I wish the continuance and Encrease of the breed of this kind of Canes Venatici And though the pleasure be not so much as in hunting of Hares the profit is more in destroying those Malignant Pioneers mischievous to Grasse more to Grain most to Gardens Lord Majors It is no less true theâ—… strange that this County so large in it self so near to London weekly changing Cloth for Money therewith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I mean hath not contributed one to this Topick Such as suspect the truth thereof will be satisfied on their exact survey of Stow's Survey of London The Names of the Gentry in this Shire returned into the Tower by the Commissioners in the 12th Year of K. Henry the sixth anno 1445. H. Epus VVinton Cardinalis Angliae  Commissioners to take the Oath Reginaldus le Warre Miles   Johannes Lysle Knights for the Shire  Johannes Brewe de Stapule   Walter Sandes Chivaler Johannes Popham Chivaler Johannes Uvedale Willielm Warbleton Thome Tame VVilliam Fanconer Roberti Dyngle Steph. Popham Chivaler Willielm Brokays Willielm Ryngebourne Walter Veere Iohannes Hampton Iohannes Gyffard Iohannes Brinkeley Petri Condraye Iohannes Skilling Thome Ringewood senior Willielm Persh Iohannes Hacket Iohannes Haymowe Roberti Fursey Roberti Tylbourgh Willielm Astel. Iohannes Balon Iohannes Bray Iohannes Purbyke Iohannes Catevan Willielm Clive Willielm Chellys Iohannes Faukoner Iohannes Mofunt Willielm Tested Richard Rumsey Willielm Burton Roberti VVhittehede Richard Spicer Johannes atte Berwe de Charleford Johannes Lawrence Thome Rockley Thome Yardly Thome Benebury Willielm Wellis Iohannes Escote Iohannes Rotherfield Richard Parkere Iohannes Kybbyll Iohannes Barbour Symonis Almayn William Farcy Richard Punchardon Nicholas Bernard Nicholas Banestre Thome Wayte It will be worth our enquiry who this chief Commissioner Henry Bishop of Winchester was with his insolent Title of CARDINAL of ENGLAND I finde many eminent Epithets but none of the Quorum of St. Pauls Bishops meeting in his person viz. Noble Rich Valiant Politique and long-lived Noble being Son of JOHN à GAUNT by KATHARINE SWINFORD born at Beaufort in France whence he had his Name â—…rother to King Henry the Fourth Uncle to King Henry the fifth great Uncle to King Henry the Sixth Rich commonly called the Rich Cardinal In his time the King and Courtiers cast a covetous eye on Church-Endowments but were diverted from longer looking on them by the Councel of Arch-Bishop Chickly and Coin of this Bishop Beaufort The former putting the King upon the War with France the later lending him on good security twenty thousand Pounds a Sum sounding high in those dayes He was also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Cardinal of England though we had another and his Senior at the same time of the same Order viz. Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham Valiant being the Pope's Legate in plain English the Pope's General leading his Army into Bohemia in which service he behaved himself fortius quam Episcopum decebat Worldly â—…olitick venting words on his Death-bed to this purpose That if all England some Reporters take a longer Circuit would preserve his Life he was able by his Purse to purchase or by Policy to procure it Long Life having been Bishop of Lincolne and Winchester fifty Years yet was he so far from being weaned from the world he sucked the hardest as if he would have bit off the Nipples thereof the nearer he was to his Grave Dying anno 1447. He was in his Generation by a charitable Antiperistasis fixed betwixt Bishop Wickham and Wanfleet but did not equall them in his Benefactions to the publick though he founded a fair Hospital in VVinchester a work no doubt more acceptable to God than when he anno 1417 undertook and performed a dangerous Voyage to Jerusalem It is in my apprehension very remarkeable that the 3 aforesaid Bishops of Winchester Wickham Beaufort and Wanfleet sate successively in that See six score years lacking two not to be parallel'd in any other Bishoprick To take our leave of this great Cardinall we read of K. Josiah Now the rest of the Acts of K. Iosiah and his GOODNESS c. But as for this Prelate the rest of his acts and his GREATNESS we leave to such as are desirous thereof to collect them out of our English Hystorians Sheriffs of Hantshire HEN. II. Anno 1 Anno 2 Turcinus vic Anno 3 Turcinus vic Anno 4 Anno 5 Turcinus vic Anno 6 Anno 7 Rich. fil Turcini for 9 years Anno 16 Hugo de Gundevill for 4 years Anno 20 Herudus de Stratton Hugo de Gundevill for 5 years Anno 25 Hen. de Stratton Hugo de Gundevile Anno 26 Galf. fil Aze for 8 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Galf. fil Azon Anno 2 Ogerus fil Ogeri Anno 3 Joh. de Rebez Anno 4 Will. Briewere Anno 5 Ogerus fil Ogeri Anno 6 Hugo de Bosco for 5 years JOH REG. Anno 1 Hugo de Basco Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. Briewere Rad. de Bray Anno 4 Galf. fil Petri Will Stokes Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Rog. fil Ade for 4 years Anno 10 Walt. Briewere Alan de Bockland Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Will. Briewere Anno 13 Hugo de Nevill Galf. de Salvaozins Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Idem Anno 16 Will. de S to Johanne Anno 17 Will. Briewere Will de S to Johanne HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Pet. Winton Epis. Will de Schorewell for 7 yearr Anno 9 Rich. Epis. Saresb. Bartholomew de Kemes Anno 10 Idem Anno 11 Rich. Epis. Saresb. Gilb. de Staplebrigg Anno 12 Idem Anno 13 Nich. de Molis Walt. de Romsey Anno 14 Nich. de Molis Hen. de Bada Anno 15 Idem Anno 16 Idem Anno 17 Pet. Winton Epis. Rog. Wascelin Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Hen. fil Nicholai Anno 20 Hen. fil Nich. Rob. de Mara Anno 21 Galf. de Insula Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Idem Anno 24 Emueus de Lacy Anno 25 Idem Anno 26 Idem Anno 27 Rob. Passelewe for 6 years Anno 33 Rob. Passell Anno 34 Hen. Facull for 6 years Anno 40 Hen. de Farneleg Anno 41 Ja. le Savage Anno 42 Joh. le Jac. Savage Anno 43 Idem Anno 44 Will. de Wintershull Anno 45 Regin fil Petri Joh. de Flemer Anno 46 Idem Anno 47 Regin fil Petri Hereward de Marisco Anno 48 Idem Anno 49 Joh. de Botele Anno 50 Idem Anno 51 Gerar. de Grue Anno 52 Joh. le Botele Anno 53 Idem Anno 54 Idem Anno 55 Will. de Wintershull Anno 56 Idem EDW. I. Anno 1 Will. de Wintershull Anno 2 Hen. de Shote broke Anno 3 Joh. de Havering for 4 years Anno 7 Will. de Braybofe Anno 8 Idem Anno 9 Phil. de Foynil Anno 10 Idem Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Simon de Winton Anno 13 Idem Anno
departed this life a little before the beginning of our Civil Wars Memorable Persons JOHN CAVENDISH Esq. was born at Cavendish in this County bred at Court a Servant in ordinary attendance on King Richard the Second when Wat Tyler played Rex in London It happ'ned that Wat was woundly angry with Sir John Newton Knight Sword-Bearer to the King then in presence for devouring his distance and not making his approaches mannerly enough unto him Oh the pride of a self-promoting Pesant Much bussling a rising thereabout Sir William Walworth Lord Mayor of London arrested VVat and with his Dagger wounded him and being well stricken in years wanted not valour but vigour to dispatch him He is seconded by John Cavendish standing by who twice or thrice wounded him mortally my Author complaining That his death was too worthy from the hands of honourable persons for whom the Axe of the Hangman had been too good I would have said the Hâ—…lter of the Hangman But it matters not by whom a Traitor be kill'd so he be kill'd Hereupon the Arms of London were augmented with a Dagger and to divide the Honour equally betwixt them if the Heaft belonged to Walworth the Blade or point thereof at least may be adjudged to Cavendish Let me add that King Richard himself shewed much wisedome and courage in managing this matter so that in our Chronicles he appeareth wiser Youth than Man as if he had spent all the stock of his discretion in appeasing this tumult which happened Anno Dom. 1381. Sir THOMAS COOK Knight Sir WILLIAM CAPELL Knight I present these pair of Knights in parallels because I find many considerable occurrences betwixt them in the course of their lives 1 Both were natives of this County born not far asunder Sir Thomas at Lâ—…venham Sir William at Stoke-Neyland 2 Both were bred in London free of the fame Company of Drapers and were Lord-Mayors of the City 3 Both by Gods blessing on their industry attained great Estates and were Royal-Merchants indeed The later is reported by tradition since by continuance consolidated into Historical truth that after a large entertainment made for King Henry the Seventh he concluded all with a Fire wherein he burnt many Bonds in which the King a Borrower in the beginning of his Reign stood obliged unto him a sweet perfume no doubt to so thrifty a Prince not to speak of his expensive Frolick when at another time he drank a dissolved Pearl which cost him many hundreds in an health to the King 4 Both met with many molestations Sir Thomas being arraigned for lending money in the reign of King Edward the Fourth hardly escaped with his life thank a good God a just Judge and a stout Jury though griveously fined and long imprisoned As for Sir William Empson and Dudley fell with their bodies so heavy upon him that they squeased many thousand pounds out of his into the Kings Coffers 5 Both died peaceably in Age and Honour leaving great Estates to their Posterities The Cooks flourishing lately at Giddy-Hall in Essex in a Worshipful as the Capels at Hadham in Hartford-shire now in an Honourable condition Nor must it be forgotten that Elizabeth daughter to Sir William Capel was married to William Powlet Marquess of Winchester and Mildred descended from Sir Thomas Cook to William Cecil Lord Burleigh both their husbands being successively Lord Treasurers of England for above fifty years Sir Thomas Cook lieth buried in the Church of Augustineâ—… â—… London Sir William Capel in the South-side of the Parish Church of St. Bartholomews in a Chappel of his own addition behind the Exchange though the certain date of their deaths do not appear Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 John Michel John Michel Ekelingham Stock-Fishmonger 1422. 2 Henry Barton Henry Barton Myldenhal Skinner 1428. 3 Roger Oteley Will. Oteley Vfford Grocer 1434. 4 John Paddesley Simon Paddesley Bury St. Edmunds Gold-smith 1440. 5 Simon Eyre John Eyre Brandon Draper 1445. 6 William Gregory Roger Gregory Myldenhal Skinner 1451. 7 Thomas Cook Robert Cook Lavenham Draper 1462. 8 Richard Gardiner John Gardiner Exning Mercer 1478. 9 William Capel John Capel Stoke-Neyland Draper 1503. 10 William Coppinger Walter Coppinger Buckshal Fish-monger 1512. 11 John Milborn John Milbourn Long-Melford Draper 1521. 12 Roger Martin Lawrence Martin Long-Melford Mercer 1567. 13 John Spencer Richard Spencer Walding-Field Cloath-worker 1594. 14 Stephen Some Thomas Some Bradley Grocer 1598. Reader this is one of the twelve pretermitted Shires the Names of whose Gentry were not returned into the Tower in the reign of King Henry the Sixth Sheriffs Know that this County and Nâ—…hfolk had both one Sheriff until the seventeenth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth a List of whose names we formerly have presented in the description of Northfolk 〈◊〉 Place Armes Reg. ELIZ   Anno   17 Rob. Ashfield ar Netherhall Sable 〈◊〉 Fesse â—…ngrailed betwixt 3 flower de Luces Arg. 18 Ioh. 〈◊〉 arm  Sable a Fesse checkee Or and Azure betwixt 3 Naggs heads erazed Argent 19 Will. Spring mil. Lanham Argent on a Cheveron between 3 Martlets Gules as many Cinquefoiles of the Field 20 Rob. Jermin mil. Rushbrook Sable a Cressant betwixt 〈◊〉 Mullets Argent 21 Philip. Parker mil. Arwerton Argent a Lion passant Gules betwixt 2 Barrs Setheron 3 Bezâ—…nts in Chief as many Bucks heads â—…abosed of the third 22 Th. Bernardiston m. Kedington Azure a Fesse Dauncette Ermin betwixt 6 Crosleâ—…s Argent 23 Nich. Bacon mil. Culfurth Gules on a Chief 〈◊〉 2 Mullets Sable 24 Will. Drury mil. Halsted Argent on a Chief Vert the letter Tau betwixt 2 Mullets pierced Or. 25 Carol. Framling ham miles   26 Ioh. Gurdon arm Assington S. 3 Leopards heads jessant flowers de Luce Or. 27 Will. Clopton aâ—…  Sable a Bend Argent betwixt 2 Cotises dauncette Or. 28 Geo Clopton ar ut prius  29 Franc. Jermy arm  Arg. a Lion ramp gardant Gules 30 Phil. Tilney arm Shelleigh Argent a Cheveron betwixt 3 Griffins-heads erazed Gules 31 Will. Walgrave m. 〈◊〉 Party per Pale Argent and Gu. 32 Tho. Rowse arm  Sable 2 Barrs engrailed Argent 33 â—…c Garnish arm  Ar. a chev engr Az. bet 3 scallops Sab. 34 Lionel Talmarsh 〈◊〉 HelminghaÌ„ Argent Fretty Sable 35 Rob. Forth arm  †Or 3 Buls-heads coupee Sable 36 Tho. †Croâ—… arm SaxmundhaÌ„ * Ar. on a fess Gu. 3. Garbs Or between 2 cheverons Az. charged with Escallops Arg. 37 Will. Spring mil. ut prius  38 Tho. * Eden arm   39 Antho. Wingfield Letheringham Argent a Bend Gules cotised able 3 Wings of the first 40 Hen. Warner ar   41 Antho. Felton ar Playford Gules 2 Lions passant Eâ—…in crowned Or. 42 Edw. Bacon arm ut prius  43 Edwin Withipol Christ Church in Ipswich Party per pale Or and Gules 3 Lions pâ—…ssant regardant armed Sable langued Argent a Bordure interchanged 44 Tho.
of Rome Take a tast of them Joannes Sarisburiensis in Polycratico Sedent in Ecclesia Romana Scribae Pharisaei ponentes onera importabilia in humeros hominum Ita debacchantur ejus Legati ac si ad Ecclesiam flagellandam egressus sit Satan a facie Domini Peccata populi comedunt eis vestiuntur in iis multipliciter luxuriantur dum veri adoratores in Spiritu adorant Patreâ—… Qui ab eorum dissentit Doctrina aut Haereticus judicatur aut 〈◊〉 Manifestet ergo seipsum Christus palà m faciat viam quá nobis est incedendum Scribes and Pharisees sit in the Church of Rome putting unbearable burthens on mens backs His Legates do so swagger as if Satan were gone forth from the Face of the Lord to scourge the Church They eat the sins of the people with them they are clothed and many ways riot therein whilst the true worshipers worship the Father in Spirit who so dissent from their Doctrine are condemned for Hereticks or Schismaticks Christ therefore will manifest himself and make the way plain wherein we must walk How doth our Author Luther it before Luther against their errors and vices the more secure for the generall opinion men had of his person all holding our John to be though no Prophet a Pious man King Henry the second made him Bishop of Chartres in France where he died 1182. RICHARD POOR Dean of Sarisbury was first Bishop of Chichester then of Sarisbury or Old Sarum rather He found his Cathedrall most inconveniently seated for want of water and other necessaries and therefore removed it a mile off to a place called Merry-field for the pleasant situation thereof since Sarisbury Where he laid the foundation of that Stately Structure which he lived not here to finish Now as the place whence he came was so dry that as Malmsbury saith miserabili commercio ibi aqua vaeneat by sad chaffer they were fain to give money for water so he removed to one so low and moist men sometimes upon my own knowledge would give money to be rid of the water I observe this for no other end but to show that all humane happiness notwithstanding often exchange of places will still be an Heteroclite and either have too much or too little for our contentment This Poor was afterwards removed to the Bishoprick of Durham and lived there in great esteem Mat. Paris characterizing him eximiae sanctitatis profundae scientiae virum His dissolution in a most pious and peaceable manner happened April 5. Anno Domini 1237. His Corps by his Will were brought and buried at Tarrent in Dorsetshire in a Nunnery of his own founding and some of his Name and probably Alliance are still extant in this County WILLIAM EDENDON was born at Edendon in this County bred in Oxford and advanced by King Edward the third to be Bishop of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England During his managing of that Office he caused new coines unknown before to be made groats and half-groats both readier for change and fitter for charity But the worst was imminuto nonnihil pondere the weight was somewhat abated If any say this was an un-episcopal act know he did it not as Bishop but as Lord Treasurer the King his Master having all the profit thereby Yea succeeding Princes following this patern have sub-diminished their coin ever since Hence is it that our Nobility cannot maintain the port of their Ancestors with the same revenues because so many pounds are not so many pounds though the same in noise and number not the same in intrinsecal valuation He was afterward made Lord Chancellor and erected a stately Convent for Bonhomes at Edendon in this County the place of his Nativity valued at the Dissolution per annum at five hundred twenty one pounds twelve shillings five pence half penny Some condemn him for robbing Saint Peter to whom with Saint Swithin Winchester-Church was dedicated to pay all Saints collectively to whom Edendon-Covent was consecrated suffering his Episcopal Palaces to decay and drop down whilst he raised up his new foundation This he dearly payed for after his death when his Executors were sued for dilapidations by his successour William Wickham an excellent Architect and therefore well knowing how to proportion his charges for reparations who recovered of them one thousand six hundred sixty two pounds ten shillings a vast sum in that Age though paid in the lighter groats and half-groats Besides this his Executors were forced to make good the standing-stock of the Bishoprick which in his time was empaired viz. Oxen 1556. Weathers 4717. Ewes 3521. Lambes 3521. Swine 127. This Edendon sat in his Bishoprick twenty one years and dying 1366. lyeth buried on the South-side in the passage to the Quire having a fair Monument of Alabaster but an Epitaph of course stone I mean so barbarous that it is not worth the inserting RICHARD MAYO alias MAYHOWE was born nigh Hungerford in this County of good parentage whose Sur-name and Kindred was extinct in the last generation when the Heirs-general thereof were married into the Families of Montpesson and Grove He was first admitted in New-colledge and thence removed to Magdalens in Oxford where he became President thereof 27. years It argueth his abilities to any indifferent apprehension that so knowing a Prince as Henry the seventh amongst such plenty of Eminent Persons elected and sent him into Spain Anno 1501. to bring over the Lady Katharine to be married to Prince Arthur which he performed with all fidelity though the heavens might rather seem to Laugh at then Smile on that unfortunate marrying After his return he was rewarded with the Bishoprick of Hereford and having sat 11. years therein dyed 1516 and lyeth buried in his Church on the South-side of the high Altar under a Magnificent Monument Since the Reformation JOHN THORNEBOROUGH B. D. was born as I am credibly informed in the City of Salisbury bred in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford He did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his Goodly Presence made him more acceptable to Queen Elizabeth preferring him Dean of York and Bishop of Lymbrick in Ireland where he received a most remarkable deliverance in manner as follweth Lying in an Old Castle in Ireland in a large room partitioned but with Sheets or Curtaines his Wife Children and Servants in effect an whole Family In the dead time of the night the floor over head being Earth and Plaister as in many places is used over-charged with weight fell wholly down together and crushing all to pieces that was above two foot high as Cupboards Tables Formes Stools rested at last on certain Chests as God would have it and hurt no living Creature In the first of King James 1603. he was consecrated Bishop of Bristoll and held his Deanery an Irish Bishoprick in commendam with it and from thence was translated to Worchester I have heard his skill in Chimistry much commended and he presented a
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 supersâ—…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
he could not avoid to behold it For these reasons he left the Land went or shall I say fled into France where he sighed out the remainder of his Life most at Pontiniack but some at Soyssons where he dyed Anno 1240. Pope Innocent the fourth Canonized him six years after his death whereat many much wondred that he should so much honour one a professed foe to Papal Extortions Some conceived he did it se defendendo and for a ne noceat that he might not be tormented with his Ghost But what hurt were it if all the Enemies of his Holiness were Sainted on condition they took death in their way thereunto Sure it is that Lewis King of France a year after translated his Corps and three years after that bestowed a most sumptuous Shrine of Gold Silver and Chrystal upon it and the 16. of November is the Festival appointed for his Memorial Martyrs It appeareth by the confession of Thomas Man Martyred in the beginning of King Henry the eighth that there was at Newberry in this County a glorious and sweet Society of faithful Favourers who had continued the space of fifteen years together till at last by a certain lewd person whom they trusted and made of their Council they were betrayed and then many of them to the number of six or seven score were abjured and three or four of them burnt Now although we knew not how to call these Martyrs who so suffered their Names no doubt are written in the Book of Life We see how the day of the Gospel dawned as soon in this County as in any place in England surely Seniority in this kind ought to be respected which made Paul a pusney in piety to Andronicus and Iunia his kinsmen to enter this caveat for their Spiritual precedency who were in Christ before me On which account let other places give the honour to the Town of Newberry because it started the first and I hope not tire for the earliness thereof in the race of the Reformed Religion Yea Doctor William Twis the painful Preacher in that Parish was wont to use this as a motive to his flock to quicken their pace and strengthen their perseverance in piety because that Town appears the first fruits of the Gospel in England And Windsor the next in the same County had the honour of Martyrs ashes therein as by the ensuing list will appear There was in Windsor a company of right godly persons who comfortably enjoyed themselves untill their enemies designed their extirpation though it cost them much to accomplish it one of them confessing that for his share he expended an hundred marks besides the killing of three Geldings These suspecting that the Judges Itinerant in their circuit would be too favourable unto them procured a special Session got four arraigned and condemned by the Commissioners whereof the three following were put to death on the Statute of the six Articles 1. Anthony Persons a Priest and profitable Preacher so that the great Clerks of Windsor thought their idleness upbraided by his industry Being fastned to the stake he laid a good deal of straw on the top of his head saying this is Gods hat I am now arm'd like a souldier of Christ. 2. Robert Testwood a singing-man in the Quire of Windsor There hapned a contest betwixt him and another of that Society singing an Anthem together to the Virgin Mary Robert Philips on the one side of the Quire Robert Testwood on the other side of the Quire Oh Redemtrix Salvatrix Non Redemtrix nec Salvatrix I know not which sung the deepest Base or got the better for the present Sure I am that since by Gods goodness the Nons have drowned the Ohs in England Testwood was also accused for disswading people from Pilgrimages and for striking off the nose of the image of our Lady 3. Henry Fillmer Church-Warden of Windsor who had Articled against their superstitious Vicar for heretical Doctrine These three were burnt together at Windsor Anno 1544. and when account was given to their patient death to King Henry the eighth sitting on horse-back the King turning his horses head said Alas poor innocents A better speech from a private person then a Prince bound by his place not only to pity but protect oppressed innocence However by this occasion other persecuted people were pardoned and preserved of whom hereafter This storm of persecution thus happily blown over Bark-shire enjoyed peace and tranquillity for full twelve years together viz. from the year of our Lord 1544. till 1556. When Dr. Jeffrey the cruel Chancellour of Sarisbury renewed the troubles at Newberry and caused the death of JULINS PALMER See his Character being born in Coventry in Warwickshire JOHN GWIN THOMAS ASKINE These three July 16. 1556. were burnt in a place nigh Newberry called the Sand-pits enduring the pain of the fire with such incredible constancy that it confounded their foâ—…s and confirmed their friends in the Truth Confessors JOHN MARBECK was an Organist in the Quire of Windsor and very skilful therein a man of Admirable Industry and Ingenuity who not perfectly understanding the Latin Tongue did out of the Latin with the help of the English Bible make an English Concordance which Bishop Gardiner himself could not but commend as a piece of singular Industry Professing that there were no fewer then twelve Learned men to make the first Latin Concordance And King Henry the eighth hearing thereof said that he was better imployed then those Priests which accused him Let therefore our Modern Concordances of Cotton Newman Bernard c. as Children and Grand-Children do their duty to Marbecks Concordance as their Parent at first endeavour'd in our Language This Marbeck was a very zealous Protestant and of so sweet and amiable Nature that all good men did love and few bad men did hate him Yet was he condemned Anno 1544. on the Statute of the 6. Articles to be burnt at Windsor had not his pardon been procured divers assigning divers causes thereof 1. That Bishop Gardiner bare him a speciall affection for his skill in the Mystery of Musick 2. That such who condemned him procured his pardon out of Remorse of Conscience because so slender the evidence against him it being questionable whether his Concordance was made after the Statute of the 6. Articles or before it and if before he was freed by the Kings General pardon 3. That it was done out of design to reserve him for a discovery of the rest of his party if so their plot failed them For being as true as Steel whereof his fetters were made which he ware in Prison for a good time he could not be frighted or flattered to make any detection Here a mistake was committed by Mr. Fox in his first Edition whereon the Papisâ—…s much insult making this Marbeck burnt at Windsor for his Religion with Anthony Persons Robert Testwood and Henry Fillmer No doubt Mr. Fox rejoyced at
 Sable a Chev. betw 3 Towers Argent 2 Ant. Blagrave ar  Or. on a Bend Sable 3 Greaves Errased at the Ankle Ar. 3 Tho. Read ar ut prius  4 Will. Stonhou ar Radley Arg. on a Fess Sable between 3 Falcons volant Az. a Leopards-heads and 2 Mullets Or. 5 Fr. Winchcombe ut prius  6 Will. Foster mil. ut prius  7 Anth. Barker mil. Suning  8 Ric. Lovelace ml ut prius  9 Tho. Vachell mil. Colly Bender of six peeces Er. Az 10 Tho. Hinton ar   11 Car. Wiseman ar ut prius  12 Io. Ayshcombe ar   13 Will. Young mil.   14 Will. Standin ar Aâ—…borfield  15 Val. Knightley m.  Quarterly Er. Or. 3 Pales Gu. 16 Ioh. Catcher ar   17 Hum. Foster ar ut prius  18 Gabri Pyle mil. Compton  19 Io. Winchcombe ut prius  20 Io. Marrycot ar   21 Will. Hide ar ut prius  22 Io. Blagrave mil. ut prius  23   24   CAR I. REX   Anno   1 Ioh. Darrell Bar. W. Woodh Az. a Lion Ramp Or Crowned Argâ—…t 2 Edr. Clark mil. Ardigton  3 Gor. Willmot ar Charlton  4 Edw. Yates Barr. Buckland  5 Sam. Dunch ar ut prius Per Fess embattel'd Arg. Sable 3 Yates caunterchanged 6 Io. Fetiplace ar ut prius  7 Hen. Samborn ml Moulsford  8 Hen. Powle ar   9 Edm. Dunch ar ut prius  10 Hum. Dolman ar ut prius  11 Will. Barker ar ut prius  12 Ric. Harrison mi. Hurst Or on a Cheife Sable 3 Eagles displaied of the first 13 Ge. Stonhouse B. ut prius  14 Hump. Hide ar ut prius  15 Geo. Puresy ar Wadley S. 3 Pair of Gantlets dipping Ar. 16 Peregrine Hobby Bisham Ar. 3 Fusiles upon Slippers Gâ—… 17 Tanfield Vachel ut prius  18   19   20   21   22 Io. Southleg ar   Queen Elizabeth 9 EDWARD UNTON or UMPTON Miles This ancient and worshipfull name was extinct in the days of our fathers for want of Issue Male and a great part of their lands devolved by an Heir-general to G. Purfen of wadley Esquire whose care is commendable in preserving the Monuments of the Umptons in Farington Church and restoring such as were defaced in the war to a good degree of their former fairness 26 BESILIUS FETIPLACE Some may colourably mistake it for Basilius or Basil a Christian-name frequent in some families whereas indeed it is Besil a Surname These liv'd in great regard at Lee thence called Besiles-Lee in this County untill Elizabeth danghter and heir of William Besiles last of that name was married unto Richard Fetiplace whose great-great-grand-child was named Besile to continue the remembrance of their Ancestors Reader I am confident an instance can hardly be produced of a Surname made Christian in England save since the Reformation before which time the Priests were scrupulous to admit any at Font except they were baptized with the name of a Scripture or Legendary-Saint Since it hath been common and although the Lord Coke was pleased to say he had noted many of them prove unfortunate yet the good success in others confutes the generall truth of the observation King James 8 RICHARD LOVELACE Knight He was a Gentlâ—…man of Mettal and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth making use of letters of Mart had the successe to light on a large remnant of the King of Spains Cloth of silver I mean his West-Indian Fleet wherewith he and his posterity are the warmer to this day King Charles created him Lord Lovelace of Hurley King Charles 1 Sir JOHN DARELL Baronet He being the first who in the Catalogue of Sheriffs occurreth of that order a word of the institution thereof We meddle not with ancient Baronets finding that word formerly promiscuously blended with Bannerets Sir Ralph Fane in a Patent passed unto him is expressly term'd a Baronet but insist on their new erection in the ninth of King James Their Qualifications Their Service Their Dignity 1. They were to be persons Morum probitate spectati 2. Descended at least of a Grand-father by the Fathers side that bare Arms. 3. Having a clear estate of one thousand pounds per annum two thirds thereof at least in possession the rest in reversion expectant on one life only holding in Dower or in Joynture 1. Each of them was to advance towards the planting of the Province of Ulster in Ireland with Colonies and Castles to defend them money enough to maintain thirty Foot for three years after the rate of eight pence a day for everyone of them 2. The first years wages was to be paid down on the passing of their Patent the remainder as they contracted with the Kings Commissioners authorized to treat and conclude thereof 1. They were to take place with their wives and children respectively immediately after the sons of Barons and before all Knights-bachelours of the Bath and Bannerets save such solemn ones ashereafter should be created in the field by the King there present under the Standard Royall displayed 2. The addition of Sir was to be prefixed before theirs of Madam their wives names 3. The Honour was to be hereditary and knighthood not to be denied to their eldest sons of full age if desiring it 4. For an augmentation in their Arms they might bear a bloody hand in a Canton or Escutcheon at their pleasure The King did undertake that they should never exceed two hundred which number compleated if any chanced to die without issue-male none were to be substituted in their place that so their number might daily diminish and honour increase He did also promise for himself and his Heirs that no new Order under another name should be superinduced The Battles Newberry the first 1643. Septemb. 20. The Earl of Essex having raised the Siege of Glocester and returning towards London was rather followed then overtaken by the Kings army Both sides might be traced by a tract of bloody foot-steps especially at Auborn in Wilts where they had a smart encounter At Newberry the Earl made a stand Here happen'd a fierce fight on the East-side of the Town wherein the Londoners did shew that they could as well use a Sword in the field as a Met-ward in a Shop The Parliament was conceived to lose the most the King the most considerable persons amongst whom the Earl of Carnarvon and Sunderland the Viscount Falkland Colonel Morgan c. Both armies may be said to beat and be beaten neither winning the Day and both the Twi-light Hence it was that both sides were so sadly filled with their Supper over night neither next morning had any stomack to break-fast but keeping their stations were rather contented to face then willing to fight one another Newberry the second 1644. Octob. 27. One would wonder where the
