Editing Thomas Fuller (section)

==Early life==
Fuller was the eldest son of Thomas Fuller, rector of [[Aldwinkle St Peter]]'s, [[Northamptonshire]]. He was born at his father's rectory and was baptised on 19 June 1608. Dr [[John Davenant]], [[bishop of Salisbury]], was his uncle and godfather. According to [[John Aubrey]], Fuller was "a boy of pregnant wit". At thirteen he was admitted to [[Queens' College, Cambridge]], then presided over by [[John Davenant]]. His cousin, [[Edward Davenant]], was a tutor there. He did well academically; and in Lent 1624–1625 he became B.A. and in July 1628, at only 20 years of age, received his M.A.<ref name=Venn>{{acad|FLR622T|Thomas Fuller}}</ref> After being overlooked in an election of fellows of his college, he moved to [[Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge]] in November 1628. In 1630 he received from [[Corpus Christi College, Cambridge|Corpus Christi College]] the curacy of [[St Bene't's Church|St Bene't's]], Cambridge.

Fuller's oratory soon attracted attention. In June 1631 his uncle gave him a [[Prebendary|prebend]] in [[Salisbury, Wiltshire|Salisbury]], where his father, who would die in the following year, already held a [[Canon (priest)|canonry]]. The rectory of [[Broadwindsor]], Dorset, then in the [[diocese of Bristol]], was his next preferment (1634); and on 11 June 1635 he achieved the degree of [[Bachelor of Divinity#United Kingdom|Bachelor of Divinity]] from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.<ref name=Venn/> In 1640, he was elected proctor for Bristol in the memorable [[Convocation of Canterbury]], which assembled with the [[Short Parliament]]. On the sudden dissolution of the latter he joined those who urged that convocation should likewise dissolve. That opinion was overruled; and the assembly continued to sit by royal writ. Fuller wrote a valuable account of the proceedings of this [[synod]] in his ''Church History,'' although he was fined £200 for remaining.