Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/295

Willet was also admitted to the fifth prebendal stall of Ely in 1560 by his patron, Bishop Richard Coxe, with whom he had been associated as sub-almoner to Edward VI.

Andrew had one brother and four sisters. After attending the collegiate school at Ely, he entered Cambridge University at the age of fifteen (20 June 1577); he first went to Peterhouse, the master of which was Dr. Andrew Perne [q. v.], his godfather, but in the same year removed to Christ's College. He was quickly elected a scholar, graduated B.A. in 1580, was elected to a fellowship at Christmas 1583 (when only twenty-one), proceeded M.A. in 1584, and in the same year was incorporated a member of the university of Oxford. He continued to pursue his studies with such zeal and assiduity that 'in a short time he had not only gained a good measure of knowledge in the learned tongues, but likewise in the arts and all necessary literature.' Among the other fellows of Christ's were Cuthbert Bainbridge, William Perkins, Francis Johnson, and George Downham [q. v.], afterwards bishop of Derry. All but the last of these were puritans, and it is significant that Willet's chosen friend was George Downham.

His father had been presented by Bishop Cox, the patron, to the living of Barley in north-east Hertfordshire, and only fourteen miles from Cambridge, and it was here that Willet spent his vacations at his father's rectory of Barley, often accompanied by Downham. He took holy orders in 1585, and was admitted on 22 July 1587, on the presentation of the queen, to the prebendal stall at Ely, which his father had resigned in his favour.

The year following Willet quitted the university, and at Michaelmas (1588), on his marriage with Jacobine, a daughter of his father's friend Dr. Goad, provost of King's, relinquished his fellowship. He quickly earned fame as a preacher of power, especially in the handling of controversies with the papists. He was selected 'to read the lecture for three years together' in the cathedral church of Ely, and for one year in St. Paul's, London, 'with singular approbation of a most frequent auditory.' In the same year he was presented to the rectory of Childerly, a small rural parish in Cambridgeshire, now depopulated. This living he held till 1594. He graduated B.D. in 1591, and D.D. in 1601. On the latter occasion he was called upon (with his friend Dr. George Downham and others) to 'answer the Divinity Act in the commencement house.'

He was admitted in 1597 to the rectory of Gransden Parva in Huntingdonshire, but almost immediately removed, by exchange to Barley, his father having died in April 1598 in his eighty-eighth year. He was instituted on 29 Jan. 1599. He spent by far the greater part of his ministerial life among his parishioners at Barley, being rector for twenty-three years. Here it was that he issued almost the whole of his long list of books and pamphlets, which, with nine that still remained unprinted at his death, numbered forty-two. He made it his practice to produce some new biblical commentary or theological work every half-year. He read with avidity and remarkable digestion almost everything bearing upon the subjects of which he wrote church councils, fathers, ecclesiastical history, civil and canon law, the leading schoolmen, and chief religious writings of his own time, whether on the Roman or protestant side, at home or on the continent. His contemporaries spoke of him as 'walking library,' as one that 'must write while he sleeps, it being impossible he should do so much waking.' The secret of his literary success lay in the method and regularity with which he ordered his daily life. He spent eight hours a day in his study. Bishop Hall of Exeter (who knew him well) eulogised Willet as 'stupor mundi clerus Britannicus' (see, Noah's Dove). Fuller modelled 'the Controversial Divine' of his 'Holy State' upon him; and in his 'Church History' notes him as having been 'a man of no little judgment and greater industry, not unhappy in controversies, but more happy in comments.' But Willet was very far from being a recluse. He was chaplain-in-ordinary and tutor to Prince Henry, as well as a frequent preacher before the court. He was much admired by King James, yet able to adapt himself to his rural parishioners. A good specimen of Willet's village preaching is preserved in his 'Thesaurus Ecclesiæ' (an exposition of St. John xvii.), which contains the substance of expository afternoon lectures addressed to his parishioners at Barley.

Willet's son-in-law has drawn an interesting picture of his life at Barley with his wife and family in the old timber rectory-house. 'He came down at the hour of prayer [6 ?], taking his family with him to the church; there service was publically read. . . .' From the church he returned to his studies till near dinner-time,' when his manner was to recreate himself awhile, either playing upon a little organ, singing to it, or; else sporting with his young children.' He frequently exercised himself by cutting down timber or chopping wood. He and his wife kept open house, and 'at his table he was always pleasant and delightful to his com-