Samuel Clarke

, right famous for oriental learning, son of Thom. Clarke of Brackley a market town in Northamptonshire, was born there, or at least in that County, became a Student in Mert. Coll. in Lent term 1638, aged 15 years, where continuing about three years, left the University, then, with the City, about to be garrison’d for the Kings use. Some time after the surrender thereof to the Parliament, he returned to his College, submitted to the Visitors, and the same year (1648) he took the degree of M. of Arts. The next year, July 24, he was designed the first Architypographus of the University, and for his better encouragement in that Office, had the grant of the superior Beadleship of the Civil Law (when it should fall void) given to him, and after his death to his Successors in that place for ever. In 1650 he was Master of a Boarding-school at Islington near London, where continuing for some time, did give his assisting hand towards the correcting and publishing of the Polyglott Bible. In 1658 he made another return to the University, and upon a foresight of the death of him that held the superior Beadleship of Law, was elected Architypographus, 14 May 1658, and on the 29 of the same month, superior Beadle of the Civil Law: both which places he kept to his dying day, and shew’d himself a most necessary and useful person in the concerns thereof belonging to the University.—Vir Graecis ((c))((c)) Reg. Convoc. T. ad finem, p. 7. latinisꝫ literis probe instructus, & in studiis philologicis versatissimus, &c. His Works are these.

Variae lectiones & observationes in Chaldaicum Paraphrasin. These are in the sixth Vol. of the Polyglott Bible, beginning in pag. 17. You are to understand that in this Vol. which consists chiefly of notes on the many versions of the other precedent Volumes, there are divers number of pages, and therefore I cannot better refer you to his Notes, than I have done already.

Scientia metrica & rhythmica; seu tractatus de Prosodia Arabica ex authoribus probatiss. eruta. Oxon. 1661. oct.

Septimum Bibliorum Polyglott 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 volumen, cum versionibus antiquissimis, non Chaldaica tantum, sed Syriacis, Aethiopicis, Copticis, Arabicis, Persicis contextum. This is yet in MS, and not printed. He did also accurately describe and turn into Latine from the original Autographe in Cambridge publick Library, Paraphrastes Chaldaeus in lib. Paralipomen 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 n. Which book Dr. Edm. Castell consulted when he composed his Lexicon Heptaglotton, as he tells you in the Preface to the first Vol. of that elaborate work: And it is mention’d to be the labour of Mr. Sam. Clarke in the Proposals of the University of Oxon for printing of MS, published in Sept. in half a sheet of paper, an. 1681 Our Author Clarke also took great pains in the Hebrew Text, Chaldee, Paraphrase, and the Persian Gospells in the Polyglott Bible; which last he translated into Latine. This Translation is placed next after the several Versions of the Apocryphal books. There also goes under his name a Translation out of Hebrew into Latine, the Mishna of the first Massěceth or Tract of the Talmud, called Beracoth, i. e. about their prayers and forms of blessing. See more in Tho. Greaves an. 1676. He paid his last debt to nature, in his house in Halywell, in the Suburb of Oxon, on the 27 of Decemb. in sixteen hundred sixty and nine, and was buried in the middle of the body of the Church (belonging to the said Parish of Halywell) dedicated to the Holy Cross. 1669. Two days after his death was an election made for his successor in the place of Beadle and Architypographus: for which stood Tho. Bennet M. A. of Ch. Ch. then Corrector of the University press, being put up by his Dean Dr. Joh. Fell, as being the most fit person that could be then thought on. But Bennet stirring little in the matter, supposing the Masters could not otherwise but choose, tho then they had little or no respect for, him, they elected a boon companion, not at all fit to be Archityp. named Norton Bold M. A. and Fellow of C. C. Coll. who had been put aside from being elected (when he stood) after the death of Edm. Gayton mention’d under the year 1666. This being done to the discontent of Dr. Fell, (as Lichfields Election was after Gayton’s death) who could not otherwise but look upon it as a great contempt of his generous design, he upon a foresight of the short life of the then superior Beadle of Div. (Tim. Wilkins) obtained a Mandamus that Mr. Bold should be translated to that place, and thereby make his once more vacant, and so consequently bring his man therein. Soon after Wilkins died, and a Convocation thereupon being called Oct. 6. an. 1671, Bold was translated to that place (by virtue of the said Mandamus) to his advantage and somewhat of disgrace. At that time were Candidates for the supply of that vacancy Mr. Bennet before mention’d, Noah Perkinson M. A. of Hart Hall. and Gowin Knight M. A. and Fell. of Mert. Coll. But before the Election was to be made, Perkinson desisted, and Knight by the perswasions (some say threatnings) of Dr. Fell, desisted: So that then the Masters were left to Hobsons choice, to choose Bennet and no body else. Whereupon they perceiving full well that Dr. Fell was resolved to get his man in meerly by his Authority, without any application to them, and Bennet’s little stirring for it (only for form sake) without applying himself, according to the manner, with cap in hand to gain votes, they were resolved to cross the matter. So that when the Election was to be on the 10 of the same month, a majority of the Masters joyned together, (headed and encouraged chiefly by a clownish factious person) did in despight of Dr. Fell, his Mandamus and Authority, of the Heads of Houses, Seniors, and the sober party, set up and choose a meer stranger, who lived remotely from Oxon, named Christop. Wase, (sometimes Fellow and Bach. of Arts of Kings Coll. in Cambridge, and afterwards a Schoolmaster at several places) to the very great-discomposure of Dr. Fell, and something to the discredit of the University, as if not able to afford a man to execute the said Office. Afterwards Wase came to Oxon, was sworn and took possession of his place: But Dr. Fell, who had received a character of, would never let, him execute the Archityp. place, because, as he usually said, he was not fit for it, as being not a person of sobriety, &c. So that from the death of Mr. Clarke to this time, the superior Beadleship of the Civ. Law and the Architypographers place hath been joyned.