was very wild and venturous witness his playing at Dice with Henry the second King of France from whom he won a Diamond of great worth at a Cast And being demanded by the King what shift he would have made to repair himself in case he had lost the cast I have said young Chency in an hyperbolical brave SHEEPS TAILS enough in Kent with their Wool to buy a better Diamond then this His reduced Age afforded the befitting fruits of Gravity and Wisdome and this Lord deceased without Issue As for Sir Francis Cheney Sheriff for this present year we formerly observed the distinct Armes of his Family This worthy Knight was father to Charles Cheney Esq. who by his exquisite Travelling hath Naturalized foreign perfections into himself and is exemplarily happy in a vertuous Lady Jane Daughter to the truly Noble William Marquis of New-castle and by her of hopefull Posterity The Farewell On serious consideration I was at a loss to wish to this County what it wanted God and the Kings of England have so favoured it with naturall perfections and civil priviledges In avowance of the latter it sheweth more Burrow-towns sending Burgesses no fewer then twelve to the Parliament then any Shire though thrice as big lying in the Kingdome of Mercia Now seeing at the instant writing hereof the generall News of the Nation is of a Parliament to be called after his Majesties Coronation my prayers shall be that the Freehoulders of this County shall amongst many therein so qualified chuse good Servants to God Subjects to the King Patriots to the County effectually to advance a happiness to the Church and Common-wealth CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE CAMBRIDGE-SHRE hath Lincoln shire on the North Northfolk and Suffold on the East Essex and Hartford-shire on the South Huntington and Bedford-shires on the West being in length thirty five in breadth not fully twenty miles The Tables therein as well furnished as any the South-part affording bread and beer and the North the Isle of Ely meat thereunto So good the grain growing here that it out-selleth others some pence in the Bushel The North-part of this County is lately much improved by drayning though the poorest sort of people will not be sensible thereof Tell them of the great benefit to the publick because where a Pike or Duck fed formerly now a Bullock or Sheep is fatted they will be ready to return that if they be taken in taking that Bullock or Sheep the rich Owner â—…indicteth them for Felons whereas that Pike or Duck were their own goods only for their pains of catching of them So impossible it is that the best project though perfectly performed should please all interests and affections It happened in the year 1657. upon the dissolution of the great Snow their banks were assaulted above their strength of resistance to the great loss of much Cattle Corn and some Christians But soon after the seasonable industry of the Undertakers did recover all by degrees and confute their jealousies who suspected the relapsing of these lands into their former condition This Northern part is called the Isle of Eelie which one will have so named from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fenny or Marish-ground But our Saxon Ancestors were not so good Grecians and it is plain that plenty of Eels gave it its denomination Here I hope I shall not trespass on gravity in mentioning a passage observed by the Reverend Professour of Oxford Doctor Prideaux referring the Reader to him for the Authours attesting the same When the Priests in this part of the County would still retain their wives in despight of whatever the Pope and Monks could doe to the contrary their wives and children were miraculously turned all into Eels surely the greater into Congers the less into Griggs whence it had the name of EELY I understand him a LIE of EELS No doubt the first founder of so damnable an untruth hath long since received his reward However for this cause we take first notice amongst this Counties Naturall Commodities Of Eels Which though they be found in all Shires in England yet are most properly treated of here as most first and best the Courts of the Kings of England being thence therewith anciently supplyed I will not ingage in the controversy whether they be bred by generation as other fish or aequivocally out of Putrefaction or both ways which is most probable Seeing some have adventured to know the distinguishing marks betwixt the one and other I know the Silver Eels are generally preferred and I could wish they loved men but as well as men love them that I my self might be comprised within the compass of that desire They are observed to be never out of season whilst other fishes have their set times and the biggest Eels are ever esteemed the best I know not whether the Italian proverb be here worth the remembring Give Eels without wine to your Enemies Hares Though these are found in all Counties yet because lately there was in this Shire an Hare-park nigh New-market preserved for the Kings game let them here be particularly mentioned Some prefer their sport in hunting before their flesh for eating as accounting it melancholick meat and hard to be digested though others think all the hardness is how to come by it All the might of this silly creature is in the flight thereof and remember the answer which a school-boy returned in a latine distick being demanded the reason why Hares where so fearfull Cur metuunt lepores Terrestris nempe marinus Aethereus quod sit tartareusque canis Whether or no they change their sex every year as some have reported let Huntsmen decide These late years of our civil wars have been very destructive unto them and no wonder if no law hath been given to hares when so little hath been observed toward men Saffron Though plenty hereof in this County yet because I conceive it first planted in Essex we thither refer our description thereof Willows A sad Tree whereof such who have lost their love make their mourning garlands and we know what Exiles hung up their Harps upon such dolefull Supporters The twiggs hereof are Physick to drive out the folly of children This Tree delighteth in moist places and is triumphant in the Isle of Ely where the roots strengthen their Banks and lop affords fuell for their fire It groweth incredibly fast it being a by-word in this County that the profit by Willows will buy the Owner a Horse before that by other Trees will pay for his Saddle Let me adde that if green Ash may burn before a Queen withered Willows may be allowed to burn before a Lady Manufactures Paper Expect not I should by way of Preface enumerate the several inventions whereby the ancients did communicate and continue their Notions to Posterity First by writing in Leaves of Trees still remembred when we call such a Scantling of Paper a Folio or Leafe Hence from Leaves men proceeded to the
of such who secretly design their overthrow whom they openly embrace Hengsten down well ywrought Is worth London town dear ybought The truth hereof none can confirm or confute seeing under-ground-wealth is a Nemo scit and vast may the treasure be of Tinne in this Down Sure I am that the gainfull plenty of metall formerly afforded in this place is now fallen to a scantsaving-scarcity But to make the Proverbe true it is possible that the Cornish Diamonds found therein may be pure and orient as better concocted in the bowells thereof For though crafty not to say dishonest Chapmen put the best grain in the top and worst in the bottome of their sack such is the integrity of nature that the coursest in this kind are higher and the purest still the lowest Tru-ru Triveth eu Ombdina geveth try-ru Which is to say Trâ—…u consisteth of three streets and it shall in time be said Here Truru stood I trust the men of this town are too wise to give credit to such predictions which may justly prove true to the superstitious believers thereof Let them serve God and defie the Devil with all his Pseudo-prophesies Like to this is another fond observation presaging some sad success to this Town because ru ru which in English is Woe Woe is twice in the Cornish name thereof But let the men of Truru but practice the first syllable in the name of their town and they may be safe and secure from any danger in the second He doth sail into Cornwall without a Bark This is an Italian Proverb where it passeth for a description or derision rather of such a Man who is wronged by his Wises disloyalty I wonder the Italians should take such pains to travail so far to fetch this expression having both the Name and Matter nearer home Name Having the field Cornetus Campus in agro falisco called Corneto at this day And a people called Corni in Latium with the Cornicti montes near Tiber not to speak of its two Promontories tearmed by good Authors Cornua duo Italiae the two Horns of Italy Matter Keeping their wives under restraint as generally full of Jealousie which if just I much bemoan the Gaolers if not I more pity their Prisoners Whereas in our Cornwall the Wives liberty is the due reward of their Chastity and the Cause of their husbands comfortable confidence therein He is to be summoned before the Mayor of Halgaver This is a joculary and imaginary Court wherewith men make merriment to themselves presenting such Persons as go Slovenly in their Attire untrussed wanting a spur c. Where judgement in formal terms is given against them and executed more to the scorn then hurt of the persons But enough hereof least I be summoned thither my self When Dudman and Ramehead meet These are two forelands well known to Sailers well nigh twenty miles asunder and the Proverbe passeth for the Periphrasis of an impossibility However these two Points have since met together though not in position in possession of the same owner Sir Pierce Edgecombe enjoying one in his own the other in right of his wife Saints SAINT KIBY was son to Solomon Duke of Cornwall whom severall inducements moved to travail First because A Prophet hath the least Honour in his own Country Secondly because Britain at that time was infected with Arianisme Thirdly because he had read so much of the works and heard more of the worth of Saint Hilary Bishop of Poicteers in France This main motive made him address himself to that worthy Father with whom he lived fifty years and afterwards saith learned Leyland was by him made Bishop of the Isle of Anglesey Pardon me Reader if suspending my belief herein seeing surely that holy and humble French Saint would not pretend to any Metropoliticall power in appointing a Bishop in Britain More probable it is that Saint Hilary made him a Bishop at large sine titulo whereof there are some precedents in Antiquity However into Wales he went and there converted the Northern parts thereof to and confirmed the rest in Christianity A Three-fold memoriall is in the Isle of Anglesey extant at this day One of his Master in Point Hilary another of himself in Caer-Guiby and a third of both in Holyhead He florished about the year of our Lord 380. URSULA daughter to Dinoth Duke of Cornwall was born in this County This is she who se life is loaden with such Anticronismes and Improbabilities that it is questionable whether this fable was ever founded in a truth or hath any thing in History for its Original This Ursula is said to have carried over out of Britain eleven thousand Maids of prime quality besides threescore thousand of meaner rank seventy one thousand in all a prodigious number to be married to so many in little Britain in France Preposterous in my mind to proffer themselves and it had argued more modesty if their Husbands had fetcht them hence But blame them not who paid so dear for their Adventures All shipp'd from London some of them were drowned in their Passage the rest slain by the Hunnes of Colen say some at Rome say others by King Attila under Gratian the Emperour Mendacium Aequabile observing equall Temper of untruth in time place and person However there is a Church at Colen dedicated to their Memories where the Virgin Earth let the reporter have the Whetstone will digest no other body no not the Corps of an Infant newly Baptised as good a Maid I believe as the best of them but will vomit it up in the night time again as if they had never been buried This Massacre is reported to have happened in the year of our Lord 383. SAINT MELIORUS was onely son of Melianus Duke of this County who being secretly made a Christian was so maliced by Rinaldus his Pagan-brother-in-law that he first cut off his right-hand and then his left-legg no reason of this transposed method of cruelty save cruelty and at last his head about the year 411. whose body being buried in some old Church in this County by the miracles reported to be done thereat procured the reputation of a Saint to his memory Prelates WILLIAM de GREN-VIL was born of a worshipfull family in this County and became Canon of York Dean of Chichester Chancellour of England under K. Edward the first and Arch-bishop of York But the worst was two years his Confirmation was deferred untill he had paid nine thousand fiveh undred marks Let him thank the Pope who gave him the odd five hundred not mounting it to even ten thousand Besides he had this favour not as many others to be consecrated by a Proxy but the very hands of P. Clement the fifth This paiment reduced him to such poverty he was relieved by the Clergy of his Province by way of Benevolence This not doing the deed to make him a Saver he was fain to crave another help
they might prove profitable as by Arch-bishop Grindall limited and regulated Being really blind more with grief then age dying at sixty four he was willing to put off his clothes before he went to bed and in his life time to resigne his place to Doctor Whitgiff who refused such acceptance thereof And the Queen commiserating his condition was graciously pleased to say that As She had made him so he should die an Arch bishop as he did July 6. 1583. Worldly wealth he cared not for desiring onely to make both ends meet and as for that little that lapped over he gave it to pious uses in both Universities and the founding of a fair Free-school at Saint Bees the place of his nativity HENRY ROBINSON D. D. was born in Carlile bred Fellow and at last Provost of Queens-colledge in Oxford and afterwards 1598. was consecrated Bishop of the place of his nativity When Queen Elizabeth received his Homage She gave him many Gracious words of the good Opinion which She conceived of his Learning Integrity and Sufficiency for that place Moreover adding that She must ever have a care to furnish that See with a worthy man for his sake who first set the Crown on Her Head and many words to the like purpose He was a Prelate of great gravity and temperance very mild in Speech but not of so strong a constitution of body as his countenance did promise And yet he lived to be a very old man He dyed Anno Dom. 16 ... RICHARD SENHOUSE D. D. was born of worshipfull parentage at Netherhall in this County A valiant man in his younger days and I have heard that in his old age he felt the admonitions of his youthfull over-violent exercises He was bred Fellow of Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge and became an Excellent Preacher his Sermons losing no lusture by his good utterance and gracefull delivering of them He was Chaplain to King Charles whilst Prince and Preached his Sermon at His Coronation He was preferred Bishop of Carlile enjoying the place but a short time He dyed Anno Domini 1626. Capitall Judges and Writers on the Law Sir RICHARD HUTTON was born at Perith of a Worshipfull Family his elder Brother was a Knight and bred in Jesus Colledge in Cambridge He intended his Studies for Divinity till disswaded by the importunity of his friends amongst whom George Earl of Cumberland most eminent he became Barrister in Grays-Inn But in expression of his former affection to Divinity he seldome if ever took Fee of a Clergy-man Afterwards being Recorder of York he was Knighted and made Judge of the Common-Pleas In the Case of Ship-money though he was against the King or rather for the Commons yet His Majesty manifested not the least distast continuing to call him the Honest Judge This person so pious to God and charitable to his poor Members was dissolved about the beginning of our National misery Thus God before he new ploweth up a land with the furrows of a Civil War first cutteth down his old crop and gathereth them like ripe sheaves into his barn He dyed at Serjeants-Inn and was buried at his earnest desire without any Funerall Sermon save what his own vertues preached to posterity at St. Dunstons in the West on the 27. day of Febr. Anno Dom. 1638. Sir JOHN BANKS was born at Keswick of honest parents who perceiving him judicious and industrious bestowed good breeding on him in Grays-Inn in hope he should attain to preferment wherein they were not deceived After he was called to the Bar for some years he solicited suits for others thereby attaining great practicall experience He afterwards might laugh at them who then did smile at him leaving many behind him in learning whom he found before him in time untill at last he was Knighted by K. Charles made first his Atâ—…urney then Chief Justice of the Common-pleas dying in the midst and heat of our Civil dissentions He ordered by his Will the Copy whereof I have received from my good friend that his body should be buried under some plain Monument at the discretion of his Executors and after an Epitaph mentioning the severall places he had held This Motto to be added Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam It must not be forgotten that by his said Will he gave to the value of thirty pounds per annum with other Emoluments to be bestowed in Pious uses and chiefly to set up a Manufacture of Course Cottons in the Town of Keswick which I understand hath good and is in hopes of better success Civilians GEORGE PORTER was born at Weery-hall in the Parish of Bolton in this County of gentile extraction He was afterward Fellow of Queens-colledge in Cambridge Doctor and Professor of Civil-law therein for above thirty years so that he might have been made Comes Imperii primi ordinis according to the constitution of Theodosius the Emperor allowing that honour to Professours in that faculty Cum ad viginti annos observatione jugi ac sedulo docendi labore pervenerint He was of a pitifull nature and we commonly called him for I had oft the honour to be in his mess The Patron of infirmities whose discourse was always defensive and charitable either to excuse mens failings or mitigate their punishments He was valiant as well as learned and with his sterne looks and long sword frighted three thieves from setting upon him He dyed Anno Domini 163. and Doctor Collins who with Saint Chrysostome was in laudatoriis hyperbolicus Preaching his Funerall Sermon endeavoured to heighten his memory to his soul mounting it above the skies for his modesty and learning Writers JOHN CANON Some will have him so called because Canon of some Cathedral Church and if so there were Hundreds of John Canons besides himself others because he was Doctor of Canon Law which leaves as great a Latitude as the former for hundreds with equall right to justle with him for the same Surname I have cause to conceive untill I shall be clearly convinced to the contrary that he was born at Canonsby in this County By being set by for brevities sake Bilious Bale bespattereth him more then any of his Order Hear how he ranteth He turned a Minotaure I should say Minorite and with his Thrasonicall Boasting c. But I am not bound to believe him the rather because Trithemius a Forraign Judicious and Moderate Writer giveth him great commendation Whence I collect that his worth was not like a Candle in the House onely burning at Home in England but a Torch blazing abroad beyond the Seas the University of Paris and other places taking signall notice of his Learning He flourished under K. Edward the second 1320. WILLIAM EGREMONT He hath almost lost his true Surname amongst the various writing thereof Bale calleth him Egumonde though no such place in all England Pits reduceth it to a Saxon Name and calleth him
forgive the greatest injury upon the least show of the parties sorrow and restore him to the degree of his former favour and though Politicians will thence collect him no prudent man Divines will conclude him a good Christian. Episcopacy in England being grievously wounded by malevolent persons King Charles the First conceived that the best Wine and Oil that could be powred into those wounds was to select persons of known Learning and unblameable Lives to supply the vacant Bishopricks amongst whom Dr. Prideaux was made Bishop of Worcester But alasse all in vain such the present fury of the Times He died of a Feaver 1650 and I have perused a Manuscript Book But alasse not made by Oxford but Worcester-shire Muses of Verses on his Funeral Amongst which I take notice of these Define mirari caecos errasse tot Ignes In promptâ—… causa est lux Prideauxus obit Mortuus est Prideaux scriptis post funera vivit Aufertur Letho Mitra Corona datur To these we may add the Chronogram which I meet with amongst the same Verses Iohannes PrIDeaVXVs 〈◊〉 VVIgornIae MortVVs est 1650. He was buried at Bredon in Worcester-shire August the 1â—…th Such as deny Bishops to be Peers would have conceived this Bishop a Prinâ—…e if present at his Interment such the Number and Quality of Persons attending his Funeral States-men Sir ARTHUR CHICHESTER Knight was descended of a right ancient Family dwelling at Rawley in this County He spent his youth first in the University then in the French and Irish Wars where by his valour he was effectually assistant first to plough and break up that barbarous Nation by Conquest and then to sow it with seeds of civility when by King James made Lord Deputy of Ireland Ind ed good Laws and provisions had been made by his Predecessors to that purpose but alas they were like good lessons set for a Lute out of tune uselesse untill the Instrument was fitted for them Wherefore in order to the civilizing of the Irishry in the first year of his Government he established two new Circuits for Justices of Assize the one in Connaught the other in Munster And whereas the Circuits in former times onely encompassed the English Pale as the Cynosura doth the Pole henceforward like good Planets in their several Spheres they carried the influence of Justice round about the Kingdom Yea in short time Ireland was so cleared of Theeves and Capital Offenders that so many Malefactors have not been found in the Two and Thirty Shires of Ireland as in Six English Shires in the Western Circuit He reduced the Mountains and Glinns on the South of Dublin formerly thorns in the sides of the English-Pale into the County of Wicklowe and in conformity to the English Custome many Irish began to cut their Mantles into Cloaks So observant his eye over the actions of suspected persons that Tyrone was heard to complain that he could not drink a full carouso of sack but the State was within few hours advertised thereof After he had been continued many years in his Deputy-ship and deservedly made a Lord King James recalled him home and loath to leave his abilities unimployed sent him Embassadour to the Emperour and other German Princes Being besieged in the City of Mainchine a place much indebted to his prudence for seasonable victualling it by Count Tilley he sent him word that it was against the Law of Nations to besiege an Embassadour Tilley returned that he took no notice that he was an Embassadour The Lord Chichester replied to the Messenger Had my Master sent me with as many hundred men as he hath sent me on fruitlesse Messages your General should have known that I had been a Souldier as well as an Embassadour King James at his return entertain'd him with great commendation for so well discharging his trust and he died in as great honour as any English-man of our age Anno Dom. 162. Capital Judges Sir WILLIAM HERLE Knight was made by King Edward the Third Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in Hillary Term the first year of his Raign and before the Term ended viz. Jan. the 29. was made Chief Judge of the Common Pleas by his own free consent as I have cause to conceive he standing fair in the Kings favour For whereas sixty marks was in that age the annual salary of that place the King granted him an augmentation of two hundred and forty marks a year so long as he kept that Office This was some four years for I find Sir John Stoner put into his place in the Fourth of the Kings Raign yet so that this Sir William was his Successor the year after such alterations being usual in that age I collect him to die in the ninth of King Edward the Third the mention of him sinking that year and is placed here because if not born at which is most probable he was owner of Illfracombe in this County the Mannor whereof was held by his issue till the Raign of King Henry the Seventh and I understand that a Family of his Name and I believe of his linage hath still a Worshipful existence in Cornwall Sir JOHN CARY Knight was born at Cockington in this County and applying himself to the Study of the Laws was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the tenth year of King Richard the Second The greatest fault I find charged on him was Loyalty to his Lord and Master which if any dare call a disease I assure you it is a catching one among conscientious people On this honourable account this Judge lost his Office Goods and Lands in the first of King Henry the Fourth whose losses not long after providence plentifully repayed to his Posterity On this occasion A Knight Errant of Arragon comming into England and challenging any to tilt with him was undertaken by Sir Robert Cary son to Sir John aforesaid who vanquished the vain glorious Don So that King Henry the Fifth out of a sympathy of valour restored all his estate unto him This Judge dyed about the year of our Lord 1404. Sir WILLIAM HANKFORD was born at Amerie in this County a Mannor which from owners of the same name by their daughter and heir descended to the Hank fords bred in the study of the Laws till he became Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the first of King Henry the Fifth which place he adorned with great Learning and Integrity though doleful the manner of his death on this occasion Coming home discontented from London he expressed extream anger somewhat trespassing on his judicial gravity against his Keeper for that as he said his Deer were stolen and charged him to shoot any man in the Park whom he should find there and stood not being spoken unto and he would discharge him The next night being dark he presents himself and refusing to stand the Keeper according to his Injunction shot and killed him The stump of the Oak nigh which this sad accident
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 shoâ—…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 Poâ—…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 Cornâ—…lius was most judicious in that Art because Valerius Catullus dedicated his Poem unto him as best able to pâ—…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 â—…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 Râ—…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 râ—…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 signiâ—…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 fâ—…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
of his estate to pious uses viz. For the building of Alms-Houses in Pool 333 l. For the relief of poore Prisoners neither Atheists nor 〈◊〉 each man at the sum of twenty Nobles 150 l. For poor Preachers allowing to each man ten pound 100 l. To decaied Artificers charged with wife and children 100 l. To the Merchant Adventurers for the relief of old and support of young freemen 400 l. To Christs Hospital 500l To erect Alms-Houses in and about London 600 l. For a weekly dole of bread to the poor 200 l. For the maintaining of two Scholars in each University intrusting the Leather-sellers with the managing thereof 400 l. I have only gathered the greatest clusters of his Charity which the top boughs thereof did produce purposely concealing the smaller bunches of his bounty growing on the under branches He died Anno Dom. 1601. and lieth buried in Christ-Church in London Memorable Persons THOMAS de la LYND a Gentleman of a fair Estate in this County killed a white Hart in Blackmore Forrest which King Henry the third by expresse will had reserved for his own chase Hereupon a mulct was imposed upon him and the whole County as accessary for not opposing him which is paid called White-Hart Silver to this day into the Exchequer My self hath paid a share for the sauce who never tasted any of the meat so that it seems Kings Venison is sooner eaten than digested Let the Latine Proverb Albo gallo c. in Dorset-shire be turned into Albo cervo ne manum admoliaris ARTHUR GREGORY of Lyme in this County had the admirable Art of Forcing the Seal of a Letter yet so invisibly that it still appeared a Virgin to the exactest beholder Secretary Walsingham made great use of him about the Pacquets which passed from Forraign parts to Mary Queen of Scotland He had a pension paid unto him for his good service out of the Exchequer and died at Lyme about the beginning of the reign of King James WILLIAM ENGLEBERT born at Sherborne was an incomparable Ingeneere and much used in the Eighty eight Queen Elizabeth an excellent House-wife of her Treasure allowed him a pension of one hundred Marks per annum which was paid him until the day of his death He requested of King Iames his Privy Councel leave to serve Foreign Princes and States long peace rendring him useless in England proffering to wave his Pension on that condition but they utterly denied him licence to depart who lived and died in Westminster about the year 1634. The Names of the Gentry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the sixth William Bishop of Bath and Wells Chancellor of England Commissioners to take the Oaths William de Botreaux Chivaler  John Chedyok Knight Knights for the Shire  William Turbervill Knights for the Shire  Humf. Stafford Chiv Ioh. Newburgh sen. Radulph Bush Iohan. Latymer Iohan. Neburgh jun. Williel Bronning Roberti Frampton Nicholai Latymer Walteri Gonis Thome Manston Iohan. Cammel Iohan. Frantleroy Henrici Sherard Will. Anketill Iohan. Hering Iohan. Carent Roberti Turbervile Richardi Fitton Iohannis Mone Iohannis Peterel Rich. Strode Iohannis de la Lynde Roberti Rempston Will. Gerrard Will. Godwyn Will. Dakcombe Roberti Savage Roberti Bannet Edw. Stone Roberti Larkestoke Iohannis Frampton de Dorchester Rogeri Rochford Iohannis Stampford Roberti Hymerford Stephani Russel Henrici Russel Roberti Tredosa Willi. Chetil Walt. Hayngstrigge Ioh. Talbot Simonis Talbot Richardi Byle Williel Hornsbow Radulphi Belton Iohannis Phillippe Thome Anketill Willielmi Clavil de Ferne Willielmi Morton de Chestesbury Willielmi Cole Willielmi Bontley Iohan. Butt Rogeri Grogge de Lyme Willielmi Warner de Pole Roberti Bertram de Dorchester Tho. Tinam de Lyme Rob. Abbot de Melcombe Regis Richardi Kaynell Iohan. Hillary de Shirborn Iohan. Scryveyn de Shirborn Sheriffs of Dorset and Somerset Shires HEN. II. Anno 1 Warinus Anno 2 Rich. de Raddona Anno 3 Warinus de Lisoris Rich. de Raddona Anno 4 Anno 5 Rich. de Raddona Warinus de Lisoris Anno 6 Anno 7 Warinus de Lisoris Anno 8 Idem Anno 9 Robertus de Bello Campo Anno 10 Gilbertus Percy Anno 11 Rich. de Raddon Gilb. de Percy Anno 12 Rob. de Pucherel for four years Anno 16 Alud de Lincolne for six years Anno 22 Rob. de Bello Campo for seven years Anno 29 Will. de Bendenger Anno 30 Idem Anno 31 Rob. filius Pag. Anno 32 Idem Anno 33 Idem RICH. I. Anno 1 Hugo Bardulph Anno 2 Rob. Anno 3 Willielmus de Chahaignes Rad. de Chahaignes for 4. years Anno 7 Will. Chahaignes Walt. de Giffardus Anno 8 Anno 9 Will. de Chaignes Pet. de Schidemore Anno 10 Will. de Cahaignes Reg. JOHAN Anno 1 Pet. de Schidemore Anno 2 Rob. Belet Hen. de Stokes Anno 3 Hubert de Burge Alanus de Wigton Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Will. de Monte Acuto for four years Anno 10 Will. Briewre Rad. de Brey Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Will. Mallet sive Malet for four years Anno 16 Rich. de Marisco Rog. de Pealton HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Pet. de Malo Lacu Anno 3 Idem Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Rog. de Forda Ralph Clericus Anno 6 Rog. de Forda Ralph Clericus Anno 7 Sheriffs of Dorset-Shire Radus Germein Ermegundus de Wenham Sheriffs of Somerset-Shire Rob. de Ford. Rich. Abbas de Michelem Anno 8 Sheriffs of Dorset-Shire Radus Germin Rich. Episcopus Saresb. Gilbert de Staplebigg Sheriffs of Somerset-Shire Johan Russel Radus Russel Joscelin Bathon Episcopus Lucas Rupel Anno 9 Sheriffs of Dorset-Shire Ricus Episcopus Saresb. Gilbert de Staplebig Sheriffs of Somerset-Shire Joscelin Bathon Episcopus Lucas Russel Anno 10 Sheriffs of Dorset-Shire Rich. Episcopus Saresb. Gilbert de Staplebigg Sheriffs of Somerset-Shire Joscelin Bathon Episcopus Will. de Schorewell Anno 11 Will. filius Henerici Anno 12 Idem Anno 13 Tho. de Cirencester Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Idem Hen. de Campo Florido Anno 16 Tho. de Cirencester Hen. de Campo Florido Anno 17 Tho. de Cirencester Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Idem Hen. de Campo Florido Anno 20 Tho. de Cirencester Hen. de Campo Florido Anno 21 Tho. de Cirencester Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Idem Anno 24 Jordan Oliver Anno 25 Hugo de Vinon for six years Anno 31 Hugo de Vinon Barth Peach for four years Anno 35 Hen. de Derleg Anno 36 Elias de Cabian Anno 37 Idem Anno 38 Idem Anno 39 Idem Walterus de Burges Anno 40 Steph. de Hasseton Anno 41 Idem Anno 42 Walt. de Burges Anno 43 Williel Everard Humf. Chaehet Will. Lecombe Clericus Anno 44 Phil. de Cerve Anno 45 Idem Anno 46 Johan Basset Anno 46 Johan Basset Hen. Aultun Anno 47 Phil. Basset Hen. Aulton for five years Anno 53 Tho. de
