Richard Argentine
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Richard Argentine, alias Sexten, M.D, (died 1568), was an English physician and
divine Divinity (from Latin ) refers to the quality, presence, or nature of that which is divine—a term that, before the rise of monotheism, evoked a broad and dynamic field of sacred power. In the ancient world, divinity was not limited to a singl ...
. Argentine went to
Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...
'in a serving-man's coat,' and afterwards was successively usher and master of
Ipswich School Ipswich School is a public school (English fee-charging boarding and day school) for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. North of the town centre, Ipswich School has four parts on three adjacent sites. The Pre-Prep and Nur ...
, the grammar school in that town. Here he also practised as a physician and read a lecture in divinity. He was created M.D. by the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
in 1541.


Protestant activism

With the accession of
Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...
to the throne of
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
Argentine participated in the consequential enthusiasm for
protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
. He contributed to the history of printing in Ipswich by inviting Anthony Scoloker to come to the town and establish the first printing press their. Scoloker printed three of Argentine's books in 1548: *''Certeyne Preceptes, gathered by Hulricus Zuinglius, declaring howe the ingenious youth ought to be instructed and brought unto Christ'', Ipswich, 1548, 8vo; A translation from the Latin of
Huldrych Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swis ...
's
The Christian Education of Youth
' *
A ryght notable Sermon made by Doctor Martyn Luther upon the twentieth chapter of Johan of absolution and the true use of the keyes, full of great comforte
', Ipswich, 1548, 8vo; a translation, of a sermon, "Predigt am Sonntage nach Ostern" by
Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...
dedicated to the courtier Thomas Wentworth *
Sermons of the ryght famous and excellent clerke Master Bernardine Ochine
', Ipswich, 1548, 8vo; a translation of six sermons by
Bernardino Ochino Bernardino Ochino (1487–1564) was an Italian, who was raised a Roman Catholic and later turned to Protestantism and became a Protestant reformer. Biography Bernardino Ochino was born in Siena, the son of the barber Domenico Ochino, and at the ...
– who had recently found asylum in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. The six sermons are: # What thing is God? # How to know God by his creatures. # If Philosophy serves true Theology or divinity and in what manner. # How we ought to use the Holy Scriptures in attaining the knowledge of God. # Of the inconveniences that are happened and dayly happē by the abuse of the Holy Scriptures. # If to be good divines it behoved us to have the humaine sciences or not.


Catholic activism

Although Argentine's patron, Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, had attained the post of
Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom, Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Monarchy of the United Ki ...
in 1550, he died in 1551 and was succeeded to the title by
Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth (152513 January 1584) was an English peer, courtier, administrator and military commander during the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. His reputation suffered through the surrender of Calais in 1 ...
. The 2nd Baron originally persuaded the Ipswich elite to declare
Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey (1536/1537 – 12 February 1554), also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, and nicknamed as the "Nine Days Queen", was an English noblewoman who was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland on 10 July 1553 and reigned ...
Queen of England. However, he promptly defected to join the campaign Queen Mary to succeed Edward. Mary was rallying her supporters at
Framlingham Castle Framlingham Castle is a castle in the market town of Framlingham, Suffolk, England. An early motte and bailey or ringwork Norman castle was built on the Framlingham site by 1148, but this was destroyed (Slighting, slighted) by Henry II of Engl ...
, and soon had major local support and was welcomed to Ipswich as she made her way to
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. Argentine was amongst many local people who followed 2nd Baron Wentworth. Indeed, he became a prominent local Catholic activist. In 1555 he became an advocate for the learning of the
Arabic language Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
in England. He delivered a lecture at both Oxford and Cambridge universities arguing that the study of Arabic would help the development of medicine. A manuscript of his lecture, ''Ad Oxonienses et Cantabrigienses pro lingua Arabica beneficio principum restituenda'' has been preserved in the
Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in ...
. Having lost his wife, he had himself ordained and was conspicuous by his advocacy of Catholic principles, and by persecuting the reformers. He was appointed parish priest at both St Helen's and St Clement's, Ipswich, in 1556. At the same time he continued in his role as schoolmaster at Ipswich School. He was appointed parish priest at both St Helen's and St Clement's, Ipswich, in 1556. At the same time he continued in his role as schoolmaster at Ipswich School. In 1557 he gained two more benefices: St Mary's Whitton and St Michael's
Brantham Brantham is a village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, England. It is located close to the River Stour and the border with Essex, around north of Manningtree, and around southwest of Ipswich. History The name Brantham ...
. The later he gained from the sponsorship of
Robert Wingfield Sir Robert Wingfield (died 1454), of Letheringham in Suffolk, was an English landowner, administrator and politician.G. E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors. The C ...
, an ardent local catholic who had he played host at his Ipswich home to Queen Mary during her journey to London. Argentine is mentioned in '' Foxe's Book of Martyrs'' in relation to the persecution of Agnes Wardall in July 1556.


Reversion to protestantism

Shortly before the death of Queen Mary in 1558 he moved to
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. Following the accession
Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Empress Elisabeth (disambiguation), lists various empresses named ''Elisabeth'' or ''Elizabeth'' * Princess Elizabeth ...
he retained his rectory by again becoming a protestant. In January 1563-4 he appears to have been living at
Exeter Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...
, but the statement that he was a prebendary of Exeter and Wells is without foundation. He probably died in 1568, when his rectory at Ipswich became vacant.


Other works

*''De Præstigiis et Incantationibus Dæmonum et Necromanticorum'',
Bâle Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
, 1568, 8vo. *''Observations about Rome and the popes''.


References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Argentine, Richard Year of birth missing 1568 deaths 16th-century English medical doctors English religious writers 16th-century English writers 16th-century English male writers 16th-century English Roman Catholic priests Alumni of the University of Cambridge 16th-century English Anglican priests