At the top of the page are two oval portraits of Sir Thomas Bodley flanking a central coat of arms. The text in the circular borders of both portraits reads "THOMAS BODLEIVS MILES" original: "Thomas Bodley, Knight". Below the left portrait is Latin text indicating it was based on a marble monument ("From the marble..."). Below the right portrait, text indicates it is based on an image in the Bodleian Library ("From the Likeness in the Bodleian Library"). The central coat of arms features a shield with multiple quarterings, supported by angels above and ornate scrollwork around. The engraver's credit "MBurghers delin. et sculp." appears at the bottom right of the illustration block.

THE LIFE

OF THOMAS BODLEY

Knight Bachelor. original: "Equitis Aurati," literally "Golden Knight," a term for a knight bachelor.

Birth.

THOMAS BODLEY was born in the city of Exeter, on the second day of March, in the year of our Lord’s Incarnation 1544. ^a His father was John Bodley; his mother, Joan, daughter and heir of Robert Hone of Ottery in the County of Devon: he was descended from a noble family on both sides. He was the eldest son of these parents, and by that right, the heir to a sufficiently wealthy inheritance.

His first year coincided with the thirty-fifth year of Henry VIII, when the Reformed Religion, established by that Prince, had occupied nearly all of England. His parents stubbornly adhered to its profession: they retained it even during the reign of Edward VI, and they imbued their little son (as soon as his age allowed) ^b with the same conviction.

Education. 1553.

He studied at Exeter; and in that city, he diligently applied himself to those arts in which childhood is usually instructed in schools, until the ninth year of his age. At which time the untimely death of Edward, and the succession of Queen Mary, signaled ruin for the Reformed Religion and calamities for his parents. For her will toward the Pope was known and clearly seen by all: nor could there be any doubt for anyone that a woman (who could not be pulled away from the Roman Religion either by her father’s authority or her brother’s example), having finally gained power, would extinguish the Reformation and restore Papism A historical term used by Protestants to refer to the Roman Catholic Church and the authority of the Pope..

As this storm gathered, as many as were more prominent in their hatred of the Papal Religion

judged that they must look to their own safety in a timely manner and withdrew themselves from England. Indeed, threats from private individuals also terrified Bodley's father, in addition to the common danger brought by the Queen's conviction. ^c The man's condition was truly bitter: he had to either travel abroad with a significant loss of fortune, or remain in his homeland with the perpetual risk of his life. Since he preferred Religion over life, and life over wealth, he decided to seek safety in flight as soon as He flees to Germany with his father. a suitable opportunity was given for crossing into Germany. Having arranged his domestic affairs, he crossed the sea with his whole family and stayed in Wesel, Wesel. a town of Cleves on the bank of the Rhine. For a great number of English people had fled there for the sake of Religion; who, by the indulgence of the citizens, held public prayers in their own rite and sermons in their own language. From there he set out for Frankfurt; in which town the fugitives from England, received with equal kindness, enjoyed the same liberty in performing sacred rites. But he used these places as inns rather than dwellings. For he finally established his seat at Geneva, which was by far the most famous in those times for its multitude of exiles and its charity toward the Reformed. 1556. age 12.

He applies himself to studies at Geneva.

Thus far concerning the whole family; next, the story will be told of Thomas, the eldest son. That pilgrimage (which we have mentioned) seems to have been first inconvenient for his education, but afterwards quite useful. For if anything happens to interrupt those who have entered the course of studies and have been imbued with a light taste of literature, the lessons which we have drunk in slip away from the soft memory,

^a original: "Wood Athen. Vol. 1. pag. 326." Referring to Anthony Wood’s Athenae Oxonienses, a famous biographical dictionary of Oxford-educated writers. ^b original: "Ibid." (In the same place). ^c original: "Commentarii Vitæ Bodleii à se scripti." Referring to the autobiographical "Life of Sir Thomas Bodley."