William Master (1627–1684) was an English
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 ...
and writer. He was the son of the politician
Sir William Master and the brother of
John Master
John Master (1637 – c.1680), was an English physician. He was the son of the politician William Master, brother of the clergyman and author William Master and assisted the medical author Thomas Willis.''John Master (bap. 1637, d. in or after ...
.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from History of the British Isles, British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') ...
, ''Master, William (bap. 1627, d. 1684), Church of England clergyman'' by Andrew Warmington
Life
He was the second son of Sir William Master, knt., of
Cirencester
Cirencester ( , ; see #Pronunciation, below for more variations) is a market town and civil parish in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames. It is the List of ...
,
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 ...
, and of his wife Alice, daughter of Edward Eastcourt of
Salisbury
Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...
. He was born at Cirencester, and baptised on 7 September 1627. He matriculated at
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...
, on 2 April 1647, graduated B.A. on 7 November 1650, by order of the
parliamentary visitors of the university, was admitted bachelor-fellow of
Merton College
Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor ...
in 1651, and was M.A. on 19 November 1652. Soon after he became vicar of
Preston, Cotswold
Preston is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England, situated 2.2 km south-east of the town of Cirencester. It is administered by the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 32 ...
, where his father was patron; while there, on Ascension day 1658, he performed the ceremony of marriage between
George Bull
George Bull (25 March 1634 – 17 February 1710) was an English theologian and Bishop of St David's.
Life
He was born, 25 March 1634, in the parish of St Cuthbert, Wells, and educated in the grammar school at Wells, and then at Blundell' ...
and Bridget, daughter of Alexander Gregory, incumbent of Cirencester, according to the form prescribed in the ''
Book of Common Prayer
The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the title given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christianity, Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The Book of Common Prayer (1549), fi ...
'', although that usage was forbidden under penalty at the time.
Master was admitted rector of
Woodford, Essex
Woodford is a town in East London, England, within the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located north-east of Charing Cross. Woodford historically formed an ancient parish in the county of Essex. It contained a string of agrarian villages and ...
on 13 February 1661, was prebendary of Chamberlainwood in
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle, is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London in the Church of Engl ...
from 17 July 1663 till 1666, and was admitted to that of Cadington Major on 14 February 1667. For a year, from 3 July 1666, he was rector of
Southchurch
Southchurch is a suburb and former civil parish in the city of Southend-on-Sea in the ceremonial county of Essex, England. England. In 2011 the ward had a population of 9,710.
History
In 824 AD, a Saxon thegn, Leofstan presented the manor o ...
, Essex, and from 29 April 1671 till his death rector of
St Vedast, Foster Lane, London, with the church of
St Michael Quern.
Master died in London, and was buried in the chancel of Woodford Church on 6 September 1684.
Works
Under the pseudonym of "A Student in Theologie" Master published ''Λόγος Εὔκαιροι, Essayes and Observations, Theologicall and Morall. Wherein many of the Humours and Diseases of the Age are Discovered'', to which was added ''Drops of Myrrhe, or Meditations and Prayers, fitted to Divers of the preceding Arguments'', London, 1654. Morality is combined with an easy style.
Family
Master married at Woodford, on 18 May 1665, Susanna, daughter of the Rev. Job Yate, rector of
Rodmarton in Gloucestershire. At the time of his death his three children, Richard, Thomas, and Elizabeth, were all under age. He left landed property in Essex, in Wiltshire, and at Preston, near Cirencester. His grandson William, son of his eldest son Richard, baptised in December 1715, was educated at
Winchester College
Winchester College is an English Public school (United Kingdom), public school (a long-established fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) with some provision for day school, day attendees, in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It wa ...
, and became fellow of
New College, Oxford
New College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by Bishop William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as New College's feeder school, New College was one of the first col ...
, in 1736.
References
;Attribution
1627 births
1684 deaths
English writers
People from Cirencester
People from Woodford, London
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