Background
He was born in Stoke upon Tern in Shropshire.
He was born in Stoke upon Tern in Shropshire.
Emmanuel College.
He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1628. In 1637, he was ordained, a deacon and priest at the same time. In 1644, he became Provost of King"s College due to Parliamentary control of the universities.
However, he was the only new head of house who did not subscribe to the National Covenant.
In 1650, during the Interregnum, he advised Oliver Cromwell on the subject of toleration of Jews. Upon the Restoration, he was removed from his position at King"s College, but he was reinstated when he accepted the Acting of Uniformity in 1662.
From that time to 1666 (when it burned), he was the curate of Saint Anne"s Church, Blackfriars. In 1668, he was made the vicar of Street Lawrence Jewry.
He argued that there are some questions that are beyond the ability of reasonable and religious people to solve, and therefore he argued for religious toleration.
He was accused at various times by various persons of being an Arminian, Socinian, and Latitudinarian.
He had liberal views, and had been one of the leaders of the Cambridge Platonists.