the stipend and benevolence of the one and the dividend of the other but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of Tithes with the many troubles attending it together with the causeless molestations which Persons Presented meet with in their respective Parishes And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that whereof he never had a suffering this say some was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then Omni-prevalent with King James he was unexpectedly preferred Archbishop of Canterbury being of a more fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England I find two things much charg'd on his memory First that in his house he respected his Secretary above his Chaplains and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks Lay above Clergie-men Secondly that he connived at the spreading of non-conformity in so much that I read in a modern Author Had Bishop Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed without interruption there is little question to be made but that our Jerusalem by this time might have been a City at unity in it self Yet are there some of Archbishop Abbot his relations who as I am informed will undertake to defend him that he was in no degree guilty of these crimes laid to his charge This Archbishop was much humbled with a casual homicide of a keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramzel-Park though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby In the reign of King Charles he was sequestred from his Jurisdiction say some on the old account of that homicide though others say for refusing to Licence a Sermon of Dr. Sibthorps Yet there is not an Express of either in the Instrument of Sequestration the Commission only saying in the general That the said Archbishop could not at that present in his own person attend those services which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and Jurisdiction For my own part I have cause to believe that as Vulnus semel sanatum novo vulnere recrudescit so his former obnoxiousness for that casualty was renewed on the occasion of his refusal to Licence that Sermon with some other of his Court-un-compliances This Archbishop died Anno Dom. 1633. having erected a large Hospital with liberal maintenance at Guildford the place of his nativity RICHARD CORBET D. D. was born at Ewel in this County and from a Student in became Dean of Christ-Church then Bishop of Oxford An high VVit and most excellent Poet of a courteous carriage and no destructive nature to any who offended him counting himself plentifully repaired with a jest upon him He afterwards was advanced Bishop of Norwich where he died Anno Dom. 1635. States-men THOMAS CROMWEL was born at Putney in this County of whom I have given measure pressed down and running over in my Church-History WILLIAM HOWARD son to Thomas Howard second of that Surname Duke of Norâ—…hfolk was by Queen Mary created Baron of Effingham in this County and by her made Lord Admiral of England which place he discharged with credit I find he was one of the first Favourers and Furtherers with his purse and countenance of the strange and wonderful discovery of Russia He died Anno Domini 154. CHARLES HOWARD son to the Lord William aforesaid succeeded him though not immediately in the Admiralty An hearty Gentleman and cordial to his Sovereign of a most proper person one reason why Queen Elizabeth who though she did not value a Jewel by valued it the more for a fair Case reflected so much upon him The first evidence he gave of his prowes was when the Emperors sister the Spouse of Spain with a Fleer of 130 Sailes stoutly and proudly passed the narrow Seas his Lordship accompanied with ten ships onely of Her Majesties Navy Royal environed their Fleet in a most strange and warlike sort enforced them to stoop gallant and to vail their Bonnets for the Queen of England His service in the eighty eighth is notoriously known when at the first news of the Spaniards approach he towed at a cable with his own hands to draw out the harbourbound-ships into the Sea I dare boldly say he drew more though not by his person by his presence and example than any ten in the place True it is he was no deep Sea-man not to be expected from one of his Extraction but had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself and to follow their instructions and would not sterve the Queens service by feeding his own sturdy wilfulness but was ruled by the experienced in Sea-matters the Queen having a Navy of Oak and an Admiral of Osier His last eminent service was when he was Commander of the Sea as Essex of the Land forces at the taking of Cadiz for which he was made Earl of Nottingham the last of the Queens creation His place was of great profit Prizes being so frequent in that age though great his necessary and vast his voluntary expences keeping as I have read seven standing Houses at the same time at London Rigate Effingham Blechenley c. so that the wonder is not great if he died not very wealthy He lived to be very aged who wrote Man if not married in the first of Q. Elizabeth being an invited guest at the solemn Consecration of Matthew Parker at Lambeth and many years after by his testimony confuted those lewd and loud lies which the Papists tell of the Naggs-head in Cheap-side He resigned his Admiralty in the reign of King James to the Duke of Buckingham and died towards the later end of the reign of the King afore-said Sea-men Sir ROBERT DUDLEY Knight son to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester by Douglas Shefeld whether his Mistris or Wife God knoweth many men being inclinable charitably to believe the later was born at Shene in this County and bred by his mother out of his Fathers reach at Offington in Sussex He afterwards became a most compleat Gentleman in all suteable accomplishments endeavoring in the reign of King James to prove his legitimacy and meeting with much opposition from the Court in distast he left his Land and went over into Italy But Worth is ever at home and carrieth its own welcome along with it He became a Favorite to the Duke of Florence who highly reflected on his Abilities and used his directions in all his Buildings At this time Ligorn from a Child started a Man without ever being a Youth and of a small Town grew a great City on a sudden and is much beholding to this Sir Robert for its fairness and firmness as chief contriver of both But by this time his Adversaries in England had procured him to be call'd home by a special Privy Seal which he refused to obey and thereupon all his Lands in England was seised on by the King by the Statute
was very wild and venturous witness his playing at Dice with Henry the second King of France from whom he won a Diamond of great worth at a Cast And being demanded by the King what shift he would have made to repair himself in case he had lost the cast I have said young Chency in an hyperbolical brave SHEEPS TAILS enough in Kent with their Wool to buy a better Diamond then this His reduced Age afforded the befitting fruits of Gravity and Wisdome and this Lord deceased without Issue As for Sir Francis Cheney Sheriff for this present year we formerly observed the distinct Armes of his Family This worthy Knight was father to Charles Cheney Esq. who by his exquisite Travelling hath Naturalized foreign perfections into himself and is exemplarily happy in a vertuous Lady Jane Daughter to the truly Noble William Marquis of New-castle and by her of hopefull Posterity The Farewell On serious consideration I was at a loss to wish to this County what it wanted God and the Kings of England have so favoured it with naturall perfections and civil priviledges In avowance of the latter it sheweth more Burrow-towns sending Burgesses no fewer then twelve to the Parliament then any Shire though thrice as big lying in the Kingdome of Mercia Now seeing at the instant writing hereof the generall News of the Nation is of a Parliament to be called after his Majesties Coronation my prayers shall be that the Freehoulders of this County shall amongst many therein so qualified chuse good Servants to God Subjects to the King Patriots to the County effectually to advance a happiness to the Church and Common-wealth CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE CAMBRIDGE-SHRE hath Lincoln shire on the North Northfolk and Suffold on the East Essex and Hartford-shire on the South Huntington and Bedford-shires on the West being in length thirty five in breadth not fully twenty miles The Tables therein as well furnished as any the South-part affording bread and beer and the North the Isle of Ely meat thereunto So good the grain growing here that it out-selleth others some pence in the Bushel The North-part of this County is lately much improved by drayning though the poorest sort of people will not be sensible thereof Tell them of the great benefit to the publick because where a Pike or Duck fed formerly now a Bullock or Sheep is fatted they will be ready to return that if they be taken in taking that Bullock or Sheep the rich Owner â—…indicteth them for Felons whereas that Pike or Duck were their own goods only for their pains of catching of them So impossible it is that the best project though perfectly performed should please all interests and affections It happened in the year 1657. upon the dissolution of the great Snow their banks were assaulted above their strength of resistance to the great loss of much Cattle Corn and some Christians But soon after the seasonable industry of the Undertakers did recover all by degrees and confute their jealousies who suspected the relapsing of these lands into their former condition This Northern part is called the Isle of Eelie which one will have so named from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fenny or Marish-ground But our Saxon Ancestors were not so good Grecians and it is plain that plenty of Eels gave it its denomination Here I hope I shall not trespass on gravity in mentioning a passage observed by the Reverend Professour of Oxford Doctor Prideaux referring the Reader to him for the Authours attesting the same When the Priests in this part of the County would still retain their wives in despight of whatever the Pope and Monks could doe to the contrary their wives and children were miraculously turned all into Eels surely the greater into Congers the less into Griggs whence it had the name of EELY I understand him a LIE of EELS No doubt the first founder of so damnable an untruth hath long since received his reward However for this cause we take first notice amongst this Counties Naturall Commodities Of Eels Which though they be found in all Shires in England yet are most properly treated of here as most first and best the Courts of the Kings of England being thence therewith anciently supplyed I will not ingage in the controversy whether they be bred by generation as other fish or aequivocally out of Putrefaction or both ways which is most probable Seeing some have adventured to know the distinguishing marks betwixt the one and other I know the Silver Eels are generally preferred and I could wish they loved men but as well as men love them that I my self might be comprised within the compass of that desire They are observed to be never out of season whilst other fishes have their set times and the biggest Eels are ever esteemed the best I know not whether the Italian proverb be here worth the remembring Give Eels without wine to your Enemies Hares Though these are found in all Counties yet because lately there was in this Shire an Hare-park nigh New-market preserved for the Kings game let them here be particularly mentioned Some prefer their sport in hunting before their flesh for eating as accounting it melancholick meat and hard to be digested though others think all the hardness is how to come by it All the might of this silly creature is in the flight thereof and remember the answer which a school-boy returned in a latine distick being demanded the reason why Hares where so fearfull Cur metuunt lepores Terrestris nempe marinus Aethereus quod sit tartareusque canis Whether or no they change their sex every year as some have reported let Huntsmen decide These late years of our civil wars have been very destructive unto them and no wonder if no law hath been given to hares when so little hath been observed toward men Saffron Though plenty hereof in this County yet because I conceive it first planted in Essex we thither refer our description thereof Willows A sad Tree whereof such who have lost their love make their mourning garlands and we know what Exiles hung up their Harps upon such dolefull Supporters The twiggs hereof are Physick to drive out the folly of children This Tree delighteth in moist places and is triumphant in the Isle of Ely where the roots strengthen their Banks and lop affords fuell for their fire It groweth incredibly fast it being a by-word in this County that the profit by Willows will buy the Owner a Horse before that by other Trees will pay for his Saddle Let me adde that if green Ash may burn before a Queen withered Willows may be allowed to burn before a Lady Manufactures Paper Expect not I should by way of Preface enumerate the several inventions whereby the ancients did communicate and continue their Notions to Posterity First by writing in Leaves of Trees still remembred when we call such a Scantling of Paper a Folio or Leafe Hence from Leaves men proceeded to the
for his Motto Dilexi decorem domus tuae Domine I have loved the beauty of thy House ô Lord and sometimes Credite operibus Trust their works Now although some may like his Almes better then his Trumpet Charity will make the most favourable construction thereof Being 96. years of age he resigned his Bishoprick and died in the same year Anno Dom. 1536. JOHN WHITE was born in this County of a worshipful House began on the floor and mounted up to the roof of Spiritual Dignitie in this Diocess First Scholar in VVinchester then Fellow of New-colledge in Oxford then Master of VVinchester-School then VVarden of that Colledge and at last taking Lincoln Bishoprick in his passage Bishop of VVinchester all composed in this Distick Me puero Custos Ludi paulo ante Magister VITUS hac demum Praesul in Urbe fuit I may call the latter a Golden Verse for it cost this VVhite many an Angel to make it true entring into his Bishoprick on this condition to pay to Cardinal Pole a yearly Pension of a thousand pounds Now though this was no better then Simony yet the Prelats Pride was so far above his Covetousness and his Covetousness so farre above his Conscience that he swallowed it without any regreet He was a tolerable Poet and wrote an Elegy on the Eucharist to prove the corporal presence and confute Peter Martyr the first and last I believe who brought controversial Divinity into Verses He preached the Funeral Sermon of Queen Mary or if you will of publique Popery in England praising Her so beyond all measure and slighting Queen Elizabeth without any cause that he justly incurr'd Her displeasure This cost him deprivation and imprisonment straiter then others of his Order though freer than any Protestant had under Popish Persecutours until his death which hap'ned at London about the year 1560. Since the Reformation THOMAS BILSON was born in the City of Winchester bred first Scholar in Winchester-School then taking New-Colledge in his passage School-master thereof afterwards Warden of the Colledge and at last taking Worcester in his way Bishop of Winchester As reverend and learned a Prelate as England ever afforded witness his worthy Works Of the perpetual Government of Christs Church and of Christs Descent into Hell not Ad 1. Patiendum to Suffer which was concluded on the Cross with it is finished Nor 2. Praedicandum to Preach useless where his Auditory was all the forlorn hope Neither 3. Liberandum to Free any Pardon never coming after Execution But 4. Possidendum to take possession of Hell which he had conquered And 5. Triumphandum to Triumph which is most honourable in Hostico in the Enemies own Country The New Translation of the Bible was by King James his command ultimately committed to his and Dr. Smiths Bishop of Gloueester perusal who put the compleating hand thereunto His pious departure out of this life hapned 1618. HENRY COTTON was born at Warblington in this County being a younger son unto Sir Richard Cotton Knight and privy Councellor to King Edward the Sixth Queen whilest yet but Lady Elizabeth being then but twelve years of age was his God-mother He was bred in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and was by the Queen preferred Bishop of Salisbury When she pleasantly said That formerly she had blessed many of her God-sons but now her God-son should bless her Reflecting on the Solemnity of Episcopal Benediction He was consecrated November the 12. 1598. at which time William Cotton of another Family was made Bishop of Exeter The Queen merrily saying alluding to the plenty of clothing in those parts that she hoped that now she had well Cottoned the West By his wife whose name was Patience he had nineteen children and died May the 7. 1615. ARTHUR LAKES was born in the Parish of Saint Michael in the Town of Southampton bred first in VVinchester-School then Fellow of New-Colledge In his own nature he preferred the fruitfulness of the Vine and fatness of the Olive painfulness in a private Parish before the government of the Trees had not immediate Providence without his suit and seeking preferred him successively Warden of New-Colledge Prefect of Saint Crosses nigh VVinchester Dean of VVorcester Bishop of Bath and VVells He continued the same in his Rochet what he was in his Scholars-gown and lived a real comment upon Saint Pauls character of a Bishop 1. Blameless Such as hated his Order could not cast any aspersion upon him 2. The Husband of one VVife He took not that lawful Liberty but led a single Life honouring Matrimony in his brethren who embraced it 3. Vigilant Examining Canonically in his own person all those whom he ordained 4 Sober of good behaviour Such his austerity in diet from his University-Commons to his dying day that he generally fed but on one and that no daintie dish and fasted four times a week from supper 5. Given to Hospitality When Master of Saint Crosses he encreased the allowance of the poor-Brethren in diet and otherwise When Bishop he kept 50. servants in his Family not so much for state or attendance on his Person but pure charity in regard of their private need 6. Apt to teach the Living with his pious Sermons in his Cathedral and neighbouring Parishes and Posterity with those learned Writings he hath left behinde him 7. Not given to VVine His abstemiousness herein was remarkable 8. No striker not given to filthy lucre He never fouled his fingers with the least touch of Gehazi's reward freely preferring desert 9. One that ruleth well his own House The rankness of House-keeping brake not out into any Riot and a Chapter was constantly read every Meal by one kept for that purpose Every night besides Cathedral and Chappel-Prayers he prayed in his own Person with his Family in his Dining-room In a word his Intellectuals had such predominancy of his Sensuals or rather Grace so ruled in both that the Man in him being subordinate to the Christian he lived a pattern of Piety I have read of one Arthur Faunt a Jesuite who entring into Orders renounced his Christian name because forsooth never Legendary Saint thereof and assumed that of Laurence This gracious Arthur was not so superstitiously scrupulous and if none before may pass for the first Saint of his name dying in the fifty ninth year of his age Anno Domini 1602. States-men RICHARD RICH Knight was in the words of my Author A Gentleman well descended and allied in this County Bred in the Temple in the study of our Common Law and afterwards became Sollicitor to King Henry the eighth His Deposition on Oath upon words spoken to him in the Tower was the sharpest evidence to cut off the head of Sir Thomas More He was under Cromwel a lesser hammerto knock down Abbeys most of the Grants of which Lands going through his hands no wonder if some stuck upon his fingers Under King Edward the Sixth he
of the Sea c. I confesse the modern mystery of Watch-making is much completed men never being more curious to divide more carelesse to imploy their time but surely this was accounted a master-peece in that age His Sermons so indeared him to King Edward 6. that he preferred him whilst as yet scarce thirty six yeares of age to the Bishoprick of Rochester then of Winchester But alas these honor 's soon got were as soon lost being forced to fly into high Germany in the first of Queen Mary Where before he was fully fourty and before he had finished his Book begun against Thomas Martin in defence of Ministers marriage he died at Strasburg the 2. August 1556. And was buried there with great Lamentation RICHARD FLETCHER was born in this County Brother to Doctor Giles Fletcher the Civilian and Embassadour in Russia and bred in Bennet Colledge in Cambridge He was afterwards Dean of Peterborough at what time Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay to whom he made saith my Authour Verbosam Orationem a Wordy speech of her past present and future condition wherein he took more pains that he received thanks from her who therein was most concerned Hence he was preferred Bishop of Peterborough and at last of London my Authour saith he was Presul Splendidus and indeed he was of a comly presence and Queen Elizabeth knew full well Gratior est pulcro veniens è corpore virtus The Iewel vertue is more Grac'd When in a proper person Cas'd Which made her alwayes on an equality of Desert to reflect favourably on such who were of Graceful countenance and stature In one respect this Bishop may well be resembled to John Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury of whom I find this Character Quanquam gestu incessu saepeetiami n Sermone gloriosus videretur elatus animo tamen fuit benignissimo perquam comi Although he seemed a boaster and puffed up both in gesture and gaâ—…e and sometimes in his speech also yet was he of a loving disposition exceeding courteous Such a one was Bishop Fletcher whose pride was rather on him than in him as only gate and gesture-deep not sinking to his heart though causelesly condemned for a proud man as who was a good Hypocrite and far more humble than he appeared He married a Lady of this County who one commendeth for very vertuous which iâ—… so the more happy she in her self though unhappy that the world did not believe it Sure I am that Queen Elizabeth who hardly held the second matches of Bishops excusable accounted his marriage a trespasse on his gravity whereupon he fell into her deep displeasure Hereof this Bishop was sadly sensible and seeking to lose his sorrow in a mist of smoak died of the immoderate taking thereof June the fifteenth 1596. BRIAN DUPPA D. D. the worthy Bishop of Winchester was born at Lewsham in in this County staying for farther instructions I am forced to deferre his life to our Additions States-Men Sir EDWARD POYNINGS Knight was in martial performances inferiour to none of his age and a Native of this County as from the Catalogue of the Sheriffs therein may be collected We will insist only on his Irish Action being employed by King Henry the seventh to conjure down the last walking Spirit of the House of York which haunted that King I mean Perkin Warbeck Having ferreted him out of Ireland he seriously set him self to reclaim that barbarous Nation to civility and in order thereunto passed an Act in Parliament whereby all the Statutes made in England bâ—…fore that time were enacted established and made of force in Ireland He caused also another Law to be made that no Act should be propounded in any Parliament in Ireland till first it had been transmitted into England approved there by the King and returned thence under his broad Seal Now though this Act seemeth prima facie prejudicial to the liberty of the Irish Subjects yet was it made at the request of the Commons upon just important cause being so sensible of the oppression and Laws imposed by private Lords for their particular ends that they rather referred themselves to the Kings Justice than to the merciless mercy of so many Masters Also to conform Ireland to England he procured the passing of an Act that the Irish Barons should appear in Parliament in their Robes which put a face of Grandeur and State on their Convention And indeed formalities are more than Formalities in matters of this nature essentiall to beget a veneration in barbarous people who carry much of their Brain in their Eyes He thriftily improved the Kings Revenues and obtained a Subsidy of twenty six shillings eight pence payable yearly for five years out of every six score Acres manured The worst was the burden fell on their backs whose Islands were most industrious whereby the Soveraign became not more wealthy but the Subjects more lazy the mischief being as apparent as the remedy impossible Many more large Laws of his making found but narrow performance viz. only within the Pale Nor was Henry the seventh though in title in trâ—…th Lord of all Ireland but by the favour of a Figure and large Synechdeche of a part for the whole These things thus ordered Sir Edward was recalled in to England created a Baron and dying in the beginning of King Henry the eight left a numerous natural but no legitimate issue Sir ANTHONY St. LEGER is rationally reputed a Kentish man though he had also a Devonshire Relation as will appear to such who peruse the Sheriffs of this County He was properly the first Vice-Roy of Ireland seeing shadows cannot be before their substance and in his Deputy-ship Henry the eight in the 33. year of his reign assumed the Title of King and Supream Head of the Church of Ireland To him all the Irish Nobility made their solemn submission falling down at his feet upon their knees laying aside their Girdles Skeines and Caps This was the fourth solemn submission of the Irish to the Kings of England and most true it is such seeming submissions have been the bane of their serious subjection For out of the Pale our Kings had not power either to Punish or Protect where those Irish Lords notwithstanding their Complemental Loyalty made their list the law to such whom they could over-power He caused also certain Ordinances of State to be made not altogether agreeable with the Rules of the Law of England a satisfactory reason hereof being given in the Preamble to them Quia nondum sic sapiunt leges Jura ut secundum ea jam immediate vivere regi possint Because the Irish as yet do not so savour the Laws of England as immediately to live after and be ruled by them Thus the greatest Statesmen must sometimes say by your leave to such as are under them not acting alway according to their own ability but others capacity He seized all
Tâ—…rtius Edwardus dilexit hunc ut amicus Fortia qui gessit Gallos Navaros que repressit Sic cum recessit morte feriente decessit Anno Milleno trecento septuageno Atque his junge duo sic perit omnis homoÌ„ His Monument is not extant at this day and it is pity that so good a Sword did not light on a better Pen and that Pallas so much honoured by him in her Military relation did not more assist in his Epitaph in her Poetical capacity Sr. WILLIAM MOLINEUX junior Knight descendant from the former flourished under K. Henry the eighth being a man of great command in this County bringing the considerable strength thereof to the seasonable succour of the Duke of Norfolk with whom he performed signal service in Flodden-Field It is confesâ—…ed on all sides that the Scots lost the Day by not keeping their Ranks but not agreed on the cause thereof Bucanan who commonly makes the too much Courage of his Countrymen the cause of their being conquered imputes it to their indiscreet pursuing of the English routed at the first Others say they did not break their Ranks but they were broken unable to endure the Lancashire Archers and so forced to sunder themselves In this Battail the Scotch King and chiefest Gentry were slain the English loosing scarce any of the Scâ—…ts scarce any but of prime note The King afterwards wrote his gratulatory Letter to Sr. William Molinâ—…ux in forme following Trusty and Welbeloved We greet you well and understand as well by the Report of Our Right Trusâ—…y Cousin and Counsellor the Duke of Norfolk as otherwise what acceptable serviâ—…e You amongst others lately did unto us by your valiant towardnesse in the assisting of Our said Cousin against our great Enemy the late King of Scots and how couragiously you as a very hearty loving Servant acquitted your self for the overthrow of the said late King and distressing of his malice and power to our great Honour and the advancing of your no little Fame and praise For which We have good cause to favour and thank you and so we full heartily do and assured may you be that VVe shall in such effectual wise remember your said service in any your Reasonable Pursuits as you shall have cause to think the same Rightwell imployed to your comfort and weal hereafter Given under our Signet at our Castle at Windsore the 27 of November It appears by our Authour that thâ—… like Letters mutatis mutandis were sent unto Sr. Edward Stanley and some other men of principal note in Lancashire and Cheshire I have nothing more to observe save that these two worthy Sr. VVilliams were Ancestors unto the truly Honourable the Lord Molineux Viscount Marybourgh in Ireland lately deceased Writers HUGH of MANCHESTER was saith my Authour when Adolescens a youth a Dominican but when Juvenis a young man he changed his Copy and turned a Franciscan Say not he degraded himself choosing a later order then he left for it seems that amongst them the last is counted the best as of a more refined perfection He was a great scholar and highly esteemed in that age for his severity and discretion An Imposter happened at this time pretending himself first blind then cured at the Tomb of King Henry the Third so to get coine to himself and credit to the dead King But our Hugh discovered the cheat and Writing a Book De 〈◊〉 Diliriis Dedicated it to King Edward the First who kindly accepted thereof preferring that his Fathers memory should appear to posterity with his true face 〈◊〉 painted with such false miracles This Hugh with another Franciscan was imployed by the same King to Philip King of France to demand such Lands as he detained from him in Aquitain Such who object that sitter men than Friers might have been found for that service consider not how in that Age such mortified men were presumed the most proper Persons peaceably to compremise differences between the greatest Princes This Embassie was undertaken Anno Dom. 1294. RICHARD ULVERSTON was born in this County at Ulverston a well-known Market in Loynsâ—…ay-Hundred A great Antiquary ambitious of all Learned Mens acquaintance complained that he knew him not so well as he desired He was bred in Oxford and wrote a Book intituled the Articles of Faith or the Creed of the Church this lay latent a good while till John Stanberry Bishop of Hereford rescued it from the Moaths some Thirty Years after the Authours death and bestowed a double Light upon it one in producing it into the Publick the other illustrating it with a Commentary he wrote thereon Say not this was false Herâ—…ldry but true Humility to see a Bishop commenting which is not usual on the Book of a Priest Bale concludeth all thus longum Non doctrina potest obscuro carcere claudi noâ—… will Worth Long be confin'd but make its own way forth The Time and Place of his Death are equally uncertain but by probability about 1434. under the Reign of King Henry the sixt THOMAS PENKETH so was his true name though wrested by some Latinists into Penâ—…hettus and miswritten Penthy and Penker by some English taken from a Village in this County He was bred an Augustinian in Warrington and a Doctor of Divinity in Oxford a deep Scotist and of so great a memory that Foreiners amongst whom he lived report of him that had all the Books of Scotus been lost he could easily have restored every word of them He was called to be Professor at Padua and returning into England became Provincial of his Order But his last act stained his former life who promoted the bastardizing of the Issue of K. Edward the 4th and as Dr. Shaw ushered his Flattery held up the train of the Usurper's Praises in a Sermon at St. Pauls in preaching whereof he who had formerly forfeited his Honesty lost his* Voice a proper punishment for a Parasite His Disgrace had some influence on his Order which then verticall and numerous â—…ayly 〈◊〉 in England to their Dissolution This Thomas dyed and was buryed in London 1487. JOHN STANDISH Short mention shall serve him who might have been left out wâ—…thout losse He was Nephew to Henry Standish Bishop of St. Asaph of no mean Family in this County One would suspect him â—…ot the same Man called by Pale a scurrillous Fool and admired by pitâ—… for piety and learning jealous lest another man should be more wise to Salvation than himself he wrote a Book against the Translation of Scripture into English and presented it to the Parliament His death happened seasonably for his own safety 1556. a little before the Death of Queen Mary Since the Reformation THOMAS LEAVER was born in this County where his Family and Name still remains at two Villages called Leaver at this day He was bred Fellow and Batchelour of Divinity oâ—… St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge whereof he was chosen Master
