Country Martyrs Grievous the persecution in this County under John Christopherson the Bishop thereof Such his Havock in burning poor Procestants in one year that had he sat long in that See and continued after that rate there needed no Iron-mills to rarify the Woods of this County which this BONNER junior would have done of himself I confess the Papists admire him as a most able and profound Divine which mindeth me of an Epigran made by one who being a Suitor to a surly and scornâ—…ull Mistris after he had largely praised her rare parts and Divine perfections concluded She hath too much Divinity for me Oh! that she had some more Humanity The same may this Diocess say of Christopherson who though carrying much of Christ in his Surname did bear nothing of him in his Nature no meekness mildness or mercy being addicted wholly to cruelty and destruction burning no fewer then ten in one fire in Lewes and seventeen others at several Times in sundry Places Cardinals HERBERT de BOSHAM was born at Bosham a goodly mannor in this County which Earl Godwin craftily kissed out of the Arch-bishop of Canterbary and being a good Scholar he was a Manubus I mean to write not to fight for him unto Thomas Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury He was present at his Murder-martyring and hâ—…d the discretion to make no resistance lest he had been sent the same way with his Master However amongst many other books he wrote the story of his Mâ—…sters death Going over into Italy he was by Pope Alexander the third mâ—…de Arch bishop of Beneventum and in the Month of December 1178. created Cardinal but by what title it is unknown as also is the exact date of his death Prelates JOHN PECKHAM born of obscure Parents in this County bred when a boy in Lewes When a Youth a Franciscan in Oxford when a Young man in Paris when a Man he lived in Lyons where he became Canon when a Grave-man in Rome there made Auditor of causes in that Court when an Old man in Canterbury preferred against his will except out of cunning he would seem Courted into what he Coveted by the Popes plenary power to be Arch bishop thereof Peckham believed the Pope invited him freely to that place when soon after he was called upon to pay a sad reckoning no less then four thousand marks A worthy man he was in his place who neither feared the Laytie nor flattered the Clergy unpartially imposing on both if appearing Pecant most severe penance he was a great punisher of Pluralists and injoyner of Residence His Canons place at Lyons he not only kept during his life but left it to his successours who held it in Commendam some hundred years afterwards Loth they were to part with it as a safe retreating place in case our English Kings should banish them the Realme Besides it was a Convenient Inn for them to Lodge at as almost in the Mid-way of their journey betwixt Canterbury and Rome He sate Arch-bishop almost fourteen years built and endowed a Colledge at Wing ham yet left a great estate to his Kindred I believe his wealth well gotten because the land purchased therewith hath lasted so long in the Linage of his Allies in this and the next County even to our age he died Anno Dom. 1294. ROBERT WINCHELSEY Although Bishop Godwin saith ubi natus traditur opinor à nemine yet considering the custome of the Clergy in that age none can doubt his birth in this County except any should deny Winchelsey to be therein He was bred in the neighbouring Shire of Kent where he was such a proficient in Grammer Learning all did foretell that he then the Arch-Scholar in the School in due time would be Arch-bishop of the See of Canterbury He was afterwards admitted in Merton-colledge in Oxford went thence to Paris where he took the degree of Master of Arts and became Rector perchance no more then a Regent amongst Us of that University returning to Oxford he there proceeded Doctor of Divinity and became Chancellour thereof successively Canon of Pauls Arch-Deacon of Essex and Arch bishop of Canterbury He went to Rome to procure his Pall of Pope Celestine This is that Celestine formerly an Eremite whom a Cardinal afterward his Successor by the Name of Boniface the eighth perswaded by a voice through a hollow-trunk to resign his Popedome and return into the wilderness which he did accordingly Herein his Holiness did trust the Spirit before he did try it contrary to the counsel of the Apostle But this Pope appearing Fallible in his Chamber if in his Chair and consulâ—…ing his Conclave of Cardinalls no doubt would not have been deceived He easily obtained his Pall and refused a Cardinals Cap offer'd unto him returning to Canterbury he was there solemnly inthroned and on the same day Consecrated one Bishop bestowed 12. rich Benefices on 12. Doctors and 12. meaner Livings on as many Bachelors in Divinity Confiding in the Canon of the Councel of Lions which forbad the Clergy to pay any taxes to Princes without the consent of the Pope he created much molestation to himself King Edward the first useing him very harshly till at last he overcame all with his patience For the main he was a worthy Prelate excellent Preacher being Learned himself he loved and preferred Learned men Prodigious his Hospitality being reported that Sundays and Fridays he fed no fewer then four Thousand men when corn was cheap and five Thousand when it was dear and because it shall not be said but my Belief can be as Large as his Bounty I give credit thereunto Otherwise it seemeth suspicious as a mock-imitation of those self same Numbers of Persons which Christ at two severall times miraculously fed with Loafes and Fishes His Charity went home to them which could not come to it sending to such who were Absented by their Impotencies After his Death happening Anno Domini 1313. he was accounted though not the Popes the Poor-mans Saint Bountifull men will always be Canonized in the Calender of Beggers Poor-people repairing in Flocks to the place of his buriall and superstitiously praying unto him and they could best tell whether they found as much Benefit from his Tomb when dead as at his Table when living THOMAS BRADWARDINE was descended of an ancient family at Bradwardine in Hereford-shire who removing thence had setled themselves for three generations in this County where this Thomas was born in or near the City of Chichester He was bred Fellow of Merton-colledge in Oxford where he became a most exquisite Mathematician and deep Divine being commonly called Doctor Profundus He was Confessor to King Edward the third and some impute our great Conquest in France not so much to the Prowesse of that King as to the Prayers of this his Chaplain He constantly preach'd in the Camp Industry to Officers Obedience to Common-souldiers Humility to all in good Patience in
prius  14 Nich. Moor ar   The Farewell I understand that in January 1607. part of this County which they call the Moore sustained a great loss by the breaking in of the Severn sea caused by a violent South-west wind continuing for three dayes together I heartily desire the Inhabitants thereof may for the future be secured from all such dangerous inundations water being a good servant but bad master by his Providence who bindeth the sea in a girdle of sands and saith to the waves thereof Thus far shall ye go and no further PEMBROKE-SHIRE is surrounded on all sides with the Sea save on the North-East where it boundeth on Cardigan and East where it butteth on Carmarthen-shire A County abounding with all things necessary for mans livelihood and the East part thereof is the pleasantest place in all VVales which I durst not have said for fear of offence had not Giraldus their own Country-man affirmed it Nor is it less happy in Sea than in Land affording plenty of Fish especially about Tenby therefore commonly called Tenby-y-Piscoid which I rather observe for the vicinity of the British piscoid with the Latine piscosus for fishfull though never any pretended an affinity between the two Languages A part of this Country is peopled by Flemmings placed there by King Henry the first who was no less politick than charitable therein For such Flemmings being driven out of their own Country by an irruption of the Ocean were fixed here to defend the land given them against the Welsh and their Country is called little England beyond Wales This mindeth me of a passage betwixt a Welsh and English man the former boasting Wales in all respects beyond England to whom the other returned he had heard of an England beyond Wales but never of a Wales beyond England Natural Commodities Faulcons Very good are bred in this County of that kind they call Peregrines which very name speaks them to be no Indeginae but Forraigners at first lighting here by some casualty King Henry the second passing hence into Ireland cast off a Norway Goshawk at one of these but the Gos-hawk taken at the source by the Faulcon soon fell down at the Kings foot which performance in this ramage made him yearly afterward send hither for Eyesses These Hawkes Aeries not so called from building in the Air but from the French word Aire an Egge are many in the Rocks in this Shire Buildings For a sacred structure the Cathedral of Saint David is most eminent began by Bishop Peter in the raign of King John and finished by his Successors though having never seen it I can say little thereof But in one respect the roof thereof is higher than any in England and as high as any in Europe if the ancient absolute independent jurisdiction thereof be considered thus stated by an Authentick Author Episcopi Walliae à Menevensi Antistite sunt consecrati ipse similiter ab aliis tanquam suffraganeis est consecratus nulla penitus alii Ecclesiae facta professione vel subjectione The generality of which words must be construed to have reference as well to Rome as to Canterbury Saint Davids acknowledging subjection to neither till the reign of King Henry the first Princes HENRY TUTHAR Son to Edmund Earl of Richmond and Margaret his Lady was born at Pembroke in this County Anno Dom. In the reign of King Henry the sixth he was bred a Child at Court when a young man he lived an Exile in France where he so learned to live of a little that he contracted a habit of frugality which he did not depose till the day of his death Having vanquished King Richard the third in the battel of Bosorsth and married Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the fourth he reigned King of England by the name of Henry the seventh He is generally esteemed the wisest of our English Kings and yet many conceive that the Lord Bacon writing his life made him much wiser than he was picking more prudence out of his actions than the King himself was privy to therein and not content to allow him politick endeavoured to make him policy it self Yet many thiâ—…k hâ—…s judgemenâ—… 〈◊〉 him when refusing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Columbus for the discovery of America who might therein have made a secret advenâ—…e without any prejudice to the râ—…putation of his wisdom But such his waâ—…ss he would not tamper with costly Contâ—…s though never â—…o probable to be gainful nor would he hazard a hook of Silver to catch a fish of Gold He was the first King who secretly sought to abaâ—…e the formidable greatness the Parent of many former Rebellions in the English â—…earage lessening their Dependencies countenaâ—…cing the Commons and encouraging the Yeomandry with provisions against Depopulations However â—…ereby he did not free his Successors from fear but only exchanged their care making the Commons who because more numerous less manageble more absolute and able in time to conâ—…est with Soveraignty He survived his Queen by whom he had the true Title to the Crown about five years Some will say that all that time he was King only by the Courtesie of England which I am sure he was loth to acknowledge Others say he held the Crown by Conquest which his Subjects were as unwilling to confess But let none dispute how hâ—… hâ—…ld seeing he held it having Pope Parliament Power Purse Success and some shadow of Succession on his side His greatest fault was grinding his Subjects with grievous exactions he was most magnificent in those Structures he hath left to posterity Amongst wâ—…ich his â—…evotion to God is most seen in two Chappels the one at Cambridge the other at Westminster his charity to the poor in the Hospital of the Savoy his Magnificence to himself in his own Monument of guilded Copper and his vanity to the World in building a Ship called the Great Harry of equal cost saith some with his Chappel which asterwards sunk into the Sea and vanished away in a moment He much imployed Bishops in his service finding them honest and able And here I request the judicious and learned Reader to help me at a dead liâ—… being posed with this passage written in his life by the Lord Verulam He did use to raise Bishops by steps that he might not lose the profits of the First fruits which by that course of gradation was multiplied Now I humbly conceive that the First fruits in the common acception of the word were in that age paid to the Pope and would fain be informed what By-FirstFruits these were the emolument whereof accrued to the Crown This politick King at his Palace of Richmond April 22. 1509. ended his life and was buried in the Magnificent Chappel aforesaid On the same token that he ordered by his last Will and Testament that none save such of the Blood Royal who should descend from his Loyns should be buried in that place
Catalogues begin and end at such times And I do believe that they will prove Satisfactory to such ingenuous Readers that come with no cavilling premeditation Exception 13. In your Catalogue of Learned Writers you have omitted many as may appear by Pitseus his Appendix Illustrium Angliae Scriptorum For of the four hundred by him mentioned not fifty appear in your List of them Answer Pitseus himself shall plead for me who in his Preface to his Appendix ingenuously confesseth Eos adhuc efficere non valeo dignos qui inter illustres Scriptores locum obtineant So that one may call them Obscuros illustres little being known of the books which they wrote less of the times when they lived nothing of the places where they were born However seeing some persons of eminence have stragled amongst them I have selected such with my best care and presented them in my Catalogue Exception 14 Of some men you have little save their Name Life and Death and yet you tearm such eminent persons Answer Surely they were so in themselves and deserve more should be then is left written of them through the injury of time All that I will plead in my own Defence is this There is an Officer in the Exchequer called Clericus nihilorum or the Clerk of the Nichils who maketh a Roll of all such sums as are nichill'd by the Sheriff upon their Estreats of the Green wax when such sums are set on persons either not found or not found solvible This Roll he delivereth into the Treasurers Remembrancers office to have execution done upon it for the King and thus the Clerk hath done his duty leaving it to them to see if they can make any thing of his Return I conceive in like manner I have performed my utmost in that I return such persons to have nothing more to be said of them findable by all my endevours However I consign them over to more able Historians whose pains I will neither prejudice nor discourage but if they be pleased to begin where I ended I wish them more happy success in their discoveries Exception 15. Your Book is surcharged with Scripture observations and reflections in Divinity even when no necessity leadeth you thereunto Answer The Reader hath Conâ—…itentem but I will never acknowledge Reum pleading Custome and Conscience in my just excuse Custome being habited by my profession therein The Learned observe of St. Luke that being a Physician by his function and describing the great difference between Paul and Barnabas he made use of an expression in his own faculty and there was betwixt them a Dissention in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the height and heat of a burning Feaver So that the Spirit of God guiding his Pen permitted him to make use of the Language proper to his Vocation And I presume the same favour will be indulged to me by all ingenuous persons to have I will not say a partiality but an affection to the expressions of and excursions into my own Calling Secondly I plead Conscience that seeing some may Cavil this Work to be a Deviation from my function and I my self perchance sensible of some truth therein I will watch and catch all opportunity to make a fair Regresse to my profession Exception 15. You lay down certain Rules for the better regulating your work and directing the Reader promising to confine your self to the observation thereof and break them often your self For instance you restrain the Topick of Lawyers to Capital Judges and Writers of the Law yet under that head insert Judge Paston and others who were only puny Iudges in their respective Courts You limit Statesmen to Lord Chancelours Treasurers English Secretaries of State c. and put in Sir Edward Waterhouse who was Secretary but in Ireland In a word few heads are preserved pure according to their constitution without the mixture of improper persons amongst them Why did you break such Rules when knowing you made them why did you make such Rules when minding to break them And this is an Exception of Exceptions against you Answer I never intended to tye my self up so close without reserving lawful Liberty to my self upon just occasion Indeed we read of St. Egwin the third Bishop of Worcester that he made for himself a pair of Iron Shakels and locking them close unto his Leggs cast the Key thereof into the Severn desiring never to be loosed till he had made satisfaction for his Sins Returning from Rome a Fish leaped into the Ship in whose Belly was found the Key and so Egwin was miraculously restored to his Liberty Had I in like manner fettered my self to the Topicks propounded on presumption of so strange a release none would have pitied my restraint wilfully contracted on my self But the best is I resolved to keep the Key in my own hands to enlarge my self when I apprehended a just cause thereof However I have not made use of this Key to recede from my first Limitations save where I crave leave of and render a reason to the Reader such anomalous persons being men of high merit under those heads where they are inserted Exception 16. You have omitted many Memorable persons still surviving as meriting as any you have inserted Answer The return of Martial in a case not much unlike may much befriend me herein Miâ—…aris Veteres Vacerra solos Nec laudas nisi mortuos poet as Ignosâ—…as petimâ—…s Vacerra tanti Non est ut placeam tibi perire Deceased Authors thou admir'st aloâ—…e And only praisest Poets dead and gone Vacerra pardon me I will not buy Thy praise so dear as for the same to dye All men being like-minded with Martial herein none surviving will distaste their omission in a work for reasons afore-alledged save in some cases confined to the memories of the departed Exception 17. Speaking of the Commodities of several Counties you say the Wool of Hereford shire is best and yet Gloucester-Shire is best the VVheat of Hereford-shire is best and yet Middlesex best the Lead of Darby-shire best and yet Somerset-shire best the Iron of Sussex best and Stafford-shire best The same may be observed in your praising of persons making several men at the same time the best Poets Divines Schoolmen c. and this must be both falshood and flattery together Answer Impute it I pray to my peaceable disposition unwilling to occasion discord betwixt Eminencies the rather because things of the same kind may severally be the best in sundry Qualities Some Wool best for Cloath other for Hats some Wheat best for yeilding of most other finest flower some Lead best for Bullets other for Sheeting Houses some Iron best for Ordnance other for Nails Keys and smaler Uâ—…ensils Neither is it without precedent in Scripture to Character several men best in the same Profession both 〈◊〉 and Josiah being commended to have had none like unto them neither before nor after them Exception 18. During the
great Disputant and well studied Scholar as his works do declare He was afterwards preferred Bishop of Lincoln where several contests happened betwixt him and Pope Boniface the ninth who in revenge ex plenitudine Potestatis removed him from Lincoln to Litchfield that is from the Hall into the Kitchin a Bishoprick of less credit and profit Buckingham grew sullen hereat and would rather shut himself out then play at a less game and so quitting Episcopacy 1397. lived and died a private Monck at Canterbury where he lies buried the lowermost in the body of Christ-Church under a very fair Grave-stone as my industrious friend hath well retrived his memory though the brasse on his Monument be worn or rather torn away He indented with the Prior and Covent at Canterbury to build him a Chantry-Chappel near his Sepulcher which I find not performed JOHN YOUNG was born at Newton-longvile in this County and bred in New-colledge in Oxford on the same token that there are no fewer then ten Youngs in their Register reckoned Fellows of that Foundation and one said that Seeing the Colledge was always New well may many Fellows be Young therein This John Young became Warden thereof and afterwards was made Bishop of the fair City of Callipoli in Greece An excellent place to fat a neither Camel nor Lion but Camelion in and seeing the great Turk was his Tenant little the rent he paid to this his Landlord However this titular Bishoprick gave him Precedency a Vote in General Councils and Power of Ordination But some English Earth doth not well with such Grecian Aire and for his better support he was made Master of the Rowles Jan. 12. in the first of King Henry the eighth and either died or resigned his Office some eight years after As I remember he lieth buried with a brass Inscription in New-colledge Chappel JOHN HOLYMAN was born at Codington in this County bred in New-colledge in Oxford and afterwards became a Benedictine in Reading untill that Monastery was dissolved Queen Mary in the first of her reign preferred him Bishop of Bristoll whilst his predecessor Paul Bush deprived for being married was yet alive He lived peaceably not embrewing his hands in Protestants bloud and died seasonably for himself a little before the death of Queen Mary 1558. Since the Reformation JOHN HARLEY was born in the Parish of Newport-Paganel in this County as a learned Antiquary a native of the same place hath informed me where some of his kindred were lately if not still in being He was bred first Fellow then School-Master in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford in the dangerous days of King Henry the eighth he was an hearty but concealed Protestant In the first week of the reign of King Edward the sixth whilst most mens minds stood at a gaze it being dead-water with them which way the tide would turn Master Harley in the Parish-Church of Saint Peters in Oxford and a solemn Lent-Sermon publiquely preached Antipapal doctrine and powerfully press'd justification by faith alone whereupon the over-officious Vice-Chancellor hurried him up to London for an Heretick there to answer for his contempt But the case was soon altered Harley was acquitted commended preferred to be Tutor to the sons of John Earl of Warwick afterwards Duke of Northumberland He was thence made Bishop of Hereford It is said of Abraham he was buried in a good old age It cannot be said of our Harley he died in an old age finding him not above fifty though expiring in a good age in two respects in relation to the piety of his life past and in reference to the future troubles which immediately followed Surely had he survived a little longer he had lost his life as he did his Bishoprick for being married in the first of Q. Mary Doctor LAURENCE HUMPHRED Harley his Scholar in Magdalen-colledge hath consecrated this Distick to the memory of his Master though the Muses in my mind looked very solemnly without the least smile at the making thereof Floâ—… domui Harlaeus socius ludique Magister Celsus-deinde throno celsior inde polo. He died Anno Domini 1554. shifting from place to place the cause why there is no certain intelligence where he was interred ROBERT ALDRICH although he lived but in the twilight of Religion he is justly to be placed not on the Dark but Light side of Reformation For though his actions were but weak his affections were sincere therein Born he was at Burnham in this County bred in Kings-colledge in Cambridge Proctor of that University anno 1525. About which time many letters passed betwixt him and his familiar friend Erasmus who stileth him Blandae eloquentiae juvenem He was afterward School-master then Fellow and Provoster of Eaton and at last made Bishop of Carlile anno 1537. by King Henry the eighth He was never a through paced Papist much lesse a persecutor of Protestants though a complyer with some superstitions He died at Horncastle in Lincoln shire a house belonging to his See in the reign of Queen Mary 1555. WILLIAM ALLEY was born at Wiâ—…kham in this County bred first at Eaton then in Kings-colledge where he was admitted Anno Domini 1528. Hence he went away being Batchelour of Arts and afterwards became Lecturer in Saint Pauls I say Lecturer which name though since it hath sounded ill in some jealous ears as infected with faction was an ancient office founded in some Cathedralls to read Divinity there and this Master Alleys learned lectures according to that age are Extant in Print He was Consecrated Bishop of Exeter July 14. 1560. and dying 1576. lyeth buried under a fair Marble in his own Cathedrall RICHARD COX was born at Whaddon in this County and bred for some years in Kings-colledge in Cambridge Even when Cardinal Woolsy was erecting Christs-church in Oxford This great Prelate desiring that this his Colledge should be as fair within as without and have learning answerable to the building thereof employed his Emisaries to remove thither the most hopefull Plants of Cambridge and this Richard Cox amongst the rest He became afterwards School-master of Eaton which was happy with many florishing wits under his endeavours and Haddon amongst the rest whom he loved with filiall affection nor will it be amisse to insert the Poeticall Passe betwixt them Walter Haddon to Doctor COX his School-master Vix caput attollens è lecto scribere carmen Qui velit is voluit scribere plura Vale. Doctor COX to Walter Haddon his Scholar Te magis optarem salvum sine â—…armine Fili Quam sine te salvo carmina multa Vale. Hence he was sent for to be Instructor to Prince Edward which with good conscience to his great credit he discharged Here Reader forgive me in hazarding thy censure in making and translating a Distick upon them Praeceptor doctus docilis magis an puer ille Ille puer docilis Praeceptor tu quâ—…que doctus Master
Conjunction with other Doctors of the University By his Testament he gave the Rectory of Milton to the Colledge and dying on Saint Marks day 1610. lieth buried in a Vestery on the North-side of the Chappel JOHN GREGORY was born November 10. 1607. at Amersham in this County of honest though mean parents yet rich enough to derive unto him the hereditary infirmity of the gout which afflicted him the last twenty years of his life He was bred in Christ-church in Oxford where he so applied his book that he studied sixteen hours of the four and twenty for many years together He attained to be an exquisite Linguist and general Scholar his modesty setting the greater lustre on his learning His notes on Dr. Redleys book of Civil-law gave the first testimony of his pregnancy to the world and never did text and comment better meet together He was first Chaplain of Christ-church and thence preferred by Bishop Duppa Prependary of Chichester and Sarum and indeed no Church-preferment compatible with his age was above his deserts He died at Kidlington in Oxford-shire 1646. and was buried at Christ-church in Oxford I find a smart Epitaph made by a friend on his memory and it was in my mind as well valiantly consider the times as truly indited Ne premas Cineres hosce Viator Nescis quot sub hoc jaeent Lapillo Graeculus Hebraeus Syrus Et qui te quovis vincet Idiomate At nè molestus sis Ausculta causam auribus tuis imbibe Templo exclusus Et avita Religione Jam senescente ne dicam sublatâ Mutavit Chorum altiorem ut capesceret Vade nunc si libet imitare R. W. His Opera Posthuma are faithfully set forth by his good friend John Gurgain and deservedly dedicated to Edward Bish Esquire one so able that he could charitable that he would and valiant that he durst relieve Master Gregory in his greatest distress SAMUEL COLLINS son to Baldwin Collins born in Coventry a pious and painfull preacher prodigiously bountifull to the poor whom Queen Elizabeth constantly called Father Collins was born and bred at Eaton so that he breathed learned aire from 〈◊〉 of his nativity Hence coming to Kings-colledge in Cambridge he was succesâ—…ively chosen Fellow Provost and Regius Professor One of an admirable wit and 〈◊〉 the most fluent Latinist of our age so that as Caligula is said to have sent 〈◊〉 souldiers vainly to fight against the tide with the same success have any encountred the torrent of his tongue in Disputation He constantly read his Lectures twice a week for above fourty years giving notice of the time to his Auditours in a ticket on the School-dores wherein never any two alike without some considerable difference in the critical language thereof When some displeased Courtier did him the injurious courtesie to preferre him downwards in point of profit to the Bishoprick of Bristol he improved all his friends to decline his election In these troublesome times affording more Preachers then Professors he lost his Church but kept his Chair wherein he died about the year 1651. WILLIAM OUGHTRED was though branched from a right ancient Family in the North born in the Town bred in the School of Eaton became Fellow of Kings-colledge and at last was beneficed by Thomas Earl of Arundel at Albury in Surrey All his contemporaries unanimously acknowledged him the Prince of Mathematicians in our Age and Nation This aged Simeon had though no Revelation a strong perswasion that before his death he should behold Christs anointed restored to his Throne which he did accordingly to his incredible joy and then had his Dimittis out of this mortal life June 30. 1660. Romish Exile Writers THOMAS DORMAN was born at Ammersham in this County being nephew unto Thomas Dorman of the same town A Confessour in the reign of King Henry the eighth True it is this his Uncle through weakness did abjure let us pity his who desire God should pardon our failings but was ever a cordial Protestant He bred this Thomas Dorman juniâ—…r at Berkhamsted-school founded by Dr. Incent in Hartfordshire under Mr. Reeve a Protestant School-master But this Dorman turn'd tail afterwards and became a great Romanist running over beyond the seas where he wrote a book intituled Against Alexander Nowel the English Calvinist J. Pits doth repent that he affordeth him no room in the body of his book referring him to his Appendix He flourished Anno 1560. Memorable Persons JOHN MATHEW Mercer son to Thomas Mathew was born at Sherington in this County Lord Mayor of London Anno Dom. 1490. He is eminent on this account that he was the first Bachelar that ever was chosen into that office Yea it was above a hundred and twenty years before he was seconded by a single person succeeding him in that place viz. Sir John Leman Lord Mayor 1616. It seemeth that a Lady Mayoresse is something more then ornamentall to a Lord Mayor their wives great portions or good providence much advantaging their estates to be capable of so high a dignity Dame HESTER TEMPLE daughter to Miles Sands Esquire was born at Latmos in this County and was married to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet She had four sons and nine daughters which lived to be married and so exceedingly multiplied that this Lady saw seven hundred extracted from her body Reader I speak within compass and have left my self a reserve having bought the truth hereof by a wager I lost Besides there was a new generation of marrigable females just at her death so that this aged vine may be said to wither even when it had many young boughs ready to knit Had I been one of her relations and as well enabled as most of them be I would have erected a monument for her thus design'd A fair tree should have been erected the said Lady and her Husband lying at the bottom or root thereof the Heir of the family should have ascended both the middle and top-bough thereof On the right-hand hereof her younger sons on the left her daughters should as so many boughs be spread forth Her grand-children should have their names inscribed on the branches of those boughs the great-grand-children on the twiggs of those branches the great-great-grand-children on the leaves of those twiggs Such as surviv'd her death should be done in a lively green the rest as blasted in a pale and yellow fading-colour Plinie who reports it as a wonder worthy the Chronicle that Chrispinus Hilarus Praelata pompa with open ostentation sacrificed in the Capitol seventy four of his children and childrens children attending on him would more admire if admitted to this spectacle Vives telleth us of a Village in Spain of about an hundred houses whereof all the inhabitants were issued from one certain old man who then lived when as that Village was so peopled so as the name of propinquity how the youngest of the children should call him could not
