must be more in it to give him that denomination seeing many had that office besides himself He was a great Scholar and deep Divine it being reported to his no small praise That he conformed his Divinity to Scripture and not to the rules of Philosophy He flourished under King Edward the third anno 1350. WILLIAM CAXTON born in that Town a noted stage betwixt Roiston and Huntington Bale beginneth very coldly in his commendation by whom he is charactered Vir non omnino stupidus aut ignavia torpens but we understand the language of his Liptote the rather â—…ecause he proceedeth to praise his Diligence and Learning He had most of his Education beyond the Seas living 30. years in the Court of Margaret Dutchesse of Burgundy Sister to King Edward the fourth whence I conclude him an Anti-Lancastrian in his affection He continued Polychronicon beginning where Trevisa ended unto the end of King Edward the fourth with good judgment and Fidelity And yet when he writeth that King Richard the second left in his Treasury Money and Jewells to the value of seven hundred thousand pounds I cannot credit him it is so contrary to the received Character of that Kings Riotous Prodigality Caxton carefully collected and printed all Chaucers works and on many accounts deserved well of Posterity when he died about the year 1486. Since the Reformation RICHARD HULOET was born at Wishich in this County and brought up in good learning He wrote a book called the English and Latine A B C and dedicated the same to Thomas Goowrich Bishop of Ely and Chancellor of England Some will condemn him of Indiscretion in presenting so low a subject to so high a person as if he would teach the Greatest States-man in the land to spell aright Others will excuse him his book being though of low of generall use for the Common people who then began to betake themselves to reading long neglected in the land so that many who had one foot in their grave had their hand on their primer But I believe that his book whereof I could never recover a sight though entitled an A B C related not to Literall reading but rather to some Elementall grounds of Religion He flourished Anno Domini 1552. JOHN RICHARDSON was born of honest parentage at Linton in this County bred first Fellow of Emanuell then Master of Saint Peters and at last of Trinity-colledge in Cambridge and was Regius Professor in that University Such who represent him a dull and heavy man in his parts may be confuted with this instance An extraordinary Act in Divinity was kept at Cambridge before King James wherein Doctor John Davenant was Answerer and Doctor Richardson amongst others the opposers The Question was maintained in the negative concerning the excommunicating of Kings Doctor Richardson vigorously pressed the practice of Saint Ambrose excommunicating of the Emperour Theodosius insomuch that the King in some passion returned profecto fuit hoc ab Ambrosio insolentissimè factum To whom Doctor Richardson rejoyned responsum vere Regium Alexandro dignum hoc non est argumenta dissolvere sed desecare And so sitting down he desisted from any further dispute He was employed one of the Translators of the Bible and was a most excellent linguist whose death happened Anno Dom. 1621. ANDREW WILLET D. D. was born at Ely in this County bred Fellow of Christs-colledge in Cambridge He afterwards succeeded his father in the Parsonage of Barley in Hertford shire and became Prebendary of Ely He confuted their cavill who make children the cause of covetousness in Clergy-men being bountifull above his ability notwithstanding his numerous issue No less admirable his industry appearing in his Synopsiâ—… Comments and Commentaâ—…ies insomuch that one considering his Polygraphy said merrily that he must write whilst he slept it being unpossible that he should do so much when waking Sure I am he wrote not sleepily nor oscitantèr but what was solid in it self and profitable for others A casuall fall from his horse in the high-way near Hodsden breaking his leg accelerated his death It seems that Gods promise to his children to keep them in all their ways that they dash not their foot against the stone 'T is as other Temporall promises to be taken with a Tacit clause of revocation viz. if Gods wisdome doth not discover the contrary more for his glory and his childrens good This Doctor died Anno Domini 1621. Sir THOMAS RIDLEY Kt. Dr. of the Laws was born at Ely in this County bred first a scholar in Eaton then Fellow of Kings-colledge in Cambridge He was a general scholar in all kind of learning especially in that which we call melior literatura He afterwards was Chancellor of Winchester and the Vicar generall to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury his memory will never dye whilst his book called the view of the Ecclesiastical Laws is living a book of so much merit that the Common Lawyers notwithstanding the difference betwixt the professions will ingeniously allow a due commendation to his learned performance in that subject He died Anno Domini 1629. on the two and twentieth day of January ARTHUR HILDERSHAM was born at Strechworth in this County descended by his mothers side from the Bloud-Royal being great-great-grand-child to George Duke of Clarence brother to Edward the fourth Yet was he not like the proud Nobles of Tecoa who counted themselves too good to put their hands to Gods work But being bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge he entred into the Ministry How this worthy Divine was first run a ground with poverty and afterwards set a float by Gods Providence how he often alternately lost and recovered his voice being silenced and restored by the Bishops how after many intermediate afflictions this just and upright man had peace at the last is largely reported in my Ecclesiastical History to which except I adde to the truth I can adde nothing on my knowledge remarkable He died Anno Domini 1631. R. PARKER for so is his Christian name defectively written in my Book was born in Ely therefore Place-nameing himself Eliensis was son as I am confident to Master Parker Arch-deacon of Ely to whom that Bishoprick in the long vacancy after the death of Bishop Cox was profered and by him refused tantum opum usuram iniquis conditionibus sibi oblatam respuens Our Parker was bred in and became Fellow of Caius-colledge an excellent Herauld Historian and Antiquary Author of a short plain true and brief Manuscript called Sceletos Cantabrigiensis and yet the bare Bones thereof are Fleshed with much matter and hath furnished me with the Nativities of severall Bishops who were Masters of Colledges I am not of the mind of the Italian from whose Envy God deliver us Polidore Virgil who having first served his own turn with them burnt all the rare English Manuscripts of History he could procure so to raise the valuation of his own works But from my heart I wish some
Here a Spanish Merchants Daughter Mary de la Barrera by name fell in love with him and became his Wife worth to him in Barrs of Gold and Silver two Thousand five hundred Pounds besides Jewells of great price Returning into England he lived with great comfort and credit therein so that it may truly be said of him He had been unâ—…one if by the cruelty of his Enemies he had not been undone Writers LAMFRID of Winchester was bred a Benedictine therein Congregationis Giribenne saith my Authour wherein I am not ashamed to confess my ignorance Such his Learning in those Dayes that he got the general name of Doctor Eximius though his few works still extant answer not the proportion of so high a Title He flourished anno 980. WOLSTANUS of Winchester bred a Benedictine therein attained to the reputation of a great Scholar I listen attentively to the words of VV. Malmsbury who could ken a Learned man giving him this Caracter Vir fuit eruditus homo etiam bonae vitae castigatae eloquentiae But it seemeth his Eloquence was confined to Poetry my Author observing that Oratione soluta nunquam politè scripsit He flourished anno 1000. JOHN of HIDE was a Monk in the famous ABBY of Hide in the Suburbs of Winchester and became a competent Historian according to the rate of those times writing certain Homilies a Book of the Patience of Job and the Story of his own Convent He flourished anno 1284. JOHN of Basingstoak so called from a fair Market Town in this Coâ—…nty where he was born We have a double Demonstration of his signal worth first because Robert Grosthead that pious and learned Bishop who would not advance any thing which was under eminency preferred him Arch-deacon of Leicester secondly The Pens of Bale and Pitz diametrically opposite one to the other meet both in his commendation Being bred first in Oxford then in Paris thence he travailed into Athens Athens as yet was Athens not routed by Turkish Tyranny where he heard the Learned Lecturs of one Constantina a Noble Woman not fully Twenty Years old of the abstruse Mysteries of Nature Coming home he brought back many precious Books and had good skill in the Greek Tongue whereof he wrote a GRAMMAR and is justly reputed the first restorer thereof in England He was the Author of many worthy works and died Anno 1252. on whom M. Paris bestoweth this Eulogy Vir in trivio quatrivio ad plenum eruditus JOHN of HIDE was a Monk in the Famous Abby of Hide in the Suburbs of Winchester and became a competent Historian according to the rate of those times writing certain Homilies a book of the Patience of Job and the Story of his own Covent He flourished Anno 1284. WILLIAM ALTON a Native of a known Market-Town in this County was a Dominican or Preaching Frier famous even amongst Forreiners for his Sermons and sound judgement avouching the Virgin Mary tainted with Original Corruption He flourished Anno 1330. WILLIAM LILLIâ—… was born at Odiam a Market-Town in this County and travelled in his youth as far as Jerusalem In his return he stayed at Rhodes and studied Greek which will seem strange to some Rhodes not being Rhodes in that Age except casually some great Critick was there seeing otherwise to find Elegant in Modern Greek sowred with long continuance is as impossible as to draw good Wine out of a vessel of Vinegar Hence he went to Rome where he heard John Sulpitius and Pomponius Sabinus great Masters of Latine in those dayes After his Return Dean Collet made him the first Master of St. Pauls School which place he commendably discharged for 15. years Here he made his Latine Grammar which this great School-Master modestly submitted to the correction of Erasmus and therefore such who will not take it on the single bond of Lillie may trust on the security of Erasmus Some charge it for surfeiting with variety of examples who would have had him onely to set down the bare Rules as best for Childrens remembrance But they may know that such who learnt Grammar in Lillies time were not School-boyes but School-men I mean arrived at mens Estate Many since have altered and bettered his Grammar and amongst them my worthy Friend Dr. Charles Scarborough calculating his short clear and true Rules for the Meridian of his own son which in due time may serve for general use Our Lillie died of the plague and was buried in the Porch of Saint Pauls Anno Dom. 1522. Since the Reformation MICHAâ—… RENEGER was born in this County and bred Fellow in Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford where he gained great credit for his skill in Learning and Languages He wrote a Book in the Defence of Ministers marriage THOMAS STERNHOLD was born in this County and was afterwards a servant to King Henry the Eighth I find him a Legatee in his Will thus mentioned Item To THOMAS STERNHOLD Groome of our Robes a hundred Mark He was afterwards saith my Author ab intimo cubiculo to King Edward the Sixth Though I am not satisfied whether thereby he meant Gentleman of his Privie-Chamber or Groom of his Bed-Chamber He was a principal instrument of Translating of the Psalmes into English-Meeter The first twentie six and seven and thirty in all being by him performed Yet had he other assistance in that work Many a bitter scoffe hath since been past on their endeavours by some Wits which might have been better imployed Some have miscalled these their Translations Geneva Gigs and which is the worst Father or Mother rather the Expression on our Virgin Queen as falsly as other things have been charged upon her Some have not sticked to say that David hath been as much persecuted by bungling Translators as by Saul himself Some have made Libellous verses in abuse of them and no wonder if Songs were made on the Translators of the Psalms seeing Drunkards made them on David the Author thereof But let these Translations be beheld by unpartial eyes and they will be allowed to go in Equipage with the best Poems in that age However it were to be wisht that some bald Rimes therein were bettered till which time such as sing them must endeavour to amend them by singing them with Understanding heads and Gratious hearts whereby that which is but bad Meter on Earth will be made good Musick in Heaven As for our Thomas Sternhold it was happy for him that he died before his good Master Anno 1549. in the moneth of August So probably preventing much persecution which would have hapned unto him if surviving in the Reign of Queen Mary DAVID WHITEHEAD where born to me unknown is here placed Because I find a worshipful and ancient Family of his Name in this County He was bred a Batchelour of Divinity in Oxford and flying into Germany in the Reign of Queen Mary was in high esteem at Franckford
happiness Writers RALPH FRESBOURNE was born in this County bred a Souldier Scholar Travailer being a man of great estate and at last turn'd a Frier He attended Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans into the Holy-land Here he came acquainted with the Friers living on Mount Carmel which were then much molested with the inrodes of Pagans Our Ralph pitying their condition and much taken with their sanctity and as some say miracles brought them over with him into England and built them an house at Holme nigh Alnwick in Northumberland In loco Carmelo Syriae non dissimili saith my Author In a place not unlike to Carmel in Syria Thus pence are like shillings and as Carmel had an Hill with the river Kishon running under it a Forrest beside it and the Mid-land-Sea some three miles from it so this had the river Alne a Park adjoyning and the German-Sea at the same distance But Northumberland was but a cold Carmel for these Friers who soon got themselves warmer nests in Kent Essex London and where not Multiplying more in England then in any other Country as Mantuan observeth and hath not ill expressed Cur apud Anglorum populos ita creverit audi Anglicus in Syrias veniens exercitus olim Achonem Tyrii positam prope litora ponti Quae priùs occurrit subit is oppresserat armis Hear why that they so much in England thriv'd th' English earst in Palestine arriv'd The City Acon on the shore of Tyre As next at hand with arms did soon acquire And after some verses interpos'd Ista duces tanta intuiti miracula secum In patriam duxere viros quibus arma negabant In laribus sedem Assyriâ—… templa domosque Construxere novas Pauc is it a fâ—…ruit annis Relligio quasi virga solo depact a feraci Et veluti palmes robur translata recepit The Captains seeing so great wonders wrought These Friers with them into England brought What war deni'd at home they here anew Churches and Houses built In years but few Increasing twig-like set by happy band Or tree transplanted to a fruitful land This Ralph wrote Books of pious exhortations and Epistles and after he had been fourteen years provincial of his own Order died and was buried at Holme aforesaid Anno Domini 1274. JOHANNES SCOTUS We have formerly asserted the very Scociety of this Scotus his nativity to belong to England and have answered the objections to the contrary He was born at Dunston a village in the Parish of Emildon in this County as appeareth by a writing in a book of his in Merton-colledge wherein he was bred He was a Franciscan by Order and of such nimble