John Underhill (bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Underhill was an English academic, involved in controversy, and later bishop of Oxford
.
in 1556, and was elected a fellow of New College, Oxford
, on 27 October 1561, being admitted B.A. on 11 December 1564 and M.A. on 27 July 1563. He obtained the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 7 July 1581. In 1570 he was appointed praelector
of moral philosophy, and in 1575 filled the office of proctor
.
In 1576 he offered opposition to Robert Horne
, bishop of Winchester
, in his visitation of the college. Home, who used his power as Visitor very freely, removed him from his fellowship. Underhill, however, had recourse to the chancellor of Oxford, then Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
. On Leicester's advice he threatened Home with a lawsuit, and procured his reinstatement. In the following year, on 22 June, after further controversy, he was elected Rector of Lincoln College
.
About 1581 he became chaplain in ordinary to the queen, and on 7 September was instituted rector of Thornton-le-Moors
, Cheshire
. In 1583 he disputed with Giordano Bruno
, who was visiting Oxford. Bruno's work La Cenere de le Ceneri (The Ash Wednesday Supper) may refer to Underhill in the character Nundinio.
About 1586 he was appointed one of the vicars of Bampton
, and on 15 March 1587 was instituted rector of Witney
in Oxfordshire. On 8 December 1589 he was elected bishop of Oxford on the recommendation of Francis Walsingham
, succeeding Hugh Curwen
after a long vacancy. He died in London on 12 May 1592, and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral
. After his death the see remained vacant for eleven years.
He was a friend and patron of the poet Thomas Churchyard
.
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
.
Life
He was born about 1545 at the Cross Inn, Cornmarket, Oxford. He entered Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in 1556, and was elected a fellow of New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, on 27 October 1561, being admitted B.A. on 11 December 1564 and M.A. on 27 July 1563. He obtained the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 7 July 1581. In 1570 he was appointed praelector
Praelector
A praelector is a traditional role at the colleges of the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. The role differs between the two universities.At Cambridge, a praelector is a fellow of a college...
of moral philosophy, and in 1575 filled the office of proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
.
In 1576 he offered opposition to 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...
, in his visitation of the college. Home, who used his power as Visitor very freely, removed him from his fellowship. Underhill, however, had recourse to the chancellor of Oxford, then Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG was an English nobleman and the favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death...
. On Leicester's advice he threatened Home with a lawsuit, and procured his reinstatement. In the following year, on 22 June, after further controversy, he was elected Rector of Lincoln College
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
.
About 1581 he became chaplain in ordinary to the queen, and on 7 September was instituted rector of Thornton-le-Moors
Thornton-le-Moors
Thornton-le-Moors is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the census of 2001 it had a population of 260....
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. In 1583 he disputed with Giordano Bruno
Giordano Bruno
Giordano Bruno , born Filippo Bruno, was an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, mathematician and astronomer. His cosmological theories went beyond the Copernican model in proposing that the Sun was essentially a star, and moreover, that the universe contained an infinite number of inhabited...
, who was visiting Oxford. Bruno's work La Cenere de le Ceneri (The Ash Wednesday Supper) may refer to Underhill in the character Nundinio.
About 1586 he was appointed one of the vicars of Bampton
Bampton, Oxfordshire
Bampton, also called Bampton-in-the-Bush, is a village and civil parish in the Thames Valley about southwest of Witney in Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of Weald....
, and on 15 March 1587 was instituted rector of Witney
Witney
Witney is a town on the River Windrush, west of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.The place-name 'Witney' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as 'Wyttannige'; it appears as 'Witenie' in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means 'Witta's island'....
in Oxfordshire. On 8 December 1589 he was elected bishop of Oxford on the recommendation of Francis Walsingham
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
, succeeding Hugh Curwen
Hugh Curwen
Hugh Curwen was an English ecclesiastic and statesman. He was a native of Westmorland and educated at Cambridge, afterwards taking orders in the church....
after a long vacancy. He died in London on 12 May 1592, and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is the name of many Anglican cathedrals around the world, and may refer to:-Canada:*Christ Church Cathedral , New Brunswick*Christ Church Cathedral , Quebec*Christ Church Cathedral , Ontario...
. After his death the see remained vacant for eleven years.
He was a friend and patron of the poet Thomas Churchyard
Thomas Churchyard
Thomas Churchyard , English author, was born at Shrewsbury, the son of a farmer.-Life:Churchyard received a good education, and, having speedily dissipated at court the money with which his father provided him, he entered the household of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey...
.