Martin Marprelate facts for kids

Martin Marprelate was a secret name used by the person or people who wrote seven special pamphlets in England between 1588 and 1589. These pamphlets were printed and shared secretly because they were illegal. Their main goal was to strongly criticize the leaders, called bishops, of the Church of England.

Why Were the Tracts Written?

In 1583, a new leader named John Whitgift became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He started to crack down on a group within the church called the Presbyterians. This group wanted the church to be run differently, with more power given to local leaders instead of bishops.

This time also brought strict rules about what could be printed. By 1586, the archbishop had the power to control all printing in the country. This meant that anything critical of the church or government could not be published openly. The Martin Marprelate pamphlets were written to challenge this control and the power of the bishops.

Who Wrote the Martin Marprelate Tracts?

For a long time, no one knew for sure who "Martin" was. Many people guessed different authors. One popular guess was John Penry, a preacher from Wales who wrote many strong criticisms of the church.

Other people thought it might be the Welsh soldier Roger Williams, or a politician named Job Throckmorton. Some even suggested George Carleton or Henry Barrow.

Today, most experts believe that Job Throckmorton was the main writer. He was helped by John Penry. The pamphlets had to be printed in secret, and the printing press was moved often to avoid being caught by the authorities. John Penry was definitely involved in the printing, even though he said he didn't write the pamphlets himself.

How Did the Government Respond?

The government was very worried about these strong attacks on the church leaders. They decided to fight back by hiring their own writers. Famous writers like Thomas Nashe, Robert Greene, and John Lyly were paid to write pamphlets that criticized "Martin Marprelate."

The Martin Marprelate pamphlets often used very strong language, sometimes even calling the bishops "Antichrist." The government's writers also used colorful names, like "the renowned Cavaliero Pasquill," to mock "Martin." Even a well-known thinker named Francis Bacon wrote about the issues, though he also had some criticisms for the bishops.