same morning he was elected Bishop of Ely made him his Chaplain and Dr. Featly chose him his second in one of his Disputations against Father Fisher yea Mr. Walker alone had many encounters with the subtillest of the Jesuitical party He was a man of an holy life humble heart and bountiful hand who deserved well of Sion Colledge Library and by his example and perswasion advanced about a thousand pounds towards the maintenance of preaching-Ministers in this his Native County He ever wrote all his Sermons though making no other use of his Notes in the Pulpit than keeping them in his pocket being wont to say that he thought he should be out if he had them not about him His Sermons since printed against the prophanation of the Sabboth and other practises and opinions procured him much trouble and two years Imprisonment till he was released by the Parliament He dyed in the seventy year of his Age Anno Dom. 1651. Romish Exile Writers EDWARD RISHTON was born in this * County and bred some short time in Oxford till he fled over to Doway where he was made Master of Arts. Hence he removed to Rome and having studyed Divinity four years in the English Colledge there was ordained Preist 1580. Then was he sent over into England to gain Proselites in prosecution whereof he was taken and kept Prisoner three years Yet was the Severity of the State so mercifull unto him as to spare his Life and only condemn him to Banishment He was carried over into France whence he went to the University of Pontmuss in Loraine to plye his Studies During his abode there the place was infected with the Plague Here Rishton forâ—…ate the Physicians Rule Citâ—… Procul Longe Tarde flye away soon live away far sâ—…ay away long come again slowly For he remained so long in the Town till he carried away the infection with him and going thence dyed at St. Manhow 1585. I presume no Ingenuous Papist will be censorious on our Painful Munster Learned Junius Godly Greenham all dying of the Pestilence seeing the most conscientious of their own Perswasion subject to the same and indeed neither Love nor Hatred can be collected from such Casualties THOMAS WORTHINGTON was born in this * County of a Gentile Family was bred in the English Colledge at Doway where he proceeded Bachelour in Divinity and a little before the Eighty Eight was sent over into England as an Harvinger for the Spanish Invasion to prepare his Party thereunto Here he was caught and cast into the Tower of London yet found such favour that he escaped with his life being banished beyond the Seas At Triers he commenced Doctor in Divinity and in process of time was made President of the English Colledge at Rhemes When after long expectation the Old Testament came out in English at Rhemes permitted with some cautions for our Lay-Catholicks to read this Worthington wrote his notes thereupon which few Protestants have seen and fewer have regarded He was alive in 1611. but how long after is to me unknown If not the same which for his vivaciousness is improbable there was a Father Worthington certainly his Kinsman and Countryman very busie to promote the Catholick cause in England about the beginning of King Charles He Dining some thirty years since with a Person of Honour in this Land at whose Table I have often eaten was very obstreperous in arguing the case for Transubstantiation and the Ubiquitariness of Christs body Suppose said he Christ were here To whom the Noble Master of the House who till then was silent returned If you were away I beleive he would be here Worthington perceiving his Room more wellcome then his Company embraced the next opportunity of Departure ANDERTON whose christian name I cannot recover was born in this County and brought up at Blackborne School therein and as I have been informed he was bred in Christs Colledge in Cambridge where for his Eloquence he was commonly called Golden Mouth Anderton afterwards he went beyond the Seas and became a Popish preist and one of the learnedst amongst them This is he who improving himself on the poverty of Mr. Robert Bolton sometimes his School-Fellow but then not fixed in his Religion and Fellow of Brazenose colledge perswaded him to be reconciled to the Church of Rome and go over with him to the English Seminary promising him gold enough a good argument to allure an unstable mind to popery and they both appointed â—… meeting But it pleased the God of Heaven who holdeth both an Hour-glass and reed in his hand to measure both time and place so to order the matter that though Mr. Bolton came Mr. Anderton came not accordingly So that Rome lost and England gain'd an able Instrument But now I have lost J. Pitz to guide me and therefore it is time to knock off having no direction for the date of his Death Benefactors to the publick WILLIAM SMITH was born at * Farmeworth in this County bred Fellow in Pembroke hall in Cambridge and at last by King Henry the Eighth preferred Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry That Politick Prince to ease and honour his Native Country of Wales erected a Court of Presidency conformable to the Parliaments of France in the Marshes thereof and made this Bishop first President those Parts lying partly in his Diocesse He discharged the place with singular Integrity and general contentment retaining that Office till the day of his Death when he was removed to be Bishop of Lincoln A good name is an Ointment poured out saith Solomon and this man wheresoever he went may be followed by the perfume of charity he left behind him 1. At Lichfield he founded an Hospital for a Master two preists and ten poor people 2. In the same place he founded a School procuring from King Henry the seventh that the Hospital of Downholl in Cheshire with the Lands there unto belonging should be bestowed upon it Say not this was Robbing the Spittle or at the best Robbing Peter to pay Paul seeing we may presume so charitable a Prelate would do nothing unjust though at this distance of time we cannot clear the particulars of his proceedings At Farmeworth where he was born he founded a school allowing ten pounds annually in that age no mean salary for the Master thereof The University of Oxford discreetly chose him Oxford being in his Diocesse of Lincoln their Chancellour and lost nothing thereby for he proved a more loving Nephew than Son so bountiful to his Aunt Oxford that therein he founded Brazen Nosecolledge but dyed 1513 before his Foundation was finished Molineux a famous preacher about Henry the Eigths time descended of the house of Sefton in the County of Lancaster builded the Church at Sefton anew and houses for Schools about the Church-yard and made the great Wall about Magdalen Colledge in Oxford EDVVARD HALSALL in the County of Lancaster Esquire sometimes Chamberlain of the Exchequer at Chester
practice in shooting from their Infancy then to their strength and Stature so that it is rather Difuse then disability in our age that we cannot shoot the like and since the Invention of Guns the Light use we make of Arrows have made them the lighter in the making Mint Many of these anciently in most Cities and some Towns These afterwards as so many Spangles in one peice of Gold were united in the Tower Of late it was much imployed to coin the Plate of our Nation to make State-mony whence one said Caesaris Effigies nulla est sed imaginis Expers Crux duplex super est dira gemensque Lyra. And Another May their Successe like to their Coin appear Send double Crosses for their Single Chear Sure I am their Coin goeth under a general suspicion of being as bad as their Cause But I hope hereafter when the Question is asked of our Coiners Whose Image and Superscription is this it will be returned the Caesars of England Ward-robe This was not that for the Kings wearing apparel or liveâ—…es of Servants kept elsewhere in an House so called in the Parish of St. Andrews Ward robe but for Vests or Robes of State with rich Carpets Canopies and Hangings to be used on great Solemnities Here lately was a rich peice of Arras presenting the Sea-fight in eighty eighth and having the living portractures of the chiefest Commanders wrought in the borders thereof On the same token that a Captain who highly prized his own service missing his picture therein complained of the injury to his friend professing of himself that he merited a place there as well as some therein remembred seeing he was ingaged in the middle of the Fight Be content quoth his friend thou hast been an old Pirate and art reserved for another hanging There were also kept in this place the ancient Cloaths of our English Kings which they wore on great Festivals so that this Ward robe was in effect a Library for Antiquaries therein to read the Mode and Fashion of Garments in all ages These King James in the beginning of his Reign gave to the Earl of Dunbar by whom they were sold resold and re-re-resold at as many hands almost as Briarius had some gaining vast Estates thereby The Unicorns-Horn Amongst the many precious rarities in the Tower this as another in Windsor-Castle was in my memory shown to people It belongs not to me to enquire what is become of them but rather to discuss 1. Whether there be such a creature as an Unicorn 2. What kind of Animal it is 3. What the fashion and colour of his Horn. 4. What the use effect of his Horn. For the first they produce a weak proof who alledge them to be the Supporters of the Scottish-arms and of the arms of some English Gentlemen particularly of the Family of Paris in Cambridge-shire seeing most Heralds wear the addition of Painters and the Fancy of Painters pretends to the priviledge of a lawlesse Liberty But besides that it is uncivil to give the lye to a common Tradition the former existence of such a creature and surely no Species is wholly lost is cleared from several places of Scripture God hath as it were the strength of an Unicorn Will the Unicorn be willing to serve thee My Horn shalt thou exalt like the Horn of an Unicorn c. True it is the Word in the Original importeth nothing of any Horn therein as doth the Latin Unicornis and the Greek Monoceros Yet I am confident it is right rendred because it is so rendred Such was the Learning and Piety of the persons imployed in that Translation Proceed we now to the second Quaere about the kind thereof Surely it is distinct from the Rhinoceros carrying a Horn not on his Forehead but on his Nose because the Exaltation of his Horn is not considerable as not bunching forth much above a Foot in the prominency thereof He is commonly pictured bodyed like a Buck with a Horn advanced out of his Forehead some two Yards in proportion and this his Picture confuteth his Picture seeing generally he is held to be no Beast of Prey but which feedeth on the grass and if so his Mouth cannot meet with the Ground the Interposition of his Horn so fancifully fixed making so great distance betwixt them The plain Truth is I who first questioned whether there were any Unicorns am since convinâ—…ed that there are so many sorts of them The Indian Oxe the Indian Asse the Oâ—…yx c. famous for carrying one Horn but which is the prize in this Lottery I cannot decide seeing none alive in our Land have seen a four footed Beast of that kind and Julius Scaliger saith truly Ex libris colligere quae prodider unt Authores longe est periculosissimum Rerum ipsarum cognitio vera è rebus ipsis est OLAUS WORME One no lesse a curious Inquirer into the Mysteries then careful preserver of the Rarities of Nature Physician at this day to the King of Denmark in a Learned Work which he lately set forth endevoureth to prove all under a general mistake who fancy a Unicorn a four footed Beast proving the same to be a Fish in the Northern Seas of 22. Foot in Length a long horn in his Forehead no more cumbersome in the portage then Ears are to other Beasts with which Horn he tilteth at his prey and having pierced it through doth afterward feed upon it If it be objected to the contrary that in Scripture he is ranked amongst the Quaâ—… And the Unicorns shall come down with them and the Bullocks with the Bulls and their Land shall be soaked with blood and their Dust made Fat with Fatnesse It will be answered that Unicorns there are not real but metaphorical rendred appellatively Robusti in some Translations importing that strong Enemies both by Water and Land shall invade Idumaea to the utter destruction thereof Come we now to the fashion and colour of the Horn conceiving it no considerable controversie concerning the length and bignesse thereof quantity not varying the kind in such cases Some are plain as that in St. Marks in Venice others wreathed about as that at St. Dyonis neer Paris with anfractuous spires and cocleary turnings about it which probably is the effect of age those Wreaths being but the wrinkles of most vivacious Unicorns The same may be said of the colour white when newly taken from his Head Yellow like that lately in the Tower of some hundred years seniority but whether or no it will ever turn black as that of Aelians and Plinies Description let others decide The last Quaere remains of the virtue of this Horn which some exalt so high that it is not only antidotal to several Venomes and substances destructive by their qualities which we can command our selves to believe but also that it resisteth poysons which kill by second qualities that is by corrosion of parts wherein I concur with my
own Heralds to Marshal their own precedency they had been much to blame if not carving a good portion of Honour to themselves whilest devout Princes abused by bad Instructors and their own erroneous Consciences gave to the Clergy what they were pleased to demaund None might elect the Pope save such as were Cardi. yea none out of that Order were eligible into the Papacy as in England one must first be a Sergeant before he be a Iudge Cardinal Deacons were in equal capacity of being Popes with Cardinal Priests and oftentimes were preferred before them as they could strenthen their faction which carried all in these and I could wish in no other Elections WILLIAM ALLEN who died Anno 1594 was the last Englishman advanced to this Honour so that our Country hath not had a Cardinâ—…l these sixty years which from the former six hundred years was never without one or two of that Order This may seem a wonder our Nation being as meriting as any for the Romish Cause and having as good Heads as any why should they not weare as gay Hats as others nor will the reasons assigned for the contrary give satisfaction viz. 1. That the Pope commonly makes Cardinals to gratifie Foreign Kings whilest our English Soveraigns have ever since been of a different Religion from his Holinesse 2. That our English Catholicks living beyond Seas in the nature of Exiles and under persecution as they call it so high an honour is inconsistent with their suffering condition 3. That our Englishmen want preferment and Estates to maintain the distance of so great a dignity There are at the present two English Natives in France of noble extraction and Romish perswasion much voyced in common discourse for their probability to such preferment but on what grounds I do not know and list not to enquire Surely the matter is not great seeing that dignity hath been observed to be rather fatal then fortunate to the English and attended with some sad and sudden casualties 1. Cardinal Mackelsfield was four moneths buried before his Cap was brought him 2. Cardinal Sertor dyed in Italy in the Juncture of Time Inter Pileum datum susceptum 3. Cardinal Fisher when his Cap was come to Calis had his head struck off at Tower-Hill 4. Cardinal Somercot was poysoned in the very Conclave to prevent his selection to the Popedome 5. Cardinal Evosham was sent the same way on the same occasion 6. Cardinal Bambridge was poysoned at Rome by one of his servants being an Italian If such their successe I suppose it far easier for Englishmen to have their caps though courser and cheaper made of our own Countrey-wool which will be more warm and may prove more healthful for the wearers thereof I have done with this Subject when I have observed that there is a Cardinal Bishop of Sabine a place near Rome and a Cardinal Priest of Saint Sabine a Church dedicated to her Memory in the same City the not heeding whereof I suspect hath bred much confusion in our English Writers The best is our Englishmen when they write of Places in Italy cannot commit greater and grosser mistakes then what Italians have done when they have wrote of Towns and Places in England Though perchance such is their pride that they will say it is our duty to be exact in Italy and their courtesie to take any notice of England Let not the Reader wonder if Cardinals inserted in others are omitted in our Catalogue viz. Ulricus Ancherus Theobaldus Bernardus de Anguiscello c. Seeing I am unsatisfied in some of them whether they were Cardinals in others whether they were Englishmen Forreign Countries laying more probable claim unto them Nor will it quit the cost of a Contest nothing more then their names being left in History withouta ny other observeables Prelates before the Reformation Next succeed such eminent Clergy-men who attained to the honour of being Arch-Bishops and Bishops in England and were famous in their generations Objection These Popes Cardinals and Prelates were superstitious persons and Limbs of Antichrist whose names are better lost then kept Yea it mattered not much if some good Josiah served their bones as those of the idolatrous Priests of Jeroboam even burn them to ashes that so their bodies and memories might perish together Answer I am afraid our age affords those who if they were to manage that Act would together with their bones sans difference notwithstanding the distinguishing Epitaph burn the bodies of the young and old Prophet I mean utterly extirpate the Ministerial Function But I answer it must be confess'd they were deeply died with the Errors and Vices of the Age they lived in yet so that some of them were for their Devotion exemplary to posterity and the very worst of them though yeelding nothing fit for our Imitation may afford what is well worth our Observation And here be it remembred that the same Epithete in severall places accepts sundry Interpretations He is called A GOOD MAN in common Discourse who is not Dignified with Gentilitie A GOOD MAN upon the Exchange who hath a responsable Estate A GOOD MAN in a Camp who is a tall Man of his Armes A GOOD MAN in the Church who is Pious and Devout in his Conversation Thus whatsoever is fixed therein in other Relations that Person is A GOOD MAN in History whose Character affords such Matter as may please the Palate of an Ingenious Reader and I humbly crave the Honour to be his Taster in this Behalf Now of Bishops before the Conquest the most were meerly nuda Nomina Naked Names As for such appearing Clothed with remarkable History most of them move in an higher Sphere of Saints and so are anticipated Since the Conquest for the first seven Kings many Prelates were Foreigners generally French and so Aliens from our Subject It will therefore be seasonable to begin their Catalogue about the time of King Henry the Third deducing it unto the Popish Bishops who were deprived in the first of Queen Elizabeth CHAP. V. Since the Reformation NExt those Prelates before follow such as were since the Reformation much different not in Title but Tenure from the former holding their places not from the Pope but their Prince and practising the principles of the protestant Religion for the term of a hundred and twenty years since the latter end of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Amongst these Malice it self meets with many which it must allow for their Living Preaching and Writing to have been the main Champions of Truth against Error Learning against Ignorance Piety against Profâ—…ss Religion against Superstition Unity and Order against Faction and Confusion verifying the judicious observation of Forreigners Clerus Britanniae Gloria mundi These Prelates may be Digested into Five Successive Setts or Companies under their respective Arch-bishops allowing each of them somewhat more then twenty years as large a proportion for the life of a Bishop as seventy years for the
Amirall of England and kept it until the day of his Death Afterwards Men were chequered at the pleasure of our Princes and took their turns in that Office For this cause I can make no certain Catalogue of them who can take with my most fixed Eye no steddy aime at them the same persons being often alternately In and Out of the Place whilst Officers protermino vitae may be with some certainty recounted Yet have we sometimes inserted some Memorable Amiralls under the Tiâ—…le of Statesmen and Vice-Amiralls under the Topick of Seamen because the former had no great knowledge in Navigation I say great it being improper they should be seamasters who in no degree were seamen and were imployed rather for their Trust then skill to see others do their Duty whilst the latter were allwayes persons well experienced in Maritine affairs Lord-Deputies of IRELAND Ever since King Henry the second conquered Ireland few of our English Princes went thither in person and none continued any long time there save King John and King Richard the second neither of them over-fortunate But that Land was governed by a Substitute commissioned from our Kings with the same power though sometimes under several names Lord Lieutenants Lord Deputies Lord Cheif Justiceâ—… These were also of a double nature for Some staid in England and appointed Deputies under them to act all Irish Affairs Others went over into Ireland transacting all things by presence not proxie Immediately deputed by the King to reside there We insist on this title as which is most constant and current amongst them Not of the Kings Bench or Common-Pleas but of all Ireland This power was sometime sole in a single person and sometimes 〈◊〉 in two together Thus these three Titles are in sense Synonima to signifie the same power and place Some erroniously term them Presidents of Ireland a Title belonging to the particular Governours of Mounster and Connagh It is true of Ireland what was once said of * Edom their Deputies were Kings No Vice-roy in Christendome Naples it self not excepted is observed in more state He chooseth Sheriffes and generally all Officers save Bishops and Judges and these also though not made by his commanding are usually by his commending to the King He conferreth Knighthood hath power of life and death signified by the Sword carried commonly before him by a person of Honour His attendance and House-keeping is magnificent partly to set a Copy of State to the barbarous Irish by seeing the difference betwixt the rude rabble routs runing after their native Lords and the solemnity of a regulated retinue partly to make in that Rebellious Nation a reverential impression of Majesty that by the Shadow they may admire the Substance and proportionably collect the State of the King himself who therein is represented Our English Kings were content with the Title of Lords of Ireland until King Henry the Eighth who partly to shew his own power to assume what style he pleased without leave or liberty from the Pope whose Supremity he had suppressed in his Dominions partly the more to awe the Irish wrote himself King thereof Anno Dom. 1541. from which Year we date our Catalogue of Lord Deputies as then and not before Vice-Royes indeed Indeed it was no more then needs for King Henry the Eighth to assume that Title seeing quod efficit tale magis est tale and the Commission whereby King Henry the Second made William-Fitz-Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland hath this direction Archiepiscopis Episcopis Regibus Comitibus Baronibus et omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia salutem Now though by the post-poning of these Kings to Arch-bishops and Bishops it plainly appears that they were no Canonical Kings as I may say I mean solemnly invested with the Emblems of sovereignty the King of Connagh the King of Thomond yet were they more then Kings even Tyrants in the exercise of their Dominions so that King Henry was in some sort necessitated to set himself King Paramount above them all CHAPTER VII Of Capital Judges and Writers on the Common Law BY CAPITAL JUDGES we understand not those who have power to condemn Offenders for Capital Faults as all the Twelve Judges have or any Serjeant commissioned to ride the Circuit but the Chief Judges who as Capital LETTERS stand in Power and Place above the rest viz. 1. the Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. 2. of the Common Pleas 3. the Chief Baron of the Exchequer and the Learned Antiquary Sr. Henry Spelman avoweth the Title of Capital Justicers properly applicable to these alone The Chief Justice of the Kings or Upper Bench is commonly called the Lord Chief Justice of England a Title which the Lord Chancellor accounting himself Chief in that kind looks on as an injurious usurpation And many alive may remember how Sr. Edward Cook was accused to K. James for so styling himself in the Frontespiece of his Reports Part the Tenth and Eleventh insomuch that the Judg was fain to plead for himself Erravimus cum Patribus as who could have produced plenty of Precedents therein 2. The chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Place beneath is in Profit above the former So that some have out of Designe quitted That to accept of This Amongst these was Sr. Edward Mountague in the Raign of K. Henry the eighth who being demanded of his Friends the Reason of his Self-degradation I am now saith he an Old Man and love the Kitching above the Hall the Warmest place best suiting my Age. The Chief Baron is chiefly imployed in the Exchequer to decide causes which relate to the Kings Revenue Their Brevia or Writts did commonly run with this Clause That the Judg should have and hold his PLACE quam diu se benè geserit so long as he well behaved himself on this Token That Sr. John Walter Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer being to be outed of his Place for adjudging the Loan-mony illegal pleaded for himself That he was guilty of no Misdemeanour who had only delivered his Judgment according to his Conscience Others are granted from the King durante nostro beneplacito to continue in their Office during his will and pleasure We begin the Army of our Judges for some Few like the Forlorne Hope advance higher about the time of King Edward the first It is impossible exactly to observe that Inn of Court wherein each of them had his Education especially some of them being so Ancient that in their times Lincolnes Inn and Greys Inn were Lincoln's Inn and Grey's Inn I mean belonged to those their Owners from whom they had their Names as being before they were appropriated to the Students of our Municipall Lawes Here I will condemn my self to prevent the condemning of others and confesse our Characters of these Judges to be very brief and defective Indeed were the Subject we treat of overstrewed with Ashes like the floor of Bells Temple it were easie to finde out and follow the
Gods grace may prove sober Christians and eminent in their generations The last Port to which I traffiqued for intelligence towards our insuing Work was by making my addresses by letters and otherwise to the nearest Relations of those whose Lifes I have written Such applications have sometimes proved chargable but if my weak pains shall find preferment that is acceptance from the judicious Reader my care and cost is forgotten and shall never come under computation Here I cannot but condemn the carelessness not to say ingratitude of those I am safe whilst containing my self in general terms who can give no better account of the Place where their fathers or grand-fathers were born then the child unborn so that sometimes we have been more beholden to strangers for our instructions herein then to their nearest Kindred And although some will say Sons are more comfortably concerned to know the time of their Fathers death then place of their birth yet I could almost wish that a moderate fine were imposed on such heirs whose Fathers were born before them and yet they know not where they were born However this I must gratefully confess I have met with many who could not never with any who would not furnish me with information herein It is observable that men born an hundred years since and upwards have their nativities fixed with more assurance then those born some eighty years since Mens eyes see worst in the Twilight in that intervale after the Sun is set and natural light ended and before candles are set up and artificial light begun In such a crepusculum oftime those Writers lived who fall short of the history of Bale and Leland yet go before the memory of any alive which unhappy insterstice hath often perplexed us and may easier be complained of then amended To conclude should I present all with Books who courteously have conduced to my instruction the whole Impression would not suffice But I remember the no less civil then politick invitation of Judah to the Tribe of Simeon Come up with me into my Lot to Conquer the Cananites and I likewise will go with thee into thy Lot if such who have lent me theirs shall have occasion to borrow mine assistance my Pains Brains and Books are no more mine then theirs to command which besides my prayers for them and thanks to them is all my ability in requital can perform CHAP. XXIII A double Division of the English Gentry 1. According to the Nation whence they were extracted 2. According to the Profession whereby they were advanced THis discourse I tender the Reader as a preparative to dispose him for the better observing and distinguishing of our English Gentry in our ensuing Lives and Catalogue of Sheriffs We begin with the Britains the Aborigines or Native Inhabitants of the South of this Island but long since expelled by the Saxons into the West thereof None then remaining in some since returning into our Land of whom hereafter We confess the Romans Conquered our Country planted Colonies and kept Garrisons therein but their descendants are not by any character discernable from the British Indeed if any be found able to speak Latine naturally without learning it we may safely conclude him of Roman Extraction Mean time it is rather a pretty conceit then a solid notion of that great Antiquary who from the allusion of the name collecteth the noble family of the Cecils more truly Sytsilts descended from the Cecilii a Senatorian Family in Rome The Saxons succeed whose Of-spring at this day are the main bulk and body of the English though not Gentry Nation I may call them the whole cloath thereof though it be garded here and there with some great ones of foreign Extraction These Saxons though pitifully depressed by the Conquerour by Gods goodness King Henry the first favour their own patience and diligence put together the plankes of their Shiprack'd Estates and aferwards recovered a competent condition The Danes never acquired in this Land a long and peaceable possession thereof living here rather as Inroders then Inhabitants the cause that so few families distinguishable by their Surnames are descended from them extant in our age Amongst which few the respected Stock of the Denizes often Sheriffs in Devon and Gloustershire appear the principal As for Fitz-Hardinge the younger son of the King of Denmark and direct ancestour of the Truly Honourable George Lord Berkeley he came in long since when he accompanied the Conquerour I must confess that at this day there passeth a Tradition among some of the Common People that such names which Terminate in Son as Johnson Tomson Nicolson Davison Saunderson are of Danish Origination But this fond opinion is long since conâ—…uted by Vestegan that ingenious and industrious Antiquary Yea he urgeth this as an argument which much prevaileth with me why those Surnames were not derived from the Danes because they had no such name in use amongst them as John Thomas Nicholas David Alexander from whence they should be deduced Yea he further addeth that it is more probable that they made the Childs name by adjecting the syllable Son to the Appellation of the Father a custome which is usual even at this time amongst the Vulgar sort of the Dutch Yet is there not remaining any sign thereof amongst the names of our Age which probably might have been Canutson Ericson Gormoson Heraldson Rofolson c. The Normans or French under the Conquerour swarmed in England so that then they became the only visible Gentry in this Nation and still continue more then a Moity thereof several Catalogues of their Names I have so largely exemplifyed in my Church-history that some have taxed me for tediousness therein and I will not adde an new obstinacy to my old error But besides these we have some Surnames of good Families in England now extant which though French are not by any diligence to be recovered in the lists of such as came over with the Conquerour and therefore we suppose them to have remained of those Gentlemen and others which from Henault attended Queen Isabel wife unto King Edward the second Of this sort was Deureux Mollineux Darcy Coniers Longchamp Henage Savage Danvers with many more Of the British or Welsh after their expulsion hence by the Saxons some signal persons have returned again and by the Kings Grant Matches Purchases c. have fixed themselves in fair possessions in England especially since the beginning of the reign of their Country-man King Henry the seventh rewarding the valour of many contributing to his Victory in the battle of Bosworth Of the Welsh now re-estated in England and often Sheriffs therein some retain their old Surnames as the Griffins in Northamptonshire the Griffiths and Vaughans in Yorkshire some have assumed New ones as the Caradocks now known by the new Name of the Newtons in Somersetshire Many Scotch long before the Union of the two Kingdomes under King James seated themselves
