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John Stubbs

John Stubbs (or Stubbe) (c. 1543 - 1591) was an English pamphleteer during the Elizabethan era.

He was born in Norfolk, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. After studying law at Lincoln's Inn, he lived at Thelveton, Norfolk. His views were Puritan, and he was disgusted by the negotiations for a marriage between Queen Elizabeth and the French Roman Catholic duc d'Anjou.

In 1579 he put his opinions into a pamphlet entitled The Discoverie of a Gaping Gulf whereinto England is like to be Swallowed by another French Marriage. The circulation of this pamphlet was prohibited, and Stubbs, his printer, and publisher were tried at Westminster, found guilty, and sentenced to have their right hands cut off. The printer was subsequently pardoned, but in the case of Stubbs and his publisher the sentence was duly carried out. Stubbs protested his loyalty from the first. His right hand having been cut off, he removed his hat with his left, and cried "God Save the Queen!" before fainting.

He was subsequently imprisoned for eighteen months. On being released he continued to write, publishing, among other pamphlets, a reply to Cardinal Allen's Defence of the English Catholics. He died at Le Havre, France, where he seems to have gone to volunteer for military service under Henry of Navarre.

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