Ralph Cudworth (died 1624)

Ralph Cudworth (1572/3–1624) was a scholar and conforming Anglican minister of puritan sympathy who is best known as the father of the philosopher Ralph Cudworth (1617–88), and the Plymouth Colony emigrant, soldier, and colonist, General James Cudworth (1612–82). A student, graduate, and Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was recognized by his more famous contemporaries for his scholarship and preaching. He was Rector of the College living of Aller, Somerset (1610–24), and later became one of the chaplains to James I. His own calling and university connections provide the intellectual background to the careers of his children, reinforced by family connections, through his marriage with the puritan magistracy and promoters of the nonconformist emigrations to New England.

The Rev. Dr

Ralph Cudworth

Born1573 (1572)
Oldham, Lancashire, England
Died1624 (1625)
Aller, Somerset, England
NationalityEnglish
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge:
Emmanuel College (BA, BD, MA, DD)
Occupation
  • Clergyman
  • Theologian
Spouse(s)Mary Machell (c.1582–1634)
ChildrenJames Cudworth
Elizabeth Cudworth
Ralph Cudworth
Mary Cudworth
John Cudworth
Jane/Joan Cudworth
Ecclesiastical career
ReligionChristianity (Anglican)
ChurchChurch of England
Ordained
  • 1599 (priest)
Offices held

Family background

Ancestry

The Cudworth family reputedly originated in Cudworth (near Barnsley), Yorkshire, moving to Lancashire with the marriage (c.1377) of John de Cudworth (d.1384) and Margery (d.1384), daughter of Richard de Oldham (living 1354), lord of the manor of Werneth, Oldham. The Cudworths of Werneth Hall, Oldham, were lords of the manor of Werneth/Oldham, until 1683.

Cudworth was the posthumously-born second son of Ralph Cudworth (d.1572) of Werneth Hall, Oldham, and his wife Jane, daughter of Arthur Assheton (d.1591) of Clegg Hall, Rochdale, Lancashire. Cudworth was born some time after his father's death (between September 1572 and April 1573), and was baptised at Oldham (2 September 1573).[1]

Career

Pensioner, student, and Fellow of Emmanuel College (1588–1609)

Cudworth matriculated (1588/9) at Emmanuel College and graduated BA (1592/3) and MA (1596).[2] Emmanuel College (founded by Sir Walter Mildmay (1584), and under the direction of its first Master, Laurence Chaderton) was, from its inception, a stronghold of Reformist, Puritan and Calvinist teaching, which shaped the development of puritan ministry, and contributed largely to the emigrant ministry in America.[3] He was ordained a priest (1599) by Richard Bancroft,[4] and was appointed to the Curiate of Westley Waterless, Cambridgeshire (1599).[5]

He was already a Fellow of Emmanuel College in 1600, when he donated manuscript volumes, of Norwich Cathedral Priory origin, to the College Library. These included a twelfth-thirteenth century Commentary on St Matthew by Rabanus Maurus,[6] a thirteenth-fourteenth century collection of eight tracts by Thomas Aquinas,[7] a decorated English fourteenth-century copy of the Moralia of Gregory the Great[8] (all on vellum), and a Tractatus Patriarchae Antiocheni, written by the Norwich monk John Stowe, relating to the Council of Basle, 1431 in a fifteenth century English hand (on paper): this was the volume belonging to Robert Talbot which had been inspected by John Bale.[9] (Cudworth's donor inscriptions, dated 1600, describe himself as "Socius".)[10] In February 1602, he signed the Album amicorum of Frederick Kemener.[11]

Cudworth was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Divinity (1603).[2] He had come particularly under the influence of the godly divine William Perkins (of Christ's College, Cambridge), whom he succeeded as Lecturer of the Parish Church of St Andrew the Great, Cambridge (1602).[12] Perkins's pupil, William Bedell, was a slightly older contemporary of Cudworth at Emmanuel College. At the request of Perkins's friends and executor, Cudworth (who was then lecturing on the Epistles of St Paul)[13] edited (and brought to completion) Perkins's Commentary on the first five chapters of St Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (1604),[14] which was dedicated, by Cudworth, to Robert, 3rd Lord Rich (later 1st Earl of Warwick).[15] To it he added his own commentary on the sixth chapter,[16] which he dedicated to the puritan Norfolk magistrate, sheriff and MP, Sir Bassingbourn Gawdy of West Harling. Cudworth himself indicates that this is his first published writing: "Not having taken pensill in hande before... the first fruits of my labours, a simple floure growing in a schollars garden."[17]

