Humphrey Prideaux
Encyclopedia
Humphrey Prideaux Doctor of Divinity and scholar, belonged to an ancient Cornish
family, was born at Padstow
, and educated at Westminster School
and at Oxford.
He first attracted notice by his description of the Arundel marbles
(1676), which gained for him powerful patrons, and he rose to be Dean of Norwich
. Among his other works were an anti-Islamic Life of Mahomet (1697). It was really a polemical tract against the deists and now has no biographical value. The Old and New Testament connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations (1715–17) was long an important work, of which many editions were brought out. It was among the earliest English works to use the term Vulgar Era,
though Kepler used the term as early as 1635.
Like many high churchmen of his day, Prideaux was as much concerned with politics as with religion. In January 1674, for instance, Prideaux recorded in his letters a visit to his home of William Levett
, a fellow Doctor of Divinity from Oxford, Principal of Magdalen Hall (and later Dean of Bristol). With Levett
came Lord Cornbury, son of the Earl of Clarendon
, Levett's principal patron. In other letters, Prideaux mentioned alliances with Levett in ongoing church political maneuverings. His sympathies inclined to Low Churchism in religion and to Whiggism
in politics. He published the following pamphlets: “The Validity of the Orders of the Church of England” (1688), “Letter to a Friend on the Present Convocation” (1690), “The Case of Clandestine Marriages stated” (1691).
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
family, was born at Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
, and educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and at Oxford.
He first attracted notice by his description of the Arundel marbles
Arundel marbles
The Arundelian Marbles are a collection of Greek marbles collected by Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel in the early seventeenth century, the first such comprehensive collection of its kind in England...
(1676), which gained for him powerful patrons, and he rose to be Dean of Norwich
Dean of Norwich
The Dean of Norwich is the head of the Chapter of Norwich Cathedral in Norwich, England. The current Dean is the Very Revd Graham Charles Morell Smith.*1538-1539 William Castleton, first dean*1539-1554 John Salisbury*1554-1557 John Christopherson...
. Among his other works were an anti-Islamic Life of Mahomet (1697). It was really a polemical tract against the deists and now has no biographical value. The Old and New Testament connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations (1715–17) was long an important work, of which many editions were brought out. It was among the earliest English works to use the term Vulgar Era,
though Kepler used the term as early as 1635.
Like many high churchmen of his day, Prideaux was as much concerned with politics as with religion. In January 1674, for instance, Prideaux recorded in his letters a visit to his home of William Levett
William Levett (dean)
The Very Rev. Dr. William Levett was the Oxford-educated personal chaplain to Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, whom he accompanied into exile in France, then became the rector of two parishes, and subsequently Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford and the Dean of Bristol.Levett was born in...
, a fellow Doctor of Divinity from Oxford, Principal of Magdalen Hall (and later Dean of Bristol). With Levett
Levett
Levett is an Anglo-Norman territorial surname deriving from the village of Livet-en-Ouche, now Jonquerets-de-Livet, in Eure, Normandy. Ancestors of the earliest Levett family in England, the de Livets were lords of the village of Livet, and undertenants of the de Ferrers, among the most powerful of...
came Lord Cornbury, son of the Earl of Clarendon
Earl of Clarendon
Earl of Clarendon is a title that has been created twice in British history, in 1661 and 1776. The title was created for the first time in the Peerage of England in 1661 for the statesman Edward Hyde, 1st Baron Hyde...
, Levett's principal patron. In other letters, Prideaux mentioned alliances with Levett in ongoing church political maneuverings. His sympathies inclined to Low Churchism in religion and to Whiggism
Whiggism
Whiggism, sometimes spelled Whigism, is a historical political philosophy that grew out of the Parliamentarian faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The whigs' key policy positions were the supremacy of Parliament , toleration for Protestant dissenters, and opposition to a Catholic on the...
in politics. He published the following pamphlets: “The Validity of the Orders of the Church of England” (1688), “Letter to a Friend on the Present Convocation” (1690), “The Case of Clandestine Marriages stated” (1691).