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Becon, Thomas, D.D.

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prebend of Canterbury, was born 1511 or 1512, place unknown. He graduated at St. John's College, Cambridge, 1530, was ordained 1538, and obtained the vicarage of Brensett, Kent. He had imbibed the principles of the Reformation from Stafford and Latimer at Cambridge, but was cautious in expressing his views, publishing under the name of Theodore Basil. Nevertheless, he was imprisoned, and in 1541 recanted at Paul's Cross, and burned his books. On the accession of Edward VI he was made rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, 1547, and chaplain to Cranmer. He was again imprisoned in Queen Mary's time, but escaped in 1554 and went to Strasburgh. His writings were denounced in a royal proclamation of 1555. On the accession of Elizabeth he was restored to his old rectory, but the strong Protestant principles which he professed hindered his advancement under a government which persecuted Puritanism. He died at Canterbury, 1563 (or 1567?). He was a very voluminous writer in the Reformation controversy, and his vigor, earnestness, and erudition have kept his books in demand. They were collected in 3 vols. fol. (Lond. 1563-4), and have been recently reprinted by the Parker Society (Camb. 1843-4, 2 vols. 8vo), with a sketch of Becon's life. — Princeton Ret. 5, 504.