Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
england_n city_n york_n yorkshire_n 66 3 11.6753 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A40672 The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.; History of the worthies of England Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661.; Fuller, John, b. 1640 or 41. 1662 (1662) Wing F2441; ESTC R6196 1,376,474 1,013

There are 40 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

behold Bristol as the staple-place thereof where alone it was anciently made For though there be a place in London nigh Cheapside called Sopers-lane it was never so named from that Commodity made therein as some have supposed but from Alen le Soper the long since owner thereof Yea it is not above an hundred and fifty years by the confession of the Chronicler of that City since the first Sope was boyled in London Before which time the Land was generally supplyed with Castile from Spain and Graysope from Bristol Yea after that London medled with the making thereof Bristol-sope notwithstanding the portage was found much the cheaper Great is the necessity thereof seeing without Sope our bodies would be no better than dirt before they are turned into dust men whilst living becoming noisome to themselves and others Nor lesse its antiquity For although our modern Sope made of Pot-ashes and other ingredients was unknown to the Ancient yet had they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 something which effectually supplied the place thereof making their Woollen clear their Linnen-Cloth cleanly Christ is compared by the Prophet to Fullers sope in Hebrew Borith which word Arias Montanus in his Interlineary Bible reteineth untranslated but in his Comment following the example of St. Hierom on the place rendreth it Herba fullonum expounding it to be Saponaria in English Sopeworth Indeed both Dodoneus and Gerardus writeth thereof This plant hath no use in Physick Yet seeing nature made nothing in vain Sopeworth cannot justly be charged as useless because purging though not the body the Clothes of a man and conducing much to the neatnesse thereof The Buildings Ratcliffe Church in this City clearly carrieth away the credit from all Parish-Churches in England It was founded by Cannings first a Merchant who afterwards b●…ame a Priest and most stately the ascent thereunto by many stairs which at last plentifully recompenceth their pains who climb them up with the magnificent structure both without and within If any demand the cause why this Church was not rather made the See of a Bishop then St. Augustins in this City much inferiour thereunto such may receive this reason thereof That this though an intire stately structure was not conveniently accomodated like St. Augustins formerly a great Monastery with publick Buildings about it for the Palace of a Bishop and the Reception of the Dean and Chapter However as the Town of Hague in Holland would never be Walled about as accounting it more credit to be the Biggest of Villages in Europe than but a Lesser City so Ratcliffe-Church esteemeth it a greater grace to lead the Van of all Parochial than to follow in the Rear after many Cathedral Churches in England Medicinal Waters St. Vincents Well lying West of the City under St. Vincents Rock and hard by the River is sovereign for Sores and Sicknesses to be washt in or drunk of to be either outwardly or inwardly applyed Undoubtedly the Water thereof runneth through some Mineral of Iron●… as appeareth by the rusty ferruginous taste thereof which it retaineth though boiled never so much Experience proveth that Beer brewed thereof is wholesome against the Spleen and Dr. Samuel VVard afflicted with that malady and living in Sidney-Colledge was prescribed the constant drinking thereof though it was costly to bring it thorough the Severn and narrow seas to Lin and thence by the River to Cambridge But men in pain must not grudge to send far to purchase their ease and thank God if they can so procure it Proverbs Bristol Milk Though as many Elephants are fed as Cows grased within the Walls of this City yet great plenty of this Metaphorical Milk whereby Xeres or Sherry-Sack is intended Some will have it called Milk because whereas Nurses give new-born Babes in some places Pap in other water and sugar such Wine is the first moisture given Infants in this City It is also the entertainment of course which the courteous Bristolians present to all Strangers when first visiting their City Martyrs The moderation of John Holyman Bipshop of this City is much to be commended who in the reign of Queen Mary did not persecute any in his Diocess And yet we find Rich. Sharpe Tho. Benion and Tho. Hale martyred in this City whose Bloud the Inquisitor thereof will visit on the account of Dalbye the cruel Chancellour of this Dio cess Prelates RALPH of BRISTOL born in this City was bred as I have cause to conceive in the Neighbouring Covent of Glassenbury Going over into Ireland first he became Treasurer of St. Patricks in Dublin then Episcopus Darensis Bishop of Kildare He wrote the life of Lawrence Arch-Bishop of Dublin and granted saith my Author certain Indulgences to the Abbey of Glassenbury in England probably in testimony of his Gratitude for his Education therein He died Anno Dom. 1232. Since the Reformation TOBIAS MATTHEW D. D. was born in this City bred first in St. Johns then in Christ-Church in Oxford and by many mediate Preferments became Bishop of Durham and at last York But it will be safest for my Pen now to fast for fear for a Surfeit which formerly feasted so freely on the Character of this Worthy Prelate who died 1628. Sea-men No City in England London alone excepted hath in so short a Time bred more Brave and Bold Sea-men advantaged for Western Voyages by its situation They have not only been Merchants but Adventurers possessed with a Publick Spirit for the General Good Aiming not so much to return wealthier as wiser not alwayes to en-rich themselves as inform Posterity by their Discoveries Of these some have been but meerly casual when going to fish for Cod they have found a Country or some eminent Bay River or Hauen of importance unknown before Others were intentional wherein they have sown experiments with great pains cost and danger that ensuing Ages may freely reap benefit thereof Amongst these Sea-men we must not forget HUGH ELIOT a Merchant of this City who was in his Age the prime Pilot of our Nation He first with the assistance of Mr. Thorn his fellow-Citizen found out New-found-land Anno 1527. This may be called Old-found-land as senior in the cognizance of the English to Virginia and all our other Plantations Had this Discovery been as fortunate in publick Encouragement as private Industry probably before this time we had enjoyed the Kernel of those Countries whose Shell only we now possess It 's to me unknown when Eliot deceased Writers THOMAS NORTON was born in this City and if any doubt thereof let them but consult the Initial syllables in the six first and the first line in the seventh chapter of his Ordinal which put together compose Thomas Norton of Briseto A parfet Master you may him trow Thus his modesty embraced a middle way betwixt concealing and revealing his name proper for so great a Professor in Chymistry as he was that his very name must from his
Soon after more then 60. Royalists of prime quality removed themselves beyond the Seas so that hencefor ward the Kings affairs in the North were in a languishing condition The Farewell As I am glad to hear the plenty of a courser kind of Cloth is made in this County at Halifax Leeds and elsewhere whereby the meaner sort are much imployed and the middle sort inriched So I am sorry for the generall complaints made thereof Insomuch that it is become a generall by word to shrink as Northern Cloth a Giant to the eye and Dwarf in the use thereof to signify such who fail their Friends in deepest distress depending on their assistance Sad that the Sheep the Embleme of Innocence should unwillingly cover so much craft under the woo●… thereof and sadder that Fullers commended in Scripture for making cloth white should justly be condemned for making their own Consciences black by such fraudulent practices I hope this fault for the future will be amended in this County and elsewhere For sure it is that the transporting of wooll and Fullers-earth both against Law beyond the Seas are not more prejudiciall to our English cloathing abroad then the deceit in making cloth at home debasing the Forraign estimation of our Cloth to the unvaluable damage of our Nation YORK is an Antient City built on both sides of the River Ouse conjoyned with a Bridge wherein there is one Arch the highest and largest in England Here the Roman Emperors had their residence Severus and Valerius Constantius their death preferring this place before London as more approaching the Center of this Island and he who will hold the Ox-hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot in the middle thereof What it lacketh of London in Bigness and Beauty of Buildings it hath in Cheapness and Plenty of Provisions The Ordinary in York will make a Feast in London and such Persons who in their Eating consult both their Purse and Palate would chuse this City as the Staple place of good chear Manufactures It challengeth none peculiar to it self and the Forraign Trade is like their River compared with the Thames low and little Yet send they course Cloth to Ha●…orough and have Iron Flax and other Dutch Commodities in return But the Trade which indeed is but driven on at York runneth of it self at Hull which of a Fishers Town is become a Cities fellow within three hundred years being the Key of the North. I presume this Key though not new made is well mended and the Wards of the Lock much altered since it shut out our Soveraign from entering therein The Buildings The Cathedrall in this City answereth the Character which a forraign Author giveth it Templum opere magnitudine toto orbe memorandum the work of John Romaine Willam Melton and John Thoresbury Successive Arch-bishops thereof The Family of the Percyes contributing Timber of the Valvasors Stone thereunto Appending to this Cathedrall is the Chapter-house such a Master piece of Art that this Golden verse understand it written in Golden Letters is ingraved therein Ut Rosa Flos Florum sic est Domus ista Domorū Of Flowers that grow the Flower 's the Rose All Houses so this House out-goes Now as it follows not that the Usurping Tulip is better then the Rose because preferred by some Forraign Fancies before it so is it as inconsequent that Mod●…h Italian Churches are better then this Reverent Magnificent Structure because some humorous Travailors are so pleased to esteem them One may justly wonder how this Church whose Edifice Woods designed by the Devotion of former ages for the repair thereof were lately sold should consist in so good a condition But as we read that God made all those to pity his Children who carried them captive so I am informed that some who had this Cath●…drall in their command favourably reflected hereon and not onely permitted but procured the repair thereof and no doubt he doth sleep the more comfortably and will die the more quietly for the same Proverbs Lincoln was London is and York shall be Though this be rather a Prophesie then a Proverb yet because something Proverbiall therein it must not be omitted It might as well be placed in Lincoln shire or Middlesex yet if there be any truth therein because Men generally worship the Rising Sun blame me not if here I onely take notice thereof That Lincoln was namely a far Fairer Greater Richer City then now it is doth plainly appear by the ruins thereof being without controversie the greatest City in the Kingdome of Mercia That London is we know that York shall be God knows If no more be meant but that York hereafter shall be in a better condition then now it is some may believe and m●…re doe d●…sire it Indeed this Place was in a Fair way of Preferment because of the convenient Scituation thereof when England and Scotland were first United into GreatB●…itain But as for those who hope it shall be the English Metropolis they must wait untill the River of Thames run under the great Arch of Ouse-bridge However York shall be that is shall be York still as it was before Saints FLACCUS ALBINUS more commonly called Alcuinus was born say some nigh London say others in York the later being more Probable because befriended with his Northern Education under Venerable Bede and his advancement in York Here he so pl●…d the well furnished Library therein much praised by him that he distilled it into himself so great and generall his knowledge Bale ranketh him the third Englishman for Learning placing Bede and Adelme before him and our Alcuinus his Humilt●…y is contented with the place though he be called up higher by the judgements of others Hence he travailed beyond the Seas and what Aristotle was to Alexander he was to Charles the first Emperour Yea Charles owed unto him the best part of his Title The Great being made Great in Arts and Learning by his Instructions This Alcuinus was the Founder of the University in Paris so that whatsoever the French brag to the contrary and slight our Nation their Learning was Lumen de Lumine nostro and a Tapor lighted at our Torch When I seriously peruse the Orthography of his Name I call to mind an Anagram which the Papists made of Reverend Calvin bragging like boys for finding of a Bees when it proves but a Hornets Nest I mean Triumphing in the sweetness of their conceit though there be nothing but a malitious sting therein CALVINUS LUCIANUS And now they think they have Nicked the Good man to Purpose because Lucianus w●…s notoriously known for an Atheist and Grand Scoffer at the Christian Religion A silly and spirefull Fancy seeing there were many Lucians worthy Persons in the Primitive ●…imes amongst whom the chief one Presbyter of Antioch and Martyr under Dio●…sian so Famous to Posterity for his Translation of the Bible Besides the same literall allusion is
found in the name of ALCUINUS LUCIANUS Thus these Nominall Curiosities whether they hit or miss the Mark equally import nothing to Judicious Beholders He was made first Abbot of Saint Augustines in Canterbury and afterward of Saint Martins in the City of Towers in France and dying Anno 780 he was buried in a small Convent appendant to his Monastery He is here entred under the Topick of Saints because though never solemnly canonized he well deserved the Honor His Subjects said to David Thou art worth ten Thousand of us and though I will not ascend to so high a Proportion many of the Modern Saints in the Church of Rome must modestly confess that on a Due and True estimate our Alcuinus was worth many Scores of them at least so great his Learning and holy his Conversation SEWALL had his Nativity probably in these Parts But he was bred in Oxford and was a Scholar to St. Edmund who was wont to say to him Sewald Sewald thou wilt have many Afflictions and dye a Martyr Nor did he miss much of his mark therein though he met with Peace and Plenty at first when Arch-bishop of York The occasion of his Trouble was when the Pope plenitudine potestatis intruded one Jordan an Italian to be Dean of York whose Surprised Installing Sewald stoutly opposed Yea at this time there were in England no fewer then three Hundred Benefices possessed by Italians where the People might say to them as the Eunuch to Philip How can we understand without an ●…nterpreter Yea which was far worse they did not onely not teach in the Church but mis-teach by their lascivious and debauched behaviour Asfor our Sewald Mathew Paris saith plainly that he would not bow his Knee to Baal so that for this his contempt he was excommunicated and cursed by Bell Book and Candle though it was not the Bell of Aarons Garment nor Book of Scripture nor the Candle of an Unpartiall Judgement This brak his heart and his Memory lyeth in an Intricate posture peculiar almost to himself betwixt Martyr and no Martyr a Saint and no Saint Sure it is ●…ewall though dying excommunicated in the Romish is reputed Saint in Vulgar estimation and some will maintain that the Popes solemn Canonization is no more requisite to the making of a Saint then the Opening of a Man●… Windows is necessary to the lustre of the Sun Sewald died Anno Dom. 1258. Bale who assumeth liberty to himself to surname Old-writers at his pleasure is pleased to Addition this worthy man Sewaldus Magnanimus Martyrs VALENTINE FREESE and his Wife were both of them born in this City and both gave their lives therein at one Stake for the testimony of Jesus Christ Anno Domini 1531. Probably by order from Edward Lee the cruell Arch-bishop I cannot readily call to mind a man and his wife thus Marryed together in Martyrdome And begin to grow confident that this Couple was the first and la●… in this kind Confessors EDWARD FREESE brother to the aforesaid Valentine was born in York and there a Prentice to a Painter He was afterwards a Novice-Monke and leaving his Convent came to Colchester in Essex Here his hereticall Inclination as then accounted discovered it self in some sentences of Scripture which he Painted in the Borders of Cloths for which he was brought before John Stoaksley Bishop of London from whom he found such cruell usage as is above belief Master Fox saith that he was fed with Manchet made of Saw-dust or at the least a great part thereof and kept so long in Prison Manicled by the wrests till the Flesh had overgrown his Irons and he not able to kembe his own head became so distracted that being brought before the Bishop he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man A sad sight to his Friends and a sinfull one to his Foes who first made him mad and then made mirth at his madness I confess distraction is not mentioned in that list of losses reckoned up by our Saviour He that left his House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake c. But seeing his wits is nearer and dearer to any man then his wealth and seeing what is so lost may be said to be left no doubt this poor mans distraction was by God gratiously accepted on his enemies severely punished and to him mercifully rewarded We must not forget how the wife of this Edward Freese being big with child and pressing in to see her husband the Porter at Fulham gave her such a kick on the belly that the child was destroyed with that stroke immediately and she died afterwards of the same Prelates JOHN ROMAN so called because his Father was born in Rome though living a long time in this City being Treasurer of the Cathedrall therein and I conjecture this John his Son born in York because so Indulgent thereunto For generally Pure Pute Italians preferred in England transmitted the gain they got by Bills of Exchange or otherwise into their own Country and those outlandis●… Mules though lying down in English Pasture left no Hairs behind them Whereas this Roman had such Affection for York that being advanced Arch-bishop he began to build the Body of the Church and finished the North Part of the Cross-Isle therein Polydore Virgil praised him no wonder that an Italia●… commended a Roman for a Man of great Learning and Sincerity He fell into the disfavour of King Edward the first for Excommunicating Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham and it cost him four thousand marks to regain his Princes Good Will He died Anno Domini 1295. And let none grudge his Buria●… in the best Place of the Church who was so Bountifull a Builder thereof ROBERT WALBEY born in this City was therein bred an Aug●…stinian Friar he afterwards went over into France where he so applied his studies that at last he was chosen Divinity Professor in the City of Tholouse he was Chaplain to the black Prince after his death to his Father K. Edward the third Now as his Mr. injoyed three Crowns so under him in his three Kingdoms this his Chaplain did partake successively of three Miters being first a Bishop in Gascoine then Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland afterwards Bishop of Chichester in England not grudging to be degraded in Dignity to be preferred in profit At last he was consecrated Arch-bishop of York and was the first and last Native which that City saw the least of Infants and in his Time when Man the greatest therein Yet he enjoyed his place but a short time dying May 29. Anno Domini 1397. Since the Reformation THOMAS MORTON was born Anno 1564. in the City of York whose father Richard Morton allyed to Cardinall Morton Arch bishop of Canterbury was a Mercer I have been informed the first of that calling in that City sure of such repute that no Mercers
for many years by past were of any Eminency but either immediately or mediately were Apprentices unto him He was bred in York school where he was School-fellow with Guy Faux which I note partly to shew that Loyalty and Treason may be educated under the same Roof partly to give a check to the received opinion that Faux was a Fleming no Native English-man He was bred in Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge and chosen Fellow thereof to a Fellowship to which he had no more Propriety then his own Merit before Eight Comp●…titors for the place equally capable with himself and better befriended Commencing Doctor in Divinity he made his Position which though unusuall was Arbitrary and in his own power on his second Question which much defeated the expectatio●… of Doctor Playfere replying upon him with some passion Commos●…i mihi stomachum To whom Morton return'd Gratulor tibi Reverende professor de bono tuo stomacho caenabis apud me hac nocte He was successively preferr'd Dean of Gloucester Winchester Bishop of Chester Coventry and Lichfield and Durham The Foundation which he laid of Forraign corre spondency with eminent persons of different perswasions when he attended as Chaplain to the Lord Evers sent by King James Embassadour to the King of Denmark and many Princes of Germany he built upon unto the Day of his Death In the late Long Parliament the displeasure of the House of Commons fell heavy upon him partly for subscribing the Bishops Protestation for their Votes in Parliament partly for refusing to resign the seal of his Bishoprick and baptizing a Daughter of John Earl of Rutland with the sign of the Cross two faults which compounded together in the judgement of honest and wise-men amounted to a High Innocence Yet the Parliament allowed him eight hundred pounds a year a proportion above any of his Brethren for his maintenance But alass the Trumpet of their Charity gave an uncertain sound not assigning by whom or whence this summe should be paid Indeed the severe Votes of the Parliament ever took full effect according to his observation who did Anagram it VOTED OUTED But their mercifull Votes found not so free performance However this good Bishop got a thousand pounds out of Goldsmiths-hall which afforded him his support in his old Age. The Neb of his Pen was unpartially divided into two equall Moyeties the one writing against Faction in defence of three Innocent Ceremonies the other against Superstition witness the Grand Impostor and other worthy works He solemnly proffered unto me pardon me Reader if I desire politiquely to twist my own with his Memory that they may both survive together in these sad times to maintain me to live with him which Courteous Offer as I could not conveniently accept I did thankfully 〈◊〉 Many of the Nobility deservedly honoured him though none more then John Earl of Rutland to whose Kinsman Roger Earl of Rutland he formerly 〈◊〉 been Chaplain But let not two worthy Baronets be forgotten Sir George Savill who so civilly paid him his purchased Annuity of two hundred pounds withall Proffered advantages and Sir Henry Yelve●…ton at whose house he dyed aged 95. at Easton-Manduit in Northampton shire 1659. For the rest the Reader is remitted to his life written largely and learnedly by Doctor John Barwick Dean of Durham States-men Sir ROBERT CAR was born in this City on this occasion Thomas Car his father Laird of Furnihurst a man of great lands and power in the South of Scotland was very active for Mary Queen of Scots and on that accompt forced to fly his land came to York Now although he had been a great inroder of England yet for some secret reason of State here he was permitted safe shelter du●…ing which time Robert his son was born this was the reason why the said Robert refused to be Naturalized by Act of our Parliament as needless for him born in the English Dominions I have read how his first making at Court was by breaking of his leg at a Tilting in London whereby he came first to the Cognizance of King James Thus a fair starting with advantage in the notice of a Prince is more then half the way in the race to his favour King James reflected on him whose Father was a kind of Conf●…ssor for the cause of the Queen his Mother besides the Young Gentleman had a handsome person and a conveniency of desert Honors were crowded upon him made Baron Viscount Earl of Sommerset Knight of the Garter Warden of the Cinque-Ports c. He was a well natured man not mischievous with his might doing himself more hurt then any man else For abate one foul fact with the appendance and consequences thereof notoriously known and he will appear deserving no foul Character to posterity but for the same he was banished the Court lived and dyed very privately about the year of our Lord 1638. Writers JOHN WALBYE was born in this City of honest Parentage He was bred an Augustinian Provinciall of his Order and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford A Placentious Person gaining the good-will of all with whom he conversed being also Ingenious Industrious Learned Eloquent Pious and Prudent Pitz writeth that after Alexander Nevell he was Chosen but never Confirmed Arch bishop of York an Honour reserved for Robert his Younger Brother of whom before But Bishop Godwin maketh no mention hereof which rendreth it suspicious The said Pitz maketh him actuall Arch-bishop of Dublin whilst Bale who being an Irish Bishop had the advantage of exacter Intelligence hath no such thing whence we may conclude it a Mistake The rather because this John is allowed by all to have died in this place of his Nativity 1393. Also I will adde this that though sharp at first against the Wickliffites he soon abated his own Edge and though present at a Council kept at Stanford by the King against them was not well pleased with all things transacted therein JOHN ERGHOM was born in this City an Augustinian by his profession Leaving York he went to Oxford where passing thorough the Arts he fixed at last in Divinity proving an admirable Preacher My Author tells me that sometimes he would utter nova inaudita whereat one may well wonder seeing Solomon hath said There is no n●…w thing under the Sun The truth is he renewed the custome of expounding Scripture in a typicall way which crouded his Church with Auditors seeing such 〈◊〉 preaching break 's no bones much pleased their fancy and little cross'd or curb'd their corruptions Indeed some but not all Scripture is capable of such comments and because metalls are found in Mountains it is madness to Mine for them in every rich Meadow But in expounding of Scripture when mens inventions out-run the Spirits intentions their swiftness is not to be praised but sawcyness to be punished This Erghom wrote many books and dedicated them to the Earl of Hereford the same with Edward Duke of Buckingham and flourished
own Heralds to Marshal their own precedency they had been much to blame if not carving a good portion of Honour to themselves whilest devout Princes abused by bad Instructors and their own erroneous Consciences gave to the Clergy what they were pleased to demaund None might elect the Pope save such as were Cardi. yea none out of that Order were eligible into the Papacy as in England one must first be a Sergeant before he be a Iudge Cardinal Deacons were in equal capacity of being Popes with Cardinal Priests and oftentimes were preferred before them as they could strenthen their faction which carried all in these and I could wish in no other Elections WILLIAM ALLEN who died Anno 1594 was the last Englishman advanced to this Honour so that our Country hath not had a Cardin●…l these sixty years which from the former six hundred years was never without one or two of that Order This may seem a wonder our Nation being as meriting as any for the Romish Cause and having as good Heads as any why should they not weare as gay Hats as others nor will the reasons assigned for the contrary give satisfaction viz. 1. That the Pope commonly makes Cardinals to gratifie Foreign Kings whilest our English Soveraigns have ever since been of a different Religion from his Holinesse 2. That our English Catholicks living beyond Seas in the nature of Exiles and under persecution as they call it so high an honour is inconsistent with their suffering condition 3. That our Englishmen want preferment and Estates to maintain the distance of so great a dignity There are at the present two English Natives in France of noble extraction and Romish perswasion much voyced in common discourse for their probability to such preferment but on what grounds I do not know and list not to enquire Surely the matter is not great seeing that dignity hath been observed to be rather fatal then fortunate to the English and attended with some sad and sudden casualties 1. Cardinal Mackelsfield was four moneths buried before his Cap was brought him 2. Cardinal Sertor dyed in Italy in the Juncture of Time Inter Pileum datum susceptum 3. Cardinal Fisher when his Cap was come to Calis had his head struck off at Tower-Hill 4. Cardinal Somercot was poysoned in the very Conclave to prevent his selection to the Popedome 5. Cardinal Evosham was sent the same way on the same occasion 6. Cardinal Bambridge was poysoned at Rome by one of his servants being an Italian If such their successe I suppose it far easier for Englishmen to have their caps though courser and cheaper made of our own Countrey-wool which will be more warm and may prove more healthful for the wearers thereof I have done with this Subject when I have observed that there is a Cardinal Bishop of Sabine a place near Rome and a Cardinal Priest of Saint Sabine a Church dedicated to her Memory in the same City the not heeding whereof I suspect hath bred much confusion in our English Writers The best is our Englishmen when they write of Places in Italy cannot commit greater and grosser mistakes then what Italians have done when they have wrote of Towns and Places in England Though perchance such is their pride that they will say it is our duty to be exact in Italy and their courtesie to take any notice of England Let not the Reader wonder if Cardinals inserted in others are omitted in our Catalogue viz. Ulricus Ancherus Theobaldus Bernardus de Anguiscello c. Seeing I am unsatisfied in some of them whether they were Cardinals in others whether they were Englishmen Forreign Countries laying more probable claim unto them Nor will it quit the cost of a Contest nothing more then their names being left in History withouta ny other observeables Prelates before the Reformation Next succeed such eminent Clergy-men who attained to the honour of being Arch-Bishops and Bishops in England and were famous in their generations Objection These Popes Cardinals and Prelates were superstitious persons and Limbs of Antichrist whose names are better lost then kept Yea it mattered not much if some good Josiah served their bones as those of the idolatrous Priests of Jeroboam even burn them to ashes that so their bodies and memories might perish together Answer I am afraid our age affords those who if they were to manage that Act would together with their bones sans difference notwithstanding the distinguishing Epitaph burn the bodies of the young and old Prophet I mean utterly extirpate the Ministerial Function But I answer it must be confess'd they were deeply died with the Errors and Vices of the Age they lived in yet so that some of them were for their Devotion exemplary to posterity and the very worst of them though yeelding nothing fit for our Imitation may afford what is well worth our Observation And here be it remembred that the same Epithete in severall places accepts sundry Interpretations He is called A GOOD MAN in common Discourse who is not Dignified with Gentilitie A GOOD MAN upon the Exchange who hath a responsable Estate A GOOD MAN in a Camp who is a tall Man of his Armes A GOOD MAN in the Church who is Pious and Devout in his Conversation Thus whatsoever is fixed therein in other Relations that Person is A GOOD MAN in History whose Character affords such Matter as may please the Palate of an Ingenious Reader and I humbly crave the Honour to be his Taster in this Behalf Now of Bishops before the Conquest the most were meerly nuda Nomina Naked Names As for such appearing Clothed with remarkable History most of them move in an higher Sphere of Saints and so are anticipated Since the Conquest for the first seven Kings many Prelates were Foreigners generally French and so Aliens from our Subject It will therefore be seasonable to begin their Catalogue about the time of King Henry the Third deducing it unto the Popish Bishops who were deprived in the first of Queen Elizabeth CHAP. V. Since the Reformation NExt those Prelates before follow such as were since the Reformation much different not in Title but Tenure from the former holding their places not from the Pope but their Prince and practising the principles of the protestant Religion for the term of a hundred and twenty years since the latter end of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Amongst these Malice it self meets with many which it must allow for their Living Preaching and Writing to have been the main Champions of Truth against Error Learning against Ignorance Piety against Prof●…ss Religion against Superstition Unity and Order against Faction and Confusion verifying the judicious observation of Forreigners Clerus Britanniae Gloria mundi These Prelates may be Digested into Five Successive Setts or Companies under their respective Arch-bishops allowing each of them somewhat more then twenty years as large a proportion for the life of a Bishop as seventy years for the
