Robert Some (Soame) (1542–1609) was an English churchman and academic. Master of

Peterhouse, Cambridge Peterhouse is the oldest Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England, founded in 1284 by Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. Peterhouse has around 300 undergraduate and 175 graduate stud ...

from 1589, Some played a prominent part in the ecclesiastical controversies of his time, taking a middle course, hostile alike to extreme

Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...

s and

Anglicans Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

Life

He was born at Lynn Regis in 1542, one of the sons of Thomas Soame, of Betely alias Beetley, Norfolk (Launditch Hundred), and his first wife Anne, sister and heir of Francis Knighton of Little Bradley, Suffolk, and widow of Richard le Hunt of Little Bradley. He matriculated as a pensioner from

St John's College, Cambridge St John's College, formally the College of St John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge, is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge, founded by the House of Tudor, Tudor matriarch L ...

, in May 1559, became a scholar on 27 July 1559, graduated B.A. in 1561–2, and proceeded M.A. in 1565, B.D. in 1572, and D.D. in 1580. He was elected fellow of

Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the 16 "old colleges" of the university, and was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. Its buildings span the R ...

, in 1562, and vice-president in 1572. When

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...

visited Cambridge in 1564 he was one of the two B.A.s selected to compose Latin verses in her honour; he also welcomed her with a Latin speech at Queens'. In 1570 he preached in St. Mary's Church against

pluralities A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

and non-residence, and on 18 April 1573 became rector of Girton, near Cambridge. In 1583 he describes himself as chaplain to the

Earl of Leicester Earl of Leicester is a title that has been created seven times. The first title was granted during the 12th century in the Peerage of England. The current title is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and was created in 1837. History Earl ...

. On 11 May 1589 he was made master of Peterhouse on the recommendation of

John Whitgift John Whitgift (c. 1530 – 29 February 1604) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 8 ...

. In the early days of his mastership he joined the party opposed to Peter Baro and his friends, and offended Whitgift by interfering while the proceedings against William Barret were in progress. After Whitgift had reproved him, he preached a sermon which many thought to have been directed against Whitgift and the

court of high commission A court is an institution, often a government entity, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and administer justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. Courts gene ...

. For this he was convened before the heads of colleges in July 1595, but in the end the difficulty was smoothed over. In July 1599 he look part in a disputation as to Christ's descent into hell, and opposed John Overall, the

regius professor of divinity The Regius Professorships of Divinity are amongst the oldest professorships at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. A third chair existed for a period at Trinity College Dublin. The Oxford and Cambridge chairs were founded by ...

, on this and other matters. He also interposed in the Marprelate controversy. He was answered by

John Penry John Penry (1563 – 29 May 1593) was executed for high treason during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He is Wales' most famous Protestant Separatist martyr. Early life Penry was born in Brecknockshire, Wales; Cefn Brith, a farm near Llangamma ...

; and Some rejoined.''A Defence of such Points in R. Some's last Treatise as Mr. Penry hath dealt against'', London, 1588. He was Vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge in 1590, 1591, 1599, and 1608. He died while in office, on 14 January 1609, and was buried at Little St. Mary's Church.

Notes

;Attribution * {{DEFAULTSORT:Some, Richard 1542 births 1609 deaths 16th-century English Anglican priests Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge Masters of Peterhouse, Cambridge Fellows of Queens' College, Cambridge People from King's Lynn 16th-century English scholars 17th-century scholars Vice-chancellors of the University of Cambridge