Sermons Preached by That Reverend and Learned Divine Richard Clerke, Dr. in Divinitie; Sometimes Fellow of Christ Colledge in Cambridge. One of the most Learned Translators of our English Bible; Preacher in the Famous Metropolitan Church of Christ, Canterbury.

Richard Clerke embarked on his academic journey when he was elected as a fellow at Christ's College in 1583, a role he held for fifteen years. Despite the college's puritan leaning, Richard was a prominent figure among the conformists. This ideological divide led to tensions, prompting Richard Clerke to lodge complaints of bias with Lord Burghley, who served as the university chancellor. This discord eventually escalated, resulting in physical altercations, with Richard being accused of striking George Downame, a Puritan fellow and future bishop.

Edmund Barwell, the college master, ultimately found merit in the accusation. However, before any punitive measures could be taken against Clerke, he appealed the matter to the vice-chancellor. The historical records do not provide further details on the outcome of this appeal. By November of 1590, Barwell and the quarreling fellows managed to reconcile. In a sign of reconciliation, Richard Clerke, George Downame, and others signed an agreement stating: "We, the undersigned, forgive and forget all past injuries and pledge to treat each other with Christian goodwill in our words and actions moving forward."

In 1596, Richard Clerke received a significant honor by being chosen as the Lady Margaret Preacher at the university. The following year, he took on the role of vicar in Minster, located on the Island of Thanet. Later, he assumed the positions of rector in Snargate, Kent (1609), and vicar of Monkton with Birchington, Kent, holding these positions concurrently for the remainder of his life. In 1602, he was appointed as the Six-Preacher at Canterbury Cathedral, a role that brought him to the attention of the king and his fellow clerics. (See kingjamesbibletranslators.org).