Comment on the Pentateuch Dialogue-wise as also on the Incarnation Nativity Passion and Resurrection of our Saviour He wrote also a Book called Pan-Ormia dedicating the same to Hamelin Abbot of Gloucester The Title of this Book minds me of a pretty passage in Tully At a publick Plea in Rome Sisenna an Orator who defended his Client affirmed that the crimes laid to his charge were but Crimina Sputatilica To whom Rufius the Orator who managed the accusation rejoyned that he feared some treachery in so hard a word quid Sputa sit scio quid Tilica nescio But I am at a worse loss in this uncouth word though knowing both the parts thereof I know what Pan is All what Ormia is a Line or Hook but of what subject Pan-Ormia should treat is to me unknown But well fare the heart of J. Bale who I believe out of Leland rendreth it a Dictionary or Vocabulary â—…ooking all words it seems within the compass thereof This Osbern flourished under King Stephen Anno 1140. ROBERT of GLOUCESTER so called because a Monk thereof He is omitted whereat I wonder both by Bale and Pits except disguised under another Name and what I cannot conjecture they speak truly who term him a Rhimer whilest such speak courteously who call him a Poet. Indeed such his Language that he is dumb in effect to the Readers of our age without an Interpreter and such a one will hardly be procured Antiquaries amongst whom Mr. Selden more value him for his History than Poetry his lines being neither strong nor smooth but sometimes sharp as may appear by this Tetrastick closing with a pinch at the panch of the Monkâ—… which coming from the Pen of a Monk is the more remarkable In the Citie of Bangor a great Hous tho was And ther vndyr vij Cellens and ther of ther Nas That C.C.C. Moncks hadde othur mo And alle by hure travayle lyvede loke now if they do so He flourished some Four hundred years since under King Henry the second and may be presumed to have continued till the beginning of King John 1200. ALAN of TEUXBURY probably born in this Country though bred at Canterbury where he became first a Monk of Saint Saviours and afterwards Prior thereof Very intimate he was with Thomas Becket having some reputation for his Learning In his old age it seems he was sent back with honour into his Native Country and for certain was made Abbot of Teuxbury when Stephen Langton so much endeavoured and at last accomplished the canonizing of Thomas Becket Four Authors were employed Becket his Evangelists to write the History of his Mock-passion and Miracles And our Allan made up the Quaternion He flourished under King John Anno 1200. ALEXANDER of HALES was bred up in the famous Monastery of Hales founded by Richard King of the Romans After his living some time at Oxford he went over to Paris it being fashionable for the Clergy in that as for the Gentry in our age to travail into France that Clerk being accounted but half learned who had not studied some time in a Forraign University But let Paris know that generally our English men brought with them more Learning thither and lent it there than they borrowed thence As for this our Alexander as he had the name of that great Conqueror of the world so was he a grand Captain and Commander in his kind For as he did follow Peter Lombard so he did lead Thomas Aquinas and all the rest of the Schoole-men He was the first that wrote a Comment on the Sentences in a great Volumn called the Summe of Divinity at the instance of Pope Innocent the fourth to whom he dedicated the same for this and other of his good services to the Church of Rome he received the splendid Title of Doctor Irrefragabilis He died Anno Dom. 1245. and was buried in the Franciscan Church in Paris THOMAS de la MORE was saith my Author born of a Knightly Family Patria Gloucestrencis a Gloucester-shire-man by his Country For which his observation I heartily thank him who otherwise had been at an utter losse for his Nativity He thus further commendeth him Pacis Armorum vir artibus undique clarus A man whose fame extended far For Arts in Peace and Feats in War Indeed he was no Carpet Knight as who brought his honour with him out of Scotland on his swords point being knighted by King Edward the first for his no less fortunate than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therein Nor less was his fidelity to his Son Edward the second though unable to help him against his numerous enemies But though he could not keep him from being deposed he did him the service â—…aithfully to write the manner of his deposition being a most rare Manuscript extant in Oxford Library This worthy Knight flourished Anno Dom. 1326. THOMAS of HALES came just an hundred years after Alexander of Hales in time but more than a thousand degrees behind him in ability and yet following his Foot steps at distance First they were born both in this County bred Minorites in Hales Mona stery whence for a time they went to Oxford thence to Paris where they both proceeded Doctors of Divinity and applyed themselves to Contravertial Studies till this Thomas finding himself not so 〈◊〉 for that Imployment fell to the promoting positive or rather fabulous poynts of Popery for the maintainance of Purgatory He flourished under King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1340. THOMAS NEALE was born at Yate in this County bred first in Winchester then New Colledge in Oxford where he became a great Grecian Hebritian and publick Professor of the later in the University He translated some Rabins into Latine and dedicated them to Cardinâ—…l Pole He is charactered a man Naturae mirum in modum timâ—…dae Of a very fearful nature yet always continuing constant to the Roman perswasion He was Chaplain but not Domestick as not mentioned by Mr. Fox to Bishop Bonner and resided in Oxford In the first of Queen Elizabeth fearing his Professors place would quit him for prevention he quitted it and built himself an House over against Hart hall retaining the name of Neals House many years after Papists admire him for his rare judgement and Protestants for his strange invention in first 〈◊〉 the improbable lye of Parkerâ—…is â—…is Consecration at the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 since so substantially confuted He was living in Oxford 1576. but when and where here oâ—… beyond the Seas he died is to me unknown Since the Reformation RICHARD TRACY Esquire â—…orn at Todington in this County was Son to Sir William Tracy Confessor of whom before He succeeded to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the defence whereof he wrote several Treatises in the English tongue and 〈◊〉 moâ—…markable which is entituled 〈◊〉 to the Crosse. This he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having suffered much himself in his Estate for his 〈◊〉 reputed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also he wrote prophetically Anno
