William Freke
Encyclopedia
William Freke was an English mystical writer, of Wadham College, Oxford
and barrister of the Temple.
Freke first comes to attention as a Socinian Unitarian who suffered at the hands of Parliament in 1694 for his anti-Trinitarian beliefs, and later recanted. William Freke sent his Brief but Clear Confutation of the Doctrine of the Trinity to both Houses of Parliament, was fined and the book burnt. The same happened the next year to John Smith
(1695), a clockmaker who had written a similar pamphlet.
In 1703 he published Lingua Tersancta. Or, a Most Sure and Compleat Allegorick Dictionary to the Holy Language of the Spirit. Presumably unbalanced, Freke proclaimed himself the great Elijah in 1709.
; his mother was Cicely, daughter of Robert Hussey of Stourpaine
, Dorset
. He was at school at Somerford (? Somerford Keynes
), Wiltshire, and early in 1677, having attained the age of fourteen, he became a gentleman commoner of Wadham College, Oxford. After two or three years he went to study at the Temple, and was called to the bar, but does not seem to have practised.
He became a reader of ‘Arian books’ but he continued to attend the services of the Church of England
as a silent worshipper, holding schism
to be a sin, and believing his conduct to be directed by divine guidance. He studied astrology
, but was convinced of its unscientific character. In May 1681, after recovering from smallpox
, he had the first of a series of dreams, which he esteemed to be divine monitions. His first volume of essays (1687), ‘per Gulielmum Liberam Clavem, i.e. FreeK,’ is an attempt to moderate between ‘our present differences in church and state.’ A second volume of essays (1693) had a plan for a ‘Lapis Errantium; or the Stray-Office: For all manner of things lost, found or mislaid within the weekly bills of mortality of the city of London.’ He gives tables of rates to regulate the reward payable to the finder and the fee to the office for safe custody.
About the beginning of December 1693 he printed an antitrinitarian tract containing a ‘dialogue’ and a ‘confutation.’ This he sent by post to members of both Houses of Parliament. From the style it was supposed to be the work of a Quaker. The Commons on 13 December 1693, and the Lords on 3 Jan. 1694, voted the pamphlet an infamous libel, and ordered it to be burned by the hangman in Old Palace Yard, Westminster. Freke was arraigned at the King's Bench
on 12 February by the attorney-general. He pleaded not guilty, and the trial was deferred till the next term. On 19 May he was condemned to pay a fine of £500, to make a recantation in the four courts of Westminster Hall, and to find security for good behaviour during three years.
In 1703 he describes himself as ‘master in the holy language’ and ‘author of the New Jerusalem,’ a work (printed about 1701) which has not been traced. His ‘Divine Grammar’ and ‘Lingua Tersancta’ have no publisher, and only the author's initials (‘W. F. Esq.’) are given. He expounds his dreams, furnishing classified lists of their topics and interpretations. The ‘Lingua Tersancta’ is in fact a dictionary of dreams, in which the language is often as coarse as the images. He adhered to his conviction of the divine authority of bishops and of the scriptures; all other religious tenets being of secondary moment.
In 1709 he renounced Arianism
(Great Elijah, i. 4), and gave himself out as ‘the great Elijah,’ a new prophet and ‘secretary to the Lord of hosts.’He ate sparingly, and claimed divine approval for his evening potations. He advertised and gave away his books. In 1714 he became acquainted with the works of Arise Evans
; he also read John Pordage
.
Freke spent the latter part of his life (apparently from 1696) at Hinton St Mary
, Dorset, where he acted (from about 1720) as justice of the peace. He died at Hinton, surviving his elder brother, Thomas, who left no issue. He was buried on 2 January 1745.
Besides these he mentions that he had printed the following works:
He prepared for the press, and probably printed:
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
and barrister of the Temple.
Freke first comes to attention as a Socinian Unitarian who suffered at the hands of Parliament in 1694 for his anti-Trinitarian beliefs, and later recanted. William Freke sent his Brief but Clear Confutation of the Doctrine of the Trinity to both Houses of Parliament, was fined and the book burnt. The same happened the next year to John Smith
John Smith (Unitarian)
John Smith of St. Augustine's London was an English craftsman and writer, known as "philomath". He was also a Unitarian writer who was coerced into recanting at the height of the 1690s "Socinian controversy".-Religious views:...
(1695), a clockmaker who had written a similar pamphlet.
In 1703 he published Lingua Tersancta. Or, a Most Sure and Compleat Allegorick Dictionary to the Holy Language of the Spirit. Presumably unbalanced, Freke proclaimed himself the great Elijah in 1709.
Life
A younger son of Thomas Freke or Freeke, he was born at Hannington Hall, WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
; his mother was Cicely, daughter of Robert Hussey of Stourpaine
Stourpaine
Stourpaine is a village in north Dorset, England, situated on the River Stour and A350 road in the south east corner of the Blackmore Vale, under Cranborne Chase, three miles north west of Blandford Forum. The village has a population of 608 ....
, 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 was at school at Somerford (? Somerford Keynes
Somerford Keynes
Somerford Keynes is a small village in Gloucestershire, close to the River Thames and Thames Path a couple of miles from its source and close to the Cotswold Water Park...
