John Knowles (antitrinitarian)
Encyclopedia
John Knowles was an English antitrinitarian preacher, imprisoned in 1665.
, he first appears as a lay preacher among the Independents
there; in 1648 he described himself as a preacher of the gospel, formerly in and near Gloucester. He was acquainted with the Greek text of the New Testament
and with Latin commentators, and his antitrinitarian sentiments were the result of his own scriptural studies. He mentioned meeting John Biddle
, who left Gloucester in 1646, but he did not adopt Biddle's specific opinions, his doctrine being of the Arian
, not the Socinian type. He expressly states in 1668 that he had not read any of the writings of F. P. Socinus.
By the parliamentary committee at Gloucester he was examined (1646?) on suspicion of unsoundness in the article of the Trinity, and gave a written statement in which he owns to having ‘had some questionings,’ but gives his reasons for being now satisfied of ‘the Godhead of the Holy Ghost.’ He seems to have left Gloucester for London, where he lodged with Edward Atkinson, an antitrinitarian, in Aldersgate Street. Joining the parliamentary army, he belonged in 1648, according to his own account, to the lifeguard of Sir Thomas Fairfax. He still continued to preach, publishing a defence of ‘a private man's preaching.’ Early in 1650 he became public preacher to the garrison at Chester
, in succession to Samuel Eaton. The biographer of John Murcot, writing in 1657, speaks of Knowles as having been ‘a formidable and blazing comet at Chester,’ where ‘in public sermons, private conferences, and by a manuscript’ he ‘denied Jesus Christ to be the Most High God.’
A short paper of arguments for the deity of Christ, sent by Eaton to Chester from Dukinfield
, was published by Knowles in 1650, with his own reply. The pamphlet purports to have been ‘printed by T. N.’ for Gyles Calvert, the publisher of unorthodox theology; and in July 1650 John Whittell, girdler, of Milk Street, London, was brought before the council of state on the charge of having caused it to be printed. Replies were published by Eaton (1650 and 1651), and by Thomas Porter of Whitchurch, Shropshire
(1651). The imprimatur of Porter's pamphlet, entitled ‘A Serious Exercitation,’ is dated 26 December 1650, and by that time Knowles was ‘late preacher at Chester.’ He appears to have returned to Gloucester, for on 19 November 1650 the mayor of that city was directed by the council of state to examine witnesses on oath respecting Knowles's preaching against the divinity of Christ. He moved to Pershore
, Worcestershire
, where he lived some fifteen years as ‘a professed minister.’
At Pershore he was apprehended on 9 April 1665 by Thomas Windsor Hickman, 7th Baron Windsor
, and imprisoned first at Worcester, and then in the Gatehouse Prison
, Westminster
, on 23 May. Papers found in his house were made the basis of charges of heresy
; he had been invited on 5 June 1662 by H. Hed of Huntingdon
to meet Christopher Crell, the exiled Polish antitrinitarian, at Oxford; on 19 November 1664 he had been invited to London by Thomas Firmin
. Letters from his friends were construed as implying that he was ready to countenance sedition. A collection on behalf of the Polish exiles was thought to be really for English rebels. On 23 June and again on 7 July he petitioned (writing also to George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
) for liberty to go out on bail, as the plague was then raging in London. His petition was repeated on 2 February 1666, and he gained his liberty soon afterwards. On his release he mixed in controversial talk with London clergy, who respected his learning and sincerity. With his publication in reply to Justification onely upon a Satisfaction (1668) by Robert Ferguson he drops out of notice. A pamphleteer of 1698 states that he bequeathed books to a library at Gloucester.
Life
Probably a native of GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, he first appears as a lay preacher among the Independents
Independent (religion)
In English church history, Independents advocated local congregational control of religious and church matters, without any wider geographical hierarchy, either ecclesiastical or political...
there; in 1648 he described himself as a preacher of the gospel, formerly in and near Gloucester. He was acquainted with the Greek text of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and with Latin commentators, and his antitrinitarian sentiments were the result of his own scriptural studies. He mentioned meeting John Biddle
John Biddle (Unitarian)
John Biddle or Bidle was an influential English nontrinitarian, and Unitarian. He is often called "the Father of English Unitarianism".- Life :...
, who left Gloucester in 1646, but he did not adopt Biddle's specific opinions, his doctrine being of the Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
, not the Socinian type. He expressly states in 1668 that he had not read any of the writings of F. P. Socinus.
