John Bernard (died 1554) was an English academic and religious author. He is known for a Latin devotional work Oratio Pia that was published some 14 years after his death, and then translated into English.^[1]

Bernard was from Yorkshire, and is thought to have been from the West Riding. He was a student at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he was a scholar in 1541. He proceeded B.A. in 1543–4. He became Trotter's priest there about 1544, and a Fellow shortly afterwards that year. He commenced M.A. in 1547.^[1][2]

Bernard was bursar of his college from 1550 to 1552. At the beginning of the reign of Mary I of England, he retained his fellowship, he retained his fellowship, despite reforming and evangelical Protestant views, and that year was licensed to preach. He died in 1554.^[1]

Bernard composed Oratio pia, religiosa, et solatii plena, de vera animi tranquillitate. It was found in the author's study, after his death, and published at London, 1568, with a dedication to the courtier Peter Osborne, by his brother Thomas Bernard who edited the work. A translation into English, by Anthony Marten, was published under the title of The Tranquillitie of the mind: an excellent Oration directing every man and woman to the true tranquillity and quietness of the minde, London, 1570.^[3]

The book is considered an example of the Protestant belles lettres of the period, comparable with works of the Huguenot minister Jean de L'Espine, and of Jeremias Bastingius from Middelburg.^[4]

Bernard was the brother of Thomas Bernard (died 1582) and uncle of Daniel Bernard.^[3]

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1885). "Bernard, John (d.1567?)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co.