Background
Thomas Cartwrigh was born in Royston, Hertfordshire in 1535.
Thomas Cartwrigh was born in Royston, Hertfordshire in 1535.
Thomas Cartwrigh studied divinity at St John's College, Cambridge, but on Mary's accession had to leave the university, and found occupation as clerk to a counsellor-at- law.
In 1564 Thomas Cartwrigh opposed John Preston in a theological disputation held on the occasion of Elizabeth's state visit, and in the following year helped to bring to a head the Puritan attitude on church ceremonial and organization.
He was popular in Ireland as chaplain to the archbishop of Armagh (1565 - 1567), and in 1569 he was appointed Lady Margaret professor of divinity at Cambridge; but John Whitgift, on becoming vice-chancellor, deprived him of the post in December 1570, and-as master of Trinity-of his fellowship in September 15 71.
which he compared unfavourably with the primitive Christian organization.
So keen was the struggle between him and Whitgift that the chancellor, William Cecil, had to intervene.
After his deprivation by Whitgift, Cartwright visited Beza at Geneva.
In 1590 he was summoned before the court of high commission and imprisoned, and in 1591 he was once more committed to the Fleet.
Cartwright was a man of much culture and originality, but exceedingly impulsive.
To him, however, the Puritanism of his day owed its systematization and much of its force.
Thomas Cartwright was a man of much culture and originality, but exceedingly impulsive. His views were distinctly Presbyterian, and he stoutly opposed the Brownists or Independents. He never conceived of a separation between church and state, and would probably have refused to tolerate any Nonconformity with his reformed national Presbyterian church. To him, however, the Puritanism of his day owed its systematization and much of its force.
professor, pastor
