Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pinke, William
PINKE, WILLIAM (1599?–1629), author, born in Hampshire, was probably one of the Pinkes of Kempshot, Winslade, and related to Robert Pinck or Pink [q. v.], the warden of New College, Oxford. He entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a commoner in Michaelmas term 1615, and graduated B.A. on 9 June 1619, M.A. 9 May 1622. He took holy orders, and became tutor or ‘reader’ to George Digby, second earl of Bristol [q. v.] He was also appointed philosophy reader of Magdalen, and was elected a fellow in 1628. He was known as an excellent classical scholar and linguist. He died in February 1629, before the promise of his abilities was fulfilled, and was buried in Magdalen College chapel. He is described as a thoroughgoing puritan.
He wrote: ‘The Tryal of a Christian's syncere loue vnto Christ,’ edited, with a dedication to Lord George Digby, by William Lyford [q. v.], Oxford, 1630, 4to; 1631, 4to; 1634, 12mo; 1636, 16mo; 1657, 12mo; 1659, 12mo; the first edition of this work contains two sermons, the second and all subsequent editions contain four. He was also author of ‘An Examination of those Plausible Appearances which seeme most to commend the Romish Church and to preiudice the Reformed,’ Oxford, 1626; this is a translation of the ‘Traité auquel sont examinez,’ &c., La Rochelle, 1617, by John Cameron (1579?–1625) [q. v.] Wood mentions a dedication to the master of the Skinners' Company, which is not in the copy at the British Museum. Pinke also left numerous manuscripts.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ii. 475, and Fasti, i. 386, 406; Brook's Lives of the Puritans, ii. 365; Wood's Hist. Antiq. Oxon. ed. Gutch, App. p. 272; Clarke's Indexes, iii. 375; Bloxam's Magd. Coll. Reg. v. 88; Madan's Early Oxford Press (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), pp. 130, 157–8, 179, 193; Alumni Oxon. early ser. iii. 1166; a first edition of his Sermons is in Dr. Williams's Library.]