he could not avoid to behold it For these reasons he left the Land went or shall I say fled into France where he sighed out the remainder of his Life most at Pontiniack but some at Soyssons where he dyed Anno 1240. Pope Innocent the fourth Canonized him six years after his death whereat many much wondred that he should so much honour one a professed foe to Papal Extortions Some conceived he did it se defendendo and for a ne noceat that he might not be tormented with his Ghost But what hurt were it if all the Enemies of his Holiness were Sainted on condition they took death in their way thereunto Sure it is that Lewis King of France a year after translated his Corps and three years after that bestowed a most sumptuous Shrine of Gold Silver and Chrystal upon it and the 16. of November is the Festival appointed for his Memorial Martyrs It appeareth by the confession of Thomas Man Martyred in the beginning of King Henry the eighth that there was at Newberry in this County a glorious and sweet Society of faithful Favourers who had continued the space of fifteen years together till at last by a certain lewd person whom they trusted and made of their Council they were betrayed and then many of them to the number of six or seven score were abjured and three or four of them burnt Now although we knew not how to call these Martyrs who so suffered their Names no doubt are written in the Book of Life We see how the day of the Gospel dawned as soon in this County as in any place in England surely Seniority in this kind ought to be respected which made Paul a pusney in piety to Andronicus and Iunia his kinsmen to enter this caveat for their Spiritual precedency who were in Christ before me On which account let other places give the honour to the Town of Newberry because it started the first and I hope not tire for the earliness thereof in the race of the Reformed Religion Yea Doctor William Twis the painful Preacher in that Parish was wont to use this as a motive to his flock to quicken their pace and strengthen their perseverance in piety because that Town appears the first fruits of the Gospel in England And Windsor the next in the same County had the honour of Martyrs ashes therein as by the ensuing list will appear There was in Windsor a company of right godly persons who comfortably enjoyed themselves untill their enemies designed their extirpation though it cost them much to accomplish it one of them confessing that for his share he expended an hundred marks besides the killing of three Geldings These suspecting that the Judges Itinerant in their circuit would be too favourable unto them procured a special Session got four arraigned and condemned by the Commissioners whereof the three following were put to death on the Statute of the six Articles 1. Anthony Persons a Priest and profitable Preacher so that the great Clerks of Windsor thought their idleness upbraided by his industry Being fastned to the stake he laid a good deal of straw on the top of his head saying this is Gods hat I am now arm'd like a souldier of Christ. 2. Robert Testwood a singing-man in the Quire of Windsor There hapned a contest betwixt him and another of that Society singing an Anthem together to the Virgin Mary Robert Philips on the one side of the Quire Robert Testwood on the other side of the Quire Oh Redemtrix Salvatrix Non Redemtrix nec Salvatrix I know not which sung the deepest Base or got the better for the present Sure I am that since by Gods goodness the Nons have drowned the Ohs in England Testwood was also accused for disswading people from Pilgrimages and for striking off the nose of the image of our Lady 3. Henry Fillmer Church-Warden of Windsor who had Articled against their superstitious Vicar for heretical Doctrine These three were burnt together at Windsor Anno 1544. and when account was given to their patient death to King Henry the eighth sitting on horse-back the King turning his horses head said Alas poor innocents A better speech from a private person then a Prince bound by his place not only to pity but protect oppressed innocence However by this occasion other persecuted people were pardoned and preserved of whom hereafter This storm of persecution thus happily blown over Bark-shire enjoyed peace and tranquillity for full twelve years together viz. from the year of our Lord 1544. till 1556. When Dr. Jeffrey the cruel Chancellour of Sarisbury renewed the troubles at Newberry and caused the death of JULINS PALMER See his Character being born in Coventry in Warwickshire JOHN GWIN THOMAS ASKINE These three July 16. 1556. were burnt in a place nigh Newberry called the Sand-pits enduring the pain of the fire with such incredible constancy that it confounded their foâ—…s and confirmed their friends in the Truth Confessors JOHN MARBECK was an Organist in the Quire of Windsor and very skilful therein a man of Admirable Industry and Ingenuity who not perfectly understanding the Latin Tongue did out of the Latin with the help of the English Bible make an English Concordance which Bishop Gardiner himself could not but commend as a piece of singular Industry Professing that there were no fewer then twelve Learned men to make the first Latin Concordance And King Henry the eighth hearing thereof said that he was better imployed then those Priests which accused him Let therefore our Modern Concordances of Cotton Newman Bernard c. as Children and Grand-Children do their duty to Marbecks Concordance as their Parent at first endeavour'd in our Language This Marbeck was a very zealous Protestant and of so sweet and amiable Nature that all good men did love and few bad men did hate him Yet was he condemned Anno 1544. on the Statute of the 6. Articles to be burnt at Windsor had not his pardon been procured divers assigning divers causes thereof 1. That Bishop Gardiner bare him a speciall affection for his skill in the Mystery of Musick 2. That such who condemned him procured his pardon out of Remorse of Conscience because so slender the evidence against him it being questionable whether his Concordance was made after the Statute of the 6. Articles or before it and if before he was freed by the Kings General pardon 3. That it was done out of design to reserve him for a discovery of the rest of his party if so their plot failed them For being as true as Steel whereof his fetters were made which he ware in Prison for a good time he could not be frighted or flattered to make any detection Here a mistake was committed by Mr. Fox in his first Edition whereon the Papisâ—…s much insult making this Marbeck burnt at Windsor for his Religion with Anthony Persons Robert Testwood and Henry Fillmer No doubt Mr. Fox rejoyced at