and solid parts that he got the title of Doctor subtilis Hitherto all School-men were like the world before the building of Babel of one language and of one speech agreeing together in their opinions which hereafter were divided into two Regâ—…ments or Armies rather of Thomists and Scotists under their several Generals opposing one another Scotus was a great stickler against the Thomists for that sinful opinion that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin which if so how came she to rejoyce in God her Saviour He read the Sentences thrice over in his solemn Lectures once at Oxford again at Paris and last at Colen where he died or was kill'd rather because falling into a strong fit of an Apoplexy he was interred whilst yet alive as afterwards did appear Small amends were made for his hasty burial with an handsome monument erected over him at the cost of his Order otherwise whether as Scot Scholar or Franciscan he had little wealth of his own in the Quire before the High Altar On his Monument are inscribed the names of fifteen Franciscans viz. three Popes and two Cardinals on the top and ten Doctors whereof six English on the sides thereof all his Contemporaries as I conceive He died Anno Dom. 1308. Benefactors to the Publick STEPHEN BROWN Grocer son of John Brown was born at Newcaste upon Tine in this County afterwards Knighted and made Lord Mayor of London 1438. In which year happened a great and general famine caused much by unseasonable weather but more by some Huckstering Husbandmen who properly may be termed Knaves in grain insomuch that wheat was sold for three shillings a bushel intollerable according to the standard of those times and poor people were forced to make bread of fern roots But this Sir Stephen Brown sent certain ships to Dantz whose seasonable return with Rye suddenly sunk grain to reasonable rates whereby many a languishing life was preserved He is beheld one of the first Merchants who in want of Corn shewed the Londoners the way to the Barn-door I mean into Spruseland prompted by charity not covetousness to this his Adventure He may be said that since his death he hath often relieved the City on the like occasion because as Symmachus well observeth Author est bonorum sequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum ROBERT WOODLARKE was born saith my Author at Wakerly in this County True it is in my late Church History I have challenged him for Northamptonshire Because there is no VVakerly in Northumberland Because there is a VVakerly in Northamptonshire But on second thoughts I resige him clear to this County loth to higgle for a letter or two misprinted perchance in the name of a Town This VVoodlarke was the last of the first Original Fellows and third Provost of Kings-colledge in Cambridge He bought three tenements in Miln-street and by a Mortmain procured from King Edward the fourth erected of them a small Colledge by the name of Saint Katharines-hall As is the man so is his strength great matters cannot be expected from so private a person who never attained to any Prelatical preferment who was bountiful to his Foundation to the utmost of his ability Herein he stands alone without any to accompany him being the first and last who was Master of one Colledge and at the same time Founder of another This his Zoar hath since met with many worthy Benefactours who have advanced it to be considerable both in buildings and revenues The date of his death I cannot with any certainty affix Memorable Persons MACHELL VIVAN is a Scotish-man by his birth but because beneficed in this County so many years shall by the Readers leave pass for an English-man so far as to be here inserted The rather because he will minister to the present and future ages just matter of admiration as by the perusing of the ensuing letter from my credible friend well know in London where his surviving Father was not long since the Prime Magistrate thereof will appear There is an acquaintance of mine and a friend of yours who certified me of your desire of being satisfied of the truth of that relation I made concerning the old Minister in the North. It fortuned in my journey to
press I know not whether the doing hereof soundeth more to the honour of the dead or the not Printing thereof since his death to the shame of the living seeing surely money might be procured for so general and beneficiall a design Which makes some the less to pity the great pains of the Ministers of the Isle of Man who by double labour read the Scriptures to the peoplé out of the English in the Manks-tongue This singularly learned hospitable painfull and pious Prelate died Anno Dom. 16 ... Physicians ROBERT RECORDE was born in this Country ex Claris Parentibus bred in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Physick His soul did not live in the Lane of a single science but traversed the Latitude of Learning witness his Works In Arithmetick not so absolute in all numbers before his time but that by him it was set forth more Compleat Astrology he Practicall part whereof hath so great an influence upon Physick Geometry whereof the wrot a Book called the Path of Geometry and that easier and nearer then any before Physick of the Judgements of Urines and though it be commonly said Urina meretrix yet his judicious rules have reduced that Harlot to Honesty and in a great measure fixed the uncertainty thereof Metals his Sight may seem to have accompanied the Sun-beams into the Bowells of the Earth piercing into those Penetralls in his discoveries of and discourses on Gold and Silver wherewith I believe him well stored Brass Tin Lead and what not What shall I speak of his skill in Anatomy Cosmography Muâ—…ick whereof he read publique Lectures in Oxford As for his Religion say not this is of no Concernment in a Physician I conjecture him to be a Protestant First because he wrot of Auricular Confession and de Negotio Eucharistiae each whereof is a Noli me tangere for a Romish Lay-man to meddle with according to Popish principles Secondly because so largely commended by Bale But I dare conclude nothing herein having not hitherto seen his Treatises in Divinity He flourished under K. Edward the sixth about the year 1550. THOMAS PHAIER was born in Wales and bred I believe first in Oxford then in London a generall Scholar and well versed in the Common Law wherein he wrot a book De natura Brevium of the Nature of Writs Strange that he would come after Justice Fitz-herbert who formerly had written on the same Subject But probably Phaiers Book having never seen any who have seen it treateth of Writs in the Court of Marches whereto Wales was then subjected and where the Legal Proceedings may be somewhat different from ours in England But the Study of the Law did not fadge well with him which caused him to change his Copy and proceed Doctor in Physick Now though he made none he out of French did translate many usefull books 1. Of the Pestilence and the cure thereof 2. Of the Grief of children 3. Of the Nature of Simples 4. The Regiment of Nuturall Life He had also his Diversion some excursion into Poetry and translated Virgil his Eneads Magna Gravitate saith my Author which our Modern Wits will render with great Dulness and avouch that he instead of a Latine Virgill hath presented us with an English Ennius such the rudeness of his verse But who knoweth not that English Poetry is improved fifty in the Hundred in this last Century of years He died and was buried in London about the year of our Lord 1550. ALBANE HILL was Britannus by birth I confess Britannus doth not clearly carry his Nativity for Wales except it were additioned Cambro-Britannus But according to our peaceable promise premised let him pass for this Country-man The rather because so many Hills and Mountains too therein He was bred a Doctor of Physick professing and practising most beyond the Seas more famous in Forraign Parts then in his Native Country I find two eminent Outlandishmen viz. Josias Simler an Helvetian of Zurich and Bassianus Landus an Italian of Placentia charactering him to be Medicus Nobilissimus ac optimus in omni disciplinarum genere optime versatus and that he wrot much upon Galen and the Anatomicall part of Physick so that we may say with the Poet Ut littus Hilum Hilum omne sonarct The shoar resounded still Nothing but Hill and Hill I find no time affixed wherein he flourished but according to the received Rule Noscitur è socio he may from his Contemporaries be collected in full Lustre Anno 1550. and it is remarkable that Wales had three eminent Physicians Writers all in the same Age. Writers Be it premised that as I should be loth by my lasiness to conceal so with all my Industry I conceive it impossible to compleat their Characters For as the Venetian Courtezan after she had put off her lofty attire and high Chippines almost pares away her self into nothing such the slender account given us of these Writers that after some set forms and Commendations of Course common to all Persons be first defalked the remainder will be next to nothing But it is no fault of me the Cistern if I be empty whilst my fountain is dry seeing I spill nothing by the Leakage of my Neglect but faithfully deliver all the intelligence I find as followeth PETROK was a Welch-Irish-Cornish-Man He had his birth in Wales but breeding in Ireland according to the Mode of that Age wherein all British sailed over into Ireland as the English in after ages did into France there to have their Education in all learned Sciences Who would have thought to have found Helicon amongst the Bogs as indeed it was at that Time Petrok after twenty years reading good Authours there came over into Cornwall and fixed himself nigh the Severn Sea in a small Oratory called Petrok-Stowe the station or abiding place of Petrok now corruptly Pad-Stowe where many eminent Scholars were brought up under him He wrot a book of Solitary life whereto he was much addicted I confess Petrok is somewhat degraded as entred under the Topick of Writers who is reputed a Saint and I remember a handsome Church in Exeter dedicated to his Memory who flourished Anno 560. GILDAS the FOURTH for there were three before him viz. Gildas Albanius Gildas Surnam'd Sapiens of whom before Gildas Cambrius and this our Gildas who laggeth last in the Teame of his Name-sakes But the second of these is worth all the rest were there four hundred of them whom I behold as a Sun indeed shining with the Lustre of his own desert whilst two of the others are but so many Meteors about him some suspecting them no realities in Nature but meerly created by mens sight-deception and the reflection of the Memory of the true Gildas This our fourth Gildas is made a Welch-Scotch-Irish-Man Wales sharing in him two parts of three viz. his Birth and Death the largest part of his life belonging to Ireland where he studied Many the
tamen a scribendo temporare non possunt Many men like my self are sick of this decease that when they know not how to write yet cannot forbear from writing A worthy English Barronet in his book incomparable on that subject hath clearly and truly stated this point Here I expect that the judicious Reader will excuse me if I take no notice of many Modern Phamphliteers seeing unlearned Scriblers are not ranked with learned Writers yea it was though tartly truly said to the Author of such a book Dum scateant alii erratis datur unica Libro Menda tuo totâ—…m est intiger error opus Whilst others flow with faults but one is past In all thy book 't is fault from first to last Indeed the Press at first a Virgin then a chast Wife is since turned Common as to prostitute her self to all Scurrilous Pamphlets When the Author of an idle and impersect book endeth with a caetera dessiderantur one altered it non dessider antur sed desunt Indeed they were not though wanting wanted the world having no need of them many books being like King Joram who lived not being desired yea the Press begineth to be an oppression of the Land such the burden of needless books therein Some will say the charge may most justly be brought against your self who have loaded the Land with more books then any of your Age. To this I confess my fault and promise amendment that God willing hereafter I will never Print book in the English tongue but what shall tend directly to Divinity CHAP. XI Of Benefactors to the Publick wherein also Choise Charities are recommended to men of Estates These are reducible to several Heads and we will begin with them who have been Builders of CHURCHES SUch Centurions who have erected us Synagogues places for Gods publick VVorship seem to me to have given good testimony of their Love to our nation Bitter was the Brave which railing Rabsheca sent to holy Hezekiah proffering him 2000 Horses on Condition that the other were but able to find Riders for them But it grieves me to see the Superstition of the former insult over the religion of this present age bragging that she left us ten thousand Churches and Chappels more or lesse ready built if we can find but repairers to keep them up It is in my opinion both dishonorable to God and scandalous to all good men to see such houses daily decay But there is a generation of people who to prevent the verifying of the old proverb Pater noster built Churches and our Father plucks them down endevour to pluck down both Churches and Our Father together neglecting yea despising the use both of the one and the other Be it here remembred that it is not only equal but just that such as have been Founders of Churches or Grand Benefactors unto them should have due Respect in preserving their Monuments from Violation or Incroachment of others I urge this the rather because abuses have been frequent in this kind even to those that have deserved best I cannot with patience remember the Story of Henry Keble Lord Maior of London 1511. who besides other Benefactions in his Life time rebuilded Alder-Mary-Church run to very Ruines and bequeathed at his Death a thousand pounds for the finishing thereof Yet within sixty years after his Bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Vaute wherein they were buried his Monument plucked down for some Wealthy Person of the present times to be buried therein I could not but on this Occasion rub up my old Poetry Facit Indignatio Versus The Author to Alder-Mary Church Ungrateful Church orerun with rust Lately buried in the dust Utterly thou hadst been lost If not preserv'd by Keble's cost A Thousand Pounds might it not buy Six foot in length for him to lie But outed of his quiet Tombe For later Corps he must make Roome Tell me where his Dust is cast Though 't be late yet now at last All his Bones with Scorne ejected I will see them recollected VVho faine my self would Kinsman prove To all that did God's Temples love Alder-Mary Churches Answer Alas my Innocence excuse My Wardens they did me abuse VVhose Avarice his Ashes sold That Goodness might give place to Gold As for his Reliques all the Town They are scattered up and down See'st a Church repaired well There a Sprinkling of them fell See'st a new Church lately built Thicker there his Ashes spilt O that all the Land throughout Kebles Dust were throwne about Places scattered with that seed VVould a Crop of Churches breed I could wish this was the last Barbarisme in this kind and am sorry that upon small Inquiry I could insist on later Instances Free-Schools and Colledges I place Schools before Colledges because they are introductory thereunto intended for the bâ—…eeding of Children and Youth as the other for youth and men And seeing much of Truth is contained in our English Proverb It is as good to be unborn as unbred such may in some sort seem their Second-Parents who have provided for their Education These Schools are of two kinds First those wherein only a Salary is given to the School-master to teach Children gratis and these I confess are good Secondly such wherein a select number of Scholars have competent maintenance allowed towards their Living in the University and these all will acknowledge are better Some do suspect a surfet in our Land of the multitude of Schools because the Nursery is bigger then the Orchard the one breeding more Plants then the other can maintain Trees and the Land not affording sufficient preferment for them Learning is forced to stoop to mean Courses to make a Livelihood But I conceive that Store in this kind is no sore and if we must not do evil that good may come thereof we must not forbear doing that which is good for fear of accidental Evils which may arise from the same Bridges Builders of Bridges which are high-waies over water and makers of Caused-waies or Causways which are Bridges over dirt though last in order are not least in benefit to the Commmon-wealth Such conveniences save the lives of many ease the labour of moe painful travellers and may be said in some sort to lengthen the day and shorten the way to men in their journeys yea Bridges make and keep this our Island a Continent to it self How great the care of the ancient Romans to repair them for the safety of passengers appears by the origination of Pontifex having the inspection over bridges by his primitive institution Indeed the word bridge appears not in all Scripture whereof this the reason the rivers of Palestine were either so shallow that they were passable by foords as of Jabbok Arnon and Jordan before it grew navigable or else so deep that they were ferried over as Jordan when neer his fall into the Dead Sea but most of ours in England are of a middle size so
