could not enter except going sidelong at any ordinary door which gave the occasion to this Proverb But these Verdingales have been disused this fourty years whether because Women were convinced in their consciences of the va◅ity of this or allured in their fancies with the novelty of other fashions I will not determine Chronica si penses cum pugnent Oxonienses Post aliquot mēses volat ira per Angliginenses Mark the Chronicles aright When Oxford Scholars fall to fight Before many months expir'd England will with wa◅ be fir'd I confesse Oxoniensis may import the broils betwixt the Townsmen of Oxford or Towns men and Scholars but I conceive it properly to intend the contests betwixt Scholars and Scholars which were observed predictional as if their animosities were the Index of the Volume of the Land Such who have time may exactly trace the truth hereof through our English Histories Sure I am there were shrewd bickerings betwixt the Southern and Northern men in Oxford in the reign of King Henry the third not long before the bloody War of the Barons did begin The like happened twice under King Richard the second which seemed to be the Van-curreer of the fatal fights betwixt Lancaster and York However this observation holds not negatively all being peaceable in that place and no broils at Oxford sounding the al◅rum to our late civil dissentions Princes RICHARD Son to King Henry the second and Queen Eleanor was the sixth King since the Conquest but second Native of England born in the City of Oxford Anno 1157. Whilest a Prince he was undutiful to his Father or to qualifie the matter over-dutiful to his Mother whose domestick quarrels he always espoused To expia◅e his offence when King he with Philip King of France undertook a voyage to the Holy Land where thorough the Treachery of Templary cowardize of the Greeks diversity of the Climate distance of the place and differences betwixt Christian Princes much time was spent a mass of money expended many lives lost some honour atchieved but little profit produced Going to Palestine he suffered ship-wrack and many mischiefs on the coasts of Cyprus coming for England thorow Germany he was tost with a worse Land-Tempest being in pursuance of an old grudge betwixt them taken prisoner by Leopaldu◅ Duke of Austria Yet this Coeur de Lion or Lion-hearted King for so was he commonly called was no less Lion though now in a Grate than when at liberty abating nothing of his high spirit in his behaviour The Duke did not undervalue this his Royal Prisoner prizing his person at ten years purchase according to the then yearly revenue of the English Crown This ransome of an hundred thousand pounds being paid he came home first reformed himself and then mended many abuses in the Land and had done more had not an unfortunate Arrow shot out of a besieged Castle in France put a period to his life Anno Dom. 1199. EDMUND youngest Son to King Edward the first by Queen Margaret was born at Woodstock Aug. 5. 1301. he was afterwards created Earl of Kent and was Tutor to his Nephew King Edward the third In whose raign falling into the tempest of false injurious and wicked envy he was beheaded for that he never dissembled his natural brotherly affection toward his Brother deposed and went about when he was God wot murdered before not knowing so much to enlarge him out of prison perswaded thereunto by such as covertly practised his destruction He suffered at Winchester the ninteenth of March in the fourth of Edward the third EDWARD Eldest Son of King Edward the third was born at Woodstock in this County and bred under his Father never abler Teacher met with an apter Scholar in Marshal Discipline He was afterwards termed the Black Prince not so called from his complexion which was fair enough save when Sun-burnt in his Spanish expedition nor from his conditions which were courteous the constant attender of Valour but from his atchievements dismal and black as they appeared to the eyes of his enemies whom he constantly overcame But grant him black in himself he had the fairest Lady to his Wife this Land and that age did afford viz. Joane Countess of Salisbury and Kent which though formerly twice a Widow was the third time married unto him This is she whose Ga◅ter which now flourisheth again hath lasted longer than all the Wardrobes of the Kings and Queens in England since the Conquest continued in the Knighthood of that Order This Prince died before his Father at Canterbury in the 46. year of his age Anno Dom. 1376. whose Maiden success attended him to the grave as never foyled in any undertakings Had he survived to old age in all probabilities the Wars between York and Lancaster had been ended before begun I mean prevented in him being a person of merit and spirit and in Seniority before any suspicion of such divisions He left two Sons Edward who died at seven years of age and Richard afterwards King second of that name both born in France and therefore not coming within the compass of our Catalogue THOMAS of Woodstock youngest Son of King Edward the third and Queen Philippa was sirnamed of Woodstock from the place of his Nativity He was afterward Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester created by his Nephew King Richard the second who summoned him to the Parliament by the Title of the Kings loving Uncle He married Isabel one of the Co-heirs of Humphrey Bohun Earl of Essex in whose right he became Constable of England a dangerous place when it met with an unruly manager thereof But this Thomas was only guilty of ill tempered Loyalty loving the King well but his own humors better rather wilful than hurtful and presuming on the old maxime Patruus est loco Parentis An Uncle is in the place of a Father He observed the King too nearly and checked him too sharply whereupon he was conveyed to Calis and there strangled By whose death King Richard being freed from the causeless fear of an Uncle became exposed to the cunning Plots of his Cousin German Henry Duke of Lancaster who at last deposed him This Thomas founded a fair Colledge at Playsie in Essex where his body was first buried with all Solemnity and afterward translated to Westminster ANNE BEAUCHAMP was born at Cavesham in this County Let her pass for a Princess though not formally reductively seeing so much of History dependeth on her as Elevated Depressed 1. Being Daughter and in fine sole Heir to Richard Beaucamp that most Martial Earl of Warwick 2. Married to Richard Nevil Earl of Sarisbury and Warwick commonly called the Make-King and may not she then by a courteous proportion be termed the Make-Queen 3. In her own and Husbands right she was possessed of one hundred and fourteen Manors in several Shires 4. Isabell her eldest daughter was married to George Duke of Clarence and Anne her younger to Edward Prince of Wales son of
found in the name of ALCUINUS LUCIANUS Thus these Nominall Curiosities whether they hit or miss the Mark equally import nothing to Judicious Beholders He was made first Abbot of Saint Augustines in Canterbury and afterward of Saint Martins in the City of Towers in France and dying Anno 780 he was buried in a small Convent appendant to his Monastery He is here entred under the Topick of Saints because though never solemnly canonized he well deserved the Honor His Subjects said to David Thou art worth ten Thousand of us and though I will not ascend to so high a Proportion many of the Modern Saints in the Church of Rome must modestly confess that on a Due and True estimate our Alcuinus was worth many Scores of them at least so great his Learning and holy his Conversation SEWALL had his Nativity probably in these Parts But he was bred in Oxford and was a Scholar to St. Edmund who was wont to say to him Sewald Sewald thou wilt have many Afflictions and dye a Martyr Nor did he miss much of his mark therein though he met with Peace and Plenty at first when Arch-bishop of York The occasion of his Trouble was when the Pope plenitudine potestatis intruded one Jordan an Italian to be Dean of York whose Surprised Installing Sewald stoutly opposed Yea at this time there were in England no fewer then three Hundred Benefices possessed by Italians where the People might say to them as the Eunuch to Philip How can we understand without an â—…nterpreter Yea which was far worse they did not onely not teach in the Church but mis-teach by their lascivious and debauched behaviour Asfor our Sewald Mathew Paris saith plainly that he would not bow his Knee to Baal so that for this his contempt he was excommunicated and cursed by Bell Book and Candle though it was not the Bell of Aarons Garment nor Book of Scripture nor the Candle of an Unpartiall Judgement This brak his heart and his Memory lyeth in an Intricate posture peculiar almost to himself betwixt Martyr and no Martyr a Saint and no Saint Sure it is â—…ewall though dying excommunicated in the Romish is reputed Saint in Vulgar estimation and some will maintain that the Popes solemn Canonization is no more requisite to the making of a Saint then the Opening of a Manâ—… Windows is necessary to the lustre of the Sun Sewald died Anno Dom. 1258. Bale who assumeth liberty to himself to surname Old-writers at his pleasure is pleased to Addition this worthy man Sewaldus Magnanimus Martyrs VALENTINE FREESE and his Wife were both of them born in this City and both gave their lives therein at one Stake for the testimony of Jesus Christ Anno Domini 1531. Probably by order from Edward Lee the cruell Arch-bishop I cannot readily call to mind a man and his wife thus Marryed together in Martyrdome And begin to grow confident that this Couple was the first and laâ—… in this kind Confessors EDWARD FREESE brother to the aforesaid Valentine was born in York and there a Prentice to a Painter He was afterwards a Novice-Monke and leaving his Convent came to Colchester in Essex Here his hereticall Inclination as then accounted discovered it self in some sentences of Scripture which he Painted in the Borders of Cloths for which he was brought before John Stoaksley Bishop of London from whom he found such cruell usage as is above belief Master Fox saith that he was fed with Manchet made of Saw-dust or at the least a great part thereof and kept so long in Prison Manicled by the wrests till the Flesh had overgrown his Irons and he not able to kembe his own head became so distracted that being brought before the Bishop he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man A sad sight to his Friends and a sinfull one to his Foes who first made him mad and then made mirth at his madness I confess distraction is not mentioned in that list of losses reckoned up by our Saviour He that left his House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake c. But seeing his wits is nearer and dearer to any man then his wealth and seeing what is so lost may be said to be left no doubt this poor mans distraction was by God gratiously accepted on his enemies severely punished and to him mercifully rewarded We must not forget how the wife of this Edward Freese being big with child and pressing in to see her husband the Porter at Fulham gave her such a kick on the belly that the child was destroyed with that stroke immediately and she died afterwards of the same Prelates JOHN ROMAN so called because his Father was born in Rome though living a long time in this City being Treasurer of the Cathedrall therein and I conjecture this John his Son born in York because so Indulgent thereunto For generally Pure Pute Italians preferred in England transmitted the gain they got by Bills of Exchange or otherwise into their own Country and those outlandisâ—… Mules though lying down in English Pasture left no Hairs behind them Whereas this Roman had such Affection for York that being advanced Arch-bishop he began to build the Body of the Church and finished the North Part of the Cross-Isle therein Polydore Virgil praised him no wonder that an Italiaâ—… commended a Roman for a Man of great Learning and Sincerity He fell into the disfavour of King Edward the first for Excommunicating Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham and it cost him four thousand marks to regain his Princes Good Will He died Anno Domini 1295. And let none grudge his Buriaâ—… in the best Place of the Church who was so Bountifull a Builder thereof ROBERT WALBEY born in this City was therein bred an Augâ—…stinian Friar he afterwards went over into France where he so applied his studies that at last he was chosen Divinity Professor in the City of Tholouse he was Chaplain to the black Prince after his death to his Father K. Edward the third Now as his Mr. injoyed three Crowns so under him in his three Kingdoms this his Chaplain did partake successively of three Miters being first a Bishop in Gascoine then Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland afterwards Bishop of Chichester in England not grudging to be degraded in Dignity to be preferred in profit At last he was consecrated Arch-bishop of York and was the first and last Native which that City saw the least of Infants and in his Time when Man the greatest therein Yet he enjoyed his place but a short time dying May 29. Anno Domini 1397. Since the Reformation THOMAS MORTON was born Anno 1564. in the City of York whose father Richard Morton allyed to Cardinall Morton Arch bishop of Canterbury was a Mercer I have been informed the first of that calling in that City sure of such repute that no Mercers
The Graver here hath well thy Face design'd But no hand FULLER can expresse thy Mind For That a RESURRECTION giues to those Whom Silent Monuments did long enclose THE HISTORY OF THE WORTHIES OF ENGLAND VVho for Parts and Learning have been eminent in the several COUNTIES TOGETHER WITH An Historical NARRATIVE of the Native Commodities and Rarities in each County Endeavoured by Thomas Fuller D. D. LONDON Printed by J. G. W. L. and W. G. for Thomas Williams and are to be sold at the sign of the Bible in Little Britain MDCLXII TO HIS Sacred Majesty Most Dread Soveraign THE tender of these ensuing Collections is made with as much Fear and Reverence as it was intended with Duty and Devotion by the Author whilest living The Obligation that lieth upon me to endeavour him all right forced me unto this presumption It is the first voice I ever uttered in this kind and I hope it will be neither displeasing to Your MAJESTY or blamed by the VVorld whilest not unlike that of the Son of Croesus it sounds Loyalty to my Soveraign and Duty to my Father The matter of this Work for the most part is the description of such native and peculiar Commodities as the several Counties of Your Kingdom afford with a revival of the Memories of such Persons which have in each County been eminent for Parts or Learning If this Age abound with the like it is their Glory if not the perusal may perhaps beget in them a Noble Emulation of their Ancestors May Your MAJESTIES Raign be Happy and Long to see Your Countries COMMODITIES improved and Your WORTHIES multiplied So prayeth Your MAJESTIES meanest Subject the Authors Orphan JOHN FULLER To the Reader READER THou hast here presented to thy view a Collection of the VVorthies of England which might have appeared larger had God spared my dear Father the Author life At his death there remained unprinted the Bishoprick of Durham the Counties of Derby Dorset Gloucester Norfolk Northampton Northumberland Nottingham Oxford Rutland with part of Kent Devonshire and the Cities of London and Westminster which now at length according to the Copy the Author left behind him without the least Addition are made publick It is needless here to acquaint thee with the nature of the Work it being already fully set down in the first sixteen sheets thereof Yet thou mayst be pleased to take notice that although the Title promiseth thee only the History of the Worthies of England in the end there is added a short