his own mistake thus far forth both for Marbecks sake who escaped with his Life and his Enemies who thereby drew the less guilt of bloud on their own Consciences But hear what he pleads for his mistake 1. Marbeck was dead in Law as condemned whereon his errour was probably grounded 2. He confessing that one of the four condemned was pardoned his Life misnaming him 〈◊〉 instead of Marbeck 3. Let Papists first purge their Lying Legend from manifest and Intentionall untruths before they censure others for casuall slips and un-meant Mistakes 4. Recognizing his Book in the next Edition he with blushing amended his errour And is not this Penance enough according to the principals of his accusers Confession Contrition and Satisfaction All this will not content some morose Cavillers whom I have heard jeeringly say that many who were burnt in Fox in the Reign of Queen Mary drank Sack in the days of Queen Elizabeth But enough is said to any ingenious person And it is impossible for any Author of a Voluminous Book consisting of several persons and circumstances Reader in pleading for Master Fox I plead for my self to have such Ubiquitary intelligence as to apply the same infallibly to every particular When this Marbeck dyed is to me unknown he was alive at the second English Edition of the Book of Martyrs 1583. thirty and nine years after the time of his Condemnation ROBERT BENET was a Lawyer living in Windsor and a zealous Professor of the true Religion He drank as deep as any of the Cup of Affliction and no doubt had been condemned with Testwood Persons and the rest Had he not at the same time been sick of the plague-sore in the Prison of the Bishop of London which proved the means of his preservation Thus it is better to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of men And thus as out of the devourer came food out of the Destroyer came life yea the Plague-sore proved a Cordial unto him For by the time that he was recovered thereof a Pardon was freely granted to him as also to Sir Thomas Cardine Sir Philip Hobby both of the Kings Privy-chamber with their Ladies and many more designed to death by crafty Bishop Gardner had not His Majesties mercy thus miraculously interposed Cardinalls I have read of many who would have been Cardinals but might not This County afforded one who might have been one but would not viz. WILLIAM LAUD the place being no less freely profered to then disdainfully refused by him with words to this effect That the Church of Rome must be much mended before he would accept any such Dignity An expression which in my mind amounted to the Emphaticall Periphrasis of NEVER But we shall meet with him hereafter under a more proper Topick Prelats WILLIAM of READING a Learned Benedictine imployed by King H. the Second in many Embassies and by him preferred Arch-Bishop of Bourdeaux where he dyed in the Reign of King Richard the first JOHN DE BRADFIELD sive de lato Campo Finding fifteen Villages of the Name I fixt his Nativity at Bradfield in Berks as in my measuring the nearest to Rochester where he was Chanter and Bishop 1274. If mistaken the matter is not much seeing his Sir-name is controverted and otherwise written John de HOE However being Charractred Vir conversationis honestae decenter literatus in omnibus morigeratus I was desirous to crowd him into our Book where I might with most probability RICHARD BEAUCHAMP was Brother saith Bishop Godwin to Walter Beauchamp mistaken for William as may appear by Mr. Camden Baron of St. Amand whose chief habitation was at Wydehay in this County he was bred Doctor in the Laws and became Bishop first of Hereford then of Salisbury He was Chancellour of the Garter which Office descended to his Successors Windsor-Castle the seat of that Order being in the Dioces of Salisbury He built a most beautifull Chappel on the South-side of St. Maries Chappel in his own Cathedral wherein he lyeth buryed His death hapned Anno Dom. 1482. Since the Reformation THOMAS GODWIN was born at Oakingham in this County and first bred in the Free School therein Hence was he sent to Magdalen Colledge in Oxford maintained there for a time by the bounty of Doctor Layton Dean of York till at last he was chosen Fellow of the Colledge This he exchanged on some terms for the School-Masters place of Barkley in Gloucester-shire where he also Studied Physick which afterwards proved beneficial unto him when forbidden to teach School in the Reign of Queen Mary Yea Bonner threatned him with fire and faggot which caused him often to Obscure himself and Remove his Habitation He was an Eloquent Preacher Tall and Comely in Person qualities which much Indeared him to Q. Elizabeth who loved good parts well but better when in a goodly Person For 18. years together he never failed to be one of the Select Chaplains which Preached in the Lent before her Majesty He was first Dean of Christ-church in Oxford then Dean of Canterbury and at last Bishop of Bath and Wells Being infirm with Age and deseased with the Gout he was necessitated for a Nurse to marry a second wife a Matron of years proportionable to himself But this was by his court-Court-Enemies which no Bishop wanted in that Age represented to the Queen to his great Disgrace Yea they traduced him to have married a Girl of twenty years of age until the good Earl of Bedford casually present at such discourse Madam said he to her Majesty I know not how much the Woman is above twenty but I know a Son of hers is but little under forty Being afflicted with a Quartern feaver he was advised by his Physicians to retire into this County to Oakingham the place of his Birth seeing in such Cases Native Ayr may prove Cordial to Patients as Mothers milk to and old men are twice children Here he dyed breathing his first and last in the same Place November the 19. 1590. And lyeth buried under a Monument in the South-side of the Chancell THOMAS RAMME was born at Windsor in this County and admitted in Kings Colledge in Cambridge Anno Dom. 1588. whence he was made Chaplain first to Robert Earl of Essex then to Charles Lord Mountjoy both Lord Lieutenants in Ireland After many mediate Preferments he was made Bishop of Fernos and Laghlin in that Kingdom both which he Peaceably injoyed Anno 1628. WILLIAM LAWD was born at Reading in this County of honest Parentage bred in Saint Johns Colledge in Oxford whereof he became Pâ—…esident Successively Bishop of Saint Davids Bath and Wells London and at last Arch-Bishop of Canterbury One of low Stature but high Parts Piercing eyes Chearfull countenance wherein Gravity and Pleasantness were well compounded Admirable in his Naturalls Unblameable in his Morals being very strict in his Conversation Of him I have written in my Ecclesiastical History though I