and fluent his expression and was knowing in all thâ—…ngs save in himself For profanely he advanced Aristotle above Moses and himself above both His pride had a great and sudden fall losing at the same instant both language and memory becoming compleatly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without reason or speech Yet was his dumness to all intelligent people a loud Sermon on Saint Pauls precept Not to think of themselves more highly then they ought to think but to think soberly Polydore Virgil saith of him Juvene nil acutius sene nihil obtusius whilest others adde he made an inarticulate sound like to lowing This great judgement befell him about the year of our Lord 1201. MICHAEL BLAUNPAYN born in Cornwall some so commonly call him Michael the Master that he had almost lost his native name was bred in Oxfordâ—…nd â—…nd 〈◊〉 and became as good a riming Poet as any in that Age. In happened one Henry of Normandy chief Poet to our Henry the third had traduced Cornwall as an inconsiderable Country cast out by nature in contempt into a corner of the land Our Michael could not enâ—…ure this affront but full of Poeticall fury falls upon the Libeller take a tast little thereof will go far of his strains Non opus est ut opes numereÌ„ quibus est opulenta Et pâ—… quas inopes sustentat non ope lenta Piscibus Stanno nusquam tam fertilis ora We need not number up her wealthy store Wherewith this helpful land relieves her poor No Sea so full of Fish of Tinn no Shore Then as a valiant Champion he concludeth all with this exhortation to his Country-men Quid nos deterret si firmiter in pede stemus Fraus ni nos superat nihil est quod non superemus What should us fright if firmly we do stand Bar Fraud and then no Force can us command His Pen so lushious in praising when so pleased was as bitter in railing when disposed witness this his Satirical character of his foresaid Antagonist Est tibi Gamba Capri crus passeris latus Apri Os leporis catuli nasus dens gena Muli Frons Vetulae tauri caput color undique Mauri His argumentis quibus est argutia Mentis Quod non à Monstro differs satis hic tibi Monstro Gamb'd like a Goat sparrow-thigh'd sides as Boar Hare-mouth'd Dog-nos'd like Mule thy teeth chin Brow'd as old wife bul-headed black as More If such without then what are you within By these my Signs the wise will easily conster How little thou didst differ from a Monster He flourished Anno 1350. though the certain time and place of his death is unknown GODFREY of CORNWALL was bred a Doctor in Paris and Oxford and afterwards became a Carmelite of no mean esteem amongst those of his own order It happened in his time that Gerardus Bononiensis a French-man Master Generall of the Carmelites made two Provincials formerly but one of that order in England alledging that two * are better then one and matters would be the more exactly regulated by their double inspection The plain truth was the French-man did it out of covetousness that so two loaders might bring double grists to his Mill. Our Godfrey appeared a Champion for the old way that matters might run in their ancient channell and wrote a Book to that purpose as many others on severall subjects John Baconthorpe his Contemporary much esteemed him and quoted him by the Title of Doctor Solennis I doubt not but this our Godfrey in mannerly requitall re-gave Baconthorpe the courtesie of Doctor Resolutus and here I would fain be satisfied how these received Epithetes Doctor Profundus Doctor Subtilis c. came first to be fixed on such and such Schoolmen Surely they asâ—…umed them not themselves which had argued too much pride and presumption Nor could I ever as yet meet with any Authentique record of Pope or University which setled it upon them Possibly one Eminent Writer gave it to another his Correspondent who in reciprocation of kindness title thou me and I will title thee returned as splendid a style to him again This our Solemn Doctor flourished Anno Domini 1310. JOHN TREVISA was born at Caradock in this County bred in Oxford afterwards Vicar of Berkeley in Gloucester-shire and Chaplain to Thomas Lord Berkeley at whose instance besides other Histories writ by him he translated the Bible into English a daring work for a private person in that age without particular Command from Pope or Publique Council Some much admire he would enter on this work so lately performed about fifty years before by John Wicklife What was this but actum agere to do what was done before Besides Wicklife and Trevisa agreeing so well in their judgements it was much he would make a Retranslation Such consider not that in that age it was almost the same pains for a Scholar to translate as transcribe the Bible Secondly the time betwixt Wicklife and Trevisa was the Chrisis of the English tongue which began to be improved in fifty more then in 300. years formerly Many course words to say no worse used before are refined by Trevisa whose translation is as much better then Wicklifes as worse then Tyndals Thus though the fountain of the Original hath always clearness alike therein channels of Translations will partake of more or less purity according to the translators age industry and ability This Trevisa died a through old man about the year 1400. Since the Reformation JOHN SKUISH was born in Cornwall a man of much experience and generall learning He was saith my Author à consiliis to â—…ardinal Woolsy whereby I collect him learned of the Laws and of his Counsell except that that great Prelate like a Prince had Counsell of State belonging unto him This Skuish wrote a Chronicle being collected out of many severall Authors I have some presumptions to conclude him inclined to the Protestant reformation He flourished Anno Dom. 1530. BARTHOLOMEW TRAHERON The first syllable of his Name and what is added thereunto by my Author parentum stemmate clarus and the sameness of his name with an ancient Family in this County are a three-fold Cable to draw my belief that he was this Country-man He was bred in the University of Oxford and having attained to good learning therein twice travailed beyond the Seas Once for pleasure and curiosity into France and Italy whereby he much improved himself Returning home he became Library-keeper to King Edward the sixth and Dean of Chichester The second time for safety and necessity in the first of Q. Mary getting I believe his best subsistance being an Exile in Germany with making and translating of Books where he was living 1556. and may be rationally presumed to dye before Q. Elizabeth came to the Crown because being a man of merit and Ecclesiastically Dignified we hear no more of his preferment RICHARD CAREW Esquire son
1550. few years before the beginning of Queen 〈◊〉 many being 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 armed by his useful 〈◊〉 It must not be forgotten how during my abode in Cambridge on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1626. a Book was â—…ound in the belly of a Cod brought into the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containing therein three 〈◊〉 whereof the 〈◊〉 and largest was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Crosse. It was wrapped about with Canvasâ—… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fish plundred plâ—…ndred out of the pocket of some Ship-wracked Seaman The Wits of the 〈◊〉 made themselves merry thereat one making a long Copy of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on whereof this Dystiâ—… I remember If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do bring us Books then we May hope 〈◊〉 Bodlyes Library But whilest the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves herewith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beheld iâ—… as a sad 〈◊〉 And some who then little looked for the 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 found it in that plâ—… This Book was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But no such Book 〈◊〉 in Bale though â—…y accurate to give â—…s a Catalogue of his Writings Whereby we 〈◊〉 it was the same made by this Richard 〈◊〉 to which another Treatise was annexed 〈◊〉 one to die made 〈◊〉 by our Tracy who himself 〈◊〉 about an hundred years since Sir THOMAS OVERBURY Knight Son to Sir Nicholas Overbury one of the Judges of the Marches was born at Borton on the Hill in this County bred in Oxford and attained to be a most accomplished Gentleman which the happiness of his Pen both in Poetry and Prose doth declare In the later he was the first writer of Characters of our Nation so far as I have observed But if the great parts of this Gentleman were guilty of Insolency and Petulancy which some since have charged on his Memory we may charitably presume that his reduced age would have corrected such juvenile extravagancies It is questionable whether Robert Carre Earl of Somerset were more in the favour of King James or this Sir Thomas Overbury in the favour of the Earl of Somerset until he lost it by disswading that Lord from keeping company with a Lady the Wife of another person of Honour as neither for his credit here or comfort hereafter Soon after Sir Thomas was by King James designed Embassadour for Russia His false friends perswaded him to decline the employment as no better than an Honourable Grave Better lie some dayes in the Tower than more months in a worse prison A Ship by Sea and a barbarous cold Country by land Besides they possessed him that within a small time the King should be wrought to a good opinion of him But he who willingly goes into a prison out of hope to come easily out of it may stay therein so long till he be too late convinced of another judgment Whilest Sir Thomas was in the Tower his Refusal was represented to the King as an Act of high contempt as if he valued himself more than the Kings service His strict restraint gave the greater liberty to his enemies to practise his death which was by poyson performed Yet was his Blood legally revenged which cost some a violent and others a civil death as deprived of their Offices The Earle was soon abated in King Jame's affection O the short distance betwixt the cooling and quenching of a Favourite being condemned and banished the Court. The death of this Worthy Knight did happen Anno Dom. 1615. JOHN SPRINT was bred a Student in Christ Church in Oxford and was afterward beneficed at Thornbury in this County a grave and godly Divine but for a long time much disaffected to the Ceremonies of the Church It happeened that Mr. Burton Arch-Deacon of Gloucester his Collegiate and Contemporary took him to task perswading him seriously to study the point which he promised and performed accordingly He put In the one Scâ—…le In the other The Wo pronounced to such who preach 〈◊〉 the Gospel and dissert their Flocks on pretended scrupulosity The nature of Ceremonies when things indifferent are enjoyned by lawfull Authority Weighing both exactly in the ballance of his judgment he found the former to preponderate concluding it unlawful for any on such â—…count to leave or lose the exercise of his Miniâ—…erial Function Hereupon he not only conformed for the future 〈◊〉 also wrote a Book dedicated to Arch-Deacon Burton called Casâ—…der Angâ—…anus to perswade others to conformity He died as I am informed â—…bout thirty years ago JOHN WORKMAN was born about Lasbury in this County where his Father was a servant to Sir Tho. Escourt He was bred in Oxford and afterwards became for many years the pioâ—…s and painfull Preacher at Gloucester being conformable to Church Discipline both in judgement and practise and in very deed It happened that some pressed super-â—…nonical Ceremonies and such sesqui-Conformists made Mr. Workman turn first but a semiConformist and then by degrees to renounce all Conformity He was prosecuted by G. G. his 〈◊〉 for preaching to the disparagement of the Blessed Virgin Mary though he pleaded his words were only these That the Papists painted her more like a Curtesan than a modest Maid Hereupon he was silenced and not suffered to teach Schoole seeing Sheâ—… and Lambs differ not in hind but age At last his good Priâ—…nd Dr. Baud furnishing him with instructions he turned Phyâ—… and 〈◊〉 unable to preservâ—… his Pattents in liâ—…e he could well prepare them for death He died about the year 1636. We have put them in Parallels not so much because living at the same time in the same County as because the one from disliking came to approve the other from approving to dislike Conformity though both no doubt did follow the dictates of their consciences RICHARD CAPEL was born as I am informed in the City of Gloucester whereof his Father was Alderman and left him a good temporal estate he was bred Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford where he had many Pupils of good qualitie and among the rest Mr. William Pemble whose Books he set forth and as I remember finished his imperfect Comment on Zachary Leaving the Colledge he was presented by Mr. Stephens to a good benefice in this County where he made his excellent Book Of Temptations full fraught with practical Piety so that what judicious person soever readeth it will experimentally say unto him as once the Lawyer to our Saviour Master thou hast well spoken it carrieth in it such a Truth by the confession confession his Conscience One thing he hath irrefragably proved That there is no Temptation which a man is subject to but what might be suggested by our own corruption without any injection of Satan We have an English expression The Devil he doth it the Devil he hath it where the addition of Devil amounteth only to a strong denial equivalent to he doth it not he hath it not My opinion is if the phrase took not the original from yet is it applyable to our common and causeless accusing of Satan with our