Description of the Principality of Wales The discounting of Sheets to expedite the Work at severall Presses hath occasioned the often mistake of the Folio's What ever faults else occur in this Impression it is my request that thou wouldest score them on my want of Care or Skill in Correcting the same that they may not in the least reflect on the Credit of my dead Father JOHN FULLER ERRATA First Book PAg. 27. Line 7. for mutive read mutire l. 8. for Commoreat â—… Commoveat l. 13. for Proselytes r. Prose to its Gloucestersh Pag. 366. l. 6. add were many l. 7. for may seem to be r. many London Pag. 213. l. 44. for unius r. unus l. 45. for duellum r. duellam l. 47. for suscipiendum r. suscipiendam p. 214. l. 6. for primus acie r. primâ acie York shire Pag. 220. l. 40. for Or a Fess betwixt three Water bougets Or r. Argent a Fess betwixt threee Water bougets Gules Wales Preface l. 43. for grains r. pains p. 4. l. 31. add phrase p. 17. l. 16. dele half p. 25. l. 23. for Castro r. Castor p. 27. l. 9. for Gold r. no Gold p. 34. l. 30. for is here r. might have been here p. 44. l. 19. for freed r. free p. 47. l. 39. for must r. might p. 59. l. 39. for awarded r avoided l. 43. for as r. then THE WORTHIES OF ENGLAND CHAPTER I. The Designe of the ensuing Work ENGLAND may not unfitly be compared to an House not very great but convenient and the several Shires may properly be resembled to the rooms thereof No as learned Master Camden and painful Master Speed with others have discribed the rooms themselves so is it our intention God willing to discribe the Furniture of those rooms such Eminent Commodities which every County doth produce with the Persons of Quality bred therein and some other observables coincident with the same subject Cato that great and grave Philosopher did commonly demand when any new Project was propounded unto him * Cui Bono what good would ensue in case the same was effected A Question more fit to be asked then facile to be answered in all undertakings especially in the setting forth of new Books Insomuch that they themselves who complain That They are too many already help daylâ—… to make them more Know then I propound five ends to my self in this Book First To gain some Glory to God Secondly Deadâ—… â—… Thirdly To present Examples to the Living Fourthly To entertain the Reader with Delight And lastly which I am not ashamed publickly to profess To procure some honest profit to my self If not so happy to obtain all I will be joyful to attain some yea contented and thankful too if gaining any especially the First of these Ends the Motives of my Endeavours First Glory to God which ought to be the aim of all our actions though too often our bow starts our hand shakes and so our arrow misseth the mark Yet I hope that our discribing so good a Land with the various Fruits and fruitful varieties therein will ingage both Writer and Reader in gratitude to that God who hath been so bountiful to our Nation In order whereunto I have not only alwayes taken but often sought occasions to exhort to thankfulness hoping the same will be interpreted no stragling from my Subject but a closing with my Calling Secondly To preserve the Memories of the Dead A good name is an oyntment poured out smelt where it is not seen It hath been the lawful desire of men in all ages to perpetuate their Memories thereby in some sort revenging themselves of Mortality though few have found out effectual means to perform it For Monuments made of Wood are subject to be burnt of Glass to be broken of soft stone to moulder of Marble and Metal if escaping the teeth of Time to be demolished by the hand of Covetousness so that in my apprehension the safest way to secure a memory from oblivion is next his own Vertues by committing the same in writing toPosterity Thirdly To present examples to the living having here precedents of all sorts and sizes of men famous for Valour Wealth Wisedome Learning Religion and Bounty to the publick on which last we most largely insist The Scholar being taxed by his Writing-Master for idlenesse in his absence made a fair defence when pleading that his Master had neither left him Paper whereon or Copy whereby to write But rich men will
in this Land flying hither for succour from their Civil Wars and surely it was against their mind if they all went back again Distress at Sea hath driven others in as the Stewards High-sheriffs in Cambridgeshire As other accidents have occasioned the coming in of the Scrimpshires an hundred years since High sheriffs in Staffordshire more lately the Nappers in Bedfordshire and before both the Scots of Scots-hall in Kent I much admire that never an eminent Irish native grew in England to any greatness so many English having prospered in that Country But it seems we love to live there where we may Command and they care not to come where they must Obey Our great distance from Italy always in Position and since the Reformation in Religion hath caused that few or none of that Nation have so incorporated with the English as to have found Families therein Yet have we a sprinkling of Italian Protestants Castilian a valiant Gentleman of Berkshire The Bassanoes excellent Painters and Musicians in Essex which came over into England under King Henry the eight and since in the raign of Queen Elizabeth Sir Horatio Palavicine Receiver of the Popes Revenues landed in Cambridgeshire and the Caesars aliàs Dalmarii still flourishing in Hartfordshire in Worshipful Estates though I never find any of these performing the office of Sheriff The High-Dutch of the Hans Towns antiently much conversed in our Land known by the name of Easterlings invited hither by the large priviledges our Kings conferred upon them so that the Steel-yard proved the Gold-yard unto them But these Merchants moved round in their own Sphere matching amongst themselves without mingling with our Nation Onely we may presume that the Easterlings corruptly called Stradlings formerly Sheriffs in Wiltshire and still famous in Glamorganshire with the Westphalings lately Sheriffs of Oxfordshire were originally of German Extraction The Low Country-men frighted by Duke D'Alvas Tyranny flocked hither under King Edward the sixth fixing themselves in London Norwich Canterbury and Sandwich But these confined themselves to their own Church discipline and for ought I can find advanced not forward by eminent Matches into our Nation Yet I behold the worthy Family of De la Fountain in Lecestershire as of Belgian Original and have read how the ancestours of Sir Simon D'us in Suffolk came hither under King Henry the eight from the Dunasti or D'us in Gelderland As for the Spaniards though their King Philip matched with our Queen Mary but few of any eminence now extant if I well remember derive their Pedigrees from them This I impute to the shortness of their Reign and the ensuing change of Religions Probable it is we might have had more Natives of that Kingdome to have setled and flourished in our Nation had he obtained a marriage with Queen Elizabeth of Blessed Memory which some relate he much endeavoured As for Portugal few of that Nation have as yet fixed their habitations and advanced Families to any visible height in our Land But it may please God hereafter we may have a happy occasion to invite some of that Nation to reside and raise Families in England Mean time the May's who have been Sheriffs in Sussex are all whom I can call to mind of the Portugal Race and they not without a Mixture of Jewish Extraction Come we now to the second Division of our Gentry according to the Professions whereby they have been advanced And here to prevent unjust misprision be it premised that such professions Found most of them gentlemen being the though perchance Younger Sons of wealthy Fathers able to give them liberal education They were lighted before as to their Gentility but now set up in a higher Candlestick by such professions which made a visible and conspicuous accession of Wealth and Dignity almost to the ecclipsing their former condition Thus all behold Isis increased in name and water after its conjunction with Thame at Dorchester whilst few take notice of the first Fountain thereof many miles more Westward in Gloucestershire The Study of the Common-law hath advanced most antient extant Families in our Land It seems they purchased good Titles made sure Setlements and entailed Thrift with their Lands on their posterity A prime person of that profession hath prevented my pains and given in a List of such principal Families I say principal many being omitted by him in so Copious a subject Miraculous the mortality in Egypt where there was not a House wherein there was not one dead But I hope it will be allowed Marvellous that there is not a generous and numerous House in England wherein there is not one though generally no first Born but a Younger Brother antiently or at this day Living Thriving and Flourishing by the Study of the Law Especially if to them what in Justice ought be added those who have raised themselves in Courts relating to the Law The City hath produced more then the Law in number and some as broad in Wealth but not so high in Honour nor long lasting in time who like Land-floods soon come and soon gone have been dried up before the third Generation Yet many of these have continued in a certain channel and carried a Constant stream as will plainly appear in the sequel of our Worthies The Church before the Reformation advanced many Families For though Bishops might not marry they preferred their Brothers Sons to great Estates As the Kemps in Kent Peckhams in Sussex Wickham in Hampshire Meltons in Yorkshire Since the Reformation some have raised Families to a Knightly and Worshipful Estate Hutton Bilson Dove Neil c. But for Sheriffs I take notice of Sandys in Worcester and Cambridgeshire Westphaling in Herefordshire Elmar in Suffolk Rud in Carmarthenshire c. Sure I am there was a generation of People of the last Age which thought they would level all Clergy-men or any descendants from them with the ground Yea had not Gods arme been stretched out in their preservation they had become a prey to their enemies violence and what they had designed to themselves and in some manner effected had ere this been time perfectly compleated As for the inferiour Clergy it is well if their narrow maintenance will enable them to leave a livelihood to their little ones I find but one Robert Johnson by name attaining such an estate that his Grand-son was pricked Sheriff of a County but declined the place by pleading himself a Deacon and by the favour of Arch-bishop Laud. The Study of the Civil-Law hath preferr'd but few The most eminent in that faculty before the Reformation being persons in Orders prohibited marriage However since the Reformation there are some Worshipful Families which have been raised by the Study in this Faculty Yet have our wars which perhaps might have been advocated for in Turks and Pagans who bid defiance to all humanity but utterly mis-beseeming Christians been a main cause of the moulting of many Eminent and Worthy persons of this Profession Nor
places and at a place called Somervill near to Chappel which by the landing place as ye come from Altferrâ—… to Chesil is in great abundance It is an assured remedy for the Yellow Jaundice openeth the obstructions of the Spleen c. Buildings The Houses of the Gentry herein are built rather to be lived in than to be looked on very low in their scituation for warmth and other conveniencies Indeed the rhime holds generally true of the English structures The North for Greatness the East for Health The South for Neatness the West for Wealth However amongst the Houses in this County Lullworth Castle and Sherburn-Lodge are most eminent escaping pretty well in the late war so that they have cause neither to brag nor complain Proverbs As much a kin as Lenson-hill to Pilsen-pen That is no kin at all It is spoke of such who have vicinity of habitation or neighbourhood without the least degree of consanguinity or affinity betwixt them For these are two high hills the first wholy the other partly in the Parish of Broad Windsor whereof once I was Minister Yet Reader I assure thee that Sea-Men make the nearest Relation betwixt them calling the one the Cow the other the Calf in which forms it seems they appear first to their fancies being eminent Sea-marks to such as sail along these Coasts And although there be many Hills interposing betwixt these and the Sea which seem higher to a land Traveller yet these surmount them all so incompetent a Judge and so untrue a Surveyor is an ordinary eye of the Altitude of such places Stab'd with a Byrdport Dagger That is hang'd or executed at the Gallowes The best if not the most Hemp for the quantity of ground growing about Byrdport a Market Town in this County And hence it is that there is an ancient Statute though now disused and neglected that the Cable Ropes for the Navy Royal were to be made there abouts as affording the best Tackling for that purpose Dorset-shire Dorsers Dorsers are Peds or Panniers carried on the backs of Horses on which Haglers use to ride and carry their Commodities It seems this homely but most useful implement was either first found out or is most generally used in this County where Fish-Jobbers bring up their Fish in such contrivances above an hundred miles from Lime to London Saints EDWARD son to Edgar King of England was in his Child-hood bred under the cruel correction of Elfrida his Mother-in-law who used for small faults to whip him with Wax-Candles In so much that it is reported it made such an impression in this young Princes memory that when a man he could not endure the sight of Wax-Candles But Edward afterwards outgrew his Mothers tuition and succeeded his Father in his Throne However such her ambition that advantaged with the others easiness of nature She managed most matter of State leaving her Son in-law little more than the bare title of Soveraign Not contented herewith and to derive the Scepter to her own Son Ethelred caused him to be stab'd at Corfe Castle in this County coming in a civil visit unto her His hidden â—…ody being miraculously discovered was first buried at Warham and thence removed to Shaftsbury which Town for a time was termed Saint Edwards from his interment His murder hapned about the year of our Lord 978. Cardinals JOHN MORTON was born at Saint Andrews Milborne in this County of a right Worshipful Family still extant therein He was bred in Oxford and after many mediate preferments made Bishop of Ely Anno 1578. Not long after when many groaned under the Tyranny of King Richard the third this Prelate first found out the design of marrying Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward the fourth of the House of York to Henry Earl of Richmond the last who was left of the line of Lancaster Indeed the Earls title to the Crown was not enough to make a countenance therewith much less a claim thereto but as the Lady had a Title and wanted a man to manage it the Earl was man enough to manage any design but wanted a Title and pursuing this advice by Gods blessing he gained the Crown by the name of Henry the seventh In expression of his gratitude he made this Bishop Chancellor of England and afterwards Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He was a great instrument in advancing a voluntary Contribution to the King through the Land perswading Prodigals to part with their money because they did spend it most and the Covetous because they might spare it best So making both extreams to meet in one medium to supply the Kings necessities who though prodigiously rich may be said always to need because never-satisfied This Bishop with vast cost cut a new Channel in the Fennes for the publick good but it neither answered his expectation nor expence He was magnificent in his buildings and bountiful to poor Scholars enjoyning his Executors to maintain twenty poor Scholars in Oxford and ten in Cambridge twenty years after his death which hapned in October 1500. Prelates JOHN STAFFORD Son to Humphrey Stafford sixth Earl of Stafford was born at Hooke in this County then a most stately House belonging to this Family and bred a Doctor of the Laws in Oxford he was afterwards Dean of the Arches and Dean of Saint Martins This was a fair Colledge near Aldersgate in London founded Anno 1056. by Ingelricus and Edvardus his Brother priviledged by our Kings of England with great immunities the cause of many and high contests betwixt this Colledge and the City of London Afterwards he was made Bishop of Wells and for eighteen years a continuance hardly to be parallel'd was Chancellor of England At last he was advanced Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and no Prelate his Peer in Biâ—…th and preâ—…erment hath either less good or less evil recorded of him He died at Maidstone 1452. and lies buried in Canterbury ROBERT MORTON was Brothers Son to Cardinal Morton of whom before whose Father had a fair Habitation at Saint Andrews Milborne in this County His relation to so good an Uncle mixed with his own merits preferred him to the Bishoprick of Worcester Of whom we have little more than the date of his consecration 1486. and of his Death 1497. He lieth buried in the body of Saint Pauls Church in London JAMES TURBERVIL or De turbida villa was born of a worshipful Family who long have lived in great account in this County â—… First a Monk but afterwards brought up in New-Colledge in Oxford He was consecrated Bishop of Exeter 1556. and deserved right well of that See When he entred thereon it was most true what his Successor therein since said That the Bishop of Exeter was a Baron but a Bare one so miserably that Cathedral had been pilled and polled But Bishop Turbervil recovered some lost lands which Bishop Voysey had vezed and particularly obtained of Queen Mary the â—…estitution of the fair Manor of
