anthony cope was the second son of edward cope (d. 1557) (son of the author anthony cope (d. 1551)) by his wife elizabeth mohun (d. 1587), daughter and heiress of walter mohun of wollaston, northamptonshire. after his father's death, the wardship of anthony then aged about 9, his three brothers and three sisters was acquired by his mother and her father, walter mohun. his younger brother was sir walter cope. in 1561 his mother remarried (as his second wife) george carleton (died 1590) of walton-on-thames, second son of john carleton of brightwell baldwin, oxfordshire, by his wife joyce welbeck, a daughter of john welbeck of oxon hoath, kent, by whom she had a son, castle carleton, and a daughter, elizabeth carleton. after the death of elizabeth mohun, george carleton married, in 1589, elizabeth hussey, a daughter of sir robert hussey of linwood, lincolnshire and widow of anthony crane (d. 1583). the first of the marprelate tracts, martin's "epistle", was printed in october 1588 at the house of elizabeth hussey at east molesey, surrey.