John Cosin

1594-1672. Bishop of Durham. Born at Norwich, he studied at Caius College, Cambridge, took holy orders, and became prebendary of Durham (1625) and rector of Elwick and Brancepeth (1626). At the request of Charles I he compiled his Collection of Private Devotions (1627), which included his fine translation of Veni Creator Spiritus (“Come, Holy Ghost”). He became master of Peterhouse (1635) and dean of Peterborough (1640), but was deprived of all his benefices by the Long Parliament. He became chaplain of the Anglican royalists in Paris (1642), and befriended Huguenots and disputed with Roman Catholics, writing against transubstantiation. He became bishop of Durham (1660) and attended the Savoy Conference* (1661).