Francis White (bishop)

The Right Reverend

Francis White
The Right Reverend; Francis White;
Bishop of Ely
Diocese	Diocese of Ely
In office	1631–1638
Predecessor	John Buckeridge
Successor	Matthew Wren
Other post(s)	Dean of Carlisle (1622–26); Bishop of Carlisle (1626–29); Bishop of Norwich (1629–31)
Personal details
Born	c. 1564; Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire
Died	February 1638; Ely House, Holborn, London
Buried	St Paul's Cathedral
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Alma mater	Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

Francis White (c. 1564 – 1638) was an English bishop and controversialist.

Life

He was son of Peter White (died 19 December 1615), vicar of Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, was born at Eaton Socon about 1564 (parish register begins in 1566). His father had five sons, all clergymen, among them John White (1570?–1615), chaplain to James I. Francis, after passing through the grammar school at St Neots, Huntingdonshire, was admitted pensioner at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, on 20 March 1579, aged 15. He graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1583, Cambridge Master of Arts (MA Cantab) in 1586, and was ordained priest by John Aylmer, Bishop of London, on 17 May 1588.^[1]

His early preferments were the rectory of Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, a lectureship at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, and the rectory of St. Peter's, Cornhill, London. In controversy against Catholicism he took a prominent part, and it produced his first publication.^[2] He graduated Doctor of Divinity (DD) in 1618. Early in 1622 he was employed by James I as a disputant against John Percy alias Fisher (1569–1641), to stay the Roman Catholic tendencies of Mary, Countess of Buckingham. He held two conferences; the third (24 May 1622) was entrusted to William Laud. White's Replie to Fisher (1624) was dedicated to James I.^[3] On 14 September 1622 White was presented to the deanery of Carlisle (installed 15 October). He took part, in conjunction with Daniel Featley, in another discussion with Fisher, opened on 27 June 1623, at the house of Humphrey Lynde, in Sheer Lane, London.^[4]

In 1625 White became senior dean of Sion College, London, which existed then only on paper. He was consecrated Bishop of Carlisle on 3 December 1626 at Durham House, London, by Richard Neile, Bishop of Durham; John Buckeridge, Bishop of Rochester; and three other prelates, John Cosin preaching the consecration sermon. His elevation was much canvassed.^[5] It was said that he had 'sold his orthodoxe bookes and bought Jesuits'.' Sir Walter Earle referred to the matter in parliament (11 February 1628), quoting the line 'Qui color albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo'.^[6] He was made Lord Almoner the same year.^[7]

On 22 January 1629 he was elected Bishop of Norwich; and he was elected Bishop of Ely on 15 November 1631. Shortly afterwards he held a conference at Ely House, Holborn, with Theophilus Brabourne on the Sabbath question, and had much to do with Brabourne's subsequent prosecution. His Treatise of the Sabbath-Day (1635; 3rd ed. 1636) was dedicated to Laud and written at the command of Charles I. White treated the question doctrinally; its historical aspect was assigned to Peter Heylyn. He visited Cambridge in 1632, to consecrate the chapel of Peterhouse. His last publication was An Examination and Confutation of . . . A Briefe Answer to a late Treatise of the Sabbath-Day, 1637; this Briefe Answer was a dialogue by Richard Byfield, with title The Lord's Day is the Sabbath Day (1636). He died at Ely House, Holborn, in February 1638, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. His will, dated 4 March 1637, proved 27 February 1638 by his widow Joane White, shows that he survived a son, and left married daughters and several grandchildren; the bulk of his property went to his grandson Francis White.

Among many, White ordained Ralph Wheelock, Clare College graduate, and first schoolmaster of America's first free school in Dedham, Massachusetts, on 6 May 1630.

Theology

Francis White had an Arminian theology. In 1626, together with John Cosin they engaged in theological debate with Calvinist John Preston and Thomas Morton.^[8]

Notes and references

Citations

^ "White, Francis (WHT578F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ In answer to White dyed Black, by Thomas Worthington (Catholic Encyclopedia) it was The Orthodox Faith and Way to the Church, 1617; reprinted at the end of the Workes (1624, fol.) of John White, his brother.
^ It was reprinted by subscription, Dublin, 1824, 2 vols. An account, from the other side, is in Trve Relations of Svndry Conferences, 1626, by 'A. C.'
^ A report was published in The Fisher catched in his owne Net, 1623; and more fully (by Featley) in The Romish Fisher cavght and held in his owne Net, 1624.
^ A letter (13 February 1628) in James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh's correspondence states that he 'hath sold all his books to Hills the broker . . . some think he paid for his place.'
^ Appendix to Sir Francis Seymor his . . . Speech, 1641.
^ Holmes, John. A Descriptive Catalogue of Books, in the Library of John Holmes, F.S.A. p. 309.
^ Foster 2013, p. 40.

Sources

Foster, Andrew (2013). Church of England 1570-1640. New York: Routledge.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "White, Francis (1564?-1638)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Christopher Perkins	Dean of Carlisle 1622–1626	Succeeded by William Peterson
Preceded by Richard Senhouse	Bishop of Carlisle 1626–1629	Succeeded by Barnaby Potter
Preceded by Samuel Harsnett	Bishop of Norwich 1629–1631	Succeeded by Richard Corbet
Preceded by John Buckeridge	Bishop of Ely 1631–1638	Succeeded by Matthew Wren

[1] "White, Francis (WHT578F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[2] In answer to White dyed Black, by Thomas Worthington (Catholic Encyclopedia) it was The Orthodox Faith and Way to the Church, 1617; reprinted at the end of the Workes (1624, fol.) of John White, his brother.

