JOHN, also called Vowell, the uncle of the famous author of the Ecclesiastical Polity, was born at Exeter in 1524. He received a college education at Oxford, and afterwards travelled on the Continent. He studied law at Cologne, and divinity at Strasbourg under Peter Martyr. Returning to his native country, he was made chamberlain of Exeter, the first who ever enjoyed that honour. In 1571 he became member of parliament for the same place. Three years previously to this, he had been sent to Ireland, where also he was elected a member of parliament. He died A.D. 1601. His work, The Order and Usage of Keeping of the Parliaments in England, was written for the use of the Irish Parliament. Also, in regard to Irish affairs, he made numerous additions to Holingshed's Chronicles, of which an edition appeared in Hooker. 1586. He wrote a description of Exeter, a catalogue of its bishops, and an account of the duties, &c., of every sworn officer in it. He wrote also a work, *The Events of Comets, or Blazing Stars, made upon the sight of the Comet Pagonia*, a comet which appeared in 1577.