John Stubbs (a political commentator)

• He was a puritan; and hears a rumour 48-year-old Elizabeth is gonna marry Duke of Anjou: a French Catholic (brother of King) who is 24
• In 1579 he put his opinions into a pamphlet entitled: “Gaping Gulf”; he says it would be “an immoral union, an uneven yoking of the clean ox [Elizabeth] to the unclean ass [Duke of Anjou], a thing forbidden in the law”
• Stubbs said it was freedom of speech but the publication is banned and 1583 he has his right hand cut off - he says “pray for me now my calamity is at hand” - he faints due to the agony and says God save the Queen
• Imprisoned for 18 months and becomes an MP - but he still comments on Elizabeth’s sex life