CHAPTER II. 1630-1640. DR. C. WREN—BIRTH OF HIS SON CHRISTOPHER-EAST KNOYLE- LATIN WAS DETECTED LETTER-DIOCESE OF ELY-IMPEACHMENT OF LORD STRAFFORD-OF ARCHBISHOP LAUD ARTICLES AGAINST BISHOP WREN-RESIGNS THE DEANERY OF THE CHAPELS ROYAL. Instead of kitchen-stuff, some cry And some for old suits, coats, or cloak, A strange harmonious inclination Of all degrees to Reformation. Hudibras, pt. i. canto 2. CHAPTER II. LESS is known of the early years of Christopher Wren than of his brother's more eventful life. Christopher went to Oxford, to S. John's College, was admitted. to Holy Orders, and, like his brother, became chaplain to Bishop Andrewes, from whom in 1620 he received the living of Fonthill Bishops in Wiltshire. It may be said in passing, that to receive preferment from Lancelot Andrewes was in itself a proof of merit, for it was his especial care, in the three dioceses which he successively governed, only to promote able and good men to 'such livings and preferments as fell within his gift, and to give Church preferment to none that asked for it.' To this rule he rigidly adhered, and his disciple, Matthew Wren, followed the same plan when he became a Prelate of the Church. Christopher did not hold this living more than three years, and then received, also from Bishop Andrewes, the neighbouring living of East (or Bishop's) Knoyle, very near Fonthill Abbey, afterwards a place famous for its beauty and its curiosities, then the property of a Mr. Robert Cox. This gentleman had an only child, Mary, who inherited his property; she became the wife of Christopher Wren, probably a few years after his appointment to East Knoyle, where their seven children were born-five girls, of only one of whom there is any subsequent record, and two sons. A Christopher, baptized in the November of 1630, who probably died very young, as in the register the record stands, 'Christopher, first sonne of Doctor Wren,' 'first' is added above in another hand. The next baptism is, Christopher, 2nd (sic) sonne of Christopher Wren, Dr. in Divinitie and Rector now.' This is in the entries for 1631 (O.S.), followed by those for March, and is dated only ‘10th.' This 'second Christopher' is the one who was to make the name afterwards so famous; but the date is very perplexing. Dr. Wren and his son both reckoned the latter's age from his birthday, October 20, 1632, as appears again and again in the Parentalia,' notably in Dr. Wren's own MS. note to a letter from his son.1 The East Knoyle Register would, if the baptism is rightly put among the entries for March 1631. (O.S.), make the birthday October 20, 1631; but it seems more likely that this is an error, and 1632 the correct date. At East Knoyle Dr. Wren appears to have passed most of his time, leaving it occasionally, as he had done his previous living, to attend on Bishop Andrewes. He was a good scholar, if less deeply learned than his brother; a mathematician, a good musician, and had besides some knowledge of drawing and architecture. He employed himself in decorating East Knoyle chancel, and to him, in all probability, are 1 Vide infra, p. 43 CHANCEL AT EAST KNOYLE. 33 owing the 1 'flower borders, figures, and texts of Scripture in raised plasterwork' which, though much defaced, still cover the chancel. The subjects are'Jacob's Dream,' The Ladder with the Angels,' 'Jacob anointing the Pillar.' Over the chancel arch The Ascension of our Lord.' Round the capitals of the columns are quaint inscriptions: 'Unum necessarium.' The texts of holy Scripture, which are very well chosen, are all quoted from that earlier translation known as the Bishops' Bible,' to which the Psalms, Offertory sentences, and 'Comfortable Words' of the Prayer Book belong. Besides this, Wren contrived a new roof for the church, as the old one was falling into decay. In the hall of the rectory he put up the following inscription: In quamcunque domum introeritis primum dicite: paX sIt hVIC DOMVI Tam solenni præcepto, tempestivo voto C. W. RECTOR, Julii 28. Anno dicto.'3 1 I am indebted to the kindness of the Rev. R. N. Milford, rector of East Knoyle, for this account. See Sir R. C. Hoare's History of Wiltshire. The inscriptions on the columns have been destroyed. 2 So guide and govern as to profit souls. Love, Pray. One thing needful. Ask fit things from God. 3 Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say Peace be to this house. To so solemn a precept, by a seasonable vow, C. W. Rector. July 28. In the said year, i.e. MDCXVVIII. D |