He died Anno Domini 1631. and lieth buâ—…ied at Chigwell aforesaid AUGUSTINE LINSELL D. D. was born at Bumsted in this County bred Scholar and Fellow in Clare-hall in Cambridge He applyed himself chiefly to the Studies of Greek Hebrew and all Antiquity attaining to great exactness therein He was very knowing in the antient practices of the Jews and from him I learned that they had a Custome at the Circumcising of their Children that certain Undertakers should make a solemn stipulation for their pious education conformable to our God-fathers in Baptisme He was afterwards made Bishop of Peterborough where on the joint-cost of his Clergy he procured Theophilact on the Epistles never printed before to be fairly set forth in Greek and Latine Hence he was removeâ—… to Hereford where he died 163. States-men Sir THOMAL AUDLEY Knight where born my best Industry and Inquiry cannot attain He was bred in the Studie of the Laws till he became Atturney of the Dutchie of Lancaster and Sergeant at Law as most affirme then Speaker of the Parliament Knighted and made Keeper of the great Seal June 4. 1532. being the twenty fourth of King Henry the eight and not long after was made Lord Chancellor of England and Baron Audley of Audley End in this County In the feast of Abby Lands King Henry the eight carved unto him the first cut and that I assure you was a dainty morsell viz. the Priory of the Trinity in Eald-gate Ward London dissolved 1531. which as a Van Currier foreran other Abbeys by two years and foretold their dissolution This I may call afterwards called Dukes-Place the Covent Garden within London as the greatest empty space within the Walls though since filled not to say pestered with houses He had afterwards a large Partage in the Abby Lands in severall Counties He continued in his Office of Chancellour thirteen years and had one onely daughter Margaret who no doubt answered the Pearl in her name as well in her precious qualities as rich Inheritance which she brought to her husband Thomas last Duke of Norfolk This Lord Audley died April 30. 1544. and is buried in the fair Church of Saffron-walden with this lamentable Epitaph The stroak of deaths Inevitable Dart Hath now alas of Life berefâ—…t the Heart Of Sir Thomas Audley of the garter Knight Late Chancellor of England under our Prince of might Henry the eight worthy of high renown And made him Lord Audley of this Town This worthy Lord took care that better Poets should be after then were in his age and founded Magdalen-colledge in Cambridge giving good lands thereunto if they might have enjoyed them according to his Donation Sir RICNARD MORISIN Knight was born in this County as J. Bale his Fellowexile doth acquaint us yet so as that he qualifieth his intelligence with Ut fertâ—…r which I have commuted into our marginall note of dubitation Our foresaid Author addeth that per celebriora Anglorum gymnasia artes excoluit bred probably first in Eton or Winchester then in Cambridge or Oxford and at last in the Inns of Court In those he attained to great skill in Latine and Greek in the Common and Civil Law insomuch that he was often imployed Ambassadour by King Henry the eight and Edward the sixth unto Charles the fifth Emperor and others Princes of Germany acquitting himself both honest and able in those negotiations He began a beautifull house at Cashobery in Hertford-shire and had prepared materialls for the finishing thereof but alas this house proved like the life of his Master who began it I mean King Edward the sixth broken off not ended and that before it came to the middle thereof Yea he was forced to fly beyond the Seas and returning out of Italy died at Strasburgh on the 17. of March Anno Domini 1556. to the grief of all good men Yet his son Sir Charles finished his fathers house in more peaceable times whose great-grand daughter augmented by matches with much honour and wealth a right worthy and vertuous Lady lately deceased was wife to the first Lord Capel and Mother to the present Earl of Essex Sir ANTHONY COOK Knight great-grant child to Sir Thomas Cook Lord Mayor of London was born at Giddy hall in this County where he finished a fair house begun by his great-grand-father as appeareth by this inscription on the frontispiece thereof Aedibus his frontem Proavus Thomas dedit olim Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus He was one of the Governours to King Edward the sixth when Prince and is charactered by Master Camden vir antiquâ severitate He observeth him also to be happy in his daughters learned above their sex in Greek and Latine namely 1. Mildred marryed unto 1. William Cecil Lord Treasurer of England 2. Anne  2. Nicholas Bacon  Chancellor  3. Katherine  3. Henry Killigrew Knights  4. Elizabeth  4. Thomas Hobby   5.  5. Ralph Rowlet   Indeed they were all most eminent Scholars the honour of their own and the shame of our sex both in prose and poetry and we will give an instance of the later Sir Henry Killigrew was designed by the Queen Embassadour for France in troublesome times when the imployment always difficult was then apparently dangerous Now Katherine his Lady wrot these following verses to her sister Mildred Cecil to improve her power with the Lord Treasurer her husband that Sir Henry might be excused from that service Si mihi quem cupio cures Mildreda remitti Tu bona tu melior tu mihi sola Soror Sin malè cunctando retines vel trans mare mittes Tu mala tu pejor tu mihi nulla Soror It si Cornubiam tibi pax six omnia lâ—…ta Sin mare Cecili nuntio bella vale We will endeavour to translate them though I am afraid falling much short of their native elegancy If Mildred by thy care he be sent back whom I request A Sister good thou art to me yea better yea the best But if with stays thou keepst him still or sendst where seas may part Then unto me a Sister ill yea worse yea none thou art If go to Cornwall he shall please I peace to thee foretell But Cecil if he set to Seas I war denounce farewell This Sir Anthony Cook died in the year of our Lord 1576. leaving a fair estate unto his son in whose name it continued untill our time Sir THOMAS SMITH Kt. was born at Saffron Walden in this County and bred in Queens-colledge in Cambridge where such his proficiency in learning that he was chosen out by Henry the eight to be sent over and brought up beyond the Seas It was fashionable in that age that pregnant Students were maintained on the cost of the State to be Merchants for experience in forraign parts whence returning home with their gainfull adventures they were preferred according to the improvement of their time to offices in
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 Fourthâ—…ent â—…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
and Gaping Chincks the Heraulds of its downfall deeming with my self that I discovered as Physicians in our Bodies do cadaverosam faciem ruinosam therein But it rejoyced me when coming there this last year to find it so well amended by the soveraign medicine of Gold or Silver charitably applyed by its good Bishop I wish all Cathedrals in England sick of the same distemper as quick and happy a recovery HARTFORD-SHIRE is so called from Hartford the chief Town therein as Hartford so termed from the Ford of Harts a Hart Couchant in the waters being the Armes thereof Which convinceth me that HART not HERTFORD-SHIRE is the Orthography of this County It hath Essex on the East Middlesex on the South Buckingham shire on the West Bedford and Cambridge shire on the North thereof It might be allowed a Square of 20. miles save that the Angular Insinuations of other Counties prejudice the Entireness thereof I have been informed from an ancient â—…stice therein that one cannot be so advantagiously placed in any part of this Shire but that he may recover another County within the riding of five miles It is the garden of England for delight and men commonly say that such who buy a house in Hartfordshire pay two years purchase for the aire thereof It falls short in Fruitfulness of ESSEX adjoyning thereunto to which it was also annexed under one Sheriff and one Eschetor till after the Reign of King Edward the Third And Paynfull Norden writes a bold Truth For deep feedings or Sheep pastures I take notice of few and those especially about Knebworth To speak of the Soyle as indeed it is most generally for my part I take it but a barren Countrey in respect of some other Shires Indeed this Forrestie-Ground would willingly bear nothing so well as a Crop of Wood. But seeing Custome is another Nature it hath for many years been contented to bring forth good Grain perswaded thereunto by the Industrious Husbandman Surely no County can shew so fair a Bunch of Berries for so they term the fair Habitations of Gentlemen of remark which are called Places Courts Halls and Mannors in other Shires This County affording no peculiar Commodity nor Manufacture We may safely proceed to other Observations when first we have given the due commendation to the Horses of this Shire Their Teames of Horses oft times deservedly advanced from the Cart to the Coach are kept in excellent equipage much alike in colour and stature fat and fair such is their care in dressing and well-feeding them I could name the place and person Reader be not offended with an innocent digression who brought his servant with a Warrant before a Justice of Peace for stealing his grain The man brought his five horses tailed together along with him alledging for himself That if he were the Theefe these were the Receivers and so escaped The Buildings THEOBALDS did carry away the credit built by Sir William beautified by Sir Robert Cecil his Son both Lord Treasurers of England The last exchanged it too wise to do it to his Losse with King James for Hatfield-house which King deceased therein March 27. 1625. Yea This House may be said to decease about its grand Climacterical some sixty three years from the finishing thereof taken down to the ground for the better partage among the Soldiery Anno 1651. and from the seat of a Monarch is now become a little Common-wealth so many intire Tenements like Splinters have flown out of the Materials thereof Thus our Fathers saw it built we behold it unbuilt and whether our Children shall see it re-built he only knows who hath written There is a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together Hatfield-house was first the Bishops of Ely then the Kings afterwards by exchange the Earls of Salisbury For Situation Building Contrivance Prospect Air and all accommodations inferiour to none in England Within a little mile thereof lyeth a place called the Vineyard where nature by the Midwifery of Art is delivered of much pleasure So that the Reader must be a Seer before he can understand the perfection thereof Had this place been in Graecia or nigh Rome where the luxuriant fancies of the Poets being subject-bound improve a Tree into a Grove a Grove into a Forrest a Brook into a River and a Pond into a Lake I say had this Vineyard been there it had disinherited Tempe of its honour and hence the Poets would have dated all their delights as from a Little Paradise and Staple-place of earthly pleasure Medicinal Waters One hath lately been discovered neer Barnet in a Common as generally sanative springs are found in such places as if nature therein intimated her intention designing them for publique profit not private employment it is conceived to run thorough veines of Alome by the taste thereof It coagulateth milk and the curd thereof is an excellent plaister for any green wounds besides several other operations But as Alexander was wont to applaud Achilles not as the most valiant but the most fortunate of men having Homer to trumpet forth his actions so are these waters much advantaged with the vicinitie of London whose Citizens proclame the praise thereof And indeed London in this kind is stately attended having three Medicinal Waters within one dayes Journy thereof The Catalogue of the Cures done by this Spring amounteth to a great number in so much that there is hope in process of time the Water rising here will repaire the blood shed hard by and save as many lives as were lost in the fatal Battel at Barnet betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster Hartford-shire Proverbs HARTFORD-SHIRE Clubs and clouted shoon Some will wonder how this Shire lying so near to London the Staple of English Civilitie should be guiltie of so much Rusticalness But the finest Cloth must have a List and the pure Pesants are of as course a thread in this County as in any other place Yet though some may smile at their clownishness let none laugh at their Industry the rather because the high-shoon of the Tenant payes for the Spanish-Leather-Boots of the Landlord HARTFORD-SHIRE Hedge-Hogs Plenty of Hedge-Hogs are found in this High woodland-County where too often they suck the Kine though the Dayry-maid conne them small thanks for sparing their pains in milking them A creature alwayes in his posture of defence carrying a Stand of Pikes on his back so that if as well victualled as armed he may hold out a seige against any equal opposition If this Proverb containeth any further reflection on the People in this County as therein taxed for covetousness and their constant nudling on the Earth I will not so understand it as hoping and believing this to be a false Application WARE and WADES-Mill are worth all LONDON This I assure you is a Master-piece of the Vulgar wits in this County wherewith they endeavour to amuse Travellers as if WARE a thorough-fare-Market and
he had a 〈◊〉 reflection on the priviledges of the Clergy as exempted by preaching the truth from payment of Taxes save with their own free consent But all would not serve their turn for in the contemporary Parliament the Clergy unwillingly-willing granted a yearly Tenth to supply the pressing occasions of King Edward the Third This William died Anno Dom. 1375. Since the Reformation FRANCIS WHITE was born at St. Neots in this County and not in Lancashire as I and others have been mis-informed witness the Admission book of Caius-Colledge and the Testimonie of his brothers son still alive The Father to this Francis was a Minister and had 5 sons who were Divines and two of them most eminent in their generation Of these this Francis was bred in Caius-Colledge on the same Token That when he was Bishop of Ely and came to consecrate the Chappel of Peter-House he received an Entertainement at that Colledge where with a short speech he incouraged the young students to ply their books by his own Example who from a poor Scholar in that house by Gods blessing on his Industry was brought to that preferment By the Lord Grey of Grobie he was presented to Broughton Ashby in Leicestershire and thence why should a Candle be put under a bushel he was brought to be Lecturer of St. Pauls in London and Parson of St. Peters in Cornhil whence he was successively preferred first Deane then Bishop of Carlile after Bishop of Norwich and at last of Ely He had several solemn Disputations with Popish Priests and Jesuites Father Fisher and others and came off with such good successe that he reduced many seduced Romanists to our Church He often chose Daniel Featly D. D. his assistant in such disputes so that I may call this Prelate and his Doctor Ionathan and his Armour-bearer being confident that the Doctor if alive would not be displeased with the comparison as any disparagement unto him joyntly victorious over the Romish Philistines He died Anno. 163 leaving some of his learned workes to Posterity Writers The Candid Reader is here requested to forgive and amend what in them is of casual transposition HENRY SALTRY was born in this County and became a Cistertian Monk in the Monastery of Saltry then newly founded by Simon Saint Liz Earl of Huntington He was also instructed by one Florentian an Irish Bishop He wrote a profitable book for his own Religion in the maintenance of Purgatory which made him esteemed in that superstitious age He flourished Anno Dom. 1140. GREGORY of HUNTINGTON so called from the place of his Nativity was bred a Benedictine Monke in Ramsey Where he became Prior or Vice-Abbot a place which he deserved being one of the most Learned men of that age for his great skill in Languages For he was through-paced in three Tongues Latine Greek as appears by his many Comments on those Grammarians and Hebrew which last he learned by his constant conversing with the Jewes in England But now the fatal time did approach wherein the Iewes full loth I assure you must leave the Land and many precious books behind them Our Gregory partly by love partly by the Kings power both together will go far in driving a bargain purchased many of those rarities to dispose them in his Convent of Ramsey which as it exceeded other English Monasteries for a Library so for Hebrew books that Monastery exceeded it self After this Gregory had been Prior of Ramsey no fewer then 38 years flourishing under King Henry the Third He died in the Reign of K. Edward the First about 1280. HUGH of Saint Nâ—…OTS was born in that well known Market-Town bred a Carmelite in Hitching in Hartfordshire Hence he went to study in Cambridge where for his worth the Degree of Doctorship was by the University gratis quare whither without paying of Fees or keeping of Acts conferred upon him To him Bale though that be the best Bale which hath the least of Bale and most of Leland therein giveth this Testimony that living in the Egyptian Darkness he sought after the light of Truth adding that he was Piscis in Palude nihil trahens de Sapore Palustri a Fish in the â—…enns drawing nothing of the mud thereof which is a rarity indeed Many his Sermons and he wrotea Comment on Saint Luke He died 1340. and was buried at Hitching WILLIAM RAMSEY was born in this County famous for the richest Benedictines Abbey in England yet here he would not stay but went to Crowland where he prospered so well that he became Abbot thereof He was a Natural Poet and therefore no wonder if faults be found in the feet of his verses For it is given to thorough-pacedNaggs that amble naturally to trip much whilest artificial pacers goe surest on foot He wrote the life of St. Guthlake St. Neots St. Edmond the King c. all in verse But that which may seem a wonder indeed is this that being a Poet he paid the vast debts of others even fourty thousand Mark for the ingagement of his Covent and all within the compasse of eighteen Moneths wherein he was Abbot of Crowland But it rendreth it the more credible because it was done by the assistance of King Henry the Second who to expiate the blood of Becket was contented to be melted into Coine and was prodigiously bountiful to some Churches Our William died 1180. HENRY of HUNTINGTON Son to one Nicholas where born unknown was first a Canon of the Church of Lincolne where he became acquainted with one Albine of Angiers born in France but Fellow-Canon with him of the same Church This Albine he afterwards in his writings modestly owned for his Master having gained much learning from him He was afterwards Chaplain to Alexander that Great Bishop of Lincoln Magnificent unto Madnesse who made him Arch-Deacon of Huntington whence he took his Dâ—…nomination A Town which hath received more Honour from him than ever it can return to him seeing Huntington had never been mentioned in the mouths nor passed under the Pens of so many foreigners but for the worthy History of the Saxon Kings written by this Henry Let me add that considering the sottishness of Superstition in the age he lived in he is less smoohted therewith than any of his contemporaries and being a secular Priest doth now and then abate the pride of Monastical pretended perfection He flourished under King Stephen in the year of our Lord 1248. and is probably conjectured to die about the year 1260. ROGER of St. IVES was born at that noted Town of this County being omitted by Bale but remembred by Pits though seldome sounding when the other is silent for his activity against the Lollards and Sir John Old-Castle against whom he wrote a book flourishing in the year 1420. Since the Reformation IOHN YONG was a Monk in Ramsey Abbey at the dissolution thereof Now by the same proportion that a penny
A fright of his Mother is generally reported to have accelerated or rather antedated his nativity The Popish Priests belonging to the Queen stood ready watching to snatch the Royal Babe to their superstitious baptisme but the tender care of King Charles did out vigil their watchfullness commanding Doctor Web His next Chaplain in attendance to Christen it according to the Church of England This done within few houres he expired and lyes buried at Westminster Saints EALPHAGE born of good parentage had his education during his youth in Glocestershire then he became a Monk at Glastenbury But that place not sufficiently suiting the severity of his solitary soul removing thence he built himself a Hut at Bath which smal Cel in process of time the longest line proceedeth from a little point at first proved the beautiful Priory in that place Hence by Dunstan he was preferred Bishop of Winchester continuing therein twenty two years And at last became Bishop of Canterbury It happeneth that the cruel Danes seizing on that City put it under Decimation Start not loyal reader at the word if in the late Tyranny of the times thou thy self hast been against all right and reason Decimated in thy Purse as now the poor Citizens of Canterbury were in their Persons For the Danes under pretence of Tribute detained Saved the tenth part of the Citizens alive amounting unto eight hundred and four Destroyed the other nine parts no fewer than seven thousand two hundred thirty six As for Arch-Bishop Alphage they demanded of him a greater summe than he could pay or procure whose wealth consisted chieâ—…y in his Piety no currant Coin with the Pagan Danes So that after seven moneths imprisonment they barbarously murthered him near Greenwich about the year 1013. His Corps was first buried in Saint Pauls and then removed by the command of King Canutus to Canterbury Impudent Monks have almost as much wronged his memory as the Danes did his Person farcing his life with such abominable lies that thereby the very truth therein is rendred suspected AGELNOTH Son to Count Agelmar was a Calendred Saint in this County being Elected Archbishop of Canterbury from being Dean over the Canons in that Convent This is the first time I find the Dignity of Decanus or Dean in England so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ten having it seemeth at the first Inspection just over that Number though since an Heteroclite in England as either over fewer but Six in Norwich Bristol c. or many more in other Cathedrals He was so pious in his Life that he was commonly called the GOOD And here one may justly wonder God having two Grand Epithets OPTIMUS and MAXIMUS most give the former the go-by and strive onely for the latter to be the Greatest though Greatnesse without Goodnesse is both Destructive to him that hath it and Dangerous to all others about him Going to Rome to get his Pall from the Pope by him he was courteously entertained and deserved his welcome who gave him saith my Author for the Arm of Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo one hundred Talents of Silver and one Talent of Gold citing Bishop Godwin for his author But indeed that Bishop though reporting the hundred Talents of Silver mentioneth not at all that of Gold Perchance Mr. Weaver had lately read still obversing his fancy how Pharaoh K. of Egypt having taken away King Jehoahash condemned the land in An Hundred Talents of Silver and A Talent of Gold and to me it is a double wonder First that this Archbishop would give Secondly that he could give living in a harraged Land wherein so much Misery and little Money so vast a sum However this mindeth me of a passage in Saint Augustine speaking of the Reliques of the deceased Si tamen Martyrum if so they be of Martyrs and let me chuse the words of this Father on this Father Si tamen Augustini If this were the arm of Saint Augustine and not of some other Ordinary not to say Infamous person Well were one as good a Mathematician as He who collected the Stature of Hercules from the length of his Foot it were easie to proportion the Price of Saint Augustines whole body from this valuation of his arme And now having so dearly bought it let him dispose thereof as he pleaseth and let no man grudge if he gave it to Coventry rather than Canterbury He expended much in repairing or rather renewing of his Cathedral of Canterbury lately destroyed by the Danes assisted therein by the bounty of King Canutus who at the instance and by the advice of this Prelate did many worthy works Our Agelnoth after he had set 17. years in his See died October 29. in the year 1038. Martyrs WILLIAM WHITE was born in this County and entering into Orders became a great maintainer of the Opinions of Wicliffe He was the first married Priest in England since the Popes solemn prohibition thereof I find Johan his wife commended for her modesty and patience and that she was conjux talidigna marito Indeed she shared very deep in her husbands sufferings hardly coming off with her life at the last For he though leaving his living as unsafe to hold still kept his calling and preached about all the Eastern parts of the Land The same mouth which commanded the Disciples in time of Peace Goe not from house to house so to avoid the censure of Levity advised them also when ye are persecuted in one City fly to another so to provide for their own security Such the constant practice of this W. VVhite who was as a Partridge dayly on the wing removing from place to place At last he was seised on at Norwich by VVilliam Alnwick the cruel Bishop thereof and charged with 30 Articles for which he was condemned and burnt at Norwich in September 1428. He was the Protomartyr of all born in this County and had not five before him in all England who suffered merely for Religion without any mixture of matter of State charged upon them As for MARIAN Martyrs we meet with many in this County though not to be charged on Cardinal Pool Arch-bishop of Canterbury further then his bare permission thereof It is observed of Bears that they love to kill their own Prey and except forced by Famine will not feed on what was dead before Such a Bear was bloody Bonner who was all for the quick and not for the dead whilest clean contrary Cardinal Pool let the living alone and vented his spleen onely on the dead whom he could wrong but not hurt burning the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius at Cambridge Such Martyrs therefore as suffered in this Shire were either by the cruelty of Griffin Bishop of Rochester or of Thornton Suffragan of Dover Confessors SIMON FISH Esquire was born in this County bred a Lawyer in Graies-Inn London Here he acted that part in a Tragedy wherein the pride
County a place so named as it seems from some noxious and malignant herbs growing therein What the natural plants there may be I know not sure the moral ones are excellent which hath produced so many of the Honourable Family of the Wottons Of whom this Nicholas Doctor of Civil Laws bred in Oxford may be termed a Center of Remarkables so many met in his person 1. He was Dean of the two Metropolitan Churches of Canterbury and York 2. He was the first Dean of those Cathedrals 3. He was Privy Councellor to four successive Soveraigns King Henry the eight King Edward the sixth Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth 4. He was employed Thirteen several times in Embassies to forraign Princes Now because there are some of so diffident Natures that they will believe no total summe except they peruse the particulars let them satisfie themselves with what followeth Five times to Charls the fifth Emperor Once to Philip his Son King of Spain Once to Francis the first King of France Once to Mary Queen of Hungary Governess of the Netherlands Twice to William Duke of Clive Once to renew the peace between England France and Scotland Anno Dom. 1540. Again to the same purpose at Cambra 1549. Once sent Commissioner with others to Edinbourgh in Scotland 1560. We must not forget how in the first of Queen Elizabeth the Archbishoprick of Canterbury was proffered unto and refused by him He died January the twenty sixth Anno Dom. 1566. being about seventy years of age and was buried in Canterbury GILES FLETCHER brother of Richard Fletcher Bishop of London was born in this County as I am credibly informed He was bred first in Eaton then in Kings Colledge in Cambridge where he became Doctor of Law A most excellent Poet a quality hereditary to his two Sons Giles and Phineas Commissioner into Scotland Germany and the Low-Countries for Queen Elizabeth and her Embassador into Russia Secretary to the City of London and Master of the Court of Requests His Russian Embassie to settle the English Merchandise was his master-piece to Theodor Juanowich Duke of Muscovia He came thither in a dangerous juncture of time viz. in the end of the year 1588. First some forraigners I will not say they were the Hollanders envying thâ—… free Trade of the English had done them bad offices Secondly a false report was generally believed that the Spanish Armado had worsted the English Fleet and the Duke of Muscovy who measured his favour to the English by the possibility he apprehended of their returning it grew very sparing of his smiles not to say free of his frowns on our Merchants residing there However our Doctor demeaned himself in his Embassie with such cautiousness that he not only escaped the Dukes fury but also procured many priviledges for our English Merchants exemplified in Mr. Hackluit Returning home and being safely arrived at London he sent for his intimate friend Mr. Wayland Prebendary of S. Pauls and Senior Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Tutor to my Father from whose mouth I received this report with whom he heartily exprest his thankfulnesse to God for his safe return from so-great a danger for the Poets cannot fansie Ulrsses more glad to be come out of the Den of Polyphemus than he was to be rid out of the power of such a barbarous Prince who counting himself by a proud and voluntary mistake Emperour of all Nations cared not for the Law of all Nations and who was so habited in blood that had he cut off this Embassadors head he and his friends might have sought their own amends but the question is where he would have found it He afterwards set forth a Book called The Russian Commonwealth expressing the Government or Tyranny rather thereof wherein saith my Author are many things most observable But Queen Elizabeth indulging the reputation of the Duke of Muscovy as a confederate Prince permitted not the publick printing of that which such who have private Copies know to set the valuation thereon I cannot attain the certain date of his death Physicians ROBERT FLOID who by himself is latined Robertus de Fluctibus was born in this County and that of a Knightly Family as I am informed bred as I take it in Oxford and beyond the Seas A deep Philosopher and great Physician who at last fixed his habitation in Fan-Church-Street London He was of the Order of the Rosa-Crucians and I must confesse my self ignorant of the first Founder and Sanctions thereof perchance none know it but those that are of it Sure I am that a Rose is the sweetest of Flowers and a Cross accounted the sacredest of forms or figures so that much of eminency must be imported in their composition His Books written in Latine are great many and mystical The last some impute to his Charity clouding his high matter with dark language left otherwise the lustre thereof should dazle the understanding of the Reader The same phrases he used to his Patients and seeing conceit is very contributive to the well working of Physick their fancy or faith-natural was much advanced by his elevated expressions His works are for the English to sleight or admire for French and Forraigners to understand and use not that I account them more judicious than our own Countrymen but more inquiring into such difficulties The truth is here at home his Books are beheld not so good as Chrystal which some say are prized as precious pearls beyond the Seas But I conclude all with the Character which my worthy though concealed Friend thus wrote upon him Lucubrationibus quas solebat edere profusissimas semper visus est plus sumere laboris quam Populares nostri volebant fructum quia hunc fere negligebant prae tedio legendi prejudicio quodam oleam perdendi operamque ob CABALAM quam scripta ejus dicebantur olere magis quam PERIPATUM ob ferventius hominis ingenium in quo plerique requirebant Judicium He died on the eighth of September Anno Dom. 1637. WILLIAM HARVEY Son of Thomas Harvey was born at Folkston in this County His Father had a Week of Sons whereof this William bred to learning was the eldest his other brethren being bound Apprentices in London and all at last ended in effect in Merchants They got great Estates and made their Father the Treasurer thereof who being as skilful to purchase Land as they to gain Money kept employed and improved their gainings to their great advantage so that he survived to see the meanést of them of far greater estate than himself Our William was bred in Caius Colledge in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Physick Five years also he studied at Padua making a good Composition of Forraign and Domestick learning So that afterwards he was for many years Physician to King Charles the First And not only Doctor Medecinae but Doctor Medicorum For this was he that first found out the Circulation of the Blood an
went from thy flock astray Yet thou good Lord vouchsafe thy Lamb to win Home to thy Fold and hold thy Lamb therein That at the day when Goats and Lambs shall sever Of thy choice Lambs Lamb may be one for ever The exact time of his death I cannot meet with but by proportion I conjecture it to be about 1580. FRANCES SIDNEY Daughter of Sir William Sister to Sir Henry Lord Deputy of Ireland and President of Wales Aunt to the renowned Sir Philip Sidney was born and probably at Pensherst the ancient seat of the Sidneys in this County A Lady endowed with many Virtues signally charitable expending much in large Benefactions to the Publick She bestowed on the Abby Church of Westminster a salary of twenty pounds per annum for a Divinity Lecture and founded Sidney Sussex Colledge in Cambridge of which largely in my Church-History She was Relict of Thomas Ratcliff the third Earl of Sussex This worthy Lady died Childless unlesse such Learned Persons who received their Breeding in her Foundation may be termed her Issue on the ninth day of May Anno 1588. as appeareth by her Epitaph Sir FRANCIS NETHERSOLE Knight born at Nethersole in this County was bred Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards became Orator of the University Hence he was preferred to be Embassador to the Princes of the Union and Secretary to the Lady Elizabeth Queen of 〈◊〉 it is hard to say whether he was more remarkable for his doings or sufferings in her behalf He married Lucy eldest Daughter of Sir Henry Goodyear of Polesworth in Warwick 〈◊〉 by whose encouragement being free of himself to any good design he hath founded and endowed a very fair School at Polesworth aforesaid and is still living Memorable Persons SIMON Son of William Lynch Gent. was born at Groves in the Parish of Staple in this County Decemb. 9. 1562. But see more of his Character under this Title in Essex where his Life and death were better known MARY WATERS was born at Lenham in this County and how abundantly intituled to Memorability the ensuing Epitaph in Markeshall Church in Essex will sufficiently discover Here lieth the Body of Mary Waters the Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esquire wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esquire her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her Three hundred sixty seven Children sixteen of her own body one hundred and fourteen Grand-children two hundred twenty eight in the third Generation and nine in the fourth She lived a most pious life and in a Christian manner died here at Markeshall in the ninety third year of her age and in the forty fourth year of her Widowhood the eleventh of May 1620. Thus she had a Child for every day in the though Leap year and one over Here we may observe that generally the highest in Honour do not spread the broadest in posterity For time was when all the Earls in England and those then seventeen in number had not put together so many Sons and Daughters as one of them had viz. Edward Somerset Earle of Worcester And yet of both Sexes he never had but * thirteen But to return to Mistresse Waters she since hath been much out-stript in point of fruitfulnesse by one still surviving and therefore this worthy Matrone in my mind is more memorable on another account viz. for patient weathering out the tempest of a troubled conscience whereon a remarkable story dependeth Being much afflicted in mind many Ministers repaired to her and amongst the rest Reverend Mr. John Fox than whom no more happy an instrument to set the joynts of a broken spirit All his counsels proved ineffectual insomuch that in the agony of her soul having a Venice-glass in her hand she brake forth into this expression I am as surely damn'd as this glasse is broken which she immediately threw with violence to the ground Here happened a wonder the glasse rebounded again and was taken up whole and entire I confesse it is possible though difficult so casually to throw as brittle a substance that lighting on the edges it may be preserved but happening immediately in that juncture of time it seemed little lesse than miraculous However the Gentlewoman took no comfort thereat as some have reported and more have believed but continued a great time after short is long to people in pain in her former disconsolate condition without any amendment Until at last God the great Clock-keeper of Time who findeth out the fittest minutes for his own mercies suddenly shot comfort like lightning into her soul which once entred ever remained therein God doth no palliate cures what he heals it holds so that she led the remainder of her life in spiritual gladnesse This she her self told to the Reverend father Thomas Morton Bishop of Duresme from whose mouth I have received this relation In the days of Queen Mary she used to visit the Prisons and to comfort and relieve the Confessors therein She was present at the burning of Mr. Bradford in Smithfield and resolved to see the end of his suffering though so great the presse of people that her shooes were trodden off and she forced thereby to go barefoot from Smithfield to Saint Martins before she could furnish her self with a new pair for her money Her dissolution happened as is aforesaid Anno 1620. NICHOLAS WOOD was born at Halingborne in this County being a Landed man and a true Labourer He was afflicted with a Disease called Boulimia or Caninus Apetitus insomuch that he would devour at one meal what was provided for twenty men eat a whole Hog at a sitting and at another time thirty dozen of Pigeons whilest others make mirth at his malady Let us raise our gratitude to the goodness of God especially when he giveth us appetite enough for our meat and yet meat too much for our appetite whereas this painful man spent all his estate to provide Provant for his belly and died very poor about the year 1630. We will conclude this Topick of Memorable Persons with a blanck mention of him whose name hitherto I cannot exactly attain being an Ingenuous Yeoman in this County who hath two Ploughs fastened together so finely that he plougheth two furrows at once one under another and so stirreth up the Land twelve or fourteen Inches deep which in so deep ground is very good Scholars know that Hen-dia-duo is a very thrifty Figure in Rhetorick and how advantagious the improvement of this device of a Twinne-Plough may be to posterity I leave to the skilful in Husbandry to consider Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1. Will. Sevenock William Rumshed Sevenock Grocer 1418 2. Thomas Hill William Hill Hillstone Grocer 1484 3. Rich. Chawry William Chawry Westram Salter 1494 4. Andrew Jud. John Jud. Tonbridge Skinner 1550 4. John Rivers Richard Rivers Pensherst Grocer 1573 6. Edw. Osburne Richard Osburne Ashford Clothworker
