Bridges, John (1536-03-25 - 1618-03-25)

Born in either London or Devon ca. 1536. Matriculated from Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1544; migrated to Pembroke in 1566, was fellow there and BA, 1556-1557. He then spent three or four years in Italy where he translated three books of Machiavelli's discourses from Italian, but decided not to publish them after hearing a sermon denouncing Machiavelli at Paul's Cross. Returned to Peterhouse for his MA, in 1560; BD, 1564; DD, 1575. Ordained deacon in 1560. Rector of Paglesham, Essex, 1562. Vicar of Herne, Kent, 1562-1590. Canon of Winchester, 1565. Vicar of Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, 1566. Rector of Brightwell, Berkshire, 1566; and of Chariton, Hampshire. 1572. Dean of Salisbury, 1577. Rector of Harbledown, Kent, 1579-89; and of Snave, 1590. Vicar of Broughton, Hampshire, 1598. He was also an author of religious controversy, publishing Supremacie of Christian Princes against Catholic writers Thomas Stapleton and Nicholas Sander in 1573. John Aylmer,Bishop of London suggested him as someone who could write a reply to Edmund Campion's Ten Reasons. But his most famous work was the 1400-page Defence of the Government Established in the Church of England (1587), which provided ample material for the church's critics, included the author known as Martin Marprelate. Made Bishop of Oxford in 1604. Married twice, first to an unknown woman ca. 1577, then to Jane Davey in 1592. He had a son named William with his first wife (b. 1579). Died 24 March 1618.