Francis Herring

Francis Herring M.D. (died 1628) was an English physician, known as a medical and religious writer.

Life

A native of Nottinghamshire, Herring was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1585, M.A. 1589). On 3 July 1599, then a doctor of medicine of Cambridge of two years' standing, he was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians of London. He was censor in 1609, 1618, 1620, 1623, 1624, 1626, and 1627. He was named an elect on 5 June 1623, and died in the beginning of 1628.[1][2]

Works

Mischeefes Mysterie by Francis Herring, translated by John Vicars, 1617

He translated from the Latin of Johann Oberndoerffer, The Anatomyes of the True Physition and Counterfeit Mounte-banke: wherein both of them are graphically described, and set out in their Right and Orient Colours, London, 1602; adding, as appendix, A short Discourse, or Discouery of certaine Stratagems, whereby our London-Empericks haue bene obserued strongly to oppugne, and oft times to expugne their Poore Patients Purses. Herring's other writings were:[1]

• In fœlicissimum … Jacobi primi, Angliæ … Regis, … ad Anglicanæ Reip. gubernacula Ingressum, Poema Gratulatorium, London, 1603.
• Certaine Rules, Directions or Advertisements for this time of Pestilentiall Contagion: with a Caveat to those that weare about their Neckes impoisoned Amulets as a Preservative from the Plague … reprinted … Whereunto is added certaine directions for the poorer sort of people, London, (1603, revised 1625).[3] Another edition, entitled Preservatives against the Plague, was published in 1665.
• A modest Defence of the Caveat given to the wearers of impoisoned Amulets, as Preservatives from the Plague. … Likewise that unlearned … opinion, that the Plague is not infectious, … is … refuted by way of preface, London, 1604. Peter Turner had responded to the previous work with a pamphlet defending the medical properties, particularly against the plague, of amulets containing arsenical compounds. Here Herring replied on behalf of the College of Surgeons.
• Pietas Pontificia, seu, Conjurationis illius prodigiosæ, … in Jacobum … Regē … Novembris quinto, … 1605 … brevis adumbratio poetica, 1606. This was a Latin poem in 493 hexameters, on the Gunpowder Plot and popery.[4] An English verse translation by A. P. was published with the title of Popish Pietie in 1610.
• Pietas Pontificia … ab authore recognita … Accessit Venatio Catholica sive secunda Historiæ pars, &c. (In Jesuitas Epigramma, &c.), London, 1609.

Under the title of Mischeefes Mysterie both parts of Herring's poem on the Gunpowder plot, with A Psalme of Thankesgiving, and An Epigram against Jesuites, were translated into English by John Vicars London, 1617. Another edition, entitled The Quintessence of Cruelty, appeared in 1641.[1]

Notes

1. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1891). "Herring, Francis" . Dictionary of National Biography. 26. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
2. "Herring, Francis (HRN582F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
3. Bakewell, Sarah. "Herring, Francis". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13095. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
4. Phineas Fletcher (1 January 1996). Locustae, Vel, Pietas Jesuitica. Leuven University Press. p. xxxiv. ISBN 978-90-6186-737-1.

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1891). "Herring, Francis". Dictionary of National Biography. 26. London: Smith, Elder & Co.