Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ford, William (fl.1616)
FORD or FOORD, WILLIAM (fl. 1616), divine, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1578. He was elected fellow of his college in 1581, proceeded M.A. in 1582, and commenced B.D. in 1591. He afterwards became chaplain to the Levant Company at Constantinople. On 31 July 1611 he petitioned the court for an augmentation of his salary of two hundred sequins; on the following 1 Oct. the court allowed him an advance from 30l. to 50l. on the ground of his being 'well spoken of for paines and merits in his charge.' On 1 Sept. 1613 he intimated a wish to resign his post, but was requested to remain a year longer. He received permission to return home, 6 July 1614. His only known publication is 'A Sermon [on Gen. xxiii. 2-4] preached at Constantinople, in the Vines of Perah, at the Funerall of the vertuous and admired Lady Anne Glover, sometime Wife to the Honourable Knight Sir Thomas Glover, and then Ambassadour ordinary for his Maiesty of Great Britaine, in the Port of the Great Turke,' 4to, London, 1616. In dedicating this discourse to Lady Wentworth the author would perhaps be encouraged, should it prove acceptable to her, 'to second it with some more pleasing and delightfull subiect, which mine owne experience hath gathered from no lesse painefull then farre forraigne obseruations.'
[John B. Pearson's Biographical Sketch of the Chaplains to the Levant Company, pp. 12, 13, 46.]