William Ames (; Latin: ''Guilielmus Amesius''; 157614 November 1633) was an English Puritan minister, philosopher, and controversialist. He spent much time in the Netherlands, and is noted for his involvement in the controversy between the

Calvinists Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

and the Arminians.

Early life and education

Ames was born at Ipswich, and was brought up by a maternal uncle, Robert Snelling of Boxford. He was educated at the local grammar school and from 1594 at

Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college includes the Master, the Fellows of the College, and about 450 undergraduate and 170 graduate students. The college was founded by William Byngham in 1437 as ...

. He was considerably influenced by his tutor at Christ's, William Perkins, and by his successor

Paul Bayne Paul Baynes (also Bayne, Baines; c. 1573 – 1617) was an English clergyman. Described as a "radical Puritan", he was unpublished in his lifetime, but more than a dozen works were put out in the five years after he died. His commentary on ''Ephesi ...

. Ames graduated BA in 1598 and MA in 1601, and was chosen for a fellowship in Christ's College. He was popular in the university, and in his own college. One of Ames's sermons became historical in the Puritan controversies. It was delivered in the university

Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge St Mary the Great is a Church of England parish and university church at the north end of King's Parade in central Cambridge, England. It is known locally as Great St Mary's or simply GSM to distinguish it from " Little St Mary's". It is one of t ...

on 21 December 1609, and in it he rebuked sharply "lusory lotts" and the "heathenish debauchery" of the students during the Twelve Days of Christmas. A partisan election, however, had led to the mastership at Christ's going to

Valentine Carey Valentine Cary (died 1626) (''alias'' Carey, erroneously Carew), was an English clergyman, who became Bishop of Exeter. Origins His origins are uncertain. He was born in about 1570 and is believed to have been an illegitimate son of Henry Car ...

. He quarrelled with Ames for disapproving of the

surplice A surplice (; Late Latin ''superpelliceum'', from ''super'', "over" and ''pellicia'', "fur garment") is a liturgical vestment of Western Christianity. The surplice is in the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton fabric, reaching to the kne ...

and other outward symbols. Ames's vehemence led to his being summoned before the Vice-Chancellor, who suspended him "from the exercise of his

ecclesiastical {{Short pages monitor