yearly Rent will buy them out all Three CALES Knights were made in that voyage by Robert Earle of Essex anno Dom. 1596 to the number os sixty whereof though many of great birth and estate some were of low fortunes and therefore Queen Elizabeth was halfe offended with the Earle for making Knighthood so common Of the numerousness of Welsh Gentlemen we shall have cause to speak hereafter Northern Lairds are such who in Scotland hold Lands in chief of the King whereof some have no great Revenue so that a Kentish Yeoman by the help of an Hyperbole may countervail c. Yet such Yeomen refuse to have the Title of Master put upon them contenting themselves without any addition of Gentility and this mindeth me of a Passage in my memory One immoderately boasted that there was not one of his name in all England but that he was a Gentleman to whom one in the company retnrned I am sorry Sir you have never a good man of your name Sure I am in Kent there is many a hospital Yeoman of great ability who though no Gentleman by Descent and Title is one by his Means and state let me also adde by his courteous carriage though constantly called but Goodman to which Name he desireth to answer in all respects A Man of KENT This may relate either to the Liberty or to the courage of this County-men Liberty the tenure of Villanage so frequent elsewhere being here utterly unknown and the bodies of all Kentish persons being of free condition In so much that it is holden sufficient for one to avoid the Objection of bondage to say that his Father was born in Kent Now seeing servi non sunt viri quia non sui sur is A bond-man is no man because not his own man the Kentish for their Freedome have atchieved to themselves the name of Men. Others refer it to their courage which from the time of King Canutus hath purchased unto them the precedency of marching in our English Armies to lead the Van. JOANNES Sarisbur De egregiae Curial 6 cap. 16. Ob egregiae virtutis meritum quod potenter patenter exercuit Cantia nostra primae Cohortis honorem primos congressus Hostium usque in omnibus diem in omnibus praeliis obtinet For the deâ—…ert of their worthy valour which they so powerfully and publickly expressed Our Kent obtaineth even unto this day the honor of the first Regiment and first assaulting the Enemy in all Battails Our Authour lived in the Reign of Henry the Second and whether Kentish-men retain this Priviledge unto this day wherein many things are turned upside-down and then no wonder it also forward and backward is to me unknown Neither in KENT nor Christendome This seems a very insolent expression and as unequal a division Surely the first Anthour thereof had small skill in even distribution to measure an Inch against an Ell yea to weigh a grain against a pound But know Reader that this home-Proverb is calculated onely for the elevation of our own Country and ought to be restrained to English-Christendome whereof Kent was first converted to the Faith So then Kent and Christendome parallel to Rome and Italy is as much as the First cut and all the Loafe besides I know there passes a report that Henry the fourth King of France mustering his Souldiers at the siege of a City found more Kentish-men therein than Forraigners of all Christendome beside which being but seventy years since is by some made the Original of this Proverb which was more ancient in use and therefore I adhere to the former Interpretation alwayes provided Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti Si non his utere mecum If thou know'st better it to me impart If not use these of mine with all my heart For mine own part I write nothing but animo revocandi ready to retract it when better evidence shall be brought unto me Nor will I oppose such who understand it for Periphrasis of NO-WHERE Kent being the best place of England Christendome of the World KENTISH Long-TAILES Let me premise that those are much mistaken who first found this Proverb on a Miracle of Austin the Monk which is thus reported It happened in an English Village where Saint Austin was preaching that the Pagans therein did beat and abuse both him and his associats opprobriously tying Fish-tails to their back-side In revenge whereof an impudent Author relateth Reader you and I must blush for him who hath not the modesty to blush for himselfe how such Appendants grew to the hind-parts of all that Generation I say they are much mistaken for the Scaene of this Lying Wonder was not laied in any Part of Kent but pretended many miles off nigh Cerne in Dorsetshire To come closer to the sence of this Proverb I conceive it first of outlandish extraction and cast by forraigners as a note of disgrace on all the English though it chanceth to stick only on the Kentish at this Day For when there happened in Palestine a difference betwixt Robert brother of Saint Lewis King of France and our William Longspee Earle of Salisbury heare how the French-man insulted over our nation MATTHEW PARIS Anno Dom. 1250. pag. 790. O timidorum caudatoruÌ„ formidolositas quà m beatus quà m mundus praesens foret exercitus si à caudis purgaretur caudatis O the cowardliness of these fearful Long-tails How happie how cleane would this our arm ie be were it but purged from tails and Long-tailes That the English were nicked by this speech appears by the reply of the Earle of Salisbury following still the metaphor The son of my father shall presse thither to day whither you shall not dare to approach his horse taile Some will have the English so called from wearing a pouch or poake a bag to carry their baggage in behind their backs whilest probably the proud Monsieurs had their Lacquies for that purpose In proof whereof they produce ancient pictures of the English Drapery and Armory wherein such conveyances doe appear If so it was neither sin nor shame for the common sort of people to carry their own necessaries and it matters not much whether the pocket be made on either side or wholly behinde If any demand how this nick-name cut off from the rest of England continues still entaild on Kent The best conjecture is because that county lieth nearest to France and the French are beheld as the firstfounders of this aspersion But if any will have the Kentish so called from drawing and dragging boughs of trees behind them which afterwards they advanced above their heads and so partly cozened partly threatned King William the Conqueror to continue their ancient customes I say if any will impute it to this original I will not oppose KENTISH Gavel Kind It is a custome in this County whereby the lands are divided equally among all the sons and in default of them amongst the daughters
