# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gilbert, Claudius (d.1696?)

​GILBERT, CLAUDIUS, the elder (d. 1696?), ecclesiastic, was nephew of Henry Markham, a colonel employed in Ireland under the Commonwealth. Gilbert officiated as a nonconformist or independent clergyman in Ireland. Under the civil establishment of the Commonwealth in 1655 he received an annual allowance of 200l. as minister for the precinct of Limerick. In that town he actively opposed the quakers, who in 1656 endeavoured to propagate their doctrines there, with a zeal which led to their expulsion by the governmental authorities. In 1657 Gilbert published at London, 'The Libertine School'd, or a Vindication of the Magistrates' Power in Religious Matters; in answer to some fallacious quaeries scattered about the City of Limerick, by a nameless author, about the 15th of December, 1656; and for detection of those mysterious designs so vigorously fomented, if not begun, among us by Romish engineers, and Jesuitick emissaries, under notionall disguises.' This publication, dated from Gilbert's study in Limerick, 22 Dec. 1656, was dedicated to Henry Cromwell, commander-in-chief of the forces, and his council for the affairs of Ireland. The signature of Gilbert stands first among those clergymen who, as 'servants in the ministry of the gospel,' presented an address to Henry Cromwell, lord deputy, in Dublin in May 1658. In that year 'Gilbert published at London, 'A Soveraign Antidote against Sinful Errors, the Epidemical Plague of these latter dayes; extracted out of divine records, the dispensatory of Christianity for the prevention and cure of our spiritual distempers.' This was dedicated to Colonel Henry Ingoldsby, governor of the precinct of Limerick and Clare, under date of 23 Jan. 1656. In 1658 Gilbert also published at London 'The Blessed Peace-maker and Christian Reconciler; intended for the healing of all unnatural and unchristian divisions in all relations; according to the purport of that divine oracle announced by the Prince of Peace himself.' This treatise, dated at Limerick 23 March 1656, was dedicated to Major-general Sir Hardress Waller and his wife Elizabeth. A fourth treatise by Gilbert was issued at London in the same year, entitled 'A pleasant Walk to Heaven through the New and Living Way which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us and His sacred Word reveals unto us.' The date, Limerick, 19 May 1657, is appended to the 'epistle dedicatory' to the author's uncle, Colonel Henry Markham, and his wife Esther. On the title-pages of his above-mentioned works Gilbert is designated 'bachelor of divinity and minister of the gospel at Limerick in Ireland.' In 1659 the commissioners of the revenue in Ireland were directed by government to provide a house for Gilbert while preaching in Dublin. After the Restoration Gilbert appears to have ​become connected with the established church in Ireland, and to have settled in Belfast as a friend of Arthur Chichester, first earl of Donegal, who in his will made him a bequest. In 1666 Gilbert became prebendary of Ballymore in the church of Armagh (Cotton, Fasti, iii. 51). Under the designation of ‘minister of Belfast’ Gilbert in 1683 published in London a translation of Pierre Jurieu's reply to Bossuet, under the title ‘A Preservative against the Change of Religion; or a just and true idea of the Roman catholic religion opposed to the flattering portraictures made thereof, and particularly to that of my lord of Condom; translated out of the French original.’ Gilbert prefixed a dedication, dated 3 July 1682, to the sovereign, burgesses, and inhabitants of Belfast. Gilbert's publications indicate proficiency in Hebrew, Arabic, Latin, Greek, Italian, French, and Spanish.
[Records of Government in Ireland, 1650–60; Brit. Mus. Lansdowne MS. 1228; Fuller and Holms's View of Sufferings of Quakers, 1731; Reid's Hist. of Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 1853; Benn's Hist. of Belfast, 1877.]
J. T. G.