Robert Hare (died 1611) was an English official, antiquary, politician and benefactor of the University of Cambridge.
The second of the three sons of Sir Nicholas Hare and Catharine, daughter of Sir John Bassingbourn, he matriculated as a fellow-commoner of Gonville Hall, Cambridge, 12 November 1545. He took no degree, and on leaving university was admitted a student of the Inner Temple, on 2 February 1548.[1]
Hare was one of the gentlemen appointed to bear the bannerols at the funeral of Anne of Cleves on 15 July 1555, and on 29 March 1558 he was in the service of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester. On 14 June 1560 he was admitted clerk of the pells on the nomination of the marquess, and he was returned for in Suffolk to the parliament which met on 11 January 1563. In or about 1571 he vacated the clerkship of the pells, Chidioc Wardour occurring as the holder of the office in that year.[1]
The remainder of Hare's life was mainly spent on documenting the history, rights, and privileges of the university and town of Cambridge. In a list of recusants in London, drawn up in October 1578, his name occurs, and it is stated that he used to hear mass at the house of Lord Paulet. Hare was residing in Norton Folgate at some period between 1581 and 1594. In 1600 he was in some trouble, presumed to be on account of his religion; On 23 January 1601 the Cambridge senate passed a grace that a letter should be written in the name of the university to Sir Robert Cecil, so that Hare might not be hindered in his good works related to the highways.[1]
Hare's brother Michael died on 11 April 1611, and, though he had been twice married, left no issue. Hare therefore inherited an estate at Bruisyard in Suffolk, but survived only till 2 November in that year. He was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral in London, but the grave and monument were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. His name appears on a modern monument in the crypt, listing important graves lost in the fire.
The estates passed to his uncle John, father of Hugh Hare, 1st Baron Coleraine.[1]
In 1568 Hare gave to Caius College, Cambridge, a work written on parchment, mainly on Winchester Cathedral, but referring also to the origin of the University of Cambridge. The library of Caius College contained two volumes of his collections; he presented also to the university library two curious ancient manuscripts. To the library of St Paul's Cathedral he presented a manuscript that had belonged to Syon Abbey.[1]
To the library of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Hare gave books including Thomas de Elmham's History of St. Augustine's, Canterbury; also giving money to a fund for repairing highways around Cambridge. In 1594 he gave to the university a book relating to its privileges, written by Thomas Marhaunt, B.D., early in the fifteenth century. It is thought he was also a benefactor to Great St. Mary's Church, Cambridge, since his arms were over its south door.[1]
Hare's works were left in manuscript:[1]