whole year without any renewing after the Inter-Regnum Objection Such persons had better been omitted whereof many were little better then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though by good fortune they have loaded themselves with Thick clay and will be but a burden in your Book to the Readers thereof Answer All Wise men will behold them under a better Notion as the Pregnant proofs of the truth of 2. Proverbs not contradictory but confirmatory one to another Prov. 10. 22. Prov. 10. 4. The Blessing of the Lord maketh Rich. The hand of the Diligent maketh Rich. The one as the principal the other as the Instrumental cause and both meeting in the persons aforesaid For though some of them were the Younger Sons of Worshipful and Wealthy Parents and so had good Sums of Money left them Yet being generally of mean extraction They raised themselves by Gods Providence and their own Painfulness The City in this Respect being observed like unto a Court where Elder Brothers commonly spend and the younger gain an Estate But such Lord Maiors are here inserted to quicken the Industry of Youth whose Parents are only able to send them up to not to set them up in London For whaâ—… a comfort is it to a poor Apprentice of that City to see the Prime Magistrate thereof Riding in his Majoralibus with such Pomp and Attendance which another day may be his hap and happiness Objection It commeth not to the share of one in twenty thousand to attain to that Honour and it is as impossible for every poor Apprentice in process of time to prove Lord Maior as that a Minum with long living mould become a Whale Answer Not so the later is an utter Impossibility as debarred by nature being Fishes of several kinds Whereas there is a Capacity in the other to arive at it which puts hopes the only Tie which keeps the heart from breaking into the hearts of all of the attainablenesse of such preferment to themselves Doctor Hutton Arch-bishop of York when he came into any Great Grammar School which he did constantly visit in his visitations was wont to say to the young Scholars Ply your Books Boys ply your Books for Bishops are old men and surely the possibility of such dignity is a great Encouragement to the Endévours of Students Lord Maiors being generally aged and always but Annual soon make Room for Succession whereby the Indevours of all Freemen in Companies are incouraged But if they should chance to fall short as unable to reach the Home of Honour I mean the Majoralty it self yet if they take up their Lodgings at Sheriffe Alderman and Common-Councellour with a good Està tè they will have no cause to complain I confess some Counties in our ensuing Discourse will appear Lord-Maior-less as Cumberland Dorset-shire Hant-Shire c. However though hitherto they have not had hereafter they may have Natives advanced to that Honour and it may put a lawful Ambition into them to contend who shall be their Leader and who should first of those Shires attain to that Dignity As lately Sir Richard Cheverton Skinner descended I assure you of a right antient and worshipful Family was the first in Cornwall who opened the Dore for others no doubt to follow after him Nor must it be forgotten that many have been Lord-Maiors Mates though never rémembred in their Catalogues viz. Such who by Fine declined that Dignity and as I am glad that some will Fine that so the Stock of the Chamber of London may be increased so am I glad that some will not fine that so the State of the City of London may be maintained I begin the observing of their Nativities from Sir William Sevenoke Grocer Lord Maior 1418. For though there were Lord Maiors 200. years before yet their Birth-places generally are unknown It was I confess well for me in this particular that Mr. Stow was born before me being herein the Heir of Endevours without any pain of my own For knowing that Cuilibet Artifici in sua Arte est credendum I have followed him and who him continued till the year 1633. at what time their Labours do determine Since which Term to the present year I have made the Catalogue out by my own Inquiry and friends Intelligence To speak truth to their due praise one may be generally directed to their Cradles though by no other Candle then the Light of their good works and Benefactions to such places CHAP. XIV A Catalogue of all the Gentry in ENGLAND made in the Reign of King HENRY the Sixth why inserted in our Book AFter we have finished the Catalogue of the worthy Natives of every Shire We present the Reader with a List of the Gentry of the Land sollemnly returned by select Commissioners into the Chancery thence into the Records in the Tower on this occasion The Commons in Parliament complained that the Land then swarmed with Pilours â—…obbers Oppressers of the People Man-stealers Fellons Outlaws Ravishers of Women Unlawful Haunters of Forrests and Parks c. Whereupon it was ordered for the suppressing of present and preventing of future mischeifs that certain Commissioners should be impowered in every County to summon all persons of Quality before