Thomas Morton graduated BA from St John's in 1584, MA in 1590, and became a Fellow in 1592. He was ordained in 1594, and embarked upon a career in the Church, beginning as chaplain to the Earl of Huntingdon , and then the the Earl of Rutland, before moving on to the deaneries of Gloucester, and subsequently Winchester. Throughout this period Morton demonstrated his moderate Calvinism, through disputations with local catholics, and the publication of polemical pamphlets against papal authority. In 1612 he also attempted, unsuccessfully, to become master of St John's.

Lord William Howard was the younger son of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, executed by Queen Elizabeth for treason. After his father's death William was placed under the guardianship of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and, following in his footsteps, entered St John's in 1577. In the 1580s Howard embraced Catholicism and was twice incarcerated in the Tower of London. During his second stay he was imprisoned with Nicholas Roscarrock, a noted antiquary, and this may have influenced his subsequent development as an antiquary and collector of manuscripts and books.

Valentine Carey was the illegitimate son of Henry Carey, first Baron Hunsdon. He graduated BA from Christ's College before becoming a Fellow at St John's in 1591. Following his early ecclesiastical career he became Master of Christ's in 1610, and had hopes of becoming Master of St John's in 1612, when Owen Gwyn was elected. Instead he became Vice-Chancellor of the University. He also served as royal chaplain, rector of Orsett (1611), dean of St Paul's (1614) and Bishop of Exeter (1621).

William Crashaw (1572-1625/6)

The religious controversialist and poet William Crashaw built up an impressive library while serving as preacher to the Inner and Middle Temples in London. He even went to the expense of extending his official lodgings to house it. In 1615, however, due to tensions between himself and his employers, he was forced by his financial and family circumstances to move away from London.

Saint John Fisher, humanist, prelate, and later martyr, was instrumental in the founding of St John's College. He had originally come to Cambridge in the 1480s, gaining his BA in 1488. He went on to become one of the Fellows of Michaelhouse, one of the two Colleges later refounded as Trinity College by Henry VIII. After ordination he became confessor to Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII, and, later, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Bishop of Rochester (both 1504).

Mildred Cooke was educated at home by her father, Sir Anthony Cooke. In 1545 she married William Cecil, later Baron Burghley, and bore him five children. She exercised considerable influence over her husband's political decision making, and was a notable scholar in Latin and Greek, making several translations of Greek texts, although these were never published in her lifetime.

Henry Paman originally entered Emmanuel College to study medicine, but migrated to St John's in 1646, where he graduated and gained his MA. He later became senior proctor, graduated MD, and became public orator for the University. Paman's lifelong friend William Sancroft was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1677 and Paman went to live in Lambeth Palace. He gained further distinction in his career, becoming professor of medicine at Gresham College, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and LLD at Cambridge, before being appointed master of the faculties there.

Henry Alvey gained his BA at St John's in 1575/6, graduated MA in 1579 and BD in 1586. He was a Fellow from 1577, and became President of the College in 1590. In 1601 he relocated to Ireland, where he became Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. He returned to Cambridge in 1609.

Alvey's gift to the Library

The year before his death Alvey gave 100 marks to the Library for the purchase of books, as well as various items from his own library. There are some 50 items in the Old Library bearing his provenance, all of a theological nature.

The bookplate of William Penn, Quaker leader and founder of the American state of Pennsylvania, from a French edition of the Imitatio Christi (1649).

George Udny Yule and Herbert Hedges, Christmas Carol. English, 1933

George Udny Yule, Fellow of St John’s College (1871-1951): ‘A Carol’, commencing: ‘All the bells of Heaven did ring / Lully lay, lully la / This song did the mother sing / Lully lay lu.’, dated The Lizard, Sep. 1933. With musical accompaniment scored by Herbert N. Hedges, 16 Oct. 1933.