all earnestnesse which will add so much to their account Some will say if the English be so forward in deeds of Charity as appeareth by what you said before any exhortation thereunto is altogether supers●…uous I answer the best disposed to Bounty may need a Remembrancer and I am sure that Nightingale which would wake will not be angry with the Thorn which pricketh her Breast when she noddeth Besides it is a Truth what the Poet saith Qui monet ut facias quod jam facis ipse monendo Laudat hortatu comprobat acta suo Who what thou dost thee for to do doth move Doth praise thy Practice and thy Deeds approve Thus the exhortations of the Apostles at Jerusalem were commendations of St. Paul Only they would that we should remember the poor the same which I also was forward to do Lastly though many of our Nation be free in this kind there want not those who instead of being Zealous are Jealous of good works being so far from shining themselves that they enviously endevour to extinguish the light of others whose Judgements I have laboured to rectifie herein The Stating of the Word REFORMATION with the Extensiveness thereof No word occurs oftner in this our Book then REFORMATION It is as it were the Aequator or that remarkable Line dividing betwixt Eminent Prelates Leaed Writers and Benefactors to the Publick who lived Before or After It. Know then that this Word in Relation to the Church of England is of above twenty years extent For the Reformation was not advanced here as in some Forraign Free-States suddenly not to say rapidly with popular Violence but Leisurely and treatably as became a matter of so great importance besides the meeting with much opposition retarded the proceedings of the Reformers We may observe that the Jews returned from the Captivity of Babylon at three distinct times under the Conduct of several persons 1. When the main Body of the Captives was brought home by Zorobabel by whom the second Temple was built 2. When a considerable Company returned with Ezra by whom the Church part as I may tearm it was setled in that Nation 3. When Nehemiah no doubt with suitable attendance came home and ordered the State moiety repairing the VValls of Jerusalem In like manner we may take notice of three distinct Dates and different degrees of our English Reformation though in relation to the Jewish I confess the method was altogether inverted For 1. The Civil part thereof when the Popes Supremacy was banished in the Reign of King Henry the Eight 2. VVhen the Church Service was reformed as far as that Age would admit in the first year of King Edward the Sixth 3. VVhen the same after the Marian interruption was resumed and more refined in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The first of these I may call the morning Star The second the dawning of the day The third the Rising of the Sun and I deny not but that since that time his light and heat hath been increased But now the Question will be what is to be thought of those Prelates Writers and Benefactors which lived in the aforesaid Interval betwixt the Beginning and Perfecting of this Reformation For these appear unto us like unto the Batable ground lying betwixt England and Scotland whilest as yet two distinct Kingdomes in so dubious a posture it is hard to say to which side they do belong It is Answered the only way to decide this difference is to observe the Inclinations of the said persons so far forth as they are discovered in their Writings and actions such as appear in some good degree favourers of the Gospel are reputed to be since whilest those who are otherwise are adjudged to be Before the Reformation CHAP. XII Of Memorable Persons THe former Heads were like private Houses in which persons accordingly Qualified have their several habitations But this last Topick is like a publick Inn admitting all Comers and Goers having any extraordinary not vitious Remark upon them and which are not clearly reducible to any of the former Titles Such therefore who are over under or beside the Standard of Common persons for strength stature fruitfulnesse Vivacity or any other observeable eminence are lodged here under the Notion of Memorable Persons presuming the pains will not be to Me so much in marking as the pleasure to the Reader in knowing them Under this Title we also repose all such Mechanicks who in any Manual Trade have reached a clear Note above others in their Vocation Objection It is Deforme Spectaculum an uncouth Sight to behold such handy-crafts-men blended with Eminencies in ingenious professions such a mottley colour is no good wearing How would William Cecill Lord Treasurer of England and Baron of Burghleigh be offended to behold James York the Blacksmith set with him at the same Table amongst the Natives of Lincolne-shire Answer I am confident on the contrary that he would be highly pleased being so great a Statesman that he would countenance and encourage his Industrious Country man accounting nothing little without the help whereof greater matters can either not be attained or not long subsist Yea we see what signal notice the Spirit of God takes of the three Sons of Lamech the first Founders of Tent-making Organs and Iron-works and it is observable that whereas all their names are forgotten which built the Tower of Babel though done on design to get them a name these three Mechanicks viz. Jabal Jubal and Tubal Cain are nominatim recorded to all posterity Thus is it better to bottome the perpetuity of ones memory on honest Industry and ingenuous diligence then on Stately Structures and expensive magnificence I confesse it is easier to add to any art than first to invent it yet because there is a perfection of degrees as well as Kinds Eminent Improvers of an art may be allowed for the Co-inventers thereof being Founders of that accession which they add thereunto for which they deserve to be both regarded and rewarded I could name a worshipful Family in the South of England which for 16. several descents and some hundreds of years have continued in the same stay of Estate not acquiring one foot of Land either by match purchase gift or otherwise to their ancient Patrimony The same may be said of some handycrafts wherein men move in the same compasse but make no further progresse to perfection or any considerable improvement and this I impute generally to their want of competent encouragement CHAP. XIII Of Lord Maiors of LONDON I Have concluded this Work with these Chief Officers in that great City A place of so great Honour and Trust that it hath commonly been said that on the death of an English King The Lord Maior is the Subject of the greatest Authority in England Many other Offices determining with the Kings Life till such time as their Charters be renewed by his Successor whereas the Lord Maiors Trust continueth for a
partial Reflections CHAP. XIX Of the Number of Modern Shires or Counties in England And why the WORTHIES in this Work are digested County-wayes I Say Modern not meaning to meddle with those antiquated ones which long since have lost their Names and bounds as Winchelcomb-shire united to Gloucester-shire Howdon-Shire annexed to York-shire and Hexham-Shire to Northumberland As little do we intend to touch on those small Tracts of Ground the County of Poole and the like being but the extended Limits and Liberties of some Incorporations We add Shires or Counties using the words promiscuously as the same in sense I confess I have heard some Criticks making this distinction betwixt them that such are Shires which take their Denomination from some principal Town as Cambridgeshire Oxford-shire c. Whilest the rest not wearing the Name of any Town are to be reputed Counties as Norfolk Suffolk c. But we need not go into Wales to confute their Curiosity where we meet Merioneth-shire and Glamorgan-shire but no Towns so termed seeing Devon-shire doth discompose this their English Conceit I say English Shires and Counties being both Comitatus in Latine Of these there be nine and thirty at this day which by the thirteen in Wales are made up fifty two England largely taken having one for every Week in the year Here let me tender this for a real Truth which may seem a Paradoxe that there is a County in England which from the Conquest till the year 1607 when Mr. Camdens last Latine Britannia was set forth never had Count or Earl thereof as hereby may appear In his Conclusion of Bark-shire Immediately it followeth Haec de Bark shire quae hactenus Comitis honore insignivit neminem In hujus Comitatus complexu sunt Parochiae 140. Now this may seem the more strange because Comes and Comitatus are relative But under favour I humbly conceive that though Bark shire never had any Titular Honourary or Hereditary Earl till the year 1620. when Francis Lord Norris was created first Earl thereof yet had it in the Saxons time when it was first modelled into a Shire an Officiary Count whose Deputy was termed Vice-comes as unto this day Why the Worthies in this Work are digested County-ways First this Method of Marshalling them is new and therefore I hope neverthelesse acceptable Secondly it is as informative to our judgements to order them by Counties according to their place as by Centuries so oft done before according to the time seeing WHERE is as essential as WHEN to a mans being Yea both in some sort may be said to be jure divino understand it ordered by Gods immediate providence and therefore are coupled together by the Apostle Acts 17. 26. And hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation If of their habitation in general then more especially of the most important place of their Nativity The Spirit of God in Scripture taketh signal notice hereof The Lord shall count when he writes up the people That this man was born there Philip was of Bethsaida the City of Andrew and Peter and all know how St. Paul got his best Liberty where he saw the first light in Tarsus a City of Cilicia When Augustus C●…ar issued out a decree to taxe the whole World it was ordered therein that every own should go into his own City as the most compendious way to prevent confusion and effectually to advance the businesse I find the same to expedite this work by methodizing the Worthies therein according to the respective places of their Nativities If some conceive it a pleasant sight in the City of London to behold the Natives of the several Shires after the hearing of a Sermon passe in a decent equipage to some Hall there to dine together for the continuance and increase of Love and Amity amongst them Surely this Spectacle will not seem unpleasant to ingenuous Eyes to see the Heroes of every particular County modelled in a body together and marching under the Banners of their several Eminencies Here may you behold how each County is Innated with a particular Genius inclining the Natives thereof to be dexterous some in one profession some in another one carrying away the credit for Souldiers another for Seamen another for Lawyers another for Divines c. as I could easily instance but that I will not forestall the Readers Observation seeing some love not a Rose of anothers gathering but delight to pluck it themselves Here also one may see how the same County was not always equally fruitful in the production of worthy persons but as Trees are observed to have their bearing and barren years So Shires have their rise and fall in affording famous persons one age being more fertile then another as by annexing the dates to their several Worthies will appear In a word my serious desire is to set a noble emulation between the several Counties which should acquit themselves most eminent in their memorable off spring Nor let a smaller Shire be disheartned herein to contest with another larger in extent and and more populous in persons seeing Viri do not always hold out in proportion to Homines Thus we find the Tribe of Simeon more numerous than any in Israel Judah and Dan only excepted as which at their coming out of Egypt afforded no fewer than fifty nine thousand and three hundred Yet that Tribe did not yeild Prince Preist Prophet or any remarkable person Apocrypha Judith only excepted Multi gregarii pauci egregii and Multitude with Amplitude is never the true Standard of Eminency as the judicious Reader by perusing and comparing our County Catalogues will quickly perceive A Case of Concernment propounded and submitted to the Equity of the Reader It is this Many Families time out of mind have been certainly fixed in eminent Seats in their respective Counties where the Ashes of their Ancestors sleep in quiet and their Names are known with honour Now possibly it may happen that the chief Mother of that Family travelling in her Travel by the way side or by some other Casualty as visit of a friend c. May there be delivered of the Heir of her Family The Question is whether this Child shall be reputed the Native of that place where his Mother accidentally touched or where his Father and the Father of his Fathers have landed for many Generations On the one side it seemeth unreasonable to any man according to his Historical conscience that such a casual case should carry away the Sole credit of his Nativity This allowed tota Anglia Londinizabit a Moiety almost of the Eminent Persons in this Modern age will be found born in that City as the Inn-general of the Gentry and Nobility of this Nation Whether many come to prosecute Law-Suits to see and to be seen and on a hundred other occasions among which I will not name saving of house-keeping in the Countrey One Instance of many I find
Gods grace may prove sober Christians and eminent in their generations The last Port to which I traffiqued for intelligence towards our insuing Work was by making my addresses by letters and otherwise to the nearest Relations of those whose Lifes I have written Such applications have sometimes proved chargable but if my weak pains shall find preferment that is acceptance from the judicious Reader my care and cost is forgotten and shall never come under computation Here I cannot but condemn the carelessness not to say ingratitude of those I am safe whilst containing my self in general terms who can give no better account of the Place where their fathers or grand-fathers were born then the child unborn so that sometimes we have been more beholden to strangers for our instructions herein then to their nearest Kindred And although some will say Sons are more comfortably concerned to know the time of their Fathers death then place of their birth yet I could almost wish that a moderate fine were imposed on such heirs whose Fathers were born before them and yet they know not where they were born However this I must gratefully confess I have met with many who could not never with any who would not furnish me with information herein It is observable that men born an hundred years since and upwards have their nativities fixed with more assurance then those born some eighty years since Mens eyes see worst in the Twilight in that intervale after the Sun is set and natural light ended and before candles are set up and artificial light begun In such a crepusculum oftime those Writers lived who fall short of the history of Bale and Leland yet go before the memory of any alive which unhappy insterstice hath often perplexed us and may easier be complained of then amended To conclude should I present all with Books who courteously have conduced to my instruction the whole Impression would not suffice But I remember the no less civil then politick invitation of Judah to the Tribe of Simeon Come up with me into my Lot to Conquer the Cananites and I likewise will go with thee into thy Lot if such who have lent me theirs shall have occasion to borrow mine assistance my Pains Brains and Books are no more mine then theirs to command which besides my prayers for them and thanks to them is all my ability in requital can perform CHAP. XXIII A double Division of the English Gentry 1. According to the Nation whence they were extracted 2. According to the Profession whereby they were advanced THis discourse I tender the Reader as a preparative to dispose him for the better observing and distinguishing of our English Gentry in our ensuing Lives and Catalogue of Sheriffs We begin with the Britains the Aborigines or Native Inhabitants of the South of this Island but long since expelled by the Saxons into the West thereof None then remaining in some since returning into our Land of whom hereafter We confess the Romans Conquered our Country planted Colonies and kept Garrisons therein but their descendants are not by any character discernable from the British Indeed if any be found able to speak Latine naturally without learning it we may safely conclude him of Roman Extraction Mean time it is rather a pretty conceit then a solid notion of that great Antiquary who from the allusion of the name collecteth the noble family of the Cecils more truly Sytsilts descended from the Cecilii a Senatorian Family in Rome The Saxons succeed whose Of-spring at this day are the main bulk and body of the English though not Gentry Nation I may call them the whole cloath thereof though it be garded here and there with some great ones of foreign Extraction These Saxons though pitifully depressed by the Conquerour by Gods goodness King Henry the first favour their own patience and diligence put together the plankes of their Shiprack'd Estates and aferwards recovered a competent condition The Danes never acquired in this Land a long and peaceable possession thereof living here rather as Inroders then Inhabitants the cause that so few families distinguishable by their Surnames are descended from them extant in our age Amongst which few the respected Stock of the Denizes often Sheriffs in Devon and Gloustershire appear the principal As for Fitz-Hardinge the younger son of the King of Denmark and direct ancestour of the Truly Honourable George Lord Berkeley he came in long since when he accompanied the Conquerour I must confess that at this day there passeth a Tradition among some of the Common People that such names which Terminate in Son as Johnson Tomson Nicolson Davison Saunderson are of Danish Origination But this fond opinion is long since con●…uted by Vestegan that ingenious and industrious Antiquary Yea he urgeth this as an argument which much prevaileth with me why those Surnames were not derived from the Danes because they had no such name in use amongst them as John Thomas Nicholas David Alexander from whence they should be deduced Yea he further addeth that it is more probable that they made the Childs name by adjecting the syllable Son to the Appellation of the Father a custome which is usual even at this time amongst the Vulgar sort of the Dutch Yet is there not remaining any sign thereof amongst the names of our Age which probably might have been Canutson Ericson Gormoson Heraldson Rofolson c. The Normans or French under the Conquerour swarmed in England so that then they became the only visible Gentry in this Nation and still continue more then a Moity thereof several Catalogues of their Names I have so largely exemplifyed in my Church-history that some have taxed me for tediousness therein and I will not adde an new obstinacy to my old error But besides these we have some Surnames of good Families in England now extant which though French are not by any diligence to be recovered in the lists of such as came over with the Conquerour and therefore we suppose them to have remained of those Gentlemen and others which from Henault attended Queen Isabel wife unto King Edward the second Of this sort was Deureux Mollineux Darcy Coniers Longchamp Henage Savage Danvers with many more Of the British or Welsh after their expulsion hence by the Saxons some signal persons have returned again and by the Kings Grant Matches Purchases c. have fixed themselves in fair possessions in England especially since the beginning of the reign of their Country-man King Henry the seventh rewarding the valour of many contributing to his Victory in the battle of Bosworth Of the Welsh now re-estated in England and often Sheriffs therein some retain their old Surnames as the Griffins in Northamptonshire the Griffiths and Vaughans in Yorkshire some have assumed New ones as the Caradocks now known by the new Name of the Newtons in Somersetshire Many Scotch long before the Union of the two Kingdomes under King James seated themselves
by the waters thereof Princes I find no Prince since the Conquest who saw his first light in this County probably because our English Kings never made any long residence therein Saints St. ALKMUND son to Alred King of Northumberland slain in a Battel on the behalf of Ethelmund Vice-Roy of Worcester pretending to recover Lands against Duke Wolstan who detained them was therefore reputed Saint and Martyr It would pose a good Scholar to clear his Title to the later who lost his life in a quarrel of civil concernment On which account in all Battels betwixt Christians such as are slain on one side may lay claim to Martyr-ship However it befriendeth his Memory that his body translated to Derby was believed to do miracles being there with great veneration interred in a Church called Saint Alkmunds on the right hand as Passengers from the South go over the Bridge whither the Northern people made many Pilgrimages till discomposed by the Reformation What relation Alkmundsbury a Town in Hantingdonshire hath unto Him is to me unknown Martyrs JOAN WAST was a blind Woman in the Town of Derbey and on that account the object of any mans Alms rather than the Subject of his cruelty Besides she was seemingly a silly Soul and indeed an Innocent though no Fool. And what saith our Saviour For judgement am I come into this world that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind This poor Woman had a clear apprehension of Gods Truth for the testimony whereof she was condemned and burnt at the Stake by the command of Bishop Baines who as he began with the Extreams Mistress Joyce Lewis one of the best and this Joan Wast one of the basest birth in his Diocess So no doubt had not Queen Mary died he would have made his cruelty meet in persons of a middle condition Cardinals ROGER CURSON was born saith my Author ex nobili quodam Anglorum genere of Worshipful English extraction Now I find none of his sirname out of this County except some branches lately thence derived but in the same two right ancient Families one formerly at Croxton whose heir general in our age was married to the Earl of Dorset the other still flourisheth at in this County which moves me to make this Roger a Native thereof Bred he was first a Scholar in Oxford then a Doctor in Paris and lastly a Cardinal in Rome by the Title of Saint Stephen in Mount Celius When the City of Damiata in Egypt was taken under John Brenn King of Jerusalem our Cardinal Curson was there accompanying Pelagius the Popes Cardinal He wrote many Books and came over into England as the Popes Legate in the raign of King Henry the third The certain time of his death is unknown PHILIP de REPINGDON took no doubt his name and birth from Repingdon commonly contracted and called Repton in this County and I question whether any other in England of the same name He was bred and commenced first Batchelor then Doctor of Divinity in Oxford where he became a great Champion and Assertor of the Doctrine of John VVickliff which caused him much trouble and many strict examinations But alas he became like the seed on stony ground which not having root in it self endured but for a while and withered away in persecution for he solemnly recanted his opinions Novemb. 24. Anno 1383. And to give the better assurance that he was a true Anti-VVickliffite from a Professor he became a pers●…cutor and afterwards was termed Rampington by those poor people whom he so much molested Then preferment flowed in thick and threefold upon him from a Canon he became Abbot of Leicester and Anno 1400. he was made Chancellor of Oxford 1405. Bishop of Lincoln 1408. by Pope Gregory the twelfth he was created Cardinal of Saint Nerius and Achilleius though that Pope had solemnly sworn he would make no more Cardinals till the Schisme in Rome were ended The best is the Pope being Master of the Oath-Office may give himself a Pardon for his own perjury What moved this Repington willingly to resign his Bishoprick 1420. is to me unknown Prelates WILLIAM GRAY was son to the Lord Gray of Codnor in this County He suffered not his Parts to be depressed by his Nobility but to make his mind the more proportionable he endeavoured to render himself as able as he was honourable He studied first in Baliol Colledge in Oxford then at Ferrara in Italy where he for a long time heard the Lectures of Guarinus of Verona that accomplished Scholar No man was better acquainted with the method of the Court of Rome which made our King appoint him his Procurator therein It is hard to say whether Pope Nicholas the fifth or our King Henry the sixth contributed most to his free Election to the Bishoprick of Eely whilest it 〈◊〉 out of doubt his own deserts concurred most effectually thereunto He sate in that See twenty four years and wrote many Books which the envy of time hath denied to posterity Bishop Godwin by mistake maketh him Chancellor of England whereas indeed he was Lord Treasurer in the ninth of King Edward the fourth Anno 1469. Let me adde he was the last Clergy-man that ever discharged that Office until Bishop Juxton in our days was preferred thereunto He died Aug. 4. 1478. and lies buried between two Marble Pillars in his Church having bestowed much cost in the reparation of the famous Bellfrie thereof Since the Reformation GEORGE COOKE D. D. Brother to Sir John Cooke Secretary of State was born at Trusley in this County bred in Pembroke Hall in Cambridge Afterwards he was beneficed at Bigrave in Hertford-shire where a lean Village consisting of but three Houses maketh a fat Living Hence he was successively made Bishop of Bristol and Hereford A meek grave and quiet man much beloved of such who were subjected to his jurisdiction He was in the same condemnation with the rest of his Brethren for subscribing the PROTEST in Parliament in preservation of their Priviledges The times trod so heavily upon him that though he ever was a thrifty person they not onely bruised the Foot but brake the Body of his Estate so that he had felt want if not relieved by his rich relations dying about the year 1650. States-Men Sir JOHN COOKE younger Brother to Sir Francis Cooke was born at Trusley in the Hundred of Appletree in this County of ancient and Worshipful Parentage allied to the best Family in this County He was bred Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and being chosen Rhetorick Lecturer in the University grew eminent for his Ingenious and Critical Readings in that School on that Subject He then travailed beyond the Seas for some years returning thence rich in foraign Language Observations and Experience Being first related to Sir Fulk Grivell Lord Brook he was thence preferred to be Secretary of the Navy then Master of the
