William Martyn (historian)

Martyn was the author of The Historie and Lives of the Kings of England from William the Conqveror vnto the end of the Raigne of Henrie the Eight, 1615, containing preliminary verses from his three sons and his son-in-law, and an appendix of "succession of dukes and earles" and other particulars. A second edition appeared in 1628, which was illustrated with portraits of the kings by Renold Elstrack. To the third edition in 1638 was added The Historie of King Ed. VI, Queene Mary, and Q. Elizabeth, by B. R., Mr of Arts, longer than all the rest of the lives put together. Thomas Fuller believed that James I took exception to some passages of this book.^[1]

Martyn also wrote Youth's Instruction, 1612 (2nd edit. 1613), for his son Nicholas, then a student at Oxford. Each impression contained verses by his son-in-law, and to the second was prefixed a set by his son William.^[1]

Martyn married at St. Petrock's, on 28 November 1585, Susan, daughter of Thomas Prestwood of Exeter, by whom he had three sons, Nicholas, William, and Edward, and one daughter, Susan, who married Peter Bevis of Exeter. She was buried at All Hallows, Goldsmith Street, Exeter, on 30 January 1605–6. Martyn married for his second wife Jane, daughter of Henry Huishe of Sands in Sidbury, Devon. The eldest son Nicholas Martyn succeeded to his father's estate of Oxton in Kenton.^[1]

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1893). "Martyn, William". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 36. London: Smith, Elder & Co.