Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Goad, Roger
GOAD, ROGER, D.D. (1538–1610), provost of King's College, Cambridge, born at Horton, Buckinghamshire, in 1538, was educated at Eton, and elected thence to King's College, Cambridge, of which he was admitted a scholar 1 Sept. 1555, and a fellow 2 Sept. 1558. He went out B.A. in 1559, and commenced M.A. in 1563. On 19 Jan. 1565-6 he was enjoined to study theology, and he proceeded B.D. in 1569. At this period he was master of the free grammar school at Guildford, where one of his pupils was George Abbot [q. v.], ultimately archbishop of Canterbury. On the deprivation of Dr. Philip Baker, Goad was recommended as his successor in the office of provost of King's College, Cambridge, by Bishop Grindal, Walter Haddon, and Henry Knollys. On 28 Feb. 1569-70 the vice-provost and fellows addressed a letter to the queen asking for a free election, and another to Sir William Cecil recommending Goad, who was nominated by the queen in a letter dated Hampton Court, 4 March following. He was accordingly elected, being presented to the visitor on the 10th of the same month, and admitted on the 19th. On 3 Nov. 1572 he was elected Lady Margaret's preacher, which office he held till 1577. He was created D.D. in 1573, and was vice-chancellor of the university for the year commencing November 1576. On 6 March 1576-7 he became chancellor of the church of Wells. He was also chaplain to Ambrose Dudley, earl of Warwick, and held the rectory of Milton, Cambridgeshire. In October 1580 he was, with Dr. Bridgwater and Dr. Fulke, engaged in examining some of the Family of Love who were confined in Wisbech Castle, and in September 1581 he and Dr. Fulke had conferences in the Tower of London with Edmund Campion, the Jesuit, of which an account appeared in Nowell and Day's 'True Report,' 1583. In 1595 and in 1607 he was vice-chancellor for a second and third time. He died on 24 April 1610, and was buried in a chantry on the north side of King's College Chapel.
He married Katharine, daughter of Richard Hill of London. Six sons were elected from Eton to King's, viz. Matthew, Thomas [q. v.], Robert, Roger, Christopher, and Richard. Although his government of the college is commended, he met much opposition from the junior members. He re-established the college library, and by his will was a benefactor to the society (Cooper, Athenae Cantabr. iii. 20).
He was author of: 1. 'To Sir Wylliam More,' a poem. Manuscript in the Cambridge University Library, Ff. v. 4 f. 81. 2. An answer to articles exhibited against him by four of the younger company of King's College, 1576. Manuscript in the State Paper Office; Lansd. MS. 23, art. 38; Baker MS. iv. 9. 3. Letters principally on the affairs of the university and his college. Several have been printed.
[Baker's MSS. iv. 9-20, 28, 188, 206, xx. 90, 113; Blomefield's Collectanea Cantabr. pp. 136, 172; Carlisle's Grammar Schools, ii. 572; Bishop Fisher's Sermon for Lady Margaret (Hymers), p. 98; Fuller's Worthies (Bucks); Harwood's Alumni Eton. pp. 43, 171, 198, 201, 205, 212; Heywood and Wright's Univ. Transactions; Ledger Coll. Regal, ii. 189; Le Neve's Fasti (Hardy), i. 176. iii. 605, 683; Lib. Protocoll. Coll. Regal. i. 176. 197, 228, 243; Pigot's Hadleigh, 166-8, 175, 176; Manning and Bray's Surrey, i. 79; Smith's Cat. of Caius Coll. MSS. p. 19; Cat. of MSS. in Cambridge Univ. Library, ii. 483; Strype's Works (general index); Willett's Sacra Emblemata, p. 20; Wright's Elizabeth, i. 464.]