It is argued that Cudworth may be the translator ("R.C.") of Henri Estienne's work Apologie Pour Herodote, published as A World of Wonders (1607).[18] He was presented by Robert, Lord Rich to the Vicariate of Coggeshall, Essex (1606),[19] to replace Thomas Stoughton who had been deprived by High Commission for nonconformism. However, he resigned this position (March 1608), and was licensed to preach from the pulpit (ad contionand) by the Chancellor and Scholars of the University of Cambridge (November 1609).[20] After John Davenant had been appointed Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity (February 1609/10), Cudworth confided, to Samuel Ward,[21] his plans to apply for the Rectoriate of Aller, Somerset, which advowson belonged to the college.[22] He was successful, and was appointed as Rector (1610).[23]

Marriage (1611) and chaplain to James I

Cudworth married Mary Machell (c.1582–1634) at Southwark (18 June 1611)[24] who had been a nurse ("nutrix") to Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of James I.[25] Mosheim remarked that Cudworth was admitted among those concerned in the King's private devotions: he was one of the chaplains to James I.[26]

Machell family connections with Emmanuel College

A pedigree tradition[27] (reinforced by a more recent claim)[28] indicates that Mary was the daughter of Mathew Machell and Mary Lewkenor (sister of Sir Edward Lewknor, MP for Denham Hall (near Bury St Edmunds)). Lewknor was a central figure (with the Jermyn and Heigham families) among the puritan East Anglian gentry, and had strong connections with Emmanuel College.[29] Lewknor's mother-in-law, Martha Heigham, established (in her will) a scholarship at Emmanuel (1593),[30] on behalf of Timothy Oldmayne alias Pricke,[31] son of her minister at Denham; Lewknor (as her sole executor) was responsible for its implementation. Martha's nephew, Sir Robert Jermyn of Rushbrooke Hall, Suffolk (Lewknor's close parliamentary associate) also endowed a Fellowship at the college,[32] and his two sons studied at Emmanuel during the 1590s.[33]

In turn, Lewknor's sons attended the college during the early 1600s;[34] and Mathew Machell's son, John, bore the standard at Lewknor's heraldic funeral at Denham (January 1605/06).[35] Lewknor's uncle, the Edwardian courtier Sir Thomas Wroth, was the husband of Mary Rich (daughter of Richard, 1st Lord Rich), placing him within the family and sphere of Cudworth's patron, Lord Rich. Of more present consequence, Mary's aunt, Jane Machell, was the wife of Richard Rich[36] of Leez (d.1598)[37] (acknowledged natural son of Richard, 1st Lord Rich): Mary (Machell) Cudworth was therefore first cousin to Sir Nathaniel Rich and to his sister Margaret, who married (1614) Sir Thomas Wroth of Petherton Park, Bridgwater, Somerset (grandson of the courtier). This remains true for the alternative theory that Mary (Machell) Cudworth was the daughter of Mathew Machell's elder brother, John, and his second wife Ursula Hynde.[38] These Machell brothers were the sons of John Machell (d.1558), Sheriff of London (1555–56), and uterine cousins of the author Thomas Lodge.[39]

Rector of Aller, Somerset (1610–24)
Parish Church of St Andrew, Aller, Somerset: where Ralph Cudworth was Rector (1610–24).

Ralph and Mary settled at Aller, Somerset (8 miles from Bridgwater), where their children (listed below) were christened during the ensuing decade.[40] Cudworth continued to pursue his scholarly interests. Although the publishing of William Perkins's Treatise of the Cases of Conscience had been entrusted to Thomas Pickering of Emmanuel College (1606),[41] this became Cudworth's subject, and he was associated with William Crashaw in an edition of 1613.[42] His edition of the Galatians commentary was republished (1617),[43] and he wrote (January 1618) to James Ussher of Emmanuel seeking advice and criticism of a work, The Cases of Conscience in Family, Church and Commonwealth on which he was engaged, sending also news of old college friends and complaining of the agueish climate at Aller.[44]

Introducing his own work (1650), Joseph Hall wrote that Cudworth (his "ancient and learned colleague") had, with much labour, finished the task of preparing a complete Body of Case-Divinity but that it remained unpublished: he called Ralph Cudworth (Jnr) "his worthy Sonne, the just heyre of his Fathers great abilities".[45] Cudworth was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity (1619).[46]

Will and death (1624)