Perin in Cornwall The Angel Gabriel was very much beholding to him for instituting an Annual Festival unto Him observed as I humbly conceive only in his own Cathedral or own Diocesse at the most and least people sho●…ld complain of the dearnesse of their Devotion he left good Land to defray the cost of that Solemnity He is much blamed for compassing the Mannour of Bishops-Clift to his Church by indirect means to which I can say nothing but only observe that this small City within eighty Years did afford three eminent Prelates whereof two Episcopi in Patria the Natives thereof which will scarcely be paralell'd in any Place of the same proportion He died Anno 12. Writers JOSEPHUS ISCANUS was born at this City anciently called Isca from the River Isk now named Eske running thereby A golden Po●…t in a leaden Age so terse and elegant were his Conceipts and expressions This our English Maro had for his Mecenas Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury But I revoke my words and desire to turn Maro into Cornelius Nepos under whose name the Dutch-men have lately printed a Poem made by this Josephus debello Trojano It soundeth much to a Mans honour even to be mistaken for another Man of eminency for though there may be much of error in the mistake there must be something of truth in the error especially with the judicious Yea in such case a general conformity betwixt the Persons is not enough to build the mistake on without some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as here the affinity of phrase and fancy betwixt these two Poets This 〈◊〉 Nepos under whose name the Poems of this Josephus were printed flourished in the time of Tully Indeed I finde not any Poems made by him though having to that purpose perused all Scaliger de Arte 〈◊〉 as a most probable Authour But most sure it is that this Corn●…lius was most judicious in that Art because Valerius Catullus dedicated his Poem unto him as best able to p●…sse a learned censure thereon this Josephus Iscanus flourished under King John Anno 1210 being Arch-Bishop of Burdeaux I have nothing more to observe of him save what with the Readers pardon I cannot omit viz. that this Josephus alwayes minded me of another Josephus Iscanus I mean Joseph Hall lately Bishop of Exeter a witty Poet when young a painfull Preacher and solid Divine in his middle a patient Sufferer in his old age of whom God willing more in due place WILLIAM of Exeter was born in this City bred a Doctor of Divinity in Oxford and afterwards became 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 in the place of his nativity Now in his age fome Franciscan Friers so praised the perfectiou of Poverty that they touched the Popes Coppy-hold of Inheritance For if Poverty was so essential to Piety Papal pomp and plenty must needs argue prophaneness In confutation hereof this William of Exeter undertook William of Ockam though indeed impar congressus betwixt them for Exeter a fair City did not more exceed Ockam a smal village in Surrey in beauty and building than that Ockam William excelled this Exeter William in parts and Learning however what he wanted in brains he had in a good back to assist him and William of Exeter with John the three and twentieth Pope of Rome was able to undertake any Authour of that age He flourished in the Year of our Lord 1330. under the Raign of King Edward the third Since the Reformation RICHARD MARTYN was born in this City and bred partly in the Court partly in the Inns of Court and at last ●…etook himself to the Study of the Law He was accounted one of the highest Witts of our Age and his Nation King James being much delighted with his facetiousnesse a quality which with other of his Abilities commended him to be chosen Recorder of London He is eminent as for many Speeches so especially for that he made in Parliament in the tenth year of King James when account was taken of Forty Gentlemen in the House which were not twenty and some of them not sixteen years of age Formerly said this R●…order Martyn it was the custome of Old men to make Lawes for Young ones But now Nature is invaded and inverted seeing Young men enact Lawes to govern their Fathers He had an excellent Pen and wrote very much and the more the pitty that they are suppressed from publick use his death happened about the year 1616. WILLIAM MARTIN Kinsman to the aforesaid Recorder was born in this City and bred a Student in the Lawes of the Land He wrote a short and clear of the Kings of England since the conquest I have been credlbly informed that King James took some exceptions at a Passage therein sounding either to the derogation of his own Family or of the Scotch Nation which he took so tenderly that Mr. Martin was brought into trouble for the same and though he wethered out the Kings displeasure and was reconciled to his Majesty yet he never r●…covered his former chearfulnesse It seems that a Princes Anger is a disease which though cured is not cured grief for the same being conceived to hasten his death which happened about the year 1616. WILLIAM TUCKER was born in this City bred fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford and after became Doctor in Divinity Canon of Sarisbury Arch-deacon of Barnstable and Dean of Lichfield The purity of his Latine Pen procured his preferment writing and dedicating a Book to Queen Elizabeth de Charismate of our Kings of England their gracious healing the Evil being the best that I have seen on that Subject vindicating such cures from all imposture unlawfull Magick and from some French Writers bold usurpations who lay claim to it as originally belonging to their Kings alone Whereas under correction I conceive that the word Soveraign which properly importeth the Supream Majesty doth also in our English Tongue in a secondary sence signi●…ie what is cordial to cure and heal Diseases or sores ever since such sanative power hath been annexed to the Crown of England This Doctor may be said to have worn half a Miter seeing his Congee de-lire was signed if not sent to elect him Bishop of Glocester but afterwards by Order f●…om King James it was revoked on what occasion I list not to enquire I conjecture the date of his death was much about the Year 1617. JOHN BARKHAM born in this City was bred in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford whereof he was Fellow Chaplain afterwards to Archbishop Bancroft and Parson of Bocking in Essex Much his Modesty and no lesse his Learning who though never the publique Parent of any was the carefull Nurse of many Books who otherwise had expired in their Infancy had not his care preserved them He set forth D. Crackenchorp his Posthume Book against Spalato and was helpfull to John Speed in the composing of his English History yea he wrote the whole Life of the Raign of King John which is the King of all the
places and at a place called Somervill near to Chappel which by the landing place as ye come from Altferr●… to Chesil is in great abundance It is an assured remedy for the Yellow Jaundice openeth the obstructions of the Spleen c. Buildings The Houses of the Gentry herein are built rather to be lived in than to be looked on very low in their scituation for warmth and other conveniencies Indeed the rhime holds generally true of the English structures The North for Greatness the East for Health The South for Neatness the West for Wealth However amongst the Houses in this County Lullworth Castle and Sherburn-Lodge are most eminent escaping pretty well in the late war so that they have cause neither to brag nor complain Proverbs As much a kin as Lenson-hill to Pilsen-pen That is no kin at all It is spoke of such who have vicinity of habitation or neighbourhood without the least degree of consanguinity or affinity betwixt them For these are two high hills the first wholy the other partly in the Parish of Broad Windsor whereof once I was Minister Yet Reader I assure thee that Sea-Men make the nearest Relation betwixt them calling the one the Cow the other the Calf in which forms it seems they appear first to their fancies being eminent Sea-marks to such as sail along these Coasts And although there be many Hills interposing betwixt these and the Sea which seem higher to a land Traveller yet these surmount them all so incompetent a Judge and so untrue a Surveyor is an ordinary eye of the Altitude of such places Stab'd with a Byrdport Dagger That is hang'd or executed at the Gallowes The best if not the most Hemp for the quantity of ground growing about Byrdport a Market Town in this County And hence it is that there is an ancient Statute though now disused and neglected that the Cable Ropes for the Navy Royal were to be made there abouts as affording the best Tackling for that purpose Dorset-shire Dorsers Dorsers are Peds or Panniers carried on the backs of Horses on which Haglers use to ride and carry their Commodities It seems this homely but most useful implement was either first found out or is most generally used in this County where Fish-Jobbers bring up their Fish in such contrivances above an hundred miles from Lime to London Saints EDWARD son to Edgar King of England was in his Child-hood bred under the cruel correction of Elfrida his Mother-in-law who used for small faults to whip him with Wax-Candles In so much that it is reported it made such an impression in this young Princes memory that when a man he could not endure the sight of Wax-Candles But Edward afterwards outgrew his Mothers tuition and succeeded his Father in his Throne However such her ambition that advantaged with the others easiness of nature She managed most matter of State leaving her Son in-law little more than the bare title of Soveraign Not contented herewith and to derive the Scepter to her own Son Ethelred caused him to be stab'd at Corfe Castle in this County coming in a civil visit unto her His hidden ●…ody being miraculously discovered was first buried at Warham and thence removed to Shaftsbury which Town for a time was termed Saint Edwards from his interment His murder hapned about the year of our Lord 978. Cardinals JOHN MORTON was born at Saint Andrews Milborne in this County of a right Worshipful Family still extant therein He was bred in Oxford and after many mediate preferments made Bishop of Ely Anno 1578. Not long after when many groaned under the Tyranny of King Richard the third this Prelate first found out the design of marrying Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward the fourth of the House of York to Henry Earl of Richmond the last who was left of the line of Lancaster Indeed the Earls title to the Crown was not enough to make a countenance therewith much less a claim thereto but as the Lady had a Title and wanted a man to manage it the Earl was man enough to manage any design but wanted a Title and pursuing this advice by Gods blessing he gained the Crown by the name of Henry the seventh In expression of his gratitude he made this Bishop Chancellor of England and afterwards Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He was a great instrument in advancing a voluntary Contribution to the King through the Land perswading Prodigals to part with their money because they did spend it most and the Covetous because they might spare it best So making both extreams to meet in one medium to supply the Kings necessities who though prodigiously rich may be said always to need because never-satisfied This Bishop with vast cost cut a new Channel in the Fennes for the publick good but it neither answered his expectation nor expence He was magnificent in his buildings and bountiful to poor Scholars enjoyning his Executors to maintain twenty poor Scholars in Oxford and ten in Cambridge twenty years after his death which hapned in October 1500. Prelates JOHN STAFFORD Son to Humphrey Stafford sixth Earl of Stafford was born at Hooke in this County then a most stately House belonging to this Family and bred a Doctor of the Laws in Oxford he was afterwards Dean of the Arches and Dean of Saint Martins This was a fair Colledge near Aldersgate in London founded Anno 1056. by Ingelricus and Edvardus his Brother priviledged by our Kings of England with great immunities the cause of many and high contests betwixt this Colledge and the City of London Afterwards he was made Bishop of Wells and for eighteen years a continuance hardly to be parallel'd was Chancellor of England At last he was advanced Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and no Prelate his Peer in Bi●…th and pre●…erment hath either less good or less evil recorded of him He died at Maidstone 1452. and lies buried in Canterbury ROBERT MORTON was Brothers Son to Cardinal Morton of whom before whose Father had a fair Habitation at Saint Andrews Milborne in this County His relation to so good an Uncle mixed with his own merits preferred him to the Bishoprick of Worcester Of whom we have little more than the date of his consecration 1486. and of his Death 1497. He lieth buried in the body of Saint Pauls Church in London JAMES TURBERVIL or De turbida villa was born of a worshipful Family who long have lived in great account in this County ●… First a Monk but afterwards brought up in New-Colledge in Oxford He was consecrated Bishop of Exeter 1556. and deserved right well of that See When he entred thereon it was most true what his Successor therein since said That the Bishop of Exeter was a Baron but a Bare one so miserably that Cathedral had been pilled and polled But Bishop Turbervil recovered some lost lands which Bishop Voysey had vezed and particularly obtained of Queen Mary the ●…estitution of the fair Manor of
Doctor Jackson Head of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford observed the like wind about the same time as ominous and presaging our civil dissentions The Wonders This Shire affordeth none properly so called unless some conceive the bones reducible thereunto digged out of this County at the Ness near Harwich which with their bigness and length amazed the beholders I cannot see how such can maintain them to be the bones of men who must confess that according to the proportion of the doors and roofs of antient building either as extant or read of they must Ingredi incedere proni go in Stooping not to say Lye along Except the Avouchers be as Incurious of their Credit as the Travellor was who affirming that he saw Bees as big as Dogs and yet their Hives of our ordinary size and being demanded what shift they made to get in Let them said he look to that More probable it is that those were bones of Elephants store whereof were brought over into England by the Emperour Claudius Indeed some Sciolists will boast to distinguish bones of Beasts from Men by their Porosity which the learned deride as an undifferencing difference Indeed when a Scull may be produced of such magnitude which by its form is secured from mistake as appropriate to man alone then the wonder will begin indeed Till which time I behold these Shanks and Thigh b●…nes pretended to Men to be of Elephants To these Wonders it will not be amiss to adde the ensuing relation written by the Pen of Master Thomas Smith of Sewarstone in the Parish of Waltham Abby a discreet person not long since deceased It so fell out that I served Sir Edward Denny towards the latter end of the raign of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory who lived in the Abbey of Waltham-Crosse in the County of Essex which at that time lay in ruinous heaps and then Sir Edward began slowly now and then to make even and re-edify some of that Chaos In doing whereof Tomkins his Gardner came to discover among other things a fair Marble Stone the Cover of a Tombe hewed out in hard Stone This Cover with some help he removed from off the Tombe which having done there appeared to the view of the Gardner and Master Baker Minister of the Town who died long since and to my self and Master Henry Knagg Sir Edwards Bayliffe the Anatomy of a Man lying in the Tombe abovesaid onely the Bones remaining Bone to his Bone not one Bone dislocated In observation whereof we wondred to see the Bones still remaining in such due order and no Dust or other Filth besides them to be seen in the Tomb We could not conceive that it had been an Anatomy of Bones only laid at first into the Tomb yet if it had been the whole Carcass of a Man what became of his Flesh and Entrals for as I have said above the Tomb was clean from all Filth and Dust besides the Bones This when we had all well observed I told them that if they did but touch any part thereof that all would fall asunder for I had onely heard somewhat formerly of the like accident Tryall was made and so it came to pass For my own part I am perswaded that as the Flesh of this Anatomy to us became invisible so likewise would the Bones have been in some longer continuance of time O what is Man then which vanisheth thus away like unto Smoak or Vapour and is no more seen Whosoever thou art that shalt read this passage thou mayst find cause of humility sufficient Proverbs Essex Miles These are cryed up for very long understand it Comparatively to those in the Neighbouring County of Middlesex otherwise the Northern Parts will give Essex odds and measure Miles therewith The truth is this good way and a good horse shorten Miles and the want of either but both especially prolong them in any Country whatsoever Essex Stiles See the Proverbs in Suffolk Essex Calves A learned Authour telleth us that Italy was so called quasi vitalae because the best Calves were bred therein Sure this will be condemned as a far fetched and forced Deduction but if true Essex may better pretend to the Name of Italy producing Calves of the fattest fairest and finest flesh in England and consequently in all Europe and let the Butchers in Eastcheap be appealed unto as the most Competent Judges therein Sure it is a Cumberland-cow may be bought for the Price of an Essex-calfe in the beginning of the Year Let me adde that it argueth the goodness of Flesh in this County and that great gain was got formerly by the Sale thereof because that so many stately monuments were erected antiently therein for Butchers inscribed Carnifices in their Epitaphs in Cogshall Chelmsford Church and elsewhere made of Marble inlaid with Brass befitting saith my Author a more eminent man whereby it appears that these of that trade have in this County been richer or at least prouder then in other places The Weavers Beef of Colchester These are Sprats caught hereabouts and brought hither in incredible abundance whereon the poor Weavers numerous in this City make much of their repast Cutting Rands Rumps Surloyns Chines and all Joynts of Beef out of them as lasting in season well nigh a quarter of a year They are the Minums of the Sea and their cheapness is the worst thing well considered the best which can be said of them Were they as dear they would be as toothsome being altogether as wholesome as Anchovies for then their price would give a high gust unto them in the judgement of Pallat Men. True it is that within these last sixteen years better Men then Weavers have been glad of worse meat then Sprats and thankfull to God if they could get it in the City of Colchester Jeering Coxhall How much truth herein I am as unable to tell as loth to believe Sure I am that no Town in England of its bigness afforded more Martyrs in the raign of Queen Mary who did not jeer or jeast with the fire but seriously suffered themselves to be sacrificed for the testimony of a good Conscience If since they have acquired a jeering quality it is time to leave it seeing it is better to stand in pain till our legs be weary then sit with ease in the chair of the scorners He may fetch a flitch of Bacon from Dunmoe This proverb dependeth on a custome practiced in the Priory of Dunmow which was founded saith Speed by Juga a noble Lady Anno IIII. for black Nuns But it seems afterwards the property thereof was altered into a Male-Monastery the mortified men wherein were mirthfull sometimes as hereby may appear Any person from any part of England coming hither and humbly kneeling on two stones at the Church-door which are yet to be seen before the Prior or Convent might demand at his own pleasure a Gammon or Flitch of Bacon upon the solemn taking of the ensuing
about three years viz. from the seventh of July in the 22. year of King Henry the Sixth being the year of our Lord 1544. until the 25. year of that Kings raign This Lord built Sudeley Castle in this County which of Subjects Castles was the most handsome Habitation and of Subjects Habitations the strongest Castle King Edward the Fourth●…ent ●…ent for him with such summons that this Lord conjectured and that truly enough that it was but a Preface to his imprisonment whereupon going to London and resting himself on a Hill whence he did behold his own Castle It is thou Sudeley it is thou said he and not I that am a Traytor and so resigned the same at last into the hand of the King to procure his own liberty So true it is what Solomon saith The ransome of a mans life are his riches but the poor heareth not rebuke I find not the certain date of his death Capital Judges and Writers on the Law ANTHONY FITZ-HERBERT for a long time Justice of the Common Pleas was as a good Antiquary will have it born about Dean Forrest in this County but is by another no whit his inferiour on better evidence referred to Derby-shire where formerly we have placed his Nativity Yea I have been informed from excellent hands the Natives of this County that no Capital Judge of the three Great Courts though many of the Marches was ever born in this County yet are they here as litigious as in other places Sure I am that Gloucester-shire did breed if no Judge yet a Plaintiff and Defendant of the primest quality which betwixt them with many alternations traversed the longest suit that ever I read in England for a suit was commenced betwixt the Heirs of Sir Thomas Talbot Viscout Lisle on the one party and the heirs of Lord Barkley on the other about certain possessions lying in this County not far from Wotton-under-edge which suit begun in the end of King Edward the Fourth was depending until the beginning of King James when and was it not high time it was finally determined But the long barrenness of this County in Judges may be recompenced with fruitfulness at last the rather because Gloucestershire at this day sheweth two eminent ones Mr. Justice Adkins and Mr. Justice Hales which grace the Court of the Common Pleas with their known ability and integrity EDWARD TROTMAN Son of Edward Trotman Esquire was born at Cam nigh Duresly in this County bred a Student of the Law till he became a Bencher in the Inner Temple He wrote an Abridgement of Sir Edward Coke his eleven Volumes of Reports for the benefit of those who had not money to purchase or leisure to peruse them at large Yea such as have both may be profitted thereby for in my owne profession and in the Book of Books even those who are best acquainted with the Chapters make also use of the Contents This Gentleman in his Title page ingeniously wisheth that his Compendium might not prove Dispendium to the Reader thereof And I verily believe he hath had his desire being informed that his endeavours are well esteemed by the Learned in that profession He was buried in the Temple Church May 29. Anno Dom. 1643. Souldiers Sir WILLIAM TRACY of Todington in this County was a Gentleman of high Birth State and Stomach much in favour with King Henry the second on whom he was a daily attendant One fact hath made his Memory call it famous or infamous because he was the first and forwardest of the four Knights who at the encouragement if not command at leastwise at the connivance if not encouragement of the aforesaid King Imbrewed their hands in the blood of Thomas Becket In his old age he went into Devon-shire where he had large possessions as may appear by so many Towns bearing his surname 1. Wollocomb-Tracy 2. Bovi-Tracy 3. Nimet-Tracy 4. Bradford-Tracy c. It is reported that he intended a penitential Pilgrimage to Jerusalem but setting to Sea was ever crost with adverse Winds He is conceived to lie buried in the Parish Church of Mort in Devonshire dying about the year of our Lord 1180. Seamen This is scarcely a Maritine-shire rather bordering on the Severn than on the Sea having therein no considerable Haven Bristol being beheld as a City entire of it self and therein eminent Seamen cannot be expected yet one Family herein hath been most fortunate in such voyages having their chief Seat at Lydney in the Forrest of Dean which hath afforded WILLIAM WINTER Knight and Vice Admiral of England famous in his Generation for several performances 1. Anno 1559. being then but Machinarum classicarum praefectus English it as you please he frighted the French in Edenborough Frith assaulting their Fort in the Island of Inchkeith 2. Anno 1567. he was sent with Sir Thomas Smith with the sound of the Trumpet and shooting of some Cannons to demand the restitution of Callis of the French King 3. Anno 1568. he conducted a great Treasure of the Genoan Merchants safely into the Netherlands in despight of the French opposing him 4. Anno 1576. he with Robert Beale Clerk of the Councel was employed into Zeland to demand the restitution of our Ships which they had either taken or did detain 5. Anno 1588. he did signal service in the station appointed him coming in though not in the heat in the coole of the day when the Spanish Fleet was fallen towards the shore of Zeland and were sadly sensible of his valour I conceive him not to survive long after because if in life he would have been in action and if in action I should have found him in Cambden's Elizabeth And therefore from no mention I conclude no motion that about this time he departed Besides others of this Family unknown to me and justly referred to this County as their chief habitation And were the phrase as proper of Men sailing as Fishes swimming in the Sea I should say that Lydney-House hath brought forth a shole of Mariners So happy have they been in Sea voyages One wondring how the English durst be so bold as to put to Sea in all weathers it was returned that they were provided to saile in all seasons having both Winters and Summers on their side The more the pity that this worthy Family of the Winters did ever leave the Element of Water to tamper with Fire especially in a destructive way to their King and Country Writers OSBERNUS CLAUDIANUS or Osbern of Gloucester was bred a Benedictine Monk in the famous Convent in that City He was learned saith Leland Praeter iliius aetatis sortem above the Standard of that age He was a good Linguist Philosopher Divine he used to give clearness to what was obscure facility to what was difficult politeness to what was barbarous Nor wanted he a becoming facetiousness in his Dialogues He wrote many Books dedicating them to Gilbert Foliot Bishop of Hereford as a
hoc breve Teste meipso apud Clypston quinto die Mar●…it An Regni nostri Nono In obedience to the Kings command this Sheriff vigorously prosecuted the design and made his Return accordingly on the same token that it thus began Nulla est Civitas in Comitat. Gloucest There is no City in the County of Gloucester Whence we collect that Gloucester in that age though the seat of a mi●…red Abby had not the reputation of a City untill it was made an Episcopal See by K. Hen. 8. The like Letters were sent to all other Sheriffs in England and their Returns made into the Exchequer where it is a kind of Dooms-day-Book junior but commonly passeth under the name of Nomina Villarum I have by me a Transcript of so much as concerneth Gloucester-shire the reason why this Letter is here exemplified communicated unto me with other rarities advancing this Subject by my worthy Friend Mr. Smith of Nibley It must not be omitted that though the aforesaid Catalogue of Nomina Villarum was begun in this year and a considerable progresse made therein yet some unexpressed obstacles retarding it was not in all particulars completed until 20 years after as by this passage therein may be demonstrated Bertona Regis juxta Gloucester ibidem Hund●…idum Hundr Margarettae Reginae Angliae Now this Margaret Queen of England Daughter to Philip the Hardy King of France and second Wife to this King Edward the First was not married unto him until the 27 of her Husbands reign Anno 1299. Edw. III. 5 THO. BERKELEY de COBBERLEY He is commended in our Histories for his civil usage of K. Edw. 2. when p●…isoner at Berkeley Castle at this day one of the seats of that right ancient Famiiy And right ancient it is indeed they being descended from Robert Fitz-Harding derived from the Kings of Denmark as appeareth by an Inscription on the Colledge-Gate at Bristol Rex Henricus secundus Dominus Robertus filius Hardingi filii Regis Daciae hujus Monasterii primi Fundatores extiterunt This Robert was entirely beloved of this King by whose means his Son Maurice married the Daughter of the Lord of Berkeley whereby his posterity retained the name of Berkeley Many were their Mansions in this County amongst which Cobberley accrued unto them by matching with the Heir of Chandos Their services in the Holy War alluded unto by the Crosses in their Arms and may seem to be their Benefactions whereof in my Church History signified by the Mitre in their Crest Of this Family was descended William Lord Berkeley who was honoured by King Edward the fourth with the Title of Viscount Berkeley created by K. Rich. 3. Earle of Nottingham and in the right of his Wife Daughter of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk Henry the s●…venth made him Marquess Berkeley and Marshal of England He died without Issue At this day there flourisheth many Noble stems sprung thereof though George Lord Berkeley Baron Berkeley Lord Mowbray Segrave Bruce be the top Branch of this Family One who hath been so signally bountiful in promoting these and all other my weak endeavours that I deserve to be dumb if ever I forget to return him publick thanks for the same 43. JOHN POINTS Remarkable the Antiquity of this Name and Family still continuing in Knightly degree in this County for I read in Dooms-day-Book Drugo filius Ponz tenet de Rege Frantone Ibi decem Hide Geldant de hoc Manerio And again Walterus filius Ponz tenet de Rege Lete Ibi decem Hide Geldant I behold them as the Ancestors of their Family till I shall be informed to the contrary though I confess they were not seated at Acton in this County until the days of King Edward the second when Sir Nicholas Points married the Daughter and Heir of Acton transmitting the same to his posterity Sheriffs Name Place Armes RICH. II.     Anno     1 Tho. Bradwell     2 Johan Tracy Todingtō Or a scallop Sab. betw two Bends Gules 3 Radulph Waleys * Sodbury   4 Tho. Bradewell   * Azure 6. Mullets Or. 5 Joh. de Thorp mil.   Argent a Fess Nebule Sable betw 3. Trefoiles Gules 6 Tho. Fitz Nichol.     7 Radus Waleys ut prius   8 Tho. Berkeley Cobberley Gules a Cheveron betwixt ten Crosses formee Argent 9 Tho. Burgg †     10 Tho. Bradewell ut prius † Azure three flower de lys Ermine 11 Tho. Berkeley ut prins   12 Laur. Seabrooke     13 Tho Burgg ut prius   14 Maur. de Russell Derham Argent on a Chief Gules 3. Bezants 15 Hen. de la River     16 Joh. de Berkeley ut prius   17 Gilbertus Denis   Gules a Bend ingrailed Az. betw 3. Leopards heads Or ●…essant flower de lis of the 2d 18 Will. Tracy ut prius   19 Maur. Russel ut prius   20 Rob. Poyns Acton Barry of eight Or and Gul. 21 Johan Berkeley ut prius   22 Johan Bronings     HEN. IV.     Anno     1 Hen de la River     2 Maur. Russel ut prius   2 Rob Sommerville     3 Rob Whittington   Gules a Fess checkee Or and Argent 4 Wil. Beauchamp m     5 Idem     6 Johan Grendore   Per pale Or and Vert 12. guttees or drops counterchanged 7 Maur. Russel ut prius   8 Rob. Whittington ut prius   9 Rich. Mawrdin     10 Alex. Clivedon     11 Will. Wallwine   Gules a Bend within a B●…rder Ermine 12 Joh. Grendore mil. ut prius   HEN. V.     Anno     1 Will. Beauchamp Powkes   2 Joh. Berkley mil. ut prius   3 Joh. Grevel Campden Or on a Cross engrailed within the like border Sab. ten Annulets of the First with a Mullet of five poynts in the Dexter Quarter 4 Idem ut prius   5 Will. Tracy ut prius   6 Will. Bishopeston     7 Joh. Brugg arm ut prius   8 Joh. Willecots     9 Idem     HEN. VI.     Anno     1 Joh. Panfote   Gules 3 Lions Rampant Arg. 2 Joh. Blacket mil.     3 Steph. Hatfild mil.     4 Joh. Grevil arm ut prius   5 Joh. Panfote ut prius   6 Guido Whittington ut prius   7 Rob. Andrew   Sab. a Saltire engrailed Ermin on a Chief Or 3. flower de lys of the First 8 Egidius Brigge *     9 Maur. Berkeley mil ut prius   10 Steph. Hatfield   * Arg. on a Cross Sab. a Leopards head Or. 11 Joh. Towerton     12 Cuido Whittington ut prius   13 Joh Panfote ut prius   4 Maur. Berkeley mil ut prius   15 Idem ut prius   16 Joh. Beauchamp m.     17 Will. Stafford Thornb Or a Cheveron Gules 18 Joh. Stourton mil.   Sable a Bend Or between 3.
