they had a great encouragement to be impartiall not fearing a blow on their teeth though coming near to the heels of truth which in some sort were tied up from doing them any hurt This Roger began his Chronicle at the Conquest and continued it to the year 1235. being the 19. year of King Henry the third Indeed Mathew Paris doth quarter too heavily on the pains of Wendover who onely continuing his Chronicle for some years and inserting some small alterations is intituled to the whole work As a few drops of blood because of the deep hiew thereof discoloureth a whole bason of water into rednesse so the few and short Interpolations of Paris as the more noted Author give a denomination to the whole History though a fabrick built three stories high whereof our Roger laid the foundation finished the ground-room and second loft to which by Mr. Paris was added the garret as since the roof by W. Rishanger This Wendover died about the year of our Lord 1236. JOHN AMERSHAM was born in that small Corporation in this County bred a Monck in St. Albans where he contracted not onely Intimacy but in some sort Identity of Affection with John Wheathamsted Abbot thereof insomuch that what was said of two other friends was true of them Ethicks making good the Grammar thereof Duo Amici Vixit in eodem Conventu Now there was a great Faction in that Convent against their Abbot which to me seemeth no wonder for the generality of Moncks being lewd lazy and unlearned they bare an Antipathy to their Abbot who was pious painfull and a profound Schollar Nor did they onely rail on his Person whilst living but also revile his Memory when dead Our Amersham surviving his dear friend wrote a book besides other of his works intituled the Shield of Wheathamsted therein defending him from the undeserved Darts of his Enemies Obloquy He flourished Anno Dom. 1450. MATHEW STOKES was born in the Town and bred in the School of Eaton untill he was admitted in Kings-colledge in Cambridge Anno Domini 1531. He afterwards became Fellow of that house and at last Esquire Bedle and Register of the University A Register indeed both by his place and painfull performance therein for he as the Poets fain of Janus with two faces saw two worlds that before and after the Reformation In which juncture of time so great the confusion and embezeling of Records that had not Master Stokes been the more carefull I believe that though Cambridge would not be so Oblivious as Massala Corvinus who forgot his own name yet would she have forgotten the names of all her Ancient Officers To secure whose succession to Posterity Mr. Stokes with great industry and fidelity collected a Catalogue of the Chancellours Vice-Chancellours and Proctors He was a Zealous Papist even unto persecution of others which I note not to disgrace his Memory but defend my self for placing him before the Reformation though he lived many years in the reign of Q. Elizabeth Since the Reformation WALTER HADDON was born of a Knightly Family in this County bred at Eaton afterwards Fellow in Kings-colledge where he proceeded Doctor of Law and was the Kings Professor in that Faculty chosen Vice-chancellour of Cambridge 1550. soon after he was made President of Magdalen-colledge in Oxford which place he waved in the reign of Queen Mary and sheltered himself in obscurity Queen Elizabeth made him one of the Masters of her Requests and employed him in several Embassies beyond the Seas Her Majesty being demanded whether She preferred him or Buchanan for learning wittily and warily returned Buchananum omnibus antepono Haddonum nemini postpono Indeed he was a most Eloquent man and a pure Ciceronian in his stile as appeareth by his writings and especially in his book against Osorius The rest may be learned out of his Epitaph S. Memoriae GUALTERO HADDONO Equestri loco nato juris consulto Oratori Poetâ—… celeberrimo Graecae Latinaeque Eloquentiae sui temporis facile principi sapientia sanctitate vitae in id evecto ut Reginae Elizabethae à supplicum libellis magister esset destinareturque majoribus nisi facto immaturius cessisset Interim in omni gradus viro longe eminentissimo