making I behold his as the second accounting the Lord Tiptoft the first noble hand which since the decay of Learning took a Pen therein to be Author of a Book He dyed on the 16. of March 1532. and is buryed in the great church in Calice And I have read that the estate of the Berners is by an Heir-general descended to the Knyvets of â—…shwelthorp in Norfolk Since the Reformation ROGER HUTCHINSON was born in this County and bred Fellow of St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge where he was very familiar with Mr. Roger Askam who disdained Intimacy with Dunces And as this is euough to speak him Scholar so it is a sufficient Evidence to an Intelligent Jury to prove him Protestant that being commended by Bale for writing a book in English of the Image of God he is wholly omitted by John Pits He flourished Anno Dom. 1550. and probably dyed in the happy Reign of Edward the sixth before the following persecution THOMAS CARTVVRIGHT was born in this County and was admitted in St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge Anno 1550. In the Reign of Queen Mary he left the University being probably one of those Scholars which as Mr. Fox observeth went alias were driven away from this Colledge all at one time and betook himself to the service of a Counsellour Here he got some skill in the Common-Law which inabled him afterwards to fence the better for himself by the advantage thereof In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth he returned to Cambridge was chosen Fellow first of St. Iohns then of Trinity How afterwards he was made Margaret Professour outed thereof for his Non-conformity travelled beyond Seas returned home became the Champion of the Presbyterian partie is largely related in our Ecclesiastical History Onely I will add that the Non conformists not a greeing which of them where there is much choice there is no choice should answer Dr. Whitgifts Reply I read that Mr. Cartwright at last was chosen by lot to undertake it It seems the Brethren concluded it of high and holy concernment otherwise I know what Mr. Cartwright hath written of the appeal to Lots Non nisi in rebus gravioribus alicâ—…jus magni momenti ad sortis judicium recurrendumm maxime cum per sortem Deus ipse in judicio sedeat One saith for riches he sought them not and another saith that he dyed rich and I beleive both â—…ay true God sometimes making Wealth to find them who seek not for it seeing many and great were his Benefactors He dyed and was buryed in Warwick where he was Master of the Hospital Anno. 1603. DANIEL DIKE was born at Hempstead in this County where his Father was a Minister silenced for his Non-conformity He was bred in ....... Colledge in Cambridge and became afterwards a profitable Labourer in Gods Vineyard Witness besides his Sermons his worthy books whereof that is the Master-peice which treateth of the deceitfulnesse of mans heart wherein he layes down directions for the Discovery thereof As also how in other Cases one may be acquainted with his own Condition seeing many men lose themselves in the Labyrinths of their own hearts so much is the Terra incognita therein This Book he designed for his pious Patron John Lord Harrington But alas when the Child was come to the Birth there was no strength to bring forth before the Book was fully finished the Author thereof followed his honourable Patron into a better World so that his Surviving brother of whom immediately set it forth And to the Lady Lucy Countesse of Bedford the Lords Sister the same was dedicated A Book which will be owned for a Truth whilst men have any badness and will be honoured for a Treasure wilst men have any goodnesse in them This Worthy man dyed about the Year 1614. JEREMIAH DIKE his Younger Brother was bred in Sidney Colledge in Cambridge beneficed at Epping in Essex one of a chearful Spirit And know Reader that an Ounce of Mirth with the same degree of Grace will serve God farther then a pound of Sadnesse He had also a gracious heart and was very profitable in his Ministry He was a Father to some good Books of his own and a Guardian to those of his Brother whose Posthume Works he set forth He was one peaceable in Israel And though no Zelot in the practice of Ceremonies quietly submitted to use them He lived and dyed piously being buryed in his own Parish-Church Anno Dom. 1620. ARTHUR CAPEL Esquire of Hadâ—…m in this County was by King Charls the first created a Baron 1641. He served the King with more Valour and Fidelity then Success during the Civil Wars in the Marches of Wales After the Surrender of Oxford he retired to his own house in this Shire and was in some sort well cured of the so then reputed Disease of Loyalty when he fell into a Relaps by going to Colcbester which cost him his life beheaded in the Palace Yard in Westminster 1648. In his Life time he wrote a book of Meditation published since his death wherein much judicious piety may be discovered His mortified mind was familiar with afflictions which made him to appear with such 〈◊〉 Resolution on the Scaffold where he seemed rather to fright Death then to be frighted with it Hence one not unhappily alluding to his Arms a Lyon Rampant in a Field Gules betwixt three Crosses thus expresseth himself Thus Lion-like Capel undaunted stood Beset with crosses in a Field of Blood A Learned Dr. in Physick present at the opening and embalming of him and Duke Hambleton delivered it at a publike Lecture that the Lord Capels was the least Heart whilst the Dukes wâ—…s the greatest he ever beheld Which alâ—…o is very proportionable to the Observation in Philosophy that the Spirits contracted in a lesser model are the cause of the greater courage God hath since been the Husband to His Widow who for her goodnesse may be a Pattern to her Sexe and Father to his Children whom not so much their Birth Beauty and Portions as Vertues married to the best Bloods and Estates in the Land even when the Royalists were at the lowest condition EDVVARD SYMONDS born at Cottered in this County was bred in Peter House in Cambridge where he commenced Master of Arts afterwards Minister of Little Rayne in Essex a man strict in his Life and profitable in his preaching wherein he had a plain and piercing faculty Being sequestred from his Living for siding with the King with David 1 Sam. 23. 13. He went wheresoever he could go to Worcester Exeter Barnstable France and lastly returned to London He wrote a Book in VINDICATION OF KING CHARLES and was Instrumental in setting forth his Majesties book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pens were brondished betwixt him and Mr. Stephen Marshal though all was fair betwixt them before his Death For Mr. Symonds visited him lying in his bed at Westminster told him Had I taken you for a
saved is a penny gained the preserver of books is a Mate for the Compiler of them Learned Leland looks on this ◅ong as a Benefactor to posterity in that he saved many Hebrew books of the Noble Library of Ramsey Say not such preserving was purloyning because those books belonged to the King seeing no conscience need to scruple such a nicety Books though so precious that nothing was worth them being in that juncture of time counted worth nothing Never such a Massacre of good Authours some few only escaping to bring tidings of the Destruction of the rest Seeing this Yong is inserted by Bale and omitted by Pits I collect him to savour of the Reformation As for such who confound him with Iohn Yong many years after Master of Pembrook-Hall they are confuted by the different dates assigned unto them this being his Senior 30 years as flourishing Anno Dom. 1520. JOHN WHITE brother to Francis White Bishop of Ely was born at Saint Neots in this County bred in Caius Colledge in Cambridge wherein he commenced Master of Arts. He did not continue long in the University but the University continued long in him so that he may be said to have carried Cambridge with him into Lancashire so hard and constant in his study when he was presented Vicar of Eccles therein Afterwards Sir Iohn Crofts a Suffolk Knight being informed of his abilities and pittying his remote living on no plentiful Benefice called him into the South and was the occasion that King Iames took cognizance of his worth making him his Chaplain in Ordinary It was now but the third moneth of his attendance at Court when he sickned at London in Lumbard-street dyed and was buried in the Church of S. Mary Woolnoth 1615. without any other Monuments save what his learned works have left to posterity which all whohave either learning piety or Ingenuity do yea must most highly cōmend Sir ROBERT COTTON Knight and Baronet son to Iohn Cotton Esquire was born at Cunnington in this County discended by the Bruces from the bloud Royall of Scotland He was bred in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where when a youth He discovered his inclination to the studie of Antiquity they must Spring early who would sprout high in that knowledge and afterwards attained to such eminency that sure I am he had no Superiour if any his equal in the skill thereof But that which rendred him deservedly to the praise of present and future times yea the wonder of our own and forreign Nations was his collection of his Library in Westminster equally famous for 1. Rarity having so many Manuscript Originals or else copies so exactly Transcribed th◅t Reader I must confesse he must have more skill then I have to distinguish them 2. Variety He that beholdeth their number would admire they should be rare and he that considereth their rarity will more admire at their number 3. Method Some Libraries are labyrinths not for the multitude but confusion of Volumes where a stranger seeking for a book may quickly loose himself whereas these are so exactly methodized under the heads of the twelve Roman Emperours that it is harder for one to misse then to hit any Author he desireth But what addeth a luster to all the rest is the favourable accesse thereunto for such as bring any competency of skill with them and leave thankfulness behind them Some Antiquaries are so jealous of their books as if every hand which toucheth wo◅ld ravish them whereas here no such suspition of ingenious persons And here give me leave to register my self amongst the meanest of those who through the favour of Sir Thomas Cotton inheriting as well the courtesie as estate of his Father Sir Robert have had admittance into that worthy treasury Yea most true it is what one saith That the grandest Antiquaries have here fetcht their materials Omnis ab illo Et Camdene tua Seldeni gloria crevit Camden to him to him doth Selden owe Their Glory what they got from him did grow I have heard that there was a design driven on in the Popes Conclave after the death of Sir Robert to compasse this Library to be added to that in Rome which if so what a Vatican had there been within the Vatican by the accession thereof But blessed be God the Project did miscarry to the honour of our Nation and advantage of the Protestant Religion For therein are contained many privaties of Princes and transactions of State insomuch that I have been informed that the Fountains have been fain to fetch water from the stream and the Secretaries of State and Clerks of the Council glad from hence to borrow back again many Originals which being lost by casualty or negligence of Officers have here been recovered and preserved He was a man of a publick spirit it being his principal endevour in all Parliaments wherein he served so often That the prerogative and priviledge might run in their due channel and in truth he did cleave the pin betwixt the Soveraign and the Subject He was wont to say That he himself had the least share in himself whilest his Country and Friends had the greatest interest in him He died at his house in Westminster May the 6. Anno Domini 1631. in the 61. year of his Age though one may truely say his age was adequate to the continuance of the ◅reation such was his exact skill in all antiquity By Elizabeth daughter and co-heire of William Brocas Esquire he had onely one son Sir Thomas now living who by Margaret daughter to the Lord William Howard Grandchild to Thomas Duke of Norfolke hath one son Iohn Cotton Esquire and two daughters Lucie and Francis The Opera posthuma of this worthy Knight are lately set forth in one Volume to the great profit of posterity STEPHEN MARSHALL was born at God-Manchester in this County and bred a Batchellour of Arts in Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge Thence he went very early a Reaper in Gods Harvest yet not before he had well sharpned his Sickle for that service He became Minister at Finchfield in Essex and after many years discontinuance came up to Cambridge to take the degree of Batchelour of Divinity where he performed his exercise with general applause In the late long lasting Parliament no man was more gracious with the principal Members thereof He was their Trumpet by whom they sounded their solemn Fasts preaching more publick Sermons on that occasion then any foure of his Function In their Sickness he was their Confessor in their Assembly their Councellour in their Treaties their Chaplain in their Disputations their Champion He was of so supple a soul that he brake not a joynt yea sprained not a Sinew in all the alteration of times and his friends put all on the account not of his unconstancy but prudence who in his own practice as they conceive Reconciled the various Lections of Saint Pauls precept serving the Lord and the Times And although some severely
whom the Cheif Justice therin said Your Kinsman was my Predecessour in the Court and a great Lawyer My Lord replied the Gentleman he was a very honest man for he left a small estate But indeed though his estate was not considerable compared to his Successors then present it was in it self of a good valuation Writers WILLIAM DE LEICESTER otherwise called William de Montibus which I would willingly English William of the Woulds was born in Leicester in this County bred in Oxford where he was Doctor and Professor of Divinity so eminent for his Learning that he was known to and much beloved by the Nobility of the land He was also known by the name of Mr. William an evidence I assure you sufficient to avouch his Majesterialty in all Learning He was removed to Lincolne and became first Canon then Chancelour of the Church Boston of Bury reckoneth up many and Learned Books of his making He flourished under King John 1210. and lyeth buryed at Lincolne RICHARD BELGRAVE was born saith J. Pitz at Chichester in Sussex but at Belgrave in Leicester-shire saith Mr. William Burton whom I rather beleive because he wrote a particular Description of this County Now surely the more is the exactness of the Authour the less the extent of his Subject especially making it his Set-work what was Pits his by-work to observe the Natives of this Shire But both agree him to be a Carmelite bred in Cambridge an excellent Divine and good Schoolman more Learned then eloquent He wrote one Book of Theological Determinations and another of Ordinary Questions flourishing in the year 1220 under King Edward the Second ROBERT DE LEICESTER was born therein but bred in Oxford a Franciscan Fryer He was one of those who brought preaching into Fashion in that age and was much esteemed for his faculty therein by most of the Nobility But Robert Mascall Bishop of Hereford as pious and learned as any in that age had an extraordinary affection for him Our Leicestrian Robert appeareth also a good Chronologer having written judiciously of the Hebrew and Roman Computation In his reduced age he retired to Leichfield where he dyed and was buryed in the Monastery of the Franciscans 1348. THOMAS RATCLIF born at Ratcliffe in this County was bred an Augustinian in Leicester where he was Ordinis sui Episcopus strain the Word no higher then to overseer of his order He had Ingenium fecundum amplum and pity it was that he had Vitae institutum sterile angustum However to enlarge his Soul he wrote divers Books and flourished anno 1360. BARTHOLOMEVV CULIE was born at Radoliffe-Culie in this County as the exact Describer thereof avoucheth And therefore Pitz committeth a double mistake about this One Writer first calling him Conway then making him a Welshman by his Nativity How hard is it to commit one and but one Error This Bartholomew was an excellent Philosopher and wrote a Book of Generation and Corruption and although J. Pitz. confesseth himself ignorant of the time he lived in my Authour assureth me that he flourished under King Edward the third WILLIAM DE LUBBENHAM was born at Lubbenham in this County brought up in Oxford a good Philosopher and a Divine was after a White Fryer or Carmelite in Coventry and after became Provincial of the Order which place he kept till he dyed He wrote upon Aristotles Posteriors and one Book of ordinary Questions He dyed in the White Fryers in Coventry 