Nathaniel Baxter
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Baxter was an English clergyman and poet. In earlier life tutor to Sir Philip Sidney, and interested in the manner of Sidney's circle in literature and Ramist logic, he became more sternly religious in his opinions. He is now remembered for his 1606 poem Ourania, though not for its poetic merit.
in 1569, graduating M.A. in 1577. He had been one of the travelling companions of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
in Europe in 1575-7. He makes allusions to de Vere in Ourania, while addressing his daughter Susan who married Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
. He held clerical positions successively at Redbourn
in Hertfordshire
, Finedon
and Titchmarsh
in Northamptonshire
, Leire
in Leicestershire
, at St. Margaret Lothbury and St. Giles-in-the-Fields in London (1590). Baxter was one of the signatories to the famous letter addressed to Thomas Cartwright, dated London, 25 May 1577.
He became warden of Collegiate Church of St Mary Youghal
, Ireland, in 1592, and was inducted into the office of warden 23 May 1592 by William Lyon
. On 25 August 1597 Baxter found that the revenues of the college were threatened. He was obliged to give a bond that he would, within forty days after demand, resign his office. On 26 April 1598 complaint was made to the court of revenue exchequer, that Baxter had refused to allow the officer of the court to sequestrate the revenues of the college. An attachment was issued against him, and a new sequestration issued. On 30 June 1598 Baxter, having resisted the surrender of his office, through third parties disposed of the college revenues and the college house to Sir Thomas Norris
, President of Munster. Baxter then resigned; but the commissioners, finding that the revenues had been disposed of, refused to accept the trust. Baxter left Ireland in 1599.
He is next found vicar of Mitchel Troy
, Monmouthshire
, and compounding for his first-fruits of the living 26 May 1602. In 1633 he was engaged in controversy with John Downes, a theologian of Bristol
.
, in his New Illustrations of Shakespeare (1845), took Baxter to be the author of Ourania, a work previously ascribed to Nicholas Breton
. Ourania describes its author's tutorial relation to Sir Philip Sidney, and there are various details of the poet's history and of his house in Troy. The name 'Tergaster' reveals the playful nickname given by Sidney to his tutor; Tergaster is dog-Latin for Back- or Bax-ter. There are flattering addresses in verse to contemporary 'fair ladies and brave men'.
Religious works included:
D. Nathaniaelis Baxteri Colcestrensis queastiones et responsa in Petri Ranii [i.e. Rami] dialecticam, London, 1586, was a work on logic.
Life
He was tutor in Greek to Sir Philip Sidney, and was a student of Magdalen College, OxfordMagdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
in 1569, graduating M.A. in 1577. He had been one of the travelling companions of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford was an Elizabethan courtier, playwright, lyric poet, sportsman and patron of the arts, and is currently the most popular alternative candidate proposed for the authorship of Shakespeare's works....
in Europe in 1575-7. He makes allusions to de Vere in Ourania, while addressing his daughter Susan who married Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and 1st Earl of Montgomery KG was an English courtier and politician active during the reigns of James I and Charles I...
. He held clerical positions successively at Redbourn
Redbourn
Redbourn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, lying on Watling Street, 3 miles from Harpenden, 4 miles from St Albans and 5 miles from Hemel Hempstead. It has a population of around 6,000.-History:...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, Finedon
Finedon
Finedon is a civil parish and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with a population at the 2001 census of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich, Germany, and Niort, France....
and Titchmarsh
Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire
Titchmarsh is a village and civil parish in East Northamptonshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 543 people....
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,...
, Leire
Leire
Leire is a village in Leicestershire, England. The name is thought to originate from the old British name for the river Soar, which has a tributary with a source south of the village.Present day Leire has a population of around 500....
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, at St. Margaret Lothbury and St. Giles-in-the-Fields in London (1590). Baxter was one of the signatories to the famous letter addressed to Thomas Cartwright, dated London, 25 May 1577.
He became warden of Collegiate Church of St Mary Youghal
Collegiate Church of St Mary Youghal
St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Youghal, County Cork, Ireland is a Church of Ireland Church in Youghal in East County Cork. Formerly part of the Diocese of Cloyne, it is now in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.-Early days:...
, Ireland, in 1592, and was inducted into the office of warden 23 May 1592 by William Lyon
William Lyon (bishop)
-Life:He educated at Oxford, probably either at Oriel College or St, John's College, he went to Ireland about 1570. He became vicar of Naas in 1573, and in 1580 Elizabeth I gave him the additional vicarage of Bodenstown in Kildare. In 1577 he had license to enjoy the profits of his parish even when...
. On 25 August 1597 Baxter found that the revenues of the college were threatened. He was obliged to give a bond that he would, within forty days after demand, resign his office. On 26 April 1598 complaint was made to the court of revenue exchequer, that Baxter had refused to allow the officer of the court to sequestrate the revenues of the college. An attachment was issued against him, and a new sequestration issued. On 30 June 1598 Baxter, having resisted the surrender of his office, through third parties disposed of the college revenues and the college house to Sir Thomas Norris
Sir Thomas Norris
Sir Thomas Norris was an English soldier, made Lord President of Munster in Ireland.-Life:He was the fifth son of Henry Norris, 1st Baron Norreys of Rycote, and matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1571, aged 15, graduating B.A. on 6 April 1576...
, President of Munster. Baxter then resigned; but the commissioners, finding that the revenues had been disposed of, refused to accept the trust. Baxter left Ireland in 1599.
He is next found vicar of Mitchel Troy
Mitchel Troy
Mitchel Troy is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, in the United Kingdom. It is located 3 miles south west of the county town of Monmouth, just off the A40 road leading towards Raglan.- History and amenities :...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, and compounding for his first-fruits of the living 26 May 1602. In 1633 he was engaged in controversy with John Downes, a theologian of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Works
Joseph HunterJoseph Hunter (antiquarian)
Joseph Hunter was a Unitarian Minister and antiquarian best known for his publications Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York and the two-volume South Yorkshire , still considered among the best works written on the history of Sheffield and South...
, in his New Illustrations of Shakespeare (1845), took Baxter to be the author of Ourania, a work previously ascribed to Nicholas Breton
Nicholas Breton
Nicholas Breton , English poet and novelist, belonged to an old family settled at Layer Breton, Essex.-Life:...
. Ourania describes its author's tutorial relation to Sir Philip Sidney, and there are various details of the poet's history and of his house in Troy. The name 'Tergaster' reveals the playful nickname given by Sidney to his tutor; Tergaster is dog-Latin for Back- or Bax-ter. There are flattering addresses in verse to contemporary 'fair ladies and brave men'.
Religious works included:
- A Soneraigne Salue for a Sinful Soule, comprising a Necessarie and True Meanes whereby a sinful conscience may be unburdened and reconciled to God; wherein you shall find all the Epithetons or Titles of the Son of God which for the most part are found in Scripture.
- Calvin's Lectures or Daily Sermons upon the Prophet Jonas, translated into English by Nathaniel Baxter, with a complaint in verse and a long dedication to Sir John Brockett (1578), another edition being dedicated to Sir Francis Walsingham, 22 January 1577.
- A Catholique and Ecclesiastical position of the last Epistle of John, collected out of the Works of the best Writers by Augustine Marlorat, dedicated to Lady Walsingham (1578).
D. Nathaniaelis Baxteri Colcestrensis queastiones et responsa in Petri Ranii [i.e. Rami] dialecticam, London, 1586, was a work on logic.