Barbarous fact Yet though his right hand suffered as a Malefactour there want not those who maintained that Martyr belongs to the rest of his Body Prelats STEPHEN de FULBORN was born at Fulborn no other of that name in England in this County Going over into Ireland to seek his Providence commonly nick-named his fortune therein he became anno 1274 Bishop of Waterford and Lord Treasurer of Ireland Hence he was preferred Arch-bishop of Tuam and once and again was Chief Justice of that allow me a Prolepsis Kingdome He is reported to have given to the Church of Glassenbury in England Indulgâ—…nces of an hundred days which I cannot understand except he promised pardon of so many days to all in his Province who went a Pilgrimage to that place and this also seems an over-papal Act of a plain Arch-bishop He died 1288. and was buried in Trinity Church in Dublin NICHOLAS of ELY was so called say some from being Arch-Deacon thereof which dignity so died his Denomination in grain that it kept colour till his death not fading for his future higher preferments though others conjecture his birth also at Ely When the bold Barons obtrued a Chancellour A Kings Tongue and Hands by whom he publickly speaks and acts Anno 1260. they forced this Nicholas on King Henry the third for that Office till the King some months after displaced him yet knowing him a man of much merit voluntarily chose him L. Treasurer when outed of his Chancellors place so that it seems he would trust him with his Coffers but not with his Conscience yea he afterwards preferred him Bishop of Worcester then of Winchester Here he sate 12. years and that Cathedrall may by a Synedoche of a novel part for the whole challenge his interment having his Heart inclosed in a Wall though his body be buryed at Waverly in â—…urry 1280. WILLIAM of BOTLESHAM was born at Bottlesham contractly Botsam in this County This is a small village which never amounted to a Market-town some five miles East of Cambridge pleasantly seated in pure aire having rich arable on the one and the fair health of New-market on the other side thereof It hath been the nursery of refined wits affording a Triumvirate of learned men taking their lives there and names thence and to prevent mistakes to which learned pens in this point have been too prone we present them in the ensuing parallels William of Bottlesham John of Bottlesham Nicholas of Bottlesham Made by the Pope first Bishop of Bethlehem in Syria afterwards Anno 1385. Bishop of Landaffe and thence removed to Rochester A famous Preacher Confessor to King Richard the second and learned Writer but by Walsingham and Bale called John by mistake He dyed in Febru Anno 1399. Nor must we forget that he was once Fellow of Pembroke-hall Was bred in Peter-house in Cambridge whereunto he was a Benefactor as also to the whole University Chaplain to T. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury by whose recommendation he was preferred to succeed his Towns-man in the See of Rochester which he never saw saith my Authour as dying in the beginning of the year 1401. Was a Carmelite bred in Cambridge afterwards removed to Paris where in Sorbone he commenced Doctor of Divinity Returning to Cambridge he became Prior of the Carmelites since Queens-colledge where he wrote many books and lies buried in his own Covent Anno Domini 1435. Let all England shew me the like of three eminent men all contemporaries at large which one petty village did produce Let Bottlesham hereafter be no more fam'd for its single Becon but for these three lights it afforded THOMAS of NEW MARKET was born therein and though that Town lyeth some part in Suffolk my Author assures his Nativity in this County He was bred in Cambridge an excellent Humanist and Divine having left some learned Books to Posterity and at last was advanced to be Bishop of Carlile Surely then he must be the same with Thomas Merks consecrated Anno 1397. consent of time most truly befriending the conjecture Merks also and Market being the same in effect Neither doth the omission of New in the least degree discompose their Identity it being usuall to leave out the Prenomen of a Town for brevity sake by those of the Vicenage amongst whom there is no danger of mistake commonly calling West-chester Chester South-hampton Hampton If the same he is famous in our English Histories because his devotion in a Transposed Posture to publick practise worshiped the Sun-setting King Richard the second for which his memory will meet with more to commend then imitate it Yet was his Loyalty shent but not sham'd and King Henry the fourth being sick of him not daring to let him to live nor put him to death because 〈◊〉 Prelate found an Expedient for him of a living death confining him to a Titular Grecian Bishoprick He dyed about 1405. THOMAS THIRLBY Doctor of Laws was as I am assured by an excellent Antiquary born in the Town and bred in the University of Cambridge most probably in Trinity hall He was very able in his own faculty and more then once employed in Embasseys by King Henry the eighth who preferred him Bishop of Westminster Here had Thirlby lived long and continued the course he began he had prevented Queen Mary from dissolving that Bishoprick as which would have dissolved it self for lack of land sold and wasted by him And though probably he did this to raise and enrich his own family yet such the success of his sacriledge his name and alliance is extinct From Westminster he was removed to Norwich thence to Ely He cannot be followed as some other of his order by the light of the Fagots kindled by him to burn poor Martyrs seeing he was given rather to Prodigality then cruelty it being signally observed that he wept at Arch-bishop Cranmers degradation After the death of Queen Mary he was as violent in his opinions but not so virulent in his expressions always devoted to Queen Mary but never invective against Queen Elizabeth He lived in free custody dyed and is buried at Lambeth 1570. Since the Reformation GODFREY GOLDSBOROUGH D. D. was born in the Town of Cambridge where some of his Sur-name and Relation remained since my memory He was bred in Trinity-colledge Pupil to Arch-bishop Whitgiff and became afterwards Fellow thereof at last he was consecrated Bishop of Gloucester Anno Dom. 1598. He was one of the second set of Protestant Bishops which were after those so famous for their sufferings in the Marian days and before those who fall under the cognizance of our generation the true reason that so little can be recovered of their character He gave a hundred mark to Trinity colledge and died Anno Dom. 1604. ROBERT TOWNSON D. D. was born in Saint Botolphs parish in Cambridge and bred a Fellow in Queens-colledge being admitted very young
ingenious person would Print Mr. Parkers Book for the use of Posterity He was a melancholy man neglecting all Preferment to enjoy himself and died in the place of his Nativity as I conjecture about 1624. MICHAEL DALTON Esquire He was bred in the study of our Municipall-law in Lincolns Inn and attained great skill in his own profession His gravity graced the Bench of Justices in this County where his judgment deservedly passed for an Oracle in the Law having enriched the world with two excellent Treatises the one of the Office of the Sheriffs the other of the Justices of Peace Out of the Dedicatory Epistle of the later I learnt this which I knew not before that K. James was so highly affected with our English Government by Justices of Peace that he was the first who setled the same in his Native Country of Scotland Mr. Dalton dyed before the beginning of our Civil Distempers THOMAS GOAD D. D. was son to Dr. Roger Goad for more then fourty years Provost of Kings-colledge but whether born in the Provosts Lodgings in Cambridge or at Milton in this County I am not fully informed He was bred a Fellow under his Father afterwards Chaplain to Arch-bishop Abbot Rector of Hadly in Suffolk Prebendary of Canterbury c. A great and Generall Scholar exact Critick Historian Poet delighting in making of verses till the day of his death School-man Divine He was substituted by K. James in the place of Doctor Hall indisposed in health and sent over to the Synod of Dort He had a commanding presence an uncontrolable spirit impatient to be opposed and loving to steere the discourse being a good Pilot to that purpose of all the Company he came in I collect him to have died about the year 1635. ANDREW MARVAIL was born at Mildred in this County and bred a master of Arts in Trinity-colledge in Cambridge He afterwards became Minister in Hull where for his life time he was well beloved Most facetious in his discourse yet grave in his carriage a most excellent preacher who like a good husband never broached what he had new brewed but preached what he had preâ—…studied some competent time before Insomuch that he was wont to say that he would crosse the common proverb which called Saturday the working day and Munday the holy day of preachers It happened that Anno Dom. 1640. Jan. 23. crossing Humber in a Barrow-boat the same was sand-warpt and he drowned therein by the carelesness not to say drunkenness of the boat-men to the great grief of all good men His excellent comment upon Saint Peter is daily desired and expected if the envy and covetousness of private persons for their own use deprive not the publick of the benefit thereof Benefactors to the publick HUGO de BALSHAM for so is he truly written was born in this County as may easily be spelled out of the four following probabilities put together First it was fashionable for Clergy-men in that age to assume their Surnames from the place of their Nativity Secondly Balsham is an eminent village in this County whereof an ancient Author taketh notice naming thence the neighbouring ground Amaenissima Montana de Balsham Thirdly There is no other Village of that name throughout the Dominions of England Fourthly It is certaine this Hugh was bred in this County where he attained to be Sub-prior and afterwards Bishop of Ely This Hugh was he who founded Peter-house in the University of Cambridge the first built though not first endowed Colledge in England This Foundation he finished Anno 1284. bestowing some lands upon it since much augmented by Bountifull Benefactors He sat 28 years in his See and dyed June the 6. 1286. Sir WILLIAM HORN Salter son to Thomas Hoâ—…n was born at Snail-well in this County he was Knighted by King Hen. the seventh and Anno 1487. was L. Mayor of London He gave bountifully to the Preachers at Saint Pauls crosse and bestowed five hundred Marks to the mending of the high ways betwixt Cambridge the County Town where he had his first Life and London the City where he got his best livelihood Know in that Age Horn his five hundred Marks had in them the intrinsick value of our five hundred pounds which in those days would go very far in the wages of Laborers Sir WILLIAM son of JOHN PURCASE was born at Gamlinggay in this County bred a Mercer in London and Lord Mayor thereof Anno 1497. He caused Morefields under the walls to be made plain ground then to the great pleasure since to the greater profit of the City Sir THOMAS son of JOHN KNEISWORTH was born at Kneisworth in this County bred a Fishmonger in London whereof he was Lord Mayor Anno 1505. He appointed the Water-conduit at Bishop-gate to be built to the great convenience of the City formerly much wanting that usefull Element Be it here observed for the incouragement of the industry of Cambridg-shire Apprentices that by the premises it doth appear that this small County in the compass of eighteen years afforded three L. Mayors and Benefactors which no other Shire of equal or greater quantity ever produced Since the Reformation JOHN CRANE was born in Wishbeech in this County bred an Apothecary in Cambridg so diligent an youth that some judicious persons prognosticated that he would be a rich man Dr. Butler took so great a fancy unto him that he lived and died in his Family yea and left the main body of his rich Estate unto him This Mr. Crane had a large heart to entertain his friends and Annually very nobly treated all the Oxford men at the Commencement He gave at his death no less then three thousand pounds to charitable uses bestowing the house he lived in and that a very fair one aster his Wives death on the Publick Professor of Physick and in settlement of his other Benefactions discreetly reflected on Wishbeech where he was born to which he gave 100l to build a Town-hall Cambridge where he lived Lin where he was well acquainted Ipswich where Doctor Butler the first founder of his estate was born and Kingston where his lands lay He in some sort gives Preventing Physick to the Scholars now he is dead by giving 100l to be lent gratis to an honest man the better to enable him to buy good Fish and Fowl for the University having observed much sickness occasioned by unwholsome food in that kind He bequeathed to Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely and Doctor Brounrigg Bishop of Exeter one hundred pounds a piece by his Will and as much by a Codecil annexed thereunto Besides his concealed Charities his hand was always open to all the distressed Royalists He died in May 1650. Memorable Persons WILLIAM COLLET was born at Over in this County bred a Clerk in London till at last he attained to be Keeper of the Records in the Tower none equalling him in his dexterity in that office He went the same path with his predecessor in that
is he who afterwards designed the Maps and composed the History of England though much help'd in both no shame to crave aid in a work too weighty for any ones back to bear by Sir Robert Cotton Master Camden Master Barkham and others He also made the usefull Genealogies preposed formerly to English Bibles in all Volumes having a Patent granted him from King James in reward of his great Labours to receive the benefit thereof to him and his This was very beneficiall unto them by Composition with the Company of Stationers untill this Licentious age neglecting all such Ingenious helps to understand Scripture and almost levelling if not prevented the propriety of all Authors of Books He dyed in London Anno 1629. and was buried in Saint Giles without Criplegate in the same Parish with Master John Fox so that no one Church in England containeth the Corps of two such usefull and voluminous Historians Master Josias Shute Preach'd his Funerall Sermon and thus we take our leaves of Father Speed truly answering his name in both the acceptions thereof for Celerity and Success JOHN DOD was born at Shottliedge in this County where his Parents had a competent Estate bred in Jesus-colledge in Cambridge by Nature a Witty by Industry a Learned by Grace a Godly Divine successively Minister of Hanwell in Oxford Fenny-Compton in Warwick Cannons-Ashby and Fausly in Northampton-shire though for a time silenced in each of them A Father who shall pass nameless is censured by some for his over-curiosity in his conceit rather then Comment Math. 5. 2. And he opened his mouth and taught them For Christ saith he taught them often when he opened not his mouth by his Example Miracles c. Here I am sure accordingly Master Dod when his mouth was shut prohibited preaching instructed almost as much as before by his holy demeanour and pious discourse A good Chimist who could extract Gold out of other mens lead and how loose soever the premises of other mens discourse piety was always his naturall and unforced conclusion inferred thereupon For the rest I refer the Reader to Master Samuel Clark by whom his life is written wherein are many remarkable passages I say Master Samuel Clark with whose pen mine never did nor shall interfere Indeed as the flocks of Jacob were distanced three days journeys from those of Laban so to prevent voluntary or casuall commixtures our styles are set more then a Months journey asunder The Jewish Rabbins have a fond and a false conceit that Methuselah who indeed dyed in the very year and his death a sad prognostick of the deluge had a Cabin built him in the outside of Noahs Ark where he was preserved by himself But most true it is that good Father Dod though he lived to see the flood of our late Civil Wars made to himself a Cabin in his own contented conscience and though his cloths were wetted with the waves when plundred he was dry in the deluge such his self-solace in his holy meditations He dyed being eighty six years of age Anno 1645. When thieves break in a house and steal the owner thereof knows for the present that he is robbed but not of what or how much till some days after he finds out by the want of such things which were taken from him The Vicenage of Fausly where Mr. Dod dyed knew then they were bereaft of a worthy treasure though ignorant in the perticulars of their losses till daily discovery hath by this time made them sensible thereof Benefactors to the Publique Sir RICHARD SUTTON was born at Presbury in this County he is generally believed a Knight though some have suspected the same but suppose him but Esquire He was one of a Plentifull Estate and Bountifull Hand It happened that William Smith Bishop of Lincoln began Brasen-Nose-Colledge but dyed before he had finished one Nostrill thereof leaving this Sutton his Executor who over-performed the Bishops Will and compleated the Foundation with his own liberall Additions thereunto When the following Verses were composed in the Person of Brasen-Nose-Colledge the Muses seemed neither to smile nor frown but kept their wonted countenance But take them as they are Begun by one but finish'd by another Sutton he was my Nurse but Smith my Mother Or if the Phrase more proper seem say rather That Sutton was my Guardian Smith my Father 'Cause equal Kindness they to me exprest Better I neither love love both the best If Both they may be call'd who had one will What One design'd the Other did fulfill May such Testators live who Good intend But if they dye Heaven such Exec'tors send This Worthy Knight being born in this County deservedly reflected upon his own Country-men making them and those of Lancashire most capable of Preferment I collect his death to have happened about the middle of the Raign of King Henry the eighth Since the Reformation ROBERT BRASSY was born at Bunbury contracted for Boniface-Bury in this County bred D. D. in Kings-colledge in Cambridge whereof he was elected the 13. Provost He being a Learned and Stout man publickly protested against the Visitors of the University in the Raign of Queen Mary as to his own Colledge Say not he onely opposed Superstition with Superstition pleading Popish Exemptions For considering the times he Drave the nail which would best go and thereby took off the edge of those Persecuting Commissioners But let none Envy him a place under this title who deserved so well of Cambridge For when many Doctors therein whose Purblind souls saw onely what was next them for the present and either could not or would not look far forward to Posterity had resolved to sell their Rights in Sturbridge-fair for a trifle to the Towns-men which if done the Vice-Chancellor might even have held the Stirrup to the Mayor he only opposed it and dash'd the designs He dyed Anno Domini 1558. and lyes buried on the South-side of the Chappell GEORGE PALIN was as I have Cogent presumptions born at Wrenbury in this County bred a Merchant in London free of the Company of Girdlers Indeed we may call his Benefactions Aureum Cingulum charitatis the Golden Girdle of Charity With our Saviour he Went ABOUT doing good compleating the Circuit of his Bounty continuing till he ended where he began 1. To Wrenbury where we believe him born two Hundred pound to purchase Lands for the relief of the poor 2. Nine Hundred pound for the building of Almes-houses in or about London 3. To Trinity-colledge in Cambridge three hundred pound 4. To the Colledge of Saint Johns the Evangelist in Cambridge three Hundred pounds 5. To the Hospitall of Saint Thomas in Southmark fifty pounds 6. To the Preachers at Pauls Cross towards the bearing of their charges two Hundred pounds 7. Toward the making a sweet Chime in Bow-church one Hundred pounds 8. To six Prisons in and about London sixty pounds 9. To Brasen-Nose-colledge in Oxford two
Requests and at last Secretary of State for twenty years together He was a very zealous Protestant and did all good Offices for the advancement of true Religion and died the eighth of Septemb. 1644. Capital Judges and Writers on the Law JOHN STATHOM He was born in this County in the Raign of King Henry the sixth and was a learned man in the Laws whereof he wrote an Abridgement much esteemed at this day for the Antiquity thereof For otherwise Lawyers behold him as Souldiers do Bows and Arrows since the invention of Guns rather for sight than service Yea a Grandee in that Profession hath informed me that little of Stathom if any at all is Law at this day so much is the practice thereof altered whereof the Learned in that faculty will give a satisfactory accompt though otherwise it may seem strange that reason continuing alwayes the same Law grounded thereon should be capable of so great alteration The first and last time that I opened this Author I lighted on this passage Molendinarius de Matlock tollavit bis â—…ò quod ipse audivit Rectorem de eadem villa dicere in Dominica Ram. Palm Tolle tolle The Miller of Matlock took toll twice because he heard the Rectour of the Parish read on Palme Sunday Tolle Tolle i. e. crucifie him crucifie him But if this be the fruit of Latine Service to encourage men in Felony let ours be read in plain English Sir ANTHONY FITZ-HERBERT Son of Ralph Fitz-Herbert Esquire was born at Norbury in this County He was first the Kings Serjeant at Law and was afterwards in the fourteenth of King Henry the eighth made one of the Justices of the Common Pleas so continuing until the thirtieth year of the said King when he died He wrote the excellent Book De Natura Brevium with a great and laborious Abridgement of the Laws and a Kalendar and Index thereunto Monuments which will longer continue his Memory than the flat blew Marble stone in Norbury Church under which he lieth interred Sea-Men Sir HUGH WILLOUGHBY was extracted from a right worthy and ancient stock at Riseley in this County He was in the last year of the raign of King Edward the sixth employed for the North-East passage and by the King and Merchants of London made Captain General of a Fleet for Discovery of Regions and places unknown Their Fleet consisted of three Ships the Bona Esperanza Admiral of one hundred and twenty Tun the Edward Bonaventure whereof Richard Chancelour Pilot-Major of one hundred and sixty Tun and the Good Confidence of ninety Tun. A large Commission was granted unto them which Commission did not bear date from the year of our Lord but from the year of the World 5515. because in their long Voyage they might have occasion to present it to Pagan Princes They departed from Debtford May 10. 1553. and after much foul weather steered up North-North-East But on the second day of August a tempest arose and their ships with the violence of the Wind were much shattered and the Bonaventure scattered from the other two ships which never after saw it again Sir Hugh holding on his course descried a Land which for Ice he could not approach lying from Synam an Island belonging to the King of Denmark one hundred and sixty leagues being in Latitude seventy two Degrees This was then called Willoughby-land as well it might seeing it had neither then or since any Owner or Inhabitant pretending to the propriety thereof It appeareth by a Will found in the ship which was the Admiral in the pocket of a person of quality how in January 1554. Sir Hugh and most of his Company were then in health though all soon after froze to death in a River or Haven called Arzina in Lapland We are bound in charity to believe them well prepared for death the rather because they had with them a Minister Mr. Richard Stafford by name one of the twelve Councellors to manage the design who read constantly every morning and evening the English Service to those who were in the Admiral with the Bible and Paraphrases thereon So that this may be termed the first reformed Fleet which had the English Prayers and Preaching therein However seeing Nocumenta Documenta and that the Ship-wrecks of some are Sea-marks to others even this Knights miscarriage proved a direction to others As for the Bonaventure which answering its name was onely found by losing it self it returned safe and performed afterwards most excellent service in opening the Traffick to Muscovy Thus as the last Dog most commonly catcheth the Hare which other Dogs have turned and tired before so such who succeed in dangerous and difficult enterprises generally reap the benefit of the adventures of those who went before them As for Sir Hugh and his Company their Discoveries did thaw though their Bodies were frozen to death the English the Summer following finding a particular account of all passages of their voyages remaining entire in the Ship wherein they perished Lapland hath since been often surrounded so much as accosts the Sea by the English the West part whereof belongeth to the King of Sweden but the East moity to the Muscovite They were generally Heathen as poor in knowledge as estate paying their Tribute in Furres whose little Houses are but great â—…oles wherein generally they live in the ignorance of Money Here let me insert a passage to refresh the Reader after this long and sad story of a Custom in this barbarous Country from the mouths of credible Merchants whose eyes have beheld it It is death in Lapland to marry a Maid without her Parents or Friends consent Wherefore if one beare affection to a young Maid upon the breaking thereof to her friends the fashion is that a day is appointed for their friends to meet to behold the two young parties to run a Race together The maid is allowed in starting the advantage of a third part of the race so that it is impossible except willing of her self that she should ever be overtaken If the Maid overrun her Suitor the matter is ended he must never have her it being penal for the Man again to renew the motion of Marriage But if the Virgin hath an affection for him though at the first running hard to try the truth of his love she will without Atalantaes Golden Balls to retard her speed pretend some casualty and make a voluntary hault before she cometh to the mark or end of the race Thus none are compelled to marry against their own wills and this is the cause that in this poor Countrey the married people are richer in their own contentment than in other lands where so many forced Matches make fained Love and cause real unhappinesse Physicians THOMAS LINACER Doctor of Physick was born in the Town of 〈◊〉 bred in Oxford whence he afterwards travelled beyond the Seas residing chiefly at Rome and Florence Returning into England he brought Languages along
great linage allied to the Earl of Devonshire and no lesse Learning excellently skilled in the Knowledg of both Laws So that at the instant suit of K. Henry the Fifth He was preferred Bishop of Norwich Anno 1413. His person the Inne of his Soul had a fair Sign was highly favoured by his Prince and beloved by the people Yet all this could not prolong his life So that he died of a flux at the siege of Harflew in Normandy in the second year of his Consecration and his Corps brought over was honourably entombed in Westminster Jâ—…AMES CARY was born in this County his name still flourishing nt Cockington therein He was at Rome made Bishop of Lichfield and travailing thence homewards towards England did again light on the Pope at Florâ—…nce just at the news of the vacancy of Exeter and the same See was bestowed on him the more welcome because in his Native County Say not this was a Degradation For though in our time Lichfield is almost twice as good as Exeter â—…xeter then was almost four times as good as Lichfield This appeareth by their valuations of their Income into First-Fruits Exeter paying the Pope six thousand Ducats whilst Lichfield paid onely seventeen hundred at the most But what ever the value of either or both was Cary enjoyed neither of them dying and being buried in Florence Thus though one may have two Cups in his hand yet some intervening accident may so hinder that he may taste of neither He died 1419. JOHN STANBERY was saith Bale out of Leland in Occidentali 〈◊〉 parte natus But the Western parts being a wide Parish thanks to our Authour who hath particularized the place of his Nativity viz. the Farm of Church-hill within the Parish of Bratton or Broad-Town in this County where some of his Name and Kindred remain at this day He was bred a Carmelite in Oxford and bâ—…came generaâ—…ly as learned as any of his Order deserving all the dignity which the â—…niversity did or could confer upon him King Hâ—…n the sixth highly favoured and made him the first Provost of Eaton being much ruled by his advice in ordering that his new Foundation He was by the King designed Bishop of Norwich but William de la Poole Duke of Suffolk See the presumption of a proud Favourite or Minion rather got it from him for his own Chaplain and Stanbery was for to stay his stomack on the poor Bishoprick of Bangor till Anno 1453 he was advanced Bishop of Hereford Leland doth condemn him for his over compliance with the Pope in all his intollerable taxes and others commend him as much for his fidelity to his Master King Hen. whom he deserted not in all his adversity so that this Bishop was taken prisoner in the Battail of Northampton Say not to this Prelate as Eliab to David Why camest thou down hither with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the Wildernesse I know the pride and the malice of thy heart for thou art come down to see the Battail For Stanbery being Confessor to King Henry he was tyed by his Oath to such personal attendance After long durance in Warwick Castle he was set at liberty and dying Anno 1474 was buried in the Convent of Carmelites at Ludlow where his barbarous and tedious Epitaph ill suiting with the Authour of such learned and pithy Books is not worth the inserting PETER COURTNEâ—… son to Sir Phillip Courtney was born at Powderham in this Shire He was first preferred Arch-Deacon then Bishop of â—…xeter expending very much money in finishing the North Tower giving a great called Peter Bell thereunto He was afterwards Anno 1486 translated to Winchester where he sat five years It is much one of so Illustrious Birth should have so obscure a Burial Bishop Godwin conÌ„fessing that he knew not whereabouts in his Church he lyeth interred Since the Reformation JOHN JEWEL bearing the Christian Name of his Father Grandfather and Great Grandfather was born at Buden a Farm possessed more than two hundred years by his Ancestors in the Parish of 〈◊〉 nigh Illfracombe in this County on the 24th of May 1552. His mothers Sirname was Bellamy who with her husband John Jewel lived happily fifty years together in Holy Wedlock and at their death left ten children behind them It may be said of his Sirname Nomen Omen Jewel his Name and Pretious his Vertues So that if the like ambition led us English men which doth Foraigners speciously to render our Sirnames in Greek or Latine he may be termed Johnnes Gemma on better account then Gemma Frisius entituleth himself thereunto He was chiefly bred in the School of Barstable where John Harding afterwards his Antagonist was his School fellow and at 15 years of age was admitted in Merton Collâ—…dge under the tuition of John Parkhurst afterwards Bishop of Norwich Such his sedulity rising alway at 4 of the Clock and not going to bed till 10 that he was never punished for any exercise and but once for absence from Chappel Hence he was removed to Corpus Christi Colledge where he proved an Excellent Poet having all Horace by heart Linguist and Orator Thus having touched at all Humane Arts he landed at Divinity being much assisted by Peter Martyr the Kings Professor therein St. Jerome telleth us that so great was the intimacy betwixt Pamphilius that worthy Martyr a Priest and Eusebius the Bishop of Caesarea ut ab uno alter nomen acceperet that they mutually were sirnamed the one from the other Pamphilius Eusebii and Eusebius Pamphilii No lesse the unity of affections be twixt these two who accordingly might be called Martyrs Jewell and Jewells Martyr as seldome in body and never in mind asunder What eminent changes afterwards befel him in the course of his life how he fled into Germany lived at Zurick returned into England was preferred Bishop of Salisbury wrote learnedly preached painfully lived piously died peaceably Anno Dom. 1572. are largely related in my Ecclesiastical History and I will trouble the Reader with no repetitions JOHN PRIDEAUX was born at Hartford in the West part of this County bred Scholar Fellow and Râ—…ctor of Exeter Colledg in Oxford Canon of Christ-Church and above thirty years Kings Professor in that University An excellent Linguist but so that he would make words wait on his matter chiefly aiming at expressivenesse therein he had a becomming Feâ—…ivity which was Aristotles not St. Pauls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Admirable his memory retaining what ever he had read The Welch have a Proverb in my mind somewhat uncharitable He that hath a good memory giveth few Alms because he keepeth in mind what and to whom he had given before But this Doctor cross'd this Proverb with his constant charity to all in want His learning was admired by Forreigners Sextinus Amma Rivet c. He was not Vindicative in the least degree One intimate with him having assured me that he would
