John Spenser

, a Suffolke man born, was originally one of the Clerks of C. C. coll. and being Bach. of Arts in 1577. was elected Greek Reader of the same, 9. June in the year following, not without great opposition of Mr. Joh. Rainolds whose resignation it was. On the 7. May 1579. he was admitted Fellow, and the year after took the degree of Master of Arts. So that entring into Orders he became a noted Preacher, Chaplain to K. Jam. 1. and a great admirer of Rich. Hooker and Rainolds before mention’d. On the death of the last he was elected President of the said coll. and reverenced by all good men for his knowledge, learning and piety. At the time of his death he left several things fit for the Press, among which was a Sermon publish’d by Hamlet Marshall his Curate, bearing this title.

A learned and godly Sermon at Pauls Cross on Esay 5. 2. 3. Lond. 1615. qu. But this is not all that he is to be remembred for, for, for several years before his death, he took extraordinary pains, together with a most judicious and compleat Divine named R. Hooker before mention’d, about the compiling of a learned and profitable work, which he published, (I mean some of the books of Ecclesiastical Policy) yet would not he be moved to put his name to tho he had a special hand in, it, and therefore it fell out that tulit alter honores. Our Author Spenser also, did about four years after Hooker’s death publish the five Books of Eccles. Policy together in one Volume, with an Epistle before them, subscribed by J. S. and reprinted at London with some of his smaller works (which had been before published) by Hen. Jackson, an. 1622. fol. He the said Dr. Spenser gave way to fate 3. Apr. it sixteen hundred and fourteen, 1614 and was buried in Corp. Ch. coll. Chappel. Over his Grave is a fair Monument, with his bust, and an inscription; a copy of which you may read in Histor. & Antiq. Vnivers. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 244. b. His Picture is painted on the Wall of the School gallery in Oxon, among our eniment English Divines.