Thomas Beard (theologian) facts for kids
Thomas Beard (died 1632) was an English clergyman and writer with Puritan beliefs. He is famous for his book, The Theatre of Gods Judgements. He was also the schoolmaster of Oliver Cromwell, who later became a very important leader in England. Cromwell went to Beard's school in Huntingdon.
Life Story
Thomas Beard was probably born in Huntingdon, but we don't know the exact year. He studied at Jesus College, Cambridge. He earned several degrees there, including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1588 and a Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) in 1614.
Beard became a rector, which is a type of church leader, in different towns. In 1595, he was the rector of Kimbolton. Later, he moved to Hengrave, Suffolk, and then to Aythorpe Roding, Essex.
In 1605, Beard became the headmaster of the grammar school in Huntingdon. He stayed there for twenty years. This is where Oliver Cromwell was his student, starting around 1604. Beard helped Cromwell prepare for Cambridge University. Cromwell even acted in plays at Beard's school, and Beard became a friend of Cromwell's family.
Beard continued to work as a teacher and a rector. In 1618, he settled in Wistow, where he lived for the rest of his life. He also gave popular lectures in Huntingdon. In 1630, he became a justice of the peace for the county. This meant he helped keep law and order. Thomas Beard was married to Mary Heriman and had children. He passed away in 1632.
His Books
The Theatre of Gods Judgements was Thomas Beard's first and most famous book. It was published in 1597. This book was very popular and was even copied by others. It was partly translated from a French book by Jean de Chassanion, a pastor from France.
Beard's book told many stories about how God punished people for their bad actions. He added stories from other English writers and even from local pamphlets and songs. The book included an interesting account of the "bullet catch" trick. It also contained the first story about the death of Christopher Marlowe, a famous writer, who Beard believed was an atheist. New editions of the book were published in 1612, 1631, and 1648, with more stories added.
In 1625, Beard published another book about the Pope as Antichrist. He also left behind a handwritten play called Evangelical Tragoedie, which was about the Passion of Christ.
