Andrew Dokett
Encyclopedia
Andrew Dokett was an English churchman and academic, who became the first President of Queens' College, Cambridge
.
to the vicarage of St. Botolph, Cambridge, of which, on the restoration of the great tithes, he became rector 21 October 1444. He resigned the rectory in 1470. Subsequently he was made one of the canons or prebendaries of the royal chapel of St. Stephen's, Westminster, a preferment he exchanged in 1479 with Dr. Walter Oudeby for the provostship of the collegiate church of Cotterstock
, near Oundle
. In July 1467 Dokett was collated to the prebend of Ryton in Lichfield Cathedral
, which he exchanged for the chancellorship of Lichfield in 1470, an office which he resigned 6 July 1476.
by Henry VI
took place in 1440. In December 1446 Dokett obtained a royal charter for a college, to consist of a president and four fellows. Eight months later, Dokett having in the meanwhile obtained a better site for his proposed buildings, this charter was cancelled at his own request, and a second issued by the king 21 August 1447, authorising the refoundation of the college on the new site, under the name of ‘the College of St. Bernard of Cambridge.’ Dokett secured the protection of the young Queen Margaret of Anjou
for his college, which was refounded by her as ‘the Queen's College of St. Margaret and St. Bernard.’ Henry VI granted £200 to it, and the names of some of the Queen's court appear on the roll of benefactors.
The foundation-stone was laid for the Queen by Sir John Wenlock
, her chamberlain, on 15th April 1448, and the quadrangle was approaching completion when the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses
put a temporary stop to the undertaking. Later Dokett became a Yorkist, and persuaded the new Queen Elizabeth Woodville
to support the college. The prosperity of the college was due to her influence with her husband, and she gave it the first statutes in 1475; the college was henceforth known as ‘Queens' College,’ in the plural.
Dokett also succeeded in ingratiating himself with the King's brother, Richard
, and obtained his patronage. As Duke of Gloucester, Richard founded four fellowships, and as King Richard III increased the emoluments of the college by grants of lands belonging (in right of her mother) to his Queen Anne
, who had accepted the position of foundress and patroness of this college. These estates were, however, lost to the college on the accession of Henry VII
.
The endowments were also augmented by Dokett's offer to place the names of deceased persons on the bede-roll of the college in return for a gift of money.
's time (c. 1777), but has now disappeared.
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
.
Career in the church
Before 1439 he was presented by Corpus Christi CollegeCorpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
to the vicarage of St. Botolph, Cambridge, of which, on the restoration of the great tithes, he became rector 21 October 1444. He resigned the rectory in 1470. Subsequently he was made one of the canons or prebendaries of the royal chapel of St. Stephen's, Westminster, a preferment he exchanged in 1479 with Dr. Walter Oudeby for the provostship of the collegiate church of Cotterstock
Cotterstock
Cotterstock is a village and civil parish in East Northamptonshire, England.-Geography:Cotterstock is on the banks of the River Nene, which flows through the town of Peterborough 16 miles to the north east and empties into the North Sea in The Wash...
, near Oundle
Oundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
. In July 1467 Dokett was collated to the prebend of Ryton in Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
, which he exchanged for the chancellorship of Lichfield in 1470, an office which he resigned 6 July 1476.
College head
The major work of Dokett's life was the foundation of the college. By prudence administration and adroitness in securing the patronage of the sovereigns, he developed it from small beginnings into a well-endowed society, Queens' College, Cambridge. The foundation of King's CollegeKing's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
by Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
took place in 1440. In December 1446 Dokett obtained a royal charter for a college, to consist of a president and four fellows. Eight months later, Dokett having in the meanwhile obtained a better site for his proposed buildings, this charter was cancelled at his own request, and a second issued by the king 21 August 1447, authorising the refoundation of the college on the new site, under the name of ‘the College of St. Bernard of Cambridge.’ Dokett secured the protection of the young Queen Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI of England. As such, she was Queen consort of England from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471; and Queen consort of France from 1445 to 1453...
for his college, which was refounded by her as ‘the Queen's College of St. Margaret and St. Bernard.’ Henry VI granted £200 to it, and the names of some of the Queen's court appear on the roll of benefactors.
The foundation-stone was laid for the Queen by Sir John Wenlock
John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock
Sir John Wenlock KG was an English soldier, courtier and politician. He fought on the side of both the Yorkists and the Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses...
, her chamberlain, on 15th April 1448, and the quadrangle was approaching completion when the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
put a temporary stop to the undertaking. Later Dokett became a Yorkist, and persuaded the new Queen Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
to support the college. The prosperity of the college was due to her influence with her husband, and she gave it the first statutes in 1475; the college was henceforth known as ‘Queens' College,’ in the plural.
Dokett also succeeded in ingratiating himself with the King's brother, Richard
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, and obtained his patronage. As Duke of Gloucester, Richard founded four fellowships, and as King Richard III increased the emoluments of the college by grants of lands belonging (in right of her mother) to his Queen Anne
Anne Neville
Lady Anne Neville was Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster and Queen of England as the consort of King Richard III. She held the latter title for less than two years, from 26 June 1483 until her death in March 1485...
, who had accepted the position of foundress and patroness of this college. These estates were, however, lost to the college on the accession of Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
.
The endowments were also augmented by Dokett's offer to place the names of deceased persons on the bede-roll of the college in return for a gift of money.
Death and legacy
Dokett governed his college for 38 years, having lived long enough to see a foundation of four fellows grow into a society of 17. He died 4 November 1484. His will, dated 2 November of the that year, was printed by William George Searle in his history of the college. He was buried in the choir of his college chapel, ‘where the lessons are read.’ His gravestone with the matrix of his incised effigy existed in William ColeWilliam Cole (antiquary)
William Cole , was a Cambridgeshire clergyman and antiquary.Cole was born in Little Abington, Cambridgeshire, the son of a well-to-do farmer...
's time (c. 1777), but has now disappeared.