An. Hungerford ar ut prius  27 Ioh Higford ar Dixton  28 Paul Tracy ar Stanway  29 Th. ThrogmortoÌ„ m. ut prius  30 Hen. Pole mil. ut prius  31 Tho. Lucy ar   32 Will. Dutton ar  Quarterly Arg. and Gul. in the 2d and 3d. quarter a Fret Or. 33 Ioh Poyntz mil. ut prius  34 Will. Chester ar   35 Ioh. Davers mil Cinencest Gul. a Chev. inter 3 Mullets Or. 36 Ioseph Benham ar   37 Hen. Winston mil.   38 Ioh. Chamberlain a. Prestbury Gul. an Inescoucheon Arg. an Orle of mullets Or. 39 Ioh. Hungerford m ut prius Cheokey Or and Sab. a Fesse Gul. 40 Edw. Winter mil. Lidney  41 Geo. Huntley   42 Th. ThrogmortoÌ„ m ut prius  43 Will. Dutton ar ut prius  44 Tho. Baynham ar ut prius  JACOBUS   Anno   1 Hen. Pole mil. ut prius  2 Egid. Read ar ut prius  3 Tho. Seymer mil. Button G. 2 wings conjoyned Or with in a border gobonated Arg. 4 VVill. Norwood * LeckhaÌ„pt  5 Tho. Estcourt mil. †Lasbury * Ermin â—… cross engrailed Gu. Anno 6 Rob Woodroff m  †Erm. on a Chief indented G. 3. Stars Will. Guyes ar ut prius  7 Ioh. Tracy mil. ut prius  8 Paul Tracy ar ut prius  9 Rob. Bathurst ar Lechlade  10 Ioh. Carter ar Charlton  11 Will. Kingston ar ut prius  12 Rich. Brent ar   13 Hen. Finâ—…h ar   14 Radus Câ—…tton ar  Az. a Cheveron between three Cotton weeks Arg. 15 Tho. Chester ar Knolle  16 Rich. Hill mil.   17 Ph. Langley ar Mangotsfi ut prius 18 Tho. Baker mil.   19 Tho. Thynn mil. Wiltshire Barry of ten Or and Sable 20 Tho. Hodges ar Shipron  21 Rich. Rogers mil. Eastwood  22 Ioh. Dowle ar   CAROL I.   Anno   1 Will Sandys mil. Misterden  2 Tho. Nicholas ar Prestbury  3 VVill. Masters mil Grencest  4 Rich. Tracy m. b. ut prius  5 Hen. Dennis ar Paule Ch. ut prius 6 Radus Dutton mil. Standish ut prius 7 Geo. VVinter mil.   8 Hen. Poole aâ—…m ut prius  9 Egid. Fetiplace m. Coln Alin Gul. two Cheverons Arg. 10 Edw. Stephens ar L. Sodbury  11 Will Leigh ar   12 Rich Ducy Bar. Frowcest Or two Lions passant Gults 13 Ioh. Poyntz mil ut prius  14 Rob. Codrington ar Codering ton Arg. a Fesâ—… imbattled Sable between 3. Lions passant Gu. 15   â—…6   17 Fr. Creswick ar Bristol  â—…8   19   12   21  Or on a Fess Gul. 3. chess-Rooks of the first as many Martlets in Chief Sab. 22 VVill. Brown ar Hasfield  Hen. VIII 6. WILLIAM KKNGSTON Mil. I read in an industrious Author that Sir Will. Kingston was created by K. Hen. 8. Knight of the Garter which I humbly conceive to be a mistake having several exact Catalogues of all admitted into that Order amongst whom he doth not appear yet was he Lieutenant of the Tower and Captain of the Guard to K. Hen. 8. by whom he was much trusted and employed Cardinal Wolsey had it given him in advice to beware of Kingston which he mistook for the Market Town in Surry well known and therefore declined going thither though many miles his nearer way in passage to the Court But at last he found this our Sir Anthony his formidable fatal Kingston when sent to fetch him out of the North with some of the Guaâ—…d And though he treated the Card. most courteously saluting him on his knees yet the sight of him went to his heart dying within few days after Edw. VI. 4. ANTHONY KINGSTON Mil. This was that terrâ—…ble Provost Marshal of the Kings Army in the execution of the Western Rebels whose memory I find accused by Sir Iohn Heywood for his cruelty and defended by Mr. Carew This Sir Anthony so frightful to all guilty persons fell himself into the same fear in the reign of Q. Mary on this occasion Some were said to have a design to raise war against the Queen and resolved to provide the sinews before the bones of war money before men In order whereunto their design was to rob the Exchequer then furnished with 50000. â—… This being discovered mane were accused as Plotters more as Privy amongst whom Sir Anthony Kingston being sent for to come up he died for fear of death some suppose in his way to London The Farewell I congratulate the Felicity of this County in the return of the Episcopal See to the chief City thâ—…reof the rather seeing some questioned its Charter and would have had it Un Citied because Un Bishoped in our Civil Wars though with their leave by the courtesie of England once a City and ever a City May the same hereafter ever remain there to take away all suspicion in that kind for the future HANT-SHIRE hath Berk-shire on the North Surrey and Sussex on the East the Sea on the South Dorcet and Wilt-shire on the West From North unto South it extendeth unto fifty foure miles not stretching above thirty miles from the East to the West thereof A happy Countrey in the foure Elements if Culinary fire in Courtesie may pass for one with plenty of the best wood for the fuel thereof most pure and peircing the aire of this Shire and none in England hath more plenty of clear and fresh rivulets of troutful water not to speak of the friendly Sea conveniently distanced from London As for the Earth it is both fair and fruitful and may pass for an Expedient betwixt Pleasure and Profit where by mutual consent they are moderately accommodated Yet much of the Arable therein is stony ground though not like that in the Gospel where the grain grew up and withered so soon having no deepness of earth this bringing plenty of corn to perfection Indeed that in the Parable may be presumed inwardly a rock onely faced over with superficial earth whereas this hath solid earth enough but abounding with little loose stones lying above it which are conceived to keep the Corn the warmer and therefore some skilfull in Husbandry have maintained that the taking of them away doth more hurt than good to the ground The South-West part of this County is called the New Forrest not in the same sense as New Colledge in Oxford then at the founding the Newest which since hath gained many Puis nes thereunto but because the Junior of all Forrests in England many having been Dis none In-forrested since the Conquest True it is King Henry the 8th made a Forrest about his Palace of Hampton in Middlesex by the name of Hamptonforrest but it never obtained peaceable possession in publique pronunciation blame not
token that he vanted that he cheated the covetous Usurer who had given him Spick and Span new money for the Old Land of his Great Great Grandfather JOHN GVVILLIM was of VVelch extraction but born in this County and became a Pursuivant of Arms by the name first of Portsmouth then Rougecroixe but most eminent for his methodical Display of Herauldry confusion being formerly the greatest difficulty therein shewing himself a good Logician in his exact Divisions and no bad Philosopher noting the natures of all Creatures given in Armes joyning fansie and reason therein Besides his Travelling all over the earth in beasts his Industry diggeth into the ground in pursuit of the properties of precious stones diveth into the Water in Inquest of the qualities of Fishes flyeth into the Air after the Nature of Birds yea mounteth to the very Skies about stars but here we must call them Estoiles and Planets their use and influence In a word he hath unmysteried the mysterie of Heraldry inso much that one of his own faculty thus descanteth in the Twilight of jest and earnest on his performance But let me tell you this will be the harm In Arming others you Your self disarm Our Art is now Anatomized so As who knows not what we our selves do know Our Corn in others Mill is ill apaid Sic vos non vobis may to us be said I suspect that his endevours met not with proportionable reward He dyed about the latter end of the Reign of King Iames. JOHN DAVIES of Hereford for so he constantly styled himself was the greatest Master of the Pen that England in his age beheld for 1 Fast-writing so incredible his expedition 2 Fair-writing some minutes Consultation being required to decide whether his Lines were written or printed 3 Close-writing A Mysterie indeed and too Dark for my Dimme Eyes to discover 4 Various-writing Secretary Roman Court and Text. The Poetical fiction of Briareus the Gyant who had an hundred hands found a Moral in him who could so cunningly and copiously disguise his aforesaid Elemental hands that by mixing he could make them appear an hundred and if not so many sorts so many Degrees of Writing Yet had he lived longer he would modestly have acknowledged Mr. Githings who was his Schollar and also born in this County to excel him in that faculty whilst the other would own no such odious Eminencie but rather gratefully return the credit to his Master again Sure I am when two such Transcendent Pen-masters shall again come to be born in the same shire they may even serve fairly to engross the will testament of the expiring Universe Our Davies had also some pretty excursions into Poetry and could flourish matter as well as Letters with his Fancy as well as with his Pen. He dyed at London in the midst of the Reign of King James and lyeth buryed in St. Giles in the fields Romish Exile Writers HUMPHRY ELY born in this County was bred in St. Johns Colledge in Oxford Whence flying beyond the Seas he lived successively at Doway Rome and Rheams till at last he setled himself at Pont-Muss in Lorain where for twenty years together he was Professor of Canon and Civil Law and dying 1604. Was buried therein with a double Epitaph That in Verse my Iudgement commands me not to beleive which here I will take the boldnesse to translate Albion Haereseos velatur nocte viator Desine Mirari Sol suus hic latitat Wonder not Reader that with Heresies England is clouded Here her SUN he LIES The Prose-part my Charity induces me to credit Inopia ferme laborabat alios inopia sublevans He eased others of Poverty being himself almost pinched therewith Benefactors to the Publick JOHN WALTER was born in the City of Hereford Know Reader I could learn little from the Minister which preached his funeral less from his acquaintance least from his Children Such his hatred of vain glory that as if Charity were guiltinesse he cleared himself from all suspicion thereof Yet is our Intelligence of him though breif true as followeth He was bred in London and became Clerk of Drapers-hall Finding the World to flow fast in upon him he made a solemn Vow to God that he would give the surplusage of his estate whatever it was to pious uses Nor was he like to those who at first maintained ten thousand pounds too much for any man which when they have attained they then conceive ten times so much too little for themselves but after his Cup was filled brim-full to the aforesaid proportion he conscienciously gave every drop of that which over-flowed to quench the thirst of people parched with Poverty I compare him to Elizabeth in the Gospel who as if ashamed of her shame so then reputed taken from her hid her self five Moneths so great her modesty such his concealing of his Charity though pregnant with good works and had not the Lanthorn of his body been lately broken it is beleived the light of his bounty had not yet been discovered He built and endowed a fair Almes house in Southwark another at Newington both in Surrey on which and other pious uses he expended well nigh ten thousand pounds whereof twenty pounds per annum he gave to Hereford the place of his Nativity His Wife and surviving Daughters were so far from grudging at his gifts and accounting that lost to them which was lent to God that they much rejoyced thereat and deserve to be esteemed joint-givers thereof because consenting so freely to his Charity He dyed in the seventy fourth year of his age 29. December Anno Domini 1656. and was solemnly buried in London Memorable Persons ROSAMUND that is saith my Authour Rosemouth but by allufion termed Rose of the World was remarkable on many accounts First for her Father VValter Lord Clifford who had large Lands about Cliffords-castle in this County secondly for her self being the Mistress-peice of beauty in that Age. Thirdly for her Paramour King Henry the second to whom she was Concubine Lastly fot her Son VVilliam Longspee the worthy Earl of Salisbury King Henry is said to have built a Labyrinth at VVoodstock which Labyrinth through length of time hath lost it self to hide this his Mistress from his jealous Iuno Queen Eleanor But Zelotypiae nihil impervium by some device she got accesse unto Her and caused her Death Rosamund was buryed in a little Nunnery at Godstowe nigh Oxford with this Epitaph Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa mundi non Rosamunda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet This Tomb doth inclose the worlds fair Rose so sweet full of favour And smell she doth now but you may guess how none of the sweetest savour Her Corps may be said to have done penances after her Death For Hugh Bishop of Lincoln coming as Visitor to this Nunnery and seeing Rosamund's body lying in the Quire under a Silken Herse with tapors continualâ—…y burning about
