, preceptor to Edward VI. was born at Giddy, or Gidding-hall, in Essex,
, preceptor to Edward VI. was
born at Giddy, or Gidding-hall, in Essex, about 1506, and
descended from sir Thomas Cooke, mayor of London. He
was educated probably at Cambridge, as Wood makes no
mention of him. However, he was such an eminent master
of the whole circle of arts, of such singular piety and goodness, of such uncommon prudence in the management of
his own family, that those noble persons who had the charge
of king Edward appointed him to instruct that prince in
learning, and to form his manners. He lived in exile during
the persecution of Mary, but after Elizabeth’s accession
returned home, and spent the remainder of his days in
peace and honour, at Giddy-hall, where he died in 1576.
He was, if Lloyd may be credited, naturally of a reserved
temper, and took more pleasure to breed up statesmen
than to be one. “Contemplation was his soul, privacy his
life, and discourse his element: business was his purgatory,
and publicness his torment.
” To which may be added
what king Edward VI. used to say of his tutors, that
Rodolph, the German, spake honestly, Sir John Cheke
talked merrily, Dr. Cox solidly, and sir Anthony Cooke
weighingly.