Richard Mocket
Encyclopedia
Richard Mocket (1577–1618) was an English churchman and academic, Warden of All Souls' College, Oxford from 1614.
in Dorset
. He graduated B.A. from Brasenose College, Oxford
, on 16 February 1595, and was elected Fellow of All Souls in 1599, proceeding M.A. on 5 April 1600, B.D. on 23 April 1607, and D.D. 26 June 1609. George Abbot, then bishop of London
, presented him to the rectory of St Clement Eastcheap
, on 29 December 1610, and to that of St Michael Crooked Lane, on 1 October 1611. He resigned St Clement before 9 December 1611, and St Michael before 17 June 1614.
Mocket held the rectories of Newington, Oxfordshire
, and of West Tarring, Sussex
, from 1614, and of Monks Risborough
, Buckinghamshire
, from 1615 till his death. He was for some time domestic chaplain to Abbot, and one of the king's commissioners concerning ecclesiastical affairs. From March 1610 to June 1614 he was employed in licensing books for entry at Stationers' Hall. On 12 April 1614 he was elected Warden of All Souls' College, Oxford.
Mocket died on 6 July 1618, and was buried in the chapel of All Souls'. A marble tablet with a Latin inscription was fixed to the south wall of the inner chapel (moved to the north wall of the outer chapel in 1664).
, and entitled God and the King (in Latin Deus et rex), has been ascribed to Mocket; Glenn Burgess comments in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography on the lack of firm evidence that he was the author. It remained an authoritative theological summary into the next century.
The work was ‘Imprinted by his Majesties special privilege and command,’ in London in 1615, in both Latin and English; London, 1616, in Latin only; Edinburgh, 1617, in one or both languages; London, 1663; Edinburgh, 1725; London, 1727 (published by Nathaniel Booth). The book was commanded to be taught in all schools and universities, and by all ministers of the church, and to be purchased by all householders in England and Scotland. This command was enjoined by the privy council of Scotland in June 1616, and by the general assembly at Aberdeen in August 1616, and the work sold widely.
It is a dialogue on political duties, intended for the young. The content is a mixture of history (an account of Catholic intrigues against James and Elizabeth I), and religious generalities, to justify the requirement of an oath of allegiance. It implies an account of the divine right of kings
, but in religious rather than legal terms. Theodidactus, who leads the dialogue, justifies the penal law
s.
A parody appeared by John Floyd
, Latin original (1619) Deus et rex, and in English (1620) as God and the King. Or a dialogue wherein is treated of allegiance due to our most gracious Lord, King Iames, within his dominions.
To these he added a work of his own entitled Doctrina et Politia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, which was a general view of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the English church, mainly prepared for the information of foreigners. The book offended the king, and by public edict was condemned and burnt in 1617. Thomas Fuller
in his Church History considered that Mocket suffered on account of his patron Abbot, becoming unpopular with other bishops. Peter Heylyn in his Cyprianus Anglicus, while criticising Mocket's ignorance and Calvinism
, was of opinion that the real offence was the omission of the first clause in the Latin text of the twentieth of the Thirty-Nine Articles, which runs: ‘The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith.’ It was also said that Mocket's extracts from the homilies were made so as to support the views of Abbot, and that as a translator he had acted as a commentator; while James Montagu
, bishop of Winchester
, resented the order in which the bishoprics were enumerated. The 1616 edition of the Doctrina et Politia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ was reprinted in 1617.
Mocket's work, without the rest of the volume, was republished in London in 1683, under the title, ‘Tractatus de Politia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ,’ and with it was printed Richard Zouch
's ‘Descriptio Juris et Judicii Ecclesiastici.’ A third edition appeared in London in 1705.
Modern scholars do not accept the explanations of Fuller and Heylyn at face value. Screech considered that the reasons given do not add up to enough to explain burning rather than revision.
Clegg puts the incident in the context of the divisive church politics of the Netherlands
—–the Calvinist-Arminian debate ahead of the Synod of Dort
of 1618–9—and the tensions among bishops at court (agreeing in part with the direction of the comments in Fuller and Heylyn). On the assumption that Doctrina et Politia was directed at overseas Protestants, the rendering of Article 20 had the misfortune to contradict the King's policy for handling the Dutch Remonstrants
, by weakening the case for a conciliar solution to the theological issues under dispute. Late in 1617 Sir Dudley Carleton reported to Thomas Lake
the circulation of a Dutch book Weeg-schaal by Jacob Taurinus, contrasting King James's actions at the Hampton Court Conference
to his advocacy of a council in the Netherlands. Clegg points out that the historical record of the burning is very slender; and argues that the likely reason is embarrassment to the king of this tactical kind.
