[A.D. 1605, translated to London 1607.] Thomas Ravis, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. He was a prelate of some learning, and was the translator of part of the New Testament in James the First’s Bible.
[A.D. 1607, translated to Worcester 1610.] Henry Parry, Dean of Chester. James I. said of him that “he never heard a better or more eloquent preacher.”
[A.D. 1611-1612.] Giles Thompson, Dean of Windsor, died without having ever visited his new diocese.
[A.D. 1612-1624.] Miles Smith, a prelate of great learning, translator of the whole of the Prophets for James the First’s Bible, for which also he wrote the Preface,—“as a comely gate to a glorious city, which remains under his own hand in the University Library in Oxford[27].” He is called by Sir Robert Atkyns (History of Gloucestershire) a “stiff Calvinist, and a great favourer of the Puritans.” He was buried in the Lady-chapel of the cathedral, “under a plain stone, without any inscription.”
[A.D. 1625, suspended 1640, died 1656.] Godfrey Goodman, Dean of Rochester. Bishop Goodman was strongly suspected of an inclination to Romanism: a curious entry in a volume now in the Chapter Library at Gloucester proves that that suspicion was far from being without foundation; and Fuller asserts that he “died a professed Romanist, as appeared by his will[28].” In 1640 he was suspended by Archbishop Laud, for refusing to subscribe the Canons, and was committed for some time to the Gate House; “where,” says Fuller, “he got by his restraint what he could never have got by his liberty, namely, of one reputed Popish to become for a short time popular, as the only confessor suffering for not subscribing the Canons[29].” He afterwards subscribed, and was restored, but soon had to bear his full share of the troubles during the time of the Commonwealth. He died in London, 1656, and was buried in St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster.
[A.D. 1661-1672.] William Nicolson was appointed to the see on the Restoration.
[A.D. 1672-1681.] John Pritchett.
[A.D. 1681, deprived 1691.] Robert Frampton had been Dean of Gloucester since 1673. He was one of the Non-juring bishops, and retired, on his deprivation, to the living of Standish, in Gloucestershire, which he had held with the bishopric. He died in 1708, and was buried in the chancel of the church at Standish.
[A.D. 1691-1714.] Edward Fowler was the son of a Presbyterian who had been intruded, during the Commonwealth, into the living of Westerleigh, near Bristol. Fowler himself conformed after the Restoration, and was raised to the see of Gloucester on the deprivation of Bishop Frampton. He belonged to the school of “Latitudinarian divines,” then in special favour, and published many books which are now of little value. Bishop Fowler died at Chelsea, Aug. 26, 1714, and was buried at Hendon, in Middlesex, in which church there is a monument to his memory.
[A.D. 1715, translated to Salisbury 1721.] Richard Willis, Dean of Lincoln. From Salisbury Bishop Willis was translated to Winchester, in 1725.