No. 117.
ARCHBISHOP JUXON.
By Vandyck.
BORN 1582, DIED 1663.
In Bishop’s robes.
THE son of Richard Juxon of Chichester, in Sussex, where he was born. Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, and in 1598 elected a Fellow of St. John’s, Oxford. Destined for the bar, he studied civil law at the University, and took his degree of B.C.L. in 1603, having already entered as student at Gray’s Inn.
He changed his mind, however, and read divinity with much diligence, took Orders, and was granted a living by his College,—St. Giles’s, Oxford; but he removed in 1614 to Somerton, in the same county. In the east window of this church is his paternal coat of arms.
He kept up his connection with the University, and was much esteemed by Laud, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. This remarkable man, destined to play so conspicuous a part in public life, was then President of St. John’s College, an office which he resigned in 1621, and it was chiefly owing to his exertions that Juxon was chosen to succeed him. In the same year Juxon became Doctor of Laws, and later on Vice-Chancellor of the University. Laud, who was first Bishop of Bath and Wells, and then of London, and high in favour with Charles I., interested the King in Juxon’s preferment. He was appointed Chaplain-in-Ordinary to His Majesty, Dean of Worcester, and Prebendary of Chichester, and, at Laud’s particular request, Clerk of the Closet. This was in 1632, and Laud’s object in the choice was said to have been his ‘desire to have some one he could trust near the royal person, should he himself grow weak or infirm.’
New honours crowded on Dr. Juxon. He was elected to the Bishopric of Hereford in 1633, and made Dean of the King’s Chapel, but before consecration was translated to the See of London, Laud having become Primate of England. Laud, it seems, had made himself unpopular in the diocese with many of its members, but the mild and genial temper of the new Bishop gained him much respect and kindly feeling. The Archbishop of Canterbury desired above most things the aggrandisement of Churchmen, and their preferment to public offices of State, and for that aim he worked both for himself and his friend.