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Story
November 9, 1843
Jeffersonian Republican
Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Milford, Monroe County, Pike County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Anecdote from Benjamin Franklin's autobiography describing how his Protestant family in England secretly read a prohibited English Bible during Queen Mary I's reign by concealing it inside a stool lid.
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The Bible Prohibited
Dr. Franklin, in his own Life, has preserved the following singular anecdote of the Bible being prohibited in England in the time of Mary, the Catholic. His family had then early embraced the reformation: "They had an English Bible, and to conceal it the more securely, they conceived the project of fastening it open with pack threads across the leaves, on the inside of the lid of a stool! When my grandfather wished to read to his family, he reversed the lid of the stool upon his knees, and passed the leaves from one side to another, which were held down on each by the pack thread. One of the children was stationed at the door to give notice if he saw an officer of the Spiritual Court make his appearance; in that case the lid was restored to its place, with the Bible concealed under it as before."
Dr. Franklin, in his own Life, has preserved the following singular anecdote of the Bible being prohibited in England in the time of Mary, the Catholic. His family had then early embraced the reformation: "They had an English Bible, and to conceal it the more securely, they conceived the project of fastening it open with pack threads across the leaves, on the inside of the lid of a stool! When my grandfather wished to read to his family, he reversed the lid of the stool upon his knees, and passed the leaves from one side to another, which were held down on each by the pack thread. One of the children was stationed at the door to give notice if he saw an officer of the Spiritual Court make his appearance; in that case the lid was restored to its place, with the Bible concealed under it as before."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Bravery Heroism
Providence Divine
What keywords are associated?
Bible Prohibition
Queen Mary
Franklin Family
Secret Reading
Reformation
Religious Persecution
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Franklin
My Grandfather
Where did it happen?
England
Story Details
Key Persons
Dr. Franklin
My Grandfather
Location
England
Event Date
In The Time Of Mary, The Catholic
Story Details
Franklin's family, early reformers, hid an English Bible inside a stool lid with pack threads to read it secretly; grandfather read by reversing the lid on his knees, with a child watching for spiritual court officers.