Stapleton, Thomas
, a celebrated controversialist
on the side of the papists, was born at Henfield, in Sussex,
in 1535, of a genteel family from Yorkshire. Having been
educated at Canterbury and Winchester, he was removed
to New college, Oxford, where he obtained a perpetual
fellowship in 1554. In the same reign, which was that of
Mary, he was made prebendary of Chichester; but on the
accession of Elizabeth, left the kingdom, vith his father
and other relations, and settled at Louvain, where he distinguished himself by his controversial writings against
Jewel, Home, Whitaker, and other eminent divines of the
English church. He also visited Paris and Rome, but returned to Louvain, where he translated Bede’s Church History into English. He then became regius professor of
divinity in the new university of Douay, and canon in the
church of St. Amoiue. He became a Jesuit, but again
relinquished the order, and returning to Louvain, was
appointed regius professor in divinity there, canon of St.
Peter’s, and dean of Hillerbeck. He died in 1598, and
was buried in the church of St. Peter at Louvain. Clement
VIII. had invited him to Rome, but he did not choose to
go. This pope, it is said, intended to bestow upon him a
cardinal’s hat, and that this honour was prevented by his
death. He was, however, so great an admirer of Stapleton’s writings, that he ordered them to be read publicly at
his table. Cardinal Perron, who was an eminent author
himself, esteemed him, both for learning and acuteness,
the first polemical divine of his age; and Whitaker himself,
seems to allow no less.
His chief works are, 1. “Tres Thomac; seu res gesta S.
Thomae Apost. S. Thomae archiep. Cant, et Thomae Mori.”
2. “Orationes funebres,” Antw. 1577. 3. “Orationes Academicae miscellaneas,” 1602. 4. “Orationes Catecheticae,”
Antw. 1598. His works were published collectively at
Paris, in 1620, 4 volumes, folio. To which is prefixed his
life, by Hollendum. His epitaph is extant in Pits. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
The apologie of Fridericus Staphylus counseller to the late Emperour Ferdinandus, &c. Intreating of the true and right vnderstanding of holy Scripture. Of the translation of the Bible in to the vulgar tongue. Of disagrement in doctrine amonge the protestants. Translated out of Latin in to English by Thomas Stapleton, student in diuinite. Also a discourse of the translatour vppon the doctrine of the protestants vvhich he trieth by the three first founders and fathers thereof, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and especially Iohn Caluin.Apologia. English (1565) by Stapleton, Thomas, 1535-1598.
The history of the Church of Englande. Compiled by Venerable Bede, Englishman. Translated out of Latin in to English by Thomas Stapleton student in diuiniteHistoria ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum. English (1565) by Stapleton, Thomas, 1535-1598.
A retur[ne of vn]truthes vpon [M. Jewel]les replie Partly of such, as he hath slaunderously charg[...] Harding withal: partly of such other, as he h[...] committed about the triall thereof, in the text of the foure first articles of his Replie. VVith a reioyndre vpon the principall matters of the Replie, treated in the thirde and fourthe articles. By Thomas Stapleton student in Diuinitie.Returne of untruthes upon M. Jewelles replie. (1566) by Stapleton, Thomas, 1535-1598.
A counterblast to M. Hornes vayne blaste against M. Fekenham Wherein is set forthe: a ful reply to M. Hornes Answer, and to euery part therof made, against the declaration of my L. Abbat of Westminster, M. Fekenham, touching, the Othe of the Supremacy. By perusing vvhereof shall appeare, besides the holy Scriptures, as it vvere a chronicle of the continual practise of Christes Churche in al ages and countries, fro[m] the time of Constantin the Great, vntil our daies: prouing the popes and bishops supremacy in ecclesiastical causes: and disprouing the princes supremacy in the same causes. By Thomas Stapleton student in diuinitie. (1567) by Stapleton, Thomas, 1535-1598.