daily out of the Nonage of their Years and Vassallâ—…ge of their Errours He died in Dublin Robert Usher soon after Bishop of Kildare preached his Funeral Sermon on that Text Behold a true Israelite wherein there is no guile shewing how he was truly a Nathaniel Gods Gift and a Carpenter a Wise Builder of Gods House until the Dissolution of his Own Tabernacle about the year 1636. Benefactors to the Publick PETER BLUNDELL of Tiverton in this County was a Clothier by his Profession and through Gods Blessing on his Endeavours therein raised unto himself a fair Estate Nor was he more painful and industrious in gaining then Pious aud Prudent in disposing thereof erecting a fair Free-School in the Town of his Nativity By his Will he bequeathed thereto a competent maintenance together with conveniency of Lodging for a Master and Usher And lest such whose Genius did encline and Parts furnish them for a further Progresse in Learning should through want of a Comfortable Subsistency be stopped or disheartned he bestowed two Scholarships and as many Fellowships on Sidney Colledge in Cambridge carefully providing that the Scholars bred in his School at Tiverton should be elected into the same I cannot attain to a certainty in the Time of his Death though it be thought to have happened about the year 1596. WILLIAM BURGOIN Esquire must not be forgotten finding this his Epitaph on his Marble Stone in the Church of Arlington Here lies Will. Burgoin a Squire by discent Whose death in this World many People lament The Rich for his love The Poor for his Almes The Wise for his Knowledge The Sick for his Balmes Grace he did love and Vice conroul Earth hath his body and Heaven his Soul He died on the Twelfth day of August in the Morning 1623. as the Inscription on his said Tomb doth inform us Memorable Persons HENRY de LA POMERAY lived at and was Lord of Berry-Pomeray in this County This Henry taking heart at the imprisonment of Richard the First by Leopaldus Duke of Austria surprized and expulsed the Monkes out of Michaels-Mount in Cornwal that there he might be a petty Prince by himself But being ascertained of his Soveraignes inlargement and fearing deserved death to prevent it he laid violent hands on himself as Roger Hoveden doth report But the Descendants from this Pomeray make a different relation of this accident affirming that a Serjeant at Armes of the Kings came to his Castle at Berry-Pomeray and there received kind entertainment for certain dayes together and at his departure was gratified with a liberal reward In counter-change whereof he then and no sooner revealing his long concealed errand flatly arrested his Host to make his immediate appearance before the King to answer a capital crime Which unexpected and ill carried Message the Gentleman took in such despight that with his Dagger he stabbed the Messenger to the heart Then despairing of pardon in so superlative an offence he abandoned his home and got himself to his Sister abiding in the Island of Mount-Michael in Cornwal Here he bequeathed a large portion of his land to the religious people dwelling there to pray for the redeeming of his soul and lastly that the remainder of his estate might descend to his heir he caused himself to be let blood unto death JOHN de BEIGNY Knight lived Lord of Ege-Lifford in this County who having been a great Travailer and Souldier in his youth retired home married and had three Sons in his reduced Age. Of these the third put himself on Forraign Action in the War against the Saracens in Spain whereof Fame made a large report to his Fathers great contentmâ—…nt which made him the more patiently dispence with his absence But after that death had bereft him of his two elder Sons he was often heard to say Oh that I might but once embrace my Son I would be contented to die presently His Son soon after returning unexpectedly the old man instantly expired with an extasie of Joy An English Father I see can be as passionate as the Italian Mother which died for Joy after the return of her Son from the Battail of 〈◊〉 Thus if all our randome desires should hit the Mark and if Heaven should alwayes take us at our word in our wishes we should be tamed with our Wild prayers granted unâ—…ous us and be drowned in the Deluge of our own Passions This Knight as I take it flourished under King Edward the Third CHILD Whose Christian Name is unknown was a Gentleman the last of his Family being of ancient extraction at Plimstock in this County and great Possessions It happened that he hunting in Dart-More lost both his Company and way in a bitter Snow Having killed his Horse he crept into his hot bowels for warmâ—…h and wrote this with his bloud He that findes and brings meto my Tombe The Land of Plimstock shall be his doom That nâ—…ght he was frozen to death and being first found by the Monkes of Tavâ—…stock they with all possible speed hasted to interre him in their own Abby His own 〈◊〉 of Plimstock hearing thereof stood at the Ford of the River to take his Body from them But they must rise early yea not sleep at all who over-reach Monkes in matter of profit For they cast a slight Bridge over the River whereby they carried over the Corps and interred it In avowance whereof the Bridge a more Premeditate Structure I believe in the place of the former Extempore Passage is called Guils Bridge to this day And know Reader all in the Vicinage will be highly offended with such who either deny or doubt the credit of this common Tradition And sure it is that the Abbot of Tavistock got that rich Manor into his Possession The exact Daâ—…e of this Childs Death I cannot attain NICHOLAS ANDREW TREMAINE were Twins and younger Sons to Thomas Tremaine of 〈◊〉 in this County Esquire Had they preceded Hypocrates in time posterity would have presumed them the sympathising Twins whereof he maketh so large mention Such their likenesse in all lineaments they could not be distinguished but by their several habits which when they were pleased on private confederacy to exchange for disport they occasioned more mirthful mistakes than ever were acted in the Amphitruo of Plautus They felt like pain though at distance and without any intelligence given they equally desired to walk travail sit sleep eat drink together as many credible Gentry of the Vicinage by relation from their Father will attest In this they differred that at New-haven in France the one was a Captain of a Troop the other but a private Souldier Here they were both slain 1564 death being pitiful to kill them together to prevent the lingering languishing of the Surviver Lord-Mayors Never one of this Office was a Devon-shire man by birth on my best enquiry Whereof some assigne these reasons 1 The Distance of the Place whose Western part is removed from London Two
Crediton But who can stay what will away It was afterwards alienated again in the reign of Queen Elizabeth This Bishop Turbervil carried something of trouble in his name though nothing but mildnesse and meeknesse in his nature Hence it was that he staved off persecution from those in his Jurisdiction so that not so many as properly may be called some suffered in his Diocesse He being deprived in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth lived peaceably for many years in great liberty the privacy of whose life caused the obscurity of his death and the uncertainty of the date thereof Since the Reformation THOMAS WINNIFFE was born at Sherborne in this County and was bred contemporary with Doctor Hackwell in Exeter Colledge in Oxford and we may observe a three-fold parallel betwixt these two eminent persons First they were Fellows of the same foundation Secondly Chaplains to the same illustrious Master Prince Henry Thirdly both out of indiscretion at the worst no ill intent ran on the same Rock though not to the same degree of damage Dr. Hackwel for opposing the Spanish Match was un-Chaplain'd and banished the Court Doctor Winniffe for a passage in his Sermon not against but about Gondomer was committed close prisoner to the Tower and there for some days remained During which time a great Lord who shall pass nameless with great importunity endevoured to beg away all his Church preferment to dispose of at his pleasure No said King James I mean not thus to part with the man The Lord perceiving his suit hopeless vowed most solemnly that he did it only to try his royal resolution protesting that his Majesty had not one of more merit amongst all his Chaplains Indeed he was observed to run with emulation without envy in the race of vertue even with any of his Order striving to exceed them by fair industry without offering proudly to justle their credit much less falsly to supplant their reputation He was first Dean of Gloucester afterward of Saint Pauls and lastly was chosen Bishop of Lincoln 1642. being one of those six choice persons elected Ut nutantis Episcopatus molem pietatis ac probitatis suae fulcimine sustentarent All in vain being borne down under the ruines thereof Since that government hath been happily resumed and long may it flourish in its full lustre He died Anno Dom. 1654. and was buried at Lamburne in Essex having formerly been the painfull Minister thereof He was seventy eight years of age and hath a handsome Monument erected to his Memory the Epitaph whereof being too long to transcribe thus beginneth Effare marmor silens Quid quem Luges Funus non privatum sed publicum Anglicanae Ecclesiae nisi Deus antevertat penè cadaver Thoman Wynnyffum c. I would adde more in his just Commendation but because I am prohibited by his Epitaph whereof this the conclusion Anima haec in Coelos recepta non Laudationem quaerit Sed Imitationem Nor will we forget that for some years before his aged Father was buried in the same Grave Souldiers THOMAS BASKET Esquire of Divelish in this County How much King Hâ—…nry the eighth confided in his Wisdom and Valour will plainly appear by the Letter he wrote unto him exemplified by us in our Observations of the Sheriffs of this County in the twelfth year of the reign of the King aforesaid He was commonly called Little Mr. Basket the great Souldier He died about the year of our Lord 1530. JOHN RUSSEL son of Russel Esq was born at Kingston-Russel in this County and being bred beyond the Seas arrived at great accomplishments and returned home about the time when Philip King of Castile Father to Charles the fifth Emperour was forced by foul weather into the Haven of Weymouth But it is an ill wind that blows no body profit this accident proving the foundation of Mr. Russels preferment For when Sir Thomas Trenchard bountifully received this Royal Guest Mr. Russel was sent for to compleat the entertainment King Philip taking such delight in his company that at his departure he recommended him to King Henry the seventh as a person of abilities fit to stand before Princes and not before mean men Indeed he was a man of spirit carrying a badge of Valour no blemish but a beauty in his face the loss of an eye at the siege of Montrule King Henry the eight much favoured him making him Controller of the Houshold and Privy Councellor and Anno 1538. created him Lord Russâ—…l and made him Keeper of the Privy Seal A good share of the golden showre of Abby Lands fell into his lap two Mitred ones viz. Tavestock in Devonshire and Thorney in Cambridge-shire being conferred upon him and at this day possessed by his posterity King Edward the sixth who made him Earl of Bedford sent him down to suppress the Western Commotion and relieve the besieged City of Exeter which difficult service he performed with no less Wisdom than Valour Success than either This worthy Lord died in the month of March 1554. and lieth interred at Cheineys in Buckingham shire Sir RIâ—…RD BINGHAM was born at Binghams-Melcolm in this County of as ancient a Family as any therein having my self seen an Inquisition of Lands taken ouâ—… of the Tower Rolls which William de Bingham his Ancestor held in Dorset shire in the reign of King Henry the third In his youth he traced most parts of the World to search for service and find fit objects for his valour He was at the siege of Saint Quintin in France the sacking of Lieth in Scotland served in Candia under the Venâ—…tian against the Turk then returned into the Netherlands being obseâ—…ved to be fortis foelix in all his undertakings His judgement was much relied on in Eighty eight about ordering the Land Army in Tilbery Camp After long travelling his feet were fixed in Ireland where he was not bebogg'd as some otherwise his equals with ill success but being president of Connaugh conquered and drove away O Rorke that most dangerous Rebel Sir William Fitz-VVilliams Lord Deputy of Ireland was offended at that service though he could find no fault therewith save that it was not done by hâ—…mself Indeed Bingham met with that which all men of merit must expect except they will be surprized unawares envy from others suspecting that their own Bays did wither because his did seem so verdant Hereupon they accused him of cruelty to the Queen and her Council who being employed in Connaugh the very Ireland of Ireland in that age was necessitated into severity for his own security For this cause he was brought over into England outed his Offices and kept for some time in restraint all which he being inured to hardship as who had not eat his bread nor fasted neither all in a place bare with invincible courage But neglected worth will come into fashion once in seven years Tyrone begins to trouble Munster and none found fit for to order him but Sir
without the Brittleness thereof soon Ripe and long Lasting in his Perfections He Commenced Doctor in Physick and was Physician to Queen Elizabeth who Stamped on him many Marks of her Favour besides an Annuall Pension to encourage his Studies He addicted himself to Chemistry attaining to great exactness therein One saith of him that he was Stoicall but not Cynicall which I understand Reserv'd but not Morose never married purposely to be more beneficiall to his Brethren Such his Loyalty to the Queen that as if unwilling to survive he dyed in the same year with her 1603. His Stature was Tall Câ—…plexion Cheerfull an Happiness not ordinary in so hard a Student and retired a Person He lyeth buried in Trinity Church in Colchester under a plain Monument Mahomets Tombe at Mecha is said strangely to hang up attracted by some invisible Load-stone but the Memory of this Doctor will never fall to the ground which his incomparable Book De Magnete will support to Eternity Writers GERVASE of TILBURY born at that Village in this County since famous for a Câ—…mpe against the Spaniards in 88. is reported Nephew to King Henry the second But though Nepos be taken in the Latitude thereof to signify Son to Brother Sister or Child I cannot make it out by the Door and am loth to suspect his coming in by the Window This Gervase may be said by his Nativity to stand but on one foot and that on tip toes in England being born on the Sea side at the mouth of Thames and therefore no wonder if he quickly convayed himself over into Forraign Parts He became Courtier and favorite to his Kinsman Otho the fourth Emperour who conferred on him the Marshal-ship of the Arch-bishoprick of Arles which proveth the Imperiall Power in this Age over some parts of Province an office which he excellently discharged Though his person was wholly conversant in Forraign Aire his Pen was chiefly resident on English Earth writing a Chronicle of our Land and also adding illustrations to Gâ—…ffrey Monmouth He flourished Anno 1210. under King John ADAM of BARKING no mean market in this County was so termed from the Town of his Nativity Wonder not that being born in the East of England he went West-ward as far as Sherborn where he was a Benedictine for his education it being as usuall in that age for Monkes as in ours for Husbandmen to change their soil for the seed that their grain may give the greater encrease He was a good Preacher and learned Writer and surely would have soared higher if not weighed down with the ignorance of the age he lived in whose death happened Anno 1216. RALPH of COGSHALL in this County was first Canon of Barnewell nigh Cambridge and afterwards turn'd a Cistertian Monke He was a man Incredibilis frugalitatis parsimoniae but withall of great learning and abilities These qualities commended him to be Abbot of Cogshall the sixth in order after the first foundation thereof where he spent all his spare hours in writing of Chronicles and especially of additions to Radulphus Niger Afflicted in health he resigned his place and died a private person about the year 1230. ROGER of WALTHAM was so called from the place of his Nativity I confess there be many Walthams in England and three in Essex but as in Herauldry the plain Coat speaks the bearer thereof to be the best of the house whiles the younger Brethren give their Armes with differences so I presume that Waltham here without any other addition of Much Waltham Wood-Waltham c. is the Chief in that kind viz. Waltham in this County within twelve Miles of London eminent in that Age for a wealthy Abby The merit of this Roger being saith Bale tersè nitidè eleganter eruditus endeared him to Fulke Basset Bishop of London who preferred him Canon of Saint Pauls He wrot many worthy works flourishing under King Henry the third Anno Domini 1250. JOHN GODARD wherever born had his best being at Cogshall in this County where he became a Cistercian Monke Great was his skill in Arithmetick and Mathematicks a Science which had lain long asleep in the World and now first began to open it's eyes again He wrot many certain Treatises thereof and dedicated them unto Ralph Abbot of Cogshall He flourished Anno Dom. 1250. AUBREY de VERE extracted from the right Honorable Earls of Oxford was born saith my Authors in Bonaclea Villa Trenovantum Three miles srom Saint Osith by which direction we find it to be Great Bentley in this County Now although a witty Gentleman saith that Noble-men have seldome any thing in Print save their Cloths yet this Aubrey so applyed his studies that he wrote a Learned Book of the Eucharist In his old age he became an Augustinian of Saint Osiths preferring that before other places both because of the pleasant retireness thereof and because his kindred were great Benefactors to that Covent witness their Donation de septem Libratis terrae thereunto This Aubrey the most learned of all Honorable Persons in that Age Flourished Anno Domini 1250. THOMAS MALDON was born at Maldon no mean Market Town in this County anciently a City of the Romans called Camulodunum He was afterwards bred in the University of Cambridge where he Commenced Doctor of Divinity and got great reputation for his Learning being a Quick Disputant Eloquent Preacher Solid in Defining Subtle in Distinguishing Clear in Expressing Hence he was chosen Prior of his own Monastery in Maldon where he commendably discharged his place till the day of his death which happened 1404. THOMAS WALDENSIS was son to John and Maud Netter who declining the Surname of his Parents took it from Walden the noted place in this County of his Nativity so much are they mistaken that maintain that this Waldensis his name was Vuedale and that he was born in Hant-shire In some sort he may be termed Anti-Waldensis being the most professed Enemy to the Wicklevites who for the main revived and maintained the Doctrine of the Waldenses Being bred a Carmelite in London and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford he became a great Champion of yet Vassall to the Pope witness his sordid Complement consisting of a conjunction or rather confusion and misapplication of the words of Ruth to Naomi and David to Goliah Perge Domine Papa perge quò cupis ego tecum ubicunque volueris nec deseram in Authoritate Dominorum meorum incedam in armis eorum pugnabo He was in high esteem with three succeeding Kings of England and might have changed his Coul into what English Miter he pleased but refused it Under King Henry the fourth he was sent a solemn Embassadour 1410. about taking away the Schismâ—… and advancing an Union in the Church and pleaded most eloquently before the Pope and Segismund the Emperour He was Confâ—…ssor and Privy Councellour to King Henry the fifth who died in his
Bosome and whom he taxed for too much lenity to the Wicklevites so that we behold the Breath of Waldensis as the Bellows which Blew up the Coals for the burning of those Poor Christians in England under King Henry the sixth he was employed to provide at Paris all necessaries for his solemn Coronation and dying in his journey thether Anno 1430. was buried at Roan He was 16 years Provinciall of his Order throughout all England and wrot many books against the Wicklevites Bale citeth four all sorraign Authors which make him solemnly Sainted whilst Pitzeus more truly and modestly onely affirmeth that he died non sine sanctitatis opinione Indeed as the Pagans had their Lares and Penates Dii Minorum Gentium so possibly this Thomas though not publickly Canonized might pass for a Saint of the lesser Size in some particular places Since the Reformation THOMAS TUSSâ—…R was born at Riven-hall in this County of an ancient family since extinct if his own pen may be believed Whâ—…lst as yet a Boy he lived in many Schools Wallingford Sâ—…int Pauls Eaton whence he went to Tâ—…inity hall in Cambridge when a Man in Stafford-shire Suffolk Northfolk Cambridge-shire London and where not so that this Stone of Sisiphus could gather no Moss He was successively a Musitian School master Servingman Husbandman Grasier Poet more skilfull in all then thriving in any Vâ—…cation He traded at large in Oxen Sheep Dairies Grain of all kinds to no profit Whether he bought or sold he lost and when a Renter impoverished himself and never inriched his Landlord Yet hath he laid down excellent Rules in his Book of Husbandry and Houswifery so that the Observer thereof must be rich in his own dâ—…fence He spread his Bread with all sorts of Butter yet none would stick thereon Yet I hear no man to charge him with any vicious extravagancy or visible carelâ—…ssness imputing his ill success to some occult cause in Gods counsel Thus our English 〈◊〉 might say with the Poet Monitis sum minor ipse meis None being better at the Theory or worse at the Practise of Husbandry I match him with Thomas 〈◊〉 yard they being mark'd alike in their Poeticall parts living in the same time and 〈◊〉 alike in their Estates both low enough I assure you I cannot find the certain date of his death but collect it to be about 1580. FRANCIS QUARLES Esquire son to James Quarles Esquire was born at Sâ—…wards in the Parish of Ruâ—…ford in this County where his son as I am inform'd hath an Estate in expectancy He was bred in Cambridge and going over into Ireland became Secretary to the Reverend James Usher Arch-bishop of Armagh He was a most excellent Poet and had a mind by assed to devotion Had he been contemporary with Plato that great back-friend to Poets he would not onely have allowed him to live but advanced him to an office in his Common wealth Some Poets if debarr'd proâ—…ess want oness and Satyricalness that they may neither abuse God themselves nor their neighbours have their tongues cut out in effect Others onely trade in wit at the second hand being all for translations nothing for invention Our Qâ—…arles was free from the fâ—…ts of the first as if he had drank of Jordan in stead oâ—… Helicon and slept on mount Olivet for his Pernassus and was happy in his own invention His visible Poetry I mean his Emblems is excellent caâ—…ching therein the eye and fancy at one draught so that he hath out Aleiated therein in some mens judgement His Verses on Job are done to the life so that the Reader may see his sores and through theâ—… the anguish of his soul. The troubles of Ireland where his lossâ—…s were great forced his return hither bearing his crosses with great patience so thaâ—… according to the advice of Saint Hierome Verba vertebat in opera and practiced the Job he had described dying about the year 1643. JOSEPH MEDE was born in this County a little east of Bishop-Startford Men in â—…cripture generally are notified by their Fathers as Johnadab the Son of Rechab Simon the Son of Jona Some few are described by their Sons as Simon of Cyren the Father of Alexander and Rufus wherein it is presumed that their Sons were most eminent and their Branches not known by the Root but the Root by the Branches Such the case here where the Parents obscure in themselves may hereafter be known for having Joseph Mede to their Son He was bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge where he attained to great Learning by his own industry R. was Shiboleth unto him which he could not easily pronounce so that a set-speech cost him the double pains to another man being to fit words as well to his Mouth as his Matter Yet by his Industry and Observation He so conquered his Imperfection that though in private discourse he often smiled out his stammering into silence yet chusing his words he made many an excellent Sermon without any considerable Hesitation The first fruits of his Eminent Studies was a written Treatise de sanctitate Relativa which he presented to Bishop Andrews who besteded him with the Kings favour when his election into his Fellow-ship met with some opposition He afterwards became an Excellent Linguist Curious Mathematician Exact Text-man happy in makeing Scripture to expound it self by Parallel places He was charitable to poor people with his Almes and to all people with his candid censure Of one who constantly kept his Cell so he called his Chamber none Travailed oftener and farther over all Christendome For things past he was a Perfect Historian for things present a Judicious Novilant and for things to come a Prudentiall not to say Propheticall Conjecturer To his private friends he would often insist on the place of Scripture Judges 3. 30. and the land had a rest Four score years which was the longest term of Peace which he ever observed the Church of God to enjoy after which many troubles did ensue And seeing the same lease of Halcion days was expired in England since the first of Queen Elizabeth he grievously suspected some strange Concussion in Church and State which came to pass accordingly I confess his Memory hath suffered much in many mens Judgements for being so great a Fauter of the fancifull opinion of the Millenaries Yet none can deny but that much is found in the Ancient fathers tending that way Besides I dare boldy say that the furious Factors for the fift Monarchy hath driven that Nail which Master Mede did first enter farther then he ever intended it and doing it with such violence that they split the truths round about it Thus when ignorance begins to build on that Foundation which learning hath laid no wonder if there be no Uniformity in such a Mungrell Fabrick He died in the fifty third year of his age Anno Domini 1638. leaving the Main of his Estate to the Colledge about the value of 300l a large
WADES-Mill Part of a Village lying two miles North thereof were so prodigiously rich as to countervail the wealth of LONDON The Fallacy lieth in the Homonymy of WARE here not taken for that Town so named but appellatively for all vendible Commodities We will not discompose the wit of this Proverb by cavilling that WEARE is the proper name of that Town so called anciently from the Stoppages which there obstruct the River But leave it as we found it and proceed HARTFORD-SHIRE Kindness This is generally taken in a good and grateful sense for the mutual return of favours received It being belike observed that the people in this County at entertainments drink back to them who drank to them parallel to the Latine Proverbs Fricantem refrica Manus manum lavat par est de merente bene bene mereri However sometimes Hartford-shire kindness may prove Hartford-shire cruelty and amount to no less then a Monopoly when this reciprocation of Favours betwixt themselves is the exclusion of all others from partaking thereof Princes WILLIAM second Son of King Edward the Third and Philip his wife took his Christian-name from his Grandfather William Earle of Henault and his Sirname of Hatfield from the place of his Nativity in this County where he was born the ninth of his Fathers Reign Anno Domini 1335. and expired within few dayes afâ—…er So that what I find written on the late Monument of a Noble Infant may also serve for his Epitaph Vivus nil poteram fari quin mortuus Infans Nunc loquor ut mortis sis memor atque vale Living I could not speak now dead I tel Thy duty think of death and so farewel It is uncertain where he was interred but most believe him buried at Westminster EDMUND of LANGLEY Fifth son to King Edward the Third and Queen Philip Was so sirnamed from Kings-Langley in this County the place of his Nativity He was created Earle of Cambridge in the Thirty sixth year of the Reign of his Father and Duke of York in the ninth year of his Nephew King Richard the Second He married Isabel daughter and Co-Heir of Peter King of Castile and lie buried at Langley together He had besides other Children of both Sexes to his eldest Son Richard Duke of York and he died Anno Dom. 1402. EDMUND of HADDAM Reader I presume thee to be so much a Gentleman as in courtesie to allow him a Prince who was Son to Queen Katherine by Owen Theodor her second husband womb-brother to King Henry the Sixth and Father to King Henry the Seventh That he was born in this County one may well be confident seeing there is no Haddam in any Shire of England save Hartford-shire alone I confesse therein three Villages of that name but sure no lesse then Great Haddam was the place of so eminent a Native He was solemnly created Earle of Richmond at Reading in the 31. of King Henry the Sixth Many good works no doúbt he did when living whose corps when buried saved from destruction the fair Cathedral of Saint Davids For his Monument in the midst of the Quire saith my Author as the Prebendaries told him spared their Church from defacing in the dayes of King Henry the Eighth I could wish all King Henries nearest relations had after their decease been severally so disposed preservatives from ruine rapine as the corps of Q. Katherin Dowager did as some say save the Church of Peterburgh But this ill agreeth with that which Brookes reporteth viz. That this Earl was buried in Carmarthen and because Vincent his professed adversary finding fault with him alwayes when any sometimes when no cause taketh no exception thereat I the more rely on his Testimony Onely it is possible that this Earle first enterred in Carmarthen might be afterwards for the more eminence of Sepulture removed to Saint Davids He died Anno Domini 1456. Saints Saint ALBAN though as Saint Paul a Roman by priviledge but Britton by Parentage was born in this County though many hundreds of years before Hartfordshire had its modern Name and Dimensions in the City of Verulam and was martyred for Christianity under Dioclesian An. 303. The cause and manner whereof with the Martyrdome of Saint Amphibalus hard by Rudborn I have so largely related in my Ecclesiastical History that as I will repeat nothing I can add nothing of consequence thereto Except any will conceive this to be remarkable that good Liquoras groweth naturally out of the ruinous walls of Verulam an old City the Mother of the New Town of Saint Albans as a skilful eye-witness Antiquary and zealous Protestant hath observed Had some Papist taken first notice hereof he might probably have made it a Miracle and assign the sanctitie of this place for the root of this Liquoras Martyrs It appeareth by the Maps that Africa lieth partly in the Torrid and partly in the Temperate Zone Nor is the wonder any at all considering the vastness thereof extending it self through many Degrees More strange it is that this small County should be partly in a Temperate viz. the Western part thereof subjected to the Bishop of Lincoln and partly in the Torrid Climate namely the Eastern Moity belonging to the Dioces of London which under Bonner was parched with persecution Yet not to make this Monster worse then he was though many in his Jurisdiction were much molested and though Tradition points the very place in Bishops Stortford where poor people were burnt at the stake yet my Book of Martyrs or Eyes or both be defective wherein I cannot recover the name of any particular person Pope NICHOLAS Son to Robert Break-spear a Lay brother in the Abbey of St. Albans fetcht his Name from Break-speare a place in Middlesex but was born at Abbots-Langley a Town in this County When a Youth he was put to such servile work in St. Albans Abbey that his ingenious Soul could not comport therewith Suing to be admitted into that house he received the repulse which in fine proved no mis-hap but a happy-miss unto him for going over into France he studied so hard and so happily at Paris that for his worth he was preferred Abbot of St. Rufus neer Valentia and afterward by Pope Eugenius the Third was made Bishop of Alba nigh Rome Adnatalis soli memoriam saith my Author that he who was refused to be Monachus Albanensis in England should be Episcopus Albanensis in Italy He was employed by the Pope for the conversion of the Norwegians and though Bale saith he were not Bale if he were not bitter Anti-christiano charactere Norwegios signavit yet his reducing them from Paganisme to Christianity in the Fundamentals was a worthy work and deserves true commendation He was afterwards chosen Pope of Rome by the name of Adrian the fourth There is a mystery more then I can fathome in the changing of his name Seeing his own font-name was a Papal one Yet he
