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
that age and assign 1339. the time of his death Chester the place of his buriall RANDAL or RANULPH HYGDEN commonly called Ranulph of Chester was bred a Benedictine in Saint Werburge He not onely Vamped the history of Roger aforesaid but made a large one of his own from the beginning of the World commendable for his Method and Modesty therein Method assigning in the Margent the date of each action We read Genesis 1. that Light was made on the First and the Sun on the Fourth day of the Câ—…eation when the Light formerly diffused and dispersed in the Heavens was Contracted United and Fixed in one full Body thereof Thus the Notation of Times confusedly scattered in many antient Authors as to our English Actions are by our Ranulphus reduced into an Intire bulk of Cronology Modesty Who to his great commendation Unicuique suorum Authorum honorem integrum servans confeseth himself to use his own expression with Ruth the Moabite to have gleaned after other Reapers He calleth his book Poly-Cronicon He continued sixty four years a Monke and dying very aged 1363. was buried in Chester HENRY BRADSHAW was born in this City and lived a Benedictine therein A diligent Historian having written no bad Chronicle and another Book of the Life of Saint Werburg in verse Take a tast at once both of his Poetry and the Originall Building of the City both for Beauty alike The Founder of this City as saith Polychronicon Was Leon Gawer a mighty strong Giant Which builded Caves and Dungeons many a one No goodly Building ne proper ne pleasant These his verses might have passed with praise had he lived as Arnoldus Vion doth erroniously insinuate Anno 1346. But flourishing more then a Century since viz. 1513. they are hardly to be excused However Bale informeth us that he was the Diamond in the Ring pro ea ipsa aetate admodum pius and so we dismiss his Memory with Commendation Since the Reformation EDWARD BRIERWOOD was as I am informed born in this City bred in Brasen-nose-colledge in Oxford Being Candidate for a Fellowship he lost it without loss of credit For where preferment goes more by favour then merit the Rejected have more honour then the Elected This ill success did him no more hurt then a Rub doth to an over-thrown Bowl bringing it the nearer to the mark He was not the more sullen but the more serious in his studies retiring himself to Saint Mary-hall till he became a most accomplished Scholar in Logick witness his worthy work thereof Mathematicks being afterwards a Lecturer thereof in Gresham-colledge All learned and many modern languages hereof he wrot a Learned book called his Enquiries No Sacrilegious Enquiries whereof our age dothsurfet It is a Snare after vows to make Enquiries but judicious disquisitions of the Originall and Extent of Languages A little before his death Pens were brandish'd betwixt Master Byfield and him about the keeping of the Sabbath Master Brierwood learnedly maintaining that th other exacted more strictness therein then God enjoyned Let me contribute my symbole on this Subject Our Saviour is said to be made under the Law and yet he saith of himself The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath Indeed he was made under the fourth Commandement as under the rest of the Law to observe the dominion not tyranny thereof usurped partly by the misinterpretation of the Priests partly by the misapprehension of the People and therefore both by his Life and Doctrine did manumisse men from that vassallage that the day instituted for rest and repose should not be abused for self-affliction and torment To return to our Brierwood I have heard a great Scholar in England say That he was the fittest Man whom he knew in England to sit at the Elbo of a Professor to prompt him But in my opinion he was a very proper person to discharge the place himself I conjecture his death about 1633. JOHN DOWNHAM younger Son of William Downham Bishop of Chester was as far as my best enquiry can recover born in this City bred in Cambridge B. D. and afterwards became a painfull and profitable Preacher in London He was the first who commendably discharged that eminent Lecture plentifully indowed by Master Jones of Munmouth and is memorable to posterity for his worthy work of the Christian Warfare Well had it been for England had no other war been used therein for this last twenty years all pious Persons being comfortably concerned in the prosecution thereof Seriously considering that their Armour is of proof their Quarrel is lawfull their Fight is long their Foes are fierce their Company are Saints their Captain is Christ their Conquest is certain their Crown is Heaven This grave Divine died very aged about the year 1644. Benefactors to the Publique WILLIAM ALDERSEA a pious and godly man was Mayor of the City 1560. demeaning himself in his place with much Gravity and Discretion He caused with much Cost and Industry the Catalogue of the Mayors of Chester to be compleated and that on this occasion He found by Authentick Evidences that one Whetlyâ—…ad â—…ad been four times Mayor of Chester and yet his name was never mentioned in the ordidinary Book of Mayors This put this good Magistrate on the employment Detection of faults informes little without Correction of them to amend and compleat that lame list out of their Records Thus Imperfections may occasion Perfection which makes me to hope that hereafter the Defects of this my Book without prejudice to my Profit or Credit will be judiciously discovered and industriously amended by others This William died the twelfth of October Anno 1577. and lyeth buried in the Chancell of Saint Osswalls under a fair stone of Alabaster Sir THOMAS OFFLEY Son to William Offley was born in the City of Chester and bred a Merchant-taylor in London whereof he became Lord Mayor Anno 1556. The usefull custome of the night Bellman preventing many Fiers and more Felonies began in his Mayoralty He was the Zachaeus of London not for his low Stature but his high Charity bequeathing the half of his Estate computed by a Reverend Divine to amount to five thousand pounds unto the Poor although he had children of his own Yea he appointed that two hundred pound should be taken out of the other half left to his son Henry and employed to charitable uses He died 1560. and was buried in the Church of Saint Andrews Undershaft I am heartily sory to meet with this passage in my Author Sir Thomas Offley bequeatheth one half of all his goods to charitable actions But the Parish meaning Saint Andrews Undershaft received little benefit thereby If the Testators Will were not justly performed it soundeth to the shame and blame of his Executors But if the charity of Sir Thomas acted Eminus not Comminus I mean at some distance and not at his own habitation it was no injury for any to dispose of
for many years by past were of any Eminency but either immediately or mediately were Apprentices unto him He was bred in York school where he was School-fellow with Guy Faux which I note partly to shew that Loyalty and Treason may be educated under the same Roof partly to give a check to the received opinion that Faux was a Fleming no Native English-man He was bred in Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge and chosen Fellow thereof to a Fellowship to which he had no more Propriety then his own Merit before Eight Compâ—…titors for the place equally capable with himself and better befriended Commencing Doctor in Divinity he made his Position which though unusuall was Arbitrary and in his own power on his second Question which much defeated the expectatioâ—… of Doctor Playfere replying upon him with some passion Commosâ—…i mihi stomachum To whom Morton return'd Gratulor tibi Reverende professor de bono tuo stomacho caenabis apud me hac nocte He was successively preferr'd Dean of Gloucester Winchester Bishop of Chester Coventry and Lichfield and Durham The Foundation which he laid of Forraign corre spondency with eminent persons of different perswasions when he attended as Chaplain to the Lord Evers sent by King James Embassadour to the King of Denmark and many Princes of Germany he built upon unto the Day of his Death In the late Long Parliament the displeasure of the House of Commons fell heavy upon him partly for subscribing the Bishops Protestation for their Votes in Parliament partly for refusing to resign the seal of his Bishoprick and baptizing a Daughter of John Earl of Rutland with the sign of the Cross two faults which compounded together in the judgement of honest and wise-men amounted to a High Innocence Yet the Parliament allowed him eight hundred pounds a year a proportion above any of his Brethren for his maintenance But alass the Trumpet of their Charity gave an uncertain sound not assigning by whom or whence this summe should be paid Indeed the severe Votes of the Parliament ever took full effect according to his observation who did Anagram it VOTED OUTED But their mercifull Votes found not so free performance However this good Bishop got a thousand pounds out of Goldsmiths-hall which afforded him his support in his old Age. The Neb of his Pen was unpartially divided into two equall Moyeties the one writing against Faction in defence of three Innocent Ceremonies the other against Superstition witness the Grand Impostor and other worthy works He solemnly proffered unto me pardon me Reader if I desire politiquely to twist my own with his Memory that they may both survive together in these sad times to maintain me to live with him which Courteous Offer as I could not conveniently accept I did thankfully 〈◊〉 Many of the Nobility deservedly honoured him though none more then John Earl of Rutland to whose Kinsman Roger Earl of Rutland he formerly 〈◊〉 been Chaplain But let not two worthy Baronets be forgotten Sir George Savill who so civilly paid him his purchased Annuity of two hundred pounds withall Proffered advantages and Sir Henry Yelveâ—…ton at whose house he dyed aged 95. at Easton-Manduit in Northampton shire 1659. For the rest the Reader is remitted to his life written largely and learnedly by Doctor John Barwick Dean of Durham States-men Sir ROBERT CAR was born in this City on this occasion Thomas Car his father Laird of Furnihurst a man of great lands and power in the South of Scotland was very active for Mary Queen of Scots and on that accompt forced to fly his land came to York Now although he had been a great inroder of England yet for some secret reason of State here he was permitted safe shelter duâ—…ing which time Robert his son was born this was the reason why the said Robert refused to be Naturalized by Act of our Parliament as needless for him born in the English Dominions I have read how his first making at Court was by breaking of his leg at a Tilting in London whereby he came first to the Cognizance of King James Thus a fair starting with advantage in the notice of a Prince is more then half the way in the race to his favour King James reflected on him whose Father was a kind of Confâ—…ssor for the cause of the Queen his Mother besides the Young Gentleman had a handsome person and a conveniency of desert Honors were crowded upon him made Baron Viscount Earl of Sommerset Knight of the Garter Warden of the Cinque-Ports c. He was a well natured man not mischievous with his might doing himself more hurt then any man else For abate one foul fact with the appendance and consequences thereof notoriously known and he will appear deserving no foul Character to posterity but for the same he was banished the Court lived and dyed very privately about the year of our Lord 1638. Writers JOHN WALBYE was born in this City of honest Parentage He was bred an Augustinian Provinciall of his Order and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford A Placentious Person gaining the good-will of all with whom he conversed being also Ingenious Industrious Learned Eloquent Pious and Prudent Pitz writeth that after Alexander Nevell he was Chosen but never Confirmed Arch bishop of York an Honour reserved for Robert his Younger Brother of whom before But Bishop Godwin maketh no mention hereof which rendreth it suspicious The said Pitz maketh him actuall Arch-bishop of Dublin whilst Bale who being an Irish Bishop had the advantage of exacter Intelligence hath no such thing whence we may conclude it a Mistake The rather because this John is allowed by all to have died in this place of his Nativity 1393. Also I will adde this that though sharp at first against the Wickliffites he soon abated his own Edge and though present at a Council kept at Stanford by the King against them was not well pleased with all things transacted therein JOHN ERGHOM was born in this City an Augustinian by his profession Leaving York he went to Oxford where passing thorough the Arts he fixed at last in Divinity proving an admirable Preacher My Author tells me that sometimes he would utter nova inaudita whereat one may well wonder seeing Solomon hath said There is no nâ—…w thing under the Sun The truth is he renewed the custome of expounding Scripture in a typicall way which crouded his Church with Auditors seeing such 〈◊〉 preaching break 's no bones much pleased their fancy and little cross'd or curb'd their corruptions Indeed some but not all Scripture is capable of such comments and because metalls are found in Mountains it is madness to Mine for them in every rich Meadow But in expounding of Scripture when mens inventions out-run the Spirits intentions their swiftness is not to be praised but sawcyness to be punished This Erghom wrote many books and dedicated them to the Earl of Hereford the same with Edward Duke of Buckingham and flourished
