Bartholomew Clerke facts for kids

Bartholomew Clerke (born around 1537, died 1590) was an important English jurist (a legal expert), a politician, and a diplomat. He held a high position as Dean of the Arches, which was a top legal job in the Church of England. He was also a contemporary of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, meaning they lived and worked around the same time.

Early Life and Education

Bartholomew Clerke was born in Surrey, England, around 1537. His family came from Suffolk and Somerset. He went to Eton College, a famous school, and then to King's College, Cambridge, one of England's oldest universities. He became a scholar there in 1554 and a fellow (a senior member) in 1557.

He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1559 and his master's degree (M.A.) in 1562. He also studied in Paris, France, where people admired his public speaking skills. He was even offered a job teaching in Angers, France, but he turned it down. Around 1563, he became a professor of rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing effectively) at Cambridge.

When Queen Elizabeth I visited Cambridge University in 1564, Bartholomew Clerke gave a speech to her at King's College. He also served as one of the university's proctors, who helped manage the university, starting in October 1564.

Career in Public Service

After a famous scholar named Roger Ascham died, important figures like Sir William Cecil and Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester suggested Bartholomew Clerke should become the Queen's Latin secretary. This job involved writing official letters for the Queen in Latin. However, the Queen chose someone else.

Around this time, some people questioned his religious beliefs, but he defended himself. In 1569, he was again elected as a university proctor. The Earl of Leicester wrote a letter to the university to support Clerke and clear his name.

In 1571, Bartholomew Clerke became a member of Parliament for the area of Bramber in Sussex. He spoke in a debate about a law against charging too much interest on loans, using ideas from famous thinkers like Aristotle and Plato. That same year, he traveled to Paris with Lord Buckhurst, who was an ambassador sent to congratulate the French king, Charles IX, on his marriage.

Bartholomew Clerke was also a tutor to Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford at Cambridge University and they exchanged letters.

Legal and Church Roles

In 1571, a book was published that Lord Burghley and Archbishop Matthew Parker felt needed a strong response from a legal expert. They asked Bartholomew Clerke to write it. The university confirmed his good reputation for learning. He worked on his reply, called Fidelis servi subdito infideli responsio, with help from Archbishop Parker and Lord Burghley.

On January 14, 1573, Clerke joined the College of Advocates at Doctors' Commons, a group of top lawyers. Soon after, on May 3, 1573, he became the Dean of the Arches. This was a very important legal position within the Church of England. The Queen initially thought he was too young for the job and wanted him removed, but he managed to keep his position with the Archbishop's support. He also became a master in chancery, another legal role, and later the archdeacon of Wells around 1582.

Diplomatic Missions

Bartholomew Clerke also served as a diplomat for England. In December 1585, he was sent to Flanders (part of modern-day Belgium) with Henry Killigrew to work with the Earl of Leicester. They were part of the council of state there. In March 1586, Clerke gave a speech in Amsterdam on behalf of the Earl of Leicester. Later that year, Leicester sent him back to England on a special mission to the Queen.

In 1587, he was sent to the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands and Belgium) again with his friends Lord Buckhurst and Sir John Norris. Their job was to calm down people who were unhappy with the Earl of Leicester's actions and to try to find a way to make peace with Spain.

Later Life and Works

For several years, Bartholomew Clerke lived in Mitcham in Surrey. He died on March 12, 1590, and was buried in the old church at Clapham. He had a son named Sir Francis Clerke.

One of his important works was a translation into Latin of a famous Italian book called The Book of the Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione. Clerke's translation was published in 1572 and included praising letters from the Earl of Oxford and Lord Buckhurst.