Samuel Clarke (minister)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Clarke was an English clergyman and significant Puritan
biographer.
, Warwickshire
, the son of Hugh Clarke (d. 1634), who was vicar of Wolston for forty years. Clarke was educated by his father till he was thirteen; then at the free school
in Coventry
; and when seventeen was entered at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
. He was ordained about 1622, and held charges at Knowle
in Warwickshire, Thornton-le-Moors
in Cheshire
, and Shotwick
on the estuary of the Dee. Here, 2 February 1626, he married Katherine, daughter of Valentine Overton, rector of Bedworth
, Warwickshire.
Clarke had already given some offence by his puritan tendencies. He accepted a lectureship at Coventry, where he was opposed by Samuel Buggs, who held both the city churches. Buggs persuaded Bishop Thomas Morton
to inhibit Clarke from preaching, and, though Archbishop George Abbot had given him a license, Clarke had to leave Coventry. He was protected by Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke
, and finally accepted another lectureship in Warwick, where complaints were still made of his omission of ceremonies. On 23 April 1633 he was inducted to the rectory of Alcester
, presented to him by Lord Brook. Clarke make himself conspicuous by attacking James I
's Book of Sports, set forth afresh by authority in 1634.
In 1640 he was deputed with Arthur Salwey to visit Charles I
at York in order to complain of the et cetera oath. The king made some difficulty in seeing them, but promised that they should not be molested till their petition could come before parliament. On 23 October 1642 Richard Baxter
was preaching for Clarke at Alcester, when the guns of the battle of Edgehill
were heard, and next day they rode over the battle-field.
Clarke going to London soon afterwards was pressed to the curacy of St. Bennet Fink, in the gift of the chapter of Windsor. The former curate having been expelled, Clarke was elected in his place by the parishioners, and when the war was over resigned Alcester, which was troubled by 'sectaries,' in order to retain it. He occupied himself in writing books, dated from his study in Threadneedle Street
. He was well known among the London clergy; was a governor and twice president of Sion College
; and served on the committee of ordainers for London in 1643. He was one of the fifty-seven ministers who, 20 January 1649, signed a protest against taking away the king's life. He assisted in drawing up the jus divinum ministerii evangelici, issued by the London Provincial Assembly in 1653, in defence of the regular ministry against the lay-preaching permitted by the independents. In 1654 he was an assistant to the parliamentary commission for the expulsion of scandalous ministers and schoolmasters in the city of London.
At the Restoration
Clarke was deputed by the London ministers to congratulate the king; and he took part with Baxter and others in the Savoy Conference
. He was ejected in 1662
, with two of his sons and four other members of his family. In 1665, with a few other Nonconformists
, he took the oath against resistance imposed by the Five Mile Act. Judge John Kelynge
, before whom he appeared, congratulated the swearers upon their renunciation of the solemn league and covenant
. Clarke disavowed this interpretation, and to put his motives beyond suspicion retired to Hammersmith
24 April 1666. Before his ejection he married his friend Baxter to Margaret Charlton (10 September 1662). Clarke continued to communicate at his parish church. He moved to Isleworth, and spent his time in compiling popular books, chiefly on biography. His wife died 21 June 1675, aged 73, and he wrote her life. He died at Isleworth
25 December 1683.
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
biographer.
Life
He was born 10 October 1599 at WolstonWolston
Wolston is a village and civil parish in the Rugby borough of Warwickshire, England. The village is located roughly halfway between Rugby and Coventry, and has a population of about 2,300. It is close to the A45 road and the Roman road the Fosse Way....
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, the son of Hugh Clarke (d. 1634), who was vicar of Wolston for forty years. Clarke was educated by his father till he was thirteen; then at the free school
Free school
An anarchistic free school is a decentralized network in which skills, information, and knowledge are shared without hierarchy or the institutional environment of formal schooling. Free school students may be adults, children, or both...
in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
; and when seventeen was entered at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
. He was ordained about 1622, and held charges at Knowle
Knowle
Knowle is a large village a few miles southeast of the town of Solihull, UK. Knowle lies within the historic county boundaries of Warwickshire, and since 1974 it has been part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull within the West Midlands...
in Warwickshire, Thornton-le-Moors
Thornton-le-Moors
Thornton-le-Moors is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the census of 2001 it had a population of 260....
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, and Shotwick
Shotwick
Shotwick is a village and civil parish on the Wirral Peninsula in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England...
on the estuary of the Dee. Here, 2 February 1626, he married Katherine, daughter of Valentine Overton, rector of Bedworth
Bedworth
Bedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. It lies northwest of London, east of Birmingham, and north northeast of the county town of Warwick. It is situated between Coventry, to the south, and Nuneaton, to the north.In the 2001 census the town...
, Warwickshire.
Clarke had already given some offence by his puritan tendencies. He accepted a lectureship at Coventry, where he was opposed by Samuel Buggs, who held both the city churches. Buggs persuaded Bishop Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton (bishop)
Thomas Morton was an English churchman, bishop of several dioceses.-Early life:Morton was born in York on 20 March 1564. He was brought up and grammar school educated in the city and nearby Halifax. In 1582 he became a pensioner at St John's College, Cambridge from which he graduated with a BA in...
to inhibit Clarke from preaching, and, though Archbishop George Abbot had given him a license, Clarke had to leave Coventry. He was protected by Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke
Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke
Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke was an English Civil War Roundhead General.Greville was the cousin and adopted son of Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, and thus became 2nd Lord Brooke, and owner of Warwick Castle. He was born in 1607, and entered parliament for Warwickshire in 1628...
