GILPIN, BERNARD, is one of those persons who, without having been placed in stations which afforded the opportunity for the display of extraordinary intellectual powers, or having had the course of their lives marked by very unusual and extraordinary incidents, yet occupy no inconsiderable space in the eye of their countrymen, and are regarded with affection and respect, as ornaments of their time and an honour to the nation to which they belong. This is owing in part to the popular character of his virtues, and in part to his having had in Bishop Carleton a contemporary biographer, who has given a pleasing and no doubt faithful account of his life and manners. In later times, one of his own family, the Rev. William Gilpin, of Boldre (of whom in a following article), prepared a larger and no less inter esting account of this venerable character.
Bernard Gilpin was born at Kentmire, Westmoreland, in 1517, of a genteel family; was entered on the foundation of Queen's College, Oxford, in 1533 ; became distinguished in the schools, and acquired an unusual knowledge of Greek and Hebrew; in March 1541 pro ceeded M.A., and was elected fellow of his college. So high did he stand as a scholar at Oxford, that he was selected as one of the first masters on the foundation of Christchurch College by Henry VIII. He had in opening manhood been a warm adherent of the papacy, but early became a convert to Protestantism, in which ho never subsequently wavered. Having taken holy orders, he in 1552 received the gift of the vicarage of Norton, in the diocese of Durham, and preached a sermon at Greenwich before Edward VI. Early in the reign of Queen Mary he resigned his living, and went abroad, as did many others who had been favourers of the Reformation in the days of King Edward. He was absent three years. He ventured to return while Queen Mary was alive; and was cordially received by Tunstall, who was related to him on his mother's side, and who made him archdeacon of Durham and rector of Houghton-le-Spriug. His
preaching at this period was remarkably bold. He inveighed against popular vices in the spirit of an enthusiastic reformer; and when this brought upon him much odium from persons who were touched by him, and he was accused to the Bishop of Durham, the bishop protected him so effectually, that his accusers brought their charges before the notorious Bonner, bishop of London. This led to a remarkable incident. Gilpin obeyed the summons of this unpitying prelate. Full of the expectation of nothing less than to suffer at the stake, "Give me," said he, before he act out, to his house-steward, "a long garment, that I may die with decency." As he journeyed with the ministers of the bishop, an accident happened to him which occasioned a delay. It is said that his leg was broken. While he lay without the possibility of proceeding, intelligence came that the queen was dead. Gilpin returned in peace to hie parishioners at Houghton.
The only other incident In his life which requires notice is, that the bishopric of Carlisle was offered to him by Queen Elizabeth. This offer be declined, and continued to his death the rector of Houghton, residing constantly in his pariah, except when he visited the ruder parts of the county of Northumberland, into which he appears to have introdnced more of regular habits of life and more of Christian influences than had resulted from the labours of any previous Christian instructor who had lived amongst them.
The parts of Redeadale and Tynedale, debateable land on the Marches, are particularly named as the scenes of his labours. The people there, living on the borders of the two countries, had long led a lawless life, subsisting mostly on plunder. Gilpin went fearlessly amongst them, holding forth the commands and the sanctions of Christianity, and did much to change the character of the country. hence it was that he was commonly called the Northern Apostle, and his name for geoerations was repeated with reverence.