Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Martin, Anthony

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1443014Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 36 — Martin, Anthony1893Gordon Goodwin

MARTIN, ANTHONY (d. 1597), miscellaneous writer, son of David Martin (d. 1556) of Twickenham, Middlesex, by his wife, Jane Cooke (d. 1563) of Greenwich, Kent, was a member of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, when Queen Elizabeth visited the university in August 1564. He does not appear to have graduated. About 1570 he was appointed gentleman sewer of the queen's chamber, which office he held for life. On the night of 27 April 1570, after leaving the palace at Westminster, he was waylaid by George Varneham of Richmond, Surrey, with whom he was at feud, and forced to fight with him. He gave Varneham a wound, of which he died the following day, and Martin had to enter into recognisances to appear at the next gaol delivery at Newgate (Middlesex County Records, ed. Jeaffreson, i. 65-6). By letters patent dated on 8 Aug. 1588 he was constituted keeper of the royal library within the palace of Westminster for life, with the annual stipend of twenty marks. The queen also granted him a leasehold at Richmond, Surrey. On 2 Nov. 1591, being then cup-bearer to the queen, he was empowered to license all merchants to purchase and export tin, they paying him fourpence on every hundredweight exported (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1591-4 p. 119, 1598-1601 p. 65). He died unmarried at Richmond, and was buried at Twickenham on 25 Aug. 1597.

Martin published: 1. 'The Tranquillitie of the Minde : a very excellent . . . oration . . . compyled in Latine by John Bernarde . . . now lately translated into Englishe,' 8vo, London, 1570. 2. 'The Common Places of . . . Doctor Peter Martyr. . . . Translated and part he gathered by A. Marten,' fol., London, 1583. 3. 'An Exhortation, to stirre up the mindes of all her Majesties faithfull subjects, to defend their Countrey in this dangerous time from the Invasion of Enemies,' 4to, London, 1588 ; at the end are his prayers to this purpose, pronounced in her majesty's chapel and elsewhere (reprinted in the 'Harleian Miscellany'). 4. 'A second Sound, or Warning of the Trumpet unto Judgment, wherein is proved that all the Tokens of the latter Day are not onelie come, but welneere finished,' 4to, London, 1589. 5. 'A Reconciliation of all the Pastors and Cleargy of the Church of England,' 4to, London, 1590.

[Notes kindly supplied by J. Challenor Smith, esq.; Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. ii. 242, 550; Cat. of Books in Brit. Mus. to 1640; will of David Martin in Commissary Court of London, 1557, f. 20 a; will of Jane Martin in P. C. C. 15, Chayre; will of Anthony Martin in P. C. C. 107, Cobham.]

G. G.