An. Hungerford ar ut prius   27 Ioh Higford ar Dixton   28 Paul Tracy ar Stanway   29 Th. Throgmortō m. ut prius   30 Hen. Pole mil. ut prius   31 Tho. Lucy ar     32 Will. Dutton ar   Quarterly Arg. and Gul. in the 2d and 3d. quarter a Fret Or. 33 Ioh Poyntz mil. ut prius   34 Will. Chester ar     35 Ioh. Davers mil Cinencest Gul. a Chev. inter 3 Mullets Or. 36 Ioseph Benham ar     37 Hen. Winston mil.     38 Ioh. Chamberlain a. Prestbury Gul. an Inescoucheon Arg. an Orle of mullets Or. 39 Ioh. Hungerford m ut prius Cheokey Or and Sab. a Fesse Gul. 40 Edw. Winter mil. Lidney   41 Geo. Huntley     42 Th. Throgmortō m ut prius   43 Will. Dutton ar ut prius   44 Tho. Baynham ar ut prius   JACOBUS     Anno     1 Hen. Pole mil. ut prius   2 Egid. Read ar ut prius   3 Tho. Seymer mil. Button G. 2 wings conjoyned Or with in a border gobonated Arg. 4 VVill. Norwood * Leckhāpt   5 Tho. Estcourt mil. † Lasbury * Ermin ●… cross engrailed Gu. Anno 6 Rob Woodroff m   † Erm. on a Chief indented G. 3. Stars Will. Guyes ar ut prius   7 Ioh. Tracy mil. ut prius   8 Paul Tracy ar ut prius   9 Rob. Bathurst ar Lechlade   10 Ioh. Carter ar Charlton   11 Will. Kingston ar ut prius   12 Rich. Brent ar     13 Hen. Fin●…h ar     14 Radus C●…tton ar   Az. a Cheveron between three Cotton weeks Arg. 15 Tho. Chester ar Knolle   16 Rich. Hill mil.     17 Ph. Langley ar Mangotsfi ut prius 18 Tho. Baker mil.     19 Tho. Thynn mil. Wiltshire Barry of ten Or and Sable 20 Tho. Hodges ar Shipron   21 Rich. Rogers mil. Eastwood   22 Ioh. Dowle ar     CAROL I.     Anno     1 Will Sandys mil. Misterden   2 Tho. Nicholas ar Prestbury   3 VVill. Masters mil Grencest   4 Rich. Tracy m. b. ut prius   5 Hen. Dennis ar Paule Ch. ut prius 6 Radus Dutton mil. Standish ut prius 7 Geo. VVinter mil.     8 Hen. Poole a●…m ut prius   9 Egid. Fetiplace m. Coln Alin Gul. two Cheverons Arg. 10 Edw. Stephens ar L. Sodbury   11 Will Leigh ar     12 Rich Ducy Bar. Frowcest Or two Lions passant Gults 13 Ioh. Poyntz mil ut prius   14 Rob. Codrington ar Codering ton Arg. a Fes●… imbattled Sable between 3. Lions passant Gu. 15     ●…6     17 Fr. Creswick ar Bristol   ●…8     19     12     21   Or on a Fess Gul. 3. chess-Rooks of the first as many Martlets in Chief Sab. 22 VVill. Brown ar Hasfield   Hen. VIII 6. WILLIAM KKNGSTON Mil. I read in an industrious Author that Sir Will. Kingston was created by K. Hen. 8. Knight of the Garter which I humbly conceive to be a mistake having several exact Catalogues of all admitted into that Order amongst whom he doth not appear yet was he Lieutenant of the Tower and Captain of the Guard to K. Hen. 8. by whom he was much trusted and employed Cardinal Wolsey had it given him in advice to beware of Kingston which he mistook for the Market Town in Surry well known and therefore declined going thither though many miles his nearer way in passage to the Court But at last he found this our Sir Anthony his formidable fatal Kingston when sent to fetch him out of the North with some of the Gua●…d And though he treated the Card. most courteously saluting him on his knees yet the sight of him went to his heart dying within few days after Edw. VI. 4. ANTHONY KINGSTON Mil. This was that terr●…ble Provost Marshal of the Kings Army in the execution of the Western Rebels whose memory I find accused by Sir Iohn Heywood for his cruelty and defended by Mr. Carew This Sir Anthony so frightful to all guilty persons fell himself into the same fear in the reign of Q. Mary on this occasion Some were said to have a design to raise war against the Queen and resolved to provide the sinews before the bones of war money before men In order whereunto their design was to rob the Exchequer then furnished with 50000. ●… This being discovered mane were accused as Plotters more as Privy amongst whom Sir Anthony Kingston being sent for to come up he died for fear of death some suppose in his way to London The Farewell I congratulate the Felicity of this County in the return of the Episcopal See to the chief City th●…reof the rather seeing some questioned its Charter and would have had it Un Citied because Un Bishoped in our Civil Wars though with their leave by the courtesie of England once a City and ever a City May the same hereafter ever remain there to take away all suspicion in that kind for the future HANT-SHIRE hath Berk-shire on the North Surrey and Sussex on the East the Sea on the South Dorcet and Wilt-shire on the West From North unto South it extendeth unto fifty foure miles not stretching above thirty miles from the East to the West thereof A happy Countrey in the foure Elements if Culinary fire in Courtesie may pass for one with plenty of the best wood for the fuel thereof most pure and peircing the aire of this Shire and none in England hath more plenty of clear and fresh rivulets of troutful water not to speak of the friendly Sea conveniently distanced from London As for the Earth it is both fair and fruitful and may pass for an Expedient betwixt Pleasure and Profit where by mutual consent they are moderately accommodated Yet much of the Arable therein is stony ground though not like that in the Gospel where the grain grew up and withered so soon having no deepness of earth this bringing plenty of corn to perfection Indeed that in the Parable may be presumed inwardly a rock onely faced over with superficial earth whereas this hath solid earth enough but abounding with little loose stones lying above it which are conceived to keep the Corn the warmer and therefore some skilfull in Husbandry have maintained that the taking of them away doth more hurt than good to the ground The South-West part of this County is called the New Forrest not in the same sense as New Colledge in Oxford then at the founding the Newest which since hath gained many Puis nes thereunto but because the Junior of all Forrests in England many having been Dis none In-forrested since the Conquest True it is King Henry the 8th made a Forrest about his Palace of Hampton in Middlesex by the name of Hamptonforrest but it never obtained peaceable possession in publique pronunciation blame not
for his Motto Dilexi decorem domus tuae Domine I have loved the beauty of thy House ô Lord and sometimes Credite operibus Trust their works Now although some may like his Almes better then his Trumpet Charity will make the most favourable construction thereof Being 96. years of age he resigned his Bishoprick and died in the same year Anno Dom. 1536. JOHN WHITE was born in this County of a worshipful House began on the floor and mounted up to the roof of Spiritual Dignitie in this Diocess First Scholar in VVinchester then Fellow of New-colledge in Oxford then Master of VVinchester-School then VVarden of that Colledge and at last taking Lincoln Bishoprick in his passage Bishop of VVinchester all composed in this Distick Me puero Custos Ludi paulo ante Magister VITUS hac demum Praesul in Urbe fuit I may call the latter a Golden Verse for it cost this VVhite many an Angel to make it true entring into his Bishoprick on this condition to pay to Cardinal Pole a yearly Pension of a thousand pounds Now though this was no better then Simony yet the Prelats Pride was so far above his Covetousness and his Covetousness so farre above his Conscience that he swallowed it without any regreet He was a tolerable Poet and wrote an Elegy on the Eucharist to prove the corporal presence and confute Peter Martyr the first and last I believe who brought controversial Divinity into Verses He preached the Funeral Sermon of Queen Mary or if you will of publique Popery in England praising Her so beyond all measure and slighting Queen Elizabeth without any cause that he justly incurr'd Her displeasure This cost him deprivation and imprisonment straiter then others of his Order though freer than any Protestant had under Popish Persecutours until his death which hap'ned at London about the year 1560. Since the Reformation THOMAS BILSON was born in the City of Winchester bred first Scholar in Winchester-School then taking New-Colledge in his passage School-master thereof afterwards Warden of the Colledge and at last taking Worcester in his way Bishop of Winchester As reverend and learned a Prelate as England ever afforded witness his worthy Works Of the perpetual Government of Christs Church and of Christs Descent into Hell not Ad 1. Patiendum to Suffer which was concluded on the Cross with it is finished Nor 2. Praedicandum to Preach useless where his Auditory was all the forlorn hope Neither 3. Liberandum to Free any Pardon never coming after Execution But 4. Possidendum to take possession of Hell which he had conquered And 5. Triumphandum to Triumph which is most honourable in Hostico in the Enemies own Country The New Translation of the Bible was by King James his command ultimately committed to his and Dr. Smiths Bishop of Gloueester perusal who put the compleating hand thereunto His pious departure out of this life hapned 1618. HENRY COTTON was born at Warblington in this County being a younger son unto Sir Richard Cotton Knight and privy Councellor to King Edward the Sixth Queen whilest yet but Lady Elizabeth being then but twelve years of age was his God-mother He was bred in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and was by the Queen preferred Bishop of Salisbury When she pleasantly said That formerly she had blessed many of her God-sons but now her God-son should bless her Reflecting on the Solemnity of Episcopal Benediction He was consecrated November the 12. 1598. at which time William Cotton of another Family was made Bishop of Exeter The Queen merrily saying alluding to the plenty of clothing in those parts that she hoped that now she had well Cottoned the West By his wife whose name was Patience he had nineteen children and died May the 7. 1615. ARTHUR LAKES was born in the Parish of Saint Michael in the Town of Southampton bred first in VVinchester-School then Fellow of New-Colledge In his own nature he preferred the fruitfulness of the Vine and fatness of the Olive painfulness in a private Parish before the government of the Trees had not immediate Providence without his suit and seeking preferred him successively Warden of New-Colledge Prefect of Saint Crosses nigh VVinchester Dean of VVorcester Bishop of Bath and VVells He continued the same in his Rochet what he was in his Scholars-gown and lived a real comment upon Saint Pauls character of a Bishop 1. Blameless Such as hated his Order could not cast any aspersion upon him 2. The Husband of one VVife He took not that lawful Liberty but led a single Life honouring Matrimony in his brethren who embraced it 3. Vigilant Examining Canonically in his own person all those whom he ordained 4 Sober of good behaviour Such his austerity in diet from his University-Commons to his dying day that he generally fed but on one and that no daintie dish and fasted four times a week from supper 5. Given to Hospitality When Master of Saint Crosses he encreased the allowance of the poor-Brethren in diet and otherwise When Bishop he kept 50. servants in his Family not so much for state or attendance on his Person but pure charity in regard of their private need 6. Apt to teach the Living with his pious Sermons in his Cathedral and neighbouring Parishes and Posterity with those learned Writings he hath left behinde him 7. Not given to VVine His abstemiousness herein was remarkable 8. No striker not given to filthy lucre He never fouled his fingers with the least touch of Gehazi's reward freely preferring desert 9. One that ruleth well his own House The rankness of House-keeping brake not out into any Riot and a Chapter was constantly read every Meal by one kept for that purpose Every night besides Cathedral and Chappel-Prayers he prayed in his own Person with his Family in his Dining-room In a word his Intellectuals had such predominancy of his Sensuals or rather Grace so ruled in both that the Man in him being subordinate to the Christian he lived a pattern of Piety I have read of one Arthur Faunt a Jesuite who entring into Orders renounced his Christian name because forsooth never Legendary Saint thereof and assumed that of Laurence This gracious Arthur was not so superstitiously scrupulous and if none before may pass for the first Saint of his name dying in the fifty ninth year of his age Anno Domini 1602. States-men RICHARD RICH Knight was in the words of my Author A Gentleman well descended and allied in this County Bred in the Temple in the study of our Common Law and afterwards became Sollicitor to King Henry the eighth His Deposition on Oath upon words spoken to him in the Tower was the sharpest evidence to cut off the head of Sir Thomas More He was under Cromwel a lesser hammerto knock down Abbeys most of the Grants of which Lands going through his hands no wonder if some stuck upon his fingers Under King Edward the Sixth he
Civil War is a vagrant and will trace all corners except they be surrounded with Gyges his ring Surely some eyes in that place besides the Sweet Rivers of Severn and Wye running by them have had Salt Waters flowing from them since the beginning of our late Distractions Lemster bread and Weabley Ale It seems both these are best in their kinds though good in other places of the Land Thus though Palestine was universally termed a Land of Wheat yet the Spirit of God takes signal notice of the wheat of Minnith and Pannag as finer than the rest Yet is there Wheat in England which justleth for pureness with that of Weabley viz. What groweth about Heston in Middlesex yeilding so fine floure that for a long time the Manchet for the Kings of England was made thereof except any will say it is prized the more for the Vicinity to London Saints ETHELBERT was King of the East-Angles and went to Offa King of Mercia to treat of a marriage with his Daughter but Queen Quendred Wife to Offa more ambitious of her own unlawful then her Daughters lawful advancement practised his Death at a Village now called Sutton-Wallis four miles from Hereford His corps was afterwards removed by Milfred a petit Prince of that Country to Hereford where he obtained the reputation of a Saint and Martyr His suffering happened Anno Dom. 793. THOMAS CANTILUPE was of honourable extraction whose Father William Lord Cantilupe had two fair habitations Abergavenny Castle in Monmouth and Harringworth in Northampton-shire which by an Heir-general of that Family afterwards descended to the Lord Zouch He was bred in Oxford whereof at last he became Chancellour and was preferred Bishop of Hereford A charitable man may believe him a person of Holy Life and great Learning But no wise man will credit what Walsingham writes of him That he was never guilty of any mortal sin Going to others say returning from Rome to assert his Church from the encroachment of Peckam Arch-bishop of Canterbury he dyed at a City in Tuscany where his flesh was taken off his Corps and buryed whilst his bones were sent for Reliques into England and enshrined at Hereford Now though different dates be assigned of his death I adhere to Bishop Godwin noting his Dissolution 1282. He was afterwards canonized by Pope John the twenty second and no fewer then four hundred twenty five miracles are registred in that Church reported to be wrought at his Tomb. I say just four hundred twenty five which falls out sewer by five and twenty then the Prophets of Baal and more by five and twenty then the Prophets of the Groves in a middle number betwixt both and all of th●…m I beleive honest and true alike Yea it is recorded in his legend that by his Prayers were raised from death to life threescore several persons one and twenty Lepers healed and three and twenty blind and dumb men to have received their sight and speech No wonder then what Mr. Camden observeth that in process of time parum abfuit quin pietatis opinione Regio Martyri Ethelberto praeluxerit He lack'd but little to eclipse the Lustre of Ethelbert the Royal Saint and Martyr formerly buryed as is aforesaid in the same Cathedral Indeed it is given to Superstition alwayes to be fondest of the youngest Saint But long since King Henry the eighth hath put a period to all emulations betwixt their memories The Bishops of Hereford so highly honoured this Thomas that waving their ancient Arms they assumed the paternal Coate of Cantilupe viz. Gules 3 Leopards heads inverted each with a Flower de Luce in his Mouth Or to be successively the Arms of their See This Cantilupe lived the latest of any Englishman who was canonized so that blind zeal may even close her Stomack and make up her Mouth with the Sweet-meats of his memory Martyrs Sir JOHN Son to Sir Thomas OLDCASTLE was a Native of this County whereof he was Sheriff in the seventh of Henry the fourth Lord Cobham in the right of his Wife a right valiant man but great follower of VVickliffe so that he lost his life on that account As his body was hanged and burnt in an unusual posture at Tyburne so his memory hath ever since been in a strange suspense betwixt Malefactour and Martyr Papists charging him with Treason against King Henry the fifth and heading an Army of more then ten thousand men though it wanted nine thousand nine hundred ninety and nine thereof so far as it appears solidly proved But it hath ever been the Practice of the Devil and his instruments angry with Gods Servants for their Religion to accuse them for Sedition perceiving Princes generally more jealous of their own honour then Gods Glory and most careful to cut off such as oppose their power or persons Thus Christ was accused for Disloyalty to Caesar and St. Paul for raifing of Tumults though they as it is plain in the Text either raised themselves or were raised by the Pharisees and Saducees Pauls professed Enemies But I have so worne out the Neb of my Pen in my Church-History about clearing the Innocency of this worthy Knight that I have nothing to add new thereunto Marian Martyrs this Diocess affordeth none such the Moderation of Robert Parfew the Bishop thereof Cardinal ADAM de EASTON We were at a great losse had we but his bare Sirname to direct us to the place of his Nativity seeing scarcely one County in England which hath not one or more Eastons or Eatons the same in effect therein But thanks be to our Author who hath fixed his Birth though but with an ut videtur in this Shire Pretenders to Skill in Palmestry would perswade us that such the Table in whose hands is narrow beneath and broad above are marked out for Poverty in their youth and plenty in their old Age. I will not say such the Signature in the hands of our Adam but sure I am such his successe Mean his birth homely his breeding hard his fare till by his Industry he was advanced Dr. of Divinity in Oxford wherein he became a great Scholar skill'd in Greek and Hebrew rare accomplishments in that age and was very dexterous in all civil Negotiations He was afterwards made Cardinal with the Title of St. Cicilie by Pope Urban against whom Clement the seventh was elected and erected by others Fierce the Fight between Bears and Boars but far fiercer betwixt two Anti-Popes giving no Quarter to the opposite party if brought into their power Urban suspecting Treachery in some of his Cardinals imprisoned seven of them at once and puting five of them into Sacks sunk them into the Sea Oh most barbarous Urbanity Our Adam being the sixth hardly escaped with Life and may be said in some sort put into a Sack though of a larger size I mean a streight Dungeon where he remained half starved for five years together till the
the Abby Lands in Ireland for the Kings use a flower of the Crown which alone had made a Posey if continued thereunto But alas the Revenues of Abby Lands are as 〈◊〉 as their buildings nothing more than the rubbish thereof remaining in the Kings Exchequer He made a Law that no Children should be admitted to Church livings which importeth the frequency of that abuse in former times He perswaded O Neile O Brian c. to go over into England to surrender their lands into the Kings hands promising they should receive them again from him by Letters Patents with the Addition of Earls which was done accordingly At his desire the King conferred on them Houses nigh Dublin that residing there they might suck in Civility with the Court air These things thus setled he returned into England and died as I take it in the raign of King Edward the sixth Sir HENRY SIDNRY was son to Sir William Sidney of Pensherst in this County who by his own worth was advanced into the favour of Queen Elizabeth never a whit the lesse for marrying Mary Dudley sister to Robert Earl of Leicester he was by her made Knight of the Garter Lord President of Wales and for eleven years off and on Deputy of Ireland Now though generally the Irish are querelous of their Deputies what Patient for the present will praise his Chirurgion who soundly searcheth his sore yet Sir Henry left a good memory and the monuments of a good Governor behind him 1. He made Annaly a Territory in Loynsteresse by the Sept of Offerralles one entire Shire by it self called the County of Longford he likewise divided the Province of ●…onaght into six Counties 2. In a Parliament held the eleventh of Elizabeth he abolished the pretended and usurped Captain-ships and all extortions incident thereunto 3. He caused an Act to pass whereby the Lord Deputy was authorized to accept the surrenders of the Irish Se●…gniories and to re-grant estates unto them to hold of the Crown by English Tenures and Services 4. Because the inferiour sort of the Irish were poor and not Ames●…able by Law he provided that five of the best persons of every Sept should bring in all the persons of their surname to be justified by the Law 5. A Law was made that for the civil education of the youth there should be one Free Schoole at least in every Diocesse 6. To acquaint the people of Mounster and Conaght with the English Government again disused amongst them for two hundred years he instituted two Presidency Courts in those two Provinces 7. To augment the Revenues of the Crown he resumed and vested therein by the power of the same Parliament more than half the Province of Ulster upon the attainder of Shane O Neale 8. He raised Customs upon the principal Commodities of the Kingdom and reformed the abuses of the Exchequer by many good instructions from England 9. He established the Composition of the Pale in lieu of Purveyance and Sesse of Souldiers It must not be forgotten that he caused the Statutes of Ireland unto his own time to be printed and so saith my Author ex umbra in solem eduxit he brought them out of the shadow into the sun-shine Whereas formerly they were only in Manuscript a sad case that men should be obliged to the observation of those Laws scarce ever seen by one in an hundred subjected thereunto Being to leave Ireland Anno 1578. and now ready to go up into his Ship he took his leave thereof with the words of the Psalmist When Israel came out of Egypt and Jacob from a strange people rejoycing in heart that he came with a clear conscience from that dangerous employment He died at Worcester May the fifth 1586. and his Corps being brought to Pensherst were there solemnly interred amongst his Ancestors I will close his Life with this Encomium which I find in a Worthy Author His disposition was rather to seek after the Antiquities and the Weal-Publick of those Countries which he governed than to obtain lands and revenues within the same for I know not one foot of Land that he had either in Wales or Ireland Sir PHILIP SIDNEY Reader I am resolved not to part him from his Father such the Sympathy betwixt them living and dying both within the compass of the same year Otherwise this Knight in relation to my Book may be termed an Ubiquitary and appear amongst Statesmen Souldiers Lawyers Writers yea Princes themselves being though not elected in election to be King of Poland which place he declined preferring rather to be a Subject to Queen Elizabeth than a Soveraign beyond the Seas He was born at Pensherst in this County son to Sir Henry Sidney of whom before and Sisters Son to Robert Earl of Leicester bred in Christs Church in Oxford Such his appetite to Learning that he could never be fed fast enough therewith and so quick and strong his digestion that he soon turned it into wholsome nourishment and thrived healthfully thereon His homebred abilities travel perfected with forraign accomplishments and a sweet Nature set a glosse upon both He was so essential to the English Court that it seemed maimed without his company being a compleat Master of Matter and Language as his Arcadia doth evidence I confesse I have heard some of modern pretended Wits cavil thereat meerly because they made it not themselves such who say that his Book is the occasion that many pretious hours are otherwise spent no better must acknowledge it also the cause that many idle hours are otherwise spent no worse than in reading thereof At last leaving the Court he followed the Camp being made Governor of Flushing under his Uncle Earl of Leicester But the Walls of that City though high and strong could not confine the activity of his mind which must into the Field and before Zutphen was unfortunately slain with a shot in a small skirmish which we may sadly tearm a great battel considering our heavy losse therein His Corps being brought over into England was buried in the Quire of St. Pauls with general lamentation Sir FRANCIS WALSINGHAM Knight was born in this County wherein his Family long flourished at Chiselhurst though I read that originally they fetch their name from Walsingham in Norfolk He was bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge and gave the King of ●…pain his Bible to the Library thereof As a traveller many years beyond the 〈◊〉 he learnt experience as an Agent he practised it there and after his return a Secretary of State he taught it to many Emisaries imployed under him None alive did better ken the Secretary Craft to get Counsels out of others and keep them in himself M●…rvellous his ●…agacity in examining suspected persons either to make them confesse the truth or confound themselves by denying it to their detection Cunning his hands who could unpick the Cabinets in the Popes Conclave quick his ears who could hear at London what
as when perceiving his old Palace at Otford to want water he struck his staff into the dry ground still called Saint Thomas his well whence water runneth plentifully to serve that house lately re-built unto this day Others spightful as when because a Smith dwelling in that Town had clogged his Horse he ordered that no Smith afterwards should thrive within that Parish But he who shall go about seriously to confute these Tales is as very a Fool as he was somewhat else who first impudently invented and vented them Prelates STEPHEN LANGTON Here we are at a perfect losse for the place of his birth his surname affording us so much direction in effect it is none at all Inopes nos copia fecit finding no fewer than twelve Langtons though none very near to this place which makes us fly to our marginal refuge herein Stephen born in England was bred in Paris where he became one of the greatest Scholars of the Christian world in his age He was afterwards consecrated Cardinal of Saint Chrysogone and then by Papal power intruded Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in defiance of all opposition which King John could make against him Many are his learned Works writing Comments on all the Old and on some of the New Testament He was the first that divided the whole Bible into Chapters as Robert Stephens a French-man that curious Critick and painful Printer so ne six score years since first subdivided into Verses A worthy Work making Scripture more managable in mens memories and the passages therein the sooner to be turned to as any person who is ●…ooner found out in the most populous City if methodized into Streets and Houses with signs to which the Figures affixed do fitly allude Say not this was a presumption incurring the curse denounced to such who adde to Scripture it being no Addition but an Illustration thereof Besides God set the first pattern to mens industry herein seeing the distinction of some Verses may be said to be Jure Divino as those in the Lamentations and elsewhere which are Alphabetically modelled As causless their complaint who cavil at the inequality of Chapters the eighth of the first of Kings being sixty six the last of Malachy but six verses seeing the entireness of the sense is the standard of their length or shortness It is confessed some few Chapters end and others begin obruptly and yet it is questionable whether the ateration thereof would prove advantageous seeing the reforming of a small fault with a great change doth often hurt more than amend and such alterations would discompose Millions of Quotations in excellent Authors conformed to the aforesaid received divisions Here it must not be concealed that notwithstanding this general tradition of Langtons chaptering the Bible some learned men make that design of far ancienter date and particularly that able Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman This I am confident of that Stephen Langton did something much material in order thereunto and the Improver is usually called the Inventor by a complemental mistake However though I believe Langton well employed in dividing the Bible he was ill bus●…ed in rending asunder the Church and Kingdom of England reducing King Iohn to sad extremities He died and was buried at Canterbury Anno Dom. 1228. Souldiers WILLIAM PRUDE Esquire vulgarly called Proud was born in this City where his stock have continued for some hundreds of years bred a Souldier in the Low Countreys where he attained to be Lieutenant Colonel He was slain Iuly 12. 1632. at the siege of Mastrich His body which I assure you was no usual honour was brought over into England and buried in the Cathedral of Canterbury in Saint Michaels Chappel on the South side of the Quire with this Inscription on his Monument Stand Souldiers ere you march by way of charge Take an example here that may enlarge Your minds to noble Action Here in peace Rests one whose Life was War whose rich encrease Of Fame and Honour from his Valour grew Unbegg'd unbought for what he won he drew By just desert having in service been A Souldier till near sixty from sixteen Years of his active Life continually Fearless of Death yet still prepar'd to die In his Religious Thoughts for midd'st all harmes He bare as much of Piety as Armes Now Souldiers on and fear not to intrude The Gates of Death by th' example of this Prude He married Mary Daughter of Sir Adam Sprackling Knight and had Issue by her four Sons and three Daughters to whose memory his surviving Son Searles Prude hath erected this Monument Writers OSBERN of CANTERBURY so called because there he had his first birth or best Being as Chanter of the Cathedral Church therein An admirable Musitian which quality endeared him though an Englishman to Lankfrank the Lordly Lombard and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He was the English Jubal as to the curiosity thereof in our Churches An Art which never any spake against who understood it otherwise Apollo is in a sad case if Midas his ears must be his Judges However in Divine Service all Musick ought to be tuned to edification that all who hear may understand it otherwise it may tend to delight not devotion and true zeal cannot be raised where knowledge is depressed This Osbern wrote the life of Saint Dunstan in pure Latine according to that age flourishing under William the Conquerer Anno 1070. SIMON LANGTON was by his Brother Stephen Langton the Arch-Bishop preferred Arch-Deacon of Canterbury who Carne sanguine revelante saith the Record made the place much better both to him and his successors in revenue and jurisdiction A troublesome man he was and on his Brothers score a great adversary to King Iohn even after that King had altered his Copy and became of a fierce Foe a Son-Servant to the Pope by resigning his Crown unto him But our Simon could not knock off when he should having contracted such an habit of hatred against K. Iohn that he could not depose it though commanded under the pain of excommunication This caused him to trudge to the Court of Rome where he found little favour For such who will be the Popes white Boyes must watchfully observe his signals and not only charge when he chargeth but retreat when he retreateth This Simon beside others wrote a Book of the penitence of Magdalene in relation it seems to himself though she found more favour in the Court of Heaven than he at Rome He died Anno Dom. 12 Benefactors to the Publick JOHN EASDAY was Alderman and Mayor of this City Anno 1585. He found the Walls thereof much ruined and being a man but of an indifferent estate began the reparation thereof at Ridingate and therein proceeded so far as his name is inscribed on the Wall whose exemplary endeavours have since met with some to commend none to imitate them THOMAS NEVILE born in this City of most honourable extraction as his name is enough to notifie
