Robert Cooke

, who writes himself Cocus, was born at, or near to, Beeston in Yorkshire, was entred a Student in Brasenose coll. in 1567. aged 17. or thereabouts, where, with unwearied diligence, travelling through the various Classes of Logick and Philosophy, he became the most noted Disputant of his time. On the 2. Dec. 1573. he was unanimously elected Probationer-Fellow of that coll. and three years after took the degree of M. of A. About which time entring into Holy Orders, and being noted for his admirable learning, was therefore elected one of the Proctors of the University: In which office he behaved himself so admirably well, that his house gained credit by it. In 1584. he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences, and in the beginning of June 1590. resigning his Fellowship, retired to his new obtained Vicaridge of Leedes in Yorkshire; where making the best advantage of his time, became a Man learned in the Church, singularly well studied in the disquisition of antiquity, especially for the discerning of the proper works of the Fathers from the forged and counterfeit, as it may appear in a book which he wrote, intit.

Censura quorundam Scriptorum quae sub nominibus Sanctorum, & veterum auctorum, à Pontificiis passim in eorum Scriptis, sed potissimum in quaestionibus hodie controversis citari solent. Lond. 1614. and 23. qu. Which is all I think he hath published. He gave way to fate at Leedes before-mentioned, on the first of Jan. in sixteen hundred and fourteen,1614-15. and was buried the day following in the Church there. Alex. Cooke his Brother, whom I shall mention under the year 1632. succeeded him in the Vicaridge of Leedes, and there died.