found in the name of ALCUINUS LUCIANUS Thus these Nominall Curiosities whether they hit or miss the Mark equally import nothing to Judicious Beholders He was made first Abbot of Saint Augustines in Canterbury and afterward of Saint Martins in the City of Towers in France and dying Anno 780 he was buried in a small Convent appendant to his Monastery He is here entred under the Topick of Saints because though never solemnly canonized he well deserved the Honor His Subjects said to David Thou art worth ten Thousand of us and though I will not ascend to so high a Proportion many of the Modern Saints in the Church of Rome must modestly confess that on a Due and True estimate our Alcuinus was worth many Scores of them at least so great his Learning and holy his Conversation SEWALL had his Nativity probably in these Parts But he was bred in Oxford and was a Scholar to St. Edmund who was wont to say to him Sewald Sewald thou wilt have many Afflictions and dye a Martyr Nor did he miss much of his mark therein though he met with Peace and Plenty at first when Arch-bishop of York The occasion of his Trouble was when the Pope plenitudine potestatis intruded one Jordan an Italian to be Dean of York whose Surprised Installing Sewald stoutly opposed Yea at this time there were in England no fewer then three Hundred Benefices possessed by Italians where the People might say to them as the Eunuch to Philip How can we understand without an â—…nterpreter Yea which was far worse they did not onely not teach in the Church but mis-teach by their lascivious and debauched behaviour Asfor our Sewald Mathew Paris saith plainly that he would not bow his Knee to Baal so that for this his contempt he was excommunicated and cursed by Bell Book and Candle though it was not the Bell of Aarons Garment nor Book of Scripture nor the Candle of an Unpartiall Judgement This brak his heart and his Memory lyeth in an Intricate posture peculiar almost to himself betwixt Martyr and no Martyr a Saint and no Saint Sure it is â—…ewall though dying excommunicated in the Romish is reputed Saint in Vulgar estimation and some will maintain that the Popes solemn Canonization is no more requisite to the making of a Saint then the Opening of a Manâ—… Windows is necessary to the lustre of the Sun Sewald died Anno Dom. 1258. Bale who assumeth liberty to himself to surname Old-writers at his pleasure is pleased to Addition this worthy man Sewaldus Magnanimus Martyrs VALENTINE FREESE and his Wife were both of them born in this City and both gave their lives therein at one Stake for the testimony of Jesus Christ Anno Domini 1531. Probably by order from Edward Lee the cruell Arch-bishop I cannot readily call to mind a man and his wife thus Marryed together in Martyrdome And begin to grow confident that this Couple was the first and laâ—… in this kind Confessors EDWARD FREESE brother to the aforesaid Valentine was born in York and there a Prentice to a Painter He was afterwards a Novice-Monke and leaving his Convent came to Colchester in Essex Here his hereticall Inclination as then accounted discovered it self in some sentences of Scripture which he Painted in the Borders of Cloths for which he was brought before John Stoaksley Bishop of London from whom he found such cruell usage as is above belief Master Fox saith that he was fed with Manchet made of Saw-dust or at the least a great part thereof and kept so long in Prison Manicled by the wrests till the Flesh had overgrown his Irons and he not able to kembe his own head became so distracted that being brought before the Bishop he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man A sad sight to his Friends and a sinfull one to his Foes who first made him mad and then made mirth at his madness I confess distraction is not mentioned in that list of losses reckoned up by our Saviour He that left his House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake c. But seeing his wits is nearer and dearer to any man then his wealth and seeing what is so lost may be said to be left no doubt this poor mans distraction was by God gratiously accepted on his enemies severely punished and to him mercifully rewarded We must not forget how the wife of this Edward Freese being big with child and pressing in to see her husband the Porter at Fulham gave her such a kick on the belly that the child was destroyed with that stroke immediately and she died afterwards of the same Prelates JOHN ROMAN so called because his Father was born in Rome though living a long time in this City being Treasurer of the Cathedrall therein and I conjecture this John his Son born in York because so Indulgent thereunto For generally Pure Pute Italians preferred in England transmitted the gain they got by Bills of Exchange or otherwise into their own Country and those outlandisâ—… Mules though lying down in English Pasture left no Hairs behind them Whereas this Roman had such Affection for York that being advanced Arch-bishop he began to build the Body of the Church and finished the North Part of the Cross-Isle therein Polydore Virgil praised him no wonder that an Italiaâ—… commended a Roman for a Man of great Learning and Sincerity He fell into the disfavour of King Edward the first for Excommunicating Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham and it cost him four thousand marks to regain his Princes Good Will He died Anno Domini 1295. And let none grudge his Buriaâ—… in the best Place of the Church who was so Bountifull a Builder thereof ROBERT WALBEY born in this City was therein bred an Augâ—…stinian Friar he afterwards went over into France where he so applied his studies that at last he was chosen Divinity Professor in the City of Tholouse he was Chaplain to the black Prince after his death to his Father K. Edward the third Now as his Mr. injoyed three Crowns so under him in his three Kingdoms this his Chaplain did partake successively of three Miters being first a Bishop in Gascoine then Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland afterwards Bishop of Chichester in England not grudging to be degraded in Dignity to be preferred in profit At last he was consecrated Arch-bishop of York and was the first and last Native which that City saw the least of Infants and in his Time when Man the greatest therein Yet he enjoyed his place but a short time dying May 29. Anno Domini 1397. Since the Reformation THOMAS MORTON was born Anno 1564. in the City of York whose father Richard Morton allyed to Cardinall Morton Arch bishop of Canterbury was a Mercer I have been informed the first of that calling in that City sure of such repute that no Mercers
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
Per ipsum Regem The King to the Sheriff health c. Because there are divers men as we are informed which before these times in the Voyages made by us have assumed to themselves Arms and Coat-Armors where neither they nor their Ancestors in times past used such Arms or Coat Armours and propound with themselves to use and exercise the same in this present Voyage which God willing we shortly inâ—…end to make And although the Omnipotent disposeth his favours in things Natural as he pleaseth equally to the Rich and Poor yet We willing that every one of our Leige Subjects should be had and Handled in due manner according to the Exigence of his State and Condition We command thee that in every place within thy Bailiwick where by Our Writ we have lately shewn you cause to be proclaimed that no man of what State Degree or Condition soever he be shall take upon him such Arms or Coats of Arms save he alone who doth possesse or ought to possesse the same by the right of his Ancestors or by Donation and Grant of some who had sufficient power to assign him the same And that he that useth such Arms or Coats of Arms shall on the day of his Muster manifestly shew to such persons assigned or to be assigned by us for that purpose by virtue of whose gift he enjoyeth the same Those only excepted who carried Arms with us at the Battle of Agincourt uuder the penalties not to be admitted to go with us in Our foresaid Voyage under His Command by whom he is for the present retained and of the loss of his wages as also of the rasing out and breaking off the said Arms called Coat-Armours at the time of his Muster aforesaid if they shall be shewed upon him or found about him And this you shall in no case omit Witnesse the King at the City of New Sarum June the second Consimilia Brevia diriguntur Vicecom Wilts Sussex Dors. sub eadem data I could wish a reviving of this Instrument in our Age many Up-starts in our late Civil wars having injuriously invaded the Arms of ancient Families CHAP. XVII Of the often Altering of Sirnames and the Various Writing thereof HAving dealt so largely in Sirnames it is necessary to observe that Sirnames of Families have been frequently altered some Families deposing their Old and assuming new names on several occasions But cheifly for 1. Concealment in time of Civil Wars A Name is a kind of Face whereby one is known Wherefore taking a false name is a Vizard whereby men disguise themselves and that lawfully enough when not fradulently done to deceive others but discreetly in danger to secure themselves Thus during the Contest 'twixt York and Lancaster Carington in Warwick-shire took the name of Smith La Blunt the Name of Croke in Buckingham-shire with many others 2. For Advancement when adopted into an estate as Newport the Name of Hatton in Northampton-shire Throckmorton the Name of Carew at Beddington in Surrey as long before Westcoat the Name of Littleton in Stafford-shire Besides the same Sirname continued hath been variously altered in Writing First because Time teacheth New Orthography altering spelling as well as speaking Secondly the best Gentlemen anciently were not the best Scholars and minding matters of more moment were some what too incurious in their Names Besides Writers ingrossing Deeds were not over critical in spelling of Names knowing well where the person appeared the same the Simplicity of that age would not fall out about Misnomer Lastly Ancient Families have been often removed into several Counties where several Writings follow the several pronunciations What Scholar knoweth not that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Greek Name for Jupiter is by their seven Dialects written ten several wayes and though not so many Dialects in England there is a real difference betwixt our Southern Western and Northern Pronunciations Hence it is that the same Name hath been so often disguised unto the Staggering of many who have mistook them for different Idem non Idem quaeruntque in Nomine Nomen The same they thought was not the same And in their Name they sought their Name Thus I am informed that the Honourable Name of Villiers is written fourteen several ways in their own Evidences and the like though not so many Variations may be observed in others And the Name of Roper in Darby-shire changed from Musard to Rubra-Spatha Rospear Rouspee Rooper Roper I insist the longer on this point because in our Catalogue of Sheriffs the same Sirname is variously written which some without cause may impute to my carelesnesse being the effect of my care conforming the Orthography exactly to the Original where such variation doth plainly appear and however such Diversity appeareth in the Eye of others I dare profess that I am delighted with the Prospect thereof CHAP. XVIII Of Modern Battels IMmediately before our Farewell to the Respective Counties we have inserted a Breviate of Modern Battels since our Civil Distempers I need here premise nothing of the difference betwixt a Skirmish being only the Ingagement of Parties and a Battle being an incounter betwixt Generals with their Armies Nor yet of the difference betwixt Praelium a Fight or Battel and Bellum a War the former being a Fight in Field the later the continuance of Hostility which may be for many years whilst the difference dependeth undecided Peracto Prâ—…lio manet Bellum And though a Truce may give a Comma or Colon to the War nothing under a Peace can put a perfect Period thereunto In describing these Battels I am for distinction sake necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly according to the Abusive acception thereof for these latter years Let us think and judge with the Wise but if we do not speak with the Vulgar we shall be Dumb to the Vulgar Otherwise I know a Parliament properly is a compleat Syllogisme the Lords and Commons being the two Propositions the King the Conclusion thereof and our English Tongue wanteth one word to express the dissenting part of a Parliament and I trust in God as our Language doth not afford the Name so our Land shall not hereafter behold the Nature thereof These Battels are here inserted not with any intent God knows my heart to perpetuate the odious Remembrance of our mutual Animosities that Heart burnings may remain when House burnings are removed but cheifly to raise our Gratitude to God that so many Battels should be fought in the bosome of so little a Land and so few Scars and Signs thereof extant in their visible Impressions Such who consider how many men we have lost would wonder we have any left and such who see how many we have left that we had any lost In a word as it is said of the best Oyl that it hath no Tast that is no Tang but the pure Natural Gust of Oyl therein so I have indevoured to present these Battels according to plain Historical truth without any
like being said not to be seen in all England no nor in all Europe again The Buildings Saint Werburges Church is a fair structure and had been more beautifull if the tower thereof intended some say for a steeple the first stone whereof was laid 1508. had been finished It was built long before the Conquest and being much ruined was afterward repaired by Hugh Lupus first Earl of Chester It was afterward made by King Henry the eighth one of his five Royal Bishopricks Oxford Gloucester Bristol and Peterborough being the other four I say Royal Bishopricks as whose Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions were never confirmed by the Pope nor Baronies by the Parliament The first is plain King Henry the eighth erecting them after he had disclaimed the Popes Supremacy and in the days of Queen Mary when England was in some sort reconciled to Rome the Pope thought not fit to contest with the Queen about that CriticismeÌ„ because these five Bishopricks were erected without his consent but suffer'd them to be even as he found them Their Baronries also were not though their Bishopricks were ever confirmed by Act of Parliament so that they owed their beings solely to the Kings Prerogative who might as well Create Spiritual as Temporal Peers by his own Authority And therefore when some Anti-praelatists in the late Long Parliament 1641. endeavoured to overthrow their Baronries as an Essâ—…y and Preludium to the rest of the Bishopricks for want of Parliamentary Confirmation they desisted from that design as fond and unfeisable on better consideration Proverbs When the daughter is stoln shut Pepper-gate Pepper-gate was a postern of this City on the East-side as I take it thereof but in times past closed up and shut upon this occasion The Mayor of the City had his daughter as she was playing at ball with other Maidens in Pepper-street stoln away by a Young-man through the same gate whereupon in revenge he caused it to be shut up though I see not why the City should suffer in her conveniences for the Mayor his want of Care or his Daughter her lack of Obedience But what shall we say Love will make the whole Walla Gate to procure its own Escape Parallel to this Proverb is the Latine Serò sapiunt Phryges when men instead of preventing postvide against dangers Martyrs GEORGE MARSH was condemned by Bishop Coats and cruelly burnt without this City near unto Spittle Boughton but because he was born elsewhere see his character in Lancashire Prelates GEORGE DOUNHAM D. D. son to John Dounham Bishop of Chester was born in this City as by proportion of time may most probably be collected He was bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge elected Fellow thereof 1585. and chosen Logick-professor in the University No man was then and there better skill'd in Aristotle or a greater Follower of Ramus so that he may be termed the Top-twig of that Branch It is seldome seen that the Clunch-fist of Logick good to knock a man down at a blow can so open it self as to smooth and stroak one with the Palme thereof Our Dounham could doe both witness the Oration made by him at Cambridge preposed to his book of Logick full of Flowers of the choicest eloquence He preached the Sermon April 17. 160â—… at the Consecration of James Mountague Bishop of Bath and Wells irrefragably proving therein Episcopacy jure Divino He that receiveth a Bishop in the Name of a Bishop shall receive a Bishops reward It was not long before Doctor Dounham was made Bishop of Derry in Ireland then newly augmented with the addition of London-Derry because so planted with English it was easy to find London in Derry but not Derry in Derry so much disguised from itself with new buildings But this Learned Bishop was the greatest beauty thereof indeavouring by gentleness to Cicurate and Civillize the wild-Irish and proved very successfull therein The certain date of his death I cannot attain Sea men DAVID MIDDLETON was born in this City as his Kinsman and my Friend hath informed me He was one of those who effectually contributed his assistance to the making of Through lights in the World I mean New Discoveries in the East and West-Indies as we may read at large in his own Printed relation The tender-hearted Reader whose affections go along with his eye will sadly sympathize with his sufferings so many and great his dangers with Caniballs and Portugals Crocodiles and Hollanders till at last he accomplished his intentions and setled the English trade at Bantam I meet with no mention of him after 1610. Sir HENRY MIDDLETON Knight was younger brother as I take it to the former deservedly knighted for his great pains and perills in advancing the English trade Amongst many most remarkable is his Voyage into the Red-sea which had like to have proved the Dead sea unto him I mean cost him his life Here he was tolled to land at Moha by the treacherous Aga and then had eight of his men barbarously slâ—…in himself and seven more chained up by the Necks The pretence was because that Port was the Door of the Holy City which though it be Jerusalem in the language of the Scripture is Mecca in the Phrase of the Alcaron and it is Capitoll for any Christian to come so near thereunto Then was he sent eightscore miles and upwards to the Bashaw at Zenan in Arabia in the Month of January 1611. This City of Zenan lyeth but sixteen degrees and fifteen minutes of Northern latitude from the Equator and yet was so cold that there was Ice of a Fingers thickness in one night as the said Sir Henry did relate This confuteth the Character of these Countries misapprehended by Antiquity not to be habitable for the excess of heat therein At last the Turkish Bashaw gave him leave to depart and sailing Eastwards he repaired himself by a gainfull composition with the Indians for the losses he had sustained by the Turkes His ship called the Trades increase well answered the name thereof untill it pleased God to visit his men therein with a strange disease whereof one hundred English deceased the grief whereat was conceived the cause of this worthy Knights death May 24. 1613. whose name will ever survive whilst Middletons Bay from him so called appeareth in the Dutch Cards Writers ROGER of CHESTER was born and bred therein a Benedictine Monke in Saint Werburges In obedience to the Bishop of Chester he wrot a Brittish Chronicle from the beginning of the World This was the fashion of all Historians of that age running to take a long rise from the Creation it self that so it seems they might leap the further with the greater force Our Rogers Chronicle was like a ship with double decks first onely continuing it to the year 1314. and then resuming his subject he superadded five and twenty year more thereunto entitling it Polycratica Temporum Both Bale and Pitz praise him for pure latine a rarity in
