Richard Crakenthorp

Richard Crakenthorp, D. D.—This learned divine was born of respectable parents near Strickland in Westmoreland, in the year 1577, and educated in Queen's college, Oxford, where he was chosen fellow. . About the year 1603, he became chaplain to Lord Evers, in his mission as ambassador to the court of Germany, by which he became acquainted with many persons celebrated for learning, and visited several of the foreign universities. Upon his return to England he became chaplain in ordinary to King James; and, by the favour of Sir John Levesen, was presented to the rectory of Black-Notely,

* Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxiii. This volume is not paged.

near Braintree in Essex. In the year 1617, he became rector of Packelsham.*

This learned divine attempted to vindicate the famous Dr. John liainolds from the reproachful imputation of puritanisrn, but evidently with very little success; and, in tact, while he laboured to clear his friend and favourite of the reproachful charge, he was himself found guilty. He was justly denominated a puritan, as well as Rainolds. The Oxford historian says, " he was a noted preacher, a profound disputant, and a good divine, and was greatly admired and venerated by all great men, especially by those of the puritanical party, being himself a zealot among them." He further adds, " that Dr. Crakenthorp was esteemed by most to have been replenished with all kinds of virtue and learning; to have been a profound philosopher and theologian, a great canonist, and so familiar in the fathers, councils, and schoolmen, that scarcely any in his time went beyond him; and that few authors have written with greater diligence and success."t He died nt Black-Notely, says this writer, " for want of a bishopric," as King James used to say in reproach of such men; and his remains were interred in the chancel of the church at that place, November 25, 1624, aged forty-seven years. Dr. John Barkham, dean of Booking, preached his funeral sermon, and gave the deceased high commendations for learning and piety. Dr. Crakenthorp sometimes preached the sermon at Paul's cross, and one or more of these sermons was afterwards published.

_ His Works.—I. Sermons on several Occasions, 1608.—2. Justinian the Emperor defended, against Card. Baronias, 1616.— 3. Introductio in Metaphysicam, 1619.—i. A Defence of Constantino, with a Treatise of the Pope's Temporal Monarchy, 1621.—

5. Logicas libri quinquc, dc pradicalibus, praedicamentis, etc., 1622.—

6. Tractatus de Providcntia Dei, 1622.—7. Defcnsio Eccl. Anglican*: contra M. Anton, de Dominis Archcp. Spalatensis injurias, 16254— 6. Virgelius dormitans; or, a Treatise of the first General Council held at Constantinople, an. 553, under Justinian the Emperor, 1631.— Though he left numerous manuscripts, it does not appear whether any other articles were ever published.

• Newcourt's Jlcpert. Eccl. vol. ii. p. 443,459. + Wood's Athena; Oxon. vol. i. p. 417,418.

t Archbishop Abbot calli this work " the most exact piece of controversy sioce the reformation."—Leigh on Religion and Learning, p. 172.