Richard Croke
Encyclopedia
Richard Croke (ca. 1489–1558) was an English classical scholar, and a royal tutor and agent.
He was educated at Eton College
. He took his B.A.
at King’s College, Cambridge in 1510, and proceeded to travel.
He studied Greek with William Grocyn
in London and Oxford, and then with Erasmus and Aleander in Paris in 1511. In 1514 he was called to the University of Leipzig
, where he remained for some years. Among his pupils were Joachim Camerarius
, Hieronymus Dungersheim
, and Caspar Creuziger
. He was replaced by Petrus Mosellanus
. As a young man he was identified as a follower of Erasmus, who at this period was constructing his editio princeps
of the New Testament
in Greek (Basle, 1516).
He was recalled by John Fisher
in 1519 to teach Greek at Cambridge; it had been in abeyance since Erasmus’s time (1511-13), and he was Cambridge’s second lecturer in Greek. He became public orator at Cambridge in 1522, Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge
in 1523 and Doctor of Divinity
in 1524. He quarreled with Fisher over college matters in the later 1520s.
In 1529 and 1530 he acted for Henry VIII
in Italy, in the matter of the king's intended divorce from Catherine of Aragon
; earlier he had tutored Henry in Greek. While seeking canon lawyers to support Henry's side of the argument, he also contacted humanists (such as Girolamo Ghinucci
) and sought manuscripts.
On his return to England, he in 1531 became deputy vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and vicar of Long Buckby
, Nottinghamshire
. A year later he moved to the University of Oxford
.
He was a witness at the 1555 trial of Thomas Cranmer
.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton 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 took his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at King’s College, Cambridge in 1510, and proceeded to travel.
He studied Greek with William Grocyn
William Grocyn
William Grocyn was an English scholar, a friend of Erasmus.He was born at Colerne, Wiltshire. Intended by his parents for the church, he was sent to Winchester College, and in 1465 was elected to a scholarship at New College, Oxford. In 1467 he became a fellow, and among his pupils was William...
in London and Oxford, and then with Erasmus and Aleander in Paris in 1511. In 1514 he was called to the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where he remained for some years. Among his pupils were Joachim Camerarius
Joachim Camerarius
Joachim Camerarius , the Elder was a German classical scholar.-Life:He was born at Bamberg, Bavaria...
, Hieronymus Dungersheim
Hieronymus Dungersheim
Hieronymus Dungersheim or Dungersheym von OchsenfartHans Ochssenfart. was a German Catholic theologian and controversialist...
, and Caspar Creuziger
Caspar Creuziger
Caspar Creuziger or Caspar Cruciger the Elder was a German humanist . He was professor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg, preacher at the Castle Church , secretary to and worked with Martin Luther to revise Luther's German Bible translation..In 1524 he married the former nun Elisabeth...
. He was replaced by Petrus Mosellanus
Petrus Mosellanus
Petrus Mosellanus Protegensis was a German humanist scholar. He is best known for the popular work on rhetoric, Tabulae de schematibus et tropis, and his Paedologia...
. As a young man he was identified as a follower of Erasmus, who at this period was constructing his editio princeps
Editio princeps
In classical scholarship, editio princeps is a term of art. It means, roughly, the first printed edition of a work that previously had existed only in manuscripts, which could be circulated only after being copied by hand....
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....
in Greek (Basle, 1516).
He was recalled by John Fisher
John Fisher
Saint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
in 1519 to teach Greek at Cambridge; it had been in abeyance since Erasmus’s time (1511-13), and he was Cambridge’s second lecturer in Greek. He became public orator at Cambridge in 1522, Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1523 and Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1524. He quarreled with Fisher over college matters in the later 1520s.
In 1529 and 1530 he acted for Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in Italy, in the matter of the king's intended divorce from Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
; earlier he had tutored Henry in Greek. While seeking canon lawyers to support Henry's side of the argument, he also contacted humanists (such as Girolamo Ghinucci
Girolamo Ghinucci
Girolamo Ghinucci was an Italian papal administrator, diplomat and Cardinal.He was Secretary to Pope Julius II. He was Bishop of Worcester . He was bishop from 1522 to 1535 when he was deprived of the position by Henry VIII of England...
) and sought manuscripts.
On his return to England, he in 1531 became deputy vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and vicar of Long Buckby
Long Buckby
Long Buckby is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, midway between Northampton and Rugby. In the 2001 census the parish of Long Buckby had a population of exactly 4,000....
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. A year later he moved to the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
He was a witness at the 1555 trial of Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
.