Samuel Brooke facts for kids
Samuel Brooke (born 1575, died 1631) was an important person in his time. He was a teacher of religion at Gresham College and later became the head of Trinity College, Cambridge. He also wrote plays and served as a religious advisor to kings. Samuel Brooke had different ideas about faith compared to some others, especially about a religious view called Arminianism. In 1631, he was given another important church role as archdeacon of Coventry.
His Life Story
Samuel Brooke was born in York and was the son of Robert Brooke. He had a brother named Christopher Brooke. Samuel went to school at Westminster School and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge starting in 1596. He earned several degrees there, including a master's degree and a doctorate in divinity.
He once got into a bit of trouble and was briefly put in prison. This happened because he secretly helped his friend, the famous poet John Donne, marry the daughter of Sir George More.
Later, Samuel Brooke became a religious advisor to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. The Prince recommended him for a teaching job at Gresham College in 1612. Samuel also served as a chaplain to King James I and King Charles I.
In 1618, he became the rector (head priest) of a church in London called St Margaret, Lothbury. In 1629, he was chosen to be the Master, or head, of Trinity College, Cambridge. He gave up his teaching job at Gresham College when he took on this new role. In 1631, he became the archdeacon of Coventry. Samuel Brooke passed away in 1632 and was buried at Trinity College Chapel.
His Writings
Samuel Brooke wrote three plays in Latin in 1614. These plays were performed for King James I when the king visited the university. The plays were called Scyros, Adelphe, and Melanthe. The play Adelphe was based on an Italian play.
One of his plays, Melanthe, featured a character named Nicander. He was a clumsy heir to a rich father. A girl named Ermilla made fun of him and pushed him around before finally agreeing to marry him. The play also included a group of dancing satyrs.
Another writer, William Prynne, criticized Samuel Brooke in his book Canterburie's Doome. Prynne said that Brooke was a follower of William Laud and was writing a book about predestination. This was a religious idea about whether God has already decided everything that will happen. Laud encouraged Brooke to finish his book. However, Laud later decided not to allow it to be published because there was a general rule against debating that topic.
None of Samuel Brooke's works were ever printed as books during his lifetime. His writings still exist as handwritten documents, or manuscripts. One of his important works was about "Divine Grace." This was a theological essay about whether two people could receive the same amount of God's grace, but only one would choose to believe.