his own at his own pleasure I find also two other of the same Sur-name not mutually more allyed in bloud then in charitable dispositions Master Hugh Offley Leather-seller Sheriff of London in the year 1588. buried also in Saint Andrews aforesaid Besides many other benefactions he gave six hundred pounds to this City to put forth youngmen Mr. Robert Offley bred in London and as I take it Brother to the aforesaid Hugh Offley did in year the of our Lord 1596. bestow six hundred pounds on twenty four youngmen in Chester whereof twelve were Apprentices I know not the exact date of his departure It is hard to instance in a Lease of kinsmen born so far from bred in London meeting together in such bountifull performances I believe it was the First of these three Offleys on whom the Rhythme was made Offley three dishes had of daily Roast An Egge an Apple and the third a Toast This I behold neither sin nor shame in him feeding himself on plain and wholesome repast that he might feast others by his bounty and thereby deserving rather praise then a jear from posterity JOHN TERER Gentleman and a Member of this City He erected a seemly waterwork built Steeplewise at the Bridgegate by his own ingenious industry and charge This since hath served for the conveying of River-water from the Cisterne in the top of that Work through Pipes of Lead and Wood to the Citizens houses to their great conveniences I could wish all designes in the like nature hopefully begun may as hâ—…ppily be compleated My industry cannot attain the exact time of his death only I find that his son of the same name indeavoured the like to bring water from a fine spring to the midst of this City which I believe was effected The Farewell And now being to take our leave of this Antient and Honorable City the worst that I wish it is that the distance betwixt Dee and the New-tower may be made up all Obstructions being removed which cause or occasion the same That the Rings on the New-tower now only for sight may be restored to the Service for which they were first intended to fasten Vessels thereunto That the Vessells on that River lately degenerated from Ships into Barks may grow up again to their former Strength and Stature CORNWALL CORNWALL it hath its name partly from the Form partly from the Inhabitants thereof from the former it is so called because narrow in fashion of a horn which by the way is a word of all others passing thorough both Learned and Modern Languages with the least variation 1 Keren Hebr. 2 Keras Gr. 3 Cornu Lat. 4 Corn Fr. 5 Cuerno Span. 6 Corno Ital. 7 Horn Eng. 8 Horne Dut. 9 Kerne Wel. The latter Wale signifies strangers for such were the Inhabitants of this County reputed by their Neighbours It hath Devonshire on the West divided from it generally with the River Tamer encompassed with the Sea on all other sides affording plenty of Harbours so that Forraigners in their passage to or from Spain Ireland the Levant East or West Indies sometimes touch herewith sometimes are driven hither against their will but never without the profit of the Inhabitants according to the Common Proverbe where the horse lieth down there some hairs will be found The Language of the Natives it is a different tongue from the English and dialect from the Welsh as more easie to be pronounced and is sufficiently copious to express the conceits of a good wit both in Prose and Verse Some have avouched it derived from the Greek producing for the proof thereof many words of one sense in both as Kentron A spur Schaphe A boat Ronchi Snoring c. But the judicious behold these as no regular congruities but casuall coincidencies the like to which may be found in languages of the greatest distance which never met together since they parted at the confusion of Babel Thus one would enforce a conformity between the Hebrew and English because one of the three giants sons of Anak was called Ahiman The Cornish-tongue affordeth but two natural oaths or three at most but whether each of them be according to the kinds of Oaths divided by the School-men one Assertory the other Promissory to which some add a third Comminatory is to me unknown The worst is the Common Cornish supply this I will not say defect not onely with swearing the same often over but also by borrowing other oaths of the English Naturall Commodities Diamonds These of themselves sound high till the Addition of Cornish substracteth from their Valuation In Blackness and Hardness they are far short of the Indian Yet Set with a good Foyle advantaged Hypocrisie passeth often for Sincerity may at the first sight deceive no unskilfull Lapidary as their Lustre is less then Orient Diamonds so herein they exceed them that Nature hath made both their Face and their Dressing by whom they are Pointed and Polished But enough hereof the rather because some from the Latine names of Jewells Jocalia things to be jested and played with and Baubellae things which are Trifles and Baubles spightfully collect that Stones accounted precious are more beholding to the Consent of Fancy then their own Intrinsick worth for their high valuation Ambergreese I confess this precious Commodity is fixed to no place in the world as too great a Treasure for any one Country to engross and therefore it is only fluctuating and casually found by small parcells sometimes in one place and sometimes in another yet because the last greatest and best quantity thereof that ever this Age did behold was found on the Coasts of this County we will here insert a little of the name nature and use thereof It is called Ambra-gresia That is gray Amber from the Colour thereof which modern name utterly unknown to the Antients doth speak it to be of later invention whereof a Learned Doctor of Physick hath assigned this probable reason because it was never found in the Midland-sea which in effect was all the Seas to the Antients but onely in the main Ocean which was not navigated on till within this last two hundred years since Seamen have gotten the use of the Card and Compass It is almost as hard to know what it is as where to find it Some will have it the sperme of a fish or some other unctuous matter arising from them others that it 's the foam of the Sea or some excrescency thence boiled to such a height by the heat of the Sun Others that it is a gum that grows on the shore In a word no certainty can be collected herein some Physitians holding one way and some another but this is most sure that Apothecaries hold it at five pounds an Ounce which some say is dearer then ever it was in the memory of man It is a rare Cordiall for the refreshing of the spirits and soveraign for the strengthning the head besides the most fragrant scent
1550. few years before the beginning of Queen 〈◊〉 many being 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 armed by his useful 〈◊〉 It must not be forgotten how during my abode in Cambridge on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1626. a Book was â—…ound in the belly of a Cod brought into the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containing therein three 〈◊〉 whereof the 〈◊〉 and largest was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Crosse. It was wrapped about with Canvasâ—… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fish plundred plâ—…ndred out of the pocket of some Ship-wracked Seaman The Wits of the 〈◊〉 made themselves merry thereat one making a long Copy of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on whereof this Dystiâ—… I remember If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do bring us Books then we May hope 〈◊〉 Bodlyes Library But whilest the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves herewith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beheld iâ—… as a sad 〈◊〉 And some who then little looked for the 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 found it in that plâ—… This Book was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But no such Book 〈◊〉 in Bale though â—…y accurate to give â—…s a Catalogue of his Writings Whereby we 〈◊〉 it was the same made by this Richard 〈◊〉 to which another Treatise was annexed 〈◊〉 one to die made 〈◊〉 by our Tracy who himself 〈◊〉 about an hundred years since Sir THOMAS OVERBURY Knight Son to Sir Nicholas Overbury one of the Judges of the Marches was born at Borton on the Hill in this County bred in Oxford and attained to be a most accomplished Gentleman which the happiness of his Pen both in Poetry and Prose doth declare In the later he was the first writer of Characters of our Nation so far as I have observed But if the great parts of this Gentleman were guilty of Insolency and Petulancy which some since have charged on his Memory we may charitably presume that his reduced age would have corrected such juvenile extravagancies It is questionable whether Robert Carre Earl of Somerset were more in the favour of King James or this Sir Thomas Overbury in the favour of the Earl of Somerset until he lost it by disswading that Lord from keeping company with a Lady the Wife of another person of Honour as neither for his credit here or comfort hereafter Soon after Sir Thomas was by King James designed Embassadour for Russia His false friends perswaded him to decline the employment as no better than an Honourable Grave Better lie some dayes in the Tower than more months in a worse prison A Ship by Sea and a barbarous cold Country by land Besides they possessed him that within a small time the King should be wrought to a good opinion of him But he who willingly goes into a prison out of hope to come easily out of it may stay therein so long till he be too late convinced of another judgment Whilest Sir Thomas was in the Tower his Refusal was represented to the King as an Act of high contempt as if he valued himself more than the Kings service His strict restraint gave the greater liberty to his enemies to practise his death which was by poyson performed Yet was his Blood legally revenged which cost some a violent and others a civil death as deprived of their Offices The Earle was soon abated in King Jame's affection O the short distance betwixt the cooling and quenching of a Favourite being condemned and banished the Court. The death of this Worthy Knight did happen Anno Dom. 1615. JOHN SPRINT was bred a Student in Christ Church in Oxford and was afterward beneficed at Thornbury in this County a grave and godly Divine but for a long time much disaffected to the Ceremonies of the Church It happeened that Mr. Burton Arch-Deacon of Gloucester his Collegiate and Contemporary took him to task perswading him seriously to study the point which he promised and performed accordingly He put In the one Scâ—…le In the other The Wo pronounced to such who preach 〈◊〉 the Gospel and dissert their Flocks on pretended scrupulosity The nature of Ceremonies when things indifferent are enjoyned by lawfull Authority Weighing both exactly in the ballance of his judgment he found the former to preponderate concluding it unlawful for any on such â—…count to leave or lose the exercise of his Miniâ—…erial Function Hereupon he not only conformed for the future 〈◊〉 also wrote a Book dedicated to Arch-Deacon Burton called Casâ—…der Angâ—…anus to perswade others to conformity He died as I am informed â—…bout thirty years ago JOHN WORKMAN was born about Lasbury in this County where his Father was a servant to Sir Tho. Escourt He was bred in Oxford and afterwards became for many years the pioâ—…s and painfull Preacher at Gloucester being conformable to Church Discipline both in judgement and practise and in very deed It happened that some pressed super-â—…nonical Ceremonies and such sesqui-Conformists made Mr. Workman turn first but a semiConformist and then by degrees to renounce all Conformity He was prosecuted by G. G. his 〈◊〉 for preaching to the disparagement of the Blessed Virgin Mary though he pleaded his words were only these That the Papists painted her more like a Curtesan than a modest Maid Hereupon he was silenced and not suffered to teach Schoole seeing Sheâ—… and Lambs differ not in hind but age At last his good Priâ—…nd Dr. Baud furnishing him with instructions he turned Phyâ—… and 〈◊〉 unable to preservâ—… his Pattents in liâ—…e he could well prepare them for death He died about the year 1636. We have put them in Parallels not so much because living at the same time in the same County as because the one from disliking came to approve the other from approving to dislike Conformity though both no doubt did follow the dictates of their consciences RICHARD CAPEL was born as I am informed in the City of Gloucester whereof his Father was Alderman and left him a good temporal estate he was bred Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford where he had many Pupils of good qualitie and among the rest Mr. William Pemble whose Books he set forth and as I remember finished his imperfect Comment on Zachary Leaving the Colledge he was presented by Mr. Stephens to a good benefice in this County where he made his excellent Book Of Temptations full fraught with practical Piety so that what judicious person soever readeth it will experimentally say unto him as once the Lawyer to our Saviour Master thou hast well spoken it carrieth in it such a Truth by the confession confession his Conscience One thing he hath irrefragably proved That there is no Temptation which a man is subject to but what might be suggested by our own corruption without any injection of Satan We have an English expression The Devil he doth it the Devil he hath it where the addition of Devil amounteth only to a strong denial equivalent to he doth it not he hath it not My opinion is if the phrase took not the original from yet is it applyable to our common and causeless accusing of Satan with our
Death of Pope Urban But Pope Boniface his Successour restored him to all his honours and dignities sent him over into England to King Richard the Second with most ample Commendation Returning to Rome he lived there in all plenty and pomp and dyed September the seventeenth 1397. Pity it is so good a Scholar should have so barbarous an Epitaph scarce worth our Translation Artibus iste Pater famosus in omnibus Adam Theologus summus Cardi que-nalis erat Anglia cui patriam titulum dedit ista Beatae Ceciliaeque morsque suprema polum Adam a famous Father in Arts all He was a deep Divine Cardi-and nall Whom England bred S. Cicilie hath given His Title Death at last gave heaven He was interred when dead in the Church of St. Cicilie which intituled him when alive though no happiness an honour which no other English man to my observation of his Order ever Injoyed Prelates JOHN BRETON alià s BRITTON Dâ—… of the Lawes He meriteth a high place in this Catalogue and yet I am at a perfect loss where to fix his Nativity and therefore am forced to my last Refuge as the Marginal Character doth confess He was a famous Lawyer living in the Reign of King Edward the First at whose Commandement and by whose Authority he wrote a learned Book of the LAWES of ENGLAND the Tenor whereof runneth in the Kings name as if it had been penned by himself Take one instance thereof 12. Chapter VVe will that all those who are fourteen years old shall make Oath that they shall be sufficient and Loyall unto Us and that they will be neither Felons nor assenting to Felons and We will that all be c. This Style will seem nothing strange to those who have read Justinian his Institutions which the Emperour assumed unto himself though composed by others It is no small Argument of the Excellency of this Book that notwithstanding the great variation of our Lawes since his time that his work still is in great and general Repute Thus a good face conquereth the disadvantage of old and unfashionable Clothes He was preferred Bishop of Hereford in the Reign of King Henry the Third And although there be some difference betwixt Authors about the time wherein he lived and died some assigning a latter date I confide in Bishop Godwin his Successour in the same See computing his death to happen May 12. in the Third of King Edward the First Anno 1275. ADAM de ORLTON was born in the City of Hereford Proceeding Doctor of Law he became afterwards Bishop in the place of his Nativity This is he so Infamous in History for cutting off the life of King Edward the Second with his Ridling Unpointed Answer Edwardum Regem occidere nolite timere bonum est To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good It is hard to say which of these two were the Original and which the Translation It being equally probable that the English was Latined as that the Latin was Englished by such Authors as relate this transaction This mindeth me of a meaner passage sic Canibus Catulos which to refresh both the Reader and my self I shall here insert A Schoolmaster being shut out of his School at Christmass came to Composition with his Scholars and thus subscribed the Articles tendred unto him Aequa est conditio non nego quod petitis But being readmitted into his house He called all his Scholars to account for their Rebellion they plead themselves secured by the Act of Oblivion he had signed He calls for the Original and perusing it thus pointed it Aequa est Conditio non Nego quod petitis Thus power in all ages will take the priviledge to construe its own Acts to its own advantage But to return to de Orlton he made much bustling in the Land passing through the Bishopricks of Worcester and Winchester and died at last not much lamented July 18. 