with King Edward the first under whom he was Bishop of Coventry and Liechfield and Treasurer of England He granted him also Liberty of free Warren in VVest and Thorpe Langton in this County the Patrimoniall inheritance of this Prelate VVith his own innocence and friends assistance at long sailing he weathered out the Tempest of the Popes displeasure Longer did he groan under the undeserved Anger of King Edward the second chiefly because this Bishop sharply reproved him when as yet but Prince for his Debauchery See here the great difference betwixt youth some hopefully some desperately riotous Of the former was Henry the fifth who when King is said to have rewarded and advanced such who had reproved and punished him when Prince Of the latter was King Edward not only wild but mad in his vitiousnesse But our Langton at length was brought saith my Author in Regis Semigratiam into the Kings half favour let me add in populi sesquegratiam and into the peoples favour and half who highly loved and honoured him His tragicomical life had a peaceable end in Plenty and Prosperity He found his Cathedral of Liâ—…hfield mean and left it magnificent and it will appear by the instance of our Langton Josseline of Wells and others that Bishops continuing unremoved in their See have atcheived greater matters then those who have been often translated though to richer Bishopricks Indeed prodigious was his bounty in building and endowing his Cathedral wherein he continued almost 25. years and dying 1321. was buryed in the Chappel of St. Mary of his own erection ROGERDE MARTIVAL Son and Heir of Sir Aukitell de Martivall Kt. who gave for his Arms Argent a Cinque foyle Sable was born at Nowsley in this County He was first Arch-Deacon of Leicester then Dean of Lincoln and at last consecrated Bishop of Salisbury in the Reign of King Edward the Second 1315. Now seeing Bishop Godwin hath nothing more of him save his Name and Date it is charity further to inform Posterity that he was the last heir male of his house and founded a Colledg at Nowsley temp Edw. 1. for a Warden and certain Brethren which in the 24. of Hen. 6. was valued to dispend yearly besides all charges 6. l. 13. 5. 4. d. His estate descended to Joyce de Martivall his Sister married unto Sir Ralph Hastings lineal Ancestor to the now Earl of Huntington As for the Mannor of Nowsley as it came by the mother so it went away with her Daughter into the Family of the Herons and by her Daughter into the Family of the Hazleriggs who at this day are the Possessors thereof This Bishop dyed in the midst of Lent 1329. ROBERT WIVIL was born of worthy and wealthy parentage at Stanton Wivil in this County at the Instance of Philippa Queen to King Edward the Third the Pope Anno 1329. preferred him Bishop of Salisbury It is hard to say whether he were more Dunce or Dwarfe more unlearned or unhansome insomuch that T. Walsingham tells us that had the Pope ever seen him as no doubt he felt him in his large Fees he would never have conferred the Place upon him He sate Bishop more then 45. years and impleaded William Mountague Earl of Salisbury in a Writ of Right for the Castle of Salisbury The Earl chose the Trial by Battell which the Bishop accepted of and both produced their Champions into the Place The Combatant for the Bishop coming forth all clad in white with the bishops own Arms viz. Gules Fretty Varee * a Chief Or empailed no doubt with them of his See on his Surcote Some highly commended the Zeal of the Bishop asserting the Rights of his Church whilest others condemned this in him as a unprelatical act God allowing Duells no competent Deciders of such Differences And moderate men to find out an expedient said he did this not as a Bishop but Baron the best was the matter was taken up by the Kings interposing and the Bishop with 2500. Marks bought of the Earl the quiet possession of the Castle and dyed Anno Dâ—…m 1375. being buryed under a Marble Stone about the middle of the Quire Since the Reformation JOSEPH HALâ—… was born at Ashby De La Zouch in this County where his Father under the Earl of Huntington was Governour or Bayly of the Town So soon almost as Emanuel Colledge was admitted into Cambridge he was admitted into that Colledge within few years after the first foundation thereof He passed all his degrees with great applause First noted in the University for his ingenuous maintaining be it Truth or Paradox that Mundus senescit The World groweth old Yet in some sort his position confuteth his position the wit and quickness whereof did argue an increase rather than a decay of parts in this latter age He was first beneficed by Sir R. Drury at Hallsted in Suffolk and thence removed by Edward Lord Denny afterward Earl of Norwich to Waltham Abbey in Essex Here I must pay the Tribute of my Gratitude to his memory as building upon his foundation beholding my self as his great Grandchild in that place three degrees from him in succession But oh how many from him in ability His little Catechisme hath done great good in that populous parish and I could wish that Ordinance more generally used all over England Being Doctor of Divinity he was sent over by K. James to the Synod of Dort whence only indisposition of body forced him to return before the rest of his Collegues He was preferred first Dean of Worcester then Bishop of Exeter then Bishop of Exeter then Bishop of no place surviving to see his sacred function buryed before his eyes He may be said to have dyed with his pen in his hand whose Writing and Living expired together He was commonly called our English Seneca for the purenesse plainesse and fulnesse of his style Not unhappy at Controversies more happy at Comments very good in his Characters better in his Sermons best of all in his Meditations Nor will it be amiss to transcribe the following passage out of his Will In the name of God Amen I Joseph Hall D.D. not worthy to be called Bishop of Norwich c. First I bequeath my soul c. my body I leave to be interred without any funeral pomp at the Discretion of my Executors with this only monition that I do not hold Gods House a meet Repository for the dead bodies of the greatest Saints He dyed September the 8. Anno Dom. 1656. and was buryed at Hyhem near Norwich Statesmen GEORGE VILLIERS was born at Brooksby in this County 〈◊〉 son to his father Sir George Villiers and second son to his Mother Mary Beaumont Being debarred by his late Nativity from his fathers lands he was happy in his Mothers love maintaining him in France till he returned one of the compleatest Courtiers in Christendom his body and behaviour mutually gracing one another Sir Tho. Lake
whom the Cheif Justice therin said Your Kinsman was my Predecessour in the Court and a great Lawyer My Lord replied the Gentleman he was a very honest man for he left a small estate But indeed though his estate was not considerable compared to his Successors then present it was in it self of a good valuation Writers WILLIAM DE LEICESTER otherwise called William de Montibus which I would willingly English William of the Woulds was born in Leicester in this County bred in Oxford where he was Doctor and Professor of Divinity so eminent for his Learning that he was known to and much beloved by the Nobility of the land He was also known by the name of Mr. William an evidence I assure you sufficient to avouch his Majesterialty in all Learning He was removed to Lincolne and became first Canon then Chancelour of the Church Boston of Bury reckoneth up many and Learned Books of his making He flourished under King John 1210. and lyeth buryed at Lincolne RICHARD BELGRAVE was born saith J. Pitz at Chichester in Sussex but at Belgrave in Leicester-shire saith Mr. William Burton whom I rather beleive because he wrote a particular Description of this County Now surely the more is the exactness of the Authour the less the extent of his Subject especially making it his Set-work what was Pits his by-work to observe the Natives of this Shire But both agree him to be a Carmelite bred in Cambridge an excellent Divine and good Schoolman more Learned then eloquent He wrote one Book of Theological Determinations and another of Ordinary Questions flourishing in the year 1220 under King Edward the Second ROBERT DE LEICESTER was born therein but bred in Oxford a Franciscan Fryer He was one of those who brought preaching into Fashion in that age and was much esteemed for his faculty therein by most of the Nobility But Robert Mascall Bishop of Hereford as pious and learned as any in that age had an extraordinary affection for him Our Leicestrian Robert appeareth also a good Chronologer having written judiciously of the Hebrew and Roman Computation In his reduced age he retired to Leichfield where he dyed and was buryed in the Monastery of the Franciscans 1348. THOMAS RATCLIF born at Ratcliffe in this County was bred an Augustinian in Leicester where he was Ordinis sui Episcopus strain the Word no higher then to overseer of his order He had Ingenium fecundum amplum and pity it was that he had Vitae institutum sterile angustum However to enlarge his Soul he wrote divers Books and flourished anno 1360. BARTHOLOMEVV CULIE was born at Radoliffe-Culie in this County as the exact Describer thereof avoucheth And therefore Pitz committeth a double mistake about this One Writer first calling him Conway then making him a Welshman by his Nativity How hard is it to commit one and but one Error This Bartholomew was an excellent Philosopher and wrote a Book of Generation and Corruption and although J. Pitz. confesseth himself ignorant of the time he lived in my Authour assureth me that he flourished under King Edward the third WILLIAM DE LUBBENHAM was born at Lubbenham in this County brought up in Oxford a good Philosopher and a Divine was after a White Fryer or Carmelite in Coventry and after became Provincial of the Order which place he kept till he dyed He wrote upon Aristotles Posteriors and one Book of ordinary Questions He dyed in the White Fryers in Coventry 1361. in the 36. year of K. Edward the Third JEFFERY DE HARBY was born at Harby in this County and bred in Oxford where he became Provincial of the Augustines and Confessor to K. Edward the Third Wonder not when meeting with so many Confessors to that King presuming he had but one at one time Conscience not standing on State and variety in that kind For know King Edward reigned 50. years and Confessors being aged before admitted to their place his Vivaciousnesse did wear out many of them Besides living much beyond the Seas it is probable that he had his Forraign and his Home Confessors Our Jeffery was also of his Privy Counsel being as prudent to advise in matters politick as pious in spiritual concernments Such as admired he was not preferred to some wealthy Bishoprick must consider that he was ambitious and covetous to be poor and wrote a violent Book in the praise and perfection thereof against Armachanus Dying in London he was buryed in the Church of the Augustines about the Year 1361. WILLIAM DE FOLVIL was born at Ashbye-Folvil in this County and therefore when Bale calleth him Lincolniensem understand him not by County but by Diocesse He was bred a Franciscan in the University of Cambridge and engaged himself a great Master of defence in that doughty quarrel pro pueris induendis that children under the age of 18. might be admitted into Monastical orders For whereas this was then complained of as a great and general grievance that by such preproperous Couling of Boyes and vailing of Girles Parents were cozened out of their children and children cozened out of themselves doing in their Minority they knew not what and repenting in their maturity not knowing what to do our Folvil with more passion then reason maintained the legality thereof He dyed and was buryed in Stamford anno 1384. HENRY DE KNIGHTON was born at Knighton in this County sometime Abbot of Leicester who wrote his History from William the Conquerour to the time of King Richard the Second in whose Reign he dyed It seemeth Lelandus non vidit omnia nor his shadow Bale nor his shadow Pits all three confessing that the History of this Knighton never came to their hands Whereas of late it hath been fairly printed with other Historians on the commendable cost of Cornelius Bee Thus it is some comfort and contentment to such whom Nature hath denyed to be Mothers that they may be drye Nurses and dandle Babes in their Laps whom they cannot bear in their Wombs And thus this Industrious Stationer though no Father hath been Foster Father to many worthy Books to the great profit of posterity WILLIAM WOODFORD I cannot fixe his Nativity with any certainty because so many Woods and Fords and would the former did continue as well as the latter and consequently so many Towns called Woodfords in England He is placed here because his Surname in this age flourished in great Eminency in this County He was bred a Franciscan and though Bilious Bale giveth him the Character of Indoctè Doctus we learn from Leland that he was one of profound Learning and Thomas Waldensis owneth and calleth him Magistrum suum His Master Indeed Woodford set him the first Copy of Railing against Wickliffe being deputed by T. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury to confute publickly in Writing his Opinions He dyed and was buryed at Colchester 1397. THOMAS LANGTON was born at
By Pope Gregory the Ninth he was made Cardinal of St. Stephens anno 1231. He was a true Lover of his Countrymen and could not abide to hear them abused the cause that his choler was twice raised when the Pope said in his Presence that there was not a faithful man in England though wisely he repressed his Passion After this Pope Gregories death he was the formost of the 〈◊〉 Elects for the Papacy and on fair play the most probable person to carry the place but he was double barr'd First because an honest man as any in that age Secondly because an English-man the Italians desiring to Monopolize the choice to themselves Hereupon in the Holy Conclave the better place the better deed he was made away by poison to make room for Celestine to succeed him who sate that skittish place but a short time dying 17. days after our Somercots death which happened anno Dom. 1241. Prelates WILLIAM of GANESBOROUGH was born in that Fair Market Town which performeth more to the Eye then Fame hath reported to the Ear thereof He was bred a Franciscan in Oxford and became the Twenty fifth Lecturer of his Order He was afterwards sent over by King Edward the first with Hugh of Manchester to Philip King of France to demand reparation for some Dammages in Aquitaine He was a mighty Champion of the Popes Infallibility avowing that what David indulged to his Son Adonijah never saying unto him why didst thou so ought to be rendred by all to his Holynesse being not to be called to an account though causing the Damnation of thousands I remember when I was in Cambridge some thirty years since there was a Flying though false report that Pope Urban the Eight was cooped up by his Cardinals in the Castle of St. Angelo Hereupon a waggish Scholar said jam 〈◊〉 est Papa non potest errare it was then true according to their received Intelligence that the Pope could not straggle or wander But our Ganesborough stoutly defended it in the literal sense against all opposers for which his good service Pope Boniface the Eight preferred him Bishop of Worcester where he sate 6. years and dyed 1308. WILLIAM AYRMIN was descended of an ancient Family in this County still extant in great Eminency of Estate at Osgodby therein He was for some time Keeper of the Seal and Vice-Chancellour to King Edward the Second at what time anno 1319. the following misfortune befell him and take the Original thereof out of an Anonymal Croniclering Manuscript Episcopus Eborum Episcopus Eliae Thesaurarius Abbas Beatae Mariae Eborum Abbas de Selbie Decanus Eborum Dominus Willielmus Arymanee Vice-Cancellarius Angliae ac Dominus Johannes Dabeham cum 8000. ferme hominum tam equitum quam peditum Civibus properanter Civitatem egredientes quoddam flumen Swale nuncupatum sparcis cuneis transeuntes indispositis seu potius confusis ordinibus cum Adversariis congressi sunt Scoti siquidem in Marte gnari amplitudinem eorum exercitus caute regentes in nostris agminibus strictis audacter irruerunt nostrorum denique in brevi laceratis cuneis atque dissipatis corruerunt ex nostris tam in ore gladii quam aquarum scopulis suffocati plusquam 4000. capti sunt Domini Johannes de Papeham Dominus Willièlmus de Arymanee ut praefertur de Cancellaria c. The Arch-bishop of York the bishop of Ely Lord Treasurer the Abbot of St. Maries in York the Abbot of Selby the Dean of York Mr. William Arymane Vice-Chancelour and Mr. John Dabehame with almost 8000. Men as well Horse as Foot and Citizens hastily going out of the City passing over a certain River called Swale with scattered parties and with disordered or rather confused Ranks encountred the Enemy The Scotch cunning in War waryly ruling the greatnesse of their Army boldly rushed on our Men with well ordered Troops and afterwards in short time having broken and scattered ouâ—… Parties there fell of our Men with the mouth of the Sword and chok'd with the Water more then 4000. and Mr. Iohn de Pabehame and Mr. William Arymane of the Chancery as aforesaid were taken Prisoners Afterwards recovering his Liberty he was made Chancelour of England and bishop of Norwich in the 18. year of King Edward the Second He gave two hundred pounds to buy Land to maintain priests to say Masse for his Soul He dyed anno Dom. 1337. at Charing Cross nigh London when he had been eleven years bishop I am credibly informed that he bestowed the Mannor of Silk Willoughby in this County on his Family which with other Fair Lands is possessed by them at this day WILLIAM WAYNFLET was born at Waynflet in this County whence he took his Denomination according to the custome of Clergymen in that age For otherwise he was eldest Son to Richard Pattin an ancient Esquire in this County and I understand that at this day they remain at Barsloe in Darbyshire descended from the said Knight But of this worthy Prelate Founder of Magdalen-colledge in Oxford abundantly in my Church-History WILLIAM LYNVVOOD was born at Lynwood in this County and proceeded Doctor of the Laws probably rather by Incorporation then constant Education in Oxford long living a Commoner in Gunvil Hall in Cambridge He was Chancellor to the Archâ—…bishop of Canterbury Keeper of the Privy Seal to King Henry the Sixth and was employed in several Embassies into Spain and Portugall He wrote a learned Comment on the English provincial Constitutions from Stephen Langhton to Archbishop Chichley and his pains at last was rewarded with the Bishoprick of St. Davids where he dyed 1446. WILLIAM ASCOUGH was descended of a worshipful and very ancient Family now living at Kelsey in this County the variation of a Letter importing nothing to the contrary I have seen at Sarisbury his Arms with allusion to the Arms of that House and some Episcopal addition Such likeness is with me a better Evidence then the samenesse knowing that the Clergy in that age delighted to disguise their Coats from their Paternal bearing He was bred Doctor of the Laws a very able man in his profession became Bishop of Sarum confessor to King Henry the Sixth and was the first as T. Gascoigne relateth of Bishops who discharged that Office as then conceived beneath the place Some will say if King Henry answered the character commonly received of his Sanctity his Confessor had a very easie performance Not so for always the most conscientious are the most scrupulous in the confession of their sins and the particular enumeration of the circumstances thereof It happened that I. Cade with his cursed crew many of them being the Tennants of this Bishop fell fowl on this Prelate at Edington in this shire Bishop Godwin saith Illi quam ob causam infensi non habâ—…o compertum He could not tell why they should be so incensed against him But I conceive it was because he was learned pious and
King Iames Bishop of Salisbury He dyed in his calling having begun to put in print an excellent book against Atheists most useful for our age wherein their sin so aboundeth His Death happened March 11. 1619. not two full years after his Consecration Statesmen EDVVARD FINES Lord Clinton Knight of the Garter was Lord Admiral of England for more then thirty years a Wise Valiant and Fortunate Gentleman The Masterpeice of his service was in Mustleborough Field in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and the Battail against the Scots Some will wonder what a Fish should do on dry Land what use of an Admiral in a Land fight But know the English kept themselves close to the shore under the shelter of their ships and whilst their Arrows could do little their spears lesse their swords nothing against the Scots who appeared like a hedge of Steel so well armed and closed together the great Ordnance from their ships at first did all making such destruction in the Scottish army that though some may call it a Land-fight it was first a Victory from the sea and then but an Execution on the Land By Queen Elizabeth who honoured her honours by bestowing them sparingly he was created Earl of Lincoln May 4. 1574. and indeed he had breadth to his height a proportionable estate chiefly in this County to support his Dignity being one of those who besides his paternal Inheritance had much increased his estate He dyed January the sixteenth 1585. and lyeth buryed at Windsor in a private chappel under a stately Monument which Elizabeth his third Wife Daughter to the Earl of Kildare erected in his Remembrance THOMAS WILSON Doctor of Laws was born in this County bred Fellow of Kings-Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards was Tutor in the same University to Henry and Charles Brandons successively Dukes of Suffolk Hard shift he made to conceal himself in the Reign of Queen Mary Under Queen Elizabeth he was made Master of the Hospital of St. Katharines nigh the Tower of London upon the same Token that he took down the Quire which my Author saith allow him a little Hyperbole was as great as the Quire at St. Pauls I am loth to believe it done out of Covetousnesse to gain by the materials thereof but would rather conceive it so run to Ruin that it was past repairing He at last became Secretary of State to Q. Elizabeth for four years together It argues his ability for the place because he was put into it Seeing in those active times under so judicious a Queen weaknesse might despair to be employed in such an office He dyed anno dom 15. THOMAS Lord BURGE or BOROUâ—…H Son to William Lord Burge Grandson to Thomas Lord Burge created Baron by King Henry the Eight was born in his Fathers Fair house at Gainsborough in this County His first publick appearing was when he was sent Embassador into Scotland anno 1593. to excuse Bothwell his lurking in England to advise the speedy suppressing of the Spanish Faction and to advance an effectual association of the Protestants in that Kingdome for their Kings defence which was done accordingly Now when Sir William Russel Lord Deputy of Ireland was recalled this Lord Tho. Burgh was substituted in his room anno 1597. Mr. Camden doth thus character him Vir acer animi plenus â—…ed nullis fere castrorum rudimentis But where there is the stock of Valour with an able brain Experience will soon be graffed upon it It was first thought fit to make a Months Truce with Tyrone which cessation like a Damm made their mutual animosities for the present swell higher and when removed for the future run the fiercer The Lord Deputy the Truce expired streightly besieged the Fort of Blackwater the only Receptacle of the Rebells in those parts I mean besides their Woods and Bogs the Key of the County of Tyrone This Fort he took by Force and presently followed a bloody Battle wherein the English paid dear for their Victory loosing many worthy men and amongst them two that were Foster brothers Fratres Collactanei to the Earl of Kildare who so layed this losse to his heart amongst the Irish Foster brethren are loved above the Sons of their fathers that he dyed soon after Tyrons credit now lay a bleeding when to stanch it he rebesieged Blackwater and the Lord Deputy whilst indevouring to relieve it was struck with untimely death before he had continued a whole year in his place All I will add is this that it brake the heart of Valiant Sir John Norris who had promised the Deputies place unto himself as due to his deserts when this Lord Burgh was superinduced into that Office His Relict Lady famous for her Charity and skill in Chirurgery lived long in Westminster and dyed very aged some twenty years since WILLIAM CECIL Know Reader before I go farther something must be premised concerning his position in this Topick Virgil was prophane in his flattery to Augustus Caesar profering him his free choice after his death to be â—…anked amongst what heathen Gods he pleased so that he might take his place either amongst those of the Land which had the oversight of Men and Cities or the Sea-Gods commanding in the Ocean or the Skye-Gods and become a new Constellation therein But without the least adulation we are bound to profer this worthy Peer his own election whether he will be pleased to repose himself under Benefactors to the Publick all England in that age being beholden to his bounty as well as the poor in Standford for whom he erected a fair Bead-house acknowledging under God and the Queen their prosperity the fruit of his prudence Or else he may rest himself under the title of Lawyers being long bred in the Inns of Court and more learned in our Municipal-Law then many who made it their sole profession However for the present we lodge this English Nestor for wisdome and vivacitie under the notion of States-men being Secretarie and Lord-Treasurer for above thirty years together Having formerly written his life at large it will be enough here to observe that he was born at Bourn in this County being son to Richard Cecil Esq of the Robes to King Henry the eighth and a Legatee in his Will and Jane his Wife of whom hereafter He was in his age Moderator Aulae steering the Court at his pleasure and whilst the Earl of Leichester would indure no equall and Sussex no superiour therein he by siding with neither served himself with both Incredible was the kindness which Queen Elizabeth had for him or rather for her self in him being sensible that he was so able a Minister of State Coming once to visit him being sick of the Goute at Burley house in the Strand and being much heightned with her Head Attire then in fashion the Lords Servant who conducted her thorow the door May your Highness said he be pleased to stoop the Queen
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 â—…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 feigâ—… 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 â—…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
given to their stipend by William Cecil Lord Treasurer but it seems that since some Intervening accident hath hindered it from taking the true effect JANE CECIL Wife to Richard Cecil Esquire and co-heire to the worshipfull Families of Ekington and Wallcot was born in this County and lived the maine of her life therein Job speaking of parents deceased His Sons saith he come to honour and he knoweth it not but God gave this good woman so long a life abating but little of an hundred years that she knew the preferment of her Son William â—…ecil for many years in her life Lord Treasurer of England I say she knew it and saw it and joyed at it and was thankfull to God for it for well may we conclude her gratitude to God from her Charity to man At her own charges Anno 1561. She Leded and Paved the Friday Market Cross in Stamford Besides fifty pound given to the Poor and many other Benefactions Her last Will was made Anno Dom. 1588. But she survived some time after and lies buried in the same Vault with her Son in St. Martins in Stamford GEORGE TRIGG Gentleman was as I collect a Native of this County he gave Anno Dom. 1586 four hundred pounds to be lent out for ever upon good security without Interest to Poor young Trads-men and Artificers in Stamford He also bestowed a Tenement upon the Parson and Poor of St. Johns in the same Town RICHARD SUTTON Esquire was born at Knaith in this County bred a Souldier in his Youth and was somwhat of Pay-Master by his place much mony therefore passing through some did lawfully stick on his fingers which became the bottom of his future Estate He was afterward a Merchant in London and gained great Wealth therein Such who charge him with Purblindness in his soul looking too close on the earth do themselves acquit him from Oppression that though Tenax he was not Rapax not Guilty of Covetousness but Parcimony Indeed there was a Merchant his Comrage whose name I will Conceal except the great Estate he left doth discover it with whom he had Company in Common but their Charges were severall to themselves when his friend in Travell called for two Faggots Mr. Sutton called for one when his friend for half a pint of Wine Mr. Sutton for a Gill under-spending him a Moity at last Mr. Sutton hearing of his friends death and that he left but fifty thousand pounds Estate I thought said â—…e he would dye no Rich man who made such needless expences Indeed Mr. Suttons Estate doubled his and he bestowed it all on Charter-House or Suttons Hospitall This is the Master-peice of Protestant English Charity designed in his life Compleated after his death Begun Continued and finished with Buildings and Endowments Sinâ—… Causa Socia soly at his Charges Wherein Mr. Sutton appears peerless in all Christendom on an equall Standart and Valuation of Revenue As for the Canker of Popish Malice endeavouring to fret this fair Flower we have returned plentifull Answers to their Cavells in our Ecclesiasticall History Mr. Sutton died Anno Dom. 1611. ROBERT JOHNSON was born at Stamford whereof Maurice his Father had been chiefe Magistrate He was bred in Cambridge and entring into the Ministry he was beneficed at Luffenham in Rutland at what time that little County was at a great losse for the education of the Children therein and Mr. Johnson endeavoured a remedy thereof He had a rare faculty in requesting of others into his own desire and with his arguments could surprise a Miser into charity He effectually moved those of the Vicinage to contribute to the building and endowing of Schools Money or Money worth Stones Timber Carriage c. not flighting the smalest guift especially if proportionable to the Givers Estate Hereby finding none he left as many Free Schools in Rutland as there were Market Towns therein One at Oakeham another at Uppingham well faced with buildings and lined with endowments Hitherto he was only a Nurse to the Charity of others erecting the Schools aforesaid as my Author observeth who afterwards proved a fruitful parent in his own person becoming a considerable Benefactor to Emanuel and Sidney Colledges in Cambridge And though never dignified higher then Archdeacon of Leicester he left an Estate of one thousand pounds per Annum which descended to his posterity He dyed about the year of our Lord 1616. FRANCES WRAY Daughter to Sir Chichester Wray Lord chief Justice was born at Glentworth in this County and married first unto Sir George St. Paul of this County and afterwards to Robert Rich first Earl of Warwick of that Sirname She was a Pious Lady much devoted to charitable actions though I am not perfectly instructed in the particulars of her Benefactions Only I am sure Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hath tasted largely of her Liberality who dyed in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles Memorable Persons JAMES YORKE a Blacksmith of Lincolne and an excellent Workman in his Profession Insomuch that if Pegasus himself would wear shoes this man alone is fit to make them contriving them so thin and light as that they would be no burthen to him But he is a Servant as well of Apollo as Vulcan turning his Stiddy into a Study having lately set forth a Book of Heraldry called the Union of Honour containing the Arms of the English Nobility and the Gentry of Lincolne-shire And although there be some mistakes no hand so steady as alwayes to hit the Nail on the head yet is it of singular use and industriously performed being set forth Anno 1640. Lord Maiors  Name Father Place Company Time 1 John Stockton Richard Stockton Bratoft Mercer 1470. 2 Nicholas Aldwin Richard Aldwin Spalding Mercer 1499. 3 William Rennington Robert Rennington Bostone Fishmonger 1500. 4 William Forman William Forman Gainsborough Haberdasher 1538. 5 Henry Hoberthorn Christ. Hoberthorn Waddingworth Merchant-Tay 1546. 6 Henry Amcoates William Amcoates Astrap Fishmonger 1548. 7 John Langley Robert Langley Althrope Goldsmith 1576. 8 Iohn Allot Richard Allot Limbergh Fishmonger 1590. 9 Nicholas Raynton Robert Raynton Highington Haberdasher 1632. The Names of the Gentrie of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the sixth William Bishop of Lincoln Commissioners Lion de Welles Chivaler  Thomas Meres Knights of the Shire  Patricius Skipwith Knights of the Shire  Johannis Willoughby militis Roberti Ros militis Humfridi Littelbery armig Phillippi Tilney armigeri Johannis Copuldik armig Richardi Laund armigeri Willielmi Braunche armig Richardi Pynchebek Richardi Welby Richardi Benynington Willielmi Goding de Boston Gilberti Haltoft Will. Hughbert de Doning VVill. Quadring de Tofte Iohan. Pawlyn de Frampton VVill. VValcote de Spaldyng Thom. Overton de Swynshed Hug. Dandison de VVrangle Roberti Hughson de Boston Rich. Whiteb. de Gosberkirk Ioh. Docking de VVhaploade Will. Calowe de Holbetch Will. â—…awode de Whaploade Nich. Gyomer de