as when perceiving his old Palace at Otford to want water he struck his staff into the dry ground still called Saint Thomas his well whence water runneth plentifully to serve that house lately re-built unto this day Others spightful as when because a Smith dwelling in that Town had clogged his Horse he ordered that no Smith afterwards should thrive within that Parish But he who shall go about seriously to confute these Tales is as very a Fool as he was somewhat else who first impudently invented and vented them Prelates STEPHEN LANGTON Here we are at a perfect losse for the place of his birth his surname affording us so much direction in effect it is none at all Inopes nos copia fecit finding no fewer than twelve Langtons though none very near to this place which makes us fly to our marginal refuge herein Stephen born in England was bred in Paris where he became one of the greatest Scholars of the Christian world in his age He was afterwards consecrated Cardinal of Saint Chrysogone and then by Papal power intruded Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in defiance of all opposition which King John could make against him Many are his learned Works writing Comments on all the Old and on some of the New Testament He was the first that divided the whole Bible into Chapters as Robert Stephens a French-man that curious Critick and painful Printer so ne six score years since first subdivided into Verses A worthy Work making Scripture more managable in mens memories and the passages therein the sooner to be turned to as any person who is â—…ooner found out in the most populous City if methodized into Streets and Houses with signs to which the Figures affixed do fitly allude Say not this was a presumption incurring the curse denounced to such who adde to Scripture it being no Addition but an Illustration thereof Besides God set the first pattern to mens industry herein seeing the distinction of some Verses may be said to be Jure Divino as those in the Lamentations and elsewhere which are Alphabetically modelled As causless their complaint who cavil at the inequality of Chapters the eighth of the first of Kings being sixty six the last of Malachy but six verses seeing the entireness of the sense is the standard of their length or shortness It is confessed some few Chapters end and others begin obruptly and yet it is questionable whether the ateration thereof would prove advantageous seeing the reforming of a small fault with a great change doth often hurt more than amend and such alterations would discompose Millions of Quotations in excellent Authors conformed to the aforesaid received divisions Here it must not be concealed that notwithstanding this general tradition of Langtons chaptering the Bible some learned men make that design of far ancienter date and particularly that able Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman This I am confident of that Stephen Langton did something much material in order thereunto and the Improver is usually called the Inventor by a complemental mistake However though I believe Langton well employed in dividing the Bible he was ill busâ—…ed in rending asunder the Church and Kingdom of England reducing King Iohn to sad extremities He died and was buried at Canterbury Anno Dom. 1228. Souldiers WILLIAM PRUDE Esquire vulgarly called Proud was born in this City where his stock have continued for some hundreds of years bred a Souldier in the Low Countreys where he attained to be Lieutenant Colonel He was slain Iuly 12. 1632. at the siege of Mastrich His body which I assure you was no usual honour was brought over into England and buried in the Cathedral of Canterbury in Saint Michaels Chappel on the South side of the Quire with this Inscription on his Monument Stand Souldiers ere you march by way of charge Take an example here that may enlarge Your minds to noble Action Here in peace Rests one whose Life was War whose rich encrease Of Fame and Honour from his Valour grew Unbegg'd unbought for what he won he drew By just desert having in service been A Souldier till near sixty from sixteen Years of his active Life continually Fearless of Death yet still prepar'd to die In his Religious Thoughts for midd'st all harmes He bare as much of Piety as Armes Now Souldiers on and fear not to intrude The Gates of Death by th' example of this Prude He married Mary Daughter of Sir Adam Sprackling Knight and had Issue by her four Sons and three Daughters to whose memory his surviving Son Searles Prude hath erected this Monument Writers OSBERN of CANTERBURY so called because there he had his first birth or best Being as Chanter of the Cathedral Church therein An admirable Musitian which quality endeared him though an Englishman to Lankfrank the Lordly Lombard and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He was the English Jubal as to the curiosity thereof in our Churches An Art which never any spake against who understood it otherwise Apollo is in a sad case if Midas his ears must be his Judges However in Divine Service all Musick ought to be tuned to edification that all who hear may understand it otherwise it may tend to delight not devotion and true zeal cannot be raised where knowledge is depressed This Osbern wrote the life of Saint Dunstan in pure Latine according to that age flourishing under William the Conquerer Anno 1070. SIMON LANGTON was by his Brother Stephen Langton the Arch-Bishop preferred Arch-Deacon of Canterbury who Carne sanguine revelante saith the Record made the place much better both to him and his successors in revenue and jurisdiction A troublesome man he was and on his Brothers score a great adversary to King Iohn even after that King had altered his Copy and became of a fierce Foe a Son-Servant to the Pope by resigning his Crown unto him But our Simon could not knock off when he should having contracted such an habit of hatred against K. Iohn that he could not depose it though commanded under the pain of excommunication This caused him to trudge to the Court of Rome where he found little favour For such who will be the Popes white Boyes must watchfully observe his signals and not only charge when he chargeth but retreat when he retreateth This Simon beside others wrote a Book of the penitence of Magdalene in relation it seems to himself though she found more favour in the Court of Heaven than he at Rome He died Anno Dom. 12 Benefactors to the Publick JOHN EASDAY was Alderman and Mayor of this City Anno 1585. He found the Walls thereof much ruined and being a man but of an indifferent estate began the reparation thereof at Ridingate and therein proceeded so far as his name is inscribed on the Wall whose exemplary endeavours have since met with some to commend none to imitate them THOMAS NEVILE born in this City of most honourable extraction as his name is enough to notifie
England to the great prejudice of English Artisans which caused the insurrection in London on ill May-day Anno Dom. 1517. Nor was the City onely but Country Villages for four miles about filled with French fashions and infections The Proverb is applied to such who contemning the custome of their own Country make themselves more ridiculous by affecting forraign humours and habits Princes EDVVARD sole surviving Son of King Henry the eight and Jane his Wife was born at Hampton Court in this County Anno Dom. 1537. He succeeded his Father in the Kingdome and was most eminent in his Generation seeing the Kings of England fall under a five-fold division 1. Visibly Vicious given over to dissolutenesse and debauchery as King Edward the second 2. Potius extra vitia quà m cum virtutibus Rather free from Vice then fraught with Virtue as King Henry the third 3. In quibus aequali temperamento magnae virtutes inerant nec minora vitia In whom Vices and Virtues were so equally matched it was hard to decide which got the Mastery as in King Henry the eight 4 Whose good qualities beat their bad ones quite out of distance of Competition as in King Edward the first 5 Whose Virtues were so resplendent no faults humane frailties excepted appeared in them as in this King Edward He died July 5. 1553. and pity it is that he who deserved the best should have no monument erected to his memory indeed a brass Altar of excellent workmanship under which he was buried I will not say sacrificed with an untimely death by the treachery of others did formerly supply the place of his Tombe which since is abolished under the notion of superstition Guesse the goodness of his head and heart by the following letters written to Barnaby Fitz-Patrick Gentleman of his Bedchamber and brought up with him copyed out from the Originalls by the Reverend Arch-Bishop of Armagh and bestowed upon me Say not they are but of narrow and personal concernment seeing they are sprinkled with some passages of the Publique Neither object them written by a Child seeing he had more man in him than any of his Age. Besides Epistles are the calmest communicating truth to Posterity presenting History unto us in her night cloths with a true face of things though not in so fine a dress as in other kindes of writings EDVVARD We have received your Letters of the eighth of this present moneth whereby we understand how you are well entertained for which we are right glad and also how you have been once to goe on Pilgrimage For which cause we have thought good to Advertise you that hereafter if any such chance happen you shall desire leave to goe to Mr. Pickering or to Paris for your business And if that will not serve to declare to some man of Estimation with whom you are best acquainted that as you are loth to offend the French King because you have been so favourably used so with safe conâ—…cience you cannot do any such thing being brought up with me and bound to obey my Laws Also that you had Commandment from me to the Contrary yet if you be vehemently procured you may go as waiting on the King not as intending to the abuse nor willingly seeing the Ceremonies and so you look on the Masse But in the mean season regard the Scripture or some good Book and give no reverence to the Masse at all Furthermore remember when you may conveniently be absent from the Court to tarry with Sir William Pickering to be instructed by him how to use your self For Women as far forth as you may avoid their Company Yet if the French King command you you may some time Dance so measure be your meane else apply your self to Riding Shooting Tennis or such honest games not forgetting some times when you have leisure your learning cheifly reading of the Scriptures This I write not doubting but you would have done though I had not written but to spur you on your exchange of 1200 Crowns you shall receive either monthly or quarterly by Bartholomew Campaignes Factor in Paris He hath warrant to receive it by here and hath written to his Factors to deliver it you there we have signed your Bill for wages of the Chamber which Fitzwilliams hath likewise we have sent a Letter into Ireland to our Deputy that he shall take Surrender of your Fathers Lands and to make again other Letters Patent that those Lands shall be to him you and your Heirs lawfully begotten for ever adjoyning thereunto two religious Houses you spake for Thus fare you well from Westminster the 20 of December 1551. Mr. BARNABY I have of late sent you a Letter from Bartholmew Campaigne for your payment by the French Embassadors Pacquet I doubt not but your good nature shall profitably and Wisely receive the Kings Majesties Letter to you Fatherly of a Child Comfortably of your Soveraign Lord and most wisely of so young a Prince And so I beseech you that you will think wheresoever you go you carry with you a Demonstration of the Kings Majesty coming a Latere Suo and bred up in Learning and Manners with him with your conservation and modesty let me therefore believe the good reports of the King to be true and let them perceive what the King is when one brought up with him Habeat Virtutis tam Clarum Specimen This I write boldly as one that in you willeth our Masters honour and credit and I pray you use me as one that loveth you in plain termes Scribled in hast from Westminster the 22 of December 1551. Yours to use and have W. Cecill To the KINGS MAIESTY According to my bounden Duty I most humbly thank your Highness for your gratious Letters of the 20 of December lamenting nothing but that I am not able by any meanes nor cannot deserve any thing of the goodness your Highness hath shewed towards me And as for the avoiding of the company of the Ladies I will assure your Highness I will not come into their Company unless I do wait upon the French King As for the Letter your Majesty hath granted my Father for the assurance of his Lands I thank your Highness most humbly confessing my self as much bound to you as a Subject to his Soveraign for the same As for such simple news as is here I thought good to certifie your Majesty It did happen that a certain Saint standing in a blind corner of the Street where my Lord Admirall lay was broken in the night-time when my Lord was here which the French men did think to have been done by the English-men and the English-men did think it to have been done by some French-men of spite because the English-men lay in that street and now since that time they have prepared another Saint which they call our Ladie of Silver because the French King that dead is made her once of clean Silver and afterwards was stoln like as she hath been divers times both stolen
Etymology was peculiar to himself who would have it termed Mildew because it grindeth the Grain aforehand making it to dwindle away almost to nothing It falleth be it Mist or Dew when Corn is almost ripe for the Sicle and antidateth the Harvest not before it is welcome but before it is wished by the Husbandman Grain being rather withered then ripened thereby If after the fall a good Rain or strong wind cometh it washeth and wipeth it off so that no mischeif is done Otherwise the hot Sun arising sealeth to use the Husbandmans Phrase the Mildew upon the Straw and so intercepteth the Nourishment betwixt the Root and the Ear especially if it falleth not on the Hoase which is but another case and hath another Tunicle under it but on the stripped Straw near to the top of the Stalk Grain growing under Hedges where the wind hath least power is most subject thereunto though VVheat of all Grain is most Bearded VVheat of VVheat is least liable unto it Not that the Hawnes thereof are Spears to fright the Mildew from it but advantagious Gutters to slide it away the sooner which sticketh on notted or pollard VVheat Inland Counties Northampton-shire Bedford-shire c. complain the least Maritime the most of Mildew which insinuateth the Vapors of the Sea to be causall thereof Some hold that seeing it falls from the Skies Earth hath no guard for Heavens blowe save praier which in this very case is prescribed by Solomon But others conceive that humane may be subordinate to Spiritual means to prevent not the falling but the hurting of this Dew in such a degree and hopefully expect the Remedy from the Ingenuity of the next Generation I am the rather confirmed in my Hopes because a help hath been found out against the smooting of VVheat at leastwise in some good proportion I say the smooting of VVheat which makes it a Negro as Mildew makes it a Dwarfe viz. by mingling the seed with Lyme as your Husbandmen will inform you And for my Vale to this County I heartily desire that either God would of his Goodnesse spare the Fruits of the Earth from so hurtful a Casualty or put it into the Minds of Men if it may stand with his VVill to find out some defensitive in some part to abate the Malignity thereof LONDON It is the second City in Christendome for greatnesse and the first for good Government There is no civilized part of the World but it hath heard thereof though many with this mistake that they conceive London to be the Country and England but the City therein Some have suspected the declining of the Lustre thereof because of late it vergeth so much VVestward increasing in Buildings in Convent Garden c. But by their Favour to disprove their Fear it will be found to Burnish round about to every point of the compasse with new Structures daily added thereunto It oweth its greatnesse under Gods Divine providence to the well conditioned River of Thames which doth not as some Tyrant Rivers in Europe abuse its strength in a destructive way but imployeth its greatnesse in goodnesse to be beneficial for commerce by the Reciprocation of the Tide therein Hence it was that when K. James offended with the City threatned to remove his Court to another place the Lord Maior boldly enough returned that he might remove his Court at his pleasure but could not remove the River of Thames Erasmus will have London so called from Lindus a City of Rhodes averring a great resemblance betwixt the Language and Customes of the Britains and Grecians But Mr. Camden who no doubt knew of it honoureth not this his