partial Reflections CHAP. XIX Of the Number of Modern Shires or Counties in England And why the WORTHIES in this Work are digested County-wayes I Say Modern not meaning to meddle with those antiquated ones which long since have lost their Names and bounds as Winchelcomb-shire united to Gloucester-shire Howdon-Shire annexed to York-shire and Hexham-Shire to Northumberland As little do we intend to touch on those small Tracts of Ground the County of Poole and the like being but the extended Limits and Liberties of some Incorporations We add Shires or Counties using the words promiscuously as the same in sense I confess I have heard some Criticks making this distinction betwixt them that such are Shires which take their Denomination from some principal Town as Cambridgeshire Oxford-shire c. Whilest the rest not wearing the Name of any Town are to be reputed Counties as Norfolk Suffolk c. But we need not go into Wales to confute their Curiosity where we meet Merioneth-shire and Glamorgan-shire but no Towns so termed seeing Devon-shire doth discompose this their English Conceit I say English Shires and Counties being both Comitatus in Latine Of these there be nine and thirty at this day which by the thirteen in Wales are made up fifty two England largely taken having one for every Week in the year Here let me tender this for a real Truth which may seem a Paradoxe that there is a County in England which from the Conquest till the year 1607 when Mr. Camdens last Latine Britannia was set forth never had Count or Earl thereof as hereby may appear In his Conclusion of Bark-shire Immediately it followeth Haec de Bark shire quae hactenus Comitis honore insignivit neminem In hujus Comitatus complexu sunt Parochiae 140. Now this may seem the more strange because Comes and Comitatus are relative But under favour I humbly conceive that though Bark shire never had any Titular Honourary or Hereditary Earl till the year 1620. when Francis Lord Norris was created first Earl thereof yet had it in the Saxons time when it was first modelled into a Shire an Officiary Count whose Deputy was termed Vice-comes as unto this day Why the Worthies in this Work are digested County-ways First this Method of Marshalling them is new and therefore I hope neverthelesse acceptable Secondly it is as informative to our judgements to order them by Counties according to their place as by Centuries so oft done before according to the time seeing WHERE is as essential as WHEN to a mans being Yea both in some sort may be said to be jure divino understand it ordered by Gods immediate providence and therefore are coupled together by the Apostle Acts 17. 26. And hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation If of their habitation in general then more especially of the most important place of their Nativity The Spirit of God in Scripture taketh signal notice hereof The Lord shall count when he writes up the people That this man was born there Philip was of Bethsaida the City of Andrew and Peter and all know how St. Paul got his best Liberty where he saw the first light in Tarsus a City of Cilicia When Augustus Câ—…ar issued out a decree to taxe the whole World it was ordered therein that every own should go into his own City as the most compendious way to prevent confusion and effectually to advance the businesse I find the same to expedite this work by methodizing the Worthies therein according to the respective places of their Nativities If some conceive it a pleasant sight in the City of London to behold the Natives of the several Shires after the hearing of a Sermon passe in a decent equipage to some Hall there to dine together for the continuance and increase of Love and Amity amongst them Surely this Spectacle will not seem unpleasant to ingenuous Eyes to see the Heroes of every particular County modelled in a body together and marching under the Banners of their several Eminencies Here may you behold how each County is Innated with a particular Genius inclining the Natives thereof to be dexterous some in one profession some in another one carrying away the credit for Souldiers another for Seamen another for Lawyers another for Divines c. as I could easily instance but that I will not forestall the Readers Observation seeing some love not a Rose of anothers gathering but delight to pluck it themselves Here also one may see how the same County was not always equally fruitful in the production of worthy persons but as Trees are observed to have their bearing and barren years So Shires have their rise and fall in affording famous persons one age being more fertile then another as by annexing the dates to their several Worthies will appear In a word my serious desire is to set a noble emulation between the several Counties which should acquit themselves most eminent in their memorable off spring Nor let a smaller Shire be disheartned herein to contest with another larger in extent and and more populous in persons seeing Viri do not always hold out in proportion to Homines Thus we find the Tribe of Simeon more numerous than any in Israel Judah and Dan only excepted as which at their coming out of Egypt afforded no fewer than fifty nine thousand and three hundred Yet that Tribe did not yeild Prince Preist Prophet or any remarkable person Apocrypha Judith only excepted Multi gregarii pauci egregii and Multitude with Amplitude is never the true Standard of Eminency as the judicious Reader by perusing and comparing our County Catalogues will quickly perceive A Case of Concernment propounded and submitted to the Equity of the Reader It is this Many Families time out of mind have been certainly fixed in eminent Seats in their respective Counties where the Ashes of their Ancestors sleep in quiet and their Names are known with honour Now possibly it may happen that the chief Mother of that Family travelling in her Travel by the way side or by some other Casualty as visit of a friend c. May there be delivered of the Heir of her Family The Question is whether this Child shall be reputed the Native of that place where his Mother accidentally touched or where his Father and the Father of his Fathers have landed for many Generations On the one side it seemeth unreasonable to any man according to his Historical conscience that such a casual case should carry away the Sole credit of his Nativity This allowed tota Anglia Londinizabit a Moiety almost of the Eminent Persons in this Modern age will be found born in that City as the Inn-general of the Gentry and Nobility of this Nation Whether many come to prosecute Law-Suits to see and to be seen and on a hundred other occasions among which I will not name saving of house-keeping in the Countrey One Instance of many I find
favour will be indulged to my Endevours for my many Infirmities To Come to particulars some seeming Omissions will appear to be none on better Enquiry being only the leaving of many persons which belong not to our land to their Forraign Nativities If any ask why have you not written of John a Gaunt I answer because he was John of Gaunt born in that City in Flanders Thus whilst our Kings possessed large Dominions in France from King William the Conquerour to King Henry the Sixth many eminent English men had their birth beyond the Seas without the bounds of our Subject Secondly I hope real Omissions will neither be found many nor material I hope I shall not appear like unto him who undertaking to make a Description of the Planets quite forgot to make mention of the Sun I believe most of those who have escaped our Pen will be found Stars of the Lesser Magnitude Thirdly I protest in the presence of God I have not wittingly willingly or wilfully shut the Dore against any worthy person which offered to enter into my knowledge nor was my prejudice the Porter in this kind to exclude any of what perswasion soever out of my Book who brought merit for their Admission Besides I have gon and rid and wrote and sought and search'd with my own and friends Eyes to make what Discoveries I could therein Lastly I stand ready with a pencel in one hand and a Spunge in the other to add alter insert expunge enlarge and delete according to better information And if these my pains shall be found worthy to passe a second Impression my faults I will confess with shame and amend with thankfulnesse to such as will contribute clearer Intelligence unto me These things premised I do desire in my omissions the pardon especially of two sorts concerned in my History first Writers since the Reformation having those before it compleatly delivered unto us who cannot be exactly listed First for their Numerousnesse and therefore I may make use of the Latine Distick wherewith John Pitseus closeth his Book of English Writers Plura voluminibus jungenda volumina nostris Nec mihi scribendi terminus ullus erit More Volums to our volums must we bind And when that 's done a Bound we cannot find Secondly for the scarcenesse of some Books which I may term Publici-privati juris because though publickly printed their Copies were few as intended only for friends though it doth not follow that the Writers thereof had the less Merit because the more Modesty I crave pardon in the second place for my Omissions in the List of Benefactors to the Publick for if I would I could not compleat that Catalogue because no man can make a fit garment for a growing Child and their Number is daily encreasing Besides if I could I would not For I will never drain in Print the spring so lowe but to leave a Reserve and some whom I may call Breeders for posterity who shall passe un-named in which Respect I conceive such Benefactors most perfectly reckoned up when they are Imperfectly reckoned up All I will add is this when St. Paul writing to the Philippians had saluted three by name viz. Euodias Syntyche and Clement he passeth the rest over with a Salutation General whose Names are in the Book of Life Thus I have indevoured to give you the most exact Catalogue of Benefactors but this I am sure what is lost on Earth by my want of Industry Instruction c. Will be found in Heaven and their names are there recorded in that Register which will last to all Eternity As for my omitting many Rarities and Memorables in the respective Counties I plead for my self that mine being a general Description it is not to be expected that I should descend to such particularities which properly belong to those who write the Topography of one County alone He shewed as little Ingenuity as Ingeniousnesse who Cavilled at the Map of Grecia for imperfect because his Fathers house in Athens was not represented therein And their expectation in effect is as unreasonable who look for every small observeable in a General work Know also that a mean person may be more knowing within the Limits of his private Lands then any Antiquary whatsoever I remember a merry challenge at Court which passed betwixt the Kings Porter and the Queens Dwarfe the latter provoking him to fight with him on condition that he might but choose his own place and be allowed to come thither first assigning the great Oven in Hampton Court for that purpose Thus easily may the lowest domineere over the highest skill if having the advantage of the ground within his own private concernments Give me leave to fill up the remaining Vacuity with A Corrollary about the Reciprocation of Alumnus The word Alumnus is effectually directive of us as much as any to the Nativities of Eminent persons However we may observe both a Passive and Active interpretation thereof I put Passive first because one must be bred before he can breed and Alumnus signifieth both the Nursed child and the Nurse both him that was educated and the Person or Place which gave him his Education Wherefore Laurentius Valla though an excellent Grammarian is much deceived when not admitting the double sense thereof as by the ensuing instances will appear Passive Pro Educato Active Pro Educatore Cicero Dolabellae Mihi vero gloriosum te juvenem Consulem florere laudibus quasi Alumnum Disciplinae meae Plinie lib. 3. de Italia Terra omnium terrarum Alumna eadem parens numine Deum electa De finibus 122. b. Aristoteles caeterique Platonis Alumni Augustinus lib. 70. Civit. Jovem Alumnum cognominaverunt quod omnia aleret The Design which we drive on in this observation and the use which we desire should be made thereof is this viz. That such who are born in a Place may be sensible of their Engagement thereunto That if God give them ability and opportunity they may expresse their Thankfulnesse to the same Quisquis Alumnus erat gratus Alumnus erit A Thankful man will feed The Place which did him breed And the Truth hereof is eminently conspicuous in many Persons but especially in great Prelates before and rich Citizens since the Reformation BARK-SHIRE hath Wilt-shire on the West Hamp-shire on the South Surry on the East Oxford and Buckingham-shâ—…re parted first with the Isis then with the flexuous River of Thames on the North thereof It may be fancied in a form like a Lute lying along whose belly is towards the West whilst the narrow neck or long handle is extended toward the East From Coleshull to Windsor it may be allowed in length forty miles But it amounteth to little more then half so much in the broadest part thereof It partaketh as Plentifull as any County in England of the Common Commodities Grasse Grain Fish Foul Wooll and Wood c. and we will particularly instance on one or two
 4 Edw. Stanley bar ut prius  5 Tho. Leigh esq ut prius  6 Pet. Dutron esq ut prius  7 Tho. Stanley esq ut prius  8 Ric. Brereton es ut prius  9 Edw. Fitton esq ut prius  10 Pet. Venables ut prius  11 Tho. Ashton bar ut prius  12 Will. Leigh esq ut prius  13 Tho. 〈◊〉 bar DuddingtoÌ„ Arg. a Cheveron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or betwixt 3 Gadds of stteel S. 14 Tho. Cholmley ut prius  15 Phil. Manwaring ut prius  16 Tho. Powell bar Berkenhad Sable 3 Roses Arg. 17 Ioh. Billot esq  Arg. on a Chief G. 3 Cinque foils of the Field 18 Hug. Calvely k. ut prius  19 Tho. Leigh esq ut prius  20 Ri. Gravenor ba. ut prius  21 Rob. Totton esq Winthaw Quarterly Arg. G. 4 Crescents counter changed 22 Hen. Brood esq   Reader if thou discoverest any difference in the Method betwixt this and the other Catalogue of Sheriffs impute it to this cause that whilst I fetched the Rest from the Fountain in the Exchequer I took these out of the Cestern I mean the Printed Book of Vale-royal I presume that the Sheriff who is last named continued in that Office all that Intervale of years till his Successor here nominated entred thereon The Reader may with the more confidence relie on their Armes imparted unto me by Mr. Daniel King who to me really verifieth his own Anagram DANIEL KING I KIND ANGEL And indeed he hath been a Tutelar one to me gratifying me with whatsoever I had need to use and he had ability to bestow Henry III. 56 HUGH de HATTON King William the Conquerer bestowed Lands on one of his Name and Ancestors at Hatton in this County From him is Lineally descended that Learned and Religious witness his pious meditations on the Psalmes Sir Christopher Hatton Knight of the Bath created by King Charles the first Baron Hatton of Kerby in Northampton-shire The Original of this grant of the Conquerors is still in this Lords Possession preserved in our Civil Wars with great care and difficulty by his vertuous Lady On the same token that her Lord patiently digested the plundring of his Library and other Rarities when hearing the welcome tidings from his Lady that the said Record was safely secured Queen Mary 3 Sir HUGH CHOLMLY or CHOLMONDELEIGH This worthy person bought his Knight-hood in the field at Leigh in Scotland He was five times High-sheriffe of this County and sometimes of Flintshire and for many years one of the two sole deputies Leiutenants thereof For a good space he was Vice-President of the Marches of Walles under the Right Honorable Sir Henry Sidney Knight conceive it during his abscence in Ireland For Fifty years together he was esteemed a Father of his Country and dying Anno 157. was buried in the Church of Mallpasse under a Tombe of Allabaster with great lamentation of all sorts of people had it not mitigated their Mourning that he left a Son of his own name Heir to his Vertues and Estate 2 JOHN SAVAGE Ar. I behold him as the direct Ancestor unto Sir Thomas Savage Kt. and Baronet Created by K. Charles the first Baron Savage of Rock savage in this County This Lord a very prudent States-man married Elizabeth eldest Daughter and Co-heir of Thomas Lord Darcy of Chich Viscount Colchester and Earl of Rivers Honours entailed on his Posterity and now injoyed by the Right Honorable Thomas Savage Earl Rivers The Battles Rowton heath 1645. Sept. 24. His Majesty being informed that Colonel Jones had seized the Suburbs and Strong Church of St. Johns in Chester advanced Northward for the relief thereof Poins one of the Parliaments Generalls pursued his Majesty At Rowton-heath within 3. miles of Chester the K. Army made an Halt whilst his Majesty with some prime persons marched into the City Next day a fierce Fight happened on the Heath betwixt the Kings and Poinses Forces the latter going off with the greater loss Judicious Persons conceive that had the Royalists pursued this Single Enemy as yet unrecruited with additional strength they had finally worsted him which Fatall omission opportunities admit of no after-games proved their overthrow For next day Col. Jones drew out his men into the field so that the Royalists being charged on the Heath in Front and Rear were put to the worst the whole body of whose Army had Wings without Legs Horse without Foot whilst the Parliament was powerfull in both Immediatly after a considerable Party of Horse the Lord Byron Governour of the City being loth to part with any Foot as kept to secure the Kings person came out of Chester too late to succour their defeated Friends and too soon to engage themselves Here fell the Youngest of the three Noble Brethren who lost their lives in the King service Bernard Stuart Earl of Leichfield never sufficiently to be lamented The Farewell To take my leave of Cheshire I could wish that some of their hospitality were planted in the South that it might bring forth fruit therein and in exchange I could desire that some of our Southern delicacies might prosperously grow in their gardens and Quinces particularly being not more pleasant to the palate then restorative of the health as accounted a great cordiall The rather because a native of this County in his description thereof could not remember he ever saw Quince growing therein CHESTER is a fair City on the North-east side of the River Dee so ancient that the first founder thereof is forgotten much beholding to the Earls of Chester and others for Increase and Ornaments The Walls thereof were lately in good repair especially betwixt the New-tower and the Water-gate For I find how Anno 1569. there was a personal fight in this City betwixt the two Sheriffs thereof viz. Richard Massey and Peter Lycherband who shall keep peace if aged Officers break it who deservedly were fined for the forfeiting of their gravity to repair that part of the Wall It seems it is more honour to be keeper of a gate in Chester then a whole City elsewhere seeing Eastgate therein was committed to the câ—…ody formerly of the Earl of Oxford Bridgegate to the Earl of Shrewsbury Watergate to the Earl of Daâ—…by and Northgate to the Mayor of the City It is built in the form of a Quadrant and is almost a just Square the four Cardinal Streets thereof as I may call them meeting in the middle of the City at a place called the Pentise which affordeth a Pleasant Prospect at once into all Four Here is a property of building peculiar to the City called the Rows being Galleries wherein Passengers go dry without coming into the Streets having Shops on both sides and underneath The fashion whereof is somewhat hard to conceive it is therefore worth their pains who have Money and Leasure to make their own Eyes the Expounders of the manner thereof The
