Thomas Playfere

 I have today a guest blogger. (He's the guy who lives in this house).

The family tree that his brother is digging up has thrown up something rather interesting. As you may remember, a few years ago the DNA search showed that he's probably a descendant of the Royal Stewart ( the family name is Stewart, and we have such a small population that if you go back far enough, we are all related a Royal Stewart somewhere!)

And, as science gets better at what DNA reveals - His DNA says he'll have brown eyes, male pattern baldness, will have a good sense of rhythm (he was a professional drummer for many years) but will  have no ability to sing. All true.

But what else is the DNA unveiling?

Please read on....  

Thomas Playfere: The Eloquent Divine of Cambridge

 

My young brother recently had his DNA taken and analysed by an ancestry tracking service.

What transpired from the results was that, on my mother’s side, the family originates from Kent in England (oh the shame). Further, what also came to light was that one Thomas Playfere is antecedent to the family.

Who is he? Well, not only a Professor of Theology at Cambridge University but also served as a pastor to King James and is believed to have had his work copied by no less than Mr William Shakespeare, which is more than some Scottish crime writers can say.

I believe this makes me the heir to the family intellectually, spiritually and I am literary royalty. Some others in the house disagree.

King James ( 1st and 6th) was the first king James of England and the 6th king James of Scotland. We joined in a treaty of union... but anyway,...

Thomas Playfere (c. 1561–1609) was a distinguished English theologian, preacher, and academic whose career at Cambridge University and service to the crown marked him as one of the most eloquent divines of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean eras. Known for his Latin oratory and theological rigor, Playfere’s legacy lies in his sermons, his professorship, and his complex personal story.

Born in London around 1561 to William Playfere and Alice Wood of Kent, Thomas entered St John’s College, Cambridge, in 1576 and his academic ascent was rather swift: he earned his B.A. in 1580, M.A. in 1583, B.D. in 1590, and D.D. in 1596. He became a Fellow of St John’s in 1584 and held numerous college offices, including rhetoric examiner, Hebrew praelector, and principal lecturer. At Cambridge, a praelector is the fellow of a college who formally presents students during their matriculation and the graduation ceremony at Cambridge, especially during the Congregation of the Regent House when degrees are conferred. 

I had to look that up!

In 1596, Playfere was appointed Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, one of the most prestigious theological chairs at Cambridge. This role placed him at the intellectual heart of English Protestantism during a time of religious consolidation and debate. His sermons, often delivered in Latin, were celebrated for their fluency and intellectual depth. He preached before King James I and Prince Henry, and his reputation as a court preacher grew, culminating in addresses before both the English and Danish monarchs at Theobalds in 1606.

Despite his public success, Playfere’s personal life was marked by tragedy and decline. 

A letter from 1602 hints at emotional turmoil, describing him as “crazed for love” but no details as yet!

By 1606, his mental health was in decline, though he retained his professorship until his death in 1609. His decline did not diminish the respect he commanded; his funeral sermon was preached by the vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and a bust with a loving inscription was erected in St Botolph’s Church, Cambridge, at the request of his wife Alicia.

                                                   

"Playfere’s published works include several volumes of sermons, such as Ten Sermons (1610), Four Sermons (1611), and Nine Sermons (1612), later compiled into a single volume in 1623 and 1638. These texts reflect his theological precision and rhetorical flair, often addressing themes of spiritual perfection, divine judgment, and Christian virtue. His sermon “The Pathway to Perfection” exemplifies his style—learned, persuasive, and deeply rooted in scriptural exegesis."

It would seem that  Thomas Playfere was a towering figure in his time. His blend of academic excellence, courtly service, and spiritual insight made him a key voice in shaping English Protestant thought at the turn of the 17th century. His life, marked by brilliance and fragility, offers a poignant glimpse into the pressures faced by public intellectuals in an age of religious and political transformation, and it was a rather turbulent time for religious belief.

His work has been noted by scholars as potentially influencing other contemporary writers, with one researcher suggesting Shakespeare borrowed from Playfere's sermons in plays such as Henry IV, Part 1 and The Tempest. His sermons were often transcribed using early forms of shorthand, a practice common in the Elizabethan era to record live performances and sermons.

All I need now is Caro to be invited  to another event at Heffer's Bookshop in Cambridge and I get into St Botolph's and  'see' the man for myself.

Alan Stewart