Samuel Brooke
Encyclopedia
Dr Samuel Brooke was a Gresham Professor of Divinity
(appointed 1612), a playwright, the chaplain of Trinity College, Cambridge
and subsequently the Master of Trinity (1629-1631). He was known to be an Arminian
and anti-Calvinist. In 1631 he was appointed archdeacon of Coventry.
, the brother of Christopher Brooke
who appears in George Wither
's eclogues under the pastoral name of Cuddie. Samuel Brooke was educated at Westminster School
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he was admitted in 1596; he proceeded M.A. 1604, B.D. 1607, and D.D. 1615.
He was imprisoned for a short period, by the action of Sir George More, for secretly celebrating the marriage of John Donne
with More's daughter. He was promoted to the office of chaplain to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
, who recommended him (26 September 1612) as Gresham Professor of Divinity
; he was later chaplain to both James I and Charles I.
On 13 June 1618 he became rector of St Margaret, Lothbury, London, and 10 July 1621 was incorporated D.D. at Oxford. He was elected master of Trinity College, Cambridge, 5 September 1629, and on 17 November resigned his Gresham professorship. On 13 May 1631 Brooke was admitted archdeacon of Coventry, and he died 16 September 1632. He was buried without monument or epitaph in Trinity College Chapel.
.
William Prynne
in his Canterburie's Doome attacked Brooke as a disciple of William Laud
, and stated that in 1630 Brooke was engaged on Arminian treatise on predestination
. Laud encouraged him to complete this book, but afterwards declined to sanction its publication on account of its lack of moderation. None of Brooke's works weere printed. Besides the treatise already mentioned, he wrote a tract on the Thirty-nine Articles, and a discourse, dedicated to the Earl of Pembroke
, entitled De Auxilio Divinæ Gratiæ Exercitatio theologica, nimirum: An possibile sit duos eandem habere Gratiæ Mensuram, et tamen unus convertatur et credat; alter non: e Johan. xi. 45, 46. The manuscript is in Trinity College Library.
Attribution
Gresham Professor of Divinity
The Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596/7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
(appointed 1612), a playwright, the chaplain of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
and subsequently the Master of Trinity (1629-1631). He was known to be an Arminian
Arminianism in the Church of England
Arminianism in the Church of England was a theological strand or tendency within the clergy of the Church of England particularly evident in the second quarter of the 17th century...
and anti-Calvinist. In 1631 he was appointed archdeacon of Coventry.
Life
He was the son of Robert Brooke of YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, the brother of Christopher Brooke
Christopher Brooke
Christopher Brooke was an English lawyer, politician and poet. He was Member of Parliament for York in six parliaments , and was also elected for Newport in 1624.-Life:...
who appears in George Wither
George Wither
George Wither was an English poet, pamphleteer, and satirist. He was a prolific writer who adopted a deliberate plainness of style; he was several times imprisoned. C. V...
's eclogues under the pastoral name of Cuddie. Samuel Brooke was 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 Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he was admitted in 1596; he proceeded M.A. 1604, B.D. 1607, and D.D. 1615.
He was imprisoned for a short period, by the action of Sir George More, for secretly celebrating the marriage of John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
with More's daughter. He was promoted to the office of chaplain to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, who recommended him (26 September 1612) as Gresham Professor of Divinity
Gresham Professor of Divinity
The Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596/7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
; he was later chaplain to both James I and Charles I.
On 13 June 1618 he became rector of St Margaret, Lothbury, London, and 10 July 1621 was incorporated D.D. at Oxford. He was elected master of Trinity College, Cambridge, 5 September 1629, and on 17 November resigned his Gresham professorship. On 13 May 1631 Brooke was admitted archdeacon of Coventry, and he died 16 September 1632. He was buried without monument or epitaph in Trinity College Chapel.
Works
In 1614 he wrote three Latin plays, which were performed before James I on his visit to the university in that year. The names of the plays were recorded as Scyros, Adelphe, and Melanthe. Adelphe derives from La Sorella by Giambattista della PortaGiambattista della Porta
Giambattista della Porta , also known as Giovanni Battista Della Porta and John Baptist Porta, was an Italian scholar, polymath and playwright who lived in Naples at the time of the Scientific Revolution and Reformation....
.
William Prynne
William Prynne
William Prynne was an English lawyer, author, polemicist, and political figure. He was a prominent Puritan opponent of the church policy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. Although his views on church polity were presbyterian, he became known in the 1640s as an Erastian, arguing for...
in his Canterburie's Doome attacked Brooke as a disciple of William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
, and stated that in 1630 Brooke was engaged on Arminian treatise on predestination
Predestination
Predestination, in theology is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted biblical predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation for others...
. Laud encouraged him to complete this book, but afterwards declined to sanction its publication on account of its lack of moderation. None of Brooke's works weere printed. Besides the treatise already mentioned, he wrote a tract on the Thirty-nine Articles, and a discourse, dedicated to the Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke is a title created ten times, all in the Peerage of England. It was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, which is the site of Earldom's original seat Pembroke Castle...
, entitled De Auxilio Divinæ Gratiæ Exercitatio theologica, nimirum: An possibile sit duos eandem habere Gratiæ Mensuram, et tamen unus convertatur et credat; alter non: e Johan. xi. 45, 46. The manuscript is in Trinity College Library.
Further reading
- Samuel Brooke: Adelphe; Scyros; Melanthe. Prepared with an Introduction by Götz Schmitz. (1991). Renaissance Latin Drama in England Second Series: Plays Associated with the University of Cambridge, vol. XV.
- PRO, SP Dam. 16/177, fo. 13r (13 December 1630); BL, MS Harleian 1219, fo. 305v.
- The Master of Trinity at Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
Attribution