Henry Stubbe published his first work when he was nineteen years old in 1651. A few years later, and s eager to show off his mastery of Greek, he translated, among others, Donne’s’ “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and Herrick’s “Upon Julia Weeping” (Deliciae Poetarum, Oxford, 1658). In the dedications to his subsequent publications, Stubbe remembered men whom he admired or who had advanced his career: Richard Busby (his teacher), Thomas Barlow (his superior at the Bodleian), and Sir Henry Vane (his patron). Because of his Independent leanings, he wrote against Presbyterian authors, such as William Prynne and Richard Baxter, but he ranged widely in his interests, from discussing church government and medical cures to chocolate and political theory. He admired Hobbes and was “much esteemed” by him, thought Harrigton’s Oceana “light,” praised Milton, corresponded with Locke (who signed his 1659 letter to him as “Admirer”), served John Owen, defended the Quakers, and attacked the Dutch. He was involved in a bitter exchange with supporters of the Royal Society, including Joseph Glanvill, and at one time caught the censorious eye of the Cambridge Platonist Henry More. He wrote pamphlets, treatises, and one-page broadsheets, original pieces as well as translations, rebuttals of other treatises and apologias for his actions. Many of his works proved popular and appeared in second and enlarged editions. After Stubbe’s death, the physician James Cook found some of Stubbe’s notes on the “Ars Cosmetica” and published them at the end of his book. Some of Stubbe’s advice was on how to make gloves that whiten the hands and how to make teeth white. That Stubbe was writing his treatise on Islam while concocting cosmetic tricks highlights the intriguing paradoxes in the personality of the first English biographer of the Prophet Muḥammad.
Notwithstanding his attachment to the university and his voluminous output, the 1674 catalogue of books at the Bodleian included reference to only three of his many works: Deliciæ Poëtarum Anglicanorum in Græcum versæ (1658), The Savilian Professors case stated (1658), and The Indian Nectar (1662) in Thomas Hyde, Catalogus impressorum librorum bibliothecæ Bodlejanæ in academia Oxoniensi (Oxford, 1674), 184. In 1825 John Britton wrote that Stubbe’s works were “now almost forgotten,” The History and Antiquities of Bath Abbey Church (London, 1825), 196, but in 1829, Edmund Oldfield, made a list of all his publications, including those written against him, A topographical and historical account of Wainfleet and the Wapentake (London, 1829), 345–352.
Only three of his books have been published recently (2011): A Censure Upon Certaine Passages Contained in the History of the Royal Society, Campanella Revived, and Rosemary & Bayes, all by the United Methodist Publishing House.
MANUSCRIPT
Letters to Hobbes: BL MS 32553, fols. 5–25.
Nicastro, Onofrio. Lettere di Henry Stubbe a Thomas Hobbes. Sienna, 1973.
“An enquiry into the Supremacy spiritual of the Kings of England, occasioned by a proviso in the late Act of Parliament against conventicles,” TNA: SP 29/275/fos 276–284.
Letters from Bath: BL MS 35835, fols. 269–276.
For the manuscripts of the “Originall & Progress,” see the list in “The Printed and Manuscript Sources: Editorial Policy.”
PRINT
Horae subsecivae, seu, Prophetiae Jonae et Historiae Susannae paraphrasis Graeca versibus heroicis. London, 1651.
Illustrissimo, summaeque spei juveni Henrico Vane Armigero, honoratissimi, & à me blurimùm observandi viri, Dni D.D. Henrici Vane de Raby, equitis aurati, filio primogenitor. London, 1656.
Clamor, rixa, joci, mendacia, furta, cachini, or A severe enquiry into the late oneirocritica published by John Wallis, grammar-reader in Oxon. London, 1657.
A Severe Enquiry into the late Oneirocritica: or, An Exact Accovnt of the Grammatical Part of the Controversy betwixt Mr. Hobbes and J. Wallis D.D. (London, 1657).
Deliciae poetarum Anglicanorum in Graecum versae quibus accedunt elogia Romae & Venetiarum / authore H. Stubbe. Oxford, 1658.
The Savilian professours case stated. Oxford, 1658.
A light shining out of darknes; or, Occasional queries submitted to the judgment of such as would enquire in to the true state of things in our times. London, 1659.
A vindication of that most prudent and honourable knight, Sir Henry Vane, from the lyes and calumnies of Mr. Richard Baxter, minister of Kidderminster: In a monitory letter to the said Mr. Baxter. / By a true friend and servant of the Commonwealth of England, &c. London, 1659.
The common-wealth of Israel; or, A brief account of Mr. Prynne’s anatomy of the good old cause. By H.S. London, 1659.
An essay in defence of the good old cause; or, A discourse concerning the rise and extent of the power of the civil magistrate in reference to spiritual affairs. London, 1659.
The common-wealth of Oceana put into the ballance, and found too light; or, An account of the republick of Sparta with occasional animadversions upon Mr. James Harrington and the Oceanistical model / by Henry Stvbbe. London, 1659.
A letter to an officer of the Army concerning a select senate mentioned by them in their proposals to the late Parliament. London, 1659.
A vindication of that prudent and honourable knight, Sir Henry Vane, from the lyes and calumnies of Mr. Richard Baxter, minister of Kidderminster. London, 1659.
The common-wealth of Oceana put into the ballance, and found too light, or, An account of the republick of Sparta. London, 1660.
The Rota; or, News from the Common-wealths-mens club. London, 1660.
The Indian nectar; or, A discourse concerning chocolata the nature of cacao-nut. London, 1662.
The arts of grandeur and submission; or, A discourse concerning the behaviour of great men towards their inferiours, and of inferiour personages towards men of greater quality. London, 1665.
The miraculous conformist; or, An account of severall marvailous cures performed by the stroking of the hands of Mr. Valentine Greatarick with a physicall discourse thereupon. Oxford, 1666.
Legends no histories; or, A specimen of some animadversions upon the history of the Royal Society. London, 1670.
Lex talionis; sive, Vindiciae pharmacoporum. London, 1670.
Campanella revived; or, An enquiry into the history of the Royal Society. London, 1670.
A censure upon certain passages contained in the History of the Royall Society. Oxford, 1670, expanded ed. 1671.
An epistolary discourse concerning phlebotomy in opposition to G. Thomson pseudochymist, a pretended disciple of the Lord Verulam. Np, 1671.
The Lord Bacons relation to the sweating-sickness examined, in a reply to George Thomson, pretender to physick and chymistry. London, 1671.
Medice cura teipsum! or, The apothecaries plea. London, 1671.
A justification of the present war against the United Netherlands wherein the declaration of His Majesty is vindicated, and the war proved to be just. London, 1672.
Rosemary & Bayes; or, Animadversions upon a treatise called, The rehearsall transprosed [sic]. London, 1672.
A further iustification of the present war against the United Netherlands illustrated with several sculptures. London, 1673.
The Paris gazette. London? 1673.
The history of the United Provinces of Achaia. London, 1673.
Select observations on English bodies of eminent persons in desperate diseases … In the Close is added, Directions for drinking of the Bath-Water, and Ars Cosmetica, or Beautifying Art: By Henry Stubbe, Physitian at Warwick. London, 1679.
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