them and tender them an Oath for the better keeping of the Peace and observing the Kings Laws both in themselves and Retainers Excuse me Reader if I be bold to inâ—…pose my own Conjecture who conceive what ever was intended to palliate the Businesse The Principal Intent was to detect and suppress such who favoured the Title of York which then began to be set on foot and afterwards openly claimed and at last obtained the Crown 2. Even-done Of the method general used in this Catalogue The first amongst the Commissioners is the Bishop of their Diocesse put before any Earl partly because he was in his own Diocesse partly because giving of Oaths their proper work was conceived to be of Spiritual cognisance Besides the Bishop when there were three as generally Commissioners the first of them was either an Earl or at least though often intituled but Chivaler an Actual Baron as will hereafter appear And which will acquaint us partly with the Peerage of the Land in that Age. Next follow those who were Knights for the Shire in the Parliament foregoing and if with the addition of Chivaler or Miles were Knights by dubbing before of that their Relation All Commissioners expressed not equal Industry and Activity in prosecution of their trust For besides the natural Reasons that in all Affairs some will be more rigorous some more Remiss by their own Temper some more some less fancyed their Imployment insomuch as we find some Shires 1. Over done as Oxford and Cambridge-Shires whose Catalogues are too much allayed descending to persons of meaner quality 2. Even done as generally the most are where the Returns bear a competent proportion to the Populousness and numerousnesse of the Counties 3. Under done as Shropshire York-shire Northumberland c. where
was whispered at Rome And numerous the spies and eyes of this Argus dispersed in all places The Jesuites being out-shot in their own Bow complain'd that he out-equivocated their equivocation having a mental reservation deeper and farther than theirs They tax him for making Heavenâ—…ow â—…ow too much to Earth oft-times borrowing a point of conscience with full intent never to pay it again whom others excused by Reasons of State and dangers of the times Indeed his Simulation which all allow lawful was as like to Dissimulation condemned by all good men as two things could be which were not the same He thought that Gold might but Intelligence could not be bought too dear The cause that so great a States man left so small an estate and so publick a person was so privately buried in Saint Pauls Anno Dom. 1590. His only Daughter Frances was successively matched to three matchlesse men Sir Phili Sidney Robert Earl of Essex and Richard Earl of Clanricard Capital Judges and Writers on the Law Sir JOHN FINEUX was by all probability born at Swinkfield in this County as I am informed from my good friend Mr. Thomas Fineux a descendant from him a place saith Mr. Cambden bestowed on his Ancestor by T. Criol a great Lord in Kent about the raign of King Edward the second I learned from the same Gentleman that he was eight and twenty years of age before he betook him to the study of the Law that he followed that profession twenty eight years before he was made a Judg and that he continued a Judge for twenty eight years whereby it appears that he lived fourscore and four years This last exactly agrees with Sir Henry Spelman making him continue Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench from the eleventh of King Henry the seventh until the seventeenth of King Henry the eight He was a great Benefactor unto Saint Augustines in Canterbury whose Prior William Mallaham thus highly commendeth him in a Manuscript Instrument Vir prudentissimus genere insignis Justitia praeclarus pietate refertus Humanitate splendidus charitate foecundus c. Now though some will say his Convent may well afford him good words who gave them good deeds yet I believe this Character of him can in no part be disproved He died about the year 1526. and lies buried in Christ Church in Canterbury who had a fair habitation in this City and another in Herne in this County where his Motto still remains in each window Misericordias Domini cantabo in Aeternum Sir ROGER MANWOOD born at Sandwich in this County applyed himselfe from his youth to the study of the Common Law wherein he attained to such eminency that by Queen Elizabeth he was preferred second Justice of the Common Pleas in which place he gave such proof of his ability and integrity that not long after in Hillary Term in the 21. of Queen Elizabeth he was made chief Baron of the Exchequer discharging that office to his 〈◊〉 Commendation full fourteen years till the day of his death He was much employed in matters of State and was one of the Commissioners who sate on the Trial of the Queen of Scots His Book on the Forest Laws is a piece highly prized by men of his Profession In Vacation time his most constant habitation was at Saint Stephens in Canterbury where saith my Author the poor inhabitants were much beholding to his bounteous