), Wiltshire, and early in 1677, having attained the age of fourteen, he became a gentleman commoner of Wadham College, Oxford. After two or three years he went to study at the Temple, and was called to the bar, but does not seem to have practised.
He became a reader of ‘Arian books’ but he continued to attend the services of 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...
as a silent worshipper, holding schism
Schism
- Religion :* Schism , a division or a split, usually between people belonging to an organization or movement, most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body...
to be a sin, and believing his conduct to be directed by divine guidance. He studied astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, but was convinced of its unscientific character. In May 1681, after recovering from smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, he had the first of a series of dreams, which he esteemed to be divine monitions. His first volume of essays (1687), ‘per Gulielmum Liberam Clavem, i.e. FreeK,’ is an attempt to moderate between ‘our present differences in church and state.’ A second volume of essays (1693) had a plan for a ‘Lapis Errantium; or the Stray-Office: For all manner of things lost, found or mislaid within the weekly bills of mortality of the city of London.’ He gives tables of rates to regulate the reward payable to the finder and the fee to the office for safe custody.
About the beginning of December 1693 he printed an antitrinitarian tract containing a ‘dialogue’ and a ‘confutation.’ This he sent by post to members of both Houses of Parliament. From the style it was supposed to be the work of a Quaker. The Commons on 13 December 1693, and the Lords on 3 Jan. 1694, voted the pamphlet an infamous libel, and ordered it to be burned by the hangman in Old Palace Yard, Westminster. Freke was arraigned at the King's Bench
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
on 12 February by the attorney-general. He pleaded not guilty, and the trial was deferred till the next term. On 19 May he was condemned to pay a fine of £500, to make a recantation in the four courts of Westminster Hall, and to find security for good behaviour during three years.
In 1703 he describes himself as ‘master in the holy language’ and ‘author of the New Jerusalem,’ a work (printed about 1701) which has not been traced. His ‘Divine Grammar’ and ‘Lingua Tersancta’ have no publisher, and only the author's initials (‘W. F. Esq.’) are given. He expounds his dreams, furnishing classified lists of their topics and interpretations. The ‘Lingua Tersancta’ is in fact a dictionary of dreams, in which the language is often as coarse as the images. He adhered to his conviction of the divine authority of bishops and of the scriptures; all other religious tenets being of secondary moment.
In 1709 he renounced Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
(Great Elijah, i. 4), and gave himself out as ‘the great Elijah,’ a new prophet and ‘secretary to the Lord of hosts.’He ate sparingly, and claimed divine approval for his evening potations. He advertised and gave away his books. In 1714 he became acquainted with the works of Arise Evans
Arise Evans
-Personal history:Evans was born about 1607 in Llangelynin parish and was apprenticed to a tailor at Wrexham. While living in Wales he had seen visions and prophetic dreams which were accentuated when he went to London in 1629. In London he made vain efforts to warn King Charles I of perceived...
; he also read John Pordage
John Pordage
John Pordage was an Anglican priest, astrologer, alchemist and Christian mystic. He founded the 17th century English Behmenist group which would later become known as the Philadelphian Society when it was led by his disciple and successor, Jane Leade.-Behmenists:John Pordage was the eldest son of...
.
Freke spent the latter part of his life (apparently from 1696) at Hinton St Mary
Hinton St Mary
Hinton St Mary is a village in north Dorset, England, situated on a low limestone ridge beside the River Stour, one mile north of the market town Sturminster Newton. The village has a population of 221...
, Dorset, where he acted (from about 1720) as justice of the peace. He died at Hinton, surviving his elder brother, Thomas, who left no issue. He was buried on 2 January 1745.
Works
He printed:- ‘Essays towards an Union of Divinity and Morality, Reason or Natural Religion and Revelation,’ &c., 1687 (eight parts).
- ‘Select Essays, tending to the Universal Reformation of Learning,’ &c., 1693.
- ‘A Dialogue … concerning the Deity’ and ‘A Brief and Clear Confutation of the Doctrine of the Trinity,’ 1693.
- ‘The Divine Grammar … leading to the more nice Syntax … of Dreams, Visions, and Apparitions,’ &c., 1703, (a second title is ‘The Fountain of Monition and Intercommunion Divine,’ &c.; at p. 162 is a section with separate title, ‘The Pool of Bethesda Watch'd,’ &c.; at p. 213 begins ‘The Alphabet,’ a dream-dictionary; at p. 264 are a few original verses).
- ‘Lingua Tersancta; or, a … compleat Allegorick Dictionary to the Holy Language of the Spirit,’ &c., 1703, 8vo (it has a dedication to the Almighty); 1705.
- ‘The Great Elijah's First Appearance,’ &c., lib. i. 1709; 2nd vol., containing lib. ii. and lib. iii., 1710, 8vo (has his full name).
- ‘God Everlasting … or The New Jerusalem Paradise-State,’ &c., 1719; two books, each in two parts, followed by ‘The Prophetick Foreknowledge of the Weather’ (anon.)
Besides these he mentions that he had printed the following works:
- ‘The New Jerusalem Vision Interpretation,’ 1701, or beginning of 1702.
- ‘General Idea of the Allegorick Language,’ 1702. ‘Carmel Aphorisms,’ 1715.
He prepared for the press, and probably printed:
- ‘Oracula Sacra,’ 1711. 12. ‘The Elijan King Priest and Prophet State,’ 1712.