Sir Anthony Cooke,
KB (June 1501 – 11 June 1576) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Culture, language and peoples
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
* ''English'', an Amish ter ...
humanist
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.
The meaning of the term "humanism" ha ...
scholar. He was a companion and tutor to
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 ...
.
Family
Anthony Cooke was the only son of John Cooke (died 10 October 1516), esquire, of
Gidea Hall
Gidea Hall was a manor house in Gidea Park, the historic parish and Royal liberty of Royal Liberty of Havering, Havering-atte-Bower, whose former area today is part of the north-eastern extremity of Greater London.
The first record of Gidea Hall ...
,
Essex
Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...
, and Alice Saunders (died 1510), daughter and coheiress of William Saunders of
Banbury
Banbury is an historic market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. The parish had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census.
Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding ...
,
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...
by Jane Spencer, daughter of John Spencer, esquire, of
Hodnell,
Warwickshire
Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...
. His paternal grandparents were Sir Philip Cooke (died 7 December 1503) and Elizabeth Belknap (died c. 6 March 1504). His paternal great-grandparents were
Sir Thomas Cooke, a wealthy member of the
Worshipful Company of Drapers
The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 111 Livery Company, livery companies of the City of London, formally styled The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Virgin Mary, Blessed Mary the Virgin o ...
and
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the Mayors in England, mayor of the City of London, England, and the Leader of the council, leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded Order of precedence, precedence over a ...
in 1462–3, and Elizabeth Malpas, daughter of Philip Malpas, Master of the
Worshipful Company of Drapers
The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 111 Livery Company, livery companies of the City of London, formally styled The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Virgin Mary, Blessed Mary the Virgin o ...
and
Sheriff of London
Two Sheriffs of the City of London are elected annually by the members of the City livery companies. Today's Sheriffs have only ceremonial duties, but the historical officeholders held important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ...
.
Career
Cooke served as
High Sheriff of Essex
The High Sheriff of Essex was an ancient sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of th ...
in 1545.
He was never officially described as tutor to Edward VI. It is now firmly believed he may have been more a companion and guide than a formal teacher. However, in 1555
Caelius Secundus Curio
Celio Secondo Curione (1 May 1503, in Cirié – 24 November 1569, in Basel) (usual Latin form Caelius Secundus Curio) was an Italian Renaissance humanism, humanist, grammarian, editor and historian, who exercised a considerable influence upon th ...
, in his dedication letter to Cooke of Sir
John Cheke
Sir John Cheke (or Cheek; 16 June 1514 – 13 September 1557) was an English classical scholar and statesman. One of the foremost teachers of his age, and the first Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge, he played a great pa ...
's ''De Pronuntiatione Graecae'', wrote that "the boyhood of King Edward was handed over and entrusted to the two of you for instruction in letters, behaviour and religion... from you that divine boy drank in that learning, than which not Cyrus, nor Achilles, nor Alexander, nor any king ever received more wholesome and sacred."
Peter Martyr, in dedicating to Cooke his ''Commentaries on St Paul's Epistle to the Romans'' (published 1558), wrote: "I for my part doubtles have, ever since that the time that I dwelt in England, borne a singular love and no smal or vulgar affection towards you, both for your singular piety and learning, and also for the worthy office which you faythfully and with great renoune executed in the Christian publike wealth, in instructing Edward, that most holy King..."
Of his preceptors, Edward is reputed to have said,
"Randolph the German spoke honestly, Sir John Cheke talked merrily, Dr. Coxe solidly, and Sir Anthony Cooke weighingly."
At Edward's coronation, Cooke was created a
Knight of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...
. On 8 November 1547 he was returned to Parliament for
Lewes
Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider Lewes (district), district of the same name. It lies on the River Ouse, Sussex, River Ouse at the point where the river cuts through the Sou ...
, and in the same year was one of the visitors commissioned by the crown to inspect the dioceses of London, Westminster, Norwich, and Ely; the injunctions drawn up by him and his companions are printed in
John Foxe
John Foxe (1516/1517 – 18 April 1587) was an English clergyman, theologian, and historian, notable for his martyrology '' Foxe's Book of Martyrs'', telling of Christian martyrs throughout Western history, but particularly the sufferings of En ...
's ''
Acts and Monuments
The Acts of the Apostles (, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; ) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire.
Acts and the Gospel of Luke make up a two-par ...
''. Two years later he served on two ecclesiastical commissions, of
Protestant
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 ...
tendencies. In November and December 1551 he attended the discussion held between Roman Catholics and Protestants at the houses of
Sir William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598), was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (1550–1553 and 1558–1572) and Lord High Treasurer from ...
and
Sir Richard Moryson, and his public services were rewarded (27 October 1552) with a grant of land. On 27 July 1553 he was committed to the
Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...
on suspicion of complicity in
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 ...
's movement.
In 1550, he purchased
Hartshill Castle
Hartshill Castle is a ruined castle in the village of Hartshill on the outskirts of Nuneaton, Warwickshire (). It is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register due to erosion, structural problems and vandalism; most notably when the castle ...
in
Nuneaton
Nuneaton ( ) is a market town in Warwickshire, England, close to the county border with Leicestershire to the north-east.OS Explorer Map 232 : Nuneaton & Tamworth: (1:25 000) : Nuneaton's population at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 censu ...
.
After his release, he went into self-imposed exile to avoid
Mary
Mary may refer to:
People
* Mary (name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name)
Religion
* New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below
* Mary, mother of Jesus, also called the Blesse ...