of the same Hand under the new name of a Subsidie Indeed it was pity that the Father of the Diocess should want any thing which his Sons could contribute unto Him He highly favoured the Templars though more pitying then profiting them as persons so stiffly opposed by the Pope and Philip King of France that there was more fear of his being suppressed by their Foes then hope of their being supported by his Friendship He was present in the Councel of Vienna on the same token that therein he had his place assigned next the Arch-bishop of Triers and that I assure you was very high as beneath the lowest Elector and above Wortzbury or Herbipolis and other German Prelates who also were Temporal Princes But now he is gone and his pompe with him dying at Cawood 1315. and buried in the Chappel of Saint Nicholas leaving the reputation of an able Statesman and no ill Scholar behind him MICHAEL TREGURY was born in this County and bred in the University of Oxford where he attained to such eminency that he was commended to King Henry the fifth fit to be a forraign Professor This King Henry desiring to Conquer France as well by Arts as Armes knowing that learning made Civil Persons and Loyall 〈◊〉 reflected on the City of Cane honoured with the Ashes of his Ancestors in Normandy and resolved to advance it an University which he did Anno 1418. placing this Michael the first Professor in the Colledge of his Royal Erection Hence King Henry the sixth preferred him Arch bishop of Dublin in Ireland wherein he continued 22. years deceasing December 21. 1471. and is buried in the Church of Saint Patrick in Dublin I am sorry to see the Author of so many learned books disgraced on his Monument with so barbarous an Epitaph Praesul Metropolis Michael hic Dubliniensis Marmore Tumbatus pro me Christum flagitetis Allowing him thirty years old when Professor at Cane he must be extreamly aged at his departure JOHN ARUNDLE was born of right ancient Parentage of Lanhearn in this County bred in the University of Oxford and was by King Henry the seventh preferred Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield anno 1496. thence translated to his Native Diocese of Exeter 1501. Impute it to the shortness of his continuance in that See that so little is left of his Memory not enough to feed much less Feast the Pen of an Historian He dyed at London anno 1503. and lyeth buryed saith my Author in St. Clements not acquainting us whether Clements East cheap or Clements Danes but I conclude it is the latter because the Bishops of Exeter had their Inne or City-house now converted into Essex-house within that Parish Capital Judges and Writers on the Law There passeth a pleasant Tradition in this County how there standeth a man of great strength and stature with a black Bil in his hand at Polston-bridge the first entrance into Cornwall as you pass towards Launceston where the Assizes are holden ready to knock down all the Lawyers that should offer to plant themselves in that County But in earnest few of that profession have here grown up to any supereminent height of Learning Livelyhood or Authority Whether because of the far distance of this County from the Supremer Courts or because of the multiplicity of petty ones nearer hand pertaining to the Dutchy Stannerie's and other Franchises enabling Atturneys and the like of small reading to serve the peoples turne and so cutting the profit from better-studyed Counsellers Some conceive that Sir Robert Tresillian chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in the fifth of King Richard the Second to be this Country-man though producing no other evidence save Tre the initial syllable of his Surname as a badge of Cornish extraction However we have purposely omitted him in this our Catalogue partly because not claimed by Mr. Carew in his Survey for their Countryman partly because no Worthy as justly executed by Act of Parliament for pronouncing their Acts revocable at the Kings pleasure As for one Cornish man though neither Writer nor actual Judge his worth commands us to remember him namely WILLIAM NOY born in this County was bred in Lincolns-Inn a most sedulous Student constantly conversant with ancient Records verifying his Anagram WILLIAM NOY I Moyl in Law He was for mâ—…ny years the stoutest Champion for the Subjects Liberty untill King Charles entertained him to be his Attorney after which time I read this Character of him in an History written by an ingenious Gentleman He became so servilely addicted to the Prerogative as by Ferretting old penall Statutes and devising new exactions he became for the small time he enjoyed that power the most pestilent Vexation to the subjects that this latter age produced However others behold his Actions with a more favourable eye as done in the pursuance of the place he had undertaken who by his Oath and Office was to improve his utmost power to advance the profit of his Master Thus I see that after their Deaths the Memories of the best Lawyers may turn Clients yea and sue too in forma Pauperis needing the good word of the Charitable Survivors to plead in their behalf He dyed anno Domini 163. Let me add this passage from his mouth that was present thereat The Goldsmiths of London had and in due time may have a Custom once a year to weigh Gold in the Star-Chamber in the presence of the Privy Councill and the Kings Attourney This solemn weighing by a word of art they call the Pixe and make use of so exact scales therein that the Master of the Company affirmed that they would turn with the two hundereth part of a grain I should be loath said the Attorney Noy standing by that all my actions should be weighed in those Scales With whom I concur in relation of the same to my self And therefore seeing the Ballance of the Sanctuary held in Gods hand are far more exact what need have we of his mercy and Christs merits to make us Passable in Gods presence Souldiers King ARTHUR Son to Uther-Pendragon was born in Tintagel-Castle in this County and proved afterward Monarch of Great Britain He may fitly be termed the British Hercules in three respects 1. For his illegitimate birth both being Bastards begotten on other mens wives and yet their Mothers honest women deluded the one by Miracle the other by Art-Magick of Merlin in others personating their husbands 2. Painfull life one famous for his twelve labours the other for his twelve victories against the Saxons and both of them had been greater had they been made less and the reports of them reduced within compass of probability 3. Violent and wofull death our Arthurs being as lamentable and more honourable not caused by Feminine Jealousie but Masculine Treachery being murdered by Mordred near the place where he was born As though no other place on Britains spacious earth Were
bountifull in such cases though our Nation be most concerned therein Let all ships passing thereby be fore-armed because fore-warned thereof seeing this Rock can no otherwise be resisted than by avoiding EXETER EXETER It is of a circular and therefore most capable form sited on the top of an Hill having an easie assent on every side thereunto This 〈◊〉 much to the cleannesse of this City Nature being the chief Scavenger thereof so that the Rain that falleth there falleth thence by the declivity of the place The Houses stand sidewaies backward into their Yards and onely 〈◊〉 with their Gables towards the Street the City therefore is greater in content than appearance being bigger than it presenteth it self to 〈◊〉 through the same Manufactures Cloathing is plyed in this City with great Industry and Judgment It is hardly to be believed what credible Persons attest for truth that the return for Serges alone in this City amounteth weekly even now when Trading though not dead is sick to three Thousand Pounds not to ascend to a higher proportion But the highest commendation of this City is for the Loyalty thereof presenting us with a pair-Royal of Services herein when besieged by 1 Perkin Werbeck in the Reign of King Henry the seventh 2 The Western Rebels in the Raign of King Edward the sixth 3 The Parliament Forces in the Raign of King Charles the first There Valour was invincible in the two first and their Loyalty unstained in the last rewarded by their Enemies with the best made and best kept Articles yea in the very worst of times a depressed party therein were so true to their Principles that I meet with this epitaph in the Chancell of St. Sidwells Hic jacet Hugo Grove in Comitatu Wilts Armiger in restituendo Ecclesiam in asserendo Regem in propugnando Legem ac Libertatem Anglicanam captus decollatus 6 Maii 1655. The Buildings The Cathedrall dedicated to St. Peter is most beautifull having the West end thereof adorned with so lively Statues of stone that they plainly speak the Art of those who erected them There is in this City a Castle whitherto King Richard the Usurper repaired and for some dayes reposed himself therein He demanded of the Inhabitants how they called their Castle who returned the name thereof was RUGEMONT though I confesse it a Rarity that the castle in a City should be called by any other name than a Castle Hereat the Vsurper was much abashed having been informed by Wizards that he should never prosper after he had met a thing called Rugemont It seems Sathan either spoke this Oracle low or lisping desirous to palliate his fallacy and ignorance or that King Richard a guilty conscience will be frighted with little mistook the word seeing not Rugemont but Richmond the title of King Henry the seventh proved so formidable to this Vsurper As for Parish-Churches in this City at my return thither this year I found them fewer than I left them at my departure thence 15 years ago But the Demolishers of them can give the clearest Account how the plucking down of Churches conduceth to the setting up of Religion besides I understand that thirteen Churches were exposed to sale by the publick Cryer and bought by well-affected Persons who preserved them from destruction The Wonders When the City of Exeter was besieged by the Parliaments Forces so that only the southside thereof towards the Sea was open unto it incredible number of Larks were found in that open quarter for multitude like Quails in the Wildernesse though blessed be God unlike them both in cause and effect as not desired with Mans destruction nor â—…ent with Gods anger as appeared by their safe digestion into wholesome nourishment hereof I was an eye and mouth witnesse I will save my credit in not conjecturing any number knowing that herein though I should stoop beneath the truth I should mount above belief they were as fat as plentifull so that being sold for two Pence a dozen and under the Poor who could have no cheaper as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meat used to make pottage of them boyling them down therein Seveâ—…al natural Causes were assigned hereof 1. That these Fowl frighted with much shooting on the Land 〈◊〉 to the Sea-side for their Refuge 2. That it is familiar with them in cold winters as that was to shelter themselves in the most 〈◊〉 parts 3. That some sortes of Seed were lately fown in those parts which invited them thither for their own repast However the Cause of causes was Divine 〈◊〉 thereby providing a Feast for many poor people who otherwise had been pinched for provision Princes HENRIETTA youngest Childe of King Charles and Queen Mary was born at BedfordHouse in this City Anno 1644. on the sixteenth day of June After her long and sad night of Affliction the day dawn'd with her in her Brothers happy returne Since she is marryed to the Duke of Orleance I hope that I once related unto her as a Chaplain may ever pray for her that her soul may be sanctified with true Grace and she enjoy both the Blessings of this and a Better life Prelates BARTHOLOMEUS ISCANUS born in this * City was accounted in that age the Oracle of Learning and Religion so that in all Conventions to that purpose his suffrage clearly carried it He became afterwards Bishop in the place of his nativity being intimate with his City-man whose Character next followeth Baldwin of Devonshire then but Abbot of Ford afterwards advanced to higher preferment These mutually dedicated Books each to others Commendation so that neither wanted praise nor praised himself This Leland calleth pulcherimum certamen Indeed this Alternation of reciprocal Encomiums became them the better because it was merit in both flattery in neither This Bartholomew was an opposer of Becket his insolence and having sate Bishop 14 Years ended his life Anno 1185. BALDVINUS DEVONIUS was born in this City of poor Parentage save that in some sort a worthy man may be said to be Father to himself His preferment encreased with his Learning and deserts being first a School-master then an Arch-deacon then Abbot of Ford afterwards Bishop of Worcester and lastly Arch-bishop of Canterbury An eloquent Man and a pious Preacher according to the Devotion of those dayes so that the errours which he maintained may justly be accounted the Faults of the timâ—…s and in him but infirmities When King Richard the first went to Palestine he conceived himself bound both in conscience and credit to partake of the pains and perils of his Soveraign whom he attended thither but not thence dying there and being buried at Tyre Anno Dom. 1190. WALTER BRONSCOMBE was Son to a very mean * man in this City and therefore the more remarkable that taking no rise from his extraction he raised himself by his own industry to be Bishop of Exeter Here he built and endowed an Hospital for poor people and also founded a fair Colledge at
