Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Panke, John
PANKE, JOHN (fl. 1608), divine, is stated by Wood to have been a 'very frequent and noted preacher of his time … well read in theology … and a very zealous enemy in his writings and preachments against the Papists.' He was educated at Oxford, but at what college is not known. Upon leaving Oxford he held the vicarage of Broadhinton, Wiltshire, and afterwards the rectory of North Tidworth, Wiltshire, both in the Salisbury diocese. His last work is dated from Salisbury, where, according to Wood, he 'had some cure.'
He was author of: 1. 'Short Admonition, by way of Dialogue, to all those who hitherto upon pretence of their unworthines have dangerously in respect of their Salvation withdrawn themselves from comming to the Lordes Table,' &c., Oxford, 1604, 8vo. 2. 'The Fal of Babel by the Confusion of Tongues, directly proving against the Papists of this and former ages; that a view of their writings and bookes being taken, it cannot be discerned by any man living what they should say, or howbe understoode, in the question of the sacrifice of the Masse, the Reall presence or Transubstantiation, &c. By John Panke,' Oxford, 1608, 4to; 1613, 4to. This is dedicated from Tidworth, 1 Nov. 1607, to the heads of colleges at Oxford. 3. 'Eclogarius, or Briefe Summe of the Truth of that Title of Supreame Governour, given to his Majestie in causes spirituall and Ecclesiasticall, &c.; not published before. By John Panke,' Oxford, 1612, 4to. 4. 'Collectanea, out of St. Gregory the Great and St. Bernard the Devout, against the Papists who adhere to the present Church of Rome, in the most fundamental Points between them and us,' Oxford, 1618, 8vo. This is dedicated 'from the Close at Sarum, 24 January 1618,' to George Churchowse, mayor of Sarum. It was reprinted at Salisbury, 1835, 8vo, under the title of 'Romanism condemned by the Church of Rome.'
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 274; Hoare's Modern Wiltshire, Hundred of Ambresbury, p. 92; Brit. Mus. Libr. Cat.]