liberality He erected and endowed a fair Free Schoole at Sandwich the place of his Nativity and died in the 35. of Queen Elizabeth Anno Dom. 1593. Sir HENRY FINCH Knight was born in this County of Right Worshipful Extraction their ancient sirname being Herbert a Family which had and hath an hereditary happinesse of Eminency in the study of the Laws He was Sergeant at Law to King James and wrote a Book of the Law in great esteem with men of his own profession yet were not his studies confined thereunto witnesse his Book of The calling of the Jews and all ingenious persons which dissent from his judgement will allow him learnedly to have maintained an error though he was brought into some trouble by King James conceiving that on his principles he advanced and extended the Jewish Commonwealth to the depressing and contracting of Christian Princes free Monarchies He was father unto Sir John Finch Lord Chief Justice and for a time Lord Keeper and Baron of Foreditch who is still alive Souldiers Kent hath so carried away the credit in all ages for Man-hood that the leading of the Front or Van-guard so called from Avant-guard or Goe on guard because first in marching in former times hath simply and absolutely belonged unto them I say absolutely for I find two other Shires contending for that place The best is it is but a Book-Combate betwixt learned Writers otherwise if real such a division were enough to rout an Army without other Enemy But let us see how all may be peaceably composed It is probable that the Cornish-men led the Van in the days of King Arthur who being a Native of Cornwall had most cause to trust his own Country-men But I behold this as a temporary honour which outlasted not his life who bestowed it The men of Archenfeld in Hereford-shire claimed by custom to lead the Van-guard but surely this priviledge was Topical and confined to the Welsh Wars with which the aforesaid men as Borderers were best acquainted As for Kent Cantia nostra primae cohortis honorem primos congressus hostium usque in Hodiernum diem in omnibus praeliis obtinet saith my Author Reader It may rationally be concluded that the ensuing Topick had been as large in this as in any County in England seeing it is bounded by the Sea on the East and South sides thereof had not the Author departed this life before the finishing of the same Seamen WILLIAM ADAMS was as his own Pen reporteth born at Gillingham in this County and take the brief account of his Life being the first Englishman who effectully discovered Japan Twelve years he lived at home with his Parents Twelve years he was Apprentice and Servant to Nich. Diggins a brave Seaman for some time he was Master of one of the Queens Ships Ten years he served the English Company of Barbary Merchants Fourteen years as I collect it he was employed by the Dutch in India For he began his Voyage 1598. Pilot to their Fleet of five Sail to conduct them to Japan and in order to the settlement of Trade endured many miseries He who reads them will concur with Cato and repent that ever he went thither by Sea whither one might go by Land But Japan being an Island and unaccessible save by Sea our Adams his discretion was not to be blamed but industry to be commended in his adventures He died at Firando in Japan about 1612. Civilians NICHOLAS WOTTON Son to Sir Robert was born at Bockton-Malherb in this
and avouch He was bred in Cambridge and Master first of Mag dalen then of Trinity Colledge and Dean of Canterbury He was the first Clergy man sent by Arch-Bishop Whitgift who carried to King James tidings of the English Crown and it is questionable whether he brought thither or thence more welcome news especially to the Clergy acquainting them with the Kings full intentions to maintain Church-Discipline as he found it established But the main matter commending his memory is his magnificency to Trinity College whose Court he reduced to a spacious and beautiful Quadrangle Indeed he plucked down as good building as any erected but such as was irregular intercepting the sight disturbing the intended uniformity of the Court whereby the beauty at this day is much advanced For as the Intuitive knowledge is more perfect than that which insinuates it self into the Soul Gradually by discourse so more beautiful the prospect of that Building which is all visible at one view than what discovers it self to the sight by parcels and degrees Nor was this Doctor like those Poets good only at Translation and bad at Invention all for altering nothing for adding of his own who contributed to this Colledge I will not say a Widows Mite but a Batchelours Bounty a stately new Court of his own expence which cost him three thousand pounds and upwards Much enfeebled with the Palsie he died an aged man Anno Dom. 161 The Farewell I am heartily sorry that the many laudable endeavours for the scouring and enlargement of the River Stoure advantagious for this City have been so often defeated and the Contributions given by well-disposed Benefactors amongst whom Mr. Rose once an Alderman of Canterbury