1345. JOHN GRANDESSON was born at Ashperton in this County a person remarkable on several accounts For his 1. High Birth his Father Gilbert being a Baron and his Mother Sybill Coheir to the Lord Tregose 2. Great Learning being a good Writer of that age though Bale saith of him that he was Orator animosior quà m facundior 3. High Preferment attaining to be Bishop of Exeter 4. Vivacity sitting Bishop in his See two and fourty years 5. Stout Stomack Resisting Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury vi Armis when he came to visite his Diocess 6. Costly Buildings Arching the Beautifull Roofe of his Cathedrall Building and endowing a rich Colledge of Saint Mary Otterey He was the bettter inabled to do these and other great Benefactions by perswading all the secular Clergy in his Diocess to make him sole Heir to their Estates He died July 15. Anno Domini 1369. THOMAS BRADWARDINE Arch-bishop of Canterbury See him more properly in Sussex RICHARD CLIâ—…FORD Bishop of London See him more conveniently in Kent Since the Reformation MILES SMITH D. D. was born in the City of Hereford which I observe the rather because omitted in his Funeral Sermon His Father was a Fletcher and a man of no mean Estate that Vocation being more in use formerly then in our Age. He was bred first in Brasen-Nose-Colledge then Chaplain of * Christ-Church in Oxford A deep Divine great Linguist who had more then a single share in the last Translation of the Bible as hereby will appear 1. More then fourty Grave Divines were imployed in several places on that work 2. When it had passed their hands it was revised by a dozen select ones 3. This done it was referred to the final Examination of Bish. Bilston and Dr. Smith 4. Doctor Smith at last was injoyned to make the Preface to the Translation as a comely gate to a glorious City which remains under his own hand in the University Library in Oxford Yet was he never heard to speak of the work with any attribution to himself more then the rest He never sought any preferment he had and was wont merrily to say of himself that he was Nullius rei praeterquam Librorum avarus Covetous of nothing but Books King James preferred him Bishop of Glocester 1612. wherein he behaved himself with such meeknesse that in all matters of doubt the byass of his inclination did still hang 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He wrote all his books with his own hand in that faculty not being short of the professours thereof and being seaventy years of age died and was buried in his own Cathedrall 1624. Souldiers ROBERT DEVEREUX Son of Walter Devereux Earle of Essex was born at Nethwood in this County November the tenth 1567. Whilst his Father as yet was onely Viscount of Hereford He was such a Master-piece of Court and Camp and so bright a Light therein that we will observe his morning fore-noon high-noon afternoon and night His morning began at his first coming to Court the gates whereof
A fright of his Mother is generally reported to have accelerated or rather antedated his nativity The Popish Priests belonging to the Queen stood ready watching to snatch the Royal Babe to their superstitious baptisme but the tender care of King Charles did out vigil their watchfullness commanding Doctor Web His next Chaplain in attendance to Christen it according to the Church of England This done within few houres he expired and lyes buried at Westminster Saints EALPHAGE born of good parentage had his education during his youth in Glocestershire then he became a Monk at Glastenbury But that place not sufficiently suiting the severity of his solitary soul removing thence he built himself a Hut at Bath which smal Cel in process of time the longest line proceedeth from a little point at first proved the beautiful Priory in that place Hence by Dunstan he was preferred Bishop of Winchester continuing therein twenty two years And at last became Bishop of Canterbury It happeneth that the cruel Danes seizing on that City put it under Decimation Start not loyal reader at the word if in the late Tyranny of the times thou thy self hast been against all right and reason Decimated in thy Purse as now the poor Citizens of Canterbury were in their Persons For the Danes under pretence of Tribute detained Saved the tenth part of the Citizens alive amounting unto eight hundred and four Destroyed the other nine parts no fewer than seven thousand two hundred thirty six As for Arch-Bishop Alphage they demanded of him a greater summe than he could pay or procure whose wealth consisted chieâ—…y in his Piety no currant Coin with the Pagan Danes So that after seven moneths imprisonment they barbarously murthered him near Greenwich about the year 1013. His Corps was first buried in Saint Pauls and then removed by the command of King Canutus to Canterbury Impudent Monks have almost as much wronged his memory as the Danes did his Person farcing his life with such abominable lies that thereby the very truth therein is rendred suspected AGELNOTH Son to Count Agelmar was a Calendred Saint in this County being Elected Archbishop of Canterbury from being Dean over the Canons in that Convent This is the first time I find the Dignity of Decanus or Dean in England so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ten having it seemeth at the first Inspection just over that Number though since an Heteroclite in England as either over fewer but Six in Norwich Bristol c. or many more in other Cathedrals He was so pious in his Life that he was commonly called the GOOD And here one may justly wonder God having two Grand Epithets OPTIMUS and MAXIMUS most give the former the go-by and strive onely for the latter to be the Greatest though Greatnesse without Goodnesse is both Destructive to him that hath it and Dangerous to all others about him Going to Rome to get his Pall from the Pope by him he was courteously entertained and deserved his welcome who gave him saith my Author for the Arm of Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo one hundred Talents of Silver and one Talent of Gold citing Bishop Godwin for his author But indeed that Bishop though reporting the hundred Talents of Silver mentioneth not at all that of Gold Perchance Mr. Weaver had lately read still obversing his fancy how Pharaoh K. of Egypt having taken away King Jehoahash condemned the land in An Hundred Talents of Silver and A Talent of Gold and to me it is a double wonder First that this Archbishop would give Secondly that he could give living in a harraged Land wherein so much Misery and little Money so vast a sum However this mindeth me of a passage in Saint Augustine speaking of the Reliques of the deceased Si tamen Martyrum if so they be of Martyrs and let me chuse the words of this Father on this Father Si tamen Augustini If this were the arm of Saint Augustine and not of some other Ordinary not to say Infamous person Well were one as good a Mathematician as He who collected the Stature of Hercules from the length of his Foot it were easie to proportion the Price of Saint Augustines whole body from this valuation of his arme And now having so dearly bought it let him dispose thereof as he pleaseth and let no man grudge if he gave it to Coventry rather than Canterbury He expended much in repairing or rather renewing of his Cathedral of Canterbury lately destroyed by the Danes assisted therein by the bounty of King Canutus who at the instance and by the advice of this Prelate did many worthy works Our Agelnoth after he had set 17. years in his See died October 29. in the year 1038. Martyrs WILLIAM WHITE was born in this County and entering into Orders became a great maintainer of the Opinions of Wicliffe He was the first married Priest in England since the Popes solemn prohibition thereof I find Johan his wife commended for her modesty and patience and that she was conjux talidigna marito Indeed she shared very deep in her husbands sufferings hardly coming off with her life at the last For he though leaving his living as unsafe to hold still kept his calling and preached about all the Eastern parts of the Land The same mouth which commanded the Disciples in time of Peace Goe not from house to house so to avoid the censure of Levity advised them also when ye are persecuted in one City fly to another so to provide for their own security Such the constant practice of this W. VVhite who was as a Partridge dayly on the wing removing from place to place At last he was seised on at Norwich by VVilliam Alnwick the cruel Bishop thereof and charged with 30 Articles for which he was condemned and burnt at Norwich in September 1428. He was the Protomartyr of all born in this County and had not five before him in all England who suffered merely for Religion without any mixture of matter of State charged upon them As for MARIAN Martyrs we meet with many in this County though not to be charged on Cardinal Pool Arch-bishop of Canterbury further then his bare permission thereof It is observed of Bears that they love to kill their own Prey and except forced by Famine will not feed on what was dead before Such a Bear was bloody Bonner who was all for the quick and not for the dead whilest clean contrary Cardinal Pool let the living alone and vented his spleen onely on the dead whom he could wrong but not hurt burning the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius at Cambridge Such Martyrs therefore as suffered in this Shire were either by the cruelty of Griffin Bishop of Rochester or of Thornton Suffragan of Dover Confessors SIMON FISH Esquire was born in this County bred a Lawyer in Graies-Inn London Here he acted that part in a Tragedy wherein the pride
of Durham but continued not long therein for he dyed in the 75 year of his Age 6th of February Anno Domini 1631. and was buried in St. Pauls in London JOHN DAVENANT D. D. born in Watling-street was son to John Davenant a Wealthy Citizen whose father was of Davenants lands in Essex When an Infant newly able to go he fell down a high pair of staires and rising up at the bottome smiled without having any harme God and his good Angels keeping him for further service in the Church When a child he would rather own his own frowardnesse than anothers flattery and when soothed up by the servants that not John but some other of his brothers did cry He would rather appear in his own face than wear their disguise returning that it was none of his brothers but John only cryed He was bred first Fellow-Commoner then Fellow then Margaret Profeslor then Master of Queens â—…lledge in Cambridge At a publick Election he gave his negative voice against a near Kinsman and a most excellent Scholar Cosen said he I will satisfie your father that you have worth but not want enough to be one of our Society Returning from the Synod of Dort he was elected Bishop of Sarum 1621. After his Consecration being to perform some personal Service to King James at Newmarket he refused to ride on the Lords Day and came though a Day later to the Court no lesse welcome to the King not only accepting his excuse but also commending his seasonable forbearance Taking his leave of the Colledge and of one John Rolfe an ancient servant thereof he desired him to pray for him And when the other modestly returned that he rather needed his Lordships Prayers Yea John said he and I need thine too being now to enter into a Calling wherein I shall meet with many and great Temptations PÅ•aefuit qui profuit was the Motto written in most of his Books the sense whereof he practised in his Conversation He was humble in himself and the Consequence thereof charitable to others Indeed once invited by Bishop Field and not well pleased with some Roisting Company there he embraced the next opportunity of departure after Dinner And when Bishop Field proferred to light him with a Candle down Stairs My Lord my Lord said he let us lighten others by our unblameable Conversation for which Speech some since have severely censured him how justly I interpose not But let others unrelated unto him write his Character whose Pen cannot be suspected of Flattery which he when living did hate and dead did not need We read of the Patriarch Israel that the time drew nigh that he must dye Must a necessity of it Such a decree attended this Bisâ—…op happy to dye before his Order for a time dyed April 1641. and with a solemn Funeral he was Buried in his own â—…dral Dr. Nicholas now Dean of St. Pauls preaching an excellent Sermonâ—…t â—…t his In terment MATHEVV WREN D. D. was born in this City not far from Cheap-side but descended as appears by his Arms from the worshipful Family of the Wrens in Northumberland He was bred Fellow of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he kept the extraordinary Philosophy Act before King James I say kept it with no lesse praise to himself then pleasure to the King where if men should forget even Dogs would remember his seasonable distinction what the Kings hounds could perform above others by vertue of their prerogative He afterward became an excellent Preacher and two of his Sermons in the University were most remarkable one preached before the Judges on this Text And let Judgement run down like waters and righteousnesse as a mighty stream at what time the draining of the Fens was designed suspected detrimental to the Univerâ—…ity The other when newly returned from attending Prince Charles into Spain on the words of the Psalmist abyssus abyssum invocat one depth calleth another He was afterwards preferred Master of Peterhouse Dean of Windsor Bishop of Norwich and Ely Some in the Long Parliament fell so heavily on him that he was imprisoned in the Tower almost fifteen years and his cause never heard Surely had the imposers been the sufferers hereof they would have cryed it up for a high piece of injustice But as St. Paul had the credit to be brought with intreaties out of Prison by those who sent him thither so this Prelate hath had the honour that the same Parliamentary power though not constituted of the same persons which committed him caused his Inlargement still living 1661. Statesmen Sir THOMAS MORE was Anno Domini 1480 born in Milkstreet London the 〈◊〉 that ever shined in that Via lactea sole Son to Sir John More Knight one of the Justices of the Kings Bench. Some have reported him of mean parentage meerly from a mistake of a modest word in an Epitaph of his own making on his Monument in Chelsey Church Where Nobilis is taken not in the civil but Common Law sense which alloweth none Noble under the degree of Barons Thus men cannot be too wary what they inscribe on Tombs which may prove a Record though not in Law in History to posterity He was bred first in the Family of Arch-bishop Morton then in Canterbury Colledge now taken into Christ Church in Oxford where he profited more in two then many in ten years continuance Thence he removed to an Inn of Chancery called New Inn and from thence to Lincolns Inn where he became a double Reader Then did his worth prefer him to be Judge in the Sheriffe of Londons Court whilst a Pleader in others And although he only chose such causes which appeared just to his Conscience and never took Fee of Widow Orphane or poor person he gained in those days four hundred pounds per annum Being made a Member of the House of Commons he opposed King Henry the Seventh about money for the Marriage of his Daughter Margaret Whereat the King was much discontented when a Courtier told him that a beardlesse Boy beard was never the true Standard of brains had obstructed his desires Which King being as certain but more secret then his son in his revenge made More the mark of his Displeasure who to decline his anger had travelled beyond the Seas had not the Kings going into another World stopped his journey King Henry the Eighth coming to the Crown and desirous to ingratiate himself by preferring popular and deserving persons Knighted Sir Thomas and made him Chancelour of the Dutchy of Lancaster the Kings personal patrimony Finding him faithfull in lesser matters according to the method of the Gospel he made him in effect Ruler of all when Lord Chancelour of England a place wherein he demeaned himself with great integrity and with no less expedition In testimony of the later it is recorded that calling for the next cause it was returned unto him there are no more to be heard all Suits in that Court depending and