's attempt to reintroduce
Catholicism
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
. He travelled widely, spending the most time in
Strasbourg
Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...
where he was in contact with leaders of the Reformed faith, and returned following the death of Mary and the accession of
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 ...
in 1558.
Cooke then served on several religious commissions, and sat as a
knight of the shire
Knight of the shire () was the formal title for a member of parliament (MP) representing a county constituency in the British House of Commons, from its origins in the medieval Parliament of England until the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 ...
for Essex in parliament in 1559 and again in 1563; but he took little or no further part in national affairs. He was appointed ''
Custos Rotulorum'' for Essex in 1572, but the work resulting from this post was performed by his steward, Francis Ram. He died on 11 June 1576, aged seventy-two, and was buried in St Andrew's,
Romford
Romford is a large List of places in London, town in east London, east London, England, located northeast of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Havering, the town is one of the major Metropolitan centres of London, metropolitan centr ...
. There is an elaborate memorial to him in
St Edward the Confessor Church, Romford.
[Parish Church of St Edward the Confessor, Havering](_blank)
British Listed Buildings, accessed 10 July 2016. This notes his "exceptional learning, prudence and piety". However,
Marjorie McIntosh describes him as "a strong protestant of a dark and unforgiving colour".
He was one of the co-owners of
Burton Dassett
Burton Dassett is a parish and deserted medieval village, shrunken medieval village in the Stratford-on-Avon District, Stratford-upon-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The population (including the village of Knightcote) of the civil pari ...
in Warwickshire and conducted a lengthy, but ultimately unsuccessful legal campaign to block the sale of part of the estate to Peter Temple.
Cooke is particularly remembered because he educated his daughters, who were taught both Latin and Greek. Anne published translations from Italian and Latin and Elizabeth a translation of a Latin treatise on the sacrament. While he left plate to all of his children, the five girls were also allowed to select three books (two Latin and one Greek) from his library.
Marriage and issue
Cooke married Anne Fitzwilliam, the daughter of
Sir William Fitzwilliam, Master of the
Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of the 111 Livery company, livery companies of the City of London.
The Company, originally known as the ''Guild and Fraternity of St John the Baptist in the City of London'', was founded prior t ...
and
Sheriff of London
Two Sheriffs of the City of London are elected annually by the members of the City livery companies. Today's Sheriffs have only ceremonial duties, but the historical officeholders held important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ...
, by his first wife, Anne Hawes, daughter of Sir John Hawes, by whom he had four sons and five daughters:
*Anthony Cooke (c. 1535 – 1604).
*
Sir Richard Cooke, who married Anne Caunton.
*Edward Cooke (1557–1566)
*
William Cooke (died 14 May 1589), who married Frances Grey, daughter of
Lord John Grey of Pirgo
Lord John Grey (1523/24 – 19 November 1564) was an English nobleman and courtier of the Tudor period, who after 1559 was seated at Pirgo Place in Essex.
Lord John was at one stage sentenced to death for his involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion a ...
, by whom he had four sons, including Sir
Richard Cooke,
Secretary of State for Ireland, and
William Cooke of
Highnam,
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...
, who married Joyce Lucy, granddaughter of
Sir Thomas Lucy of
Charlecote
Charlecote is a small village and civil parish south of Warwick, on the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon, in the Stratford-on-Avon District, Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, England. In 2011 the parish had a popula ...
, and three daughters.
*
Mildred Cooke
Mildred Cecil, Baroness Burghley (née Cooke; 1526 – 4 April 1589) was an English noblewoman and translator. She was the wife of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, the most trusted adviser of Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I, and the mother ...
(1526–89), who in December 1545 married, as his second wife,
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598), was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (England), Secretary of State (1550–1553 and ...
, by whom she was the mother of
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, (1 June 156324 May 1612) was an English statesman noted for his direction of the government during the Union of the Crowns, as Tudor England gave way to Stuart period, Stuart rule (1603). Lord Salisbury ser ...
.
*
Anne Cooke (c. 1528 – 1610), who married, as his second wife,
Sir Nicholas Bacon, by whom she was the mother of
Sir Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General for England and Wales, Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under James VI and I, King ...
and
Anthony Bacon.
*
Catherine Cooke (c. 1530 – 1583), who married
Sir Henry Killigrew.
*
Elizabeth Cooke (1527–1609), who married firstly
Sir Thomas Hoby and secondly John, Lord Russell (c. 1553 – 1584), second son of
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford ( – 28 July 1585) of Chenies in Buckinghamshire and of Bedford House in Exeter, Devon, was an English nobleman, soldier, and politician. He was a godfather to the Devon-born sailor Sir Francis Drake. He ...
.
*Margaret Cooke (died 3 August 1558), who was a
lady in waiting
A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman but ...
to
Mary I
Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain as the wife of King Philip II from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She made vigorous a ...
, and in 1558 married, as his second wife,
Sir Ralph Rowlett.
Rowlett, Sir Ralph (by 1513-71), of Holywell House, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, History of Parliament
Retrieved 25 November 2013.
.
Notes
References
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;Attribution
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Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooke, Anthony
1501 births
1576 deaths
People from Romford
English Renaissance humanists
16th-century English knights
Marian exiles
16th-century English scholars
16th-century English educators
High sheriffs of Essex
High sheriffs of Hertfordshire
Prisoners in the Tower of London
English MPs 1547–1552
English MPs 1559
English MPs 1563–1567
People from the London Borough of Havering