Thomas Sparke

received his first breath in Lincolnshire, (at South-Somercote, as it seems,) became perpetual Fellow of Magd. coll. in 1570. in which year he was admitted Bach. of Arts. Soon after, by the favour of Arthur Lord Grey, he was preferred to the Parsonage of Bletchley in Bucks, where he was held in great esteem for his piety. In the year 1575. he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences, without ruling in Arts, and about that time was Chaplain to Dr. Cooper Bish. of Linc. who, that year, bestowed the Archdeaconry of Stow on him, in the place of Rog. Kelke Bach. of Div. who had succeeded Joh. Harrison in that Dignity, 1563. In 1581. he proceeded in Divinity, being then in great renown for his learning. But his Dignity being remote from his Cure, and therefore could not well attend it, he gave it up out of Conscience sake, in 1582. and contented himself only [•] ith Bletchley; whereupon Joh. Farmery, B. D. succeeded him therein. This Dr. Sparke was the person, who, being noted for a great Nonconformist, and a Pillar of Puritanism, was, by Letters from the King’s Council, called to the Conference at Hampton-Court, an. 1603. where appearing in the behalf of the Millinaries, (as ’tis said,) or rather, with Jo. Rainolds, as a Proctor for the precise Party, not in a Priests Gown, or Canonical Coat, but such that Turky Merchants wear, received then so great satisfaction from his Majesty’s most ready and apt Answers to the Doubts and Objections there and then proposed, that he (tho he spoke not one word) did not only, for the time following, yield himself in his practice to Universal Conformity, but privately by word and writing, and publickly by his brotherly perswasion. He was a learned Man, a solid Divine, well read in the Fathers, and so much esteemed for his profoundness, gravity, and exemplary life and conversation, that the Sages of the University thought it fit, after his death, to have his picture painted on the wall in the School-gallery among the English Divines of note there, viz. between that of Dr. Joh. Spenser of C. C. coll. whom I have mentioned under the year 1614. and that of Dr. Rich. Eedes of Ch. Ch. He hath written,

A comfortable Treatise for a troubled Conscience. Lond. 1580. oct.

Brief Catechism with a form of Prayer for Householders.—Taken, as it seems, from the Catechism of Vrsinus.

Sermon Preached at Cheyneys in Bucks, at the burial of the E. of Bedford, 14. Sept. 1585. on Apoc. 14. 13. Lond. 1585. oct. &c.

Treatise to prove that Ministers publickly, and Householders privately, are bound to Catechise their Parishioners and Families, &c. Oxon. 1588. oct.

Answer to Mr. Joh. de Albines notable discourse against Heresies. Oxon. 1591. qu.

Serm. at the Funeral of the Lord Grey, on Esay 57. 1, 2. Ox. 1593. oct.

The High-way to Heaven by the clear Light of the Gospell, &c. against Bellarmine, and others, in a Treatise made upon 37, 38, and 39 verses of the 7. of John, &c. Lond. 1597. oct.

A brotherly perswasion to Unity and Uniformity in Judgment and Practice, touching the received and present Ecclesiastical Government, and the authorized Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England. Lond. 1607. qu. Answered by Anon. in a book intituled, The second part of the defence of the Ministers Reasons for refusal of Subscription and Conformity to the Book of Common Prayer, &c. Printed 1608. qu. And by another Anon. in a book intit. A dispute upon the question of kneeling in the act of receiving the Sacramental Bread and Wine, &c. Pr. 1608. qu. Our author also (I mean Sparke) had in Q. Elizabeth’s time wrote a book of Succession. For which being brought into trouble, King James, who before had received intimation of the matter, sent for him the next day after the Conference at Hampton-Court, and talking with him about it, the King at length was so well satisfied with what he had done, that he then gave him his most gracious countenance. He died at Bletchley before-mentioned, 1616 in the Winter time, in sixteen hundred and sixteen, and was buried in the Church there, leaving then behind him three learned Sons, which then, or soon after, had been trained up in the Schools of the Prophets, viz. Thomas Fellow of New coll. in Oxon, Andrew of Peter house in Cambridge, and Will. Sparke of Magd. coll. whom I shall mention hereafter.