, and finally accepted another lectureship in Warwick, where complaints were still made of his omission of ceremonies. On 23 April 1633 he was inducted to the rectory of Alcester
Alcester
Alcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
, presented to him by Lord Brook. Clarke make himself conspicuous by attacking James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
's Book of Sports, set forth afresh by authority in 1634.
In 1640 he was deputed with Arthur Salwey to visit Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
at York in order to complain of the et cetera oath. The king made some difficulty in seeing them, but promised that they should not be molested till their petition could come before parliament. On 23 October 1642 Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
was preaching for Clarke at Alcester, when the guns of the battle of Edgehill
Battle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
were heard, and next day they rode over the battle-field.
Clarke going to London soon afterwards was pressed to the curacy of St. Bennet Fink, in the gift of the chapter of Windsor. The former curate having been expelled, Clarke was elected in his place by the parishioners, and when the war was over resigned Alcester, which was troubled by 'sectaries,' in order to retain it. He occupied himself in writing books, dated from his study in Threadneedle Street
Threadneedle Street
Threadneedle Street is a street in the City of London, leading from a junction with Poultry, Cornhill, King William Street and Lombard Street, to Bishopsgate....
. He was well known among the London clergy; was a governor and twice president of Sion College
Sion College
Sion College, in London, is an institution founded by Royal Charter in 1630 as a college, guild of parochial clergy and almshouse, under the 1623 will of Thomas White, vicar of St Dunstan's in the West....
; and served on the committee of ordainers for London in 1643. He was one of the fifty-seven ministers who, 20 January 1649, signed a protest against taking away the king's life. He assisted in drawing up the jus divinum ministerii evangelici, issued by the London Provincial Assembly in 1653, in defence of the regular ministry against the lay-preaching permitted by the independents. In 1654 he was an assistant to the parliamentary commission for the expulsion of scandalous ministers and schoolmasters in the city of London.
At the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
Clarke was deputed by the London ministers to congratulate the king; and he took part with Baxter and others in the Savoy Conference
Savoy Conference
The Savoy Conference of 1661 was a significant liturgical discussion that took place, after the Restoration of Charles II, in an attempt to effect a reconciliation within the Church of England.-Proceedings:...
. He was ejected in 1662
Great Ejection
The Great Ejection followed the Act of Uniformity 1662 in England. Two thousand Puritan ministers left their positions as Church of England clergy, following the changes after the restoration to power of Charles II....
, with two of his sons and four other members of his family. In 1665, with a few other Nonconformists
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
, he took the oath against resistance imposed by the Five Mile Act. Judge John Kelynge
John Kelynge
John Kelynge KS was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early career:Kelynge was admitted into the Inner Temple on 22 January 1624. His father was of the same inn and is described as a resident of Hertford. He was called to the bar on 10 February, 1632, and from this time to...
, before whom he appeared, congratulated the swearers upon their renunciation of the solemn league and covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
. Clarke disavowed this interpretation, and to put his motives beyond suspicion retired to Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
24 April 1666. Before his ejection he married his friend Baxter to Margaret Charlton (10 September 1662). Clarke continued to communicate at his parish church. He moved to Isleworth, and spent his time in compiling popular books, chiefly on biography. His wife died 21 June 1675, aged 73, and he wrote her life. He died at Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
25 December 1683.
Biography
He takes as an appropriate name for a biographer the anagram 'Su[c]k-all-Cream' (Marrow, &c., 1675). Clarke's biographical works are:- 'A Mirrour or Looking-glass both for Saints and Sinners, held forth in some thousands of examples,' 1646. The fourth edition (1671) includes a 'Geographical description of all the countries in the known world,' first issued separately in 1657. An account of the English plantations in America (1670) is often bound up with it.
- 'The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History . . . Lives of 148 Fathers, Schoolmen, modem Divines, &c.,' 1649-1650; second enlarged edition in 1654, with portrait of the author by Cross, introduction and complimentary verses by Calamy, Wall, &c. To the third edition in 1675 (with portrait by John DunstallJohn DunstallJohn Dunstall was an English engraver and teacher. -Life:He lived in Blackfriars, London, where he published drawing books on natural history and other educational subjects....
) are added lives of christian kings, emperors, &c., of 'inferiour Christians, and of many who . . . obtained the surname of Great.' Many of these had been separately issued. - 'General Martyrologie,' 1651, with portrait by Cross (complains that thirty-nine lives from the 'Marrow' have been reprinted in the Abel Redivivus).
- 'English Martyrologie,' 1652.
- 'The Lives of Twenty-two English Divines,' 1662.
- 'Lives of Ten eminent Divines' (with some others), 1662 (portrait by Cross).
- 'Lives of Thirty-two English Divines,' 3rd edition, 1670. 8. 'Lives of sundry Eminent Persons in the later age' (with the author's life by himself, and preface by Baxter), 1683.
Other works
Clarke also published 'England's Remembrancer, a true and full Narrative of Deliveranances from the Spanish Invasion,' and the powder plot, 1657 (and many later editions). Miscellaneous works, besides separate sermons, are:- 'The Saints' Nosegay. or a Poesie of 741 Spiritual Flowers,' 1642 (privately reprinted, with a memoir, by the author's descendant, G. T. C., in 1881).
- 'Medulla Theologiae, cases of conscience,' in 1659.
- 'Golden Apples . . . counsel from the Sanctuary to the Rulers of the Earth against tolerating heresy,' 1659.
- 'A Discourse against Toleration,' 1660.
- 'Duty of every one intending to be saved,' 1669 (privately reprinted by G. T. C. in 1882).
- 'The Soul's Conflict ' (an account of author's life prefixed), 1678.
- 'Precedents for Princes,' ' 1680. 8
- 'Book of Apothegms,' 1681.