Etymology with the least mention thereof As improbable in my apprehension is the deduction from Ludstown Town being a Saxon no Brittish Termination and that it was so termed from Lan Dian a Temple of Diana standing where now St. Pauls doth is most likely in my opinion Manufactures Natural Commodities are not to be expected to growe in this place which is only the Field of Art and Shop General of England Cheapsiae being called the best Garden only by Metaphore seeing otherwise nothing but Stones are found therein As for London Manufactures they are so many I shall certainly loose my self in this Labyrinth if offering to enter in leaving therefore all intermediate Inventions to others I will only insist on the Needle and the Engine as the least and greatest Instruments imployed therein Needles The Use hereof is right ancient though sewing was before Needles For we read that our first parents made themselves Aprons by sewing Fig leaves together either fastning them with some Glutinous Matter or with some sharp thing joyning them together A Pin is a Blind Needle a Needle a Pin with an Eye What Nails do in solid Needles do in supple Bodies putting them together only they remain not there formally but vertually in the Thread which they leave behind them It is the womans Pencil and Embroidery Vestis acu picta is the masterpeice thereof I say Embroydery much used in former neglected in our age wherein modern Gallants affecting Variety of suits desire that their Cloaths should be known by them and not as Our Ancestors They by their cloaths one suit of state serving them for several solemnities This Industrious Instrument Needle quasi Ne idle as some will have it maintaineth many millions Yea he who desireth a Blessing on the Plough and the Needle including that in the card and compass comprehendeth most Employments at home and abrode by land and by sea All I will add is this that the first fine spanish Needles in England were made in the Reign of Queen Mary in Cheapside by a Negro but such his Envy that he would teach his Art to none so that it dyed with him More charitable was Elias Crowse a German who coming over into England about the Eigth of Queen Elizabeth first taught us the Making of spanish Needles and since we have taught our selves the using of them The Engine This general Word 〈◊〉 to all Machins or Instruments use in this City hath confined to signifie that which is used to quench Scare-fires therein One Mr. Jones a Merchant living in Austin Fryers fetched the first Form thereof from Norenberge and obtained a Patent of King James that none should be made without his Approbation Two were begun but not finished in his Life time who dyed in the great Plague Primo Caroli primi since which Time William Burroughs City-Founder now living in â—…bury hath so compleated this Instrument that his additions amount to a new Invention having made it more secure from breaking and easie to be cleansed so that with the striking out of a Wedge it will cleanse it self and be fit to work again in Four Minutes Since the aforesaid 〈◊〉 hath made about threescore of these Engines for City and Country The Cooper Carpenter Smith Founder Brasier and Turner contribute their skills to the 〈◊〉 oâ—… it
revenge of the most high God suddenly arising by breaking asunder the buildings of the houses brake their cruel assaults and weakned their forces This if literally true deserved a down-right and not only so slenting a mention But hitherto meeting it in no other Author I begin to suspect it ment Metaphorically of some consternation of mind wherewith God's restraining grace charmed the adversaries of the truth Bankinus flourished under King Richard the second Anno 1382. ROBERT IVORY was saith Leland none of the meanest Natives of this City a Carmelite and President General of his Order D. D. in Cambridge He wrote several books and Prece Precio procured many more wherewith he adorned the Library of White-Fryars in Fleet-street He dyed November the fifth 1392. JULIANA BARNES was born ex antiquâ illustri domo Understand it not in the sense wherein the same was said of a certain Pope born in a ruinous Cottage where the Sun did shine through the Rotten Walls and Roof thereof But indeed she was descended of a respective Family though I not able to find the place am fain to use my Marginal Mark of greatest uncertainty She was the Diana of her Age for Hunting and Hawking skilful also in Fishing and wrote three books of these Exercises commending the practise thereof to the Gentry of England The City of Leyden is scited in the very bottom of the Low-Countries so that the water setled their would be soon subject to putrefaction were it not by Engins forced up that it might fall and so by constant motion kept from corruption Idleness will betray Noble mens minds to the same mischief if some ingenious industry be not used for their imployment Our Julian also wrot a book of Heraldry Say not the needle is the most proper pen for the woman and that she ought to meddle with making no Coats save such as Dorcas made for the widows seeing their Sex may be not only pardoned but praised for such lawful diversions No Gentleman will severely censure the faults in her 〈◊〉 but rather imitate Julius Scaliger who passing his verdict on all Poets and coming to do the like on Sulpitia a Roman Poetress living under Domitian thus courteously concludeth Ut tam 〈◊〉 Heroinae ratio habeatur non ausim objicere ei judicii severitatem She flourished Anno Domini 1460. under King Henry the sixth ROBERT FABIAN was born and bred in this City whereof he became Sheriff 1493. Treating his Guests with good chear and wellcome he doubled his dishes with pleasant discourse being an excellent Historian witness two Chronicles of his own writing 1. From Brutus to the death of King Henry the second 2. From the first of K. Richard to the death of K. Henry the seventh He was also an excellent Poet both in Latine French and English A Modern Master wit in the contest betwixt the Poets of our age for the Laurel maketh Apollo to adjudge it to an Alderman of London because to have most wealth was a sign of most wit But had the Scene of this competition been laid seven score years since and the same remitted to the umpirage of Apollo in sober sadness he would have given the Laurel to this our Alderman As for his Histories if the whole strain of them doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be indulged to him that followed the genius of his own education He died at London 1512. and was buried in the Church of All-hallows where he hath a tedious and barbarous Epitaph as commonly Reader I should be glad to have my observation confuted who hath worse Poetry then Poets on their Monuments After his death Cardinal Wolsey caused so many Copies of his Book as he could come by to be burnt because therein he had opened the Coffers of the Church too wide and made too clear discovery of the Revenues of the Clergy THOMAS LUPSET was born in this City and was related to most English and some forraign learned eminencies of his age 1. Bred a child in the house of Dean â—…olet 2. Under W. Lilly in St. Pauls School 3. Sent to Oxford where he became Greek Professor 4 Resigns his place to his friend Ludovicus Vives 5. Travailed into Italy and at Padua was familiar with C. Pole 6. Was known unto Erasmus who giveth him this Character Hujus ingenio nihil gratius nihil amantius 7. Intended Divinity diverted by Cardinal Woolsy 8. At Paris was Tutor to Th. Winter a ward to the Cardinal 9. Returning into England was known to King Henry the eight 10. Began to grow into his favour when cut off with a Consumption 1532. in the prime of his life He died in London and lieth buried in the Church of Saint Alphage nigh Cripplegate without a monument Since the Reformation JOHN RASTALL was a Citizen and Printer of London by marriage a kin to Sir Thomas More and when the said Sir Thomas and Bishop Fisher wrote in defence of Purgatory to prove it by Scripture Rastall undertook to maintain it by reason Surely he that buy 's the two former books deserveth to have this last given him to make him a saver Some will say the former two indeavoured to prove the fire and Rastall the smoak of Purgatory But to pass by his works in Divinity he 〈◊〉 a good Mathematician and made a Comedy of Europe Asia and Africa which my Author saith was very witty and very large and I can believe the later seeing he had three parts of the world for his subject and how long would it have been had America been added He wrote a book against John Frith but afterwerds convinced with his adversaries arguements recanted it of his own accord the cause why we have placed him since the Reformation He wrote a book of the terms of Law and made an Index to Justice Fitz Herbert yea I behold this John as father to Rastall the famous Lawyer of whom before He died and was buried at London 1536. EDWARD HALL We may trace him from his cradle to his coffin as followeth 1. He was a Citizen of Londâ—…n by his birth 2. He was bred a Scholar at Eaton 3. Thence he removed and was one of the Foundation of Kings-colledge 4. Thence he went to Grays-Inn and studied the Municipal-law 5. He became common Serjeant of London for the well discharging whereof he 6 Was advanced to be one of the Judges in the Sheriffs Court 7. Wrote an elegant history of the wars of York and Lancaster from K. Henry the fourth till the end of King Henry the eight 8. Died a very aged man 1547. He was as by some passages in his book may appear in that age well affected to the Reformation He lieth buried in the Church of Saint Sithes contracted I think for Saint Osiths where I cannot recover any Epitaph upon him WILLIAM FULKE D. D. was born in this City bred first Fellow of
Saint John's then Master of Pembroke hall in Cambridge His studies were suitable to his years when young a good Philosopher witness his book of Meteors afterwards his endeavours ascended from the middle region of the aire to the highest heavens when he bâ—…came a pious and solid Divine Now the Romanists seeing they could no longer blind-fold their Laitie from the Scriptures resolved to fit them with false spectacles and set forth the Rhemish Translation which by Doctor Fulke was learnedly confuted though he never attained any great preferâ—…ent in the Church Here it is worth our pains to peruse the immediate succession of Masters in Pembroke-hall because unparallel'd in any English Foundation Edm. Grindall Archp. of Cant. Mat. Hutton Archp. of York Jo. Whitgift Archp. of Cant. Jo. Young 〈◊〉 of Rochester William Fulke D. D. Lanc. Andrews Bp. of Winchester Sam. Harsnet Archp. of York Nic. Felton Bp. of Eely Here though all the rest were Episcopated Doctor Fulke was but Doctor Fulke still though a man of great merit This proceeded not from any disaffection in him to the Hierarchie as some would fain suggest but principally from his love of privacy and place of Margaret-Professour wherein he died Anno Dom. 1589. EDMOND SPENCER born in this City was brought up in Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he became an excellent Scholar but especially most haypy in English Poetry as his works do declare In which the many Chaucerisms used for I will not say affected by him are thought by the ignorant to be blemishes known by the learned to be beauties to his book which notwithstanding had been more salable if more conformed to our modern language There passeth a story commonly told and believed that Spencer presenting his Poems to Queen Elizabeth She highly affected therewith commanded the Lord Cecil Her Treasurer to give him an hundred pound and when the Treasurer a good Steward of the Queens money alledged that sum was too much then give him quoth the Queen what is reason to which the Lord consented but was so busied belâ—…ke about matters of higher concernment that Spencer received no reward Whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the Queen in her Progress I was promis'd on a time To have reason for my rhyme From that time unto this season I receiv'd nor rhyme nor reason Hereupon the Queen gave strict order not without some check to her Treasurer for the present payment of the hundred pounds she first intended unto him He afterwards went over into Ireland Secretary to the Lord Gray Lord Deputy thereof and though that his office under his Lord was lucrative yet got he no estate but saith my Author Pâ—…culiari Poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est So that it fared little better with him then with William Xilander the German a most excellent Linguist Antiquary Philosopher and Mathematician who was so poor that as Thuanus saith he was thought fami non famae scribere Returning into England he was robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had and dying for grief in great want Anno 1598. was honorably buried nigh Chaucer in Westminster where this Distick concludeth his Epitaph on hâ—…s monument Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis Nunc moritura timet te moriente mori Whilst hâ—…iu didst live liv'd English poetry Which fears now thou art dead that she shall die Nor must we forget that the expence of his funeral and monument was defrayed at the sole charge of Robert first of that name Earl of Essex JOHN STOW son of Thomas Stow who died Anno 1559. grand-child to Thomas Stow who died 1526. both Citizens of London and buried in Saint Michaels in Cornhill was born in this City bred at learning no higher then a good Gramar-scholar yet he became a painful faithful and the result of both useful Historian Here to prevent mistake by the homonymie of names I request the Reader to take special notice of three brace of English writers 1. Sir Thomas commonly with the addition of De la More who lived under and wrote the life of King Edward the second 1. John Leland bred in Oxford the most exquisite Grammarian of his age who flourished Anno 1428. 1. John Stow a Benedictine Monke of Norwich Anno 1440. who wrote various Collections much cited by Caius in his history of Cambridge 2. Sir Thomas More the witty and learned Chancellour of England 2. John Leland bred in Cambridge the most eminent Antiquary under K. Henry the eight 2. John Stow this Londiner and Historian I confess I have heard him often accused that as learned Guicciardine is charged for telling magnarum rerum minutias he reporteth res in se minutas toys and trifles being such a Smell-feast that he cannot pass by Guild-hall but his pen must tast of the good chear therein However this must be indulged to his education so hard it is for a Citizen to write an History but that the fur of his gown will be felt therein Sure I am our most elegant Historians who have wrote since his time Sir Francis Bacon Master Camden c. though throwing away the basket have taken the fruit though not mentioning his name making use of his endeavors Let me adde of John Stow that however he kept tune he kept time very well no Author being more accurate in the notation thereof Besides his Chronicle of England he hath a large Survey of London and I believe no City in Christendome Rome alone excepted hath so great a volume extant thereof Plato was used to say that many good laws were made but still one was wanting viz. a law to put all those good laws in execution Thus the Citizens of London have erected many fair monuments to perpetuate their memories but still there wanted a monument to continue the memory of their monuments subject by time and otherwise to be defaced which at last by John Stow was industriously performed He died in the eightieth year of his age April 5. 1605. and is buried at the upper end of the North-Isle of the Quire of Saint Andrews-Undershaft His Chronicle since continued by another whose additions are the lively embleme of the times he writeth of as far short of Master Stow in goodness as our age is of the integrity and charity of those which went before it GILES FLETCHER was born in this City son to Giles Fletcher Dr. in law and Embassadour into Russia of whom formerly in Kent From Westminster-school he was chosen first Scholar then Fellow of Trinity colledge in Cambridge One equally beloved of the Muses and the Graces having a sanctified wit witness his worthy Poem intituled Christs Victory made by him being but Bachelour of Arts discovering the Piety of a Saint and Divinity of a Doctor He afterward applied himself to School-Divinity cross to the grain of his Genius as some conceive and attained to good skill therein When he preached at Saint Maries his
