Anthony Wotton
Encyclopedia
Anthony Wotton was an English clergyman and controversialist, of Puritan
views. He was the first Gresham Professor of Divinity
. Christopher Hill
describes him as a Modernist and Ramist.
; he then was elected scholar of King's College, Cambridge
, being admitted on 1 October 1579. His tutor was William Temple. He graduated B.A. in 1583, and proceeded M.A. in 1587. He was made B.D. in 1594, and in the same year he disputed with John Overall
at Cambridge before Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
, who made him his chaplain. On the death of William Whitaker
in the following year Wotton wrote some eulogistic verses, and became a candidate for the regius professorship of divinity vacated by Whitaker; though Wotton was highly commended for his disputation, Overall was elected by the votes of the younger Cambridge men, who preferred Overall's moderate high-church views to Wotton's puritanism.
In March 1596, on the establishment of Gresham College
, Wotton was appointed its first professor of divinity. He held the post less than two years, vacating it and his fellowship at King's on his marriage, on 27 October 1598, to Sybell, aged 28, daughter of William Brisley of Isleworth, Middlesex.
Wotton now became lecturer at All Hallows, Barking, a post which he held till his death; all his books are dated from his house on Tower Hill
. He failed to obtain further preferment, because of his views, but he became a well-known and popular preacher. In 1604 he was suspended by John Bancroft
, his prayer that "the king's eyes might be opened" being taken as an insinuation that the king was blind. The suspension did not last long.
Wotton died on 11 December 1626 in his house on Tower Hill.
(1581?-1651) accused him of Socinianism
; this led to a 'conference' of learned divines, which ended in Wotton's vindication. The controversy went on till 1615, and in 1641, long after Wotton's death, Walker repeated his accusations. This provoked Mr. Anthony Wotton's Defence (Cambridge, 1641, published under the name of Thomas Gataker
, who, however, only wrote the postscript, the Defence being by Wotton's son, Samuel (see below). Walker replied in A True Relation of the cheife Passages between Mr. Anthony Wotton and Mr. George Walker in ... 1611, and in the Yeares next following ... till 1615 (London, 1642, 4to).
. The third son, John, also fellow of King's and vicar of Weedon, Northamptonshire, was ejected for refusing the 'engagement'
in 1650, and died about 1659.
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
views. He was the first Gresham Professor of Divinity
Gresham Professor of Divinity
The Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596/7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
. Christopher Hill
Christopher Hill (historian)
John Edward Christopher Hill , usually known simply as Christopher Hill, was an English Marxist historian and author of textbooks....
describes him as a Modernist and Ramist.
Life
He was born in London about 1561, and was educated at Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
; he then was elected scholar of King's College, Cambridge
King'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....
, being admitted on 1 October 1579. His tutor was William Temple. He graduated B.A. in 1583, and proceeded M.A. in 1587. He was made B.D. in 1594, and in the same year he disputed with John Overall
John Overall (Bishop)
John Overall was the 38th bishop of the see of Norwich from 1618 until his death one year later. He had previously served as Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield , as Dean of St Pauls Cathedral from 1601, as Master of Catharine Hall from 1598, and as Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge...
at Cambridge before Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
, who made him his chaplain. On the death of William Whitaker
William Whitaker (theologian)
William Whitaker was a prominent Anglican theologian. He was Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, and a leading divine in the university in the latter half of the sixteenth century.-Early life and education:...
in the following year Wotton wrote some eulogistic verses, and became a candidate for the regius professorship of divinity vacated by Whitaker; though Wotton was highly commended for his disputation, Overall was elected by the votes of the younger Cambridge men, who preferred Overall's moderate high-church views to Wotton's puritanism.
In March 1596, on the establishment of Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, Wotton was appointed its first professor of divinity. He held the post less than two years, vacating it and his fellowship at King's on his marriage, on 27 October 1598, to Sybell, aged 28, daughter of William Brisley of Isleworth, Middlesex.
Wotton now became lecturer at All Hallows, Barking, a post which he held till his death; all his books are dated from his house on Tower Hill
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...