gave three hundred pounds have missed their ends praying that their future enterprises in this kind may be crowned with success For the rest I refer the Reader to the pains of my worthy Friend Mr. William Somner who hath written justum volumen of the Antiquities of this City I am sorry to see him Subject-bound betrayed thereto by his own modesty seeing otherwise not the City but Diocesse of Canterbury had been more adaequate to his abilities I hope others by his example will undertake their respective Counties It being now with our age the third and last time of asking the Banes whether or no we may be wedded to skill in this kind seeing now use or for ever hold your Pens all Church Monuments leading to knowledge in that nature being daily irrecoverably imbezeled LANCASHIRE LANCASHIRE Hath the Irish Sea on the West York-shire on the East Cheshire parted with the River Mersey on the South Cumberland and Westmerland on the North. It rangeth in length from Mersey to Wenander-Mere full fifty five miles though the Broadest part thereof exceedeth not One and thirty The Ayre thereof is Subtil and Piercing being free from Foggs saving in the Mosses the Effects whereof are found in the fair Complections and firme Constitutions of the Natives therein whose bodies are as able as their minds willing for any laborious Employment Their Soyle is tolerably fruitful of all things necessary for humane Sustenance Aâ—…d as that Youth cannot be counted a Dâ—…nce though he be Ignorant if he be Docible because his lack of Learning is to be scored on the want of a Teacher So Sterilitie cannot properly be imputed to some places in this County where little Graine doth grow because capable thereof as daily experience doth avouch if it were husbanded accordingly This Shire though sufficiently thick of people is exceedingly thin of Parishes as by perusing this parallel will plainly appear Rutland hath in it Parishes Forty eight Lancashire hath in it Parishes Thirty six See here how Rutland being scarce a Fifth part of Lancashire in greatness hath a fourth part of Parishes more therein But as it was a fine Sight to behold Sir Tho. More when Lord Chancellour of England every morning in term time humbly ask blessing in VVestminster-hall of Sir John More his Father then a pusnie Judge so may one see in this Shire some Chapels exceeding their Mother-Churches in fairness of Structure and numerousnesse of people yet owning their filial relation and still continuing their dutiful dependance on their Parents But for Numerosity of Chapels surely the Church of Manchester exceedeth all the rest which though anciently called but Villa de Manchester is for Wealth and Greatnesse corrival with some Cities in England having no lesse then Nine Chapels which before these our civil Wars were reputed to have five hundred communicants a peice Insomuch that some Clergy men who have confulted Gods Honour with their own credit and profit could not better desire for themselves than to have a Lincoln-shire Church as best built a Lancashire Parish as largest bounded and a London Audience as consisting of most intelligent people The people generally devout are as I am informed Northward and by the West Popishly 〈◊〉 which in the other parts intended by Antiperistasis are zealous Protestants Hence is it that many Subtile Papists and Jesuits have been born and bred in this County which have met with their Matches to say no more in the Natives of the same County So that thereby it hath come to passe that the house of Saul hath waxed weaker and weaker and the house of David stronger and stronger Natural Commodities Oates If any ask why this Graine growing commonly all over England is here entered as an Eminent Commodity of Lancashire Let him know that here is the most and best of that kind yea Wheat and Barlie may seem but the adopted whilst Oates are the Natural Issue of this County so inclined is its genius to the production thereof Say not Oates are Horse-graine and fitter for a Stable then a Table For besides that the Meal thereof is the distinguishing form of Gruel or Broth from Water most hearty and wholsome Bread is made thereof Yea anciently North of Humber no other was eaten by People of the Primest Quality For we read how William the Conquerour bestowed the Mannour of Castle Bitham in Lincoln-shire upon Stephen Earl of Albemarle and Holderness chiefly for this consideration that thence he might have wheaten bread to feed his Infant Son Oaten bread being then the Diet of Holderness and the Counties lying beyond it Allume I am informed that Allume is found at Houghton in this County within the Inheritance of Sir Richard Houghton and that enough for the use of this and the neighbouring Shires though not for Transportarion But because far greater plenty is afforded in York-shire the larger mention of this Mineral is referred to that place Oxen. The fairest in England are bred or if you will made in this County with goodly heads the Tips of whose horns are sometimes distanced five foot afunder Horns are a commodity not to be slighted seeing I cannot call to mind any other substance so hard that it will not break so solid that it will hold liquor within
