Background
Born in London about 1561, he was son of William Playfere and Alice, daughter of William Wood of Bolling in Kent.
chaplain rector theologian churchman
Born in London about 1561, he was son of William Playfere and Alice, daughter of William Wood of Bolling in Kent.
He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1579-1580, Master of Arts
He matriculated as a pensioner of Street John"s College, Cambridge, in December 1576, and on 5 November 1579 was admitted a scholar. in 1583, Bachelor of Divinity in 1590, and Doctor of Divinity in 1596. On 10 April 1584 he was admitted a Fellow. He contributed to the university collection of Latin elegies on Sir Philip Sidney (16 February 1586-1587).
He served the college offices of prælector topicus, 1587.
Rhetoric examiner, 1588, medical lecturer on Thomas Linacre"s foundation. Preacher, 1591; Hebrew prælector, 1593-1594.
Senior fellow and senior dean, 1598. And principal lecturer, 1600.
According to Joseph Foster he joined the Inner Temple in 1594, and in 1596 he was incorporated Doctor of Divinity at Oxford.
After the death of William Whitaker, Master of Street John"s, Playfere and Richard Clayton were candidates for the mastership: Clayton was chosen. In December 1596 Playfere was elected Lady Margaret professor of divinity. He became chaplain to King James, and often preached before him at court.
He also preached before Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales at Greenwich on 12 March 1605, and before the kings of England and Denmark at Theobalds, then the residence of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, on 27 July 1606.
Playfere held the Crown living of Cheam in Surrey from 1605 to 1609. In 1608 he became rector of All Saints, in Shipdham, and of Thorpe, Norfolk.
On 4 November 1602 Chamberlain had written to Carleton that ‘Doctor Plafer, the divinity reader, is crazed for love’, and after 1606 Playfere"s mind gave way, but he held his professorship until his death, on 2 February 1609. His funeral sermon was preached by Thomas Jegon, vice-chancellor.
John Williams made an oration on him in the college chapel.