After the Visitation at Oxon by the Parliament, he gott to be Warden of Wadham Colledge. Anno <1656> maried to <Robina> the relict of Dr. <Peter> French, canon of Christchurch, Oxon, and sister to Oliver, (then) Lord Protector, who[1245] made him anno 165<8/9> Master of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, (in which place he revived learning by strickt examinations at elections: he was much honoured there, and heartily loved by all;) where he continued till 1660, (the restauration of his majestie). Then he was minister of Saint Laurence <Jewry> church in London; and anno ... was deane of Rippon in Yorkeshire. His friend, Seth Ward, D.D., being made bishop of Excester, he was made there deane, and anno 166<8> by the favour of George, duke of Buckingham, was made bishop[1246] of Chester; and was extremely well beloved in his diocese. Anno Domini <1672> he dyed of <the stone>. He left a legacy of four hundred pounds (quaere) to the Royall Society, and had he been able would have given more. He was no great read man; but one of much and deepe thinking, and of a working head; and a prudent man as well as ingeniose. He was one of Seth, lord bishop of Sarum's most intimate friends. He was a lustie, strong growne, well sett, broad shoulderd person, cheerfull, and hospitable.
He was the principall reviver of experimentall philosophy (secundum mentem domini Baconi) at Oxford, where he had weekely an experimentall philosophicall clubbe, which began 1649, and was the incunabula of the Royall Society. When he came to London, they mett at the Bull-head taverne in Cheapside, (e.g. 1658, 1659, and after), till it grew to big for a clubb, and so they came to Gresham colledge parlour.
_Scripsit_ (vide A. Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._):--
The World in the Moone, ... (long since).
Mathematicall Magique: dedicated to the Prince Elector: printed....
This last was his darling, and nothing troubled him so much when he dyed, as that he had not compleated it; which will now in a yeare more be donne by the care and studies of Mr. Robert Hooke, of Gresham College; Mr. Andrew Paschall, B.D. of Chedzoy, in com. Somerset; Mr. Francis Lodwyck, of London, merchant; Mr. John Ray, R.S.S., of Essex; and Mr. Thomas Pigott, M.A. (Wadham College). He lyes buried in the north-east end of the chancell of St. Laurence ... church, neer the wall, where will be an inscription sett up to his memorie.