confess it was somewhat too soon for one with safety and truth to treat of such a Subject Indeed I could instance in some kind of course Venison not fit for food when first killed and therefore cunning Cooks bury it for some hours in the Earth till the rankness thereof being mortified thereby it makes most palatable meat So the memory of some Persons newly deceased are neither fit for a Writers or Readers repast untill some competent time after their Interment However I am Confident that unpartial Posterity on a serious review of all Passages will allow his Name to be reposed amongst the HEROES of our Nation seeing such as behold his expence on St. Pauls as but a Cypher will assign his other Benefactions a very valuable Signification viz. his erecting and endowing an Almes-house in Reading his increasing of Oxford Library with Books and St. Johns Colledg with beautifull buildings He was beheaded Jan. 10. 1644. States-men Sir JOHN MASON Knight was born at Abbington where he is remembred among the Benefactors to the beautifull Almes-house therein bred in All souls in Oxford King Hènry the eighth coming thither was so highly pleased with an oration Mr. Mason made unto Him that he instantly gave order for his education beyond the seas as confident he would prove an able Minister of State This was the politick discipline of those days to select the pregnancies of either Universities and breed them in forraign parts for publique employments He was Privy-Councellour to King Henry the eighth and K. Edward the sixth One maketh him His Secretary of State which some suspect too high another but Master of the Requests which I believe as much beneath him He continued Councellor to Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth to whom he was Treasurer of the Household and Chancellor of the University of Oxford Mr. Camden gives him this true character Vir fuit gravis atque eruditus which I like much better then that which followeth so far as I can understand it Ecclesiasticorum Beneficiorum incubator maximus Surely he could be no Canonical Incumbent in any Benefice not being in Orders which leaveth him under the suspicion of being a great ingrosser of long leases in Church-livings which then used to be let for many years a pityful pension being reserved for the poor Curate Thought possibly in his younger time he might have Tonsuram primam or be a Deacon which improved by his great power might qualify at least countenance him for the holding of his spiritual promotions He died 1566. and lieth buried in the Quire of St. Pauls over against William Herbert first Earl of Pembroke and I remember this Distick of his Long Epitaph Tempore quinque suo regnantes ordine vidit Horum a Consiliis quatuor ille fuit He saw five Princes which the scepter bore Of them was Privy-Councellour to Four It appears by His Epitaph that he left no Child of his own Body but adopted his Nephew to be his Son an Heir Sir THOMAS SMITH Knight was born at Abbington bred in the University of Oxford God and himself raised him to the eminency he attained unto unbefriended with any extraction He may seem to have had an ingenuous emulation of Sir Tho. Smith senior Secretary of State whom he imitated in many good qualities and had no doubt equalled him in preferment if not prevented by death He attained only to be Master of the Requests and Secretary to K. James for His Latine Letters higher places expecting him when a period was put to his life Novemb. 28. 1609. He lieth buried in the Church of Fullkam in Middlesex under a monument erected by his Lady Frances daughter to William Lord Chandos and since Countess of Exeter Souldiers HENRY UMPTON Knight was born as by all Indications in the Heralds Office doth appear at Wadley in this County He was Son to Sir Edward Umpton by Anne the Relick of John Dudley Earl of Warwick and the Eldest Daughter of Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset He was imployed by Queen Elizabeth Embassadour into France where he so behaved himself right stoutly in her behalf as may appear by this particular In the Moneth of March Anno 1592. being sensible of some injury offered by the Duke of Gwise to the honour of the Queen of England he sent him this ensuing challenge For as much as lately in the Lodging of my Lord Du Mayne and in publick elsewhere Impudently Indiscreetly and over boldly you spoke badly of my Soveraign whose sacred Person here in this County I represent To maintain both by word and weapon her honour which never was called in question among people of Honesty and Vertue I say you have wickedly lyed in speaking so basely of my Soveraign and you shall do nothing else but lie whensoever you shall dare to taxe her honour Moreover that her sacred Person being one of the most complete and Vertuous Princess that lives in this world ought not to be evil spoken of by the Tongue of such a perfidious Traytor to her Law and Country as you are And hereupon I do defy you and challenge your Person to mine with such manner of Arms as you shall like or choose be it either on horse back or on foot Nor would I have you to think any inequality of Person between us I being issued of as great a Race and Noble house every way as your self So assigning me an indifferent place I will there maintain my words and the Lie which I gave you and which you should not endure if you have any Courage at all in you If you consent not meet me hereupon I will hold you and cause you to be generally held for the arrantest coward and most slanderous slave that lives in all France I expect your Answer I find not what answer was returned This Sir Henry dying in the French Kings Camp before Lofear had his Corps brought over to London and carryed in a Coach to Wadley thence to Farington where he was buryed in the Church on Tuesday the 8. of July 1596. He had allowed him a Barons Hearse because dying Ambassadour Leigier Writers HUGH of READING quitted his expectances of a fair Estate and sequestring himself from worldly delights embraced a Monastical life till at last he became Abbot of Reading Such who suspect his sufficiency will soon be satisfied when they read the high Commendation which Petrus Bloesensis Arch Deacon of Bath one of the greatest Scholars of that Age bestoweth upon him He wrote a Book of no Trival Questions fetcht out of the Scripture it self the reason why I. Bale generally a back-friend to Monks hath so good a Character for him who flourished Anno Dom. 1180. ROGER of WINDSOR was undoubtedly born in this Town otherwise he would have been called Roger of St. Albans being Chanter in that Convent Now in that Age Monks were reputed men of best Learning and most leasure The cause why our English Kings alwaies choose one of
past twelve years of age before he knew one letter in the Book and did not he run fast who starting so late came soon to the mark He was a Curious Poet excellent Musician a valiant and successeful Souldier who fought seven Battles against the Danes in one year and at last made them his Subjects by Conquest and Gods servants by Christianity He gave the first Institution or as others will have it the best 〈◊〉 to the University of Oxford A Prince who cannot be painted to the Life without his losse no words reaching his worth He Divided 1. Every natural day as to himself into three parts eight hours for his devotion eight hours for his imployment eight hours for his sleep and refection 2. His Revenues into three parts one for his expences in War a second for the maintenance of his Court and a third to be spended on Pious uses 3. His Land into Thirty two shires which number since is altered and increased 4. His Subjects into Hundreds and Tythings consisting of Ten persons mutually Pledges for their Good behaviour such being accounted suspitious for their Life and Loyalty that could not give such Security He left Learning where he found Ignorance Justice where he found Oppression Peace where he found Distraction And having Reigned about Four and thirty years He dyed and was buried at Winchester Anno 901. He loved Religion more then Superstition favoured Learned men more then Lasie Monks which perchance was the cause that his memory is not loaden with Miracles and He not solemnly Sainted with other Saxon Kings who far less deserved it Since the Reformation PETER CHAPMAN was born at Cokeham in this County bred an Iron-monger in London and at his death bequeathed five pounds a year to two Scholars in Oxford as much to two in Cambridge and five Pounds a year to the Poor in the town of his Nativity besides threescore pounds to the Prisons in London and other Benefactions The certain date of his death is to me unknown JOHN KENDRICK was born at Reading in this County and bred a Draper in the City of London His State may be compared to the Mustard-seed very little at the beginning but growing so great that the birds made nests therein or rather he therein made neâ—…ts for many birds which otherwise being either infledged or maimed must have been exposed to wind and weather The Worthiest of Davids WORTHIES were digested into Ternions and they again subdivided into two Ranks If this double Dichotomie were used to methodize our Protestant Benefactors since the Reformation sure I am that Mr. Kendrick will be if not the last of the first the first of the second Three His Charity began at his Kindred proceeded to his Friends and Servants to whom he left large Legacies concluded with the Poor on whom he bestowed above twenty thousand pounds Reading and Newbury sharing the deepest therein And if any envious and distrustfull Miser measuring other mens hearts by the narrowness of his own suspecteth the truth hereof and if he dare hazard the smarting of his bleered eyes to behold so bright a Sun of Bounty let him consult his Will publickly in Print He departed this life on the 30. day of September 1624. and lyes buried in St. Christophers London To the Curate of which Parish he gave twenty pounds per annum for ever RICHARD WIGHTWICK Bachelor of Divinity was Rector of East Isley in this County What the yearly value of his living was I know not and have cause to believe it not very great however one would conjecture his Benefice a Bishoprick by his bounty to Pembroke Colledge in Oxford to which he gave one hundred pounds per annum to the maintenance of three Fellows and four Scholars When he departed this life is to me unknown Memorable Persons THOMAS COLE commonly called the rich clothier of Reading Tradition and an authorless pamphlet make him a man of vast wealth maintaining an hundred and fourty meniall servants in his house besides three hundred poor people whom he set on work insomuch that his Wains with cloth filled the high-way betwixt Reading and London to the stopping of King Henry the first in his Progress Who notwithstanding for the incouraging of his Subjects industry gratified the said Cole and all of his profession with the set measure of a Yard the said King making his own Arme the standard thereof whereby Drapery was reduced in the meting thereof to a greater certainty The truth is this Monkes began to Lard the lives of their Saints with lies whence they proceeded in like manner to flourish out the facts of Famous Knights King Arthur Guy of Warwick c. in imitation whereof some meaner wits in the same sort made description of Mechanicks powdering their lives with improbable passages to the great prejudice of truth Seeing the making of Broad-cloath in England could not be so ancient and it was the arme not of King Henry but King Edward the first which is notoriously known to have been the adequation of a yard However because omnis fabula fundatur in Historia let this Cole be accounted eminent in this kind though I vehemently suspect very little of truth would remain in the midst of this story if the grosse falshoods were pared from both sides thereof JOHN WINSCOMBE called commonly Jack of Newberry was the most considerable clothier without fancy and fiction England ever beheld His Looms were his lands whereof he kept one hundred in his House each managed by a Man and a Boy In the expedition to Flodden-field against James King of Scotland he marched with an hundred of his own men as well armed and better clothed then any to shew that the painfull to use their hands in peace could be valiant and imploy their Armes in War He feasted King Henry the eighth and his first Queen Katharine at his own house extant at Newberry at this day but divided into many Tenements Well may his house now make sixteen Clothiers houses whose wealth would amount to six hundred of their estates He built the Church of Newberry from the Pulpit westward to the Tower inclusively and died about the year 1520. some of his name and kindred of great wealth still remaining in this County Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 John Parveis John Parveis Erlgeston Fishmonger 1432 2 Nicholas Wyfold Thomas Wyfold Hertley Grocer 1450 3 William Webbe John Webbe Reading Salter 1591 4 Thomas Bennet Thomas Bennet Wallingford Mercer 1603 The Names of the Gentry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the Sixth 1433. Robert Bishop of Sarum Commissioners to take the Oaths William Lovel Chivaler  Robert Shotsbroke Knights for the Shires William Fyndern  Johan Prendegest Praeceptor Hospitalis St. Johan Jerus in Anglia de Grenham Johannis Golefre Armigeri Willielmi Warbelton Ar. Willielmi Danvers Ar. Johannis Shotesbrooke Ar. Thomae Foxle Ar. Phi. Inglefeld Ar. Thomae Rothewell
Our Commandement comprised in Our said Letters And that ye also from time to time as ye shall see meet quickly and sharply call upon them in Our name for the execution of Our said Commandement and if you shall find any of them Remiss or Negligent in that behalf We will that ye lay it sharply to their charge Advertising that in case they amend not their defaults ye will thereof Advertise Our Councell remâ—…ining with Our dearest Daughter the Princess and so We charge you to do indeed And if Our said Sheriffe or Justice or any other Sheriffe or Justice of any Shire next to you upon any side adjoyning shall need or require your Assistance for the Execution of Our said Commandements We Will and Desire you that what the best power ye can make of Our Subjects iâ—… Harneys ye be to them Aiding and Assisting from time to time as the Case shall require Not failing hereof as you intend to please Us and as We specially truâ—…t you Given under Our Signet at Our Manor of Greenwich the 18. day of May. Henry VIII 1 WILLIAM ESSEX Ar. He was a worthy man in his generation of great command in this County whereof he was four times Sheriffe and the first of his family who fixed at Lambourn therein on this welcome occasion He had married Elizabeth daughter and sole heir of Thomas Rogers of Benham whose Grandfather John Rogers had married Elizabeth daughter and heir of John Shoteâ—…broke of Bercote in this County whose ancestors had been Sheriffs of Barkeshire in the fourth fifth and sixth of King Edward the third by whom he received a large inheritance Nor was the birth of this Sir William for aferwards he was Knighted beneath his estate being Son unto Thomas Essex Esquire Remembrancer and Vice-Treasurer unto King Edward the fourth who dyed November 1. 1500. lyeth buried with a plain Epitaph in the Church of Kensington Middlesex He derived himself from Henry de Essex Baron of Rawley in Essex and Standard-Bearer of England as I have seen in an exact Pedigree attested by Master Camden and his posterity have lately assumed his Coat viz. Argent an Orle Gules There was lately a Baronet of this family with the revenues of a Baron but * riches endure not for ever if providence be not as well used in preserving as attaining them 24 HUMPHRY FORSTER Knight He bare a good affection to Protestants even in the most dangerous times and spake to the Quest in the behalf of Master Marbeck that good 〈◊〉 yea he confessed to King Henry the third that never any thing went so much against his Conscience which under his Graces authority he had done as his attending the execution of three poor men Martyred at Windsor Edward VI. 1 FRANCIS INGLEFIELD Mil. He afterwards was Privy-Councellor unto Queen Mary and so zealous a Romanist that after her death he left the land with a most large inheritance and lived for the most part in Spain He was a most industrious agent to solicite the cause of the Queen of Scots both to his Holiness and the Catholick King As also he was a great Promotor of and Benefactor to the English Colledge at Valladolit in Spain where he lyeth interred in a family of his alliance is still worshipfully extant in this County Queen Mary 1 JOHN WILLIAMS Miles Before the year of his Sherivalty was expired Queen Mary made him Lord Williams of Tame in Oxfordshire In which town he built a small Hospitall and a very fair School He with Sir Henry Bennyfield were joynt-Keepers of the Lady Elizabeth whilst under restraint being as civil as the other was cruel unto Her Bishop Ridley when martyred requested this Lord to stand his friend to the Queen that those Leases might be confirmed which he had made to poor Tenants which he promised and performed accordingly His great estate was divided betwixt his two daughters and coheirs one married to Sir Henry Norrice the other to Sir Richard Wenman Queen Elizabeth 4 HENRY NORRICE Ar. Son-in-law to the Lord Williams aforesaid He was by Queen Elizabeth created Baron Norrice of Ricot in Oxfordshire it is hard to say whether this tree of honour was more remarkable for the root from whence he sprung or for the branches that sprang from him He was Son to Sir Henry Norrice who suffered in the cause of Queen Anne Bullen Grandchild to Sir Edward Norrice who married Fridswide sister and coheir to the last Lord Lovell He was Father though himself of a meek and mild disposition to the Martiall brood of the Norrices of whom hereafter Elizabeth his great Grandchild sole Daughter and heir unto Francis Norrice Earl of Barkshire and Baroness Norrice was married unto Edward Wray Esquire whose only Daughter Elizabeth Wray Baroness Norrice lately deceased was married unto 〈◊〉 Bertue Earl of Lindsey whose Son a Minor is Lord Norrice at this day Sheriffs of Barkeshire alone Name Place Armes REG. ELIZA   Anno   9 Edw. Unton mil. Wadley 〈◊〉 on a Fess Eng. Or twixt 3 Spear-Heads Arg. a Hound cursant S. collered Gu. 10 Io. Fetiplace ar Chilrey G. 2 Chev. Argent 11 Will. Forster ar Aldermerston Sable a Chev betw 3 Arrows Arg. a Chev. 12 Will. Dunch ar LitlewitnaÌ„ Or 〈◊〉 2 Toures in 〈◊〉 a flour de Lice in Base Arg. 13 Ioha Winchcomb Budebury  14 Hen. Nevill mil. Billingber  15 Tho. Essex ar Lamborn 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 Erm. betw 3 Eagles Arg. 16 Ric. Lovelace ar Hurley Gules on a chiefe indented Sable three Marvets Or. 17 Anth. Bridges ar HemstedMarshal  18 Thom. Parry ar  See our Notes 19 Io. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut prius  20 Tho Stafford ar Bradfeld Or a Chev. Gul. Canton Er. 21 Tho. Stephans ar   22 Hum 〈◊〉 ar ut prius  23 Tho. Bullock ar 〈◊〉 Gules a Chev. twixt three Bulls-heads Ar. armed Or. 24 Tho Read ar Abington G. a Saltyre twixt 4 〈◊〉 Or. 25 〈◊〉 Molens ar Clapgate  26 Be. Fetiplace ar ut prius  27 Edw. Fetiplace ar ut prius  28 Chri. Lillcot ar Rushcomb Or. 2 〈◊〉 vairry Arg. Sable 29 Edm. Dunch ar ut prius  30 Thom. Parry ar ut prius  31 Tho. 〈◊〉 ar Shaw Azure a Fess 〈◊〉 inter 〈◊〉 Or. 32 Iohan. 〈◊〉 ar   33 Rich. Ward ar   34 Fr. Winchcombe ut prius  35 Hum. Forster ar ut prius  36 Ricar Hide ar S. Denchw Gules 2 Chevâ—…rons Arg. 37 Hen. Nevill ar ut prius  38 Edm. Wiseman ar Stephenton Sable a Chev. twixt 3 Bars of Spears Arg. 39 Chri. Lidcotte mi. ut prius  40 Hen. Pool mil.   41 Tho. Reede mil. ut prius  42 Sa. Backhouse ar Swallofield  43 Ioha Norris mil.   44 Ed. Fetiplâ—… mil. ut prius  Ed. Dunch ar 〈◊〉 Ja. ut prius  JAC. REX   Anno   1 Edm. Dunch ar
cause valiantly fighting in the battle of Teuxbury It is charity to enter this memorial of him the rather because he died without issue and his fair estate forfeited to King Edward the fourth was quickly scattered amongst many Courtiers but from his Cousin and Heire-general the Lauleys in Shropshire are lineally descended Henry VII 17 Sir JOHN SAINT JOHN Mil. There were three Sir John Saint Johns successively in the same family since their fixing in this County 1. The father this year Sheriffe being son to Sir Oliver Saint John by Margaret daughter and sole heir to Sir John Beauchamp This Margaret was afterwards married to John Duke of Somerset to whom she bare Margaret Mother to King Henry the seventh 2. The son Sheriffe in the seventh year of King Henry the eighth 3. The grand-child Sheriffe in the third of Edward the sixth and father to Oliver the first Lord Saint John This we insert to avoid confusion it being the general complaint of Heraulds that such Homonymie causeth many mistakes in pedigrees 22 WILLIAM GASCOIGNE Much wondering with my self how this Northem Name stragled into the South I consulted one of his Family and a good Antiquary by whom I was informed that this William was a Younger Brother of Gauthorpe house in York-shire and was settled at Cardinton nigh Bedford in this County by Marrying the Inheritrix thereof He was afterwards twice Sheriffe under King Henry the eighth Knighted and Controler of the House of Cardinall Woolsey A rough Gentleman preferring rather to profit then please his Master And although the Pride of that Prelate was sar above his Covetousnesse yet his Wisedome well knowing Thrift to be the Fuell of Magnificence would usually disgest advice from this his Servant when it plainly tended to his own Emolument The Name and which is worse the Essate is now quite extinct in this County Henry VIII 1 JOHN MORDANT Ar. He was extracted of a very Ancient parent in this County and married one of the Daughters and Heirs of Henry Vere of Addington in Northampton-shire whereby he received a great Inheritance being by Aged persons in those parts remembred by the name of John of the Woods Reader I was born under the shadow and felt the warmth of them so great a Master he was of Oaks and Timber in that County besides large possessions he had in Essex and elswhere King Henry the eight owning him deservedly for a very wise man created him Baron Mordant of Turvey 29 WILLIAM WINDSOR Mil. He was descended from Walter Fitz Otho Castle-keeper of Windsor in the time of King William the Conqueror and was by King Henry the eighth created Baron Windsor of Bradenham in Buckingham-shire Ancestor to the present Lord Windsor descended from him by an Heir-general so that Hickman is his Surname Eâ—…ward VI. 1 FRANCIS RUSSEL Mil. He was Son to John Lord Russel afterward Earl of Bedford Succeeding his Father in his honour so great was his Hospitality that Queen Elizabeth was wont to say pleasantly of him That he made all the beggars He founded a small School at Wobourne and dying in great age and honour was buried at Cheneys 1585. 5 OLIVER SAINT JOHN Ar. He was by Queen Elizabeth made Lord Saint John of Bletso in this County and left two sons who succeeded to his honour First John whose onely daughter Anne was married to William Lord Effingham and was mother to Elizabeth now Countess Dowager of Peterborough His second son was Oliver blessed with a numerous issue and Ancestor to the present Earl of Bullinbrook Queen Mary 1 WILLIAM DORMER Mil. He was son to Sir Robert Dormer Sheriffe the 14. of K. Henry the 8. by Jane Newdigate his wife which Lady was so zealous a Papâ—…st that after the death of Q. Mary she left the land and lived beyond the Seas This Sir William by Mary Sidney his wife had a daughter married to the Count of Feria when he came over hither with King Philip. This Count under pretence to visit his sick Lady remaining here did very earnestly move a match betwixt King Philip his Master and Queen Elizabeth which in fine took no effect He theâ—… also mediated for Jane Dormer his Grand-mother and some other fugitives that they might live beyond the Seas and receive their revenues out of England which favour the Queen though not fit to indulge whereat the Count was so incensed â—…hat he moved Pope Pius the fourth to excommunicate Her though his wife did with all might and maine oppose it Sheriffs of this County alone Name Place Armes REG. ELIZA   Anno   17 〈◊〉 Rotheram Es. Farly Vert 3 Roe bucks tripping Or a Baston Gul. 18 Ioh 〈◊〉 â—…ewelbury G. a Salter engrailed Arg. 19 Ge. Kenesham Es. Temsford  20 Ioh. Spencer Esq Cople  21 Nich. Luke Esq. Woodend Ar. a Bugle-horn S. 22 Hen. Butler Esq. BiddenhaÌ„ G. a Fess Choâ—…kee Ar. S. betw 6 Cross 〈◊〉 Ar. 23 Ioh. Tompson Es. Crawley  24 Ric. Conquest Es. Houghton Q. Ar. S. a Labelw th 3 points 25 Lodo. Dive Esq. Brumham Parte per Pale Ar. et G. a Fess Az. 26 Ioh. Rowe Esq Ric. Charnock Es. Holeot Ar. on a Bend S. 3 Crosses Croslet of the field 27 Oliv. St. John Es.  Ar. on a Chief G. 2 Mullets Or. 28 Ric. Charnock Es. ut prius  29 Will. Butler Esq. ut prius  30 Rad. Astry Esq. Westning Barrâ—…wavee of six Ar. Az. on a Chief G. 3 Bezants 31 Oliv. St. John Es. ut prius  32 Ge Rotheram Es. ut prius  33 Exp. Hoddeson Es. ut prius  34 Will. Duncombe Batlesden Party per Chev. countâ—…r Flore G. Arg. 3 Talbots-heads Erazed countercharged 35 Nich. Luke Esq. ut prius  36 Ioh. Dive Esq ut prius  37 Wil. Gostwick Es. WillingtoÌ„ Arg. a Bend G. cotized S. twixt 6 Câ—…rnish chaughes proper on a chief Or 3 Mullets vert 38 Ric. Conquest Es. ut prius  39 Tho. Cheney Esq. Sundon  40 Edr. Rateliffe Kt. Elstow Arg. a Bend engrailed S. 41 Wâ—…ll Butler Esq ut prius  42 Ioh. Crost Kt.   43 Ric Charnocks Es. ut prins  44 Geo. Francklyn Malvern  45 Ioh. Dive Kt. ut prius  JAC. REX   Anno   1 Ioh. Dive Kt. ut prius  2 Ioh. Leigh Esq.   3 Edr. Sands Kt. Eaton  4 Fran. Anderson E. Eworth Arg. a Cheveron twixt 3 Cross-Croslets S. 5 Tho. Snagge Kt. Marson  6 Edw Mordâ—…nt Es. Ockley Aâ—…a a Chev. 〈◊〉 3 Estoyles S. 7 Tho. Ancell Esq. Barford G. on a Saltier Or betw 4 Bezants a Malcel of the first 8 Fran Ventres Kt. Campton Azu a lutie beewaot 2 Bendswavy Arg. 9 Rob. Sandy Esq.   10 Wil. Beecher Esq. Hooberry  11 Ric. Sanders Esq. Marson Parte per Ch. Ar. S. 3 Elephants heads Erazed ceunterchanged 12 Edw. Duncombe ut prius  13 Will. Plomer
in his profession is sufficiently attested by his own Printed Reports Eight eminent Judges of the Law out of their knowledge of his great wisdome learning and integrity approving and allowing them to be published for the Common benefit He was against the Illegality of Ship-money both publickly in Westminster-hall and privately in his judgment demanded by the King though concluded to subscribe according to the Course of the Court by plurality of voices The Country-mans wit levelled to his brain will not for many years be forgotten That Ship-money may be gotten by Hâ—…ok but not by Crook though since they have paid taxes loins to the little finger and Scorpions to the Rod of Ship-money but whether by Hook or Crook let others inquire His piety in his equall and even walkings in the way of God through the several turnings and occasions of his Life is evidenced by his Charity to man founding a Chappel at Beachley in Buckingham-shire two miles at least distanced from the Mother-Church and an Hospitall in the same Parish with a liberall Revenue Considering his declining and decaying age and desiring to examine his Life and prepare an Account to the Supreme Judge he petitioned King Charles for a Writ of Ease which though in some sort denied what wise Mr. would willingly part with a good Servant was in effect granted unto him He dyed at Waterstock in Oxford shire in the eighty second year of his age Anno Dom. 1641. EDWARD BULTSTRODE Esq. born in this County bred in the studies of our municipall Laws in the Inner Temple and his Highness his Justice in North-wales hath written a book of divers Resolutions and Judgments with the reasons and causes thereof given in the Court of Kings-bench in the reigns of King James and King Charles and is lately deceased Souldiers Sir WILLIAM WINDSOR Knight I am confident herein is no mislocation beholding him an Ancestor to the right honourable Thomas Windsor Hickman Lord Windsor and fixed at Bradenham He was deputed by King Edward the third in the fourty seventh year of his reign Lord Lieutenant of Ireland which Country was then in a sad Condition For the King was so intent on the Conquest of France as a Land nearer fairer and due to him by descent that he neglected the effectuall reduction of Ireland This encouraged the Irish Grandees their O's and Mac's to Rant and Tyrant it in their respective seignieuries whilst such English who were planted there had nothing Native save their Surnames left degenerating by degrees to be Irish in their Habits Manners and Language Yea as the wild Irish are observed to love their Nurses or Fosters above their natural Mothers so these barbarizing English were more endeared to the interest of Ireland which fed then of England which bare and bred them To prevent more mischief this worthy Knight was sent over of whose valour and fidelity the King had great experience He contracted with the King to defray the whole charge of that Kingdome as appeareth by the instrument in the Tower for eleven thousand two hundred thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence per annum Now Sir William undertook not the Conquest but Custody of the Land in a defen sive war He promised not with a daring Mountebank to Cure but with a discreet Physician to ease this Irish Gout Indeed I meet with a passage in Froissard relating how Sir William should report of himself that he was so far from subduing the Irish he could never have access to understand and know their Countries albeit he had spent more time in the service of Ireland then any Englishman then living Which to me seems no wonder the Irish vermin shrowding themselves under the Scabs of their Bogs and Hair of their Woods However he may truly be said to have left that land much improved because no whit more impaired during those dangerous distractions and safely resigned his office as I take it in the first of K. Richard the second ARTHUR GRAY Baron of Wilton is justly reckoned amongst the Natives of this Shire whose father had his Habitation not at Wilton a decayed Castle in Hereford-shire whence he took his Title but at Waddon a fair house of his Family not far from Buckingham He succeeded to a small Estate much diminished on this sad occasion His father William Lord Gray being taken Prisoner in France after long ineffectuall soliciting to be because captivated in the publick service redeemed on the publick charge at last was forced to ransom himself with the sale of the best part of his Patrimony Our Arthur endeavoured to advance his estate by his valour being entered in Feats of war under his Martial father at the siege of Lieth 1560. where he was shot in the shoulder which inspirited him with a constant antipathy against the Scotch He was afterwards sent over Lord Deputy into Ireland anno 1580. where before he had received the Sword or any Emblemes of Command ut acrioribus initiis terrorem incuteret to fright his foes with his fierce beginning he unfortunately fought the rebels at Glandilough to the great loss of English blood This made many commend his Courage above his Conduct till he recovered his credit and finally suppressed the rebellion of Desmund Returning into England the Queen chiefly relied on his counsel for ordering our Land-forces against the Spaniards in 88. and fortifying places of advantage The mention of that year critical in Church differences about discipline at home as well as with foreign foes abroad mindeth me that this Lord was but a Back-friend to Bishops in all divisions of Votes in Parliament or Council-table sided with the Anti-prelatical party When Secretary Davison that State-Pageant raised up on purpose to be put down was censured in the Star-chamber about the business of the Queen of Scots this Lord Gray onely defended him as doing nothing therein but what became an able and honest Minister of State An ear-witness saith Haec fuse oratoriè animosè Greium disserentem audivimus So that besides bluntness the common and becoming eloquence of Souldiers he had a real Rhetorick and could very emphatically express himself Indeed this warlike Lord would not wear two heads under one Helmet and may be said always to have born his Beaver open not dissembling in the least degree but owning his own judgment at all times what he was He deceased anno Dom. 1593. Writers ROGER de WENDOVER was born at that Market-town in this County bred a Benedictine in St. Albans where he became the Kings Historian Know Reader that our English Kings had always a Monck generally of St. Albans as near London the Staple of news and books to write the remarkables of their reigns One addeth I am sorry he is a forrainer and therefore of less credit at such distance that their Chronicles were lock'd up in the Kings Library so that neither in that Kings nor his Sons life they were ever opened If so
to make the like in other places though hence they fetch'd both their kine and Dary-maids It seems they should have fetch'd their ground too wherin surely some Occult excellency in this kind or else so good Cheese will not be made I hear not the like commendation of the Butter in this County and perchance these two Commodities are like Stars of a different Horizon so that the Elevation of the one to Eminency is the Depression of the other Mill stones Stones they are Naturall as Fitted for that Purpose Artificial Very great and good are digged up at Mowcop-hill in this County though one Moity thereof be in Staffordshire out of which the River Trent doth arise How necessary these are for mans sustenance is proved by the painful experience of such aged persons who wanting their Molare Teeth must make use of their Gums for Grinders and such bad shifts should men be put to if wanting Mills where stones turn Corn into bread Manufactures considerable I meet with none in this County and therefore proceed The Buildings Beestone-castle Situated on a steep-hill carried away the Credit of this County for Building it was erected by Rayâ—…ulf the third Earl of Chester when he returned victorious from the holy land I am much taken with the neatness of the structure though I confess my eye never did and now never shall behold it When some justly quarrell at Virgill his fiction making Dido fall in love with Eneas who indeed was dead many years before her Cradle was made Others have sought ingeniously to salve the Anticronisme in History by the Plea that she fell in love with his picture which she saw in Tapestry Yet I may truly aleadge for my self that I was affected with the delight of this Castle though by me never seen and now levelled to the ground since the late Wars Beholding the delineation thereof cut by the charge of John Savage Esquire Veraque cum desunt Maenia picta juvant When Real Walls are vanish'd quite Painted ones doe us delight I confess learn'd Leland is very confident that this Castle shall see better times deriving his intellegence from ancient predictions Tempus erit quando rursus caput exâ—…ret altum Vatibus antiquis si vas mihi credere vati Beestone in time its head a loft shall heave If I a Prohet Prophets may believe But I give credit to Lelands History when he tells what is past more then to his prophecy when he foretells what is to come The Wonders It is reported by credible and believed by discreet Persons that there is a Pool adjoyning to Brereton the seat of the honorable family of the Breretons wherein bodies of Trees are seen to swim for certain days together before the death of any Heir of that House If so let not all men look for so solemn summons to pay their Debts to Nature God grant us that Gray-haires Dimness of Sight Dulness of other Senses Decay in general of Strength Death of our Dearest Relations especially when far younger then our selves before our eyes c. may serve us instead of Swimming Logs and be sanctified unto us for sufficient and effectual Monitors of our Mortality We must not forget the many Fir-Trees found here buried under ground whereof largely hereaftâ—…r in a more proper place The People of this County cut such pieces of Wood very small and use them instead of Candles which give a good light My Author adds that such Wooden-candles have long Snuffes and yet saith he which to me amounts to a Wonder In falling do no harm though they light into Tow Flax or the like Strange that the least fire should be so Dead as not to be Revived with such Cordials Let not this encourage Careless Servants to tempt Providence with such Combustible Conjunctions No County being more sadly sensible of Casualties by fire Nantwich a fair Market therein being twice burnt down to the ground within the compass of one hundred and fifty years Proverbs Cheshire Chief of Men. Say not that this Proverb carries a challenge in it and our 〈◊〉 of Kent will undertake these Chief of Men for ingrossing Manhood to themselves And some will opposeto this narrow County-Proverb an English one of greater latitude viz. No man so good but another may be as good as he For rather then any difference shâ—…ll arise by wise and peaceable men many Chief's will be allowed Indeed the Cestrians have always demeaned themselves right valiantly in their undertakings This was well known to K. Richard the second who in dangerous times sent for two thousand Cheshire men all Archers to attend him Which number in time of a suspicious Parliament was doubled by him all having Bouch of Court bread and beer and six pence a day large wages in that age Pity it was that the valour of these Cheshire men was once wasted against themselves in a terrible battle betwixt King Henry the fourth and Henry Percy surnamed Hotspurr not ill described by our Author There Dutton Dutton kills a Done doth kill a Done A Booth a Booth and Leigh by Leigh is overthrown A Venables against a Venables doth stand And Troutbeck fighteth with a Troutbeck hand to hand There Molineux doth make a Molineux to die And Egerton the strength of Egerton doth try O Cheshire wert thou mad of thine own native gore So much untill this day thou never shedst beforâ—… Nor doth this abate our former commendation of their loyalty the cause they maintained being so intricate and perplexed one side fighting for Mortimer who should be King by right the other for Henry the fourâ—…h who actually was so and politick men who know the one were loyall will be loth to say that the other were Traitors Let no Ill-natured wit urge in opposition to the Manhood of Cheshire men their late miscarriage under a Worthy Knight whom I forbear to name partly because he nameeth himself though I say nothing of him partly because before my pains pass the Press he will probably be honorably Additioned For had other Counties seasonably contributed their promised Assistance what now proved an abortive birth would have been a Vital Infant Besides better things were provided for our Gracious Soveraign that he the Copy as God the Original might not come in the tempestuous Wind of War Fire of 〈◊〉 or Earthquake of open Enmity but in the still voice of a Peaceable Composition And to shew that this should not be Mans work God suffered both the Men of Kent and Cheshire Chiâ—…f of Men to fail in their Loyal Endeavours that it might onely be GODS WORK and justly marvailous in our Eyes Better Wed over the Mixon then over the Moor. Over the 〈◊〉 that is hard by or at home Mixon being that heap of Compost which lyeth in the yards of good husbands Then over the Moor that is fun off or from London The road from Chester leading to London over some part of the Moor-lands in