By the parliamentary committee at Gloucester he was examined (1646?) on suspicion of unsoundness in the article of the Trinity, and gave a written statement in which he owns to having ‘had some questionings,’ but gives his reasons for being now satisfied of ‘the Godhead of the Holy Ghost.’ He seems to have left Gloucester for London, where he lodged with Edward Atkinson, an antitrinitarian, in Aldersgate Street. Joining the parliamentary army, he belonged in 1648, according to his own account, to the lifeguard of Sir Thomas Fairfax. He still continued to preach, publishing a defence of ‘a private man's preaching.’ Early in 1650 he became public preacher to the garrison at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, in succession to Samuel Eaton. The biographer of John Murcot, writing in 1657, speaks of Knowles as having been ‘a formidable and blazing comet at Chester,’ where ‘in public sermons, private conferences, and by a manuscript’ he ‘denied Jesus Christ to be the Most High God.’
A short paper of arguments for the deity of Christ, sent by Eaton to Chester from Dukinfield
Dukinfield
Dukinfield is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in central Tameside on the south bank of the River Tame, opposite Ashton-under-Lyne, and is east of the city of Manchester...
, was published by Knowles in 1650, with his own reply. The pamphlet purports to have been ‘printed by T. N.’ for Gyles Calvert, the publisher of unorthodox theology; and in July 1650 John Whittell, girdler, of Milk Street, London, was brought before the council of state on the charge of having caused it to be printed. Replies were published by Eaton (1650 and 1651), and by Thomas Porter of Whitchurch, Shropshire
Whitchurch, Shropshire
Whitchurch is a market town in Shropshire, England on the border between England and Wales. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Shropshire. According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town is 8,673, with a more recent estimate putting the population of the town at 8,934...
(1651). The imprimatur of Porter's pamphlet, entitled ‘A Serious Exercitation,’ is dated 26 December 1650, and by that time Knowles was ‘late preacher at Chester.’ He appears to have returned to Gloucester, for on 19 November 1650 the mayor of that city was directed by the council of state to examine witnesses on oath respecting Knowles's preaching against the divinity of Christ. He moved to Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, where he lived some fifteen years as ‘a professed minister.’
At Pershore he was apprehended on 9 April 1665 by Thomas Windsor Hickman, 7th Baron Windsor
Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth
Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, PC succeeded to his family's estate around Hewell Grange near Redditch in 1645, the same year he distinguished himself in the Battle of Naseby...
, and imprisoned first at Worcester, and then in the Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison was a prison in Westminster, built in 1370 as the gatehouse of Westminster Abbey and first used as a prison by the Abbot, a powerful churchman who held considerable power over the precincts and sanctuary...
, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, on 23 May. Papers found in his house were made the basis of charges of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
; he had been invited on 5 June 1662 by H. Hed of Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
to meet Christopher Crell, the exiled Polish antitrinitarian, at Oxford; on 19 November 1664 he had been invited to London by Thomas Firmin
Thomas Firmin
Thomas Firmin was an English businessman and philanthropist, and Unitarian publisher.-Early life:Firmin was born to Puritan parents, Henry and Prudence Firmin in Ipswich. Henry Firmin was a parishioner of Samuel Ward, the Puritan incumbent of St. Mary-le-Tower, by whom in 1635 he was accused of...
. Letters from his friends were construed as implying that he was ready to countenance sedition. A collection on behalf of the Polish exiles was thought to be really for English rebels. On 23 June and again on 7 July he petitioned (writing also to George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG was an English soldier and politician and a key figure in the restoration of Charles II.-Early life and career:...
) for liberty to go out on bail, as the plague was then raging in London. His petition was repeated on 2 February 1666, and he gained his liberty soon afterwards. On his release he mixed in controversial talk with London clergy, who respected his learning and sincerity. With his publication in reply to Justification onely upon a Satisfaction (1668) by Robert Ferguson he drops out of notice. A pamphleteer of 1698 states that he bequeathed books to a library at Gloucester.
Works
He published:- ‘A Modest Plea for Private Men's Preaching,’ &c., 1648, (published 30 March; in answer to ‘Private Men no Pulpit Men,’ &c., 1646, by Giles Workman).
- ‘A Friendly Debate … by Writing betwixt Mr. Samuel Eaton and Mr. John Knowles,’ &c., 1650.
- ‘An Answer to Mr. Ferguson's Book,’ &c. [1668?]. In this he mentions other projected publications, but he is not known to have issued anything further.