[3] It was reprinted by subscription, Dublin, 1824, 2 vols. An account, from the other side, is in Trve Relations of Svndry Conferences, 1626, by 'A. C.'

[4] A report was published in The Fisher catched in his owne Net, 1623; and more fully (by Featley) in The Romish Fisher cavght and held in his owne Net, 1624.

[5] A letter (13 February 1628) in James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh's correspondence states that he 'hath sold all his books to Hills the broker . . . some think he paid for his place.'

[6] Appendix to Sir Francis Seymor his . . . Speech, 1641.

[7] Holmes, John. A Descriptive Catalogue of Books, in the Library of John Holmes, F.S.A. p. 309.

[FOOTNOTEFoster201340-8] Foster 2013, p. 40.

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v t e Deans of Carlisle
Early modern	Lancelot Salkeld Thomas Smith John Wolley Christopher Perkins Francis White William Peterson Thomas Comber Guy Carleton Thomas Smith Thomas Musgrave William Grahme Francis Atterbury George Smalridge Thomas Gibson Thomas Tullie George Fleming Robert Bolton Charles Tarrant Thomas Wilson Thomas Percy Jeffery Ekins
Late modern	Isaac Milner Robert Hodgson John Cramer Samuel Hinds Archibald Campbell Tait Francis Close John Oakley William Henderson Charles Ridgeway William Barker Hastings Rashdall Henry Stuart Cecil Cooper Frederick Matheson Cyril Mayne Lionel du Toit John Churchill Henry Stapleton Graeme Knowles Mark Boyling Jonathan Brewster

v t e Bishops of Norwich
Bishops of Elmham	Bedwinus Northbertus Headulacus Æthelfrith Eanfrith Æthelwulf Alherdus Sybba Hunferthus Humbertus See interrupted Aethelweald Eadwulf Ælfric I Theodred I Theodred II Æthelstan Ælfgar Ælfwine Ælfric II Ælfric III Stigand Grimketel Stigand (again) Æthelmær Herfast see removed to Thetford
Bishops of Thetford	Herfast William de Beaufeu Herbert de Losinga see removed to Norwich
High Medieval	Herbert de Losinga Everard of Calne William de Turbeville John of Oxford John de Gray Pandulf Verraccio Thomas Blunville Simon of Elmham William de Raley Walter Suffield Simon Walton Roger Skerning William Middleton Ralph Walpole
Late Medieval	John Salmon Robert Baldock William Ayermin Thomas Hemenhale Antony Bek William Bateman Thomas Percy Henry le Despenser Alexander Tottington Richard Courtenay John Wakering William Alnwick Thomas Brunce Walter Hart James Goldwell Thomas Jane
Early modern	Richard Nykke William Rugg Thomas Thirlby John Hopton John Parkhurst Edmund Freke Edmund Scambler William Redman John Jegon John Overall Samuel Harsnett Francis White Richard Corbet Matthew Wren Richard Montagu Joseph Hall Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Edward Reynolds Anthony Sparrow William Lloyd John Moore Charles Trimnell Thomas Green John Leng William Baker Robert Butts Thomas Gooch Samuel Lisle Thomas Hayter Philip Yonge Lewis Bagot George Horne Charles Manners-Sutton
Late modern	Henry Bathurst Edward Stanley Samuel Hinds John Pelham John Sheepshanks Bertram Pollock Percy Herbert Launcelot Fleming Maurice Wood Peter Nott Graham James Alan Winton (acting) Graham Usher

v t e Bishops of Ely
High Medieval	Hervey le Breton Nigel Geoffrey Ridel William de Longchamp Eustace Robert of York John of Fountains Geoffrey de Burgh Hugh of Northwold William of Kilkenny Hugh de Balsham John Kirkby William of Louth John Salmon/John Langton Ralph Walpole
Late Medieval	Robert Orford John Ketton John Hotham Simon Montacute Thomas de Lisle Simon Langham John Barnet Thomas Arundel John Fordham Philip Morgan Lewis of Luxembourg Thomas Bourchier William Grey John Morton John Alcock
Early modern	Richard Redman James Stanley Nicholas West Thomas Goodrich Thomas Thirlby Richard Cox Martin Heton Lancelot Andrewes Nicholas Felton John Buckeridge Francis White Matthew Wren Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Matthew Wren Benjamin Lany Peter Gunning Francis Turner Simon Patrick John Moore William Fleetwood Thomas Green Robert Butts Thomas Gooch Matthias Mawson Edmund Keene James Yorke
Late modern	Thomas Dampier Bowyer Sparke Joseph Allen Thomas Turton Harold Browne James Woodford Lord Alwyne Compton Frederic Chase Leonard White-Thomson Bernard Heywood Edward Wynn Noel Hudson Edward Roberts Peter Walker Stephen Sykes Anthony Russell Stephen Conway

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