Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robinson, Hugh

by William Arthur Shaw

ROBINSON, HUGH (1584?–1655), archdeacon of Gloucester, born in Anglesea about 1584, was a son of Nicholas Robinson (d. 1585) [q. v.], bishop of Bangor (Wood, Athenæ Oxon. ii. 798). He was admitted to Winchester School in 1596 (Kirby, Winchester Scholars, p. 157), and matriculated at New College, Oxford, on 16 Dec. 1603 (Clark, Oxford Registers). In 1605 he was elected perpetual fellow, and held his fellowship till 1614. He graduated B.A. on 21 April 1607, M.A. 23 Jan. 1610–11, B.D. and D.D. on 21 June 1627. He was chief master of Winchester School from 1613 to 1627 (Kirby, ubi supra, p. 165), and became successively rector of Llanbedr, with the vicarage of Caerhun in 1613; of Trêvriw (Carnarvon) in 1618; of Bighton, Hampshire, in 1622; of Shabbington, Buckinghamshire; canon of Lincoln on 24 Feb. 1624–5 (Le Neve, Fasti); archdeacon of Gloucester on 5 June 1634 (ib.) He was rector of Dursley from 1625 to 1647. In his archdeaconry he seems to have been moderate in his proceedings (Cal. State Papers, Dom. ccclxxviii. No. 14).

During the civil war he lost his canonry and archdeaconry, was seized at his living at Dursley and ill-treated; but he took the covenant, wrote in defence of it, and accepted the living of Hinton, near Winchester, from the parliament (Walker, Sufferings of the Clergy, i. 33; Addit. MS. 15671, f. 6). He died on 30 March 1655, and was buried on the following 18 April in the chancel of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London.

He wrote:

1. An 8vo volume, published in Oxford in 1616, containing ‘Preces’ for the use of Winchester School, in Latin and English, ‘Grammaticalia Quædam,’ in Latin and English, and ‘Antiquæ Historiæ Synopsis.’
2. ‘Scholæ Wintoniensis Phrases Latinæ,’ London, 1654; 2nd edit. by his son Nicholas, London, 1658; ‘corrected and much augmented with Poeticals added, and these four Tracts: (i.) Of Words not to be used by elegant Latinists; (ii.) The difference of many Words like one another in Sound or Signification; (iii.) Some Words governing a Subjunctive Mood not mentioned in Lillie's “Grammar;” (iv.) Concerning Χρεία and Γνώμη for entering Children upon making of themes; dedicated to Sir Robert Wallop, Sir Nicholas Love, and Sir Thomas Hussey;’ 3rd edit. London, 1661, 8vo; 4th edit. London, 1664, 12mo; 8th edit. 1673, 8vo; 11th edit. 1685, 12mo.
3. ‘Annalium mundi universalium, &c., tomus unicus,’ London, 1677, fol., revised before publication by Dr. Thomas Pierce [q. v.], dean of Salisbury.

[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. iii. 395; Robinson's Works.]

W. A. S.