GODWIN (Francis), successively bishop of Landaff and Hereford, was born in 1667. He was eminent for his learning and abilities; being a good mathematician, an excellent philosopher, a pure Latinist, and an accurate historian. He understood the true theory of the moon's motion a century before it was generally known. He first started those hints afterwards pursued by Bishop Wilkins, in his "Secret and swift messenger," and published "A catalogue of the lives of English bishops." He has nevertheless been accused as a great simoniac, for omitting no opportunity of disposing of preferments in order to provide for his children. He died in 1648.