• Many modern references spell his Surname as “Holyoake” or “Holioake” …. however, the book he published in 1606 entitled “Dictionarium Etymologicum Latinum (Etymological Dictionary of Latin Words)” was printed with his surname spelled as “Holyoke.” This book is the earliest evidence for etymological dictionary’s. In the fourth edition published in 1633 he dedicated it to William Laud, Bishop of London with the inscription “Franciscus de sacra quercu.” (Francis of the Scared Oak). Francis’ son, Thomas, would later greatly expand the book, but he passed away before publishing it. Thomas’ son, Charles, would eventually publish his father’s book with the main title-page noting “the great Pains and many years Study” of the middle Holyoke.

• Francis studied at the University of Oxford (1582), but there’s no indication he got a degree. However, there are records of Francis teaching at Oxford and later in Warwickshire. There is also a reference that a “Francis olyoke” attending the University of Cambridge - EMMANUEL in 1596.

• He was a member of the convocation of the clergy in the first year of King Charles’ first reign, but after the civil war he suffered for his attachment to that King Charles. In 1642 he was forced from his house by the Parliamentarians; his wife became so ill which resulted in her death; all his servants were killed and his estate was sequestered resuling in his family subsisting on charity.