1266. and presented it to the young Earl conjuring him by the cogent arguments of example and rule to patrizate His other Patron was Sir Henry Sidney so often Lord Deputy of Ireland whereby he became incorporated into the familiarity of his Son Sir Philip Sidney between whom and Sir Edward there was so great freindlinesse that they were never better pleased then when in one anothers Companies or when they corresponded each with other And we find after the Death of that worthy Knight that he was a close-concerned Mourner at his Obsequies as appeareth at large in the printed Representation of his Funeral Solemnity His third Patron was Sir John Perot Deputy also of Ireland who so valued his Counsel that in state-affairs he would do nothing without him So great his employment betwixt state and state that he crossed the seas Thirty seven times until deservedly at last he came into a Port of Honour wherein â—…he sundry years anchored and found safe harbour For he received the Honour of Knighthood was sworn of her Majesties Privy Council for Ireland and Chancellour of the Exchequer therein Now his grateful soul coursing about how to answer the Queens Favour laid it self wholly out in Her service wherein two of his actions most remarkable First he was highly instrumental in modelling the Kingdome of Ireland into shires as now they are shewing himself so great a Lover of the Politie under which he was born that he advanced the Compliance therewith as commendable and necessary in the Dominions annexed thereunto His second service was when many in that Kingdome shrowded themselves from the Laws under the Target of power making force their Tutelary Saint he set himself vigorously to suppress them And when many of the Privy Council terrified with the greatness of the Earl of Desmond durst not subscribe the Instrument wherein he was proclaimed Traitor Sir Edward among some others boldly signed the same disavâ—…wing his and all treasons against his Prince and Country and the Council did the like commanding the publication thereof As to his private sphear God blessed him being but a third Brother above his other Brethren Now though he had three Wives the first a Viliers the second a Spilman the third the Widow of Herlakenden of VVood-church in Kent Esquire and though he had so strong a Brain and Body yet he lived and dyed Childlesse entercommoning therein with many Worthies who are according to Aelius Spartianus either improlifick or have Children in genitorum vituperium famarum laesuram God thus denying him the pleasure of posterity he craved leave of the Queen to retire himself and fixed the Residue of his life at VVood-church in Kent living there in great honour and repute as one who had no designe to be popular and not prudent rich and not honest great and not good He dyed in the fifty sixth year of his age the 13. of October 1591. and is buried at VVood church under a Table Marble-Monument erected to his memory by his sorrowful Lady surviving him Reader I doubt not but thou art sensible of the alteration and improvement of my Language in this Character owing both my Intelligence and expressions unto Edward VVaterhouse now of Syon Colledge Esquire who to revive the memory of his Namesake and great Uncle furnished me with these instructions HENRY CARY Viscount of Falkland in Scotland and Son to Sir Edw. Cary was born at Aldnam in this County He was a most accomplished Gentleman and compleat Courtier By King James he was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland and well discharged his Trust therein But an unruly Colt will fume and chafe though neither switcht nor spur'd merely because backt The rebellious Irish will complain only because kept in Subjection though with never so much lenity the occasion why some hard Speeches were passed on his Government Some beginning to counterfeit his hand he used to incorporate the year of his Age in a Knot flourished beneath his Name concealing the Day of his Birth to himself Thus by comparing the date of the Month with his own Birth-day unknown to such Forgers he not only discovered many false Writings which were past but also deterred dishonest Cheaters from attempting the like for the future Being recalled into England he lived honourably in this County until he by a sad casualty brake his Leg on a Stand in Theobalds Park aud soon after dyed thereof He married the sole Daughter and Heir of Sir Lawrence Tanfield Cheif Baron of the Exchequer by whom he had a fair estate in Oxfordshire His Death happened Anno Dom. 1620. being Father to the most accomplished Statesman Lucius Grandfather to the present Henry Lord Falkland whose pregnant parts now clarified from Juvenile Extravagancies perform much and promise more useful service to this Nation Souldiers Sir HENRY CARY Son to Sir William Cary and Mary Bollen his Wife was where-ever born made by Queen Elizabeth Lord Chamberlain Baron of Hunsdon in this County A Valiant man and Lover of Men of their hands very cholerick but not malicious Once one Mr. Colt chanced to meet him coming from Hunsdon to London in the Equipage of a Lord of those dayes The Lord on some former grudge gave him a Boxe on the Ear Colt presently returned the principle with Interest and thereupon his Servants drawing their Swords swarmed about him You Rogues said the Lord may not I and my Neighbour change a blow but you must interpose Thus the Quarrel was begun and ended in the same minute It was merrily said that his Latine and his Dissimulation were both alike and that his custome in swearing and obscenity in speech made him seem a worse Christian than he was and a better Knight of the Carpet then he could be He might have been with the Queen whatsoever he would himself but would be no more then what he was preferring enough above a Feast in that nature He hung at Court on no mans Sleve but stood on his own Botome till the time of his death having a competent estate of his own given him by the Queen Who bestowed on him in the first of her Reign Hunsdon house in this County with four thousand pounds a year according to the valuation in that age in fair Demesnes Parks and Lands lying about it Yet this was rather Restitution than Liberality in her Majesty Seeing He had spent as great an estate left him by his father in her Service or rather Releif during her persecution under Queen Mary â—… This Lord suppressed the first Northern Commotion the sole reason why we have ranked him under the Title of Soldier for which This Letter of Thanks was solemnly returned unto him By the QUEEN Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Cousin We greet you well And right glad we are that it hath pleased God to assist you in this your late Service against that cankred subtil Traytor Leonard Dacres whose force being far greater in Number than yours we perceive you have overthrown and how he
Wild Beast I would not have rouzed you in your Den. He was very conscientious in discharging his calling Being once requested by me to preach for me he excused himself for want of competent warning and when I pleaded that mine being a Country Parish would be well pleased with his performance I can saith he content them but not mine own conscience to preach with so little preparation he dyed ahout Anno Dom. 1649. and was buryed in St. Peters Pauls Wharf in London Benefactors to the Publique NICHOLAS DIXON Parson for thirty years together of Cheshunt in this County He was also Clerk of the Pipe-Office belonging to the Exchequer See we here why the Officers of that place as also those of the Chancery were called Clerks because Priests in Orders with Cure of Souls did formerly discharge those Offices He was also Under-Treasurer and at last Baron of the Chequer when partly by his own bounty and partly by Collection of others He builded the Parish Church of Cheshunt and that I assure you is a very fair one with a Chancel to the Virgin Mary Now for an Affidavit for the proof hereof The Reader is referred to this his Epitaph inscribed in Cheshunt Chancel more to be respected for the truth then wit thereof O miserere Jesu famuli Dixon Nicolai â—…ui brevis hospitium tumulus pâ—…stat satis amplum Istud qui Fanum ter denis Rexerat annis Ad cujus fabricam Bursas proprias alienas Solvit allexit quo crevit in ardua Templum Pulchrum cancellum tibi dat pia Virgo novellum Dum laudaris eo famulo suffragia praestes Clericus hic Pipae subthesaurarius inde Baro Scaccarii se iuste gessit ubique Pacem pauperibus dans cedat divitis iras Larga manus relevat quos pauperies fera pressit Anno Milleno C. quater bis bis deca Christi Octavo moriens mutans terrestria caelis Octobris Luce ter denâ transit ad astra Auxiliare prece qui perlegis haec Nicholao Ut sibi cum sanctis praestetur vita perennis The word Rexerat doth intimate that Cheshunt was then a Rectorie or Parsonage though since impropriated and made a Vicarage What a deal of doe does this pitiful Poet make with words at length and Figures and Latine and Greek to describe the date of his death which if I understand his signes aright was October the thirtieth one thousand four hundred fourty eight Sir RALPH JOSCELINE son to Jefferie Josceline was born at Sabridgworth in this County bred a Draper in London whereof he was twice Mayor Once Anno 1464 and ere the end of that year was made Knight of the Bath by King Edward the Fourth in the Field saith my Author But seeing there is more of the Carpet then of the Camp in that Order it is more probable what another writes that he was invested Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Elizabeth Queen to the King aforesaid He was Mayor again Anno 1476. when he corrected the Bakers and Victuallers of the City and by his diligence were the walls thereof repaired Walls now a mere complement serving more for the dividing then the defending of the City 〈◊〉 that as some forreign Cities cannot be seen for the walls here the walls cannot be seen for the City Sad were the case of London if not better secured with bones within then stones about it Thâ—…s Sir Ralph died October the 25. Anno 1478. and was buried in the Church of Sabridgeworth JOHN INCENT son of Robert Incent and Katharine his wife was born at Berkhamsted in this County He was afterwards a Doctor of Law and advanced Anno 1543. when Richard Sampson was preferred Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Dean of Saint Pauls This John probably invited by the example of another John his mediate predecessour Collet Dean of Pauls Founded a fair Free-school in the Town of his Nativity procuring it confirmed by act of Parliament allowing the Master twenty the Usher ten pounds Per annum He died as I collect in the beginning of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth Sir THOMAS WHITE son to Thomas White was born at Rixmansworth in this County and afterwards bred a Merchant-Taylor in London of which Citie he was Lord Mayor An. Dom. 1553. He first built Glocester-Hal and afterwards built and endowed St. Johns Colledge in Oxford the Seminarie of many flourishing wits He bestowed also a vaâ—… summe of money on several Corporations to be imployed circularly for the benefit of the poor Freemen therein Ionce intended to have presented the Reader with an exact particular of his Benefactions till seasonably I reversed my Resolution on this consideration Amongst the Jewes it was an injury for one removed further off in blood to do the Office of a Kinsman to the childless Widow until the next of Kin had first disclaimed his interest therein as in the Case of Ruth most plainly appeared A son I am sure is nearer then a Nephew therefore it is a more proper performance for one bred in Oxford to Collect the particulars of his Bounty who whither soever he went left the Finger-marks of his Charity behind him Then for me distanced a degree farthrr off by my Education in another Universitie Since the Reformation RICHARD HALE Esquire was born at Cudicot in this County and bred a Grocer in the Ciry of London Where his industrious Endeavours were so blessed that in a little time he got a great Estate Wherefore in Expression of his Gratitude to God the giver thereof He Founded a very fair School allowing fourty pounds a year to the Master thereof at Hartford in this County A place very prudently chosen for such a purpose First because the prime Town in his Native Shire Secondly great the want of a School in that populous place And lastly because most pure the Aire thereof so that Parents need not fear their Childrens loss of health for the gaining of Learning He died Anno Dom. 16 0. Whose wealthy Family do still flourish with worth and worship at Kings-Walden in this County EDWARD BASH Knight was born at Aldnam in this County in the Mannor-House then belonging to the noble Family of the Caries whereof Francis his Mother afterwards married to George Earle of Rutland was descended He was an hearty Gentleman and a good English Housekeeper keeping a full Table with solid dishes on it and welcome guests about it And one may tearm him a valiant man who durst be Hospital in these dangerous dayes Whilest living he was a Benefactor to Peter-house in Cambridge wherein he was bred a Fellow Commoner And at his death bequeathed more thereunto the particulars whereof I have not yet attained He gave also twenty ponnds per annum for the maintenance of a Schoolmaster at Stansted in this County where he had his constant habitation He died Anno Dom. 1605. Many other Benefactours this Shire hath of late afforded and amongst them one born in Chessunt
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
of Cardinal Wolsey was personated and wherewith that Prelate was so offended that Fish was fain to fly and live two years beyond the Seas There he made and thence sent over into England a small but sharp Treatise called The Supplication of Beggars termed by Master Fox a Libel understand him a little Book Otherwise prizing and praising it for a Master-piece of Wit-learning and Religion discovering the Superstition of that age This by Queen Anna Bollen was presented to King Henry the Eighth who therewith was so highly affected that he sent for the Author home and favoured him in great proportion However many nets were laid by the Popish party against him especially by Sir Thomas More his implacable Enemy yet Fish had the happinesse to escape the hands of Men and to fall into the hand of God more immediately Dying of the Plague 1531. and lieth buried at St. Dunstan in London Sir JAM HALES was born did live was richly landed in this county one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas a man of most signal Integrity When the rest of the Judges frighted at the frowns of the Duke of Northumberland subscribed the disinheriting of the Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth he onely refused as against both Law and Conscience Yet afterwards in the first of Queen Mary he fell into the displeasure of Bishop Gardiner which like Juniper coals once kindled hardly quenched for urging the observation of some Lawes of King Edward the Sixth For this he was imprisoned hardly used and so threatned by his Keeper that he endeavoured to have killed himself which being after let at liberty he afterwards effected drowning himself in a small water near his house fear and melancholly so much prevailing upon him Mr. Fox concludeth the sad Poem of his final estate with this Distich Cū nihil ipse vides propria quin labe laboret Tu tua fac cures caetera mitte Deo Seing nought thou ◅eest but faling in the best Mind thy own matters leave God the rest We must look on his foul Deed with anger and yet with pity on the doer thereof Frown on the one and weep for the other For seeing he had led a right godly life and had suffered so much on the account of his Conscience I hope that his station in this place will not be cavilled at by any charitable persons He died Anno Dom. 1555. Cardinals JOHN KEMP son to Thomas Grand-child to Sir John Kemp Nephew to Sir Roger Kemp both Knights was born at Wie in this County where he built a fair Colledge for Seculars bred also in Merton Colledge in Oxford successively Bishop of Rochester Chichester and London afterwards Arch-Bishop of York and Canterbury Cardinal first by the Title of Saint Balbine then of Saint Rufine in Rome all his preferments are comprehended in the old following verse Bis Primas ter Praesul erat ◅is Cardine functus He had another honour to make up the Distich being twice Lord Chancellour of England so that I may add Et dixit Legem bis Cancellari us Anglis Such are mistaken who report him the first raiser of his Family to a Knightly degree which he found in that Equipage as is aforesaid though he left it much improved in Estate by his bounty and some of his name and bloud flourish in Kent at this day He died a very old man March the 22. Anno 1453. RICHARD CLIFFORD His Nativity may bear some debate Herefordshire pretending unto him But because Robert Clifford was his brother in the first of King Henry the Fourth High Sheriff of this County and richly landed therein I adjudge him a Cantian and assign Bobbing as the most probable place of his birth His worth preferred him Bishop of London 1407. and he was sent by King Henry the Fourth as his Embassadour to the Council of Constance I could hold my hand from ranking him under the Topick of Cardinals confident that no ingenious person would take exception thereat For first he was one in Merit and Desert Secondly in general Desire and Designation Thirdly though no actual Cardinal he acted as a Cardinal when joyned to their Conclave to see fair play amongst them at the choosing of a new Pope Yea some mentioned him for the place who counting it more credit to make than be a Pope first nominated Cardinal Columna and he clearly carried it by the name of Martin During his abode at Constance he preached a Latine Sermon before the Emperour and Pope He answered his name de clivo forti or of the strong Rock indeed viz. Davids being a most pious person returning home he lived in good esteem with Prince and People until his death which happened 1421. being buried nigh the present Monument of Sr. Christopher Hatton Prelates RALPH of MAYDENSTAN I presume this the ancient Orthography of Maydston a noted Town in this County the rather because I met with no other place in England offering in sound or syllables thereunto An Author giveth him this short but thick commendation Vir magnae literaturae in Theologia Nominatissimus Insomuch that in the Reign of King Henry the Third 1234. He was preferred Bishop of Hereford This Prelate bought of one Mount-hault a Noble-man a fair house in and the Patronage of St. Mary Mount-hault commonly but corruptly called Mount-haw in London leaving both to his successours in the See of Hereford Know Reader that all English Bishops in that age had Palaces in London for their conveniency wherein they resided and kept great Hospitality during their attendance in Parliament Now although the School-men generally hold that Episcopacy is Apex consummatae Religionis then which Nihil amplius Nothing higher or holyer in this life and though many Friers have been preferred Bishops as a progressive motion both in Dignity and Sanctity Yet our Ralph was of a different judgement herein This made him in the year 1239. turn his Miter into a Coule and become a Franciscan first at Oxford then at Glocester where he died about the year 1244. HENRY de WINGHAM a well known Town in this County was by K. Henry the Third preferred Chancellour both of England and Gascony Dean both of Totten-Hall quaere where this place is and Saint Martins and twice Embassadour into France It happened that one Ethelmar wom-brother to King Henry the Third was then Bishop of Winchester A person who properly comes not under my pen First for his Foreign nativity Secondly so much as he was English he was an UNWORTHY wanting Age Ability and Orders to qualifie him in that place Hereupon the Monks of Winchester indeavouring to eject him chose Wingham a man of Merit and Might in the Court to be their Bishop which honour he wisely refused fearing to incur the Kings displeasure It was not long before his Modesty and Discretion were rewarded with a peaceable in sted of that litigious Bishoprick when chosen to London 1259. But he enjoyed his See
and exceed him in Acurateness therein Being old rather in experience than years he died not 46. years old Anno 1583. and lieth buried under a comely Monument in Saint Giles without Creplegate London on the South Wall of the Quire Let Mr. Cambdens commendation pass for his Epitaph Artis Heraldicae studiosissimus peritissimusque qui in foecialium Collegio Somerseti titulum gessit Robertus Gloverus If the expression were as properly predicated of a Nephew as of the next Brother one might say he raised up seed unto his Uncle Glover in setting forth his Catalogue of Honour in English as more useful therein because chiefly of our Nationall concernment He was employed on a message of Importance from Q. Elizabeth unto Henry the fourth King of France be ing then in Normandy which trust he discharged with great fidelity and incredible scelerity being returned home with a satisfactory answer to her Highness before she could believe him arrived there In memory of which service he had given him for the Crest of his Arms a Chappeau with Wings to denote the Mercuriousnesse of this Messenger He died Anno 16. in Ordinary by name of RoughDragon and afterwards Somerset Herald He made very pertinent Additions to the second Edition of Mr. Cambdens Remains and deserved highly wel of the City of London proving in a learned and ingenious Book that Gentry doth not abate with Apprentiship but only sleepeth during the time of their Indentures and awaketh again when they are expired Nor did he contribute a little to the setting forth of his Uncles Catalogue of Honour He died Anno 1645. and was buried in Bennet Pauls-wharf THOMAS PLAYFERD was born in this County as some of his nearest Relations have informed me He was bred Fellow of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge and chosen 1597. to succeed Peter Barrow in the place of Margaret Professor His fluency in the Latine tongue seemed a wonder to many though since such who have seen the Sun admire no more at the Moon Doctor Collins not succeeding him so much in age as exceeding him in eloquence The counsel of the Apostle is good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Foe-Friends commending of him and his own conceiting of himself made too deep an impression on his Intellectuals It added to his Distemper that when his reâ—…election to his place after his last two years end was put into the Regent-House a great Doctor said DETUR DIGNIORI However he held his Professor-ship until the day of his death 1609. and lieth buried with an Hyperbolical Epitaph in S. Botolphs in Cambridge JOHN BOIS D. D. was descended of a right ancient and numerous Family in this County deriving themselves from J. de Bosco entring England with William the Conqueror and since dispersed into eight Branches extant at this day in their several seats Our John was bred Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge and afterwards preferred Dean of Canterbury famous to posterity for his Postils in defence of our Liturgy So pious his life that his adversaries were offended that they could not be offended therewith A great Prelate in the Church did bear him no great good will for mutual animosities betwixt them whilest Gremials in the University the reason perchance that he got no higher preferment and died as I conjecture about the year 1625. Benefactors to the Publick Sir JOHN PHILPOT was born in this County where his Family hath long resided at Upton-Court in the Parish of Sibbertswood He was bred a Citizen and Grocer in London whereof he became Mayor 1378. In the second of King Richard the second our English Seas wanted scouring over-run with the rust of Piracies but chiefly with a Canker fretting into them one John Mercer a Scot with his fifteen Spanish Ships To represse whose insolence our Philpot on his own cost set forth a Fleet a project more proportionable to the Treasury of a Prince than the purse of a private subject His successe was as happy as his undertaking honourable and Mercer brought his Wares to a bad Market being taken with all his Ships and rich plunder therein Two years after he conveyed an English Army into Britaine in ships of his own hiring and with his own money released more than 1000. Arms there which the Souldiers formerly engaged for their victuals But this industry of Philpot interpretatively taxed the lazinesse of others the Nobility accusing him Drones account all Bees pragmatical to the King for acting without a Commission Yea in that ungrateful age under a Child-King Pro tantorum sumptuum praemio veniam vix obtinuit However he who whilest living was the scourge of the Scots the fright of the French the delight of the Commons the darling of the Merchants and the hatred of some envious Lords was at his death lamented and afterwards beloved of all when his memory was restored to its due esteem WILLIAM SEVENOCK was born at Sevenock in this County In allusion whereunto he gave Seven Acorns for his Arms which if they grow as fast in the field of Heraldry as in the Common field may be presumed to be Oaks at this day For it is more than 200. years since this William bred a Grocer at London became Anno 1419. Lord Mayor thereof He founded at Sevenock a fair Free Schoole for poor peoples Children and an Alms House for twenty men and women which at this day is well maintained Since the Reformation Sir ANDREW JUD Son of John Jud was born at Tunbridge in this County bred a Skinner in London whereof he became Lord Mayor Anno 1551. He built Alms Houses nigh Saint Ellens in London and a stately Free Schoole at Tunbridge in 〈◊〉 submitting it to the care of the Company of Skinners This fair Schoole hath been twice founded in effect seeing the defence and maintenance whereof hath cost the Company of Skinners in suits of Law and otherwise four thousand pounds So careful have they been though to their own great charge to see the Will of the Dead performed WILLIAM LAMB Esquire sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and in great favour with him was born at Sutton-Valens in this County where he erected an Alms-House and a well endowed Schoole He was a person wholly composed of goodnesse and bounty and was as general and discreet a Benefactor as any that age produced Anno 1557. he began and within five months finished the fair Conduit at Holborn-Bridge and carried the water in pipes of Lead more than two thousand yards at his own cost amounting to Fifteen hundred pound The total summe of his several gifts moderately estimated exceeded six thousand pounds He lies buried with his good works in Saint Faiths Church under Saint Pauls where this Inscription set up it seems by himself in his life time is fixed on a Brasse plate to a Pillar O Lamb of God which sin didst take away And as a Lamb wast offered up for sin Where I poor Lamb
