Peter Morwen facts for kids
Peter Morwen (born around 1530, died around 1573) was an English church leader and a translator. He was known as a "Marian exile". This means he had to leave England during the rule of Queen Mary I because of his Protestant beliefs.
Life
Peter Morwen studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1550. In 1552, he became a Fellow, which is like a special member of the college. The next year, he applied for his Master's degree (M.A.).
Morwen was a Protestant, a type of Christian who disagreed with some teachings of the Catholic Church. In October 1553, a bishop named Stephen Gardiner visited Oxford University. During this visit, Morwen was removed from his position because of his Protestant faith. He then left England and went to Germany.
When Queen Elizabeth I became queen, Morwen returned home. On January 25, 1560, he became a deacon, which is a type of church minister. He also received his Master's degree from Oxford on February 16.
Morwen became a rector (a church leader) in several places:
- Langwith, Nottinghamshire in 1560.
- Norbury, Derbyshire in 1564.
- Ryton, Warwickshire in 1556.
His old college friend, Thomas Bentham, who was the bishop of Lichfield, made Morwen his chaplain. A chaplain is a minister who serves a specific person or group. On October 27, 1567, Bentham also gave Morwen a special position called a prebend in Lichfield Cathedral. Someone else took over this prebend on March 6, 1573. This suggests that Peter Morwen likely died a month or two before that date.
Works
Peter Morwen was known for his translations. He translated a book called Josippon into English. This book was a "History of the Jews" written by Joseph Ben Gorion. Morwen probably did most of this work while he was living in Germany as an exile. The first English version of this book was published in 1558. Its full title was A compendious and moste marveylous History of the latter Times of the Jewes Commune Weale. Six more editions of this book were printed later.
Morwen also translated another book from Latin into English. This was Conrad Gesner's Treasure of Euonymus. A new edition of this book, which was about making medicines and other liquids, was published in 1565. Its title was A new Booke of Distillation of Waters, called the Treasure of Euonymus.