Week for ever He was when living a great Benefactor to the building of Alder-Mary-Church and by his Testament gave 1000. pounds towards the finishing thereof how barbarously he was afterwards requited and his body cast out of the grave we have formerly largely bemoaned and with just indignation HENRY the Eighth 1. GEORGE MONOX He re-edified the decayed Parish-Church of Waltamstow or Walthamstow in Essex he founded there a Free-school and Almes-houses for thirteen Almes-people he made also a Cawsey of Timber over the Marshes from Walthamstow to Lock-bridge The Farewell And now being to take my Farewell of this great City I cannot forget the verse which I find amongst others in Master Camden's commendation thereof Urbs pietate potens numeroso cive superba Potent in piety in her people proud But see the Romish charity who confine all piety to Popery The Index Expurgatoâ—…ius Printed at Madrid by Lewes Sanchez 1612. commandeth the forepart of the verse concerning their piety to be expunged letting the latter moity of their pride to remain May I in this particular be the humble Remembrancer of the City without the least intrenching on his place who worthily dischargeth that office to cross and consute that peevish and partial Index Let it be their endeavours to delete out of their hearts all high conceits of their populousness and effectually to express grace and goodness in their conversations Nor let the City of London ever forget quantillum interfuit inter maximam Civitatem et nullam How little distance there lately was betwixt the greatest City and none at all if Gates and Barrs as it is generally received be the essential difference of a City But God who can produce light out of darkness can make the plucking dâ—…wn of the Gates to be the setting up of the City Wherefore though the Eleventh day of March be generally beheld as the first day of Spring London may date her Spring from the Eleventh day of February 1659. when she effectually felt the vernal heat after a long Winter of woe and misery I heartily wish this honourable City what ever may conduce to the continuance and increase of the happiness thereof Especially that the river of Thames the lifâ—… of London as which Easeth Adorneth Inricheth Feedeth and Fortifieth it may have its Channel constantly continued The Millers Riddle If I have Water I will drink Wine But if I have no Water I must drink Water is appliable to this City so long as Thames-water continues Londoners may Wine it but should it fail they must drink water indeed and some perchance brackish too as made of their tears I will not pry too nearly and narrowly into the fancy of our Poet speaking of the ruins of old Rome Ne ought save Tiber hasting to his fall O Worlds inconstancy Remains of all That which is firm doth flit and fall away And that is flitting doth abide and stay And yet by his leave greater rivers then Tiber have in process of time had their streams by casualties or neglect partly drained wholy dryed or otherwise diverted My humble request therefore to the Officers of the City is effectually to own their concernment in the river of Thames in clearing and cleansing it from Sholes Sands and other obstructing incroachments that they may leave it as well to posterity as they found it from their fathers WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER is the greatest City in England next London not onely in Position but by the Dimensions thereof For let it be taken as truly it ought extensively with the Liberty of Lancaster from Temple-bar and it filleth as much ground not to say containeth more reasonable souls then any City in the Land But as a proper man seemeth a Dwarfe when placed next to a Giant such the infelicity of Westminster whose due greatness devoured by the vicinity of London is insensible in the eyes of the Beholders It was anciently called Thorney and afterwards Westminster for distinction from Saint Pauls called in ancient times Eastminster The Buildings The Abbey Church is beheld as a rare structure with so small and slender Pillars greatest legs argue not the strongest Man to support so weighty a fabrick built by King Henry the third and afterwards much enlarged and beautified by the Abbots thereof Adjoyning to it is the Chappel of King Henry the seventh which Leland calls the Miracle of the World Indeed let the Italians deride our English and condemn them for Gothish Buildings This they must admire and may here take notes of Architecture if their pride would permit them to perfect theirs accordingly In this Chappel the founder thereof with his Queen lieth interr'd under a Monument of solid Brass most richly gilded and Artificialy carved Some slight it for the cheapness because it cost but a thousand pounds in the making thereof Such do not consider it as the work of so thrifty a Prince who would make a little money go far besides that it was just at the turning of the Tide as one may term it of money which flowed after the finding out of the West-Indies though ebbing before Amongst the civil structures Westminster-Hall is eminent erected by King W. Rufus for the Hall to his own Court built with copwebless beams conceived of Irishwood Sure I am we then had no command in that Island as first subdued by King Henry the second It is one of the greatest rooms in Christendome and indeed it needeth to be of good capacity to receive so many Plantiffes and Defendants being at such mutual distance of affection Next is White-hall the Palace of ouâ—… English Kings which one term'd a good Hypocrite promising less then it performeth and more convenient within then comely without to which the Nursery of Saint James's was an appendant As for the houses of Noble-men all along the Strand I desire to be excused from commending some lest it should by caviling Spirits be implicitely interpreted a dispraise of the rest Besides I am ignorant under what name to commend them to posterity so many houses daily new-dipt assume to themselves new names according to the alteration of their Owners I conclude them therefore all best and best of all whilst they continue in the hands of their present possessors Proverbs As sure as Exchequer pay All know that the Exchequer was formerly the Treasury of the Kings of England kept in this City the pleading part on the one side and the paying part on the other side of Westminster-hall This Proverb was in the prime thereof in the raign of Queen Elizabeth who maintained her Exchequer to the heigth that her Exâ—…hequer might maâ—…tain her The pay thereof was sure inwards nothing being remitted which was due there to the Queen and sure outwards nothing being detained which was due thence from the Queen full and speedy payment being made thereof This Proverb began to be crost about the end of the raign of King James when the credit of the Exchequer began to decay and
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
happiness Writers RALPH FRESBOURNE was born in this County bred a Souldier Scholar Travailer being a man of great estate and at last turn'd a Frier He attended Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans into the Holy-land Here he came acquainted with the Friers living on Mount Carmel which were then much molested with the inrodes of Pagans Our Ralph pitying their condition and much taken with their sanctity and as some say miracles brought them over with him into England and built them an house at Holme nigh Alnwick in Northumberland In loco Carmelo Syriae non dissimili saith my Author In a place not unlike to Carmel in Syria Thus pence are like shillings and as Carmel had an Hill with the river Kishon running under it a Forrest beside it and the Mid-land-Sea some three miles from it so this had the river Alne a Park adjoyning and the German-Sea at the same distance But Northumberland was but a cold Carmel for these Friers who soon got themselves warmer nests in Kent Essex London and where not Multiplying more in England then in any other Country as Mantuan observeth and hath not ill expressed Cur apud Anglorum populos ita creverit audi Anglicus in Syrias veniens exercitus olim Achonem Tyrii positam prope litora ponti Quae priùs occurrit subit is oppresserat armis Hear why that they so much in England thriv'd th' English earst in Palestine arriv'd The City Acon on the shore of Tyre As next at hand with arms did soon acquire And after some verses interpos'd Ista duces tanta intuiti miracula secum In patriam duxere viros quibus arma negabant In laribus sedem Assyriâ—… templa domosque Construxere novas Pauc is it a fâ—…ruit annis Relligio quasi virga solo depact a feraci Et veluti palmes robur translata recepit The Captains seeing so great wonders wrought These Friers with them into England brought What war deni'd at home they here anew Churches and Houses built In years but few Increasing twig-like set by happy band Or tree transplanted to a fruitful land This Ralph wrote Books of pious exhortations and Epistles and after he had been fourteen years provincial of his own Order died and was buried at Holme aforesaid Anno Domini 1274. JOHANNES SCOTUS We have formerly asserted the very Scociety of this Scotus his nativity to belong to England and have answered the objections to the contrary He was born at Dunston a village in the Parish of Emildon in this County as appeareth by a writing in a book of his in Merton-colledge wherein he was bred He was a Franciscan by Order and of such nimble and solid parts that he got the title of Doctor subtilis Hitherto all School-men were like the world before the building of Babel of one language and of one speech agreeing together in their opinions which hereafter were divided into two Regâ—…ments or Armies rather of Thomists and Scotists under their several Generals opposing one another Scotus was a great stickler against the Thomists for that sinful opinion that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin which if so how came she to rejoyce in God her Saviour He read the Sentences thrice over in his solemn Lectures once at Oxford again at Paris and last at Colen where he died or was kill'd rather because falling into a strong fit of an Apoplexy he was interred whilst yet alive as afterwards did appear Small amends were made for his hasty burial with an handsome monument erected over him at the cost of his Order otherwise whether as Scot Scholar or Franciscan he had little wealth of his own in the Quire before the High Altar On his Monument are inscribed the names of fifteen Franciscans viz. three Popes and two Cardinals on the top and ten Doctors whereof six English on the sides thereof all his Contemporaries as I conceive He died Anno Dom. 1308. Benefactors to the Publick STEPHEN BROWN Grocer son of John Brown was born at Newcaste upon Tine in this County afterwards Knighted and made Lord Mayor of London 1438. In which year happened a great and general famine caused much by unseasonable weather but more by some Huckstering Husbandmen who properly may be termed Knaves in grain insomuch that wheat was sold for three shillings a bushel intollerable according to the standard of those times and poor people were forced to make bread of fern roots But this Sir Stephen Brown sent certain ships to Dantz whose seasonable return with Rye suddenly sunk grain to reasonable rates whereby many a languishing life was preserved He is beheld one of the first Merchants who in want of Corn shewed the Londoners the way to the Barn-door I mean into Spruseland prompted by charity not covetousness to this his Adventure He may be said that since his death he hath often relieved the City on the like occasion because as Symmachus well observeth Author est bonorum sequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum ROBERT WOODLARKE was born saith my Author at Wakerly in this County True it is in my late Church History I have challenged him for Northamptonshire Because there is no VVakerly in Northumberland Because there is a VVakerly in Northamptonshire But on second thoughts I resige him clear to this County loth to higgle for a letter or two misprinted perchance in the name of a Town This VVoodlarke was the last of the first Original Fellows and third Provost of Kings-colledge in Cambridge He bought three tenements in Miln-street and by a Mortmain procured from King Edward the fourth erected of them a small Colledge by the name of Saint Katharines-hall As is the man so is his strength great matters cannot be expected from so private a person who never attained to any Prelatical preferment who was bountiful to his Foundation to the utmost of his ability Herein he stands alone without any to accompany him being the first and last who was Master of one Colledge and at the same time Founder of another This his Zoar hath since met with many worthy Benefactours who have advanced it to be considerable both in buildings and revenues The date of his death I cannot with any certainty affix Memorable Persons MACHELL VIVAN is a Scotish-man by his birth but because beneficed in this County so many years shall by the Readers leave pass for an English-man so far as to be here inserted The rather because he will minister to the present and future ages just matter of admiration as by the perusing of the ensuing letter from my credible friend well know in London where his surviving Father was not long since the Prime Magistrate thereof will appear There is an acquaintance of mine and a friend of yours who certified me of your desire of being satisfied of the truth of that relation I made concerning the old Minister in the North. It fortuned in my journey to
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