went from thy flock astray Yet thou good Lord vouchsafe thy Lamb to win Home to thy Fold and hold thy Lamb therein That at the day when Goats and Lambs shall sever Of thy choice Lambs Lamb may be one for ever The exact time of his death I cannot meet with but by proportion I conjecture it to be about 1580. FRANCES SIDNEY Daughter of Sir William Sister to Sir Henry Lord Deputy of Ireland and President of Wales Aunt to the renowned Sir Philip Sidney was born and probably at Pensherst the ancient seat of the Sidneys in this County A Lady endowed with many Virtues signally charitable expending much in large Benefactions to the Publick She bestowed on the Abby Church of Westminster a salary of twenty pounds per annum for a Divinity Lecture and founded Sidney Sussex Colledge in Cambridge of which largely in my Church-History She was Relict of Thomas Ratcliff the third Earl of Sussex This worthy Lady died Childless unlesse such Learned Persons who received their Breeding in her Foundation may be termed her Issue on the ninth day of May Anno 1588. as appeareth by her Epitaph Sir FRANCIS NETHERSOLE Knight born at Nethersole in this County was bred Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards became Orator of the University Hence he was preferred to be Embassador to the Princes of the Union and Secretary to the Lady Elizabeth Queen of 〈◊〉 it is hard to say whether he was more remarkable for his doings or sufferings in her behalf He married Lucy eldest Daughter of Sir Henry Goodyear of Polesworth in Warwick 〈◊〉 by whose encouragement being free of himself to any good design he hath founded and endowed a very fair School at Polesworth aforesaid and is still living Memorable Persons SIMON Son of William Lynch Gent. was born at Groves in the Parish of Staple in this County Decemb. 9. 1562. But see more of his Character under this Title in Essex where his Life and death were better known MARY WATERS was born at Lenham in this County and how abundantly intituled to Memorability the ensuing Epitaph in Markeshall Church in Essex will sufficiently discover Here lieth the Body of Mary Waters the Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esquire wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esquire her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her Three hundred sixty seven Children sixteen of her own body one hundred and fourteen Grand-children two hundred twenty eight in the third Generation and nine in the fourth She lived a most pious life and in a Christian manner died here at Markeshall in the ninety third year of her age and in the forty fourth year of her Widowhood the eleventh of May 1620. Thus she had a Child for every day in the though Leap year and one over Here we may observe that generally the highest in Honour do not spread the broadest in posterity For time was when all the Earls in England and those then seventeen in number had not put together so many Sons and Daughters as one of them had viz. Edward Somerset Earle of Worcester And yet of both Sexes he never had but * thirteen But to return to Mistresse Waters she since hath been much out-stript in point of fruitfulnesse by one still surviving and therefore this worthy Matrone in my mind is more memorable on another account viz. for patient weathering out the tempest of a troubled conscience whereon a remarkable story dependeth Being much afflicted in mind many Ministers repaired to her and amongst the rest Reverend Mr. John Fox than whom no more happy an instrument to set the joynts of a broken spirit All his counsels proved ineffectual insomuch that in the agony of her soul having a Venice-glass in her hand she brake forth into this expression I am as surely damn'd as this glasse is broken which she immediately threw with violence to the ground Here happened a wonder the glasse rebounded again and was taken up whole and entire I confesse it is possible though difficult so casually to throw as brittle a substance that lighting on the edges it may be preserved but happening immediately in that juncture of time it seemed little lesse than miraculous However the Gentlewoman took no comfort thereat as some have reported and more have believed but continued a great time after short is long to people in pain in her former disconsolate condition without any amendment Until at last God the great Clock-keeper of Time who findeth out the fittest minutes for his own mercies suddenly shot comfort like lightning into her soul which once entred ever remained therein God doth no palliate cures what he heals it holds so that she led the remainder of her life in spiritual gladnesse This she her self told to the Reverend father Thomas Morton Bishop of Duresme from whose mouth I have received this relation In the days of Queen Mary she used to visit the Prisons and to comfort and relieve the Confessors therein She was present at the burning of Mr. Bradford in Smithfield and resolved to see the end of his suffering though so great the presse of people that her shooes were trodden off and she forced thereby to go barefoot from Smithfield to Saint Martins before she could furnish her self with a new pair for her money Her dissolution happened as is aforesaid Anno 1620. NICHOLAS WOOD was born at Halingborne in this County being a Landed man and a true Labourer He was afflicted with a Disease called Boulimia or Caninus Apetitus insomuch that he would devour at one meal what was provided for twenty men eat a whole Hog at a sitting and at another time thirty dozen of Pigeons whilest others make mirth at his malady Let us raise our gratitude to the goodness of God especially when he giveth us appetite enough for our meat and yet meat too much for our appetite whereas this painful man spent all his estate to provide Provant for his belly and died very poor about the year 1630. We will conclude this Topick of Memorable Persons with a blanck mention of him whose name hitherto I cannot exactly attain being an Ingenuous Yeoman in this County who hath two Ploughs fastened together so finely that he plougheth two furrows at once one under another and so stirreth up the Land twelve or fourteen Inches deep which in so deep ground is very good Scholars know that Hen-dia-duo is a very thrifty Figure in Rhetorick and how advantagious the improvement of this device of a Twinne-Plough may be to posterity I leave to the skilful in Husbandry to consider Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1. Will. Sevenock William Rumshed Sevenock Grocer 1418 2. Thomas Hill William Hill Hillstone Grocer 1484 3. Rich. Chawry William Chawry Westram Salter 1494 4. Andrew Jud. John Jud. Tonbridge Skinner 1550 4. John Rivers Richard Rivers Pensherst Grocer 1573 6. Edw. Osburne Richard Osburne Ashford Clothworker
and returning in the Raign of King Edward the sixâ—… became a Preacher of London He and Mr. Hooper were the two greatest Sticklers against Ceremonies though otherwise allowing of Episcopal Government He was the first Martyr who suffered in Smithfield in Queen Maries dayes and led all the rest of whom we may truly say that if they had not beâ—…n flesh and blood they could not have been burnt and if they had been no more then flesh and blood they would not have been burnt The Non-Conformists account it no small Credit unto them that one of their Opinion as who would not flinch from the faith was chosen by Divine Providence the first to encounter the fire Such may remember that no Army is all FRONT and that as constant did come behinde as went before Had those of an opposite judgment been called first they had come first to the stake and in due time the defenders of Ceremonies were as substantial in their Sufferings This John Rogers was martyred Febr. 4. 1555. JOHN BRADFORD was born at * Manchester in this County and bred first a Lawyer in the Inns of Court and for a time did solicite Suits for Sr. John Harrington afterwards saith my * Authour ex Rixoso Causidico mitissimus Christi Apostolus going to Cambridg a man in maturity and ability the University by special Grace bestowed on him the Degree of Master of Art and so may he be said to Commence not only per saltum but per volatum The Jesuit doth causlesly urge this his short standing for an Argument of his little understanding whereas he had alwayes been a hard Student from his youth and his Writings and his Disputings give a sufficient Testimony of his Learning It is a demonstration to me that he was of a sweet temper Because Parsons who will hardly afford a good VVord to a Protestant saith that he seemed to be of a more soft and milde nature than many of his fellowe 〈◊〉 Indeed he was a most holy and mortified man who secretly in his closet would so weep for his sinnes one would have thought he would never have smiled again and then appearing in publick he would be so harmlesly pleasant one would think he had never wept before But Mr. Fox his pains have given the pens of all Posterity a VVrit of ease to meddle no more with this Martyr who suffered Anno Dom. 1555. GEORGE MARSH was born at Dean in this County bred a good Scholar in a Grammer-School and then lived in the honest condition of a Farmer after the death of his wife he went to Cambridge where he followed his Studies very close and afterwards solemnly entring into Orders became a profitable Preacher and Curate to Mr. Lawrence Sanders the worthy Martyr Causlesly therefore doth Parsons asperse him that he of a Farmer turned a Preacher as if he had done it immediately with many of our Age leaping from the plough to the pulpit concealing his Academical breeding such is the Charity of his jesuitical reservation As little is his Charity for condemning him for answering 〈◊〉 and fearfully at first to such who examined him about the Sacrament of the Altar seeing the said Marsh condemned himself for doing it as therein too much consulting carnal Respects to save his life as appears in Mr. Fox whence the Jesuite fetcheth all his Information But Marsh made amends for all these failings with his final constancy being both burnt and scalded to death having a barrel of pitch placed over his head an accent of cruelty peculiar to him alone when he was martyred at VVestchester Apr. 24. 1555. Cardinals WILLIAM ALAN was born in this County saith my Authour nobilibus parentibus of 〈◊〉 Parentage He was bred in Oriel Colledg in the University of Oxford and became Head of Sâ—… Maries Hall therein Then going beyond the Seas he became Kings 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 Cannon of Cambray and Rhemes and at last by Pope Sixtus Quint us made Cardinal priest of Martins in Rome 1587. and deserved his Red Hat by his good Service the year after against his Native Country But hear what Different Characters two Authours of several perswasions bestow upon him PITZEU 〈◊〉 ANO. Script page 792. GODWIN in his Catalogue of Cardinals page 479. He was somewhat above an ordinary man in Stature comely of Countenance composed in his Gaâ—…e affable in all Meetings and for the Gifts of his Mind Pious Learned Prudent Grave and though of Great Authority Humble modest meek patient peaceable in a word beautified and adorned with all kinds of Virtues He was the last of our English Cardinals in time and first in wickedness deserving not to be counted among English men who as another Herostratus to atchieve himself a name amongst the Grandees of Earth endeavoured to fire the Church of England the Noblest without envy be it spoken in the Christian World so that his memory deserveth to be buried in oblivion He collected the English Exilâ—…s into a Body and united them in a COLLEDG first at Doway then at Rhemes so great an Advancer that we may behold him as Founder of that Seminary He â—…yed at Rome Anno 1594. and preferred rather to be buried in the English School than in the Church of St. Martins which gave him the Title of Cardinal Prelates HUGH OLDHAM born in this County at Oldham a Village some fix miles from Manchester bred in Queens Colledge in Cambridge was no ill Scholar and a good Man most pious according to and above the Devotion of the Age he lived in he was afterwards Bishop of Exeter a Foe to a Monkish Superstition and a Friend to University Learning Brazen-Nose Colledge in Oxford and Corpus-Christi Colledge therein will for ever bear witnesse of his bounty to advance Religion and Learning Besides the Town of Manchester have good cause to remember him who founded and endowed a School therein with large Revenue appointing the Warden of the Colledge therein Caput Scholae This Bishop having a tough contest with the Abbot of Tavestock was excommunicated for refusing to stand to the decision of the Court of Rome He had formerly built a Chapel in the South side of his Cathedrall and dying excommunicate on the aforesaid account was Buried not in the very Church but brink thereof and body of the Wall He dyed Anno Dom. 1520. JAMES STANLEY D. D. brother of Thomas Earl of Darby was born in this County and was by K. Henry the seaventh his kinsman by marriage preferred Bishop of Ely 1506. a man more memorable than commendable who never resided at his own Cathedral I can partly excuse his living all the Summer with the Earl his Brother in this County but must condemn his living all the Winter at his Mannour at Somersham in Huntingtonshire with one who was not his sister and wanted nothing to make her his Wife save mariage However if Jehu allowed a Burial to his most profest Enemy on this account that
she was a Kings Daughter none I hope will grudge his memory a room in this Book were it only because he was an Earles Brother He dyed Anno 1515. HEâ—…RY STANDISH was as I have just cause to conclude extracted from the Standishes of Standish in this County bred a Franoiscan and Dr. of Divinity in Cambridge and afterwards made Bishop of S. Asaph I neither believe him so Good as Pitz doth character him pietate doctrina clarum nor so bad as Bale doth decry him making him a doteing Fool. Sure I am there was Impar congressus betwixt him and Erasmus as unequal a Contest as betwixt a Childe and Man not to say Dwarf and 〈◊〉 This Standâ—… is said to have fallen down on his knees before King Henry the Eighth petitioning him to continue Religion established by his Ancesters and 〈◊〉 into Maâ—…ers of Divinity he cited the Colâ—…s for the Corinthians which being but a Memory-mistake in an Aged Person needed not to have exposed him so much as it did to the laughter of the Standers by After he had sate 16 years Bishop of St. 〈◊〉 he died very aged 1535. JOHN CHRISTOPHERSON was born in this County bred first in Pembrook Hall then Fellow of St. Johns and afterwards Master of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge an excellent Scholar and Linguist especially I have seen a Greek Tragedy made and written by his own hand so curiously that it seemed printed and presented to K. Henry the eight He no lesse eleganly if faithfullly translated Philo and 〈◊〉 into Latine Besides his own benefaction to the Masters Lodgings and 〈◊〉 he was highly instrumental in moving Queen Mary to her magnificent bounty to Trinity Colledge In the visitation of Cambridge he was very active in burning the bones of 〈◊〉 being then Elect Bishop of Chichester scarcely continuing a year in that Place All expected that at his first coming into his Diocesse he should demean himself very favourably For why should not the Poets Observation of Princes be true also of Prelates Mitissima sors est Regnorum sub Rege novo Subjects commonly do finde New made Soveraigns most kinde But he had not so much mercy as Nero to begin courteously having no sooner put on his Episcopal Ring but presently he washed his hands in the blood of poor Martyrs whereof in due * Place In the First of Qu. Elizabeth he was deprived and kept in some restraint wherein he dyed about the Year 1560. Since the Reformation JAMES PILKINTON D.D. was the third Son of James Pilkinton of Rivington in this County Esq. a Right ancient Family being informed by my good Friend Master William Ryley Norrey and this Countryman that the Pilkintons were Gentlemen of repute in this Shire before the conquest when the chief of them then sought for was fain to disguise himself a Thresher in a barn Hereupon partly alluding to the 〈◊〉 of the flail falling sometime on the one sometime on the other side partly to himself embracing the safest condition for the present he gave for the Motto of his Armes Now thus Now thus This James bred fellow of St. Johns in Cambridge was in the First of Qu. Mary forced to fly into Germany where he wrote a Comment on Ecclesiastes and both the Epistles of St. Peter after his return in the First of Qu. Elizabeth he was chosen Master of St. Johns and March the 2d 1560. was consecrated Bishop of Durham Nine Years after the Northern Rebels came to Durham and first tore the Bible then the English Liturgy in pieces Unhappy though most innocent Book equally odious to opposite parties such who account the Papists Heretiques esteeming it popish whilest the Papists themselves account it heretical The Bishop had fared no better than the book could he have been come by But when the Rebellion was suppress'd the Bishop commenced a Suit against Qu. Elizabeth for the Lands and Goods of the Rebels attainted in the Bishoprick as forfeited to him by his Charter and had prevailed if the Parliament had not itnerposed and on special consideration pro hoc tempore adjudged them to the Queen He dyed Anno Dom. 1576. EDWIN SANDYS was born at Conisby in this County whose good actings great sufferings pious life and peaceable death 1588. are plentifully related in our Church History RICHARD BARNES was borne at Bolde near Warrington in this County bred in Brasen-Nose Colledg in Oxford and afterwards advanced Suffragan Bishop of Nottingham thence he was preferred to Carlile 1570. and seven years after to Durham He was himself One of a good nature as by the sequele will appear but abused by his Credulity and affection to his Brother John Barnes Chancellour of his Diocesse A Man of whom it is hard to say whether he was more Lustfull or more Covetous who where as he should have been the man who ought to have reformed many Enormities in the Diocess was indeed the Authour of them permitting base and dishonest Persons to escape scot-free for a piece of mony so that the Bishop had a very ill report every where By the suggestion of this ill instrument the Patriarchall man Mr. Gilpin fell into this Bishops Displeasure and by him was suspended from his Benefice But the good Bishop afterwards restored him and visiting him at his house took him aside into the Parlour and thus accosted him Father Gilpin I acknowledge you are fitter to be Bishop of Durham then my self to be Parson of this Church of yours I ask forgiveness for Errors passed forgive me Father I know you have hatched up some Chickens that now seek to pick out your Eyes but so long as I shall live Bishop of Durham be secure no man shall injure you This Bishop sate about Eleven years in his See and dyed a very aged man a little before the Spanish Invasion Anno Dom. 1588. JOHN WOOLTON was born at Wiggin in this County of honest Parents and worshipful by his mothers side He was bred a short time in Oxford and in the reign of Queen Mary attended his Unkle Alexander Nowell in his flight beyond the Seas Returning into England he was made first Cannon Residentiary and after Anno 1579. Bishop of Exeter being an earnest assertor of Conformity against opposers thereof He met whilst living with many hard speeches but after his death when mens memories are beheld generally in their true colours he was restored to his deserved esteem even by those who formerly had been his adversaries He indited Letters full of Wisdome and Piety becoming the strength of one in health not two hours before his death which happened March the 13. Anno 1593. It is a part though not of his Praise of his happiness that his Daughter was married to Francis Godwin Bishop of Hereford whose Learned pen hath deserved so well of the Church of England MATTHEVV HUTTON I have given a large account of him formerly in my Ecclesiastical History However having
plentiful in Corn and Pasture but wanting Wood forceing the Inhabitants to make use of Straw Coweâ—… c. For the most part Hard and Barren yielding Fruit not without labour and expence but well stored with Wood Pit-cole Good Soyle apt to bear Corn and Grass and sufficiently provided with Fuell Much like the last for fruitfulnesse of the two better furnished with Fuel However these four Quarters being put together into the Body of one Shire competently supply their mutual defects Natural Commodities Beans Plenty of these in this County especially about Barton in the Beans in the Hundred of Sparkhen-Hoe where they appear like a Forrest toward the time of Harvest Wherefore the Scouts of Charles Duke of Burgundie who mistook a Field full of high thistles near unto Paris for the Army of the King of France with their lances held upright might here commit the like mistake with more probability Though Beans be generally beheld but as horse and hog-graine yet were they mans * meat even in the plentiful Country of Canaan called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pholl in the Hebrew whence some deduce the word Pulse though none dare affirm that Daniel his Pulse was made thereof But more of this Grain hereafter Cole These are digg'd up plentifully at Cole-Orton in the Hundred of West Goscot I say Cole-Orton for there is another Village called Cold-Orton in this Shire An addition which no lesse truly than sadly would be prefixed to most Towns in this County if not warmed in VVinter with this under-ground-fewell that above-ground is so much decayed I confess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Treasure of Coles passeth both in the Greek and Latine Proverb for a frustrated Expectation and his hopes fall very low who looking for Gold either in Specie or in Oarâ—… lighteth only on a heap of Coles which anciently used to be buryed in the Earth for boundaries or limits of lands However such Mines of Coles as these without any help of Alcumy are quickly turned into Gold and Silver sold at good rates to the Countryes round about Manufactures in this County are not to be expected for where the Husbandmans Acre-Staffe and the Shepheards-hook are as in this County in Staie there they engross all to themselves and command Manufactures to observe their distance from them The Buildings This County afordeth no Cathedralls and as for the Parish-Churches therein they may take the Eye not ravish the admiration of the beholder Bottsford is one of the primest very fair and large with a high Spire Steeple At the Suppression of Abbeys many ancient Monument of the Albanies and Rosses were removed hither out of the Priory of Beaver by the command of Thomas Earl of Rutland and pity it was that his commendable care was not imitated in other places As for ciâ—…il Structures there is a seeming parity betwixt many fair Houses in this Shire only something Monarchical above the ordinary Aristocracy of Fabricks apppears in the heigth strength and workmanship of the Stone Tower built by William Lord Hastings at Ashby de la-Zouch Also the fair large and beautiful pallace built at Broadgate by Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset challengeth the preheminence above the rest The Wonders There is a Village in this County named Charleton sirnamed Curley and all that are born therein have an harsh and wratling kind of Speech uttering their words with much difficulty and wharling in the Throat and cannot well pronounce the Letter R. Surely this proceedeth not from any natural imperfection in the Parents whence probably the Tribual Lisping of the Ephramites did arise because their children born in other places are not haunted with that Infirmity Rather it is to be imputed to some occult quality in the Elements of that Place Thus a learned Author informeth us that some Families at Labloin in Guyen in France do naturally stut and stammer which he taketh to proceed from the nature of the Waters As for the inability distinctly to pronounce R. it is a catching disease in other Counties I knew an Essex man as great a Scholar as any in our age who could not for his life utter Carolus Rex Britanniae without stammering The best was the King had from him in his hearty prayers what he wanted in his plain pronunciation My Father hath told me that in his time a Fellow of Trinity Colledge probably a Native of Charleton in this County sensible of his own imperfection herein made a Speech of competent length with select words both to his Mouth and for his Matter without any R. therein to shew that Men may speak without being beholding to the Dogs Letter Proverbs Bean-belly Leicester-shire So called from the great plenty of that grain growing therein Yea those in the neighbouring Counties use to say merrily Shake a Leicester-shire Yeoman by the Collar and you shall hear the Beans rattle in his belly But those Yeomen smile at what is said to rattle in their bellies whilst they know good silver ringeth in their Pockets Indeed I read a Latine Proverb A Fabis abstineto Forbear beans whereof some make a civil interpretation meddle not with matters of State because anciently men cast in a Bean when they gave their Suffrages in publick elections others expound it physically because Beans are windy and discompose the tranquillity of mens minds by their slatuous evaporation the reason assigned for the general report that Pythagoras prohibited the eating of them to his Scholars Yet an excellent Authour informs me that Pythagoras had his repast on Beans more than on any kind of pulse However nothing will put Leicester-shire men out of conceit of their beloved Beans the rather because their plenty argueth the goodnesse of their ground For whereas lean land will serve for puling pease and faint fetches it must be a strong and fruitful soyle indeed where the masculine Beans are produced If Bever have a capp You Churles of the Vale look to that That is when the Clouds as he expoundeth it hang over the Towers of the Castle it is a prognostick of much rain and moisture to the much indamaging of that fruitful Vale lying in the three Counties of Leicester Lincoln and Nottingham But alas though the cap may be there still the head or the crown thereof I am sure is not there I mean Beaver Castle it self being lately demolished in our Civil Wars though I hear some part thereof is in rebuilding I wish the Workmen good success though I suspect the second Edition to use a Scholars Metaphor of this Castle will not be â—…o full and fair as the former Princes IANE GREY eldest Daughter of HENRY GREY Duke of Suffolk by Francis 〈◊〉 Eldest Daughter to Mary second Sister to King Henry the eighth was born at Broadgates near unto Leicester No Lady which led so many pious lived so few pleasant Dayes whose soul was never out of the Non-age of Afflictions till Death made her of full years
King Iames Bishop of Salisbury He dyed in his calling having begun to put in print an excellent book against Atheists most useful for our age wherein their sin so aboundeth His Death happened March 11. 1619. not two full years after his Consecration Statesmen EDVVARD FINES Lord Clinton Knight of the Garter was Lord Admiral of England for more then thirty years a Wise Valiant and Fortunate Gentleman The Masterpeice of his service was in Mustleborough Field in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and the Battail against the Scots Some will wonder what a Fish should do on dry Land what use of an Admiral in a Land fight But know the English kept themselves close to the shore under the shelter of their ships and whilst their Arrows could do little their spears lesse their swords nothing against the Scots who appeared like a hedge of Steel so well armed and closed together the great Ordnance from their ships at first did all making such destruction in the Scottish army that though some may call it a Land-fight it was first a Victory from the sea and then but an Execution on the Land By Queen Elizabeth who honoured her honours by bestowing them sparingly he was created Earl of Lincoln May 4. 1574. and indeed he had breadth to his height a proportionable estate chiefly in this County to support his Dignity being one of those who besides his paternal Inheritance had much increased his estate He dyed January the sixteenth 1585. and lyeth buryed at Windsor in a private chappel under a stately Monument which Elizabeth his third Wife Daughter to the Earl of Kildare erected in his Remembrance THOMAS WILSON Doctor of Laws was born in this County bred Fellow of Kings-Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards was Tutor in the same University to Henry and Charles Brandons successively Dukes of Suffolk Hard shift he made to conceal himself in the Reign of Queen Mary Under Queen Elizabeth he was made Master of the Hospital of St. Katharines nigh the Tower of London upon the same Token that he took down the Quire which my Author saith allow him a little Hyperbole was as great as the Quire at St. Pauls I am loth to believe it done out of Covetousnesse to gain by the materials thereof but would rather conceive it so run to Ruin that it was past repairing He at last became Secretary of State to Q. Elizabeth for four years together It argues his ability for the place because he was put into it Seeing in those active times under so judicious a Queen weaknesse might despair to be employed in such an office He dyed anno dom 15. THOMAS Lord BURGE or BOROUâ—…H Son to William Lord Burge Grandson to Thomas Lord Burge created Baron by King Henry the Eight was born in his Fathers Fair house at Gainsborough in this County His first publick appearing was when he was sent Embassador into Scotland anno 1593. to excuse Bothwell his lurking in England to advise the speedy suppressing of the Spanish Faction and to advance an effectual association of the Protestants in that Kingdome for their Kings defence which was done accordingly Now when Sir William Russel Lord Deputy of Ireland was recalled this Lord Tho. Burgh was substituted in his room anno 1597. Mr. Camden doth thus character him Vir acer animi plenus â—…ed nullis fere castrorum rudimentis But where there is the stock of Valour with an able brain Experience will soon be graffed upon it It was first thought fit to make a Months Truce with Tyrone which cessation like a Damm made their mutual animosities for the present swell higher and when removed for the future run the fiercer The Lord Deputy the Truce expired streightly besieged the Fort of Blackwater the only Receptacle of the Rebells in those parts I mean besides their Woods and Bogs the Key of the County of Tyrone This Fort he took by Force and presently followed a bloody Battle wherein the English paid dear for their Victory loosing many worthy men and amongst them two that were Foster brothers Fratres Collactanei to the Earl of Kildare who so layed this losse to his heart amongst the Irish Foster brethren are loved above the Sons of their fathers that he dyed soon after Tyrons credit now lay a bleeding when to stanch it he rebesieged Blackwater and the Lord Deputy whilst indevouring to relieve it was struck with untimely death before he had continued a whole year in his place All I will add is this that it brake the heart of Valiant Sir John Norris who had promised the Deputies place unto himself as due to his deserts when this Lord Burgh was superinduced into that Office His Relict Lady famous for her Charity and skill in Chirurgery lived long in Westminster and dyed very aged some twenty years since WILLIAM CECIL Know Reader before I go farther something must be premised concerning his position in this Topick Virgil was prophane in his flattery to Augustus Caesar profering him his free choice after his death to be â—…anked amongst what heathen Gods he pleased so that he might take his place either amongst those of the Land which had the oversight of Men and Cities or the Sea-Gods commanding in the Ocean or the Skye-Gods and become a new Constellation therein But without the least adulation we are bound to profer this worthy Peer his own election whether he will be pleased to repose himself under Benefactors to the Publick all England in that age being beholden to his bounty as well as the poor in Standford for whom he erected a fair Bead-house acknowledging under God and the Queen their prosperity the fruit of his prudence Or else he may rest himself under the title of Lawyers being long bred in the Inns of Court and more learned in our Municipal-Law then many who made it their sole profession However for the present we lodge this English Nestor for wisdome and vivacitie under the notion of States-men being Secretarie and Lord-Treasurer for above thirty years together Having formerly written his life at large it will be enough here to observe that he was born at Bourn in this County being son to Richard Cecil Esq of the Robes to King Henry the eighth and a Legatee in his Will and Jane his Wife of whom hereafter He was in his age Moderator Aulae steering the Court at his pleasure and whilst the Earl of Leichester would indure no equall and Sussex no superiour therein he by siding with neither served himself with both Incredible was the kindness which Queen Elizabeth had for him or rather for her self in him being sensible that he was so able a Minister of State Coming once to visit him being sick of the Goute at Burley house in the Strand and being much heightned with her Head Attire then in fashion the Lords Servant who conducted her thorow the door May your Highness said he be pleased to stoop the Queen