prayer before his Sermon usually consisted of one entire Allegory not driven but led on most proper in all particulars He was at last by exchange of his living setled in Suffolk which hath the best and worst aire in England best about Bury and worst on the Sea-side where Master Fleticher was beneficed His clownish and low parted Parishoners having nothing but their shoos high about them valued not their Pastour according to his worth which disposed him to melancholy and hastened his dissolution I behold the life of this learned Poet like those half-verses in Virgils Aeneids broken off in the middle seeing he might have doubled his days according to the ordinary course of nature whose death happened about the year 162. He had another brother Phineas Fletcher Fellow of Kings-colledge in Cambridge and beneficed also in Norfolk a most excellent Poet witness his Purple Island and several other pieces of great ingenuity JOHN DONNE was born in this City of wealthy parentage extracted out of Wales one of an excellent wit large travail and choice experience After many vicissitudes in his youth his reduced age was honoured with the Doctorship of Divinity and Denary of Saint Pauls Should I endeavour to deliver his exact character who willingly would not doe any wrong should do a fourfold injury 1. To his worthy memory whose merit my pen is unable to express 2. To my self in undertaking what I am not sufficient to perform 3. To the Reader first in raising then in frustrating his expectation 4. To my deservedly honored friend Master Isaac Walton by whom his life is so learnedly written It is enough for me to observe he died March 31. Anno Dom. 1631. and lieth buried in Saint Pauls under an ingenious and choice monument neither so costly as to occasion envy nor so common as to cause contempt Romish Exile Writers JOHN HEIWOOD was born in London and was most familiar with Sir Thomas More whom he much resembled in quickness of parts both undervaluing their friend to their jest and having Ingenium non edentulum sed mordax I may safely write of him what he pleasantly writes of himself that he applied mirth more then thrift many mad plays and did few good works He hath printed many English proverbial Epigrams and his Monumenta Literaria are said to be non tam labore condita quà m lepore condita He was highly in favour with Queen Mary and after her death fled for Religion beyond the seas It is much that one so Fancyful should be so conscientious He lived and for ought I find died at Mechlin about the year 1566. Gasper Heiwood his son was a great Jesuit and executed here in Q. Elizabeths raign MAURICE CHAMNEE most probably born in this City was bred a Friar in Charter-house now called Suttons Hospital He was imprisoned for refusing the Oath of Supremacy with 18. of his Order all which lost their lives for their obstinacy whilst our Maurice like Jobs messenger only escaped alone to tell of his fellows misfortune and write the history of the execution Some of Chamnee's party report to his praise that Martyrdome was only wanting to him and not he to Martyrdome Others more truly tax him for warping to the Will of King Henry the eighth not so much to decline his own death as to preserve his Covent from destruction who sped in the first and failed in the latter However fearing some afterclaps he fled beyond the Seas passing the rest of his life in the Low-Countries dying Anno Dom. 1581. EDMUND CAMPIAN was born in this City and bred Fellow in Saint Johns-colledge in Oxford where he became Proctor Anno 1568. when Queen Elizabeth visited that University being made Deacon by the Protestant Church he afterwards renounced that Order and fled beyond the Seas A man of excellent parts though he who rod post to tell him so might come too late to bring him tidings thereof being such a valuer of himself that he swelled every drop of his ability into a bubble by his vain ostentation And indeed few who were reputed Scholars had more of Latine or less of Greek then he had He was sent over with Father Parsons into England to reduce it to the Church of Rome to this purpose he set forth his Ten Reasons so purely for Latine so plainly and pithily penned that they were very taking and fetch'd over many Neuters before to his perswasion It was not long before he was caught by the Setters of the Secretary Walsingham and brought to the Tower where one of his own Religion saith that he was exquisitissimis cruciatibus tortus rack'd with most exquisite torments Yet the Lieutenant of the Tower truly told him that he had rather seen then felt the rack being so favourably used therein that being taken off he did presently go to his lodging without help and used his hands in writing Besides as Campian confess'd he was not examined upon any point of Religion but only upon matters of State Some days after he was ingaged in four solemn disputations to make good that bold challenge he had made against all