worthy of his end but where he had his birth As for his Round-Table with his Knights about it the tale whereof hath Trundled so smoothly along for many ages it never met with much beliefe amongst the judicious He died about the year Anno Dom 542. And now to speak of the Cornish in generall They ever have been beheld men of Valour It seemeth in the raign of the aforesaid King Arthur they ever made up his Van-Guard if I can rightly understand the barbarous Verses of a Cornish Poet. Nobilis Arcturus nos primos Cornubienses Bellum facturus vocat ut puta Caesaris enses Nobis non aliis reliquis dat primitus ictâ—…m Brave Arthur when he meant a field to fight Us Cornish-men did firstof all invite Onely to Cornish count them Cesars swords He the first blow in Battle still affords But afterwards in the time of King Canutus the Cornish were appointed to make up the Rear of our Armies Say not they were much degraded by this transposition from Head to Foot seeing the judicious in Marshaling of an Army count the â—…rength and therefore the credit to consist in the Rear thereof But it must be pitied that these people misguided by their Leaders have so often abused their valour in rebellions and particularly in the raign of King Henry the seventh at Black-heath where they did the greatest execution with their Arrows reported to be the length of a Taylors-yard the last of that proportion which ever were seen in England However the Cornish have since plentifully repaired their credit by their exemplary Valour and Loyalty in our late Civil Wars Sea-men JOHN ARUNDEL of Trerice Esquire in the fourteenth of King Henry the eighth took prisoner Duncane Campbell a Scot accounted their Admiral by his own Country-men a Pirat by the English and a Valiant man by all in a fight at Sea This his Goodly Valiant and Jeopardous enterprise as it is termed was represented with advantage by the Duke of Norfolk to the King who highly praised and rewarded him for the same Civilians JOHN TREGONWELL was born in this County bred in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of the Laws both Canon and Civil and attaining to great perfection in the Theoretick and practicall parts of those professions he was imployed to be Proctor for King Henry the eighth in the long and costly cause of his divorce from Queen Katherine Dowager Now as it was said of the Roman Dictator Sylla suos divitiis explevit So King Henry full fraught all those with wealth and rewards whom he retained in that imployment This Doctor he Knighted and because so dexterous and diligent in his service gave him a pension of fourty pounds per annum And upon the resignation thereof with the paying down of a Thousand pounds he conferred on him and his heirs the rich demesne and scite of Middleton a Mitred Abby in Dorsetshire possessed at this day by his posterity This Sir John died about the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and fourty and is buried under a fair Monument in the Church of Middleton aforesaid Physitians Although this County can boast of no writer graduated in that faculty in the University and that generally they can better vouch practise for their warrant then warrant for their practise yet Cornish-men would be offended if I should omit RAWE HAYES a Blacksmith by his occupation and furnished with no more learning then is sutable to such a calling who yet ministred Physick for many years with so often success and generall applause that not onely the home-bred multitude believed so mainly in him but even persons of the better calling resorted to him from the remote parts of the Realm to make tryall of his cunning by the hazard of their lives and sundry either upon just cause or to Cloke their folly reported that they have reaped their errands ends at his hands He flourished Anno Dom. 1602. ATWELL born in this County and Parson of Saint Tue therein was well seen in the Theoricks of Physick and happy in the practise thereof beyond the belief of most and the reason that any can assign for the same For although now and then he used blood-letting he mostly for all diseases prescribed milk and often milk and apples which although contrary to the judgements of the best esteemed practitioners either by virtue of the Medicine or fortune of the Physitian or fancy of the Patient recovered many out of desperate extremities This his reputation for many years maintained it self unimpaired the rather because he bestowed his pains and charge gratis on the poor and taking moderately of the rich left one half of what he received in the housholds he visited As for the profits of his benefice he poured it out with both hands in pious uses But for the truth of the whole fit fides penes authorem This Atwell was living 1602. Writers HUCARIU the LEVITE was born in this County and lived at Saint Germans therein All-eating Time hath left us but a little Morsell for manners of his Memory This we know he was a pious and learned man after the rate of that Age and it appeareth that he was eminent in his function of Divine Service because Levite was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fixed upon him In his time as in the days of Eli the Word of God was precious which raised the repute of his pains who wrote an hundred and ten Homilies besides other Books He flourished 1040. JOHN of CORNWALL so called from the County of his Nativity leaving his Native soil studied in forraign Universities cheifly in Rome where his Abilities commended him to the Cognizance of Pope Alexander the third It argueth his learning that he durst cope with that Giant Peter Lumbard himself commonly called The Master of the Sentences and who on that account expected that all should rather obey then any oppose his judgement Yea it appeareth that the judgement of this Peter Bishop of Paris was not so sound in all points by a passage I meet with in Mathew Paris of Pope Alâ—…xander the third writing a letter to an Arch-bishop of France to abrogate the ill doctrine of Peter sometimes Bishop of Paris about Christs Incarnation But our John wrote against him in his life time a book de Homine assumpto and put Peters Pen to some pains to write his own vindication He wrote also a book of Philosophy and Heresies Wonder not at their conjunction Philosophy being in Divinity as Fire and Water in a Family a good Servant but bad Master so Sad it is when the Articles of our Creed must be tried by the Touchstone of Aristotle This John flourished under K. Henry the second Anno 1170. SIMON THURWAY was born in this County bred in our English Universities untill he went over into Paris where he became so eminent a Logician that all his Auditors were his admirers Most firm his memory
forgive the greatest injury upon the least show of the parties sorrow and restore him to the degree of his former favour and though Politicians will thence collect him no prudent man Divines will conclude him a good Christian. Episcopacy in England being grievously wounded by malevolent persons King Charles the First conceived that the best Wine and Oil that could be powred into those wounds was to select persons of known Learning and unblameable Lives to supply the vacant Bishopricks amongst whom Dr. Prideaux was made Bishop of Worcester But alasse all in vain such the present fury of the Times He died of a Feaver 1650 and I have perused a Manuscript Book But alasse not made by Oxford but Worcester-shire Muses of Verses on his Funeral Amongst which I take notice of these Define mirari caecos errasse tot Ignes In promptâ—… causa est lux Prideauxus obit Mortuus est Prideaux scriptis post funera vivit Aufertur Letho Mitra Corona datur To these we may add the Chronogram which I meet with amongst the same Verses Iohannes PrIDeaVXVs 〈◊〉 VVIgornIae MortVVs est 1650. He was buried at Bredon in Worcester-shire August the 1â—…th Such as deny Bishops to be Peers would have conceived this Bishop a Prinâ—…e if present at his Interment such the Number and Quality of Persons attending his Funeral States-men Sir ARTHUR CHICHESTER Knight was descended of a right ancient Family dwelling at Rawley in this County He spent his youth first in the University then in the French and Irish Wars where by his valour he was effectually assistant first to plough and break up that barbarous Nation by Conquest and then to sow it with seeds of civility when by King James made Lord Deputy of Ireland Ind ed good Laws and provisions had been made by his Predecessors to that purpose but alas they were like good lessons set for a Lute out of tune uselesse untill the Instrument was fitted for them Wherefore in order to the civilizing of the Irishry in the first year of his Government he established two new Circuits for Justices of Assize the one in Connaught the other in Munster And whereas the Circuits in former times onely encompassed the English Pale as the Cynosura doth the Pole henceforward like good Planets in their several Spheres they carried the influence of Justice round about the Kingdom Yea in short time Ireland was so cleared of Theeves and Capital Offenders that so many Malefactors have not been found in the Two and Thirty Shires of Ireland as in Six English Shires in the Western Circuit He reduced the Mountains and Glinns on the South of Dublin formerly thorns in the sides of the English-Pale into the County of Wicklowe and in conformity to the English Custome many Irish began to cut their Mantles into Cloaks So observant his eye over the actions of suspected persons that Tyrone was heard to complain that he could not drink a full carouso of sack but the State was within few hours advertised thereof After he had been continued many years in his Deputy-ship and deservedly made a Lord King James recalled him home and loath to leave his abilities unimployed sent him Embassadour to the Emperour and other German Princes Being besieged in the City of Mainchine a place much indebted to his prudence for seasonable victualling it by Count Tilley he sent him word that it was against the Law of Nations to besiege an Embassadour Tilley returned that he took no notice that he was an Embassadour The Lord Chichester replied to the Messenger Had my Master sent me with as many hundred men as he hath sent me on fruitlesse Messages your General should have known that I had been a Souldier as well as an Embassadour King James at his return entertain'd him with great commendation for so well discharging his trust and he died in as great honour as any English-man of our age Anno Dom. 162. Capital Judges Sir WILLIAM HERLE Knight was made by King Edward the Third Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in Hillary Term the first year of his Raign and before the Term ended viz. Jan. the 29. was made Chief Judge of the Common Pleas by his own free consent as I have cause to conceive he standing fair in the Kings favour For whereas sixty marks was in that age the annual salary of that place the King granted him an augmentation of two hundred and forty marks a year so long as he kept that Office This was some four years for I find Sir John Stoner put into his place in the Fourth of the Kings Raign yet so that this Sir William was his Successor the year after such alterations being usual in that age I collect him to die in the ninth of King Edward the Third the mention of him sinking that year and is placed here because if not born at which is most probable he was owner of Illfracombe in this County the Mannor whereof was held by his issue till the Raign of King Henry the Seventh and I understand that a Family of his Name and I believe of his linage hath still a Worshipful existence in Cornwall Sir JOHN CARY Knight was born at Cockington in this County and applying himself to the Study of the Laws was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the tenth year of King Richard the Second The greatest fault I find charged on him was Loyalty to his Lord and Master which if any dare call a disease I assure you it is a catching one among conscientious people On this honourable account this Judge lost his Office Goods and Lands in the first of King Henry the Fourth whose losses not long after providence plentifully repayed to his Posterity On this occasion A Knight Errant of Arragon comming into England and challenging any to tilt with him was undertaken by Sir Robert Cary son to Sir John aforesaid who vanquished the vain glorious Don So that King Henry the Fifth out of a sympathy of valour restored all his estate unto him This Judge dyed about the year of our Lord 1404. Sir WILLIAM HANKFORD was born at Amerie in this County a Mannor which from owners of the same name by their daughter and heir descended to the Hank fords bred in the study of the Laws till he became Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the first of King Henry the Fifth which place he adorned with great Learning and Integrity though doleful the manner of his death on this occasion Coming home discontented from London he expressed extream anger somewhat trespassing on his judicial gravity against his Keeper for that as he said his Deer were stolen and charged him to shoot any man in the Park whom he should find there and stood not being spoken unto and he would discharge him The next night being dark he presents himself and refusing to stand the Keeper according to his Injunction shot and killed him The stump of the Oak nigh which this sad accident
hundred Miles 2 Because the Devonians have a Little London understand it Exeter in their own County Besides other Haven Towns wherein Wealth is gained near at hand But what ever be the cause this County hath made so little use of the Exchange in London No English Shire-men have applyed themselves more profitably to the Kings Court and Innes of Court therein or hath attained greater Wealth and Honour by living in those places The Names of the â—…entry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the 12 year of King Henry the Sixth 1433. E. Bishop of Exeter  Roger Champernounce Knight Knights for the Shire Commissioners to take the Oaths Phillip Cary Knight Philip. Courtney chiv Nicholai Carru chiv Thomae Brrok chiv 〈◊〉 Dynham chi Roberti Chalonns chi 〈◊〉 Herle chiv Thomae Carmynowe ar Roberti Hille armig Johannis Chichester ar 〈◊〉 Chuddelegh ar Roberti Cornn armig Baldewini Foleford ar 〈◊〉 Speake armig Johannis Wise arm Johannis 〈◊〉 arm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 arm 〈◊〉 Hille armig Walteri Reynell armig 〈◊〉 Holand arm Johannis Bamfield ar Nicholai Keynes arm Johannis 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 armigeri Johan Prideaux de Adeston arm Johannis Gorges arm Thomas Denys armig Philip. Lacy armig Ricardi Yard armi Walteri Polard arm Johannis Holand arm Johannis 〈◊〉 ar Thomae Werthe armig Willielmi Malerbe ar Johannis Malerbe ar Johannis Yeo armig Edwardi Saint John ar Thomae Boneville arm VVillielmi Wanard Johannis Copleston Nicholai Radeford Johannis Mulys Henrici Fortescu Henrici Drewe Johannis Lauerance VVillielmi Mey Henrici VVhiting Ricardi Piperoll Johannis Marshal Rogeri Baron Stephani Giffard Willielmi Byshop Nicholai Coterell Willielmi Blenche Johannis Bolter Nicholai Trebarth ar Petri Frie. Ricardi Yeo. Nicholai Tyrant Johannis Gambon Sen. Walteri Whitelegh ar VVillielmi Hâ—…leway Thomae Kyngeslond Thomae â—…erot Petri Eggecombe ar Johannis Harry Thomae Prons Thomae Latom. Willielmi Colyn Johannis Cokeworthy Henrici 〈◊〉 ar Walteri Elyot Johannis 〈◊〉 ar 〈◊〉 Beard Edwardi Pomeray ar Roberti Kirkham Sheriffs of Devonshire Hâ—…N II. Anno 1 Galfridus de Furnell Anno 2 Richardus Com. Anno 3 Richardus de Ridner Williel Boterell Anno 4 Anno 5 Williel de Botterell Anno 6 Anno 7 Hugo de Ralega for 4 years Anno 11 Robertus filius Bernardi Hugo de Ralega Anno 12 Robertus filius Bernardi Anno 13 Hugo Ralega Anno 14 Robertus filius Bernardi for 4 years Anno 18 Comes Reginaldus Anno 19 Idem Anno 20 Idem Anno 21 Comes Regin Paganus Capels Alan de Furnell Anno 22 Williel Ruffus Anno 23 Idem Anno 24 â—…ugo de Gunds Anno 25 â—…dem Anno 26 Anno 27 〈◊〉 Bruer for 7 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Willielmus de Brewere Anno 2 Henry de Furnell for 9 years JOHAN Rex Anno 1 Willielmus de Wratham Anno 2 Osbt. filius Willielmi Anno 3 Radulp. Morin Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Willielmus Brieuere Radus de Mora. Anno 6 Willielmus Brieuere Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Williel Brieuere Radus de Mora for 4 years Anno 12 Robertus de Vetere Ponte Guido de Bello-campo Anno 13 Anno 14 Robertus de Vetere Ponte Guido de Bello-campo Anno 15 Idem Anno 16 Idem Anno 17 HEN. III. Anno. 2 Robertus de Currency Anno. 3 Idem Anno. 4 Robtus de Courtney Anno. 5 Robtus de Courtne Walter de Pohier Anno. 6 Anno. 7 Anno. 8 Walter de Trererd Walter de Pohier Anno. 9 Regin de villa torta Anno. 10 〈◊〉 Raleg Anno. 11 Williel de Boleia Anno. 12 Idem Anno. 13 Rogerus La Zouch Anno. 14 Tho. de Cicencester Tho. de Lawill Anno. 15 Idem Anno. 16 Idem Anno. 17 Tho de La Wile Anno. 18 Robtus de valibus et Ric. de Langford Anno 19 Nâ—…cus de Molis et Walter de Bada Anno 20 Idem Anno 21 VValterus de Bada for 13 years Anno 34 VValterus de Bathond Anno 35 Idem Anno 36 VVilliel de Englefeurd Anno 37 Idem Anno 38 Idem Anno 39 Radus de VVilton Anno 40 Ger. de Horton Hen. de Horton filius Anno 41 Idem Anno 42 VVillielmus de Cu rcen say Anno 43 Idem Anno 44 Radus Lodescomb Anno 45 Idem Johan de Muscegros Anno 46 Radus de Esse for 7 years Anno 53 VVilliel de Bikels EDVV. I. Anno 1 Thomas Delpin Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Anno 4 Anno 5 Matthew de Egglesheill Anno 6 Thomas Delpin Anno 7 VVarinus de Sechevile Anno 8 Idem Anno 9 Thomas Delpin for 6 years Anno 15 VVilliel de Munketon et Rog. de Ingepen Anno 16 Robtus de VVodton Anno 17 Mathew Filius Johannis Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Idem et Tho. de Scobhull Anno 20 Mathew et Tho. Anno 21 Gilber de Knovill for 8 years Anno 29 Thomas de Ralegh for 6 years Anno 35 EDVV. II. Anno 1 Thomas de Ralegh Anno 2 Nich. de Kirkham Anno 3 Nich. de Tukesbury for 3 years Anno 6 Idem Mathew Ferneaux Anno 7 Mathew de Furneaux Anno 8. Math. de Furneaux et Robt. de Horton Anno 9 Anno 10 Mathew de Clivedon Anno 11 Math. de Clivedon et Robt. de Bendon Anno 12 Robt. de Bendon Joh. de Bikkebur Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Rob. Bendon Nic. Cheigne Anno 15 Nul Tit. Com. in Rotulo Anno 16 Anno 17 Matheus de Crowthorne Anno 18 Math. de Crowthorne Jacob de Cokington EDVV. III Anno 1 James de Cokington Anno 2 VVilliel de Chiverston Anno 3 Anno 4 VVilliel de Fawconbge Anno 5 Mathew de Crowthorne Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Regin de Moveforti Anno 8 VVillielmus de Alba Marla Anno 9 Idem Anno 10 Anno 11 Johanes de Ralegh de Grandeport Anno 12 Johan Ralegh de Grandport Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Anno 15 Johan Ralegh de Charles Anno 16 VVillil Pupard Anno 17 Anno 18 Edward Dux Cornubiae VValt Horton Anno 19 Hen. Tirell Johan Childston Anno 20 Idem Anno 21 Radus Brit. Rad. Peaupell Anno 22 Anno 23 Almaricus Fitz. VVarren Anno 24 Idem Anno 25 Robtus Atte Haach Anno 26 VVilliel Auncel Anno 27 Idem Anno 28 Ricus Chambeuon Anno 29 Idem Anno 30 Idem Anno 31 Johan Daubernonn Anno 32 VVilliel Yoo Anno 33 Ricus de Brankescomb for 3 years Anno 36 Almaricus Fitz. Warren Anno 37 Martin Fitzacre Anno 38 Williel de Brighele Anno 39 Johanes Boyes Anno 40 Williel de Servington Anno 41 Anno 42 Ricus de Brankescomb Ric. Channbuon Anno 43 Anno 44 Tho. Chavubuon Anno 45 Ricus Beaumond Anno 46 Nichus Whitting Anno 47 Ricus Chusden Anno 48 Johanes Damuarle Anno 49 Richus de Brandescomb Anno 50 Nichus La Pomeray Anno 51 Johan de Ralege I cannot deny but I have a Catalogue of the Sheriffs of this County beginning but Anno 1349. the 24th
Per Cheveron Arg. and purple a Lion Rampant counterchanged 10 Edw Gyles 〈◊〉   11 George Smith miles   12 John Specot miles ut prius  13 John Gefford arm  Sab. 3 Lozenges in Fess 〈◊〉 14 George Southcoate ut prius  15 Thomas Heale ar ut prius  16 Warâ—… Heale 〈◊〉 ut prius  17 Christ Savoâ—… y miles   18 〈◊〉 Heale 〈◊〉 ut prius  19 Edmond Parker ar ut prius  20 Edm. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut prius  21 Henry Tottle arm  Azure on a bend Argent cottised Or. a Lion passant Sa. 22 Simon Leach   King CHARLES I.   〈◊〉   1 〈◊〉 Fry armig Yarty Vert 3 Horses in pale cur arg 2 John Northcoate A.  Arg. 3 Croslets bendwaise 〈◊〉 3 Waler Young arm   4 Henry Rouswel mil. Fordabbey  5 John Davy armiger  Arg. a Cheveron Sab. 〈◊〉 3 Mullets Gules peirced 6 Henry Ashford arm Ashforde Arg. three Pine-apples Vert twixt 2 Cheveronels Sable 5 Edward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anery â—…arty per Cheverons Azu and Erm â—… Stags heads cabos 〈◊〉 8 〈◊〉 Drake Bar. Buckland Sab. a Fess. 〈◊〉 between the 2 pole Starrs Arg. alias a 〈◊〉 wings elevated 〈◊〉 Ermine a Lion passant Gules ut prius 9 â—…ohn 〈◊〉 ar ut prius  10 Thomas Drew miles   11 Thomas Heale Ba. Fleet  12 Dennys Roll 〈◊〉 ut prius  13 Thomas VVise arm ut prius  14 John Poole 〈◊〉 ut prius  15 Nichol 〈◊〉 m Oxon Or 2 Barrs Gules 16 Nicholas Putt 〈◊〉 Arg. a Lion rampant impounded within a Muscle Sable Richard Collums a  Azure a Cheveron Ermine bebetwixt 3 Pellicans vulning themselvs Or. 17 Edmond 〈◊〉 ut prius  18 Henry Careye ut prius  19 John Acland armi ut prius  20 Richard Greenvile ut prius  21 Francis Drake miles ut prius  22   RICHARD II. 1. JOHN DAMEREL Throwely in Dartmore his chief 〈◊〉 came to his Family by match with the eldest Daughter and coheir of 〈◊〉 who married AVIS sole Heir to Sr. William le Prouze in the raign of K. Edward the second her Two younger Sisters being married to North-coat and Wibery amongst whom a great Inheritance was divided And by Writ of Particion sued out in the 14 of K. Edward the third * Throwley fell to the share of Damerel HENRY VII 2. RICHARD EDGECOMB He was a Knight and memorable in his Generation For being zealous in the Cause of Henry Earl of Richmond afterwards K. Henry the 7. he was in the time of K. Richard the 3. so hotly persued and narrowly searched for that he was forced to hide himself in his thick Woods at his House at 〈◊〉 in Cornwal Here extremity taught him a suddain Policy to put a stone in his cap and tumble the same into the water whilest these Rangers were fast at his heels who looking down after the noise and seeing his cap swimming thereon supposed that he had desperately 〈◊〉 himself and deluded by this honest fraud gave over their farther persuit leaving him at liberty to shift over into Britain Nor was his gratitude lesse than his ingenuity who in remembrance of his delivery after his return built a Chappel lately extant in the place where he lurked and lived in great repute with Prince and People King Henry the seventh rewarded his Loyalty by bestowing the Castle of Totnes in this Countyupon him EDWARD VI. 1. PETER CAREW Miles This active Gentleman had much adoe to expedite himself and save his life being imprisoned for his compliance with Sr. Thomas Wyate Afterwards he did signal service in the Irish Warrs This Memorial remaineth for him Viro Nobilissimo D. PETRO CAREW Equiti Aurato Est hoc structum Monumentum Qui obiit Rosae in Laginiâ Hyberniae 27 Novembris Sepultus autem Waterfordiae 15 Decembris 1575. Terra Cadavâ—…r habet The rest of the Epitaph is not legible Queen ELIZABETH 11. ROBERT DENNIS Miles This worthy Knight Anno 1592. erected a fair Almes-House in the Suburbs of Exeter for 12 poor Aged Men allowing to each a plot of ground for an Herber and 12 Pence weekly This Family so ancient in this County deriving its Name and Original from the DANES is now extinct the Heir-general being married into the House of the ROLLES 45. AMIAS BAMPFIELD Arm. Right ancient and worthy his extraction especially since one of his Ancestors married one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of the Lord Semaur or de sancto Mauro whereby a fair Inheritance at South-Molton in this County accrewed into this Family in which Church this Amias with his Father lyeth interred and their joynt-Epitaph will acquaint us with the numerosity of their Issue then living or dead Twelve of Seventeen are not of Fifteen are Eleven Proceeding from this stock praise be to God in Heaven However Pottimore near Exeter is their prime Habitation and hath been ever since the time of K. Edward the first witnesse this Inscription on a Monument in that Church Hic â—…acet Joh. Bampfield Agnes Uxorejus Pater Mater Will Bampfield qui hanc Ecclesiae Maximam Campanam fieri fecerunt 1310. As for Sr. Coplestone Bampfield now Sheriffe of this County and so cordial to the Kings Cause in the worst of times he doth by his Vertues add a New Lustre to his ancient extraction King CHARLES 12 DENNIS ROLLS Arm. His Mother was Coheir to Sr. Thomas Dennis Knight of right ancient extraction As for this worthy Esquire I remember the old Sentence Praestat nulla quam pauca dicere de Carthagine on which account I forbear further praise of him He was the last of his House not in the sence wherein Salust is called altimus suae domus because he lavished away all his Lands in Luxury but God denyed his Male-Issue to attain to Mans estate The Farewell I am most credibly informed that a Rock lately so lately that as yet it is not named hath been discovered by an Hamburger being Master of a ship who made the first report thereof on his own Oath and the oaths of all in his company to the Corporation of Seamen at the Trinity-house nigh London It lyeth one league off from the START in Devonshire It is more then suspicious that many hundreds have here had their silent Deaths never landing to relate the cause of their destruction For it is very dangerous for a Ship that draweth above eleven or twelve foot water if it should chance to strike upon it at a low water with an indifferent Sea It is the more dangerous because Picked the form thereof so that if you chance to heave one cast upon it the next cast shall be no less than fourteen or fifteen fathome water I am sorry if the Discoverer hereof met not with a proportionable Reward understanding that he had made a better Bargain if he had addressed himself first to the Dutch most
bountifull in such cases though our Nation be most concerned therein Let all ships passing thereby be fore-armed because fore-warned thereof seeing this Rock can no otherwise be resisted than by avoiding EXETER EXETER It is of a circular and therefore most capable form sited on the top of an Hill having an easie assent on every side thereunto This 〈◊〉 much to the cleannesse of this City Nature being the chief Scavenger thereof so that the Rain that falleth there falleth thence by the declivity of the place The Houses stand sidewaies backward into their Yards and onely 〈◊〉 with their Gables towards the Street the City therefore is greater in content than appearance being bigger than it presenteth it self to 〈◊〉 through the same Manufactures Cloathing is plyed in this City with great Industry and Judgment It is hardly to be believed what credible Persons attest for truth that the return for Serges alone in this City amounteth weekly even now when Trading though not dead is sick to three Thousand Pounds not to ascend to a higher proportion But the highest commendation of this City is for the Loyalty thereof presenting us with a pair-Royal of Services herein when besieged by 1 Perkin Werbeck in the Reign of King Henry the seventh 2 The Western Rebels in the Raign of King Edward the sixth 3 The Parliament Forces in the Raign of King Charles the first There Valour was invincible in the two first and their Loyalty unstained in the last rewarded by their Enemies with the best made and best kept Articles yea in the very worst of times a depressed party therein were so true to their Principles that I meet with this epitaph in the Chancell of St. Sidwells Hic jacet Hugo Grove in Comitatu Wilts Armiger in restituendo Ecclesiam in asserendo Regem in propugnando Legem ac Libertatem Anglicanam captus decollatus 6 Maii 1655. The Buildings The Cathedrall dedicated to St. Peter is most beautifull having the West end thereof adorned with so lively Statues of stone that they plainly speak the Art of those who erected them There is in this City a Castle whitherto King Richard the Usurper repaired and for some dayes reposed himself therein He demanded of the Inhabitants how they called their Castle who returned the name thereof was RUGEMONT though I confesse it a Rarity that the castle in a City should be called by any other name than a Castle Hereat the Vsurper was much abashed having been informed by Wizards that he should never prosper after he had met a thing called Rugemont It seems Sathan either spoke this Oracle low or lisping desirous to palliate his fallacy and ignorance or that King Richard a guilty conscience will be frighted with little mistook the word seeing not Rugemont but Richmond the title of King Henry the seventh proved so formidable to this Vsurper As for Parish-Churches in this City at my return thither this year I found them fewer than I left them at my departure thence 15 years ago But the Demolishers of them can give the clearest Account how the plucking down of Churches conduceth to the setting up of Religion besides I understand that thirteen Churches were exposed to sale by the publick Cryer and bought by well-affected Persons who preserved them from destruction The Wonders When the City of Exeter was besieged by the Parliaments Forces so that only the southside thereof towards the Sea was open unto it incredible number of Larks were found in that open quarter for multitude like Quails in the Wildernesse though blessed be God unlike them both in cause and effect as not desired with Mans destruction nor â—…ent with Gods anger as appeared by their safe digestion into wholesome nourishment hereof I was an eye and mouth witnesse I will save my credit in not conjecturing any number knowing that herein though I should stoop beneath the truth I should mount above belief they were as fat as plentifull so that being sold for two Pence a dozen and under the Poor who could have no cheaper as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meat used to make pottage of them boyling them down therein Seveâ—…al natural Causes were assigned hereof 1. That these Fowl frighted with much shooting on the Land 〈◊〉 to the Sea-side for their Refuge 2. That it is familiar with them in cold winters as that was to shelter themselves in the most 〈◊〉 parts 3. That some sortes of Seed were lately fown in those parts which invited them thither for their own repast However the Cause of causes was Divine 〈◊〉 thereby providing a Feast for many poor people who otherwise had been pinched for provision Princes HENRIETTA youngest Childe of King Charles and Queen Mary was born at BedfordHouse in this City Anno 1644. on the sixteenth day of June After her long and sad night of Affliction the day dawn'd with her in her Brothers happy returne Since she is marryed to the Duke of Orleance I hope that I once related unto her as a Chaplain may ever pray for her that her soul may be sanctified with true Grace and she enjoy both the Blessings of this and a Better life Prelates BARTHOLOMEUS ISCANUS born in this * City was accounted in that age the Oracle of Learning and Religion so that in all Conventions to that purpose his suffrage clearly carried it He became afterwards Bishop in the place of his nativity being intimate with his City-man whose Character next followeth Baldwin of Devonshire then but Abbot of Ford afterwards advanced to higher preferment These mutually dedicated Books each to others Commendation so that neither wanted praise nor praised himself This Leland calleth pulcherimum certamen Indeed this Alternation of reciprocal Encomiums became them the better because it was merit in both flattery in neither This Bartholomew was an opposer of Becket his insolence and having sate Bishop 14 Years ended his life Anno 1185. BALDVINUS DEVONIUS was born in this City of poor Parentage save that in some sort a worthy man may be said to be Father to himself His preferment encreased with his Learning and deserts being first a School-master then an Arch-deacon then Abbot of Ford afterwards Bishop of Worcester and lastly Arch-bishop of Canterbury An eloquent Man and a pious Preacher according to the Devotion of those dayes so that the errours which he maintained may justly be accounted the Faults of the timâ—…s and in him but infirmities When King Richard the first went to Palestine he conceived himself bound both in conscience and credit to partake of the pains and perils of his Soveraign whom he attended thither but not thence dying there and being buried at Tyre Anno Dom. 1190. WALTER BRONSCOMBE was Son to a very mean * man in this City and therefore the more remarkable that taking no rise from his extraction he raised himself by his own industry to be Bishop of Exeter Here he built and endowed an Hospital for poor people and also founded a fair Colledge at