Sir VVilliam was made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Richard the Third He married one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Thomas Butler Earl of Ormond by whom besides four Daughters married into the Worshipful and Wealthy Families of Shelton Calthrop Clere and Sackvil he had Sir Tho. Boleyn Earle of VViltshire of whom hereafter 10. JOH PEACH Arm. This year Perkin VVarbeck landed at Sandwich in this County with a power of all Nations contemptible not in their number or courage but nature and fortune to be feared as well of Friends as Enemies as fitter to spoil a coast than recover a country Sheriff Peach knighted this year for his good service with the Kentish Gentry acquitted themselves so valiant and vigilant that Perkin shâ—…unk his horns back again into the shell of his ships About 150. of his men being taken and brought up by this Sheriff to London some were executed there the rest on the Sea Coasts of Kent and the neighbouring Counties for Sea-marks to teach Perkin's people to avoid such dangerous shoars Henry the Eighth 5 JOH NORTON Mil. He was one of the Captains who in the beginning of the Raign of King Henry the eight went over with the 1500. Archers under the conduct of Sir Edward Poynings to assist Margaret Dutchesse of Savoy Daughter to Maximillian the Emperour and Governesse of the Low-Countries against the incursions of the Duke of Guelders where this Sir John was knighted by Charles young Prince of Castile and afterwards Emperor He lieth buried in Milton Church having this written on his Monument Pray for the souls of Sir John Norton Knight and Dame Joane his Wife one of the Daughters and Heirs of John Norwood Esq who died Febr. 8. 1534. 7. THOMAS CHEYNEY Arm. He was afterward knighted by King Henry the Eighth and was a spriteful Gentleman living and dying in great honour and estimation a Favourite and Privy Counsellor to four successive Kings and Queens in the greatest â—…urn of times England ever beheld as by this his Epitaph in Minster Church in the Isle of Shepey will appear Hic jacet Dominus Thomas Cheyney inclitissimi ordinis Garterii Miles Guarduanus quinque Portuum ac Thesaurarius Hospitii Henrici octavi ac Edwardi sexti Regum Reginaeque Mariae ac Elizabethae ac eorum in secretis Consiliarius qui obiit mensis Decembris Anno Dom. M. D.L.IX ac Reg. Reginae Eliz. primo 11. JOHN WILTSHIRE Mil. He was Controller of the Town and Marches of Calis Anno 21. of King Henry the Seventh He founded a fair Chappel in the Parish of Stone wherein he lieth entombed with this Inscription Here lieth the bodies of Sir John Wiltshire Knight and of Dame Margaret his Wife which Sir John died 28. Decemb. 1526. And Margaret died of Bridget his sole Daughter and Heir was married to Sir Richard VVingfield Knight of the Garter of whom formerly in Cambridge-shire 12. JOHN ROPER Arm. All the memorial I find of him is this Inscription in the Church of Eltham Pray for the soul of Dame Margery Roper late VVife of John Roper Esquire Daughter and one of the Heirs of John Tattersall Esquire who died Febr. 2. 1518. Probably she got the addition of Dame being Wife but to an Esquire by some immediate Court-attendance on Katharine first Wife to King Henry the Eighth King James 3. MOILE FINCH Mil. This worthy Knight married Elizabeth sole Daughter and Heir to Sir Thomas Heneage Vice Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth and Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster She in her Widowhood by the special favour of King James was honoured Vicounâ—…ess Maidston unprecedented save by One for this hundred years and afterwards by the great Grace of King Charles the First created Countesse of VVinchelsey both Honors being entailed on the Issue-male of her Body to which her Grand-Child the Right Honourable Heneage lately gone Embassador to Constantinople doth succeed The Farewell Having already insisted on the Courage of the Kentish-men and shown how in former Ages the leading of the Van-guard was intrusted unto their magnanimity we shall conclude our Description of this Shire praying that they may have an accession of Loyalty unto their Courage not that the Natives of Kent have acquitted themselves less Loyal than those of other Shires but seeing the one will not suffer them to be idle the other may guide them to expend their Ability for Gods glory the defence of his Majesty and maintenance of true Religion CANTERBURY CANTERBURY is a right ancient City and whilest the Saxon Hâ—…ptar chy flourished was the chief seat of the Kings of Kent Here Thomas Becket had his death Edward surnamed the Black Prince and King Henry the Fourth their Interment The Metropolitan Dignity first conferred by Gregory the Great on London was for the Honour of Augustine afterwards bestowed on this City It is much commended by William of Malmesbury for its pleasant scituation being surrounded with a fertile soil well wooded and commodiously watered by the River Stoure from whence it is said to have had its name Durwhern in British a swift River It is happy in the vicinity of the Sea which affordeth plenty of good Fish Buildings CHRIST CHURCH First dedicated and after 300. years intermission to Saint Thomas Becket restored to the honour of our Saviour is a stately structure being the performance of several successive Arch-Bishops It is much adorned with glasse Windows Here they will tell you of a foraign Embassador who proffered a vast price to transport the East Window of the Quire beyond the Seas Yet Artists who commend the Colours condemn the Figures therein as wherein proportion is not exactly observed According to the Maxime Pictures are the Books painted windows were in the time of Popery the Library of Lay men and after the Conquest grew in general use in England It is much suspected Aneyling of Glass which answereth to Dying in grain in Drapery especially of Yellow is lost in our age as to the perfection thereof Anciently Colours were so incorporated in Windows that both of them lasted and faded together Whereas our modern Painting being rather on than in the Glass is fixed so faintly that it often changeth and sometimes falleth away Now though some being only for the innocent White are equal enemies to the painting of Windows as Faces conceiving the one as great a Pander to superstition as the other to wantonnesse Yet others of as much zeal and more knowledge allow the Historical uses of them in Churches Proverbs Canterbury-Tales So Chaucer calleth his Book being a collection of several Tales pretended to be told by Pilgrims in their passage to the Shrine of Saint Thomas in Canterbury But since that time Canterbury-Tales are parallel to Fabulae Milestae which are Charactered Nec verae nec verisimiles meerly made to marre precious time and please fanciful people Such are the many miracles of Thomas Becket some helpful though but narrow as only for private conveniency