1361. in the 36. year of K. Edward the Third JEFFERY DE HARBY was born at Harby in this County and bred in Oxford where he became Provincial of the Augustines and Confessor to K. Edward the Third Wonder not when meeting with so many Confessors to that King presuming he had but one at one time Conscience not standing on State and variety in that kind For know King Edward reigned 50. years and Confessors being aged before admitted to their place his Vivaciousnesse did wear out many of them Besides living much beyond the Seas it is probable that he had his Forraign and his Home Confessors Our Jeffery was also of his Privy Counsel being as prudent to advise in matters politick as pious in spiritual concernments Such as admired he was not preferred to some wealthy Bishoprick must consider that he was ambitious and covetous to be poor and wrote a violent Book in the praise and perfection thereof against Armachanus Dying in London he was buryed in the Church of the Augustines about the Year 1361. WILLIAM DE FOLVIL was born at Ashbye-Folvil in this County and therefore when Bale calleth him Lincolniensem understand him not by County but by Diocesse He was bred a Franciscan in the University of Cambridge and engaged himself a great Master of defence in that doughty quarrel pro pueris induendis that children under the age of 18. might be admitted into Monastical orders For whereas this was then complained of as a great and general grievance that by such preproperous Couling of Boyes and vailing of Girles Parents were cozened out of their children and children cozened out of themselves doing in their Minority they knew not what and repenting in their maturity not knowing what to do our Folvil with more passion then reason maintained the legality thereof He dyed and was buryed in Stamford anno 1384. HENRY DE KNIGHTON was born at Knighton in this County sometime Abbot of Leicester who wrote his History from William the Conquerour to the time of King Richard the Second in whose Reign he dyed It seemeth Lelandus non vidit omnia nor his shadow Bale nor his shadow Pits all three confessing that the History of this Knighton never came to their hands Whereas of late it hath been fairly printed with other Historians on the commendable cost of Cornelius Bee Thus it is some comfort and contentment to such whom Nature hath denyed to be Mothers that they may be drye Nurses and dandle Babes in their Laps whom they cannot bear in their Wombs And thus this Industrious Stationer though no Father hath been Foster Father to many worthy Books to the great profit of posterity WILLIAM WOODFORD I cannot fixe his Nativity with any certainty because so many Woods and Fords and would the former did continue as well as the latter and consequently so many Towns called Woodfords in England He is placed here because his Surname in this age flourished in great Eminency in this County He was bred a Franciscan and though Bilious Bale giveth him the Character of Indoctè Doctus we learn from Leland that he was one of profound Learning and Thomas Waldensis owneth and calleth him Magistrum suum His Master Indeed Woodford set him the first Copy of Railing against Wickliffe being deputed by T. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury to confute publickly in Writing his Opinions He dyed and was buryed at Colchester 1397. THOMAS LANGTON was born at
West-Langton in this County bred a Carmelite in London but first brought up in Oxford He wrote a Book of their own ordinary Acts another called The Tryal of Henry Crump Doctor in Divinity another Book against the Errors of the said Doctor Crump Reader We are beholden to my Author for retriving this Writers memory which otherwise appears not in Leland Bale or Pits He flourished under K. Henry the fourth anno Dom. 1400. ROBERT DE HARBY was born at Harby in this County bred a Carmelite in their Covent at Lincolne He seems to be a Doctor in Divinity and surely was a great Adorer of the Virgin Mary writing many Sermons of her Festivities He flourished 1450. RICHARD TURPIN was born at Knaptoft in this County very lately if not still in the possession of that antient Family and was one of the Gentlemen of the English Garrison of Calis in France in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Such Soldiers generally in time of VVar had too much in time of Peace to little work to employ themselves therein Commendable therefore the Industry of this Richard who spent his spare hours in writing of a Chronicle of his time He dyed Anno Domini 1541. in the 〈◊〉 fifth year of the aforesaid Kings reign This I observe the rather that the Reader may not run with me on the rock of the same mistake who in my apprehension confounded him with Richard Turpin the Herauld first Blew-mantle and then created Winsor in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth Writers Since the Reformation HENRY SMITH Commonly called Silver-tongued Smith Preacher at St. Clemenâ—…s Danes But I refer the Reader to his Life writ by me at large and preposed to his Printed Sermons JOHN DUPORT D. D. Son to Tho. Duport Esquire was born at Shepshed in this County bred fellow then Master of Jesus Colledge in Cambridge once Proctour and thrice Vice-chancelour of that University He was one of the Translators of the Bible and a Reverend man in his Generation who bestowed the perpetual Advowsance of the Rectory of Harston on the Colledge Men generally in Scripture are notified by their Fathers seldome by their Sons as Simon of Cyrene father of Alexander and Rufus Persons no doubt of signal worth in that Age. Thus this Doctor is remarkable for his Son by Rachel Daughter to Richard Cox Bishop of Ely James Duport D.D. Fellow of Trinity Colledge and lately Greek Professor happy in the Education of many hopefull Pupils of Worship and Honour as they more happy in so able a Tutor His Father D. John Duport deceased 1617. WILLIAM BURTON Esquire son of Ralph Burton of Lindley in this County who had a more ancient Inheritance belonging to his name at Falde in Staffordshire a place remarkable because no Adder Snake or Lizard common in the Confines were ever seen therein as if it were a Land-Island and an Ireland in England This VVilliam was born at Lindley August 24. 1575. bred in Brazen-nose Colledge and wrote an Alphabetical Description of the Towns and Villages in this County with the Arms and Pedegrees of the most ancient Gentry therein The sparks of his Ingenuity herein have since set fire on Mr. Dugdale my worthy Friend to do the like to Warwickshire lately under one Sheriff with Leicester-shire and I hope in process of time they may inflame many others into imitation that so give me leave to match an English and Greek word together the County Graphy of our Land may be compleated ROBERT BURTON his younger Brother born Febr. 8. 1575. afterwards Student of Christs-Church Oxon and Batchellor of Divinity He wrote an excellent Book commonly called Democritus Junior of the Anatomy of Melancholy none to the Native to describe a Countrey wherein he hath piled up variety of much excellent Learning On whose Tomb is this Epitaph Paucis notus paucioribus `ignotus Hic jacet Democritus junior Cui vitam-pariter mortem Dedit Melancholia Scarce any Book of Philology in our Land hath in so short a time passed so many Impressions He died Rector of Segrave presented by his Patron George Lord Berkeley in this County about 1636. RICHARD VINES was born at Blazon in this County and bred in Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge where he commenced Master of Arts. Now although many healthfull souls in their age break out in their youth he was never given to any extravagancy Hence he was chosen School-master of Hinckley in this County a Profession wherein many a good Minister hath been and it is pity that any but a good man should be imployed Entring the Ministry after other intermediate places such as are his Censurers would be his Compurgators if privie to the weighty causes of his just removal he was fixed at last at S. Lawrence Jury in Lonâ—…on An excellent Preacher skilfull to cut out Doctrines in their true shape naturally raised to sew them up with strong stitches substantially proved and set them on with advantage on such backs who should wear them effectually applied He was one yea I may say one of sevenscore in the Assembly The Champion of their Party therefore called their Luther much imployed in their Treaties at Uxbridge and Isle of Wight His Majesty though of a different Judgement valued him for his Ingenuity seldome speaking unto him without touching if not moving his Hat Which by Master Vines was returned though otherwise blunt and unobservant with most respectfull Language and Gestures which I will not say was done by all his fellow Divines there present He was most charitably moderate to such as dissented from him though most constant to his own Principles witness his forsaking of his Mastership of Pembroke-Hall for refusing of the Engagement Such who charged him with covetuousness are confuted with the small Estate he left to his Wife and Children It seemeth that the sand in his hour-glass though sticking high on each side was but hollow in the middle for it sunk down on sudden Visible decays appeared in him a year before his death though rather in his Limbs than Parts Spirits than Spirit But alas the best Mind cannot make good Musick where the Instrument of the Body is out of tune his speech grew very low Not a week before his death preaching in S. Gregories a rude fellow cried out unto him Lift up your voice for I cannot hear you to whom Mr. Vines returned Lift you up your ears for I can speak no lowder Indeed his strength was much spent by his former pains so that some suppose had he wrought less he had lived longer He was buried Febr. the 7. 1655. in his own Parish Church where Mr Jacome modestly and learnedly performed his Funeral Sermon Much lamented as by many others so by his own Parish where he piously indeavoured to make them all of one piece who were of different colours and to unite their Judgements who dissented in Affections JOHN CLEVELAND was born in this County at Hinckley where his Father was Vicâ—…r
in the raign of Queen Mary Writers NOTâ—…ELMUS of LONDON Having casually let slip his forelock I mean his Episcopal Capacity being successively Bishop of London and Arch-bishop of Canterbury under which he ought to be entred we are fain to lay hold on his hind-part that his memory may not escape us taking notice of him as a Writer In his Age shined a Constellation of three learned men Bede Alcuinus and our Nothelme whom the two former by their letters invited to writ a performance proper for his Pen the gests of Gregory the Great and the Disciples sent by him with Austin the Monk for the Conversion of Britain Nothelme the more effectually to enable himself for this work went to Rome obtained leave from Pope Gregory the second to peruse his Records then sent his compleated collections to Bede to be inserted in his Church history Bede in gratitude according to the courteous custome of the learned exchange dedicated to him his thirty questions on the Books of Kings His death happened Anno Domini 739. WILLIAM FITZ-STEPHENS was descended saith Leland of Norman Nobility but born in this City and bred a Monk in Canterbury He wrote many learned works and one in Latine of the description of London since commendably because rare to come by translated and added to the Survey of London Say not that London then was but the Suburbs to the London now for the bigness and populousness thereof seeing in Fitz Stephens time it accounted thirteen Conventual and an hundred and six and thirty Parochial Churches not producing so many at this day so that it seems though there be more Bodies of Men there be fewer Houses of God therein As for the populousness thereof in his time it was able to set forth sixty thousand Foot which I believe it may treble in our time It could also then raise twenty thousand Horsemen which would pose it at this day to perform But as railing Rabshekah made Jerusalem weaker not able to set two thousand Riders on horses so possibly Fitz-Stephens might make London stronger then it was I hope one may safely wish this City may be better in holiness as bigger in houses then it was when Fitz-Stephens flourished 1190. ALBRICIUS of LONDON Leland maketh him a Native of this City and signally learned though little is extant of his writings save a work of the Original of Heathen Gods Herein he sheweth how mankind having by error and ignorance left and lost the true God multiplyed Deities that a Mock-infinite viz. what was but Indefinite in number should supply his place who was Infinite in Nature Albricius flourished Anno Domini 1217. WILLIAM SENGHAM born of mean but honest Parents being one of a meek nature and quick wit was brought up in learning wherein he attained to great perfection He wrote many books and one de fide Legibus wherein Bale highly praiseth this passage There is no other law for the Salvation of men besides the Gospel of Christ our Lord. Now although this be but a plain expression of the common truth yet was it beheld as an Oracle in that ignorant age Thus a beam of noon-day might it be seen at mid-night would shine as the Sun it self besides these words were uttered in that age when impudent Friers began to obtrud on the world a fift forged Gospel consisting of superstitious ceremonies and called Aeternum Evangelium which did much mischief in the Church amongst credulous men This William is supposed by some an Augustinian Frier who flourished Anno Dom. 1260. LAURENTIUS ANGLICUS was certainly an English-man and probably a Londoner but brought up and living most of his time in Paris where he was Master of the Colledge which had an English-man for the sign thereof Hence I collect it for building little better then our ordinary Inns for entertainment where probably our Country men had their lodgings for nothing This Laurence being a learned and pious person stoutly opposed that mock Gospel commonly called Evangelium Aeternum with the Mendicant Friars the Champions thereof He wrote a smart book contra Pseudo-Praedicatores but afterwards being frightned with the Popes thunderboults and the Friars threatnings he cowardly recanted But what saith Solomon A just man falleth seven times the Vulgar Latine addeth in die in one day and riseth again as we hope this Laurence did who flourished Anno Dom. 1260. NICHOLAS LYRA was as Barnabas a Jew-Cypriot and Saul a Jew-Gilician a Jew-English man the first by Nation the second by Nativity He had the Râ—…bbins at his Fingers ends but conversed so long with that at last he was converted by some Franciscans to be a Christian and I behold Nicholas Conquerour of his People as his Font-name then given him as predictory of those Victories he afterwards got by his disputings and writings over his own Country-men Nor doth the Church of God more complain of Nicholas that Proselite of Antioch the last of the seven Deacons and first founder of the Nicholaitans whom God hated then it doth commend our Nicholas who vigorously confuted the Jews who expect the rising of the Sun in the afternoon waiting for Messias still to come I read how some fifty years before Henry the third founded a house called Domus Conversorum where now the Office of the Rolls is kept in Chancery-lane where Converted Jews were accommodated with Lodging and a small Salary But I believe Lyra made no use thereof contenting himself to live first in Oxford then in Paris a Franciscan Fryar and wrote Comments on all the Old and New-Testament whereof so different the Editions that I am certainly informed one is so bad one can hardly give too little and one so good one can hardly give too much for it Though sometimes he may be wide of the Mark and this Harp be out of Tune yet uncharitable their censure of Lyra Delirat whilst Luther highly praiseth him because his wanton wit did not gad after empty Allegories but with the good house-keeper stays at home keeping himself close to the Text in his literal interpretations Now though there were many Jewish Synagogues in England at York Cambridge Northampton c. yet the Old Jury in London equalling all the rest in numerousness Lyra his birth is here assigned with best assurance though dying in Paris about the year 1340. BANKINUS of LONDON not Bancks of London who taught his Horse reason to perform feats above belief but one of hgher Parts and worse employed Being an Augustinian Friar he set himself wholly to suppress the poor Wicklevicks and being ready to dispute against them in a publique Council was taken off in his full speed with the following accident worthy of the Readers observation Bale de Script Brit. Cent. 6. Num. 97. Sed terrae motus justissima summi Dei vindicta subito exortus diruptis Passim domorum edificitis immanes eorum impetus fregit ac vires infirmavit But an Earthquake by the just