Attribution
Life
He was born at DorchesterDorchester
-England:*Dorchester, Dorset, the county town of Dorset; central to the organisation of the emigration of Puritans to North America during the 17th century*Dorchester, Oxfordshire, also known as Dorchester-on-Thames-Canada:...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. He graduated B.A. from Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, on 16 February 1595, and was elected Fellow of All Souls in 1599, proceeding M.A. on 5 April 1600, B.D. on 23 April 1607, and D.D. 26 June 1609. George Abbot, then bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, presented him to the rectory of St Clement Eastcheap
St Clement Eastcheap
St. Clement Eastcheap is a Church of England parish church in Candlewick Ward of the City of London. It is located on Clement's Lane, off King William Street, and close to London Bridge and the River Thames....
, on 29 December 1610, and to that of St Michael Crooked Lane, on 1 October 1611. He resigned St Clement before 9 December 1611, and St Michael before 17 June 1614.
Mocket held the rectories of Newington, Oxfordshire
Newington, Oxfordshire
Newington is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire, about north of Wallingford.The Church of England parish church of Saint Giles was built in the 12th century, its transepts were added about 1200 and the west tower and spire were added early in the 14th century.Gilbert Sheldon held the...
, and of West Tarring, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, from 1614, and of Monks Risborough
Monks Risborough
Monks Risborough is a village and ecclesiastical parish in Buckinghamshire, England, lying between Princes Risborough and Great Kimble. The village lies at the foot of the northern scarp of the Chiltern Hills...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, from 1615 till his death. He was for some time domestic chaplain to Abbot, and one of the king's commissioners concerning ecclesiastical affairs. From March 1610 to June 1614 he was employed in licensing books for entry at Stationers' Hall. On 12 April 1614 he was elected Warden of All Souls' College, Oxford.
Mocket died on 6 July 1618, and was buried in the chapel of All Souls'. A marble tablet with a Latin inscription was fixed to the south wall of the inner chapel (moved to the north wall of the outer chapel in 1664).
Works
Mocket is known for two works: for each of them there is some remaining mystery for scholars.God and the King
The authorship of a tract, upholding the obligation of the oath of allegianceOath of Allegiance of James I of England
The Oath of Allegiance of 1606 was an oath required of subjects of James I of England from 1606, the year after the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 ; it was also called the Oath of Obedience . Whatever effect it had on the loyalty of his subjects, it caused an international controversy lasting a...
, and entitled God and the King (in Latin Deus et rex), has been ascribed to Mocket; Glenn Burgess comments in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography on the lack of firm evidence that he was the author. It remained an authoritative theological summary into the next century.
The work was ‘Imprinted by his Majesties special privilege and command,’ in London in 1615, in both Latin and English; London, 1616, in Latin only; Edinburgh, 1617, in one or both languages; London, 1663; Edinburgh, 1725; London, 1727 (published by Nathaniel Booth). The book was commanded to be taught in all schools and universities, and by all ministers of the church, and to be purchased by all householders in England and Scotland. This command was enjoined by the privy council of Scotland in June 1616, and by the general assembly at Aberdeen in August 1616, and the work sold widely.
It is a dialogue on political duties, intended for the young. The content is a mixture of history (an account of Catholic intrigues against James and Elizabeth I), and religious generalities, to justify the requirement of an oath of allegiance. It implies an account of the divine right of kings
Divine Right of Kings
The divine right of kings or divine-right theory of kingship is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God...
, but in religious rather than legal terms. Theodidactus, who leads the dialogue, justifies the penal law
Penal law
In the most general sense, penal is the body of laws that are enforced by the State in its own name and impose penalties for their violation, as opposed to civil law that seeks to redress private wrongs...
s.