conjugi sui optimo meritissimoque Anna Suttona uxor ejus secunda flens maerens desiderii sui signum posuit Obiit Anno Salut hum 1572. Aetatis 56. This his fair Monument is extant in the wall at the upper end of the Chancell of Christs-church in London Where so many ancient Inscriptions have been barbarously defaced LAURENCE HUMPHRED was born in this County bred in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford a great and generall Scholar able Linguist deep Divine pious to God humble in himself charitable to others In the reign of Queen Mary he fled into Germany and there was Fellow-Commoner with Mr. Jewell whose life he wrote at large in Latine in all his sufferings Here he translated Origen de Recta Fide and Philo de 〈◊〉 tate out of Greek Returning into England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth he was made 〈◊〉 of Magdalen-colledge in Oxford and Dean of Winchester Higher preferment he 〈◊〉 ver attained because never desired it though a learned Author seems to put it on another account fortasse eo quod de adiaphoris non juxta cum Ecclesia Anglicana senserit I deny not but he might scruple some ceremonies but sure I am he was much molested in his Colledge with a party of fierce not to so furious Nonconformists from whom he much dissented in judgment He died Anno Dom. 1589. Here I must confess a mistake in my Ecclesiastical History misguided therein with many others by general tradition when I reported the gold lately found and shared amongst the President and Fellows of Magdalen-colledge in Oxford to have been the gift of this Doctor Humphred which since appeareth a legacy left by William Wainfleet their Founder Would I had been mistaken in the Matter as well as in the Person that so unworthy an act had never been performed But what said Jacob to his sons Carry back the money again peradventure it was an oversight Seasonable restitution will make reparation ROGER GOAD was born at Houton in this County and was admitted Scholar in Kings-colledge in Cambridge 1555. Leaving the Colledge he became a School-master at Guilford in Surrey But pity it is that a great candle should be burning in the Kitchin whilst light is lacking in the Hall and his publique parts pent in so private a profession He was made not to guide boys but govern men Hence by an unexpected election he was surprised into the Provostship of Kings-colledge wherein he remained fourty years He was thrice Vice-chancellonr of Cambridge a grave sage and learned man He had many contests with the young Frie in this Colledge chiefly because he loved their good better then they themselves Very little there is of his in print save what he did in
Our Commandement comprised in Our said Letters And that ye also from time to time as ye shall see meet quickly and sharply call upon them in Our name for the execution of Our said Commandement and if you shall find any of them Remiss or Negligent in that behalf We will that ye lay it sharply to their charge Advertising that in case they amend not their defaults ye will thereof Advertise Our Councell remâ—…ining with Our dearest Daughter the Princess and so We charge you to do indeed And if Our said Sheriffe or Justice or any other Sheriffe or Justice of any Shire next to you upon any side adjoyning shall need or require your Assistance for the Execution of Our said Commandements We Will and Desire you that what the best power ye can make of Our Subjects iâ—… Harneys ye be to them Aiding and Assisting from time to time as the Case shall require Not failing hereof as you intend to please Us and as We specially truâ—…t you Given under Our Signet at Our Manor of Greenwich the 18. day of May. Henry VIII 1 WILLIAM ESSEX Ar. He was a worthy man in his generation of great command in this County whereof he was four times Sheriffe and the first of his family who fixed at Lambourn therein on this welcome occasion He had married Elizabeth daughter and sole heir of Thomas Rogers of Benham whose Grandfather John Rogers had married Elizabeth daughter and heir of John Shoteâ—…broke of Bercote in this County whose ancestors had been Sheriffs of Barkeshire in the fourth fifth and sixth of King Edward the third by whom he received a large inheritance Nor was the birth of this Sir William for aferwards he was Knighted beneath his estate being Son unto Thomas Essex Esquire Remembrancer and Vice-Treasurer unto King Edward the fourth who dyed November 1. 