Mounchensey bred first in Oxford then an Augustinian Eremite in Clare He was a great Scholar as his Works evidence and Confessor to Lionel Duke of Clarence whom he attended into Italy when he married Joland daughter to John Galeaceus Duke of Milan J. Pits conceiveth him to have been an Arch-bishop in Ireland which is utterly disowned by Judicious Sir James VVare And indeed if Bales words whence Pits deriveth his intelligence be considered it will appear he never had Title of an Arch-bishop sed cujusdam Archi-Episcopatus curam accepit He undertook care of some Arch-bishoprick probably commended in the vacancy thereof to his inspection And why might not this be some Italian Arch-bishoprick during his attendance on his Patron there though afterwards preferring privacy before a pompous charge he returned into his Native Country and died at Clare Anno 1396. THOMAS PEVâ—…REL was born of good Parentage in this County bred a Carmelite and D. D. in Oxford He was afterwards by King Richard the Second made Bishop of Ossory in Ireland I say by King Richard the Second which minds me of a memorable passage which I have read in an excellent Author It may justly seem strange which is most true that there are three Bishopricks in Ireland in the Province of Ulster by name Derry Rapho and Clogher which neither Queen Elizabeth nor any of her Progenitors did ever bestow though they were the undoubted Patrons thereof So that King James was the first King of England that did ever supply those Sees with Bishops so that it seems formerly the Great Irish Lords in those parts preferred their own Chaplains thereunto However the Bishopricks in the South of the Land were ever in the disposal of Our Kings amongst which Ossory was one bestowed on our Peverel From Ireland he was removed to Landaffe in Wales then to VVorchester in England being one much esteemed for Learning as his Books do declare He died according to Bishop Godwins account March the 1 1417 and lieth buried in his own Cathedral STEPHEN GARDINER was born in Bury St. Edmunds one of the best aires in England the sharpness whereof he retained in his Wit and quick apprehension Some make him Base-son to Lionel VVoodvile Bishop of Salisbury which I can hardly beleeve Salisbury and St. Edmunds-Bury being six score miles asunder Besides time herein is harder to be reconciled than place For it being granted an errour of youth in that Bishop and that Bishop vanishing out of this World 1485. Gardiner in all probability must be allowed of greater age than he was at his death It is confess'd by all that he was a man of admirable natural parts and memory especially so conducible to Learning that one saith Tantum scimus quantum meminimus He was bâ—…ed Doctor of Laws in Trinity-hall in Cambridge and after many State-Embassies and employments he was by King Henry the Eighth made Bishop of VVinchester His malice was like what is commonly said of white powder which surely discharged the Bullet yet made no report being secrete in all his acts of cruelty This made him often chide Bonner calling him Asse though not so much for killing poor people as not for doing it more cunningly He was the chief Contriver of what we may call Gardiners-Creed though consisting but of six Articles which caused the death of many and trouble of more Protestants He had almost cut off one who was and prevented another for ever being a Queen I mean Katharine Par and the Lady Elizabeth had not Divine Providence preserved them He complied with King Henry the Eighth and was what he would have him opposed King Edward the Sixth by whom he was imprisoned and depriv'd acted all under Queen Mary by whom he was restored and made Lord Chancellour of England He is reported to have died more than half a Protestant avouching that he believed himself and all others onely to be justified by the merits of Christ which if so then did he verifie the Greek and Latine Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saepe Olitor valde verba opportuna loquâ—…tus The Gardiner oft times in due season Speaks what is true and solid reason He died at VVhite-hall of the Gout November the 12th 1555. and is buried by his own appointment on the Northside of the Quire over against Bishop Fox in a very fair Monument He had done well if he had parallell'd Bishop Fox Founder of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford in erecting some publick work the rather because he died so rich being reported to have left fourty thousand Marks in ready money behind him However on one account his memory must be commended for improving his power with Queen Mary to restore some Noble Families formerly depressed My Author instanceth in some descendanâ—…e from the Duke of Norfolk in the Stanhops and the Arundels of VVarder Castle To these give me leave to adde the Right Ancient Family of the Hungerfords to whom he procured a great part of their Patrimony seased on by the Crown to be restored Since the Reformation JOHN BALE was born at Covie in this County five miles from Donwich and was brought up in Jesus-Colledge in Cambridge being before or after a Carmelite in Norwich By the means of Thomas Lord Wentworth he was converted to be a Protestant This is that Bale who wrote a Book De scriptoribus Britannicis digested into nine Centuries not more beholding to Leland than I have been to Bale in this Work and my Church-History Anno 1552 February the 2d he was consecrated at Dublin Bishop of Ossory in Ireland whence on the death of King Edward the Sixth he was forced to flie some of his servants being slain before his eyes and in his passage over the sea was taken prisoner by Pirates sold ransom'd and after many dangers safely arrived in Switzerland After the death of Queen Mary he returned into England but never to his Irish Bishoprick preferring rather a private life being a Prebendary of the Church of Canterbury One may wonder that being so Learned a Man who had done and suffered so much for Religion higher promotion was not forced upon him seeing about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth Bishopricks went about begging able men to receive them But probably he was a person more Learned than discreet fitter to write than to govern as unable to command his own passion and Biliosus Balaeus passeth for his true Character He died in the sixty eighth year of his Age at Canterbury Anno Domini 1563 in the moneth of November and was buried in the Cathedâ—…al Church therein JOHN MAY was born in this County bred in the â—…niversity of Cambridge whereof he became Proctor 1545 Elected Master of Katharine-hall 1564 Vice-Chancellour 1569 and at last consecrated Bishop of Carlile Sept. 27 1577 continuing eleven years in that See and died in April 1598. JOHN OVERAL D. D. born aâ—… Hadley in this County was bred in the Free-School therein
the most marvellous It groweth ordinarily fifteen foot in length yea I read of one four and twenty foot long which may be true because as there are Giants amongst men so there are Giants amongst Giants which even exceed them in proportion The place whereon it groweth is low lying some Winters under water having hills round about it and a spacious sheep common adjoyning The soyl whereof by every hasty showre is brought down into this little medow which makes it so incredibly fruitfull This Grasse being built so many stories high from knot to knot lyeth matted on the ground whence it is cut up with sickles and bound into sheaves It is both Hay and Provender the joint-like knots whereof will fat swine Some conceive that the seed thereof transplanted would prosper plentifully though not to the same degree of Length in other places from whose judgement other husband-men dissent conceiving it so peculiar to this place that Ground and Grass must be removed both together Or else it mrst be set in a Parellel'd position for all the particuler advantages aforesaid which England will hardly afford So that nature may seem mutually to have made this Plant and this Place one for another Proverbs It is done secundum usum Sarum This Proverb coming out of the Church hath since inlarged it self into a civil use It began on this occasion Many Offices or forms of service were used in severall Churches in England as the Office of York Hereford Bangor c. which caused a deal of Confusion in Gods Worship untill Osmond Bishop of Sarum about the year of our Lord 1090. made that Ordinall or Office which was generally received all over England so that Churches thence forward easily understood one another all speaking the same words in their Liturgy It is now applyed to those persons which do and Actions which are formally and solemnly done in so Regular a way by Authentick Precedents and Paterns of unquestionable Authority that no just exception can be taken thereat Princes MARGARET PLANTAGENET Daughter to George Duke of Clarence and Isabel Nevile Eldest Daughter and Co-heir of Richard Nevile Earl of Warwick was born August 14. 1473. at Farrley-Castle in this County Reader I pray thee let her pass for a Princesse because Daughter to a Duke Neece to two Kings Edward the fourth and Richard the third Mother to Cardinal Reginale Poole But chiefly because she was the last liver of all that Royall Race which from their birth wore the names of Plantagenets By Sir Richard Poole a Knight of Wales and Cozen-Jerman to King Henry the seventh she had divers children whereof Henry Lord Mountague was the eldest he was Accused of Treason and this Lady his Mother Charged to be Privy thereunto by King Henry the eighth who as his father was something too slow was somewhat too quick in discovering Treasons as soon as if not before they were On the Scaffold as she stood she would not gratify the Executioner with a Prostrate Posture of her body Some beheld this her action as an argument of an erected soul disdaining pulingly to submit to an infamous death showing her mind free though her body might be forc'd and that also it was a demonstration of her innocence But others condemn'd it as a needless and unseasonable animosity in her who though suppos'd innocent before man for this fact must grant her self guilty before God whose Justice was the supreme Judge condemning her Besides it was indiscreet to contend where it was impossible to prevail there being no guard against the edge of such an axe but patience and it is ill for a soul to goe recking with anger out of this world Here happened an unequall contest betwixt Weakness and Strength Age and Youth Nakedness and Weapons Nobility and Baseness a Princess and an Executioner who at last draging her by the hair gray with age may truly be said to have took off her head seeing she would neither give it him nor forgive him the doing thereof Thus dyed this Lady Margaret Heir to the name and stout nature of Margaret Dutchess of Burgundy her Aunt and God-mother whose spirits were better proportioned to her Extraction then Estate for though by special Patent she was created Countess of Sarisbury she was restored but to a small part of the inheritance she was born unto She suffered in 23. year of the raign of K. Henry the eighth JANE SEYMORE Daughter to Sir John Seymoure Knight honourably descended from the Lords Beauchamps was as by all concurring probabilities is collected born at Wulfall in this County and after was married to King Henry the eight It is currantly traditioned that at her first coming to Court Queen Anne Bollen espying a Jewell pendant about her neck snatched thereat desirous to see the other unwilling to show it and causually hurt her hand with her own violence but it greived her heart more when she perceived it the Kings Picture by himself bestowed upon her who from this day forward dated her own declining and the others ascending in her husbands affection It appeareth plainly by a passage in the Act of Parliament that the King was not onely invited to his marriage by his own affections but by the Humble Petition and intercession of most of the Nobles of his Realme moved thereunto as well by the conveniency of her years as in respect that by her Excellent Beauty and Pureness of Flesh and Bloud I speak the very words of the Act it self she was apt God willing to Conceive Issue And so it proved accordingly This Queen dyed some days after the birth of Prince Edward her son on whom this Epitaph Phoenix Jana jacet nato Phoenice dolendum Saecula Phoenices nulla tulisse duas Soon as her Phoenix Bud was blown Root-Phoenix Jane did wither Sad that no age a brace had shown Of Phoenixes together Of all the Wives of King Henry she only had the happiness to dye in his full favour the 14. of Octob. 1337. and is buried in the quire of Windsor Chappel the King continuing in real mourning for her even all the Festival of Christmas Saints ADELME Son to Kenred Nephew to Ina King of the West-Saxons was bred in Forraign parts and returning home was Abbot of Malmesbury Thirty years a Person Memorable on severall Accounts 1. He was the first Englishman who ever wrote in Latine 2. He was the first that ever brought Poetry into England 3. The first Bishop of the See of Sherburn Bede giveth him a large commendation for his Learning the rather because he wrot a book for the reducing the Britons to observe Easter according to the Church of Rome Impudent Monkes have much abused his Memory with Shameless lyes and amongst the rest with a Wooden Miracle that a Carpenter having cut a Beam for his Church too short he by his Prayers stretched it out to the full proportion To this I may add another lye as clear as the Sun it self on whose