. He failed to obtain further preferment, because of his views, but he became a well-known and popular preacher. In 1604 he was suspended by John Bancroft
John Bancroft
Dr John H.J. Bancroft is a physician who was Director of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University from 1995 to 2004. He is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine....
, his prayer that "the king's eyes might be opened" being taken as an insinuation that the king was blind. The suspension did not last long.
Wotton died on 11 December 1626 in his house on Tower Hill.
Controversy with Walker
In 1611 George WalkerGeorge Walker (Puritan)
George Walker was an English clergyman, known for strong Puritan views. He was imprisoned in 1638 by William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, an affair that was raised later against Laud at his trial...
(1581?-1651) accused him of Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
; this led to a 'conference' of learned divines, which ended in Wotton's vindication. The controversy went on till 1615, and in 1641, long after Wotton's death, Walker repeated his accusations. This provoked Mr. Anthony Wotton's Defence (Cambridge, 1641, published under the name of Thomas Gataker
Thomas Gataker
Thomas Gataker was an English clergyman and theologian.-Life:He was born in London and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. From 1601 to 1611 he held the appointment of preacher to the society of Lincoln's Inn, which he resigned on accepting the rectory of Rotherhithe...
, who, however, only wrote the postscript, the Defence being by Wotton's son, Samuel (see below). Walker replied in A True Relation of the cheife Passages between Mr. Anthony Wotton and Mr. George Walker in ... 1611, and in the Yeares next following ... till 1615 (London, 1642, 4to).
Family
His eldest son, Anthony, born in 1599, died young. The second, Samuel, born on 30 August 1600, was educated at Eton, and elected fellow of King's College, Cambridge; graduated M.A. in 1629, and subsequently D.D., and was presented by the provost of Eton to the rectory of West Wrotham, Norfolk, on 29 April 1640. He died on 4 February 1680-1. Besides the Defence of his father, he translated Pierre de la Ramée's Logic, which was published by his father in 1626 as The Arte of Logicke gathered out of Aristotle (London, 8vo), and was dedicated to James, Viscount DoncasterJames Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle
James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle was a Scottish aristocrat.-Life:He was the son of Sir James Hay of Fingask , and of Margaret Murray, cousin of George Hay, afterwards 1st Earl of Kinnoull.He was knighted and taken into favor by James VI of Scotland, brought into England in 1603, treated as a "prime...
. The third son, John, also fellow of King's and vicar of Weedon, Northamptonshire, was ejected for refusing the 'engagement'
Engagement controversy
The Engagement Controversy was a debate in England from 1649-1652 regarding loyalty to the new regime after the execution of Charles I. During this period hundreds of pamphlets were published in England supporting 'engagement' to the new regime or denying the right of English citizens to shift...
in 1650, and died about 1659.
Works
Wotton was author of:- A Defence of Perkins's Booke called "A Reformed Catholicke" against the Cauils of a Popish Writer, one B. P. or W. B., (i.e. William Bishop, bishop of Chalcedon) in his "Deformed Reformation," London, 1606, 4to, a substantial work of six hundred pages dedicated to the Earl of SalisburyEarl of SalisburyEarl of Salisbury is a title that has been created several times in British history. It has a complex history, being first created for Patrick de Salisbury in the middle twelfth century. It was eventually inherited by Alice, wife of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster...
. See William Perkins. - A Trial of the Romish Clergies Title to the Church. By Way of Answer to a Popish Pamphlet written by one A. D. and entitled "A Treatise of Faith," London. 1608, 4to, This provoked A Reply made unto Mr. Anthonie Wotton and Mr. John White (see John White), by A. D., no place, 1612, 4to.
- Sermons upon a Part of the first Chapter of the Gospel of St. John, preached in the Parish Church of All Hallows, Barking, in London, London, 1609, 4to.
- Runne from Rome, or a Treatise shewing the Necessitie of separating from the Church of Rome, London, 1624, 4to: 2nd edit. 1636, 12mo: in this work Wotton seeks to confute Cardinal Bellarmine.
- De Reconciliatione Peccatoris libri v., Basle, 1624, 4to.