Lawrence Chadderton

Lawrence Chadderton, D. D.—This celebrated divine was born at Chadderton in Lancashire,, in the year 1537, having descended from a wealthy family. He was brought up in the darkness of popery; and his father, intending him for the law, sent him to the inns of court. But he soon renounced popery; became a religious protcstant; forsook the study of the law; and entered Christ's college, Cambridge. This was in the year 1504. Having turned pre tcstant, and fixed himself in the university, he informed his father of it, requesting some pecuniary support: but his futhcr, being a zealous papist, was so displeased at his becoming a protcstant, that he utterly refused to afford him any aid, and disinherited him of considerable estates. Also, ' as a manifestation of his great resentment, " his father sent him a poke, with a groat in it, to go a begging." Though he was abandoned by his parents, he found great comfort from these words: " When thy father and mother forsake thee, the Lord will take thee up."t He who called him to sutler reproach and the loss of all tilings for his name, gave him support and comfort under all his sufferings.

Young Chadderton, now cast off by his unnatural parents, still continued at the university, and made the closest application to his studies. Indeed, he soon became so eminent a scholar, that in three years, he was chosen fellow of his college. In the year 1576, he had a public dispute with Dr. Baro, the Margaret professor, upon his Arminian tenets, when he displayed his great learning, piety, and moderation.*) He afterwards took an active part in the proceedings of the university, against both Baro and Barret, and united with other heads in addressing certain letters to the chancellor of the university.|| For the space of sixteen

• Wharton's Troubles of Laud, vol. i. p. 535, 546.
t Nalson's Collec. vol. i. p. 570.
t Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 117.

f Fuller's HUt. of Cam. p. 145,146.—Strype's Annals, rol. iii. p. 47, 48. || Baker's MS. Collec. rol. ii. p, 6,90.

years, he was lecturer at one of the churches in Cambridge; in which place his holy, learned, and judicious sermons .were made a blessing to multitudes. October 26, 1578, he preached the sermon at Paul's cross. This sermon appears to have been the only article he ever published. About the same time, he was appointed, by an order of parliament, to be preacher at the Middle Temple, and to have a salary of twenty pounds a year, to be raised by the contributions of the house.* In the year 1584, when Sir Walter Mildmay founded Emanuel college, he made choice of Dr. Chadderton to be the first master. But, on account of his great modesty, he was extremely reluctant to undertake the charge;, which, when Sir Walter discovered, he said, 1« If you will not be the master, I will not be the founder of the collegc."t Upon this, he complied, and continued in this office thirty-eight years. During the whole of this period, his deportment was agreeable to the expectations of the worthy founder. By his active and laudable endeavours, the funds of the institution were greatly enriched. He paid the most exact attention to the religion and learning of the scholars. Many persons of distinguished eminence were his pupils, among whom was Mr. William Bedell, afterwards bishop of Kilmore in Ireland4 This learned prelate always retained the highest opinion of his venerable tutor. After he was made provost of Dublin college, and introduced to a friendly correspondence with the celebrated Usher, he could not make mention of his name without particular sensations of pleasantry and esteem. " The arts of dutiful obedience, and just ruling also in part," says he, " I did seventeen years endeavour to

• MS. Chronology, vol. iii. A. D. 1640, p. 4.

+ Sir Walter was an avowed enemy to superstition, a zealons promoter of religion, and ever forward to advance a further reformation in the church. Coming to court, after he had founded the above college, the queen addressed him, saying, ¹¹ Sir Walter, 1 hear you have erected a puritan foundation." ¹¹ No, madam," said he, " far be it from mc to countenance any thing contrary to your lawn: but I have set an acorn, which, when it becomes an oak, God alone knows what will be the fruit of it." This college, it is added, became the very nursery of puritans. Moreover, when Sir Walter founded this college, he, to counteract the influence of superstition, ordered the chapel belonging to it, to stand in the direction of north and south; but, curious as it may appear, the building in this position, being nonconformable, became an offence to the ruling prelates, and as a punishment for standing thus, it was pulled down iu the reigo of Charles II. and erected in the position of east and west.—Fuller's Hist, of Cam. p. 147.—ATS. Remarks, p. 495.—Prynne's Cant. Voome, p. 389.

t Biog. Britan. vol. ii. p. 133. Edit. 1778.

learn, under that good father Dr. Chadded on, in a welltempered society: the canning tricks of packing, siding, bandying, and skirmishing, with and between great men, I confess myself ignorant in, and am now, I fear, too old to be taught."* Dr. Chadderton, in the year 1622, resigned his mastership to the famous Dr. Preston, lest he should be succeeded by a person of Arminian principles; but he survived Preston, and lived to see Dr. Sancroit, and, after him, Dr. Holdswortb, in the same office.

