Martin Grene facts for kids

Martin Grene (1616–1667) was an English Jesuit. Jesuits are members of a Catholic religious order called the Society of Jesus. Grene was known for his skills as a historian, philosopher, and writer.

Early Life and Education

Martin Grene was born in 1616. There are different ideas about where he was born. Some say he was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. His parents, George Grene and Jane Tempest, might have moved there to escape difficult times in England. However, other records suggest he was born in Kent, England.

Martin was the older brother of Christopher Grene. He studied at the English Jesuit college in St. Omer, a town in France. In 1638, he officially joined the Jesuit order.

Career as a Jesuit

By 1642, Martin Grene was working as a professor at the Jesuit college in Liege, which is now in Belgium. He also held important positions in other places run by the English Jesuits in Europe.

In 1653, he was working in Oxfordshire, England. After spending twelve years working on missions, he was called back to Watten, near St. Omer. There, he was put in charge of training new Jesuits.

Martin Grene passed away on October 2, 1667, in Watten. He was remembered as a very talented person. He was skilled in many areas, including history, philosophy, and religious studies.

Martin Grene's Writings

Martin Grene wrote several important books and manuscripts during his lifetime. These works showed his deep knowledge and understanding of history and religious topics.

Published Works

• An Answer to the Provincial Letters: This book was published in Paris in 1659. It was a translation from a French book, but Grene added many of his own improvements. He also included a short history of a religious movement called Jansenism.
• An Account of the Jesuites Life and Doctrine: This book was published in London in 1661. It explained the life and teachings of the Jesuits. It was a very popular book, especially with the Duke of York, who later became King James II.

Unpublished Works

• Vox Veritatis, seu Via Regia ducens ad veram Pacem: This was a manuscript, meaning it was a handwritten work that was not printed during his lifetime. His brother, Francis Grene, later translated it into English. It was then printed in Ghent in 1676.
• The Church History of England: This was another manuscript that Martin Grene was working on. It started with the reign of King Henry VIII. The first part of this history was ready to be printed when he died.

Martin Grene was also very good at studying old things and history. He shared a lot of information about Catholic affairs in England with another historian, Father Daniello Bartoli. This information was used in Bartoli's book, 'Istoria della Compagnia di Giesu: L'Inghilterra,' which was published in 1667.