Protestants Place Auditors Time Opposers Questions Campians answer The Chappel in the Tower The Lieutenant of the Tower Mr. Bele Clerk of the Counsel withmany Protestants and Papists 1581 August 31 Alexander Nowell Dean of Pauls 1. Whether the Protestants had cut off many goodly and principal parts of Scripture from the body thereof Affirmative   Septem 18 William Day Dean of Windsor 2. Whether the Catholick Church be not properly invisible Negative   23 William Fulk D. D. 3. Whether Christ be in the Sacrament Substantially very God and Man in his Natural Body Affirmative   27 Roger Goad D. D. 4. Whether after the Consecration the Bred Wine are Transubstantiated Negative    William Fulk D. D. 5. Whether the Scriptures contain sufficient Doctrine for our Salvation     Roger Goad D. D. 6. Whether Faith only justifyeth     John Walker      William Clarke   An Authentick Author giveth this unpartial account of Campian in his Disputation ad disputandum productus expectationem concitatam aegre sustinuit and in plain truth no man did ever boast more when he put on his Armour or had cause to boast less when he put it off Within few days the Queen was necessitated for her own security to make him the subject of severity by whose laws he was executed in the following December Benefactors to the Publike THOMAS POPE Knight was born in this City as my worthy friend Doctor Seth Ward the Head and others of the Society of Trinity colledge in Oxford have informed me I behold him as fortunae suae fabrum the Smith who by Gods blessing hammered out his own fortune without any Patrimonial advantage Indeed he lived in an Age which one may call the harvest of wealth wherein any that
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
left some books to posterity and flourished Anno Dom. 1250. JOHN of KILLINGWORTH born in that Castelled-village in this County bred in Oxford an excellent Philosopher Astronomer and Physitian He studyed the Stars so long that at last he became A STAR himself in his own Sphere and out-shined all others of that Faculty He was Father and Founder to all the Astronomers in that Age. I never did spring such a Covye of Mathematicians all at once as I met with at this time Cervinus or Hart Cure John Stacy and Blach all bred in Merton Colledge Which Society in the former Century applyed themselves to School-Divinity in this to Mathematicks and attained to Eminency in both so good a Genius acted within the walls of that worthy foundation He flourished about the year 1360. WILLIAM of COVENTRY was born and bred a Carmelite in that City He in his Youth was afflicted with an unhealable Sprain in his Hip and was commonly called Claudus Conversus which I adventure to English the lame Converted Conversus properly is one who for lack of Learning or Deformity of Body is condemned to the servile work in the Monastery under a Despair ever to be made Priest termed it seems Conversus because not of voluntary choice Turning to that course of Life but Turned as Passively necessitated thereunto But hear how J. Pits clincheth in his Praise Claudicavit corporis gressu non virtutis progressu vitiatus corpore non viciosus animo being in his writings full of Sâ—…ntences Amongst which Bale takes especial notice of his Prodesset Hierosolymam petere alia invisere loca sacra sed multum praestaret eo precio pauperes alere domi wherein though I perceive no more sententiousness then common sense yet because it containeth a Bold Truth in those Blind Dayes it may be mentioned He never set his name to his Books but it may according to the Frierly-Fancy be collected out of the Capital Letters of his severall works Who flourished Anno 1360. JOHN ROUSE Son of Jeffery Rouse was born at Warwick but descended from the Rouses of Brinkloe in this County he was bred in Oxford where he attained to great Eminencie of Learning he afterwards retired himself to Guisâ—…cliffe within a Mile of Warwick A most delicious place so that a Man in many Miles Riding cannot meet so much variety as there one forlong doth afford A steep Rock full of Caves in the Bowels thereof wash'd at the Bottome with a Christall River besides many clear Springs on the side thereof all overshadowed with a stately grove so that an ordinary Fancy may here find to it self Helicon Parnassus and what not Many Hermites and Guy Earl of Warwick himself being sequestred from the world retreated hither Some will say it is too Gaudy a place for that purpose as having more of a Paradice then Wilderness therein so that mens thoughts would rather be Scattered then Collected with such various objects But seeing Hermits deny themselves the Company of Men let them be allowed to Converse with the Rarities of Nature and such are the fittest texts for a solitary devotion to comment upon To this place came our John Rouse and by leave obtained from King Edward the fourth immured himself therein that he might apply his Studies without distraction Here he wrote of the Antiquities of Warwick with a Catalogue of the Earls thereof a Chronicle of our English Kings and a