Pope Family Tree

FROM CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI, 1261-1900: ISAACSON, HENRY College: PEMBROKE HALL Entered: Born: Died: Said to have been of PEMBROKE HALL. 1st s. of Richard, of St Catherine Coleman, citizen and painter-stainer. B. in London, Sept. 1581. Treasurer of Bridewell and Bedlam, 1643-54. Elected Chamberlain of London, 1651, but declined. Amanuensis and intimate friend of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes. Married Elizabeth, dau. of John Fan, of London. Author, historical and theological. Died Dec. 7, 1654. Will (P.C.C.) 1655. Brother of William (1612-3), father of Anthony and of William (1632). (D.N.B.; Vis. of London, 1634.)

NOTE:

PEMBROKE HALL was later known as Pembroke College Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626), Bishop of Winchester, was on the committee of scholars that produced the King James Translation of the Bible, and probably contributed more to that work than any other single person. It is accordingly no surprise to find him not only a devout writer but a learned and eloquent one, a master of English prose, and learned in Latin, Greek, Hebrew and eighteen other languages. His sermons were popular in his own day, but are perhaps too academic for most modern readers. He prepared for his own use a manuscript notebook of Private Prayers, which was published after his death. The material was apparently intended, not to be read aloud, but to serve as a guide and stimulus to devout meditation.

Shortly after his death in 1630 (Andrewes) his amanuensis and chaplain, Henry Isaacson, compiled from Andrewes’ papers a collection of prayers to cover every aspect of life. As well as morning and evening prayers, there are eucharistic prayers, prayers in sickness and approaching death.