John Fryth

, Son of Rich. Fryth an Inholder of Sevenoake in Kent was born there, (some say (*)(*) See Jo. Fox in his Append. at the end of the Acts and Mon. of the Ch. at Westram in the said County) and educated in Kings Coll. in Cambridge till he was Bachelaur of Arts. Afterwards being incited to go to Oxon for preferment, was for his towardly parts made one of the junior Canons of Cardinal Wolsey’s College, and soon after, viz. in Dec. 1525. he was with other Cantabrigians incorporated in the same degree of Bachelaur. But before that time falling into the acquaintance of Will. Tyndale a zealous Lutheran, they conferred together privately about the abuses in Religion: So that in short time after he being by him converted to his opinion, Fryth made a publick profession of it. Whereupon being seized and examined by the Commissary of the University, he was imprisoned within the limits of the said College. At length being freed thence, in 1528, or thereabouts, he went beyond the Seas, where improving himself much in his religious opinions, returned into England about two Years after, leaving his Wife behind. But then again finding few Friends there that favoured his opinions, he wandred to and fro; and in fine, was taken for a Vagabond at Reading in Berks. set in the Stocks, and endured misery for want of relief. At that time his condition being made known to Leonard Cox the Schoolmaster of that Town, who presently understood the merits of the Person by his discourse, procured his releasment, refreshed his hungry stomack, and gave him money. Afterwards he went to London, where endeavouring to gain Proselytes, he was by the care of Sir Tho. More Lord Chancellor, seized and sent Prisoner to the Tower, where he had several disputes with Sir Tho. and others. At length being examined by the Bishops sitting in St. Pauls Cath. who persuaded him to recant his opinions but in vain, they condemned him to be burnt. So that being delivered to the L. Mayor and Sheriffs, was committed to Newgate, where he remained in the Dungeon till he was conveyed thence to be burnt. His works are,

Treatise of Purgatory.

Answer to Joh. Rastal’s Dialogues of Purgatory—This Jo. Rastal was Son in-Law to Sir Tho. More.

Answer to Sir Tho. More’s Dialogue concerning Heresies.

Answer to Joh. Fisher B. of Rochester.

The Subsidie or Bulwark to his first Book against Jo. Rastal.

His judgment upon Will. Tracy of Todington in Glocestershire his Testament, an. 1531.

Letter unto the faithful followers of Christ’s Gospell—Written from his Prison in the Tower, 1532.

A Mirror, or Glass to know thy self—Written in the Tower, 1532.

Mirror or Looking-glass, wherein you may behold the Sacrament of Baptisme—Written 1533.

An Antithesis between Christ and the Pope.

Of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, in answer to Sir Thom. More’s letter, which he wrot against the first little treatise of Fryth, made concerning the Sacrament &c. an. 1533. Lond. 1548. oct.

Articles, wherefore he dyed—Written in Newgate Prison 23. June 1533. All which treatises, were reprinted at London in fol. an. 1573. He also translated into English Patricks places written by Patr. Hamilton. At length after he had remained in the said Prison about a Fortnight or more, he was carried thence to Smithfield on the 4. 1533 July in Fifteen hundred thirty and three, where he suffer’d Death by burning. See more of him in Jo. Fox his Book of Acts and Mon. of the Church, &c. under the Year 1533, and in Rob. Persons his animadversions on Fox’s words concerning Fryth in The third part of a treatise entit. Of three conversions of England. Chapt. 11. p. 45. 46, &c. as also in Joh. Gwynneth among these Writers under the Year 1557.