Structure especially before part thereof was defaced with a casual fire The Wonders There is an Oake in this County which by most credible people is generally reported to put forth green leaves yearly on or about Christ-mas day It groweth nigh Lindhurst in the New Forrest and perchance I could point more exactly at the position thereof but am loath to direct some ignorant Zealot lest he cut it down under the notion of superstition and make Timber of this Oake as some lately have made Fewel of the Hawthorn at Glassenburie Proverbs Manners makes a Man Quoth William Wickham This generally was his Motto inscribed frequently on the places of his Founding so that it hath since acquired a Proverbial Reputation We commonly say In the 1. Church God makes a Man as who truly created him 2. Court Clothes make a Man as which habit and adorn him 3. Change Money makes a Man which puts him in a solvable condition 4. Schools Manners make a Man as which compleat and accomplish him Grant the two middle Expressions the extravagancy of our Pride and Covetousness the first and last must be allowed proportionable to Piety and Truth Without manners one is but a Man-beast or Centaure Now seeing no man without Manners no Manners without some Learning no Learning without Teaching no teaching of Youth to that in a Grammer Free-school of men to that in a Colledge in an Universitie How much thanks doth Posteritie owe to this VVickham's memory Canterbury is the higher Rack but Winchester is the better Manger W. Edington Bishop of Winchester was the Authour of this Expression rendring this the reason of his refusal to be removed to Canterbury though chosen thereunto Indeed though Canterbury be Graced with an higher Honor the Revenues of Winchester lying entirely are more advantagious to gather riches thereon The Proverb is appliable to such who prefer a wealthy Privacy before a less profitable Dignity Yet know that that Manger did once partly maintain that Rack viz. When John White Bishop of Winchester was injoyned by Queen Mary to pay a thousand pound a year to Cardinal Poole Archbishop of Canterburie for the better support of his Estate The Isle of Wight hath no Monks Lawyers nor Foxes This Speech hath more mirth than Truth in it That they had Monks I know Black ones at Carisbrook White ones at Quarter in this Island That they have Lawyers they know when they pay them their Fees and that they have Foxes their Lambs know However because perchance they have fewer in proportion to places of the like extent and few or none are often coupled in common discourse let not that which was pleasantly spoken be frowardly taken but pass as we found it to Posteritie Princes HENRY Eldest Son of King John and his Wife ISABEL born at Winchester Anno 1208. was one besides the account of Longaevity Eminent in his Generation He was a most pious King Son to a prophane Father King John A very poor King brother to a most wealthie Richard King of the Romans A very weak King Father to a most wise Son Edward the First The Tragi-Comedie of his life was Eminent in many particulars 1. He had scarce half a Kingdome in the beginning of his Reign Lewis of France being brought in to be King by the English in their hot and cast out in their cold Bloud 2. He had no part of a Kingdome in the middle of his Reign Imbroyled with War with his Barons Beaten in Battle Imprisoned and no King in effect 3. He had all the Kingdome in the end of his Reign For as soon as Prince Edward began to Man it This His Son may be accounted his Father by whom he attained a comfortable Old Age. He was not so weak but that he knew who were wiser then himself and would be governed by them One main cause which procured his Death in Peace and Burial in Pomp In the Abbey of Westminster of his own foundation Anno Dom. 1273. ELEANOR tenth Daughter sixteenth and youngest Child of King Edward the First was born at Winchester the 6. of May 1306. and died in her Infancy So that the Epitaph which I find elsewhere of an Infant of meaner birth may be applyed unto her She lieth buried at Saint Peters VVestminster having her Picture upon her Monument with three of her Brothers ARTHUR Eldest son to King Henry the Seaventh and Queen Elizabeth was born being partus octomestris yet vital and vigorous contrary to the rules of Physicians at Winchester the 20. day of September 1486. Some will wonder at his name whereof no Alliance nor English Prince since the unhappy Arthur Duke of Britain supposed to be made away by King John his cruel Uncle But because this Prince by his Fathers side was with King Arthur of British extraction and because born at Winchester where King Arthur kept his Court and His pretended Round Table still to be seen that name was bestowed upon him He died at Ludlow in the sixteenth year of his Age Anno 1502. and is buried in the Cathedral of Worcester more known to Posterity by the Widow he left the Lady Katherine Dowager and the effects ensuing thereon then by any of his own personal performances Saints EDBURGH eight Daughter of King Edward the Elder and his first by Queen Edgiva gave when but three years of Age a great Augury of her future Pietie Her Father presenting before her and leaving to her choyce On the one hand the New Testament and a Challice On the other Jewels Rings and Bracelets She took the New Testament and the Challice conceive it not because of Massy Silver but acted with the Principal of Infant Pietie Hereupon her Parents left her to her own disposal who became a Nun at Winchester after the Order of Saint Benedict under-going the Austeritic of that Order It is reported of her Forgive me Reader though I would not write these things they are so Absurd I cannot but write them they are so Absurd That she would by night play the part of a Pious Thief and steal the Socks of all the other Nuns and having carefully washed and annointed them restore them to their beds sides This Saint EDBURG died on the 15. of June 920. Some of her bones being kept at Winchester others say at Wilton So facile the mistakes in Latine betwixt WILTONIA and WINTONIA and the rest were translated to Pershore an Abbey in the Diocess of WORCESTER Martyrs This County being in the Diocesse of VVinchester escaped very well in the MARIAN DAYES from any visible persecution Under God it might thank Stephen Gardener or rather Gardners policy This Bishop like a Cunning Hunter preserved the GAME fair at home and Killed it in the WALKES of other Keepers It was not he but bloody Bonner who procured the death of JOHN PHILPOT Son of Sir Peter Philpot Knight was born in this County whose Family had an Ancient habitation at therein
He proceeded Mr. of Arts in New Colledge in Oxford And afterwards being Arch-Deacon of Lincoln was a Zealous Promoter of the Protestant Religion In the first of Queen Mary being a member of the Convocation his heart was hot within And while he was musing the fire kindled and he spake with his tongue which afterwards occasioned his Martyrdome If Papists account him a Distracted Man none will wonder who consider how the prophane Captaines of Israel called the Son of the Prophet a mad fellow And if some vehement expressions fell from him during his imprisonment his enemies Cruelty was the Cause thereof Seing ill usage which once made a dumb beast to speak may make a Sober man Overspeak in his passion But all his sufferings are reported by Mr. Fox so perfectly Perfectum est cui nihil addi potest that it is presumption for any to hope to make an essential Addition thereunto He was Martyred Anno Dom. 1555. Decemb. 18. KATHARINE GOVVCHES GUILLEMINE GILBERT PEROTINE MASSEY whose husband a Minister of Gods word was for fear fled out of the Island The first of these was the Mother a poor widdow of St. Peters Port in the Isle of Guernsey the other two her Daughters but maried women These in the reign of Queen Mary were noted to be much absent from the Church for which they were presented before Jaques Amy then Dean of the Island who finding them to hold opinions against the real presence in the Sacrament of the Altar condemned them to be burnt for Hereticks which was done accordingly July 18. 1556. Add to these an Infant without a Christian name and no wonder it is never named seeing properly it was never born but by the force of the flame burst out of his mothers belly Perotine Massey aforesaid This Babe was taken up by W. House a by-stander and by the Command of Elier Gosselin the Bailiff supreme Officer in the then absence of the Governour of the Island cast again into the fire and therein consumed to Ashes It seems this bloody Bailiff was minded like the Cruel Tyrant Commanding Canis pessimi ne catulum esse relinquendum though this indeed was no Dogge but a Lamb and that of the first minute and therefore too young by the Levitical Law to be sacrificed Here was a Spectacle without precedent a Cruelty built three generations high that Grandmother Mother and Grandchild should all suffer in the same Flame And know Reader these Martyrs dying in the Isle of Guernsey are here reckoned in Hampshire because that Island with Jersey formerly subordinate to the Arch-Bishop of Constance in Normandy have since the reign of Queen Elizabeth been annexed to the Diocess of Winchester Prelates William Wickham was born at VVickham in this County being the Son of John Perot and Sibel his wife over whose graves he hath erected a Chappel at Titchfield in this County and bred in the University of Oxford He was otherwise called Long from the height of his stature as my Authour conceives though since it may be applied to the perpetuity of his memory which will last as long as the world endureth for his two fair Foundations at OXFORD WINCHESTER Begun 1379. Finished 1386. Begun 1387. Finished 1393. The Charter of the Foundation of St. Maries-Colledge in Oxford was dated the 26. of November 1379. in his Manour in Southwarke sâ—…nce called VVinchester-House The Scholars entred thereunto about nine a clock on the 14. day of April in the same year The first Stone was laid March 26. at nine a clock in the morning in the 69. year of the age of the Founder  He died in the 37th year of his Consecration and 80th of his Age in the 5th year of the Reign of King Henry the Fourth and his Benefaction to Learning is not to be paralleld by any English Subject in all particulars JOHN RUSSELL was born in this County in the Parish of Saint Peters in the Suburbs of VVinchester He was bred Fellow of New-Colledge and when Doctor of Canon-Law was chosen Chancellor of Oxford Yea that Office annual before was first fixed on him as in Cambridge on Bishop Fisher for term of life By King EDWARD the Fourth he was advanced Bishop of Lincolne and by Richard the Third Ld. Chancellor of England having ability enough to serve any and honesty too much to please so bad a King And because he could not bring him to his bent when the Lord Hastings was killed this Bishop saith my Author was for a time imprisoned He died January the 30. Anno 1490. Leaving this Character behind him Vir fuit summa pietate ex rerum usu oppidò quà m prudens doctrina etiam singulari WILLIAM WARHAM was born at Ockley of Worshipful Parentage in this County bred Fellow and Doctor of the Lawes in New-Colledge imployed by King Henry the Seventh who never sent sluggard or fool on his errand to Margaret Dutches of Burgundy and by him advanced Bishop of London then Archbishop of Canterbury living therein in great lustre till eclipsed in power and profit by Thomas VVolsey Archbishop of Yorke It may be said that England then had ten Arch-Bishops if a figure and cypher amount to so many or else if it had but two they were Arch-Bishop Thomas and Arch-Bishop VVolsey drawing all causes to his Court-legatine whilest all other Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in England kept a constant vacation This VVarham bare with much moderation contenting himself that as he had less honour so he had less envy and kept himself coole whilst VVolsey his screene was often scorched with just and general hatred In the case of K. Henry His divorce he was the Prime Advocate for Queen Katherine and carried it so cautiously that he neither betrayed the cause of his Client nor incurr'd the Kings displeasure Nor will any wonder that an Arch-Bishop of Canterbury did then plead before an Arch-Bishop of York seeing the King at the same time was summoned before His Subject He survived VVolsey's ruine but never recovered his former greatness blasted with a PRAEMUNIRâ—… with the rest of the Clergy and the heavier because the higher in dignity He is said to have expended thirty thousand pounds in the repair of his Palaces the probable reason why he left no other publick Monuments though Arch-bishop twenty eight years dying Anno Domini 1533. ROBERT SHERBORN was born in this County and bred first in VVinchester and then in New Coll. was a great Schollar and prudent Man imployed in several Embassies by K. Henry the seventh and by him preferred Bishop first of St. Davids then Chichester Which Church he decored with many Ornaments and Edifices especially the South-side thereof Where On the one side On the other The History of the foundation of the Church with the Images of the Kings of England The Statues of all the Bishops of this See both those of Selcey and of Chichester He often inscribed
yearly Rent will buy them out all Three CALES Knights were made in that voyage by Robert Earle of Essex anno Dom. 1596 to the number os sixty whereof though many of great birth and estate some were of low fortunes and therefore Queen Elizabeth was halfe offended with the Earle for making Knighthood so common Of the numerousness of Welsh Gentlemen we shall have cause to speak hereafter Northern Lairds are such who in Scotland hold Lands in chief of the King whereof some have no great Revenue so that a Kentish Yeoman by the help of an Hyperbole may countervail c. Yet such Yeomen refuse to have the Title of Master put upon them contenting themselves without any addition of Gentility and this mindeth me of a Passage in my memory One immoderately boasted that there was not one of his name in all England but that he was a Gentleman to whom one in the company retnrned I am sorry Sir you have never a good man of your name Sure I am in Kent there is many a hospital Yeoman of great ability who though no Gentleman by Descent and Title is one by his Means and state let me also adde by his courteous carriage though constantly called but Goodman to which Name he desireth to answer in all respects A Man of KENT This may relate either to the Liberty or to the courage of this County-men Liberty the tenure of Villanage so frequent elsewhere being here utterly unknown and the bodies of all Kentish persons being of free condition In so much that it is holden sufficient for one to avoid the Objection of bondage to say that his Father was born in Kent Now seeing servi non sunt viri quia non sui sur is A bond-man is no man because not his own man the Kentish for their Freedome have atchieved to themselves the name of Men. Others refer it to their courage which from the time of King Canutus hath purchased unto them the precedency of marching in our English Armies to lead the Van. JOANNES Sarisbur De egregiae Curial 6 cap. 16. Ob egregiae virtutis meritum quod potenter patenter exercuit Cantia nostra primae Cohortis honorem primos congressus Hostium usque in omnibus diem in omnibus praeliis obtinet For the deâ—…ert of their worthy valour which they so powerfully and publickly expressed Our Kent obtaineth even unto this day the honor of the first Regiment and first assaulting the Enemy in all Battails Our Authour lived in the Reign of Henry the Second and whether Kentish-men retain this Priviledge unto this day wherein many things are turned upside-down and then no wonder it also forward and backward is to me unknown Neither in KENT nor Christendome This seems a very insolent expression and as unequal a division Surely the first Anthour thereof had small skill in even distribution to measure an Inch against an Ell yea to weigh a grain against a pound But know Reader that this home-Proverb is calculated onely for the elevation of our own Country and ought to be restrained to English-Christendome whereof Kent was first converted to the Faith So then Kent and Christendome parallel to Rome and Italy is as much as the First cut and all the Loafe besides I know there passes a report that Henry the fourth King of France mustering his Souldiers at the siege of a City found more Kentish-men therein than Forraigners of all Christendome beside which being but seventy years since is by some made the Original of this Proverb which was more ancient in use and therefore I adhere to the former Interpretation alwayes provided Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti Si non his utere mecum If thou know'st better it to me impart If not use these of mine with all my heart For mine own part I write nothing but animo revocandi ready to retract it when better evidence shall be brought unto me Nor will I oppose such who understand it for Periphrasis of NO-WHERE Kent being the best place of England Christendome of the World KENTISH Long-TAILES Let me premise that those are much mistaken who first found this Proverb on a Miracle of Austin the Monk which is thus reported It happened in an English Village where Saint Austin was preaching that the Pagans therein did beat and abuse both him and his associats opprobriously tying Fish-tails to their back-side In revenge whereof an impudent Author relateth Reader you and I must blush for him who hath not the modesty to blush for himselfe how such Appendants grew to the hind-parts of all that Generation I say they are much mistaken for the Scaene of this Lying Wonder was not laied in any Part of Kent but pretended many miles off nigh Cerne in Dorsetshire To come closer to the sence of this Proverb I conceive it first of outlandish extraction and cast by forraigners as a note of disgrace on all the English though it chanceth to stick only on the Kentish at this Day For when there happened in Palestine a difference betwixt Robert brother of Saint Lewis King of France and our William Longspee Earle of Salisbury heare how the French-man insulted over our nation MATTHEW PARIS Anno Dom. 1250. pag. 790. O timidorum caudatoruÌ„ formidolositas quà m beatus quà m mundus praesens foret exercitus si à caudis purgaretur caudatis O the cowardliness of these fearful Long-tails How happie how cleane would this our arm ie be were it but purged from tails and Long-tailes That the English were nicked by this speech appears by the reply of the Earle of Salisbury following still the metaphor The son of my father shall presse thither to day whither you shall not dare to approach his horse taile Some will have the English so called from wearing a pouch or poake a bag to carry their baggage in behind their backs whilest probably the proud Monsieurs had their Lacquies for that purpose In proof whereof they produce ancient pictures of the English Drapery and Armory wherein such conveyances doe appear If so it was neither sin nor shame for the common sort of people to carry their own necessaries and it matters not much whether the pocket be made on either side or wholly behinde If any demand how this nick-name cut off from the rest of England continues still entaild on Kent The best conjecture is because that county lieth nearest to France and the French are beheld as the firstfounders of this aspersion But if any will have the Kentish so called from drawing and dragging boughs of trees behind them which afterwards they advanced above their heads and so partly cozened partly threatned King William the Conqueror to continue their ancient customes I say if any will impute it to this original I will not oppose KENTISH Gavel Kind It is a custome in this County whereby the lands are divided equally among all the sons and in default of them amongst the daughters
L. G. on a Bend Arg. 3 Lions heads Erased Sable 5 Edw. Ferers mil. AMP.  6 Johan Digby m. ut prius  7 Will. Skevington ut prius  8 Mâ—… Berkley m. ut prius  9 Simon Digby ar ut prius  10 Edw. Ferrers m. ut prius  11 Hen. Willougby ut prius  12 Edw. Digby ar ut prius  13 Will. Skevington ut prius  14 Will. Browne ar   15 Edw. Conway ar Ragley W. S on a Bend betw 2 Gotises Ar. a Rose G. betw 2 Annulets of the First 16 Tho. Lucy miles ut prius  17 H. Willoughby m ut prius  18 G. Throgmort 〈◊〉 ut prius  19 Tho. Puâ—…tney m. ut prius  20 Rog. Ratclisse m.  Argent a bend engrailed Sable 21 Rich. Verney ar W. Az. on a Cross Arg. 5 Mullets G. 22 Christ. Villars a. ut prius  23 Johan Villars m. ut prius  24 Joh. Harrington ut prius  25 Johan Audley a.   26 Regin Digby ar ut prius  27 W. Broughton a.   28 VValâ—… Smith ar   29 Johan Villars m. ut prius  30 Tho. Nevill ar  Gules a Saltyre Ermine 31 Johan Digby ar ut prius  32 Rich. Catesby a.  Ar. 2 Lyons passant S. Corone O 33 Rog. VVigston a. Wolston W  34 Fulco Grevil m. Beachamp w Sab. a boâ—…der and cross engrailed Or thereon 5. Pellets 35 G. Throgmorton utp rius  36 Regin Digby a. ut prius  37 Rich. Catesby m. ut prius  38 Fran. Poultney VVill. Leigh ar ut prius G. a Cross ingrailed Ar. in the first Quarter a Lozenge Or.  ut prius  EDVV. VI.   Anno   1 Fulco Grevill m. ut prius  2 Ambro. Cave m.  Azure Frettee Argent 3 Rich. Munnar m.   4 Edw. Hastings m. ut prius  5 VV. VVigeston a. ut prius  6 Tho. Nevill miles ut prius  PHIL. Rex M. R.   Anno   1 R. Throgmorton ut prius  2 Tho. Hastings m. ut prius  3 Edw. Grevill m. ut prius  4 Fran. Shirley ar ut prius  5 VV. Wigeston m. ut prius  6 Bran. Cave arm ut prius  ELIZAB. Reginae   Anno   1 Tho. Lucy arm ut prius  2 Will. Skeffington ut prius  3 Tho. Nevill mil. ut prius  4 Rich. Verney m. ut prius  5 Johan Fisher ar Paâ—…ington Per Bend G. O. a Griffin Ramp counterch within a bord Vary 6 Williel Devereux  Ar. a F. G. in cheif 3 Torteâ—…es 7 Geor. Turpin m. ut prius  8 Fran. Smith ar Ashby L. Arg. a Cross G. betw 4. Peacocks proper The Reader may perceive some not considerable difference betwixt this our Catalogue and the Printed one set forth by Mr. Burton in his Description of this Shire I will neither condemn his noâ—… commend my own but leave both to the examination of others King RICHARD the Second 16. THOMAS DE WOODFORD He was the eldest Son of Sir Robert de Woodford a wealthy Knight who dying before his Father left five sons viz. John Walter Humphrey Ralph and John Sir Robert their Grandfather out of design to perpetuate his posterity adventured in five bottoms made all his Grandchildren in effect elder brothers dividing his vast estate amongst them an equal unequal partition to be injurious to the Heir without his demerit that he might be bountiful to his other brethren but it thrived accordingly For that great Family which had long continued in great accompt and estate by reason of this * Division in short space utterly decayed not any part of their lands thus disposed now in the tenure of the Name and some of the Male Heirs descended from the five brethren now living in a low condition and no wonder they soon made a Hand of all where the Thumb was weakned to strengthen the Four fingers HENRY the Fifth 3. THOMAS BURDET Miles The Samenesse of Name and Nearnesse of Kindred giveth me here a just occasion to insist on a memorable Passage concerning Thomas Burdet Esq Grandchild and Heir to Sir Thomas here named When as King Edward the Fourth in his absence had killed a fat White Buck in his Park at Arrow in Warwick-shire which he greatly esteemed upon the first hearing of it wished the Bucks head and horns in his belly that moved the King to kill it Upon the misconstruing of which words he was accused of Treason attainted and beheaded 18. E. 4. 1477. and was buried in the Grey Fryers in London Thus far our English Chronicles with joint consent agree in the same Tune but I meet with one Author reaching one Note higher then all the rest adding as followeth These words spoken and so wrested were the colour of his death but the true cause was the hard conceit and opinion which the King had of him for that he had ever been a faithful friend and true Councellour to George Duke of Clarence his brother between whom there had been bitter Enmity Whatsoever was the cause of such severity against him Burdet patiently and chearfully took his Death affirming he had a Bird in his brest his own Innocency that sung comfort unto him HENRY the Sixth 2. HUMPHREY STAFFORD Being afterwards Knighted he was by King Henry the Sixth made Governour of Callice and coming over into England was slain by Jack Cade but God hath a blessing for those whom Rebells curse Sir Humphrey Stafford his Grandchild fixed himself at Blatherwick in Northampton-shire where his posterity doth flourish to this day 34. WILLIAM HASTINGS The Reader needeth not my dimme Candle to direct him to this illustrious person He was son to Sir Leonard Hastings Sheriffe two years before and was he whom King Edward the third or rather Edward Plantagenet because more in his humane then Royal capacity so delighted in that he made him his Lord Chamberlain Baron Hastings of Ashby de la Zouch c. As he loved the King very well so after this Kings death he is charged to have loved Jane Shore too well and Richard Duke of Glocester perceiving him to obstruct the way to his ambitious designs ordered his removal causing him to be beheaded 1. Edw. 5. As when living he was dear so being dead his corps are near to Edw. 4. Buried under a very fair Monument in Windsor Chappel He was Grandfather to George Hastings first Earl of Huntington EDVVARD the Sixth 4. EDVVARD HASTINGS Miles Queen Mary much delighting in his Devotion created him Baron of Loughborough He founded and endowed a handsome hospital at Stoke Pogeis in Buckingham-shire whither after the Queens death weary of the World he retired himself and therein dyed without issue The foresaid and that a very Fair Town of Loughborough hath since again afforded the Title of a Baron to a younger
returned For your Masters sake I will stoop but not for the King of Spains This worthy Patriot departed this life in the seventy seventh year of his Age August the 4th 1598. Capitall Judges Sr. WILLIAM de SKIPVVITH was bred in the study of the Laws profiting so well therein that he was made in Trinity Terme Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the thirty fifth continuing therein untill the fortieth of the Reign of King Edward the third I meet not with any thing memorable of him in our English Histories except this may pass for a thing remarkable that at the importunity of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster this Sr. William condemned William Wichkam Bish. of Winchester of Crimes rather powerfully objected then plainly proved against him whereupon the Bishops Temporalls were taken from him and he denied access within twenty miles of the Kings Court. I confess there is a Village in the East riding of Yorkshire called SKIPWITH but I have no assurance of this Judge his Nativity therein though ready to remove him thither upon clearer information Sr. WILLIAM SKIPVVITH Junior He was inferior to the former in place whom I behold as a Puisne Judge but herein remarkable to all posterity That he would not complie neither for the importunity of King Richard the second nor the example of his fellow Judges in the 10th year of that Kings Reign to allow that the King by his own power might rescinde an Act of Parliament Solus inter impios mansit integer Gulielmus Skipwith * Miles Clarus ideo apud Posteros And * shined the brighter for living in the midst of a crooked Generation bowed with fear and favour into Corruption I know well that the Collar of S. S. S. or Esses worn about the necks of Judges and other persons of Honor is wreathed into that form whence it receiveth its name Chiefly from Sanctus Simon Simplicius an uncorrupted Judge in the Primitive Times May I move that every fourth link thereof when worn may mind them of this SKIPVVITH so upright in his judgment in a matter of the highest importance Having no certainty of his Nativity I place him in this County where his name at Ormesby hath flourished ever since his time in a very worshipfull equipage Sr. WILLIAM HUSEâ—… Knight was born as I have cause to believe in this County where his name and Familie flourish in a right worshipfull equipage He was bred in the study of our Municipall Law and attained to such eminencie therein that by King Edward the fourth in the one and twentieth of his Reign he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. King HENRY the seventh who in point of policy was onely directed by himself in point of Law was chiefly ruled by this Judge especially in this question of importance It hapned that in his first Parliament many Members thereof were returned who being formerly of this Kings partie were attainted and thereby not legal to sit in Parliament being disabled in the highest degree it being incongruous that they should make Laws for others who themselves were not Inlawed The King not a little troubled therewith remitted it as a case in Law to the Judges The Judges assembled in the Exchequer Chamber agreed all with Sr. VVilliam Husee their Speaker to the King upon this Grave and safe opinion mixed with Law and convenience that the Knights and Burgesses attainted by the course of Law should forbear to come into the House till a Law were passed for the reversall of their attainders which was done accordingly When at the same time it was incidently moved in their Consultation what should be done for the King himself who likewise was attainted the rest unanimously agreed with Sr. VVilliam Husee that the Crown takes away all defects and stops in blood and that by the Assumption thereof the fountain was cleared from all attainders and Corruptions He died in Trinity Term in the tenth year of King Henry the 7th Sr. EDMUND ANDERSON Knight was born a younger brother of a Gentile extract at Flixborough in this County and bred in the Inner Temple I have been informed that his Father left him 1000 l. for his portion which this our Sr. Edmund multiplyed into many by his great proficiency in the Common Law being made in the twenty fourth of Queen Elizabeth Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. When Secretary Davison was sentenced in the Star Chamber for the business of the Queen of Scots Judge Anderson said of him that therein he had done * justum non juste and so acquitting him of all malice censured him with the rest for his indiscretion When H. â—…uff was arraigned about the Rising of the Earl of Essex and when Sr. Edward Coke the Queens Solicitor opposed him and the other answered Syllogistically our Anderson sitting there as Judge of Law not Logick checked both Pleader and Prisoner ob stolidos Syllogismos for their foolish Syllogismes appointing the former to press the Statute of King Edward the third His stern countenance well became his place being a great promoter of the established Church-discipline and very severe against all Brownists when he met them in his Circuit He dyed in the third of King James leaving great Estates to several sons of whom I behold Sr. Francis Anderson of Euworth in Bedfordshire the eldest whose son Sr. John by a second Wife Audrey Butler Neece to the Duke of Buckingham and afterwards married to the Lord Dunsmore in VVarwickshire was according to some conditions in his Patent to succeed his Father in Law in that honour if surviving him This I thought fit to insert to vindicate his memory from oblâ—…vion who being an hopefull Gentleman my fellow Colleague in Sidney Colledge was taken away in the prime of his youth Souldiers Sr. FREDERICK TILNEY Knight had his chief Residence at Bostone in this County He was a man of mighty stature and strength above the Proportion of ordinary persons He attended King Richard the first Anno Dom. 1190. to the Seidge of Acon in the Holy Land where his Atcheivements were such that he struk terror into the Infidels Returning home in safety he lived and died at Terington nigh Tilney in Norfolk where the measure of his incredible stature was for many 〈◊〉 preserved Sixteen Knights flourished from him successively in the Male line till at last their Heir generall being married to the Duke of Norfolk put a period to the Lustre of that ancient family PEREGRINE BERTY Lord Willoughby Son of Richard Berty and Katharine Dutchess of Suffolk Reader I crave a dispensation that I may with thy good leave trespass on the Premised Laws of this Book his name speaking his foraign Nativity born nigh Hidleberg in the Palatinate Indeed I am loath to omit so worthy a Person Our Histories fully report his valiant Atcheivements in France and the Netherlands and how at last he was made Governour of