without the Brittleness thereof soon Ripe and long Lasting in his Perfections He Commenced Doctor in Physick and was Physician to Queen Elizabeth who Stamped on him many Marks of her Favour besides an Annuall Pension to encourage his Studies He addicted himself to Chemistry attaining to great exactness therein One saith of him that he was Stoicall but not Cynicall which I understand Reserv'd but not Morose never married purposely to be more beneficiall to his Brethren Such his Loyalty to the Queen that as if unwilling to survive he dyed in the same year with her 1603. His Stature was Tall Câ—…plexion Cheerfull an Happiness not ordinary in so hard a Student and retired a Person He lyeth buried in Trinity Church in Colchester under a plain Monument Mahomets Tombe at Mecha is said strangely to hang up attracted by some invisible Load-stone but the Memory of this Doctor will never fall to the ground which his incomparable Book De Magnete will support to Eternity Writers GERVASE of TILBURY born at that Village in this County since famous for a Câ—…mpe against the Spaniards in 88. is reported Nephew to King Henry the second But though Nepos be taken in the Latitude thereof to signify Son to Brother Sister or Child I cannot make it out by the Door and am loth to suspect his coming in by the Window This Gervase may be said by his Nativity to stand but on one foot and that on tip toes in England being born on the Sea side at the mouth of Thames and therefore no wonder if he quickly convayed himself over into Forraign Parts He became Courtier and favorite to his Kinsman Otho the fourth Emperour who conferred on him the Marshal-ship of the Arch-bishoprick of Arles which proveth the Imperiall Power in this Age over some parts of Province an office which he excellently discharged Though his person was wholly conversant in Forraign Aire his Pen was chiefly resident on English Earth writing a Chronicle of our Land and also adding illustrations to Gâ—…ffrey Monmouth He flourished Anno 1210. under King John ADAM of BARKING no mean market in this County was so termed from the Town of his Nativity Wonder not that being born in the East of England he went West-ward as far as Sherborn where he was a Benedictine for his education it being as usuall in that age for Monkes as in ours for Husbandmen to change their soil for the seed that their grain may give the greater encrease He was a good Preacher and learned Writer and surely would have soared higher if not weighed down with the ignorance of the age he lived in whose death happened Anno 1216. RALPH of COGSHALL in this County was first Canon of Barnewell nigh Cambridge and afterwards turn'd a Cistertian Monke He was a man Incredibilis frugalitatis parsimoniae but withall of great learning and abilities These qualities commended him to be Abbot of Cogshall the sixth in order after the first foundation thereof where he spent all his spare hours in writing of Chronicles and especially of additions to Radulphus Niger Afflicted in health he resigned his place and died a private person about the year 1230. ROGER of WALTHAM was so called from the place of his Nativity I confess there be many Walthams in England and three in Essex but as in Herauldry the plain Coat speaks the bearer thereof to be the best of the house whiles the younger Brethren give their Armes with differences so I presume that Waltham here without any other addition of Much Waltham Wood-Waltham c. is the Chief in that kind viz. Waltham in this County within twelve Miles of London eminent in that Age for a wealthy Abby The merit of this Roger being saith Bale tersè nitidè eleganter eruditus endeared him to Fulke Basset Bishop of London who preferred him Canon of Saint Pauls He wrot many worthy works flourishing under King Henry the third Anno Domini 1250. JOHN GODARD wherever born had his best being at Cogshall in this County where he became a Cistercian Monke Great was his skill in Arithmetick and Mathematicks a Science which had lain long asleep in the World and now first began to open it's eyes again He wrot many certain Treatises thereof and dedicated them unto Ralph Abbot of Cogshall He flourished Anno Dom. 1250. AUBREY de VERE extracted from the right Honorable Earls of Oxford was born saith my Authors in Bonaclea Villa Trenovantum Three miles srom Saint Osith by which direction we find it to be Great Bentley in this County Now although a witty Gentleman saith that Noble-men have seldome any thing in Print save their Cloths yet this Aubrey so applyed his studies that he wrote a Learned Book of the Eucharist In his old age he became an Augustinian of Saint Osiths preferring that before other places both because of the pleasant retireness thereof and because his kindred were great Benefactors to that Covent witness their Donation de septem Libratis terrae thereunto This Aubrey the most learned of all Honorable Persons in that Age Flourished Anno Domini 1250. THOMAS MALDON was born at Maldon no mean Market Town in this County anciently a City of the Romans called Camulodunum He was afterwards bred in the University of Cambridge where he Commenced Doctor of Divinity and got great reputation for his Learning being a Quick Disputant Eloquent Preacher Solid in Defining Subtle in Distinguishing Clear in Expressing Hence he was chosen Prior of his own Monastery in Maldon where he commendably discharged his place till the day of his death which happened 1404. THOMAS WALDENSIS was son to John and Maud Netter who declining the Surname of his Parents took it from Walden the noted place in this County of his Nativity so much are they mistaken that maintain that this Waldensis his name was Vuedale and that he was born in Hant-shire In some sort he may be termed Anti-Waldensis being the most professed Enemy to the Wicklevites who for the main revived and maintained the Doctrine of the Waldenses Being bred a Carmelite in London and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford he became a great Champion of yet Vassall to the Pope witness his sordid Complement consisting of a conjunction or rather confusion and misapplication of the words of Ruth to Naomi and David to Goliah Perge Domine Papa perge quò cupis ego tecum ubicunque volueris nec deseram in Authoritate Dominorum meorum incedam in armis eorum pugnabo He was in high esteem with three succeeding Kings of England and might have changed his Coul into what English Miter he pleased but refused it Under King Henry the fourth he was sent a solemn Embassadour 1410. about taking away the Schismâ—… and advancing an Union in the Church and pleaded most eloquently before the Pope and Segismund the Emperour He was Confâ—…ssor and Privy Councellour to King Henry the fifth who died in his
Civil War is a vagrant and will trace all corners except they be surrounded with Gyges his ring Surely some eyes in that place besides the Sweet Rivers of Severn and Wye running by them have had Salt Waters flowing from them since the beginning of our late Distractions Lemster bread and Weabley Ale It seems both these are best in their kinds though good in other places of the Land Thus though Palestine was universally termed a Land of Wheat yet the Spirit of God takes signal notice of the wheat of Minnith and Pannag as finer than the rest Yet is there Wheat in England which justleth for pureness with that of Weabley viz. What groweth about Heston in Middlesex yeilding so fine floure that for a long time the Manchet for the Kings of England was made thereof except any will say it is prized the more for the Vicinity to London Saints ETHELBERT was King of the East-Angles and went to Offa King of Mercia to treat of a marriage with his Daughter but Queen Quendred Wife to Offa more ambitious of her own unlawful then her Daughters lawful advancement practised his Death at a Village now called Sutton-Wallis four miles from Hereford His corps was afterwards removed by Milfred a petit Prince of that Country to Hereford where he obtained the reputation of a Saint and Martyr His suffering happened Anno Dom. 793. THOMAS CANTILUPE was of honourable extraction whose Father William Lord Cantilupe had two fair habitations Abergavenny Castle in Monmouth and Harringworth in Northampton-shire which by an Heir-general of that Family afterwards descended to the Lord Zouch He was bred in Oxford whereof at last he became Chancellour and was preferred Bishop of Hereford A charitable man may believe him a person of Holy Life and great Learning But no wise man will credit what Walsingham writes of him That he was never guilty of any mortal sin Going to others say returning from Rome to assert his Church from the encroachment of Peckam Arch-bishop of Canterbury he dyed at a City in Tuscany where his flesh was taken off his Corps and buryed whilst his bones were sent for Reliques into England and enshrined at Hereford Now though different dates be assigned of his death I adhere to Bishop Godwin noting his Dissolution 1282. He was afterwards canonized by Pope John the twenty second and no fewer then four hundred twenty five miracles are registred in that Church reported to be wrought at his Tomb. I say just four hundred twenty five which falls out sewer by five and twenty then the Prophets of Baal and more by five and twenty then the Prophets of the Groves in a middle number betwixt both and all of thâ—…m I beleive honest and true alike Yea it is recorded in his legend that by his Prayers were raised from death to life threescore several persons one and twenty Lepers healed and three and twenty blind and dumb men to have received their sight and speech No wonder then what Mr. Camden observeth that in process of time parum abfuit quin pietatis opinione Regio Martyri Ethelberto praeluxerit He lack'd but little to eclipse the Lustre of Ethelbert the Royal Saint and Martyr formerly buryed as is aforesaid in the same Cathedral Indeed it is given to Superstition alwayes to be fondest of the youngest Saint But long since King Henry the eighth hath put a period to all emulations betwixt their memories The Bishops of Hereford so highly honoured this Thomas that waving their ancient Arms they assumed the paternal Coate of Cantilupe viz. Gules 3 Leopards heads inverted each with a Flower de Luce in his Mouth Or to be successively the Arms of their See This Cantilupe lived the latest of any Englishman who was canonized so that blind zeal may even close her Stomack and make up her Mouth with the Sweet-meats of his memory Martyrs Sir JOHN Son to Sir Thomas OLDCASTLE was a Native of this County whereof he was Sheriff in the seventh of Henry the fourth Lord Cobham in the right of his Wife a right valiant man but great follower of VVickliffe so that he lost his life on that account As his body was hanged and burnt in an unusual posture at Tyburne so his memory hath ever since been in a strange suspense betwixt Malefactour and Martyr Papists charging him with Treason against King Henry the fifth and heading an Army of more then ten thousand men though it wanted nine thousand nine hundred ninety and nine thereof so far as it appears solidly proved But it hath ever been the Practice of the Devil and his instruments angry with Gods Servants for their Religion to accuse them for Sedition perceiving Princes generally more jealous of their own honour then Gods Glory and most careful to cut off such as oppose their power or persons Thus Christ was accused for Disloyalty to Caesar and St. Paul for raifing of Tumults though they as it is plain in the Text either raised themselves or were raised by the Pharisees and Saducees Pauls professed Enemies But I have so worne out the Neb of my Pen in my Church-History about clearing the Innocency of this worthy Knight that I have nothing to add new thereunto Marian Martyrs this Diocess affordeth none such the Moderation of Robert Parfew the Bishop thereof Cardinal ADAM de EASTON We were at a great losse had we but his bare Sirname to direct us to the place of his Nativity seeing scarcely one County in England which hath not one or more Eastons or Eatons the same in effect therein But thanks be to our Author who hath fixed his Birth though but with an ut videtur in this Shire Pretenders to Skill in Palmestry would perswade us that such the Table in whose hands is narrow beneath and broad above are marked out for Poverty in their youth and plenty in their old Age. I will not say such the Signature in the hands of our Adam but sure I am such his successe Mean his birth homely his breeding hard his fare till by his Industry he was advanced Dr. of Divinity in Oxford wherein he became a great Scholar skill'd in Greek and Hebrew rare accomplishments in that age and was very dexterous in all civil Negotiations He was afterwards made Cardinal with the Title of St. Cicilie by Pope Urban against whom Clement the seventh was elected and erected by others Fierce the Fight between Bears and Boars but far fiercer betwixt two Anti-Popes giving no Quarter to the opposite party if brought into their power Urban suspecting Treachery in some of his Cardinals imprisoned seven of them at once and puting five of them into Sacks sunk them into the Sea Oh most barbarous Urbanity Our Adam being the sixth hardly escaped with Life and may be said in some sort put into a Sack though of a larger size I mean a streight Dungeon where he remained half starved for five years together till the
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
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
it and yet so clear that light will pass through it No Mechanick Trade but hath some Utensils made thereof and even now I recruit my pen with Ink from a Vessel of the same Yea it is useful cap-a-pe from Combs to shooing-horns What shall I speak of the many gardens made of horns to garnish houses I mean artificial flowers of all colours And besides what is spent in England many thousand weight are shaven down into leaves for Lanthorns and sent over daily into France In a word the very Shavings of Horn are profitable sold by the Sack and sent many miles from London for the manuring of ground No wonder then that the Horners are an ancient corporation though why they and the Bottle-makers were formerly united into one company passeth my skill to conjecture The best horns in all England and freest to work without Flaws are what are brought out of this County to London the shop-general of English Industry The Manufactures Fustians These anciently were creditable wearing in England for persons of the primest quality finding the Knight in Chaucer thus habited Of Fustian he weared a Gippon All besmottred with his Haubergion But it seems they were all Forreign Commodities as may appear by their modern names 1. Jen Fustians which I conceive so called from Jen a City in Saxony 2. Ausburgh Fustians made in that famous City in Swevia 3. Millaine Fustians brought over hither out of Lumbardy These retain their old names at this day though these several sorts are made in this County whose Inhabitants buying the Cotton Wool or Yarne coming from beyond the Sea make it here into Fustians to the good employment of the Poor and great improvement of the Rich therein serving mean people for their out 〈◊〉 and their betters for the Lineings of their garments Bolton is the staple-place for this commodity being brought thither from all parts of the County As for Manchester the Cottons thereof carry away the credit in our Nation and so they did an hundred and fifty years agoe For when learned Leland on the cost of King Henry the Eighth with his Guide travailed Lancashire he called Manchester the fairest and quickest Town in this County and sure I am it hath lost neither spruceness nor spirits since that time Other Commodities made in Manchester are so small in themselves and various in their kinds they will fill the shop of an Haberdasher of small wares being therefore too many for me to reckon up or remember it will be the safest way to wrap them all together in some Manchester-Tickin and to fasten them with the Pinns to prevent their falling out and scattering or tye them with the Tape and also because sure bind sure find to bind them about with points and 〈◊〉 all made in the same place The Buildings MANCHESTER a Collegiate as well as a Parochial Church is a great ornament to this County The Quire thereof though but small is exceeding beautiful and for Woodwork an excellent peice of Artifice The Wonders About VViggin and elsewhere in this County men go a Fishing with spades and Mathooks more likely one would think to catch Moles then Fishes with such Instruments First they pierce the Turffie ground and under it meet with a black and deadish water and in it small Fishes do swim Surely these Pisces Fossiles or subterranean Fishes must needs be unwholesome the rather because an unctuous matter is found about them Let them be thankful to