1500. lyeth buried with a plain Epitaph in the Church of Kensington Middlesex He derived himself from Henry de Essex Baron of Rawley in Essex and Standard-Bearer of England as I have seen in an exact Pedigree attested by Master Camden and his posterity have lately assumed his Coat viz. Argent an Orle Gules There was lately a Baronet of this family with the revenues of a Baron but * riches endure not for ever if providence be not as well used in preserving as attaining them 24 HUMPHRY FORSTER Knight He bare a good affection to Protestants even in the most dangerous times and spake to the Quest in the behalf of Master Marbeck that good 〈◊〉 yea he confessed to King Henry the third that never any thing went so much against his Conscience which under his Graces authority he had done as his attending the execution of three poor men Martyred at Windsor Edward VI. 1 FRANCIS INGLEFIELD Mil. He afterwards was Privy-Councellor unto Queen Mary and so zealous a Romanist that after her death he left the land with a most large inheritance and lived for the most part in Spain He was a most industrious agent to solicite the cause of the Queen of Scots both to his Holiness and the Catholick King As also he was a great Promotor of and Benefactor to the English Colledge at Valladolit in Spain where he lyeth interred in a family of his alliance is still worshipfully extant in this County Queen Mary 1 JOHN WILLIAMS Miles Before the year of his Sherivalty was expired Queen Mary made him Lord Williams of Tame in Oxfordshire In which town he built a small Hospitall and a very fair School He with Sir Henry Bennyfield were joynt-Keepers of the Lady Elizabeth whilst under restraint being as civil as the other was cruel unto Her Bishop Ridley when martyred requested this Lord to stand his friend to the Queen that those Leases might be confirmed which he had made to poor Tenants which he promised and performed accordingly His great estate was divided betwixt his two daughters and coheirs one married to Sir Henry Norrice the other to Sir Richard Wenman Queen Elizabeth 4 HENRY NORRICE Ar. Son-in-law to the Lord Williams aforesaid He was by Queen Elizabeth created Baron Norrice of Ricot in Oxfordshire it is hard to say whether this tree of honour was more remarkable for the root from whence he sprung or for the branches that sprang from him He was Son to Sir Henry Norrice who suffered in the cause of Queen Anne Bullen Grandchild to Sir Edward Norrice who married Fridswide sister and coheir to the last Lord Lovell He was Father though himself of a meek and mild disposition to the Martiall brood of the Norrices of whom hereafter Elizabeth his great Grandchild sole Daughter and heir unto Francis Norrice Earl of Barkshire and Baroness Norrice was married unto Edward Wray Esquire whose only Daughter Elizabeth Wray Baroness Norrice lately deceased was married unto 〈◊〉 Bertue Earl of Lindsey whose Son a Minor is Lord Norrice at this day Sheriffs of Barkeshire alone Name Place Armes REG. ELIZA   Anno   9 Edw. Unton mil. Wadley 〈◊〉 on a Fess Eng. Or twixt 3 Spear-Heads Arg. a Hound cursant S. collered Gu. 10 Io. Fetiplace ar Chilrey G. 2 Chev. Argent 11 Will. Forster ar Aldermerston Sable a Chev betw 3 Arrows Arg. a Chev. 12 Will. Dunch ar LitlewitnaÌ„ Or 〈◊〉 2 Toures in 〈◊〉 a flour de Lice in Base Arg. 13 Ioha Winchcomb Budebury  14 Hen. Nevill mil. Billingber  15 Tho. Essex ar Lamborn 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 Erm. betw 3 Eagles Arg. 16 Ric. Lovelace ar Hurley Gules on a chiefe indented Sable three Marvets Or. 17 Anth. Bridges ar HemstedMarshal  18 Thom. Parry ar  See our Notes 19 Io. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut prius  20 Tho Stafford ar Bradfeld Or a Chev. Gul. Canton Er. 21 Tho. Stephans ar   22 Hum 〈◊〉 ar ut prius  23 Tho. Bullock ar 〈◊〉 Gules a Chev. twixt three Bulls-heads Ar. armed Or. 24 Tho Read ar Abington G. a Saltyre twixt 4 〈◊〉 Or. 25 〈◊〉 Molens ar Clapgate  26 Be. Fetiplace ar ut prius  27 Edw. Fetiplace ar ut prius  28 Chri. Lillcot ar Rushcomb Or. 2 〈◊〉 vairry Arg. Sable 29 Edm. Dunch ar ut prius  30 Thom. Parry ar ut prius  31 Tho. 〈◊〉 ar Shaw Azure a Fess 〈◊〉 inter 〈◊〉 Or. 32 Iohan. 〈◊〉 ar   33 Rich. Ward ar   34 Fr. Winchcombe ut prius  35 Hum. Forster ar ut prius  36 Ricar Hide ar S. Denchw Gules 2 Chevâ—…rons Arg. 37 Hen. Nevill ar ut prius  38 Edm. Wiseman ar Stephenton Sable a Chev. twixt 3 Bars of Spears Arg. 39 Chri. Lidcotte mi. ut prius  40 Hen. Pool mil.   41 Tho. Reede mil. ut prius  42 Sa. Backhouse ar Swallofield  43 Ioha Norris mil.   44 Ed. Fetiplâ—… mil. ut prius  Ed. Dunch ar 〈◊〉 Ja. ut prius  JAC. REX   Anno   1 Edm. Dunch ar
great Disputant and well studied Scholar as his works do declare He was afterwards preferred Bishop of Lincoln where several contests happened betwixt him and Pope Boniface the ninth who in revenge ex plenitudine Potestatis removed him from Lincoln to Litchfield that is from the Hall into the Kitchin a Bishoprick of less credit and profit Buckingham grew sullen hereat and would rather shut himself out then play at a less game and so quitting Episcopacy 1397. lived and died a private Monck at Canterbury where he lies buried the lowermost in the body of Christ-Church under a very fair Grave-stone as my industrious friend hath well retrived his memory though the brasse on his Monument be worn or rather torn away He indented with the Prior and Covent at Canterbury to build him a Chantry-Chappel near his Sepulcher which I find not performed JOHN YOUNG was born at Newton-longvile in this County and bred in New-colledge in Oxford on the same token that there are no fewer then ten Youngs in their Register reckoned Fellows of that Foundation and one said that Seeing the Colledge was always New well may many Fellows be Young therein This John Young became Warden thereof and afterwards was made Bishop of the fair City of Callipoli in Greece An excellent place to fat a neither Camel nor Lion but Camelion in and seeing the great Turk was his Tenant little the rent he paid to this his Landlord However this titular Bishoprick gave him Precedency a Vote in General Councils and Power of Ordination But some English Earth doth not well with such Grecian Aire and for his better support he was made Master of the Rowles Jan. 12. in the first of King Henry the eighth and either died or resigned his Office some eight years after As I remember he lieth buried with a brass Inscription in New-colledge Chappel JOHN HOLYMAN was born at Codington in this County bred in New-colledge in Oxford and afterwards became a Benedictine in Reading untill that Monastery was dissolved Queen Mary in the first of her reign preferred him Bishop of Bristoll whilst his predecessor Paul Bush deprived for being married was yet alive He lived peaceably not embrewing his hands in Protestants bloud and died seasonably for himself a little before the death of Queen Mary 1558. Since the Reformation JOHN HARLEY was born in the Parish of Newport-Paganel in this County as a learned Antiquary a native of the same place hath informed me where some of his kindred were lately if not still in being He was bred first Fellow then School-Master in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford in the dangerous days of King Henry the eighth he was an hearty but concealed Protestant In the first week of the reign of King Edward the sixth whilst most mens minds stood at a gaze it being dead-water with them which way the tide would turn Master Harley in the Parish-Church of Saint Peters in Oxford and a solemn Lent-Sermon publiquely preached Antipapal doctrine and powerfully press'd justification by faith alone whereupon the over-officious Vice-Chancellor hurried him up to London for an Heretick there to answer for his contempt But the case was soon altered Harley was acquitted commended preferred to be Tutor to the sons of John Earl of Warwick afterwards Duke of Northumberland He was thence made Bishop of Hereford