PATRICK, SIMON (d. 1613), translator, matriculated as a pensioner at Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 21 May 1561, and was a member at Elizabeth's visitation in August 1564. His grandson, Simon Patrick (1626–1707) [q. v.], bishop of Ely, describes him in his autobiography as ‘a gentleman of good quality,’ in possession of ‘an estate of between four and five hundred pounds a year,’ who, being ‘a person of religion and learning,’ travelled ‘in his younger days,’ and ‘translated two books in the beginning of the last century out of the french tongue, of which he was a perfect master.’ His estate was at Caistor, Lincolnshire, where, in 1587, he lost his first wife, Mary, and in 1601 his second wife, Dorothea; his third survived him. He was the father of fifteen children, of whom Henry was the father of the bishop and of John Patrick [q. v.] His will, in the prerogative court of Canterbury, is dated 12 Sept. 1613. Patrick published: 1. ‘The Estate of the Church, with the discourse of times, from the Apostles untill this present: Also of the lives of all the Emperours, Popes of Rome, and Turkes: As also of the kings of France, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French,’ London, 1602, 4to. The dedication to Sir William Wray of Glentworth, Lincolnshire, is dated 1564. The book is a translation of Jean Crespin's ‘État de l'Eglise dès le temps des apôtres jusqu'à 1560,’ &c. 2. ‘A discourse upon the meanes of wel governing and maintaining in good peace, a kingdome, or other principalitie. Divided into three parts, namely, The Counsell, the Religion, and the Policie, which a Prince ought to hold and follow. Against Nicholas Machiavell the Florentine. Translated into English by Simon Patericke,’ London, 1602 and 1608, fol. This is dedicated, August 1577, to ‘the most famous yong gentlemen, Francis Hastings and Edward Bacon.’ It is entered in the ‘Stationers' Register’ to Adam Islip, 9 Nov. 1602. It is a translation of Innocent Gentillet's ‘Discours sur les moyens de bien gouverner,’ &c., originally published in Latin in 1571, and translated into French in 1576.
[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. ii. 496; Bishop Patrick's Works, ed. Taylor, vol. i. p. cxxix, vol. ix. p. 107; Biographie Universelle, 1856 xvi. 196, 1852 ix. 478.]
PATRICK, SIMON (1626–1707), bishop of Ely, born at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 8 Sept. 1626, was eldest son of Henry Patrick, a thriving mercer, by his wife, Mary Naylor (see pedigree in Proc. Lincolnshire Architect. Soc. 1866, p. 274). John Patrick [q. v.] was his brother. He was educated at the Gainsborough grammar school under Merryweather, ‘an excellent Latinist’ (Patrick, Autobiography), and was intended for business, probably his father's. But from his boyhood he determined to be a scholar; and, apparently with little or no money to help him, made his way to Cambridge, entering Queens' College. He found a kind friend in the master, Dr. Herbert Palmer [q. v.], ‘who,’ he tells us in his ‘Autobiography,’ ‘sent for me to transcribe some things he intended for the press, and soon after made me the college scribe, which brought me in a great deal of money, many leases being to be renewed. It was not long before I had one of the best scholarships in the college bestowed upon me.’ His tutor was a John Wells, who ‘showed extraordinary affection’ for him. But the man who influenced him most was John Smith (1618–1652) [q. v.], the Cambridge platonist, then a young fellow of Queens'. After graduating B.A. in 1647–8 Patrick received presbyterian orders; but, having read the works of Hammond and Thorndike, he became convinced that episcopal ordination was necessary. He proceeded M.A. in 1651, and in 1654 he sought out the ejected bishop of Norwich, Dr. Joseph Hall [q. v.], who privately ordained him in his parlour at Higham. In 1655 he became domestic chaplain to Sir Walter St. John at Battersea, and in 1658 (when he took the degree of B.D.) was appointed vicar of Battersea through the influence of Sir Walter. In 1661 he was elected master of Queens' College by the majority of fellows, but a royal mandate in favour of Anthony Sparrow [q. v.] overrode Patrick's election. In 1662 he was presented by William, earl of Bedford, to the rectory of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and there Patrick remained for nearly thirty years. He was an excellent parish priest, and greatly endeared himself to his parishioners by remaining at his post all through the great plague of London in 1665. He had services in his church four times every day, and the offerings were so large that he was embarrassed as to how to dispose of the money; he warned the churchwardens that the offertories were not intended to relieve the rates. His success brought him offers of preferment. In 1666 he took the degree of D.D., and by the advice of Dr. Willis was incorporated of Christ Church, Oxford (July). In 1669 the bishop of Lincoln (Dr. Fuller) offered him the archdeaconry of Huntingdon, which he declined, ‘not thinking himself worthy of it.’ In 1671 he was made a royal
