Letter from
Joseph Mead
(or Mede, 1586-1638,
divine)
to
Sir Martin
Stutevile (or Stuteville, c . 1569-1631, traveller and
courtier)
, 15 Sept. 1621, claiming
that
Jonson
was nearly knighted. The letter is bound in a series of letters, Nov.
1620-Dec. 1625, from
Joseph Mead
to
Sir Martin Stutevile,
and occupies 1 folded
leaf. Pages 1-2 contain the letter; page 3 is blank; and page 4 contains the
address.
Eugene Giddens
[fol. 119v]
To the right
worshipfull & his much respected freind Sir
Martin Stuteville
Knight
these at Dalham
[fol.
118]
15 September 1621 [This date is in another
hand.]
A freind told me this faire time that Ben
Iohnson was not knighted but scaped narrowly, for that his Majestie
would haue done it had there not beene meanes made (himselfe not vnwilling) to avoyd
it
< . >
[fol. 118v]
Christ College
September 15.
yours most ready to be commanded
Ioseph
Mead
Bibliography
H&S, 1.87n.
Mead matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1602, and in 1613 he was elected a fellow of the college. He was known as a polymath, and corresponded with important religious and political figures across Europe. He was a significant influence on John Milton and Henry More, the philosopher. His best-known work is the Clavis Apocalyptica ( Key of Revelation ) (1627).
Stutevile matriculated at King's College, Cambridge in 1585, and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1587. He went to America with Drake, and was knighted in 1604.