behold Bristol as the staple-place thereof where alone it was anciently made For though there be a place in London nigh Cheapside called Sopers-lane it was never so named from that Commodity made therein as some have supposed but from Alen le Soper the long since owner thereof Yea it is not above an hundred and fifty years by the confession of the Chronicler of that City since the first Sope was boyled in London Before which time the Land was generally supplyed with Castile from Spain and Graysope from Bristol Yea after that London medled with the making thereof Bristol-sope notwithstanding the portage was found much the cheaper Great is the necessity thereof seeing without Sope our bodies would be no better than dirt before they are turned into dust men whilst living becoming noisome to themselves and others Nor lesse its antiquity For although our modern Sope made of Pot-ashes and other ingredients was unknown to the Ancient yet had they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 something which effectually supplied the place thereof making their Woollen clear their Linnen-Cloth cleanly Christ is compared by the Prophet to Fullers sope in Hebrew Borith which word Arias Montanus in his Interlineary Bible reteineth untranslated but in his Comment following the example of St. Hierom on the place rendreth it Herba fullonum expounding it to be Saponaria in English Sopeworth Indeed both Dodoneus and Gerardus writeth thereof This plant hath no use in Physick Yet seeing nature made nothing in vain Sopeworth cannot justly be charged as useless because purging though not the body the Clothes of a man and conducing much to the neatnesse thereof The Buildings Ratcliffe Church in this City clearly carrieth away the credit from all Parish-Churches in England It was founded by Cannings first a Merchant who afterwards bâ—…ame a Priest and most stately the ascent thereunto by many stairs which at last plentifully recompenceth their pains who climb them up with the magnificent structure both without and within If any demand the cause why this Church was not rather made the See of a Bishop then St. Augustins in this City much inferiour thereunto such may receive this reason thereof That this though an intire stately structure was not conveniently accomodated like St. Augustins formerly a great Monastery with publick Buildings about it for the Palace of a Bishop and the Reception of the Dean and Chapter However as the Town of Hague in Holland would never be Walled about as accounting it more credit to be the Biggest of Villages in Europe than but a Lesser City so Ratcliffe-Church esteemeth it a greater grace to lead the Van of all Parochial than to follow in the Rear after many Cathedral Churches in England Medicinal Waters St. Vincents Well lying West of the City under St. Vincents Rock and hard by the River is sovereign for Sores and Sicknesses to be washt in or drunk of to be either outwardly or inwardly applyed Undoubtedly the Water thereof runneth through some Mineral of Ironâ—… as appeareth by the rusty ferruginous taste thereof which it retaineth though boiled never so much Experience proveth that Beer brewed thereof is wholesome against the Spleen and Dr. Samuel VVard afflicted with that malady and living in Sidney-Colledge was prescribed the constant drinking thereof though it was costly to bring it thorough the Severn and narrow seas to Lin and thence by the River to Cambridge But men in pain must not grudge to send far to purchase their ease and thank God if they can so procure it Proverbs Bristol Milk Though as many Elephants are fed as Cows grased within the Walls of this City yet great plenty of this Metaphorical Milk whereby Xeres or Sherry-Sack is intended Some will have it called Milk because whereas Nurses give new-born Babes in some places Pap in other water and sugar such Wine is the first moisture given Infants in this City It is also the entertainment of course which the courteous Bristolians present to all Strangers when first visiting their City Martyrs The moderation of John Holyman Bipshop of this City is much to be commended who in the reign of Queen Mary did not persecute any in his Diocess And yet we find Rich. Sharpe Tho. Benion and Tho. Hale martyred in this City whose Bloud the Inquisitor thereof will visit on the account of Dalbye the cruel Chancellour of this Dio cess Prelates RALPH of BRISTOL born in this City was bred as I have cause to conceive in the Neighbouring Covent of Glassenbury Going over into Ireland first he became Treasurer of St. Patricks in Dublin then Episcopus Darensis Bishop of Kildare He wrote the life of Lawrence Arch-Bishop of Dublin and granted saith my Author certain Indulgences to the Abbey of Glassenbury in England probably in testimony of his Gratitude for his Education therein He died Anno Dom. 1232. Since the Reformation TOBIAS MATTHEW D. D. was born in this City bred first in St. Johns then in Christ-Church in Oxford and by many mediate Preferments became Bishop of Durham and at last York But it will be safest for my Pen now to fast for fear for a Surfeit which formerly feasted so freely on the Character of this Worthy Prelate who died 1628. Sea-men No City in England London alone excepted hath in so short a Time bred more Brave and Bold Sea-men advantaged for Western Voyages by its situation They have not only been Merchants but Adventurers possessed with a Publick Spirit for the General Good Aiming not so much to return wealthier as wiser not alwayes to en-rich themselves as inform Posterity by their Discoveries Of these some have been but meerly casual when going to fish for Cod they have found a Country or some eminent Bay River or Hauen of importance unknown before Others were intentional wherein they have sown experiments with great pains cost and danger that ensuing Ages may freely reap benefit thereof Amongst these Sea-men we must not forget HUGH ELIOT a Merchant of this City who was in his Age the prime Pilot of our Nation He first with the assistance of Mr. Thorn his fellow-Citizen found out New-found-land Anno 1527. This may be called Old-found-land as senior in the cognizance of the English to Virginia and all our other Plantations Had this Discovery been as fortunate in publick Encouragement as private Industry probably before this time we had enjoyed the Kernel of those Countries whose Shell only we now possess It 's to me unknown when Eliot deceased Writers THOMAS NORTON was born in this City and if any doubt thereof let them but consult the Initial syllables in the six first and the first line in the seventh chapter of his Ordinal which put together compose Thomas Norton of Briseto A parfet Master you may him trow Thus his modesty embraced a middle way betwixt concealing and revealing his name proper for so great a Professor in Chymistry as he was that his very name must from his
Book be mysteriously extracted He was scarce twenty eight years of Age when in fourty dayes believe him for he saith so of himself he learn'd the perfection of Chymistry taught as it seems by Mr. George Ripley But what saith the Poet Non minor est virtus quà m quaerere parta tueri The spight is he complaineth that a Merchants wife of Bristol stole from him the Elixir of life Some suspect her to have been the wife of William Cannings of whom before contemporary with Norton who started up to so great and sudden Wealth the clearest evidence of their conjecture The admirers of this Art are justly impatient to hear this their great Patron traduced by the Pen of J. Pits and others by whom he is termed Nugarum opifex in frivola scientia and that he undid himself and all his friends who trusted him with their money living and dying very poor about the year 1477. JOHN SPINE I had concluded him born at Spine in Bark-shire nigh Newbury but for these diswasives 1. He lived lately under Richard the Third when the Clergy began to leave off their Local Surnames and in conformity to the Laity to be called from their Fathers 2 My Author peremptorily saith he was born in this City I suspect the name to be Latinized Spineus by Pits and that in plain English he was called Thorn an ancient Name I assure you in this City However he was a Carmelite and a Doctor of Divinity in Oxford leaving some Books of his making to posterity He died and was buried in Oxford Anno Dom. 1484. JOHN of MILVERTON Having lost the Fore I must play an After-game rather than wholely omit such a Man of Remark The matter is not much if he be who was lost in Somerset-shire where indeed he was born at Milverton be found in Bristol where he first fixed himself a Frier Carmelite Hence he went to Oxford Paris and at last had his abode in London He was Provincial General of his Order thorough England Scotland and Ireland so that his Jurisdiction was larger than King Edward the Fourth's under whom he flourished He was a great Anti-Wiâ—…liffist and Champion of his Order both by his writing and preaching He laboured to make all believe that Christ himself was a Carmelite Professor of wilful Poverty and his high commending of the Poverty of Friers tacitly condemned the Pomp of the Prelates Hereupon the Bishop of London being his Diocesan caâ—…t him into the Jaile from whom he appealed to Paul the II. and coming to Rome he was for three years â—…ept close in the Prison of St. Angelo It made his durance the more easie having the company of Platina the famous Papal Biographist the Neb of whose Pen had been too long in writing dangerous Truth At last he procured his Cause to be referred to Seven Cardinals who ordered his enlargement Returning home into England he lived in London in good repute I find him nominated Bishop of St. Davids but how he came to miss it is to me unknown Perchance he would not bite at the bait but whether because too fat to cloy the stomack of his mortified Soul or too lean to please the appetite of his concealed covetousness no man can decide He died and was buried in London 1486. WILLIAM GROCINE was born in this City and bred in Winchester-School Where he when a Youth became a most excellent Poet. Take one instance of many A pleasant Maid probably his Mistris however she must be so understood in a LoveFrolick pelted him with a Snow-ball whereon he extempore made this Latin Tetrastick Me nive candenti petiit mea Julia rebar Igne carere nivem nix tamen ignis erat Sola potes nostras extinguere Julia flammas Non nive non glacie sed potes ignes pari A snow-ball white at me did Julia throw Who would suppose it Fire was in that snow Julia alone can quench my hot desire But not with snow or Ice but equal fire He afterwards went over into Italy where he had Demetrius Calchondiles and Politian for his Masters And returning into England was Publick Professor of the Greek Tongue in Oxford There needs no more to be added to his Honour save that Erasmus in his Epistles often owns him pro Patrono suo praeceptore He died Anno 1520. Romish Exile Writers JOHN FOWLER was born in Bristol bred a Printer by his occupation but so Learned a Man that if the Character given him by one of his own perswasion be true he may pass for our English Robert or Henry Stephens being skilful in Latin and Greek and a good Poet Oratour and Divine He wrote an abridgment of Thomas his Summes the Translation of Osorius into English c. Being a zealous Papist he could not comport with the Reformation but conveyed himself and his Presse over to Antwerp where he was signally serviceable to the Catholick Cause in printing their Pamphlets which were sent over and sold in England He died at Namurch 1579. and lies there buried in the Church of St. John the Evangelist Benefactors to the Publick ROBERT THORN was born in this City as his ensuing Epitaph doth evidence I see it matters not what the Name be so the Nature be good I confesse Thorns came in by mans curse and our Saviour saith Do men gather Grapes of Thorns But this our Thorn God send us many Copices of them was a Blessing to our Nation and Wine and Oil may be said freely to flow from Him being bred a Merchant-Tailor in London he gave more than Four thousand four hundred fourty five pounds to pious uses A Sum sufficient therewith to build and endow a Colledge the time being well considered being towards the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Eighth I have observed some at the Church-dore cast in six pence with such ostentation that it rebounded from the Bottom and rung against both the sides of the Bason so that the same piece of Silver was the Alms and the Givers Trumpet whilst others have dropt down silent 5 shillings without any noise Our Thorn was of the second sort doing his Charity effectually but with a possible privacy Nor was this good Christian abroad worse in the Apostle-phrase than an Iâ—…del at home in not providing for his Family who gave to his poor Kindred besides Debt forgiven unto them the sum of five thousand one hundred fourty two pounds Grudge not Reader to peruse his Epitaph which though not so good as he deserved is better than most in that Age. Robertus cubat hic Thornus Mercator Honestus Qui sibi legitimas Arte paravit opes Huic vitam dederat parvo Bristolia quondam Londinum hoc tumulo clauserat ante diem Ornavit studiis patriam virtutibus auxit Gymnasium erexit sumptibus ipse suis. Lector quisquis ades requiem cineri precor ora Supplex precibus numina
Commodity in this County not â—…ormerly omitted by me but pretermited till this Occasion Sure it is that the finest though this may seem a word of Challenge Cloth of England is made at Worcester and such I believe was that which Erasmus that great Critick who knew fine Cloth as well as pure Latine is calleth Pannus Britannicus Lempster Wool in the neighboring County of Hereford being here made into Pardon the Prolepsis till it be died the purest Scarlet YORK-SHIRE YORK-SHIRE hath the Bishoprick of Durham and Westmer land on the North Lancashire and a snip of Cheshire on the West Derby Notingham and Lincolnshire divided by Humber on the South and the German Ocean on the East thereof It extendeth without any Angular advantages unto a square of fourscore and ten miles adequate in all Dimensions unto the Dukedome of Wirtenberg in Germany Yea on due consideration I am confident that all the seven United Provinces cannot present such a square of solid Continent without any Sea interposed One may call and justify this to be the best Shire of England and that not by the help of the generall Katachresis of Good for Great a good blow good piece c. but in the proper acception thereof If in Tullies Orations all being excellent that is adjudged optima quae longissima the best which is the longest then by the same proportion this Shire partaking in goodness alike with others must be allowed the best Seeing Devonshire it self the next in largeness wisely sensible of the visible inequality betwixt them quits all claimes of corrivality as a case desperate and acknowledgeth this as Paramont in greatness Indeed though other Counties have more of the Warm Sun this hath as much as any of God's temporall blessings So that let a Survayer set his Center at Ponâ—…fract or thereabouts and take thence the Circumference of twenty miles he there will meet with a tract of ground not exceeded for any nor equalled for the goodness and plenty of some Commodities I would term it the Garden of England save because it is so far from the Mansion House I mean the City of London Insomuch that such sullen dispositions who do not desire to go thither only because of the great distance the same if settled there would not desire to come thence such the delight and pleasure therein Most true it is that when King Henry the eight Anno 1548. made his Progress to York Doctor Tonstall Bishop of Durham then attending on him shewed the King a Valley being then some few miles North of Doncaster which the Bishop avowed to be the richest that ever he found in all his travails thorough Europe For within 10. miles of Hasselwood the seat of the Vavasors there were 165. Mannor houses of Lords Knights and Gentlemen of the best quality 275. Severall Woods whereof some of them contain five hundred Acres 32. Parks and two Chases of Dear 120. Rivers and Brooks whereof Five be Navigable well stored with Salmon and other Fish 76. Water-mills for the Grinding of Corn on the aforesaid Rivers 25. Cole-mines which yield abundance of Fuell for the whole County 3. Forges for the making of Iron and Stone enough for the same And within the same limits as much sport and pleasure for Hunting Hawking Fishing and Fowling as in any place of England besides Naturall Commodities Geat A word of the name colour vertues and usefulness thereof In Latine it is called Gagates as different in nature as alike in name to the precious stone called Gagites onely found in an Eagles nest whence our English word Geat is deduced But be it remembred that the Agate vastly distinct from Geat is also named Gagates It is found in this County towards the sea side in the clefts of the rocks whose gaping chaps are filled up therewith It is naturally of a reddish and rusty colour till it becomes black and bright by polishing Indeed the lustre consists in the blackness thereof Negroes have their beauties as well as fair folk and vulgar eyes confound the inlayings made of black Marble polished to the height with Touch Geat and Ebony though the three former be stones the last a kind of wood The vertues of Geat are hitherto conceal'd It is the lightest of all solid not porous stones and may pass for the Embleme of our memories attracting trifles thereto