Navar called Mortileto de Vilenos who had accused him of Treason to the King and Realm In which combat the Navarois was overcome and afterwards hang'd for his false accusation HENRY the Fourth 2. JOHN ROCHFORD Miles The same no doubt with him who was Sheriff in the 15. of K. Richard the Second I confesse there was a Knightly Family of this Name at Rochford in Essex who gave for their Arms Argent a Lyon Rampant Sable langued armed and crowned Gules quartered at this day by the Lord Rochford Earl of Dover by the Butlers and Bollons descended from them But I behold this Lincolnshire Knight of another Family and different Arms quartered by the Earl of Moulgrave whence I collect his heir matched into that Family Consent of time and other circumstances argue him the same with Sir John Rochford whom Bale maketh to flourish under King Henry the Fourth commending him for his noble birth great learning large travail through France and Italy and worthy pains in translating Iosephus his Antiquities Polychronicon and other good Authors into English RICHARD the Third 2. ROâ—…ERT DIMOCK Miles This Sir Robert Dimock at the Coronation of King Henry the Seventh came on horse back into VVestminster Hall where the King dined and casting his Gauntlet on the Ground challenged any who durst Question the Kings right to the Crown King Henry being pleased to dissemble himself a stranger to that Ceremony demanded of a stander by what that Knight said to whom the party returned He challengeth any man to fight with him who dares deny your Highnesse to be the lawful K. of England If he will not fight with such a one said the King I will And so sate down to dinner HENRY the Seventh 9. JOHN HUSEE This was undoubtedly the same person whom King Henry the Eigth afterwards created the first and last Baron Husee of Sleford who ingaging himself against the King with the rebellious Commons anno 1537 was justly beheaded and saw that honour begun and ended in his own person HENRY the Eighth 16. THOMAS BURGE Miles He was honourably descended from the Heir General of the Lord Cobham of Sterbury in Surry and was few years after created Baron Burge or Burough by King Henry the Eigth His Grandchild Thomas Lord Burge Deputy of Ireland and Knight of the Garter of whom before left no Issue Male nor plentiful Estate only four Daughters Elizabeth married to Sir George Brook Frances to the ancient Family of Copinger in Suffolk Anna Wife to Sir Drue Drury and Katharine married to ..... Knivet of Norfolk Mother to Sir John Knivet Knight of the Bath at the last Installment so that the honour which could not conveniently be divided was here determined King CHARLES 9. JERVASIUS SCROOP Miles He ingaged with his Majesty in Edge-hill-fight where he received twenty six wounds and was left on the ground amongst the dead Next day his Son Adrian obtained leave from the King to find and fetch off his Fathers Corps and his hopes pretended no higher then to a decent Interment thereof Hearty seeking makes happy finding Indeed some more commendedthe affection than the judgement of the Young Gentleman conceiving such a search in vain amongst many naked bodies with wounds disguised from themselves and where pale Death had confounded all complexions together However he having some general hint of the place where his Father fell did light upon his body which had some heat left therein This heat was with rubbing within few Minutes improved into motion that motion within some hours into sense that sense within a day into speech that speech within certain Weeks into a perfect recovery living more then ten years after a Monument of Gods mercy and his Sons affection He always after carried his Arme in a Scarfe and loss of blood made him look very pale as a Messenger come from the Grave to advise the Living to prepare for Death The effect of his Story I received from his own mouth in Lincolne-colledge The Farewel It is vain to wish the same Successe to every Husband man in this Shire as he had who some seven score years since at Harlaxton in this County found an Helmet of Gold as he was Plowing in the Field Besides in Treasure Trove the least share falleth to him who first finds it But this I not only heartily wish but certainly promise to all such who industriously attend Tillage in this County or else where that thereby they shall find though not gold in specie yet what is gold worth and may quickly be commuted into it great plenty of good grain the same which Solomon foretold He that tilleth his Land shall have Plenty of Bread IT is in effect but the Suburbs at large of London replenished with the retyring houses of the Gentry and Citizens thereof besides many Pallaces of Noble-men and three lately Royal Mansions Wherefore much measure cannot be expected of so fine ware The cause why this County is so small scarce extending East and West to 18 miles in length and not exceeding North and South 12 in the bredth thereof It hath Hertford-shire on the North Buckingham-shire on the West Essex parted with Ley on the East Kent and Surrey severed by the Thames on the South The ayr generally is most healtful especially about High-Gate where the expert Inhabitants report that divers that have been long visited with sickness not curable by Physick have in short time recovered by that sweet salutary ayr Natural Commodities Wheate The best in England groweth in the Vale lying South of Harrow-the-Hill nigh Hessen where providence for the present hath fixed my habitation so that the Kings bread was formerly made of the fine flower thereof Hence it was that Queen Elizabeth received no Composition money from the Villages thereabouts but took her Wheat in kinde for her own Pastry and Bake-house There is an obscure Village hereabouts called Perivale which my Author will have more truly termed Purevale an Honour I assure you unknown to the Inhabitants thereof because of the cleerness of the Corn growing therein though the Purity thereof is much subject to be humbled with the Mildew whereof hereafter Tamarisk It hath not more affinity in sound with Tamarind then sympathy in extraction both originally Arabick general similitude in leaves and operation onely Tamarind in England is an annual dying at the approach of Winter whil'st Tamarisk lasteth many years It was first brought over by Bishop Grindal out of Switzerland where he was exile under Queen Mary and planted in his Garden at Fulham in this County where the soile being moist and Fenny well complied with the nature of this Plant which since is removed and thriveth well in many other places Yet it groweth not up to be Timber as in Arabia though often to that substance that Cups of great size are made thereof Dioscorides saith it is good for the Tooth-ach as what is not and yet indeed
you again therein VVe have a little been troubled with the smale Pox which hath lâ—…tted us to write hitherto â—…ut now we have shaken that quite away Thus fare you well at Greenwich the third of May Anno 1552. EDVVARD VVe have received your Letters dated at Rhemes the fourth of this instant by which we understand how the French King doth mean now to set forth a new Army to resist the Emperour and that for that cause you think you cannot yet ask leave to return without suspition till this bray do cease In which thing we like your opinion very well and the rather because you may peradventure see more things in this short journey if so be it that the Emperor doth march towards you then you have seen all the while you have been there Neverthelesse as soon as his businesse is once over past you with Mr. Pickerings advice may take some occasion to ask leave for this VVinter to come home because you think there shall few things more be done then have been already in such manner and form as we have written in our former Letters VVe pray you also to advertise for how long time you have received your Diets Bartholomew Campaigne hath been paid six VVeeks agon till the last of September and we would be very glad to know whether you have received so much at his Factors hands More we have not to advertise you and therefore we commit you to God From Hampton Court the 7. of October anno Dom. 1552. Martyrs Smithfield neer London being Bonners Shambles and the Bone-fire Generall of England no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven thence into the Vicenage at Barnet Izlington and Stratford Bow where more then twenty persons were Martyred as in Mr. Fox doth appear Nor must we forget Mr. John Denley burnt at Uxbridge who began to sing a Psalm at the Stake and Dr. Story there present caused a prickley fagot to be huâ—…led in his face which so hurt him that he bled therewith Now the singing Nightingale needed no Thorn but only the sleeping one to awake it We may beleive that this Martyrs Prick-song indeed made good melody in the Ears of the God of Heaven Prelats RICHARD NORTHALL was saith my Author born in this County adding moreover Praetoris Londinensis ejusdem cognominis ut fertur filius But take Pretor either for Major or Sheriffe and no such man appeareth in Stow his exact survay of London so that one may thence safely conclude the Negative no such person in those places though probably he might hold some other eminent office in that City By the way the applying the names of Roman Magistrates to our English Officers wherein every one followeth their own fancy in assigning the correspondency hath cauâ—…ed much uncertainty in matters of this nature But we willingly believe this Robert of wealthy extraction though he became a Carmelite and afterward Chaplain to King Richard the second who for his good Preaching preferred him Bishop of Ossory for a time Chancelour of Ireland and at last Arch-Bishop of Dublin He wrote a Set of Sermons for the whole year lived much beloved for his learning and virtues and died no less lamented Anno Dom. 1397 on the 20 day of July Since the Reformation WILLIAM WICKHAM born at Enfield in this County bred in Kings-Colledge was Bishop first of Lincolne then of Winchester where he may be termed William Wickham junior in distinction of his name-sake and predecessor one equal to any of his Order in piety and painfullnesse though little of him extant in print superiour to all in patience dying Anno 1596 of the Strangury when he had not made water for fourteen days together This mindeth me of an usuall prayer amongst the modern Jews had they no worse customes their company would be wellcome unto us praising God as well for their vents of ejection as mouths for the admission of nourishment Souldiers FALCATIUs or FULKE de BRENT was a Middlesex-man by his Nativity whose family so flourished thâ—…rein in former ages remaining in a meaner condition to this day that an Antiquarie will have the rivolet Brent which denominateth Brentford so named from them which is preposterous in my opinion believing them rather named from the rivolet This FULK was a Minion to King John whose dangers indeared Martial-men unto him who the more to oblige his fidelity gave him in marriage Margaret the Daughter of Warrin Fitz Gerald his Chamberlaine late Wife to Baldwin de Rivers many muttering thereat and the Ladie her self it seems not well satisfied therewith as beneath her deserts Hereupon our Author Lex connectit eos amor concordia lecti Sed lex qualis amor qualis coÌ„cordia qualis Lex exlex amor exosus concordia discors Now both of them be'ng brought into a Bed By law and love and concord joyned are What law what love what coÌ„cord did them wed Law lawless loath'd love concord which did jarr This Fulke was highly in favour with King Henry the third who by the valour of this his Generall obtained the great Victory at Lincolne But afterwards when the Land was setled in peace Fulke found himself less respected set by and not set by hung up like the Axe when it hath hew'n all the hard timber on the wall unregarded He endeavoured therefore to embroile the Nation in a new War and like a dishonest Chirurgion willfully to blister the sound flesh into a sore to gaine by the cureing thereof This not succeeding all being weary of civil warr he presuming on the Kings Lenitie and his own merit accounting himself too high to come under the roofe of any Law committed many outrages of felonies and murders He was esteemed too bad to live such his present desperateness yet too good to be put to death such his former deserts and therefore as an expedient between both he was condemn'd to perpetuall banishment He went to Rome none had more need to confess his faults where he lived obscurely died miferably and was buried ignobly Anno 1226. Sir RALPH SADLIER Son of Sadlier Esquire was born at Hackney in this County where he was heir to a fair Inheritance He first was Servant to the Lord Cromwell and by him advanced into the service of King Henry the eighth A Prince judicious in men and meat and seldome deceived in either who made him cheife Secretary of State He was much knowing and therefore most imployed in the Scotch affairs much complicated with State Intricacies which he knew well to unfold It is seldome seen that the Pen and Sword Goun and Corselet meet eminently as here in the same person For in the Battle of Muscleborow he orâ—…ered and brought up our scattered Troops next degree to a rout 〈◊〉 them to fight by his own example and so for his valour was made a Knight Bannaret Of these two kinds one by way of encouragement made before the other by way of
him renow'd throughout the Christian world Yet such the bafeness and ingratitude of the French that concluding a Peace with O. C. the Usurper of England they wholy forgot his former services and consented to the expulsion of this Prince and his royal brothers out of that Kingdome 〈◊〉 valour cannot long lye neglected soon was he courted by Don John de Austria into Flanders where in the action at Dunkirk he far surpassed his former deeds often forgetting that he was a Prince to shew himself a true souldier such his hazarding his person really worth ten thousand of them to the great molestation of his true friends Since God out of his infinite love to the English hath safely returned this Duke to his native Country where that he may long live to be the joy and delight of the whole Nation I shall constantly beg of God in my daily devotions ELIZABETH second daughter of King Charles the first and Queen Mary was born at Saint James's Anno 1635. on the 28. day of December She proved a Lady of parts above her age the quickness of her mind making recompence for the weakness of her body For the remainder of her life I will my hold peace and listen to my good friend Master John Buroughs thus expressing himself in a letter unto me The Princess Elizabeth with her Brother Henry Duke of Glocester being by order of parliament to be removed to Carisbroke-castle in the Isle of Wight where his Most Excellent Maiesty was lately a Prisoner were accordingly received by Mr. Anthony Mild may from the Earl and Countess of Leceister at Penshurst in Kent and began their unwilling journey on Friday 9. of August 1650. On the 16. of the same Month they were first lodged in Carisbroke-castle aforesaid The Princess being of a melancholy temper as affected above her age with the sad condition of her Family fell sick about the beginning of September following and continuâ—… 〈◊〉 for three or four days having onely the Advise of Doctor Bignall a worthy and able 〈◊〉 of Newport After very many rare ejaculatory expressions abundantly demonstrating her unparalelled Piety to the eternal honour of her own memory and the astonishment of those who waited on her she took leave of the world on Sunday the eighth of the same September Her body being embalmed was carefully disposed of in a Coffin of Lead and on the four 〈◊〉 twentieth of the said Month was brought in a Borrowed Coach from the Castle to the Town of Newport attended thither with her few late Servants At the end of the 〈◊〉 the Corps were met and waited on by the Mayor and Aldermen thereof in their formalities to the Church where about the middle of the East part of the Chancel in Saint Thomas 〈◊〉 Chappel her Highness was interr'd in a small Vault purposely made with an Inscription of the date of her death engraved on her Coffin The 〈◊〉 of Norway where a Winters day is hardly an hour of clear light are the 〈◊〉 of wing of any Foul under the firmament nature teaching them to bestir themselves to lengthen the shortness of the time with their swiftness Such the active piety of this Lady improving the little life alloted her in running the way of Gods Commandeâ—… 〈◊〉 third daughter to King Charles the first and Queen Mary was born at 〈◊〉 James's March 17. Anno Domini 1637. She was a very pregnant Lady above 〈◊〉 and died in her infancy when not full four years old Being minded by those 〈◊〉 her to call upon God even when the pangs of death were upon her I am not able saith she to say my long prayer meaning the Lords-prayer but I will say my short one Lighten mine eyes O Lord lest I sleep the sleep of death this done the little lamb gave up the ghost KATHARINE fourth daughter to King Charles the first and Queen Mary was born at White hall the Queen-Mother then being at Saint James's and survived not above half an hour after her baptizing So that it is charity to mention her whose memory is likely to be lost so short her continuance in this life The rather because her name is not entred as it ought into the Register of Saint Martins in the fields as indeed none of the Kings children save Prince Charles though they were born in that Parish And hereupon a story depends I am credibly informed that at the birth of every child of the King born at Whitehall or Saint James's full five pounds were ever faithfully paid to some unfaithful receivers thereof to record the names of such children in the Register of Saint Martins But the money being embâ—…iled we know by some God knows by whom no memorial is entred of them Sad that bounty should betray any to such baseness and that which was intended to make them the more solemnly remembred should occasion that they should be more silently forgotten Say not let the children of mean persons be written down in Registers Kings children are Registers to themselves or all England is a Register to them For sure I am this common confidence hath been the cause that we have been so often at a loss about the nativities and other properties of those of Royal extraction CHARLES STUART son to the Illustrious James Stuart Duke of York by Anne daughter to the Right Honourable Edward Hide Earl of Clarendon and Lord Chancellour of England and Frances his Lady descended of the Ancient Family of the Aylesburies High-sheriffs for many years together of Bedford and Buckinghamshire in the reign of King Edward the second and third was born at Worcester-house 22. day of October 1660. and christened by the Right Reverend Father in God Gilbert L. Bishop of London his Majesty and George Duke of Albemarle being his God-fathers and Mary the Queen-mother his God-mother He was declared Duke of Cambridge a title which to the great honour of that University for these four hundred years hath been onely conferred either on forraign Princes or persons of the Royal Bloud This Princely infant dyed May 5. 1661. Saints Saint WULSY being a man reputed when living and reported when dead of great vertue and innocency Was by Saint Dunstan created the first Abbot of Westminster where he lived many years very exemplary for his conversation untill his death which happened Anno Dom. 960. Then was his body buried in the same Monastery and the 26. day of September was kept by the Citizens of London with great Veneration of his miracle-working memory Martyrs I meet with none in this City and in my mean Judgment it is most observable that London having two Pages as I may term them attending it viz. Westminster and Southwark both joyned to it in buildings should be so different from it in condition in London we have no room to hold Martyrs in the other two no Martyrs to take up any room Inquiring the cause thereof we find these three places though contiguous not to say
five parts which were used in Cathedrals many years after his death the certain date whereof I cannot attain JOHN DOULAND was as I have most cause to believe born in this City sure I am he had his longest life and best livelyhood therein being Servant in the Chappel to Queen Elizabeth and King James He was the rarest Musician that his Age did behold Having travailed beyond the Seas and compounded English with Forreign Skill in that faculty it is questionable whether he excell'd in Vocal or Instrumental Musick A chearful Person he was passing his days in lawful meriment truly answering the Anagram made of him JOHANNES DOULANDUS ANNOS LUDENDO HAUSI Christian the fourth K. of Denmark coming over into England requested him of K. James who unwillingly willing parted with him Many years he lived as I am credibly informed in the Danish Court in great favour and plenty generally imployed to entertain such English Persons of quality as came thither I cannot confidently avouch his death at Denmark but believe it more probably then their assertion who report him returned and dying in England about the year 1615. Benefactors to the Publique JAMES PALMER B. D. was born in this City and bred in Magdalen-colledge in Cambridge The Company of Carpenters in London gave him an exhibition towards his maintenance there or lent it him rather For since his bounty hath repaid them the Principle with plentiful consideration He was afterwards for many years the constant Preacher of Saint Bridgets in Fleetstreet the onely Church preferment he enjoyed I perceive thus craft and cruelty may raise a quick and great but plain frugallity especially if vivacious will advance a better and surer estate Though sequestred in these times what he had formerly gained in his place he hath since bestowed in building and endowing over against the New Chappel in Westminster a fair Almes-house for twelve poor people besides this many and great have his gifts been to Ministers poor widdows and wonder not Reader if they be unknown to me which were unknown to his own left-hand all this he did in his life time O it giveth the best light when one carrieth his Lant-horn before him The surest way that ones Will shall be performed is to see it performed Yea I may say that his poor people in his Almes-house are in some sort provided for not onely from head to foot but also from body to soul he constantly preaching to them twice a week He dyed Anno 1659. Memorable Persons EDMOND DOUBLEDAY Esquire was of a tall and proper person and lived in this City Nor had this large case a little jewell this long body a lazy soul whose activity and valour was adequate to his strength and greatness whereof he gave this eminent testimony When Sir Thomas Knevet was sent November 4. 1605. by King James to search the Cellar beneath the Parliament-house with very few for the more privacy to attend him he took Master Doubleday with him Here they found Gui Faux with his dark-lant-horn in the dead of the night providing for the death of many the next morning He was newly come out of the Divels Closset so I may fitly term the inward room where the powder lay and the train was to be laid into the outward part of the Cellar Faux beginning to bussel Master Doubleday instantly ordered him at his pleasure up with his heels and there with the Traytor lay the Treason flat along the floor by Gods goodness detected defeated Faux vowed and though he was a false Traitor herein I do believe him that had he been in the inner room he would have blown up himself and all the company therein Thus it is pleasant musick to hear disarmed malice threaten when it cannot strike Master Doubleday lived many years after deservedly loved and respected and died about the year of our Lord 1618. The Farewell Seeing the well-being yea being of this City consisteth in the Kings Court and in the Courts of Justice I congratulate the happy return of the one praying for the long continuance of the other yea may the Lawyers in Westminster-hall never again plead in their Armour as they did in the time of Wyats rebellion but in their peaceable Gowns and Legal Formalities Nor doth this Wish onely extend to the Weal of Westminster but all England For no such dearth in a Land as what is caused from a drought of Justice therein For if judgement do not run down as Waters and righteousness as a mighty Stream Injustice like an Ocean will drown all with its inundation NOR FOLK hath the German Ocean on the North and East thereof Suffolk severed by the river Waveny on the South-side Cambridge-shire parted by the river Ouse and a small part of Lincoln shire on the West it extendeth full 50. miles from East to West but from North to South stretcheth not above thirty miles All England may be carved out of Norfolk represented therein not onely to the kind but degree thereof Here are Fens and Heaths and Light and Deep and Sand and Clay-ground and Meddows and Pasture and Arable and Woody and generally woodless land so gratefull is this Shire with the variety thereof Thus as in many men though perchance this or that part may justly be cavelled at yet all put together complete a proper person so Norfolk collectively taken hath a sufficient result of pleasure and profit that being supplied in one part which is defective in another This County hath the most Churches of any in England six hundred and sixty and though the poorest Livings yet by some occult quallity of their good husbandry and Gods blessing thereon the richest Clergy-men Nor can there be given a greater demonstration of the wealth and populousness of this County than that in the late Act for an Assessment upon England at the rate of sixty thousand pounds by the Month for three Months Norfolk with the City of Norwich is rated at three thousand two hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence the highest proportion of any Shire in England And though Norfolk hath little cause to please and less to pride it self in so dear purchased pre-eminence yet it cannot but account it a credit to see it self not undervalued Natural Commodities It shareth plentifully in all English Commodities and aboundeth with the best and most Rabbits These are an Army of natural Pioners whence men have learned cuniculos agere the Art of undermining They thrive best on barren ground and grow fattest in the hardest frosts Their flesh is fine and wholesome If Scotish-men tax our language as improper and smile at our wing of a Rabbit let us laugh at their shoulder of a Capon Their skins were formerly much used when furs were in fashion till of late our Citizens of Romans are turned Grecians have laid down their grave gowns and took up their light cloaks men generally disliking all habits though emblemes of honour if also badges of age Their rich
lost his life for the house of Lancaster and Petitioned King Edward to take off the sequestration from her Joynter Beauty is a good solicitress of an equal sute especially where youth is to be the judge thereof The King fell much inamored with her feature whilst the Lady put her self into a chast posture and kept a discreet distance neither forward to accept nor froward to decline his favonr She confessed her self too worthless to be his wife yet pleaded too worthy to be his wanton till at last the King was content to take her upon her own terms though a widow and his Subject She got more greatness then joy height then happiness by her marriage her husband keeping company with others for his pleasure her for posterity Nor was it long before the tempest of his lust drave him to another Shore which had a greater share in his affections This Lady liv'd to see the death of her husdand murder of her two sons restraint of her self and rest of her children And though her condition was altered and bettered by the marriage of her eldest daughter to King Henry the seventh yet that cunning King who always weighed his love in the ballance of policy was not over dutiful to her nor over-loving to her daughter She dyed Anno Domini 14 ... But her memory is most remarkable to posterity for finishing Queens-colledge in Cambridge wherein I had my first breding and for it and all therein shall ever have an unfeigned affection begun by Queen Margaret wife to King Henry the sixth an implacable enemy to her husband so that the two houses of Lancaster and York had their first amity in that Foundation a comfortable presage that in process of time they should be publikely and effectually united RICHARD PLANTAGENET son to Richart Plantagenet Duke of York was born at Fothinghay castle in this County He was somewhat rumpled in his Mothers womb which caused his crooked back otherwise handsome enough for a Soldier Ajax and Ulysses Valour and Eloquence met in his person having as well a tongue to flatter as an arm to fight He compassed the Crown by cruelty and the killing of his Nephews the two Sons of King Edward the fourth When King he made good Laws which never procured him the peoples love as who beheld vice for his native colour and virtue for his painted complexion on design to make himself popular He lost the Crown and his life in the battle of Bosworth where it may be verified of him what Livy saith of Hannibal when beaten by Scipio that in that fight he performed all the offices of a wise General and valiant Souldier onely fortune did not befriend him If any except that King Richard in this battle was too prodigal of his own person engaging it too far for a General his condition did excuse him herein with whom it was all one to dye as too survive Success His memory hath since met with a Modern Pen who hath not onely purged but praised it to the height and pity it is that so able an Advocate had not a more meriting person to his Client He was slain Anno Domini 1435. KATHARINE PAR daughter to Sir Thomas Par and last wife to King Henry the eighth may probably be presumed a Native of this Shire However to prevent cavils we resign her over to Westmerland where God willing we shall meet with her character Saints WERBURGH was daughter to Wolpher Prince of Mercia who had his chief Palace of Residence at Wedon in the Street in this County which place her father bestowed on her for her Portion She was bred a Nun under Saint Audery her Aunt and Abbess at Ely untill such time that she was able of herself to go alone without leading in a Monastical life Returning to Wedon she turned that place which had been her fathers Palase into a Monastery Besides Wedon she had the inspection of two other Monasteries Trekingham in Lincolnshire and Hamburge noted by my Author neer Ely in Cambridgeshire though no such place appear in any modern Maps or Catalogue She parted herself whilst living successively betwixt these three places But on her death-bed commanded her body to be buried at Hamburge when contrary to her Will it was carried to the Monastery of Trekingham and the gates thereof fast locked and carefully watched to keep so great a Treasure Reader if the day be as long with thee when thou readest as it was with me when I wrote the ensuing story time may the better be afforded for the perusal thereof My Author proceeds Eut see a wonder It were well if we could see whereas now by his leave we do but hear it They which were appointed to watch the same fell into a deep sleep so as the people of Hamburge coming in the night for the Body the gates both of the Monastery and Church were opened themselves without mens hands and taking it away without any resistance they interred it at Hamburge as before her death she requested Wonder not they were so ambitious for her body for as Werburgh was her name which by a great Antiquary is interpreted the Keeper or Conserver of a Burgh or Town so all presumed she would prove a Tutelary Patroness to the place which possessed her body seeing some have reported that she hath miraculously driven away all Geese from Wedon that they shall destroy no grain thâ—…reabout If this be true then as a certain Jupiter amongst the Heathens was called Jupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jupiter the flie-flapper who drave away those offensive Insects let this Saint hereafter be termed Werburga 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chaser away of noisome Geese which spoil grain grass and water where they come She died Anno Domini 675. her body was afterwards taken up and translated to Chester where Hugh Lupus somewhat after the Conquest built the fair Monastery of Saint Werburghs to her memory converted into a Cathedral by King Henry the eight Martyrs This County affordeth no Marian Martyrs thanks be to a good and Gracious God a meek and moderate man David Pool Bishop of Peterburough whom I here mention the more willingly not knowing where to fix his Nativity However Unus Homo nobis One Martyr we had not chargable on the Bishop but his bloudy Arch-Deacons account John Gurd of Syrsam a Shoo-maker burnt in Northampton As for Augustine Dudley Parson of Castor though some of his familly credibly informed me that he was Martyred yet on enquiry his fufferings amounted not to loss of life and therefore the less wonder that they escaped the drag-net of Master Fox's diligence Cardinals HENRY CHICHLEY was born at Higham Ferrers in this County and by the Author of Antiquitates Britanicae is avouched made Cardinal by the title of Saint Eusebius But because this appeareth not in his Epitaph on his Tombe wherein an exact inventory of all his dignities the truth thereof is
