Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Murgatroid, Michael

1341027Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 39 — Murgatroid, Michael1894Gordon Goodwin

MURGATROID, MICHAEL (1551–1608), author, born in Yorkshire in November 1551, was educated at the expense of his kinsman (probably uncle), Richard Gascoigne, a gentleman of that county. He matriculated as a pensioner of Jesus College, Cambridge, in June 1573, graduated B.A. in 1576-7, was fellow from 1577 until 1600, and commenced M.A. in 1580. He was Greek reader of his college, and subsequently became secretary to Archbishop Whitgift, then comptroller, and ultimately steward of his household, and commissary of the faculties. He died on 3 April 1608 at Waddon, near Croydon, Surrey, where he leased a farm from George and John Whitgift (Probate Act Book, P.C.C. 1605-1609), and was buried on the 12th in the chancel of Croydon Church, as near Archbishop Whitgift as possible. On the east wall of the chantry of St. Nicholas in the old church was his monument, having under a recessed arch his statue clad in a black gown, and kneeling at a desk, with inscriptions over his head and under his feet. By his marriage on 26 April 1602 to Anne, widow of a Mr. Yeomans and sister of Robert Bickerstaffe, he left a daughter, Mary. Another child was born posthumously (Nichols, Collectanea, ii. 294). A son-in-law, George Yeomans, he set up as a yeoman at Waddon. One of the witnesses to his will (P.C.C. 44, Windebanck) was his 'cousin,' George Gascoigne.

Murgatroid was author of: 1. 'Michaelis Murgertod de Græcarum disciplinarian laudibus oratio: cum epistolis 2; et versibus Johanni Bell, Collegii Jesus Cantab, præfecto, inscriptis; et Oratione cum Aristotelis Meteorologica exponeret habita;' it is Harleian MS. 4159. The first oration was delivered at college. 2. 'Memoirs of affairs in Church and State in Archbishop Whitgift's time,' among the Lambeth MSS. (No. 178, f. 1). 3. 'Ad Domini Richardi Cosini tumulum,' Latin verses in the university collection on the death of Dr. Cosin, 1598.

[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. ii. 480-1.]

G. G.