Indeed I read of a Company of â—…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 Lâ—…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 Lâ—…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 Roâ—…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 Tâ—…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 Sâ—…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 fortitudinâ—…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 discâ—…eet Commander whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near Le Boyle in â—…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 iâ—… 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
Saint John's then Master of Pembroke hall in Cambridge His studies were suitable to his years when young a good Philosopher witness his book of Meteors afterwards his endeavours ascended from the middle region of the aire to the highest heavens when he bâ—…came a pious and solid Divine Now the Romanists seeing they could no longer blind-fold their Laitie from the Scriptures resolved to fit them with false spectacles and set forth the Rhemish Translation which by Doctor Fulke was learnedly confuted though he never attained any great preferâ—…ent in the Church Here it is worth our pains to peruse the immediate succession of Masters in Pembroke-hall because unparallel'd in any English Foundation Edm. Grindall Archp. of Cant. Mat. Hutton Archp. of York Jo. Whitgift Archp. of Cant. Jo. Young 〈◊〉 of Rochester William Fulke D. D. Lanc. Andrews Bp. of Winchester Sam. Harsnet Archp. of York Nic. Felton Bp. of Eely Here though all the rest were Episcopated Doctor Fulke was but Doctor Fulke still though a man of great merit This proceeded not from any disaffection in him to the Hierarchie as some would fain suggest but principally from his love of privacy and place of Margaret-Professour wherein he died Anno Dom. 1589. EDMOND SPENCER born in this City was brought up in Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he became an excellent Scholar but especially most haypy in English Poetry as his works do declare In which the many Chaucerisms used for I will not say affected by him are thought by the ignorant to be blemishes known by the learned to be beauties to his book which notwithstanding had been more salable if more conformed to our modern language There passeth a story commonly told and believed that Spencer presenting his Poems to Queen Elizabeth She highly affected therewith commanded the Lord Cecil Her Treasurer to give him an hundred pound and when the Treasurer a good Steward of the Queens money alledged that sum was too much then give him quoth the Queen what is reason to which the Lord consented but was so busied belâ—…ke about matters of higher concernment that Spencer received no reward Whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the Queen in her Progress I was promis'd on a time To have reason for my rhyme From that time unto this season I receiv'd nor rhyme nor reason Hereupon the Queen gave strict order not without some check to her Treasurer for the present payment of the hundred pounds she first intended unto him He afterwards went over into Ireland Secretary to the Lord Gray Lord Deputy thereof and though that his office under his Lord was lucrative yet got he no estate but saith my Author Pâ—…culiari Poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est So that it fared little better with him then with William Xilander the German a most excellent Linguist Antiquary Philosopher and Mathematician who was so poor that as Thuanus saith he was thought fami non famae scribere Returning into England he was robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had and dying for grief in great want Anno 1598. was honorably buried nigh Chaucer in Westminster where this Distick concludeth his Epitaph on hâ—…s monument Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis Nunc moritura timet te moriente mori Whilst hâ—…iu didst live liv'd English poetry Which fears now thou art dead that she shall die Nor must we forget that the expence of his funeral and monument was defrayed at the sole charge of Robert first of that name Earl of Essex JOHN STOW son of Thomas Stow who died Anno 1559. grand-child to Thomas Stow who died 1526. both Citizens of London and buried in Saint Michaels in Cornhill was born in this City bred at learning no higher then a good Gramar-scholar yet he became a painful faithful and the result of both useful Historian Here to prevent mistake by the homonymie of names I request the Reader to take special notice of three brace of English writers 1. Sir Thomas commonly with the addition of De la More who lived under and wrote the life of King Edward the second 1. John Leland bred in Oxford the most exquisite Grammarian of his age who flourished Anno 1428. 1. John Stow a Benedictine Monke of Norwich Anno 1440. who wrote various Collections much cited by Caius in his history of Cambridge 2. Sir Thomas More the witty and learned Chancellour of England 2. John Leland bred in Cambridge the most eminent Antiquary under K. Henry the eight 2. John Stow this Londiner and Historian I confess I have heard him often accused that as learned Guicciardine is charged for telling magnarum rerum minutias he reporteth res in se minutas toys and trifles being such a Smell-feast that he cannot pass by Guild-hall but his pen must tast of the good chear therein However this must be indulged to his education so hard it is for a Citizen to write an History but that the fur of his gown will be felt therein Sure I am our most elegant Historians who have wrote since his time Sir Francis Bacon Master Camden c. though throwing away the basket have taken the fruit though not mentioning his name making use of his endeavors Let me adde of John Stow that however he kept tune he kept time very well no Author being more accurate in the notation thereof Besides his Chronicle of England he hath a large Survey of London and I believe no City in Christendome Rome alone excepted hath so great a volume extant thereof Plato was used to say that many good laws were made but still one was wanting viz. a law to put all those good laws in execution Thus the Citizens of London have erected many fair monuments to perpetuate their memories but still there wanted a monument to continue the memory of their monuments subject by time and otherwise to be defaced which at last by John Stow was industriously performed He died in the eightieth year of his age April 5. 1605. and is buried at the upper end of the North-Isle of the Quire of Saint Andrews-Undershaft His Chronicle since continued by another whose additions are the lively embleme of the times he writeth of as far short of Master Stow in goodness as our age is of the integrity and charity of those which went before it GILES FLETCHER was born in this City son to Giles Fletcher Dr. in law and Embassadour into Russia of whom formerly in Kent From Westminster-school he was chosen first Scholar then Fellow of Trinity colledge in Cambridge One equally beloved of the Muses and the Graces having a sanctified wit witness his worthy Poem intituled Christs Victory made by him being but Bachelour of Arts discovering the Piety of a Saint and Divinity of a Doctor He afterward applied himself to School-Divinity cross to the grain of his Genius as some conceive and attained to good skill therein When he preached at Saint Maries his
whence I conclude him an obscure person and this Lady rather married then match'd such the distance betwixt their degrees Probably this Cecily consulting her comfort more then her credit did it of design so to be beneath the jealousie of King Henry the seventh She left no children and the date of her death is uncertain CHARLES the second son to King Charles the first of Blessed Memory and Mary youngest daughter to Henry the fourth King of France was born at Saint James's May 29. 1630. Great was the general rejoycing thereat The University of Oxford congratulated his birth with printed Poems and it was taken ill though causelesly by some that Cambridge did not do the like for then the Wits of the University were sadly distracted into several Counties by reason of the plague therein And I remember Cambridge modestly excused herself in their Poem made the year after at the birth of the Lady Mary and it will not be amiss to insert and translate one Tetrastick made by my worthy friend Quod fuit ad nixus Academia muta priores 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Carolus aegra fuit Spe veniente novâ si tunc tacuisset amores Non tantùm morbo digna sed illa mori Prince Charles forgive me that my silent quill Joy'd not thy birth alas sore sick was I. New hopes now come had I been silent still I should deserve both to be sick and die His birth was accompanied with two notable accidents in the heavens The star Venus was visible all day long as sometime it falls out neer her greatest Elongation And two dayâ—… after there was an Ecclipse of the Sun about eleven digits observed by the greatest Mathematicians And now Reader give me leave to be silent my self and present thee with the expressions of a most ingenious Gentleman To behold this babe heaven it self seemed to open one Eye more then ordinary Such Asterisks and Celelestial Signatures affixt to times so remarkable as this usually are 〈◊〉 prophetically hinting and pointing out somewhat future of eminent contingency Yea such have since been the occurrences in the life of this pious Prince that rightly considered they will appear not onely eminent above the common standard of actions but full of miracle and amazement He was on the 1. of January 1650. at Scoon Crowned King of Scotland Being before invaded by an Army under the conduct of O. C. Soon after quitting that Kingdome he marched for England and on the 3. of September 1651. nigh Worcester was fought and lost the day though he to use my Authors expression acted beyond the expectation of his friends and to the great applause of his very enemies Narrow search was made after his person yea a thousand pounds a bait his politique enemies made sure would have been bit at promised to such who should betray him Yet God whose Angels â—… were his Life-guard miraculously preserving him out of the hands of his enemies he safely passed over into France to the Queen his mother During his continuance beyond the Seas great were the proffers tendered unto him if forsaking the Protestant Religion but alas as soon might the impotent waves remove the most sturdy rocks as they once unfix him such his constancy whom neither the frowns of his afflictions nor smiles of secular advantages could make to warp from his first principles At length his piety and Patience were rewarded by God with a happy restitution to his undoubted Dominions and he after a long and tedious exile landed at Dover May 25. 1660. to the great joy of his three Kingdomes A Prince whose vertues I should injure if endeavouring their contraction within so narrow a scantling And yet I cannot pass over that wherein he so much resembleth the King of Heaven whose Vicegerent he is I mean his merciful disposition doing good unto those who spightfully used and persecuted him And now it is my hearty prayer that God who appeared so wonderful in his Restauration would continue still Gracious to us in his Preservation confounding the plots of his adversaries that upon him and his posterity the Crown may flourish forever MARY eldest daughter of King Charles the first and Queen Mary was born at Saint James's November 4. 1631. When her royal father out of his paternal love began to cast about for a fitting confort this Peerless Princess though tender in years rich in piety and wisdome made it her humble request she might be match'd as well in her religion as affection which happened answerable to her desires For not long after a marriage treated betwixt her and Count William of Nassau eldest son to Henry Prince of Orange was concluded and this royal pair wedded accordingly May 2. 1641. The February following having at Dover taken her leave of the King her Father the last time she ever saw him on earth she embarked for and within few days landed in Holland His Majesties affairs in England daily growing worse and worse at length the sad news of his horrid murder arrived at her eares this was seconded with the loss of her husband the Prince of Orange who deceased October 8. 1650. Yet such her signal patience that she underwent the weight of so many heavy afflictions sufficient to break the back of a mean Christian with a courage far surpassing the weakness of her sex But amidst these her calamities God was pleased to remember mercy blessing her the November ensuing with a hopeful son The complexion of the times being altered in England she came over to congratulate the happiness of her Brother his miraculous restitution When behold sickness arrests this royal Princess no bail being found by physick to defer the execution of her death which happened 1660. On the 31. of December following she was honourably though privately interred at Westminster in the Chappel of King Henry the seventh and no eye so dry but willingly afforded a tear to bemoan the loss of so worthy a Princess JAMES third son of King Charles and Queen Mary October was 13. 1633. born at Saint James's He was commonly stiled Duke of York though not solemnly created until January 27. 1643. At the rendition of Oxford he was taken Prisoner and some two years after through the assistance of one Colonel Bamfield made his escape landing safe in Holland Hence he went for France where he so prudently deported himself that he soon gained the favour and honour of the whole Court Yea such was this Princes valour and prowess that before arrived at the age of one and twenty years he was made Leiutenant General of the Forces of the King of France a thing which sounds highly to the esteem of this Duke being a sufficient argument as well of his Policy as Magnanimity seeing a wise head is equally required warily to consult as a stout heart resolutely to act for the due performance of that office This trust he discharged to the admiration of all atchieving so many Noble and Heroick exploits which rendred
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 aâ—…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 Manâ—…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
thereof with circumspect diligence and without long delay to procure and see to be done and obtained such Licenses as they will answer for the same before Almigbty God for if they or any of them should neglect to obtain such Licenses no Prince nor Counsel in any degree will deny or defeat the same and if conveniently by my Will or other Conveyance I might assure it I would not leave it to be done after my Death Then the same shall revert to my Heirs whereas I do mean the same to the Commonweale and then their default thereof shall be to the reproch and condemnation of the said Corporation before God c. This worthy Knight compleated his second change I mean of a mortal life for a Blessed Eternity on the 21. of November 1579. and lieth buried in the Parish Church of Saint Hellens Sir WILLIAM PASTON Knight son and heir to Erasmus Paston of Paston Esquire is justly recounted a Publick Benefactour True it is the family whence he was extracted were always forward in deeds of Charity according to the devotion of the days they lived in Witness their â—…ountiful donations to the Abbys of Saint Bennet in the Holme and Bromholme in this County after the Reformation they had not with too many less heat because more light but continued the stream though they changed the Channel of charity This Sir William erected a very fair school with thirty pounds per annum for the maintenance thereof at Northwalsam in this County a deed no doubt acceptable to the God of heaven Solomon saith Teach a Child in the trade of his youth But alas it's above the reach of poor parents to teach their Children lacking learning to do it themselves and livelyhood to hire others save where such good persons as this worthy Knight have made provision for them This Sir William married Francis the daughter of Sir Tho. Clear of Stokesby and was Great-grand-father to Sir William Paston the bountiful promoter of all my weak endeavours HENRY HOWARD youngest son of Henry Howard Earl of Surrey and brother to Thomas Howard last Duke of Norfolk was boâ—… at Shotesham in this County He was bred a serious student for many years in Kings colledge in Cambridge then in Trinity-hall going the ordinary path and pace to the degree of Mastership without any honorary advantage Here he became a greaâ—… and general Scholar witness his large and learned work intituled A Dâ—…pensative against the poyson of supposed Prophesies and dedicated to Sir Francis Walsingham His fortune left him by his Father was not great and he lived privately all the reign of Queen Elizabeth till King James advanced him in honour and wealth Here for variety sake and the better to methodize our matter we will make use of a distinction common in the Custome-house about bills of lading Inwards and Outwards observing what greatness were imported and conferred on him what gratitude was exported and performed by him Inwards Outward 1. King James Created him Baron of Marnehill in Dorset shire 2. Earl of Northampton 3. Lord Privy Seal 4. Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports 5. Knight of the Garter 6. Cambridge chose him her Chancellour 1. He founded and endowed an Hospital for twelve poor women and a Governour at Rising in this County 2. Another for twelve poor men and a Governour at Clun in Shropshire 3. Another at Greenwich in Kent for a Governour and twenty poor men of whom eight are to be chosen out of Shotesham the place of his nativity He died the 15. of June 1614. and was buried in the ancient Chappel of the Castle of Dover Memorable Persons SHARNBORN born at and Lord of Sharnborn a considerable Mannor in this County This Manner William the Conquerour out of the plenitude of his power conferred on one Warren a Norman Souldier But Sharnborn was not so tame as silently to set down and suffer a stranger peaceably to possess his inheritance which his English Ancestors for many years had injoyed but fairly traversed his Title I will not say in Westminster-hall as of later erection in the reign of King Rufus but in that publick place where Pleas were held in that age Surely none but a Norfolk-man durst go to Law with the Conquerour and question the validity of his Donations Yea brave Sharnborn got the better of the Suit and the Kings grant was adjudged void This is pertinently pressed by many to prove that King William though in Name was in very deed no Conquerour but came in by composition to keep the Laws of England Now as I am heartily sorrowful that Sharnborn possessed ever since almost 600. years by that name and family should in our age be sold and aliened from it whose heir males are just now extinct so am I cordially glad that it is bought by a worthy person Francis Ash Esquire which with some limitation hath freely setled it being of good yearly value on Emanuel-colledge and may they as long enjoy it as the former owners if before that term the Day of Judgement put not a Period to all earthly possessions Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Godfry Bullen Geffrey Bullen Salle Probably Mercer 1457 2 Bartholomew Rede Robert Rede Crowmer Goldsmith 1502 3 Richard Gresham John Gresham Holt Mercer 1537 4 John Gresham John Gresham Holt Mercer 1547 5 Thomas Cambell Robert Cambell Fullsam Iron-Monger 1609 6 John Leman John Leman Gillingham Fish-Monger 1616 7 Edward Barkham Edward Barkham South-Akere Draper 1621 The names of the Gentry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the sixth 1433. William Bishop of Norwich Commissioners to take the Oaths John de Morley Chivaler Robert Cliffton mil. Knights for the shire John Roys Knights for the shire Abbatis de Langle Abbatis de Creek Abbatis de Wendelyng Abbatis de Derham Prioris Sancte fidis Prioris de VValsyngham Prioris de Tetford Prioris de Linne Prioris de Yernemouth Prioris de Ingham Prioris de Cokysforde Prioris de Westar Prioris de Penteneye Prioris de Castelacre Prioris de Bromhill Prioris de Ghildham Prioris de Wyrmingheye Prioris de Bokynham Prioris de Bromholm Prioris de Hyking Prioris de Petreston Prioris de Flycham Prioris de Baeston Iohan. Clyfton mil. Briani Stapulton mil. Tho. Kerdeston Hen. Inglose mil. Tho. Tudenham mil. Rog. Harsick mil. Hen. Richford mil. Iohan. Curson mil. Henry Grey Willielâ—…i Calthorp Iohan. Fitz-Rauf de Moris Thomae Willoughby Oliveri Groos Thomae Chaumbir Edmundi Winter Nich. Apilyerde VVill. Apilyerde Nicholai Castel Edmundi Stapulton Thomae Pigot Henrici Walpole Thomae Trusbute Willielmi Byllingford Willielmi Daubeney Thomae Astele Radulphi Lampet Iohannis Woodehouse Iohan. Berney de Redham Ioh. Berney de Wythingham Georgii Holkham VVillielmi Yelverton Edmundi VVychyngham Iohan. Heydon VVill. Grey de Merston VVillielmi Raimis Thomae Dengayne Iohannis Clepisby Iohannis Strange Richardi Gogh Christopheri Strange Henrici Catte Iohannis Bakon
so the Cathedral dedicated unto him in this County challengeth the Precedency of all in England for a Majestick Western Front of Columel-work But alas This hath lately felt the misfortune of other Fabricks in this kind Yea as in a Gangrean one member is cut off to preserve the rest so I understand the Cloysters of this Cathedral were lately plucked down to repair the Body thereof and am heartily glad God in his mercy hath restored the onely remedy I mean its lands for the Cure thereof As for Civil Structures Holdenby-house lately carried away the credit built by Sir Christopher Hatton and accounted by him the last Monument of his Youth If Florence be said to be a City so fine that it ought not to be shown but on Holy-days Holdenby was a House which should not have been shown but on Christmas-day But alas Holedenby-house is taken away being the Embleme of human happiness both in the beauty and brittleness short flourishing and soon fading thereof Thus one demolishing Hammer can undoe more in a day then ten edifying Axes can advance in a Month. Next is Burleigh-house nigh Stamford built by William Lord Cecil Who so seriously compareth the late state of Holdenby and Burleigh will dispute wâ—…th himself whither the Offices of the Lord Chancellour or Treasurer of England be of greater Revenues seeing Holedenby may be said to show the Seal and Burleigh the Purse in their respective magnificence proportionable to the power and plenty of the two great Officers that built them Withorpe must not be forgot the least of Noble Houses and best of Lodges seeming but a dim reflection of Burleigh whence it is but a Mile distant It was built by Thomas Cecil Earl of Exeter to retire to as he pleasantly said out of the dust whilst his great House of Burleigh was a sweeping Castle Ashby the Noble Mansion of the Earl of Northampton succeeds most beautifull before a casual fire deformed part thereof But seeing fire is so furious a plunderer that it giveth whatsoever it taketh not away the condition of this house is not so much to be condoled as congratulated Besides these there be many others no County in England yeilding more Noble men no Noble men in England having fairer habitations And although the Freestone whereof they be built keepeth not so long the white innocence as Brick doth the blushing modesty thereof yet when the fresh luster is abated the full state thereof doth still remain The Wonders There is within the Demeasnes of Boughton the Barony of the Right Honorable Edward Lord Mountague a Spring which is conceived to turn wood into stone The truth is this the coldness of the water incrustateth wood or what else falleth into it on every side with a stony matter yet so that it doth not transubstantiate wood into stone For the wood remaineth entire within untill at last wholy consumed which giveth occasion to the former erroneous relation The like is reported of a Well in Candia with the same mistake that Quicquid incidit lapidescit But I have seen in Sidney-colledge in Cambridge a Skull brought thence which was candied over with stone within and without yet so as the bone remained intire in the middle as by a casual breach thereof did appear This Skull was sent for by King Charles and whilst I lived in the house by him safely again returned to the Colledge being a Prince as desirous in such cases to preserve others propriety as to satisfie his own curiosity Medicinal Waters Wellingborough-well Some may conceive it called Wellingborough from a sovereign Well therein anciently known afterwards obstructed with obscurity and re-discovered in our days But Master Camden doth marr their mart avouching the ancient name thereof Wedlingburough However thirty years since a water herein grew very famous insomuch that Queen Mary lay many weeks thereat What benefit her Majesty received by the Spring here I know not this I know that the Spring received benefit from her Majesty and the Town got credit and profit thereby But it seems all waters of this kind have though far from the Sea their ebbing and flowing I mean in esteem It was then full tide with Wellingburough-well which ever since hath abated and now I believe is at low water in its reputation Proverbs The Mayor of Northampton opens Oysters with his Dagger This Town being 80 miles from the Sea Sea fish may be presumed stale therein Yet have I heard that Oysters put up with care and carried in the cool were weekly brought fresh and good to Althrope the house of the Lord Spencer at equal distance Sweeter no doubt then those Oysters commonly carried over the Alpes well nigh 300. miles from Venice to Viena and there â—…eputed far fetch'd and deer bought daintes to great persons though sometimes very valiant their savour Nor is this a wonder seeing Plinny tell us that our English Oysters did Romanis culinis servire Serve the Kitchings of Rome Pickled as some suppose though others believe them preserved by an ingenious contrivance Epicures bear their brains in there bowels and some conceive them carried in their shells But seeing one of their own Emperours gave for his Motto Bonus odor hâ—…stis melior Civis occisi Good is the smell of an Enemy but better the smell of a Citizen of Rome killed I say unto such a Roman-Nose stinking may be better then sweet Oysters and to their Palates we 'll leave them He that must eat a buttered Fagot let him go to Northampton Because it is the dearest Town in England for fuel where no Coles can come by Water and little Wood doth grow on Land Camden saith of this County in general that it is Silvis nisi in ulteriori citeriori parte minùs laetus And if so when he wrote fifty years since surely it is less wooddy in our age What reformation of late hath been made in mens judgments and manners I know not sure I am that deformation hath been great in trees and timber who verily believe that the clearing of many dark places where formerly plenty of wood is all the new light this age produced Pity it is no better provision is made for the preservation of woods whose want will be soonest for our fire but will be saddest for our water when our naval walls shall be decayed Say not that want of wood will put posterity on witty inventions for that supply seeing he is neither pious nor prudent parent who spends his patrimony on design that the industry and ingenuity of his son may be quick'ned thereby Princes ELIZABETH daughter of Sir Richard Woodevill by the Lady Jaquet his wife formerly the relict of John Duke of Bedford was born at Grafton Honour in this County in proof whereof many stronge presumptions may be produced Sure I am if this Grafton saw her not first a child it beheld her first a Queen when married to King Edward the fourth This Elizabeth was widow to Sir John Grey who
Esquire of Addington by Isabel his wife sister and at last sole heir to Henry Green of Drayton Esquire of whom formerly This Henry was afterwards Knighted and dying without Issue-male Elizabeth his daughter and co heir was married to John first Lord Mordant to whom she brought Draiton-house in this County and other fair lands as the partage of her portion NICHOLAS VAUX Mil. He was a jolly Gentleman both for Camp and Court a great Reveller good as well in a March as a Masque being Governour of Guines in Picardie whom King Hen. the eight for his Loyalty and Valour Created Baron of Harouden in this County Ancestor to Edward Lord Vaux now living This Sir Nicholas when young was the greatest Gallant of the English-Court no Knight at the marriage of Prince Arthur appearing in so costly an equipage when he wore a gown of purple velvet pight with pieces of gold so thick and massive that it was valued besides the silk and furs at a thousand pounds and the next day wore a Colar of S. S. which weighed as Goldsmiths reported eight hundred pounds of nobles Some will wonder that Empson and Dudley the Royal Promoters then in prime did not catch him by the Collar or pick an hole in his Gown upon the breach of some rusty penal sumptuary Statute the rather because lately the Earl of Oxford was heavily fined for supernumerous attendance But know that King Henry could better bear with 〈◊〉 then greatness in his Subjects especially when such expence cost â—…imself nothing and conduced much to the solemnity of his Sons Nuptials Besides such plate as wrought employed Artizans as massive retain'd its intrinsecal value with little loss either of the owners or Common-wealth HENRY the Eight 1 THOMAS PAR Mil. His former residence was at Kendal-Castle in Westmerland whence he removed into this Country having married Maud one of the daughters and co-heirs of Sir Thomas Green of Green-Norton He was father to Queen Katharine Par which rendereth a probability of her nativity in this County and to William Marquiss of Northampton of whom hereafter 15 WILLIAM FITZ-WILLIAMS Sen. Mil. This must be the person of whom I read this memorable passage in Stows Survey of London Sir William Fitz-Williams the elder being a Merchant-Taylor and servant sometime to Cardinal Wolsey was chosen Alderman of Bread-street-Ward in London Anno 1506. Going afterward to dwell at Milton in Northamptonshire in the fall of the Cardinal his former Master he gave him kind entertainment there at his house in the Country For which deed being called before the King and demanded how he durst entertain so great an Enemy to the State his Answer was that he had not contemptuously or wilfully done it but onely because he had been his Master and partly the means of his greatest fortunes The King was so well pleased with his Answer that saying himself had few such servants immediately Knighted him and afterwards made him a Privy Counsellour But we have formerly spoken of the benefactions of this worthy Knight in the County of Essex whereof he was Sheriffe in the sixth of King Henry the eight 17 WILLIAM PAR Mil. I have cause to be confident that this was he who being Uncle and Lord Chamberlain to Queen Katharine Par was afterwards by King Henry the eight Created Baron Par of Horton Left two daughters onely married into the Families of Tressame and Lane The Reader is requested to distinguish him from his Name-sake Nephew Sheriffe in the 25. of this Kings reign of whom hereafter 21 JOHN CLARKE Mil. I find there was one Sir John Clarke Knight who in the fifth of Henry the eight at the Siege of Terrowane took prisoner Lewis de Orleans Duke of Longevile and Marquiss of Rotueline This Sir John bare for his paternal Coat Argent on a Bend Gules three Swans proper between as many Pellets But afterwards in memory of his service aforesaid by special command from the King his Coat armour was rewarded with a Canton Sinister Azure and thereupon a Demi-ramme mounting Argent armed Or between two Flowers de lices in Chief of the last over all a Batune dexter-ways Argent as being the Arms of the Duke his prisoner and by Martial-law belonging to him He lieth buried in the next County viz. in the Church of Tame in Oxfordshire where his Coat and cause thereof is expressed on his Monument If this be not the same with Sir John Clarke our Sheriffe I am utterly at a loss and desire some others courteous direction All I will adde is this If any demand why this Knight did onely give a parcel and not the entire Arms of the Duke his prisoner a learned Antiquary returns this satisfactory answer That he who â—…aketh a Christian Captive is to give but part of his Arms to mind him of charitable moderation in using his success intimating withall that one taking a Pagan prisoner may justifie the bearing of his whole Coat by the laws of Armory I must not conceal that I have read in a most excellent Manuscript viz. the View of Staffordshire made by Sampson Erderswicke Esquire That one William Stamford in that County had good land given him therein for taking the Duke of Longevile prisoner August the 16. in the fifth of King Henry the eight History will not allow two Dukes of Longevile Captives and yet I have a belief for them both that Sir John Clarke and William Stamford were causae sociae of his Captivity and the King remunerated them both the former with an addition of honour the later with an accession of Estate 23 WILLIAM SPENCER Miles DAVID SISILL Arm. 24 DAVID CECILL Arm. Sir William Spencer dying it seems in his Sherivalty David Sissill supplied the remainder of that and was Sheriffe the next year This David had three times been Alderman of Stamford part whereof called Saint Martins is in this County viz. 1504. 1515. and 1526. and now twice Sheriffe of the County which proves him a person both of Birth Brains and Estate seeing in that age in this County so plentiful of capable persons none were advanced to that office except Esquires at least of much merrit The different spelling of his name is easily answered the one being according to his extraction of the Sitsilts of Alterynnis in Herefordshire the other according to the vulgar pronunciation All I will adde is this that his Grand-child William Cecil afterwards Baron of Burghley and Lord Treasurer of England being born Anno 1521. was just ten years of age in the Sherivalty of this David his Grand-father 25 WILLIAM PAR Mil. He was son to Sir Thomas Par of whom before Ten years after viz. in the 35. year of his reign King Henry the eight having newly married his Sister Queen Katharine Par made him Lord Par of Kendall and Earl of Essex in right of Anne Bourcher his wife King Edward the sixth Created him Marquiss of Northampton Under Queen Mary