placed in the first ranck nearest of all unto the Town and with no less success then valour to the great safety of the whole army beat back and put to flight the Spaniards who in the same day made several sallies out of the Towâ—… Know therefore that We in 〈◊〉 of the premises have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Roper Knight c. Then followeth his Patent wherein King Charles in the third of his raign created him Baron of Bauntree and Viscount 〈◊〉 in Ireland I will only adde from exact intelligence that he was a principal means to break the hearts of Irish Rebels for whereas formerly the English were loaded with their own cloths so that their slipping into Bogs did make them and the slopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein he first being then a Commander put himself into Irish Trouzes and was imitated first by all his Officers then Souldiers so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies He died at 〈◊〉 Rest Anno Dom. 164. and was buried with Anne his wife daughter to Sir Henry 〈◊〉 in Saint Johns Church in Dublin Seamen I behold these Sea men as the Sea it â—…elf and suspect if I launch far therein I sâ—…all see land no more Besides I know there be many laws made against Forestalers and would be loth to fall under that penalty for preventing the pains of some able person a 〈◊〉 of the Trinity 〈◊〉 who may write a just tract thereof Civilians Sir HENRY MARTIN Knight was born in this City where his Father left him forty pounds a year and he used merrily to say that if his Father had left him 〈◊〉 he would never have been a Scholar but lived on his Lands whereas this being though a large encouragement but a scant maintenance he plyed his book for a better livelyhood He was bred a Fellow in New colledge in Oxford and by the advice of Bishop Andrews addressed himself to the Study of the Civil Law By the advice of the said Bishop Master Martin had weekly transmitted unto him from some Proctors at Lambeth the Brief heads of the most Important causes which were to be tried in the high Commission Then with some of his familiar friends in that faculty they privately pleaded those Causes amongst themselves acting in their Chamber what was done in the Court But Mr. Martin making it his work exceeded the rest in amplifying and agravating any fault moving of anger and indignation against the guilt thereof or else in extenuating and excusing it procure pitty obtain pardon or at least prevail for a lighter punishment Some years he spent in this personated pleading to enable himself against he was really called to that Profession Hence it was that afterwards he became so eminent an Advocate in the high Commission that no cause could come amiss to him For he was not to make new armour but only to put it on and buckle it not to invent but apply arguments to his Cliant He was at last Knighted and made Judge of the Prerogative for Probate of Wills and also of the Admiraltry in causes concerning forraign traffick so that as King James said pleasantly He was a mighty Monarch in his Jurisdiction over Land and Sea the Living and dead He died very aged and wealthy Anno Dom. 1642. Physicians RICHARDUS ANGLICUS was certainly a man of Merit being eminently so denominated by Foraigners amongst whom he conversed from his Country and he who had our Nation for his Name cannot have less then London for his Lodging in this our Catalogue of Worthies He is said to have studied first in Oxford then in Paris where he so profited in the faculty of Physick that he is counted by Simphorianus Champerius a stranger to our Nation and therefore free from Flattery one of the most eminent Writers in that Profession Now because he was the first English man whom I find famous in that Calling may the Reader be pleased with a Receipt of the several names of the Books left by him to posterity 1. A Tractate of 〈◊〉 2. Of the Ruâ—…es of Urins 3. Of the Signs of Diseases 4. Of Prognostick Signs 5. Of Letting Bloud 6. toâ—…alen â—…alen 7. Of Feavors 8. A Correction of Alchymy 9. A Mirour of Alchymy 10. Of Physick 11. Repressive 12. Of the Signs of Feavors Leland reporteth that besides these he writ other works which the Envy of time hath denied unto us He flourished about the year of our Lord 1230. JOHN 〈◊〉 was born in this City bred Fellow of Baliol-colledge in Oxford where he contracted familiarity with his Colleague and Mecaenas I. Tiptoft Earl of Worcester He afterwards travelled into Italy and at Ferrara was a constant auditor of Gwarinus an old man and famous Philosopher Hitherto our Phreas made use only of his ears hereafter of his tongue when of Hearer he turned a Teacher and see the stairs whereby he ascended 1. He read Physick at Ferrara concerning Medicinal herbs 2. Then at Florence well esteemed by the Duke thereof 3. Then at Padua beneath Florence in beauty above it in learning an University where he proceeded Doctor of Physick 4. Then at Rome where he was gratious with Pope Paul the second dedicating unto him many books translated out of Greek The Pope rewarded him with the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells dying before his consecration poisoned as is vehemently suspected by some who maligned his merit Heu mihi quod nullis livor medicabilis herbis Solomon himself who wrot of all Simples from the Cedar in Lebanus to the Hysop on the Wall could find no defensative against it which made him cry out But who can stand before envy No wonder therefore if our Phreas though a skilful Botanist found mens malice mortal unto him He died at Rome Anno Domini 1465. and Lelands commendation of him may serve for his Epitaph if but Hic jacet Johannes Phreas be prefixed before it qui primus Anglorum erat qui propulsâ barbarie patriam honesto labore bonis literis restituit ANDREW BORDE Doctor of Physick was I conceive bred in Oxford because I find his book called the Breviary of Health examined by that University He was Physician to King Henry the eighth and was esteemed a great Scholar in that age I am confident his book was the first written of that faculty in English and dedicated to the Colledge of Physicians in London Take a tast out of the beginning of his Dedicatory Epistle Egregious Doctors and Masters of the Eximious and Arcane Science of Physick of your Urbanity exasperate not your selves against me for making this little volume of Physick c. Indeed his book contains plain matter under hard words and was accounted such a Jewel in that age things whilst the first are esteemed the best in all kinds that it was Printed Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum for William Midleton Anno 1548. He died as I collect
in the raign of Queen Mary Writers NOTâ—…ELMUS of LONDON Having casually let slip his forelock I mean his Episcopal Capacity being successively Bishop of London and Arch-bishop of Canterbury under which he ought to be entred we are fain to lay hold on his hind-part that his memory may not escape us taking notice of him as a Writer In his Age shined a Constellation of three learned men Bede Alcuinus and our Nothelme whom the two former by their letters invited to writ a performance proper for his Pen the gests of Gregory the Great and the Disciples sent by him with Austin the Monk for the Conversion of Britain Nothelme the more effectually to enable himself for this work went to Rome obtained leave from Pope Gregory the second to peruse his Records then sent his compleated collections to Bede to be inserted in his Church history Bede in gratitude according to the courteous custome of the learned exchange dedicated to him his thirty questions on the Books of Kings His death happened Anno Domini 739. WILLIAM FITZ-STEPHENS was descended saith Leland of Norman Nobility but born in this City and bred a Monk in Canterbury He wrote many learned works and one in Latine of the description of London since commendably because rare to come by translated and added to the Survey of London Say not that London then was but the Suburbs to the London now for the bigness and populousness thereof seeing in Fitz Stephens time it accounted thirteen Conventual and an hundred and six and thirty Parochial Churches not producing so many at this day so that it seems though there be more Bodies of Men there be fewer Houses of God therein As for the populousness thereof in his time it was able to set forth sixty thousand Foot which I believe it may treble in our time It could also then raise twenty thousand Horsemen which would pose it at this day to perform But as railing Rabshekah made Jerusalem weaker not able to set two thousand Riders on horses so possibly Fitz-Stephens might make London stronger then it was I hope one may safely wish this City may be better in holiness as bigger in houses then it was when Fitz-Stephens flourished 1190. ALBRICIUS of LONDON Leland maketh him a Native of this City and signally learned though little is extant of his writings save a work of the Original of Heathen Gods Herein he sheweth how mankind having by error and ignorance left and lost the true God multiplyed Deities that a Mock-infinite viz. what was but Indefinite in number should supply his place who was Infinite in Nature Albricius flourished Anno Domini 1217. WILLIAM SENGHAM born of mean but honest Parents being one of a meek nature and quick wit was brought up in learning wherein he attained to great perfection He wrote many books and one de fide Legibus wherein Bale highly praiseth this passage There is no other law for the Salvation of men besides the Gospel of Christ our Lord. Now although this be but a plain expression of the common truth yet was it beheld as an Oracle in that ignorant age Thus a beam of noon-day might it be seen at mid-night would shine as the Sun it self besides these words were uttered in that age when impudent Friers began to obtrud on the world a fift forged Gospel consisting of superstitious ceremonies and called Aeternum Evangelium which did much mischief in the Church amongst credulous men This William is supposed by some an Augustinian Frier who flourished Anno Dom. 1260. LAURENTIUS ANGLICUS was certainly an English-man and probably a Londoner but brought up and living most of his time in Paris where he was Master of the Colledge which had an English-man for the sign thereof Hence I collect it for building little better then our ordinary Inns for entertainment where probably our Country men had their lodgings for nothing This Laurence being a learned and pious person stoutly opposed that mock Gospel commonly called Evangelium Aeternum with the Mendicant Friars the Champions thereof He wrote a smart book contra Pseudo-Praedicatores but afterwards being frightned with the Popes thunderboults and the Friars threatnings he cowardly recanted But what saith Solomon A just man falleth seven times the Vulgar Latine addeth in die in one day and riseth again as we hope this Laurence did who flourished Anno Dom. 1260. NICHOLAS LYRA was as Barnabas a Jew-Cypriot and Saul a Jew-Gilician a Jew-English man the first by Nation the second by Nativity He had the Râ—…bbins at his Fingers ends but conversed so long with that at last he was converted by some Franciscans to be a Christian and I behold Nicholas Conquerour of his People as his Font-name then given him as predictory of those Victories he afterwards got by his disputings and writings over his own Country-men Nor doth the Church of God more complain of Nicholas that Proselite of Antioch the last of the seven Deacons and first founder of the Nicholaitans whom God hated then it doth commend our Nicholas who vigorously confuted the Jews who expect the rising of the Sun in the afternoon waiting for Messias still to come I read how some fifty years before Henry the third founded a house called Domus Conversorum where now the Office of the Rolls is kept in Chancery-lane where Converted Jews were accommodated with Lodging and a small Salary But I believe Lyra made no use thereof contenting himself to live first in Oxford then in Paris a Franciscan Fryar and wrote Comments on all the Old and New-Testament whereof so different the Editions that I am certainly informed one is so bad one can hardly give too little and one so good one can hardly give too much for it Though sometimes he may be wide of the Mark and this Harp be out of Tune yet uncharitable their censure of Lyra Delirat whilst Luther highly praiseth him because his wanton wit did not gad after empty Allegories but with the good house-keeper stays at home keeping himself close to the Text in his literal interpretations Now though there were many Jewish Synagogues in England at York Cambridge Northampton c. yet the Old Jury in London equalling all the rest in numerousness Lyra his birth is here assigned with best assurance though dying in Paris about the year 1340. BANKINUS of LONDON not Bancks of London who taught his Horse reason to perform feats above belief but one of hgher Parts and worse employed Being an Augustinian Friar he set himself wholly to suppress the poor Wicklevicks and being ready to dispute against them in a publique Council was taken off in his full speed with the following accident worthy of the Readers observation Bale de Script Brit. Cent. 6. Num. 97. Sed terrae motus justissima summi Dei vindicta subito exortus diruptis Passim domorum edificitis immanes eorum impetus fregit ac vires infirmavit But an Earthquake by the just
Saint John's then Master of Pembroke hall in Cambridge His studies were suitable to his years when young a good Philosopher witness his book of Meteors afterwards his endeavours ascended from the middle region of the aire to the highest heavens when he bâ—…came a pious and solid Divine Now the Romanists seeing they could no longer blind-fold their Laitie from the Scriptures resolved to fit them with false spectacles and set forth the Rhemish Translation which by Doctor Fulke was learnedly confuted though he never attained any great preferâ—…ent in the Church Here it is worth our pains to peruse the immediate succession of Masters in Pembroke-hall because unparallel'd in any English Foundation Edm. Grindall Archp. of Cant. Mat. Hutton Archp. of York Jo. Whitgift Archp. of Cant. Jo. Young 〈◊〉 of Rochester William Fulke D. D. Lanc. Andrews Bp. of Winchester Sam. Harsnet Archp. of York Nic. Felton Bp. of Eely Here though all the rest were Episcopated Doctor Fulke was but Doctor Fulke still though a man of great merit This proceeded not from any disaffection in him to the Hierarchie as some would fain suggest but principally from his love of privacy and place of Margaret-Professour wherein he died Anno Dom. 1589. EDMOND SPENCER born in this City was brought up in Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he became an excellent Scholar but especially most haypy in English Poetry as his works do declare In which the many Chaucerisms used for I will not say affected by him are thought by the ignorant to be blemishes known by the learned to be beauties to his book which notwithstanding had been more salable if more conformed to our modern language There passeth a story commonly told and believed that Spencer presenting his Poems to Queen Elizabeth She highly affected therewith commanded the Lord Cecil Her Treasurer to give him an hundred pound and when the Treasurer a good Steward of the Queens money alledged that sum was too much then give him quoth the Queen what is reason to which the Lord consented but was so busied belâ—…ke about matters of higher concernment that Spencer received no reward Whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the Queen in her Progress I was promis'd on a time To have reason for my rhyme From that time unto this season I receiv'd nor rhyme nor reason Hereupon the Queen gave strict order not without some check to her Treasurer for the present payment of the hundred pounds she first intended unto him He afterwards went over into Ireland Secretary to the Lord Gray Lord Deputy thereof and though that his office under his Lord was lucrative yet got he no estate but saith my Author Pâ—…culiari Poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est So that it fared little better with him then with William Xilander the German a most excellent Linguist Antiquary Philosopher and Mathematician who was so poor that as Thuanus saith he was thought fami non famae scribere Returning into England he was robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had and dying for grief in great want Anno 1598. was honorably buried nigh Chaucer in Westminster where this Distick concludeth his Epitaph on hâ—…s monument Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis Nunc moritura timet te moriente mori Whilst hâ—…iu didst live liv'd English poetry Which fears now thou art dead that she shall die Nor must we forget that the expence of his funeral and monument was defrayed at the sole charge of Robert first of that name Earl of Essex JOHN STOW son of Thomas Stow who died Anno 1559. grand-child to Thomas Stow who died 1526. both Citizens of London and buried in Saint Michaels in Cornhill was born in this City bred at learning no higher then a good Gramar-scholar yet he became a painful faithful and the result of both useful Historian Here to prevent mistake by the homonymie of names I request the Reader to take special notice of three brace of English writers 1. Sir Thomas commonly with the addition of De la More who lived under and wrote the life of King Edward the second 1. John Leland bred in Oxford the most exquisite Grammarian of his age who flourished Anno 1428. 1. John Stow a Benedictine Monke of Norwich Anno 1440. who wrote various Collections much cited by Caius in his history of Cambridge 2. Sir Thomas More the witty and learned Chancellour of England 2. John Leland bred in Cambridge the most eminent Antiquary under K. Henry the eight 2. John Stow this Londiner and Historian I confess I have heard him often accused that as learned Guicciardine is charged for telling magnarum rerum minutias he reporteth res in se minutas toys and trifles being such a Smell-feast that he cannot pass by Guild-hall but his pen must tast of the good chear therein However this must be indulged to his education so hard it is for a Citizen to write an History but that the fur of his gown will be felt therein Sure I am our most elegant Historians who have wrote since his time Sir Francis Bacon Master Camden c. though throwing away the basket have taken the fruit though not mentioning his name making use of his endeavors Let me adde of John Stow that however he kept tune he kept time very well no Author being more accurate in the notation thereof Besides his Chronicle of England he hath a large Survey of London and I believe no City in Christendome Rome alone excepted hath so great a volume extant thereof Plato was used to say that many good laws were made but still one was wanting viz. a law to put all those good laws in execution Thus the Citizens of London have erected many fair monuments to perpetuate their memories but still there wanted a monument to continue the memory of their monuments subject by time and otherwise to be defaced which at last by John Stow was industriously performed He died in the eightieth year of his age April 5. 1605. and is buried at the upper end of the North-Isle of the Quire of Saint Andrews-Undershaft His Chronicle since continued by another whose additions are the lively embleme of the times he writeth of as far short of Master Stow in goodness as our age is of the integrity and charity of those which went before it GILES FLETCHER was born in this City son to Giles Fletcher Dr. in law and Embassadour into Russia of whom formerly in Kent From Westminster-school he was chosen first Scholar then Fellow of Trinity colledge in Cambridge One equally beloved of the Muses and the Graces having a sanctified wit witness his worthy Poem intituled Christs Victory made by him being but Bachelour of Arts discovering the Piety of a Saint and Divinity of a Doctor He afterward applied himself to School-Divinity cross to the grain of his Genius as some conceive and attained to good skill therein When he preached at Saint Maries his