History of our Universities He was as good with the Pensill as the Pen and could Draw Persons as well as Describe them as appears by lively Pictures Limmed with his own hand He died a very aged man Anno Domini 1491. Since the Reformation WILLIAM PERKINS was born at Marston in this County bred Fellow of Christ-colledge and then became Preacher of Saint Andrews in Cambridge The Athenians did nothing else but tell or hear some new thing Why tell before hear Because probably they themselves were the first Finders Founders and Fathers of many reports I should turn such an Athenian to fain and invent should I adde any thing concerning this worthy Person whose life I have formerly written at large in my Holy-State He died Anno Dom. 1602. THOMAS DRAX D. D. was born at Stonely in this County his Father being a Younger Brother of a Worshipfull family which for many years had lived at Wood-hall in York-shire he was bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge He was a Pious man and an excellent Preacher as by some of his Printed Sermons doth appear He translated all the Works of Master Perkinâ—… his Countryman and Collegiat into Latine which were Printed at Geneva Doctor King Bishop of London removed him from his Native Country and bestowed a Benefice on him nigh Harwich in Essex where the change of the Aire was conceived to hasten his Great change which happened about the year 1616. I cannot forget how this worthy name of Drax may be resembled to the river Anas in Spain which having run many miles under ground surgeth a greater channell then before They have flourished at Wood hall aâ—…oresaid in the Parish of Darfield ever since a Co-heir of the Noble Family of Fitz-williams brought that good Mannour with the alternate gift of the Mediety of the rich Parsonage therein in marriage into this Family as since by an Heir-general it hath been alienated But after many various changes this Name hath recovered and encreased its lustre in Sir James Drax a direct descendant from the Heirs-male who by Gods blessing on his Industry and Ingenuity hath merited much of the English nation in bringing the Sugars and other Commodities of the Barbadoes to their present perfection WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE was born at Stratford on Avon in this County in whom three eminent Poets may seem in some sort to be compounded 1. Martial in the Warlike sound of his Sur-name whence some may conjecture him of a Military extraction Hasti-vibrans or Shake-speare 2. Ovid the most naturall and witty of all Poets and hence it was that Queen Elizabeth coming into a Grammar-School made this extemporary verse Persius a Crab-staffe Bawdy Martial Ovid a fine Wag. 3. Plautus who was an exact Comaedian yet never any Scholar as our Shake-speare if alive would confess himself Adde to all these that though his Genius generally was jocular and inclining him to feâ—…ivity yet he could when so disposed be solemn and serious as appears by his Tragedies so that Heraclitus himself I mean if secret and unseen might afford to smile at his Comedies they were so merry and Democritus scarce forâ—…ear to sigh at his Tragedies they were so mournfull He was an eminent instance of the truth of that Rule Poeta non fit sed nascitur one is not made but born a Poet. Indeed his Learning was very little so that as Cornish diamonds are not polished by any Lapidary but are pointed and smoothed even as they are taken out of the Earth so nature it self was all the art which was used
For although he found not the same favour with Joseph to whom the Gaoler committed the care of all his family making him Super-intendent of all other Prisoners yet had he always Respective Usage and oftimes Liberty on his Parol By his Bounty to the Poor he gained the good-will saith Master Camden of all Persons whilst I behold his Bounty to Others as the Queens Bounty to him enabling because not disenabling him for the same and permitting him peaceably to possess his Estate He died a very aged man in Wisbich-castle as I collect Anno 1585. and the Character which Pitzeus giveth him may suffice for his Epitaph Erat in eo insignis pietas in Deum mira charitas in proximos singularis observantia in majores mitis affabilitas in inferiores dulcis humanitas in omnes mulâ—…plex doctrina redundans facundia incredibilis religionis catholicae zelus HENRY BRIGHT was born in the City of Worcester No good man will grudge him under this Title who shall seriously peruse this his Epitaph composed by Doctor Joseph Hall then Dean in the Cathedrall in Worcester Mane Hospes lege Magister Henricus Bright Celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha Qui Scholae Regiae istic fundatae per totos Quadraginta Annos Summa cum Laude praefuit Quononalter magis sedulus fuit Scitusve aut dexter in Latinis Graecis Hebraius Literis feliciter edocendis Teste utraque Academia quam Instruxit affatim numerosa pube literaria Sed totidem annis eoque amplius Theologiam professus hujus 〈◊〉 per Septennium Canonicus major saepissime Hic Alibi Sacrum Dei praeconem