Dr. Chadderton was a decided puritan, but a divine of great moderation. He united with his brethren in their classical associations, and subscribed the " Book of Discipline."t In the year 1603, he was one of the puritan divines nominated by King James to attend the Hamptoncourt conference. Echard, by mistake, says, that Chadderton and his brethren were chosen by the puritans.f It is extremely obvious, that they were all appointed by his majesty. Chadderton, on this occasion, said very little; only towards the close of the conference, when he perceived the king was determined to carry all by force, he requested upon his knees, that the wearing of the surplice, and the use of the cross in baptism, might not be urged upon certain pious and faithful ministers in Lancashire, especially the vicar of Rochdale; but his request was wholly disregarded. The tyrannizing spirit of his majesty, and the contemptible flattery of the prelates, so palpably manifest on this occasion, will be a stain on their character to the latest posterity

Dr. Chadderton was a divine of great abilities and learning, on account of which he was appointed by the king to be one of the translators of the Bible: this was the translation of the present authorized version.ll He died November 13, 1640 ; but of his age, as well as the place of his interment, our various authorities are divided. Mr. Clark says he was ninety-four years old; but Archdeacon Echard, who styles hiin " a grave, pious, and excellent preacher,"

• Atkla's Lives of Seldrn and Usher, p. 383.

+ Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 423.

t Echard's Hist, of Ens;, vol. II. p. 186.

$ Bishop Bancroft, falling down on his knee, protested," That his heart melted with joy, and be made haste to acknowledge onto Almighty God, the singular mercy in giving them such a king, as, since Christ's time, the like had not been." Archbishop Wbitglft and the temporal lords were guilty of the like or worse flattery.—Barhm's Account, p. 170—176.Fuller't Church Hut. b. x. p. 8O.

| Burnet's Hist, of Refor. vol. ii. Rcc. p. 367.

affirms that he died in the hundred and fifth jear of his age.* His remains, says Mr. Clark, were interred in St. Andrew's church, Cambridge; when Dr. Holdsworth preached his funeral sermon, giving him large and deserved commendations : but Mr. Baker affirms that he was buried in Emanuel college chapel, and was the first person interred in that placet The monumental inscription upon a small grave¹ stone, at the entrance of Emanuel college chapel, will correct these mistakes. It is very short and plain, of which' the following is a translation:t

Here
lies the body of
Lawrence Chadderton, D. D.
who was the first Master of this College.
He died in the year 1640,
in the one hundred and third
year of his age.

He was a divine famous for gravity, religion, and learning, and a plain but useful preacher. He was of a very charitable spirit; a strict observer of the sabbath; and a decided enemy to Arminianism. He could read without the use of spectacles to the day of his deaths He was married fifty-three years; and during the whole of this period, he never kept his servant from public worship to cook victuals. It is recorded of him to his great honour, that he used to say, " I desire as much to have my servants to know the Lord as myself." If at any time a servant was addicted to lying, or any other open vice, he would not suffer her to remain m his house, though she could do ever so much work.fl

This excellent divine, being once on a visit among his friends in Lancashire, was invited to preach; and having preached full two hours, he paused and said, " I will no longer trespass upon your patience." Upon this all the congregation cried out, " For God's sake, go on, go on when he proceeded much longer in his discourse, to the great satisfaction and admiration of his audience.!

• Echard's Hist, of Eng. vol. ii. p. 186. + Baker's MS. Collec. Vo1, xviii. p. 72.

* Ibid. vol. vi. p. 90.

{ Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 146,147. J Ibid. 1 Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 117.