Week for ever He was when living a great Benefactor to the building of Alder-Mary-Church and by his Testament gave 1000. pounds towards the finishing thereof how barbarously he was afterwards requited and his body cast out of the grave we have formerly largely bemoaned and with just indignation HENRY the Eighth 1. GEORGE MONOX He re-edified the decayed Parish-Church of Waltamstow or Walthamstow in Essex he founded there a Free-school and Almes-houses for thirteen Almes-people he made also a Cawsey of Timber over the Marshes from Walthamstow to Lock-bridge The Farewell And now being to take my Farewell of this great City I cannot forget the verse which I find amongst others in Master Camden's commendation thereof Urbs pietate potens numeroso cive superba Potent in piety in her people proud But see the Romish charity who confine all piety to Popery The Index Expurgatoâ—…ius Printed at Madrid by Lewes Sanchez 1612. commandeth the forepart of the verse concerning their piety to be expunged letting the latter moity of their pride to remain May I in this particular be the humble Remembrancer of the City without the least intrenching on his place who worthily dischargeth that office to cross and consute that peevish and partial Index Let it be their endeavours to delete out of their hearts all high conceits of their populousness and effectually to express grace and goodness in their conversations Nor let the City of London ever forget quantillum interfuit inter maximam Civitatem et nullam How little distance there lately was betwixt the greatest City and none at all if Gates and Barrs as it is generally received be the essential difference of a City But God who can produce light out of darkness can make the plucking dâ—…wn of the Gates to be the setting up of the City Wherefore though the Eleventh day of March be generally beheld as the first day of Spring London may date her Spring from the Eleventh day of February 1659. when she effectually felt the vernal heat after a long Winter of woe and misery I heartily wish this honourable City what ever may conduce to the continuance and increase of the happiness thereof Especially that the river of Thames the lifâ—… of London as which Easeth Adorneth Inricheth Feedeth and Fortifieth it may have its Channel constantly continued The Millers Riddle If I have Water I will drink Wine But if I have no Water I must drink Water is appliable to this City so long as Thames-water continues Londoners may Wine it but should it fail they must drink water indeed and some perchance brackish too as made of their tears I will not pry too nearly and narrowly into the fancy of our Poet speaking of the ruins of old Rome Ne ought save Tiber hasting to his fall O Worlds inconstancy Remains of all That which is firm doth flit and fall away And that is flitting doth abide and stay And yet by his leave greater rivers then Tiber have in process of time had their streams by casualties or neglect partly drained wholy dryed or otherwise diverted My humble request therefore to the Officers of the City is effectually to own their concernment in the river of Thames in clearing and cleansing it from Sholes Sands and other obstructing incroachments that they may leave it as well to posterity as they found it from their fathers WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER is the greatest City in England next London not onely in Position but by the Dimensions thereof For let it be taken as truly it ought extensively with the Liberty of Lancaster from Temple-bar and it filleth as much ground not to say containeth more reasonable souls then any City in the Land But as a proper man seemeth a Dwarfe when placed next to a Giant such the infelicity of Westminster whose due greatness devoured by the vicinity of London is insensible in the eyes of the Beholders It was anciently called Thorney and afterwards Westminster for distinction from Saint Pauls called in ancient times Eastminster The Buildings The Abbey Church is beheld as a rare structure with so small and slender Pillars greatest legs argue not the strongest Man to support so weighty a fabrick built by King Henry the third and afterwards much enlarged and beautified by the Abbots thereof Adjoyning to it is the Chappel of King Henry the seventh which Leland calls the Miracle of the World Indeed let the Italians deride our English and condemn them for Gothish Buildings This they must admire and may here take notes of Architecture if their pride would permit them to perfect theirs accordingly In this Chappel the founder thereof with his Queen lieth interr'd under a Monument of solid Brass most richly gilded and Artificialy carved Some slight it for the cheapness because it cost but a thousand pounds in the making thereof Such do not consider it as the work of so thrifty a Prince who would make a little money go far besides that it was just at the turning of the Tide as one may term it of money which flowed after the finding out of the West-Indies though ebbing before Amongst the civil structures Westminster-Hall is eminent erected by King W. Rufus for the Hall to his own Court built with copwebless beams conceived of Irishwood Sure I am we then had no command in that Island as first subdued by King Henry the second It is one of the greatest rooms in Christendome and indeed it needeth to be of good capacity to receive so many Plantiffes and Defendants being at such mutual distance of affection Next is White-hall the Palace of ouâ—… English Kings which one term'd a good Hypocrite promising less then it performeth and more convenient within then comely without to which the Nursery of Saint James's was an appendant As for the houses of Noble-men all along the Strand I desire to be excused from commending some lest it should by caviling Spirits be implicitely interpreted a dispraise of the rest Besides I am ignorant under what name to commend them to posterity so many houses daily new-dipt assume to themselves new names according to the alteration of their Owners I conclude them therefore all best and best of all whilst they continue in the hands of their present possessors Proverbs As sure as Exchequer pay All know that the Exchequer was formerly the Treasury of the Kings of England kept in this City the pleading part on the one side and the paying part on the other side of Westminster-hall This Proverb was in the prime thereof in the raign of Queen Elizabeth who maintained her Exchequer to the heigth that her Exâ—…hequer might maâ—…tain her The pay thereof was sure inwards nothing being remitted which was due there to the Queen and sure outwards nothing being detained which was due thence from the Queen full and speedy payment being made thereof This Proverb began to be crost about the end of the raign of King James when the credit of the Exchequer began to decay and
a Church-porch Poverty and Poetry his Tomb doth enclose Wherefore good nighbours be merry in Prose His death according to the most probable conjecture may be presumed about the eleventh year of the Queens Reign Anno Dom. 1570. THOMAS HOLLAND D. D. was born in this County in finibus limitibus Cambriae in the confines and Marches of Wales bred in Exeter Colledge in Oxford and at last became Rector thereof He did not with some only sip of Learning or at the best but drink thereof but was Mersus in Libris Drowned in his Books so that the Scholar in him almost devoured all other Relations He was saith the Authour of his Funeral Sermon so familiar with the Fathers as if he himselfe had been a Father This quality commended him to succeed Dr. Lawrence Humphrid in the place of Regius Professor which place he discharged with good credit for twenty years together When he went forth of his Colledge on any journey for any long continuance he alwayes took this solemn Valediction of the Fellowes I commend you to the love of God and to the hatred of Popery and Superstition His extemporaries were often better than his praemeditations so that he might have been said to have been out if he had not been out He died in March Anno Dom. 1612. and was buried in Oxford with great solemnity and lamentation ABRAHAM WHELOCK was born in White-church Parish in this County bred Fellow of Clare-Hall Library-keeper Arabick Professor and Minister of St. Sepulchers in Cambridge Admirable his industry no lesse his Knowledg in the Oriental tongues so that he might serve for an Interpreter to the Queen of Sheba coming to Salomon and the Wise Men of the East who came to Herod such his skill in the Arabiâ—… and Persian Language Amongst the Western Tongues he was well vers'd in the Saxon witness his fair and true Edition of Bede He translated the New Testament into Persian and printed it hoping in time it might tend to the conversion of that Country to Christianity Such as laugh at his design as ridiculous might well forbear their mirth and seeing they expended neither penny of cost nor hour of pains therein might let another enjoy his own inclination True it is he that sets an acorn sees it not a timber-oak which others may behold and if such Testaments be conveyed into Persia another age may admire what this doth deride He died as I take it Anno Dom. 1654. Benefactors to the Publick Sir ROGER ACHLEY born at Stanwardine in this County He beheld the whole City of London as one Family and himself the Major 1511 for the time being the Master thereof He observed that poor people who never have more than they need will sometimes need more than they have This Joseph collected from the present plenty that a future famine would follow as in this kind a Lank constantly attendeth a Bank Wherefore he prepared Leaden-Hall therefore called the Common Garner and stored up much Corn therein for which he deserved the praise of the Rich and the blessing of the Poor Since the Reformation Sir ROWLAND HILL son of Richard Hill was born at Hodnet in this County bred a Mercer in London whereof he was Lord Major 1549. Being sensible that God had given him a great estate he expressed his gratitude unto him In Giving maintenance to a fair School at Drayton in this County which he built and endowed besides six hundred pounds to Christ-Church-Hospital and other benefactions In Forgiving at his death all his Tenants in his Mannors of Aldersy and Sponely a years Rent Also enjoyning his Heirs to make them new Leases of one and twenty years for two years Rent As for the Cause-wayes he caused to be made and Bridges built two of stone conteining eighteen arches in them both seeing hitherto it hath not been my hap to go over them I leave his piety to be praised by such passengers who have received safety ease and cleaness by such conveniences He died Anno Dom. 15. ¶ A note to the Reader I have heard the natives of this County confess and complain of a comparative dearth in proportion to other Shires of Benefactors to the publick But sure Shropshire is like to the Mulberry which putteth forth his leaves last of all Trees but then maketh such speed as sensible of his slowness with an ingenious shame that it overtaketh those trees in Fruit which in Leaves started long before it As this Shire of late hath done affording two of the same surname still surviving who have dipp'd their hands so deep in charitable morter Sir THOMAS ADAMS Kt. was born at Wem in this County bred a Draper in London where God so blessed his honest industry that he became Lord Major thereof 164. A man who hath drunk of the bitter waters of Meribah without making a bad face thereat cheerfully submitting himself to Gods pleasure in all conditions He gave the house of his nativity to be a Free School that others might have their breeding where he had his birth and hath liberally endowed it He liveth in due honor and esteem and I hope will live to see many years seeing there is no better Collurium or Eye-salve to quicken and continue ones sight than in his life time to behold a building erected for the publick profit WILLIAM ADAMS Esq. was born at Newport in this County bred by Trade a Haberdasher in London where God so blessed his endeavours that he fined for Alderman in that City God had given him an heart and hand proportionable to his estate having founded in the Town of his nativity a School-house in the form following 1 The building is of Brick with Windowes of free stone wherein the School is Threescore and ten in length and two and twenty foot in breadth and height 2 Over it a fair Library furnished with plenty and choise Books At the South end the lodgings of the Schoolmaster whose salary is sixty On the North the Ushers whose stipend is thirty pounds per annum 3 Before the front of the School a stately Crupto-porticus or fair walk all the length of the School with Pillars erected and on the top thereof a leaden Tarras with Railes and Barristers 4 Two Alms-houses for poor people at convenient distance from the School with competent maintenance 5 Two Gardens a piece for School-master and Usher with well nigh two Acres of ground for a place for the Scholars to play in 6 The Rent for the maintenance thereof deposed in the hands of Trustees a year before that in case of casualty there may be no complaint 7 More intended for the settlement of exhibitions to Scholars chosen hence to the University as God hereafter shall direct the founder But who for the present can hold from praising so pious a performance Come Momus who delight do'st take Where none are found there faults to make And count'st that cost and care and pain Not spent
a place for persons of a different perswasion Whilst we leave the invisible root to the Searcher of hearts let us thankfully gather the good fruit which grew from it He died before his Colledge was finished his Estate by Co-heirs descending to Strangwayes Windham White c. and he lyeth buried with his wife under a stately Monument in the fair Church of Illminster PHILIP BISS was extracted from a worshipful Family in this County who have had their habitation in Spargrave for some descents Being bred Fellow and Doctor in Divinity in Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford he was afterwards preferred Arch-Deacon of Taunton A Learned Man and great lover of Learning Now though it be most true what Reverend Bishop Hall was wont to say Of Friends and Books good and fâ—…w are best Yet this Doctor had good and many of both kinds And at his death bequeathed his Library consisting of so many Folio's as were valued at one thousand pounds to Wadham Colledge then newly founded This Epitaph was made upon him wherein nothing of wit save the Verbal-Allusion which made itself without any pains of the Author thereof Bis fuit hic natus puer Bis Bis juvenisque Bis vir Bisque senex Bis Doctor Bisque Sacerdos I collect by probable proportion that his death happened about the year 1614. Memorable Persons Sir JOHN CHAMPNEIS son of Robert Champneis was born at Chew in this County but bred a Skinner in London and Lord Major thereof 1535. Memorable he is on this account that whereas before his time there were no Turrets in London save what in Churches and publick structures he was the first private man who in his house next Cloth-workers Hall built one to oversee his neighbours in the City which delight of his eye was punished with blindness some years before his death But seeing prying into Gods secrets is a worse sin than over-looking mens houses I dare not concurre with so Censorious an Author because every consequent of a fact is not the punishment of a fault therein THOMAS CORIAT Though some will censure him as a person rather ridiculous than remarkable he must not be omitted For first few would be found to call him Fool might none do it save such who had as much Learning as himself Secondly if others have more Wisdom than he thankfulnesse and humility is the way to preserve and increase it He was born at Odcombe nigh Evil in this County bred at Oxford where he attained to admirable fluency in the Greek tongue He carried folly which the charitable called merriment in his very face The shape of his head had no promising form being like a Sugar-loaf inverted with the little end before as composed of fancy and memory without any common-sense Such as conceived him fool ad duo and something else ad decem were utterly mistaken For he drave on no design carrying for Coin and Counters alike so contented with what was present that he accounted those men guilty of superfluity who had more suits and shirts than bodies seldom putting off either till they were ready to go away from him Prince Henry allowed him a pension and kept him for his Servant Sweet-meats and Coriat made up the last course at all Court-entertainments Indeed he was the Courtiers Anvil to trie their Witts upon and sometimes this Anvil returned the Hammers as hard knocks as it received his bluntnesse repaying their abusinesse His Book known by the name of Coriat's Crudities nauceous to nice Readers for the rawnesse thereof is not altogether useless though the porch be more worth than the Palace I mean the Preface of other mens mock-commending verses thereon At last he undertook to travail unto the East-Indies by land mounted on an horse with ten toes being excellently qualified for such a journey For rare his dexterity so properly as consisting most in manual signs in interpreting and answering the dumb tokens of Nations whose language he did not understand Besides such his patience in all distresses that in some sort he might seem cool'd with heat fed with fasting and refresh'd vvith weariness All expecting his return with more knowledge though not more wisdom he ended his earthly pilgrimage in the midst of his Indian travail about as I collect the year of our Lord 1616. Lord Majors Name Father Place Company Time 1 John Champneis Robert Champneis Chew Skinner 1535 2 George Bond Robert Bond Trul Haberdasher 1588 Know Reader this is one of the Ten pretermitted Counties the Names of whose Gentry were not by the Commissioners returned into the Tower in the 12 of K. Henry the sixth Sheriffes This County had the same with Dorsetshire until the ninth year of Queen Elizabeth since which time these following have born the Office in this County alone Name Place Armes ELIZ. Reg.  Crosses Formee Argent 9 Maur. Berkley mil. Bruiton Gules a Cheveron between 10 10 Geo. Norton Mil.   11 Hen. Portman ar Orchard Or a flower de Luce Azure 12 Thâ—… Lutterel ar Dunst. Ca. Or a Bend betwixt 6 Martlets S. 13 Geo. Rogers arm Cannâ—…gton Arg. a Cheveron betwixt 3 Bucks currant Sa. attired Or. 14 Joh. Horner arm Melles Sable 3 Talbots passant Arg. 15 Io. Sydenham arm Broâ—…pton Argent 3 Rams Sable 16 Ioh. Stowel Miles Stawel Gules a Cross Lozengee Argent 17 Christop Kenne ar Conâ—…swick Ermin 3 half Moons Gules 18 Tho. Mallet arm Enmore Azure 3 Escallops Or. 19 Geo Sydenham ar ut prius  20 Joh. Colles arm   21 Ioh. Brett   22 Maur. Rodney ar Rodney Sâ—…ke Or 3 Eâ—…glets displayed Purpure 23 Hen. Newton arm  Arg. on a Cheveron Az 3 Garbs Or. 24 Ioh. Buller arm  Sa. on â—… plain Cross Arg. quarter pierced 4 Eaglets of the field 25 Ar. Hopton arm VVitham Argent 2 Barrs Sable each with 3 Mullets of six points Or. 26 Gaâ—…r Hawley ar †  27 Nic. Sidenham ar ut prius †Vert a Saltir ingrailed Or. 28 Ioh. Clifton miles Bâ—…rringtoÌ„ Sable Semee of Cinquefoils a Lion rampant Arg. 29 Hen. Berkley mil. ut prius  30 Edw. Sainthorp ar   31 Sam. Norton arm   32 Hugo 〈◊〉 ar ut prius  33 Ioh. Harington ar  Sable a Frâ—…t Argent 34 Geo. Speke aâ—…g 〈◊〉 Argent 2 Barrs Azure over all an Eagle displayed Gules 35 Geo. Lâ—…erel arm ut prius  36 Hen. Walrond  AMP. 37 Ioh. Francis arm Combe flouree Argent a Cheveron betwixt 3 Mullets Gules pierced 38 Ioh. Stowel mil. ut prius  39 Ioh. Colles arm   40 Ioh. Gennings ar â—…urron Azure a Châ—…veron Or betwixt 3 Bâ—…zants on a Chief Eâ—…min 3 Cinquesoils Gules 41 Gâ—…o Rodney arm ut prius  42 Hugo Portman mil. ut prius  43 Ioh. Mallet aâ—…mig ut prius  44 Joh. May aâ—…mig Charterhouse Hâ—…yden Sable a Câ—…everon Or betwixt 3 Roses Argâ—… a Chief of the second 45 Edw. Râ—…gers 〈◊〉 ut prius  IAC