God in the first place who need not such meat to feed upon And next them let those be thankful which have such meat to seed upon when they need it Proverbs Lancashire fair Women I believe that the God of nature having given fair complections to the Women in this County Art may save her pains not to say her sinnes in endeavouring to better them But let the Females of this County know that though in the Old Testament express notice be taken of the beauty of many Women Sarah Rebekah Rachel 〈◊〉 Thamar Abishag Esther yet in the New Testament no mention is made at all of the fairness of any Woman not because they wanted but because Grace is chief Gospel-beauty Elizabeths unblameableness the Virgin Maries ponâ—…ering Gods word the Canaanitish Womans faith Mary Magdalens charity Lydia her attention to Pauls Preaching these soul-piercing Perfections are far â—…etter than skin-deep Fairness It is written upon a Wall in Rome RIBCHESTER was as rich as any Town in Christendome And why on a Wall Indeed the Italians have a Proverb A wall is the fools paper whereon they scribble their Fancies 〈◊〉 not to be overcurious in examining hereof we suppose some Monumental Wall in Rome as a Register whereon the names of principal Places were inscribed then subjected to the Roman Empire and probably this Ribchester anciently was some eminent Colony as by pieces of Coins and Coluâ—…s there dayly digged out doth appear However at this day it is not so much as a Mercate Town but whether decaied by age or destroyed by accident is uncertain Here Reader give me leave the Historian must not devour the Divine in me so as to debar me from spiritual Reflections What saith S. * Paul We have here no continuing City and no wonder seing Mortal Men are the Efficient Moldring Buildings the Material and Mutable Laws the formal cause thereof And yet S. Paul was as well stocked with Cities as any man alive having three which in some sort he might call his own Tarsus where he was born * Jerusalem where he was bred at the feet of Gamaliel and Rome whereby he received the Priviledg of Freedome all which he waved as nothing worth because of no abiding and continuance Martyrs JOHN ROGERS was born in this County and bred in the University of Cambridge a very able Linguist and General Scholar He was first a Zealous Papist till his eyes being opened he detested all Superstition and went beyond * Seas to VVitenberg where some years after Tyndal he translated the Bible from Genesis till the Revelation comparing it with the Original coming to England he presented it in a fair Volumne to King Henry the 〈◊〉 prefixing a Dedicatory Epistle and subscribing himself those dangerous dayes required a Disguise under the name of Thomas Matthew And now Reader that is unriddled unto me which hath pusled me for some Years for I finde that K. James in the Instructions which he gave to the Translators of the Bible enjoyned them to 〈◊〉 the former Translations of 1. Tindal 2. Matthews 3. Coverdale 4. 〈◊〉 5. Geneva Now at last I understand who this Matthews was though unsatisfied still in VVhitchurch believing his Book never publickly printed but remaining a Manuscript in the Kings Library Yet this present could not procure Mr. Rogers his security who it seems for fear of the 6 Articles was fain to fly again beyond Seas
of the Carmelites in a Synode at Narbone deputed two English Provincials of that Order to the great grievance of our Lidlington refusing to subscribe to the Decisions of that Synode His stubbornesse cost him an Excommunication from Pope Clement the Fifth and four years Pennance of banishment from his Native Country Mean time our Lidlington living at Paris acquired great credit unto himself by his Lectures and Disputations At last he was preferred Provincial of the Carmelites in Palestine whence from Mount Carmel he fetched their Original and he himself best knew whether the Depth of his profit answered the Heigth of his Honour therein which I suspect the rather because returning into England he dyed and was buryed at Stanford anno Dom. 1309. NICHOLAS STANFORD He was born at that well-known Town once offering to be an University and bred a Bernardine therein The Eulogy given him by Learned Leland ought not to be measured by the Yard but weighed in the ballance Admirabar hominem ejus aetatis tam argute tam solido tamque significanter potuisse scribere I admired much that a man of his age could write so smartly so solidly so significantly Understand him not that one so infirm with age or decrepit in years but that one living in so ignorant and superstitious a generation could write so tercely flourishing as may be collected about the year of our Lord 1310. JOHN BLOXHAM was born at that Town in this County and bred a Carmelite in Chester I confess it is a common expression of the Country folk in this County when they intend to character a dull heavy blundering person to say of him he was born at Bloxham but indeed our Iohn though there first incradled had acuteness enough and some will say activity too much for a Fryer He advantagiously fixed himself at Chester a City in England nere Ireland and not far from Scotland much conducing to his ease who was supream prefect of his Order through those three Nations for two years and a half For afterwards he quitted that place so great was his employment under King Edward the second and third in several Embassies into Scotland and Ireland flourishing anno 1334. JOHN HORNBY was born in this County bred a Carmelite D. D. in Cambridge In his time happened a tough contest betwixt the Dominicans and Carmelites about Priority Plaintiffe Judges Defendant Dominican  Carmelite Iohn Stock or Stake rather so sharp and poinant his pen left marks in the Backs of his Adversaries Iohn Donwick the Chancellor and the Doctors of the University Iohn Hornby who by his preaching and writing did vindicate the seniority of his Order But our Hornby with his Carmelites clearly carried away the Conquest of precedency and got it confirmed under the authentique seal of the University However the Dominicans desisted not to justle with them for the upper hand until Henry the Eight made them friends by thrusting both out of the Land Our Hornby flourished anno Domini 1374 and was buried at his Convent in Boston BOSTON of BURY for so he is generally called I shall endevour to restore him first to his true name then to his native countrey Some presume Boston to be his Christian of Bury his Sirname But seeing Boston is no Font-name and Godfathers were consciencious in those dayes I appeal to all English Antiquaries in imposing if not Scripture or Saints names yet such as were commonly known the christianizing of Sirnames to baptized Infants being of more modern devise we cannot concur with their judgment herein And now thanks be to Doctor Iohn Caius who in the Catalogue of his Authors cited in the Defence of the Antiquity of Cambridge calleth him Iohn Boston of Bury being born at and taking his Sirname from Boston in this County which was customary for the Clergymen in those dayes though he lived a Monk in Bury Thus in point of Nativities Suffolk hath not lost but Lincoln-shire hath recovered a Writer belonging unto it He Travelled all over England and exactly perused the Library in all Monastaries whereby he was enabled to write a Catalogue of Ecclesiasticall Writers as well Forraign as English extant in his age Such his acuratness as not only to tell the Initiall words in Every of their Books but also to point at the place in each Library where they are to be had John Leland oweth as much to this Iohn Boston as Iohn Bale doth to him and Iohn Pits to them both His Manuscript was never Printed nor was it my happiness to see it but I have often heard the late Reverend Arch-Bishop of Armagh rejoyce in this that he had if not the first the best Copie thereof in Europe Learned Sir James WARE transcribed these Verses out of it which because they conduce to the clearing of his Nativity I have here Inserted Requesting the Reader not to measure his Prose by his Poetry though he dedicated it to no meaner then Henry the fourth King of England Qui legis hunc Librum Scriptorum Rex Miserere Dum scripsit vere non fecit ut aestimo pigrum Si tibi displiceat veniat tua Gratia grandis Quam cunctis pandis haec sibi sufficiat Scriptoris nomen Botolphi Villa vocatur Qui condemnatur nisi gratum det Deus Omen Sure it is that his Writings are Esteemed the Rarity of Rarities by the lovers of Antiquitys which I speak in Humble Advice to the Reader if possessed thereof to keep and value them if not not to despise his Books if on any Reasonable price they may be procured This Iohn Boston flourished Anno Dom. 1410. LAURENCE HOLEBECK was born saith my Author Apud Girvios that is amongst the Fenlanders I confess such people with their Stilts do stride over much ground the parcells of severall Shires Norfolk Suffolk Cambridg Huntington Northampton Lincolnshire But I have fixed him right in this County where Holebeck is not far from Crowland in Holland He was bred a Monk in the Abby of Ramsey and was very well skill'd in the Hebrew Tongue according to the rate of that Age. For the English-men were so great strangers in that Language that even the Priests amongst them in the Reign of King Henry the Eight as Erasmus reporteth Isti quicquid non intelligunt Haebraicum vocant counted all things Hebrew which they did not understand and so they reputed a Tablet which he wrote up in Walsingham in great Roman Letters out of the Rode of Common Cognizance Holebeck made an Hebrew Dictionary which was counted very exact according to those days I. Pitz doth heavyly complaine of Robert Wakefeild the first Hebrew Professor in Cambridg that he purloined this Dictionary to his private use whereon all I will observe is this It is resolved in the Law that the taking of another mans Sheep is Felony whilst the taking away of a Sheep-Pasture is but a Trespass the party pretending a right thereunto Thus I know many men so Conscientious that
what is good for it but it is especially used for mollifying the hardness and opening the stopping of the Belly Manufactures Leather This though common to all Counties is entred under the Manufactures of Middlesex because London therein is the Staple-place of Slaughter and the Hides of beasts there bought are generally tanned about Enfield in this County A word of the antiquity and usefulness of this commodity Adams first suit was of leaves his second of Leather Hereof Girdles Shoes and many utensils not to speak of whole houses of Leather I mean Coaches are made Yea I have read how Frederick the second Emperour of Germany distressed to pay his Army made Monetam Coriaceam Coin of Leather making it currant by his Proclamation and afterwards when his Souldiers repayed it into his Exchequer they received so much silver in lieu thereof Many good-laws are made and still one wanting to enforce the keeping of them for the making of this Merchantable commodity and yet still much unsaleable leather is sold in our Markets The Lord Treasurer Barleigh who always consulted Artificers in their own Art was indoctrinated by a Cobler in the true Tanning of Leather This Cobler taking a slice of Bread tosted it by degrees at some distance from the fire turning many times till it became brown and hard on both sides This my Lord saith he we good Fellowes call a Tanned Tost done so well that it will last many mornings draughts and Leather thus leisurely tanned and turned many times in the Fat will prove serviceable which otherwise will quickly fleet and rag out And although that great Statesman caused Statutes to be made according to his instructions complaints in this kind daily continue and encrease Surely were all of that Occupation as honest as Simon the Tanner the entertainer of Simon Peter in Joppa they would be more conscientious in their calling Let me add what experience avoweth true though it be hard to assign the true cause thereof that when Wheat is dear Leather alwayes is cheap and when Leather is dear then Wheat is cheap The Buildings HAMPTON COURT was built by that pompous Prelate Cardinal Woolsey one so magnificent in his expences that whosoever considereth either of these three would admire that he had any thing for the other two left unto him viz. His House-building House-keeping House-furnishing He bestowed it on King Henry the eight who for the greater grace thereof erected it Princes can conferr dignities on Houses as well as persons to be an honour increasing it with buildings till it became more like a small City than a House Now whereas other royal Pallaces Holdenby Oatlands Richmond Theobalds have lately found their fatal period Hampton Court hath a happiness to continue in its former estate Non equidem invideo miror magis undique totis Usque adeo spoliatur agris I envy not its happy lot but rather thereat wonder There 's such a rout our Land throughout of Pallaces by Plunder Let me add that Henry the Eight enforrested the grounds hereabouts the last of that kinde in England though they never attained the full reputation of a Forrest in common discourse OSTERLY HOUSE now Sir William Wallers must not be forgotten built in a Park by Sir Thomas Gresham who here magnificently entertained and lodged Queen Elizabeth Her Majesty found fault with the Court of this House as too great affirming That it would appear more handsome if divided with a Wall in the middle What doth Sir Thomas but in the night-time sends for workmen to London money commands all things who so speedily and silently apply their business That the next morning discovered that Court double which the night had left single before It is questionable whether the Queen next day was more contented with the conformity to her fancy or more pleased with the surprize and sudden performance thereof Whilest her Courtiers disported themselves with their several expressions some avowing it was no wonder he could so soon change a Building who could Build a Change others reflecting on some known differences in this Knights Family affirmed That any house is easier divided than united Proverbs A Middlesex Clown Some English words innocent and in-offensive in their primitive Nation are bowed by Custome to a disgraceful sense as Villain originally nothing but a Dweller in a Village and Tiller of the Ground thereabouts Churle in Saxon Coorel a strong stout Husbandman Clown from Colonus one that plougheth the ground without which neither King nor Kingdome can be maintained of which Middlesex hath many of great Estates But some endeavour to fix the Jgnominious sense upon them as if more arrant Rusticks then those of their condition elsewhere partly because Nobility and Gentry are respectively observed according to their degree by People far distant from London less regarded by these Middlesexians frequency breeds familiarity because abounding thereabouts partly because the multitude of Gentry here contraries are mutuall Commentaries discover the Clownishness of others and render it more Conspicuous However to my own knowledge there are some of the Yeomantry in this County as compleatly Civill as any in England He that is a low Ebbe at Newgate may soon be a Flote at Tieburne I allow not this Satyricall Proverb as it makes mirth on men in Misery whom a meer man may pity for suffering and a good man ought to pity them for deserving it Tieburne some will have it so called from Tie and Burne because the poor Lollords for whom this instrument of Cruelty to them though of Justice to Malefactors was first set up had their necks tied to the Beame and their lower parts burnt in the fire Others will â—…ave it called from Twa and Burne that is two Rivolets which it seems meet near to the place But whencesoever it be called may all endeavour to keep themselves from it though one may justly be Confident that more souls have gone to Heaven from that place then from all the Churches and Church-yards in England When Tottenham-Wood is all on fire Then Tottenham-Street is naught but mire I find this Proverbe in the Description of Tottenham written by Mr. William Bedwell one of the most learned Translators of the Bible And seeing so grave a Divine stoop'd to solow a subject I hope I may be admitted to follow him therein He thus expoundeth the Proverb When Tottenham-Wood of many hundred-Acres on the top of an high hill in the West-end of the Parish hath a foggie mist hanging and hovering over it in manner of a smoak then generally foul weather followeth so that it serveth the Inhabitants instead of a Prognostication I am confident as much mire now as formerly in Tottenham-Street but question whether so much wood now as anciently on Tottenham-hill Tottenham is turn'd French I find this in the same place of the same Author but quoting it out of Mr. Heiwood It seems about the beginning of the Reign of King Henry the eigth French Mechanicks swarmed in
