Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Maplet, John (d.1592)
MAPLET, JOHN (d. 1592), miscellaneous writer, matriculated as a sizar of Queens' College, Cambridge, in December 1500, proceeded B.A. in 1553–4. was a fellow of Catharine Hall in August 1564, and commenced M.A. in 1567. On 26 Nov. 1568 he instituted, on the presentation of Sir Thomas Mildmay, to the rectory of Great Leighs, Essex, which he exchanged for the vicarage of Northall (now Northolt), Middlesex, on 30 April 1670 (Newcourt, Repertorium, i. 222, 703, ii. 385). He was buried in the chancel of Northolt Church on 7 Sept. 1593 (parish register), leaving issue: John, Thomas (b. 1577), Margaret, Ellen (b. 1575-6l), and Mary (b. 1581). His wife was apparently a widow named Ellen Leap. A few weeks after Maplet's death she married Matthew Randall, servant on her husband's glebe, and died at Ealing in 1595 (Probate Act in Vic. Gen. Book, Bp. London, 1595, f. 32 b). Randall, who became a prosperous yeoman at Ealing, survived until 1630 (Act Book, Comm. Court of Land. 1627–30, f 115 b).
To Northolt Church Maplet left his 'Byble of the greatest vollome' and some small benefactions to the parish (will registered in P. C. C, 70, Scott).
Maplet wrote: 1. 'A Greene Forest, or a Naturall Historie. Wherein may bee seene first the most sufferaigne vertues in all the whole kinde of stones & mettals: next of plants, as of herbes, trees, & shrubs; lastly of brute beastes, foules, fishes, creeping wormes, & serpents,' 8vo, London, 1567, dedicated to Thomas, earl of Sussex. 2. 'The Diall of Destinie . . . wherein maybe seen the continuall . . . course, . . . effectes, and influence of the seven planets upon allkyndes of creatures here below: and unto the severall . . . situation of countryes and kingdomes. Compiled and discussed briefly, as well astrological as poetically,' 12mo, Lond. 1581 (8vo, 1582), dedicated to Sir Christopher Hatton. Both these curious treatises are very rare.
[Information from J. Challenor Smith, esq., and W. H. L. Shadwell, esq.; Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. iii. 135-6; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. 1748, p. 508.]