John Peachell
Encyclopedia
John Peachell was an English academic, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge at the moment when James II
was aiming to impose his will on the universities.
, Lincolnshire
, was educated at Gainsborough
school, and was admitted as a sizar
of Magdalene on 1 August 1645. His subsequent degrees were B.A. 1649, M.A. 1653, S.T.B. 1661, S.T.P. 1680. He was elected fellow on Smith's foundation in 1649, on Spendluffe's in 1651, and a foundation fellow in 1656. His views were royalist. In 1661 Samuel Pepys
spent an evening with him at the Rose tavern in Cambridge; but he says objected to be seen walking with Peachell on account of his drinker’s nose.
In 1663 he was presented by Sir John Cutts to the rectory of Childerley
, Cambridgeshire
, which he resigned on obtaining the rectory of Dry Drayton
in 1681. He was also presented to the vicarage of Stanwix
in Cumberland. In 1679, moreover, Peachell became master of his college, and in 1686 vice-chancellor of the university.
In the course of 1686 James II discovered that John Lightfoot
had not taken the oaths when he was admitted to his master's degree at Cambridge, and he furnished with royal letters patent a Roman Catholic candidate for the degree, the Benedictine
monk Alban Francis
. On 7 February 1687 a royal letter was sent to Cambridge enjoining the admission of Francis, and on 21 February this letter was laid before congregation. It was there decided that Francis should be admitted only on condition that he took the oaths. He, however, refused to be sworn. Peachell wrote to the Duke of Albemarle
, who was then chancellor of the university, and also to the Earl of Sunderland
, to beg their intercession with the king. Albemarle replied to that he had done his best but had only succeeded in provoking the displeasure of the king.
On 9 April a summons was sent down citing the vice-chancellor and deputies of the senate (among them Isaac Newton
) to appear before the ecclesiastical commissioners. When he appeared in the council-chamber on 21 April, Peachell was bullied by George Jeffreys
, who sat at the head of the board. He got leave to prepare an answer in writing, and for the examination to be postponed for a week. He gave in his answer in writing on 27 April, and was summoned again on 7 May. Jeffreys began by asking what was the oath he had taken as vice-chancellor. Peachell evaded and stammered, and was deprived both of his mastership and of the vice-chancellorship, and the deputation was dismissed by Jeffreys.
Peachell returned to Cambridge, and he was restored to his headship by James on 24 October 1688. In the vice-chancellorship he was replaced by John Balderstone, a more resolute champion of the rights of the university. Peachell did not long survive as Master; during a visit to Cambridge in 1690 William Sancroft
rebuked him for drunkenness and ill-conduct. Peachell, says Gilbert Burnet
, did penance by four days' abstinence, after which he wanted to eat, but could not.
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge at the moment when James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
was aiming to impose his will on the universities.
Life
He was son of Robert Peachell or Pechell of FillinghamFillingham
Fillingham is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 170. It is north of Lincoln just off the A15....
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, was educated at Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
school, and was admitted as a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
of Magdalene on 1 August 1645. His subsequent degrees were B.A. 1649, M.A. 1653, S.T.B. 1661, S.T.P. 1680. He was elected fellow on Smith's foundation in 1649, on Spendluffe's in 1651, and a foundation fellow in 1656. His views were royalist. In 1661 Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
spent an evening with him at the Rose tavern in Cambridge; but he says objected to be seen walking with Peachell on account of his drinker’s nose.
In 1663 he was presented by Sir John Cutts to the rectory of Childerley
Childerley
Childerley, also known as Great Childerley and Little Childerly, was a small rural village in the county of Cambridgeshire in the East of England, United Kingdom.-Village history:...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, which he resigned on obtaining the rectory of Dry Drayton
Dry Drayton
Dry Drayton is a village and civil parish about 5 miles northwest of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. It covers an area of .-History:...
in 1681. He was also presented to the vicarage of Stanwix
Stanwix
Stanwix is a district of Carlisle, Cumbria in North West England. It is located on the north side of River Eden, across from Carlisle city centre. Although long counted as a suburb it did not officially become part of the city until 1912 when part of the civil parish of Stanwix became part of the...
in Cumberland. In 1679, moreover, Peachell became master of his college, and in 1686 vice-chancellor of the university.
In the course of 1686 James II discovered that John Lightfoot
John Lightfoot
John Lightfoot was an English churchman, rabbinical scholar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Master of St Catharine's College, Cambridge.-Life:...
had not taken the oaths when he was admitted to his master's degree at Cambridge, and he furnished with royal letters patent a Roman Catholic candidate for the degree, the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk Alban Francis
Alban Francis
Alban Francis was an English Benedictine monk.Francis was a native of Middlesex. He became a professed monk on 9 May 1670, in the abbey of St. Adrian and St. Denis at Lambspringe in the kingdom of Hanover. He assumed in religion the name of Placid. He was sent to the mission in Cambridgeshire...
. On 7 February 1687 a royal letter was sent to Cambridge enjoining the admission of Francis, and on 21 February this letter was laid before congregation. It was there decided that Francis should be admitted only on condition that he took the oaths. He, however, refused to be sworn. Peachell wrote to the Duke of Albemarle
Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle
Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, KG, PC was an English statesman and failed soldier.He was the son of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle....
, who was then chancellor of the university, and also to the Earl of Sunderland
Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland
Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland KG, PC was an English statesman and nobleman.-Life:Born in Paris, son of Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland, Spencer inherited his father's peerage dignities at the age of three, becoming Baron Spencer of Wormleighton and Earl of Sunderland...
, to beg their intercession with the king. Albemarle replied to that he had done his best but had only succeeded in provoking the displeasure of the king.
On 9 April a summons was sent down citing the vice-chancellor and deputies of the senate (among them Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
) to appear before the ecclesiastical commissioners. When he appeared in the council-chamber on 21 April, Peachell was bullied by George Jeffreys
George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys
George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC , also known as "The Hanging Judge", was an English judge. He became notable during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor .- Early years and education :Jeffreys was born at the family estate of Acton Hall, near Wrexham,...
, who sat at the head of the board. He got leave to prepare an answer in writing, and for the examination to be postponed for a week. He gave in his answer in writing on 27 April, and was summoned again on 7 May. Jeffreys began by asking what was the oath he had taken as vice-chancellor. Peachell evaded and stammered, and was deprived both of his mastership and of the vice-chancellorship, and the deputation was dismissed by Jeffreys.
Peachell returned to Cambridge, and he was restored to his headship by James on 24 October 1688. In the vice-chancellorship he was replaced by John Balderstone, a more resolute champion of the rights of the university. Peachell did not long survive as Master; during a visit to Cambridge in 1690 William Sancroft
William Sancroft
William Sancroft was the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.- Life :Sancroft was born at Ufford Hall in Fressingfield, Suffolk, son of Francis Sandcroft and Margaret Sandcroft née Butcher...
rebuked him for drunkenness and ill-conduct. Peachell, says Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet was a Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was respected as a cleric, a preacher, and an academic, as well as a writer and historian...
, did penance by four days' abstinence, after which he wanted to eat, but could not.