you again therein VVe have a little been troubled with the smale Pox which hath lâ—…tted us to write hitherto â—…ut now we have shaken that quite away Thus fare you well at Greenwich the third of May Anno 1552. EDVVARD VVe have received your Letters dated at Rhemes the fourth of this instant by which we understand how the French King doth mean now to set forth a new Army to resist the Emperour and that for that cause you think you cannot yet ask leave to return without suspition till this bray do cease In which thing we like your opinion very well and the rather because you may peradventure see more things in this short journey if so be it that the Emperor doth march towards you then you have seen all the while you have been there Neverthelesse as soon as his businesse is once over past you with Mr. Pickerings advice may take some occasion to ask leave for this VVinter to come home because you think there shall few things more be done then have been already in such manner and form as we have written in our former Letters VVe pray you also to advertise for how long time you have received your Diets Bartholomew Campaigne hath been paid six VVeeks agon till the last of September and we would be very glad to know whether you have received so much at his Factors hands More we have not to advertise you and therefore we commit you to God From Hampton Court the 7. of October anno Dom. 1552. Martyrs Smithfield neer London being Bonners Shambles and the Bone-fire Generall of England no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven thence into the Vicenage at Barnet Izlington and Stratford Bow where more then twenty persons were Martyred as in Mr. Fox doth appear Nor must we forget Mr. John Denley burnt at Uxbridge who began to sing a Psalm at the Stake and Dr. Story there present caused a prickley fagot to be huâ—…led in his face which so hurt him that he bled therewith Now the singing Nightingale needed no Thorn but only the sleeping one to awake it We may beleive that this Martyrs Prick-song indeed made good melody in the Ears of the God of Heaven Prelats RICHARD NORTHALL was saith my Author born in this County adding moreover Praetoris Londinensis ejusdem cognominis ut fertur filius But take Pretor either for Major or Sheriffe and no such man appeareth in Stow his exact survay of London so that one may thence safely conclude the Negative no such person in those places though probably he might hold some other eminent office in that City By the way the applying the names of Roman Magistrates to our English Officers wherein every one followeth their own fancy in assigning the correspondency hath cauâ—…ed much uncertainty in matters of this nature But we willingly believe this Robert of wealthy extraction though he became a Carmelite and afterward Chaplain to King Richard the second who for his good Preaching preferred him Bishop of Ossory for a time Chancelour of Ireland and at last Arch-Bishop of Dublin He wrote a Set of Sermons for the whole year lived much beloved for his learning and virtues and died no less lamented Anno Dom. 1397 on the 20 day of July Since the Reformation WILLIAM WICKHAM born at Enfield in this County bred in Kings-Colledge was Bishop first of Lincolne then of Winchester where he may be termed William Wickham junior in distinction of his name-sake and predecessor one equal to any of his Order in piety and painfullnesse though little of him extant in print superiour to all in patience dying Anno 1596 of the Strangury when he had not made water for fourteen days together This mindeth me of an usuall prayer amongst the modern Jews had they no worse customes their company would be wellcome unto us praising God as well for their vents of ejection as mouths for the admission of nourishment Souldiers FALCATIUs or FULKE de BRENT was a Middlesex-man by his Nativity whose family so flourished thâ—…rein in former ages remaining in a meaner condition to this day that an Antiquarie will have the rivolet Brent which denominateth Brentford so named from them which is preposterous in my opinion believing them rather named from the rivolet This FULK was a Minion to King John whose dangers indeared Martial-men unto him who the more to oblige his fidelity gave him in marriage Margaret the Daughter of Warrin Fitz Gerald his Chamberlaine late Wife to Baldwin de Rivers many muttering thereat and the Ladie her self it seems not well satisfied therewith as beneath her deserts Hereupon our Author Lex connectit eos amor concordia lecti Sed lex qualis amor qualis coÌ„cordia qualis Lex exlex amor exosus concordia discors Now both of them be'ng brought into a Bed By law and love and concord joyned are What law what love what coÌ„cord did them wed Law lawless loath'd love concord which did jarr This Fulke was highly in favour with King Henry the third who by the valour of this his Generall obtained the great Victory at Lincolne But afterwards when the Land was setled in peace Fulke found himself less respected set by and not set by hung up like the Axe when it hath hew'n all the hard timber on the wall unregarded He endeavoured therefore to embroile the Nation in a new War and like a dishonest Chirurgion willfully to blister the sound flesh into a sore to gaine by the cureing thereof This not succeeding all being weary of civil warr he presuming on the Kings Lenitie and his own merit accounting himself too high to come under the roofe of any Law committed many outrages of felonies and murders He was esteemed too bad to live such his present desperateness yet too good to be put to death such his former deserts and therefore as an expedient between both he was condemn'd to perpetuall banishment He went to Rome none had more need to confess his faults where he lived obscurely died miferably and was buried ignobly Anno 1226. Sir RALPH SADLIER Son of Sadlier Esquire was born at Hackney in this County where he was heir to a fair Inheritance He first was Servant to the Lord Cromwell and by him advanced into the service of King Henry the eighth A Prince judicious in men and meat and seldome deceived in either who made him cheife Secretary of State He was much knowing and therefore most imployed in the Scotch affairs much complicated with State Intricacies which he knew well to unfold It is seldome seen that the Pen and Sword Goun and Corselet meet eminently as here in the same person For in the Battle of Muscleborow he orâ—…ered and brought up our scattered Troops next degree to a rout 〈◊〉 them to fight by his own example and so for his valour was made a Knight Bannaret Of these two kinds one by way of encouragement made before the other by way of
Prison to which many are committed for their contempts more for their debts So called it is from a Brook running by as that of Tygris in Armenia from its former Fleetnesse though now it creepeth flow enough not so much for age as the injection of City excrements wherewith it is so obstructed The Proverb is appliable to those who never owed ought or else having run into debt have crept out of it so that now they may defie danger and arrests yea may triumphare in Hostico laugh in the Face of the Serjeants Surely the Threshold of the Fleet so used setteth a good edge on the Knife and a better on the Wearer thereof acting him with a Spirit free from all engagements All goeth down Gutter-lane There is a small Lane inhabited anciently by Gold-beaters leading out of Cheapside East of Foster-lane which Orthography presents to the Reader by the name of Guthurun-Lane from him the once Owner thereof But common people we must speak with the volge and think with the wise call it Guttur Lane pleading for their mispronouncing it that the narrow form thereof is like the Throat or Gullet and such a one would have pleased Apitius the Epicure who wished to himself Tricubitale Guttur The Proverb is appliable to those who spend all in Drunkennesse and Gluttony meer Belly-Gods whom the Philosopher called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I confesse the word both in sound and sense hath some affinity with that of St. Pauls of the Gretians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idle-bellyes save that our Gastrimargi are far worse so named from the meer madnesse and distraction of their appetite As Lame as St. Giles Criple-gate St. Giles was by â—…irth an Athenian of noble Extraction and great Estate but quitted all for a solitary Life He was visited with a Lamenesse whether natural or casual I know not but the Tradition goes that he desired not to be healed thereof for his greater mortification if so his Judgement differed from all the good Lame-men in the Gospel importunate for ease from their infirmity He is accompted the Patron of Criples and whereas Churches dedicated to other Saints of better Footmanship get the speed of him and come into the City generally Lame St. Giles laggeth behind in the Suburbs as in London Cambridge Salisbury c. Criplegate was so called before the Conquest from Criples begging of Passengers therein And indeed they may prescribe for their Custome ever since the Lame-man begged an Alms of â—…eter and Iohn at the beautiful Gate of the Temple This Proverb may seem guilty of false Herauldry Lamenesse on Lamenesse and in common Discourse is spoken rather merrily then mournfully of such who for some light hurt lagg behind and sometimes is applied to those who out of Lazinesse none so lame as they that will not go counterfeit Infirmity You are all for the Hoistings or Hustings It is spoken of those who by Pride or Passion are mounted or elated to a pitch above the due proportion of their Birth Quality or Estate such as are all in Altitudinibus so that Common persons know not how to behave themselves unto them It cometh from Hustings the Principal and highest Court in London as also in Winchester Lincolne York c. so called from the French word Haulser to raise or lift up The mention of the Hustings a Court so called mindeth me of another Court called the Court of Hall-mote and I am resolved to run the hazard of the Reader 's anger with this my Digression to rectifie a mistake in some and prevent it in others Sir Edward Coke Institut 4. part cap. 9. This is derived of Hall and Mote as much as to say the Hall Court id est Conventus Civium in Aulam Publicam Every Company in London having a Hall wherein they kept their Courts and this Court antiently called Hall-Mote or Folk-Mote With whom verbatim concurreth who would not willingly dissent from him in point of Common-Law the Learned Doctor Cowel in his Interpreter But let all take heed that they confound not this Court with another more Antient and more proper for the cognizance of the Pen of a Divine viz. Haly-Mote Court being a Court derived from Haly which is Holy and Mote a Meeting being an Assembly kept before the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs for the Regulation of the Company of the Bakers in London wherein the Staffe of Bread and therein the Life of the poor is so much concerned formerly kept on the Lords Day whence it took its Name before the Feast of St. Thomas But a Court of Common-Councell 〈◊〉 the 15th 1609. altered that Court until the Thursday before St. Thomas's Day as since by a later act of the same Councel it is Removed unto the Monday before the said Festival The Antient Title of this Court ranne as followeth Curia Sancti-Motus tenta in Guilhaldea Civitatis London coram Majore Vicecomitibus Civitatis London Die Dominico proximo ante Festum St. Thomae Apostoli ad horam sextam ante Meridiem ejusdem Diei secundum Consuetudinem Civitatis London Such who are Learned in the Lawes and are pleased to reflect on the Name of my Author and Worthy Friend on the Margin will not in the least Degree suspect the Truth hereof Before I come to enroll the List of the Worthies of this City I premise the words Londinas and Londinensis as some have curiously stated their Senses according to whose fancy 1. Londinas signifieth one born in London wheresoever he doth live 2. Londinensis  one living in  wheresoever he was born Could this be made a truth this distinction would be very serviceable to me in this work but it will not hold water finding on due enquiry that by the best Criticks both are used promiscuously for anâ—… either born or living in that City save that Londinas answering to the Question Cujas signifieth Persons alone whilst Londinensis importeth either Persons or Things relating to that City as Turris Londinensis Pons Londinensis c. Princes KATHERINE third Daughter of K. Henry the third and Q. Eleanor was born at London Anno Dom. 1252. November the 25th being St. Katherins day whose name was therefore given unto her at the Font by Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury her Uncle and Godfather She dyed in her very Infancy on whom we will presume to bestow this Epitaph Wak't from the wombe she on this world did peep Dislik tit clos'd her eyes fell fast asleep She lyeth interr'd at Westminster in the space betwixt the Chappels of King Edward and St. Bennet JOAN Eldest Daughter and third child of K. Edward the second and Q. Isabel was born in the Tower of London about the year 1316. She was afterward married to David the second K. of Scotland continuing his wife twenty eight yeares This was she as I conceive who was commonly called Joan Make-Peace and we know Blessed are the peace makers improving her power though sometimes
