William Turner

, a noted and forward Theologist and Physician of his time, was born at Morpeth in Northumberland, educated in Cambridge in Trivials, and afterwards for a time in the study of Medicine. This Person who was very conceited of his own worth, hot headed, a busie body, and much addicted to the opinions of Luther, would needs in the height of his study of Physick turn Theologist, but always refused the usual ceremonies to be observed in order to his being made Priest: And whether he had orders confer’d upon him according to the R. Cath. manner, appears not. Sure it is that while he was a young Man, he went unsent for, through many parts of the Nation, and Preached the Word of God, not only in Towns and Villages, but also in Cities. In his rambles he settled for a time in Oxon, among several of his Countrymen that he found there, purposely for the conversation of Men and Books, which is one reason I put him here, the other I shall tell you anon. But whether he took a Degree in Arts or Medicine I cannot yet find. At the same time, and after, following his old trade of preaching without a call, he was imprison’d and kept in close durance for a considerable time. At length being let loose, and banished, he travelled into Italy, and at Ferrara he was made a Doctor of Physick, and as much there in esteem for his faculty, as after his return into England he was among the reformed party. In the latter end of K. Hen. 8. he lived at Colen and other places in Germany, where he published one or more Books: and returning to his native Country when K. Ed. 6. reigned, had not only the Prebendship of Botevant in the Church of York bestowed on him by the Archb. of that place, but a Canonry of Windsore, and the Deanery of Wells by the King. About which time, tho the day, or month, or scarce the Year appears, he was incorporated Doctor of Physick with us, which is another reason I put him here; for if I could have found the certain time, (which appears not because the Register of that Kings Reign is imperfect) I would have remitted him into the Fasti. About that time he procured a licence to read and to preach, as many Lay-men did that were Scholars, practised his faculty among the Nobility and Gentry, and became Physician to Edward Duke of Somerset, L Protector of England. After Q. Mary came to the Crown he left the Nation once more, went into Germany with several English Theologists, thence to Rome and afterwards for a time settled in Basil. But when Qu. Eliz. succeeded, he return’d and was restored to his Deanery, and had other spiritualities, I presume, confer’d upon him, being then a Person had in much esteem for his two faculties, and for the great benefit he did by them, especially in his writings, to the Church and common-wealth. The titles of those Books published under his name are these.

The hunting of the Romish Fox, which more than 7 years hath been hid among the Bishops of England, after that the Kings highness had commanded him (Turner) to be driven out of his Realm. Basil. 1543. oct. Published under the name of Will Wraughton.

Avium praecipuarum, quarum apud Plinium & Aristotelem mentio est, brevis & succincta historia. Colon. 1544. in tw.

Rescuing of the Romish Fox; otherwise called the Examination of the hunter, devised by Steph. Gardiner Doctor and defender of the Popes Canon Law, and his ungodly Ceremonies—Printed 1545. in oct. published also under the name of W. Wraughton.

The hunting of the Romish Wolfe—Printed beyond the Sea in oct.

Dialogue, wherein is contained the examination of the Masse, and of that kind of Priesthood, which is ordained to say Mass, and to offer up for the remission of sinne, the body and blood of Christ againe. Lond. in oct.

New Herball, wherein are contained the names of herbs in Greek, Lat. Engl. Dutch, French, and in the Apothecaries and Herbaries, with the properties, degrees, and natural places of the same. Lond. 1551. and 68. fol. It must be now noted, that after this violent and busie Person had got a license to read and preach, it hapened that in a Lecture of his delivered at Thistleworth near to London, he did therein inveigh much against the Poyson of Pelagius, which had then infected the People very much in all parts of the Nation. This Lecture of his being answered in print by one who was his auditor, he staightway come out with a reply entit.

A Preservative, or Triacle against the poyson of Pelagius, lately renewed and stirred up again, by the furious sect of the Anabaptists. Lond. 1551. in tw. which Book being dedicated to Hugh Latimer was usher’d into the world by several copies of Lat. and Eng. verses set before, and at the end of, it; made by Nich. Grimoald of Merton Coll Tho. Norton of Sharpenhoe, Randol Hurleston or Huddleston and Tho. Soame a Preacher. Afterwards our Author Turner published,

A new Book of spiritual Physick for divers diseases of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of England—Said to be printed at Rome. but false, an. 1555. oct. by Marcus Antonius Constantius, otherwise called Thraso miles gloriosus. ’Tis printed in an English Character, and in the title are 4 Lat. verses directed by Turner, ad nobilem Britannum.

The hunting of the Fox and the Wolfe, because they did make havock of the Sheep of Jesus Christ—printed in oct.

A Book of the natures and properties, as well of the Bathes of England, as of other Bathes in Germany and Italy. Collen 1562. in a thin fol. and in an Eng. Char.

Treatise of the Bath at Baeth in England—Printed with the former Book.

Of the nature of all waters—Printed with the former also.

The nature of wines, commonly used here in England, with a confutation of them that hold, that Renish and other small Wines, ought not to be drunken, either of them that have the stone, the rume, or other diseases. Lond. 1568. oct.

Of the nature and vertue of Triacle—Printed with the next Book going before.

The rare treasure of English Bathes. Lond. 1587. qu.—Several things in this Book, were published from his former Books of Bathes. He also translated into English, (1) A comparison between the old learning and the new. Printed in Southwarke an. 1538. originally written by Urb. Regius. (2) The Palsgraves catechismi. Lond. 1572. oct. What else he hath written and translated, you may see in Joh. Bale, cent. 8. nu. 95. At length after all the rambles and troubles that our Author Turner had made and did endure, he did quietly lay down his head, and departed this life 7. 1568 July in Fifteen hundred sixty and eight. Whereupon his body was buried in the Chancel of the Church of St. Olaves in Hertstreet in London, leaving then behind him several Children, of whom Peter, a Doctor of Physick was one, Father to Samuel and Peter; as I shall tell you elsewhere.