William Clagett (controversialist)
Encyclopedia
Life
He was the eldest son of Nicholas Clagett the elder, preacher at St. Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkSuffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. He was born in the parish on 24 September 1646, and educated at Bury grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
under Dr. Thomas Stephens, author of notes on Statius
Statius
Publius Papinius Statius was a Roman poet of the 1st century CE . Besides his poetry in Latin, which include an epic poem, the Thebaid, a collection of occasional poetry, the Silvae, and the unfinished epic, the Achilleid, he is best known for his appearance as a major character in the Purgatory...
. Before he was thirteen years of age he was admitted a pensioner of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, on 5 September 1659, under the tuition of Thomas Jackson; and he graduated B.A. in 1663, M.A. in 1667, D.D. in 1683.
He was elected preacher at St. Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, on 12 December 1672, and resigned on 17 June 1680, on being appointed preacher at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, London. He was made chaplain in ordinary to the king (Charles II) 1677. He was presented also by the Lord Keeper Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford PC KC was the third son of the 4th Baron North, and was created Baron Guilford in 1683, after becoming Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in succession to Lord Nottingham....
, who was his wife's kinsman, to the rectory of Farnham Royal
Farnham Royal
Farnham Royal is a village and civil parish within the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located in the south of the county, around 22 miles west of Charing Cross, Central London....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
(instituted on 14 May 1683). With his preacher's place at Gray's Inn, he held the lectureship of St Michael Bassishaw, to which he was elected about two years before his death; he was also chaplain in ordinary to James II.
On Sunday evening, 16 March 1688, after having preached at St Martin's-in-the-Fields, in his Lent course there, he was succumbed to smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, and died of it on 28 March 1688. He was buried in a vault under the church of St Michael Bassishaw, and his wife, Thomasin North, who died eighteen days after him, was buried in the same grave. John Sharp preached his funeral sermon.
Works
Clagett took a leading part in the controversy carried on during the reign of James II respecting the points in dispute between Protestants and Catholics.His works are:
- A Discourse concerning the Operations of the Holy Spirit; with a confutation of some part of Dr. Owen's book upon that subject, part i., London, 1677, part ii., London, 1680. Against John OwenJohn Owen (theologian)John Owen was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford.-Early life:...
; in the second part there is an answer to John HumfreyJohn HumfreyJohn Humfrey was an English clergyman, an ejected minister from 1662 and controversialist active in the Presbyterian cause.-Life:...
's Animadversions on the first part. Clagett wrote a third part, to prove that the Church FathersChurch FathersThe Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
were not on Owen's side, but the manuscript was burnt by accident. In 1719 Henry StebbingHenry StebbingHenry Stebbing was an English churchman and controversialist, who became archdeacon of Wiltshire.-Life:Baptised at Walton, Suffolk on 19 August 1687, he was the fourth son of John Stebbing , a grocer of Walton, by his wife Mary , daughter and coheiress of Richard Kenington...
published an edition of the first two parts. - A Reply to a pamphlet called The Mischief of Impositions, by Mr. Alsop, which pretends to answer the dean of St. Paul's Sermon concerning the Mischief of Separation, London, 1681. Against Vincent AlsopVincent AlsopVincent Alsop was an English Nonconformist clergyman.-Life:Alsop came from Northamptonshire and was educated at St John's College, Cambridge. He received deacon's orders from a bishop, and settled as assistant-master in the free school of Oakham, Rutland. The Rev. Benjamin King took him under his...
, on behalf of Edward StillingfleetEdward StillingfleetEdward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
. - An Answer to the Dissenters' Objections against … the Liturgy of the Church of England, London, 1683.
- The Difference of the Case between the Separation of the Protestants from the Church of Rome, and the Separation of Dissenters from the Church of England, London, 1683.
- A Discourse concerning the Worship of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints, London, 1686.
- A Paraphrase, with Notes and Preface, upon the sixth chapter of St. John, London, 1686.
- Of the Humanity and Charity of Christians. A Sermon preached … 30 Nov. 1686.
- A View of the whole Controversy between the Representer and the Answerer, with an answer to the Representer's last reply; in which are laid open some of the methods by which Protestants are misrepresented by Papists, London, 1687. The 'Representer' was John Goter.