Reader to his Life written at large by Bishop Carlton he was Rector of Houghton in the North consisting of fourteen Villages In his own house he boarded and kept full four and twenty scholars The greater number of his boarders were poor mens sons upon whom he bestowed meat drink and cloth and education in learning He was wont to entertain his Parishioners and strangers at his table not onely at the Christmas time as the custome is but because he had a large and wide Parish a great multitude of people he kept a table for them every Sunday from Michâ—…elmas to Easter He had the Gentlemen the Husbandmen and the Poorer sort set every degree by themselves and as it were ordered in ranks He was wont to commend the married estate in the Clergy howbeit himself lived and dyed a single man He bestowed in the building ordering and establishing of his School and in providing yearly stipends for a School-master and an Usher the full summe of five hundred pounds out of which School he supplied the Church of England with great store of learned men He was carefull to avoid not only all evil doing but even the lightest suspicions thereof And he was accounted a Saint in the judgements of his very enemies if he had any such Being full of faith unfained and of good works he was at the last put into his grave as a heap of wheat in due time swept into the garner He dyed the 4. of March 1583. and in the 66. year of his age RICHARD MULCASTER was born of an ancient extract in the North but whether in this County or Cumberland I find not decided From Eaton-school he went to Cambridge where he was admitted into Kings-colledge 1548. but before he was graduated removed to Oxford Here such his proficiency in learning that by general consent he was chosen the first Master of Merchant-Tailors-School in London which prospered well under his care as by the flourishing of Saint Johns in Oxford doth plainly appear The Merchant-Tailors finding his Scholars so to profit intended to fix Mr. Mulcaster as his Desk to their School till death should remove him This he perceiv'd and therefore gave for his Motto Fidelis servus perpetuus asinus But after twenty five years he procured his freedome or rather exchanged his service being made Master of Pauls-school His method in teaching was this In a morning he would exactly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the lessons to his Scholars which done he slept his hour custome made him critical to proportion it in his desk in the School but wo be to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 slept the while Awaking he heard them 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 to pity as soon as he to pardon where he found just fault The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Mothers prevailed with him as much as the requests of indulgent Fathers rather increasing then mitigating his severity on their offending child In a word he was Plagosus Orbilius though it may be truly said and safely for one out of his School that others have taught as much learning with fewer lashes Yet his sharpness was the better endured because unpartiall and many excellent Scholars were bred under him whereof Bishop Andrews was most remarkable Then quitting that place he was presented to the rich Parsoâ—…ge of Stanfórd-rivers in Essex I have heard from those who have heard him preach that his Sermons were not excellent which to me seems no wonder partly because there is a different discipline in teaching children and men partly because such who make Divinity not the choice of their youth but the refuge of their age seldome attain to eminency therein He died 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth CHRISTOPHER POTTER D. D. kinsman to Bishop Potter of whom before was born in this County 〈◊〉 Fellow of Queens-colledge in Oxford and at last was chosen Provost thereof Chapâ—…in in Ordinary to King Charles and Dean of 〈◊〉 One of a sweet nature â—…mely preâ—…ence courteous carriage devout life and deep learning he wrot an excellent book entituled Charity mistaken containing impregnable truth so that malice may sâ—…arl at but not bite it without breaking its own teeth Yet a railing Jesuit wrote a pretended 〈◊〉 thereof to which the Doctor mâ—…de no return partly because the industrious Bee would not meddle with a 〈◊〉 or Hornet rather partly because Mr. Chillingworth a great Master of defence in School-divinity took up the Cudgells against him This worthy Doctor died in the beginning of our civill distempers Benefactors to the Publique ROBERT LANGTON Doctors of Law MILES SPENCER Doctors of Law It is pity to part them being Natives of this County as I am credibly informed Doctors in the same faculâ—…y and Co-partners in the same Charity the building of a fair School at Appleby The Pregnant Mother of so many Eminent Scholars As for Robert Langton he was bred in and a Benefactor to Queens-â—…edge in Oxford owing the Glaseing of many Windows therein to his Beneficence Witness his Conceit to Communicate his Name to Posterity viz. a Ton the 〈◊〉 or Fancy Generall for all Sirnames in that Termination extended very long beyond an ordinary proportion Lang the Northern man pronounceth it whereby he conceived his Surname completed I shall be thankfull to him who shall enform me of the Dates of their severall deaths ANNE CLYFFORD sole Daughter heir to George Earl of Cumberland Wife first to Richard Earl of Dorset then to Phillip Earl of Pembrokâ—… and Montgomery though born and nursed in Hartfordshire yet because having her greatest Residence and Estate in the North is properly referrable to this County The Proverb is Homo non est ubi animat sed amat One is not to be reputed there where he lives but where he loves on which account this Lady is placed not where she first took life but where she hath left a most lasting Monument of her Love to the Publique This is that most beautifull Hospital Stately Built and Richly Endowed at her sole Cost at Appleby in this County It was conceived a bold and daring part of Thomas Cecill son to Treasurer Burghleigh to enjoyn his Masons and Carpenters not to omit a days Work at the building of Wimbleton house in Surrâ—…y though the Spanish Armado Anno 1588. all that while shot off their Guns whereof some might be heard to the Place But Christianly Valiant is the Charity of this Lady who in this Age wherein there is an Earthquake of Antient Hospitals and as for new ones they are hardly to be seen for New lights I say Couragious this Worthy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who dare found in this Confounding Age wherein so much was demolished and aâ—…ened which was given to God and his Church Long may she live in Wealth and 〈◊〉 exactly to Compleat whatâ—…oever her 〈◊〉 Intentions have 〈◊〉 Mâ—…morable Persons RICHARD GILPIN a Valiant Man in this County was 〈◊〉 offed in the Raign of K. John about the year 1208. in the Lordship of Kent-mire-â—…all by
