John, a meritorious labourer in ecclesiastical and literary history, was born at Stepney on the 1st of November 1643. His father, John van Stryp, was a native of Brabant, and sought refuge in England on account of his religion. He was a merchant and silk-thower. The son received his early education at St Paul's school, where he remained for six years. In 1662 he proceeded to Jesus College, Cambridge, from which he was transferred to Catherine Hall. In 1665, he there took the degree of A.B., and that of A.M. four years afterwards. He was appointed to the perpetual curacy of Theydon-Boys, in the county of Essex, in 1669; but he only retained it for a few months, having been appointed minister of Low Leyton, in the same county. When far advanced in life, Strype was presented by Archbishop Tenison to the sinecure of Tarring in Sussex. He was also appointed to the lectureship of Hackney, which he resigned in 1724. At Hackney he resided, in his old age, under the roof of one Harris, an apothecary, who was married to his grand-daughter. In this house he died on the 11th of December 1737, at the patriarchal age of ninety-four.

Strype's principal works are—The Life of Archbishop Cranmer, 1694, fol.; The Life of Sir Thomas Smith, 1698, 8vo; The Life of Dr John Ayliffe, Bishop of London, 1701, 8vo; The Life of Sir John Chichester, 1705, 8vo. Amongst the works of his own composition, we may mention—vol. i., 1710, reprinted 1725; vol. ii., 1725; vol. iii., 1728; vol. iv., 1731; The Life of Archbishop Grindal, 1710, fol.; The Life and Letters of Archbishop Parker, 1711, fol.; The Life of Archbishop Whitgift, 1718, fol.; Ecclesiastical Memorials, 1721, 3 vols. fol.

The writings of Strype were for many years neglected, but they are now held in deserved estimation; and they have all been reprinted at the Clarendon press. He is not remarkable for the methodical arrangement of his materials, nor did he ever attain to much proficiency in the art of composition; but no one ever denied him the praise of diligence and fidelity. Besides these works, he published Lessons for Youth and Old Age, 1699, 12mo. He likewise published the second volume of Dr Lightfoot's Works, in 1684; and an elaborate edition of Stow's Survey of London, 1720, 2 vols. fol.

STUARTS, THE. See SCOTLAND and GREAT BRITAIN.