The Lives of Twenty-Two Eminent English Divines, Biography 15
The Life of Doctor Chaderton, who died Anno Christi 1640.
His ParentageLAurence Chaderton was born of an ancient Family at Chatterton in Lancashire, about the year 1546. and his Parents being both Papists, they trained him up in that Religion, yet bred him to learning; and when he came to some maturity of years, his Father sent him to the Inns of Court: But he being not pleased with that kind of life, through the motion of Gods holy Spirit, who had a work for him to do in another Calling and place, left the Inns of Court,His remove to Cambridge. and went to Cambridge about the twentieth year of his age, and the sixth year of Queen Elizabeth. And getting some acquaintance in Christs Colledge, it pleased God that the Master and Fellows took such a liking to him for his ingenuity and industry, that they admitted him into a poor Scholars place.
Then did he write to his Father, to acquaint him with his present condition, and to request some means of maintenance from him: But his Father disliking his change of place and studies,His Father casts him off. but especially of Religion, sent him a Poke with a groat in it, to go a begg… withall; further signifying to him, that he was resolved to disinh… him, which he also did: Yet did the Lord support his spirit, to preferre an heavenly before an earthly Inheritance; and seeing that he had nothing else to trust to, he fell close to his studies; and through Gods blessing upon the same, he so eminently profited in all sorts of Learning, that Anno Christi 1567. being but yet Batchelour of Arts, he was chosen Fellow of Christs Colledge.He is chosen Fellow. Anno Christi 1578. he commenced Batchelour of Divinity; and the same year, October the 26. he preached a Sermon at Pauls Crosse, which he also Printed.
He was chosen Lecturer at St. Clements Church in Cambridge, which place he supplied about the space of sixteen years, and by his Holy, Learned and judicious Sermons did very much good, and was succeeded therein by Mr. Michael Bentley Fellow of Christs Colledge, a godly, plain and profitable Preacher.
He was a man famous for Gravity, Learning and Religion; so that when Sir Walter Mildmay (Counsellor of State to Queen Elizabeth Chancellor, and under-Treasurer of the Exchequer) Founded Emanuel Colledge,Chosen the first Master of Emanuel. Anno Christi 1584. he made choice of this man for the first Master: and when Master Chaderton shewed himself not willing to undertake that great charge, Sir Walter replied, saying, If you will not be the Master, I will not be the Founder of it.
In the beginning of King James his reign, he was one of the four Divines for the Conference at Hampton Court, chosen by the Ministers that desired a Reformation in the Church Government; and for his Learning and sufficiency, was the same year chosen to be one of the Translators of the Bible.
Anno Christi 1612. when the Prince Elector Palatine came to visit Cambridge, He commenced Doctor.he would needs have Mr. Chaderton commence Doctor of Divinity, which accordingly he did.
He deserved very well of Emanuel Colledge,His care of the Colledge. for whereas the Founder gave allowance for the maintenance of three Fellows only, together with the Advouson of Stranground Rectory in Huntingtonshire, near Peterburrough, Dr. Chaderton procured by his friends and acquaintance, allowance for twelve Fellows, and above fourty Scholars of the House, besides the Advousons of Auler and Northcudberry Rectories; as also of the Vicaridge of Dulverton in Summersetshire, Piddle-Hinton in Dorcetshire, and Loughburrough in Leicestershire, of the Noble Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington, which Noble man was a great friend to godly Ministers.
After he was Master of Emanuel, His care for young Students.his manner was not to suffer any young Scholars to go into the Countrey to Preach, till he had heard them first in the Colledge Chappel. All his younger daies he used to expound a portion of Scripture twice a week in his Family.
He was married fifty three years,His care of Servants. and yet in all that time he never kept any of his Servants from Church to dresse his meat, saying, that he desired as much to have his servants know God as himself. If at any time he had a Servant upon triall, though they could do as much work as three others, yet if they were given to lying, or any other vice, he would by no means suffer them to dwell in his house.
Towards his latter-end Arminianisme began to sprout up apace in the University, and he being fearfull that an Arminian might come to succeed him in his place after his death, resolved if he could procure a godly and worthy man,He resigned his place. to resign his place to him in his life time, which accordingly he did to famous Dr. Preston, whom he yet survived, and saw after him Dr. Sancroft, and after him Dr. Holsworth to succeed in his Mastership.
He was of a very charitable disposition, insomuch as if he heard of any godly Minister that was in want, he would send them fourty or fifty shillings at a time.
Though he lived till he was very old, yet his sight remained very good, as may appear by this example:
A little before his death, an old Servant of his came to see him, and found him reading on a Book, so that at the first he took no notice of her, but when she came nearer, lifting up his head, he spake to her, asking her what a clock it was▪ She told him eleven. I have (said he) here got a Book that I have been reading of ever since eight a clock, for I like it very well; and yet all that time he had read without Spectacles.
He lived eighteen years after the Resignation of his Mastership, and in November, His death.Anno Christi 1640. resigned up his spirit unto God, being about the age of ninety four years, and was buried in S. Andrews Church; Dr. Richard Holsworth, the then Master of Emanuel, preached his Funerall Sermon, and gave him a large and deserved Commendation.