Alexander Nowell, an English clergyman, born at Readhall, Lancashire, in 1507, died in Oxford in 1602. He was educated at Oxford, was admitted fellow of Brasenose college in 1 540, and three years later was appointed second master of Westminster school. He took orders in 1550, and became prebendary of Westminster in 1551. On the accession of Queen Mary he went to the continent to escape Persecution, and in 1554 was at Strasburg with Jewel, Grindal, and others. In the disputes among the exiles Nowell took moderate ground and favored mutual concessions. Returning home, he became dean of St. Paul's in 1560. He was chosen prolocutor of the lower house in 1563, became canon of Windsor in 1594, and principal of Brasenose college in 1595. He published Jewel's "Apology" (1566); but his principal work is his "Catechism " in Latin, Catechismtis, sire prima Institutio Disciplinaque Pietatis Christiana, Latine explicata (1570). It was translated into English, and into Greek by W. Whitaker. An abridgment (CatecMsmus Parvus) was made nearly at the same time, and also translated into English.