Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Herring, Francis
HERRING, FRANCIS, M.D. (d. 1628), physician, a native of Nottinghamshire, was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1585, M.A. 1589). On 3 July 1599, being then a doctor of medicine of Cambridge of two years' standing, he was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians. He was censor in 1609, 1618, 1620, 1623, 1624, 1626, and 1627. He was named an elect on 5 June 1623, and died in the beginning of 1628. He translated from the Latin of J. Oberndoerffer, ‘The Anatomyes of the True Physition and Counterfeit Mounte-banke: wherein both of them are graphically described, and set out in their Right and Orient Colours,’ 4to, London, 1602. He took occasion to add, by way of appendix, ‘A short Discourse, or Discouery of certaine Stratagems, whereby our London-Empericks haue bene obserued strongly to oppugne, and oft times to expugne their Poore Patients Purses.’ Herring's other writings are: 1. ‘In fœlicissimum … Jacobi primi, Angliæ … Regis, … ad Anglicanæ Reip. gubernacula Ingressum, Poema Gratulatorium,’ 4to, London, 1603. 2. ‘A modest Defence of the Caveat given to the wearers of impoisoned Amulets, as Preservatives from the Plague. … Likewise that unlearned … opinion, that the Plague is not infectious, … is … refuted by way of preface,’ 4to, London, 1604. 3. ‘Pietas Pontificia, seu, Conjurationis illius prodigiosæ, … in Jacobum … Regē … Novembris quinto, … 1605 … brevis adumbratio poetica,’ 4to [London], 1606. An English verse translation by A. P. was published with the title of ‘Popish Pietie’ in 1610. 4. ‘Pietas Pontificia … ab authore recognita … Accessit Venatio Catholica sive secunda Historiæ pars, &c. (In Jesuitas Epigramma, &c.) [With other pieces in verse],’ 8vo, London, 1609. Under the title of ‘Mischeefes Mysterie’ both parts of Herring's poem on the Gunpowder plot, with ‘A Psalme of Thankesgiving,’ ‘An Epigram against Jesuites,’ &c., were translated into English and ‘very much dilated’ by John Vicars, 4to, London, 1617, of which another edition, entitled ‘The Quintessence of Cruelty,’ appeared in 1641. 5. ‘Certaine Rules, Directions or Advertisements for this time of Pestilentiall Contagion: with a Caveat to those that weare about their Neckes impoisoned Amulets as a Preservative from the Plague … reprinted … Whereunto is added certaine directions for the poorer sort of people,’ 4to, London, 1625. Another edition, entitled ‘Preservatives against the Plague,’ was published in 1665.
[Munk's Coll. of Phys. 1878, i. 116; Brit. Mus. Cat.]