and avouch He was bred in Cambridge and Master first of Mag dalen then of Trinity Colledge and Dean of Canterbury He was the first Clergy man sent by Arch-Bishop Whitgift who carried to King James tidings of the English Crown and it is questionable whether he brought thither or thence more welcome news especially to the Clergy acquainting them with the Kings full intentions to maintain Church-Discipline as he found it established But the main matter commending his memory is his magnificency to Trinity College whose Court he reduced to a spacious and beautiful Quadrangle Indeed he plucked down as good building as any erected but such as was irregular intercepting the sight disturbing the intended uniformity of the Court whereby the beauty at this day is much advanced For as the Intuitive knowledge is more perfect than that which insinuates it self into the Soul Gradually by discourse so more beautiful the prospect of that Building which is all visible at one view than what discovers it self to the sight by parcels and degrees Nor was this Doctor like those Poets good only at Translation and bad at Invention all for altering nothing for adding of his own who contributed to this Colledge I will not say a Widows Mite but a Batchelours Bounty a stately new Court of his own expence which cost him three thousand pounds and upwards Much enfeebled with the Palsie he died an aged man Anno Dom. 161 The Farewell I am heartily sorry that the many laudable endeavours for the scouring and enlargement of the River Stoure advantagious for this City have been so often defeated and the Contributions given by well-disposed Benefactors amongst whom Mr. Rose once an Alderman of Canterbury gave three hundred pounds have missed their ends praying that their future enterprises in this kind may be crowned with success For the rest I refer the Reader to the pains of my worthy Friend Mr. William Somner who hath written justum volumen of the Antiquities of this City I am sorry to see him Subject-bound betrayed thereto by his own modesty seeing otherwise not the City but Diocesse of Canterbury had been more adaequate to his abilities I hope others by his example will undertake their respective Counties It being now with our age the third and last time of asking the Banes whether or no we may be wedded to skill in this kind seeing now use or for ever hold your Pens all Church Monuments leading to knowledge in that nature being daily irrecoverably imbezeled LANCASHIRE LANCASHIRE Hath the Irish Sea on the West York-shire on the East Cheshire parted with the River Mersey on the South Cumberland and Westmerland on the North. It rangeth in length from Mersey to Wenander-Mere full fifty five miles though the Broadest part thereof exceedeth not One and thirty The Ayre thereof is Subtil and Piercing being free from Foggs saving in the Mosses the Effects whereof are found in the fair Complections and firme Constitutions of the Natives therein whose bodies are as able as their minds willing for any laborious Employment Their Soyle is tolerably fruitful of all things necessary for humane Sustenance A●…d as that Youth cannot be counted a D●…nce though he be Ignorant if he be Docible because his lack of Learning is to be scored on the want of a Teacher So Sterilitie cannot properly be imputed to some places in this County where little Graine doth grow because capable thereof as daily experience doth avouch if it were husbanded accordingly This Shire though sufficiently thick of people is exceedingly thin of Parishes as by perusing this parallel will plainly appear Rutland hath in it Parishes Forty eight Lancashire hath in it Parishes Thirty six See here how Rutland being scarce a Fifth part of Lancashire in greatness hath a fourth part of Parishes more therein But as it was a fine Sight to behold Sir Tho. More when Lord Chancellour of England every morning in term time humbly ask blessing in VVestminster-hall of Sir John More his Father then a pusnie Judge so may one see in this Shire some Chapels exceeding their Mother-Churches in fairness of Structure and numerousnesse of people yet owning their filial relation and still continuing their dutiful dependance on their Parents But for Numerosity of Chapels surely the Church of Manchester exceedeth all the rest which though anciently called but Villa de Manchester is for Wealth and Greatnesse corrival with some Cities in England having no lesse then Nine Chapels which before these our civil Wars were reputed to have five hundred communicants a peice Insomuch that some Clergy men who have confulted Gods Honour with their own credit and profit could not better desire for themselves than to have a Lincoln-shire Church as best built a Lancashire Parish as largest bounded and a London Audience as consisting of most intelligent people The people generally devout are as I am informed Northward and by the West Popishly 〈◊〉 which in the other parts intended by Antiperistasis are zealous Protestants Hence is it that many Subtile Papists and Jesuits have been born and bred in this County which have met with their Matches to say no more in the Natives of the same County So that thereby it hath come to passe that the house of Saul hath waxed weaker and weaker and the house of David stronger and stronger Natural Commodities Oates If any ask why this Graine growing commonly all over England is here entered as an Eminent Commodity of Lancashire Let him know that here is the most and best of that kind yea Wheat and Barlie may seem but the adopted whilst Oates are the Natural Issue of this County so inclined is its genius to the production thereof Say not Oates are Horse-graine and fitter for a Stable then a Table For besides that the Meal thereof is the distinguishing form of Gruel or Broth from Water most hearty and wholsome Bread is made thereof Yea anciently North of Humber no other was eaten by People of the Primest Quality For we read how William the Conquerour bestowed the Mannour of Castle Bitham in Lincoln-shire upon Stephen Earl of Albemarle and Holderness chiefly for this consideration that thence he might have wheaten bread to feed his Infant Son Oaten bread being then the Diet of Holderness and the Counties lying beyond it Allume I am informed that Allume is found at Houghton in this County within the Inheritance of Sir Richard Houghton and that enough for the use of this and the neighbouring Shires though not for Transportarion But because far greater plenty is afforded in York-shire the larger mention of this Mineral is referred to that place Oxen. The fairest in England are bred or if you will made in this County with goodly heads the Tips of whose horns are sometimes distanced five foot afunder Horns are a commodity not to be slighted seeing I cannot call to mind any other substance so hard that it will not break so solid that it will hold liquor within
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 BOROU●…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 ●…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 ●…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
For being with some other by this General for want of provisions left on land after many miseries they came to Mexico and he continued a Prisoner twenty three years viz Two years in Mexico one year in the Contractation-House in Civil another in the Inquisition-House in Triana twelve years in the Gallies four years with the Cross of St. Andrew on his back in the Everlasting-Prison and three years a drudge to Hernando de Soria to so high a summ did the Inventorie of his sufferings amount So much of his patience now see the end which the Lord made with him Whil'st enslaved to the aforesaid Hervando he was sent to Sea in a Flemish which was afterward taken by an English ship called the Galeon-Dudley and so was he safely landed at Portsmouth Decemb. the second 1590. And I believe lived not long after Sir WILLIAM MOUNSON Knight was extracted of an Antient Family in this Shire and was from his youth bred in Sea-Service wherein he attained to Great Perfection Queen Elizabeth having cleared Ireland of the Spanish Forces and desiring carefully to prevent a Relapse altered the Scaene of the War from Ireland to Spaine from Defending to Invading Sir Richard Leveson was Admiral our Sir William Vice-Admiral Anno 1602. These without drawing a Sword Killed Trading quite on the Coasts of Portugal no Vessels daring to goe in or out of their Harbours They had Intelligence of a Caract ready to land in Sisimbria which was of 1600 Tun richly laden out of the East-Indies and resolved to assault it though it seemed placed in an Invincible Posture Of it self it was a Gyant in Comparison to our Pigmy Ships and had in her three hundred Spanish Gentlemen the Marquess de Sancta Cruce lay hard by with thirteen Ships and all were secured under the Command of a Strong and well fortified Castle But nothing is Impossible to Mars valour and Gods blessing thereon After a ●…aire dispute which lasted for some houres with Sillogismes of fire and sword the Caract was Conquered the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of Ten Hundred Thousand Crownes of Portugal Account But though the Goods gotten therein might be valued the Good gained thereby was Inestimable for henceforward they beheld the English with admiring eyes and quitted their thoughts of Invasion This worthy Knight dyed about the mid'st of the Reign of King Iames. Writers This County hath afforded many partly because so large in it self partly because abounding with so many Monasteries whereof two Mitred ones Crowland and Bardney the Seminaries of many Learned men Not to speak of the Cathedral of Lincoln and Embrio University of Stamford wherein many had their Education Wherefore to pass by Faelix Crowlandensis Kimbertus Lindesius and others all of them not affording so much true History as will fill a hollow quill therewith we take notice of some principal ones and begin with GILBERT of HOLLAND He took his name not as others from a single Town but a great part of ground the third part of this Tripartite County which in my apprehension argues his Diligence in preaching thereabouts But quitting his Native Land he was invited by the famous St. Bernard to go to and live with him at Clarvaulx in Burgundy where he became his Scholar Some will prize a Crum of Forreign Praise before a Loafe of English commendation as subject to partiality to their own Countrymen Let such hear how Abbot Trithemius the German commendeth our Gilbert Vir erat in Scripturis Divinis Studiosus egregie doctus ingenio subtilis clarus eloquio The Poets feig●… that Hercules for a time supplyed the place of wearied Atlas in supporting the Heavens so our Gilbert was frequently substitute to St. Bernard continuing his Sermons where the other brake ●…ff from those words in lectulo meo per noctes c. unto the end of the book being forty six Sermons in style scarce discernable from St. Bernards He flourished anno Dom. 1200. and was buryed at Gistreaux in France ROGER of CROULAND was bred a Benedictine Monk therein and afterwards became Abbot of Friskney in this County He was the seventh man in order who wrote the Life of Thomas Becket Some will say his six elder Brethren left his Pen but a pitiful portion to whom it was impossible to present the Reader with any remarkable Novelty in so trite a subject But know that the pretended miracles of Becket daily multiplying the last Writer had the most matter in that kind He divided his book into seven Volumes and was full fifteen years in making of it from the last of King Richard the first to the fourteenth of King Iohn But whether this Elephantine Birth answered that proportion of time in the performance thereof let others decide He flourished anno Domini 1214. ELIASDE TREKINGHAM was born in this County at a Village so called as by the sequents will appear Ingulphus relateth that in the year of our Lord 870. in the Month of September Count Algar with others bid battle to the Danes in Kesteven a Third part of this County and worsted them killing three of their Kings whom the Danes buryed in a Village therein formerly called Laundon but after Trekingham Nor do I know any place to which the same name on the like accident can be applied except it be Alcaser in Africa where anno 1578. Sebastian the Portugal and two other Morish Kings were killed in one Battle I confess no such place as Trekingham appeareth at this day in any Catalogue of English Towns Whence I conclude it either a Parish some years since depoulated or never but a Churchlesse Village This Elias was a Monk of Peterborough Doctor of Divinity in Oxford a Learned man and great Lover of History writing himself a Chronicle from the year of our Lord 626 till 1270. at what time it is probable he deceased HUGO KIRKSTED was born at that well known Town in this County being bred a Benedictine-Cistercian-Bernardine A Cistercian is a Reformed Benedictine a Bernardine is a Reformed Cistercian so that our Hugh may charitably be presumed Pure as twice Refined He consulted one Serlo an aged man and one of his own Order and they both clubbing their pains and brains together made a Chronicle of the Cistercians from their first coming into England anno 1131. when Walter de Espeke founded their first Abby at Rivaax in York-shire Our Hugh did write Serlo did indict being almost an hundred years old so that his Memory was a perfect Chronicle of all remarkable Passages from the Beginning of his Order Our Hugo flourished anno Domini 1220. WILLIAM LIDLINGTON was born say some at that Village in Cambridge-shire at a Village so named in this County say others with whom I concur because he had his Education at Stamford He was by profession a Carmelite and became the Fifth Provincial of his Order in England Monasteries being multiplyed in that age Gerardus a Frenchman Master General
of the Carmelites in a Synode at Narbone deputed two English Provincials of that Order to the great grievance of our Lidlington refusing to subscribe to the Decisions of that Synode His stubbornesse cost him an Excommunication from Pope Clement the Fifth and four years Pennance of banishment from his Native Country Mean time our Lidlington living at Paris acquired great credit unto himself by his Lectures and Disputations At last he was preferred Provincial of the Carmelites in Palestine whence from Mount Carmel he fetched their Original and he himself best knew whether the Depth of his profit answered the Heigth of his Honour therein which I suspect the rather because returning into England he dyed and was buryed at Stanford anno Dom. 1309. NICHOLAS STANFORD He was born at that well-known Town once offering to be an University and bred a Bernardine therein The Eulogy given him by Learned Leland ought not to be measured by the Yard but weighed in the ballance Admirabar hominem ejus aetatis tam argute tam solido tamque significanter potuisse scribere I admired much that a man of his age could write so smartly so solidly so significantly Understand him not that one so infirm with age or decrepit in years but that one living in so ignorant and superstitious a generation could write so tercely flourishing as may be collected about the year of our Lord 1310. JOHN BLOXHAM was born at that Town in this County and bred a Carmelite in Chester I confess it is a common expression of the Country folk in this County when they intend to character a dull heavy blundering person to say of him he was born at Bloxham but indeed our Iohn though there first incradled had acuteness enough and some will say activity too much for a Fryer He advantagiously fixed himself at Chester a City in England nere Ireland and not far from Scotland much conducing to his ease who was supream prefect of his Order through those three Nations for two years and a half For afterwards he quitted that place so great was his employment under King Edward the second and third in several Embassies into Scotland and Ireland flourishing anno 1334. JOHN HORNBY was born in this County bred a Carmelite D. D. in Cambridge In his time happened a tough contest betwixt the Dominicans and Carmelites about Priority Plaintiffe Judges Defendant Dominican   Carmelite Iohn Stock or Stake rather so sharp and poinant his pen left marks in the Backs of his Adversaries Iohn Donwick the Chancellor and the Doctors of the University Iohn Hornby who by his preaching and writing did vindicate the seniority of his Order But our Hornby with his Carmelites clearly carried away the Conquest of precedency and got it confirmed under the authentique seal of the University However the Dominicans desisted not to justle with them for the upper hand until Henry the Eight made them friends by thrusting both out of the Land Our Hornby flourished anno Domini 1374 and was buried at his Convent in Boston BOSTON of BURY for so he is generally called I shall endevour to restore him first to his true name then to his native countrey Some presume Boston to be his Christian of Bury his Sirname But seeing Boston is no Font-name and Godfathers were consciencious in those dayes I appeal to all English Antiquaries in imposing if not Scripture or Saints names yet such as were commonly known the christianizing of Sirnames to baptized Infants being of more modern devise we cannot concur with their judgment herein And now thanks be to Doctor Iohn Caius who in the Catalogue of his Authors cited in the Defence of the Antiquity of Cambridge calleth him Iohn Boston of Bury being born at and taking his Sirname from Boston in this County which was customary for the Clergymen in those dayes though he lived a Monk in Bury Thus in point of Nativities Suffolk hath not lost but Lincoln-shire hath recovered a Writer belonging unto it He Travelled all over England and exactly perused the Library in all Monastaries whereby he was enabled to write a Catalogue of Ecclesiasticall Writers as well Forraign as English extant in his age Such his acuratness as not only to tell the Initiall words in Every of their Books but also to point at the place in each Library where they are to be had John Leland oweth as much to this Iohn Boston as Iohn Bale doth to him and Iohn Pits to them both His Manuscript was never Printed nor was it my happiness to see it but I have often heard the late Reverend Arch-Bishop of Armagh rejoyce in this that he had if not the first the best Copie thereof in Europe Learned Sir James WARE transcribed these Verses out of it which because they conduce to the clearing of his Nativity I have here Inserted Requesting the Reader not to measure his Prose by his Poetry though he dedicated it to no meaner then Henry the fourth King of England Qui legis hunc Librum Scriptorum Rex Miserere Dum scripsit vere non fecit ut aestimo pigrum Si tibi displiceat veniat tua Gratia grandis Quam cunctis pandis haec sibi sufficiat Scriptoris nomen Botolphi Villa vocatur Qui condemnatur nisi gratum det Deus Omen Sure it is that his Writings are Esteemed the Rarity of Rarities by the lovers of Antiquitys which I speak in Humble Advice to the Reader if possessed thereof to keep and value them if not not to despise his Books if on any Reasonable price they may be procured This Iohn Boston flourished Anno Dom. 1410. LAURENCE HOLEBECK was born saith my Author Apud Girvios that is amongst the Fenlanders I confess such people with their Stilts do stride over much ground the parcells of severall Shires Norfolk Suffolk Cambridg Huntington Northampton Lincolnshire But I have fixed him right in this County where Holebeck is not far from Crowland in Holland He was bred a Monk in the Abby of Ramsey and was very well skill'd in the Hebrew Tongue according to the rate of that Age. For the English-men were so great strangers in that Language that even the Priests amongst them in the Reign of King Henry the Eight as Erasmus reporteth Isti quicquid non intelligunt Haebraicum vocant counted all things Hebrew which they did not understand and so they reputed a Tablet which he wrote up in Walsingham in great Roman Letters out of the Rode of Common Cognizance Holebeck made an Hebrew Dictionary which was counted very exact according to those days I. Pitz doth heavyly complaine of Robert Wakefeild the first Hebrew Professor in Cambridg that he purloined this Dictionary to his private use whereon all I will observe is this It is resolved in the Law that the taking of another mans Sheep is Felony whilst the taking away of a Sheep-Pasture is but a Trespass the party pretending a right thereunto Thus I know many men so Conscientious that
Etymology was peculiar to himself who would have it termed Mildew because it grindeth the Grain aforehand making it to dwindle away almost to nothing It falleth be it Mist or Dew when Corn is almost ripe for the Sicle and antidateth the Harvest not before it is welcome but before it is wished by the Husbandman Grain being rather withered then ripened thereby If after the fall a good Rain or strong wind cometh it washeth and wipeth it off so that no mischeif is done Otherwise the hot Sun arising sealeth to use the Husbandmans Phrase the Mildew upon the Straw and so intercepteth the Nourishment betwixt the Root and the Ear especially if it falleth not on the Hoase which is but another case and hath another Tunicle under it but on the stripped Straw near to the top of the Stalk Grain growing under Hedges where the wind hath least power is most subject thereunto though VVheat of all Grain is most Bearded VVheat of VVheat is least liable unto it Not that the Hawnes thereof are Spears to fright the Mildew from it but advantagious Gutters to slide it away the sooner which sticketh on notted or pollard VVheat Inland Counties Northampton-shire Bedford-shire c. complain the least Maritime the most of Mildew which insinuateth the Vapors of the Sea to be causall thereof Some hold that seeing it falls from the Skies Earth hath no guard for Heavens blowe save praier which in this very case is prescribed by Solomon But others conceive that humane may be subordinate to Spiritual means to prevent not the falling but the hurting of this Dew in such a degree and hopefully expect the Remedy from the Ingenuity of the next Generation I am the rather confirmed in my Hopes because a help hath been found out against the smooting of VVheat at leastwise in some good proportion I say the smooting of VVheat which makes it a Negro as Mildew makes it a Dwarfe viz. by mingling the seed with Lyme as your Husbandmen will inform you And for my Vale to this County I heartily desire that either God would of his Goodnesse spare the Fruits of the Earth from so hurtful a Casualty or put it into the Minds of Men if it may stand with his VVill to find out some defensitive in some part to abate the Malignity thereof LONDON It is the second City in Christendome for greatnesse and the first for good Government There is no civilized part of the World but it hath heard thereof though many with this mistake that they conceive London to be the Country and England but the City therein Some have suspected the declining of the Lustre thereof because of late it vergeth so much VVestward increasing in Buildings in Convent Garden c. But by their Favour to disprove their Fear it will be found to Burnish round about to every point of the compasse with new Structures daily added thereunto It oweth its greatnesse under Gods Divine providence to the well conditioned River of Thames which doth not as some Tyrant Rivers in Europe abuse its strength in a destructive way but imployeth its greatnesse in goodnesse to be beneficial for commerce by the Reciprocation of the Tide therein Hence it was that when K. James offended with the City threatned to remove his Court to another place the Lord Maior boldly enough returned that he might remove his Court at his pleasure but could not remove the River of Thames Erasmus will have London so called from Lindus a City of Rhodes averring a great resemblance betwixt the Language and Customes of the Britains and Grecians But Mr. Camden who no doubt knew of it honoureth not this his Etymology with the least mention thereof As improbable in my apprehension is the deduction from Ludstown Town being a Saxon no Brittish Termination and that it was so termed from Lan Dian a Temple of Diana standing where now St. Pauls doth is most likely in my opinion Manufactures Natural Commodities are not to be expected to growe in this place which is only the Field of Art and Shop General of England Cheapsiae being called the best Garden only by Metaphore seeing otherwise nothing but Stones are found therein As for London Manufactures they are so many I shall certainly loose my self in this Labyrinth if offering to enter in leaving therefore all intermediate Inventions to others I will only insist on the Needle and the Engine as the least and greatest Instruments imployed therein Needles The Use hereof is right ancient though sewing was before Needles For we read that our first parents made themselves Aprons by sewing Fig leaves together either fastning them with some Glutinous Matter or with some sharp thing joyning them together A Pin is a Blind Needle a Needle a Pin with an Eye What Nails do in solid Needles do in supple Bodies putting them together only they remain not there formally but vertually in the Thread which they leave behind them It is the womans Pencil and Embroidery Vestis acu picta is the masterpeice thereof I say Embroydery much used in former neglected in our age wherein modern Gallants affecting Variety of suits desire that their Cloaths should be known by them and not as Our Ancestors They by their cloaths one suit of state serving them for several solemnities This Industrious Instrument Needle quasi Ne idle as some will have it maintaineth many millions Yea he who desireth a Blessing on the Plough and the Needle including that in the card and compass comprehendeth most Employments at home and abrode by land and by sea All I will add is this that the first fine spanish Needles in England were made in the Reign of Queen Mary in Cheapside by a Negro but such his Envy that he would teach his Art to none so that it dyed with him More charitable was Elias Crowse a German who coming over into England about the Eigth of Queen Elizabeth first taught us the Making of spanish Needles and since we have taught our selves the using of them The Engine This general Word 〈◊〉 to all Machins or Instruments use in this City hath confined to signifie that which is used to quench Scare-fires therein One Mr. Jones a Merchant living in Austin Fryers fetched the first Form thereof from Norenberge and obtained a Patent of King James that none should be made without his Approbation Two were begun but not finished in his Life time who dyed in the great Plague Primo Caroli primi since which Time William Burroughs City-Founder now living in ●…bury hath so compleated this Instrument that his additions amount to a new Invention having made it more secure from breaking and easie to be cleansed so that with the striking out of a Wedge it will cleanse it self and be fit to work again in Four Minutes Since the aforesaid 〈◊〉 hath made about threescore of these Engines for City and Country The Cooper Carpenter Smith Founder Brasier and Turner contribute their skills to the 〈◊〉 o●… it
