BALE, John, bishop of Ossory, in Ireland, was bornât Cove, near Dunwich, in Suffolk, in the year 1495. At twelve years of age he was entered in the monastery of Carmelites at Norwich, and thence sent some years afterwards to Jesus College in Oxford. He was educated a Roman Catholic, but afterwards converted to the Protestant religion by Thomas Lord Wentworth. On the death of Lord Cromwell, the favourite of Henry VIII. who protected him from the persecutions of the Romish clergy, he was obliged to fly into the Low Countries, where he continued eight years. Soon after the accession of Edward VI. he was recalled; and being first presented to the living of Bishop’s Stocke in Hampshire, in 1552, he was nominated to the see of Ossory. During his residence in Ireland he was remarkably assiduous in propagating the Protestant doctrines; but to very little purpose, it would seem, and frequently at the hazard of his life. On the accession of Queen Mary the tide of opposition became so powerful that, to avoid assassination, he embarked for Holland; but he was very unfortunate in his attempt to escape, being first taken by a Dutch man-of-war, and robbed by the captain of all his effects, then forced by stress of weather into St Ives in Cornwall, where he was arrested on suspicion of treason. Having obtained his release, however, after a few days’ confinement, the ship anchored in Dover road, where he was again seized on a false accusation, but soon liberated. On his arrival in Holland he was kept prisoner for three weeks, but at length obtained his liberty on paying L.30. From Holland he travelled to Basil in Switzerland, where he continued till Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne. After his return to England he was in 1560 made prebendary of Canterbury; and died in November 1563, at Canterbury, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was the author of many works, the most noted of which is his collection of British Biography, entitled Illustrium Majoris Britannice Scriptorum Catalogus, a Japheto sanctissimi Noae filio ad An. Bom. 1557. This work was first published in 4to in 1549, and afterwards with various additions in folio in 1559. Ames and Herbert have given the following list of his other works :—1. The Actes of Englysh Votaries, comprehending their unchast practyses and examples by all ages, from the world’s beginning to this present year, collected out of their own legendes and chronicles, 8vo, 1546, 1548,1551, and 1560. 2. Yet a course at the Romyshe Fox, by John Harrison, i. e. Bale, Zurich, 1543. From this was published the Declaration of William Tolwyn, London, date uncertain; Ames says 1542, which must be a mistake. 3. The Apology of Johan Bale agaynste a ranke Papyst, answering both hym and hys doctours, that neyther their vowes nor yet their priesthode are of the gospel, but of Antichrist; with this, A brefe exposycion upon the χχχ chapter of Numeri, London, 1550, 8vo. 4. An Expostulation or Complaynt, agaynste the blasphemyes of a frantic Papyst of Hamshyre, with metrical versions of the 23d and 130th Psalms, London, 1552 and 1584, 8vo, 5. The Image of both Churches, after the most wonderful and heavenly Revelation of Sainct John the Evangelist, contayning a very fruitefull exposicion or paraphrase upon the same, first, second, and third parts, London, 1550 and 1584, 8vo. 6. A brefe Chronicle concerning the examinacion and death of the blessed Martir of Christ Sir Johan Oldecastle, Lord Cobham, 1544 and 1576, 8vo* reprinted also in 1729. 7. The vocacyon of Johan Bale to the Bishoprick of Ossorie in Ireland, his persecutions in the same, and final deliveraunce, London, 1553, 8vo. Herbert mentions two editions in the same year. 8. A Declaration of Edmonde Bonner’s Articles, concerning the Cleargye of London Dyocese, whereby that execrable antychriste is in his righte colours reueled in the year of our Lord 1554. Newlye set forth and allowed. London, 156 , 8vo. 9. The Pageant of Popes, containing the lyves of all the bishops of Rome, from the beginninge of them to the yeare of grace 1555, London, 1574, 4to. This is a translation from Bale’s Latin edition, by J. S. z. e John Studley. 10. A new Comedy or Interlude, concerning the Laws of Nature, Moises, and Christ, London, 1562, 4to. This was written in 1532, and first printed in the time of Edward VI. 11. A Tragedie or Enterlude, mani∙ resting the chief promises of God unto man, by all ages in the olde lawe, from the fall of Adam to the incarnation, London, 1577, 4to. 12. A Mystereye of Inyquyte contayned within the heretycall genealogye of Ponce Pantolabus, is here both dysclosed and confuted, Geneva, 1545, 16to. 13. The First Examination of the worthy servaunt of God Mastres Anne Askew, Marpurg, 1546, 16to, and the Lattre Examinacion of the same, ibid

1547. 14. A briefe and faythfull declaration of the true Faith in Christ, 1547, 16to. Mr Herbert conjectures this to be Bale’s. The initials only of the author are given. 15. The laboryouse journey and serche of Johan Leylande, for Englandes Antiquitees, &c. London, 1549, 16to, reprinted in the Life of Leland (with those of Wood and Hearne) 1772, and followed there by a memoir of Bale. 16. The confession of the synner after the sacred scriptures, 1549, 8vo. 17. A Dialogue or Communycacyon to be had at a table between two chyldren, gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, by John Bale for his two yonge sonnes, Johan and Paule, London, 1549. He also translated, 1. Bapt. Mantuanus’s Treatise on Death, London, 1584, 8vo. 2. The true hystorie of the Christen departynge of the reverend man D. Martyne Luther, &c. 1546, 8vo. 3. A godly Medytacyon of the Christen Soule, from the French of Margaret queen of Navarre, London, probably

1548, 8vo. Tanner has given a list of his manuscripts, with the names of the places where they are preserved.