behold Bristol as the staple-place thereof where alone it was anciently made For though there be a place in London nigh Cheapside called Sopers-lane it was never so named from that Commodity made therein as some have supposed but from Alen le Soper the long since owner thereof Yea it is not above an hundred and fifty years by the confession of the Chronicler of that City since the first Sope was boyled in London Before which time the Land was generally supplyed with Castile from Spain and Graysope from Bristol Yea after that London medled with the making thereof Bristol-sope notwithstanding the portage was found much the cheaper Great is the necessity thereof seeing without Sope our bodies would be no better than dirt before they are turned into dust men whilst living becoming noisome to themselves and others Nor lesse its antiquity For although our modern Sope made of Pot-ashes and other ingredients was unknown to the Ancient yet had they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 something which effectually supplied the place thereof making their Woollen clear their Linnen-Cloth cleanly Christ is compared by the Prophet to Fullers sope in Hebrew Borith which word Arias Montanus in his Interlineary Bible reteineth untranslated but in his Comment following the example of St. Hierom on the place rendreth it Herba fullonum expounding it to be Saponaria in English Sopeworth Indeed both Dodoneus and Gerardus writeth thereof This plant hath no use in Physick Yet seeing nature made nothing in vain Sopeworth cannot justly be charged as useless because purging though not the body the Clothes of a man and conducing much to the neatnesse thereof The Buildings Ratcliffe Church in this City clearly carrieth away the credit from all Parish-Churches in England It was founded by Cannings first a Merchant who afterwards bâ—…ame a Priest and most stately the ascent thereunto by many stairs which at last plentifully recompenceth their pains who climb them up with the magnificent structure both without and within If any demand the cause why this Church was not rather made the See of a Bishop then St. Augustins in this City much inferiour thereunto such may receive this reason thereof That this though an intire stately structure was not conveniently accomodated like St. Augustins formerly a great Monastery with publick Buildings about it for the Palace of a Bishop and the Reception of the Dean and Chapter However as the Town of Hague in Holland would never be Walled about as accounting it more credit to be the Biggest of Villages in Europe than but a Lesser City so Ratcliffe-Church esteemeth it a greater grace to lead the Van of all Parochial than to follow in the Rear after many Cathedral Churches in England Medicinal Waters St. Vincents Well lying West of the City under St. Vincents Rock and hard by the River is sovereign for Sores and Sicknesses to be washt in or drunk of to be either outwardly or inwardly applyed Undoubtedly the Water thereof runneth through some Mineral of Ironâ—… as appeareth by the rusty ferruginous taste thereof which it retaineth though boiled never so much Experience proveth that Beer brewed thereof is wholesome against the Spleen and Dr. Samuel VVard afflicted with that malady and living in Sidney-Colledge was prescribed the constant drinking thereof though it was costly to bring it thorough the Severn and narrow seas to Lin and thence by the River to Cambridge But men in pain must not grudge to send far to purchase their ease and thank God if they can so procure it Proverbs Bristol Milk Though as many Elephants are fed as Cows grased within the Walls of this City yet great plenty of this Metaphorical Milk whereby Xeres or Sherry-Sack is intended Some will have it called Milk because whereas Nurses give new-born Babes in some places Pap in other water and sugar such Wine is the first moisture given Infants in this City It is also the entertainment of course which the courteous Bristolians present to all Strangers when first visiting their City Martyrs The moderation of John Holyman Bipshop of this City is much to be commended who in the reign of Queen Mary did not persecute any in his Diocess And yet we find Rich. Sharpe Tho. Benion and Tho. Hale martyred in this City whose Bloud the Inquisitor thereof will visit on the account of Dalbye the cruel Chancellour of this Dio cess Prelates RALPH of BRISTOL born in this City was bred as I have cause to conceive in the Neighbouring Covent of Glassenbury Going over into Ireland first he became Treasurer of St. Patricks in Dublin then Episcopus Darensis Bishop of Kildare He wrote the life of Lawrence Arch-Bishop of Dublin and granted saith my Author certain Indulgences to the Abbey of Glassenbury in England probably in testimony of his Gratitude for his Education therein He died Anno Dom. 1232. Since the Reformation TOBIAS MATTHEW D. D. was born in this City bred first in St. Johns then in Christ-Church in Oxford and by many mediate Preferments became Bishop of Durham and at last York But it will be safest for my Pen now to fast for fear for a Surfeit which formerly feasted so freely on the Character of this Worthy Prelate who died 1628. Sea-men No City in England London alone excepted hath in so short a Time bred more Brave and Bold Sea-men advantaged for Western Voyages by its situation They have not only been Merchants but Adventurers possessed with a Publick Spirit for the General Good Aiming not so much to return wealthier as wiser not alwayes to en-rich themselves as inform Posterity by their Discoveries Of these some have been but meerly casual when going to fish for Cod they have found a Country or some eminent Bay River or Hauen of importance unknown before Others were intentional wherein they have sown experiments with great pains cost and danger that ensuing Ages may freely reap benefit thereof Amongst these Sea-men we must not forget HUGH ELIOT a Merchant of this City who was in his Age the prime Pilot of our Nation He first with the assistance of Mr. Thorn his fellow-Citizen found out New-found-land Anno 1527. This may be called Old-found-land as senior in the cognizance of the English to Virginia and all our other Plantations Had this Discovery been as fortunate in publick Encouragement as private Industry probably before this time we had enjoyed the Kernel of those Countries whose Shell only we now possess It 's to me unknown when Eliot deceased Writers THOMAS NORTON was born in this City and if any doubt thereof let them but consult the Initial syllables in the six first and the first line in the seventh chapter of his Ordinal which put together compose Thomas Norton of Briseto A parfet Master you may him trow Thus his modesty embraced a middle way betwixt concealing and revealing his name proper for so great a Professor in Chymistry as he was that his very name must from his
would do very well on the shoulders of Sir Robert Naunton Secretary of State These words were complained of and Wiemark summoned to the Privy Councel where he pleaded for himself that he intended no dis-respect to Mr. Secretary whose known Worth was above all detraction Only he spake in reference to an old Proverb Two heads are better than one And so for the present he was dismissed Not long after when rich men were called on for a Contribution to St. Pauls Wiemark at the Councel-Table subscribed a hundred pounds but Mr. Secretary told him two hundred were better than one which betwixt fear and charity Wiemark was fain to subscribe He died Anno Domini 163. leaving one daughter who first was married to Paul Vicount Banning and after to the Lord Herbert eldest son to Philip Earl of Pembroke Capital Judges JOHN de METINGHAM was born in this County where Metingham is a Village in VVang ford Hundred not far from Bongey and was Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of King Edward the Third It is reported to his eternal praise that when the rest of the Judges 18 Edw. 3. were fined and outed for corruption this Metingham and Elias de Beckingham continued in their places whose innocence was of proof against all accusations and as Caleb and Joshâ—…a amongst the Jury of false Spies so these two amongst the Twelve Judges onely retained their integrity King Edward in the 20th of his reign directed a Writ unto him about the stinting of the number of the Apprentices and Attourneys at Law well worth the inserting D. Rex injunxit John de Metingham Sociis suis quod ipsi per discreâ—…ionem eorum provideant Ordinent numerum certum è quolibet Comitatu de melioribus legalioribus libentius add scentibus secundum quod intellexerint quod Curiae suae populo de regno melius valere poterit c. Et videtur Regi ejus Consilio quod Septies viginti sufficere poterint Apponant tamen praefati Justiciarii plures si viderint esse faciendum vel numerum anticipent The Lord the King hath enjoyned John de Metingham and his Assistants that they according to their discretion provide and ordain a certain number out of every County of such persons vvhich according to their understanding shall appear unto them of the better sort and most Legal and most vvillingly applying themselves to the learning of the Lavv vvhat may better avail for their Court and the good of the people of the Land c. And it seems likely to the King and his Councel that Sevenscore may suffice for that purpose However the afore-said Justices may add more if they see it ought to be done or else they may lessen the number Some conceive this number of sevenscore confined only to the Common Pleas whereof Metingham was Chief Justice But others behold it as extended to the whole Land this Judge his known integrity being intrusted in their choice and number which number is since much increased and no wonder our Land being grown more populous and the people in it more litigious He died Anno Domini .... Sir JOHN CAVENDISH Knight was born at Cavendish in this County where his name continued until the reign of King Henry the Eighth bred a Student of the Municipal-Law attaining to such learning therein that he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings or Upper Bench July 15 in the 46th of King Edward the Third discharging his place with due commendation untill his violent death on the fifth of King Richard the Second on this occasion John Raw a Priest contemporary with Jack Straw and Wat Tyler advanced Robert Westbroome a Clown to be King of the Commons in this County having no fewer than fifty thousand followers These for eighth dayes together in savage sport caused the heads of great persons to be cut off and set on Poles to kisse and whisper in one anothers ears Chief Justice Cavendish chanced then to be in the Country to whom they bare a double pique one because he was honest the other learned Besides they received fresh news from London that one John Cavendish his kinsman had lately kill'd their Idol Wat Tiler in Smithfield Whereupon they dragg'd the Reverend Judge with Sir John of Cambridge Prior of Bury into the Market-place there and beheaded them Whose innocent bloud remained not long unreveng'd by Spencer the Warlike Bishop of Norwich by whom this rascal rabble of Rebels was routed and ruined 1381. Reader be charitably pleased that this Note may till better information preserve the Right of this County unto Sir ROBERT BROKE a great Lawyer and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Queen Mary He wrote an Abridgment of the whole Law a Book of high account It insinuateth to me a probability of his birth herein because Lawyers generally purchase near the place of their Birth his Posterity still flourish in a Worshipful equipage at Nacton nigh Ipswich in this County Souldiers Sir THOMAS WENTWORTH of Nettlested in this County of a younger Family confessed by the Crescent in his Coat descended from the Wentworths of Wentworth-Woodhouse in York-shire was created Baron VVentworth by King Henry the Eighth He was a stout and valiant Gentleman a cordial Protestant and his Family a Sanctuary of such Professors John Bale comparing him to the good Centurion in the Gospel and gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from a Carmelite The memory of this good Lord is much but unjustly blemished because Calis was lost the Last of Queen Mary under his government The manner hereof was huddled up in our Chronicles least is best of a bad business whereof this the effect The English being secure by reason of the late conquest at St. Quintin and the Duke of Guise having notice thereof he sate down before the Town at the time not when Kings go forth to but return from battle of mid-Winter even on New-years-day Next day he took the two Forts of Rise-bank and Newnam-bridge wherein the strength of the City consisted but whether they were undermined or undermonied it is not decided and the last left most suspicious Within three dayes the Castle of Calis which commanded the City and was under the command of Sir Ralph Chamberlain was taken the French wading thorough the ditches made shallower by their artificial cut and then entering the Town were repulsed back by Sir Anthony Ager Marshal of Calis the only man saith Stow who was kill'd in the fight understand him of note †Others for the credit of the business accounting four score lost in that service The French re-entring the City the next being Twelfth-day the Lord Wentworth Deputy thereof made but vain resistance which alas was like the wriggling of a Wormstail after the head thereof is cut off so that he was forced to take what terms he could get viz. That the
the stipend and benevolence of the one and the dividend of the other but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of Tithes with the many troubles attending it together with the causeless molestations which Persons Presented meet with in their respective Parishes And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that whereof he never had a suffering this say some was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then Omni-prevalent with King James he was unexpectedly preferred Archbishop of Canterbury being of a more fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England I find two things much charg'd on his memory First that in his house he respected his Secretary above his Chaplains and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks Lay above Clergie-men Secondly that he connived at the spreading of non-conformity in so much that I read in a modern Author Had Bishop Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed without interruption there is little question to be made but that our Jerusalem by this time might have been a City at unity in it self Yet are there some of Archbishop Abbot his relations who as I am informed will undertake to defend him that he was in no degree guilty of these crimes laid to his charge This Archbishop was much humbled with a casual homicide of a keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramzel-Park though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby In the reign of King Charles he was sequestred from his Jurisdiction say some on the old account of that homicide though others say for refusing to Licence a Sermon of Dr. Sibthorps Yet there is not an Express of either in the Instrument of Sequestration the Commission only saying in the general That the said Archbishop could not at that present in his own person attend those services which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and Jurisdiction For my own part I have cause to believe that as Vulnus semel sanatum novo vulnere recrudescit so his former obnoxiousness for that casualty was renewed on the occasion of his refusal to Licence that Sermon with some other of his Court-un-compliances This Archbishop died Anno Dom. 1633. having erected a large Hospital with liberal maintenance at Guildford the place of his nativity RICHARD CORBET D. D. was born at Ewel in this County and from a Student in became Dean of Christ-Church then Bishop of Oxford An high VVit and most excellent Poet of a courteous carriage and no destructive nature to any who offended him counting himself plentifully repaired with a jest upon him He afterwards was advanced Bishop of Norwich where he died Anno Dom. 1635. States-men THOMAS CROMWEL was born at Putney in this County of whom I have given measure pressed down and running over in my Church-History WILLIAM HOWARD son to Thomas Howard second of that Surname Duke of Norâ—…hfolk was by Queen Mary created Baron of Effingham in this County and by her made Lord Admiral of England which place he discharged with credit I find he was one of the first Favourers and Furtherers with his purse and countenance of the strange and wonderful discovery of Russia He