Henry the sixth and afterwards to King Richard the third 1. Her Husband being killed at Barnet fight all her land by Act of Parliament was setled on her two Daughters as if she had been dead in Nature 2. Being attainted on her Husbands score she was forced to flye to the Sanctuary at Beauly in Hant-shire 3. Hence she got her self privately into the North and there lived a long time in a mean condition 4. Her want was increased after the death of her two daughters who may be presumed formerly to have secretly supplyed her I am not certainly informed when a full period was put by death to these her sad calamities Saints St. FRIDESWIDE was born in the City of Oxford being daughter to Didan the Duke thereof It happened that one Algarus a noble young man sollicited her to yield to his lust from whom she miraculously escaped he being of a sudden struck blind If so she had better success than as good a Virgin the daughter to a greater and better father I mean Thamar daughter of King David not so strangely secured from the lust of her brother She was afterward made Abbess of a Monastery erected by her father in the same City which since is become part of Christ-church where her body lyeth buried It happened in the first of Queen Elizabeth that the Scholars of Oxford took up the body of the wife of Peter Martyr who formerly had been disgracefully buried in a dunghill and interred it in the Tomb with the dust of St. Frideswide Sanders addeth that they wrote this Inscription which he calleth Impium Epitaphium Hic requiescit Religio cum â—…uperstitione though the words being capable of a favourable sense on his side he need not have been so angry However we will rub up our old Poetry and bestow another upon them In tumulo fuerat Petri quae Martyris uxor Hic cum Frideswida virgine jure jacet Virginis intactae nihilum cum cedat honori Conjugis in thalamo non temerata fides Si facer Angligenis cultus mutetur at absit Ossa suum â—…ervent mutua tuta locum Intom'd with Frideswide deem'd a Sainted maid The Wife of Peter Martyr here is laid And reason good for Women chaste in mind The best of Virgins come no whit behind Should Popery return which God forefend Their blended dust each other would deâ—…end Yet was there more than eight hundred years betwixt their several deaths Saint Frideswide dying Anno 739. and is remembred in the Romish Calendar on the nineteenth day of October St. EDWOLD was younger Brother to St. Edmund King of the East-Angles so cruelly martyred by the Danes and after his death that Kingdom not onely descended to him by right but also by his Subjects importunity was pressed upon him But he declined both preferring rather a sollitary life and heavenly contemplation In pursuance whereof he retired to Dorcester in this County and to a Monastery called Corn-house therein where he was interred and had in great veneration for his reputed miracles after his death which happened Anno Dom. 871. St. EDWARD the CONFESSOR was born at I slip in this County and became afterwards King of England sitting on the Throne for many years with much peace and prosperity Famous for the first founding of Westminster Abby and many other worthy aâ—…hievements By Bale he is called Edvardus simplex which may signifie either shallow or single but in what sense soever he gave it we take it in the later Sole and single he lived and dyed never carnally conversing with St. Edith his Queen which is beheld by different persons according to their different judgments coloured eyes make coloured objects some pitying him for defect or natural Impotence others condemning him as affecting singelness for want of Conjugal affection others applauding it as an high pâ—…ece of 〈◊〉 and perfection Sure I am it opened a dore for forreign Competitors and occasioned the Conquest of this Nation He dyed Anno Dom. 1065. and lyeth buryed in Westminster Abby Cardinals ROBERT PULLEN or Pullain or Pulley or Puley or Bullen or Pully for thus variously is he found written Thus the same name passing many mouths seems in some sort to be declined into several Cases whereas indeed it still remaineth one and the same word though differently spelled and pronounced In his youth â—…e studied at Paris whence he came over into England in the reign of King Henry the Fiâ—…st when learning ran very low in Oxford the university there being first much afflâ—…cted by Herald the Dane afterwards almost extinguished by the cruelty of â—…he Conqueror Our Pullen improved his utmost power with the King and Prelates for the restoring thereof and by his praying preaching and publick reading gave a great advancement thereunto Remarkable is his character in the Chronicle of Osny Robertus Pulenius scriptur as divin as quae in Anglia obsolverant apud Oxoniam legere câ—…pit Robert Pullen began to read at Oxford the holy scriptures which were grown out of fashion in England The fame of his leâ—…rning commended him beyond the Seas and it is remarkable that whereas it is usual with Popes in policy to unravel what such weaved who were before them three successive Popes continued their love to and increased honours upon him 1. Innocent courteously sent for him to Rome 2. Celestine created him Cardinal of St. Eusebius Anno 1144. 3. Lucius the second made him Chancellor of the Church of Rome He lived at Rome in great respect and although the certain date of his death cannot be collected it happened about the year of our Lord 1150. THOMAS JOYCE or Jorce a Dominican proceeded Doctor of Divinity in Oxford and living there he became Provincial of his Order both of England and Wales From this place without ever having any other preferment Pope Clement the fifth created him Cardinal of St. Sabine though some conceive he wanted breadth proportionable to such an height of dignity having no other revenue to maintain it Cardinals being accounted Kings fellow in that Age. Others admire at the contradiction betwixt Fryers pâ—…ofession and practice that persons so low should be so high so poor so rich which makes the same men to 〈◊〉 that so chaste might be so wanton He is remarkable on this account that he had six brethren all Dominicans I will not listen to their compaâ—…ison who resemble them to the seven sons of Sceva which were Exorcists but may term them a week of brethren whereof this Rubricated Cardinal was the Dominical letter There want not those who conceive great vertue in the youngest son of these seven and that his Touch was able to cure the Popes Evil. This Thomas as he had for the most time lived in Oxford so his Corps by his own desire were buried in his Convent therein He flourished Anno Dom. 1310. Prelates HERBERT LOSING was born in Oxford his father being an Abbot
on thee all spent in vain See this bright structure till that smart Blind thy blear-eyes and grieve thy heart Some Cottage-Schools are built so low The Muses there must groveling go Here whilst Apollo's sharp doth sound The Sisters Nine may dance around And Architects may take from hence The Pattern of magnificence Then grieve not Adams in thy mind 'Cause you have left no Child behind Unbred unborn is better rather If so you are a second Father To all bred in this School so fair And each of them thy Son and Heir Long may this Worthy person live to see his intentions finished and compleated to his own contentment Memorable Persons THOMAS PARRE son of John Parre born at Alberbury in the Parish of Winnington in this County lived to be above one hundred and fifty years of age verifying his Anagram Thomas Parre Most rare hap He was born in the reign of King Edward the Fourth one thousand four hundred eighty three and two moneths before his death was brought up by Thomas Earle of Arundel a great lover of Antiquities in all kinds to Westminster He slept away most of his time and is thus charactered by an eye witness of him From head to heel his body had all over A quick-set thick-set nat'ral hairy cover Change of Air and Diet better in it self but worse for him with the trouble of many Visitants or Spectators rather are conceived to have accelerated his death which happened Westminster November the 15 1634 and was buried in the Abbey-Church all present at his burial doing homage to this our aged Thomas de Temporibus Lords Majors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Roger Acheley Thomas Acheley Stanwardine Draper 1511 2 Rowland Hill Thomas Hill Hodnet Mercer 1549 3 Thomas Lee Roger Lee Wellington Mercer 1558 4 Thomas Lodge William Lodge Cresset Grocer 1562 5 Rowland Heyward George Heyward Bridg North Clothworker 1570 6 Robert Lee Humphry Lee Bridg North Merchant Tailor 1602 7 John Swinnerton Tho. Swinnerton Oswestry Merchant Tailor 1612 8 Francis Jones John Jones Glaverley Haberdasher 1620 9 Peter Probey Not Recorded White-church Grocer 1622 10 Allen Cotton Ralph Cotton White-church Draper 1625 11 George Whitmore Will. Whitmore Charley Haberdasher 1631 12 Thomas Adams Thomas Adams Wem Draper 164. See we here a Jury of Lords Majors born in this which I believe will hardly be paallel'd in a greater County All no doubt Honestmen and true The Names of the Gentry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of Henry the Sixth 1433. A VVilliam Bishop of Coven Leichf Commissioners to take the Oaths B John de Talbot Knight C Richard Laken Knights for the Shire VVilliam Boerley Willielmi Malory Militis Johannis Fitz-Piers Willielmi Lodelowe Thomae Hopton de Hopton Richardi Archer Johannis Wynnesbury Thomae Corbet de Ley Thomae Corbet de Morton Johannis Bruyn senioris Thomae Charleton Richardi Peshale Thomae Newport Georgii Hankeston Johannis Brugge Thomae Banastre Hugonis Harnage Leonardi Stepulton Hugonis Cresset Johannis Skryven Willielmi Poynour Richardi Neuport Richardi Horde Nicholai Sandford Griffin Kynaston Johanuis Bruyn junioris Hugonis Stepulton Simonis Hadington Alani Wetenhull Richardi Sonford Johannis Otley Edwardi Leighton de Mershe Edmundi Plowden Thomae Mardford Rogeri Bromley Richardi Lee Humfridi Cotes VVillielmi Leighton Richardi Horton Willielmi Welascote Richardi Husee Johannis Wenlok Willielmi Mersheton Walteri Codour Ricdardi Gerii VVillielmi Bourden A This VVilliam was VVilliam Hieworth Bishop of Coventry and Leichfield of whom here after B Sir John Talbot though here only additioned Knight was the Lord Talbot and eight years after created Earl of Shrewsbury of whom before C Richard Laken the same Family with Lacon whose Seat was at VVillily in this County augmented both in Bloud and Estate by the Matches with the Heirs of 1 Harley 2 Peshal 3 Passilew 4 Blunt of Kinlet My hopes are according to my desires that this Ancient Family is still extant in this County though I suspect shrewdly shattered in Estate The Commissioners of this Shire were neither altogether Idle nor very Industrious having made but a short and slender return only of 45 principal persons therein Sheriffes of Shropshire HEN. II. Anno 1 Anno 2 Will. filius Alani for 5 years together Anno 7 Guido Extraneus for 5 years together Anno 12 Gaufrid de Ver for 4 years together Anno 16 Gaufrid de Ver Will Clericus Anno 17 Guido Extraneus for 9 years together Anno 26 Hugo Pantulfe for 8 years together RICH. I. Anno 1 Will. filius Alani Reginal de Hesden Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. filius Alani Will de Hadlega Anno 4 Will. filius Alani for 4 years together Anno 8 Will. filius Alani Reginald de Hedinge Anno 9 Will. filius Alani Wido filius Roberti Anno 10 Will. filius Alani Masculum JOHANNES Anno 1 Will. filius Alani VVarrus de VVililegh Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 VVill. filius Alani Reiner de Lea. Anno 4 G. filius Petri Richardus de Ambresleg Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Thomas de Erolitto Robertus de Alta Ripa Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Thomas de Erdington for 9 years together HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Ranul Com. Cestriae Hen. de Aldetheleg Anno 3 Idem Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Ranul Com. Cestriae Philippus Kinton Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Ranul Com. Cestriae Anno 9 Johannes Bovet Anno 10 Idem Anno 11 Hen. de Aldithle Anno 12 Idem Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Hen. de Aldithle VVill. de Bromley Anno 15 Idem Anno 16 Idem Anno 17 Petr. Rival Rob. de Haye for 4 years together Anno 21 Johannes Extraneus Robertus de Acton Anno 22 Johannes Extraneus for 11 years together Anno 33 Thomas Corbet Anno 34 Idem Anno 35 Robertus de Grendon for 5 years together Anno 40 Hugo Acover Anno 41 Idem Anno 42 VVillielmus Bagod Anno 43 Idem Anno 44 Idem Anno 45 Jacobus de Audeley for 7 years together Anno 52 VValterus de Hopton Anno 53 Idem EDW. I. Anno 1 Roger. de Mortuo Mari. Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Idem Anno 4 Bago de Knovile Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Rogerus Sprengehuse for 8 years together Anno 15 Dominus de Ramesley Anno 16 Idem Anno 17 Robertus Corbet Anno 18 VVill. de Tickley â—…ive Tittle for 6 years together Anno 24 Radulphus de Schirle Anno 25 Idem Anno 26 Idem Anno 27 Tho. Corbet Anno 28 Idem Anno 29 Richardus de Harleigh Anno 30 Idem Anno 31 VValter de Beysin Anno 32 Idem Anno 33 Johannes de Acton Anno 34 Johannes de Dene Anno 35 Idem EDW. II. Anno 1 Rogerus Trumvine Anno 2 Johannes Extraneus Hugo de Crofts Hugo de Crofts Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Hugo
then would appear in publick to converse with his Friends whereof Dr. Cowel and Mr. Camden were principal Some tax him to smack of the Old Cask as resenting of the Romish Religion but they have a quicker Palatâ—…than than I who can make any such discovery In his old Age he turn'd Husbandman and Rented a Farm in Wiltshire nigh the Devises I can give no account how he thrived thereupon For though he was well vers'd in Virgil his fellow Husbandman-Poet yet there is more required to make a rich Farmer than only to say his Georgicks by heart and I question whether his Itaâ—…ian will fit our English Husbandry Besides I suspect that Mr. Daniel his fancy was too fine and sublimated to be wrought down to his private profit However he had neither a Bank of wealth or lank of want living in a competent condition By Justina his wife he had no child and I am unsatisfied both in the Place and Time of death but collect the latter to be about the end of the reign of King James HUMPHRY SIDENHAM was born at Dalverton in this County of a most Ancient and Worshipful Family bred Fellow of Wadham Colledge so Eloquent a Preacher that he was commonly called Silver-tongued Sidenham But let his own printed Sermons and especially that called the Athenian Babler set forth his deserved praise who died since our Civil distempers about the year 1650. Romish-exile Writers JOHN GIBBON was undoubtedly born in this County though herein Pitts presents us with an untoward and left-handed direction Patrica Somersetensis Diocesis Wintoniensis Now either Wâ—…nchester is imprinted for Wells or he was born in this County in some peculiar belonging to Winchester which See hath large revenues about Taunton Leaving the Land for his Religion Pope Gregory XIII collated on him a Canons place in the Church of Bonn. This he soon quitted and became Rector of the Jesuits Colledge in Triers he wrote a Book against G. Schon Professor at Heydelberge in vindication that the Pope was not Antichrist Being indisposed in health his hearing of the defeat of the Spanish Armado was no cordial unto him and died Anno 1589. ROBERT PERSON was born in this County bred in Baliol-Colledge in Oxford till for his viciousness he was expelled thence with disgrace Running to Rome and there finishing the course of his studies he with Campian were the first brace of English Jesuits who returned hither 1589 to preserve this Nation Two years after he escaped hence and got beyond the Seas One of a troublesome spirit wherewith some moderate Romanists were so offended that during his abode here they once resolved to resign him up to the Queens Officers He had an ill natured Wit biassed to Satyricalnesse A great States-man and it was not the least part of his policy to provide for his own safety who would look on direct give ground abet on other mens hands but never plaid so as to adventure himself into England He wrote a shrewd Book of the Succession to the English-crown setting it forth under the false name of Dolman a dulsecular Priest guilty of little Learning and less policy dedicating the same to the Earl of Essex He had an authoritative influence on all English Catholicks nothing of importance being agitated by them but Person had a finger hand arm therein He was for 23 years Rector of the Colledge at Rome where he died Anno Dom. 1610. JOHN FEN was born at Montacute in this County bred in New-Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Bachelour in Laws continuing there till Anno Dom. 1562 for his Popish activity he was ejected by the Queens Commissioners Then for a time he lived Schoolmaster at St. Edmunds-bury till outed there on the same account Hence he fled over into Flâ—…nders thence into Italy whence returning at last he was fixed at Lovain He wrote many and translated more Books living to finish his Jubile or Fiftieth year oâ—… exile beyond the Seas where he died about the years of our Lord 1613. Let me add that this John Fen mindeth me of another of the same surname and as violent on conâ—…rary principles viz. Humphrey Fen a non-conformist Minister living about Coventry who in the preface to his last Will Made such a Protestation against the Hierarchy and Ceremonies that when his Will was brought to be proved the Preface would not be suffered to be put amongst the Records of the Court as which indeed was no Limb but a Wen of his Testament JOHN COLLINGTON was born in this County bred in Lincoln-Colledge in Oxford Going beyond the Seas and there made Priest he returned into England and with Campian was taken cast into the Tower of London and condemned but afterwards reprieved enlarged and sent beyond the Seas Hence he returned and for 30 years together zelously advanced his own Religion being Assistant to the two Arch-Priests and he himself supplied the Place in the vacancy betwixt them He could not but be a very aged Man who though in restraint was alive 1611. Benefactors to the Publik The Lady MOHUN Reader know I can surround the Christian Names of her neâ—…rest Relations Her Husband was John the last Lord Mohun of Dunstor Her eldest daughter Philip married to Edward Duke of York her second Elizabeth to William Montacute Earl of Salisbury her youngest Maud matcht to the Lord Strange of Knockyn buâ—… her own Christian Name I cannot recover However she hath left a worthy memory behind her chiefly on this account that she obteined from her Husband so much good ground for the Commons of the Town of Dunstor as she could in one day believe it a Summer one for her ease and advantage compasse about going on her naked feet Surely no Ingenious Scholar beheld her in that her charitable perambulation but in effect vented his wishes in the Poets expression Ah! tibi nè teneras tellus secet aspera plantas The certain date of her death is unknown which by proportion is conjectured in the reign of King Henry the Fifth Since the Reformation NICHOLAS WADHAM of Merrifield in this County Esq. had great length in his extraction breadth in his Estate and depth in his liberality His Hospital house was an Inn at all times a Court at Cristmas He married Dorothy daughter to the Secretary sister to the first Lord Peters Absolom having no children reared up for himself a Pillar to perpetuate his name This Worthy pair being Issueless erected that which hath doth and will afford many Pillars to Church and State the uniform and regular nothing defective or superfluous therein Colledge of Wadham in Oxford Had this worthy Esquire being a great Patron of Church-Livings annexed some Benefices thereunto which may be presumed rather forgotten than neglected by him it had for compleatenesse of Fabrick and endowment equalled any English Foundation If he was which some suggest a Romanist in his Judgement his charity is the more commendable to build
in this Shire though one may seem somewhat suspicious as being bred living though not to their full strength and stature of being navigable and dying therein swallowed up by the sea It is sufficient evidence of the plenty of this County that the Tolle of the Wheat Corn and Malt growing or made about and sold in the City of Chichester doth amount yearly at a half penny a Quarter to sixty pounds and upwards as the Gatherers thereof will attest and the numbers of the Bushels we leave to be Audited by better Arithmeticians It hath been said that the first Baron Viscount and Earl in England all three have and have had for some term of time their chief residence in this County and it is more civility to believe all then to deny any part of the repoâ—…t though sure I am this observation was discomposed at the death of the Earl of Essex since which time Viscount Hereford is the first Person in England of that Dignity Naturall Commodities Iron Great the necessity hereof some Nations having lived in the ignorance of Gold and Silver scarce any without the use of Iron Indeed we read not of it in making the Tabernacle though from no mention no use thereof therein cannot infallibly be inferred which being but a Slight and Portable Building Brass might supply the want thereof But in the Temple which was a firmer fabrick we find Iron for the things of Iron and a hundred thousand Talents of that Metal imployed therein Great the quantity of Iron made in this County whereof much used therein and more exported thence into other parts of the Land and beyond the Seas But whether or no the private profit thereby will at long-running countervail the publick loss in the destruction of woodâ—… I am as unwilling to discuss as unable to decide Onely let me adde the ensuing complaint wherein the Timber-trees of this County deplore their condition in my opinion richly worth the Readers perusall Joves Oake the warlike Ash veyn'd Elm the softer Beech Short Hazell Maple plain light Aspe the bending Wych Tough Holly and soomth Birch must altogether burn What should the Builders serve supplies the Forgers turn When under publick good base private gain takes hold And we poor wofull woods to ruin lastly sold. But it is to be hoped that a way may be found out to â—…harke Seacole in such manner as to render it usefull for the making of Iron All things are not found out in one age as reserved for future discovery and that perchance may be easy for the next which seems impossible to this generation Talk Talk in Latine Talchum is a cheap kind of Mineral which this County plentifully affords though not so fine as what is fetch'd from Venice It is white and transparent like Chrystall full of strekes or veins which prettily scatter themselves Being calcined and variously prepared it maketh a curious White wash which some justiâ—…y lawfull because Cleaâ—…ing not Changing Complexion It is a great Astringent yet used but little in Physick Surely Nature would not have made it such an Hypocrit to hang out so fair a sign except some guest of Quality were lodged therein I mean it would not appear so beautifull to the eye except some conâ—…ealed worth were couched therein Inclining me to believe that the vertue 〈◊〉 is not yet fully discovered Wheat ears Wheat-ears is a bird peculiar to this County hardly found out of it It is so called because fattest when Wheat is râ—…pe whereon it feeds being no bigger then a Lark which it equalleth in the fineness of the flesh far exceedeth in the fatness thereof The worst is that being onely seasonable in the heat of summer and naturally larded with lumps of fat it is soon subject to corrupt so that though abounding within fourty miles London-Poulterers have no mind to meddle with them which no care in carriage can keep from Putrefaction That Palate-men shall pass in silence who being seriously demanded his judgment concerning the abilities of a great Lord concluded him a man of very weak parts because once he saw him at a great Feast feed on CHICKENS when there were WHEAT-EARS on the Table I will adde no more in praise of this Bird for fear some female Reader may fall in longing for it and unhappily be disappointed of her desire Carpes It is a stately fish but not long Naturalized in England and of all Fresh-water fishes the Ele only excepted lives longest out of his Proper Element They breed which most other fishes doe not severall Months in one year though in cold Ponds they take no comfort to increase A learned Writer observeth they live but ten years though others assign them a far longer life They are the better for their age and bigness a rule which holds not in other Fishes and their Tongues by ancient Roman Palate-men were counted most delicious meat though to speak Properly they have either no Tongues in their Mouths or all their Mouths are Tongues as filled with a Carneous substance whilst their Teeth are found in their throats There is a kind of Frog which is a Profest Foe unto them insomuch that of a Hundred Carpes put into a Pond not five of them have been found therein a year after And though some may say perchance two-leged Frogs stole them away yet the strict care of their Owners in watching them disproved all suspition thereof Now as this County is eminent for both Sea and River 〈◊〉 namely an Arundel Mullet a Chichester Lobster a 〈◊〉 Cockle and an Ameâ—…ly Trout So Sussex aboundeth with more Carpes then any other of this Nation And though not so great as Jovius reporteth to be found in the Lurian Lake in Italy weighing more then fifty pounds yet those generally of great and goodly proportion I need not adde that Physicians account the galls of Carpâ—…s as also a stone in their heads to be 〈◊〉 only I will observe that because Jews will not eat Caviare made of 〈◊〉 because coming from a fish wanting Scals and therefore forbidden in the Levitical Law Therefore the Italians make greater profit of the Spaun of Carps whereof they make a Red Caviare well pleasing the Jews both in Palate and Conscience All I will adde of Carps is this that Ramuâ—… himself doth not so much redound in Dichotomies as they do Seeing no one bone is to be found in their body which is not forked or divided into two parts at the end thereof Manufactures Great Guns It is almost incredible how many are made of the iron in this County Count Gondomer well knew their goodness when of K. James he so often begg'd the boon to transport them A Monke of Mentz some three hundred years since is generally reputed the first Founder of them Surely ingenuity may seem transposed and to have cross'd her hands when about the same time a Sâ—…uldier found out Printing and it is questionable which of the two Inventions
he was successively preferred by King Charles the first Bishop of Hereford and London and for some years Lord Treasurer of England A troublesome place in those times it being expected that he should make much Brick though not altogether without yet with very little Straw allowed unto him Large then the Expences Low the Revenues of the Exchequer Yet those Coffers which he found Empty he left Filling and had left Full had Peace been preserved in the Land and he continued in his Place Such the mildness of his temper that Petitioners for Money when it was not to be had departed well pleased with his denialls they were so civilly Languaged It may justly seem a wonder that whereas few spake well of Bishops at that time and Lord Treasurers at all times are liable to the Complaints of discontented people though both Offices met in this man yet with Demetrius he was well reported of all men and of the truth it self He lived to see much shame and contempt undeservedly poured on his Function and all the while possessed his own soul in patience He beheld those of his Order to lose their votes in Parliament and their insulting enemies hence concluded Loss of speech being a sad Symptom of approching Death that their Final extirpation would follow whose own experience at this day giveth the Lie to their malicious Collection Nor was it the least part of this Prelates Honour that amongst the many worthy Bishops of our Land King Charles the first selected him for his Confessor at his Martyrdome He formerly had had experience in the case of the Earl of Strafford that this Bishops Conscience was bottom'd on Piety not Policy the reason that from him he received the Sacrament good Comfort and Counsell just before he was Murdered I say just before that Royal Martyr was Murdered a Fact so foul that it alone may confute the errour of the Pelagians maintaining that all Sin cometh by imitaâ—…ion the Universe not formerly affording such a Precedent as if those Regicides had purposely designed to disprove the Observation of Solomon that there is No new thing under the Sun King Charles the second Anno Domini 1660. preferred him Arch-bishop of Canterbury which place he worthily graceth at the writing hereof Feb. 1. 1660. ACCEPTUS FRUIN D. D. was born at in this County bred Fellow of Magdalen-colledge in Oxford and afterwards became President thereof and after some mediate preferments was by King Charles the first advanced Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and since by King Charles the second made Arch-bishop of York But the matter whereof Porcellane or China dishes are made must be ripened many years in the earth before it comes to full perfection The Living are not the proper objects of the Historians Pen who may be misinterpreted to flatter even when he falls short of their due Commendation the Reason why I adde no more in the praise of this worthy Prelate As to the Nativities of Arch-bishops one may say of this County many Shires have done worthily but SUSSEX surmounteth them all having bred Five Archbishops of Canterbury and at this instant claiming for her Natives the two Metropolitans of our Nation States-men THOMAS SACKVILL son and heir to Sir Richard Sackvill Chancellour and Sub-Treasurer of the Exchequer and Privy-Counsellour to Queen Elizabeth by Winifred his wife daughter to Sir John Bruges was bred in the University of Oxford where he became an excellent Poet leaving both Latine and English Poems of his composing to posterity Then studied he law in the Temple and took the degree of Barrister afterward he travelled into forraign parts detained for a time a prisoner in Rome whence his liberty was procured for his return into England to possess the vast Inheritance left him by his father whereof in short time by his magnificent prodigality he spent the greatest part till he seasonably began to spare growing neer to the bottom of his Estate The story goes that this young Gentleman coming to an Alderman of London who had gained great Pennyworths by his former purchases of him was made being now in the Wane of his Wealth to wait the coming down of the Alderman so long that his generous humour being sensible of the incivility of such attendance resolved to be no more beholding to Wealthy pride and presently turned a thrifty improver of the remainder of his Estate If this be true I could wish that all Aldermen would State it on the like occasion on condition their noble debtors would but make so good use thereof But others make him the Convert of Queen Elizabeth his Cosin german once removed who by her frequent admonitions diverted the torrent of his profusion Indeed she would not know him till he began to know himself and then heaped places of honour and trust upon him creating him 1. Baron of Buckhurst in this County the reason why we have placed him therein Anno Dom. 1566. 2. Sending him Ambassadour into France Anno 1571. into the Low-countries Anno 1586. 3. Making him Knight of the Order of the Garter Anno 1589. 4. Appointing him Treasurer of England 1599. He was Chancellour of the University of Oxford where he entertained Q. Elizabeth with a most sumptuous feast His elocution was good but inditing better and therefore no wonder if his Secretaries could not please him being a person of so quick dispatch faculties which yet run in the bloud He took a Roll of the names of all Suitors with the date of their first addresses and these in order had their hearing so that a fresh-man could not leap over the head of his senior except in urgent affairs of State Thus having made amends to his house for his mis-spent time both in increase of Estate and Honour being created Earl of Dorset by King James he died on the 19. of April 1608. Capitall Judges Sir JOHN JEFFRY Knight was born in this County as I have been informed It confirmeth me herein because he left a fair Estate in this Shire Judges genebuilding their Nest neer the place where they were Hatched which descended to his Daughter He so profited in the study of our Municipall-Law that he was preferred Secondary Judge of the Common-pleas and thence advanced by Queen Elizabeth in Michaelmas Terme the nineteenth of her Reign to be Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer which place he discharged for the Terme of two years to his great commendation He left one only Daughter and Heir married to Sir Edward Mountague since Baron of Boughton by whom he had but one Daughter Elizabeth married to Robert Barty Earl of Linsey Mother to the truly Honorable Mountague Earl of Linsey and Lord Great Chamberlain of England This worthy Judge died in the 21. of Queen Elizabâ—…h Souldiers The ABBOT of BATTLE He is a pregnant Proof that one may leave no Name and yet a good Memory behind him His Christian or Surname cannot be recovered out of our Chronicles which hitherto