Cudworth died at Aller (Autumn 1624), declaring a nuncupative will (7 August 1624) before Anthony Earbury,[47] the puritan Prebendary of Wherwell and Vicar of Westonzoyland (1617–39),[48] and Dame Margaret Wroth.[49] Earbury had been associated with the Millenary Petition of 1603, was one of the puritan representatives at the Hampton Court Conference, and was author of the bill accusing Richard Bancroft of treason (1604);[50][51][52] both he and Cudworth were among the dedicatees of Richard Bernard's 1621 edition of The Faithfull Shepherd.[53]

Dr Cudworth's widow Mary remarried to Dr John Stoughton (1593–1639), (also a Fellow of Emmanuel College, and son of the dissenting minister Thomas Stoughton whom Cudworth had replaced as minister at Coggeshall in 1606). Dr Stoughton succeeded Cudworth as Rector of Aller and attended to the education of his children. He and Mary had no children of their own before her death in 1634, but Stoughton remarried and had two daughters by his second wife, Jane Browne. Dr Stoughton was closely involved with various figures connected with the nonconformist emigrations to New England, and died in 1639.

Children

The children of Ralph Cudworth and Mary (née Machell) Cudworth (c.1582–1634) were:

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gollark: It would be very verbosity.
gollark: Also a graph.
gollark: Load it in as a graph or something?
gollark: utter field programmable gate array.