died Anno Domini 154. CHARLES HOWARD son to the Lord William aforesaid succeeded him though not immediately in the Admiralty An hearty Gentleman and cordial to his Sovereign of a most proper person one reason why Queen Elizabeth who though she did not value a Jewel by valued it the more for a fair Case reflected so much upon him The first evidence he gave of his prowes was when the Emperors sister the Spouse of Spain with a Fleer of 130 Sailes stoutly and proudly passed the narrow Seas his Lordship accompanied with ten ships onely of Her Majesties Navy Royal environed their Fleet in a most strange and warlike sort enforced them to stoop gallant and to vail their Bonnets for the Queen of England His service in the eighty eighth is notoriously known when at the first news of the Spaniards approach he towed at a cable with his own hands to draw out the harbourbound-ships into the Sea I dare boldly say he drew more though not by his person by his presence and example than any ten in the place True it is he was no deep Sea-man not to be expected from one of his Extraction but had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself and to follow their instructions and would not sterve the Queens service by feeding his own sturdy wilfulness but was ruled by the experienced in Sea-matters the Queen having a Navy of Oak and an Admiral of Osier His last eminent service was when he was Commander of the Sea as Essex of the Land forces at the taking of Cadiz for which he was made Earl of Nottingham the last of the Queens creation His place was of great profit Prizes being so frequent in that age though great his necessary and vast his voluntary expences keeping as I have read seven standing Houses at the same time at London Rigate Effingham Blechenley c. so that the wonder is not great if he died not very wealthy He lived to be very aged who wrote Man if not married in the first of Q. Elizabeth being an invited guest at the solemn Consecration of Matthew Parker at Lambeth and many years after by his testimony confuted those lewd and loud lies which the Papists tell of the Naggs-head in Cheap-side He resigned his Admiralty in the reign of King James to the Duke of Buckingham and died towards the later end of the reign of the King afore-said Sea-men Sir ROBERT DUDLEY Knight son to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester by Douglas Shefeld whether his Mistris or Wife God knoweth many men being inclinable charitably to believe the later was born at Shene in this County and bred by his mother out of his Fathers reach at Offington in Sussex He afterwards became a most compleat Gentleman in all suteable accomplishments endeavoring in the reign of King James to prove his legitimacy and meeting with much opposition from the Court in distast he left his Land and went over into Italy But Worth is ever at home and carrieth its own welcome along with it He became a Favorite to the Duke of Florence who highly reflected on his Abilities and used his directions in all his Buildings At this time Ligorn from a Child started a Man without ever being a Youth and of a small Town grew a great City on a sudden and is much beholding to this Sir Robert for its fairness and firmness as chief contriver of both But by this time his Adversaries in England had procured him to be call'd home by a special Privy Seal which he refused to obey and thereupon all his Lands in England was seised on by the King by the Statute
the vomit of Popery which my charity will not believe Indeed in the first of Queen Mary he was outed of his Bishoprick for being married and all that we can recover of his carriage aâ—…terwards is this passage at the examination of Master Thomas Hauke Martyr When John Bird then very old brought Boner a bottle of Wine and a dish of Apples probably a present unto him for a Ne noceat and therefore not enough to speak him a Papist in his perswasion Bishop Boner desired him to take Haukes into his Chamber and to try if he could convert him whereupon after Boners departure out of the room the quondam Bishop accosted Haukes as followeth I would to God I could do you some good you are a young man and I would not wish you to go to far but learn of the elders to bear somewhat He enforced him no further but being a thorough old man even fell fast asleep All this in my computation amounts but to a passive compliance and is not evidence enough to make him a thorough paced Papist the rather because John Pitts omitteth him in the Catalogue of English-writers which no doubt he would not have done had he any assurance that he had been a radicated Romanist Nothing else have I to observe of him but onely that he was a little man and had a pearl in his eyes and dying 1556. was buried in Chester States men Sir NICHOLAS THROCKMORTON Knight fourth Son of Sir George Throckmorton of Coughton in this County was bred beyond the Seas where he attained to great experience Under Queen Mary he was in Guild-Hall arraigned for Treason compliance with Wyat and by his own warie pleading and the Jurie's upright verdict hardly escaped Queen Elizabeth employed him Her Leiger a long time first in France then in Scotland finding him a most able Minister of State yet got he no great wealth and no wonder being ever of the opposite party to Burleigh Lord Treasurer Chamberlain of the Exchequer and Chief Butler of England were his highest preferments I say Chief Butler which office like an empty covered cup pretendeth to some state but affordeth no considerable profit He died at supper with eating of salates not without suspicion of poison the rather because hapning in the house of one no mean artist in that faculty R. Earl of Leicester His death as it was sudden was seasonable for him and his whose active others will call it turbulent spirit had brought him into such trouble as might have cost him at least the loss of his personal estate He died in the fifty seventh year of his age February the 12. 1570. and lyeth buryed in the South-side of the Chancel of St. Katharine Cree-Church London EDWARD CONWAY Knight Son to Sir John Conway Knight Lord and Owner of Ragleigh in this County This Sir John being a Person of Great skill in Military affaires was made by Robert Earl of Leicester Generall of the English Auxiliaries in the united Provinces Governour of Ostend His Son Sir Edward succeeded to his Fathers Martial skill and valour and twisted therewith peaceable policy in State-affaires so that the Gown and the Sword met in him in most Eminent Proportion and thereupon King James made Him one of the Principal Secretaries of State For these his good services he was by him created Lord Conway of Ragleigh in this County and afterwards by King Charles Viscount Killultagh in the County of Antrim And lastly in the third of King Charles Viscount Conway of Conway in Carnarvanshire England Ireland and Wales mutually embracing themselves in His Honours He dyed January the third Anno 1630. JOHN DIGBY Baron of Sherborn and Earl of Bristol was born in this County a younger Son of an ancient family long flourishâ—…ng at Coleshull therein To pass by his Infancy all Children being alike in their long Coats his Youth gave pregnant hopes of that Eminency which his mature age did produce He didken the Emhassador-Craft as well as any in his age employed by King James in several services to frreign Princes recited in his Patent which I have perused as the main motives of the Honors conferr'd upon him But his managing the Matchless Match with Spain was his Master-piece wherein a Good I mean a Great number of State-Traverses were used on both sides His contest with the Duke of Buckingham is fresh in many mens Memories charges of High Treason mutually flying about But this Lord fearing the Dukes Power as the Duke this Lorâ—…s policy it at last became a Drawn Battail betwixt them yet so that this Earl lost the love of King Charles living many years in his Dis-favour But such as are in a Court-Cloud have commonly the Countries Sun-shine and this Peer during his Eclyps was very Popular with most of the Nation It is seldom seen that a favorite once Broken at Court sets up again for himself the hap rather then happiness of this Lord the King graciously reflecting on him at the beginning of the Long-Parliament as one Best able to give him the safest Counsell in those dangerous Times But how he incensed the Parliament so far as to be excepted Pardon I neither do know nor dare enquire Sure I am after the surrender of Exeter he went over into France where he met with that due respect in forraign which he missed in his Native Country The worst I wish such who causelesly suspect him of Popish inclinations is that I may hear from them but half so many strong Arguments for the Protestant Religion as I have heard from him who was to his commendation a Cordial Champion for the Church of England He dyed in France about the year 1650. Writers WALTER of COVENTRIE was born and bred a Benedictine therein Bale saith he was Immortali vir dignus Memoria and much commended by Leland though not of set purpose but sparsim as occasion is offered He excelled in the two Essential Qualities of an Historian Faith and Method writing truly and orderly onely guilty of Coursness of style This may better be dispenced with in him because Historia est res veritatis non Eloquentiae because bad Latin was a catching disease in that age From the beginning of the Britons he wrote a Chronicle extant in Bennet Colledge Library to his own time He flourished Anno 1217. VINCENT of COVENTRIE was born in the chief City in this shire and bred a Franciscan though Learned Leland mistakes him a Carmelite in the University of Cambridg His order at their first entrance into England looked upon learning as a thing beneath them so totally were they taken up with their Devotion This Vincent was the first who brake the Ice and then others of his order drank of the same water first applyed himself to Academicall studies and became a publick Professor in Cambridge he set a Coppy for the Carmelites therein to imitate who not long after began their publick Lectures in the same place he
upon him Many were the wit combates betwixt him and Ben Johnson which two I behold like a Spanish great Gallion and an English man of War Master Johnson like the former was built far higher in Learning Solid but Slow in his performances Shake-spear with the English-man of War lesser in bulk but lighter in sailing could turn with all tides tack about and take advantage of all winds by the quickness of his Wit and Invention He died Anno Domini 16 ... and was buried at Stratford upon Avon the Town of his Nativity MICHAEL DRAYTON born in this County at Athelston as appeareth in his poeticall address thereunto My native Country If there be vertue yet remaining in thy earth Or any good of thine thou breath'st into my birth Accept it as thine own whilst now I sing of thee Of all thy later Brood th' unworthiest though I be He was a pious Poet his conscience having always the command of his fancy very temperate in his life slow of speech and inoffensive in company He changed his laurel for a crown of glory Anno 1631. and is buried in Westminster-Abby near the South-door with this Epitaph Doe pious Marble let thy Readers know What they and what their children owe To Draitons name whose sacred dust We recommend unto thy trust Protect his memory and preserve his story Remain a lasting Monument of his glory And when thy ruins shall dâ—…aime To be the Treasurer of his name His name that cannot fade shall be An everlasting Monument to thee He was born within few miles of William Shake-speare his Countryman and fellow-Poet and buried within fewer paces of Jeffry Chaucer and Edmund Spencer Sir FULKE GREVIL Knight Son to Sir Fulke Grevil the Elder of Becham-Court in this County he was bred first in the University of Cambridge He came to the Court back'd with a full and fair Estate and Queen Elizabeth loved such substantiall Courtiers as could plentifully subsist of themselves He was a good Scholar loving much to employ and sometimes to advance learned men to whâ—…m worthy Bishop Overal chiefly owed his preferment and Mr. Cambden by his own Confession tasted largely of his liberality His Studies were most in Poetry and History as his works doe witness His Stile conceived by some to be swelling is allowed for lofty and full by others King James created him Baron Brook of Beachamp-Court as descended from the sole daughter and heir of Edward Willowby the last Lord Brook in the reign of King Henry the seventh His sad Death or Murther rather happened on this occasion His discontented servant conceiving his deserts not soon or well enough rewarded wounded him Mortally and then to save the law the labour killed himself verifying the observation that he may when he pleaseth be master of an other mans life who contemneth his own He lieth buried in Warwick Church under a Monument of black and white Marble whereon he is styled Servant to Q. Elizabeth Counsellor to K. James and friend to Sir Phillip Sidney Dying Anno 16 ... without Issue and unmarried his Barony by vertue of Entail in the patent descended on his kinsman Robert Grevill Lord Brook father to the Right Honorable Robert Lord Brook NICHOLAS BYFIELD was born in this County as his son hath informed me bred as I remember in Queens-colledge in Oxford After he had entred into the Ministry he was invited into Ireland to a place of good profit and eminency in pâ—…ssage whereunto staying wind-bound at Chester his Inn proved his home for a long time unto him preaching a Sermon there with such approbation that he was chosed Minister in the City Not without an especiall Providence seeing the place promised in Ireland would have failed him his going over had been a labour in vain The Cestrians can give the best account of his profitable preaching and pious life most strict in keeping the Lords day on which occasion pens were brandished betwixt him and Mr. Breerwood In his declining age he was presented to the Benefice of Isleworth in Middlesex where for fifteen years together he preached twice every Lords-day and expounded Scripture every Wednesday and Friday till five weeks before his death notwithstanding there was Mors in ollâ—… A stone in his bladder which being taken out weighed and measured after his death was found of these prodigious proportions In 1. Weight thirty three ounces and more In 2. Measure about the edge fifteen inches and an half In 3. Measure about the length thirteen inches and above In 4. Measure about the breadth almost thirteen inches It was of a solid substance to look upon like a flint Lo here is the patience of the Saints All I will adde is this the Pharisee said proudly I thank thee Lord I am not as this Publican Let Writer and Reader say humbly and thankfully to God We are not as this truly painfull Preacher and let us labour that as our bodies are more healthfull our souls may be as holy as his who died and was buried at Iâ—…leworth PHILEMON HOLLAND where born is to me unknown was bred in Trinity-colledge in Cambridge a Doctor in Physick and fixed himself in Coventry He was the Translator Generall in his Age so that those Books alone of his Turning into English will make a Country Gentleman a competent library for Historians in so much that one saith Holland with his Translations doth so fill us He will not let Suetonius be Tranquillus Indeed some decry all Translators as Interlopers spoiling the Trade of Learning which should be driven amongst Scholars alone Such also alledge that the best Translations are works rather of Industry then Judgement and in easy Authors of Faithfulness rather then Industry That many be but Bunglers forcing the meaning of the Authors they translate picking the lock when they cannot open it But their Opinion resents too much of Envy that such Gentlemen who cannot repair to the Fountain should be â—…ebard access to the Streame Besides it is unjust to charge All with the faults of some and a Distinction must be made amongst Translators betwixt Coblers and Workmen and our Holland had the true knack of Translating Many of these his Books he wrote with One Pen whereon he himself thus pleasantly versified With one sole pen I writ this Book Made of a Grey Goose Quill A Pen it was when it I took And a Pen I leave it still This Monumental Pen he solemnly kept and showed to my reverend Tutor Doctor Samuel â—…ard It seems he leaned very lightly on the Neb thereof though weightily enough in an other sense performing not slightly but solidly what he undertook But what commendeth him most to the Praise of Posterity is his Translating Camdens Britannia a Translation more then a Translation with many excellent Additions not found in the Latine done fifty years since in Master Camdens life time not onely with his knowledge and consent but also no doubt by his desire and help