any cause they should undergoe the punishment of death Whereas henceforward in England many were brought to the fire by the Bishops and others of the Clergy whose opinions were neither so blasphemous nor deportment so inhumane as ancient Hereticks I confesse not onely simple heresie was charged on this Sautre but also a relapse thereinto after abjuration in which case such is the charity of the Canon-Law that such a person is seculari judicio sine ulla penitus audientia relinquendus not affording any audience to one relapsed though he should revoke his opinions Quite contrary to the charitable Judgement of St. Chrysostome who sticked not to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If thou fall a thousand times and repent thee of thy folly come boldly into the Church There is some difference amongst Authors about the legal proceedings against this Sautre by what power he was condemned to dye Walsingham will have him die during the sitting of the Parliament secundo Henrici quarti by vertue of the Law then made against Hereticks Others will have him put to death not by any Statute-Law then made but as convicted in a Provincial Councel of the Archbishop of Canterbury The latter seemeth most true because the Writ De Haeretico comburendo sent down by the advice of the Lords Temporal to the Mayor of London to cause his execution bare date the 26 of February whereas it was ordered in that Parliament that the penal Statutes made therein should not take effect till after VVhitsontide But by what power soever it was done poor Sautre was burnt in Smithfield about the 28 of February 1400. One criticisme of cruelty and hypocrisie is most remarkable The close of the Archbishops sentence of degradation when Sautre was committed over to the Secular Court endeth with this expression Beseeching the Court aforesaid that they will receive favourably the said William unto them thus recommitted We are much beholding to Baronius for the better understanding this passage informing us that it was ever fashionable with their Clergy to this day that when they consigne an Heretick over to the Secular for execution they effectually intercede that he may not be punished with death For it appeareth in Prosper that 4 Bishops were excommunicated An. 392. for being accusers of Priscilian the first Heretick who was confuted with steel that age conceiving all tendency to cruelty utterly inconsistent with Clerical profession And hence it was thinks the aforesaid Baronius that this custome was taken up of the Clergie's mock-mercy in their dissembled mediation for condemned Hereticks I say dissembled for if the Lay having them in his power shall defer the doing of it more than ordinary it is the constant tenet of the Canonists relying on a Bull of Alexander the 4th 1260. he is to be compell'd unto it by spiritual censures We have been the larger upon this Sautre's death because he was the English Protestant pardon the Prolepsis Proto-martyr But every son must not look to be an heir we will be shorter on the rest in this City contenting our selves with their bare names except some extraordinary matter present it self to our observation JOHN BADBY was an Artificer in Black Friars in London condemned and burned in Smithfield about 1401. Henry Prince of VVales afterwards King Henry the 5th happened to be present at his execution who not onely promised him pardon on his recantation but also a stipend out of the Kings Treasury sufficient for his support all which Badby refused He was put into an empty Tun a ceremony of cruelty peculiar to him alone and the fire put therein At the first feeling thereof he cryed Mercy Mercy begging it of the God of heaven which Noble Prince Henry mistook for a kind of Revocation of his Opinions and presently caused the fire round about him to be quenched renewing his promises unto him with advantage which Badby refused the second time and was Martyred But Reader I will engage no deeper in this copious subject lest I lose my self in the Labyrinth thereof * Joseph left off to Number the Corn in Egypt for it was without number the cause alone of my desisting in this subject Yea Bloudy Bonner had murdered many more had not that Hydropical Humor which quenched the life of Queen Mary extinguished also the Fires in Smithfield Prelates Here in this City we are at a greater losse as to this Topick than in any Shire in England for in vain it is for any man to name himself Thomas of London John of London c. such Sirnames not reaching their end nor attaining their intention viz. 〈◊〉 diversifie the Person the laxity of so populous a place leaving them as unspecified as it found them We therefore have cause to believe that many Clergy-men both Bishops and Writers born in this City did not follow suit with others of their Coat to be named from the Place of their Nativity but from their Fathers the Reason why we can give so slender an account of them as followeth SIMON OF GAUNT was born in this City his Mother being an English Woman his Father a Flemming and being bred in good literature became so famous that by King Edward the first he was preferred Bishop of Salisbury 1298. He gave the first leave to the Citizens thereof to fortifie that place with a deed Ditch partly remaining and a strong wall wholly demolished at this day Now seeing good Laws are the best walls of any foundation no lesse was his care for the Church than City of Salisbury making good Statutes whereby it was ordered even unto our age He dyed about the year 1315. JOHN KITE was born in London bred in Oxford sent Embassadour into Spain made a Grecian titulary Arch bishop receiving thence as much profit as men shear wool from hogs and at last the real Bishop of Carlisle yet is his Epitaph in the Church of Stepney neither good English Latine Spanish or Greek but a barbarous confusion as followeth Under this Stone closyd marmorate Lveth John 〈◊〉 Londoner naciste Encreasing invirtues rose to hyghestate In the fourth Edwards chappel by his yong life Sith which the Seuinth Henries service primatife Proceeding still in virtuous efficase To be in favour with this our Kings grase With Witt endewyed chosen to be Legate Sent into Spain where he right joyfully Combined both Princes in pease most amate In Grece Archbishop elected worthely And last of Carlyel ruling postorally Kepyng nobyl houshold with great hospitality On thousand fyve hundred thirty and seuyn Inuyterate with carys consumed with Age The nineteeth of Jun reckonyd full euyn Passed to Heauyn from worldly Pylgramage Of whose Soul good peopul of Cherite Prey as ye wold be preyd for for thus must you lye Ie●…u mercy Lady help These if made 300 years ago had been excusable but such midnight verses are abominable made as it appears in the dawning of good learning and pure language Yet
Indeed I read of a Company of ●…hysicians in Athens called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they would take no Money of their Patients and our St. German was of their Judgement as to his Clients 5. Ability being excellently skill'd in Civil Caxon and Common Law so that it was hard to say wherein he excelled Add to these his skill in scripture witnesse his Book called The Doctor and Student where the former vics Divinity with the L●…w of the later 6. Industry he wrote several works wherein he plainly appeareth not only a Favourer of but Champion for the Reformation 7 Vivacity L●…ving to be above eighty years old and dying anno Dom. 1593. was buryed at St. Alphage London near Criplegate WILLIAM RASTAL was born in this City Sisters Son to Sir Thomas More and was bred in the Study of our Common Law and whoever readeth this passage in Pitz. will thence conclude him one of the two Chief Justices of England Pitz. de Ang. Script Aetat 16. anno 1565. Factus est Civilium Criminalium causarum alter ex duobus per Angliam supremis Judicibus whereas in deed he was but one of the Justices of the Kings Bench yet his Ability and Integrity did capacitate him for higher preferment being also a person of Industry He wrote the Life and set forth the Works of his Uncle More made a Collection of and Comment on the statutes of England Great was his Zeal to the Ro●…ish Religion flying into Flanders with the changing of his Countrey under King Edward the Sixth he changed the nature of his Studies but then wrote worse Books on a better subject I mean Divinity He undertook Bishop Juel as much his over match in Divinity as Rastal was his in the common Law The Papists are much pleased with him for helping their cause as they conceive and we are not angry with him who hath not hurt ours in any degree He dyed at Lovain 1565. and lyeth buryed with his Wife in the same Tomb and this Epitaph may be bestowed on him Rastallus tumulo cum conjuge dormit in uno Unius carnis Pulvis unus erit Know that Winifrid Clement his Wife was one of the greatest Female Scholars an exact Grecian and the Crown of all most pious according to her perswasion Souldiers No City in Europe hath bred more if not too many of late and indeed we had had better T●…adesmen if worse Souldiets I dare not adventure into so large a Subject and will instance but in one to keep possession for the rest submitting my self to the Readers censure whether the Parties merit or my private Relation puts me on his Memorial Sir THOMAS ROPER Son of Thomas Roper Servant to Queen Elizabeth was born in Friday Street in London whose Grandfather was a younger Son of the House of Heanour in Derby shire Indeed Furneaux was the ancient name of that Family until Richard Furneaux marryed Isald the Daughter of ..... Roper of Beighton in the County of Derby Esquire and on that Consideration was bound to assume the name of Roper by Indenture Dated the S●…venth of Henry the Sixth This Sir Thomas Going over into the Lowe Countries became Page to Sir John Norrice and was Captain of a Foot Company at sixteen years of age what afterwards his Martial performances were to avoid all suspicion of Flattery to which my Relation may incline me I have transcribed the rest out of the Original of his Patent Cum Thomas Roper Eques auratus è Secretioribus Concilliariis nostris in regno nostro Hyberniae jampridem nobis Bellicae virtutis Splendore clarus innotuerit Utpote qui quam plurimis rebus per eum in nuperrimo bello hujus Regni fortiter gestis praeclarum Nomen Strenui Militis prudentis Ducis reportavit Cujus virtus praecipuè in recessu in Provinciâ nostrâ Conaciae prope Le Boyle emicuit ubi paucissimis admodum equestribus ingentes equitum turmas per Regni Meditullia hostiliter grassantes fortiter aggressus Ita prudentiâ suâ singulari receptui cecinit ut non modo se suos sed etiam totum exercitum ab ingenti periculo Liberavit hostesque quam plurimos ruinae tradidit Qui etiam cum Provincia nostra Ultoniae bello deflagaverat ob exploratam animi fortitudin●…m ab honoratissimo Comite Essexiae exercitus tunc imperatore unius ex omnibus designatus fuit ad Duellum eum Makal uno ex fortissimis Tyronentium agminum ducibus suscipiendum nisi praedictus Makal duello praedicto se exponere remisset Cumque etiam praedictus Thomas Roper in nuperrimo Bello apud Brest in Regno Gallie se maximis periculis objiciendo sanguinem suum effundendo Fortitudinem suam invictam demonstravit Qui etiam in expeditione Portugalenci se fortiter ac honorifice 〈◊〉 ac etiam apud Bergen in Belgio cum per Hispanos obsideretur invictissimae fortitudinis juvenem in defensione ejusdem se praebuit Qui etiam in expugnationis Kinsalensis die primus 〈◊〉 juxta 〈◊〉 propissime constitutus fuerat Hispanesque ex eo oppido sepius eodem die 〈◊〉 fortissime felicissimeque ad maximam totius exercitus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profligavit Sciatis igitur quod nos intuitu praemissorum Dominum Thomam Roper millitem c. Whereas Thomas Roper Knight one of our Privy Councellors of our Kingdome of Ireland long since hath been known unto us famous with the Splendor of his Warlike vertue As who by the many Atchievements valiantly performed by him in the late War of this Kingdome hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier and a disc●…eet Commander whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near Le Boyle in ●…ur Province of Conaught where with very few horse he undantedly charged great Troops of the Horse of the Enemy who in a Hostile manner forraged the very Bowels of the Kingdome and by his Wisdome made such a singular retreat that he not only saved himself and his men but also delivered the whole Army from great danger and slew very many of his Enemies Who also when our Province of Ulster was all on Fire with war being one out of many was for the tryed resolution of his mind chosen by the Right Honorable the E. of Essex then General of the Army to undertake a Duel with Makal one or the stoutest Captains in the Army of Tyrone had not the said Makal declined to expose himself to the appointed Duel And also when the aforesaid Thomas Raper in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest by exposing himself to the greatest perils and sheding of his own bloud demonstrated his courage to be unconquerable Who also i●… the voyage to Portugal behaved himself valiantly and honorably as also at Bergen in the Nether-lands when it was besiedged by the Spaniards approved himself a young man of 〈◊〉 valour in the defence thereof Who also in the day wherin Kinsale was assaulted was
Week for ever He was when living a great Benefactor to the building of Alder-Mary-Church and by his Testament gave 1000. pounds towards the finishing thereof how barbarously he was afterwards requited and his body cast out of the grave we have formerly largely bemoaned and with just indignation HENRY the Eighth 1. GEORGE MONOX He re-edified the decayed Parish-Church of Waltamstow or Walthamstow in Essex he founded there a Free-school and Almes-houses for thirteen Almes-people he made also a Cawsey of Timber over the Marshes from Walthamstow to Lock-bridge The Farewell And now being to take my Farewell of this great City I cannot forget the verse which I find amongst others in Master Camden's commendation thereof Urbs pietate potens numeroso cive superba Potent in piety in her people proud But see the Romish charity who confine all piety to Popery The Index Expurgato●…ius Printed at Madrid by Lewes Sanchez 1612. commandeth the forepart of the verse concerning their piety to be expunged letting the latter moity of their pride to remain May I in this particular be the humble Remembrancer of the City without the least intrenching on his place who worthily dischargeth that office to cross and consute that peevish and partial Index Let it be their endeavours to delete out of their hearts all high conceits of their populousness and effectually to express grace and goodness in their conversations Nor let the City of London ever forget quantillum interfuit inter maximam Civitatem et nullam How little distance there lately was betwixt the greatest City and none at all if Gates and Barrs as it is generally received be the essential difference of a City But God who can produce light out of darkness can make the plucking d●…wn of the Gates to be the setting up of the City Wherefore though the Eleventh day of March be generally beheld as the first day of Spring London may date her Spring from the Eleventh day of February 1659. when she effectually felt the vernal heat after a long Winter of woe and misery I heartily wish this honourable City what ever may conduce to the continuance and increase of the happiness thereof Especially that the river of Thames the lif●… of London as which Easeth Adorneth Inricheth Feedeth and Fortifieth it may have its Channel constantly continued The Millers Riddle If I have Water I will drink Wine But if I have no Water I must drink Water is appliable to this City so long as Thames-water continues Londoners may Wine it but should it fail they must drink water indeed and some perchance brackish too as made of their tears I will not pry too nearly and narrowly into the fancy of our Poet speaking of the ruins of old Rome Ne ought save Tiber hasting to his fall O Worlds inconstancy Remains of all That which is firm doth flit and fall away And that is flitting doth abide and stay And yet by his leave greater rivers then Tiber have in process of time had their streams by casualties or neglect partly drained wholy dryed or otherwise diverted My humble request therefore to the Officers of the City is effectually to own their concernment in the river of Thames in clearing and cleansing it from Sholes Sands and other obstructing incroachments that they may leave it as well to posterity as they found it from their fathers WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER is the greatest City in England next London not onely in Position but by the Dimensions thereof For let it be taken as truly it ought extensively with the Liberty of Lancaster from Temple-bar and it filleth as much ground not to say containeth more reasonable souls then any City in the Land But as a proper man seemeth a Dwarfe when placed next to a Giant such the infelicity of Westminster whose due greatness devoured by the vicinity of London is insensible in the eyes of the Beholders It was anciently called Thorney and afterwards Westminster for distinction from Saint Pauls called in ancient times Eastminster The Buildings The Abbey Church is beheld as a rare structure with so small and slender Pillars greatest legs argue not the strongest Man to support so weighty a fabrick built by King Henry the third and afterwards much enlarged and beautified by the Abbots thereof Adjoyning to it is the Chappel of King Henry the seventh which Leland calls the Miracle of the World Indeed let the Italians deride our English and condemn them for Gothish Buildings This they must admire and may here take notes of Architecture if their pride would permit them to perfect theirs accordingly In this Chappel the founder thereof with his Queen lieth interr'd under a Monument of solid Brass most richly gilded and Artificialy carved Some slight it for the cheapness because it cost but a thousand pounds in the making thereof Such do not consider it as the work of so thrifty a Prince who would make a little money go far besides that it was just at the turning of the Tide as one may term it of money which flowed after the finding out of the West-Indies though ebbing before Amongst the civil structures Westminster-Hall is eminent erected by King W. Rufus for the Hall to his own Court built with copwebless beams conceived of Irishwood Sure I am we then had no command in that Island as first subdued by King Henry the second It is one of the greatest rooms in Christendome and indeed it needeth to be of good capacity to receive so many Plantiffes and Defendants being at such mutual distance of affection Next is White-hall the Palace of ou●… English Kings which one term'd a good Hypocrite promising less then it performeth and more convenient within then comely without to which the Nursery of Saint James's was an appendant As for the houses of Noble-men all along the Strand I desire to be excused from commending some lest it should by caviling Spirits be implicitely interpreted a dispraise of the rest Besides I am ignorant under what name to commend them to posterity so many houses daily new-dipt assume to themselves new names according to the alteration of their Owners I conclude them therefore all best and best of all whilst they continue in the hands of their present possessors Proverbs As sure as Exchequer pay All know that the Exchequer was formerly the Treasury of the Kings of England kept in this City the pleading part on the one side and the paying part on the other side of Westminster-hall This Proverb was in the prime thereof in the raign of Queen Elizabeth who maintained her Exchequer to the heigth that her Ex●…hequer might ma●…tain her The pay thereof was sure inwards nothing being remitted which was due there to the Queen and sure outwards nothing being detained which was due thence from the Queen full and speedy payment being made thereof This Proverb began to be crost about the end of the raign of King James when the credit of the Exchequer began to decay and
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
or silver-hair-skins formerly so dear are now levelled in prices with other colours yea are lower then black in estimation because their wool is most used in making of hats commonly for the more credit called Half-Beavers though many of them hardly amount to the proportion of Semi-Demi-Castors Herrings Great store and very good of these are caught nigh Yarmouth where once every year on the Feast of Saint Michael is a Fair held for the sale of fish and such the plenty of Herrings there constantly vented that incredible the sum which is raised thereby Indeed the fishing for Herrings is a most gainful trade fish though contemptable in it self considerable in its company swiming in such shoals that what the Whale hath in bigness the Herring hath in number It may well mind such who excell in strength and valour not to boast or be proud thereof seeing the greatest courage may be soon pressed to death under unequal number Yea Red-herrings in England mostly eaten for sauce to quicken the Appetite serve in Holland and elsewhere for food to satisfy hunger I will conclude the Natural Commodities of this County with this memorable passage which I have read in a modern Author The Lord F. W. assured me of a Gentleman in Norfolk that made above 10000l sterl of a piece of ground not forty yards square and yet there was neither Mineral nor Metal in it He a●…ter told me it was onely a sort of fine clay for the making a choise sort of earthen ware which some that knew it seeing him dig up discovered the value of it and sending it into Holland received so much money for it My belief tireth in coming up to the top of this story suspecting the addition of a cypher But if it were so how much would it have inriched us if those mockChina-dishes had been made in England Manufactures Worsteds These first took their name from Worsted a Village in this County originally it is nothing but Woollen-thred spun very fine and for the more strength twisted together But O! it surpassesh my skill to name the several stuffs being VVorsted disguised with VVeaving and Colouring made thereof It argueth the usefulness and publick profit of this commodity which first found a general repute in England toward the end of the raign of King Henry the sixth that there are no fewer then fourteen Statutes now in force in the well ordering thereof to Merchantable proof And appointing which of them may which may not be Transported Not to speak of four VVardens of VVorsted VVeavers to be chosen yearly within the City of Norwish and other four out of the County of Northfolk with their solemn Oath Office and Authority As for worsted Stockins they were first made in England Anno 1564. by VVilliam Rider an ingenious Apprentice living against Saint Magnus Church at the foot of London Bridge This William chancing to see a pair of knit worsted Stockins in the Lodging of an Italian Merchant who had brought them from Man●…ua borrowed them and making the like by that pattern presented them to VVilliam Earl of Pembroke who first wore them in England Proverbs Norfolk dumplings This cannot be verified of any dwarfish or diminutive stature of people in this County being as tall of their bodies and as tall of their arms too I assure you as any in England But it relates to the fare they commonly feed on so generally called I wish much good may it do them and that their bodies thereby may be enabled for all natural civil and spiritual performances Norfolk VViles Such the skill of the common people hereof in our Common-Law wherein they are so versed ut si nihil sit litium lites tamen ex juris apicibus serere callent If I must go to Law I wish them rather of my Counsel then my Adversaries For whereas pedibus ambulando is accounted but a vexatious Suit in other Counties here where men are said to study Law as following the Plough tail some would perswade us that they will enter an action for their neighbours horse but looking over their hedge Now although we listen to this but as a jeer yet give me leave to observe two parts in VViles VVittiness which all must commend VVickedness condemn Sure I am that in Scripture a VVile always male audit is taken in an evil sense as wherein the simplicity of the Dove is stung to death by the subtilty of the Serpent But no more hereof least Norfolk-men commence a Suit against me though I verily believe many therein are of as peaceable dispositions as any in other places A Yarmouth Capon That is a red-herring No news for creatures to be thus disguised under other names seeing Criticks by a Libyon bear sub pelle Libystidis ursae understand a Lion no Bears being found in the land of Libya And I believe few capons save what have more fins then feathers are bred in Yarmouth But to countenance this expression I understand that the Italian Friers when disposed to eat flesh on Fridays call a Capon piscem è corte a fish out of the Coop He is arrested by the Baily of Marshland The aire of Marshland in this County is none of the wholesomest being surrounded with the Sea and Fens on all sides Hence it is that strangers coming hither are clapt on the back with an ague which sometimes lasts them longer then a Stuffe Suit The best is when such prisoners have paid the Bailiffs Fees and Garnish and with time and patience have weathered out the brunt of that disease they become habited to the aire of the Country and arrive in health at a very great age Princes I meet with no Prince since the Conquest taking his first breath in this County probably because so remote from the principal place of Royal Residence Prelats GILBERT BERKELEY was born in this County but descended from the ancient Barons of that name as appeareth by his Armes He was consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells in the first of Queen Elizabeth and sate therein 22. years He died of a Lethargy being 80. years of age 1581. and is buried on the North-side of the Communion-table of his own Cathedral JOHN AYLMER Brother to Sir Robert Aylmer Knight was born at Aylmerhall in the Parish of Tilsely in this County as his nearest surviving relations have informed me from whom I have received the following information When he was but a Child going toward school Henry Gray Duke of Suffolk having some discourse with took so much liking unto him that after he had been bred some years in the University of Cambridge he made him his Chaplain and committed his daughter the Lady Jane Gray to his tuition In the reign of Queen Mary he fled over beyond Sea and was little less then miraculously saved from the Searchers of the Ship by the ingenuity of a Marchant who put him into a great Wine-but which had a partition in the middle so that
Manuscripts he acquired to their Library But his memory ought most to be honoured Saving Gods living Temples is better then building dead Colledges on this account because in the days of Queen Mary he was the Skrene to keep off the fire of Persecution from the faces and whole bodies of many a poor Protestant so that by his means no Gremial of the University was martyred therein I know he is much taxed for altering his Religion four times in twelve years from the last of King Henry the eight to the first of Queen Elizabeth a Papist a Protestant a Papist a Protestant but still Andrew Perne However be it known that though he was a Bending VVillow he was no Smarting VVillow guilty of Compliance not Cruelty yea preserving many who otherwise had been persecuted He was of a very facetious nature excellent at Blunt-sharp Jests and perchance sometimes too tart in true ones One instance of many This Dean chanced to call a Clergy-man fool who indeed was little better who returned that he would complain thereof to the Lord Bishop of Ely Do saith the Dean when you please and my Lord Bishop will Confirm you Yet was Doctor Perne himself at last heart-broken with a Jest as I have been most credibly informed from excellent hands on this occasion He was at Court with his Pupil Arch-bishop VVhitgift in a rainy afternoon when the Queen was I dare not say wilfully but really resolved to ride abroad contrary to the mind of her Ladies who were on hors-back Coaches as yet being not common to attend her Now one Clod the Queens Jester was imployed by the Courtiers to laugh the Queen out of so inconvenient a Journey Heaven saith he Madam diswades you it is cold and wet and Earth diswades you it is moist and dirty Heaven diswades you this heavenly minded man Arch-bishop Whitgift and Earth diswades you your fool Clod such a lump of clay as my self And if neither will prevail with you here is one that is neither Heaven nor Earth but hangs betwixt both Doctor Perne and he also diswades you Hereat the Queen and the Courtiers laugh'd heartily whilst the Doctor look'd sadly and going over with his Grace to Lambeth soon saw the last of his life Since the Reformation Sir THOMAS GRESHAM was born in this County bred a Mercer and Merchant in the City of London where God so blessed his endeavours that he became the Wealthiest Citizen in England of his age and the founder of two stately Fabricks the Old Exchange a kind of Colledge for Merchants and Gresham-Colledge a kind of Exchange for Scholars I have learn'd from Goldsmiths that Vessels made of Silver and Guilt are constantly Burnished seldome or never those few which are made of Massy Gold whose real intrinsick worth disdaineth to borrow any Foyl from Art Let lesser Donations be amplified with rhetorical Prayses Nothing need be said of this worthy Knights gifts but his gifts and take them truly copied from the Original of his Will as followeth First concerning the building in London called the Royal Exchange with all Shops Cellars Vaults Tenements thereunto belonging I will and dispose one moity to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London upon confidence that they perform the payments and other intents hereafter limited The other moity of the said buildings to the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London upon trust that they perform the payments and other intents hereafter mentioned I Will and Dispose that they the said Mayor and Commonalty do give and distribute for the sustentation maintenance and finding four Persons from time to time to be chosen nominated and appointed by the said Mayor c. to read the Lectures of Divinity Astronomy Musick and Geometry within mine own dwelling house in the Parish of Saint Hellens I give and dispose out of this moity two hundred pouuds to be payed to the four Readres sufficiently learned fifty pounds to each yearly I likewise give the said Mayor c. fifty three pounds to be yearly distributed in manner following Unto eight Almes-folks whom the said Mayor c. shall appoint to inhabit my eight Almes-houses in the Parish of St. Peters Poor the summe of six pounds thirteen shillings four pence to each of them to be payed at four usual terms c. I likewise Dispose out of this moity fifty pounds yearly to be distributed by the said Mayor c. To the Prisoners in New-gate Lud-gate the Kings-bench the Marshalsey the Counter in Wood-street ten pounds to each prison to be paid among the poor thereof The other moity of the said building disposed to the Mercers I Will and Dispose out of it to be by them paid one hundred and fifty pounds to the finding c. three persons to be by the Wardens c. chosen nominated and appointed to read the Lectures of Law Physick and Rhetorick That the said Mercers shall out of their moity yearly expend one hundred pounds at four several Dinners for the whole Company of the said Corporation in the Mercers-hall in London on every Quarter day That they shall distribute to the several Hospitals of Christ-church Saint Bartholomews the Spittle at Bedlam the Hospital for the poor in Southwark and the Poultry-Counter fifty pounds yearly in money or other provisions ten pounds My Mansion house with the Gardens Stables c. I give to the Mayor and Commonalty of London and also to th●… Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercery to have and to hold in Common upon trust and confidence that they observe perform and keep my Will and true meaning hereafter expressed My Will Intent and Meaning is that the said Mayor and Commonalty and their Successors and that the said Wardens and Commonalty of t●…e Mercers shall permit and suffer seven persons by them from time to time to be elected and appointed as aforesaid to meet and sufficiently learned to read the said seven Lectures to have the occupation of all my said Mansion house Gardens c. for them aud every of them there to inhabite study and daily to read the said several Lectures And my Will is that none shall be chosen to read any of the said Lectures so long as he shall be married neither shall receive any Fee or Stipend appointed for the reading of the said Lectures Moreover I Will and Dispose that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Mercers shall enjoy the said Royal Exchange c. for ever severally by such moities as is before expressed provided they do in the tearm of fifty years provide and obtain sufficient and lawful Dispensations and Licenses warrant and authority upon trust and confidence and to the intent that they shall severally for ever maintain and perform the payment charges and all other intents and meanings thereof before limited and expressed according to the intent and true meaning of these presents And that I do require and charge the said Corporations and chief Governours
