William Watts

William Watts (c.1590–1649) was an English cleric and author. He was Rector of St Alban, Wood Street, London, served as chaplain to Prince Rupert of the Rhine, and published a translation of Augustine's Confessions in 1631, which serves as the principal text of the Loeb Classical Library two volume edition of the work. Life The son of William Watts of Tibbenham, Norfolk, he was born there about 1590. He was at school at Moulton St Mary, and in 1606 at age 16 was admitted sizar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1611, M.A. in 1614, and was college chaplain from 1616 to 1626. He was incorporated at Oxford on 14 July 1618, and in 1639 was created D.D. Watts travelled on the continent of Europe after leaving college, and became linguist. In December 1620 he accompanied Sir Albertus Morton as chaplain on his mission to the German Protestant princes. In 1624, Watts was apparently appointed vicar of Barwick, Norfolk, and the next year rector of St. Alban, Wood Street, London. The former living he seemingly held until 1648: on 24 April of that year he was included in a list of sequestrated delinquents (Royalists whose estates were confiscated by Parliament). From the London rectory he was driven in 1642, and his wife and children were homeless for a time. He was serving in 1639 as army chaplain to Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, the general of the English forces in the Bishops' War, with supervision of the other chaplains. He was appointed a prebendary of Wells Cathedral on 19 March 1633, and in 1645 was nominated Archdeacon of Wells, but never took up the post.