Thomas Lockey
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lockey was an English librarian and Anglican
priest, who was Bodley's Librarian
from 1660 to 1665.
, proceeding to Christ Church, Oxford
in 1618. He matriculated
on 16 March 1621, obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1622, his Master of Arts degree in 1625 and his Bachelor of Divinity
degree in 1634. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
and served as vicar of East Garston
, Berkshire
, until 1633, and may have been the "Thomas Lockey" who was a prebendary
of Chichester Cathedral
from 1639 to 1642. Lockey lived in Oxford, working as a tutor at Christ Church and preaching. One of his sermons, in January 1651, offended the Parliamentarians
in charge of the university at that time, and he was thereafter banned from preaching and teaching; he left Oxford and did not return until the Restoration of King Charles II
.
Lockey was appointed Bodley's Librarian
(the head of the Bodleian Library
at the University of Oxford
) on 28 September 1660, having been appointed prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral
earlier in the year. He obtained his Doctor of Divinity
degree in November 1660. As Librarian, he was known for being courteous, but the antiquarian Anthony Wood
described him as "not altogether fit for that office." Thomas Hearne
, writing in the first half of the 18th century, described Lockey as "a very curious, nice man", who was "reckon'd the best in the university for classical learning".
As Librarian, Lockey began, but did not finish, a catalogue of John Selden
's books and manuscripts that had been acquired by the library during the time in office of his predecessor, Thomas Barlow
. His final act as Librarian was to give a speech in Latin when the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
, and Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester
) visited the Bodleian on 8 September 1665. He resigned on 29 November 1665.
He was made a canon of Christ Church Cathedral
in 1663, and was installed in 1665. He died of a "surfeit of cherries" on 29 June 1679, and was buried in the cathedral. His goods, which included a large number of books, statutes, paintings, rings, medals and a telescope, were valued at £652 13s 6d (approximately £ as of ).
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest, who was Bodley's Librarian
Bodley's Librarian
The head of the Bodleian Library, the main library at the University of Oxford, is known as Bodley's Librarian: Sir Thomas Bodley, as founder, gave his name to both the institution and the position. Although there had been a university library at Oxford since about 1320, it had declined by the end...
from 1660 to 1665.
Life
Lockey's parentage is unknown, as is his date of birth, which was probably sometime in 1602. He was a scholar at Westminster SchoolWestminster 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...
, proceeding to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
in 1618. He matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
on 16 March 1621, obtained his Bachelor of Arts
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...
degree in 1622, his Master of Arts degree in 1625 and his Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree in 1634. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and served as vicar of East Garston
East Garston
East Garston is a village and civil parish on the River Lambourn, about north of Hungerford in West Berkshire. The river flows through the village, dividing many houses from the main road, so that each has a bridge over the river to the front door....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, until 1633, and may have been the "Thomas Lockey" who was a prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
from 1639 to 1642. Lockey lived in Oxford, working as a tutor at Christ Church and preaching. One of his sermons, in January 1651, offended the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
in charge of the university at that time, and he was thereafter banned from preaching and teaching; he left Oxford and did not return until the Restoration of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
.
Lockey was appointed Bodley's Librarian
Bodley's Librarian
The head of the Bodleian Library, the main library at the University of Oxford, is known as Bodley's Librarian: Sir Thomas Bodley, as founder, gave his name to both the institution and the position. Although there had been a university library at Oxford since about 1320, it had declined by the end...
(the head of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
at 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...
) on 28 September 1660, having been appointed prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
earlier in the year. He obtained his 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....
degree in November 1660. As Librarian, he was known for being courteous, but the antiquarian Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
described him as "not altogether fit for that office." Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne or Hearn , English antiquary, was born at Littlefield Green in the parish of White Waltham, Berkshire.-Life:...
, writing in the first half of the 18th century, described Lockey as "a very curious, nice man", who was "reckon'd the best in the university for classical learning".
As Librarian, Lockey began, but did not finish, a catalogue of John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
's books and manuscripts that had been acquired by the library during the time in office of his predecessor, Thomas Barlow
Thomas Barlow (bishop)
Thomas Barlow was an English academic and clergyman, who became Provost of The Queen's College, Oxford and Bishop of Lincoln. He was considered, in his own times and by Edmund Venables writing in the Dictionary of National Biography, to have been a trimmer, a reputation mixed in with his academic...
. His final act as Librarian was to give a speech in Latin when the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon was an English historian and statesman, and grandfather of two English monarchs, Mary II and Queen Anne.-Early life:...
, and Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester KG, KB, FRS was an important commander of Parliamentary forces in the First English Civil War, and for a time Oliver Cromwell's superior.-Life:...
) visited the Bodleian on 8 September 1665. He resigned on 29 November 1665.
He was made a canon of Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is the name of many Anglican cathedrals around the world, and may refer to:-Canada:*Christ Church Cathedral , New Brunswick*Christ Church Cathedral , Quebec*Christ Church Cathedral , Ontario...
in 1663, and was installed in 1665. He died of a "surfeit of cherries" on 29 June 1679, and was buried in the cathedral. His goods, which included a large number of books, statutes, paintings, rings, medals and a telescope, were valued at £652 13s 6d (approximately £ as of ).