John Knewstub
Encyclopedia
John Knewstub (1544–1624) was an English clergyman, one of the participants in the Hampton Court Conference
of 1604 representing the Puritan
side. Patrick Collinson
calls him presbyterian by conviction, but moderate in his views.
in Westmoreland in 1544, and entered St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1564, and on 21 March 1567 was elected a Fellow. In 1568 he proceeded M.A., and in 1576 took his degree as B.D.
He became noted as a controversialist, particularly as a writer against the teaching of Henry Nicholas
and the Family of Love
. In 1576 he preached against their doctrines at Paul's Cross. On 13 August 1579 he was presented by Sir William Spring
to the rectory of Cockfield, Suffolk
, in succession to Richard Longworth
, and continued to hold the living for the rest of his life.
Cockfield became a centre of Puritan doctrine. In May 1582, an assembly of about 60 clergymen from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire met in Cockfield Church, to confer about the Prayer Book, clerical dress and customs. St. John's College also was at that time noted for its leanings to Puritanism; Knewstub was a follower of Thomas Cartwright, and a friend of Adam Winthrop, John Winthrop
's father.
Knewstub was a strong candidate in 1595 to succeed William Whitaker
as Master of St John's, though Richard Clayton was elected. At the conference in Hampton Court in 1604 he appeared as one of the four ministers deputed to oppose conformity. He took especial exception to the use of the sign of the cross in baptism and also to the surplice
.
Knewstub died at Cockfield, where he was buried 31 May 1624. His epitaph, which has disappeared from his place of interment, has been preserved by Francis Peck
. He does not appear to have been married.
, composed originally in German, had been translated into Latin, and in 1579 Knewstub translated a large portion of the Latin version into English, with comments in which he unsparingly denounced the tenets advanced. The work was dedicated to Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick
, and the contents of the volume show that Knewstub was by this time well known at court. His Lectures … upon the twentieth Chapter of Exodus of 1577 had been dedicated to Dudley’s wife Anne.
Hampton Court Conference
The Hampton Court Conference was a meeting in January 1604, convened at Hampton Court Palace, for discussion between King James I of England and representatives of the Church of England, including leading English Puritans.-Attendance:...
of 1604 representing the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
side. Patrick Collinson
Patrick Collinson
Patrick Collinson CBE was an English historian, known as an authority on the Elizabethan era. His most influential work has been about Elizabethan Puritanism. He was Emeritus Regius Professor of Modern History, University of Cambridge, having occupied the chair from 1988 to 1996...
calls him presbyterian by conviction, but moderate in his views.
Life
He was born at Kirkby StephenKirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen is a civil parish and small market town in Cumbria, in North West England which historically, is part of Westmorland. The town is located on the A685, surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, and about from the two nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith...
in Westmoreland in 1544, and entered St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1564, and on 21 March 1567 was elected a Fellow. In 1568 he proceeded M.A., and in 1576 took his degree as B.D.
He became noted as a controversialist, particularly as a writer against the teaching of Henry Nicholas
Henry Nicholas
Henry Thompson “Nick” Nicholas, III , is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist and leader of the victims’ rights movement. He is the co-founder, and former Co-Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broadcom Corporation, a Fortune 500 company.Nicholas served Broadcom in...
and the Family of Love
Family of Love
Family of Love may refer to* Familists, a mystic religious community in renaissance England and the Low Countries* Children of God, a new religious movement, which later used the names Family of Love and as of 2006, Family International...
. In 1576 he preached against their doctrines at Paul's Cross. On 13 August 1579 he was presented by Sir William Spring
Spring Baronets
The Spring Baronetcy, of Pakenham in the County of Suffiolk, is a title in the Baronetage of England.-History:The Spring family were major landowners in East Anglia between the late 15th and the early 18th centuries, when the family’s wealth and status began to go into decline...
to the rectory of Cockfield, Suffolk
Cockfield, Suffolk
Cockfield is a village and civil parish located approximately 3½ miles from Lavenham in Suffolk, England. The village consists of a central point and several outlying hamlets: Buttons Green, Colchester Green, Cross Green, Great Green, Oldhall Green, Smithwood Green and Windsor Green...
, in succession to Richard Longworth
Richard Longworth (Cambridge)
Richard Longworth was an English churchman and academic, Master of St John's College, Cambridge and Dean of Chester.-Life:He was from Lancashire, and matriculated as a pensioner at St John's College in 1549. He graduated B.A. in 1553, M.A. in 1556, B.D. in 1563, and D.D. in 1567...
, and continued to hold the living for the rest of his life.
Cockfield became a centre of Puritan doctrine. In May 1582, an assembly of about 60 clergymen from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire met in Cockfield Church, to confer about the Prayer Book, clerical dress and customs. St. John's College also was at that time noted for its leanings to Puritanism; Knewstub was a follower of Thomas Cartwright, and a friend of Adam Winthrop, John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
's father.
Knewstub was a strong candidate in 1595 to succeed William Whitaker
William Whitaker (theologian)
William Whitaker was a prominent Anglican theologian. He was Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, and a leading divine in the university in the latter half of the sixteenth century.-Early life and education:...
as Master of St John's, though Richard Clayton was elected. At the conference in Hampton Court in 1604 he appeared as one of the four ministers deputed to oppose conformity. He took especial exception to the use of the sign of the cross in baptism and also to the surplice
Surplice
A surplice is a liturgical vestment of the Western Christian Church...
.
Knewstub died at Cockfield, where he was buried 31 May 1624. His epitaph, which has disappeared from his place of interment, has been preserved by Francis Peck
Francis Peck
-Life:He was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, and educated at Stamford School. Peck was educated at Charterhouse School, before continuing on to St John's College, Cambridge...
. He does not appear to have been married.
Works
The Evangelium Regni of Henry NicholisHenry Nicholis
Hendrik Nicholis was a German mystic and founder of the Christian sect "Family of Love" Hendrik Nicholis (or Hendrik Niclaes, Heinrich Niclaes) (c.1501–c.1580) was a German mystic and founder of the Christian sect "Family of Love" Hendrik Nicholis (or Hendrik Niclaes, Heinrich Niclaes)...
, composed originally in German, had been translated into Latin, and in 1579 Knewstub translated a large portion of the Latin version into English, with comments in which he unsparingly denounced the tenets advanced. The work was dedicated to Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick
Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick
Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, KG was an English nobleman and general, and an elder brother of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester...
, and the contents of the volume show that Knewstub was by this time well known at court. His Lectures … upon the twentieth Chapter of Exodus of 1577 had been dedicated to Dudley’s wife Anne.