CHRONOLOGY OF WILLIAM TURNER’S LIFE

1508-1510 Born Morpeth; possibly son of John Turner, a tanner 1526 To Pembroke College, Cambridge on a scholarship provided by Thomas, Lord Wentworth; meets inter alia William Cecil, Sir John Cheke, Roger Ascham (Elizabeth I’s future tutor), Nicholas Ridley (who teaches him Greek) and Hugh Latimer (who involves him in religious debates). 1530 Graduated BA. 1531 Fellow of Pembroke; holds administrative posts for his college. 1533 Gains MA; goes on to read medicine. 1537 Takes deacon’s orders; may have acquired license to preach. Preaching round Oxford; polemical tracts. 1538 published Libellus de re herbaria novus. 1540 Marriage to Joan Auder [also spelt Jane Alder] of Cambridge; this breaks the law established by the Six Articles forbidding a clergyman, even in minor orders, to marry. 1541 Leaves England and heads for the universities of Bologna and Ferrara. 1542 Son Peter Turner born in London; two daughters later in 1540s born abroad. 1542-1544 Turner takes degree of Doctor of Medicine at Ferrara; moves up through Switzerland, meeting Konrad Gessner in Zurich, to the Rhineland, where for possibly about 9 months he is based round Bonn-Cologne. Writes politico-religious tracts, and a book on birds [1544]. Probably meets the reformer John à Lasco [Jan Łaski] at this time. 1554-c.1547 Physician to Countess Anna of Oldenberg, regent of East Friesland; JL also working for Countess Anna. 1546 Henry VIII bans Turner’s writings. 1547 Edward VI accedes to the throne. Turner returns to England. c.1548 Physician to Edward Seymour, Lord Protector Somerset at Syon House; MP for Luggershall in Wiltshire until 1552. Lives at Kew. Involved in debates about establishing reformed church in England: distinguished foreign refugees, including John à Lasco, Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr, in England at this time. 1549 publishes The Names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englishe, Duche and Frenche; made Prebend of Botevant in York, a non-residential appointment. Fall of Somerset. 1550 Becomes Dean of Wells, but only secures residence in 1551/2. 1551 Publication of Pt I of A New Herball 1552 Execution of Somerset. Turner is ordained priest. 1550s Turner refuses offer of bishopric in Ireland. 1553 Accession of Mary Tudor, who goes on to marry Philip II of Spain. 1553/54 Turner leaves England, ending up eventually at Weissembourg in Germany (known to be there 1557); writes letter to Gessner on fishes. 1555 Philip and Mary ban Turner’s works. 1558 Elizabeth accedes to the throne; Turner returns. 1560 Turner regains residence and property at Wells, and acquires a group of rectories in the area. 1562 Pt II of Herball and Booke of Bathes published by Arnold Birckman, international firm based at Cologne. 1563 Turner is involved in vestiarian controversy; suspended briefly and then submits to royal authority over clerical dress; continues to publish religious pamphlets and a translation of the Heidelberg catechism; starts writing English history. 1564-66 Turner moves to London, on the grounds of ill-health, though conditions to receive stipend; lives in Crutched Friars. 1568 Pt III (written 1564) published in complete Herball; books on wines and triacles. Death of Turner. Buried in St Olave’s Church, Hart Street.

©Marie Addyman, 2016