Thomas Martyn

, a younger Son of Tho. Martyn Gent. was born at Cerneley commonly called Cearne in Dorsetshire, educated in Wykebams School near to Winchester, admitted true and perpetual Fellow of New Coll. after he had served two years of probation, an. 1539, where applying his genius to the faculty of the Civ. Law, made great proficiency therein. At length obtaining leave to travel, went as a Tutor to certain young Gentlemen into France, where making his chief residence in the University of Bourges, took the Degree of Doctor in the same faculty there. Of whose behaviour and manner of life, while he continued there, is a testimony (w)(w) In Jo. Bales Declaration of Edm. Bonners articles, concerning the Clergy of London Diocess, &c. Lond. 1561. in oct. fol. 42. 43. &c. 46. 47. &c. extant, written by Francis B [•] ldwin of Arras, Doctor of the Civ. Law and publick Reader at Bourges. But forasmuch as the said Baldwin was an ill natur’d, turbulent and quarrelfom Man, as I understand from other places, and Jo. Bale the publisher of the said testimony (full of ill language) as bad almost as he, and one that speaks well of no R. Catholick, not so much as of Sir Tho. More, Cuthb. Tonstal Cardinal Job. Fisher, &c. especially of those that wrot against Priests marriages, as our Author Thom Martyn did, they therefore, I presume, are not to be believed, tho there is no doubt but that Martyn had his faults as well as they. Besides what is in that testimony, Bale calls him (x)(x) Ibid. fol. 76. b. a known pedant or paederastes, the subtile (y)(y) Ib. fol. 39. a. summener of Berkshire and the clark protector of the Popes Sodomites under Winchester a polytick (z)(z) Ib. Gentleman that runs with all winds—the great (a)(a) Ib. fol. 15. a. Hercules and mighty defender of stinking buggeries, &c. besides other ill language (b)(b) In lib. De script. May. Brit. cent. 9. nu. 98. elsewhere. But if you’ll consult Pitseus you’ll find him quite another Man, as others also of his perswasion make him, which I shall now omit. In 1553 he resigned his Fellowship, being then in good practice in the Court of Arches and an officer in the Archdeacons Court of Berks. In the Year 1555 he was incorporated Doctor of the Civil Law in this University, about which time being in favour with Dr. Bonner Bishop of London and with Gardiner B. of Winton, became Chancellour to the last, and of noted repute during the Reign of Qu. Mary, who had so great a respect for him and his abilities, that she commissionated him with Dr. Storie to go to Oxon to trie and examine Archb. Cranmer. He published,

A treatise proving that the marriage of Priests and professed Persons, is no marriage, but altogether unlawful. Lond. 1554. qu. Whereupon Joh. Ponet or Poynet Bishop of Winton, came out with an answer thus entit. An apology fully answering by Scriptures and antient Doctors a blasphemous book gathered by Dr. Steph. Gardiner, Dr. Rich. Smyth, Albertus Pighius and other Papists, as by their books appears, and of late set forth under the name of Tho. Martyn Doct. of the Civ. Law, &c. Printed beyond the Sea, an. 1555-56. in oct. In which book, fol. 9. Ponet saith thus—“Thy book hath betrayed thee Martyn, for thy fondness was not known before it came abroad, but assoon as that shewed it self in Mens hands, they might easily perceive that in playing the Christmas Lords minion in New Coll. in Oxon in thy fools coat, thou didst learn thy boldness, and began to put off all shame, and to put on all impudence.”—By the aforesaid title we are given to understand, as if B. Gardiner, Dr. Smyth, &c. were Authors of, or at least had considerable hands in, it; with whom agrees Baleus (c)(c) In his Declaration of Bonners articles, as before, fol. 15. a. 57. b. 71. b. 76. b. before-mention’d, who stiles Martyn, Winchesters voice, but whether true I cannot say it. The book hath been commended by many learned Persons, and no doubt but he had helps in it, but whether by any of the former, is doubtful. About the same time came out another answer entit. A defence of Priests marriages, establyshed by the imperial laws of the Realm of England, &c. printed in qu. To which tho no name is set to it, yet it is (*)(*) See Dr. Jo. Cosin’s book intit. Apologie for sundry proceedings by jurisdiction Ecclesiastical, &c. Printed 1593. in qu part 2. chap. 12. p. 109. said to be written by Dr. Mathew Parker, who was afterwards Archb. of Canterbury. The same year Tho. Martyn put out,

A confutation of Dr. Joh. Poyners book entit. A defence for the marriage of Priests, &c. Lond. 1555 (qu) He hath also extant,

Oration to Dr. Cranmer Archbishop, 12 March 1555.—The beginning of which is, Albeit there are two governments &c.

Discourse between him and Archbishop Cranmer concerning conscience and matters of Religion—The beginning is Mr. Cranmer you have told here a long glorious tale, &c. Which oration and discourse you may see in the Acts and Mon. of the Ch. by Jo. Fox, under the Year 1555, besides Examinations and Conferences, under the Year 1556.

Vita Gul. Wicami Wintoniensis Episc. Lond. 1597, Ox, 1690 in a large qu. Printed after the death of the Author, who took much of his matter from the life of the said Bishop written by Tho. Chaundler (d)(d) Vide Hist. & Antiq. Vniv. Oxon, lib. 2. p. 134. a. sometimes Warden of New Coll. There is a copy of this book in the Library of the said Coll. and in a leaf before the title, are curiously delineated with a Pen the effigies of the said W. Wykeham setting in a chaire. On the right hand is Chichley founder of Alls. and on the left, Waynfleet of Magdalen, College; both holding the pictures of their respective Colleges in their hands, and presenting them, as ’twere, to the founder of New Coll. they having had their education therein. As for our Author Th. Martyn, he concluded his last day in Fifteen hundred eighty and four, 1584 for in that year several books, of his gift, or bequest, were sent to New Coll. Library, to be there reposed for the use of the Fellows thereof. In my former searches among records I (†)(†) In a book of Administrations in the Will-Office near Pauls Cath. in London, beginning in Januar. 1580. fol. 108. b. found one Joan the relict of Tho. Martin lately of Isfield in Sussex, to have received a commission from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, dated 26. June 1584 to administer the goods, debts, chattels, &c. of the said Th. Martin lately deceased, but without the addition of Doctor of Civil Law, or of that of Gent. or Esq. However he may be the same with the Doctor, because, as I have observed, many whose names have been odious among some, or have retired in private because of their Religion, their names in wills or administration are barely written without addition of a title, or town sometimes, only in general of the County.