and a fire Not kindled before by others pains as often thou hast wanted brains Indeed some men are better Nurses then Mothers of a Poem good onely to feed and foster the Fancies of others whereas Master Sandys was altogether as dexterous at Inventing as Translating and his own Poems as spritefull vigorous and masculine He lived to be a very aged man whom I saw in the Savoy Anno 1641. having a youthfull soul in a decayed body and I believe he dyed soon after JOHN SALTMARSH was extracted from a right antient but decayed family in this County and I am informed that Sir Thomas Metham his kinsman bountifully contributed to his education he was bred in Magdalen-colledge in Cambridge Returning into this his Native Country was very great with Sir John Hotham the Elder He was one of a fine and active fancy no contemptible Poet and a good Preacher as by some of his profitable Printed Sermons doth appear Be it charitably imputed to the information of his Judgment and Conscience that of a zealous observer he became a violent oppresser of Bishops and Ceremonies He wrote a book against my Sermon of Reformation taxing me for many points of Popery therein I defended my self in a book called Truth maintained and challenged him to an answer who appeared in the field no more rendring this reason thereof that he would not shoot his arrows against a dead mark being informed that I was dead at Exeter I have no cause to be angry with fame but rather to thank her for so good a Lye May I make this true use of that false report to dye daily See how Providence hath crossed it the dead reported man is still living the then living man dead and seeing I survive to goe over his grave I will tread the more gently on the mold thereof using that civility on him which I received from him He died in or about Windsor as he was Riding to and fro in the Parliament Army of a Burning Feaver venting on his death-bed strange expressions apprehended by some of his party as extaticall yea propheticall raptures whilst others accounted them no wonder if outrages in the City when the enemy hath possessed the Castle commanding it to the acuteness of his disease which had seized his intellectualls His death happened about the year 1650. JEREMIAH WHITACRE was born at Wakefield in this County bred Master of Arts in Sidney-colledge and after became School-master of Okeham then Minister of Stretton in Râ—…and He was chosen to be one of the Members of the late Assembly wherein he behaved himself with great moderation at last he was Preacher at St. Mary Magdalens Bermonsey well discharging his duty being a solid Divine and a man made up of Piety to God pity to poor men and Patience in himself He had much use of the last being visited with many and most acute diseases I see Gods love or hatred cannot be conjectured much less concluded from outward accidents this mercifull man meeting with merciless afflictions I have sometimes wondered with my self why Satan the Magazeen of Malice who needeth no man to teach him mischief having Job in his power did not put him on the rack of the Stone Gout Collick or Strangury as in the height most exquisite torments but onely be-ulcered him on his Skin and outside of his body And under correction to better judgments I conceive this might be some cause thereof Being to spare his life the Devill durst not inflict on him these mortall maladyes for fear to exceed his commission who possibly for all his cunning might mistake in the exact proportioning of the pain to Jobs ability to bear it and therefore was forced to confine his malice to externall pain dolefull but not deadly in its own nature Sure I am this good Jeremiah was tormented with Gout Stone and one ulcer in his bladder another in his kidneys all which he endured with admirable and exemplary patience though God of his goodness grant that if it may stand with his will no cause be given that so sad a Copy be transcribed Thus God for reasons best known unto himself sent many and the most cruell Bayliffes to arrest him to pay his debt to nature though he always was ready willingly to tender the same at their single summons His liberality knew no bottome but an empty purse so bountifull he was to all in want He was buried on the 6. of June Anno 1654. in his own Parish in Southwarke much lamented Master Simon Ash preaching his Funerall Sermon to which the Reader is referred for his further satisfaction I understand some sermons are extant of his preaching Let me but adde this Distick and I have done Whites ambo Whitehead Whitgift Whitakerus uterque Vulnera Romano quanta dedere papae Romish Exile Writers JOHN YOUNG was born in this County His life appeareth to me patched up of unsuiting peices as delivered by severall Authors A Judicious Antiquary seldome mistaken will have him a Monke of Ramsey therein confounding him with his Name-sake many years more antient An other will have him bred Doctor of Divinity in Trinity-colledge in Cambridge though that Foundation suppose him admitted the first day thereof affordeth not Seniority enough to write Doctor before the raign of Queen Mary except we understand him bred in some of the Hostles afterwards united thereunto So that I rather concurre herein with the forenamed Antiquary that he was Fellow of Saint Johns-colledge in that University It is agreed that at the first he was at the least a Parcell-Protestant translating into English the Book of Arch bishop Cranmer of the Sacrament But afterwards he came off with a witness being a Zealous Papist and great Antagonist of Mart. Bucer and indeed as able a Disputant as any of his Party He was Vice-Chancellour of Cambridge Anno 1554. Master of Pembroke hall Kings-Professor of Divinity and Rector of Land-beach nigh Cambridge but lost all his preferment in the first of Queen Elizabeth Surely more then Ordinary Obstinacy appeared in him because not onely deprived but imprisoned And in my judgment more probably surprised before he went then after his return from forraign parts He died under restraint in England 1579. JOHN MUSH was born in this County bred first in the English-colledge at Doway and then ran his course of Philosophy in their Colledge at Rome Afterwards being made Priest he was sent over into England to gaine People to his own perswasion which he did without and within the Prison for 20. years together but at last he got his liberty In his time the Romish Ship in England did spring a dangerous Leak almost to the sinking thereof in the Schisme betwixt the Priests and the Jesuits Mush appeared very active and happy in the stopping thereof and was by the English Popish Clergy sent to Rome to compose the controversie behaving himself very wisely in that service Returning into his own Country he was for fourteen