because some love Poetry either very good or very bad that if they cannot learn from it they may laugh at it they are here inserted WILLLIAM KNIGHT was born in this City bred Fellow of New-colledge in Oxford on the same token that there have been ten of his Sirname Fellowes of that Foundation He proceeded Doctor of Law and a noble Pen makes him Secretary to King Henry the Eighth Sure it is he was the first Person imployed to the Pope to motion to him the matter of his Divorce advertizing the King by his weekly dispatches how slowly his Cause though spurred with English Gold crept on in the Court of Rome After his return the King rewarded his Industry Fidelity and Ability with bestowing the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells upon him In Wells with the assistance of Dean Woolman he built a stately covered Crosse in the Market-place for the glorâ—… of God and conveniency of poor people to secure them from the weather adding this Inscription Laus Deo Pax Vivis Requies Defunctis He dyed September 29. Anno 1547. NICOLAS HEATH was born and had his childhood in the City of London being noted for one of St. Anthonies Pigs therein so were the Scholars of that School commonly called as those of St. Pauls Pauls pigeons and bred first in Christs-Colledge then Fellow of Clare-hall in Cambridge By K. Henry the eighth to whom he was Almoner he was preferred Bishop first of Rochester then of Worcester deprived by K. Edward the Sixth restored by Q. Mary who advanced him Arch-bishop of York and Lord Chancelour of England A moderate man who would not let the least spark of persecution be kindled in his Diocess if any in his Province In the Conference at Westminster betwixt Papists and Protestants primo Elizabethae he was a kind of Moderatour but interposed little Infected bâ—… his Fellow-PrisonerPopish-Prelates he could not be perswaded to take the Oath of Supremacie for which he was deprived He led a pious and private life on his own lands at Cobham in Surrey whither Q. Elizabeth came often to visit him and dyed about the year of our Lord 1566. Since the Reformation JOHN YOUNGE D. D. was borne in Cheapside and bred in Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge whereof he became Master hence he was preferred Rector of St. Giles Cripple gate and at last Bishop of Rochester A constant preacher and to whose Judgement Q. Elizabeth ascribed much in Church matters Better Bishopricks were often offered to and as often refused by him particularly when Norwich was proferred him by one who affirmed it to be a higher Seat Bishop Young pleasantly returned Yea but it is a harder and not so easie for an old man since the Cushion was taken away from it Meaning since Dr. Scambler had scambled away the Revenues thereof He dyed Anno Dom. 1605. and lyeth buried at Bromly Church in Kent where his son most solemnly and sumptuously interred him though he enjoyned all possible privacy and on his death-bed forbad all funeral expences But in such cases it may become the Charity and Affection of the survivers to do what beseemes not so well the modesty and discretion of the dying to desire WILLIAM COTTON D. D. was bon in this City though his infancy was much conversant about Finchley in Middlesex as his nearest relation hath informed me He was bred in Queens Colledge in Cambridge preferred by Queen Elizabeth Arch-Deacon of Lewis and Canon Residentiary of St. Pauls Hence he was advanced and consecrated Bishop of Exâ—…ter November the 12. 1598. During his sitting there Mr. Snape a second Cartwright not for abilities but activity came out of Gersey and plentifully sowed the Seeds of non-conformity in his Diocesse which the vigilancy of this stout and prudent Prelate plucked up by the roots before they could come to perfection In his old age he was Apoplectical which malady deprived him of his Speech some dayes before his death so that he could only say Amen Amen often reiterated Hereupon some scandalous Tongues broached this jeer that he lived like a Bishop and dyed like a Clark and yet let such men know that no dying person can use any one word more expressive Whether it be an invocation of his help in whom all the promises are Amen or whether it be a submission to the Divine providence in all by way of approbation of former or option of future things I will only add and translate his Epitaph transcribed from his Monument A Paulo ad Petrum Pia te Regina vocavit Whom th' Queen from Paul to Peter did remove Cum Petro Paulo Coeli Rex arce locavit Him God with Paul and Peter plac'd above He lyeth buried in the North-side of the Quire of Exeter but his Monument is distanced from the place of his Interment in a North-East Chappel His Death happened Anno Domini 1621. LANCELOT ANDREVVS D. D. was born in this City in Tower street his Father being a Seaman of good repute belonging to Trinity House He was bred Scholar Fellow and Master of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge He was an unimitable Preacher in his way and such Plagiaries who have stolen his Sermons could never steal his Preaching and could make nothing of that whereof he made all things as he desired Pious and pleasant Bishop Felton his Contemporary and Colleague indevoured in vain in his Sermon to assimulate his style and therefore said merrily of himself I had almost marr'd my own natural Trot by endevouring to imitate his artificial Amble But I have spoken largely of this peerlesse Prelate in my Church-History He dyed Anno Dom. 1626. THOMAS DOVE D. D. was born in this City as a Credible person of his nearest Relation hath informed me bred a Tanquam which is a Fellowes Fellow in Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge He afterwards became an eminent Preacher and his Sermons substantial in themselves were advantaged by his comely person and graceful elocution Q. Elizabeth highly affected and Anno 1589. preferred him Dean of Norwich advancing him eleven yeares after to the Bishoprick of Peterborough He departed this life 1630. in the thirtieth year of his Bishoprick on the thirtieth of August who kept a good house whilst he lived and yet raised a Family to Knightly degree JOHN HOWSON D. D. was born in St. Frides Parish in this City bred a Scholar in St. Pauls School whence going to Oxford he became a Student and Canon of Christ-Church and afterwards was consecrated Bishop of Oxford May 9. 1619. being his Birth-day in his Climacterical then entring upon the 63 year of his age His Learned book in what case a Divorce is lawfull with his Sermons against Sacriledge and stating of the Popes supremacy in 4 Sermons injoyned on him by King James to clear his causelesse aspersion of favouring Popery and never since replyed unto by the Romish party have made him famous to all posterity He was afterwards removed to the Bishoprick
of Durham but continued not long therein for he dyed in the 75 year of his Age 6th of February Anno Domini 1631. and was buried in St. Pauls in London JOHN DAVENANT D. D. born in Watling-street was son to John Davenant a Wealthy Citizen whose father was of Davenants lands in Essex When an Infant newly able to go he fell down a high pair of staires and rising up at the bottome smiled without having any harme God and his good Angels keeping him for further service in the Church When a child he would rather own his own frowardnesse than anothers flattery and when soothed up by the servants that not John but some other of his brothers did cry He would rather appear in his own face than wear their disguise returning that it was none of his brothers but John only cryed He was bred first Fellow-Commoner then Fellow then Margaret Profeslor then Master of Queens â—…lledge in Cambridge At a publick Election he gave his negative voice against a near Kinsman and a most excellent Scholar Cosen said he I will satisfie your father that you have worth but not want enough to be one of our Society Returning from the Synod of Dort he was elected Bishop of Sarum 1621. After his Consecration being to perform some personal Service to King James at Newmarket he refused to ride on the Lords Day and came though a Day later to the Court no lesse welcome to the King not only accepting his excuse but also commending his seasonable forbearance Taking his leave of the Colledge and of one John Rolfe an ancient servant thereof he desired him to pray for him And when the other modestly returned that he rather needed his Lordships Prayers Yea John said he and I need thine too being now to enter into a Calling wherein I shall meet with many and great Temptations PÅ•aefuit qui profuit was the Motto written in most of his Books the sense whereof he practised in his Conversation He was humble in himself and the Consequence thereof charitable to others Indeed once invited by Bishop Field and not well pleased with some Roisting Company there he embraced the next opportunity of departure after Dinner And when Bishop Field proferred to light him with a Candle down Stairs My Lord my Lord said he let us lighten others by our unblameable Conversation for which Speech some since have severely censured him how justly I interpose not But let others unrelated unto him write his Character whose Pen cannot be suspected of Flattery which he when living did hate and dead did not need We read of the Patriarch Israel that the time drew nigh that he must dye Must a necessity of it Such a decree attended this Bisâ—…op happy to dye before his Order for a time dyed April 1641. and with a solemn Funeral he was Buried in his own â—…dral Dr. Nicholas now Dean of St. Pauls preaching an excellent Sermonâ—…t â—…t his In terment MATHEVV WREN D. D. was born in this City not far from Cheap-side but descended as appears by his Arms from the worshipful Family of the Wrens in Northumberland He was bred Fellow of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he kept the extraordinary Philosophy Act before King James I say kept it with no lesse praise to himself then pleasure to the King where if men should forget even Dogs would remember his seasonable distinction what the Kings hounds could perform above others by vertue of their prerogative He afterward became an excellent Preacher and two of his Sermons in the University were most remarkable one preached before the Judges on this Text And let Judgement run down like waters and righteousnesse as a mighty stream at what time the draining of the Fens was designed suspected detrimental to the Univerâ—…ity The other when newly returned from attending Prince Charles into Spain on the words of the Psalmist abyssus abyssum invocat one depth calleth another He was afterwards preferred Master of Peterhouse Dean of Windsor Bishop of Norwich and Ely Some in the Long Parliament fell so heavily on him that he was imprisoned in the Tower almost fifteen years and his cause never heard Surely had the imposers been the sufferers hereof they would have cryed it up for a high piece of injustice But as St. Paul had the credit to be brought with intreaties out of Prison by those who sent him thither so this Prelate hath had the honour that the same Parliamentary power though not constituted of the same persons which committed him caused his Inlargement still living 1661. Statesmen Sir THOMAS MORE was Anno Domini 1480 born in Milkstreet London the 〈◊〉 that ever shined in that Via lactea sole Son to Sir John More Knight one of the Justices of the Kings Bench. Some have reported him of mean parentage meerly from a mistake of a modest word in an Epitaph of his own making on his Monument in Chelsey Church Where Nobilis is taken not in the civil but Common Law sense which alloweth none Noble under the degree of Barons Thus men cannot be too wary what they inscribe on Tombs which may prove a Record though not in Law in History to posterity He was bred first in the Family of Arch-bishop Morton then in Canterbury Colledge now taken into Christ Church in Oxford where he profited more in two then many in ten years continuance Thence he removed to an Inn of Chancery called New Inn and from thence to Lincolns Inn where he became a double Reader Then did his worth prefer him to be Judge in the Sheriffe of Londons Court whilst a Pleader in others And although he only chose such causes which appeared just to his Conscience and never took Fee of Widow Orphane or poor person he gained in those days four hundred pounds per annum Being made a Member of the House of Commons he opposed King Henry the Seventh about money for the Marriage of his Daughter Margaret Whereat the King was much discontented when a Courtier told him that a beardlesse Boy beard was never the true Standard of brains had obstructed his desires Which King being as certain but more secret then his son in his revenge made More the mark of his Displeasure who to decline his anger had travelled beyond the Seas had not the Kings going into another World stopped his journey King Henry the Eighth coming to the Crown and desirous to ingratiate himself by preferring popular and deserving persons Knighted Sir Thomas and made him Chancelour of the Dutchy of Lancaster the Kings personal patrimony Finding him faithfull in lesser matters according to the method of the Gospel he made him in effect Ruler of all when Lord Chancelour of England a place wherein he demeaned himself with great integrity and with no less expedition In testimony of the later it is recorded that calling for the next cause it was returned unto him there are no more to be heard all Suits in that Court depending and
placed in the first ranck nearest of all unto the Town and with no less success then valour to the great safety of the whole army beat back and put to flight the Spaniards who in the same day made several sallies out of the Towâ—… Know therefore that We in 〈◊〉 of the premises have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Roper Knight c. Then followeth his Patent wherein King Charles in the third of his raign created him Baron of Bauntree and Viscount 〈◊〉 in Ireland I will only adde from exact intelligence that he was a principal means to break the hearts of Irish Rebels for whereas formerly the English were loaded with their own cloths so that their slipping into Bogs did make them and the slopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein he first being then a Commander put himself into Irish Trouzes and was imitated first by all his Officers then Souldiers so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies He died at 〈◊〉 Rest Anno Dom. 164. and was buried with Anne his wife daughter to Sir Henry 〈◊〉 in Saint Johns Church in Dublin Seamen I behold these Sea men as the Sea it â—…elf and suspect if I launch far therein I sâ—…all see land no more Besides I know there be many laws made against Forestalers and would be loth to fall under that penalty for preventing the pains of some able person a 〈◊〉 of the Trinity 〈◊〉 who may write a just tract thereof Civilians Sir HENRY MARTIN Knight was born in this City where his Father left him forty pounds a year and he used merrily to say that if his Father had left him 〈◊〉 he would never have been a Scholar but lived on his Lands whereas this being though a large encouragement but a scant maintenance he plyed his book for a better livelyhood He was bred a Fellow in New colledge in Oxford and by the advice of Bishop Andrews addressed himself to the Study of the Civil Law By the advice of the said Bishop Master Martin had weekly transmitted unto him from some Proctors at Lambeth the Brief heads of the most Important causes which were to be tried in the high Commission Then with some of his familiar friends in that faculty they privately pleaded those Causes amongst themselves acting in their Chamber what was done in the Court But Mr. Martin making it his work exceeded the rest in amplifying and agravating any fault moving of anger and indignation against the guilt thereof or else in extenuating and excusing it procure pitty obtain pardon or at least prevail for a lighter punishment Some years he spent in this personated pleading to enable himself against he was really called to that Profession Hence it was that afterwards he became so eminent an Advocate in the high Commission that no cause could come amiss to him For he was not to make new armour but only to put it on and buckle it not to invent but apply arguments to his Cliant He was at last Knighted and made Judge of the Prerogative for Probate of Wills and also of the Admiraltry in causes concerning forraign traffick so that as King James said pleasantly He was a mighty Monarch in his Jurisdiction over Land and Sea the Living and dead He died very aged and wealthy Anno Dom. 1642. Physicians RICHARDUS ANGLICUS was certainly a man of Merit being eminently so denominated by Foraigners amongst whom he conversed from his Country and he who had our Nation for his Name cannot have less then London for his Lodging in this our Catalogue of Worthies He is said to have studied first in Oxford then in Paris where he so profited in the faculty of Physick that he is counted by Simphorianus Champerius a stranger to our Nation and therefore free from Flattery one of the most eminent Writers in that Profession Now because he was the first English man whom I find famous in that Calling may the Reader be pleased with a Receipt of the several names of the Books left by him to posterity 1. A Tractate of 〈◊〉 2. Of the Ruâ—…es of Urins 3. Of the Signs of Diseases 4. Of Prognostick Signs 5. Of Letting Bloud 6. toâ—…alen â—…alen 7. Of Feavors 8. A Correction of Alchymy 9. A Mirour of Alchymy 10. Of Physick 11. Repressive 12. Of the Signs of Feavors Leland reporteth that besides these he writ other works which the Envy of time hath denied unto us He flourished about the year of our Lord 1230. JOHN 〈◊〉 was born in this City bred Fellow of Baliol-colledge in Oxford where he contracted familiarity with his Colleague and Mecaenas I. Tiptoft Earl of Worcester He afterwards travelled into Italy and at Ferrara was a constant auditor of Gwarinus an old man and famous Philosopher Hitherto our Phreas made use only of his ears hereafter of his tongue when of Hearer he turned a Teacher and see the stairs whereby he ascended 1. He read Physick at Ferrara concerning Medicinal herbs 2. Then at Florence well esteemed by the Duke thereof 3. Then at Padua beneath Florence in beauty above it in learning an University where he proceeded Doctor of Physick 4. Then at Rome where he was gratious with Pope Paul the second dedicating unto him many books translated out of Greek The Pope rewarded him with the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells dying before his consecration poisoned as is vehemently suspected by some who maligned his merit Heu mihi quod nullis livor medicabilis herbis Solomon himself who wrot of all Simples from the Cedar in Lebanus to the Hysop on the Wall could find no defensative against it which made him cry out But who can stand before envy No wonder therefore if our Phreas though a skilful Botanist found mens malice mortal unto him He died at Rome Anno Domini 1465. and Lelands commendation of him may serve for his Epitaph if but Hic jacet Johannes Phreas be prefixed before it qui primus Anglorum erat qui propulsâ barbarie patriam honesto labore bonis literis restituit ANDREW BORDE Doctor of Physick was I conceive bred in Oxford because I find his book called the Breviary of Health examined by that University He was Physician to King Henry the eighth and was esteemed a great Scholar in that age I am confident his book was the first written of that faculty in English and dedicated to the Colledge of Physicians in London Take a tast out of the beginning of his Dedicatory Epistle Egregious Doctors and Masters of the Eximious and Arcane Science of Physick of your Urbanity exasperate not your selves against me for making this little volume of Physick c. Indeed his book contains plain matter under hard words and was accounted such a Jewel in that age things whilst the first are esteemed the best in all kinds that it was Printed Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum for William Midleton Anno 1548. He died as I collect
five parts which were used in Cathedrals many years after his death the certain date whereof I cannot attain JOHN DOULAND was as I have most cause to believe born in this City sure I am he had his longest life and best livelyhood therein being Servant in the Chappel to Queen Elizabeth and King James He was the rarest Musician that his Age did behold Having travailed beyond the Seas and compounded English with Forreign Skill in that faculty it is questionable whether he excell'd in Vocal or Instrumental Musick A chearful Person he was passing his days in lawful meriment truly answering the Anagram made of him JOHANNES DOULANDUS ANNOS LUDENDO HAUSI Christian the fourth K. of Denmark coming over into England requested him of K. James who unwillingly willing parted with him Many years he lived as I am credibly informed in the Danish Court in great favour and plenty generally imployed to entertain such English Persons of quality as came thither I cannot confidently avouch his death at Denmark but believe it more probably then their assertion who report him returned and dying in England about the year 1615. Benefactors to the Publique JAMES PALMER B. D. was born in this City and bred in Magdalen-colledge in Cambridge The Company of Carpenters in London gave him an exhibition towards his maintenance there or lent it him rather For since his bounty hath repaid them the Principle with plentiful consideration He was afterwards for many years the constant Preacher of Saint Bridgets in Fleetstreet the onely Church preferment he enjoyed I perceive thus craft and cruelty may raise a quick and great but plain frugallity especially if vivacious will advance a better and surer estate Though sequestred in these times what he had formerly gained in his place he hath since bestowed in building and endowing over against the New Chappel in Westminster a fair Almes-house for twelve poor people besides this many and great have his gifts been to Ministers poor widdows and wonder not Reader if they be unknown to me which were unknown to his own left-hand all this he did in his life time O it giveth the best light when one carrieth his Lant-horn before him The surest way that ones Will shall be performed is to see it performed Yea I may say that his poor people in his Almes-house are in some sort provided for not onely from head to foot but also from body to soul he constantly preaching to them twice a week He dyed Anno 1659. Memorable Persons EDMOND DOUBLEDAY Esquire was of a tall and proper person and lived in this City Nor had this large case a little jewell this long body a lazy soul whose activity and valour was adequate to his strength and greatness whereof he gave this eminent testimony When Sir Thomas Knevet was sent November 4. 1605. by King James to search the Cellar beneath the Parliament-house with very few for the more privacy to attend him he took Master Doubleday with him Here they found Gui Faux with his dark-lant-horn in the dead of the night providing for the death of many the next morning He was newly come out of the Divels Closset so I may fitly term the inward room where the powder lay and the train was to be laid into the outward part of the Cellar Faux beginning to bussel Master Doubleday instantly ordered him at his pleasure up with his heels and there with the Traytor lay the Treason flat along the floor by Gods goodness detected defeated Faux vowed and though he was a false Traitor herein I do believe him that had he been in the inner room he would have blown up himself and all the company therein Thus it is pleasant musick to hear disarmed malice threaten when it cannot strike Master Doubleday lived many years after deservedly loved and respected and died about the year of our Lord 1618. The Farewell Seeing the well-being yea being of this City consisteth in the Kings Court and in the Courts of Justice I congratulate the happy return of the one praying for the long continuance of the other yea may the Lawyers in Westminster-hall never again plead in their Armour as they did in the time of Wyats rebellion but in their peaceable Gowns and Legal Formalities Nor doth this Wish onely extend to the Weal of Westminster but all England For no such dearth in a Land as what is caused from a drought of Justice therein For if judgement do not run down as Waters and righteousness as a mighty Stream Injustice like an Ocean will drown all with its inundation NOR FOLK hath the German Ocean on the North and East thereof Suffolk severed by the river Waveny on the South-side Cambridge-shire parted by the river Ouse and a small part of Lincoln shire on the West it extendeth full 50. miles from East to West but from North to South stretcheth not above thirty miles All England may be carved out of Norfolk represented therein not onely to the kind but degree thereof Here are Fens and Heaths and Light and Deep and Sand and Clay-ground and Meddows and Pasture and Arable and Woody and generally woodless land so gratefull is this Shire with the variety thereof Thus as in many men though perchance this or that part may justly be cavelled at yet all put together complete a proper person so Norfolk collectively taken hath a sufficient result of pleasure and profit that being supplied in one part which is defective in another This County hath the most Churches of any in England six hundred and sixty and though the poorest Livings yet by some occult quallity of their good husbandry and Gods blessing thereon the richest Clergy-men Nor can there be given a greater demonstration of the wealth and populousness of this County than that in the late Act for an Assessment upon England at the rate of sixty thousand pounds by the Month for three Months Norfolk with the City of Norwich is rated at three thousand two hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence the highest proportion of any Shire in England And though Norfolk hath little cause to please and less to pride it self in so dear purchased pre-eminence yet it cannot but account it a credit to see it self not undervalued Natural Commodities It shareth plentifully in all English Commodities and aboundeth with the best and most Rabbits These are an Army of natural Pioners whence men have learned cuniculos agere the Art of undermining They thrive best on barren ground and grow fattest in the hardest frosts Their flesh is fine and wholesome If Scotish-men tax our language as improper and smile at our wing of a Rabbit let us laugh at their shoulder of a Capon Their skins were formerly much used when furs were in fashion till of late our Citizens of Romans are turned Grecians have laid down their grave gowns and took up their light cloaks men generally disliking all habits though emblemes of honour if also badges of age Their rich
Esquire of Addington by Isabel his wife sister and at last sole heir to Henry Green of Drayton Esquire of whom formerly This Henry was afterwards Knighted and dying without Issue-male Elizabeth his daughter and co heir was married to John first Lord Mordant to whom she brought Draiton-house in this County and other fair lands as the partage of her portion NICHOLAS VAUX Mil. He was a jolly Gentleman both for Camp and Court a great Reveller good as well in a March as a Masque being Governour of Guines in Picardie whom King Hen. the eight for his Loyalty and Valour Created Baron of Harouden in this County Ancestor to Edward Lord Vaux now living This Sir Nicholas when young was the greatest Gallant of the English-Court no Knight at the marriage of Prince Arthur appearing in so costly an equipage when he wore a gown of purple velvet pight with pieces of gold so thick and massive that it was valued besides the silk and furs at a thousand pounds and the next day wore a Colar of S. S. which weighed as Goldsmiths reported eight hundred pounds of nobles Some will wonder that Empson and Dudley the Royal Promoters then in prime did not catch him by the Collar or pick an hole in his Gown upon the breach of some rusty penal sumptuary Statute the rather because lately the Earl of Oxford was heavily fined for supernumerous attendance But know that King Henry could better bear with 〈◊〉 then greatness in his Subjects especially when such expence cost â—…imself nothing and conduced much to the solemnity of his Sons Nuptials Besides such plate as wrought employed Artizans as massive retain'd its intrinsecal value with little loss either of the owners or Common-wealth HENRY the Eight 1 THOMAS PAR Mil. His former residence was at Kendal-Castle in Westmerland whence he removed into this Country having married Maud one of the daughters and co-heirs of Sir Thomas Green of Green-Norton He was father to Queen Katharine Par which rendereth a probability of her nativity in this County and to William Marquiss of Northampton of whom hereafter 15 WILLIAM FITZ-WILLIAMS Sen. Mil. This must be the person of whom I read this memorable passage in Stows Survey of London Sir William Fitz-Williams the elder being a Merchant-Taylor and servant sometime to Cardinal Wolsey was chosen Alderman of Bread-street-Ward in London Anno 1506. Going afterward to dwell at Milton in Northamptonshire in the fall of the Cardinal his former Master he gave him kind entertainment there at his house in the Country For which deed being called before the King and demanded how he durst entertain so great an Enemy to the State his Answer was that he had not contemptuously or wilfully done it but onely because he had been his Master and partly the means of his greatest fortunes The King was so well pleased with his Answer that saying himself had few such servants immediately Knighted him and afterwards made him a Privy Counsellour But we have formerly spoken of the benefactions of this worthy Knight in the County of Essex whereof he was Sheriffe in the sixth of King Henry the eight 17 WILLIAM PAR Mil. I have cause to be confident that this was he who being Uncle and Lord Chamberlain to Queen Katharine Par was afterwards by King Henry the eight Created Baron Par of Horton Left two daughters onely married into the Families of Tressame and Lane The Reader is requested to distinguish him from his Name-sake Nephew Sheriffe in the 25. of this Kings reign of whom hereafter 21 JOHN CLARKE Mil. I find there was one Sir John Clarke Knight who in the fifth of Henry the eight at the Siege of Terrowane took prisoner Lewis de Orleans Duke of Longevile and Marquiss of Rotueline This Sir John bare for his paternal Coat Argent on a Bend Gules three Swans proper between as many Pellets But afterwards in memory of his service aforesaid by special command from the King his Coat armour was rewarded with a Canton Sinister Azure and thereupon a Demi-ramme mounting Argent armed Or between two Flowers de lices in Chief of the last over all a Batune dexter-ways Argent as being the Arms of the Duke his prisoner and by Martial-law belonging to him He lieth buried in the next County viz. in the Church of Tame in Oxfordshire where his Coat and cause thereof is expressed on his Monument If this be not the same with Sir John Clarke our Sheriffe I am utterly at a loss and desire some others courteous direction All I will adde is this If any demand why this Knight did onely give a parcel and not the entire Arms of the Duke his prisoner a learned Antiquary returns this satisfactory answer That he who â—…aketh a Christian Captive is to give but part of his Arms to mind him of charitable moderation in using his success intimating withall that one taking a Pagan prisoner may justifie the bearing of his whole Coat by the laws of Armory I must not conceal that I have read in a most excellent Manuscript viz. the View of Staffordshire made by Sampson Erderswicke Esquire That one William Stamford in that County had good land given him therein for taking the Duke of Longevile prisoner August the 16. in the fifth of King Henry the eight History will not allow two Dukes of Longevile Captives and yet I have a belief for them both that Sir John Clarke and William Stamford were causae sociae of his Captivity and the King remunerated them both the former with an addition of honour the later with an accession of Estate 23 WILLIAM SPENCER Miles DAVID SISILL Arm. 24 DAVID CECILL Arm. Sir William Spencer dying it seems in his Sherivalty David Sissill supplied the remainder of that and was Sheriffe the next year This David had three times been Alderman of Stamford part whereof called Saint Martins is in this County viz. 1504. 1515. and 1526. and now twice Sheriffe of the County which proves him a person both of Birth Brains and Estate seeing in that age in this County so plentiful of capable persons none were advanced to that office except Esquires at least of much merrit The different spelling of his name is easily answered the one being according to his extraction of the Sitsilts of Alterynnis in Herefordshire the other according to the vulgar pronunciation All I will adde is this that his Grand-child William Cecil afterwards Baron of Burghley and Lord Treasurer of England being born Anno 1521. was just ten years of age in the Sherivalty of this David his Grand-father 25 WILLIAM PAR Mil. He was son to Sir Thomas Par of whom before Ten years after viz. in the 35. year of his reign King Henry the eight having newly married his Sister Queen Katharine Par made him Lord Par of Kendall and Earl of Essex in right of Anne Bourcher his wife King Edward the sixth Created him Marquiss of Northampton Under Queen Mary