- Of the Authority of Councils and the Rule of Faith. By a Person of Quality … , London, 1687. The first two parts were written by a certain C. Hutchinson; the third, containing the 'Postscript' in answer to Abraham WoodheadAbraham WoodheadAbraham Woodhead was an English writer on Catholicism.-Life:Born at Almondbury, West Yorkshire, he died at Hoxton in Middlesex. He was educated at University College, Oxford, entering in 1624, becoming fellow in 1633, and proctor in 1641...
, was written by Clagett. - An Examination of Bellarmine's Seventh Note, of Union of the Members among themselves and with the Head, London, 1687. Against Robert BellarmineRobert BellarmineRobert Bellarmine was an Italian Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was one of the most important figures in the Counter-Reformation...
. - The Twelfth Note of the Church examined, viz. The Light of Prophecy, London, 1687.
- The School of the Eucharist established upon the miraculous respects and acknowledgments which beasts, birds, and insects, upon several occasions, have rendered to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Whence Catholicks may increase in devotion towards this divine Mystery, and Hereticks find there their confusion. By F. Toussain Bridoul, of the Society of Jesus. Printed in French at Lille, 1672, and now made English, and published with a Preface concerning the Testimony of Miracles,' London, 1687. Clagett supplied the Preface. Toussaint Bridoul (1595?–1672) was a Flemish Jesuit from LilleLilleLille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. - An Abridgment of the Prerogatives of St. Ann, Mother of the Mother of God. With the Approbation of the Doctors at Paris; and thence done into English to accompany the Contemplations on the Life and Glory of Holy Mary; and the Defence of the same; with some Pieces of the like nature. To which a Preface is added concerning the Original of the Story, London, 1688.
- A Discourse concerning the pretended Sacrament of Extreme Unction … With a Letter to the Vindicator of the Bishop of Condom (i.e. Jacques-Bénigne BossuetJacques-Bénigne BossuetJacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop and theologian, renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist....
), London, 1688. The 'vindicator' was Joseph Johnston (secular name Henry Johnston), a Benedictine, of the King's Chapel. - A Second Letter from the Author of the Discourse concerning Extreme Unction, to the Vindicator of the Bishop of Condom, London, 1688.
- The State of the Church of Rome when the Reformation began; as it appears by the advices given to Paul III and Julius III by creatures of their own, London, 1688.
- The Queries offered by T. W. to the Protestants concerning the English Reformation, reprinted and answered (anon.), London, 1688. The Catholic side was put by Thomas Ward.
- Notion of Idolatry considered and confuted, London, 1688.
- Several captious Queries concerning the English Reformation, first proposed by Dean Manby, and afterwards by T. W., briefly and fully answered, London, 1688. Against Peter Manby, Dean of Derry, and Thomas Ward.
- The Summ of a Conference on 21 Feb. 1686, between Dr. Clagett and Father Gooden, about the point of Transubstantiation, London, 1689. The Catholic side was taken by Peter GoodenPeter GoodenPeter Gooden was an English Roman Catholic priest, who came to prominence as a controversialist during the reign of James II.-Life:...
. - A Paraphrase and Notes upon the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth Chapters of St. John, London, 1693.
- His brother Nicholas Clagett the YoungerNicholas Clagett the Younger-Life:Clagett was the son of the Rev. Nicholas Clagett the elder, of Bury St. Edmunds, and the younger brother of the controversialist William Clagett. He was baptised 20 May 1654, and was educated at the Norwich free school. In 1671 he was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge, and took the...
published a collection of his Sermons.
The present State of the Controversie between the Church of England and the Church of Rome; or an account of the books written on both sides (London 1687) was by William Wake
William Wake
William Wake was a priest in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death in 1737.-Life:...
. Clagett saw it through the press, while Wake was in hiding in Dorchester
Dorchester
-England:*Dorchester, Dorset, the county town of Dorset; central to the organisation of the emigration of Puritans to North America during the 17th century*Dorchester, Oxfordshire, also known as Dorchester-on-Thames-Canada:...
, and it has been attributed to him.