Nicholas Fuller
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Fuller was an English Hebraist
and philologist.
, and was born about 1557. He was sent to schools at Southampton, kept by John Horlock and Adrian Saravia. He entered, in the capacity of secretary, the household of Robert Horne
, bishop of Winchester
; and on his death through the influence of William Barlow
who was Horne's brother-in-law, continued as secretary to John Watson
.
On Watson's death in 1584, he determined to live a scholar's life. His means were insufficient for his purpose, but he obtained an appointment as tutor to William and Oliver Wallop, sons of Henry Wallop
, and, accompanying them to Oxford, instructed them by day, while he pursued his own studies at night. He was a member of Hart Hall, Oxford and graduated B.A. 30 January 1586, and M.A. 30 March 1590. He found a friend in Robert Abbot, took orders, and was presented to the ill-paid living of Allington, Wiltshire
. The duties were light, and Fuller applied himself to the study of languages, especially in their bearing on theology.
He corresponded with foreign scholars, and in 1612 he published at Heidelberg
, at Sir Henry Wallop's expense, Miscellaneorum Theologicorum. Fuller in 1616 corrected and had printed another at Oxford under his own supervision. To this he added a fourth book and a preface, partly autobiographical. He had in the meantime, 14 October 1612, become a prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral through Henry Cotton
. A third edition of the Miscellaneorum was published at Leyden in 1622, with the addition of an Apologia, a good-humoured reply to Drusius who had attacked him in his Notes on the Pentateuch. Another edition issued in 1650, after Fuller's death, contained two more books. The work was also reprinted in John Pearson's Critici Sacri
.
Fuller left several manuscripts; his 'Dissertatio de nomine יהוה' was published in Adriaan Reland
's Decas exercitationum philologicarum (1707). He also compiled a lexicon, which may not have been completed, and was not published. He died in 1626. He is spoken of in high terms of admiration by Buxtorf (Dissertatio de Nominibus Hebrais) and by Edward Pocock (Nota Miscellanea in Portam Mosis). Thomas Fuller
describes him as 'happy in pitching on (not difficult trifles, but) useful difficulties tending to the understanding of scripture,' and adds that 'he was most eminent for humility'. Fuller was married, and had a son and daughter named Michael and Catharine.
Hebraist
A Hebraist is a specialist in Hebrew and Hebraic studies. Specifically, British and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Hebrew language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when Hebrew was little understood outside practicing...
and philologist.
Life
The son of Robert Fuller by his wife Catharine Cresset, he was a native of HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, and was born about 1557. He was sent to schools at Southampton, kept by John Horlock and Adrian Saravia. He entered, in the capacity of secretary, the household of Robert Horne
Robert Horne (bishop)
Robert Horne was an English churchman, and a leading reforming Protestant. One of the Marian exiles, he was subsequently bishop of Winchester from 1560 to 1580....
, 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...
; and on his death through the influence of William Barlow
William Barlow (Bishop of Lincoln)
William Barlow was an Anglican priest and courtier during the reign of James I of England. He served as Bishop of Rochester in 1605 and Bishop of Lincoln in the Anglican Church from 1608 until his death. He had also served the church as Rector of St Dunstan's, Stepney in Middlesex and of...
who was Horne's brother-in-law, continued as secretary to John Watson
John Watson (Bishop)
-Life:He was born in Evesham, Worcestershire England, the son of Thomas Watson and Agnes nee Weeks. Thomas Watson was born in Evesham around 1491 and in 1544 purchased part of the former Evesham Abbey lands and the lordship of Bengeworth, across the River Avon from Evesham town. On those lands he...
.
On Watson's death in 1584, he determined to live a scholar's life. His means were insufficient for his purpose, but he obtained an appointment as tutor to William and Oliver Wallop, sons of Henry Wallop
Henry Wallop
Sir Henry Wallop was an English statesman.He was the eldest son of Sir Oliver Wallop of Farleigh Wallop in Hampshire. Having inherited the estates of his father and of his uncle, Sir John Wallop, he was knighted in 1569 and was chosen member of parliament for Southampton in 1572...
, and, accompanying them to Oxford, instructed them by day, while he pursued his own studies at night. He was a member of Hart Hall, Oxford and graduated B.A. 30 January 1586, and M.A. 30 March 1590. He found a friend in Robert Abbot, took orders, and was presented to the ill-paid living of Allington, Wiltshire
Allington, Wiltshire
There are three different places in the English county of Wiltshire with the name Allington:* Allington, North Wiltshire, a village near Chippenham* A settlement in the civil parish of All Cannings, near Devizes...
. The duties were light, and Fuller applied himself to the study of languages, especially in their bearing on theology.
He corresponded with foreign scholars, and in 1612 he published at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, at Sir Henry Wallop's expense, Miscellaneorum Theologicorum. Fuller in 1616 corrected and had printed another at Oxford under his own supervision. To this he added a fourth book and a preface, partly autobiographical. He had in the meantime, 14 October 1612, become a prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral through Henry Cotton
Henry Cotton (bishop)
-Life:He was a godson to Elizabeth I of England, and one of her chaplains. He was rector of Havant in 1567.He became Bishop of Salisbury in 1598. In his time as bishop, a long-running struggle by the city of Salisbury for its charter was resolved, in 1612....
. A third edition of the Miscellaneorum was published at Leyden in 1622, with the addition of an Apologia, a good-humoured reply to Drusius who had attacked him in his Notes on the Pentateuch. Another edition issued in 1650, after Fuller's death, contained two more books. The work was also reprinted in John Pearson's Critici Sacri
Critici sacri
Critici sacri was a compilation of Latin biblical commentaries published in London from 1660, edited by John Pearson. The publisher was Cornelius Bee. The work appeared in nine volumes, and collected numerous authors, both Protestant and Catholic, of early modern critical work on the Bible...
.
Fuller left several manuscripts; his 'Dissertatio de nomine יהוה' was published in Adriaan Reland
Adriaan Reland
Adriaan Reland was a Dutch scholar, cartographer and philologist....
's Decas exercitationum philologicarum (1707). He also compiled a lexicon, which may not have been completed, and was not published. He died in 1626. He is spoken of in high terms of admiration by Buxtorf (Dissertatio de Nominibus Hebrais) and by Edward Pocock (Nota Miscellanea in Portam Mosis). Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
describes him as 'happy in pitching on (not difficult trifles, but) useful difficulties tending to the understanding of scripture,' and adds that 'he was most eminent for humility'. Fuller was married, and had a son and daughter named Michael and Catharine.