John Fenne

, a noted translator from Lat. and Ital. into English, and from English into Latin, was born at Mountacute near Wells in Somersetshire, educated in the rudiments of Grammer and Musick, in the condition of a Choirister within the Precincts of the Cathedral there. Afterwards at riper years he was sent by his Relations to Wykehams School near Winchester, to the end that he might be fitted for the University. Where, in a short time making great proficiency, he was elected Probationer of New coll. in 1550. (4. Ed. 6.) and two years after being made perpetual Fellow, was then appointed one of those that were to study the Civil Law, which the statute of that house stiles Civilistae, but whether he took a degree in that Faculty, it doth not appear in the University Registers. In the Reign of Q. Mary he became Schoolmaster of St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk; where, by his excellent faculty in teaching, the boys were advanced very much in Grammatical learning. But upon the alteration of Religion in the beginning of Q. Elizab. he was forced thence by the giddy zeal of two Scots, that were then setled in those parts. At length he gave a farewell to England, went into the Low Countries, and afterwards into Italy, where spending 4 years in study, returned to the Low Countries again, where, partly at Lovaine (at which place he was at length made Confessor to the English Nuns) and partly in the Cities adjacent, he spent about 50 years, as an exil’d person, doing extraordinary benefit in the way he professed. He hath written,

Vitae quorundam Martyrum Angliae.—Which, with other matters by him written, may be seen a book intit. Concertatio Eccles. Catholicae in Anglia, &c. See more in Joh. Bridgewater, an. 1594. He also translated from English into Latin several of the Books of Cardinal Joh. Fisher, as, (1) Commentary on the Seven Penitential Psalms. Which book Fisher wrote at the desire of Margaret Countess of Richmind.—Pr. 1509. in qu. (2) Sermon of the Passion of our Saviour. (3) Serm. concerning the justice of the Pharisees and Christians, &c. Also from Lat. into Engl. (1) The Catechism of the Council of Trent. (2) A learned and very eloquent treatise, written by Hieron. Osorius, Bishop of Sylva in Portugal, wherein he confuteth a certain answer, made by Mr. Walt. Haddon, against the Epistle of the said Bishop unto the Queens Maj. Lov. 1568. oct. in 3 books. And lastly from Italian into English, (1) The life of the Blessed Virgin S. Catherine of Sienna.—Print. 1609. oct. originally written by Dr. Caterinus Senensis. (2) Treatise of tribulation. Written by Caccia Guerra. (3) The 15 Mysteries of the Rosarie. Written by Gasp. Loart. And, lastly, collected from divers ancient English books, Spiritual Treatises, for the use of the Nuns of the Order of St. Bridgit, and other things which I have not yet seen.Clar. 1 611. He ended his days at Lovaine, after the year sixteen hundred and eleven, and was, as I presume, buried within the precincts of the Monastery belonging to the English Nuns there. He had a younger Brother named Rob. Fenne, who was admitted perpetual Fellow of New coll. in 1555. but removed thence, by the Queen’s Commissioners, for being a R. Catholick an. 1562. having a little before been honoured with the degree of Bach. of the Civil Law. Another Brother also he had, called James Fenne, who was first a Choirister of New coll. and afterwards Scholar of that of C. C. an. 1554. but put aside from the degree of B. of Arts, and from his place in the said coll. for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy. Afterwards he setled in Glocester hall, where he had several Pupils committed to his charge, and was had in great respect by the Seniors of that house. Thence, being forced, he retired to his native Country, (Somersetshire) where he taught a private School, and soon after married. But his Wife dying, he went beyond the Seas, setled at Rheimes for a time, and was made a Priest. Afterwards returning into England, he setled in his native Country, but being soon after apprehended, was conveyed to London, and there kept in prison several weeks. At length being condemned to die, according to the Statute against Seminaries, was executed at Tybourne with George Haddock, Tho. Emerferd, and Joh. Nutter, 12. Febr. 1582/3. All which are inrolled among the R. C. Martyrs, that suffered during the Reign of Q. Elizabeth.