It is said of Abraham he was buried in a good old age It cannot be said of our Harley he died in an old age finding him not above fifty though expiring in a good age in two respects in relation to the piety of his life past and in reference to the future troubles which immediately followed Surely had he survived a little longer he had lost his life as he did his Bishoprick for being married in the first of Q. Mary Doctor LAURENCE HUMPHRED Harley his Scholar in Magdalen-colledge hath consecrated this Distick to the memory of his Master though the Muses in my mind looked very solemnly without the least smile at the making thereof Floâ—… domui Harlaeus socius ludique Magister Celsus-deinde throno celsior inde polo. He died Anno Domini 1554. shifting from place to place the cause why there is no certain intelligence where he was interred ROBERT ALDRICH although he lived but in the twilight of Religion he is justly to be placed not on the Dark but Light side of Reformation For though his actions were but weak his affections were sincere therein Born he was at Burnham in this County bred in Kings-colledge in Cambridge Proctor of that University anno 1525. About which time many letters passed betwixt him and his familiar friend Erasmus who stileth him Blandae eloquentiae juvenem He was afterward School-master then Fellow and Provoster of Eaton and at last made Bishop of Carlile anno 1537. by King Henry the eighth He was never a through paced Papist much lesse a persecutor of Protestants though a complyer with some superstitions He died at Horncastle in Lincoln shire a house belonging to his See in the reign of Queen Mary 1555. WILLIAM ALLEY was born at Wiâ—…kham in this County bred first at Eaton then in Kings-colledge where he was admitted Anno Domini 1528. Hence he went away being Batchelour of Arts and afterwards became Lecturer in Saint Pauls I say Lecturer which name though since it hath sounded ill in some jealous ears as infected with faction was an ancient office founded in some Cathedralls to read Divinity there and this Master Alleys learned lectures according to that age are Extant in Print He was Consecrated Bishop of Exeter July 14. 1560. and dying 1576. lyeth buried under a fair Marble in his own Cathedrall RICHARD COX was born at Whaddon in this County and bred for some years in Kings-colledge in Cambridge Even when Cardinal Woolsy was erecting Christs-church in Oxford This great Prelate desiring that this his Colledge should be as fair within as without and have learning answerable to the building thereof employed his Emisaries to remove thither the most hopefull Plants of Cambridge and this Richard Cox amongst the rest He became afterwards School-master of Eaton which was happy with many florishing wits under his endeavours and Haddon amongst the rest whom he loved with filiall affection nor will it be amisse to insert the Poeticall Passe betwixt them Walter Haddon to Doctor COX his School-master Vix caput attollens è lecto scribere carmen Qui velit is voluit scribere plura Vale. Doctor COX to Walter Haddon his Scholar Te magis optarem salvum sine â—…armine Fili Quam sine te salvo carmina multa Vale. Hence he was sent for to be Instructor to Prince Edward which with good conscience to his great credit he discharged Here Reader forgive me in hazarding thy censure in making and translating a Distick upon them Praeceptor doctus docilis magis an puer ille Ille puer docilis Praeceptor tu quâ—…que doctus Master
 4 Edw. Stanley bar ut prius  5 Tho. Leigh esq ut prius  6 Pet. Dutron esq ut prius  7 Tho. Stanley esq ut prius  8 Ric. Brereton es ut prius  9 Edw. Fitton esq ut prius  10 Pet. Venables ut prius  11 Tho. Ashton bar ut prius  12 Will. Leigh esq ut prius  13 Tho. 