References
  1. Edwin Butterworth, Historical Sketches of Oldham (John Hirst: Oldham, 1856), pp. 22–23 (Google); 'Pedigree of the Families of Oldhams and Cudworths' in James Butterworth, History and Description of the Parochial Chapelry of Oldham (J. Dodge, etc: Oldham, 1826), pp. 52ff.; Thomas Fuller, History of the Worthies of England, ed. T.A. Nuttall (Thomas Tegg: London, 1811), ii, p. 208 (Internet Archive); R.E. Stansfield-Cudworth, 'Gentry, Gentility, and Genealogy in Lancashire: The Cudworths of Werneth Hall, Oldham, c.1377-1683', Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 111 (2019), 48–80.
  2. "Cudworth, Ralph (CDWT588R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge..
  3. 'History of the College' Emmanuel College website; S. Bendell, C. Brooke, and P. Collinson, A History of Emmanuel College (Boydell Press: Woodbridge 1999).
  4. Church of England clergy database, Ordination record: ID 123517. Person Record CCEd ID 89100.
  5. A. Gibbons, Ely Episcopal Records: A Calendar and Concise View... of records compiled by Alwyne, Lord Bishop of Ely (James Williamson: Lincoln, 1891), p. 371 (Internet Archive).
  6. M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Emmanuel College. A Descriptive Catalogue (Cambridge University Press, 1904), pp. 80-81 (Internet Archive).
  7. James, Library of Emmanuel College, pp. 40-41 (Internet Archive).
  8. James, Library of Emmanuel College, pp. 97-100 (Internet Archive).
  9. James, Library of Emmanuel College, p. 111-15 (Internet Archive).
  10. Emmanuel College Library MSS 1.14.12; 1.2.19; 2.1.1 and 2.2.17 respectively. S. Bush Jnr and C.J. Rasmussen, The Library of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 1584-1637 (Cambridge University Press, 2005), pp. 77-79 and p. 210 (see also pp. 13, 23 and 26).
  11. Leiden University Library MS BPL 2554, fol. 108 recto (Leiden University Library catalogue).
  12. B. Carter, 'The standing of Ralph Cudworth as a Philosopher' in G.A.J. Rogers, T. Sorell, and J. Kraye (eds), Insiders and Outsiders in Seventeenth Century Philosophy (Routledge: London, 2009), at p. 100 (see note 4). Carter mistakenly calls Stoughton "Richard".
  13. 'Praefatio Moshemii', Systema Intellectuale.
  14. H.C. Porter, Reformation and Reaction in Tudor Cambridge (Cambridge University Press: Cambrudge, 1958), pp. 264–66 (Google)
  15. See Cudworth's first 1604 Letter of Dedication (Umich/eebo)
  16. A Commentarie or Exposition, upon the Five First Chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and iudiciall divine, Mr. W. Perkins. Now published for the benefit of the Church, and continued with a supplement upon the sixt chapter, by Rafe Cudworth Bachelour of Divinitie (John Legat: London, 1604).
  17. See Cudworth's second 1604 Letter of Dedication (Umich/eebo).
  18. (Henri Estienne), A World of Wonders, Or, An Introduction to a Treatise Touching the Conformitie of Ancient and Moderne Wonders (John Norton: London, 1607). Read original at Google; D.C.N. Wood, 'Ralph Cudworth the Elder and Henri Estienne's "World of Wonders"', English Language Notes, 11 (1973), pp. 93–100.
  19. Clergy of the Church of England database, CCEd Appointment Record ID: 193664.
  20. Church of England clergy database, CCEd Records ID: 193711 (Vacancy), and 178652 (Appointment).
  21. 'Letter from Dr Ralph Cudworth to Dr Samuel Ward', Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Tanner 75, fol. 339: Early modern letters online.
  22. R.W. Dunning (ed.), 'Parishes: Aller ', A History of the County of Somerset, iii (1974), pp. 61–71 (British History Online).
  23. CCEd Appointment Evidence Record ID: 178651, as 30 August 1610.
  24. Marriage register of St Mary Newington, Southwark, June 1611, appears as 'Rodolph' Cudworth ministr, married to Mrs Mari Machell ye xviii day by lisence' [sic]; Memoirs of Cudworth in The Present State of the Republic of Letters, 17 (1736), pp. 24–25: 'An Account' by T. Birch in his edition of the True Intellectual System (J. Walthoe etc.: London, 1743), p. vi. (transl. from Mosheim (1733), below).
  25. This story derives from J.L. v. Mosheim, Radulphi Cudworthi Systema intellectuale hujus universi (sumtu viduae Meyer: Jena, 1733), i, 'Praefatio Moshemii' (34 sides, unpaginated), side 19. Mosheim credits the biographical research to Edward Chandler, as Bishop of Lichfield & Coventry (1717–30), both in text and footnote to this 'Praefatio', sides 18–19. (i, pp. xxv–xxvii (1773 edition)) Chandler's access to Cudworth's papers is discussed: B. Carter, 'The standing of Ralph Cudworth as a Philosopher' in G.A.J. Rogers, T. Sorell, and J. Kraye (eds), Insiders and Outsiders in Seventeenth Century Philosophy (Routledge: London, 2009), pp. 99–121; p. 115; note 72 (p. 121).
  26. "fuit et inter eos adscitus, qui Regis Iacobi I. a sacris privatis tum erant."
  27. E. Bellasis, 'Machell of Crackenthorpe', Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 8 (1886), second Machell pedigree (from John Machell of London), based partly upon a pedigree tradition which is, in places, confused. The descent shown by Mrs de Salis ('Maternal Ancestry of Gen. James Cudworth of Scituate, New England', in New England Historical and Genealogical Register (1876), p. 464) as daughter of Mathew's son, John (1580-1647), is now discounted.
  28. D. Richardson, 'Cudworth', Jewels of the Crown Newsletter, 4 (2009), pp. 4–6, p. 5. (see Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition (2011), iii, p. 10, items 15–16).
  29. P. Collinson, '17: Magistracy and Ministry – A Suffolk Miniature', in Godly People. Essays on English Protestantism and Puritanism (Hambledon Press: London, 1983), pp. 445–66.
  30. Will of Martha Heigham (P.C.C. 1593, Nevill quire). Transcript in S.H.A. Hervey, Denham Parish Registers, 1539–1850, with notes and notices (Paul and Mathew: Bury St Edmunds, 1904), pp. 93–100 (p. 94), and pp. 192–97 (Internet Archive).