parentage Veritati Dei tunc revelatae Auscultans and Pitz taxeth him that his Pen was too compliant to pleasure K. Henry the eight The truth is this he lived in these parts in that juncture of time when the two Northern Rebellions happened the one in Lincoln the other in Yorkshire and when the Popish party gave it out that the Reformation would ruine Church and State levell all dignities and degrees Wilfrid to Confute the Priests truthless Reports and the Peoples causless Jealousies stated the Controversie Truely Clearly and Wittily in the manner of a Dialogue He survived not many months after the setting forth of this book Anno 1536. THOMAS ROBERSON was born in this County and being Doctor of Divinity in Oxford was one of the best Grammarians for Greek and Latine in that age He had an admirable faculty in teaching of youth for every Boy can teach a Man whereas he must be a Man who can teach a Boy It is easie to inform them who are able to understand but it must be a Master piece of industry and discretion to descend to the capacity of Children He wrote notes upon the Grammar of Lilly and besides others one book De Nominibus Hetoroclitis and another De verbis Defectivis so that by his pains the hardest parts of Grammar are made the easiest and the most anomalous reduced to the greatest regularity by his endeavours What Robert Robinson under whose name Quae genus in the Grammar is Printed was to this Thomas Roberson I have no leisure to enquire and leave it to those to whom it is more proper suspecting they may be the same person and thâ—…t Pitzaeus our Author living mostly beyond the seas might be mistaken in the name However he flourished Anno Domini 1544. WILLIAM HUGH was born in this County and bred in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford where he attained to great Eminency in Learning In his time the Consciences of many tender Parents were troubled about the Finall Estate of Infants dying unbaptized as posting from the Wombe to the Winding sheet in such speed that the Sacrament could not be fastened upon them To pacify persons herein concerned this William wrote and Dedicated a book to Q. Katherine Parr entituled The troubled mans Medicine He died of the breaking of a Vain Anno Dom. 1549. ROGER ASCHAM was born at Kirby-weik in this County and bred in Saint Johns-Colledge in Cambridge under Doctor Medcalfe that good Governour who whet-stonelike though dull in himself by his encouragement set an edge on most excellent wits in that foundation Indeed Ascham came to Cambridge just at the dawning of learning and staid therein till the bright-day thereof his own endeavours contributing much light thereunto He was Oratour and Greek-Professour in the University places of some sympathy which have often met in the same person and in the beginning of the raign of Queen Mary within three days wrote letters to fourty seven severall Princes whereof the meanest was a Cardinal He travailed into Germany and there contracted familiarity with John Sturmius and other learned men and after his return was a kind of teacher to the Lady Elizabeth to whom after she was Queen he became her Secretary for her Latine letters In a word he was an Honest man and a good Shooter Archery whereof he wrote a book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being his onely exercise in his youth which in his old age he ex changed for a worse pastime neither so healthfull for his body nor profitable for his purse I mean Cock-fighting and thereby being neither greedy to get nor carefull to keep money he much impaired his estate He had a facile and fluent Latine-style not like those who counting obscurity to be elegancy weed out all the hard words they meet in Authors witness his Epistles which some say are the only Latine-ones extant of any English-man and if so the more the pity What loads have we of letters from forraign Pens as if no Author were compleat without those necessary appurtenances whilst surely our English-men write though not so many as good as any other Nation In a word his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is accounted a good book for Young-men his School-master for Old-men his Epistles for all men set out after his death which happened Anno Dom. 1568. December 30. in the 53. year of his Age and he was buried in Saint Sepulchers in London Sir HENRY SAVILL Knight was born at Bradley in the Parish of Hallifax in this County of antient and worshipfull extraction He was bred in Oxford and at last became Warden of Merton-colledge and also Provost of Eaton Thus this skilfull Gardiner had at the same time a Nurcery of young Plants and an Orchard of grown Trees both flourishing under his carefull inspection This worthy Knight carefully collected the best Copies of Saint Chrysostome and imployed Learned men to transcribe and make Annotations on them which done he fairly set it forth on his own cost in a most beautifull Edition a burden which he underwent without stooping under it though the weight thereof would have broken the back of an ordinary person But the Papists at Paris had their Emissaries in England who surreptitiously procured this Knights learned Labours and sent them over weekly by the Post into France Schedatim sheet by sheet as here they passed the Press Then Fronto Duceus a French Cardinall as I take it caused them to be Printed there with implicite faith and blind obedience letter for letter as he received them out of England onely joyning thereunto a Latine translation and some other inconsiderable Additions Thus two Editions of Saint Chrysostome did together run a race in the world which should get the speed of the other in publique sale and acceptance Sir Henry his Edition started first by the advantage of some Months But the Parisian Edition came up close to it and advantaged with the Latine Translation though dearer of pâ—…ice out-stript it in quickness of Sale but of late the Savilian Chrysostome hath much mended its pace so that very few are left of the whole Impression Sir Henry left one onely Daughter richly married to Sir William Sidley of Kent Baronet He dyed at Eaton where he lyeth buried under a Monument with this Inscription Hic jacent Ossa Cineres Henrici Savill sub spe certa resurrectionis natus apud Bradley juxta Halifax in Comitatu Ebor Anno Domini 1549. ultimo die mensis Novembris Obiit in Collegio Etonensi Anno Domini 1621. xix die mensis Februarii It must not be forgotten that he was a most excellent Mathematician witness his learned Lectures on Euclid Yet once casually happening into the Company of Master Briggs of Cambridge upon a learned encounter betwixt them Master Briggs demonstrated a truth besides if not against the judgment of Sir Henry wherewith that worthy Knight was so highly affected that he chose him one of his Mathematick
the artificial Tower thereof or for the Organs These were formerly most famous the more because placed in a Parochial no Cathedral Church for beauty bigness and tunableness though far short of those in worth which Michael Emperor of Constantinople caused to be made of pure Gold and beneath those in bigness which George the Salamitan Abbot made to be set up in the Church of his Convent whose biggest Pipe was eight and twenty foot long and four spans in compass The first Organ which was ever seen in the West of Europe was what was sent Anno 757. from Constantine the Grecian Emperor to Pipin King of France And their general use in Churches began about the year 828. I read that the form of this instrument was much improved by one Bernard a Venetian who was absolutely the best Musician in the World with addition of many Pipes thereunto What is become of Wrexham-Organs I know not and could heartily wish they had been removed into some Gentlemans house seeing such as accuse them for superstitious in Churches must allow them lawful in private places Otherwise such Moroso's deserve not to be owners of an articulate voice sounding thorough the Organ of a Throat But to return to the buildings in this County Holt Castle must not be forgotten How well â—…t is now faced and repaired without I know not I know when it was better lined within than any Subjects Castle I believe in Europe at that time viz. when in the possession of William Lord Stanley When the ready mony and plate therein besides Jewels and rich Houshold-stuff amounted unto forty thousand Marks got by the plunder of Bosworth field But as the River Dee running by this Castle is soon after swallowed up in the Irish Ocean so it was not long before this vast treasure upon the Owners attainder was confiscated into the Coffers of King Henry the seventh Prelates LEOLINE being born in the Marches he had a double name to notifie him to posterity One after the Welsh-mode à Patre Leoline ap Llewelin ap Yuyr the other according to the custom of the English Clergy à Patria Leoline de Bromfield a most fruitful tract of ground in this County Under King Edward the first Anno 1293. he was consecrated Bishop of Saint Asaph and deserved right well of that See by his manifold Benefactions appropriating some Churches to his Chapter As for a portion of Tithes in the Parish of Corwen appropriated to the Fabrick of the Church he reduced it to its former estate The first and last instance for Precedent I dare not call it which I have met with of a Church legally appropriated which reverted to its presentative propriety Had King Henry the eighth at the dissolution of Abbies followed this example the Church had been richer by many pounds the Exchequer not poorer by a penny I find also that he asked leave of King Edward the first to make a Will which may seem very strange whether it was a Court-complement or ex gratia cautela or because Welsh Bishops in that age might not Testamentize without Royal assent By his Will he bequeathed much of Plate rich Vests and Books to the Canons of that Church and his Chaplains dying Anno Dom. 1313. Since the Reformation GODFREY GOODMAN was born of wealthy Parentage in this County bred under his Uncle of whom hereafter in Westminster School then in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge where he commenced Doctor of Divinity successively preferred Pâ—…ebendary of Windsor Dean of Rochester and Bishop or 〈◊〉 He is 〈◊〉 joyned to the Prelates before though he lived long 〈◊〉 the Reformaâ—…on because he agreed with them in Judgement dying a professed Romanist as appeareth by his Will Yet the Adversaries of our Hierarchy have no cause to triumph thereat who 〈◊〉 charge Popish compliance on all his Order being able to produce of two hundred Bishops since Queen Elizabeth but this only instance and him a person of no great eminency not only disavowed by his fellow Prelates but imprisoned in the late Convocation for his erronious Opinions Indeed in this Discourse he would be constantly complaining of our first Reformers and I heard him once say in some passion That Bishop Ridley was a very Odde man to whom one presently returned he was an Odde man indeed my Lord for all the Popish party in England could not match him with his equal in Learning and Religion To give Goodman his due he was a harmless man hurtfull to none but himselâ—… pitiful to the poor hospitable to his neighbours against the ruining of any of an opposite judgement and gave the most he left to pious uses He was no contemptible Historian but I confesse an under-match to Doctor Hackwell But I remember the Ring bequeathed to me in his Will with the Posie thereof Requiem Defunctis and therefore I will no longer be troublesome to his Memory who was made Bishop 1624. and some seven years since deceased in Westminster almost 80. years of age Writers since the Reformation VVILLIAM SALESBURY was born in this County where his family flourisheth at this day This Gentleman out of a love to his Native language Amor patriae ratione valentior omni composed a short English and Welsh Dictionary first privately presented to and approved by King Henry the eighth being a Tuthar by his Fathers side of Welsh extraction and then publickly printed Anno Dom. 1547. Some captious spirits will quarrel the usefulness thereof seeing the Welsh did not want and the English did not wish a Book of that natnre But let them know that it is useful for both Nations to the English for attaining to the VVelsh for retaining that Language Attaining For being an original Tongue an Antiquary is lame without it which I find by my own defect to understand the few of many remaining Monuments of that Nation Retaining That Tongue as well as others by disuse being subject not only to Corrupâ—…ion but Oblivion by the confession of the Natives of that Countrey Indeed all Dictionaries of Languages are very useful VVords bringing Matter to the Tongue and as Plato well observed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Name or Word is an instrument of Instruction and ushereâ—…h Knowledge into our Understanding However seeing nothing can be begun and finisht at once Salesbury his Book as the first in this kind did rather essay than effect the work and since hath been completed by others He died about the year 1560. Benefactors to the Publick since the Reformation Sir THOMAS Son of RICHARD EXMEW was born at Rythin in this County Being bred in London a Goldsmith he thrived therein so well that Anno 1517. he was Lord Mayor thereof besides other Benefactions in his own Country and to Saint Mary Magdalen in Milk-street London where he lies buried He made the Water Conduit by London-wall at More-gate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Pindar begins his Poems Water is a
straitly forbidding any other of what Degree or Quality soever to be interred therein But only the Will of the King of Heaven doth stand inviolable whilest those of the most Potent earthly Princes are subject to be infringed Saints JUSTINIAN was a Noble Briton by birth who with his own inheritance built a Monastery in the Island of Ramsey in this County where many Monks lived happily under his discipline until three of them by the Devils instigation slew this Justinian in haâ—…red of his sanctity about the year of Christ 486. His body was brought with great veneration to Menevia and there interred by Saint David himself and since much famed with supposed Miracles Writers GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS whose Sir-name say some was Fitz-Girald say others was Barry and I believe the latter because he saith so himself in his Book De vita sua and was born at Tenby in this County His Father His Mother William de Barry an Englishman Angaâ—…eth the daughter of Nesta daughter of Rhese Prince of South-Wales He was Nephew to David the second Bishop of St. Davids by whom he was made Arch-Deacon of Brecknock He was wont to complain that the English did not love him because his Mother was a Welsh-woman and the Welsh did hate him because his Father was an English-man though by his excellent writings he deserved of England well of Wales better and of Ireland best of all making a Topographical description of all three But acting in the last as a Secretary under King John with great industry and expence Yea he was a great Traveller as far as Jerusalem it self and wrote De mirabilibus terrae Sanctae so that he might be styled Geraldus Anglicus Hibernicus Hierosolymitanus though it was his mind and modesty only to be Cambrensis One may justly wonder that having all Dimensions requisite to preferment his birth broad acquaintance deep learning long life living above seventy years he never attained to any considerable Dignity Hear how betwixt grief and anger he expresseth him self concerning his ill success at Court Irreparabili damno duo ferè lustra consumens nihil ab illis preter inanes vexationes 〈◊〉 veris promissa suscepi Indeed for a long timè no Preferment was proffered him above a beggerly Bishoprick in Ireland and at last the See of S. Davids was the highest place he attained Whilest some impute this to His Planet the malignant influence whereof hath blasted men of the most merit Pride some men counting it their due for preferment to court them and that it is enough for them to recive too much to reach after it Profitableness to be employed in meaner places Some having gotten an useful Servant love to wear him out in working and as Gardiners keep their hedges close cut that they may spread the broader maintain them mean that they may be the more industrious Giraldus himself tells us the true reason that he was ever beheld oculo novercali because being a Welsh-man by the surer side and then such the Antipathy of the English they thought no good could come out of Wales Sad that so worthy a man should poenas dare Patriae Matris suae Being at last as we have said made Bishop of Saint Davids he went to Rome and there stickled for an exemption of that his See from Canterbury whereby he highly offended Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury But Giraldus after long debates being rather over-born with Bribes than over-come in Cause returned re infecta died and was buried in his own Cathedral about the year 1215. The Farewell I know not what better to wish this County than that the Marle a great fertilizer of barren ground which it affordeth be daily encreased especially since Corn is in all probability likely to grow scarcer and scarcer that their land through Gods blessing being put in heart therewith may plentifully answer the desires of the Husbandman and hereafter repair the Penury of this with the Abundance for many succeeding years RADNOR-SHIRE RADNOR-SHIRE in British Sire Maiseveth in form three square is bounded on the North-West with Hereford-shire and on the South side separated by the River Wye with Breckneck-shire and on the North part thereof with Montgomery-shire Nature may seem to have chequered this County