Owen Lewis (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Owen Lewis, also known as Lewis Owen (1532–1594) was a Welsh Roman Catholic priest, jurist, administrator and diplomat, who became bishop of Cassano.
, Anglesey
, he was the son of a freeholder. He became a scholar of Winchester College
in 1547, and a perpetual fellow of New College, Oxford
, in 1554; and was admitted to the degree of B.C.L. 21 February 1558–9. Opposed to Protestantism
, he left the university about 1561 and went to the University of Douai
, where he completed degrees in both law and divinity, and was appointed regius professor of law. He was also made a canon of Cambrai Cathedral, official of the chapter, and archdeacon of Hainault
.
and Pope Gregory XIII
made him referendary of both signatures, and secretary to the several congregations and consultations concerning the clergy and regulars.
With William Allen, Lewis helped set up the English College, Douai
and English College, Rome. In 1578, Lewis had Morys Clynnog brought in as warden to the college in Rome. Nationalist feelings, however, came to the fore, and the English students agitated for a Jesuit to be put in charge. This incident has been identified as the beginning of the "Jesuit and secular" divide in the English mission.
from 1580 to 1584. Charles Borromeo
, as archbishop of Milan, brought in outsiders; he appointed Lewis one of the vicars-general of his diocese, at the same time taking him into his family. Borromeo died in Lewis's arms. Gruffydd Robert assisted Lewis in his work.
By the joint consent of Sixtus V and Philip II of Spain
, Lewis was promoted to the bishopric of Cassano, in the Kingdom of Naples
, and was consecrated at Rome 3 February (N.S.) 1588. At the time of the Spanish Armada
there was support for him to be made archbishop of York
in the event of the enterprise succeeding, but Allen disapproved of the idea; the proposal became for other bishoprics. Lewis continued to reside at Rome, and the pope appointed him one of the apostolic visitors of that city; and sent him as nuncio
to Switzerland.
He died at Rome on 14 October (N.S.) 1594, and was buried in the chapel of the English College, where a monument was erected to his memory, with a Latin epitaph. Lewis's old schoolfellow Thomas Stapleton
dedicated to him his Promptuarium Catholicum, Paris, 1595.
Attribution
Early life
Born on 28 December 1532 in the hamlet of Bodeon, LlangadwaladrLlangadwaladr
Llangadwaladr is a small village in south-west Anglesey, Wales, located around 2 miles east of Aberffraw and 3 miles south of Gwalchmai. It is part of the community of Bodorgan....
, Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, he was the son of a freeholder. He became a scholar of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in 1547, and a perpetual fellow of New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, in 1554; and was admitted to the degree of B.C.L. 21 February 1558–9. Opposed to Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, he left the university about 1561 and went to the University of Douai
University of Douai
The University of Douai is a former university in Douai, France. With a Middle Ages heritage of scholar activities in Douai, the university was established in 1559 and lectures started in 1562. It closed from 1795 to 1808...
, where he completed degrees in both law and divinity, and was appointed regius professor of law. He was also made a canon of Cambrai Cathedral, official of the chapter, and archdeacon of Hainault
Hainault
Hainault is an area in the London Borough of Redbridge in north east London. It is a suburban development located north east of Charing Cross...
.
Curialist
A lawsuit of the chapter of Cambrai involved occasioned Lewis's going to Rome. Both Pope Sixtus VPope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
and Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
made him referendary of both signatures, and secretary to the several congregations and consultations concerning the clergy and regulars.
With William Allen, Lewis helped set up the English College, Douai
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
and English College, Rome. In 1578, Lewis had Morys Clynnog brought in as warden to the college in Rome. Nationalist feelings, however, came to the fore, and the English students agitated for a Jesuit to be put in charge. This incident has been identified as the beginning of the "Jesuit and secular" divide in the English mission.
In Milan
Lewis was an administrator in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
from 1580 to 1584. Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
, as archbishop of Milan, brought in outsiders; he appointed Lewis one of the vicars-general of his diocese, at the same time taking him into his family. Borromeo died in Lewis's arms. Gruffydd Robert assisted Lewis in his work.
Later life
Back in Rome, Lewis took on for the Papal Curia policy concerning the English College, Reims and Mary Queen of Scots.By the joint consent of Sixtus V and Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, Lewis was promoted to the bishopric of Cassano, in the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, and was consecrated at Rome 3 February (N.S.) 1588. At the time of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
there was support for him to be made archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
in the event of the enterprise succeeding, but Allen disapproved of the idea; the proposal became for other bishoprics. Lewis continued to reside at Rome, and the pope appointed him one of the apostolic visitors of that city; and sent him as nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
to Switzerland.
He died at Rome on 14 October (N.S.) 1594, and was buried in the chapel of the English College, where a monument was erected to his memory, with a Latin epitaph. Lewis's old schoolfellow Thomas Stapleton
Thomas Stapleton
Thomas Stapleton was an English Catholic controversialist.-Life:He was the son of William Stapleton, one of the Stapletons of Carlton, Yorkshire. He was educated at the Free School, Canterbury, at Winchester College, and at New College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow, 18 January 1553...
dedicated to him his Promptuarium Catholicum, Paris, 1595.
External links
Attribution