  31. "Pricke, Timothy (PRK595T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  32. Will of Sir Robert Jermyn (P.C.C. 1614, Lawe quire); S.H.A. Hervey, Rushbrook Parish Registers, 1567–1850 (George Booth: Woodbridge, 1903), pp. 150–54 (p. 153); Will of Frances Jermyn, pp. 147–48 (Internet Archive).
  33. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1922), i(2), p. 473: 'Jermyn, Thomas', (admitted (1585)); Jermyn, Robert' (admitted (1597); BA (1599/1600)).
  34. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1924), i(3) p. 82: 'Lewknor, Edward', (admitted (1599); BA (1604/05)); 'Lewknor, Robert' (admitted 1604).
  35. D. Gurney, 'Appendix LXXXII: On the family of Lewkenor', The Record of the House of Gournay (J.B. and J.G. Nichols: London, 1848) pp. 469–70.
  36. Jane Machell married 'Richard Riches' at St Mary Aldermary, London (13 December 1574): J.L. Chester, The Parish Registers of St Mary Aldermary, Harleian Society, Registers, 5 (1880), p. 5.
  37. Will of Richard Rich of Leigh, gentleman, Essex Record Office D/ABW 32/91.
  38. A. Boaz, Specific Ancestral Lines of the Boaz, Paul, Welty and Fishel Families (Otter Day Books: LLC, 2014), pp. 479–81.
  39. C.J. Sisson, 'Thomas Lodge and his Family', in Thomas Lodge and other Elizabethans (Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Mass., 1931), pp. 1–164.
  40. D. Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, ed. K.J. Everingham, 2nd Edn (2011), ii, p. 10, items 15–16)
  41. The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience: distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie (John Legat: London, 1606), and are to be sold in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Crowne by Simon Waterson).
  42. W. Perkins, R. Cudworth, and W. Crashaw, The whole treatise of the cases of conscience: distinguished into three bookes (John Legatt: London, 1613).
  43. A commentarie, or, exposition vpon the fiue first chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and iudicious diuine, Mr. William Perkins. Now published for the benefit of the Church, and continued with a supplement vpon the sixt chapter, by Ralfe Cudworth Bachelour of Diuinitie (John Legatt: London, 1617).
  44. Letter of Ralph Cudworth (Snr) to James Ussher, Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Rawlinson Letters 89, fol. 25 r–v: Early modern letters online.
  45. J. Hall, Resolutions and Decisions of Divers Practicall Cases of Conscience in Continuall Use Amongst Men Very Necessary for their Information and Direction in these Evil Times, in four decades (N.B. and R. Royston: London, 1650), 'Advertisement to the Reader' (Umich/eebo).
  46. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses.
  47. Earbury was Rector at Wherwell while Stephen Bachiler was Vicar, under the patronage of Anna, widow of William West, 1st Baron De La Warr.
  48. CCEd Person ID: 56628; J. Foster, Alumni Oxonienses 1500–1714 (British History Online). The Somerset V.C.H. distinguishes two Anthony Earburys (Snr (1617–29), and Jnr (1629–38)), successive Vicars of Westonzoyland and Prebendaries of Wherwell (under De La Warre patronage): 'Parishes: Westonzoyland', in R. Dunning (ed.), A History of the County of Somerset (London, 2004), viii, pp. 190–210 (British History Online). If there were two, Cudworth Snr's witness is Earbury Snr.
  49. Will of Raphe Cudworthe, Doctor of Divinity, Parson of Aller, Somerset (P.C.C. 1624, Byrde quire).
  50. R.G. Usher, The Reconstruction of the English Church (D. Appleton and Company: London, 1910), i, pp. 254, 306, 329, 346–47 (Internet Archive); see M.A.E. Green (ed.), Calendar of State Papers Domestic: James I, 1603–10 (HMSO: London, 1857), viii, pp. 103–40, May 15–16, nos. 21–25 (British History Online, accessed 21 September 2018).
  51. A. Davidson and B. Coates, 'Pelham, Herbert (1545–1620), of Fordington, Dorset', in A. Thrush and J.P. Ferris (eds), The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1604–29 (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2010), History of Parliament Online.
  52. W.H. Curtis, 'William Jones: Puritan printer and propagandist', The Library: Transactions of the Bibliographical Society, 5th Series, 19(1), (1964), pp. 38–66 (pp. 41–42).
  53. R. Bernard, The Faithfull Shepherd, wholy in a manner transposed, 3rd Edn, Thomas Pavier: London, 1621), dedication in front matter (Internet Archive). (1st Edition, 1607, 2nd 1609).
  54. Samuel Deane, 'Gen. James Cudworth' in History of Scituate, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831 (James Loring: Boston, 1831), pp. 245–51; also Scituate Historical Society Archived 24 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  55. Josias Beacham’s first wife was Maria Sheffield (d.1634): S.H.C., 'Extracts from the Parish register of Seton, Co. Rutland, relative to the family of Sheffield', Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica I (J.B. Nichols & Son: London, 1834), pp. 171–73.; Will of Josias Beacham, Rector of Seaton (Rutland) (P.C.C. 1675/76). London Marriage Allegations, 28 April 1636 (St Mary Aldermanbury). Foster, Index Ecclesiasticus. Beacham was a graduate of Brasenose College, Oxford
  56. W. Dumville Smythe, An Historical Account of the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, London (Chiswick Press: London, 1905), pp. 109–10.; Will of John Cudworth, Girdler of London (P.C.C. 1675).
  57. J. Peile, Biographical Register of Christ's College, 1505–1905: II: 1666–1905 (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1913), p. 64 (Internet Archive).
  58. J. Peile, Biographical Register, ii, p. 111.
  59. D. Richardson, Jewels of the Crown, 4 (2009), citing references to Jane Cudworth in the Will of John Machell of Wonersh (P.C.C. 1647).

Arms
Coat of arms of Ralph Cudworth
Notes
The arms of the Cudworths of Werneth, Oldham, Lancashire (with a crescent for a second son).
Escutcheon
Azure, a fess Erminois between three demi-lions Or, a crescent argent for difference.

Ancestry
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