22 Tho. Barney ar ut prius   Queen ELIZABETH 18 DRUGO DRURY Arm. This Sir Dru being afterwards Knighted was joyned in Commission with Sir Amias Paulet to keep Mary Queen of Scots and discharged his dangerous trust therein It moveth me not that I find both these Knights branded for Puritans being confident that Nick-name in relation to them both was first pronounced through a Popish mouth causlesly offended at their Religion King CHARLES 5 ROGER TOWNSEND Baronet He was a religious Gentleman expending his soul in piety and charity a lover of God his Service and Servants A grave Divine saith most truly that incroachments on the Church are like breaches of the Seas a thousand to one if they ever return But this worthy Knight may be said to have turn'd the tide restoring Impropriations to the Church to some hundreds in yearly valuation He married Mary daughter and co-heir of Horatio Lord Vere of Tilbury by whom he had Sir Horace who for his worth was deservedly Created a Baron at the Coronation of King Charles the second The Farewell And now being to take my leave of this County I wish the inhabitants thereof may make good use of their so many Churches and cross that pestilent Proverb The nigher to the Church the farther from God substituting another which will be a happy change in the room thereof viz. The more the Churches the more sincere the Devotion NORWICH is as you please either a City in an Orchard or an Orchard in a City so equally are Houses and Trees blendid in it so that the pleasure of the Country and populousness of the City meet here together Yet in this mixture the inhabitants participate nothing of the rusticalness of the one but altogether of the urbanity and civility of the other Natural Commodities Flowers The Dutch brought hither with them not onely their profitable crafts but pleasurable cur●…osities They were the first who advanced the use and reputation of Flowers in this City A Flower is the best complexioned grass as a Pearl is the best coloured clay and daily it weareth Gods Livery for He cloatheth the Grass in the Field Solomon himself is out-braved therewith as whose gallantry onely was adopted and on him their 's innate and in them In the morning when it groweth up it is a Lecture of Divine Providence In the evening when it is cut down withered it is a Lecture of Humane Mortality Single flowers are observed much sweeter then the double ones poor may be more fragrant in Gods nostrils then the rich and let Florists assign the cause thereof whether because the Sun doth not so much dry the Intricacies of such flowers which are Duplicated Great the Art in meliorating of flowers and the Rose of Roses Rosa Mundi had its first being in this City As Jacob used an ingenious invention to make Laban's cattle speckled or ring-straked so much the skil in making Tulips feathered and variegated with stripes of divers colours In my judgement those flowers carry it clearly which acquit themselves to a double sense sight and smel for though in some thing it may be true Optime quae minime olent yet in flowers besides a negation of an ill the position of a good sent is justly required Manufactures Stuffs It is an ill wind which bloweth no man good even Storms bring VVrecks to the Admiral The cruelty of Duke D'Alva as it blew the Dutch out off their own brought them into this City and with them their Manufactures which the English quickly learned from them until Norwich became the Staple of such Commodities for the whole Land For the nimble wooffe its artificial dancing in several postures about the standing warpe produceth infinite varieties in this kind Expect not I should reckon up their several names because daily increasing and many of them are binominous as which when they begin to tire in sale are quickned with a new name In my child-hood there was one called Stand-far-of the embleme of Hypocrisie which seemed pretty at competent distance but discovered its coursness when nearer to the eye Also Perpetuano so called from the lasting thereof though but a counterfeit of the cloaths of the Israelites which endured in the VVillderness 40. years Satinisco Bombicino Italiano c. Comineus saith that a Favorite must have an handsome name which his Prince may easily call on all occasions so a pretty pleasing name complying with the Byers fancy much befriendeth a Stuffe in the sale thereof By these means Norwich hath beaten Sudbury out of distance in the race of Trading Indeed in the starting the South having the better of the North and Bury or City being before VVich or Vicus a Village Sudbury had the advantage but now Norwich is come first to their Mark The Buildings The Cathedral therein is large and spacious though the roof in the Cloysters be most commended When some twenty years since I was there the top of the Steeple was blown down and an Officer of the Churce told me That the wind had done them much wrong but they meant not to put it up whether the wrong or the steeple he did not declare Amongst private houses the Duke of Norfolks palace is the greatest I ever saw in a City out of London Here a covered Bowling-alley the first I believe of that kind in England on the same token that when Thomas last Duke of Norfolk was taxed for aspiring by marriage of the Q to the Crown of Scotland he protested to Queen Elizabeth that when he was in his Bowling-alley at Norwich he accounted himself as a King in Scotland As for the Bishops Palace it was formerly a very fair structure but lately unleaded and new covered with tyle by the purchasers thereof Whereon a wag not unwittily Thus Palaces are altered we saw John Leyden now Wat Tyler next Jack Straw Indeed there be many thatch'd houses in the City so that Luther if summoned by the Emperour to appear in this place would have altered his expression and said instead of Tyles of the house that if every Straw on the roof of the houses were a Divel notwithstanding he would make his appearance However such thatch is so artificially done even sometimes on their Chancels that it is no eye-sore at all to the City Physicians JOHN GOSLIN born in this City was first Fellow and afterwards Master of Caius-colledge in Cambridge Proctor of the University and twice Vice-chancellour thereof a general Scholar eloquent Latinist a rare Physician in which faculty he was Regius Professor A strict man in keeping and Magistrate in pressing the Statutes of Colledge and University and a severe punisher of the infringers thereof And here courteous Reader let me insert this pleasant passage seeing Cato himself may sometimes smile without offence I remember when this Doctor was last Vice-chancellour it was highly penal for any Scholar to appear in boots as having more of the Gallant then Civil Student therein
County hath been much greater and those of that Trade far richer I perswade my self heretofore than in these times or else the Heirs and Executors of the deceased were more careful that the Testators dead Corps should be interred in more decent manner than they are now a-dayes Otherwise I should not find so many Marbles richly inlaid with Brass to the memory of Cloathiers in fore-going Ages and not one in these later seasons All the Monuments in the Church of Neyland which bare any face of comliness and Antiquity are erected to the memory of Cloathiers and such as belong to that Mystery Some perchance would assign another reason viz. Because Monuments formerly were conceived to conduce much to the happiness of the deceased as bespeaking in their Epitaphs the Suffrages of the living in their behalf which errour is vanished away since the Reformation all which being fully beleeved weakneth not the observation but that Suff●…lk Clothiers were Wealthier in former than in our Age. Buildings This County hath no Cathedral therein and the Parochial Churches generally fair no one of transcendent eminency But formerly it had so magnificent an Abbey-Church in Bury the Sun shined not on a fairer with three lesser Churches waiting thereon in the same Church-yard Of these but two are extant at this day and those right stately structures And if the Servants we so much commend What was the Mistriss whom they did attend Here I meet with a passage affected me with wonder though I know not how the Reader will resent it It is avouuched by all Authors That Mary youngest sister to King Henry the Eighth Relict to Lewis the Twelfth King of France afterwards married to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk died on Mid-summer Eve 1533 and was buried in the Abbey Church in Bury But it seems her Corps could not protect that Church from demolishing which in few years after was levelled to the ground I read not that the Body of this Princess was removed to any other place nor doth any monument here remain to her memory though her King-Brother and second Husband survived the destruction of that Church A strange thing save that nothing was strange in those dayes of confusion As for the Town of Bury it is sweetly seated and fairely built especially since the year 1608. About which time it was lamentably defaced with a casual Fire though since God hath given them Beauty for Ashes And may the following Distich set up therein prove Prophetical unto the place Burgus ut antiquus violento corruit igne Hic stet dum flammis terra polusque flagrent Though furious fire the old Town did consume Stand This till all the World shall flaming fume Noris the School a small Ornament to this Town founded by King Edward the Sixth being itself a Corporation now as well as ever flourishing under Mr. Stephens the able Master thereof Amongst the many fair houses of the Gentry in this County Long Melford must not be forgotten late the house of the Countess Rivers and the FIRST FRUITS of PLUNDERING in England and Sommerley Hall nigh Yarmouth belonging to the Lady Wentworth well answering the Name thereof For here Sommer is to be seen in the depth of Winter in the pleasant walks beset on both sides with Firr-trees green all the year long besides other curiosities As for Merchants houses Ipswich Town corrival with some Cities for neatness and greatness affordeth many of equal handsomness Proverbs Suffolk Milk This was one of the Staple-Commodities of the Land of Canaan and certainly most wholesome for Mans Body because of Gods own chosing for his own People No County in England affords better and sweeter of this kind lying opposite to Holland in the Netherlands where is the best Dairy in Christendom which mindeth me of a passage betwixt Spinola and Grave Maurice The Spanish General being invited to an entertainment by the afore-said Prince at Breda as I take it when Lemons and Oranges were brought in for sauce at the first Cour●…e What a brave Country is my Masters quoth de Don affording this fair fruit all the year long But when Cream was brought up to close the Feast Grave Maurice returned What a brave Country is ours that yeildeth this fruit twice every day Suffolk fair Maids It seems the God of Nature hath been bountiful in giving them beautiful complexions which I am willing to believe so far forth as it fixeth not a comparative disparagement on the same Sex in other Counties I hope they will labour to joyn gracious hearts to fair faces otherwise I am sure there is a Divine Proverb of infallible truth As a Jewel of gold in a Swines snout so is a fair Woman which is without discretion Suffolk s●…iles It is a measuring cast whether this Proverb pertaineth to Essex or this County and I believe it belongeth to both which being inclosed Countries into petty quillets abound with high stiles troublesome to be clambred over But the owners grudge not the pains in climbing them sensible that such severals redound much to their own advantage You are in the high way to Needham Needham is a Market-Town in this County well stokt if I mistake not with poor People though I believe this in no degree did occasion the first denomination thereof They are said to be in the high way to Needham who do hasten to poverty However these fall under a distinction some go others are sent thither Such as go embrace several wayes some if Poor of Idleness if Rich of Carelesness or else of Prodigality Others are sent thither against their wills by the powerful oppression of such who either detain or devour their Estates And it is possible some may be sent thither by no Default of their own or visible cause from others but meerly from Divine Justice insensibly dwingling their Estates chiefly for trial of their Patience Wherefore so many wayes leading to Needham from divers quarters I mean from different causes It is unjust to condemn all persons meeting there under the Censure of the same guiltness Princes EDMUND MORTIMER son to Roger Mortimer Earl of March Grand-child of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and of Philippa sole daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence may passe with the charitable Reader for a Prince since he paid so dear for the same as will appear I confess it impossible to fix his Nativity with assurance having not hitherto read any record which reached it the rather because of the vastness of his patrimony and several habitations In England In the Marches of VVales whence he had his honour In Ireland Clare-Cas●…le with many other Mannors in Suffolk VVigmore in Hereford-shire Trim Conaught with large Lands in Ulsier   Ludlow in Shrop-shire   But most probable it is that he was born where he was buried at Clare After the death of King Richard the Second he was the next heir to the Crown Happy had he been if either nearer to it so as to
notice of his parts and perfections allowing him Festivum ingenium ad quodcunque deflexum having a subtile and supple Wit so that he could be what he would be a great Master of Defence in the Schools both to guard and hit Bale saith he saw his Works in Cambridge fairly written in four great Volumes Weary with his long Race beyond the seas he returned at last to the place whence he started and retiring to his Convent whereof he was Ruler at Ipswich died there January 22 1448. JOHN of BURY was an Augustinian in Clare Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge Provincial of his Order thorough England and Ireland no mean Scholar and a great opposer of Reginald Peakock and all other Wicklevites He flourished Anno 1460. THOMAS SCROOPE was born at Bradley in this County but extracted from the Lord Scroop in York-shire who rolled through many professions 1 He was a Benedictine but found that Order too loose for his conscience 2 A Carmelite of Norwich as a stricter profession 3 An Anchorite the dungeon of the prison of Carmelitisme wherein he lived twenty years 4 Dispensed with by the Pope he became Bishop of Drummore in Ireland 5 Qui●…ing his Bishoprick he returned to his solitary life yet so that once a week he used to walk on his bare ●…eet and preach the Decalogue in the Villages round about He lived to be extreamly aged for about the year 1425 cloathed in sack-cloath and girt with an iron chain he used to cry out in the streets That new Jerusalem the Bride of the Lamb was shortly to come down from Heaven prepared for her Spouse Revel 21 and that with great joy he saw the same in the spirit Thomas Waldensis the great Anti-Wicklevite was much offended thereat protesting it was a scandal and disgrace to the Church However our Scroope long out-lived him and died aged well nigh 100 years Non sine sanctitatis opinione say both Bale and 〈◊〉 And it is a wonder they meet in the same opinion He was buried at 〈◊〉 in this County Anno 1491. Since the Reformation RICHARD SIRS was born in the edge of this County yet so that Essex seemeth to have no share in him nigh Sudbury and was bred a Fellow of St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge He proved afterwards a most profitable Preacher to the Honourable Society of Grais-Inn whence he was chosen Master of St. Katharine-hall in Cambridge He found the House in a mean condition the Wheel of St. Katharine having stood still not to say gone backwards for some years together he left it replenished with Scholars beautified with Buildings better endowed with Revenues He was most eminent for that grace which is most worth yet cost the least to keep it viz. Christian humility Of all points of Divinity he most frequently pressed that of Christs Incarnation and if the Angels desired to pry into that Mystery no wonder if this Angelical Man had a longing to look therein A Learned Divine imputed this good Doctors great humility to his much meditating on that point of Christs humiliation when he took our flesh upon him If it be true what some hold in Physick that Omne par nutrit suum par that the Vitals of our Body are most strengthned by feeding on such Meat as are likest unto them I see no absurdity to maintain that Mens souls improve most in those graces whereon they have most constant meditation whereof this worthy Doctor was an eminent instance He died in the 58th year of his Age Anno Domini 1631. WILLIAM ALABLASTER was born at Hadley in this County and by marriage was Nephew to Doctor John Still Bishop of Bath and Wells He was bred Fellow in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge A most rare Poet as any our Age or Nation hath produced witnesse his Tragedy of Roxama admirably acted in that Colledge and so pathetically that a Gentle-woman present thereat Reader I had it from an Author whose credit it is sin with me to suspect at the hearing of the last words thereof sequar sequar so hideously pronounced fell distracted and never after fully recovered her senses He attended Chaplain in Calis-voyage on Robert Earl of Essex where he was so affected with the beauty of Popish Churches and the Venerable respect the Papists gave to their Priests that he staggered in his own Religion There wanted not those of the Romish party to force his fall whom they found reeling working on his Ambition who complained of the slownesse of preferment in England which followed not so fast as in due time to overtake his deserts so that soon after he turned a Papist Yet it was not long before he was out of love with that perswasion so that whether because he could not comport with their discipline who would have made him who conceived himself at the top begin again according to their course at the bottom of Humane Learning Or because which I rather charitably beleeve that upon second thoughts he seriously disgusted the Romish superstition he returned into his own Country It was not long before he was made Prebendary of St. Pauls and Rector of the rich Parsonage of Tharfield in Hartford-shire He was an excellent Hebrician and well skilled in Cabalistical Learning witnesse his Clerum in Cambridge when he commenced Doctor in Divinity taking for his Text the first words of the first Book of Chronicles Adam Seth Enos Besides the literal sense as they are proper names of the Patriarchs he mined for a mystical meaning Man is put or placed for pain and trouble How well this agreeth with the Original belongs not to me to enquire This I know it had been hard if not impossible for him to hold on the same rate and reduce the proper names in the Genealogies following to such an Appellativeness as should compose a continued sense He died Anno Domini 163. SAMUEL WARD was born at Haveril in this County where his Father had long been a painful Minister of the place and I remember I have read this Epitaph written on his Monument in the Chancel there which I will endeavour to translate Quo si quis scivit scitiùs Aut si quis docuit doctiùs At rarus vixit sanctiùs Et nullus tonuit fortiùs Grant some of knowledge greater store More Learned some in teaching Yet few in life did lighten more None thundred more in preaching He bred his son Samuel in Cambridge in Sidney Colledge whereof he became Fellow being an excellent Artist Linguist Divine and Preacher He had a sanctified fancy dexterous in designing expressive pictures representing much matter in a little model From Cambridge he was preferred Minister in or rather of Ipswich having a care over and a love from all the Parishes in that populous place Indeed he had a magnifick Vertue as if he had learned it from the Load-stone in whose qualities he was so knowing to attract peoples affections Yet found he foes as well as friends who complained of him to the High
the stipend and benevolence of the one and the dividend of the other but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of Tithes with the many troubles attending it together with the causeless molestations which Persons Presented meet with in their respective Parishes And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that whereof he never had a suffering this say some was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then Omni-prevalent with King James he was unexpectedly preferred Archbishop of Canterbury being of a more fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England I find two things much charg'd on his memory First that in his house he respected his Secretary above his Chaplains and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks Lay above Clergie-men Secondly that he connived at the spreading of non-conformity in so much that I read in a modern Author Had Bishop Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed without interruption there is little question to be made but that our Jerusalem by this time might have been a City at unity in it self Yet are there some of Archbishop Abbot his relations who as I am informed will undertake to defend him that he was in no degree guilty of these crimes laid to his charge This Archbishop was much humbled with a casual homicide of a keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramzel-Park though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby In the reign of King Charles he was sequestred from his Jurisdiction say some on the old account of that homicide though others say for refusing to Licence a Sermon of Dr. Sibthorps Yet there is not an Express of either in the Instrument of Sequestration the Commission only saying in the general That the said Archbishop could not at that present in his own person attend those services which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and Jurisdiction For my own part I have cause to believe that as Vulnus semel sanatum novo vulnere recrudescit so his former obnoxiousness for that casualty was renewed on the occasion of his refusal to Licence that Sermon with some other of his Court-un-compliances This Archbishop died Anno Dom. 1633. having erected a large Hospital with liberal maintenance at Guildford the place of his nativity RICHARD CORBET D. D. was born at Ewel in this County and from a Student in became Dean of Christ-Church then Bishop of Oxford An high VVit and most excellent Poet of a courteous carriage and no destructive nature to any who offended him counting himself plentifully repaired with a jest upon him He afterwards was advanced Bishop of Norwich where he died Anno Dom. 1635. States-men THOMAS CROMWEL was born at Putney in this County of whom I have given measure pressed down and running over in my Church-History WILLIAM HOWARD son to Thomas Howard second of that Surname Duke of Nor●…hfolk was by Queen Mary created Baron of Effingham in this County and by her made Lord Admiral of England which place he discharged with credit I find he was one of the first Favourers and Furtherers with his purse and countenance of the strange and wonderful discovery of Russia He died Anno Domini 154. CHARLES HOWARD son to the Lord William aforesaid succeeded him though not immediately in the Admiralty An hearty Gentleman and cordial to his Sovereign of a most proper person one reason why Queen Elizabeth who though she did not value a Jewel by valued it the more for a fair Case reflected so much upon him The first evidence he gave of his prowes was when the Emperors sister the Spouse of Spain with a Fleer of 130 Sailes stoutly and proudly passed the narrow Seas his Lordship accompanied with ten ships onely of Her Majesties Navy Royal environed their Fleet in a most strange and warlike sort enforced them to stoop gallant and to vail their Bonnets for the Queen of England His service in the eighty eighth is notoriously known when at the first news of the Spaniards approach he towed at a cable with his own hands to draw out the harbourbound-ships into the Sea I dare boldly say he drew more though not by his person by his presence and example than any ten in the place True it is he was no deep Sea-man not to be expected from one of his Extraction but had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself and to follow their instructions and would not sterve the Queens service by feeding his own sturdy wilfulness but was ruled by the experienced in Sea-matters the Queen having a Navy of Oak and an Admiral of Osier His last eminent service was when he was Commander of the Sea as Essex of the Land forces at the taking of Cadiz for which he was made Earl of Nottingham the last of the Queens creation His place was of great profit Prizes being so frequent in that age though great his necessary and vast his voluntary expences keeping as I have read seven standing Houses at the same time at London Rigate Effingham Blechenley c. so that the wonder is not great if he died not very wealthy He lived to be very aged who wrote Man if not married in the first of Q. Elizabeth being an invited guest at the solemn Consecration of Matthew Parker at Lambeth and many years after by his testimony confuted those lewd and loud lies which the Papists tell of the Naggs-head in Cheap-side He resigned his Admiralty in the reign of King James to the Duke of Buckingham and died towards the later end of the reign of the King afore-said Sea-men Sir ROBERT DUDLEY Knight son to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester by Douglas Shefeld whether his Mistris or Wife God knoweth many men being inclinable charitably to believe the later was born at Shene in this County and bred by his mother out of his Fathers reach at Offington in Sussex He afterwards became a most compleat Gentleman in all suteable accomplishments endeavoring in the reign of King James to prove his legitimacy and meeting with much opposition from the Court in distast he left his Land and went over into Italy But Worth is ever at home and carrieth its own welcome along with it He became a Favorite to the Duke of Florence who highly reflected on his Abilities and used his directions in all his Buildings At this time Ligorn from a Child started a Man without ever being a Youth and of a small Town grew a great City on a sudden and is much beholding to this Sir Robert for its fairness and firmness as chief contriver of both But by this time his Adversaries in England had procured him to be call'd home by a special Privy Seal which he refused to obey and thereupon all his Lands in England was seised on by the King by the Statute
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 repo●…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 wood●… 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 ●…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 justi●…y lawfull because Clea●…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 con●…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 r●…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 Ame●…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 Carp●…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 Ramu●… 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 S●…uldier found out Printing and it is questionable which of the two Inventions