VVales want them To conclude some will wonder how Perfect coming from Perficere to do throughly and Perfunctorie derived from Perfungi throughly to discharge should have so Opposite Senses My Motto in the description of this Principality is betwixt them both Nec Perfectè Nec Perfunctorie For as I will not pretend to the Credit of the former so may I defend my self from the shame of the latter having done the utmost which the Strength of my Weakness could perform WALES THIS PRINCIPALITY hath the Severn Sea on the South Irish-Ocean on the West and North England on the East antiently divided from it by the River Severn since by a Ditch drawn with much Art and Industry from the Mouth of Dee to the Mouth of Wie From East to West Wie to Saint Davids is an hundred from North to South Carâ—…ion to Hollihead is an hundred and twenty miles The Ditch or Trench lately mentioned is called Clauhd-Offa because made by King Offa who cruelly enacted that what Welch-man soever was found on the East-side of this Ditch should forfeit his Right-hand A Law long since Cancelled and for many ages past the Welch have come peaceably over that Place and good reason bringing with them both their Right-hands and Right-hearts no less Loyally then Valiantly to defend England against alâ—… enemies being themselves under the same Soveraign United thereunto It consisteth of three parts the partition being made by â—…oderick the great about the year 877. dividing it betwixt his three sons 1. North-Wales Whose Princes chiefly Resided at 1. Aberfrow 2. Mathravall 3. Dynefar 2. Powis 3. South-Wales This division in fine proved the Confusion of Wales whose Princes were always at War not onely against the English their Common Foe but mutually with themselves to enlarge or defend their Dominions Of these three North-wales was the chief as doth plainly appear first because Roderick left it Mervin his Eldest Son Secondly because the Princes thereof were by way of Eminency stiled the Princes of Wales and sometimes Kings of Aberfrow Thirdly because as the King of Aberfrow paid to the King of London yearly Threescore and three pounds by way of Tribute so the same summe was paid to him by the Princes of Powis and South-wales However South-wales was of the three the Larger Richer Fruitfuller therefore called by the Welsh Deheubarth that is The Right-side because nearer the Sun But that Country being constantly infested with the Invasions of the English and Flemings had North-wales preferred before it as more intire and better secured from such annoyances Hence it was that whilst the Welsh-tongue in the South is so much mingled and corrupted in North-wales it still retaineth the purity thereof The Soil It is not so Champion and Levell and by consequence not so fruitfull as England mostly rising up into Hills and Mountains of a lean and hungry nature yet so that the ill quality of the ground is recompenced by the good quantity thereof A right worshipfull Knight in Wales who had a fair Estate therein his rents resulting from much Barren-ground heard an English Gentleman perchance out of intended opposition to brag that he had in England so much ground worth forty shillings an Acre you said he have ten yards of Velvet and I have teâ—… score of Frize I will not exchange with you This is generally true of all Wales that much ground doth make up the Rent and yet in proportion they may lose nothing thereby compared to Estates in other Countries However there are in Wales most pleasant Meadows along the sides of Rivers and as the sweetest flesh is said to be nearest the bones so most delicious vallies aâ—…e interposed betwixt these Mountains But now how much these very Mountains advantage the Natives thereof in their Health Strength Swiftness Wit and other naturall Perfections Give me leave to stand by silent whilst a great Master of Language and Reason entertaineth the Reader with this most excellent and pertinent discourse Carpenters Geography second Book chap. 15. pag. 258. This conceit of Mounsieur Bodin I admit without any great contradiction were he not over-peremptory in over-much censuring all Mountainous people of Blockishness and Barbarisme against the opinion of Averroes a great Writer who finding these People nearer Heaven suspected in them a more Heavenly Nature Neither want there many reasons drawn from Nature and Experiment to prove Mountainous People more pregnant in Wit and Gifts of understanding then others inhabiting in low and plain Countries For however Wit and Valour are many times divided as we have shewn in the Northern and Southern people yet were they never so much at variance but they would sometimes meet First therefore what can speak more for the witty temper of the Mountain People then their clear and subtile Aire being far more purged and rarified then that in Lower countries For holding the Vital spirits to be the chiefest Instruments in the Souls Operation no man can deny but that they sympathize with the Aire especially their chiefest foment Every man may by experience find his Intellectuall Operations more Vigorous in a Clear day and on the contrary most Dull and Heavy when the Aire is any way affected with foggy vapours What we find in our selves in the same place at divers seasons may we much more expect of places diversly affected in Constitution A second reason for the proof of our assertion may be drawn from the Thin and spare Diet in respect of those others For people living of Plains have commonly all Commodities in such plenty that they are subject to surfeiting and luxury the greatest Enemy and Underminer of all Intellectuall Operations For a fat Belly commonly begets a gross Head and a lean Brain But want and scarcity the Mother of Frugality invites the Mountain-dwellers to a more sparing and wholesome Diet. Neither grows this conveniency only out of the scarcity of Viands but also out of the Dyet Birds Fowls Beasts which are bred upon higher places are esteemed of a more Cleanly and wholsome feeding then others living in Fens and Foggy Places And how far the Quality of our Dyet prevails in the Alteration of our Organs and Dispositions every Naturalist will easily resolve us A third reason may be drawn from the cold Aire of these Mountainous Regions which by an Antiperistasis keeps in and strengthens the Internall heat the chief instrument in Natural and Vital Operations For who perceives not his Vital and by consequence his Intellectuall Parts in cold frosty weather to be more strong and vigorous then in hot and soultry seasons wherein the spirits be dâ—…faced and weakned This disparity in the same region at divers times in regard of the disposition of the Aire may easily declare the disparity of divers Regions being in this sort diversly affected A fourth reason may be taken from the Custome and Hardness whereunto such people inure themselves from their infancy which as Huartus proves begets a better temper of the Brain in