(Joseph), a very learned English divine of the 17th century, was educated at Cambridge, and soon distinguished himself to great advantage; for by the time he had taken the degree of master of arts in 1610, he had made an uncommon progress in all academical studies. His first appearance as a writer was by an address to Dr Andrews, then bishop of Ely, in a Latin tract De Sanctitate Relativa, which was highly approved of by that prelate, who desired him to be his domestic chaplain. This Mr Mede very civilly refused; valuing the liberty of his studies above any hopes of preferment, and esteeming that freedom which he enjoyed in his cell, so he used to call it, as the haven of all his wishes. And indeed these thoughts had possessed him betimes; for when he was a school-boy, he was sent to his uncle, Mr Richard Mede, a merchant, who, being then without children, offered to adopt him for his son if he would live with him: but he refused the offer, preferring, as it should seem, a life of study to a life of gain.

He was not chosen fellow of his college till after he was master of arts, and then not without the assistance of his friend bishop Andrews: for he had been passed over at several elections, on account of a causeless suspicion which Dr Cary, then master of the college, afterwards bishop of Exeter, had conceived of him, that "he looked too much towards Geneva." Being made fellow, he became an eminent and faithful tutor. After he had well grounded his pupils in humanity, logic, and philosophy, so that they were able to walk as it were alone, he used to set every one his daily task; which he rather chose, than to confine himself and them to precise hours for lectures. In the evening they all came to his chamber; and the first question he put to each was, Quid dubitas? "What doubts have you met with in your studies to-day?" For he supposed, that to doubt nothing and to understand nothing was just the same thing. This was right, and the best method to make young men exercise their rational powers, and not acquiesce in what they learn mechanically, and by rote, with an indolence of spirit which prepares them to receive and swallow implicitly whatever is offered to them. As to himself, he was so entirely devoted to the study of all excellent knowledge, that he made even the time he spent in his amusements serviceable to his purpose. He allowed himself little or no exercise but walking; and often, in the fields or college garden, would take occasion to speak of the beauty, signatures, virtues, or properties of the plants then in view: for he was a curious florist, an accurate herbalist, and thoroughly versed in the book of nature. The chief delight he took in company was to discourse with learned friends.

Mr Mede was a curious inquirer into the most abstruse parts of learning, and endeavoured after the knowledge of those things which were most remote from the vulgar track. Among other things, he spent no small pains and time in founding the depths of astrology, and blotted much paper in calculating the nativities of his near relations and fellow-students: but this was in his younger years, and he afterwards discovered the vanity and weakness of this fanciful art. He applied himself to the more useful study of history and antiquities; particularly to those mysterious sciences which made the ancient Chaldeans, Egyptians, and other nations, so famous; tracing them, as far as he could have any light to guide him in their oriental schemes and figurative expressions, as likewise in their hieroglyphics, not forgetting to inquire also into the oneirocritics of the ancients: which he did the rather, because of that affinity he conceived they might have with the language of the prophets. He was a curious and laborious teacher of antiquities relating to religion, ethnic, Jewish, Christian, and Mahometan: to which he added other attendants, necessary for understanding the more difficult parts of Scripture.

In 1620, he refused the provostship of Trinity-college, Dublin, into which he had been elected at the recommendation of archbishop Usher, who was his particular friend; as he did also when it was offered to him a second time, in 1630. The height of his ambition was, only to have had some small donative sine- cure added to his fellowship, or to have been thrown into some place of quiet; where, retired from the noise and tumults of the world, and possessed of a competency of fortune, he might have been entirely at leisure for study and acts of piety. In the mean time, although his circumstances were scanty, for he had nothing but his fellowship and a college lecture, his charity was diffusive and uncommon; and, strange as it may now seem, he devoted the tenth of his income to pious and charitable uses. But his frugality and temperance always afforded him plenty. His prudence or moderation, either in declaring or defending his private opinions, was very remarkable; as was also his freedom from partiality, prejudice or prepossession, pride, anger, selfishness, flattery, and ambition. He was meek, patient, equally remote from superstition and licentiousness of thinking; and, in short, possessed every virtue. This great and good man died in 1638, in his 52d year, having spent above two-thirds of his time in college.