Robert Wild (poet)
Encyclopedia
Robert Wild (1609–1679) was an English
clergyman and poet, ejected from his living in 1662. Despite presbyterian views, Wild was a royalist
in politics. John Dryden
called him 'the Wither
of the city.' He wrote extensively, often anonymously and controversially.
to St. John's College, Cambridge, on 26th January 1632, and was made a scholar in 1634. He graduated as a B.A. at the beginning of 1636, an M.A. in 1639, and B.D.
of Oxford on 1 November 1642. He was made a D.D.
per litteras regias on 9 November 1660.
As a young man, Wild held strong Puritan
views, and was inducted into the living of Aynhoe
, Northamptonshire
, on 22 July 1646 by order of the House of Commons. Wild's reputation for irregular wit gave his friend Richard Baxter
so much uneasiness that he visited Aynhoe, intending to rebuke him. However, after having sat in the corner of the church, and listened to his sermon, he changed his mind and instead asked Wilde to rebuke him sharply, for having listened to the reports!
Wilde was ejected by the Act of Uniformity 1662
. He lived at Aynhoe a year or two after 1662, supported amongst others by Sir John Baber
, Charles II's physician, to whom, for a timely gift of ten crowns, Wild addressed The Grateful Nonconformist (1665). Later Wild was living at Oundle
. He was indicted in July 1669 at Warwick and Coventry assizes for keeping a conventicle
.
By his wife, Joyce, Wild had at least two sons, both of were reportedly conforming ministers. He died at Oundle of a fit of apoplexy
, and was buried there on 30 July 1679.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clergyman and poet, ejected from his living in 1662. Despite presbyterian views, Wild was a royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
in politics. John Dryden
John Dryden
John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
called him 'the Wither
George Wither
George Wither was an English poet, pamphleteer, and satirist. He was a prolific writer who adopted a deliberate plainness of style; he was several times imprisoned. C. V...
of the city.' He wrote extensively, often anonymously and controversially.
Life
Wild was the son of Robert Wild, a shoemaker of St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. After a private school education at St. Ives, he was admitted as a sizarSizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
to St. John's College, Cambridge, on 26th January 1632, and was made a scholar in 1634. He graduated as a B.A. at the beginning of 1636, an M.A. in 1639, and B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
of Oxford on 1 November 1642. He was made a D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
per litteras regias on 9 November 1660.
As a young man, Wild held strong 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...
views, and was inducted into the living of Aynhoe
Aynho
Aynho is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England, on the edge of the Cherwell valley about southeast of the north Oxfordshire town of Banbury and southwest of Brackley...
, 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,...
, on 22 July 1646 by order of the House of Commons. Wild's reputation for irregular wit gave his friend Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
so much uneasiness that he visited Aynhoe, intending to rebuke him. However, after having sat in the corner of the church, and listened to his sermon, he changed his mind and instead asked Wilde to rebuke him sharply, for having listened to the reports!
Wilde was ejected by the Act of Uniformity 1662
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,The '16 Charles II c. 2' nomenclature is reference to the statute book of the numbered year of the reign of the named King in the stated chapter...
. He lived at Aynhoe a year or two after 1662, supported amongst others by Sir John Baber
Sir John Baber
Sir John Baber, M.D. , was an English physician to Charles II, often employed by the king to negotiate with puritans and other non-conformists on account of his sympathies with them.-Life and work:...
, Charles II's physician, to whom, for a timely gift of ten crowns, Wild addressed The Grateful Nonconformist (1665). Later Wild was living at Oundle
Oundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
. He was indicted in July 1669 at Warwick and Coventry assizes for keeping a conventicle
Conventicle
A conventicle is a small, unofficial and unofficiated meeting of laypeople, to discuss religious issues in a non-threatening, intimate manner. Philipp Jakob Spener called for such associations in his Pia Desideria, and they were the foundation of the German Evangelical Lutheran Pietist movement...
.
By his wife, Joyce, Wild had at least two sons, both of were reportedly conforming ministers. He died at Oundle of a fit of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
, and was buried there on 30 July 1679.