Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Downe, John
DOWNE, JOHN, B.D. (1570?–1631), divine, son of John Downe, by his wife, Joan, daughter of John Jewel, and sister of the bishop of that name, was born at Holdsworthy, Devonshire, about 1570. He was sent to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he proceeded to the degree of B.D., and was elected a fellow. In July 1600 he was incorporated at Oxford. He took orders, and was presented by his college to the vicarage of Winsford, Somersetshire. Later he was preferred to the living of Instow, in his native county, and held it till his death, which took place in 1631. He was buried in the chancel of Instow Church, and from tombstones of other members of his family in the same building it appears that he was twice married, his first wife, Rebecca, having died 6 Oct. 1614. In his lifetime Downe seems to have published nothing; but in 1633 ‘Certain Treatises of the late reverend and learned John Downe’ were ‘published at the instance of friends’ at Oxford. This volume consists of ten sermons, prefixed by a letter from Bishop Hall, to whom it was dedicated, and the obituary sermon preached over Downe by his friend George Hakewill, D.D., archdeacon of Surrey. Hall, after praising Downe's learning and social virtues, expresses the hope that ‘we shall see abroad some excellent monuments of his Latin poesy, in which faculty, I dare boldly say, few if any in our age exceeded him.’ Hakewill describes him as knowing well the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and (‘I think’) Italian languages, and as being deeply versed in theology and the works of the fathers. Downe's sermons are written in a style which is certainly superior, both in lucidity of expression and choice of language, to many similar works published by some of his contemporaries, but the diversity of his accomplishments is better illustrated by a second volume of his literary remains, which appeared in 1635. This was entitled ‘A Treatise of the True Nature and Definition of Justifying Faith, together with a defence of the same against the answer of N[icholas] Baxter,’ and contains, beyond the treatise (15 pp.) and the defence of it (195 pp.), two sermons, a translation in verse of the ‘Institution for Children,’ by M. Antonius Muretus, a few original sacred poems, and some verse translations of the Psalms. No specimens, however, of the Latin poetry which Bishop Hall desired to see abroad are included. In Cole's ‘Athenæ Cantab.’ (Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 5867, fol. 16), under the heading ‘John Dun’ (with a cross reference to ‘John Downe’), it is stated that ‘when King James was at Cambridge in 1614, Bishop Harsnet, then vice-chancellor, and the university were so rigid in not granting the doctorate that even the king's entreaty for John Dun would not prevail.’ John Donne [q. v.] is here referred to. Hakewill in his sermon hints that Downe ought to have received the higher degree; but Dr. Donne was alone refused it in 1614.
[Prince's Worthies of Devon, p. 262 (copied mainly from Hakewill's sermon); Wood's Fasti Oxon., ed. Bliss, i. 286.]