Henry Tozer
Encyclopedia
Henry Tozer was an English clergyman and academic, a Puritan
of royalist views, elected to the Westminster Assembly
but never sitting there.
, Devon
, he matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford
on 3 May 1621, and graduated B.A. on 18 June 1623, and M.A. on 28 April 1626. He took holy orders, was appointed lecturer at St. Martin's Church (Carfax
, Oxford) on 21 October 1632, and proceeded B.D. on 28 July 1636. Of puritan views, he was elected in 1643 to the Westminster Assembly, but refused to sit; he also declined the degree of D.D. when nominated for it on 6 June 1646. Tozer was appointed vicar of Yarnton
in 1644, but was an absentee.
As bursar and sub-rector of Exeter College, Tozer managed the college in the absence of George Hakewill
, the rector. In March 1647 he was cited before the parliamentary visitors for continuing the Book of Common Prayer
, and for his known dislike of parliamentarians. In November he was summoned to Westminster before the parliamentary commission, and the following year was imprisoned for some days on refusing to give up the college books. He was expelled from his fellowship on 26 May 1648, and on 4 June turned out of St. Martin's Church by soldiers because he prayed for the king. The decree, however, was revoked on 2 November, and Tozer was allowed to travel for three years, retaining his room in Exeter College.
Tozer then went to Holland, and became minister to the English merchants at Rotterdam
, where he died on 11 September 1650; he was buried in the English church there.
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...
of royalist views, elected to the Westminster Assembly
Westminster Assembly
The Westminster Assembly of Divines was appointed by the Long Parliament to restructure the Church of England. It also included representatives of religious leaders from Scotland...
but never sitting there.
Life
Born at North TawtonNorth Tawton
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw.-History:The Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newland Mill, a little outside the present town, and established a succession of military camps there over the years...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, he matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
on 3 May 1621, and graduated B.A. on 18 June 1623, and M.A. on 28 April 1626. He took holy orders, was appointed lecturer at St. Martin's Church (Carfax
Carfax
Carfax may refer to: about car history.* Carfax , a website with vehicle history information* Carfax 250, a motor race* Carfax, Oxford, England* The centre of Horsham, West Sussex, England...
, Oxford) on 21 October 1632, and proceeded B.D. on 28 July 1636. Of puritan views, he was elected in 1643 to the Westminster Assembly, but refused to sit; he also declined the degree of D.D. when nominated for it on 6 June 1646. Tozer was appointed vicar of Yarnton
Yarnton
Yarnton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about southwest of Kidlington and northwest of Oxford and southeast of Woodstock.-Archaeology:Early Bronze Age decorated beakers have been found in the parish...
in 1644, but was an absentee.
As bursar and sub-rector of Exeter College, Tozer managed the college in the absence of George Hakewill
George Hakewill
George Hakewill was an English clergyman and author.-Early life:Born in Exeter, he studied at Alban Hall, Oxford, where he was a noted disputant and orator and in June 1596, only a year after his matriculation and at the unusually early age of 18, he was elected a fellow of Exeter College. There...
, the rector. In March 1647 he was cited before the parliamentary visitors for continuing the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, and for his known dislike of parliamentarians. In November he was summoned to Westminster before the parliamentary commission, and the following year was imprisoned for some days on refusing to give up the college books. He was expelled from his fellowship on 26 May 1648, and on 4 June turned out of St. Martin's Church by soldiers because he prayed for the king. The decree, however, was revoked on 2 November, and Tozer was allowed to travel for three years, retaining his room in Exeter College.
Tozer then went to Holland, and became minister to the English merchants at Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, where he died on 11 September 1650; he was buried in the English church there.
Works
He was author of the following works published at Oxford:- Directions for a Godly Life, dedicated to his pupil Lorenzo Cary, son of Viscount Falkland, 1628, 5th ed. 1640, 8th 1671, 10th 1680, 11th 1690, 13th 1706.
- A Christian Amendment, 1633.
- Christus: sive Dicta Facta Christi, 1634.
- Christian Wisdome, 1639.