A parody appeared by John Floyd
John Floyd (Jesuit)
John Floyd was an English Jesuit, known as a controversialist. He is known under the pseudonyms Daniel à Jesu, Hermannus Loemelius, and George White John Floyd (1572 – September 15, 1649) was an English Jesuit, known as a controversialist. He is known under the pseudonyms Daniel à Jesu, Hermannus...
, Latin original (1619) Deus et rex, and in English (1620) as God and the King. Or a dialogue wherein is treated of allegiance due to our most gracious Lord, King Iames, within his dominions.
Doctrina et Politia
In 1616, in London, Mocket published a volume in Latin, containing some works not previously translated from English. It comprised:- John JewelJohn JewelJohn Jewel was an English bishop of Salisbury.-Life:He was the son of John Jewel of Buden, Devon, was educated under his uncle John Bellamy, rector of Hampton, and other private tutors until his matriculation at Merton College, Oxford, in July 1535.There he was taught by John Parkhurst,...
's ‘Apology,’ - The Church Catechism,
- Alexander NowellAlexander NowellAlexander Nowell was an English Puritan theologian and clergyman, who served as dean of St Paul's during much of Elizabeth I's reign.-Biography:...
's Catechism, - The Thirty-Nine Articles,
- The Liturgy of the Church of England, and
- The Book of Ordination of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
To these he added a work of his own entitled Doctrina et Politia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, which was a general view of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the English church, mainly prepared for the information of foreigners. The book offended the king, and by public edict was condemned and burnt in 1617. Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
in his Church History considered that Mocket suffered on account of his patron Abbot, becoming unpopular with other bishops. Peter Heylyn in his Cyprianus Anglicus, while criticising Mocket's ignorance and Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, was of opinion that the real offence was the omission of the first clause in the Latin text of the twentieth of the Thirty-Nine Articles, which runs: ‘The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith.’ It was also said that Mocket's extracts from the homilies were made so as to support the views of Abbot, and that as a translator he had acted as a commentator; while James Montagu
James Montague (bishop)
James Montague was an English bishop.-Life:He was the son of Sir Edward Montague of Boughton, and grandson of Edward Montagu....
, bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, resented the order in which the bishoprics were enumerated. The 1616 edition of the Doctrina et Politia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ was reprinted in 1617.
Mocket's work, without the rest of the volume, was republished in London in 1683, under the title, ‘Tractatus de Politia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ,’ and with it was printed Richard Zouch
Richard Zouch
Richard Zouch also Richard Zouche was an English jurist.-Life:He was born at Ansty, Wiltshire, son of Francis Zouche. His mother is said to have been Philippa, sixth daughter of George Ludlow of Hill Deverel, Wiltshire. He was educated at Winchester and afterwards at New College, Oxford, where he...
's ‘Descriptio Juris et Judicii Ecclesiastici.’ A third edition appeared in London in 1705.
Modern scholars do not accept the explanations of Fuller and Heylyn at face value. Screech considered that the reasons given do not add up to enough to explain burning rather than revision.
Clegg puts the incident in the context of the divisive church politics of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
—–the Calvinist-Arminian debate ahead of the Synod of Dort
Synod of Dort
The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618-1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy initiated by the rise of Arminianism. The first meeting was on November 13, 1618, and the final meeting, the 154th, was on May 9, 1619...
of 1618–9—and the tensions among bishops at court (agreeing in part with the direction of the comments in Fuller and Heylyn). On the assumption that Doctrina et Politia was directed at overseas Protestants, the rendering of Article 20 had the misfortune to contradict the King's policy for handling the Dutch Remonstrants
Remonstrants
The Remonstrants are the Dutch Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610 they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement from Calvinism.-History:The five...
, by weakening the case for a conciliar solution to the theological issues under dispute. Late in 1617 Sir Dudley Carleton reported to Thomas Lake
Thomas Lake
Sir Thomas Lake was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament in 1604, 1614, 1625 and 1626....
the circulation of a Dutch book Weeg-schaal by Jacob Taurinus, contrasting King James's actions at the Hampton Court Conference
Hampton Court Conference
The Hampton Court Conference was a meeting in January 1604, convened at Hampton Court Palace, for discussion between King James I of England and representatives of the Church of England, including leading English Puritans.-Attendance:...
to his advocacy of a council in the Netherlands. Clegg points out that the historical record of the burning is very slender; and argues that the likely reason is embarrassment to the king of this tactical kind.
External links
Attribution