John Rastall

was a Londoner born, and educated for a time in Grammaticals and Philosophicals in this University. Afterwards returning to his native place, he set up the Trade of Printing, being then esteemed a profession fit for any Scholar or ingenious Man. This Person being noted for his Piety and Learning, became intimate with Sir Tho. More, whose Sister Elizabeth he took to Wife, and by dayly conference with that most learned Knight, he improved his knowledge in various sorts of Learning, besides what knowledge he before had gotten in the Mathematicks. He was a zealous Man for the Catholick cause, and a great hater of the proceedings of King Hen. 8. as to his divorce, and for his ejecting the Popes power from the Nation. His Writings are,

Natura naturata. ’Tis a large and ingenious Comedy containing a description of three parts of the World, viz. Asia, Africa, and Europe, adorn’d with Figures and Cuts.

Canones Astrologici.

Dialogues concerning Purgatory, in 3. Books.

Apology written against Joh. Fryth.—Which two last, were in vindication of Joh. Fisher B. of Rochester, and Sir Thom. More.

The rules of a good life.

Anglorum Regum Chronicon. with others; but as for the Book of Law terms, said by (e)(e) In cent. 8. nu. 74. Bale to be written by this Author, is false; for they were written by his Son William, as I shall tell you under the Year 1565. This Joh. Rastall died at London, 1536 in Fifteen hundred thirty and six, leaving behind him Issue Will. Rastall before mentioned, and John Rastall a Justice of Peace, who had Issue a Daughter named Elizabeth, the Wife of Rob. Lougher L L. D. Chancellor of the Dioc. of Exeter.