magno cum Zelo Fructu egit Vir Pius Doctus Integer frugi de Republica deque Ecclesia optime meritus A laboribus perdiu per noctuque ab anno 1562. ad 1626. strenue usque extant latis 4 to Martii suaviter requievit in Domino For my own part I behold this Master Bright placed by Divine Providence in this City in the Marches that he might equally communicate the Lustre of Grammerlearning to youth both of England and Wales Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Richard Lee Simon Lee Worcester Grocer 1460 2 Richard a Lee John a Lee Worcester 1468 3 Alexander Avenon Robert Avenon Kings Norton Iron-monger 1569 This is one of the twelve pretermitted Counties the Names of whose Gentry were not returned into the Tower by the Commissioners in the raign of King Henry the sixth Sheriffs HEN. II. Anno 1 Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo for 14 years Anno 16 Will. de Bello Campo Hugo de Puckier Anno 17 Ranul de Launch for 4 years Anno 21 Rob. de Lucy Anno 22 Mich. Belet for 7 years Anno 29 Rad. de Glanvill Anno 30 Mich. Belet Anno 31 Rob. Marivion for 3 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Rob. Marmion Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 3 Will. de Bello Campo Rich. de Piplinton Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Hen. de Longo Campo for 3 years Anno 10 Rad. de Grafton JOH Rex Anno 1 Rad. de Grafton Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. de Cantela Adam de Worcester for 3 years Anno 6 Rob. de Cantelu Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Will. de Cantelu Adam Clicus Anno 9 Will. de Cantelu Walt. le Puchier for 3 years Anno 12 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Ruffus Anno 13 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Delwich Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Cantelupo Phus. Kutton for 3 years HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Walt. de Bello Campo Hen. Lunett for 3 years Anno 5 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 8 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 9 Walt. de Bello Campo Tho. Wigorne for 3 years Anno 12 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 15 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Poer Anno 16 Walt. de Bello Campo Will de Malvern for 3 years Anno 19 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 20 Idem sive Will. Anno 21 Will. de Bello Campo Will de Blandhall Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Will. de Bello Campo Laur. de Wandlesworth for 3 years Anno 26 Will de Bello Campo Simon de London Anno 27 Will. de Bello Campo for 24 years Anno 51 Will. de Bello Campo Ioh. de Hull Anno 52 Idem Anno 53 Will. de Bello Campo for 3 years EDW. I. Anno 1 Will. de Bello Campo Comes Warwic for 26 years Anno 27 Guido de Bello Campo for 9 years EDW. II. Anno 1 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Rob. de Berkenhall Anno 2 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Walt. de Perthrope for 4 years Anno 6 Guido de Bello Campo Rob. de Warwick Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Guido de Bello Campo Anno 9 Iohan. de Heâ—…ingwoll Anno 10 Walt. de Bello Campo Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Will. Stracy Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 16 Anno 17 Nich. Russell Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Walt. de Kokesey EDW. III. Anno 1 Walt. de Kokesey Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Rich de Hâ—…deslowe for 3 years Anno 6 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 46 years RICH. II. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 4 years Anno 5 Tho. de Bello Campo for 13 years Anno 18 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 19 Idem Anno 20 Ioh. Washburne Anno 21 Hen. Haggeley Anno 22 Rob. Russell HEN. IV. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 2 Tho. de Bello Campo Will Beaucham Anno 3 Tho. Hodington Anno 4 Rich. de Bello Campo Comes Warr fâ—…r 9 years HEN. V. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 9 years HEN. VI. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 16 years Anno 16 Norm Washburne Subvic In the 17. year of King Henry the sixth this worthy Richard Beauchamp deceased And here the records are at a loss such as ever since came to my hand presenting no Sheriff for 21 years till the end of the raign of King Henry the sixth And yet I am confident that Henry Beauchamp Son and Heir to Richard aforesaid Earl of Warwick and Albemarle for Duke of ALBEMARLE I meet with none before that ILLUSTRIOUS PERSON who now deservedly possesseth that Honour injoyed the Shrevalty of this County EDW. IV. Anno 1 Walt. Scull Subvic for 19 years Here we have an Under-sheriff but no High sheriff could my industry hitherto recover though my confidence is grounded on good cause that Richard Nevill the Make-King Duke of Warwick was Honorary Sheriff though too great to officiate in his Person Annoâ—…0 â—…0 Iacob Radcliffe mil. for 3 years RICH. III. Anno 1 Iacob Radcliffe miles Anno 2 Will. Houghton