James Montague (bishop)
Encyclopedia
James Montague was an English bishop.
He was a graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge
, and became in 1596 the first Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
, for which he laid the foundation stone. He was connected to Frances Sidney
, founder of the college, his great-aunt: his maternal grandmother was her sister Lucy Sidney. From that time he was a patron of Thomas Gataker
. In 1603 he became Dean of the Chapel Royal. Montague was both a courtier and a Calvinist, and closer to the king than George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury; he is considered to have influenced James I
against the Arminians. With the other courtiers Sir Robert Darcy and John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton
, Montague introduced to court circles, and especially those around Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
, the Puritan Arthur Hildersham
, and the radical religious figures Henry Jacob
and John Burges
.
He edited the collected works of James I; it has been said that his introductions "push the art of panegyric close to deification". He had worked with James on An Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance in 1607, at Royston
and Newmarket, reading to James the four volumes of the works of Cardinal Bellarmine.
He was Dean of Lichfield in 1603, Dean of Worcester
in 1604, Bishop of Bath and Wells
in 1608 and Bishop of Winchester
in 1616. At Bath and Wells, he contributed to the legend of the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury, in an entertainment for Anne of Denmark
, when the character of Joseph of Arimathea
presented boughs to the Queen. He is buried in an alabaster tomb in Bath Abbey
.
Life
He was the son of Sir Edward Montague of Boughton, and grandson of Edward Montagu.He was a graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, and became in 1596 the first Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
, for which he laid the foundation stone. He was connected to Frances Sidney
Frances Radclyffe, Countess of Sussex
Frances Radclyffe , Countess of Sussex was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I and the founder of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge....
, founder of the college, his great-aunt: his maternal grandmother was her sister Lucy Sidney. From that time he was a patron of Thomas Gataker
Thomas Gataker
Thomas Gataker was an English clergyman and theologian.-Life:He was born in London and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. From 1601 to 1611 he held the appointment of preacher to the society of Lincoln's Inn, which he resigned on accepting the rectory of Rotherhithe...
. In 1603 he became Dean of the Chapel Royal. Montague was both a courtier and a Calvinist, and closer to the king than George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury; he is considered to have influenced James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
against the Arminians. With the other courtiers Sir Robert Darcy and John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton
John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton
John Harington was an English courtier and politician.-Life:He was the son of James Harington and was knighted in 1584...
, Montague introduced to court circles, and especially those around Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, the Puritan Arthur Hildersham
Arthur Hildersham
Arthur Hildersham was an English clergyman, a Puritan and nonconforming preacher.-Life:Arthur Hildersham was born at Stetchworth, and brought up as a Roman Catholic. He was educated in Saffron Walden and at Christ's College, Cambridge. Through the patronage of Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of...
, and the radical religious figures Henry Jacob
Henry Jacob
Henry Jacob was an English clergyman of Calvinist views, who founded a separatist congregation associated with the Brownists.-Life:...
and John Burges
John Burges
John Burges was an English clergyman and physician. He held nuanced reformist views on the vexed questions of the time, on clerical dress and church ceremonies. His preaching offended James I of England, early in his reign, and Burges went abroad for medical training...
.
He edited the collected works of James I; it has been said that his introductions "push the art of panegyric close to deification". He had worked with James on An Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance in 1607, at Royston
Royston, Hertfordshire
Royston is a town and civil parish in the District of North Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England.It is situated on the Greenwich Meridian, which brushes the towns western boundary, and at the northernmost apex of the county on the same latitude of towns such as Milton Keynes and...
and Newmarket, reading to James the four volumes of the works of Cardinal Bellarmine.
He was Dean of Lichfield in 1603, Dean of Worcester
Dean of Worcester
The Dean of Worcester is the head of the Chapter of Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England. The most current Dean is the Very Rev Peter Gordon Atkinson who lives at The Deanery, College Green, Worcester.-List of Deans:...
in 1604, Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
in 1608 and Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
in 1616. At Bath and Wells, he contributed to the legend of the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury, in an entertainment for Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
, when the character of Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea was, according to the Gospels, the man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus' Crucifixion. He is mentioned in all four Gospels.-Gospel references:...
presented boughs to the Queen. He is buried in an alabaster tomb in Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England...
.