Balliol may refer to:* The Balliol family, Lords of Baliol, and their fief* their ancestral seat in Northern France, known usually as Bailleul* Balliol College, Oxford* King John of Scotland , often known as John Balliol...
many of whom became well known. They include:
- John BealeJohn Beale (writer)John Beale was an English clergyman, scientific writer, and early Fellow of the Royal Society. He contributed to John Evelyn's Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber, and was an influential author on orchards and cider...
, in whom he helped develop his interest in Erasmus - Samuel ButlerSamuel Butler (poet)Samuel Butler was a poet and satirist. Born in Strensham, Worcestershire and baptised 14 February 1613, he is remembered now chiefly for a long satirical burlesque poem on Puritanism entitled Hudibras.-Biography:...
, a poet and satirist - Thomas GoodThomas GoodThomas Good was an English academic and clergyman, and Master of Balliol College, Oxford. He is known as a moderate in and orthodox apologist for the Church of England, engaging with Richard Baxter and urging him to clarify a 'middle way'.-Life:Originally from the Tenbury Wells area of...
, subsequently Master of Balliol College, OxfordBalliol College, OxfordBalliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections.... - Thomas HallThomas Hall (minister)-Life:He was son of Richard Hall, clothier, by his wife Elizabeth , and was born in St. Andrew's parish, Worcester, about 22 July 1610. He was educated at the King's School, Worcester, under Henry Bright , one of the most celebrated schoolmasters of the day. In 1624 he entered Balliol College,...
- Edward WinslowEdward WinslowEdward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644...
, one of the Pilgrim Fathers
Epitaph
Bright’s epitaph can be found in Worcester CathedralWorcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
and is quoted in Latin by Fuller.
Stop, stranger, and read.
The famous schoolmaster,
Mr. Henry Bright,
who presided over the Royal school
here founded for full 40 years ;
than whom no one was more industrious, learned or skilful
in successfully teaching Latin, Greek and Hebrew,
as witness both Universities which he sufficiently supplied with numerous learned youths ;
also for the same number of years & more a doctor of divinity
and for 7 years a greater canon of this church,
he often here and elsewhere played the part of the holy herald of God with great zeal and effect ;
pious, learned, upright, frugal, deserving well alike of state and church,
worn out at last by his strenuous labours by day and night from the year 1562 to 1626,
on the 4"' of March sweetly rested in the Lord.Mane, Hospes, et lege.
Magister Henricus Bright,
celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha,
qui Scholae Regiae istic fundatae
per totos quadraglota annos summa cum laude praefuit :
Quo non alter magis sedulus fuit scitusve aut dexter
in Latinis, Graecis, Hebraicis Literis feliciter edocendis :
Teste utraque Academia, quam instruxit aifatim numerosa pube literaria ;
Sed et totidem annis coque amplius Theologiam professus,
et hujus Ecclesise per septennium Canonicus major,
sepissimè hie et alibi sacrum Dei Praeconem magno cum zelo et fructu egit ;
Vir pius, doctus, integer, frugi, de Republicâ deque Ecclesia optimè meritus,
à laboribus perdiu pernoctuque ab anno 1562 ad 1626,
strenue usque extant latis, 4to Martii suaviter requievit in Domino."