Ephraim Pagit
Encyclopedia
Ephraim Pagit (1575?-1647), was an English clergyman and heresiographer. His Heresiography of 1645 was a precursor of the better-known Gangraena
, and is a well-referenced account of contemporary sectarian Protestantism in England. In fact the Oxford English Dictionary
indicates that the title of this book was a neologism, derived by analogy from Christianography, an earlier title, to indicate a catalogue or classification of heretics
. By political conviction Pagit was a royalist, but he was sufficiently opposed to the religious Independents to support Presbyterianism
.
, he was born in Northamptonshire
, probably at Lamport
, about 1575. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford
on 25 May 1593, being eighteen years old. There is no evidence of his graduation, but he is said to have been a great linguist, writing fifteen or sixteen languages. On 19 August 1601 he was admitted to the rectory of St. Edmund the King, Lombard Street.
In May 1638 he wrote a series of letters addressed to Cyril Lucaris
, Patriarch of Constantinople
, and other patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox church. In them he commended to their notice his own Christianographie, the translation of the English prayer-book into Greek by Elias Petley, and William Laud
's conference with John Fisher.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
Paget was silenced, and retired to Deptford, Kent. He was always a strong royalist, and in favour of the prayer-book; but he took the Covenant
, and in 1645 he joined in a petition to Parliament for the establishment of presbyterianism, probably as a preferable alternative to independency. His standard of doctrine he found in the articles of the Church of England
. He died at Deptford in April 1647, and was buried in the churchyard. He married the widow of Sir Stephen Bord of Sussex.
as heresy, and every approach to independency as faction. He published:
His nine letters to the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, and of the Maronites, also to Prince Radziwil of Poland and John Tolnai of Transylvania, are in Harleian MS. 825. All are duplicated in Greek and Latin; two are also in English, and one in Syriac.
Gangraena
Gangraena is a book by Thomas Edwards, published in 1646. A notorious work of "heresiography", i.e. the description in detail of heresy, it appeared the year after Ephraim Pagitt's Heresiography. These two books attempted to catalogue the fissiparous Protestant congregations of the time, in England...
, and is a well-referenced account of contemporary sectarian Protestantism in England. In fact the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
indicates that the title of this book was a neologism, derived by analogy from Christianography, an earlier title, to indicate a catalogue or classification of heretics
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. By political conviction Pagit was a royalist, but he was sufficiently opposed to the religious Independents to support Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
.
Life
The son of Eusebius PagitEusebius Pagit
-Life:He was born at Cranford St Andrew, Northamptonshire, about 1551. At twelve years of age he entered Christ Church, Oxford as a chorister. He was afterwards student of Christ Church, reputed in philosophy. Though he is said to have taken no degree, Cole has identified him with the Eusebius...
, he was born in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, probably at Lamport
Lamport, Northamptonshire
Lamport is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire, England. The village is on the A508, about south of Market Harborough and north of Northampton. Nearby is Lamport Hall...
, about 1575. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
on 25 May 1593, being eighteen years old. There is no evidence of his graduation, but he is said to have been a great linguist, writing fifteen or sixteen languages. On 19 August 1601 he was admitted to the rectory of St. Edmund the King, Lombard Street.
In May 1638 he wrote a series of letters addressed to Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris born Constantine Lukaris or Loucaris was a Greek prelate and theologian, and a native of Candia, Crete . He later became the Greek Patriarch of Alexandria as Cyril III and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I...
, Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
, and other patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox church. In them he commended to their notice his own Christianographie, the translation of the English prayer-book into Greek by Elias Petley, and William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
's conference with John Fisher.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
Paget was silenced, and retired to Deptford, Kent. He was always a strong royalist, and in favour of the prayer-book; but he took the Covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
, and in 1645 he joined in a petition to Parliament for the establishment of presbyterianism, probably as a preferable alternative to independency. His standard of doctrine he found in the articles of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He died at Deptford in April 1647, and was buried in the churchyard. He married the widow of Sir Stephen Bord of Sussex.
Works
In his accounts of sectaries, he makes it a rule to give authorities; and they take a wide range, since he treats every deflection from CalvinismCalvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
as heresy, and every approach to independency as faction. He published:
- Christianographie ; or, a Description of the sundrie Sorts of Christians in the World, &c., 1635, (many reprints);
- Heresiography ; or a description of the Hereticks and Sectaries of these latter times, &c., 1645; sixth edition, 1662.
- The Mystical Wolf, &c., 1645, (sermon on Matthew vii. 15 : reissued with new title-page, The Tryall of Trueth, &c.)
His nine letters to the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, and of the Maronites, also to Prince Radziwil of Poland and John Tolnai of Transylvania, are in Harleian MS. 825. All are duplicated in Greek and Latin; two are also in English, and one in Syriac.