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for an hour or short time yet this Doctor had his hour measur'd him by a large glass continuing in publick esteem till the beginning of these Civil Wars when the times turn'd and he standing still was left to the censure of factious innovatours Most candid his disposition and if he had the infirmity of ingenious Persons to be Cholerick he prevented others checking it in him by checking it first in himself He suffered long imprisonment in Ely-house and the Tower for a Sermon he made when Vicechancellour of Cambridge and at last restored to his Liberty waited on his Majesty in the Isle of Weight He is here entred amongst the Bishops because profered Bristol but refused it and such who know least of his mind are most bold to conjecture the cause of it He sleighted not the smalness thereof because such his Manners Loyalty and Conscience that he would have thanked his Sovereign for an injury much more for a smaller courtesie Wherefore such onely shoot by the aime of their own fancies who report him to have said he would not wear a Bristol stone Sure I am that England had if any more able none more zealous to assert Episcopacy and let that suffice us that he esteemed the acceptance thereof in that juncture of time unsafe and unseasonable for himself he afterwards took the Deanary of Worcester though he received no profit the place received honour from him being the last who was entituled and indeed it was no more with that dignity Pity it is so learned a person left no monuments save a Sermon to Posterity for I behold that Posthume-work as none of his named by the Transcriber the Valley of Vision a Scripture expression but here mis-placed Valley it is indeed not for the fruitfulness but lowness thereof especially if compared to the high parts of the pretended Author but little vision therein This I conceived my self in Credit and Conscience concerned to observe because I was surprised to Preface to the Book and will take the blame rather then clear my self when my innocency is complicated with the accusing of others Dying about the year 1650. he was buried in his own Parish Church in Saint Peters Broad-street his ancient friend Doctor Jefferies of Pembrook-hall taking for his Text. My days are like a shadow that decline Thomas Rich and Richard Abdi Esquires his Executors and worthy friends ordering his funeral with great solemnities and lamentation Souldiers To speak of this County in general it breedeth most hardy men He who deduced the Merches so truly called from Mercke a limitary bound from frequent marching and warlike expeditions therein missed the word but hit the matter These Borderers have been embroyled in several Battles agtinst the Scotch witness the Battle of Chevy-chase whereof Sir Philip Sidney is pleased to make this mention Certainly I must confess my own barbarousness I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas that I found not my heart moved more then with a Trumpet and yet it is sung but by some blind Crowder with no rougher voice then rude style which being so evil apparell'd in the dust and â—…bweb of that uncivil age what would it work trimmed in the gorgeous eloquence of Pindar True it is the story is not true in the letter and latitude thereof no Earl of Northumberland being ever killed in Chevy-chase as by the perusall of the ensuing Catalogue will appear 1 Henry Percy the first Earl lost his life in a battle against King Henry the fourth Anno Domini 1408. 2. Henry Percy his Grand-child the second Earl was slain on the side of King Henry the sixth against King Edward the fourth Anno 1455. 3. Henry his Son taking part with K. Henry the sixth was slain at Touton-field in the first of King Edward the fourth 4. Henry his Son promoting a Tax for the King was kill'd in a tumultuous rout at Cockledge eighteen miles from York in the fourth of King Henry the seventh 5. Henry his Son died a natural death in the eighteenth of King Henry the eight 6. Henry his Son died peaceably at Hackney neer London the nine and twentieth of King Henry the eight in whose reign the Scene is laid for the aforesaid Trajedy in Chevy-chase This I thought fit to have said partly to undeceive people least long possession might create a Title in their belief to the prejudice of truth partly that the noble Family of the Percy 's what need a good head of hair wear a Perriwig for birth and valour equal to any subjects in Christendome should not be beholding to an untruth to commend their martial Atchievement Yet though there be more fancy in the vernish there is much faith in the ground-work of this relation presenting a four-fold truth to posterity First that on light causes heavy quarrels have happened betwixt the Scotch and English in the Borders Secondly that the Percy 's with other Families in this County mentioned in this Ballade were most remarkable therein Thirdly that generally the English got the better in these broils Lastly that for the most part they were Victories without Triumphs wherein the Conquerour might sigh for his Conquest so dear the price thereof Physicians WILLIAM TURNER was born at Morpeth in this County bred in the University of Cambridge where he became an excellent Latinist Grecian Oratour and Poet. He was very zealous in the Protestant Religion writing many books in the defence thereof and much molested for the same by Bishop Gardner and others he was kept long in durance and escaping at last by Gods Providence fled over beyond Sea At Ferrara in Italy he Commenced Doctor of Physick there gaining his degree with general applause He wrote a great Herball and a book of Physick for the English Gentry as also several Treatises of Plants Fishes Stones Mettals c. He went afterwards into Germany where he lived in great Credit and Practise and as I conjecture died there in the reign of Queen Mary Reader I conceive him worthy of thy special notice because he was both a Confessor and Physician qualifications which meet not every day in the same Person THOMAS GIBSON It is pity to part him from the former because symbolising in many particulars of concernment Both 1. Born in this County and in the same Town of Morpeth 2. Flourishing atthe self same time 3. Physicians by Profession and it is said of this Thomas that he did aegritudinum sanationes incredibiles Incredible cures of Diseases 4. Writing of the same Subject of the nature of Hearbs 5. Professed enemies to Popery This Thomas wrote many other Books and one Entituled The Treasons of the Prelates since the Conquest which work had it come to the hand of a modern Authour happily it might have much helped him in that Subject He was alive in the last of Queen Mary and Bale sendeth forth a hearty Prayer for the continuance of his heâ—…th and
licet nos vel heredi nostri sit una pars Et ulterius de habundanciori gratia nostra concessimus praefato Francisco quod si ipse ad aliqua officia superdict seu aliquod praemissorum eligat ipseque officia superdict recusavit extunc idem Franciscus aliquem contemptum depâ—…rdit poenam fortisfitur aut aliquos exutos fines redemptiones seu amerciament quaecunque occasione omissionis sive non omissionis aut alicujus eorundem nullatenus incurrat fortisfaciat aut perdet sed quod praesens carta nostra de exemptione coram quibuscunque justic nostris hered nostr ac in quocunque loco aut curia de record per totum regnum nostrum praedict super demonstratione ejusdem chartae nostrae absque aliquo brevi praecept seu mandat aut aliquo alio superinde habend seu persequend vel aliqua proclamatione faciend praefato Francisco allocetur Concessimus etiam per praesentes concedimus eidem Francisco quod ipse de cetero durante vita sua in praesentia nostra aut hered nostrorum aut in praesentia alicujus sive aliquorum magnatum dominorum spiritualium vel temporalium aut aliquorum aliorum regni nostri quorumcunque quibuscunque temporibus futuris pilio sit coopertus capite non exuat aut deponat pilium suum à capite suo occasione vel causa quacunque contra voluntatem aut placitum suum ideo vobis omnibus singulis aut quibuscunque Justic. Judicibus Vicomitibus Escaetoribus Coronatoribus Majoribus praepositis Balivis aliis officiariis ministris nostris hered nostrâ—…rum firmiter injungendo mandamus quod ipsum Franciscum contra hanc concessionem nostr contra tenorem exegent aut effect praesent non vexetis perturb molest in aliquo seu gravetis In cujus reitestim has literas nostras fieri fecimus Patentes Teste meipso apud Westm. sexto die Julii anno regni nostri decimo octavo Per ipsum Regem de dat praedict authoritate Parliamenti Tolethorpe the chief place of residence at this day of Christopher Browne Esquire who hath born the office of Sheriff in this County 1647. was by Deed conveyed unto John Browne from Thomas Burton Knight in the fiftieth year of King Edward the third I meet with a Browne Lord Mayor of London 1479. the son of John Browne of Oakham The Farewell Let not the Inhabitants of Rutland complain that they are pinned up within the confines of a narrow County seeing the goodness thereof equals any Shire in England for fertility of ground But rather let them thank God who hath cast their lot into so pleasant a place giving them a goodly heritage SHROP-SHIRE hath Cheshire on the North Staffordshire on the East Worcester Hereford and Radnorshires on the South Montgomery and Denbighshires on the West The length thereof from North to South is 34 Miles and the generall breadth thereof about 26 Miles I behold it really though not so Reputed the biggest Lund-lock-shire in England For although according to Mr. Speeds mea-suring it gathereth but one hundred thirty four miles short of Wiltshireby five in Circumference Yet though less in compasse it may be more in Content as lesse angular in my eye and more approaching to a Circle the form of greatest capacity A large and lovely County generally fair and fruitful affording Grasse Grain and all things necessary for Mans sustenance but chiefly abounding with Naturall Commodities Iron It is the most impure of all Metals hardly meltable but with Additaments yea malleable and ductible with difficulty Not like that at Damascus which they refine in such sort that it will melt at a Lamp and yet so tough that it will hardly break Some impute the grossenesse of our English Iron to our water not so proper for that purpose as in Spain and other parts and the Poet telleth us of Turnus his Sword Ensem quem Dauno igni potens Deus ipse parenti Fecerat Stygia candentem extinxerat unda Sword which god Vulcan did for Daunus fixe And quenched it when firy hot in Stix However many Vtensils are made of the Iron of this County to the great profit of the Owners and no losse I hope of the Common-wealth Coale One may observe a threefold difference in our English-Coale 1 Sea-coale brought from Newcastle 2 Land-coale at Mendip Bedworth c. and carted into other Counties 3 What one may call River or Fresh-water-Coale digged out in this County at such a distance from Severne that they are easily ported by Boat into other Shires O ifthis COALE could be so charcked as to make Iron melt out of the Stone as it maketh it in Smiths Forges to be wrought in the Bars But Rome was not built all in one day and a NEW WORLD of Experiments is left to the discovery of Posterity Manufactures This County can boast of no one her ORIGINAL but may be glad of one to her DERIVATIVE viz. the VVelsh-Freeses brought to Oswastre the staple of that commodity as hereafter â—…hall be observed The Buildings No County in England hath such a heap of Castles together insomuch that Shropshire may seeme on the VVest divided from VVales with a VVall of continued Castles It is much that Mr. Speed which alloweth but one hundred eighty six in all England accounteth two and thirty in this County But as Great Guns so usefull in the side of a ship are uselesse in the middle thereof so these Castles formerly serviceable whilst Shropshire was the verge of English Dominions are now neglected this Shire being almost in the middest of England since VVales was peaceably annexed thereunto As for the Houses of the Gentry of this County as many of them are fair and handsome so none amount to an extraordinary Eminence Medicinall Waters There is a Spring at Pitch-ford in this Shire which hath an oily unctuous matter swimming upon the water thereof Indeed it is not in such plenty as in a River neer to Solos in Cilicia so full of that liquid substance that such as wash therein seem anointed with Oile nor so abundant as in the Springs neer the Cape of S. Helen wherewith as Josephus Acosta reports men use to pitch their Ropes and Tackling I know not whether the sanative virtue thereof hath been experimented but am sure that if it be Bitumen it is good to comfort the Nerves supple the Joynts drye up Rheumes cure Palsies and Contractions I have nothing more to say of Bitumen but that great the affinity thereof is with Sulphur save that Sulphur hath ingression into Mettal and Bitumen none at all Here I purposely passe by Okenyate in this County where are Allum springs whereof the Dyers of Shrewsbury make use instead of Allum Proverbs He that fetcheth a VVife from Shrewsbury must cary her into Staffordshire or else shall live in Cumberland The Staple-wit of this vulgar Proverb consisting solely in similitude of sound is scarce
his Paynes and Piety Prelates ROBERT of SHREWSBURY was in the reign of King John but I dare not say by him preferred Bishop of Bangor 1197. Afterwards the King waging war with Leoline Prince of Wales took this Bishop prisoner in his own Cathedral Church and enjoyned him to pay Three hundred Hawkes for his ransome Say not that it was improper that a Man of Peace should be ransomed with Birds of Prey seeing the Bishop had learnt the Rule Redime te captum quam queas minimo Besides 300 Hawkes will not seem so inconsiderable a matter to him that hath read how in the reign of King Charles an English Noble Man taken prisoner at the I le Ree was ransomed for a Brace of Grey-hounds Such who admire where the Bishop on a sudden should furnish himself with a stock of such Fowl will abate of their wonder when they remember that about this time the Men of Norway whence we have the best Hawkes under Magnus their General had possessed themselves of the Neighbouring Iland of Anglesea Besides he might stock himself out of the Aryes of Pembrook-shire where Perigrines did plentifully breed How ever this Bishop appeareth something humerous by one passage in his Will wherein he gave order that his Body should be buried in the middle of the Market place of Shrewsbury Impute it not to his profaness and contempt of Consecrated ground but either to his humility accounting himself unworthy thereof or to his prudential fore-sight that the fury of Souldiers during the intestine War betwixt the English and Welsh would fall fiercest on Churches as the fairest market and men preferring their profit before their Piety would preserve their Market-places though their Churches were destroyed He died Anno 1215. ROBERT BURNEL was son to Robert and brother to Hugh Lord Burnel whose Prime Seat was at Acton-Burnel-Castle in this County He was by King Edwà rd the First preferred Bishop of Bath and VVellâ—…s and first Treasurer then Chancelor of England He was well vers'd in the Welsh affairs and much us'd in managing them and that he might the more effectually attend such employment caused the Court of Chancery to be kept at Bristol He got great Wealth wherewith he enriched his kindred and is supposed to have rebuilt the decayed Castle of Acton-Burnel on his own expence And to decline envy for his secular structures left to his heirs he built for his Successors the beautiful Hall at VVells the biggest room of any Bishops Palace in England pluck'd down by Sir John Gabos afterwards executed for Treason in the reign of King Edward the Sixth English and Welsh affaires being setled to the Kings contentment he employed Bishop Burnel in some businesse about Scotland in the Marches whereof he died Anno Domini 1292. and his body solemnly brought many miles was buried in his own Cathedral WALTER de WENLOCK Abbot of Westminster was no doubt so named from his Nativity in a Market Town in this County I admire much that Matthew of VVestminster writeth him VVilliam de VVenlock and that a Monk of VVestminster should though not miscall mis-name the Abbot thereof He was Treasurer of England to King Edward the First betwixt the twelfth and fourteenth year of his reign and enjoyed his Abbots Office six and twenty years lacking six dayes He died on Christmasse day at his Mannor of Periford in Glocester-shire 1307 and was buried in his Church at VVestminster besides the High-Altar before the Presbutery without the South dore of King Edward's Shrine where Abbas VValterus non fuit Ausâ—…erus is part of his Epitaph RALPH of SHREWSBURY born therein was in the third of King Edward the Third preferred Bishop of Bath VVells Being consecrated without the Popes privity a daring adventure in those dayes he paid a large sum to expiate his presumption therein He was a good Benefactor to his Cathedral and bestowed on them a Chest Port-cullis-like barred with iron able to hold out a siege in the view of such as beheld it But what is of proof against Sacriledge Some Thieves with what Engines unknown in the reign of Queen Elizabeth forced it open But this Bishop is most memorable for erecting and endowing a spacious structure for the Vicars-Choral of his Cathedral to inhabit together which in an old Picture is thus presented The Vicars humble petition on their knees Per vicos positi villae Pater alme rogamus Ut simul uniti te dante domos maneamus To us dispers'd i th' streets good Father give A place where we together all my live The gracious answer of the Bishop sitting Vestra petunt merita quod sint concessa petita Ut maneatis ita loca fecimus haec stabilita Your merits crave that what you crave be yeilded That so you may remain this place we 've builded Having now made such a Palace as I may term it for his Vicars he was in observation of a proportionable distance necessitated in some sort to enlarge the Bishops Seat which he beautified and fortified Castle-wise with great expence He much ingratiated himself with the Country people by disforasting Mendip Beef better pleasing the Husbandmans palate than Venison He sate Bishop thirty four years and dying August 14. 1363. lieth buried in his Cathedral where his Statue is done to the life Vivos viventes vultus vividissimè exprimens saith my Authour ROBERT MASCAL Was bred saith Bale in and born saith Pitz positively at Ludlow in this County where he became a Carmelite Afterwards he studied in Oxford and became so famous for his Learning and Piety that he was made Confessor to Henry the Fourth and Counsellor to Henry the Fifth Promoted by the former Bishop of Hereford He was one of the Three English Prelates which went to and one of the Two which returned alive from the Council of Constance He died 1416 being buried in the Church of White-Friers in London to which he had been an eminent Benefactor RICHARD TALBOTE was born of Honourable Parentage in this County as Brother unto John Talbote the first Earl of Shrewsbury Being bred in Learning he was consecrated Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland 1417. He sate two and thirty years in that See being all that time a Privy Counsellor to King Henry the Fifth and Sixth twice Chief Justice and once Chancelor of Ireland He deserved well of his Church founding six petty Canons and as many Choristers therein yea generally of all Ireland writing a Book against James Earl of Ormond wherein he detected his abuses during his Lieutenancy in Ireland He died August the 15. 1449. and lieth buried in Saint Patricks in Dublin under a marble stone whereon an Eâ—…itaph is written not worthy the inserting The said Richard was unanimously chosen Arch-bishop of Armagh a higher place but refused to remove wisely preferring Safety above either Honor or Profit GEORGE DAY was born in this County and successively Scholer Fellow and
heirs the Patent whereof is extant in the Tower and exemplified in my Author He appears to me no more than a plain Knight or a Knight Batchelour But were it in the power of my Pen to create a Banneret he should for the Reason premised have that Honour affixed to his Memory who as we conjecture died about the middle of the reign of King Henry the Sixth JOHN DUDLEY Duke of Northumberland where born uncertain was son to Edward Dudley Esq. of whom hereafter and would willingly be reputed of this County a Descendent from the Lord Dudley therein whose memory we will gratifie so far as to believe it He lived long under King Henry the Eighth who much favoured him and the Servant much resembled his Master in the equal contemperament of Vertue and Vices so evenly matched that it is hard to say which got the Mastery in either of them This John was proper in person comely in carriage wise in advising valiant in adventuring and generally till his last project prosperous in success But he was also notoriously wanton intollerably ambitious a constant dissembler prodigeously profuse so that he had sunk his Estate had it not met with a seasonable support of Abbey Land he being one of those who well warmed himself with the chipps which fell from the felling of Monasteriâ—…s King Henry the 8th first Knighted then created him Vicount Lisle Earle of Warwick and Duke of Norâ—…humberland And under Queen Mary he made himself almost King of England though not in Title in power by contriving the settling of the Crown on Queen Jane his daughâ—…er in Law till successe failed him therein And no wonder if that design missed the mark which besides many rubbs it met with at hand was thrown against the general bias of English affection For this his treasonable practises he was executed in the First of Queen Mary much bemoaned by some Martial men whom he had formerly indeared in his good service in the French and Scotish Wars He left two sons who survived to great Honour Ambrose Earl of Warwick heir to all that was good and Robert Earl of Leicester heir to all that was great in their Father The BAGNOLS Something must be premised of their Name and extraction The Bagenhalts commonly called Bagnols were formerly a Family of such remark in this County that before the reign of King Henry the Eighth there scarce passed an Ancient piece of evidence which is not attested by one of that Name But see the uncertainty of all humane things it afterwards sunck down to use my Authours language into a Plebean Condition But the sparks of their gentle Bloud though covered for a time under a mean estate have since blazed again with their own worth and valour when Ralph and Nicholas sons to John Bagnol of Newcastle in this County were both Knighted for their good service the one in Mustle-Borough fight the otherin Ireland Yea as if their courage had been hereditary Their sons Samuel and Henry were for their Martial merit advanced to the same degree Sea-men WILLIAM MINORS Reader I remember how in the Case of the Ship-money the Judges delivered it for Law that England being an Island the very Middle-land-Shires therein are all to be accounted as Maritime Sure I am the Genius even of Land-lock-Counties acteth the Natives with a Maritime dexterity The English generally may be resembled to Ducklings which though hatched under a Hen yet naturally delight to dabble in the Water I mean though born and bred in In-Land places where neither their Infancy nor Childhood ever beheld Ship or Boat yet have they a great Inclinatioâ—… and Aptnesse to Sea-service And the present subject of our Pen is a pregnant proof thereof This William son to Richard Minors Gent. of Hallenbury-Hall was born at Uttoxater in this County who afterwads coming to London became so prosperous a Mariner that he hath safely returned eleven times from the East-Iudies whereas in the dayes of our GrandFathers such as came thence twice were beheld as Rarities thrice as Wonders four times as Miracles Much herein under Divine Providence is to be attributed to the Make of our English Ships now built more advantageous for sailing than in former Ages Besides the oftner they go the nearer they shape their Course use being the mother of Perfectnesse Yet whilst others wonder at his happiness in returning so often I as much commend his moderation in going no oftner to the East-Indies More men know how to get enough than when they have gotten enough which causeth their Coveteousness to increase with their wealth Mr. Minors having advanced a competent Estate quitted the water to live on the land and now peaceably enjoyeth what he painfully hath gotten and is living in or near Hartford at this present year 1660. Writers JOHN STAFFORD born in the Shire-Town of this County was bred a Franciscan No contemptible Philosopher and Divine but considerable Historian who wrote a Latin History of Englands affaires Authors are at an absolute loss when he lived and are fain by degrees to screw themselves into a general notice thereof He must be since the year 1226 when the Franciscans first fixed themselves in our Land He must be before John Ross who flourished Anno 1480 under Edward the Fourth and maketh honourable mention of him Therefore with proportion and probability he is collected to have written about 1380. WILLIAM de LICHFIELD so termed from the place of his Nativity applied himself to a study of Divinity whereof he became Doctor and afterwards Rector of All-hallowes the Great in Thames-street London He was generally beloved for his great Learning and godly liâ—…e He wrote many Books both Moral and Divine in Prose and Verse one intituled The complaint of God unto sinful Men. There were found in his Study after his death Three thousand four score and three Sermons of his own writing He died Anno Dom. 1447. being buried under a defaced Monument in the Quire of his own Church ROBERT WHITTINGTON born at Lichfield was no mean Grammarian Indeed he might have been greater if he would have been less Pride prompting him to cope with his Conquerors whom he mistook for his Match The first of these was Will. Lillie though there was as great difference betwixt these two Grammarians as betwixta Verb defective and one perfect in all the Requisites thereof The two other were William Horman and Alderedge both eminent in the Latin Tongue But some will carp at the best who cannot mend the worst line in a Picture the humour of our Whittington who flourished 1530. Since the Reformation HENRY STAFFORD Baron of Stafford in this County was son unto Edward Duke of Buckingham attainted and beheaded under King Henry the Eighth This our Henry though loosing his Top and Top-Gallant his Earledom and Dukedome in the tempest of the Kings displeasure yet still he kept his Keel his Barony of Stafford The less he possessed of his
the stipend and benevolence of the one and the dividend of the other but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of Tithes with the many troubles attending it together with the causeless molestations which Persons Presented meet with in their respective Parishes And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that whereof he never had a suffering this say some was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then Omni-prevalent with King James he was unexpectedly preferred Archbishop of Canterbury being of a more fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England I find two things much charg'd on his memory First that in his house he respected his Secretary above his Chaplains and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks Lay above Clergie-men Secondly that he connived at the spreading of non-conformity in so much that I read in a modern Author Had Bishop Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed without interruption there is little question to be made but that our Jerusalem by this time might have been a City at unity in it self Yet are there some of Archbishop Abbot his relations who as I am informed will undertake to defend him that he was in no degree guilty of these crimes laid to his charge This Archbishop was much humbled with a casual homicide of a keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramzel-Park though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby In the reign of King Charles he was sequestred from his Jurisdiction say some on the old account of that homicide though others say for refusing to Licence a Sermon of Dr. Sibthorps Yet there is not an Express of either in the Instrument of Sequestration the Commission only saying in the general That the said Archbishop could not at that present in his own person attend those services which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and Jurisdiction For my own part I have cause to believe that as Vulnus semel sanatum novo vulnere recrudescit so his former obnoxiousness for that casualty was renewed on the occasion of his refusal to Licence that Sermon with some other of his Court-un-compliances This Archbishop died Anno Dom. 1633. having erected a large Hospital with liberal maintenance at Guildford the place of his nativity RICHARD CORBET D. D. was born at Ewel in this County and from a Student in became Dean of Christ-Church then Bishop of Oxford An high VVit and most excellent Poet of a courteous carriage and no destructive nature to any who offended him counting himself plentifully repaired with a jest upon him He afterwards was advanced Bishop of Norwich where he died Anno Dom. 1635. States-men THOMAS CROMWEL was born at Putney in this County of whom I have given measure pressed down and running over in my Church-History WILLIAM HOWARD son to Thomas Howard second of that Surname Duke of Norâ—…hfolk was by Queen Mary created Baron of Effingham in this County and by her made Lord Admiral of England which place he discharged with credit I find he was one of the first Favourers and Furtherers with his purse and countenance of the strange and wonderful discovery of Russia He died Anno Domini 154. CHARLES HOWARD son to the Lord William aforesaid succeeded him though not immediately in the Admiralty An hearty Gentleman and cordial to his Sovereign of a most proper person one reason why Queen Elizabeth who though she did not value a Jewel by valued it the more for a fair Case reflected so much upon him The first evidence he gave of his prowes was when the Emperors sister the Spouse of Spain with a Fleer of 130 Sailes stoutly and proudly passed the narrow Seas his Lordship accompanied with ten ships onely of Her Majesties Navy Royal environed their Fleet in a most strange and warlike sort enforced them to stoop gallant and to vail their Bonnets for the Queen of England His service in the eighty eighth is notoriously known when at the first news of the Spaniards approach he towed at a cable with his own hands to draw out the harbourbound-ships into the Sea I dare boldly say he drew more though not by his person by his presence and example than any ten in the place True it is he was no deep Sea-man not to be expected from one of his Extraction but had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself and to follow their instructions and would not sterve the Queens service by feeding his own sturdy wilfulness but was ruled by the experienced in Sea-matters the Queen having a Navy of Oak and an Admiral of Osier His last eminent service was when he was Commander of the Sea as Essex of the Land forces at the taking of Cadiz for which he was made Earl of Nottingham the last of the Queens creation His place was of great profit Prizes being so frequent in that age though great his necessary and vast his voluntary expences keeping as I have read seven standing Houses at the same time at London Rigate Effingham Blechenley c. so that the wonder is not great if he died not very wealthy He lived to be very aged who wrote Man if not married in the first of Q. Elizabeth being an invited guest at the solemn Consecration of Matthew Parker at Lambeth and many years after by his testimony confuted those lewd and loud lies which the Papists tell of the Naggs-head in Cheap-side He resigned his Admiralty in the reign of King James to the Duke of Buckingham and died towards the later end of the reign of the King afore-said Sea-men Sir ROBERT DUDLEY Knight son to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester by Douglas Shefeld whether his Mistris or Wife God knoweth many men being inclinable charitably to believe the later was born at Shene in this County and bred by his mother out of his Fathers reach at Offington in Sussex He afterwards became a most compleat Gentleman in all suteable accomplishments endeavoring in the reign of King James to prove his legitimacy and meeting with much opposition from the Court in distast he left his Land and went over into Italy But Worth is ever at home and carrieth its own welcome along with it He became a Favorite to the Duke of Florence who highly reflected on his Abilities and used his directions in all his Buildings At this time Ligorn from a Child started a Man without ever being a Youth and of a small Town grew a great City on a sudden and is much beholding to this Sir Robert for its fairness and firmness as chief contriver of both But by this time his Adversaries in England had procured him to be call'd home by a special Privy Seal which he refused to obey and thereupon all his Lands in England was seised on by the King by the Statute