how soon for their own safety they may have need to make use thereof Many other Charities he bestowed and deceased Anno 1496. Since the Reformation ............. HALES Esquire He purchased a prime part of the Priory of Coventry Now either out of his own inclination or as a Condition of his Composition with King Henry the eighth or a mixture of both he founded and endowed a fair Grammer-school in Coventry Herein I have seen more abate the Three English schools of the first Magnitude and as well learned Scholars be it spoken that the Master Usâ—…er and Scholars may according to their Proportions divide the praise betwixt them as in any School in England Here is also an Infant which may be an Adult Library when it meeteth with more Benefactors JOHN Lord HARRINGTON son to James Lord Harrington was born at Combe Abby in this County accruing unto him by his Mother Heiress of â—…elway as by a property of that Family lately or still surviving I have on very strict enquiry been certainly enformed He did not count himself priviledged from being Good by being Great and his timely Piety rising early did not soon after go to Bed as some young Saints beheld under an other Notion but contiuned watchfull during his life He was one of the first who began the pious fashion since followed by few of his Quality of a Diary wherein he registred not the Injuries of others done unto him a work of Revenge not Devotion but of his Faâ—…lings and Infirmities toward his Master Thus making even with the God of Heaven by Repentance in Christ at the end of every day he had to use the Expression and Counsell of the Reverend Arch-Bishop of Armagh but one day to repent of before his death He lived out all 〈◊〉 days in the appointment of Divine Providence not half of them according to the course and possibility of Nature not Half a Quarter of them according to the hopes and desires of the Lovers and Honourers of Virtue in this Nation especially of the society in Sidney-colledge in Cambridge whereto he was a most 〈◊〉 Bénefactour He was the last Male of that Honourable Family as one justly complains JOHANES DOMINUS HARRINGTONIUS Anagramma INSIGNIS ERAT AH UNUS HONOR DOMI The Reader is referred for the rest unto his Funerall Sermon preached by Master Stock of London who though he would not to use his own Phrase Gild a Poâ—…sheard understand him Flatter unworthyness yet giveth him his large and due Commendation He died unmarried Anno 161. leaving his two Sisters his Heirs Lucy married to Edward Earl of Bedford and Anne who by Sir Robert Chichester had a daughter Anne married to Thomas Earl of Elgin and Mother to Robert L. Bruce who is at this day Heir Apparent to no small part of the Lands but Actually possessed of a larger of the Vertues of his Honourable Great-uncle Memorable Persons THOMAS UNDERHILL Esquire was born at Neaher-Eatendon in this County It is pity to part him from Elizabeth his wife seeing the Poetical fiction of Philemon and Baucis found in them an Historical performance with improvement * Sed pia Baucis anus parilique aetate Philemon Illâ sunt annis juncti juvenilibus illâ Consenuere casâ paupertatémque ferendo Effecere levem nec iniqua mente ferendam But good old Baucis with Philemon matchd In youthfull years now struck with equal age Made poorness pleasant in their cottage Thatch'd And weight of want with patience diâ—… aswage Whereas this our Warwick-shire-Pair living in a worshipfull equipage and exemplary for their hospitality did teach others not how Poverty might be born but Wealth well used by their Example for the owners and others good The Ovidian-couple appear issueless whereas twenty children viz. tâ—…teen sons and seven daughters were begotten and born by this Thomas and Elizabeth living sixty five years together in marriage Indeed the poeticall-pair somewhat outstrip'd them in the happiness of their death their request being granted them Et quoniam concordes egimus annos Auferà thora duos eadem nec conjugis unquam Busta meae videam nec sim tumulandus ab illa Because we liv'd and lov'd so long together Let 's not behold the funeralls of either May one hour end us both may I not see This my wife buried nor wife bury me However these Underhills deceased in one year she in July he in October following 1603. Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 John Coventry William Coventry Coventry Mercer 1425 2 John Olney John Olney Coventry Mercer 1446 3 Robert Tate Thomas Tate Coventry Mercer 1488 4 Hugh Clopton John Clopton Stratford upon Avon Mercer 1491 5 John Tate Thomas Tate Coventry 1496 6 William Cockain William Cockain Baddesley Skinner 1619 7 John Warner John Warner Rowington Grocer  The Names of the Gentry of this County Returned by the Commissioners in the 〈◊〉 year of King Henry the sixth 1433. William Bishop of Lincoln Commissioners to take the Oaths Richard Earl of Warwick John Cotes Knights for the shire Nicholas Metley Knights for the shire Radul Nevill mil. Ioh. Colepeper mil. Will. Mounford mil. Edw. Oddingsselles m. Tho. Bâ—…rdet mil. Rich. Otherston Abbatis de Camba Will. Pole Abbatis de Alyncestre Joh. Buggeley Abbatis de Miravalle Edw. Bronâ—…ete de Farnburgh ar Bald. Mountford de Hampton ar Râ—…d Brasebrugg de Kinnesbury ar Will. Lucy de Charlecote ar Tho. Hugford de Emescote ar Tho. Erdington de Erdington ar Rob. Arden de Bromwich ar Will. Pucfrey de Shiford ar Rog. Harewell de Morehall ar Rich. Hyband de Ippesley armig Will. Botoner de Wythybroke Ioh. Midlemore de Eggebaston ar Thome Porter de Escote ar Tho. 〈◊〉 de Tonworth ar Tho. Waryng de eadem ar Rich. Verney ar de Wolverton Tho. Gâ—…ene de Solyhull ar Joh. Chelwyn de Alspath ar Ioh. Waldiene de eadem ar Nich. Ruggeley de Donton ar Will. Holt de Aston ar Rich. Merbroke de Codbarow ar Galf. Allefley d eparva Lalleford Tho. Greswold de Solyhull Tho. Haynton de Napton Will. Parker de Tonworth Edm. Starkey de Stretton Ranul Starky de eadem Will. Derset de Thurlaston Rich. Hall de Stretford Ioh. Mayell de eadem Simon Forster de Althercton Clemen Draper de â—…adem Iohan. Darant de Berston Rog. Mullward de Nuneton Iohan. Omfrey de eadem Iohan. Waryn de eadem Hum. Iacob de Tamworth Tho. Neuton de eadem Math. Smalwode de Sutton Rich. Dalby de Brokhampton Rich. Eton de Warwick Hum. Corbet Iohan. Aleyn de Berford Tho. Iakes de Woner Rog. Clerk de Tatchbrook Rich. Briches de Longedon Will. Reynold de Attilburgh Ioh. Michell majoris civitatis Coventrae Will. Donington unius Ballivorum civitatis Predictae Rob. Southam alterius Ballivorum civitatis Predicte Egidii Alles sley Magistri Gildae Sanctae Trinitatis de Coventrae Lauren. Cook de Coventrae Merchant Rich. Sharp de eadem Merchant Rich. Boton de eadem Fishmonger Ioh. Lychefeld de eadem Grasier
Rayes they report he hung his Veâ—…ment which miraculously supported it to the great admiration of the beholders Coming to Rome to be Consecrated Bishop of Sherburn he reproved Pope Sergius his fatherhood for being a father indeed to a Base Child then newly born And returning home he lived in great Esteem untill the day of his death which happened Anno Dom. 709. His Corps being brought to Malmesbury were there Inshrined and had in great Veneration who having his longest abode whilst living and last when dead in this County is probably presumed a Native thereof EDITH Naturall daughter of King Edger by the Lady Wolfhild was Abbess of Wilton wherein she demeaned her self with such Devotion that her Memory obtained the reputation of Saint-ship And yet an Author telleth us that being more curious in her attire then beseemed her profession Bishop Ethelwold sharply reproved her who answered him roundly That God regarded the Heart more then the Garment and that Sins might be covered as well under Rags as Robes One reporteth that after the slaughter of her brother Edward holy Dunstan had a design to make her Queen of England the Vail of her head it seems would not hinder the Crown so to defeat Ethelred the lawfull Heir had she not declined the proffer partly on Pious partly Politick diswasions She died Anno Dom. 984. and is buried in the Church of Dioness at Wilton of her own building she is commonly called Saint Edith the younger to distinguish her from Saint Edith her Aunt of whom before Martyrs It plainly appeareth that about the year of our Lord 1503. there was a persecution of Protestants give me leave so to Antedate their name in this County under Edmund Audley Bishop of Salisbury as by computation of time will appear Yet I find but one man Richard Smart by name the more remarkable because but once and that scentingly mentioned by Mr. Fox burnt at Salisbury for reading a book called Wicliffs Wicket to one Thomas Stillman afterwards burnt in Smithfield But under cruel Bishop Capon Wiltshire afforded these Marian Martyrs Name Vocation Residence Martyred in Anno John Spicer Free-Mason    William Coberly Taylor Kevel Salisbury 1556 Apr. John Maundrell Husbandman    Confessors Name Vocation Residence Persecuted in Anno John Hunt Husbandman Marleborough Salisbury 1558 Richard White Husbandman    These both being condemned to die were little less then miraculously preserved as will appear hereafter ALICE COBERLY must not be omitted wife to William Coberly forenamed charitably presuming on her repentance though she failed in her Constancy on this occasion The Jaylors wife of Salisbury heating a key fire hot and laying it in the grasse spake to this Alice to bring it in to her in doing whereof she pitiously burnt her hand and cryed out thereat O said the other if thou canst not abide the burning of a key how wilt thou indure thy whole body to be burnt at the stake Whereat the said Alice revoked her opinion I can neither excuse the Cruelty of the one though surely doing it not out of a Persecuting but Carnall preserving intention nor the Cowardliness of the other For she might have hoped that her whole body encountering the flame with a Christian resolution and confidence of Divine support in the Testimony of the truth would have found lesse pain then her hand felt from the suddain surprize of the fire wherein the unexpectedness added if not to the pain to the fright thereof This sure I am that some condemn her shrinking for a burnt hand who would have done so themselves for a scratched finger Cardinals WALTER WINTERBURN was born at Sarisbury in this County and bred a Dominican-fryer He was an excellent Scholar in all Studies suitable to his age when a Youth a good Poet and Orator when a Man an acute Philosopher Aristotelicarum doctrinarum heluo saith he who otherwise scarce giveth him a good word when an Old-man a deep Controvertial Divine and Skilfull Casuist a quality which commended him to be Confessor to King Edward the first Now news being brought to Pope Benedict the eleventh that William Maklesfield Provincial of the Dominicans and designed Cardinall of Saint Sabin was dead and buried at London before his Cap could be brought to him he appointed this Walter to be heir to his Honour The worst is as Medlers are never ripe till they are rotten so few are thought fit to be Cardinals but such as are extreamly in years Maklesfield had all his body buried and our Winterburn had one foot in the grave being seventy nine years of age before he was summoned to that dignity However over he went with all hast into Italy and though coming thither too late to have a sight of Pope Benedict the eleventh came soon enough to give a suffrage at the choice of Clement the fift This Walter his Cardinals Cap was never a whit the worse for wearing enjoying it but a year In his return home he died and was buried at Genua but afterwards his Corps were brought over and Re-interred most solemnly in London Anno 1305. ROBERT HALAM was saith my Author Regio sanguine Angliae natus born of the bloud Royal of England though how or which way he doth not acquaint us But we envy not his high Extraction whilst it seems accompanied with other Eminences He was bred in Oxford and afterwards became Chancelour thereof 1403. From being Arch-deacon of Canterbury he was preferred Bishop of Salisbury On the sixt of June 1411. he was made Cardinal though his particular title is not expressed It argueth his Abilities that he was one of them who was sent to represent the English Clergy both in the Council of Pisa and Constance in which last service he dyed Anno Dom. 1417. in Gotleby Castle Prelates JOANNES SARISBURIENSIS was born at and so named from old Sarum in this County though I have heard of some of the Salisburies in Denby shire who Essay to assert him to their Family as who would not recover so eminent a person Leland saith that he seeth in him Omnem 〈◊〉 Orbem all the World or if you will the whole Circle of Learning Bale saith that he was one of the first who since Theodorus Arch-bishop of Canterbury living five hundred years before him oh the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Barbarisme in England indeavoured to restore the learned languages to their Originall Purity being a good Latinist Grecian Musician Mathematician Philosopher Divine and what not What learning he could not find at home he did fetch from abroad travelling into France and Italy companion to T. Becket in his Exile but no partner in his protervity against his Prince for which he sharply reproved him He was highly in favour with Pope Eugenius the third and Adrian the fourth and yet no author in that age hath so pungent passages against the Pride and Covetousness of the Court
the leaves of the Bayes and â—…y be withered to nothing since the erection of the Tomb but only rosated having a Chaplet of four Roses about his head Another Author unknighteth him allowing him only a plain Esquire though in my apprehension the Colar of S.S.S. about his neck speak him to be more Besides with submission to better judgements that Colar hath rather a Civil than Military relation proper to persons in places of Judicature which makes me guess this Gower some Judge in his old age well consisting with his original education He was before Chaucer as born and flourishing before him yea by some accounted his Master yet was he after Chaucer as surviving him two years living to be stark blind and so more properly termed our English Homer Many the Books he wrote whereof three most remarkable viz. Speculum Meditantis in French Confessio Amantis in English Vox Clamantis in Latine His death happened 1402. JOHN MARRE by Bale called MARREY and by Trithemius MARRO was born at Marre a village in this County three miles West from Doncaster where he was brought up in Learning Hence he went to Oxford where saith Leland the University bestowed much honour upon him for his excellent Learning He was by Order a Carmelite and in one respect it was well for his Memory that he was so which maketh John Balâ—… who generally falleth foul on all Fryers to have some civility for him as being once himself of the same Order allowing him subtilly learned in all secular Philosophy But what do I instance in home-bred Testimonies Know Reader that in the Character of our own Country Writers I prize an Inch of Forraign above an Ell of English Commendation and Outlandish Writers Trithemius Sixtus Senensis Petrus Lucius c. give great Encomiums of his Ability though I confesse it is chiefly on this account because he wrote against the Opinions of J. Wickliffe He died on the eighteenth of Mà rch 1407. and was buried in the Convent of Carmelites in Doncaster THOMAS GASCOIGNE eldest son to Richard the younger brother unto Sir William Gascoigne Lord Chief Justice was born at Huntfleet in this County bred in Baliol Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor in Divinity and was Commissioner of that University Anno Dom. 1434. He was well acquainted with the Maids of Honour I mean Humane Arts and Sciences which conducted him first to the presence then to the favour of Divinity the Queen He was a great Hieronymist perfectly acquainted with all the Writings of that Learned Father and in expression of his gratitude for the good he had gotten by reading his Woâ—…ks he collected out of many Authors and wrote the life of Saint Hierom. He made also a Book called Dictionarium Theologicum very useful to and therefore much esteemed by the Divines in that age He was seven and fifty years old Anno 1460. and how long he survived afterwards is unknown JOHN HARDING was born saith my Author in the Northern parts and I have some cause to believe him this Countrey-man He was an Esquire of ancient Parentage and bred from his Youth in Military Employment First under Robert Umfrevil Governour of Roxborough Castle and did good service against the Scots Then he followed the Standard of King Edward the fourth adhering faithfully unto him in his deepest distresse But the Master-piece of his service was his adventuring into Scotland not without the manifest hazard of his Life where he so cunningly demeaned himselfe that he found there and fetched thence out of their Records many Original Letters which he presented to King Edward the fourth Out of these he collected an History of the several Solemn Submissions publickly made and Sacred Oaths of Fealty openly taken from the time of King Athelstane by the Kings of SCOTLAND to the Kings of ENGLAND for the Crown of SCOTLAND although the Scotch Historians stickle with might and maine that such Homage was performed onely for the County of Cumberland and some parcels of Land their Kings had in ENGLAND south of TWEED He wrote also a Chronicle of our English Kings from BRUTUS to King EDWARD the fourth and that in English Verse and in my Judgement he had drank as hearty a draught of Helicon as any in his age He was living 1461. then very aged and I believe died soon after HENRY PARKER was bred from his infancy in the Carmelite Convent at Doncaster afterwards Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge Thence he returned to Doncaster and well it had been with him if he had staid there still and not gone up to London to preach at Pauls-Crosse where the subject of his Sermon was to prove That Christs poverty was the pattern of humane perfection and that men professing eminent sanctity should conform to his precedent Going on foot feeding on Barley-bread wearing seamless-woven-coats having no houses of their own c. He drove this nail so far that he touched the quick and the wealthy Clergy winched thereat His Sermon offended much as preached more as published granting the Copy thereof to any that would transcribe it For this the Bishop of London put him in prison which Parker patiently endured in hope perchance of a rescue from his Order till being informed that the Pope effectually appeared on the party of the Prelates to procure his liberty he was content at Pauls-Cross to recant Not as some have took the word to say over the same again in which sense the Cuckow of all Birds is properly called the Recanter but he unsaid with at least seeming sorrow what he had said before However fâ—…om this time we may date the decay of the Carmelites credit in England who discountenanced by the Pope never afterwards recruited themselves to their former number and honour but moulted their feathers till King Henry the eight cut off their very wings and body too at the Dissolution This Parker flourished under King Edward the fourth Anno 1470. Since the Reformation Sir FRANCIS BIGOT Knight was born aud well landed in this County Bale giveth him this testimony that he was Evangelicae veritatis amator Otherwise I must confess my self posed with his intricate disposition For he wrote a book against the Clergy Of IMPROPRIATIONS Had it been against the Clergy of Appropriations I could have guessed it to have proved Tithes due to the Pastors of their respective Parishes Whereas now having not seen nor seen any that have seen his book I cannot conjecture his judgment As his book so the manner of his death seems a riddle unto me being though a Protestant slain amongst the Northern Rebells 1537. But here Bale helpeth us not a little affirming him found amongst them against his will And indeed those Rebells to countenancé their Treason violently detained some Loyall Persons in their Camp and the Blind sword having Aciem not Oculum kill'd friend and foe in fury without distinction WILFRID HOLME was born in this County of Gentile
Wales is therefore placed in this because the first County thereof Prelates GUIDO de MONA was so sir-named from his Birth-place in Anglesey Some suspect that Filius insulae may be as bad as Filius populi no place being particularized for his birth whiles others conceive this sounding to his greater dignity to be denominated from a whole Island the Village of his nativity being probably obscure long and hard to be pronounced He was afterwards Bishop of Saint Davids and Lord Treasurer of England under King Henry the fourth who highly honoâ—…ed him for when the Parliament moved that no Welsh-man should be a State Officer in England the King excepted the Bishops as confident of their faithful service Indeed T. Wallingham makes this Gui the Author of much trouble but is the lesse to be believed therein because of the known Antipathy betwixt Fryers and Secular 〈◊〉 the former being as faulty in their lafie speculation as the other often offending in the practical over-activity This Bishop died â—…nno 1407. ARTHUR BULKLEY Bishop of Bangor was born either in Cheshire or more probably in this County But it matters not much had he never been born who being bred Doctor of the Laws had either never read or wholly forgotten or wilfully would not remember the Chapter De sacrilegio for he spoyled the Bishoprick and sold the five Bells being so over-officious that he would go down to the Sea to see them shipped which in my mind amounted to a second selling of them We have an English Proverb of him who maketh a detrimental bargain to himself That he may put all the gains gotten thereby into his eye and see nothing the worse But Bishop Bulkley saw much more the worse by what he had gotten being himself suddenly deprived of his sight who had deprived the Tower of Bangor of the tongue thereof Thus having ended his credit before his days and his days before his life and having sate in that See fourteen years he died 1555. WILLIAM GLYN D. D. Was boâ—…n at 〈◊〉 in this County bred in Queens Colledge in Cambridge whereof he was Master until in the second of Queen Mary he was preferred Bishop of Bangor An excellent Scholar and I have been assured by judicious Persons who have seriously perused the solemn Disputations printed in Master Fox betwixt the Papists and Protestants that of the former none pressed his Arguments with more strength and lesse passion than Doctor Glyn though constâ—…t to his own he was not cruel to opposite judgements as appeareth by the appearing of no persecution in his Diocesse and his mild Nature must be allowed at least Causa socia or the fellow-cause thereof He died in the first of Queen Elizabeth and I have been informed that Jeoffry Glyn his Brother Doctor of Laws built and endowed a Free-Schoole at Bangor Since the Reformation ROULAND MERRICK Doctor of Laws was born at Boding án in this County bred in Oxford where he became Principal of New Inne-Hall and afterwards a Dignitary in the Church of Saint Davids Here he with others in the reign of King Edward the sixth violently prosecuted Robert Farrar his Diocesan with intention as they made their boast to pull him from his Bishoprick and bring him into a premunire and prevailed so far that he was imprisâ—…ned This Bishop Farrar was afterwards martyred in the raign of Queen Mary I find not the least appearance that his former adversaries violented any thing against him under that Queen But it is suspicious that advantage against him I say not with their will was grafted on the stock of his former accusation However it is my judgement that they ought to have been I can be so charitable to believe that Dr. Merrick was penitent for his causelesse vexing so good a person Otherwise many more besides my self will proclaim him unworthy to be who had been a Persecutor of a Bishop He was consecrated Bishop of Bangor December 21. in the second of Qâ—…een Elizabeth 1559. and sate six years in his See I have nothing to adde save that he was Father to Sir Gilly Merrick Knight who lost his life for engaging with the Earl of Essex 1600. LANCELOT BULKLEY was born in this County of a then right Worshipful since Honourable Family who have a fair habitation besides others near Beumaris He was bred in Brasen nose Colledg in Oxford and afterwards became first Arch-Deacon then Archbishop in Dublin He was consecrated the third of October 1619. by Christopher Archbishop of Armagh Soon after he was made by King James one of his Privy Councel in Ireland where he lived in good reputation till the day of his death which happened some ten years since Seamen MADOC Son to Owen Gwineth ap Gruffyth ap Conan and brother to David ap Owen Gwineth Prince of North Wales was born probably at Aberfraw in this County now a mean Town then the principal Palace of their royal Residence He made a Sea-voyage westward and by all probability those names of Cape de Breton in Noruinberg Pengwin in part of the northern America for a white Rock and a white headed bird according to the British were reliques of this discovery If so then let the Genoveses and Spaniards demean themselves as younger Brethren and get their Portions in Pensions in those parts paid as well as they may owning us Britons so may the Welsh and English as an united Nation style themselves for the Heirs to whom the solid inheritance of America doth belong for the first discovery thereof The truth is a good Navy with a strong Land-Army therein will make these probabilities of Madoc evident Demonstrations and without these in cases of this kind the strongest Arguments are of no validity This Sea voyage was undertaken by Madoc about the year 1170. The Sheriffs Expect not my description should conform this Principality to England in presenting the respective Sheriffs with their Arms. For as to Heraldry I confesse my self Luscum in Anglia Caecum in Walliâ Besides I question whether out Rules in Blazonry calculated for the East will serve on the West of Severne and suspect that my venial mistakes may meet with mortal anger I am also sensible of the prodigious Antiquity of Welsh Pedegrees so that what Zalmana said of the Israelites slain by him at Tabor Each of them resembleth the children of a King all the Gentry here derive themselves from a Prince at least I quit therefore the Catalogue os Sheriffs to abler Pens and proceed to The Farewell I understand there is in this Island a kind of Allumenous Earth out of which some fifty years since began to make Allum and Copperess until they to use my Authors phrase like unflesht Souldiers gave over their enterprise without further hope because at first they saw it not answer their over-hasty expectations If this Project was sirst founded on rational probability which I have cause to believe I desire the seasonable
by the Romans an emblem of liberty is esteemed by the English except Faulconers and Hunters a badge of servitude though very useful in themselves and the Ensign of constancy because not discomposed but retaining their fashion in what form soever they be crouded The best Caps were formerly made at Monmouth where the Cappers Chappel doth still remain being better carved and gilded than any other part of the Church But on the occasion of a great plague hapning in this Town the trade was some years since removed hence to Beaudly in Worcester-shire yet so that they are called Monmouth Caps unto this day Thus this Town retains though not the profit the credit of Capping and seeing the Child still keeps the Mothers name there is some hope in due time she may return unto her All I will adde is this if at this day the phrase of wearing a Monmouth Cap be taken in a bad acception I hope the inhabitants of that Town will endeavour to disprove the occasion thereof Saints Saint AMPHIBALUS a Citizen of Carlion See the Saints in Hereford shire Saint AARON was a wealthy Citizen of Carlion in this County who for the testimony of the Christian Faith was martyred under the Tyrant Emperor Dioclesian By the way we may observe the names of the three first British Martyrs as to their Language 1. Alban Of Latine Originall 2. Amphibalus  Greek  3. Aaron  Hebrew  It seems that the Christian Britons at the Font quitted their Native names as barbarous and imposed on their Children those of the learned Languages This Aaron was martyred Anno Dom. 303. Saint JULIUS It is pity to part so fast friends both being Citizens of Carlion Yea they were lovely in their lives and in their deaths they were not divided both suffering martyrdom together and therefore like Philip and Jacob one day is assigned to their Memories in the Kalendar Nor must I forget how Carlion the place of their aboad though now a small Town was once a great City stretching so far oâ—… both sides of the River that Saint Julians a house of late of Sir William Herberts was sometimes within the City though now about a mile South-West thereof being a Church dedicated anciently to the Memory of this Saint Julius Cardinals GEFFERY of Monmouth is by some very firmly avouched to have been created a Cardinal but by what Pope and with what Title uncertain but my worthy Author justly suspecteth the truth hereof alledging that Popes in that age advanced few Forraigners at so great a distance to that Title except their merits to the See of Rome which appears not to this Jeffery were very great Let me adde that it is improbable so much honour should be done unto him whilest living who was so solemnly disgraced after his death whose Books extant in his life were afterwards by the Court of Rome publickly prohibited See him therefore in this Shire under the Title of Writers JOHN of Monmouth so called from the place of his Nativity D. D. and Canon of Lincoln was chosen Anno 1296. Bishop of Landaff The manner whereof was remarkable for when Robert Kilwarby complained to Pope Celestine how that Cathedral had been for seven years without a Bishop caused either by the troublesomness of those Times or the exility of revenue thereof his Holiness remitted his Election wholly to the discretion of this Arch-Bishop to conferre that vacant See on whomsoever he pleased The Arch-Bishop knowing all eyes intent on his Integrity herein resolved on a Welsh-man by his birth as most proper for and acceptable in the place and on one of merit for the Function Both Qualifications met in this John of Monmouth as British by his birth and alliance and Charactered to be Doctus Pius Theologus One of his Successors in that Bishoprick acknowledgeth that he was Multimodis sedi suae Benefactor and more particularly that he procured the Rectory of Newland in the Forrest of Dean to be appropriated thereunto But one Bishop Anthony Kitchin by name more unlanded Landaff in one than all his Predecessors endowed it in four hundred years This John dying April 8. 1323. was buried in Saint Maries Chappel whose Epitaph in French is hardly legible at this day on his Marble Monument WALTER CANTILUPE was Son to William the elder Lord Cantilupe whose prime residence was at Abergavennie in this County One of high birth higher preferment made by King Henry the third Bishop of Worcester and highest spirit In his time the Popes Legate came into England and complained of mâ—…ny Clergy-men keeping their livings against the Canons intending either to force such irregular Incumbents into avoydance so to make room for the Popes Favourites or else to compound for their continuance at his arbitrary price But our Walter would not yield to such extortion Indeed he was one of a keene nature and his two-edged spirit did cut on both sides against The Pope The King Telling Rusland his Legate coming hither 1255. that he would preferre to be hang'd on the Gallows rather than ever consent to such expilation of the Church Siding with the Barons he encouraged them in their Civil Warres promising Heaven for their reward though this doctrine cost him an excommunication from the Pope Lying on his death-bed he was touched with true remorse for his disloyalty and upon his desire obtained absolution He died February the fifth 1267. whom I behold as Uncle unto Thomas Cantilupe the Sainted Bishop of Hereford Souldiers RICHARD de CLARE was born as from all concentred probabilities may be conjectured at Strigule-Castle in this County and had the Title of Earl of Strigule and Pembroke He was otherwise surnamed Strongbow from drawing so strong a Bow and had Brachia projectissima saith my Author though I can hardly believe that Reacher which another writeth of him that with the palms of his hands he could touch his knees though he stood up right More appliable to him is the expression of Tully Nihil egit levi brachio being a person of effectual performance It hapned that Mac Murugh Lord of Leinster in the year of our Lord 1167. being expelled his Territory for several Tyrannies by the Lords of Meth and Conaght repaired to our King Henry the second and invited him to invade Ireland But that politick King fearing if failing in success to forfeit the reputation of his discretion would not engage in the design but permitted such Subjects of his who had a mind Militare propriis stipendiis to adventure themselves therein Amongst these Richard Strongbow was the principal going over into Ireland with twelve hundred men too great for an Earls Train yet too little for a Generals Army to make a National Invasion yet so great his success that in a short time he prossessed himself of the Ports of Leinster and Mounster with large lands belonging thereunto insomuch that King Henry grew jealous of his greatness remanded