any cause they should undergoe the punishment of death Whereas henceforward in England many were brought to the fire by the Bishops and others of the Clergy whose opinions were neither so blasphemous nor deportment so inhumane as ancient Hereticks I confesse not onely simple heresie was charged on this Sautre but also a relapse thereinto after abjuration in which case such is the charity of the Canon-Law that such a person is seculari judicio sine ulla penitus audientia relinquendus not affording any audience to one relapsed though he should revoke his opinions Quite contrary to the charitable Judgement of St. Chrysostome who sticked not to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If thou fall a thousand times and repent thee of thy folly come boldly into the Church There is some difference amongst Authors about the legal proceedings against this Sautre by what power he was condemned to dye Walsingham will have him die during the sitting of the Parliament secundo Henrici quarti by vertue of the Law then made against Hereticks Others will have him put to death not by any Statute-Law then made but as convicted in a Provincial Councel of the Archbishop of Canterbury The latter seemeth most true because the Writ De Haeretico comburendo sent down by the advice of the Lords Temporal to the Mayor of London to cause his execution bare date the 26 of February whereas it was ordered in that Parliament that the penal Statutes made therein should not take effect till after VVhitsontide But by what power soever it was done poor Sautre was burnt in Smithfield about the 28 of February 1400. One criticisme of cruelty and hypocrisie is most remarkable The close of the Archbishops sentence of degradation when Sautre was committed over to the Secular Court endeth with this expression Beseeching the Court aforesaid that they will receive favourably the said William unto them thus recommitted We are much beholding to Baronius for the better understanding this passage informing us that it was ever fashionable with their Clergy to this day that when they consigne an Heretick over to the Secular for execution they effectually intercede that he may not be punished with death For it appeareth in Prosper that 4 Bishops were excommunicated An. 392. for being accusers of Priscilian the first Heretick who was confuted with steel that age conceiving all tendency to cruelty utterly inconsistent with Clerical profession And hence it was thinks the aforesaid Baronius that this custome was taken up of the Clergie's mock-mercy in their dissembled mediation for condemned Hereticks I say dissembled for if the Lay having them in his power shall defer the doing of it more than ordinary it is the constant tenet of the Canonists relying on a Bull of Alexander the 4th 1260. he is to be compell'd unto it by spiritual censures We have been the larger upon this Sautre's death because he was the English Protestant pardon the Prolepsis Proto-martyr But every son must not look to be an heir we will be shorter on the rest in this City contenting our selves with their bare names except some extraordinary matter present it self to our observation JOHN BADBY was an Artificer in Black Friars in London condemned and burned in Smithfield about 1401. Henry Prince of VVales afterwards King Henry the 5th happened to be present at his execution who not onely promised him pardon on his recantation but also a stipend out of the Kings Treasury sufficient for his support all which Badby refused He was put into an empty Tun a ceremony of cruelty peculiar to him alone and the fire put therein At the first feeling thereof he cryed Mercy Mercy begging it of the God of heaven which Noble Prince Henry mistook for a kind of Revocation of his Opinions and presently caused the fire round about him to be quenched renewing his promises unto him with advantage which Badby refused the second time and was Martyred But Reader I will engage no deeper in this copious subject lest I lose my self in the Labyrinth thereof * Joseph left off to Number the Corn in Egypt for it was without number the cause alone of my desisting in this subject Yea Bloudy Bonner had murdered many more had not that Hydropical Humor which quenched the life of Queen Mary extinguished also the Fires in Smithfield Prelates Here in this City we are at a greater losse as to this Topick than in any Shire in England for in vain it is for any man to name himself Thomas of London John of London c. such Sirnames not reaching their end nor attaining their intention viz. 〈◊〉 diversifie the Person the laxity of so populous a place leaving them as unspecified as it found them We therefore have cause to believe that many Clergy-men both Bishops and Writers born in this City did not follow suit with others of their Coat to be named from the Place of their Nativity but from their Fathers the Reason why we can give so slender an account of them as followeth SIMON OF GAUNT was born in this City his Mother being an English Woman his Father a Flemming and being bred in good literature became so famous that by King Edward the first he was preferred Bishop of Salisbury 1298. He gave the first leave to the Citizens thereof to fortifie that place with a deed Ditch partly remaining and a strong wall wholly demolished at this day Now seeing good Laws are the best walls of any foundation no lesse was his care for the Church than City of Salisbury making good Statutes whereby it was ordered even unto our age He dyed about the year 1315. JOHN KITE was born in London bred in Oxford sent Embassadour into Spain made a Grecian titulary Arch bishop receiving thence as much profit as men shear wool from hogs and at last the real Bishop of Carlisle yet is his Epitaph in the Church of Stepney neither good English Latine Spanish or Greek but a barbarous confusion as followeth Under this Stone closyd marmorate Lveth John 〈◊〉 Londoner naciste Encreasing invirtues rose to hyghestate In the fourth Edwards chappel by his yong life Sith which the Seuinth Henries service primatife Proceeding still in virtuous efficase To be in favour with this our Kings grase With Witt endewyed chosen to be Legate Sent into Spain where he right joyfully Combined both Princes in pease most amate In Grece Archbishop elected worthely And last of Carlyel ruling postorally Kepyng nobyl houshold with great hospitality On thousand fyve hundred thirty and seuyn Inuyterate with carys consumed with Age The nineteeth of Jun reckonyd full euyn Passed to Heauyn from worldly Pylgramage Of whose Soul good peopul of Cherite Prey as ye wold be preyd for for thus must you lye Ieâ—…u mercy Lady help These if made 300 years ago had been excusable but such midnight verses are abominable made as it appears in the dawning of good learning and pure language Yet
placed in the first ranck nearest of all unto the Town and with no less success then valour to the great safety of the whole army beat back and put to flight the Spaniards who in the same day made several sallies out of the Towâ—… Know therefore that We in 〈◊〉 of the premises have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Roper Knight c. Then followeth his Patent wherein King Charles in the third of his raign created him Baron of Bauntree and Viscount 〈◊〉 in Ireland I will only adde from exact intelligence that he was a principal means to break the hearts of Irish Rebels for whereas formerly the English were loaded with their own cloths so that their slipping into Bogs did make them and the slopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein he first being then a Commander put himself into Irish Trouzes and was imitated first by all his Officers then Souldiers so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies He died at 〈◊〉 Rest Anno Dom. 164. and was buried with Anne his wife daughter to Sir Henry 〈◊〉 in Saint Johns Church in Dublin Seamen I behold these Sea men as the Sea it â—…elf and suspect if I launch far therein I sâ—…all see land no more Besides I know there be many laws made against Forestalers and would be loth to fall under that penalty for preventing the pains of some able person a 〈◊〉 of the Trinity 〈◊〉 who may write a just tract thereof Civilians Sir HENRY MARTIN Knight was born in this City where his Father left him forty pounds a year and he used merrily to say that if his Father had left him 〈◊〉 he would never have been a Scholar but lived on his Lands whereas this being though a large encouragement but a scant maintenance he plyed his book for a better livelyhood He was bred a Fellow in New colledge in Oxford and by the advice of Bishop Andrews addressed himself to the Study of the Civil Law By the advice of the said Bishop Master Martin had weekly transmitted unto him from some Proctors at Lambeth the Brief heads of the most Important causes which were to be tried in the high Commission Then with some of his familiar friends in that faculty they privately pleaded those Causes amongst themselves acting in their Chamber what was done in the Court But Mr. Martin making it his work exceeded the rest in amplifying and agravating any fault moving of anger and indignation against the guilt thereof or else in extenuating and excusing it procure pitty obtain pardon or at least prevail for a lighter punishment Some years he spent in this personated pleading to enable himself against he was really called to that Profession Hence it was that afterwards he became so eminent an Advocate in the high Commission that no cause could come amiss to him For he was not to make new armour but only to put it on and buckle it not to invent but apply arguments to his Cliant He was at last Knighted and made Judge of the Prerogative for Probate of Wills and also of the Admiraltry in causes concerning forraign traffick so that as King James said pleasantly He was a mighty Monarch in his Jurisdiction over Land and Sea the Living and dead He died very aged and wealthy Anno Dom. 1642. Physicians RICHARDUS ANGLICUS was certainly a man of Merit being eminently so denominated by Foraigners amongst whom he conversed from his Country and he who had our Nation for his Name cannot have less then London for his Lodging in this our Catalogue of Worthies He is said to have studied first in Oxford then in Paris where he so profited in the faculty of Physick that he is counted by Simphorianus Champerius a stranger to our Nation and therefore free from Flattery one of the most eminent Writers in that Profession Now because he was the first English man whom I find famous in that Calling may the Reader be pleased with a Receipt of the several names of the Books left by him to posterity 1. A Tractate of 〈◊〉 2. Of the Ruâ—…es of Urins 3. Of the Signs of Diseases 4. Of Prognostick Signs 5. Of Letting Bloud 6. toâ—…alen â—…alen 7. Of Feavors 8. A Correction of Alchymy 9. A Mirour of Alchymy 10. Of Physick 11. Repressive 12. Of the Signs of Feavors Leland reporteth that besides these he writ other works which the Envy of time hath denied unto us He flourished about the year of our Lord 1230. JOHN 〈◊〉 was born in this City bred Fellow of Baliol-colledge in Oxford where he contracted familiarity with his Colleague and Mecaenas I. Tiptoft Earl of Worcester He afterwards travelled into Italy and at Ferrara was a constant auditor of Gwarinus an old man and famous Philosopher Hitherto our Phreas made use only of his ears hereafter of his tongue when of Hearer he turned a Teacher and see the stairs whereby he ascended 1. He read Physick at Ferrara concerning Medicinal herbs 2. Then at Florence well esteemed by the Duke thereof 3. Then at Padua beneath Florence in beauty above it in learning an University where he proceeded Doctor of Physick 4. Then at Rome where he was gratious with Pope Paul the second dedicating unto him many books translated out of Greek The Pope rewarded him with the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells dying before his consecration poisoned as is vehemently suspected by some who maligned his merit Heu mihi quod nullis livor medicabilis herbis Solomon himself who wrot of all Simples from the Cedar in Lebanus to the Hysop on the Wall could find no defensative against it which made him cry out But who can stand before envy No wonder therefore if our Phreas though a skilful Botanist found mens malice mortal unto him He died at Rome Anno Domini 1465. and Lelands commendation of him may serve for his Epitaph if but Hic jacet Johannes Phreas be prefixed before it qui primus Anglorum erat qui propulsâ barbarie patriam honesto labore bonis literis restituit ANDREW BORDE Doctor of Physick was I conceive bred in Oxford because I find his book called the Breviary of Health examined by that University He was Physician to King Henry the eighth and was esteemed a great Scholar in that age I am confident his book was the first written of that faculty in English and dedicated to the Colledge of Physicians in London Take a tast out of the beginning of his Dedicatory Epistle Egregious Doctors and Masters of the Eximious and Arcane Science of Physick of your Urbanity exasperate not your selves against me for making this little volume of Physick c. Indeed his book contains plain matter under hard words and was accounted such a Jewel in that age things whilst the first are esteemed the best in all kinds that it was Printed Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum for William Midleton Anno 1548. He died as I collect
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
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
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
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
come and learn of me Come we now to his sad Catastrophe Indeed the curious had observed that in the Scheme of his Nativity not onely the Dragons-tail was ready to promote abusive aspersions against him to which living and dead he hath been subject but also something malignant appears posited in Aquarius which hath influence on the leggs which accordingly came to pass For being twice imprisoned for what misdemeanor I know not by Radulphus the Emperor he endeavoured his escape out of an high window and tying his sheets together to let him down fell being a weighty man and brake his legg whereof he died 1595. I believe him neither so bad as some nor so good as others do character him all know how Separation is of great use amongst men of his profession and indeed if his pride and prodigality were severed from him he would remain a person on other accounts for his industry and experience in practical Philosophy worthy recommendation to posterity Writers FLORENCE of WORCESTER was probably born near certainly bred in that City one eminent in learning as any of his age and no less industrious Many books are extant of his making and one most usefull beginning at the Creation and continued till his death This he calleth Chronicum Chronicorum which some esteem an Arrogant Title and an Insolent defiance of all Authors before and after him as if as the Rose is flos florum so his were the Superlative Chronicle of all that are Extant But others meet with much modesty in the Title Chronicum Chronicâ—…rum as none of his own making but onely gathered both for Matter and Language out of others he being rather the Collector then the Originall Composer thereof He died Anno Domini 1119. JOHN WALLIS or WELSH is confessed natione Anglus which I observe to secure his nativity against Welch-claimes thereunto onely grounded on his Sur-name Yet I confess he might be mediatly of Welch-extraction but born in this County where the family of the Walshes are extant at this day in a worshipfull equipage where he became a Franciscan in Worcester Leaving Oxford he lived in Paris where he was common ly called Arbor vitae The tree of life Non absque insigni Servatoris blasphemia With no small blasphemy to our Saviour saith our Author But to qualifie the matter we take the expression in the same sense wherein Solomon calls a wholesome tongue a Tree of Life Yet might he better be termed the tree of knowledge of good and evil whose books amounting to no fewer then twenty volumes are not so practicall for their use as curious in their speculations In the ancient Libraries of Baliâ—…l and Oriel-Colledge most of his Manuscripts are reported extant at this day He died and was buried at Paris Anno Dom. 1216. ELIAS de EVESHAM was born in this County of good Parentage from whom as it seemeth by J. Bale he had expectancy of a fair estate This did not hinder him from being a Benedictine in the Abby of Evesham where he became a great Scholar and wrote an Excellent Chronicle Bale knoweth not where to place him with any certainty But Pitz not more knowing but more daring assigneth him to have flourished in the year 1270. WILLIAM PACKINGTON I confess two Villages the less and greater of this name in Warwick-shire and yet place this Packington here with no discredit to my self and greater grace to him For first I behold him as no Clergy-man commonly called from their Native Places but have reasons to believe him rather a Layman and find an Antient Family of his Name not to say Alliance still flourishing in this County He was Secretary and Treasurer to Edward the Black Prince and his long living in France had made the language of his Nurse more naturall to him then the tongue of his Mother Hence it was that he wrot in French the story of five English Kings King John Henry the third Edwards first second and third and a book of the Atchievements of the Black Prince He flourished Anno Dom. 1380. Since the Reformation Sir EDWIN SANDYS Son to Edwin Sandys D. D. was in all probability born in this County whilst his father was Bishop of Worcester He was bred in Cambridge and attained to be a most accomplished person I have known some pitifull in Affection but poor in Condition willing but unable to relieve one in greater want then themselves