Good ar   9 Ioh. Keyt ar   10 Ioh. Savage ar ut prius  11 Will. Russell bar ut prius  12 Ioh. Rows mil ut prius  13 Edw. Dingley ar ut prius  14 Tho. Greaves ar   15 Ioh. Winford ar   16   18   19   1   20   21   22   Queen Elizabeth 19. JOHN RUSSELL Ar. The same Gentleman no doubt who was afterwards Knighted and betwixt whom and Sir Henry Berkeley was so deadly a quarrell as that great blood-shed was likely to have ensued at the Sessions in Worcester by reason of their many friends and followers ingaged therein But Doctor Whitgift then Bishop of Worcester and Vice-President of Wales in the absence of Sir Henry Sidney then in Ireland wisely prevented it by providing a strong watch at the gates and about the City and requiring them to bring both parties with their attendance well guarded to his Palace Here he caused them all to the number of four or five hundred to deliver their weapons into his own Servants custody and after two hours pains taken sometimes in perswading and otherwhiles in threatning them he made them so good friends that they both attended him hand in hand to the Town-hall where in amitie and love they performed the service of their Country 36. JOHN PACKINGTON Mil. It is now good manners for me to hold my peace and listen to a Privy-Councellor thus describing his character He was a Gentleman of no mean family of form and feature no ways disabled a very fine Courtier and for the time which he stayed there which was not lasting very high in the Queens grace But he came in and went out and though disassiduity drew the curtain between himself and the light of her favour and then death overwhelmed the remnant and utterly deprived him of recovery And they say of him that had he brought less to the Court then he did he might have carried away more then he brought for he had a time of it but was no good husband of opportunity King James 2. RICHARD WALSH Ar. I find him called in our Chronicles perchance by a Prolepsis Sir Richard Walsh Yea I find him stiled so by him who best might because he made him so Knighting him for his good service In his Sheriffalty the Powder-Traitors sereted out of Warwick-shire by Sir Richard Verney were as fiercely followed by Sir Richard Walsh out of the bounds of this County till they took covert in the house of Stephen Littleton at Hallbach in Stafford-shire This discreet Sheriff not standing on the punctilio of exceeding his Commission in a case wherein the peace of the Kingdome was so highly concern'd prosecuted his advantage and beset the house round about till both the Wrights were kill'd in the place Catesby and Percy slain with one bullet Rookwood and Winter wounded all the rest apprehended The Battles Worcester Fight Many smart Skirmishes have happened in this County and near this City We onely insist on that Fatall Fight September the third 1651. Know then as Introductory thereunto that His Majesty on the first of August foregoing began his March from Edenbrough into England not meeting with any considerable Opposition those at Warrington being soon put to flight by his Presence untill he came to Worcester His Army consisted of twelve thousand effectuall Fighting men whereof two thousand English the rest of the Scottish Nation but neither excellently Armed nor plentifully stored with Ammunition whilst the Parliament Forces under Cromwell more then doubled that Number wanting nothing but a Good Cause that an Army could wish or desire The Royalists Cheifest strength consisted in two Passes they possessed over the River of Severn which proved not advantagious according to expectation For the Enemy found the River Fordable elsewhere and the Bridge and Pass at Uptrn though valiantly defended by Major Generall Massey who received a shot in his hand was forced by Lambert powring in unequall Numbers on the Kings Forces Besides Cromwell finished a Bridge of Boards and Plancks over the main River with more Celerity and less Resistance then could have been expected in a matter of such importance Then began the Battle wherein His Majesty to remember his subjects Good forgot his own Safety and gave an incomparable example of Valour to the rest by Charging in his Own Person This was followed by few to the same degree of danger but imitated in the greatest measure by the Highlanders fighting with the But-ends of their Muskets when their Ammunition was spent But new supplies constantly Charging them and the Main Body of the Scotch Horse not coming up in due time from the City to His Majesties relief his Army was forced to retreat in at Sudbury-gate in much disorder If there were which some more then whisper false and foul Play in some Persons of Principall Trust as they have had a great space seasonably God grant them his Grace sincerely to repent for their Treacherous retarding the happiness prolonging and increasing the Miseries of a Gracious King and three great Nations Sure it is here were slain the Flower of the Scottish Loyal Gentry with the most Illustrious William formerly Earl of Lanerick Duke of Hamilton As for Common Souldiers some few who escaped had a longer life to have a sadder death wandring in the Country till other mens Charity and their own Strength failed them Since how God hath conducted His Majesty miraculously through Laberynths of many Difficulties to the Peaceable Possession of his Throne is notoriously known to the wonder of the world Here my Muse heartily craveth leave to make an Humble address to His Majesty depositing at his feet the ensuing PANEGYRICK 1. AT Wor'ster great Gods goodness to our Nation It was a Conquest Your bare Preservation When ' midst Your fiercest foes on every side For Your escape God did a LANE provide They saw You gonc but whether could not tell Star-staring though they ask'd both Heaven and Hell 2. Of forraign States You since have studied store And read whole Libraries of Princes o're To You all Forts Towns Towers and Ships are known But none like those which now become Your OWN And though Your Eyes were with all Objects fill'd Onely the Good into Your Heart distill'd 3. Garbling mens manners You did well divide To take the Spaniards wisdome not their pride With French activity You stor'd Your Mind Leaving to them their Ficklenesse behind And soon did learn Your Temperance was such A sober Industry even from the Dutch 4. But tell us Gracious Soveraign from whence Took You the pattern of Your Patience Learn't in Afflictions School under the Rod Which was both us'd and sanctifi'd by God From Him alone that Lesson did proceed Best Tutor with best Pupil best agreed 5. We Your dull Subjects must confess our crime Who learnt so little in as long a time And the same
Professors in Oxford wherein he founded two allowing a liberall salary unto them THOMAS TAYLOR was born at Richmond in this County where his father a bountifull entertainer of people in distress was Recorder of the Town He was afterwards bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge and chose a Fellow thereof This Timothy grave when green entred very young but not raw into the Ministry at 21. years of age and continued in the same at Reading and London for the space of thirty five years His Sermons were generally well studied and he was wont to say That oftimes he satisfied himself the least when he best pleased his people not taking such pains in his preaching His flock was firmly founded and well bottomed on Catechistacall Divinity It being observed that his Auditors stuck close to their principles in this Age wherein so many have reeled into damnable Errors He was a great giver of Alms but without a Trumpet and most strict in his Conversation Zeal for the House of God may be said in some sort to have Consumed him Dying in the fifty six year of his age Anno Domini 1632. comfortably avowing at his death that we serve such a Master Who covereth many imperfâ—…ctions and giveth much wages for a little work NATHANIELL SHUTE was born at Gigleswick in this County Christopher Shute his father being the painfull Vicar thereof He was bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge A most excellent schollar and solid preacher Though nothing of his is extant in Print save a Sermon call'd Carona Charitatis preached at the funerall of Master Fâ—…shbourn But the goodness of the Land of Canaan may as well be guessed from one great bunch of grapes as if the spies had brought whole vineyards along with them Indeed he was a profouâ—…d and profitable preacher for many years together at St. Mildred Poultrey in London One in the University being demanded his judgement of an excellent sermon in Saint Maries returned that It was an uncomfortable sermon leaving no hope of imitation for such as should succeed him In this sense alone I must allow Master Nathaniel Shute an uncomfortable preacher though otherwise a true Barnabas and Son of consolation possessing such as shall follow him in time with a dispair to equall him in eminency He died Anno Domini 1638. when our English skâ—…e was clouded all over and set to rain but before any drops of war fell down amongst us Doctor Holdesworth most excellently preached his Funerall Sermon taking for his text We have this our treasure in earthly vessels JOSIAH SHUTE brother to Nathaniel aforesaid was bred in Trinity colledge in Cambridge and became afterwards Minister of Saint Mary Woolnoâ—…h in London and was Reader I doe say and will maintain it the most Pretious Jewell that was ever shewn or seen in Lumbardstreet All Ministers are Gods Husband mâ—…n but some of them can onely plough in soft ground whose Shares and Coultures will turn Edge in a hard point of Divinity No ground came amiss to Master Shute whether his Text did lead him to controversiall or positive Divinity having a strain without straining for it of native Eloquence he spake that which others studied for He was for many years and that most justly highly esteem'd of his Parish till the beginning of our late Civil Warrs somâ—… began to neglect him distasting wholesome meat well dressed by him merely because their mouths were out of tast by that generall distemper which in his time was but an Ague afterwards turn'd to a feaver and since is turn'd to a Frensy in our Nation I insist hereon the rather for the comfort of such godly Ministers who now suffer in the same nature wherein Mr. Shute did before indeed no servant of God can simply and directly comfort himself in the sufferings of others as which hath something of envy therein yet may he do it consequentially in this respect because thereby he apprehends his own condition herein consistent with Gods love and his own salvation seeing other precious Saints tast with him of the same affliction as many godly Ministers doe now a days whose sickles are now hung up as useless and neglected though before these Civil Warrs they reaped the most in Gods harvest Master Shute dyed Anno Domini 1640. and was buried with great solemnity in his own Church Master Udall preaching his Funerall Sermon since his death his excellent Sermons are set forth on some part of Genesis and pity it is there is no more extant of his worthy indeavours It must not be forgotten how retiring a little before his death into the Country some of his Parishioners came to visit him whom he chearfully entertained with this expression I have taught you my dear flock for above thirty years how to live and now I will shew you in a very short time how to dye He was as good as his word herein for within an Hour he in the presence of some of them was peaceably dissolved Be it also known that besides these two brothers Nathaniel and Josiah fixed in the City of London there were three more bred and brought up in the Ministry viz. Robert preacher at Lyn Thomas Minister for a good time in Chester and Timothy lately if not still alive a preacher in Exeter All great though not equall Lights are set up in fair Candlesticks I mean places of eminency and conveniently distanced one from another for the better dispersing of their Light and good Housewives tell me Old Candles are the best for spending Happy their Father who had his Quiver full with five such Sons he need not be ashamed to see his Enemies in the Gate It is hard to say whether he was more happy in his sons or they in so good a Father and a wary man will crave time to decide the doubt untill the like instance doth return in England GEORGE SANDYS youngest son of Edwin Sandys Arch-bishop of York was born at Bishops-Thorp in this County he proved a most accomplished gentleman and an observant Travailer who went as far as the Sepulchre at Jerusalem and hath spared other mens pains in going thither by bringing the Holy Land home to them so lively is his description thereof with his passage thither and return thence He most elegantly translated Ovid his Metamorphosis into English verse so that as the soul of Aristotle was said to have transmigrated into Thomas Aquinas because rendring his sence so naturally Ovid's genius may seem to have passed into Master Sandys He was a servant but no slave to his subject well knowing that a Translatour is a person in free Custody Custody being bound to give the true sense of the Author he translated Free left at liberty to cloath it in his own expression Nor can that in any degree be applyed to Master Sandys which one rather bitterly then falsly chargeth on an Author whose name I leave to the Readers conjecture We know thou dost well as a Translatour But where things require a genius
fratri nostro defuncto impendit in futurum fideliter impendet dedimus Concedimus eidem Thomae heredibus suis Masculis quandam Annuitatem sive annualem reditum quadraginta libraram Habendum percipiendum annuatim eidem Thomae heredibus suis de-exitibus perficuis reventionibus Comitatus Palatini nostri Lancastriae in Com. Lanc. per manus Receptoris ibidem pro tempore existente ad Festum Sancti Michaelis Arch-angeli aliquo statuto actu sive Ordinatione in contrarium editis sive provisis in aliquo non Obstante In cujus rei testimonium has literas fieri fecimus Patentes Dat. apud Ebor. 2 do Aug. Anno regni 2 do A branch of these Talbots are removed into Lancashire and from those in Yorkshire Colonel Thomas Talbot is descended Edward IV. 10 HEN. VAVASOR Mil. It is observed of this family that they never married an Heir or buried their Wives The place of their habitation is called Hassell-wood from wood which there is not wanting though stone be far more plentifull there being a quarry within that Mannor out of which the stones were taken which built the Cathedrall and Saint Maries Abby in York the Monasteries of Holden-selby and Beverly with Thornton-colledge in Lincolnshire and many others So pleasant also the prospect of the said Hassel-wood that the Cathedralls of York and Lincoln being more then 60. miles asunder may thence be discovered Hâ—…nry VIII 2 RADULPHUS EURE Alias EVERS Mil. He was afterwards by the above named King Created a Baron and Lord Warden of the Marshes towards Scotland He gave frequent demonstration as our Chronicles do testify both of his Fidelity and Valour in receiving many smart Incursions from and returning as many deep Impressions on the Scots There is a Lord Evers at this day doubtless a Remoter Descendant from him but in what distance and degree it is to me unknown 5 WILLIAM PERCY Mil. I recommend the following Passage to the Readers choicest observation which I find in Camdens Brit. in Yorkshire More beneath hard by the River Rhidals side standeth Riton an antient Possession of the antient family of the Percy-hays commonly called Percys I will not be over confident but have just cause to believe this our Sheriffe was of that Family And if so he gave for his Armes Partie per fess Argent and Gules a Lion Rampant having Will. Percy-hay Sheriff in the last of Edw. the third for his Ancestor 23 NICHOLAS FAIRFAX Mil. They took their name of Fairfax à Pulchro Capillitio from the fair hair either bright in colour or comely for the plenty thereof their Motto in alusion to their Name is Fare fac say doe such the sympathy it seems betwixt their tongues and hearts This Sir Nicholas Fairfax mindeth me of his Name-sake and Kins-man Sir Nicholas Fairfax of Bullingbrooke Knight of the Rhodes in the raign of Edward the fourth Jacomo Bosio in his Italian History of Saint John of Jerusalem saith that Sir Nicholas Fairfax was sent out of Rhodes when it was in great distress to Candia for relief of Men and Provisions which he did so well perform as the Town held out for some time longer and he gives him this Character in his own Language Cavilero Nicholo Fairfax Inglich homo multo spiritoso è prudento Queen Mary 3 CHRISTOPHER METCALFE Mil. He attended on the Judges at York attended on with three hundred Horsemen all of his own name and kindred well mounted and suitably attired The Roman Fabii the most populous tribe in that City could hardly have made so fair an appearance in so much that Master Camden gives the Metcalfes this character Quae numerosissima totius Angliae familia his temporibus censetur Which at this time viz. Anno 1607. is counted the most numerous family of England Here I forbear the mentioning of another which perchance might vie numbers with them lest casually I minister matter of contest But this Sir Christopher is also memorable for stocking the river Yower in this County hard by his house with Crevishes which he brought out of the South where they thrive both in plenty and bigness For although Omnia non omnis terra nec unda feret All lands doe not bring Nor all waters every thing Yet most places are like trees which bear no fruit not because they are barren but are not grafted so that dumbe nature seemeth in some sort to make signes to Art for her assistance If some Gentleman in our parts will by way of ingenuous retaliation make proof to plant a Colonie of such Northern Fishes as we want in our Southern Rivers no doubt he would meet with suitable success Queen Elizabeth 4 GEORGE BOWES Mil. He had a great Estate in this County and greater in the Bishoprick of Durham A Man of Metall indeed and it had been never a whit the worse if the quickness thereof had been a little more allayed in him This was he who some seven years after viz. Anno 1569. was besieged by the Northern Rebells in Bernards Castle and streightned for Provision yielded the same on Condition they might depart with their Armour After the suppression of the Rebells their Execution was committed to his Care wherein he was severe unto Cruelty For many Well-meaning people were ingaged and others drawn in into that Rising who may truely be termed Loyall Traytors with those two hundred men who went after Absolon in their simplicity and knew not any thing solicited for the Queens service These Sir George hung up by scoars by the Office of his Marshallship and had hung more if Mr. Bernard Gilpin had not begged their lives by his importunate intercession 23 ROBERT STAPLETON Mil. He was descended from Sir Miles Stapleton one of the first founders of the Garter and Sheriâ—… in the 29. of Edward the third He met the Judges with sevenscore men in suitable liveries and was saith my Author in those days for a man well spoken properly seen in languages a comely and goodly personage had scant an equall except Sir Philip Sidney no superior in England He married one of the Co heirs of Sir Henry Sherington by whom he had a numerous posterity 42 FRANCIS CLIFFORD Ar. He afterwards succeeded his Brother George in his Honours and Earldome of Cumberland a worthy Gentleman made up of all Honorable accomplishments He was Father to Henry the fifth and last Earl of that Family whose sole Daughter and Heir was married to the right Honourable and well worthy of his Honour the then Lord Dungarvon since Earl of Cork 45 HENRY BELLASIS Mil. He was afterwards by King Charles Created Baron Fauconbridge of Yarum as since his Grandchild by his Eldest Son is made Vicount Fauconbridge John Bellasis Esquire his second Son who in the Garrison of Newarke and elsewhere hath given ample Testimony of his Valour and all Noble Qualities accomplishing a Person of Honour since is advanced to the dignity of a Baron
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