Edmund Bunny
Encyclopedia
Edmund Bunny was an English churchman, preacher and theological writer, of Calvinist views.
. He was the eldest son of Richard Bunny (d. 1584) of Newton or Bunny Hall in Wakefield parish, who was treasurer of Berwick, and otherwise employed in public services in the north, under Henry VIII and Edward VI; he suffered as a protestant under Mary, and obtained some compensation from Elizabeth (16 June 1574).
Edmund was sent to Oxford University at the age of sixteen, and after graduating B.A. was elected probationer fellow of Magdalen College
. His father meant him for the law, and sent him to Staple Inn
and Gray's Inn
. He decided to enter the church, and was disinherited in favour of Richard, the second son, for so doing.
On 30 March 1564 he received the prebend of Oxgate in St. Paul's Cathedral, in succession to John Braban. Returning to Oxford he graduated M.A. on 14 February 1565, and was soon after elected fellow of Merton College; this was precedented thing, but the reason was that Merton had no one who could preach, while Bunny was a fluent extemporiser. On 10 July 1570 he was made B.D., and became in the same year chaplain to Edmund Grindal
, archbishop of York
, who made him subdean of York, in succession to Robert Babthorp, D.D. (d. 1570), and gave him the rectory of Bolton Percy
. This he held for twenty-five years, and then resigned it. His subdeanery he resigned in 1579, and was succeeded by Henry Wright, M.A. In February 1579 he applied for the degree of D.D., but was refused. Retaining his London prebend, with another at York (Wistow, installed 21 October 1575), and a third at Carlisle (first stall, collated 2 July 1585), he devoted himself to the work of an itinerant preacher, travelling over most parts of England, attended by two servants on horseback, visiting towns and villages, and sometimes his university, as an evangelist.
He died at Cawood
, Yorkshire
, 26 February 1619, and was buried in York Minster
, where there is a monument (with effigy) to his memory.
Anthony Wood
makes use of 'A Defence of his Labour in the Work of the Ministry' (written 20 January 1602, and circulated in manuscript among his friends, against the charge of thrusting himself forward as a preacher), and mentions that Bunny had translated (apparently with revisions) the Imitatio Jesu Christi.
Life
He was born in 1540 at the Vache, the seat of Edward Restwold, his mother's father, near Chalfont St. Giles, BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. He was the eldest son of Richard Bunny (d. 1584) of Newton or Bunny Hall in Wakefield parish, who was treasurer of Berwick, and otherwise employed in public services in the north, under Henry VIII and Edward VI; he suffered as a protestant under Mary, and obtained some compensation from Elizabeth (16 June 1574).
Edmund was sent to Oxford University at the age of sixteen, and after graduating B.A. was elected probationer fellow of Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. His father meant him for the law, and sent him to Staple Inn
Staple Inn
Staple Inn is a building on the south side of High Holborn in London, England. Located near Chancery Lane tube station, it is used as the London office of the Institute of Actuaries and is the last surviving Inn of Chancery and is a listed building....
and Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. He decided to enter the church, and was disinherited in favour of Richard, the second son, for so doing.
On 30 March 1564 he received the prebend of Oxgate in St. Paul's Cathedral, in succession to John Braban. Returning to Oxford he graduated M.A. on 14 February 1565, and was soon after elected fellow of Merton College; this was precedented thing, but the reason was that Merton had no one who could preach, while Bunny was a fluent extemporiser. On 10 July 1570 he was made B.D., and became in the same year chaplain to Edmund Grindal
Edmund Grindal
Edmund Grindal was an English church leader who successively held the posts of Bishop of London, Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Elizabeth I of England.-Early life to the death of Edward VI:...
, archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, who made him subdean of York, in succession to Robert Babthorp, D.D. (d. 1570), and gave him the rectory of Bolton Percy
Bolton Percy
Bolton Percy is a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 305. The village is about four miles east of Tadcaster.-History:...
. This he held for twenty-five years, and then resigned it. His subdeanery he resigned in 1579, and was succeeded by Henry Wright, M.A. In February 1579 he applied for the degree of D.D., but was refused. Retaining his London prebend, with another at York (Wistow, installed 21 October 1575), and a third at Carlisle (first stall, collated 2 July 1585), he devoted himself to the work of an itinerant preacher, travelling over most parts of England, attended by two servants on horseback, visiting towns and villages, and sometimes his university, as an evangelist.
He died at Cawood
Cawood
Cawood is a large village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England that is notable as the finding-place of the Cawood sword....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, 26 February 1619, and was buried in York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
, where there is a monument (with effigy) to his memory.
Works
He published:- 'The Whole Summe of Christian Religion, given forth by two severall methodes or formes: the one higher, for the better learned, the other applyed to the capacitie of the common multitude, and meete for all,' &c., 1576, (black letter).
- 'Institutionis Christianae Religionis, a Jo. Calvino conscriptae, compendium,' &c. 1576. This abridgment of John CalvinJohn CalvinJohn Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
's Institution was translated into English by Edward May, 1580, but had a rival abridgment by William Lawne, 1584, translated by C. Fetherstone, 1585. - 'The Scepter of Judah; or what maner of government it was, that unto the commonwealth or church of Israel was by the will of God appointed,' 1584.
- 'A Book of Christian Exercise, appertaining to Resolution, perused and accompanied now with a Treatise tending to Pacification,' 1584 and many editions to 1630. The first part is the earlier half of a treatise by Robert ParsonsRobert ParsonsRobert Parsons may refer to:* Robert Parsons , English composer* Robert Parsons , English priest* Robert E. Parsons, American politician* Bob Parsons , American entrepreneur...
, the Jesuit, with Bunny's alterations; the second part, printed separately, 1594 and 1598, is his own. Parsons published his work anonymously, with the initials R. P., and Bunny did not know who was the author; Parsons reissued his work with the title 'A Christian Directorie . . . with reprofe of the . . . falsified edition . . . published by E. Buny,' 1585; for Bunny's defence see A briefe Answer below. - 'Certaine Prayers and Godly Exercises for the xvii of November wherein we solemnize the blessed reign of our gracious sovereigne lady Elizabeth,' &c. 1585 (dedication, dated York, 27 September 1585, to the archbishop of Canterbury; Peck says this book gave birth to the accession form).
- 'The Coronation of David: wherein out of that part of the Historic of David that showeth how he came to the Kingdome wee have set forth unto us what is like to be the end of these troubles that daylie arise for the gospels sake,' 1588 (black letter).
- 'Necessary Admonition out of the prophet Joel, concerning that Hand of God that of late was upon us,' &c. 1588.
- 'A briefe Answer unto those idle and frivolous quarrels of R. P. against the late edition of the Resolution,' 1589, (licensed in 1587).
- 'Of Divorce for adulterie and Marrying againe; that there is no sufficient warrant so to do. With a note that R. P. many yeeres since was answered,' Oxford, 1610; also London, same size and date.
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
makes use of 'A Defence of his Labour in the Work of the Ministry' (written 20 January 1602, and circulated in manuscript among his friends, against the charge of thrusting himself forward as a preacher), and mentions that Bunny had translated (apparently with revisions) the Imitatio Jesu Christi.