saved his lands though heavily fined and life though long imprisoned The King was highly displeased at him and vowed he should never sit on the Bench any more And here I hope it will not trespass on the grave character of this Judge to insert a modern and pleasant passage being privy my self to the truth thereof A Lady would traverse a suit of Law against the will of her husband who was contented to buy his quiet by giving her her will therein though otherwise perswaded in his judgment the cause wold go against her This Lady dwelling in the Shire-town invited the judge to dinner and though thrifty enough of her self treated him with sâ—…mptuous entertainment Dinner being done and the cause being called the judge clearly gave it against her And when in passion she vowed never to invite any Judge again Nay Wife said he vow never to invite a just Judge any more Well King Edward was so vexed that Sir Iohn Markham was outed of his Chief-justice-ship and lived privately but plentifully the remainder of his life having fair lands by Margaret his wife daughter and co-heir of Sir Simon Leke of Cotham in this County besides the Estate acquired by his Practice and paternal Inheritance Seamen EDWARD FENTON Brother to Sir Jeffrey Fenton of whom hereafter was born in this County whose nature inclined him wholly to Sea-service and disdaining to go in a trodden path he was ambitious to discover unknown passages His Atchievements in this nature are related at large in Mr. Hackluit and excellently contracted in an Epitaph on his Monument in Depthford Church in Kent erected by the Right Honourable Roger Earl of Corke who married his Brothers daughter Memoriae perenni Edwardi Fenton Reginae Elizabethae olim pro corpore Armigeri Jano O-Neal ac post eum Comite Desmoniae in Hibernia turbantibus fortissimi Taxiarchi qui post lustratum improbo ausu Septentrionalis Plagae Apochryphum mare excussas variis peregrinationibus inertis Naturae latebras Anno 1588. in celebri contra Hispanos Naumachia meruit Navis Praetoriae Navarchus Obiit Anno Domini 1603. Some dayes after the death of Queen Elizabeth Observe by the way how God set up a generation of military men both by Sea and Land which began and expired with the Reign of Queen Elizabeih like a suit of clothes made for her and worn out with her For Providence designing a peaceable Prince to succeed her in whose time martial men would be rendred useless so ordered the matter that they all almost attended their Mistress before or after within some short distance unto her grave Writers WILLIAM MANSFEILD named no doubt from and born at that noted Market Town in this County was bred a Dominican and for his skill in Logicks Ethicks Physicks and Metaphysicks in his Age highly applauded And because some prize a Dram of Forraign before a pound of Home-bred praise know that Leander Bononiensis though mistaking his Name Massettus giveth him the Appellation of Inclytus Theologiâ—… Professor He defended Thomas Aquinas against Henricus Gandavensis though both of them were dead long before and got great Credit thereby Bale who is not usually so civil in his expressions saith that he did strow branches of Palms before Christs Asse which if so was I assure you no bad employment He flourished Anno Dom. 1320. WILLIAM NOTTINGHAM was first Prebendary then Chanter of York bred an Augustinian and fourteen years the Provinciall of his Order Resigning which place he went on some great employment to Rome and returning thence by Genoa fell sick and recovered of the Plague being therein a Monument of Divine Mercy to prove that disease though in it self Mortale not alwayes Mortiferum Amongst the many Books he wrote his Concordance on the Evangelists was most remarkable which I behold as a Leading-piece in that kind though since it hath met with many to follow it A worthy work to shew the Harmony betwixt those four Writers though it hath met with many to decry the design being accounted by Some Impossible Others Unnecessary As if there were Contradictions herein past reconciling whose opinion cannot be reconciled with Piety seeing the four Gospels are Indited by one and the same Spirit of Unity and Verity of Truth and Concord whilst in two sentences really contrary one must be false of necessity As if it were nothing but the reconciling of those who never fell out Whereas indeed there are many seeming oppositions therein to raise the reputation thereof Intellecta ab omnibus sunt neglecta a plurimis and some necessary difficulty becomes Scripture to quicken our prayers pains and patience to understand it Bale giveth him this Lukewarme call it hot because coming from his mouth commendation non omnino impius in voluminibus quae composuit He dyed and was buryed at Lecester Anno Dom. 1336. ROBERT WORSOP was born saith Bale in the County mistaken for the Diâ—…cese of York seeing Worsop is notoriously known to be in Nottingham-shire He was bred an Augustinian in the convent of Tick-Hill not far from Doncaster where he wrote many Books the one called the Entrance of the Sentences Bale saith that at last he was made a Bishop not naming his Diocese and no such Prelate appearing in our English Catalogue it rendereth it suspicious that either he was some Suffragan or some Titulary Bishop in Greece He dyed and was buryed at Tick Hill about the year 1360. Since the Reformation Sir JEFFREY FENTON Knight born in this County was for twenty seven years Privy-Counsellour in Ireland to Queen Elizabeth and King James He translated the History of Francis Guicciardine out of Italian into English and Dedicated it to Queen Elizabeth he deceased at Dublin October 19. 1608. and lyeth buryed in St. Patricks Church under the same Tombe with his Father-in Law Dr. Robert Weston sometimes Chancellour of Ireland JOHN PLOUGH was born in this County a pious and learned Minister of the Word who for his conscience fled over into Basil in the Reign of Queen Mary It happened that a Book came over into the hands of the English Exiles written against the Marriage of Ministers by one Miles Hoggard a silly Hosier in London but highly opinioned of his learning It was debated amongst the English whether this Book should be passed over with neglect or answered And here the Reader is requested to pardon this digression as proper enough for my profession Solomon hath two Proverbs the one immediately succeeding yet seemingly crossing the other Answer not a fool according to his folly lest thou also be like â—…nto him Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit Some will have the first precept given to Magistrates who are not to make their Authoitry cheap by ingaging against fools and the later to belong to all Christians O ther 's distinguish that an answer according to his folly may be twofold by way of
minima Indeed it is but the Pestel of a Lark which is better than a quarter of some bigger bird having the most cleanly profit in it No place so fair for the Rider being more fruitful for the Abider therein Banâ—…shing the fable of King Rott and their fond conceit who will have Rutland so called from Roet the French word for a Wheel from the rotundity thereof being in form almost exactly orbicular it is so termed quasi Red-land for as if Nature kept a Dye-vat herein a reddish tincture discoloureth the earth stones yea the very flieces of the sheep feeding therein If the Rabbins observation be true who distinguish betwixt Arets the general element of the earth and Adamah red ground from which Adam was taken and named making the later the former refined Rutlands soil on the same reason may lay claim to more than ordinary purity and perfection Buildings Burgley on the Hill belonged formerly to the Lords Harrington but since so beautified with buildings by the Duke of Buckingham that it was inferiour to few for the House superiour to all for the Stable where horses if their pabulum so plenty as their stabulum stately were the best accommodated in England But alas what saith Menedemus to Chremas in the Comedy Filium unicum adolescentulum habeo Ah quid dixi habere me immo habui so may Rutland say I have yea I had one most magnificent house this Burgley being since demolished in our Civil war so just was the Poets ancient Invective 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mars Mars bane of men slaughter-stain'd spoiler of houses But when we have first sufficiently bemoned the loss of so many worthy men in our late war if then we have still any sorrow left and tears to spare we will spend them in lamenting the razing and ruining of so many stately structures Wonders How it will appear to the Reader I know not but it is wonderful in my apprehension that this County so pleasant so fruitful almost in the middle of England had not one absolute or entire Abby therein producing onely two small appurtenances of inconsiderable value to Convents in other Counties viz. Okehame under the custody of the Priory of St. Anne by Coventry founded by William Dalby for two Chaplains and twelve poor receiving in all one and twenty pounds per annum Brook a Cell to Killingworth founded by Walkeline de Ferrers Baron of Okeham for black Canons valued at the dissolution at fourty three pounds thirteen shillings and four pence The like cannot be parallell'd in England chuse so great a parcel of good ground where you please Shew me so fair a bunch of sweet grapes which had no more flies to suck them Nor can I conjecture any competent cause thereof except because Edward the Confessor by his Will gave all Rutland to Westminster Church which though rescinded by King William the Conqueror yet other Convents perchance might be scrupulous to accept what once belonged to another Foundation Proverbs Rutland Raddleman I meet in an Author with this blazon as he termes it of Rutland-shire though I can scarcely recover the meaning thereof Rad here is the same with red onely more broadly pronounced as Radcliffe de rubro clivo Redcliffe Raddleman then is a Reddleman a Trade and that a poor one onely in this County whence men bring on their backs a pack of red stone or Oker which they sell to their neighbouring Countries for the marking of sheep well nigh as â—…scernable and far less hurtful to the wooll as Pitch-brands made on their flieces Saints St. Tibba Because this County is Princeless I mean affords no Royal Nativities we begin with Saints and here almost we are at a loss finding but one worshipped therein and probably a Native thereof But seriously peruse I pray the words of our Author speaking of Rihall a Village in this County VVhere when superstition had so bewitched our Anchestours that the multitude of their pety Saints had well neere taken quite away the true God one Tibba a pety Saint or Goddesse reputed to be the tutelar patronesse of Hawking was of Fowlers and Falconers worshipped as a second Diana This Saint of Falconers doth stive so high into the air that my Industry cannot flye home after the same so as to give a good account thereof to the Reader All that I can retrive of her is digested into these following particulars 1. She was a Female whose sex dubious in the English is cleared in the Latine Cambden Tibba minorum gentium Sancta 2. Though gentium may import something of Heathenism Sancta carries it cleer for Christianity that she was no Pagan Deity amongst the Britons who were not our Ancestors but Predecessors but a Popish she-Saint amongst the Saxons 3. She could not be St. Ebba a Virgin Saint of whom formerly in Northumberland whom the Country-people nick-name Tabbs for St. Ebbs. 4. My best inquiry making use of mine own and friends industry perusing Authors proper to this purpose cannot meet with this Tibb with all our industry But I will trouble my self and the Reader no longer with this Saint which if she will not be found even for me let her be lost onely observe after that superstition had appointed Saints to all Vocations St. Luke to Painters St. Crispin to Shoomakers c. she then began to appoint Patrons to Recreations and surely Falconers generally according to the Popish principles if any need a Saint both to protect them in their despeâ—…are Riding and pray for a pardon for their profane oaths in their passions A Post-script 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at last we have found it She was no Pagan Deity but a Saxon Saint as plainly appeareth because the passage concerning her is commanded to be expung'd out of Cambden by the Index expurgatorius bearing a Pique thereat as grating against their superstitious practice The same no doubt with Tibba Virgin and Anchoress who living at Dormundcaster dyed with the reputation of holiness about the year 660. However Reader I am not ashamed to suffer my former doubts and disquisitions still to stand though since arrived at better information Benefactors to the Publick WILLIAM BROWNE Esq twice Alderman of Stamford Merchant of the Staple was as I am credibly informed extracted from the ancient Family of Brownes of Tâ—…llThorp in this County He built on his own proper cost the beautiful Steeple with a great part of the Church of All-Saints in Stamford and lyeth therein with his wife buried in a Chappel proper to his Family He also erected Anno 1493. the old Bead-house in that Town for a Warden Confrater twelve poor old men with a Nurse-woman to attend them To this he gave the Manor of Swayfeld seven miles from Stamford worth four hundred pounds per annum besides divers Lands and Tenements elsewhere I am loth to insert and loth to omit what followeth in my Author viz. That the pious and liberal gift is
of their utter failing Medicinal Waters BATH is well known all England and Europe over far more useful and wholesome though not so stately as Dioclesian his Bath in Rome the fairest amongst 856 in that City made onely for pleasure and delicacy beautified with an infinite of Marble Pillars not for support but ostentation so that Salmuth saith fourteen thousand men were imployed for some years in building thereof Our Baths-waters consist of 1 Bitumen which hath the predominancy sovereign to discuss glutinate dissolve open obstructions c. 2 Niter which dilateth the Bitumen making the solution the better and water the clearer It clenseth and purgeth both by Stool and â—…rine cutteth and dissolveth gross Humours 3 Sulphur In regard whereof they dry resolve mollifie attract and are good for Uterine effects proceeding from cold and windy Humours But how thesâ—… Waters come by their great heat is rather controverted than concluded amongst the Learned Some impute it to Wind or Airy Exhalations included in the Bowels of the Earth which by their agitation and attrition upon Rocks and narrow passages gather Heat and impart it to the Waters Others ascribe it to the heat of the Sun whose Beams piercing through the Pores of the Earth warm the Waters and therefore anciently were called Aquae Solis both because dedicated to and made by the Sun Others attribute it to quick-lime which we see doth readily heat any water cast upon it and kindleth any combustible substance put therein Others referre it to a Subterranean fire kindled in the bowels of the Earth and actually burning upon Sulpher and Bitumen Others impute the heat which is not destructive but generative joyned with moisture to the fermentation of several minerals It is the safer to relate all than reject any of these Opinions each having both their Opposers and Defenders They are used also inwardly in Broths Beere Juleps c. with good effect And although some mislike it because they will not mixe Medicaments with Aliments yet such practice beginneth to prevail The worst I wish these waters is that they were handsomly roofed over as the most eminent Bathes in Christendome are which besides that it would procure great benefit to weak persons would gain more respect hither in Winter Time or more early in the Spring or more late in the Fall The Right Honourable James Earle of Marleborough undertook to cover the Crosse-Bath at his own charge and may others follow his resolution it being but fit that where God hath freely given the Jewel Men bestow a Case upon it Proverbs VVhere should I be bore else thâ—…n in Tonton Deane This is a parcel of Ground round about Tonton very pleasant and populous as conteining many Parishes and so fruitful to use their Phrase with the Zun and Zoil alone that it needs no manuring at all The Peasantry therein are as Rude as Rich and so highly conceited of their good Country God make them worthy thereof that they conceive it a disparagement to be born in any other place as if it were eminently all England The Beggars of Bath Many in that place some natives there others repairing thither from all parts of the Land the Poor for Alms the pained for ease Whither should Fowl flock in an hard frost but to the Barn-door Here all the two seasons the general confluence of Gentry Indeed Laws are daily made to restrain Beggars and daily broke by the connivence of those who make them it being impossible when the hungry Belly barks and bowels sound to keep the tongue silent And although Oil of whip be the proper plaister for the cramp of lazinesse yet some pity is due to impotent persons In a word seeing there is the Lazars-Bath in this City I doubt not but many a good Lazarus the true object of Charity may beg therein Saints DUNSTAN was born in the Town of Glassenbury in this County He afterwards was Abbot thereof Bishop of London VVorcester Archbishop of Canterbury and at last for his promoting of Monkery reputed a Saint I can add nothing to but must subtract something from what I have written of him in my Church History True it is he was the first Abbot of England not in time but in honour Glassenbury being the Proto-Abbaty then and many years after till Pope Adrian advanced St. Albans above it But whereas it followeth in my Book That the title of Abbot till his time was unknown in England I admire by what casualty it crept in confess it a foul mistake and desire the Reader with his Pen to delete it More I have not to say of Dunstan save that he died Anno Dom. 988. and his skill in Smithery was so great that the Gold-smiths in London are incorporated by the Name of the Company of St. Dunstans Martyrs JONH HOOPER was born in this County bred first in Oxford then beyond the Seas A great Scholar and Linguist but suffering under the notion of a proud man onely in their Judgments who were un-acquainted with him Returning in the reign of king Edward the Sixth he was elected Bishop of Glocester but for a time scrupuled the acceptance thereof on a double account First because he refused to take an Oath tendered unto him This Oath I conceived to have been the Oath of Canonical obedience but since owing my information to my Worthy Friend the Learned Dr. John Hacket I confess it the Oath of Supremacy which Hooper refused not out of lack of Loyalty but store of Conscience For the Oath of Supremacy as then modelled was more than the Oath of Supremacy injoyning the receivers thereof conformity to the Kings commands in what alterations soever he should afterwards make in Religion Which implicite and unlimited obedience Learned Casuists allow onely due to God himself Besides the Oath concluded with So help me God and all his Angels and Saints So that Hooper had just cause to scruple the Oath and was the occasion of the future reforming whilst the King dispensed with his present taking thereof The second thing he boggled at was the wearing of some Episcopal habiliments but at last it seemeth consented thereunto and was Consecrated Bishop of Glocester His adversaries will say that the refusing of One is the way to get Two Bishopricks seeing afterward he held Worcester in Commendam therewith But be it known that as our Hooper had double dignity he had treble diligence painfully preaching Gods Word piously living as he preach'd and patiently dying as he liv'd being martyred at Glocester Anno 155 He was the onely native of this Shire suffering for the testimony of the Truth and on this account we may honour the memory of Gilbert Bourn Bishop of Bath and Wells in the reign of Queen Mary who persecuted no Protestants in his Diocese to Death seeing it cannot be proved that one Lush was ever burnt though by him condemned I mention Bishop Bourn here the more willingly because I can no where recover the certainty
else quite forgotten any other vocation Hard it was for peace to feed all the Idle mouthes which a former war did breed being too proud to begge too lazy to labour Those infected the Highwayes with their Felonies some presuming on their multitudes as the Robbers on the Northern Rode whose knot otherwise not to be untyed Sr. John cut asunder with the Sword of Justice He possessed King James how the frequent granting of pardons was prejudicial to Justice rendring the Judges to the contempt of insolent Malesactors which made his Majesty more sparing afterward in that kind In a word the deserved death of some scores preserved the lives and livelyhoods of more thousands Travellers owing their safety to this Judges severity many years after his death which happened Anno Dom. 16. Souldiers JOHN COURCY Baron of Stoke-Courcy in this County was the first Englishman who invaded and subdued Ulster in Ireland therefore deservedly created Earl thereof He was afterward surprised by Hugh Lacy corrival for his Title sent over into England and imprisoned by King John in the Tower of London A French-Castle being in controverfie was to have the Title thereof tried by Combate the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy being a lean lank body with staring eyes prisoners with the wildnesse of their looks revenge the closenesse of their bodies is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because enfcebled with long durance a large bill of fare was allowed him to recruit his strength The Monsieur hearing how much he had eat and drank and guessing his courage by his stomack oâ—… rather stomack by his appetite took him for a Canibal who would devoure him at the last course and so he declined the Combate Afterwards the two Kings desirous to see some proof of Courcy's strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him â—…ourcy looking about him 〈◊〉 grimme countenance as if he intended to cut with his eyes as well as with his arms sundered the Helmet at one blow into two pieces striking the Sword so deep into the wood that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly Had I said he failed of my design I would have killed the Kings and all in the place words well-spoken because well taken all persons present being then highly in good humour Hence it is that the Lord Courcy Baron of Ringrom second Baron in Ireland claim a priviledge whether by Patent or Prescription Charter or Custome I know not after their first obeisance to be covered in the Kings presence if processe of time had not antiquated the practice His devotion was equal to his valour being a great Founder and endower of Religious Houses In one thing he fouly failed turning the Church of the Holy Trinity in Down into the Church of St. Patrick for which as the Story saith he was condemned never to return into Ireland though attempting it fifteen several times but repell'd with foul weather He afterwards went over and died in France about the year 1210. MATTHEW GOURNAY was born at Stoke-under-Hamden in this County where his Family had long flourished since the Conquest and there built both a Castle and a Colledge But our Matthew was the honour of the House renowned under the reign of King Edward the Third having fought in seven several signal set Battails viz. 1 At the siege of d'Algizer against the Sarazens 2 At the Battail of Benemazin against the same 3 Sluce a Sea-fight against the French 4 Cressy a Land-fight-against the same 5 Ingen Pitch'd fights against the French 6 Poictiers Pitch'd fights against the French 7 Nazaran under the Black Prince in Spain His Armour was beheld by Martial Men with much civil veneration with whom his faithful Buckler was a relique of esteem But it added to the wonder that our Matthew who did lie and watch so long on the bed of honour should die in the bed of peace aged ninety and six years about the beginning of King Richard the Second He lieth buried under a fair Monument in the Church of Stoke aforesaid whose Epitaph legible in the last age is since I suspect defaced Sea-men Sir AMIAS PRESTON Knight was descended of an Ancient Family who have an Habitationat Cricket nigh Creukern in this County He was a Valiant Souldier and Active Sea-man witnesse in 88. when he seized on the Admiral of the Galiasses wherein Hugh de Moncada the Governour making resistance with most of his Men were burnt or killed and Mr. Preston as yet not Knighted shared in a vast Treasure of Gold taken therein Afterwards Anno 1595 he performed a victorious Voyage to the West-Indies wherin he took by assault the I le of Puerto Santo invaded the I le of Coche surprised the Fort and Town of Coro sacked the stately City of St. Jago put the Town of Cumana to ransome entred Jamaica with little loss some profit and more honour safely returned within the space of six months to Milford Haven in Wales I have been informed from excellent hands that on some dis-tast he sent a Challenge to Sr. Walter Raleigh which Sr. Walter declined without any abatement to his Valour wherein he had abundantly satisfied all possibility of suspicion and great advancement of his Judgement For having a fair and fixed Estate with Wife and Children being a Privy Counsellor and Lord Warden of the Stannereys he thought it an uneven lâ—…y to stake himself against Sr. Amias a private and as I take it a single person though of good birth and courage yet of no considerable Estate This also is consonant to what he hath written so judiciously about Duels condemning those for ill Honours where the Hangman gives the Garland However these two Knights were afterwards reconciled and Sr. Amias as I collect died about the beginning of the reign of King James Learned Writers GILDAS sirnamed the WISE was born in the City of Bath and therefore it is that he is called Badonicus He was eight years junior to another Gildas called Albanius whose Nativity I cannot clear to belong to our Brittain He was also otherwise sur-stiled Querulus because the little we have of his Writing is only a Complaint Yet was he none of those whom the Apostle condemneth These are Murmurâ—…s Complainers c. taxing only such who either were impious against GOD or uncharitable against men complaining of them either without cause or without measure whilst our Gildas only inveigheth against the sins and bemoaneth the sufferings of that wicked and woful age wherein he lived calling the Clergy Montes Malitiae the Brittons generally Atramentum seculi He wrote many Books though we have none of them extant at this day some few fragments excepted inserted amongst the Manuscript Canons but his aforesaid History This makes me more to wonder that so Learned a Critick as Dr. Gerrard 〈◊〉 should attribute the Comedy of Aulularia
Idem  26 Philippus de Crofts  27 Radul de Kaymes for 3 ye   30 Rob. de Savage for 4 years   34 Nic. de Wancy for 3 years   37   38 Will. Mich. de Vere   39   40 Galfr. de Grues   41 Idem   42 Gerard. de Cuncton   43 David de Jarpennil  Anno Anno Anno  44 Johannes de Wanton   45 Idem  46 Rogerus de VVikes for 6 years 46 VVillielmus de Lazouch for 3 years 46 Robertus Agwilon for 6 years  52 Rogerus de Loges for 3 years  55 Matth. de Hasting  55 Bartholomeus de Hasting 56 Idem  56 Idem  EDW. I.   Anno   1 Matth. de Hastings   2 Idem   3 VVillielmus de Herne   4 Johannes VVanton for 3 years   7 Emerindus de Cancellis   8 Idem   9 Nicholaus de Gras for 5 years   14 Richardus de Pevensey   15 Idem   16 VVill. de Pageham for 5 years  17 Rogerus de Lukenor for 4 years    21 Robertus de Gla morgan for 6 years   27 Joh. Albel for 4 years   31 VValter de Gedding   32 Idem   33 Robertus de le Knole ' for 3 years  Sheriffs of Surrey and Sussex EDW. II. Anno 1 Walter de Gedding Anno 2 VVillielmus de Henle Robertus de Stangrave Anno 3 VVillielmus de Henle Robertus de Stangrave Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 VVillielmus de Henle Anno 6 VVillielmus de Henle VVillielmus de Mere Anno 7 Petrus de Vienne Anno 8 Idem Anno 9 VVillielmus Merre Anno 10 VValterus le Gras Anno 11 VValterus le Gras Petrus de VVorldham Anno 12 Petrus de VVorldham Henricus Husey Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Henricus Husey Anno 15 Nicholaus Gentil Anno 16 Anno 17 Petrus de VVorldham Andream Medested for 3 years EDW. III. Anno 1 Nicholaus Gentil Anno 2 Nicholaus Gentil Robertus de Stangrave for 3 years Anno 5 Johannes Dabnam Anno 6 VVillielmus Vaughan Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Willielmus Vaughan Joh. Dabnam for 3 years Anno 11 VVillielmus Vaughan Anno 12 Idem Anno 13 Godfridus de Hunston Anno 14 Wilielmus de Northo Godfridus de Henston Anno 15 Hugo de Bowcy Willielmus de Northo Anno 16 Andreas Peverel Hugo de Bowcy Anno 17 Idem Anno 18 VVilliemus de Northo Anno 19 Regind de Forester for 3 years Anno 22 Rogerus Daber Anno 23 Tho. Hoo for 3 years Anno 26 Richardus de St. Oweyn Anno 27 Idem Anno 28 Simon de Codington Anno 29 Rogerus de Lukenor Anno 30 VVill. Northo Anno 31 Tho. de Hoo for 3 years Anno 34 Richardus de Hurst for 3 years 37 Simon de Codington 38 Ranul Thurnburn 39. Johannes Wateys 40 Johannes Weyvile 41 Andreas Sackvile 42 â—…dem 43 Ranul Thurnburn 44 Idem 45 VVillielmus Neidegate 46 Roger. Dalingrugg 47 Nicholaus Wilcomb 48 Robertus de Loxele 49 Robertus Atte Hele 50 Johannes St. Clere 51 Johannes de Melburn The Sheriffs of these two Counties before King Edward the Second are in the Records so involved complicated perplexed that it is a hard taske to untangle them and assign with the Sheriffs did severally which joyntly belong unto them Had the like difficulty presented it self in other united Shires I suspect it would have deterred me from ever meddling with their Catalogue Nor will we warrant that we have done all right in so dare a subject but submit our best endeavours to the censure and correction of the more Judicious HENRY the II. 7 Sussex HILARIUS Episcopus Chichester The King had just cause to confide in his loyalty and commit the Shire to his care For although I behold him as a French-man by birth yet great alwayes was his loyalty to the King whereof afterwards he gave a signal testimony For whereas all other Bishops assembled at the Council of Clarendon only assented to the Kings propositions with this limitation Salvo ordine suo this Hilarie absolutely and simply subscribed the same The time of his Consecration as also of his death is very uncertain EDWARD the Third 1 ANDREAS SACKVIL The Family of the Sackvils is as Ancient as any in England taking their Name from Sackvil some will have it Sicca Villa a Town and their Possession in Normandy Before this time we meet with many Eminent Persons of their Name and Ancestry 1 Sir Robert Sackvil Knight younger son of Herbrann de Sackvil was fixed in England and gave the Mannor of Wickham in Suffolk to the Abbey of St. John de Baptist in Colchester about the reign of William Rufus 2 Sir John de Sackvil his son is by Matthew Paris ranked amongst those Persons of Prime Quality who in the reign of King John were Assistants to the five and twenty Peers appointed to see the Liberties of Charta Magna performed 3 Richard de Sackvil as I have cause to beleive his son was one of such Quality that I find Hubertus de Anesty to hold two Fields in Anesty and Little Hormeed of the Honor of Richard Sackvil Now the word Honor since appropriated to Princes Palaces was in that Age attributed to none but the Patrimony of principal Barons 4 Sir Jordan Sackvil Grand-child to the former was taken prisoner at the Battle of Emesham in the Age of King Henry the Third for siding with the Barons against him 5 Andrew his son and heir being under Age at his Fathers death and the Kings Ward was imprisoned in the Castle of Dover Anno the third of Edward the First and afterwards by the special command of the said King did marry Ermyntude an I conceive a Spanish Honourable Lady of the Houshold of Queen Elianor Whereby he gained the Kings favour and the greater part of his formerly forfeited Inheritance I behold this Andrew Sackvil the Sheriff as his son Ancestor to the Truly Honourable Richard now Earl of Dorset Sheriffs Name Place Armes RICH. II.   Anno   1 Will. Percy  Or a Lion Rampant Azure 2 Edw. Fitz-Herbert  Gules 3 Lions Rampant Or. 3 Ioh. de Hadresham   4 Nich. Sleyfeld   5 Will. Percy ut prius  6 Will. Weston  Ermin on a Chief Azu 5 Bezants 7 Will. Waleys   8 Robertus Nutborne   9 Richardus Hurst   10 Thomae Hardin   11 Idem   12 Edw. de â—…t Johan  Argent on a Chief Gules 2 Mullets Or. 13 Rob. Atte-Mulle   14 Rob. de Echingham   15 Nicholaus Carew Beddingtâ—… Surrey Or 3 Lions Passant-gardant Sable armed and langued Gules 16 Thomae Jardin  Â
bestowed should be pleased to provide a fair and firm Fabrick to receive it but now is reposited Bodly within a 〈◊〉 in the matchless Library of Oxford Romish Exil'd Writers GREGORY MARTINE was born at Macfield in this County bred contemporary with Campian Fellow of Saint Johns-colledge in Oxford He was chosen by Thomas Duke of Northfolk to be Tutor to his Son Philip Earl of Arundell and well discharged his trust therein Going afterwards beyond the Seas and living some time in Doway and Rome he fixed at last in the English-colledge at Rhemes where he was Professor of Divinity As he was Papall both in his Christian and Surname so was he deeply dyed with that Religion writing many Books in the defence thereof and one most remarkable intituled A Detection of the corruptions in the English Bible Athaliah did craftily to cry out first Treason Treason when she was the greatest Traitor her self and this Martine conscious of the many and foul corruptions in his own Rhemish translation politickly complained of the Faults in our English Bible He dâ—…ed the 28. of October 1582. and lyeth buried in the Parish Church of St. Stephens in Rhemes THOMAS STAPLETON was born at Henfield in this County as Pitts his familiar friend doth informe us Object not that it is written on his Tomb at Saint Peters at Lovaine Thomas Stapletonus qui Cicestriae in Anglia Nobili loco Natus Chichester there not being taken restrictively for the City but extensively for the Diocess His bare Sirname is sufficient proof of his Gentile Birth Those of his own perswasion please themselves much to observe that this Thomas was born in the same year and month wherein Sir Thomas Moor was beheaded as if Divinè Providence had purposely dropped from Heaven an Acorn in place of the Oake that was â—…ell'd He was bred in New colledge in Oxford and then by the Bishop Christopherson as I take it made Cannon of Chichester which he quickly quitted in the First of Queen Elizabeth Flying beyond the Seas he first fixed at Doway and there commendably performed the Office of Catechist which he discharged to his commendation Reader pardon an Excursion caused by just Grief and Anger Many counting themselfs Protestants in England do slight and neglect that Ordinance of God by which their Religion was set up and gave Credit to it in the first Reformation I mean CATECHISING Did not nor Saviour say even to Saint Peter himself feed my Lambs feed my heep And why Lambs first 1. Because they were Lambs before they were Sheep 2. Because if they be not fed whilst Lambs they could never be Sheep 3. Because Sheâ—…p can in some sort feed themselves but Lambs such their tenderness must either be fed or famished Our Stapleton was excellent at this Lamb-feeding from which Office he was afterwards preferred Kings Professor of Divinity in Lovain and was for fourty years together Dominus ad Oppositum the Undertaker-General against all Protestants Dr. Whitacre Professor in Cambridge experimentally profest that Bellarmine was the fairer and Stapleton the shrewder adversary His preferment in mine Eye was not proportionable to his Merit being no more then Cannon and Master of a Colledge in Lovain Many more admired that Stapleton mist then that Allen got a Cardinals Cap equalling him in Strictness of Life exceeding him in Gentility of Birth and Painfulness of Writing for the Romish Cause Such consider not that Stapletons Ability was drowned with Allens Activity and one Grain of the Statesman is too heavy for a pound of the Student Practical Policy in all Ages beating Pen-pains out of distance in the Race of Preferment Stapleton died and was buried in St. Peters in Lovain Anno 1598. Benefactors to the Publick Reader let not the want of Intelligence in me be mis-interpreted want of munificence in the natives of this County finding but one most eminent and him since the Reformation RICHARD SACKVILL Eldest son of Thomas Earl of Dorcet by Cecilly his Wife had his Barony if not his Birth at Buckhurst in this County A Gentleman of Singular learning in many Sciences and Languages so that the Greek and Latine were as familiar unto him as his own native Tongue Succeeding his father in that Earldom he enjoyed his dignity not a full year as lacking seven Weeks thereof Yet is there no fear that the shortness of his Earlship will make his Name forgotten having erected a Monument which will perpetuate his Memory to all Posterity viz. A Colledge at East-greensted in this County for one and Thirty poor people to serve Almighty God therein Endowing the same with three hundred and thirty pounds a Year out of all his Land in England By Margaret sole daughter to Thomas Duke of Norfolk he left two surviving sons Richard and Edward both Persons of admirable parts successively Earls after him and dying 1608. was buried at Withiham in this County Memorable Persons JOHN PALMER HENRY PALMER THOMAS PALMER Sons unto Edward Palmer Esq. of Angmarine in this County A Town so called as I am informed from Aqua Marina or the water of the sea being within two Miles thereof and probably in former Ages neerer thereunto Their Mother was daughter to one Clement of Wales who for his effectuall assisting of King Henry the seventh from his landing at Milford-haven untill the Battle of Bosworth was brought by him into England and rewarded with good Lands in this and the next County It happened that their Mother being a full fortnight inclusively in Labour was on Whitsunday delivered of John her eldest son on the sunday following of Henry her second son and the sunday next after of Thomas her third son This is that which is commonly called Superfoetation usuall in other Creatures but rare in Women the cause whereof we leave to the disquisition of 〈◊〉 These Three were knighted 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 by King 〈◊〉 the eighth who never laid his sword on his Shoulders who was not a Man so that they appear as remarkable in their sucâ—…esse as their Nativities The truth hereof needeth no other Atrestation then the generall and uncontrolled Tradition of their no lesse worshipfull then Numerous posterity in Sussex and Kent Amongst whom I instance in Sir Roger Palmer aged 80. years lately deceased and 〈◊〉 to our late King averring to me the faith hereof on his Reputation The exact date of these Knights deaths I cannot attain LEONARD 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in this County being much delighted in gardening mans Original vocation was the 〈◊〉 who brought over into England from beyond the seas Carps and Pippins the one well cook'd delicious the other cordial and restorative For the proof hereof we have his own word and witness and did it it seems about the Fifth year of the reign of King Henry the eighth Anno Dom. 1514. The time of his death is to me unknown WILLIAM WITHERS born at Walsham in this County being a Child of Eleven years old did Anno 1581. lye
