Nicholas Bownde, Bownd or Bound (d. 1613) was an English clergyman, known for his sabbatarian writings.

Life

He was son of Robert Bownde (Bound), M.D., physician to the Duke of Norfolk

Duke of Norfolk

The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the...

. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge

Peterhouse, Cambridge

Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...

, where he graduated B.A. in 1572, was elected a fellow later that year, and graduated M.A. in 1575. On 3 September 1585 he was instituted to the rectory of Norton, Suffolk

Norton, Suffolk

Norton is a small village in Suffolk, England. The nearest town is Bury St. Edmunds.It has 1 Greene King Pub - "The Dog" which is more of a restaurant than a daily boozer....

, a living in the gift of his college. He was created D.D. at Cambridge in 1594.

In 1611 Bownde became minister of the church of St. Andrew the Apostle at Norwich

Norwich

Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...

, and he was buried there on 26 December 1613. He married the widow of John More

John More (Puritan)

John More was an English clergyman, known as the 'Apostle of Norwich.' Tending to nonconformity, he was treated leniently by the church authorities.-Life:...

, the 'apostle of Norwich.' His sister Anne married John Dod

John Dod

John Dod , known as “Decalogue Dod”, was a non-conforming English clergyman, taking his nickname for his emphasis on the Ten Commandments. He is known for his widely circulated writings...

 and his widowed mother married as her second husband Richard Greenham

Richard Greenham

Richard Greenham was an English clergyman of Puritan views, known as a Sabbatarian writer.-Life:He was probably born about 1535, and went at a late age to the University of Cambridge where he matriculated as a sizar of Pembroke Hall on 27 May 1559. He graduated B.A. early in 1564, and was...

.

Works

In 1595 Bownde published the first edition of his treatise on Sabbath. In it he maintained that the seventh part of our time ought to be devoted to the service of God; that Christians are bound to rest on the seventh day of the week as much as the Jews were on Mosaical Sabbath. He contended that Sabbath was profaned by interludes, May-games, morris dances, shooting, bowling, and similar sports; and he would not allow any feasting on that day, though an exception was made in favour of 'noblemen and great personages'.

The observance of the Lord's day became a question between the high-church party and the puritans, an early disagreement on doctrine. The Sabbatarian question was noticed by the bishops, and they cited several ministers before the ecclesiastical courts for preaching it. But the strict Sabbatarian doctrine spread.

His works are:

• 'Three godly and fruitfull Sermons, declaring how we may be saved in the day of Judgement. . . . Preached and written by M. John More, late Preacher in the Citie of Norwitch. And now first published by M. Nicholas Bound, whereto he hath adjoined of his owne, A Sermon of Comfort for the Afflicted; and a short treatise of a contented mind,' Cambridge, 1594.
• 'The Doctrine of the Sabbath, plainely layde forth, and soundly proued by testimonies both of holy Scripture, and also of olde and new ecclesiastical writers. . . . Together with the sundry abuses of our time in both these kindes, and how they ought to bee reformed,' London, 1595. Dedicated to Robert Devereux, earl of Essex. Reprinted, with additions, under the title of 'Sabbathvm veteris et novi Testamenti: or the true doctrine of the Sabbath . . . ,' London, 1606.
• 'Medicines for the Plagve: that is, Godly and fruitfull Sermons vpon part of the twentieth Psalme . . . more particularly applied to this late visitation of the Plague,' London, 1604.
• 'The Holy Exercise of Fasting. Described largely and plainly out of the word of God. ... In certaine Homilies or Sermons . . . ,' Cambridge, 1604. Dedicated to John Jegon
  John Jegon
  John Jegon was an English academic and Bishop of Norwich. He supported uniformity of Anglican doctrine and worship, and strong government. This led him into conflict with John Robinson, later of the Mayflower. On the other hand, he made efforts to satisfy local Puritans by the appointment of...
  
  , bishop of Norwich.
• 'The Vnbeliefe of St. Thomas the Apostle, laid open for the comfort of all that desire to beleeue . . . ,' London, 1608, reprinted, London, 1817.
• A Treatise ful of Consolation for all that are afflicted in minde or bodie or otherwise ... , Cambridge, 1608; reprinted, London, 1817. The reprints of this and the preceding work were edited by G. W. Marriot.

Bownde has a Latin ode before Peter Baro

Peter Baro

Peter Baro was a French Huguenot minister, ordained by John Calvin, but later in England a critic of some Calvinist theological positions. His views in relation to the Lambeth Articles cost him his position as Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge...

's Prælectiones in Ionam, 1579; and he edited John More's Table from the Beginning of the World to this Day. Wherein is declared in what yeere of the World everything was done, Cambridge, 1593.