Ioh. Palmer arm ut prius  36 Ioh. Thetcher arm   37 Ioh. Dawtree mil. ut prius  38 Ioh. Sackvile arm ut prius  EDVV. VI.   Anno   1 Thom Carden mil.   2 Ioh. Scott armig ut prius  3 Nich. Pelham mil. ut prius  4 VVill. Goring m. ut prius  5 Rob. Oxenbrigg â—… ut prius  6 Anthon. Brown m. ut prius  Rex PHIL. MAR. Reg   Anno   1 Tho. Saunders mil. chartwood Sable a Cheveron between 3 Bulls heads Aâ—…g 2 Ioh. Covert arm ut prius  3 VVill. Saunders ar ut prius  4 Edw. Gage mil.  Gyronne of four Az. and Arg a Saltire Gules 5 Ioh. Ashburnham ut prius  6 VVill. Moore arm ut prius  Regin ELIZ.   Anno   1 Tho. Palmer mil. ut prius  2 Ioh. Colepeper ar  â—…rg a Bend engrailâ—…d Gules 3 Joh. Stidolf arm  Arg. Or a Chief Sable 2 Wolves heads Erased Or. 4 Hen. Goring arm ut prius  5 Will. Gresham   6 Rich. Covert arm ut prius  7 Antho. Pelham ar ut prius  8 Will. Dawtree arm ut prius  This year the 2 Counties were divided Sheriffs of Surrey alone Name Place Amreâ—… 9 Franc. Carew ar ut prius  10 Hen. Weâ—…on mil. ut prius  11 Thom. Lifeld ar ut prius  12 Tho. Brown arm ut prius  This year the two Counties were again united under one Sheriff Name Place Amreâ—… 13 Ioh. Pelham arm ut prius  14 Tho Palmer mil. ut prius  15 Fran. Shirley arm ut prius  16 Ioh. Rede arm Rich. Polsted   17 Hen Pelham arm ut prius  18 Will. Gresham ar ut prius  19 Tho. Shirley mil ut prius  20 Georg. Goring ar ut prius  21 Will. Moore mil. ut prius  22 Will. Morley arm ut prius  23 Edw. Slifeld arm   24 Tho. Brown mil. ut prius  25 Walt. Covert arm ut prius  26 Tho. Bishop arm Parham Argent on a Bend cottised Gules 3 Bezauts 27 Rich. Bostock ar  Sable a Fesse Humet Aâ—…g 28 Nich. Parker ar   29 Rich. Brown arm ut prius  30 Ioh. Carrell arm Harting Argent 3 Bars and as many Martlets in Chief Sable 31 Thom. Pelham a. ut prius  32 Hen. Pelham arm ut prius  33 Robâ—… Linsey arm  Or an Eagle displayed Sable beaked and membred Az. a Chief Varry 34 Walt. Covert mil. ut prius  35 Nich. Parker mil.   36 Will. Gardeux a.   37 Rich. Leech arm   38 Edm. Culpeper a. ut prius  39 Georg. Moore arm ut prius  40 Jam. Colebrand a. Botham Az. 3 Levels with Plummets O. 41 Tho. Eversfeld a. Den Erm. on a Bend S. 3 Mullets O. 42 Edm. Boier arm Camberwel Sur. O. a Bend varry betwixt 2 Cottises Gules 43 Thom. Bishop arm ut prius  44 Ioh. Ashburnham ut prius  45 Rob. Lynsey ut prius  JAC. Rex   Anno   1 Rob. Linsey arm ut prius  2 Hen. Goring mil. ut prius  3 Edw. Culpeper mil ut prius  4 Tho. Hoskings mil.   5 Hen. Morley arm ut prius  6 Georg. Gunter mil.  Sable 3 Gantlets within a Border Or. 7 Thom. Hunt miles   8 Ioh. Lountesford  Az. a Cheveron betwixt 3 Boares Or Coupe Gules 9 Edw. Bellingham 〈◊〉 prins  10 Wil. Wignall a Tandrigde Sur. Azure on a Cheveron Or betwixt 3 Ostriges 3 Mullets Gules 11 Edw. Goring arm ut prius  12 Ioh. Willdigos m.   13 Rola Tropps Mor Ioh. Morgan m.   14 Ioh. Shirley mile ut prius  15 Ioh. Middleton a.   16 Ioh. Howland mil. Shatham Arg. 2 Bars and 3 Lions Ramp in Chief Sable 17 Nich. Eversfeld a. ut prius  18 Rich. Michelborne   19 Franc. Leigh mil. ut prius  20 Tho. Springet m.   21 Ben. Pelham mil. ut prius  22 Amb. Browne arm ut prius  CAROLUS Rex   Anno   1 Edr. Alford arm  G. 6 Pears 3 2 1 a chief O. 2 Tho. Bowyer arm Leghthorn Suss. Or a Bend Vary betw 2 Cotises G 3 Edw. Jourden arm Gatwik S. an Eagle displaied betw 2 Bendlets Ar. a Canton siâ—…ster Or. 4 Steph. Boord mil.   5 Anth. May armâ—…ger  G. a Fesse between 8 Billets Or. 6 Will. Walter mil. Wimblâ—… Az. a Fesse indented Or between 3 Eagles Argent 7   8 Iohâ—… Chapman m.   9 Rich. Evelyn arm Wotton Az. a Gâ—…yphon passant Chief O. 10 Will Culpeper ar ut prius  11 Will. Morley mil. ut prius  When I look upon these two Counties it puts me in mind of the Epigram in the Poet. Nec cum te possum vivere nec sine te Neither with thee can I well Nor without thee can I dwell For these two Shires of Surrey and Sussex generally had distinct Sheriffs until the Reign of King Edward the Second when they were united under One. Then again divided in the ninth of Queen Elizabeth united in the thirteenth divided again in the twelfth of King Charles and so remain at this day but how long this condition will continue is to me unknown seeing neither conjunctim nor divisim they seem very well satisfied Sheriffs of this Connty alone Name Place Amreâ—… King CHARLES   Anno   12 Antho. Vincent mil. Stock'd Azure 3 Quarterfoils Argent 13 Abernn  14 Iohan Gresham mil   15 Ioh. Howland mil. ut prius  16 Tho. Smith armig   17 Georg. Price arm   18   19 Edru Jorden arm ut prius  20 Mathe. Brand mi   21   22 Will. VVymondsal mil. Putnie  RICHARD the Second 19 JOHN ASHBURNHAM My poor and plain Pen is willing though unable to add any lustre to this Family of stupendious Antiquity The Chief of this name was High Sheriffe of Sussex and Surrey Anno 1066. when WILLIAM Duke of Normandy invaded England to whom King Harauld wrote to assemble the Posse Comitatunm to make effectuall resistance against that Foreigner The Original hereof an Honourable Heir-Loome worth as much as the Owners thereof would value it at was lately in the Possession of this Family A Family wherein the Eminency hath equalled the Antiquity thereof having been Barons of England in the Reign of King Henry the Third The Last Sr. John Ashburnham of Ashburnham married Elizabeth Beaumont Daughter of Sr. Tho. Beaumont afterwards by especiall Grace created Viscountess Crawmount in Scotland and bare unto him two Sons John of the Bed-chamber to King CHARLES the first and second and William Cofferer to his
the Baron of Kendal 〈◊〉 his singular deserts â—…oth in Peace and War This was that Richard 〈◊〉 who sâ—…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 Iâ—… 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 affâ—…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
Tattered Cowle a Shirt of Hair a Girdle of Hempe a Pair of Beads a Plain Crucifix and Picture of some Saint passed for all the wealth and Wardrobe of a Friar yet by hearing Feminine Confessions wherewith Wilton twitteth them and abusing the Key of Absolution they opened the Coffers of all the Treasure in the Land He wrot also a smart Book on this subject An validi Mendicantes sint in 〈◊〉 Perfectionis Whether Friars in health and Begging be in the state of perfection The Anti-Friarists maintaining that such were Rogues by the Laws of God and Man and fitter for the House of Correction then State of Perfection This Dean Wilton flourished Anno Dom. 1460. Since the Reformation WILLIAM HOREMAN was saith my Author Patria Sarisburiensis which in the Strictest sence may be rendred born in the City in the Largest born in the Diocess of Salisbury and in the Middle-sence which I most embrace born in Wiltshire the County wherein Salisbury is situated He was bred saith Bale first in Eaton then in Kings-colledge in Cambridge both which I doe not deny though propably not of the Foundation his name not appearing in the exact Catalogue thereof Returning to Eaton he was made Vice-Provost thereof where he spent the remainder of his 〈◊〉 He was one of the most Generall Scholars of his age as may appear by the Diffusiveness of his Learning and Books written in all Faculties Grammar  Of Orthography Poetry  Of the Quantities of penultime syllables History  A Chronicle with a Comment on some Index of most Chronicles Controversial Divinity A Comment on Gabriel Biel. Case  On the divorce of King Henry the eighth Hnsbandry  A Comment on Cato Varro Columella Palladius de Re Rusticâ Other books he left unfinished for which Bale sends forth a sorrowfull sigh with a Proh Dolor which his passion is proof enough for me to place this Horeman on this side of the line of Reformation He dyed April 12. 1535. and lieth buried in the Chappel of Eaton Masters of Musick WILLAM LAWES son of Thomas Lawes a Viâ—…ar Choral of the Church of Salisbury was bred in the Close of that City being from his Childhood inclined to Musick Edward Earl of Hertford obtained him from his Father and bred him of his own cost in that Faculty under his Master Giovanni Coperario an Italian and most Exquisite Musician Yet may it be said that the Schollar in time did Equal yea Exceed his Master He afterwards was of the Private Musick to King Charles and was respected and beloved of all such Persons who cast any looks towards Vertue and Honour Besides his Fancies of the three four five and six parts to Vyol and Organ he made above thirty severall sorts of Musick for Voyces and Instruments neither was there any Instrument then in use but he composed to it so aptly as if he had only studied that In these distracted times his Loyalty ingaged him in the War for his Lord and Master and though he was by Generall Gerrard made a Commissary on designe to secure him such Officers being commonly shot-free by their place as not Exposed to danger yet such the activity of his Spirit he disclaimed the Covert of his Office and betrayed thereunto by his own adventurousness was casually shot at the Siege of Chester the same time when the Lord Bernard Stuart lost his life Nor was the Kings soul so ingrossed with grâ—…ef for the death of so near a Kinsman and Noble a Lord but that hearing of the death of his dear servant William Laws he had a particular Mourning for him when dead whom he loved when living and commonly called the Father of Musick I leave the rest of his worth to be expressed by his own Works of Composures of Psalms done joyntly by him and his brother Master Henry Laws betwixt which two no difference either in Eminency Affection or otherwise considerable save that the one is deceased and the other still surviving Master William Laws dyed in September 164. Benefactours to the Publique T. STUMPS of the Town of Malmesbury in this County was in his Age one of the most eminent Clothiers in England of whom there passeth a story told with some variation of circumstances but generally to this purpose King Henry the eighth Hunting near Malmesbury in Bredon Forrest came with all his Court Train unexpected to Dine with this Clothier But great House-keepers are as seldome surprised with Guests as vigilant Captains with Enemies Stumps commands his little Army of Workmen which he fed daily in his house to fast one Meal untill night which they might easily doe without indangering their health and with the same Provision gave the King and his Court-train though not so delicious and various most wholesome and plentifull entertainment But more Authentick is what I read in the great Antiquary speaking of the plucking down of Malmesbury Monastery The very Minster it self should have sped no better then the rest but being Demolished had not T. Stumps a wealthy Clothier by much suit but with a greater summe of Money redeemed and bought it for the Iowns-men his Neighbours by whom it was converted to a Parish-church and for a great part is yet standing at this day I find one William Stumps Gentleman who in the one and thirtieth year of King Henry the eight bought of him the demeans of Malmesbury Abby for fifteen hundred pound two shillings and a half penny Now how he was related to this T. Stumps whether son or father is to me unknown It will not be a sin for me to wish more branches from such Stumps who by their bounty may preserve the Monuments of Antiquity from destruction Memorable Persons SUTTON of 〈◊〉 Tradition and an old Pamphlet newly vamped with Additions make him a great Clothier Entertaining King Henry the first and bequeathing at his death one hundred pounds to the Weavers of Salisbury with many other benefactions I dare not utterly deny such a person and his bountifull Gifts but am â—…ured that he is notoriously mis-timed seeing Salisbury had scarce a stone laid therein one hundred years after King Henry the first and as for old Sarum that age knew nothing of Clothing as we have proved before Thus these Mungrell Pamphlets part true part false doe most mischief Snakes are less dangerous then Lampries seeing none will feed on what is known to be poison But these books are most pernicious where truth and falshoods are blended together and such a Medly Cloth is the Tale-story of this Clothier MICHEL born at ........... in this County was Under-sheriffe to Sir Anthony Hungarford a worthy Knight Anno 1558. in the last year of Queen Mary Of this Master Michel I find this Character A right and a perfect godly man Under sheriffs generally are complained of as over-crafty to say no worse of them but it seems hereby the place doth not spoil the person but the person the
For although he found not the same favour with Joseph to whom the Gaoler committed the care of all his family making him Super-intendent of all other Prisoners yet had he always Respective Usage and oftimes Liberty on his Parol By his Bounty to the Poor he gained the good-will saith Master Camden of all Persons whilst I behold his Bounty to Others as the Queens Bounty to him enabling because not disenabling him for the same and permitting him peaceably to possess his Estate He died a very aged man in Wisbich-castle as I collect Anno 1585. and the Character which Pitzeus giveth him may suffice for his Epitaph Erat in eo insignis pietas in Deum mira charitas in proximos singularis observantia in majores mitis affabilitas in inferiores dulcis humanitas in omnes mulâ—…plex doctrina redundans facundia incredibilis religionis catholicae zelus HENRY BRIGHT was born in the City of Worcester No good man will grudge him under this Title who shall seriously peruse this his Epitaph composed by Doctor Joseph Hall then Dean in the Cathedrall in Worcester Mane Hospes lege Magister Henricus Bright Celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha Qui Scholae Regiae istic fundatae per totos Quadraginta Annos Summa cum Laude praefuit Quononalter magis sedulus fuit Scitusve aut dexter in Latinis Graecis Hebraius Literis feliciter edocendis Teste utraque Academia quam Instruxit affatim numerosa pube literaria Sed totidem annis eoque amplius Theologiam professus hujus 〈◊〉 per Septennium Canonicus major saepissime Hic Alibi Sacrum Dei praeconem magno cum Zelo Fructu egit Vir Pius Doctus Integer frugi de Republica deque Ecclesia optime meritus A laboribus perdiu per noctuque ab anno 1562. ad 1626. strenue usque extant latis 4 to Martii suaviter requievit in Domino For my own part I behold this Master Bright placed by Divine Providence in this City in the Marches that he might equally communicate the Lustre of Grammerlearning to youth both of England and Wales Lord Mayors Name Father Place Company Time 1 Richard Lee Simon Lee Worcester Grocer 1460 2 Richard a Lee John a Lee Worcester 1468 3 Alexander Avenon Robert Avenon Kings Norton Iron-monger 1569 This is one of the twelve pretermitted Counties the Names of whose Gentry were not returned into the Tower by the Commissioners in the raign of King Henry the sixth Sheriffs HEN. II. Anno 1 Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo for 14 years Anno 16 Will. de Bello Campo Hugo de Puckier Anno 17 Ranul de Launch for 4 years Anno 21 Rob. de Lucy Anno 22 Mich. Belet for 7 years Anno 29 Rad. de Glanvill Anno 30 Mich. Belet Anno 31 Rob. Marivion for 3 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Rob. Marmion Anno 2 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 3 Will. de Bello Campo Rich. de Piplinton Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Hen. de Longo Campo for 3 years Anno 10 Rad. de Grafton JOH Rex Anno 1 Rad. de Grafton Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Will. de Cantela Adam de Worcester for 3 years Anno 6 Rob. de Cantelu Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Will. de Cantelu Adam Clicus Anno 9 Will. de Cantelu Walt. le Puchier for 3 years Anno 12 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Ruffus Anno 13 Will. de Cantelupo Adam Delwich Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Cantelupo Phus. Kutton for 3 years HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Walt. de Bello Campo Hen. Lunett for 3 years Anno 5 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 8 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 9 Walt. de Bello Campo Tho. Wigorne for 3 years Anno 12 Walt. de Bello Campo for 3 years Anno 15 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Poer Anno 16 Walt. de Bello Campo Will de Malvern for 3 years Anno 19 Walt. de Bello Campo Hug. le Pohier Anno 20 Idem sive Will. Anno 21 Will. de Bello Campo Will de Blandhall Anno 22 Idem Anno 23 Will. de Bello Campo Laur. de Wandlesworth for 3 years Anno 26 Will de Bello Campo Simon de London Anno 27 Will. de Bello Campo for 24 years Anno 51 Will. de Bello Campo Ioh. de Hull Anno 52 Idem Anno 53 Will. de Bello Campo for 3 years EDW. I. Anno 1 Will. de Bello Campo Comes Warwic for 26 years Anno 27 Guido de Bello Campo for 9 years EDW. II. Anno 1 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Rob. de Berkenhall Anno 2 Guido de Bello Campo Comes Warr Walt. de Perthrope for 4 years Anno 6 Guido de Bello Campo Rob. de Warwick Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Guido de Bello Campo Anno 9 Iohan. de Heâ—…ingwoll Anno 10 Walt. de Bello Campo Anno 11 Idem Anno 12 Will. Stracy Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Will. de Bello Campo Anno 16 Anno 17 Nich. Russell Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Walt. de Kokesey EDW. III. Anno 1 Walt. de Kokesey Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Rich de Hâ—…deslowe for 3 years Anno 6 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 46 years RICH. II. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Comes Warr for 4 years Anno 5 Tho. de Bello Campo for 13 years Anno 18 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 19 Idem Anno 20 Ioh. Washburne Anno 21 Hen. Haggeley Anno 22 Rob. Russell HEN. IV. Anno 1 Tho. de Bello Campo Anno 2 Tho. de Bello Campo Will Beaucham Anno 3 Tho. Hodington Anno 4 Rich. de Bello Campo Comes Warr fâ—…r 9 years HEN. V. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 9 years HEN. VI. Anno 1 Rich. de Bello Campo for 16 years Anno 16 Norm Washburne Subvic In the 17. year of King Henry the sixth this worthy Richard Beauchamp deceased And here the records are at a loss such as ever since came to my hand presenting no Sheriff for 21 years till the end of the raign of King Henry the sixth And yet I am confident that Henry Beauchamp Son and Heir to Richard aforesaid Earl of Warwick and Albemarle for Duke of ALBEMARLE I meet with none before that ILLUSTRIOUS PERSON who now deservedly possesseth that Honour injoyed the Shrevalty of this County EDW. IV. Anno 1 Walt. Scull Subvic for 19 years Here we have an Under-sheriff but no High sheriff could my industry hitherto recover though my confidence is grounded on good cause that Richard Nevill the Make-King Duke of Warwick was Honorary Sheriff though too great to officiate in his Person Annoâ—…0 â—…0 Iacob Radcliffe mil. for 3 years RICH. III. Anno 1 Iacob Radcliffe miles Anno 2 Will. Houghton
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
Commodity in this County not â—…ormerly omitted by me but pretermited till this Occasion Sure it is that the finest though this may seem a word of Challenge Cloth of England is made at Worcester and such I believe was that which Erasmus that great Critick who knew fine Cloth as well as pure Latine is calleth Pannus Britannicus Lempster Wool in the neighboring County of Hereford being here made into Pardon the Prolepsis till it be died the purest Scarlet YORK-SHIRE YORK-SHIRE hath the Bishoprick of Durham and Westmer land on the North Lancashire and a snip of Cheshire on the West Derby Notingham and Lincolnshire divided by Humber on the South and the German Ocean on the East thereof It extendeth without any Angular advantages unto a square of fourscore and ten miles adequate in all Dimensions unto the Dukedome of Wirtenberg in Germany Yea on due consideration I am confident that all the seven United Provinces cannot present such a square of solid Continent without any Sea interposed One may call and justify this to be the best Shire of England and that not by the help of the generall Katachresis of Good for Great a good blow good piece c. but in the proper acception thereof If in Tullies Orations all being excellent that is adjudged optima quae longissima the best which is the longest then by the same proportion this Shire partaking in goodness alike with others must be allowed the best Seeing Devonshire it self the next in largeness wisely sensible of the visible inequality betwixt them quits all claimes of corrivality as a case desperate and acknowledgeth this as Paramont in greatness Indeed though other Counties have more of the Warm Sun this hath as much as any of God's temporall blessings So that let a Survayer set his Center at Ponâ—…fract or thereabouts and take thence the Circumference of twenty miles he there will meet with a tract of ground not exceeded for any nor equalled for the goodness and plenty of some Commodities I would term it the Garden of England save because it is so far from the Mansion House I mean the City of London Insomuch that such sullen dispositions who do not desire to go thither only because of the great distance the same if settled there would not desire to come thence such the delight and pleasure therein Most true it is that when King Henry the eight Anno 1548. made his Progress to York Doctor Tonstall Bishop of Durham then attending on him shewed the King a Valley being then some few miles North of Doncaster which the Bishop avowed to be the richest that ever he found in all his travails thorough Europe For within 10. miles of Hasselwood the seat of the Vavasors there were 165. Mannor houses of Lords Knights and Gentlemen of the best quality 275. Severall Woods whereof some of them contain five hundred Acres 32. Parks and two Chases of Dear 120. Rivers and Brooks whereof Five be Navigable well stored with Salmon and other Fish 76. Water-mills for the Grinding of Corn on the aforesaid Rivers 25. Cole-mines which yield abundance of Fuell for the whole County 3. Forges for the making of Iron and Stone enough for the same And within the same limits as much sport and pleasure for Hunting Hawking Fishing and Fowling as in any place of England besides Naturall Commodities Geat A word of the name colour vertues and usefulness thereof In Latine it is called Gagates as different in nature as alike in name to the precious stone called Gagites onely found in an Eagles nest whence our English word Geat is deduced But be it remembred that the Agate vastly distinct from Geat is also named Gagates It is found in this County towards the sea side in the clefts of the rocks whose gaping chaps are filled up therewith It is naturally of a reddish and rusty colour till it becomes black and bright by polishing Indeed the lustre consists in the blackness thereof Negroes have their beauties as well as fair folk and vulgar eyes confound the inlayings made of black Marble polished to the height with Touch Geat and Ebony though the three former be stones the last a kind of wood The vertues of Geat are hitherto conceal'd It is the lightest of all solid not porous stones and may pass for the Embleme of our memories attracting trifles thereto and letting slip matters of more moment Rings are made thereof fine foyles to fair fingers and bracelets with beads here used for Ornament beyond sea for Devotion also small utensills as Salt-cellars and the like But hear how a Poet describes it Nascitur in Lycia lapis a prope gemma Gagates Sed geâ—…us eximium faecunda Britania mittit Lucidus niger est levis laevicssimusi idem Vicinas paleas trahit attritu calefactus Ardet aquâ lotus restinguitur unctus olivo Geat a stone and kind of gemm In Lycia grows but best of them Most fruitfull Britain sends 't is bright And black and smooth and very light If rubb'd to heat it easily draws Unto it self both chaffe and straws Water makes it fiercely flame Oyle doth quickly quench the same The two last qualities some conceive to agree better to our sea-coal then Geat whence it is that some stiffly maintain that those are the Brittish Gagates meant by forraign Authors and indeed if preciousness of stones be measured not from their price and rarity but usefulness they may be accounted precious But hereof formerly in the Bishoprick of Durham Alume This was first found out nigh Geâ—…burgh in this County some sixty years since by that worthy and learned Knight Sir Thomas Chaloner Tutor to Prince Henry on this occasion He observed the leaves of trees there abouts more deeply green then elsewhere the Oakes broad-spreading but not deep-rooted with much strength but little sap the earth clayish variously coloured here White there Yellowish there Blew and the ways therein in a clear night glistering like glass symptoms which first suggested unto him the presumption of Minerals and of Alum most properly Yet some years interceded betwixt the discovery and perfecting thereof some of the Gentry of the Vicinage burying their estates here under earth before the Alum could be brought to its true consistency Yea all things could not fadge with them untill they had brought not to say stolÅ„ over three prime workmen in Hogsheads from Rochel in France whereof one Lambert Russell by name and a Walloon by birth not long since deceased But when the work was ended it was adjudged a Mine Royal and came at last to be rented by Sir Paul Pindar who paid yearly To The King 12500. The Earl of Moulgrave 01640. Sir William Penniman 00600. Besides large salaries to numerous Clarks and daily wages to Rubbish-men Rockmen Pit-men and House-men or Fire-men so that at one time when the Mines were in their Majesty I am credibly informed he had in pay no fewer then eight hundred by sea and land
the Chequer and afterwards Treasurer of England and twice Embassadour to the King of France He deserved right well of his own Cathedrall and dying October 31. 1228. was buried under a Marble Tombe on the South-side of the Presbytery WILLIAM de MELTON was born in this County wherein are four villages so named and preferred therein Provost of Beverly and Canon then Arch-bishop of York He went to Avinion there to procure his Consecration I say to Avinion whither then the Court was removed from Rome and continued about threescore and ten years on the same token that those remaining at Rome almost starved for want of employment called this the seventy years captivity of Babilon Consecrated after two years tedious Attendance he returned into England and fell to finish the fair fabrick of his Cathedrall which John Roman had began expending seven hundred Marks therein His life was free from Scandall signall for his Chastity Charity Fasting and Praying He strained up his Tenants so as to make good Musick therewith but not break the string and surely Church-lands were intended though not equally yet mutually for the comfortable support both of Landlord and Tenants Being unwilling that the Infamy of Infidell should be fixed upon him according to the Apostles Doctrine for not providing for his family he bought three Mannors in this County from the Arch-bishop of Roan with the Popes Confirmation and setled them on his Brothers Son whose Descendant William Melton was High-sheriff of this County in the Fiftieth of King Edward the third There is a Place in York as well as in London called the Old-baly herein more remarkable then that in London that Arch-bishop Melton compassed it about with a great Wall He bestowed also much cost in adorning Feretrum English it the Bear or the Coffin of Saint William a Person purposely omitted by my Pen because no assurance of his English Extraction Arch-bishop Melton dyed after he had sate two and twenty years in his See Anno Domini 1340. Entombed in the Body of his Church nigh the Font whereby I collect him buried below in the Bottom of the Church that Instrument of Christian Initiation antiently advancing but a little above the Entrance into the Church HENRY WAKEFEILD is here placed with Assurance there being three Towns of that name in and none out of this County Indeed his is an Episcopall Name which might mind him of his Office the Diocess of Worcester to which he was preferred Anno 1375. by King Edward the third being his Field and he by his place to Wake or watch over it Nor hear I of any complaints to the contrary but that he was very vigilant in his Place He was also for one year Lord Treasurer of England Dying March 11. 1394. he lyeth covered in his own Church Ingenti marmore and let none grudge him the greatness of his Grave-stone if two foot larger then ordinary who made the Body of this his Church two Arches longer Westward then he found it besides a fair Porch added thereunto RICHARD SCROOPE son to the Lord Scroope of Bolton in this County brother to William Earl of Wilt-shire was bred a Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge attaining to be a man of great learning and unblamable life Nor was it so much his high extraction as his own Abilities causing him to be preferred Bishop first of Coventry and Lichfield then Arch-bishop of York Being netled with the news of his Earl-brothers Beheading he conjoyned with the Earl of Northumberland the Earl Marshall Lord Bardolph and others against King Henry the fourth as an Usurper and Invader of the Liberties of Church and State The Earl of Westmerland in outward deportment complied with him and seemed to approve a Writing wherein his main intentions were comprised so to Trepan him into his destruction Toling him on till it was too late for him either to advance or retreat the King with his Army being at Pontfract Bishop Godwin saith it doth not appear that he desired to be tried by his Peers and I believe it will appear that nothing was then Calmly or Judiciously transacted but all being done in an hurry of heat and by Martiall Authority The Executioner had five strokes at his Neck before he could sunder it from his Body Imputable not to his Cruelty but Ignorance it not being to be expected that one nigh York should be so dextrous in that trade as those at London His beheading happened Anno 1405. STEPHEN PATRINGTON was born in the Village so called in the East-riding of this County He was bred a Carmelite and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford and the three and twentieth Provinciall of his Order through out England for fifteen years It is incredible saith Leland what Multitudes of People crowded to his Sermons till his Fame preferred him Chaplain and Confessour to King Henry the fifth He was deputed of the King Commissioner at Oxford to enquire after and make Process against the Poor Wicklevites and as he was busyed in that employment he was advanced to the Bishoprick of Saint Davids Hence he was sent over to the Councill of Constance and therein saith Walsingham gave great Testimony of his ability Returning into England he was made Bishop of Chichester but dying before his Translation was finished 1417. was buried in White-fryars in Fleetstreet WILLIAM PEIRCY was Son to Henry Peircy second Earl of Northumberland of that Name and Eleanour Nevill his Wife Indeed the Son of a Publique Woman conversing with many men cannot have his Father certainly assigned and therefore is commonly called Filius Populi As a base child in the Point of his Father is subject to a shamâ—…full so is the Nativity of this Prelate as to the Place thereof attended with an Honorable Uncertainty whose Noble Father had so many houses in the Northern Parts that his Son may be termed a Native of North-England but placed in this County because Topliffe is the Principall and most Antient seat of this Family He was bred a Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge whereof he was Chancellour and had a younger Brother George Peircy a Clerk also though attaining no higher preferment then a Prebend in Beverly Our William was made Bishop of Carlile 1452. Master Mills erroneously maketh him afterwards Bishop of Wells and it is enough to detect the mistake without disgracing the Mistaker He died in his See of Carlile 1462. CUTHBERT TONSTALL was born at Hatchforth in Richmond-shire in this County of a most Worshipfull Family whose chief seat at Tonstall Thurland not far off and bred in the University of Cambridge to which he was in books a great Benefactor He was afterwards Bishop of London and at last of Durham A great Grecian Orator Mathematician Civilian Divine and to wrap up all in a word a fast friend to Erasmus In the raign of King Henry the eight he publiquely confuted the papall supremacy in a learned Sermon with various and solid arguments preached on
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 Roâ—…heram no obscure market in this County waving his paternall name he took that of Roâ—…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 Antwâ—…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
Books imputed to him of the Wonders and first inhabitants of Britain of King Arthur and his unknown Sepulehre so that now we can teach Gildas what he knew not namely that King Arthur was certainly buried at Glassenbury He wrot also of Percevall and Lancelot whoâ—… I behold as two Knights Combatants and presume the former most victorious from the Notation of his Name Per sevalens prevailing by himself Our Author is charged to be full of Fables which I can easily believe for in Ancient History if we will have any thing of truth we must have something of falsehood and abating onely Holy-writ it is as impossible to find Antiquity without Fables as an old Face without Wrinckles He flourished Anno Dom. 860. BLEGABRIDE LANGAURIDE Philip Comineus observeth that to have a short Name is a great advantage to a Favorite because a King may readily remember and quickly call him If so the writer aforesaid is ill qualified for a Favorite But let him then pronounce his own Name for others will not trouble themselves therewith He attained to be a great Scholar Doctor of both Laws and Arch-deacon of the Church of Landaft He to the honour of his Country and use of Posterity translated the laws of Howell the most modest King of Wales and flourished 914. SALEPHILAX the BARDE This Mungrell name seemeth to have in it an Eye or Cast of Greek and Latine but we are assured of his Welch extraction In inquiring after his works my success hath been the same with the painfull Thresher of Mill-dew'd wheat gaining little more then Straw and Chaffe All the grain I can get is this that he set forth a Genealogy of the Britains and flourished about the year 920. GWALTERUS CALENIUS may we not English him Walter of Calen was a Cambrian by his Nativity though preferred to be Arch-deacon of Oxford He is highly prized for his great learning by Lealand and others This was he who took the pains to go over into Britain in France and thence retrived an Ancient Manuscript of the British Princes from Brutus to Cadwalader Nor was his labour more in recovering then his courtesie in communicating this rarity to Jeffrey of Munmouth to translate the same into Latine Nor was this Walter himself idle continuing the same Chronicle for four hundred years together untill his own time He flourished Anno Dom. 1120. under King Henry the first GUALO BRYTANNUS born in Wales was from his Infancy a servant to the Muses and lover of Poetry That he might injoy himself the better herein he retired into a private place from the noise of all people and became an Anchorite for his Fancy not Devotion according to the Poet Carmina secessum scribentis otia quaerunt Verses justly do request Their writers privacy and rest Here his pen fell foul on the Monks whose covetousness in that age was so great that of that subject Difficile est Satyram non scribere 'T was hard for any then to write And not a Satyre to indite He wrot also Invectives against their wantonness and impostures and yet it seems did it with that Cautiousness that he incurred no danger Indeed he is commended by John of Sarisbury and others Quod esset Prudens Doctus He flourished Anno Domini 1170. under King Henry the second WILLIAM BRETON was born saith Bale and Pitz. the later alledging one Willot for his Author in Wales bred a Franciscan at Grimsby in Lincoln-shire I will not quarrell his Cambrian extraction but may safely mind the Reader that there was an ancient family of the Bretons at Ketton in Rutland next Lincoln-shire where this William had his education But let this Breton be Brito believing the allusion in sound not the worst evidence for his Welch originall sure it is he was a great Scholar and deep Divine the Writer of many books both in Verse and Prose and of all his Master-piâ—…ce was an exposition of all the hard words in the Bible which thus begins Difficiles studeo partes quas Biblia gestat Pandere sed nequeo latebras nisi qui ma â—…festat Auxiliante Deo qui câ—… vult singula praestat Dante juvamen eo nihil insuperabile restat c. Hard places which the Bible doth contain I study to expound but all in vain Without Gods help who darkness doth explain And with his help nothing doth hard remain c. Such the reputation of his book that in the controversie betwixt Standish Bishop of Saint Aâ—…aph and Erasmus unequal contest the former appeals to Brâ—…tons book about the interpretation of a place of Scripture This William died at Grimsby Anno Domini 1356. UTRED BOLTON was born saith Lealand ex Transabrinâ Gente Now though parts of Salop Worcester and Gloucester-shire with all Hereford shire be beyond Severn yet in such doubtfull Nativities England giveth up the Cast rather then to make a Contest to measure it Troublesome times made him leave his Country and travail to Durham where he became a Benedictine He had a rare Naturall Happiness that the Promptness and Pleasantness of his Parts commended all things that he did or said This so far ingratiated him with the Abbot of his Convent that he obtained leave to go to Oxford to File his Nature the Brighter by learning Hither he came in the heat of the difference betwixt Wickliffe and his Adversaries Bolton sided with both and with neither consenting in some things with Wickliffe dissenting in others as his conscience directed him William Jordan a Dominican and Northern Man was so madded hereat that he he fell foul on Bolton both with his Writing and Preaching Bolton angry hereat expressed himself more openly for Wickliffe especially in that his smart Book Pro Veris Monachis for True Monkes or Monkes Indeed parallel with Saint Pauls Widdows indeed which were to be honoured showing what Sanctity and Industry was required of them Hereat the anger of Jordan did Overflow endeavouring and almost effecting to get Bolton excommunicated for an Heretick This Learned Man flourished under King Richard the second 1330. JOHN GWENT was born in Wales bred a Franciscan in Oxford till he became Provinciall of his Order throughout all Britain He wrot a Learned Comment on Lombard his Common Places and is charactered a Person qui in Penitiore recognitae Prudentiae Cognitione se vel admirabilem ostenderet Here endeth Lealand his writing of him and beginneth Bale his railing on him pretending himself to the truest Touchstone of Spirits and trying Men thereby Yet doth he not charge our Gwent with any thing peculiar to him alone but common to the rest of his Order telling us what we knew before that all Mendicants were acted with an ill Genius being Sophisters Cavilers c. this Bee being no more guilty then the whole Hive therein He dyed at Hereford in the Verge of his Native Country 1348. JOHN EDE was saith Bale genere Wallus by
