William Strode

the only son of Philip Strode sometimes living near Plimpton, and he a younger son of Sir Rich. Strode of Newneham or Newinham in Devonshire, was born in that County, elected Student of Ch. Ch. from the Coll. School at Westm. about the latter end of 1617, and in that of his age 16 or thereabouts, took the degr. in Arts, holy orders, and became a most florid Preacher in the University. In 1629 he was chosen the public Orator of the University, being then one of the Proctors of it, and two years after was admitted to the reading of the Sentences. In 1638. Jul. 1. he was installed Canon of Ch. Ch. and in the same month proceeded D. of Div; before which time K. Ch. 1. had setled a Canonry of the said Church upon him that should be lawfully elected public Orator, but that pious Act hath been since annul’d by pretended Authority, and now such a thing seems totally to be forgotten among us. As for Strode, he was a person of great parts, but not equal to those of Cartwright, a pithy and sententious Preacher, exquisite Orator and an eminent Poet. He hath written,

Passions calmed. Or, the setling of the floating Island. Lond. 1655. qu. ’Tis a comedy, and was publickly acted before the K. and Q. in Ch. Ch. Hall 29 Aug. 1636.

Speech made to Qu. Mary at Oxon. at her return out of Holland. Oxon. 1643. qu.

Various Sermons, as (1) Serm. concerning swearing, on Math. 3.37. Oxon. 1644. qu. (2) Serm. concerning death and the resurrection; preached at S. Maries in Oxon. on Low Sunday 28 Apr. 1644, on Colos. 3. ver. 3. Oxon. 1644. qu. (3) Serm. at a Visitation held at Linn in Norfolk, 24 Jun. 1633, on Psal. 76.11. Lond. 1660. qu. It was preached at the desire of Dr. Rich. Corbet Bish. of Norwich, to whom our Author, I think, was then Chaplain.

Orations, Speeches, Epistles, Sermons, &c.—They were left behind him fairly written in several Volumes; which coming into the hands of Dr. Rich. Gardiner Canon of Ch. Ch. came after, or before, his death, into those of Rich. Davies of Oxon Bookseller. Our Author Dr. Strode yielded to the stroke of death, to the great reluctancy of learned men,1644/5. on the tenth day of March in sixteen hundred forty and four, and was buried in the Divinity Chappel, that is the isle most northward from the Choire, belonging to the Cathedral of Ch. Ch. in Oxon. I have seen several of his Poems that have had musical Compositions of two and three parts set to be sung, by the incomparable Mr. Hen. Lawes; as also certain Anthems, particularly one to be sung on Good Friday, which had a composition also set thereunto by Rich. Gibbs Organist of Ch. Ch. in Norwych. I shall make mention of another Will. Strode elsewhere.