Michael Honywood

Michael Honywood DD (1597 – 7 December 1681) was an English churchman who was Dean of Lincoln from 1660. Honywood was a bibliophile and he founded and funded the Lincoln Cathedral Library.

Life He was sixth son and ninth child of Sir Robert Honywood of Charing, Kent, and of Marks Hall, Essex, by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Browne of Betchworth Castle, Surrey. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, and graduated BA in January 1615, MA 1618, BD 1636, and DD (by royal mandate) 1661.

Honywood became fellow of Christ's, where Thomas Bainbrigg was master, and served the university offices of taxor in 1623, and of proctor in 1628. Richard Crackenthorpe, a friend, records help received from Honywood in his work on logic. He took part in college management, and helped forward the erection of the new Fellows' Building, completed in 1644, by advancing money, which was not repaid till 27 August 1649.

In 1640 Honywoood was appointed rector of the college living of St Andrew's Church, Kegworth, Leicestershire, but he did not reside there; and when the First English Civil War threatened Cambridge at the beginning of 1642, he crossed to the Low Countries. During the Protectorate he was at Utrecht, enjoying the friendship of William Sancroft and devoting himself to the collection of books.

In 1643 Bainbrigg ineffectually wrote to Honywood urging him to return, so as not to exceed the statutable limit of absence, which would defeat his wish that Honywood should succeed him as master. In 1645 Honywood was still abroad. Over Bainbrigg's protests, the parliamentary commissioners for Leicestershire sequestered Honywood's living of Kegworth, and a new rector was appointed in 1649.

Family

Honeywood's grandmother was Mary Honywood a woman known for her longevity and the number of descendants she had.

The parliamentarian Thomas Honywood was an older brother and Robert Honywood was a half brother.