with the Title of Earl thereof until the raign of King James who created Philip Herbert second Son to Henry Earl of Pembroke Baron Herbert of Shurland and Earl of Montgomery Natural Commodities Horses How good and swift are bred in this County I may well spare my Commendation and remit the Reader to the Character I find given of them in a good Author From the Gomerian fields Then which in all our Wales there is no Country yields An excellenter Horse so full of Natural fire As one of Phoebus Steeds had been that Stallions Sire Which first their race begun or of th' Asturian kind Which some have held to be begotten by the wind Now after proportionable abatement for his Poetical Hyperbole the remainder is enough to inform us of the good Strain this Shire doth afford Proverbs Y Tair Chiwiorydd In English the Three Sisters being a common By-word to express the three Rivers of 〈◊〉 Severn Rhiddiall arising all three in this County out of the South-west side of Plynnillimmon Hill within few paces one of another but falling into the Sea more miles asunder Severn into the Severn Sea Wye into the Severn Rhiddiall into the Irish Sea The Tradition is that these three sisters were to run a race which should be first married to the Ocean Severn and Wye having a great journey to go chose their way through soft Medows and kept on a Travellers pace whilest Rhiddiall presuming on her short Journey staid before she went out and then to recover her lost time runs furiously in a distracted manner with her mad stream over all opposition The Proverb is applyable to Children of the same Parents issuing out of the same Womb but of different dispositions and embracing several courses of lives in this World so that their Cradles were not so near but their Coffins are as farre asunder Pywys Paradwys Cymry That is Powis is the Paradise of Wales This Proverb referreth to Teliessen the Author thereof at what time Powis had far larger bounds than at this day as containing all the land inter-jacent betwixt Wye and Severn of the pleasantness whereof we have spoken before Gwan dy Bawlyn Hafren Hafren fyà d hifcl cynt That is Fixt thy Pale with intent to sence out his water in Severn Severn will be as before Appliable to such who undertake projects above their power to perform or grapple in vain against Nature which soon returns to its former condition Writers GEORGE HERBERT was born at Montgomery-Castle younger Brother to Edward Lord Herbert of whom immediately bred Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and Orator of the university where he made a speech no less learned than the occasion was welcome of the return of Prince Charles out of Spain He was none of the Nobles of Tâ—…koa who at the building of Jerusalem put not their necks to the work of the Lord but waving worldly preferment chose serving at Gods Altar before State-employment So pious his life that as he was a copy of primitive he might be a pattern of Sanctity to posterity to testifie his independency on all others he never mentioned the name of Jesus Christ but with this addition My Master Next God the Word he loved the Word of God being heard often to protest That he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole world Remarkable his conformity to Church-Discipline whereby he drew the greater part of his Parishioners to accompany him daily in the publick celebration of Divine Service Yet had he because not desiring no higher preferment than the Benefice of Bemmerton nigh Salisbury where he built a fair house for his Successor and the Prebend of Leighton founded in the Cathedral of Lincoln where he built a fair Church with the assistance of some few Friends free Offerings When a Friend on his death bed went about to comfort him with the remembrance thereof as an especial good work he returned It is a good work if sprinkled with the Blood of Christ. But his Church that unimitable piece of Poetry may out-last this in structure His death hapned Anno Dom. 163 EDWARD HERBERT Son of Richard Herbert Esquire and Susan Newport his Wife was born at Montgomery * Castle in this County Knighted by King James who sent him over Embassador into France Afrerwards King Charls the first created him Baron of Castle Island in Ireland and some years after Baron of Cheirbury in this Counâ—…y he was a most excellent Artist and rare Linguist studied both in Books and Men and himself the Author of two Works most remarkable viz. A Treatise of 〈◊〉 written in French so highly prized beyond the Seas that as I am told it is extant at this day with great Honour in the Popes Vatican He married the Daughter and sole Heir of Sir VVilliam Herbert of Saint Julians in Monmouth-shire with whom he had a large Inheritance both in England and Ireland He died in August Anno Domini 1648. and was buried in Saint Giles in the fields London having designed a fair Monument of his own Invention to be set up for him in the Church of Montgomery according to the Model following upon the ground a Hath pace of fourteen foot square on the midst of which is placed a Dorrick Columne with its rights of Pedestal Basis and Capital fifteen foot in height on the Capital of the Columne is mounted an urn with an Heart Flamboul supported by two Angels The foot of this Columne is attended with four Angels placed on Pedestals at each corner of the said Hath pace two having Torches reverst extinguishing the Motto of Mortality the other two holding up Palmes the Emblems of Victory This Monument hath not hitherto by what obstruction I list not to enquire and I fear will not be finished which hath invited me the rather to this Description that it might be erected in Paper when it was intended in Marble Memorable Persons HAWIS GADARN She was a Lady of remark sole Daughter and Heir to Owen ap Graffyth Prince of that part of Powis called Powis Wenwinwin which taketh up this whole County She was justly as will appear surnamed Gadarn that is the Hardy I confess Hardy sounds better when applyed to men as Philip the Hardy a Prince in France meek and mild being a more proper Epethite for a woman Yet some competent hardiness to comport with troubles mis-becometh not the weaker Sex and indeed if she had not been Hawis the Hardy she had been Hawis the Beggerly She had four Uncles her Fathers Brethren Lhewelyn Iohn Griffith Vachan and David which uncles became her Cosens detaining all her inheritance from her Give said they a Girle a little Gold and marry her God and nature made Land for men to manage Hereupon Hawis comes to Court complains to King Edward the second The mention of her minds me of the Daughter of Zelophehad who pleaded so pathetically for her patrimony before Moses and Joshua The King commiserating her case
by the Romans an emblem of liberty is esteemed by the English except Faulconers and Hunters a badge of servitude though very useful in themselves and the Ensign of constancy because not discomposed but retaining their fashion in what form soever they be crouded The best Caps were formerly made at Monmouth where the Cappers Chappel doth still remain being better carved and gilded than any other part of the Church But on the occasion of a great plague hapning in this Town the trade was some years since removed hence to Beaudly in Worcester-shire yet so that they are called Monmouth Caps unto this day Thus this Town retains though not the profit the credit of Capping and seeing the Child still keeps the Mothers name there is some hope in due time she may return unto her All I will adde is this if at this day the phrase of wearing a Monmouth Cap be taken in a bad acception I hope the inhabitants of that Town will endeavour to disprove the occasion thereof Saints Saint AMPHIBALUS a Citizen of Carlion See the Saints in Hereford shire Saint AARON was a wealthy Citizen of Carlion in this County who for the testimony of the Christian Faith was martyred under the Tyrant Emperor Dioclesian By the way we may observe the names of the three first British Martyrs as to their Language 1. Alban Of Latine Originall 2. Amphibalus  Greek  3. Aaron  Hebrew  It seems that the Christian Britons at the Font quitted their Native names as barbarous and imposed on their Children those of the learned Languages This Aaron was martyred Anno Dom. 303. Saint JULIUS It is pity to part so fast friends both being Citizens of Carlion Yea they were lovely in their lives and in their deaths they were not divided both suffering martyrdom together and therefore like Philip and Jacob one day is assigned to their Memories in the Kalendar Nor must I forget how Carlion the place of their aboad though now a small Town was once a great City stretching so far oâ—… both sides of the River that Saint Julians a house of late of Sir William Herberts was sometimes within the City though now about a mile South-West thereof being a Church dedicated anciently to the Memory of this Saint Julius Cardinals GEFFERY of Monmouth is by some very firmly avouched to have been created a Cardinal but by what Pope and with what Title uncertain but my worthy Author justly suspecteth the truth hereof alledging that Popes in that age advanced few Forraigners at so great a distance to that Title except their merits to the See of Rome which appears not to this Jeffery were very great Let me adde that it is improbable so much honour should be done unto him whilest living who was so solemnly disgraced after his death whose Books extant in his life were afterwards by the Court of Rome publickly prohibited See him therefore in this Shire under the Title of Writers JOHN of Monmouth so called from the place of his Nativity D. D. and Canon of Lincoln was chosen Anno 1296. Bishop of Landaff The manner whereof was remarkable for when Robert Kilwarby complained to Pope Celestine how that Cathedral had been for seven years without a Bishop caused either by the troublesomness of those Times or the exility of revenue thereof his Holiness remitted his Election wholly to the discretion of this Arch-Bishop to conferre that vacant See on whomsoever he pleased The Arch-Bishop knowing all eyes intent on his Integrity herein resolved on a Welsh-man by his birth as most proper for and acceptable in the place and on one of merit for the Function Both Qualifications met in this John of Monmouth as British by his birth and alliance and Charactered to be Doctus Pius Theologus One of his Successors in that Bishoprick acknowledgeth that he was Multimodis sedi suae Benefactor and more particularly that he procured the Rectory of Newland in the Forrest of Dean to be appropriated thereunto But one Bishop Anthony Kitchin by name more unlanded Landaff in one than all his Predecessors endowed it in four hundred years This John dying April 8. 1323. was buried in Saint Maries Chappel whose Epitaph in French is hardly legible at this day on his Marble Monument WALTER CANTILUPE was Son to William the elder Lord Cantilupe whose prime residence was at Abergavennie in this County One of high birth higher preferment made by King Henry the third Bishop of Worcester and highest spirit In his time the Popes Legate came into England and complained of mâ—…ny Clergy-men keeping their livings against the Canons intending either to force such irregular Incumbents into avoydance so to make room for the Popes Favourites or else to compound for their continuance at his arbitrary price But our Walter would not yield to such extortion Indeed he was one of a keene nature and his two-edged spirit did cut on both sides against The Pope The King Telling Rusland his Legate coming hither 1255. that he would preferre to be hang'd on the Gallows rather than ever consent to such expilation of the Church Siding with the Barons he encouraged them in their Civil Warres promising Heaven for their reward though this doctrine cost him an excommunication from the Pope Lying on his death-bed he was touched with true remorse for his disloyalty and upon his desire obtained absolution He died February the fifth 1267. whom I behold as Uncle unto Thomas Cantilupe the Sainted Bishop of Hereford Souldiers RICHARD de CLARE was born as from all concentred probabilities may be conjectured at Strigule-Castle in this County and had the Title of Earl of Strigule and Pembroke He was otherwise surnamed Strongbow from drawing so strong a Bow and had Brachia projectissima saith my Author though I can hardly believe that Reacher which another writeth of him that with the palms of his hands he could touch his knees though he stood up right More appliable to him is the expression of Tully Nihil egit levi brachio being a person of effectual performance It hapned that Mac Murugh Lord of Leinster in the year of our Lord 1167. being expelled his Territory for several Tyrannies by the Lords of Meth and Conaght repaired to our King Henry the second and invited him to invade Ireland But that politick King fearing if failing in success to forfeit the reputation of his discretion would not engage in the design but permitted such Subjects of his who had a mind Militare propriis stipendiis to adventure themselves therein Amongst these Richard Strongbow was the principal going over into Ireland with twelve hundred men too great for an Earls Train yet too little for a Generals Army to make a National Invasion yet so great his success that in a short time he prossessed himself of the Ports of Leinster and Mounster with large lands belonging thereunto insomuch that King Henry grew jealous of his greatness remanded
Virg. Aeâ—… lib. 1. juxta finem * 〈◊〉 in Helvidium * Camden in Cambridgeshire * 〈◊〉 Twin Ant. Acad. Ox. pag. 333. * Gulielmus Zoon * So Mr. Fox spells it in his Acts and Mon. pag. 1573. called Sâ—…il Well at this day * Gen. 6. 2. * There were but 3. more Maryred in this County whereof John Hullier Fellow of Kings-col was most remarkable * Sir James Ware in the Arch-bishops of Tuam * Ireland properly was no Kingdome till the time of K. Henry the eighth * Sir James ut prius * John Philipot in his Catal. of Chancellors pag. 23. * Idem in his Catalogue of Treasurers pag. 16. * Bishop Godwin in the Bishops of Winchester a Godwin in the Catal. of Landaffe and Rochester b Idem in the Biposhs of Râ—…chester c Bale pag. 576. and Pits pag. 625. * Bale de Script Ang. Cent. 7. Num. 60. * Idem i bidem * Bale maketh him to flourish under K. Henry the fourth * See his speech in Parliament Speed pag. * Godwin in the Bishop of Carlile * Mr. Martin beneficed neer Northampton * The particulars of this were procured for me by my worthy friend Mathew Gilly Esquire from Elizabeth the Bishops sole surviving daughter * Mills Cat. of Hon. pag. 1010. * Bale de script Brit. Cent. 8. num 46. * Milles ut supra * Chronicon â—…o Bromton pag. 887. AMP. * Camdens Briâ—… in Cambridgeshire * Pits de it Aug. dâ—…script pag. 3â—…8 * Bâ—…le dâ—…pt Brit. Cent. 4. Num. 48. * Bale descript Brit. Cent. 5. Num. 40. S. N. * Bale Descript. Brit. Cent. 5. Num. 88. * Cent. octa Num. 43. * Polychron lib. ult cap. 10. * Balâ—… dâ—…ript Bâ—… Câ—…w 9. Num. 67. * So his son-in-law informed me * With Mrs. Skinner daughter to Sir Ed. Coke a very religious Gentlewoman * Henry of Huntington * Stows survay of London pag. 575. * This story is oâ—… his own relation * Bale descript Bâ—…t Cent. oct Num. 77. * Idem ibidem * Misprinted Sir Robertâ—…n â—…n my Ecclesiasticall History * Lord Herbert in the life of K. Henry the 8 pag. 181. Amos 4. 7. * Vate Royall of Eng. pag. 19. * Camdens Brit. in Châ—…shire * William Smith in his Vale Royal pag. 18. * In the wonders of Angle sea * 〈◊〉 Smith in his Vale-royal of England pag. 17. * Once Anno 14. and again Anno 1583. * See our Pro verbs in Kent * Holinshead Chron. pag. 489. * Stows Survey of London pag. 522. * Draytons Po lyalbion Song 〈◊〉 * â—… Kings 19. 12. * In his Brit. in Ireland * Pitz de 〈◊〉 script pag. 388. †In his 〈◊〉 of Cardinals * In his Cata of Bishops of Exeter * Bishop Godâ—… in the Arch bishop 〈◊〉 York †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Idem 〈◊〉 †In his comment on the 90. 〈◊〉 * R. Parker in Scel Cant in the Masters of Queens-colledge * In his Cata. of the Bishops of Lincola Printed 1616. * In 〈◊〉 Cestriensi natus Bishop Godwin in the Bishops of Durham * Sir J. Harrington pag. 206. * Luk. 8. 3. * Joh. 13. 29. * In his Elizabeâ—…h Anno 1596. * Bishop Williams * Alledâ—…'d by Sir Fâ—…a Bâ—…con in his Censure on the Earl of Som rset AMP. * Sir Hen. Sp. Gâ—…oss verbo justiciarius seems to assign him 1 Edw. 5. 1 Rich. 3. 1 Hen. 7. * In Sir Henry Spelm. ut prius John 12. * Acts 19. 24 * 〈◊〉 Brit. in Cheshire * Camden ibidem * Weavers Fun Mon. pag. 436 * Sir Wal. Râ—…leigh Hist. of the World lib 5. pag. 545. * Lambertsâ—…er â—…er amb of Kent * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this County * So is it writ in the Table over 〈◊〉 tomb * William Smith Vale-royal pag. 16. * Pitz de scripâ—… Brit. Anno 1340. * Bale Script Brit. Cent. 8. Num. 98. * Ang. Script Num. 992. * Mrs. Blackmore a Stationers wife in Pauls-Church-yard * In his description of Warwick-shire * Gen. 30. 36. * See Arch-bishop ushers Cron. * So my good friend Dr. Tates Principal of Brasen-Nose hath informed me * Mr. Hatcher in his Manuscript Catalogue of the Fellows of Kings-colledge * Fox Acts Mon. pag. 1958. * Mr. Haâ—…cher ut prius * Acts 10. 38. * Isaith 9. 3. * Will. Smith in his Vâ—…le pag. 18. * The Vale-Royal of England pag. 86. Idem pag. 199. * Vale royal of England written by Witt. Webb p. 22. * Christs-coll Register * Master John Spencer Library Keeper of Zion-colledge * Puâ—…chas his Piâ—…grims 1. part pag. 226. sâ—…q * Mat. 4. â—… * Purchas his Pilgrims lib. 3. pag. 255. * Bale de script Brit. Gent. 6. Nuâ—… 1â—… * Pits de Ang. Script pag. 690. * Script Brit. Ceut 9. Num. 17. * Pro. 20. 25. * Gal. 4. 4. * Mat. 12. 8. * In the Church behind the Exchange * Stows Suâ—…vey of London pag. 585. * Dâ—… Willet in his Catalogue of good works since the Reformation pag. 1226. * Stows Survey of London pag. 1226. * Stow his Survey of London pag. 154. †Vale Royal of England pa. 207. * Ibidem * Carews Survey of Cornwall pag. 55. * Num. 11. 5. * Camdens Brit. in Cornwall * Polydore Virgil de Invent. Rerum in lib 3. Cap. 8. Pag. 251. * Virg. 〈◊〉 6. * Lib. 3. Epig. 5â—… * Câ—…rew in his Sur. of Corn. pag. 100. * Cam English Brit. in Cornwall * Câ—…ews Sur 〈◊〉 Câ—…wall fol. 115. * Idâ—…m fol. 141. * 〈◊〉 lib. 8. cap. 3. †〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 lib. 3. cap. 5. Mela lib. 2. cap. 4. * 〈◊〉 Sur. of Cornwall fol. 126. * Caâ—…ew 〈◊〉 of Cornwall fol. 141. * See Master 〈◊〉 notes on Polyolbion pag. 131. * Rich. White of Basing-Stoke in Hist. Brit. Mart. and English Martyr on Octob. 21. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Cata. Sanct. Brit. Anno Dâ—…m 411 * Carew Survey of Corn. fol. 59. * Godwin in the Arch-bish of York * Bâ—…le de Scrip. Brit. Cent. Oct. Num. 13. * Sir James Wâ—…re de scrip Hib. lib. 2. pag. 13â—… * Idem de Arch epis Dublin pag. 30. * Garews Sâ—…r Corn. fol. 59. Bishop Godwin in the Bishops of Exeter Bishop Godwin ut prius * Stows Survey * Carew Survey of Cornwall fol. 59. * These cannot now be pretended an hinderance being put down by the long-lasting Parliament * Hamond L'Estrange Esq his Life of King Charles Reader in the last page I affirmed that Mr. Noy was no writer But since I am informed that there is a Posthume Book of his * Alomena wife to Amphitruo and Igern wife to Gâ—…loise Pr. of Cornwall * Draytons Polyolbion pag. 5. * Michael Cornubiensis * Joan. Sarishu de nugu Curial 5. cap. 18. * L Verulam in King Henry the seventh pag. 171. * Carew's survey of Cornwall * Carew in his survey of Cornwall sol 61. Speed Chron. pag. 780. *
Master Aylmer sate in the hind part whilst the Searchers drank of the Wine which they saw drawn out of the head or other end thereof Returning into England he was made Arch-Deacon of Lincoln and at last Bishop of London He was happy in a meet Yoke-fellow having a gratious Matron to his wife by whom he had many children and one son to which Arch-bishop Whitgift was Godfather and named him Tob-el that is The Lord is good in memorial of a great deliverance bestowed on this childs mother For when she was cast out of her Coach in London by a Mastiff casually seising upon the Horses she received no harm at all though very near to the time of her Travail Bishop Aylmer was well learned in the Languages a ready Disputant and deep Divine He was eighteen years Bishop of London and dying Anno 1594. in the 73. year of his age had this for part of his Epitaph which Bishop Vaugham sometimes his Chaplain afterwards his Successor made upon him Ter senos Annos Praesul semul Exul idem Bis Pugil in causa religionis erat Eighteen years Bishop and once Banish'd hence And twice a Champion in the Truths defence I understand it thus once a Champion in suffering when an Exile for religion and again in doing when chosen one of the disputants at Westminster against the Popish Bishops Primo Elizabethae except any expound it thus once Champion of the Doctrine against Papists and afterwards against the Discipline of the Non-Confromists none more stoutly opposing or more fouly belibelled of them God blessed him with a great estate the main whereof he left unto Samuel Aylmer his eldest son High-sheriff of Suffolk in the reign of King Charles and amongst his youngest sons all well provided for Doctor Aylmer Rector of Haddam in Hartfordshire was one of the most learned and reverend Divines in his generation JOHN TOWERS was born in this County bred Fellow of Queens-colledge in Cambridge and became Chaplain to William Earl of Northampton who bestowed on him the Benefice of Castle-Ashby in Northampton-shire He was preferred Dean and at last Bishop of Peterborough He was a good actor when he was young and a great sufferour when he was old dying about the year 1650. rich onely in Children and Patience Nothing but sin is a shame in it self and poverty as poverty especially since our Saviour hath sanctified it by suffering it is no disgrace Capital Judges and Writers on the Law RALPH DE-HENGHAM so named from a fair Market-town in this County was made Lord Chief-justice of the Kings-bench in Michaelmas term in the second year of King Edward the first when the King was newly returned from the Holy-land He sate 16. years in that place saving that one Winborne was for a year or two interposed and at the general purging and garbling of the Judges which happened in the 18. year of the aforesaid King when all the Judges except two John de Metingham and Elias de Bekingham were cast out by the Parliament for their corruption fined banished and imprisoned then this Ralph was merced in seven thousand marks for bribery and ejected out of his place Some will say let him wither in silence why do you mention him amongst the Worthies of our Nation I answer Penitence is the second part of Innocence and we find this Ralph after his fine payed made Chief-justice of the Common-pleas sub recipiscendi fiducia under the confidence generally conceived of his amendment He died the next being the 19. year of the raign of King Edward the first he lies buried in the Church of Saint Paul where he hath or had this Epitaph Per versus patet hos Anglorum quod jacet hic flos Legum qui tuta dictavit vera statuta Ex Hengham dictus Radulphus vir benedictus One must charitably believe that he played a good after-game of integrity and if injoying longer life he would have given a clearer testimony thereof WILLIAM PASTON Esq. son of Clement Paston Esq. and Beatrix his wife sister and heir to Jeffry Sommerton Esq. was born at Paston in this County He was learned in the laws of this Realm and first was Serjeant to King Henry the sixth and was after by him preferred second Judge of the Common-pleas I confess having confined our Catalogue to Capital Judges or Writers on the Law he falls not under our method in the strictness thereof But I appeal to the Reader himself whether he would not have been highly offended with me had I in silence passed over a person so deserving his observation He was highly in favour with King Henry the sixth who allowed him besides the ordinary salary assigned to other Judges one hundred and ten marks Reader behold the Standard of money in that age and admire with two Gowns to be taken yearly out of the Exchequer as by the ensuing letters Patents will appear Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Omnibus ad quos Praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali ut dilectus fidelis noster Willielmus Paston unus Justiti nostrorum de com Banco Statum suum decentius manu tenere expensas quas ipsum in officio pradicto facere oportebit sustinere valeat concessimus ei centum decem marcas percipiendum singulis annis ad scaccarium nostrum ad terminos Pasche Sancti Michaelis per equales Portiones duas robas per annum percipiendum unam videlicet cum Pellura ad festum Natalis Domini aliam cum Limra ad festum Pentecostes ultra feodum consuetum quamdiu ipsum Stare contigerit in officio supradicto In cujus rei Testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes teste meipso apud Westminst XV. die Octobris anno regni nostri octavo What Pellura is I understand Furr but what Limra is if rightly written I would willingly learn from another though some are confident it is Taffata I wonder the less at these noble favours conferred on the said William Paston Judge for I find him in grace with the two former Kings being made Serjeant by King Henry the fourth and of â—…is counsel for the Dutchie of Lancaster and in the reign of King Henry the fifth he was in such esteem with Sir John Falstofe Knight that he appointed him one of his Feoffees whom he enabled by a writing under his hand to recover debts from the Executors of King Henry the fifth This William Paston married Agnes daughter and heir of Sir Edmond Berrey by which marriage the Pastons rightly quarter at this day the several Coats of Hetherset Wachesham Craven Gerbredge Hemgrave and Kerdeston and received both advancement in bloud and accession in estate This said VVilliam Paston died at London August 14. 1444. and lies buryed in Norwich so that his corps by a peculiar exception do straggle from the Sepulture of their Ancestors who
from VVolstan de Paston who three years after the Conquest came into England to VVilliam Earl of Glandwill were all interred at Paston He lest rich revenues to John Paston Esquire his eldest son who married Margaret daughter and heir of John Mautby and no mean Estate to VVilliam his second surviving son who married Anne daughter to Edmond Duke of Somerset Sir EDWARD COKE Knight son of Robert Coke Esquire and of VVinefred Knightly his wife was born at Mileham in this County bred when ten years of age at Norwich-school and thence removed to Trinity-colledge in Cambridge After four years continuance there he was admitted into Cliffords-Inn-London and the year following entered a Studient of the Municipal-law in the Inner-Temple Such his proficiency therein that at the end of six years exceeding early in that strict age he was callâ—…d to the Bar and soon after for three years chosen Reader in Lyons-Inn Here his learned Lectures so spred forth his fame that crouds of Clients sued to him for his counsel and his own suit was the sooner granted when tendering his affections in order to marriage unto Briget daughter and Co-heir of John Paston Esquire She was afterwards his incomparable wife whose Portion moderately estimated Viis modis amounted unto thirty thousand pounds her vertues not falling under valuation and she enriched her husband with ten children Then began preferment to press upon him the City of Norwich chusing him Recorder the County of Norfolk their Knight to Parliament the Queen her Speaker therein as also successively her Solicitor and Attorney King James honoured him with Knighthood and made him Chief Justice first of the Common-Pleas then of the Kings-Bench Thus beginning on a good bottome left him by his father marrying a wife of extraordinary wealth having at the first great and gainful practice afterwards many and profitable Offices being provident to chuse good penny-worths in purchases leading a thrifty life living to a great age during flourishing and peaceable times born as much after the Persecution under Queen Mary as dying before our Civil Wars no wonder if he advanced a fair estate so that all his sons might seem elder brethren by the large possessions left unto them Some falsly character him a back-friend to the Church and Clergy being a grand benefactour to the Church of Norwich who gratefully under their publique seal honoured him with the ensuing testimony Edwardus Coke Armiger saepius in multis difficillimis negotiis Ecclesiae nostrae auxiliatus est nuper eandem contra Templorum Helluones qui dominia maneria haereditamenta nostra devorare sub titulo obscuro Concelatum dicunt sponte suâ nobis insciis sine mercede ullâ legittimè tutatus est atque eandem suam nostri defensionem in perpetuam tantaerei memoriam quam posterorum si opus fuerit magna cum industria scriptis redegit nostrae Ecclesiae donavit As for the many Benefices in his own Patronage he freely gave them to worthy men being wont to say in his Law-language that he would have Church-livings pass by Livery and Seisin not Bargain and Sale Five sorts of people he used to fore-design to misery and poverty Chemists Monopolizers Concelers Promoters and Rythming Poets For three things he would give God solemn thanks that he never gave his body to physick nor his heart to cruelty nor his hand to corruption In three things he did much applaud his own success in his fair fortune with his wife in his happy study of the laws and in his free coming by all his Offices nec prece nec pretio neither begging nor bribing for preferment His parts were admirable he had a deep judgment faithful memory active fancy and the jewel of his mind was put into a fair case a beautiful body with a comely countenance a case which he did wipe and keep clean delighting in good cloaths well worne and being wont to say that the outward neatness of our bodies might be a Monitor of purity to our souls In his pleadings discourse and judgements he declined all Circumlocutions usually saying The matter lies in a little room In all places callings and jurisdictions he commended modesty and sobriety within their boundaries saying If a River swells beyond its Banks it loseth its own Channel If any adverse party crossed him he would patiently reply If another punisheth me I will not punish my self In the highest Term of business he made Vacation to himself at his Table and would never be perswaded privately to retract what he had publikely adjudged professing he was a Judge in a Court and not in a Chamber He was wont to say No wise man would do that in prosperity whereof he should repent in adversity He gave for his Motto Prudens qui Patiens and his practise was accordingly especially after he fell into the disfavor of King James The cause hereof the Reader may find in our English Chronicles whilst we behold how he employed himself when retired to a private life when he did frui suo infortunio and improv'd his loss to his advantage He triumphed in his own innocency that he had done nothing illegally calling to mind the Motto which he gave in his rings when made Serjeant Lex est tutissima Cassis The Law is the safest Helmet And now he had leisure to peruse what formerly he had written even thirty books with his own hand most pleasing himself with a Manual which he called his Vade mecum from whence at one view he took a prospect of his life pass'd having noted therein most remarkables His most learned and laborious works on the Laws will last to be admired by the judicious posterity whilst â—…ame hath a trumpet left her and any breath to blow therein His judgement lately passed for an Oracle in Law and if since the credit thereof hath causelesly been questioned the wonder is not great If the Prophet himself living in an incredulous age found â—…ause to complain Who hath believed our Report it need not seem strange that our licentious times have afforded some to shake the authenticalness of the Reports of any earthly Judge He constantly had prayers said in his own house and charitably relieved the poor with his constant almes The foundation of Suttous-hospital when indeed but a foundation had been ruined before it was raised and crush'd by some Courtiers in the hatching thereof had not his great care preserved the same The Free-school at Thetford was supported in its being by his assistance and he founded a School on his own cost at Godwick in this County It must not be forgotten that Doctor Whitgift afterwards Arch-bishop of Canterbury was his Tutor who sent unto his Puple when the Queens Atturney a fair New Testament with this message He had now studied Common-law enough let him hereafter study the Law of God Let me adde to this that when he was under a cloud at Court and outed of his Judges place