good in Physick whose Keys are opening of obstructions arising from the Spleen Cole Much hereof is digged up at Bedworth which in my Measuring of all Cole-mines North of Thames is the most Southward adding much to their Price and Owners Profit The making such Mines destroyeth much but when made preserveth more Timâ—…er I am sorry to hear that those black Indies both in Quantity and Quality fall short of their former fruitfulness and I wish they may recover their lost Credit being confident the Earth there will bleed Profit as plentifully as any had the Miners but the good Hap to hit the right vein thereof As for Manufactures in this County some Broad cloths are made in Coventry and ten might be made for one if the mistery thereof were vigorously pursued The Buildings Coventry much beholding to the Lady Godiva who took Order that her Charity should not prejudice her Modesty when she purchased the Priviledges of this Place sheweth two fair Churches close together How clearly would they have shined if set at competent Distance whereas now such their Vicinity that the Arch-angel eclypseth the Trinity Saint Maâ—…ies in Warwick a Beautifull Structure owes its life to the Monuments of the dead therein most being Earls of Warwick Of these that in the Body of the Church is the Oldest that in the Chancell is the largest that in the Chapell of Guilt Brass the Richest that in the Chapter-House of Fulke Lord Brook the latest Greatness may seem in some fort to be buried in the Tomb of the Earl of Leicester and Goodness in that of the Earl of Warwick Women are most delighted with the Statue of the Infant Baron of Denby and Scholars most affected with the learned Epitaph of Sir Thomas Puckering In a word so numerous is the Church with its Appendences as I am enformed by my Worthy Friend the Minister that he can accommodate One Clergy-man of all Dignities and Degrees to repose them in severall Chapells or Veâ—…ries by themselves Kenelworth alias Kenilworth It had the Strength of a Castle and Beauty of a Princes Court Though most fair the Porch no danger of the Castles running out thereat like that of Mindus at the Gate as most Proportionable to the rest of the Fabrick I confess Handsome is an unproper Epithete of a Gyant yet Neatness agreeth with the Vastness of this structure Some Castles have been Demolished for security which I behold destroyed se defendendo without offence Others Demolished in the heat of the Wars which I look upon as Castle-slaughter But I cannot excuse the Destruction of this Caâ—…tle from Wilfull-murder being done in cold blood since the end of the Wars I am not stock'd enough with Charity to pitty the Ruiners thereof if the materialls of this Castle answered not their Expectation who destroyed it Pass we now from the Preterperfect to the Present Tense I mean from what was once to what now is most magnificent the Castle of Warwick It over-looketh the Town which is washed and swept by Nature so sweet on a Rising Hill is the situation thereof The Prospect of this Castle is Pleasant in its self and far more to the Present Owner thereof the Right Honourable Robert Lord Brooke seeing the Windows look into Lands mostly of his Possession We will conclude the Buildings of this County with the beautifull Cross of Coventry A Reformed Cross or Standard rather without any Cross thereon being a Master-piece all for Ornament nothing for Superstition so that the most curious hath just cause to commend the most conscientious to allow none to condemn it It was begun 1541. the 33. and finished 1544. the 36. of King Henry the eighth at the sole cost of Sir William Hollis Lord Mayor of London Great-grand-father to the Right Honorable the Earl of Clare The Wonders At Lemington within two Miles of Warwick there issue out within a stride of the womb of the Earth two Twin-springs as different in Tast and Operation as Esaâ—… and Jacob in disposition the one Salt the other Fresh Thus the meanest Country-man doth plainly see the Effects whilst it would pose a Consultaâ—…ion of Philosophers to assign the true cause thereof To this Permanent let me joyne a transâ—…ent Wonder which some was fifty years since The Situation of Coventry is well known on a rising Hill having no River near it save a small Brook over which generally one may make a Bridge with a Stride Now here happened such an Inundation on friday April the seventeenth 1607. attested under the Seal of the City in the Majoralty of Henry Sâ—…wel as was equally admirable In 1. Coming about eight a clock in the morning no considerable rain preceding which might suggest the least suspicion thereof In 2. Continuance for the Space of three Hours wherein it overflowed more then two hundred and fifty dwelling Houses to the great damage of the Inhabitants In 3. Departure or vanishing rather sinking as suddenly as it did rise Thus what the Scripture saith of wind was then true of the water One cannot tell whence it came nor whither it went Leaving others to enquire into the second and subordinate I will content my self with admiring the Supreme Cause observed by the Psalmist He turneth a wilderness into a standing water and dry-ground into water-Springs Medicinal waters At Newenham Regis there is a Spring the water whereof drunk with Salt loosneth with Sugar bindeth the Body It is also very Sovereigne against Ulcers Impostumes the Stone This last I commend to the Readers choise observation the same Author affirming that it turneth Sticks into Stone and that he himself was an Eye-witness thereof Now how it should dissolve the Stone in the Body of a Man and yet turn Wood into Stone I leave to such who are naturae à Sanctioribus Consiliis at their next meeting at their Counsel-table to discuss and decide Proverbs He is the black Bear of Arden Arden is a Forrest anciently occupying all the Wood-land part of this County By the Black Bear is meant Guy Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who besides the allusion to his Crest was Grim of Person and Surly of resolution for when this Bear had gotten Pierce Gavistone that Munkey and Minion of King Edward the second into his Chambers he caused his Death at a Hill within two miles of Warwick notwithstanding all opposition to the contrary The Proverb is appliable to those who are not Terricula menta bnt Terrores no fancy-formed Bug-bears but such as carry fear and fright to others about them As bold as Beauchamp Some will say the concurrence of these two B. B. did much help the Proverbe and I think as in others of the same kind they did nothing hinder it However this quality could not be fixed on any name with more truth If it be demanded what Beauchamp is chiefly meant amongst the many of that Surname Earls of Warwick The answer of mutinous people is true in this case One and all
For although he found not the same favour with Joseph to whom the Gaoler committed the care of all his family making him Super-intendent of all other Prisoners yet had he always Respective Usage and oftimes Liberty on his Parol By his Bounty to the Poor he gained the good-will saith Master Camden of all Persons whilst I behold his Bounty to Others as the Queens Bounty to him enabling because not disenabling him for the same and permitting him peaceably to possess his Estate He died a very aged man in Wisbich-castle as I collect Anno 1585. and the Character which Pitzeus giveth him may suffice for his Epitaph Erat in eo insignis pietas in Deum mira charitas in proximos singularis observantia in majores mitis affabilitas in inferiores dulcis humanitas in omnes mulâ—…plex doctrina redundans facundia incredibilis religionis catholicae zelus HENRY BRIGHT was born in the City of Worcester No good man will grudge him under this Title who shall seriously peruse this his Epitaph composed by Doctor Joseph Hall then Dean in the Cathedrall in Worcester Mane Hospes lege Magister Henricus Bright Celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha Qui Scholae Regiae istic fundatae per totos Quadraginta Annos Summa cum Laude praefuit Quononalter magis sedulus fuit Scitusve aut dexter in Latinis Graecis Hebraius Literis feliciter edocendis Teste utraque Academia quam Instruxit affatim numerosa pube literaria Sed totidem annis eoque amplius Theologiam professus hujus 〈◊〉 per Septennium Canonicus major saepissime Hic Alibi Sacrum Dei praeconem magno cum Zelo Fructu egit Vir Pius Doctus Integer frugi de Republica deque Ecclesia optime meritus A laboribus perdiu per noctuque ab anno 1562. ad 1626. strenue usque extant latis 4 to Martii suaviter requievit in Domino For my own part I behold this Master Bright placed by Divine Providence in this City in the Marches that he might equally communicate the Lustre of Grammerlearning to youth both of England and Wales Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Richard Lee Simon Lee Worcester Grocer 1460 2 Richard a Lee John a Lee Worcester 1468 3 Alexander Avenon Robert Avenon Kings Norton Iron-monger 1569 This is one of the twelve pretermitted Counties the Names of whose Gentry were not returned into the Tower by the Commissioners in the raign of King Henry the sixth Sheriffs HEN. II. Anno 1 Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo for 14 years Anno 16 Will. de Bello Campo Hugo de Puckier Anno 17 Ranul de Launch for 4 years Anno 21 Rob. de Lucy Anno 22 Mich. Belet for 7 years Anno 29 Rad. de Glanvill Anno 30 Mich. Belet Anno 31 Rob. Marivion for 3 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Rob. Marmion Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 3 Will. de Bello Campo Rich. de Piplinton Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Hen. de Longo Campo for 3 years Anno 10 Rad. de Grafton JOH Rex Anno 1 Rad. de Grafton Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. de Cantela Adam de Worcester for 3 years Anno 6 Rob. de Cantelu Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Will. de Cantelu Adam Clicus Anno 9 Will. de Cantelu Walt. le Puchier for 3 years Anno 12 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Ruffus Anno 13 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Delwich Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Cantelupo Phus. Kutton for 3 years HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Walt. de Bello Campo Hen. Lunett for 3 years Anno 5 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 8 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 9 Walt. de Bello Campo Tho. Wigorne for 3 years Anno 12 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 15 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Poer Anno 16 Walt. de Bello Campo Will de Malvern for 3 years Anno 19 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 20 Idem sive Will. Anno 21 Will. de Bello Campo Will de Blandhall Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Will. de Bello Campo Laur. de Wandlesworth for 3 years Anno 26 Will de Bello Campo Simon de London Anno 27 Will. de Bello Campo for 24 years Anno 51 Will. de Bello Campo Ioh. de Hull Anno 52 Idem Anno 53 Will. de Bello Campo for 3 years EDW. I. Anno 1 Will. de Bello Campo Comes Warwic for 26 years Anno 27 Guido de Bello Campo for 9 years EDW. II. Anno 1 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Rob. de Berkenhall Anno 2 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Walt. de Perthrope for 4 years Anno 6 Guido de Bello Campo Rob. de Warwick Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Guido de Bello Campo Anno 9 Iohan. de Heâ—…ingwoll Anno 10 Walt. de Bello Campo Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Will. Stracy Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 16 Anno 17 Nich. Russell Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Walt. de Kokesey EDW. III. Anno 1 Walt. de Kokesey Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Rich de Hâ—…deslowe for 3 years Anno 6 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 46 years RICH. II. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 4 years Anno 5 Tho. de Bello Campo for 13 years Anno 18 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 19 Idem Anno 20 Ioh. Washburne Anno 21 Hen. Haggeley Anno 22 Rob. Russell HEN. IV. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 2 Tho. de Bello Campo Will Beaucham Anno 3 Tho. Hodington Anno 4 Rich. de Bello Campo Comes Warr fâ—…r 9 years HEN. V. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 9 years HEN. VI. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 16 years Anno 16 Norm Washburne Subvic In the 17. year of King Henry the sixth this worthy Richard Beauchamp deceased And here the records are at a loss such as ever since came to my hand presenting no Sheriff for 21 years till the end of the raign of King Henry the sixth And yet I am confident that Henry Beauchamp Son and Heir to Richard aforesaid Earl of Warwick and Albemarle for Duke of ALBEMARLE I meet with none before that ILLUSTRIOUS PERSON who now deservedly possesseth that Honour injoyed the Shrevalty of this County EDW. IV. Anno 1 Walt. Scull Subvic for 19 years Here we have an Under-sheriff but no High sheriff could my industry hitherto recover though my confidence is grounded on good cause that Richard Nevill the make-Make-King Duke of Warwick was Honorary Sheriff though too great to officiate in his Person Annoâ—…0 â—…0 Iacob Radcliffe mil. for 3 years RICH. III. Anno 1 Iacob Radcliffe miles Anno 2 Will. Houghton
not know and dare not too curiously inquire left I turn their mirth among themselves into anger against me Sure it is seated in a fruitful soyl and cheap Country and where good chear and company are the Premisses mirth in common consequence will be the Conclusion Which if it doth not trespass in time cause and measure Heraclitus the sad Philosopher may perchance condemn but Saint Hilary the good Father will surely allow Princes HENRY youngest son to William Duke of Normandy but eldest to King William the Conquerour by whom he was begotten after he was Crowned King on which politick 〈◊〉 he claim'd and gain'd the Crown from Duke Robert his eldest brother was Anno Dom. 1070. born at Selbey in this County If any ask what made his Mother travail so far North from London know it was to enjoy Her Husbands company who to prevent insurrections and settle peace resided many months in these parts besides his peculiar affection to Selby where after he founded a MitredAbby This Henry was bred say some in Paris say others in Cambridge and I may safely say in both wherein he so profited that he attained the Surname of Beauclerke His learning may be presumed a great advantage to his long and prosperous raign for thirty five years and upwards wherein he remitted the Norman rigour and restored to His subjects a great part of the English Laws and Liberties Indeed his princely vertues being profitable to all did with their lustre so dazle the eyes of his subjects that they did not see his personall vices as chiefly prejudicial to himself For he was very wanton as appeareth by his numerous natural issue no fewer then fourteen all by him publickly owned the males highly advanced the females richly married which is justly reported to his praise it being lust to beget but love to bestow them His sobriery otherwise was admirable whose temperance was of proof against any meat objected to his appetite Lampreys alone excepted on a surfeit whereof he died Anno Domini 1135. He had onely two children William dying before and Maud surviving him both born in Normandy and therefore omitted in our Catalogue THOMAS Fifth son of King Edward the first and the first that he had by Margaret his second Wife was born at and surnamed from Brotherton a small Village in this County June 1. Anno Dom. 1300. He was created Earl of Norfolke and Earl Marshall of England He left no male-issue but from his females the Mowbrays Dukes of Norfolke and from them the Earls of Arundel and Lords Berkeley are descended RICHARD PLANTAGENET Duke of York commonly is called Richard of Conisborrow from the Castle in this Shire of his nativity The Reader will not grudge him a place amongst our Princes if considering him fixed in his Generation betwixt an Antiperistasis of Royal extraction being Son to a Son of a King Father to the Father of a King Edmund of Langley Duke of York Richard Duke of York Fifth son to K. Edward 3. Father to King Edward 4. Besides he had married Anne Daughter and sole Heir to Edward Mortimer the true Inheritrix of the Crown But tampering too soon and too openly to derive the Crown in his Wives right to himself by practising the death of the present King he was taken and beheaded for treason in the raign of K. Henry the fifth EDWARD sole son to King Richard the third and Anne his Queen was born in the Castle of Midleham near Richmond in this County and was by his father created Prince of Wales A Prince who himself was a child of as much hopes as his Father a man of hatred But he consumed away of a suddain dying within a month of his Mother King Richard little lamenting the loss of either and presently projecting to repair himself by a new Marriage The untimely death of this Prince in respect of the terme to which by Naturall possibility he might have attained in his innocent age is generally beheld as a punishment on him for the faults of his Father The Tongue foreswears the Ears are cut off the Hand steals the Feet are stocked and that justly because both consisting of the same body And because Proles est pars parentis it is agreeable with divine justice to inflict on Children temporal judgements for defaults of their Parents Yet this judgment was a mercy to this Prince that he might not behold the miserable end of his Father Let me adde and a mercy also to all England For had he survived to a mans estate he might possibly have proved a wall of partition to hinder the happy union of the two houses of York and Lancaster Saints HILDA was daughter unto Prince Hererick nephew to Edwin King of Northumberland and may justly be counted our English Huldah not so much for sameness of sex and name-sounding similitude as more concerning conformities Huldah lived in a Colledge Hilda in a Convent at Strenshalt in this County Huldah was the Oracle of those times as Hilda of her age being a kind of a Moderatresse in a Saxon Synod or conference rather called to compromise the controversie about the celebration of Easter I behold her as the most learned English Female before the Conquest and may call her the She-Gamaliel at whose feet many Learned men had their education She ended her holy life with an happy death about the year of our Lord 680. BENEDICT BISCOP was born saith Pitz amongst the East Saxons saith Hierome Porter in Yorkshire whom I rather believe First because writing his life ex professo he was more concerned to be curious therein Secondly because this Benedict had much familiarity with and favour from Oswy King of Northumberland in whose Dominions he fixed himself building two Monasteries the one at the influx of the river Were the other at the river Tine into the sea and stocking them in his life time with 600 Benedictine Moncks He made five Voyages to Rome and always returned full fraught with Reliques Pictures and Ceremonies In the former is driven on as great a Trade of Cheating as in any earthly Commodity in so much that I admire to meet with this passage in a Jesuite and admire more that he Met not with the Inquisition for writing it Addam * nonnunquam in Tem plis reliquias dubias profana corpora pro Sanctorum qui cum Christo in Coelo regnant exuviis sacris fuisse proposita He left Religion in England Braver but not better then he found it Indeed what Tully said of the Roman Lady That she danced better then became a modest woman was true of Gods Service as by him adorned the Gaudiness prejudicing the Gravity thereof He made all things according not to the Patern in the Mount with Mose's but the Precedent of Rome and his Convent being but the Romish Transcript became the English Original to which all Monasteries in the Land were suddenly conformed In a word I reverence his Memory
the leaves of the Bayes and â—…y be withered to nothing since the erection of the Tomb but only rosated having a Chaplet of four Roses about his head Another Author unknighteth him allowing him only a plain Esquire though in my apprehension the Colar of S.S.S. about his neck speak him to be more Besides with submission to better judgements that Colar hath rather a Civil than Military relation proper to persons in places of Judicature which makes me guess this Gower some Judge in his old age well consisting with his original education He was before Chaucer as born and flourishing before him yea by some accounted his Master yet was he after Chaucer as surviving him two years living to be stark blind and so more properly termed our English Homer Many the Books he wrote whereof three most remarkable viz. Speculum Meditantis in French Confessio Amantis in English Vox Clamantis in Latine His death happened 1402. JOHN MARRE by Bale called MARREY and by Trithemius MARRO was born at Marre a village in this County three miles West from Doncaster where he was brought up in Learning Hence he went to Oxford where saith Leland the University bestowed much honour upon him for his excellent Learning He was by Order a Carmelite and in one respect it was well for his Memory that he was so which maketh John Balâ—… who generally falleth foul on all Fryers to have some civility for him as being once himself of the same Order allowing him subtilly learned in all secular Philosophy But what do I instance in home-bred Testimonies Know Reader that in the Character of our own Country Writers I prize an Inch of Forraign above an Ell of English Commendation and Outlandish Writers Trithemius Sixtus Senensis Petrus Lucius c. give great Encomiums of his Ability though I confesse it is chiefly on this account because he wrote against the Opinions of J. Wickliffe He died on the eighteenth of Mà rch 1407. and was buried in the Convent of Carmelites in Doncaster THOMAS GASCOIGNE eldest son to Richard the younger brother unto Sir William Gascoigne Lord Chief Justice was born at Huntfleet in this County bred in Baliol Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor in Divinity and was Commissioner of that University Anno Dom. 1434. He was well acquainted with the Maids of Honour I mean Humane Arts and Sciences which conducted him first to the presence then to the favour of Divinity the Queen He was a great Hieronymist perfectly acquainted with all the Writings of that Learned Father and in expression of his gratitude for the good he had gotten by reading his Woâ—…ks he collected out of many Authors and wrote the life of Saint Hierom. He made also a Book called Dictionarium Theologicum very useful to and therefore much esteemed by the Divines in that age He was seven and fifty years old Anno 1460. and how long he survived afterwards is unknown JOHN HARDING was born saith my Author in the Northern parts and I have some cause to believe him this Countrey-man He was an Esquire of ancient Parentage and bred from his Youth in Military Employment First under Robert Umfrevil Governour of Roxborough Castle and did good service against the Scots Then he followed the Standard of King Edward the fourth adhering faithfully unto him in his deepest distresse But the Master-piece of his service was his adventuring into Scotland not without the manifest hazard of his Life where he so cunningly demeaned himselfe that he found there and fetched thence out of their Records many Original Letters which he presented to King Edward the fourth Out of these he collected an History of the several Solemn Submissions publickly made and Sacred Oaths of Fealty openly taken from the time of King Athelstane by the Kings of SCOTLAND to the Kings of ENGLAND for the Crown of SCOTLAND although the Scotch Historians stickle with might and maine that such Homage was performed onely for the County of Cumberland and some parcels of Land their Kings had in ENGLAND south of TWEED He wrote also a Chronicle of our English Kings from BRUTUS to King EDWARD the fourth and that in English Verse and in my Judgement he had drank as hearty a draught of Helicon as any in his age He was living 1461. then very aged and I believe died soon after HENRY PARKER was bred from his infancy in the Carmelite Convent at Doncaster afterwards Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge Thence he returned to Doncaster and well it had been with him if he had staid there still and not gone up to London to preach at Pauls-Crosse where the subject of his Sermon was to prove That Christs poverty was the pattern of humane perfection and that men professing eminent sanctity should conform to his precedent Going on foot feeding on Barley-bread wearing seamless-woven-coats having no houses of their own c. He drove this nail so far that he touched the quick and the wealthy Clergy winched thereat His Sermon offended much as preached more as published granting the Copy thereof to any that would transcribe it For this the Bishop of London put him in prison which Parker patiently endured in hope perchance of a rescue from his Order till being informed that the Pope effectually appeared on the party of the Prelates to procure his liberty he was content at Pauls-Cross to recant Not as some have took the word to say over the same again in which sense the Cuckow of all Birds is properly called the Recanter but he unsaid with at least seeming sorrow what he had said before However fâ—…om this time we may date the decay of the Carmelites credit in England who discountenanced by the Pope never afterwards recruited themselves to their former number and honour but moulted their feathers till King Henry the eight cut off their very wings and body too at the Dissolution This Parker flourished under King Edward the fourth Anno 1470. Since the Reformation Sir FRANCIS BIGOT Knight was born aud well landed in this County Bale giveth him this testimony that he was Evangelicae veritatis amator Otherwise I must confess my self posed with his intricate disposition For he wrote a book against the Clergy Of IMPROPRIATIONS Had it been against the Clergy of Appropriations I could have guessed it to have proved Tithes due to the Pastors of their respective Parishes Whereas now having not seen nor seen any that have seen his book I cannot conjecture his judgment As his book so the manner of his death seems a riddle unto me being though a Protestant slain amongst the Northern Rebells 1537. But here Bale helpeth us not a little affirming him found amongst them against his will And indeed those Rebells to countenancé their Treason violently detained some Loyall Persons in their Camp and the Blind sword having Aciem not Oculum kill'd friend and foe in fury without distinction WILFRID HOLME was born in this County of Gentile
Cloth-worker 1559 9 John Hart Ralph Hart Sproston Court Grocer 1589 10 Richard Saltonstall Gilbert Saltonstall Hallyfax Skinner 1597 11 William Cravon William Cravon Apletreewick Merchant-Tayler 1610 The Names of the Gentry of this County Returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the sixth John Arch-bishop of York Commissioners Richard Earl of Salisbury  Edmund Darel Knight Knights for the Shire Robert Hopton Knight Knights for the Shire Tho. Sayvell chiv Rob. Umbtred chiv Hen. Bonnflete chiv Radul Graystock chi Edm. Hastings chiv Radul Bulmer chiv Will. Plumton chiv Ioh. Sempest chiv Ioh. Melton chiv Edm. Talbot chiv Ioh. Saltvain chiv Will. Gascoigne chiv Ant. de Sancto Quintino arm Ioh. Constable de Halsham arm Will. Inhidby de Riplay Hen. Vavasor de Hesiwood arm Tho. Metham de Grymston arm Ioh. Perchay de Ritton arm Radul Pudsay de Craven arm Tho. Saltmarsh de Saltmarsh Tho. Nuthill de Riston ar Tho. Constable de Cotfosse ar Tho. Darcy de Newsted ar Nich. Ashton de Heton ar Alex. Lonnde de Southcave ar Will. Ardern de Belthorp ar Rich. Redmain de Harwod ar Will. Moncheux de Barnstone ar Ioh. Routh de Routh arm Tho. Gray de Barton arm Radul Stanfeld ar Rog. Tempest de Broughton ar Tho. Clarell de Steton senioris ar Will. Birton de Snapethorp ar Ioh. Manston de Manston ar Tho. Trollop de Carethorp ar Will. Hastings de Roncheby ar Ioh. Conyers de Cleveland ar Rob. Lambton de Nunthorp ar Ioh. Banaster de Wakefeld ar Rob. Pylkinton de Ayrenden ar Ioh. Midleton de Lonesdale ar Tho. Radecliffe de Bradley ar Tho. Redneyne de Lonesdale ar Will. Thorton de Lonesdale ar Tho. Manncell de Burford ar Iac. Metcalfe de Worsleydale ar Rob. Hynkersell de Parochia de Roderham Gent. Ioh. Hutton de Thrysk Yeom Will. de Stokdale de Richmondshire Yeo. Rob. Satyâ—… de Rich. mondshire Yeom Bayn Tennand de Craven Yeom Tho. Goll de Grysthewayt Yeom Rog. Tenand de Longstrath Yeom Tho. Swelting dâ—… Newhall in parochia de Spoford Yeom Here is a very slender return of Gentry hardly worth the inserting and bearing no proportion to the extent and Populousness of the Province The Reader may remember how the main design driven on in this Enquiry was whatever was pretended to detect such as favoured the Title of the House of York Now the Gentry of this County were generally addicted to that Party which made them so remiss in this matter slightly slubbering it over doing something for shew and nothing to purpose And this being the last Catalogue which occurreth in this kind we will here take Our farewell of the English Gentry The worst I wish our English Gentry is that by Gods blessing on their thrift they may seasonably out-grow the sad impressions which our Civil Wars have left in their estates in some to the shaking of their Contenument I could wish also that for the future they would be more carefull in the Education of their children to bring them up in Learning and Religion for I suspect that the observation of forraigners hath some smart truth therein that English-men by making their children Gentlemen before they are men cause they are so seldome Wise-men Indeed Learning whatever is fondly fancied to the contrary is no more a burden to the bearer thereof then it is cumbersome for one to carry his head on his own shoulders And seeing Gentry alone is no Patrimony which as the plain Proverb saith sent to Market will not buy a Bushell of Wheat it is good even for those of the best birth to acquire some Liberall quality which in case of casualty may serve them for a safe second and besteed them toward the attaining of a Livelyhood I could name the Scotch Nobleman who having lost his Land and Honour through the default of his father in the raign of King James maintained himself compleatly by the practice of Physick and Chimistry much in my mind to his commendation And it is reported to the praise of the Scotch Nobility that antiently they all were very dextrous at Surgery and particularly it is recorded of James the fourth King of Scotland quod vulnera scientissimè tractavit that he was most skilfull in handling of wounds It is good also for those of great Descent to acquaint themselves with Labour not knowing what evil may be on the Earth and the Romans all know did chuse their wise men not by their white but hard hands whence the name of Callidi took it's denomination But above all Religion is the greatest ornament without which all Emblemes of Ancestry are but Putamina Nobilitatis The husks and empty shells of Nobility Yea when a fair Coat of Armes belong to one of foul manners it is so far from being a Credit unto him that such Armes give the Lye to the bearer thereof as Tacitly upbraiding him for being unworthy of his own extraction Sheriffs HEN. II. Anno 1 Bartraneus de Bullemer for 9 years Anno 10 RECORDA MANCA to the end of this Kings raign RICH. I. Anno 1 Randul de Glanvil Anno 2 Osbert de Longo Campo Ioh. Marest Anno 3 Osbert de Longo Campo Anno 4 Hugo Burdulf Hugo de Bobi Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Galfr. Episc. Ebor. Roger. de Batwent for 7 years JOH REX Anno 1 Galfr. filius Petri Ia. de Petem Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. de Stutevill Will Breto Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Galfr. filius Will. de Percy Rad. de Normanvite Anno 6 Rob. de Lasei Constabular Cestr. Rob. Walusis for 6 years Anno 12 Gilb. filius Remfr Hen. de Rademan sive Radanor for 4 years Anno 16 Rob. de Percy Hen. de Middleton Anno 17 Petr. filius Herberti Rich. de Hussebene HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Galfr. de Heonel Simon de Hales Anno 3 Idem Anno 4 Galf. de Nevill Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Galfr. de Nevill Simon de Hall Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Simon de Hall Anno 9 Eustacius de Ludham Anno 10 â—…dem Anno 11 Rob. de Rokefeld Anno 12 Idem Anno 13 â—…dem Anno 14 Will. de Stutevill Phil. de Assell Anno 15 Idem Anno 16 Idem Anno 17 Petr. de Rixall Anno 18 Brianus de Insula Anno 19 Ioh. filius Galfridi Anno 20 Idem Anno 21 Brianus filius Alani Roger. de Stapleton Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Briand filius Alani Nich. de Molis Will de Middleton Anno 24 Nich. de Molis Anno 25 Iâ—…em Anno 26 Idem Anno 27 Hen. de Bada for 4 years Anno 31 Hen. Batthen Anno 32 Idem Anno 33 Will. Daker Anno 34 Rob. de Creping Anno 35 Idem Anno 36 Will. Daker Anno 37 Rob. de Creping Anno 38 Will. de Horsenden Anno 39 Will. de Latymeâ—… Anno 40 Will. de Latymer for 4