who have only gotten an empty Purse and given it to others to put their charity therein for the purpose aforesaid Such my case I can only present the Reader with a Place in this my Book for the Character of this worthy Knight but can not contribute any Coine of MEMOIRES or Remarkables to the furnishing thereof Only let me adde he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 right-handed to any great imployment and was as constant in all Parliaments as the Speaker himself being beheld by all as an Excellent Patriot faithfull to his Country without being false to his King in all transactions He was the Treasurer to the undertakers for the Western Plantations which he effectually advanced the Bermudaes the firmest though not the fairest Footing the English have in the West-Indies owing their happiness to his Care and Sandys Tribe is no contemptible Proportion therein He had a commanding Pen witness his work of the Religion of the Western World many in one Book so much matter is Stowed therein I have been informed that he bequeathed by his Will a Considerable Summe to the Building of a Colledge in Cambridge but Debts not coming in according to Expectation his good Intention failed in the performance thereof He died much lamented of all good Men about the year 1631. Romish Exile Writers RICHARD SMITH D. D. was born in this County bred in the University of Oxford where he became Kings Professor and was fit for that place in all things if as one of his own perswasion avoweth Non obstitisset Laterum debilitas Vocis exilitas The weaknes of his Sides and lowness of his Voice had no hindred him King Edward the sixth afterwards sent for Peter Martyr over to be his Professor in this University betwixt whom and Doctor Smith so great the Contest that waving all ingagements it is best to State it to the eye of the Reader as it is represented by Authors of both sides Pitz. de Script in Anno 1563. Petrum Martyrem apostatam Monachum Haeresis Zuvinglicanae sectatorem a Rege Edwardo sexto Oxonii in Cathedram Theologicam intrusum in publicis disputationibus haeresis convicit Cathedrâ—…m suam victor repetiit sed Rege obstante non impetravit In publick disputations he convicted Peter Martyr the Apostate Monke and a follower of the Zwinglian Heresie thrust in by King Edward the sixth into the Divinity Chair in Oxford and being Conquerer did require his own Chair to be restored him which he obtained not because the King
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
Soon after more then 60. Royalists of prime quality removed themselves beyond the Seas so that hencefor ward the Kings affairs in the North were in a languishing condition The Farewell As I am glad to hear the plenty of a courser kind of Cloth is made in this County at Halifax Leeds and elsewhere whereby the meaner sort are much imployed and the middle sort inriched So I am sorry for the generall complaints made thereof Insomuch that it is become a generall by word to shrink as Northern Cloth a Giant to the eye and Dwarf in the use thereof to signify such who fail their Friends in deepest distress depending on their assistance Sad that the Sheep the Embleme of Innocence should unwillingly cover so much craft under the woo◅ thereof and sadder that Fullers commended in Scripture for making cloth white should justly be condemned for making their own Consciences black by such fraudulent practices I hope this fault for the future will be amended in this County and elsewhere For sure it is that the transporting of wooll and Fullers-earth both against Law beyond the Seas are not more prejudiciall to our English cloathing abroad then the deceit in making cloth at home debasing the Forraign estimation of our Cloth to the unvaluable damage of our Nation YORK is an Antient City built on both sides of the River Ouse conjoyned with a Bridge wherein there is one Arch the highest and largest in England Here the Roman Emperors had their residence Severus and Valerius Constantius their death preferring this place before London as more approaching the Center of this Island and he who will hold the Ox-hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot in the middle thereof What it lacketh of London in Bigness and Beauty of Buildings it hath in Cheapness and Plenty of Provisions The Ordinary in York will make a Feast in London and such Persons who in their Eating consult both their Purse and Palate would chuse this City as the Staple place of good chear Manufactures It challengeth none peculiar to it self and the Forraign Trade is like their River compared with the Thames low and little Yet send they course Cloth to Ha◅orough and have Iron Flax and other Dutch Commodities in return But the Trade which indeed is but driven on at York runneth of it self at Hull which of a Fishers Town is become a Cities fellow within three hundred years being the Key of the North. I presume this Key though not new made is well mended and the Wards of the Lock much altered since it shut out our Soveraign from entering therein The Buildings The Cathedrall in this City answereth the Character which a forraign Author giveth it Templum opere magnitudine toto orbe memorandum the work of John Romaine Willam Melton and John Thoresbury Successive Arch-bishops thereof The Family of the Percyes contributing Timber of the Valvasors Stone thereunto Appending to this Cathedrall is the Chapter-house such a Master piece of Art that this Golden verse understand it written in Golden Letters is ingraved therein Ut Rosa Flos Florum sic est Domus ista Domorū Of Flowers that grow the Flower 's the Rose All Houses so this House out-goes Now as it follows not that the Usurping Tulip is better then the Rose because preferred by some Forraign Fancies before it so is it as inconsequent that Mod◅h Italian Churches are better then this Reverent Magnificent Structure because some humorous Travailors are so pleased to esteem them One may justly wonder how this Church whose Edifice Woods designed by the Devotion of former ages for the repair thereof were lately sold should consist in so good a condition But as we read that God made all those to pity his Children who carried them captive so I am informed that some who had this Cath◅drall in their command favourably reflected hereon and not onely permitted but procured the repair thereof and no doubt he doth sleep the more comfortably and will die the more quietly for the same Proverbs Lincoln was London is and York shall be Though this be rather a Prophesie then a Proverb yet because something Proverbiall therein it must not be omitted It might as well be placed in Lincoln shire or Middlesex yet if there be any truth therein because Men generally worship the Rising Sun blame me not if here I onely take notice thereof That Lincoln was namely a far Fairer Greater Richer City then now it is doth plainly appear by the ruins thereof being without controversie the greatest City in the Kingdome of Mercia That London is we know that York shall be God knows If no more be meant but that York hereafter shall be in a better condition then now it is some may believe and m◅re doe d◅sire it Indeed this Place was in a Fair way of Preferment because of the convenient Scituation thereof when England and Scotland were first United into GreatB◅itain But as for those who hope it shall be the English Metropolis they must wait untill the River of Thames run under the great Arch of Ouse-bridge However York shall be that is shall be York still as it was before Saints FLACCUS ALBINUS more commonly called Alcuinus was born say some nigh London say others in York the later being more Probable because befriended with his Northern Education under Venerable Bede and his advancement in York Here he so pl◅d the well furnished Library therein much praised by him that he distilled it into himself so great and generall his knowledge Bale ranketh him the third Englishman for Learning placing Bede and Adelme before him and our Alcuinus his Humilt◅y is contented with the place though he be called up higher by the judgements of others Hence he travailed beyond the Seas and what Aristotle was to Alexander he was to Charles the first Emperour Yea Charles owed unto him the best part of his Title The Great being made Great in Arts and Learning by his Instructions This Alcuinus was the Founder of the University in Paris so that whatsoever the French brag to the contrary and slight our Nation their Learning was Lumen de Lumine nostro and a Tapor lighted at our Torch When I seriously peruse the Orthography of his Name I call to mind an Anagram which the Papists made of Reverend Calvin bragging like boys for finding of a Bees when it proves but a Hornets Nest I mean Triumphing in the sweetness of their conceit though there be nothing but a malitious sting therein CALVINUS LUCIANUS And now they think they have Nicked the Good man to Purpose because Lucianus w◅s notoriously known for an Atheist and Grand Scoffer at the Christian Religion A silly and spirefull Fancy seeing there were many Lucians worthy Persons in the Primitive ◅imes amongst whom the chief one Presbyter of Antioch and Martyr under Dio◅sian so Famous to Posterity for his Translation of the Bible Besides the same literall allusion is
under K. Henry the seventh Anno 1490. Since the Reformation RICHARD STOCK was born in this City bred Scholar of the house in Saint Johns-Colledge in Cambridge and designed Fellow of sidney though not accepting thereof He was afterwards Minister of All hallows Bredstreet in London by the space of thirty two years till the day of his death Where if in health he omitted not to Preach twice every Lords day with the approbation of all that were Judicious and Religious No Minister in England had his Pulpit supplyed by fewer Strangers Doctor Davenant afterwards Bishop of Sarum whose father was his parishioner was his constant Auditor while lying in London His Preaching was most profitable Converting many and Confirming more in Religion so that appearing with Comfort at the Day of Judgement he might say behold I and the Children that God hath given me He was zealous in his life a great Reformer of prophanations on the Sabbath prevailing with some companies to put off their wonted Festivalls from Mundays to Tuesdays that the Lords-day might not be abused by the preparation for such entertainments Though he preached oft in neighbouring Churches he never neglected his own being wont to protest That it was more Comfortable to him to win one of his own Parish then twenty others Preaching at Saint Pauls Cross when young it was ill taken at his mouth that he reproved the inequality of Rates in the City burdening the Poor to ease the Rich and he was called a Green head for his pains But being put up in his latter days to preach on the Lord Mayors Election and falling on the same subject He told them That a Gray head spake now what a Green-head had said before He dyed Aprill 20. Anno Domini 1626. with a great lamentation of all but especially of his Parishioners Memorable Persons JOHN LEPTON of York Esquire servant to King James undertook for a wager to ride six days together betwixt York and London being sevenscore and ten miles stylo vetere as I may say and performed it accordingly to the greater praise of his strength in acting then his discretion in undertaking it He first set forth from Aldersgate May 20. being Munday Anno Domini 1606. and accomplished his journey every day before it was dark A thing rather memorable then commendable many maintaining that able and active bodies are not to vent themselves in such vain though gainfull ostentation and that it is no better then tempting Divine Providence to lavish their strength and venture their lives except solemnly summoned thereunto by just necessity Lord Mayors Expect not Reader that under this Title I should present thee with a list of the Lord Mayors of this City born therein Onely to make this part conformable to the rest of my book know that I find one Native of this City Lord Mayor of London viz. Name Father Place Company Time 1 Martin Bowes Thomas Bowes York Goldsmith 1545 The Farewell To take our leaveof this Loyall City I desire that some Lucrative Trade may be set up therein to repair her former losses with advantage Mean time I rejoyce that the Archiepiscopat See is restored thereunto not despairing but that in due time if the Supream Authority adjudge it fit the Court of the Presidency of the North may be re-erected therein presuming the Country will be Eased and City Inriched thereby as the Loadstone which will atract much Company and by consequence Commodity thereunto Let me adde I am informed that Sir Thomas Widdrington a person accomplished in all Arts as well as in his own Profession of the Laws hath made great Progress in his Exact Description of this City Nor doe I more congratulate the happiness of York coming under so Able a Pen then Condole my own Infelicity whose unsuccessfull attendance hitherto could not compass speech with this worthy Knight Sure I am when this his work is set forth then indeed YORK SHALL BE what a City most compleatly Illustrated in all the Antiquities and Remarkables thereof FINIS THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES PSAL. 95. 4 5. In his hand are the deep places of the Earth the strength of the Hills is his also The Sea is his and he made it PROV 27. 25 26. The herbs of the Mountains are gathered The Lambs are for thy clothing and the Goats are the price of thy fields A NECESSARY PREFACE TO THE READER IT bare a debate in my serious consideration whether a Totall Omission or Defective Description of this Principality were to be preferred finding my self as Unable to do it Exactly as Unwilling to Pretermit it For First I never was in VVales and all know how necessary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to accurateness herein Secondly I understand not their Language and cannot go to the Cost nor dare take the State of having an Interpreter King James was wont pleasantly to say that he cared not though he was poor himself so long as his Subjects were Rich as confident he could command their wealth on good conditions and a just occasion But indeed it matters not how meanly skil'd a Writer is so long as he hath Knowing and Communicative Friends my happiness in England who here am quite destitute of such assistance However on the other side a Totall Omission seemed very unhandsome to make a Cypher of this Large Principality Besides England cannot be well described without VVales such the Intimacy of Relation betwixt them three of our English Kings being born and many of Our Prime Atchievments being acted in VVales Wherefore I resolved to endeavour my utmost in the description thereof though sadly sensible in my self that my desires were as high as a Mountain but my performances would fall as low would they were half so fruitfull as the Vallies And here I humbly desire that the many faults by me committed may be like a Ball cast down and deaded on a soft Floor even to be buried in my own weakness to my own shame without the least Ripling or Rebounding to the disgrace of the VVelsh Country or Nation And my hope and desire is that these my weak pains will provoke others of more Ability to substitute a more Exact Description in the room thereof I had rather the Reader should take the name of that worthy Knight from Master Camden then from me who designing to build according to the Italian Mode of Architecture plucked down a good and convenient English-house preposterously destroying the one and never finished the other I hope the Reader will not be so uncharitable I will not say undiscreet but will allow our grains a subsistence till they will willingly vanish at the substitution of another In Doubtfull Nativities of Worthy Persons betwixt England and Wales I have not call'd for a sword to divide the controverted Child betwixt the two Mothers but have wholy resigned it to VVales partly out of desire of quietness not engage in a contest partly because I conceived England might better spare then