John Storie

, a most noted Civilian and Canononist of his time, was educated in Philosophical learning, and in the rudiments of the Civil Law in an ancient hostle for Civilians called Henxey hall in St. Aldates Parish in Oxon; where making great proficiency, he was admitted Bach. of the Civil Law in 1531. In 1535 when K. Hen. 8. first founded certain Lectures in the University, he appointed Job. Storie to read that of the Civil Law, and in 1537 he became Principal of Broadgates hall, being also about that time Moderator of one of the Civil Law Schools. In 1538 he proceeded in his faculty, and afterwards performing excellent service at the Siege of Bologne in Picardie, in the administration of the Civil Law under the Lord Marshall there; the King in consideration thereof, did renew his former grant of the said Lecture in form of Letters Pat. for the term of life of the said John, in the Year 1546 or thereabouts, joyning with him for his ease, Mr. Rob. Weston Fellow of Alls. College. When Qu. Marie came to the Crown, she renewed his patent again, but soon after resigning his professorship, because he had got greater preferment at London, and the Chancellourship of the Dioc. of Oxon. if I mistake not, became a zealous Man in the Religion then professed, and an eager enemy against the poor Protestants, as the Histories of those times will tell you. I find published under his name these things following.

Oration against Th. Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury, in 1556.

Discourse with Joh. Philpot the Martyr about matters of Religion, and with others.

Answer to Examinations during his imprisonment in the tower of London, in 1570.

Speech at his execution at Tybourne 1o; June 1571.—with other things (of which some relate to his profession) that I have not yet seen. When Qu. Elizab. came to the Crown, he was imprisoned, but soon after broke out, and going beyond the Sea, continued an enemy to the Protestants there, became (t)(t) Vide A [•••] al. Camde [•] , sub an. 1569. & 1571. a sworn servant to the Duke of Alva at Antwerp, and from him received a special commission to search the Ships for goods forfeited, and and for English Books; in which service he did very great harm to the English Protestants. At length being invited under hand to search the Ship of one Parker an English Man, went unwarily therein: Whereupon Parker causing the hatches to be shut when Storie was searching under deck, he hoised sail and brought him Prisoner into England about the beginning of Decemb. 1570. So that being clap’d up close Prisoner within the Tower of London, did undergo there several examinations. At length being brought to a trial, and stedfastly denying to take the Oath of Supremacy (as he had done several times before within the Tower) he was drawn thence on a hurdle to Tybourne, on the first day of June in Fifteen hundred seventy and one, 1571 (having been prayed for and animated in his faith by Joh. Feckenham Prisoner in the said Tower) where, after he had spoken a large speech, which was unexspected, and therefore not interrupted, he was for a little time hanged; but before he was half dead, he was cut down, and when the Executioner cut off his privy members, he rose up with alacrity, and gave him a blow on the ear. But his bowels being soon after draw’d out of his belly, and his body quarter’d, his head was set upon London bridge, and his quarters were hanged on 4 gates of the City. Several of his treasons and conspiracies against the English Nation you may see in a pamphlet printed in oct. an. 1571, bearing this title. A copie of a letter sent by a Gentleman, student in the lawes of the realm, to a friend of his concerning Dr. Storie. And what relates to him as praise worthy, you may see in Concertatio (a)(a) Printed at Trier in Germ. 1594. qu. fol. 43. 44. Ecclesiae Catholicae in Anglica, taken from Nichol. Sanders his seventh Book De visibili Monarchia. His Martyrdom is imprinted, or represented (b)(b) Anthony Munday in his English Romayne life—Lond. 1590. qu. p. 25. in the English Coll. at Rome, and he is called with the two Notons, Joh. Felton and others, Saints. The Franciscans have a great respect for his memory also, because he had been a lay-brother of that Order, and had done several signal services for them.