the vomit of Popery which my charity will not believe Indeed in the first of Queen Mary he was outed of his Bishoprick for being married and all that we can recover of his carriage a●…terwards is this passage at the examination of Master Thomas Hauke Martyr When John Bird then very old brought Boner a bottle of Wine and a dish of Apples probably a present unto him for a Ne noceat and therefore not enough to speak him a Papist in his perswasion Bishop Boner desired him to take Haukes into his Chamber and to try if he could convert him whereupon after Boners departure out of the room the quondam Bishop accosted Haukes as followeth I would to God I could do you some good you are a young man and I would not wish you to go to far but learn of the elders to bear somewhat He enforced him no further but being a thorough old man even fell fast asleep All this in my computation amounts but to a passive compliance and is not evidence enough to make him a thorough paced Papist the rather because John Pitts omitteth him in the Catalogue of English-writers which no doubt he would not have done had he any assurance that he had been a radicated Romanist Nothing else have I to observe of him but onely that he was a little man and had a pearl in his eyes and dying 1556. was buried in Chester States men Sir NICHOLAS THROCKMORTON Knight fourth Son of Sir George Throckmorton of Coughton in this County was bred beyond the Seas where he attained to great experience Under Queen Mary he was in Guild-Hall arraigned for Treason compliance with Wyat and by his own warie pleading and the Jurie's upright verdict hardly escaped Queen Elizabeth employed him Her Leiger a long time first in France then in Scotland finding him a most able Minister of State yet got he no great wealth and no wonder being ever of the opposite party to Burleigh Lord Treasurer Chamberlain of the Exchequer and Chief Butler of England were his highest preferments I say Chief Butler which office like an empty covered cup pretendeth to some state but affordeth no considerable profit He died at supper with eating of salates not without suspicion of poison the rather because hapning in the house of one no mean artist in that faculty R. Earl of Leicester His death as it was sudden was seasonable for him and his whose active others will call it turbulent spirit had brought him into such trouble as might have cost him at least the loss of his personal estate He died in the fifty seventh year of his age February the 12. 1570. and lyeth buryed in the South-side of the Chancel of St. Katharine Cree-Church London EDWARD CONWAY Knight Son to Sir John Conway Knight Lord and Owner of Ragleigh in this County This Sir John being a Person of Great skill in Military affaires was made by Robert Earl of Leicester Generall of the English Auxiliaries in the united Provinces Governour of Ostend His Son Sir Edward succeeded to his Fathers Martial skill and valour and twisted therewith peaceable policy in State-affaires so that the Gown and the Sword met in him in most Eminent Proportion and thereupon King James made Him one of the Principal Secretaries of State For these his good services he was by him created Lord Conway of Ragleigh in this County and afterwards by King Charles Viscount Killultagh in the County of Antrim And lastly in the third of King Charles Viscount Conway of Conway in Carnarvanshire England Ireland and Wales mutually embracing themselves in His Honours He dyed January the third Anno 1630. JOHN DIGBY Baron of Sherborn and Earl of Bristol was born in this County a younger Son of an ancient family long flourish●…ng at Coleshull therein To pass by his Infancy all Children being alike in their long Coats his Youth gave pregnant hopes of that Eminency which his mature age did produce He didken the Emhassador-Craft as well as any in his age employed by King James in several services to frreign Princes recited in his Patent which I have perused as the main motives of the Honors conferr'd upon him But his managing the Matchless Match with Spain was his Master-piece wherein a Good I mean a Great number of State-Traverses were used on both sides His contest with the Duke of Buckingham is fresh in many mens Memories charges of High Treason mutually flying about But this Lord fearing the Dukes Power as the Duke this Lor●…s policy it at last became a Drawn Battail betwixt them yet so that this Earl lost the love of King Charles living many years in his Dis-favour But such as are in a Court-Cloud have commonly the Countries Sun-shine and this Peer during his Eclyps was very Popular with most of the Nation It is seldom seen that a favorite once Broken at Court sets up again for himself the hap rather then happiness of this Lord the King graciously reflecting on him at the beginning of the Long-Parliament as one Best able to give him the safest Counsell in those dangerous Times But how he incensed the Parliament so far as to be excepted Pardon I neither do know nor dare enquire Sure I am after the surrender of Exeter he went over into France where he met with that due respect in forraign which he missed in his Native Country The worst I wish such who causelesly suspect him of Popish inclinations is that I may hear from them but half so many strong Arguments for the Protestant Religion as I have heard from him who was to his commendation a Cordial Champion for the Church of England He dyed in France about the year 1650. Writers WALTER of COVENTRIE was born and bred a Benedictine therein Bale saith he was Immortali vir dignus Memoria and much commended by Leland though not of set purpose but sparsim as occasion is offered He excelled in the two Essential Qualities of an Historian Faith and Method writing truly and orderly onely guilty of Coursness of style This may better be dispenced with in him because Historia est res veritatis non Eloquentiae because bad Latin was a catching disease in that age From the beginning of the Britons he wrote a Chronicle extant in Bennet Colledge Library to his own time He flourished Anno 1217. VINCENT of COVENTRIE was born in the chief City in this shire and bred a Franciscan though Learned Leland mistakes him a Carmelite in the University of Cambridg His order at their first entrance into England looked upon learning as a thing beneath them so totally were they taken up with their Devotion This Vincent was the first who brake the Ice and then others of his order drank of the same water first applyed himself to Academicall studies and became a publick Professor in Cambridge he set a Coppy for the Carmelites therein to imitate who not long after began their publick Lectures in the same place he
the Baron of Kendal 〈◊〉 his singular deserts ●…oth in Peace and War This was that Richard 〈◊〉 who s●…w the wild Bore that raging in the Mountains 〈◊〉 as sometimes that of Erimanthus much indamaged the Country people whence it is that the Gilpins in their Coat Armes give the Bore I confess the story of this Westmerland-Hercules soundeth something Romanza like However I believe it partly because so reverend a pen hath recorded it and because the people in these parts need not feigne foes in the fancy Bears Bores and Wild beasts who in that age had real enemies the neighbouring Scots to encounter Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Cuthbert Buckle Christopher Buckle Bourgh Vintner 1593 Sheriffs I find two or three Links but no continued chain os Sheriffs in this County untill the 10. of K. John who bestowed the Baily-week and Revenues of this County upon Robert Lord Vipont ROBERT de VIPONT the last of that Family about the raign of K. Edward the first left two daughters 1. Sibel married to Roger Lord Clifford 2. Idonea the first and last I meet with of that Christian-name though proper enough for women who are to be meet helps to their husbands married to Roger de Leburn Now because honor nescit dividi Honour cannot be divided betwixt Co-heirs and because in such cases it is in the Power and Pleasure of the King to assign it entire to which he pleased the King Conferred the Hereditary Sheriffalty of this County on the Lord Clifford who had Married the Eldest Sister I●… hath ever since continued in that honorable family I find Elizabeth the Widdow of Thomas Lord Clifford probably in the Minority of her son Sheriffess as I may say in the sixteenth of Richard the second till the last of K. Henry the fourth Yet was it fashionable for these Lords to depute and present the most Principal Gentry of this Shire their Sub-Vicecomites Under-sheriffs in their Right to order the affairs of that County I find Sir Thomas Parr Sir William Parr Ancestors to Q. Katherin Parr as also Knights of the Families of the Bellingams Musgraves c. discharging that office so high ran the Credit and Reputation thereof Henry Lord Clifford was by K. Henry the eight Anno 1525. Created Earl of Cumberland and when Henry the fift Earl of that family died lately without Issue male the Honour of this Hereditary Sheriffalty with large Revenues Reverted unto Anne the sole daughter of George Clifford third Earl of Cumberland the Relict of Richard Earl of Dorset and since of Phillip Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomery by whom she had two daughters the Elder married to the Earl of Thanet and the younger married to James Earl of Northampton The Farewell Reader I must confess my self sorry and ashamed that I cannot do more right to the Natives of this County so far distanced North that I never had yet the opportunity to behold it O that I had but received some intelligence from my worthy friend Doctor Thomas Barlow Provost of Queens-colledge in Oxford who for his Religion and Learning is an especiall ornament of Westmerland But Time Tide and a PrintersPress are three unmannerly things that will stay for no man and therefore I request that my defective indeavours may be well accepted I learn out of Master Camden that in the River Cann in this County there be two Catadupae or Waterfalls whereof the Northern sounding Clear and Loud foretokeneth Fair Weather the Southern on the same Terms presageth Rain Now I wish that the former of thesemay be Vocall in Hay-time and Harvest the latter after Great Drought that so both of them may make welcome Musick to the Inhabitants VVILT-SHIRE WILT-SHIRE hath Gloucester-shire on the North Berk-shire and Hampshire on the East Dorset-shire on the South and Summerset-shire on the West From North to South it extendeth 39. Miles but abateth ten of that Number in the breadth thereof A pleasant County and of great Variety I have heard a Wise man say that an Oxe left to himself would of all England choose to live in the North a Sheep in the South part hereof and a Man in the Middle betwixt both as partaking of the pleasure of the plain and the wealth of the deep Country Nor is it unworthy the observing that of all Inland Shires no ways bordered on Salt-water this gathereth the most in the Circumference thereof as may appear by comparing them being in compass one Hundred Thirty and Nine Miles It is plentifull in all English especially in the ensuing Commodities Naturall Commodities Wooll The often repetition hereof though I confess against our rules premised may justly be excused Well might the French Embassadour return France France France reiterated to every petty title of the King of Spain And our English Wooll Wooll c. may counterpoize the numerous but inconsiderable Commodities of other Countries I confess a Lock thereof is most contemptible Non flocci te facio passing for an expression of the highest neglect but a quantity thereof quickly amounteth to a good valuation The Manufactures Clothing This Mystery is vigorously pursued in this County and I am informed that as MEDLEYS are most made in other Shires as good WHITES as any are woven in this County This mentioning of Whites to be vended beyond the Seas minds me of a memorable contest in the raign of King James betwixt the Merchants of London and Sir William Cockain once Lord Mayor of that City and as Prudent a Person as any in that Corporation He ably moved and vigorously prosecuted the design that all the Cloth which was made might be died in England alledging that the wealth of a Country consisteth in driving on the Naturall Commodities thereof through all Manufactures to the utmost as far as it can go or will be drawn And by the Dying of all English cloth in England Thousands of poor People would be imployed and thereby get a comfortable subsistence The Merchants returned that such home-dying of our cloth would prove prejudiciall to the sale thereof Forreigners being more expert then we are in the mysterie of fixing of Colours Besides they can afford them far cheaper then we can much of dyingstuff growing in their Countries and Forraigners bear a great aff●…ction to White or Virgin cloth unwilling to have their Fancies prevented by the Dying thereof insomuch that they would like it better though done worse if done by themselves That Sir William Cockain had got a vast deal of Dying-stuff into his own possession and did drive on his own interest under the pretence of the Publick good These their Arguments were seconded with good store of good Gold on both sides till the Merchants prevailed at last A Shole of Herrings is able to beat the Whale it self and Clothing left in the same condition it was before Tobacco pipes The best for shape and colour as curiously sized are made at Amesbury in this County They may be
For although he found not the same favour with Joseph to whom the Gaoler committed the care of all his family making him Super-intendent of all other Prisoners yet had he always Respective Usage and oftimes Liberty on his Parol By his Bounty to the Poor he gained the good-will saith Master Camden of all Persons whilst I behold his Bounty to Others as the Queens Bounty to him enabling because not disenabling him for the same and permitting him peaceably to possess his Estate He died a very aged man in Wisbich-castle as I collect Anno 1585. and the Character which Pitzeus giveth him may suffice for his Epitaph Erat in eo insignis pietas in Deum mira charitas in proximos singularis observantia in majores mitis affabilitas in inferiores dulcis humanitas in omnes mul●…plex doctrina redundans facundia incredibilis religionis catholicae zelus HENRY BRIGHT was born in the City of Worcester No good man will grudge him under this Title who shall seriously peruse this his Epitaph composed by Doctor Joseph Hall then Dean in the Cathedrall in Worcester Mane Hospes lege Magister Henricus Bright Celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha Qui Scholae Regiae istic fundatae per totos Quadraginta Annos Summa cum Laude praefuit Quononalter magis sedulus fuit Scitusve aut dexter in Latinis Graecis Hebraius Literis feliciter edocendis Teste utraque Academia quam Instruxit affatim numerosa pube literaria Sed totidem annis eoque amplius Theologiam professus hujus 〈◊〉 per Septennium Canonicus major saepissime Hic Alibi Sacrum Dei praeconem magno cum Zelo Fructu egit Vir Pius Doctus Integer frugi de Republica deque Ecclesia optime meritus A laboribus perdiu per noctuque ab anno 1562. ad 1626. strenue usque extant latis 4 to Martii suaviter requievit in Domino For my own part I behold this Master Bright placed by Divine Providence in this City in the Marches that he might equally communicate the Lustre of Grammerlearning to youth both of England and Wales Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Richard Lee Simon Lee Worcester Grocer 1460 2 Richard a Lee John a Lee Worcester 1468 3 Alexander Avenon Robert Avenon Kings Norton Iron-monger 1569 This is one of the twelve pretermitted Counties the Names of whose Gentry were not returned into the Tower by the Commissioners in the raign of King Henry the sixth Sheriffs HEN. II. Anno 1 Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo for 14 years Anno 16 Will. de Bello Campo Hugo de Puckier Anno 17 Ranul de Launch for 4 years Anno 21 Rob. de Lucy Anno 22 Mich. Belet for 7 years Anno 29 Rad. de Glanvill Anno 30 Mich. Belet Anno 31 Rob. Marivion for 3 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Rob. Marmion Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 3 Will. de Bello Campo Rich. de Piplinton Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Hen. de Longo Campo for 3 years Anno 10 Rad. de Grafton JOH Rex Anno 1 Rad. de Grafton Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. de Cantela Adam de Worcester for 3 years Anno 6 Rob. de Cantelu Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Will. de Cantelu Adam Clicus Anno 9 Will. de Cantelu Walt. le Puchier for 3 years Anno 12 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Ruffus Anno 13 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Delwich Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Cantelupo Phus. Kutton for 3 years HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Walt. de Bello Campo Hen. Lunett for 3 years Anno 5 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 8 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 9 Walt. de Bello Campo Tho. Wigorne for 3 years Anno 12 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 15 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Poer Anno 16 Walt. de Bello Campo Will de Malvern for 3 years Anno 19 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 20 Idem sive Will. Anno 21 Will. de Bello Campo Will de Blandhall Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Will. de Bello Campo Laur. de Wandlesworth for 3 years Anno 26 Will de Bello Campo Simon de London Anno 27 Will. de Bello Campo for 24 years Anno 51 Will. de Bello Campo Ioh. de Hull Anno 52 Idem Anno 53 Will. de Bello Campo for 3 years EDW. I. Anno 1 Will. de Bello Campo Comes Warwic for 26 years Anno 27 Guido de Bello Campo for 9 years EDW. II. Anno 1 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Rob. de Berkenhall Anno 2 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Walt. de Perthrope for 4 years Anno 6 Guido de Bello Campo Rob. de Warwick Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Guido de Bello Campo Anno 9 Iohan. de He●…ingwoll Anno 10 Walt. de Bello Campo Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Will. Stracy Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 16 Anno 17 Nich. Russell Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Walt. de Kokesey EDW. III. Anno 1 Walt. de Kokesey Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Rich de H●…deslowe for 3 years Anno 6 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 46 years RICH. II. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 4 years Anno 5 Tho. de Bello Campo for 13 years Anno 18 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 19 Idem Anno 20 Ioh. Washburne Anno 21 Hen. Haggeley Anno 22 Rob. Russell HEN. IV. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 2 Tho. de Bello Campo Will Beaucham Anno 3 Tho. Hodington Anno 4 Rich. de Bello Campo Comes Warr f●…r 9 years HEN. V. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 9 years HEN. VI. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 16 years Anno 16 Norm Washburne Subvic In the 17. year of King Henry the sixth this worthy Richard Beauchamp deceased And here the records are at a loss such as ever since came to my hand presenting no Sheriff for 21 years till the end of the raign of King Henry the sixth And yet I am confident that Henry Beauchamp Son and Heir to Richard aforesaid Earl of Warwick and Albemarle for Duke of ALBEMARLE I meet with none before that ILLUSTRIOUS PERSON who now deservedly possesseth that Honour injoyed the Shrevalty of this County EDW. IV. Anno 1 Walt. Scull Subvic for 19 years Here we have an Under-sheriff but no High sheriff could my industry hitherto recover though my confidence is grounded on good cause that Richard Nevill the Make-King Duke of Warwick was Honorary Sheriff though too great to officiate in his Person Anno●…0 ●…0 Iacob Radcliffe mil. for 3 years RICH. III. Anno 1 Iacob Radcliffe miles Anno 2 Will. Houghton
Good ar     9 Ioh. Keyt ar     10 Ioh. Savage ar ut prius   11 Will. Russell bar ut prius   12 Ioh. Rows mil ut prius   13 Edw. Dingley ar ut prius   14 Tho. Greaves ar     15 Ioh. Winford ar     16     18     19     1     20     21     22     Queen Elizabeth 19. JOHN RUSSELL Ar. The same Gentleman no doubt who was afterwards Knighted and betwixt whom and Sir Henry Berkeley was so deadly a quarrell as that great blood-shed was likely to have ensued at the Sessions in Worcester by reason of their many friends and followers ingaged therein But Doctor Whitgift then Bishop of Worcester and Vice-President of Wales in the absence of Sir Henry Sidney then in Ireland wisely prevented it by providing a strong watch at the gates and about the City and requiring them to bring both parties with their attendance well guarded to his Palace Here he caused them all to the number of four or five hundred to deliver their weapons into his own Servants custody and after two hours pains taken sometimes in perswading and otherwhiles in threatning them he made them so good friends that they both attended him hand in hand to the Town-hall where in amitie and love they performed the service of their Country 36. JOHN PACKINGTON Mil. It is now good manners for me to hold my peace and listen to a Privy-Councellor thus describing his character He was a Gentleman of no mean family of form and feature no ways disabled a very fine Courtier and for the time which he stayed there which was not lasting very high in the Queens grace But he came in and went out and though disassiduity drew the curtain between himself and the light of her favour and then death overwhelmed the remnant and utterly deprived him of recovery And they say of him that had he brought less to the Court then he did he might have carried away more then he brought for he had a time of it but was no good husband of opportunity King James 2. RICHARD WALSH Ar. I find him called in our Chronicles perchance by a Prolepsis Sir Richard Walsh Yea I find him stiled so by him who best might because he made him so Knighting him for his good service In his Sheriffalty the Powder-Traitors sereted out of Warwick-shire by Sir Richard Verney were as fiercely followed by Sir Richard Walsh out of the bounds of this County till they took covert in the house of Stephen Littleton at Hallbach in Stafford-shire This discreet Sheriff not standing on the punctilio of exceeding his Commission in a case wherein the peace of the Kingdome was so highly concern'd prosecuted his advantage and beset the house round about till both the Wrights were kill'd in the place Catesby and Percy slain with one bullet Rookwood and Winter wounded all the rest apprehended The Battles Worcester Fight Many smart Skirmishes have happened in this County and near this City We onely insist on that Fatall Fight September the third 1651. Know then as Introductory thereunto that His Majesty on the first of August foregoing began his March from Edenbrough into England not meeting with any considerable Opposition those at Warrington being soon put to flight by his Presence untill he came to Worcester His Army consisted of twelve thousand effectuall Fighting men whereof two thousand English the rest of the Scottish Nation but neither excellently Armed nor plentifully stored with Ammunition whilst the Parliament Forces under Cromwell more then doubled that Number wanting nothing but a Good Cause that an Army could wish or desire The Royalists Cheifest strength consisted in two Passes they possessed over the River of Severn which proved not advantagious according to expectation For the Enemy found the River Fordable elsewhere and the Bridge and Pass at Uptrn though valiantly defended by Major Generall Massey who received a shot in his hand was forced by Lambert powring in unequall Numbers on the Kings Forces Besides Cromwell finished a Bridge of Boards and Plancks over the main River with more Celerity and less Resistance then could have been expected in a matter of such importance Then began the Battle wherein His Majesty to remember his subjects Good forgot his own Safety and gave an incomparable example of Valour to the rest by Charging in his Own Person This was followed by few to the same degree of danger but imitated in the greatest measure by the Highlanders fighting with the But-ends of their Muskets when their Ammunition was spent But new supplies constantly Charging them and the Main Body of the Scotch Horse not coming up in due time from the City to His Majesties relief his Army was forced to retreat in at Sudbury-gate in much disorder If there were which some more then whisper false and foul Play in some Persons of Principall Trust as they have had a great space seasonably God grant them his Grace sincerely to repent for their Treacherous retarding the happiness prolonging and increasing the Miseries of a Gracious King and three great Nations Sure it is here were slain the Flower of the Scottish Loyal Gentry with the most Illustrious William formerly Earl of Lanerick Duke of Hamilton As for Common Souldiers some few who escaped had a longer life to have a sadder death wandring in the Country till other mens Charity and their own Strength failed them Since how God hath conducted His Majesty miraculously through Laberynths of many Difficulties to the Peaceable Possession of his Throne is notoriously known to the wonder of the world Here my Muse heartily craveth leave to make an Humble address to His Majesty depositing at his feet the ensuing PANEGYRICK 1. AT Wor'ster great Gods goodness to our Nation It was a Conquest Your bare Preservation When ' midst Your fiercest foes on every side For Your escape God did a LANE provide They saw You gonc but whether could not tell Star-staring though they ask'd both Heaven and Hell 2. Of forraign States You since have studied store And read whole Libraries of Princes o're To You all Forts Towns Towers and Ships are known But none like those which now become Your OWN And though Your Eyes were with all Objects fill'd Onely the Good into Your Heart distill'd 3. Garbling mens manners You did well divide To take the Spaniards wisdome not their pride With French activity You stor'd Your Mind Leaving to them their Ficklenesse behind And soon did learn Your Temperance was such A sober Industry even from the Dutch 4. But tell us Gracious Soveraign from whence Took You the pattern of Your Patience Learn't in Afflictions School under the Rod Which was both us'd and sanctifi'd by God From Him alone that Lesson did proceed Best Tutor with best Pupil best agreed 5. We Your dull Subjects must confess our crime Who learnt so little in as long a time And the same
years together assistant to the English Arch Priest demeaning himself commendably therein he wrote many books and one whose title made me the more to mind it Vitam Martyrium D. Margaretae Clithoroae Now whether this D. be for Domina or Diva for Lady or Saint or both I know not I take her for some Gentlewoman in the North which for some practises in the maintenance of her own Religion was obnoxious to and felt the severity of our Laws This Mush was living in these parts Anno 1612. Benefactors to the Publick THOMAS SCOT was born at Ro●…heram no obscure market in this County waving his paternall name he took that of Ro●…heram from the place of his Nativity This I observe the rather because he was according to my exactest enquiry the last Clergy-man of note with such an assumed Surname which Custome began now to grow out of fashion and Clergy-men like other men to be called by the name of their fathers He was first Fellow of Kings-colledge afterwards Master of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge and Chancellour of that University here he built on his proper cost saving something help'd by the Scholars the fair gate of the School with fair walks on each side and a Library on the East thereof Many have mistaken this for the performance of King Richard the third meerly because his Crest the Boar is set up therein Whereas the truth is that Rotheram having felt the sharp Tuskes of that Boar when imprisoned by the aforesaid King for resigning the Great Seal of England to Queen Elizabeth the relict of King Edward the fourth advanced his Armes thereon meerly to engratiate himself He went thorough many Church preferments being successively Provost of Beverly Bishop of Rochester Lincoln and lastly Arch-bishop of York nor less was was his share in Civil honour first Keeper of the Privy Seal and last Lord Chancellour of England Many were his Benefactions to the Publique of which none more remarkable then his founding five Fellowships in Lincoln colledge in Oxford He deceased in the 76. year of his age at Cawood of the plague Anno Domini 1500. JOHN ALCOCKE was born at Beverly in this County where he built a Chappell and founded a Chantry for his parents He was bred a Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge and at last became Bishop of Ely his prudence appeared in that he was preferred Lord Chancellour of England by King Henry the seventh a Prince of an excellent palate to tast mens Abilities and a Dunce was no dish for his diet His piety is praised by the pen of J. Bale which though generally bitter drops nothing but honey on Alcocks Memory commending him for a most mortified man Given to Learning and Piety from his Child-hood growing from grace to grace so that in his age none in England was higher for holiness He turned the old Nunnery of Saint Radigund into a new Colledge called Jesus in Cambridge surely had Malcolm King of Scots first founder of that Nunnery survived to see this alteration it would have rejoyced his heart to behold Leudness and Laziness turned out for Industry and Piety to be put in their place This Alcock died October 1. 1500. And had Saintship gone as much by merit as favour he deserved one as well as his name-sake Saint John his predecessor in that See Since the Reformation The extent of this large Province and the distance of my Habitation from it have disabled me to express my desires suitable to the merit thereof in this Topick of Modern Benefactors which I must leave to the Topographers thereof hereafter to uspply my defaults with their diligence But let me forget my self when I doe not remember the worthy charitable Master ....... Harrison inhabitant of the Populous Town of Leeds so famous for the Cloath made therein Methinks I hear that great Town accosting him in the Language of the Children of the Prophets to Elisha Behold now the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us The Church could scarce hold half the inhabitants till this worthy gentleman provided them another So that now the men of Leeds may say with Isaack Rehoboth God hath made room for us He accepted of no assistance in the building of that fair Fabrick but what he fully paid for so that he may be owned the sole Founder thereof But all his Charity could not secure him from sequestration in our Troublesome Times All I will adde is this as he hath built a House for God may God in Scripture Phrase build a House for him I mean make him fruitfull and fortunate in his posterity Memorable Persons PAULINUS DE LEEDS born in this County where there be three Towns of that name in one Wapentake It is uncertain in which of these he was born and the matter is of no great concernment One so free from Simony and far from buying a Bishoprick that when a Bishoprick bought him he refused to accept it For when King Henry the second chose him Bishop of Carlisle and promised to increase the Revenue of that Church with three hundred mark yearly rent besides the grant of two Church livings and two Mannors near to Carlisle on the condition that this Paulinus would accept the place all this would not work him to imbrace so wealthy an offer The reasons of his refusall are rendred by no Author but must be presumed very weighty to overpoise such rich proffers on which account let none envy his name a Room in this my Catalogue He flourished about the year of our Lord 1186. WILLIAM DE LA POLE born at Ravensrode in this County was for wealth and skill in Merchandize inferiour to none in England he made his abode at Kingston upon Hull and was the first Mayor of that Town When K. Edward the third was at Antw●…rp and much necessitated for money no shame for a Prince always in War to be sometimes in want this William lent him many thousand pounds of gold In recompence whereof the King made him his Valect equivalent to what afterward was called Gentleman of the Bed-chamber and Lord Chief-Baron of his Exchequer with many other honours Amongst which this was one that he should be reputed a Banneret not that he was really made one seeing the flourishing of a Banner over his head in the field before or after a fight was a ceremony essentiall thereunto but he had the same precedency conferred upon him I find not the exact date of his death but conjecture it to be about the year 1350. Lord Mayor Name Father Place Company Time 1 William Eastfield William Eastfield Tickell Mercer 1429 2 John Ward Richard Ward Howdon Grocer 1484 3 William White William White Tickhill Draper 1489 4 John Rudstone Robert Rudstone Hatton Draper 1528 5 Ralph Dodmer Henry Dodmer Pickering leigh Mercer 1529 6 William Roch John Roch Wixley Draper 1540 7 Richard Dobbes Robert Dobbes Baitby Skinner 1551 8 William Hewet Edmund Hewet Wales