Francis Marbury
Encyclopedia
Francis Marbury, or Merbury (1555–1611) was a Cambridge educated English clergyman, school master, and Puritan reformer now remembered as a playwright and the father of Anne Hutchinson
.
in 1571, but is not known to have graduated. He was ordained deacon
in 1578; his ordination as priest was delayed until 1605.
As a young man he was a “hothead” and collided with the church authorities, and in particular with John Aylmer
, over the issue of the provision of well-educated preachers. Aylmer called him an "overthwart, proud, puritan knave" in November 1578, and sent him to the Marshalsea
, after hearing Marbury's views on financing preachers by mulcting (fining) the bishops: "A man might cut a good large thong out of your hyde and the rest, and it would not be missed". He was twice imprisoned, and spent time in Northampton
, and Alford, Lincolnshire
, unable to preach.
He became lecturer at St Saviour, Southwark. With the support of Richard Vaughan
, the Bishop of London
, he was rehabilitated and moved to London. He was rector of St Martin Vintry
in 1605, of St Pancras, Soper Lane
in 1608, and of St Margaret, New Fish Street
in 1610.
, and an adaptation of its sequel The Marriage of Wit and Science.
Anne Hutchinson
, the early dissident pioneer and Protestant reformer, was his second daughter by his second marriage. Following in her father's footsteps, she was a reformer who was a pioneer settler in Massachusetts
, Rhode Island
, and New Netherlands and the unauthorized minister of a dissident church discussion group.
His daughter Katherine married Richard Scott, moved to New England
, and became one of the first Quakers in Providence.
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was one of the most prominent women in colonial America, noted for her strong religious convictions, and for her stand against the staunch religious orthodoxy of 17th century Massachusetts...
.
Life
Marbury matriculated at Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
in 1571, but is not known to have graduated. He was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1578; his ordination as priest was delayed until 1605.
As a young man he was a “hothead” and collided with the church authorities, and in particular with John Aylmer
John Aylmer (English constitutionalist)
John Aylmer was an English bishop, constitutionalist and a Greek scholar.-Early life and career:He was born at Aylmer Hall, Tilney St. Lawrence, Norfolk...
, over the issue of the provision of well-educated preachers. Aylmer called him an "overthwart, proud, puritan knave" in November 1578, and sent him to the Marshalsea
Marshalsea
The Marshalsea was a prison on the south bank of the River Thames in Southwark, now part of London. From the 14th century until it closed in 1842, it housed men under court martial for crimes at sea, including those accused of "unnatural crimes", political figures and intellectuals accused of...
, after hearing Marbury's views on financing preachers by mulcting (fining) the bishops: "A man might cut a good large thong out of your hyde and the rest, and it would not be missed". He was twice imprisoned, and spent time in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, and Alford, Lincolnshire
Alford, Lincolnshire
- Notable residents :* Captain John Smith who lived in nearby Willoughby* Anne Hutchinson, pioneer settler and religious reformer in the United States* Thomas Paine, who was an excise officer in the town....
, unable to preach.
He became lecturer at St Saviour, Southwark. With the support of Richard Vaughan
Richard Vaughan (bishop)
-Life:His father was Thomas ap Robert Fychan of Nyffryn, Llyn, Caernarvonshire. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1574, MA in 1577, and DD in 1589...
, the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, he was rehabilitated and moved to London. He was rector of St Martin Vintry
St Martin Vintry
St Martin Vintry was a parish church in the Vintry ward of the City of London, England. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and never rebuilt.-History:...
in 1605, of St Pancras, Soper Lane
St Pancras, Soper Lane
St Pancras, Soper Lane was a parish church in the City of London. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt.-History:...
in 1608, and of St Margaret, New Fish Street
St Margaret, New Fish Street
St Margaret, New Fish Street is a former church in the City of London. The Mortality Bill for the year 1665, published by the Parish Clerks' Company, shows 97 parishes within the City of London. By September 6 the city lay in ruins, 86 churches having been destroyed...
in 1610.
Works
The Contract of Marriage between Wit and Wisdom was offered for acting if not certainly performed in 1579. It was a moral interlude or “wit play”, following The Play of Wyt and Science by John RedfordJohn Redford
John Redford was a major English composer and organist of the Tudor period.From about 1525 he was organist at St Paul's Cathedral and choirmaster there from 1534. Many of his works are represented in the Mulliner Book...
, and an adaptation of its sequel The Marriage of Wit and Science.
Family
Marbury was married twice producing eighteen children of which several survived to adulthood. Two daughters are remembered in early American colonial history.Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was one of the most prominent women in colonial America, noted for her strong religious convictions, and for her stand against the staunch religious orthodoxy of 17th century Massachusetts...
, the early dissident pioneer and Protestant reformer, was his second daughter by his second marriage. Following in her father's footsteps, she was a reformer who was a pioneer settler in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and New Netherlands and the unauthorized minister of a dissident church discussion group.
His daughter Katherine married Richard Scott, moved to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and became one of the first Quakers in Providence.
Further reading
- The Marriage Between Wit and Wisdom (1971), Malone SocietyMalone SocietyThe Malone Society is a British-based scholarly society devoted to the study of sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century drama. It publishes editions of plays from manuscript, facsimile editions of printed and manuscript plays of the period, and editions of original documents relating to English...
Reprint Series, No. 125 - T. N. S. Lennam, Francis Merbury, 1555-1611, Studies in Philology, Vol. 65, No. 2 (Apr., 1968), pp. 207-222