Job Throckmorton facts for kids
Job Throckmorton (1545–1601) was an English politician and writer during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a Puritan, which meant he wanted to make the Church of England simpler. Many historians now believe he was the main author of the famous and funny Martin Marprelate pamphlets. These were anonymous (no one knew who wrote them) and made fun of church leaders.
Contents
Life of Job Throckmorton
Job Throckmorton came from an important family in Warwickshire, England. His father, Clement Throckmorton, was also a Member of Parliament. Job's uncle, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, was a well-known diplomat.
Job studied at Queen's College, Oxford, and finished his studies in 1566. After college, he became a Member of Parliament. He represented East Retford from 1572 to 1583. Later, he represented Warwick from 1586 to 1587.
In 1587, Job Throckmorton and Edward Dunn Lee supported a petition from a man named John Penry. This petition was about preaching in Wales. Because of this, Penry was arrested by John Whitgift, a powerful church leader.
The Martin Marprelate Pamphlets
The seven Martin Marprelate pamphlets appeared in late 1588. These writings were very critical of the Church of England's bishops. For a long time, people debated who wrote them. Some thought it was a group effort.
However, many experts now agree that Job Throckmorton was the main writer. He might have had some help from John Penry. These pamphlets were printed secretly and caused a big stir in England.
Later Life and Challenges
Throckmorton also wrote other pamphlets. Two of them, Master Some laid open in his colours and A Dialogue in which is plainely laid open the tyrannical dealing of the Lord Bishopps, were printed in France in 1589. The first one was a response to a writer named Robert Some.
In 1590, Throckmorton faced a serious accusation of treason. This was a very serious charge, but he managed to avoid punishment.
A church leader named Matthew Sutcliffe attacked Throckmorton in a book in 1592, saying he was a Marprelate author. Throckmorton denied this in his own book, The Defence of Job Throkmorton, against the slaunders of Maister Sutcliffe, which came out in 1594. The argument between them continued for some time. Towards the end of his life, Job Throckmorton lived near Canons Ashby and was friends with John Dod.
Works by Job Throckmorton
- Marprelate Pamphlets (most likely author)
- Oh Read Over Dr. John Bridges – The Epistle (October 1588)
- Oh Read Over Dr. John Bridges – The Epitome (November 1588)
- Certain Mineral and Metaphysical Schoolpoints (February 20, 1589)
- Hay any Work for Cooper (March 1589)
- Theses Martinianæ (July 22, 1589)
- The Just Censure and Reproof of Martin Junior (July 29, 1589)
- The Protestation of Martin Marprelate (September 1589)
- Master Some laid open in his colours (La Rochelle, 1589)
- A Dialogue in which is plainely laid open the tyrannical dealing of the Lord Bishopps (La Rochelle, 1589)
- (Likely author) A Petition directed to her Most Excellent Majestie, wherein Is Delivered 1. A Meane Howe to Compound the Civill Dissention in the Church of England. 2. A Proofe that They Who Write for Reformation Doe Not Offend against the Statute of 23 Elizabeth, c. [2], and Therefore till Matters Bee Compounded, DeserveMore favour (Middelburg, 1592)
- The Defence of Job Throkmorton, against the slaunders of Maister Sutcliffe (1594)
