William Attersoll facts for kids
William Attersoll (died 1640) was an English puritan religious leader and author. He wrote many books about the Bible. He was also the grandfather of the famous herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper.
Contents
His Early Life and Studies
William Attersoll went to Jesus College, Cambridge for a short time. Later, he studied at Clare Hall and Peterhouse. He earned his first degree (A.B.) in 1582 and his master's degree (A.M.) in 1586. After his studies, Attersoll became a minister in Isfield, a town in Sussex, around 1600.
His Books and Beliefs
When Attersoll first arrived in Isfield, some people in the town were worried. They thought he was too much of a scholar and might not be a good preacher. But he stayed and became a respected minister.
Attersoll wrote many books explaining parts of the Bible. His first books were "The Pathway to Canaan" (1609) and "The Historie of Balak the King and Balaam the false Prophet" (1610). These books explained parts of the Book of Numbers. He later collected many of his writings into a large book in 1618.
His books showed a lot of learning. He was good at taking old stories and ideas from the Bible and connecting them to everyday life. Another important book was "A Commentarie upon the Epistle of Saint Pavle to Philemon" (1614), which was reprinted in 1633.
In 1632, Attersoll published "Conversion of Nineveh". In this book, he mentioned that he was an old man. He had thought about stopping writing, but his friends asked him to publish more of his work. So, he also released "God's Trvmpet sovnding the Alarme" and "Phisicke against Famine" that same year.
His Family and Influence
William Attersoll was the grandfather of Nicholas Culpeper, who became a very famous herbalist. Nicholas's father died shortly after he was born. So, Nicholas moved to Isfield and was raised by his mother and grandparents.
Attersoll had a big impact on young Nicholas. He taught him Latin and Greek until Nicholas was 16 years old. Nicholas became interested in astronomy, astrology, and time. He loved his grandfather's collection of clocks. He also enjoyed reading the medical books in Attersoll's library. It was Nicholas's grandmother who taught him about medicinal plants and herbs.
Later Life and Death
William Attersoll stayed in Isfield as a minister for over 40 years. He was buried on May 30, 1640. He described himself as "a poor laborer in the Lord's vineyard" and "a simple watchman in his house." He also called his home a "poor cottage." His books are now very rare to find.