and letting slip matters of more moment Rings are made thereof fine foyles to fair fingers and bracelets with beads here used for Ornament beyond sea for Devotion also small utensills as Salt-cellars and the like But hear how a Poet describes it Nascitur in Lycia lapis a prope gemma Gagates Sed geâ—…us eximium faecunda Britania mittit Lucidus niger est levis laevicssimusi idem Vicinas paleas trahit attritu calefactus Ardet aquâ lotus restinguitur unctus olivo Geat a stone and kind of gemm In Lycia grows but best of them Most fruitfull Britain sends 't is bright And black and smooth and very light If rubb'd to heat it easily draws Unto it self both chaffe and straws Water makes it fiercely flame Oyle doth quickly quench the same The two last qualities some conceive to agree better to our sea-coal then Geat whence it is that some stiffly maintain that those are the Brittish Gagates meant by forraign Authors and indeed if preciousness of stones be measured not from their price and rarity but usefulness they may be accounted precious But hereof formerly in the Bishoprick of Durham Alume This was first found out nigh Geâ—…burgh in this County some sixty years since by that worthy and learned Knight Sir Thomas Chaloner Tutor to Prince Henry on this occasion He observed the leaves of trees there abouts more deeply green then elsewhere the Oakes broad-spreading but not deep-rooted with much strength but little sap the earth clayish variously coloured here White there Yellowish there Blew and the ways therein in a clear night glistering like glass symptoms which first suggested unto him the presumption of Minerals and of Alum most properly Yet some years interceded betwixt the discovery and perfecting thereof some of the Gentry of the Vicinage burying their estates here under earth before the Alum could be brought to its true consistency Yea all things could not fadge with them untill they had brought not to say stolÅ„ over three prime workmen in Hogsheads from Rochel in France whereof one Lambert Russell by name and a Walloon by birth not long since deceased But when the work was ended it was adjudged a Mine Royal and came at last to be rented by Sir Paul Pindar who paid yearly To The King 12500. The Earl of Moulgrave 01640. Sir William Penniman 00600. Besides large salaries to numerous Clarks and daily wages to Rubbish-men Rockmen Pit-men and House-men or Fire-men so that at one time when the Mines were in their Majesty I am credibly informed he had in pay no fewer then eight hundred by sea and land
fratri nostro defuncto impendit in futurum fideliter impendet dedimus Concedimus eidem Thomae heredibus suis Masculis quandam Annuitatem sive annualem reditum quadraginta libraram Habendum percipiendum annuatim eidem Thomae heredibus suis de-exitibus perficuis reventionibus Comitatus Palatini nostri Lancastriae in Com. Lanc. per manus Receptoris ibidem pro tempore existente ad Festum Sancti Michaelis Arch-angeli aliquo statuto actu sive Ordinatione in contrarium editis sive provisis in aliquo non Obstante In cujus rei testimonium has literas fieri fecimus Patentes Dat. apud Ebor. 2 do Aug. Anno regni 2 do A branch of these Talbots are removed into Lancashire and from those in Yorkshire Colonel Thomas Talbot is descended Edward IV. 10 HEN. VAVASOR Mil. It is observed of this family that they never married an Heir or buried their Wives The place of their habitation is called Hassell-wood from wood which there is not wanting though stone be far more plentifull there being a quarry within that Mannor out of which the stones were taken which built the Cathedrall and Saint Maries Abby in York the Monasteries of Holden-selby and Beverly with Thornton-colledge in Lincolnshire and many others So pleasant also the prospect of the said Hassel-wood that the Cathedralls of York and Lincoln being more then 60. miles asunder may thence be discovered Hâ—…nry VIII 2 RADULPHUS EURE Alias EVERS Mil. He was afterwards by the above named King Created a Baron and Lord Warden of the Marshes towards Scotland He gave frequent demonstration as our Chronicles do testify both of his Fidelity and Valour in receiving many smart Incursions from and returning as many deep Impressions on the Scots There is a Lord Evers at this day doubtless a Remoter Descendant from him but in what distance and degree it is to me unknown 5 WILLIAM PERCY Mil. I recommend the following Passage to the Readers choicest observation which I find in Camdens Brit. in Yorkshire More beneath hard by the River Rhidals side standeth Riton an antient Possession of the antient family of the Percy-hays commonly called Percys I will not be over confident but have just cause to believe this our Sheriffe was of that Family And if so he gave for his Armes Partie per fess Argent and Gules a Lion Rampant having Will. Percy-hay Sheriff in the last of Edw. the third for his Ancestor 23 NICHOLAS FAIRFAX Mil. They took their name of Fairfax à Pulchro Capillitio from the fair hair either bright in colour or comely for the plenty thereof their Motto in alusion to their Name is Fare fac say doe such the sympathy it seems betwixt their tongues and hearts This Sir Nicholas Fairfax mindeth me of his Name-sake and Kins-man Sir Nicholas Fairfax of Bullingbrooke Knight of the Rhodes in the raign of Edward the fourth Jacomo Bosio in his Italian History of Saint John of Jerusalem saith that Sir Nicholas Fairfax was sent out of Rhodes when it was in great distress to Candia for relief of Men and Provisions which he did so well perform as the Town held out for some time longer and he gives him this Character in his own Language Cavilero Nicholo Fairfax Inglich homo multo spiritoso è prudento Queen Mary 3 CHRISTOPHER METCALFE Mil. He attended on the Judges at York attended on with three hundred Horsemen all of his own name and kindred well mounted and suitably attired The Roman Fabii the most populous tribe in that City could hardly have made so fair an appearance in so much that Master Camden gives the Metcalfes this character Quae numerosissima totius Angliae familia his temporibus censetur Which at this time viz. Anno 1607. is counted the most numerous family of England Here I forbear the mentioning of another which perchance might vie numbers with them lest casually I minister matter of contest But this Sir Christopher is also memorable for stocking the river Yower in this County hard by his house with Crevishes which he brought out of the South where they thrive both in plenty and bigness For although Omnia non omnis terra nec unda feret All lands doe not bring Nor all waters every thing Yet most places are like trees which bear no fruit not because they are barren but are not grafted so that dumbe nature seemeth in some sort to make signes to Art for her assistance If some Gentleman in our parts will by way of ingenuous retaliation make proof to plant a Colonie of such Northern Fishes as we want in our Southern Rivers no doubt he would meet with suitable success Queen Elizabeth 4 GEORGE BOWES Mil. He had a great Estate in this County and greater in the Bishoprick of Durham A Man of Metall indeed and it had been never a whit the worse if the quickness thereof had been a little more allayed in him This was he who some seven years after viz. Anno 1569. was besieged by the Northern Rebells in Bernards Castle and streightned for Provision yielded the same on Condition they might depart with their Armour After the suppression of the Rebells their Execution was committed to his Care wherein he was severe unto Cruelty For many Well-meaning people were ingaged and others drawn in into that Rising who may truely be termed Loyall Traytors with those two hundred men who went after Absolon in their simplicity and knew not any thing solicited for the Queens service These Sir George hung up by scoars by the Office of his Marshallship and had hung more if Mr. Bernard Gilpin had not begged their lives by his importunate intercession 23 ROBERT STAPLETON Mil. He was descended from Sir Miles Stapleton one of the first founders of the Garter and Sheriâ—… in the 29. of Edward the third He met the Judges with sevenscore men in suitable liveries and was saith my Author in those days for a man well spoken properly seen in languages a comely and goodly personage had scant an equall except Sir Philip Sidney no superior in England He married one of the Co heirs of Sir Henry Sherington by whom he had a numerous posterity 42 FRANCIS CLIFFORD Ar. He afterwards succeeded his Brother George in his Honours and Earldome of Cumberland a worthy Gentleman made up of all Honorable accomplishments He was Father to Henry the fifth and last Earl of that Family whose sole Daughter and Heir was married to the right Honourable and well worthy of his Honour the then Lord Dungarvon since Earl of Cork 45 HENRY BELLASIS Mil. He was afterwards by King Charles Created Baron Fauconbridge of Yarum as since his Grandchild by his Eldest Son is made Vicount Fauconbridge John Bellasis Esquire his second Son who in the Garrison of Newarke and elsewhere hath given ample Testimony of his Valour and all Noble Qualities accomplishing a Person of Honour since is advanced to the dignity of a Baron
the Dolphin who sent him a Barrel of Paris Tennis-Balls sending such English Balls that they proved to their great loss He died at Boys S. Vincent in France the last day of August Anno 1422. and was brought over with great solemnity and interred in Westminster Abby Prelates ELIAS de RADNOR GUILIELMUS de RADNOR Ijoyn them together for three Reasons First because Natives of the same Town understand it Old Radnor the new town of that name being built probably since their decease Secondly because Bishops of the same See Landaff Thirdly because eminent being eminent for Nothing the names and dates of their deaths the one May 6. 1240. the other June the 30. 1256. being all that learned Antiquary and their Successour Bishop Godwin could recover of their memories which dishearâ—…eth me from â—…arther enquiry after them For let them never look for a crop who sow that ground which so skilful an husband-man thought fit to lie fallow The Farewell It much affected me and I believe all others whose hearts are of flesh and blood what I read in an Author concerning the rigorous laws imposed on the observation of the Welsh For when Owen Glyndower-dwy inveigled by some well-skilled in Merlins Prophesies that the time was come wherein the Britains through his assistance should recover their ancient freedom and liberty raised a Rebellion making war upon the Earl of March the Heir apparent both to the Crown of England and Principality of Wales King Henry the fourth inraged at his proceedings enacted these ensuing Laws First That no Welshman should purchase Lands or be chosen Citizen or Burgess of any City Borough or Market Town nor be received into any Office of Mayor Bayliff Chamberlaine c. or to be of the Councel of any Town or to bear Armour within any City Besides that if any Welsh-man should impeach or sue an Englishman It was ordained he should not be convicted unless by the judgment of English Justices verdict of English Burgesses or by the Inquest of the English Boroughs where the suits lay Yea that all English Burgesses who married Welsh Women should be disfranchised of their Liberties No congregation or Council was permitted to the Welsh-men but by licence of the chief Officers of the same Seigâ—…ory and in the presence of the same Officers That no Victuals should be brought into Walls unless by the especial licence of the King and his Council That no Welshmen shouâ—…d have any Castle Fortress or House of Defence of his own or any other mâ—…ns to keep That no Welsh-man should be made Justice Chamberlaâ—… Chancellor c. of a Castle Receivor Eschetor c. nor other Officer or Keeper oâ—…W Records â—… nor of the Council of any English Lord. That no English man that in time to come should marry a Welsh-woman be put in any Office in Wales or in the Marches oâ—… the same Now as I am heartily sorry that ever the Welsh were bound to the observance of so rigorous Laws so am I truly glad that at this day they are to the happiness both of England and Wales freed from the same Yea I shall constantly pray that God would be pleased to grant us of the Loins of our Soveraign one who may be born Prince of the one and after the though late decease of his Majesty King of the other FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO FULLER'S Worthies of England A. NAMES SHIRE PAGE ST Aaron Monm 50 Robert Abbot Surr. 82 George Abbot Surr. 83 Sir Roger Achley Shrop. 10 John Acton Middl. 104 Ralph Acton ib. 178 Sir Thomas Adams Shrop. 10 William Adams ib. 10 William Adams Kent 77 Adam de Marisco Somer 27 St. Adelme Wilt. 147 Pope Adrian IV. Hertf. 20 Agelnoth Kent 68 William Alabaster Suff. 70 â—… Alan de Morton Berk. 104 Albericus de Veer Bedf. 121 b Alan of Lynne Norf. 256 Flaccus Albinus alias Alcuinus York 227 King Alfred Berk. 96 Alphred of Beverly York 205 Henry de Aldecheleia Staff 50 John Alcock York 214 Albricius of Lond. 216 Robert Aldricke Bucks 131 William Alley ib. 131 William Aldersea Ches 191 St. Alride Cumb. 217 St. Alkmund Derb. 231 James Altham Essex 347 William Alton Hant. 11 St. Alban Hertf. 19 St. Alnulphus Bedf. 115 c William Alan Lanc. 109 Edward Allin Lond. 223 Rose Allin Essex 323 Bertram Fitz-Allin Linc. 166 Thomas Allin Staff 42 John Amersham Buck. 135 St. Amphibalus Monm 50 Anderton Lanc. 119 Sir Edmund Anderson Linc. 161 Anderson Northumb. 310 Lancelot Andrewes Lond. 206 Thomas Andrewes Northamp 300 Richardus Anglicus Lond. 215 Laurentius Anglicus ib. 216 Anne D. to King Charles Westm. 229 Richard Angervile Suff. 29 Henry D'Anvers Wilt. 153 Sir Edmund Appleby Leicest 136 Thomas de Appleby Westmorl 137 Roger de Appleby ibid.  Sir Simon Archer Warw. 133 William Armyne Linc. 155 David Archidiaconus Bedf. 122 King Arthur Cornw. 201 Prince Arthue Hant. 4 John Arundle Cornw. 200   202 209 Thomas Arundell Suss. 103 St. Asaph Flint 38 Roger Ascham York 209 John Ashburnham Surrey 95 Thomas Askine Berk. 91 William Ascough Linc. 156 Anne Askewe ib. 155 Thomas Ashbourne Derby 236 Sir Thomas de Ashton Lanc. 122 John de Aston Staff 48 Sir Walter Aston ib. 50 Atwell Cornw. 202 Edmund Audley Staff 42 Sir Thomas Audley Essex 327 James Lord Audley Devon 258 John Aylmer Norf. 238 B. NAMES SHIRE PAGE Richard Badew Essex 335 John Badby Lond. 204 Sir Francis Bacon Westmin 241 Robert Bacon Oxf. 337 Sir Nicholas Bacon Suff. 62 75 Ralph Baines York 197 John Baconthorpe Norf. 255 William Baitman Norw 276 Sir Richard Baker Oxf. 338 John Bale Suff. 60 Thomas Bagnols Staff 44 Christopher Bambridge Westmorl 136 Bankinus Londin Lond. 217 Sir John Banks Cumb. 219 John Ball Oxf. 339 John Bancroft ib. 333 Richard Bancroft Lanc. 112 Ralph Baldock Herâ—…f 21 Sir Paul Bannyng Essex 347 Hugo de Balsham Camb. 160 Amias Bamfeild Devon 272 Richard Barnes Lanc. 110 William Barry Kent 94 Thomas Barrington Essex 340 John Barnston Chesh. 183 John Barkham Devon 276 Juliana Barnes Lond. 217 Richard de Barking Essex 325 Adam of Barking ib. 332 Thomas Barret ib. 340 a John Barret Norf. 258 John Barnet Hertf. 21 Edward Bash ib. 30 Richard de Baskervill Heref. 44 Sir James Baskervill ib. 46 John Barningham Suff. 69 Herbert de Basham Sussex 101 William Barlow ib. 103 Salephilax the Bard Wales 13 John of Basingsloke Hant. 10 b Valentine Barret Kent 94 John Basket Berk. 108 Thomas Basket Dorces 28â—… John Basket Wilt. 163 Abbot of Battle Sussex 106 Walter de Baud Simon alii Essex 343 James Baynam Glocest. 354 Richard Basset Bedf. 121 John Basset Cornw. 210 Thomas Beckington Somers 23 Thomas Becket Lond. 203 Bede Durham 292 Sir Thomas Beigney Devon 265 Philip de la Beach Berk. 104 Margaret Beaufort Bedf. 115 Anne Beauchamp Oxâ—… 330 Richard Beauchamp Berk. 92  Worc. 171 Sir Edward Bellingham Westmorl 138 Thomas Bell Glocest. 362 Beavois Hant. 9