John Stubbs facts for kids
John Stubbs (born around 1544 – died after September 25, 1589) was an English writer and political thinker during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his strong religious beliefs as a Puritan and for writing pamphlets that shared his opinions. Stubbs became famous because his right hand was cut off in 1579 as punishment for writing something the Queen's government didn't like. He died in France while serving in the military.
Early Life and Beliefs
John Stubbs grew up in Norfolk, England. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and later learned law. He was a very dedicated Puritan, which meant he followed a strict form of Protestant Christianity.
Stubbs was worried about the idea of Queen Elizabeth I marrying Francis, Duke of Anjou. Francis was a Roman Catholic and the brother of the King of France. Stubbs believed this marriage would be bad for England because it could weaken Protestantism and bring back Catholic influence.
The French Marriage Pamphlet
In 1579, John Stubbs wrote a pamphlet to share his strong opinions. It was called The Discovery of a Gaping Gulf whereunto England is like to be swallowed by another French Marriage. In this pamphlet, he argued that Queen Elizabeth was too old to have children, so she didn't need to marry. He also believed that a close connection with the French royal family would harm English traditions, language, and values.
Stubbs felt it was important to protect free speech and the freedom to think openly, which he linked to Protestant beliefs. He worried that the proposed marriage could lead to less freedom and a return to strict Catholic rules in England.
Trial and Punishment
Queen Elizabeth's court was very unhappy about Stubbs's pamphlet. They quickly stopped people from reading it. John Stubbs, along with his printer and publisher, were put on trial. They were found guilty of "seditious writing," which meant writing things that encouraged rebellion against the government.
The original punishment was very harsh: they were sentenced to have their right hands cut off. Queen Elizabeth had even considered the death penalty at first, but her adviser convinced her to choose a less severe punishment. The printer was later pardoned, but John Stubbs and his publisher had their hands cut off on November 3, 1579.
After this severe punishment, Stubbs was put in prison for about a year and a half. Even after being released in 1581, he continued to write. He even wrote a response to a Catholic leader's defense of English Catholics. Despite losing his hand and being punished, John Stubbs remained loyal to Queen Elizabeth. He later served in the English Parliament as a representative for Great Yarmouth in 1589.
He died in France and was buried with military honors near Le Havre. He had gone there to volunteer for military service, even with his disability, under Henry of Navarre.