the East and South parts being fruitful whilest the North and West thereof lying rough and uneven with Mountains can hardly be bettered by the greatest pains and industry of the Husband man Yet is it indifferently well stored with woods and conveniently watered with running Rivers and in some places with standing Meers Mr. Cambden telleth us that there is a place therein termed Melienith from the Mountains thereof being of a Yellowish colour which stretcheth from Offa Dike unto the River Wye which cutteth overthwart the West corner of this Shire where meeting with some stones which impede its motion on a sudden for want of ground to glide on hath a violent downfall which place is termed Raihader Gowy that is the Fall or Flood-gates of Wye Hereupon he supposeth it not improbable that the English men forged that word for the name of this Shire terming it Radnor-shire Princes HENRY of MONMOUTH so called from that well known Town wherein he was born hath his Character fixed here because formerly passed over in its proper place through the posting speed of the Press He was Son to King Henry the fourth by Mary one of the Daughters and Heirs of Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Herefoâ—…d and whom he succeeded on the Throne being the fifth of that name and began his raign March 20. Anno 1413. He cannot be excused from extravagancies in his Youth seeing the King his Father expelled him his Council substituting his younger Brother the Duke of Clarence President in his steed for the same Yet as those bodies prove most healthful which break out in their youth so was his soul the sounder for venting it self in its younger days For no sooner was his Father dead but he reclaimed himself and became a glory to his Country and a constant terror to his Enemies Yea he banished all his idle Companions from Court allowing them a competency for their subsistence When the Lord Chiefe Justice who had secured him when Prince for striking him for the commitment of some of his lewd Companions begg'd his Pardon for the same he not only forgave him but rewarded his Justice for distributing it without fear or partiality In his raign a Supplication was preferred that the Temporal Lands given to pious uses but abusively spent might have been seized to the King This was wisely awarded by Chichley Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by putting the King on the design of recovering France Yea this King by his valour reduced Charles the sixth King of France to such a condition that he in a manner resigned his Kingdom into his hand And here the French men found him as good or rather worse as his promise which he made to
Comment on a Netling Text and so taxed the pride and lasiness of all Friers that his book was burnt by command from the Pope and the Writer thereof had been burnt also had he noâ—… seasonably secured himself by his flight beâ—…ond the Seas This mindeth me of a passage of a Frier who burned a book of Peter Ramus after the death of the Author thereof and then and there used this Distick in some imitation of Ovid Parve nec invideo sine me Liber ibis in Ignem Hei mihi quod Domino non licet ire tuo Small Book thy fate I envy not Without me feel the Flame O had it been thy Masters lot He might have felt the Same But our Pateshull was out of retch in Bohemia betwixt which and England a great intercourse in that age since King Richard the second had married a Sister of Wincelaus King of Bohemia We behold him as an advancer of Wicklivisme in that Country for which John Husse and Hierome of Prague were afterwards condemned He flourished in the year of our Lord 1390. Since the Reformation ROBERT CROWLEY was born in this County bred Master of Arts in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford It happ'ned that one Miles Hogheard whom Pitz maketh a learned Writer and intituleth him Virum doctum ptum in fide Catholica mirè zelosum though in Master Fox it appeareth by his own confession that he was but an Hosier in London wrote railing books against the poor Protestants Our Crowley took him to task and confuted him in several Treatises Under Queen Mary he fled over to Frankford and returning under Queen Elizabeth was made Vicar of Saint Giles without Cripple gate London where he lieth buried under a fair plated stone in the â—…hancel He died on the 18. of June 1588. EUSEBIUS PAGET was born at â—…ranford in this County â—…as Master Ephraim Paget â—…is aged son late Minister of St. Edmond the King Lombard street hath informed me He was admitted at twelve years of age into Oxford where when a boy he brake his right-arme with carrying the Pax though surely some casualty beside so light a weight concurred thereunto He was commonly called the golden Sophister and yet he proved no leaden Graduate Many years he was a painful Minister in London and was Author of that excellent book called the History of the Bible and Caâ—…echisme of The fourty short questions which hath done as much good to nn book learn'd people as any of that kind The certain date of his death I cannot attain JOHN PRESTON D. D. was born at Heyford in this County bred in Queens-colledge in Cambridge whose life interwoven much with Church and State matters is so well written by his Pupill Master Thomas Ball that all additions thereunto may seem carrying of Coals to New-castle However seeing he who carrieth Char-coal a different kind from the native Coal of that place may meet with a Chapman there on the same confidence a word or two of this Doctor Before he Commenced Master of Arts he was so far from Eminency as but a little above Contempt Thus the most generous Wines are the most muddy before they are fine Soon after his skill in Phylosophy rendred him to the general respect of the University He was the greatest Pupil-monger in England in mans memory having sixteen Fellow-Commoners most heirs to fair estates admitted in one year in Queens-colledge and provided convenient accommodations for them As VVilliam the Popular Earl of Nassaw was said to have won a Subject from the King of Spain to his own party every time he put off his Hat so was it commonly said in the Colledge that every time when Master Preston plucked off his Hat to Doctor Davenant the Colledge-Master he gained a Chamber or Study for one of his Pupils Amongst whom one Chambers a Londoner who dyed very young was very eminent for his learning Being chosen Master of Emanuell-colledge he removed thither with most of his Pupills and I remember when it was much admired where all these should find lodgings in that Colledge which was so full already Oh! said one Master Preston will carry Chambers along with him The Party called Puritan then being most active in Parliament and Doctor Preston most powerful with them the Duke rather used then loved him to work that Party to his complyance Some thought the Doctor was unwilling to do it and no wonder he effected not what he affected not others thought he was unable that Party being so diffusive and then in their designs as since in their practices divided However whilst any hope none but Doctor Preston with the Duke set by and extolled and afterwards set by and neglected when found useless to the intended purpose In a word my worthy friend fitly calls him the Court Coment blazing for a time and faiding soon afterwards He was a perfect Politician and used lapwing like to flutter most on that place which was furthest from his Eggs exact at the concealing of his intentions with that simulation which some make to lye in the Marches of things lawful and unlawfull He had perfect command of his passion with the Caspian Sea never ebbing nor flowing and would not alter his compos'd pase for all the whipping which Satyrical wâ—…ts bestowed upon him He never had wife or cure of souls and leaving a plentifull no invidious estate died Anno Domini 1628. July 20. Pass we now from one who was all judgement and gravity to an other place and time making the connexion who was all wit and festivity viz. THOMAS RANDOLPH born at Houghton in this County was first bred in Westminster-school then Fellow in Trinity-colledge in Cambridge The Muses may seem not onely to have smiled but to have been tickled at his nativity such the festivity of his Poems of all sorts But my declining age being superannuated to meddle with such ludicrous matters configneth the censure and commendation of his Poems as also of his Country-man Peter Haulsted born at Oundle in this County to younger Pens for whom it is most proper Master Randolph died Anno Dom. 163. NICHOLAS ESTWICK B. D. was born at Harowden the Baronny of the Lord Vaux in this County A solid Protestant to counterpoise Kellison a violent Papist and native of the same Village He was bred Fellow of Christs-colledge in Cambridge being there beheld as a pious and judicious Divine always cheerful without the least levity and grave without any morosness He was afterwards presented by the Lord Montague Parson of Warton where he lived a painful Preacher 40. years less then a Deacon in his humility and more then an Arch bishop in his own contentment Hence he was unwillingly willing preferred by the Earl of Rutland to Botsworth in Lecestershire where he had hardly inned one harvest before like a ripe Sheaf he was brought into the Barn of the grave Thus though young Trees are meliorated with transplanting yet old ones seldome live and never flourish
after their removal Let his works witness the rest of his worth some of whose books are published others prepared for the Press and I wish them a happy nativity for the publique good Coming to take his Farewell of his friends he Preached on the Fore-noon of the Lords-day sickned on the After-noon and was buried with his wife in the same grave in Warton Chancell the week following 1657. Romish Exile Writers MATTHEW KELLISON was born in this County at Harrowden his father being a Servant and Tenant of the Lord Vaux in whose family his infancy did suck in the Romish Perswasions He afterwards went beyond the Seas and was very much in motion 1. He first fixed himself at the Colledge of Rhemes in France 2. Thence removed to the English-colledge at Rome where he studied in Phylosophy and Divinity 3. Returned to Rhemes where he took the Degree of Doctor 4. Removed to Doway where for many years he read School-Divinity 5. Re-returned to Rhemes where he became Kings Professor and Rector of the University So much for the travails of his Feet now for the labours of his Hands the pains of his Pen those of his own opinion can give the best account of them He wrote a book to King James which his Majesty never saw and another against Sutliff with many more and was living 1611. Benefactors to the Publick HENRY CHICHELY Son of Thomas and Agnes Chichely was born at Higham-Ferrers in this County bred in Oxford and designed by Wickham himself yet surviving to be one of the Fellows of New-colledge he afterwards became Chaplain to R. Metford Bishop of Sarum who made him Arch-Deacon which he exchanged for the Chancelours place of that Cathedral This Bishop at his death made him his chief Executor and bequeathed him a fair gilt Cup for a Legacy By King Henry the fourth he was sent to the Council of Risa 1409. and by the Popes own hands was Consecrated Bishop of Saint Davids at Vienna and thence was advanced Arch-bishop of Canterbury by King Henry the fifth During his reign in the Parliament at Leicester a shrude thrust was made at all Abbies not with a Râ—…bated point but with sharps indeed which this Arch-bishop as a skilful Fencer fairly put by though others will say he guarded that blow with a silver Buckler the Clergy paying to the King vast sums of money to maintain his Wars in France and so made a forreign diversion for such active spirits which otherwise in all probability would have Antidated the dissolution of Monasteries Under King Henry the sixth he sat sure in his See though often affronted by the rich Cardinal Beaufort of Winchester whom he discreetly thanked for many injuries A Cardinals Cap was proferred to and declined by him some putting the refusal on the account of his humility others of his pride loath to be junior to the foresaid Cardinal others of his policy unwilling to be more engaged to the Court of Rome Indeed he was thorough-paced in all Spiritual Popery which concerned religion which made him so cruel against the VVicklevites but in secular Popery as I may term it touching the interest of Princes he did not so much as rack and was a zealous assertor of the English Liberties against Romish Usurpation Great his zeal to promote learning as appears by three Colledges erected and endowed at his expence and procurement 1. One with an Hospital for the poor at Higham-Ferrers the place of his Nativity 2. Saint Bernards in Oxford afterwards altered and bettered by Sir Thomas VVhite into Saint Johns colledge 3. All-souls in Oxford the fruitful Nursery of so many Learned Men. He continued in his Arch-bishoprick longer then any of his Predecessors for 500. years full 29. years and died April 12. 1443. WILLIAM LAXTON Son to John Laxton of Oundle in this County was bred a Grocer in London where he so prospered by his painful endeavours that he was chosen Lord Mayor Anno Domini 1544. He founded a fair School and Almeshouse at Oundle in this County with convenient maintenance well maintained at this day by the Worshipful Company of Grocers and hath been to my knowledge the Nursery of many Scholars most eminent in the University These Latine Verses are inscribed in the Front of the building Oundellae natus Londini parta labore Laxtonus posuit Senibus pâ—…erisque levamen At Oundle born what he did get In London with great pain Laxton to young and old hath set A comfort to remain He died Anno Domini 1556. the 29. of July and lyeth buried under a fair Tombe in the Chancel of Saint Antonies London Since the Reformation NICHOLAS LATHAM was born at Brigtock in this County and afterwards became Minister of Al-saints Church in Barn-wells This man had no considerable Estate left him from his father nor eminent addition of wealth from his friends nor injoyed any Dignity in the Church of England nor ever held more then one moderate Benefice And yet by Gods blessing on his vivacious frugality he got so great an Estate that he told a friend he could have left his son had he had one land to the value of five hundred pounds by the year But though he had no Issue yet making the Poor his heirs he left the far greatest part of his Estate to pious uses Founded several small Schools with salaries in Country Villages and Founded a most beautiful Almes-house at Oundale in this County and I could wish that all houses of the like nature were but continued and ordered so well as this is according to the Will of the Founder He died Anno Domini 1620. and lyeth buried in the Chancel of his own Parish having lived 72. years EDWARD MONTAGUE Baron of Boughton and eldest son to Sir Edward Montague Knight was born in this County a Pious Peaceable and Hospitable Patriot It was not the least part of his outward happiness that having no male issue by his first wife and marrying when past fifty years of age he lived to see his son inriched with hopeful children I behold him as bountiful Barsillai superannuated for courtly pleasures and therefore preferring to live honorably in his own Country wherein he was generally beloved so that popularity may be said to have affected him who never affected it For in evidence of the vanity thereof he used to say Do the common sort of people nineteen courtesies together and yet you may loose their love if you do but go over the stile before them He was a bountiful Benefactor to Sidney-colledge and builded and endowed an Almes-house at VVeekley in this County To have no bands in their death is an outward favour many VVicked have many Godly men want amongst whom this good Lord who dyed in restraint in the Savoy on the account of his Loyalty to his Sovereign Let none grudge him the injoying of his judgement a purchase he so dearly bought and truly paid for whose death happened in the year of our Lord