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 of Cranmer, to Italy to collect the opinion of Italian canonists respecting the king's divorce. He visited Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Bologna, Milan, Naples, Ferrara, and Rome; at times assumed the name of Johannes Flandrensis; conferred with Jewish rabbis as well as with catholic divines; made copious transcripts from manuscript copies of the fathers in the library of St. Mark at Venice, and sought to become a penitentiary priest at Rome, in order to consult documents the more readily. He corresponded with Cranmer; repeatedly complained of the delay in sending remittances, and wrote to Henry VIII from Venice, 22 June 1530, that he feared assassination. Croke reported that out of Rome Italian opinion on the canonical question favoured the divorce, but that there was little inclination to discredit the pope's authority. He solemnly asserted that he never bought opinion, but admitted that he was as liberal as his means allowed in rewarding those who expressed themselves as he desired. His extant accounts show him to have paid sums to all manner of persons. In 1531 he was deputy vice-chancellor of Cambridge University; on 12 Jan. 1530–1 was presented by the crown to the rectory of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire; was incorporated D.D. at Oxford (1532); and became canon (18 July 1532) and sub-dean of Cardinal's or King's College, afterwards Christ Church. On the death of John Higden, dean of the college, in 1533, the canons petitioned Thomas Cromwell to appoint Croke to the vacant office; but the request was not complied with, although Croke assured the minister that he had preached sixty sermons in thirty-seven different places in favour of the king's supremacy. In 1545, when the King's College was transformed into the cathedral of Oxford diocese, Croke was not readmitted canon of the new foundation, but received a pension of 26l. 13s. 4d. He retired to Exeter College, and lived there in 1545. He was present at the public disputation on the sacrament, in which Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer were forced to take part, in April 1554, and was the first witness examined at Cranmer's trial at Oxford (September 1555), when he testified to the archbishop's heresy. His evidence in Latin is printed in Strype's ‘Cranmer’ (1854), iii. 548 et seq. He died in London in August 1558. A nuncupative will, dated 22 Aug. 1558, was proved a week later by his brother, Robert Croke of Water Orton, Warwickshire, an executor. He is described in the will as ‘parson of Long Buckby.’

The three works published by Croke at Leipzig—the edition of ‘Ausonius’ (1515), the ‘Tabulæ’ (1516), and the translation from Theodore Gaza—were printed by Valentin Schuman. In the ‘Ausonius’ the Greek characters appear without accents, breathings, or iota subscript. In the two later books accents and breathings are inserted. A second edition of the ‘Tabulæ,’ edited by Croke's pupil, Philip Neumann (Philippus Nouenianus), appeared in 1521. The ‘Encomium’ on Leipzig University prefixed to the ‘Ausonius’ has been reprinted in J. G. Boehme's ‘Opuscula Acad. Lips.’ Croke also published in a single volume (Paris, by Simon Colinæus, 1520) ‘Oratio de Græcarum disciplinarum laudibus’ and ‘Oratio qua Cantabrigienses est hortatus ne Græcarum literarum desertores essent.’ A Latin translation of Chrysostom's Greek Commentary is also ascribed to him. A volume entitled ‘Richardi Croci Britannici introductiones in rudimenta Græca’ appeared at Cologne in 1520, dedicated to Archbishop Warham. A copy of this book, no copy of which is in the British Museum, was recently discovered in Lincoln Cathedral Library. Croke contributed a Latin poem to Hieronymus de Ochsenfurt's ‘Reprobatio Orationis excusatoriæ picardorum.’ Leland denounces Croke as a slanderer (Collectanea, v. 161). In the Cottonian Library is Croke's ‘Letter Book’ while in Italy (Cotton MS. Vitell. B. 13), and many of his letters relating to his mission respecting the divorce are calendared in the ‘Letters and Papers of Henry VIII.’

 CROKER, JOHN, or (un-Anglicised) CROCKER, JOHANN (1670–1741), a well-known engraver of English coins and medals, of German origin, was born at Dresden 21 Oct. 1670. His father, who was wood-carver and cabinet-maker to the electoral court of Saxony, died when Croker was very young, leaving him and several younger children to the care of their mother (Rosina Frauenlaub), who was careful about their education. John Croker's godfather, a near relation, took him as an apprentice to his business of goldsmith and jeweller at Dresden.