〈◊〉 bar DuddingtoÌ„ Arg. a Cheveron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or betwixt 3 Gadds of stteel S. 14 Tho. Cholmley ut prius  15 Phil. Manwaring ut prius  16 Tho. Powell bar Berkenhad Sable 3 Roses Arg. 17 Ioh. Billot esq  Arg. on a Chief G. 3 Cinque foils of the Field 18 Hug. Calvely k. ut prius  19 Tho. Leigh esq ut prius  20 Ri. Gravenor ba. ut prius  21 Rob. Totton esq Winthaw Quarterly Arg. G. 4 Crescents counter changed 22 Hen. Brood esq   Reader if thou discoverest any difference in the Method betwixt this and the other Catalogue of Sheriffs impute it to this cause that whilst I fetched the Rest from the Fountain in the Exchequer I took these out of the Cestern I mean the Printed Book of Vale-royal I presume that the Sheriff who is last named continued in that Office all that Intervale of years till his Successor here nominated entred thereon The Reader may with the more confidence relie on their Armes imparted unto me by Mr. Daniel King who to me really verifieth his own Anagram DANIEL KING I KIND ANGEL And indeed he hath been a Tutelar one to me gratifying me with whatsoever I had need to use and he had ability to bestow Henry III. 56 HUGH de HATTON King William the Conquerer bestowed Lands on one of his Name and Ancestors at Hatton in this County From him is Lineally descended that Learned and Religious witness his pious meditations on the Psalmes Sir Christopher Hatton Knight of the Bath created by King Charles the first Baron Hatton of Kerby in Northampton-shire The Original of this grant of the Conquerors is still in this Lords Possession preserved in our Civil Wars with great care and difficulty by his vertuous Lady On the same token that her Lord patiently digested the plundring of his Library and other Rarities when hearing the welcome tidings from his Lady that the said Record was safely secured Queen Mary 3 Sir HUGH CHOLMLY or CHOLMONDELEIGH This worthy person bought his Knight-hood in the field at Leigh in Scotland He was five times High-sheriffe of this County and sometimes of Flintshire and for many years one of the two sole deputies Leiutenants thereof For a good space he was Vice-President of the Marches of Walles under the Right Honorable Sir Henry Sidney Knight conceive it during his abscence in Ireland For Fifty years together he was esteemed a Father of his Country and dying Anno 157. was buried in the Church of Mallpasse under a Tombe of Allabaster with great lamentation of all sorts of people had it not mitigated their Mourning that he left a Son of his own name Heir to his Vertues and Estate 2 JOHN SAVAGE Ar. I behold him as the direct Ancestor unto Sir Thomas Savage Kt. and Baronet Created by K. Charles the first Baron Savage of Rock savage in this County This Lord a very prudent States-man married Elizabeth eldest Daughter and Co-heir of Thomas Lord Darcy of Chich Viscount Colchester and Earl of Rivers Honours entailed on his Posterity and now injoyed by the Right Honorable Thomas Savage Earl Rivers The Battles Rowton heath 1645. Sept. 24. His Majesty being informed that Colonel Jones had seized the Suburbs and Strong Church of St. Johns in Chester advanced Northward for the relief thereof Poins one of the Parliaments Generalls pursued his Majesty At Rowton-heath within 3. miles of Chester the K. Army made an Halt whilst his Majesty with some prime persons marched into the City Next day a fierce Fight happened on the Heath betwixt the Kings and Poinses Forces the latter going off with the greater loss Judicious Persons conceive that had the Royalists pursued this Single Enemy as yet unrecruited with additional strength they had finally worsted him which Fatall omission opportunities admit of no after-games proved their overthrow For next day Col. Jones drew out his men into the field so that the Royalists being charged on the Heath in Front and Rear were put to the worst the whole body of whose Army had Wings without Legs Horse without Foot whilst the Parliament was powerfull in both Immediatly after a considerable Party of Horse the Lord Byron Governour of the City being loth to part with any Foot as kept to secure the Kings person came out of Chester too late to succour their defeated Friends and too soon to engage themselves Here fell the Youngest of the three Noble Brethren who lost their lives in the King service Bernard Stuart Earl of Leichfield never sufficiently to be lamented The Farewell To take my leave of Cheshire I could wish that some of their hospitality were planted in the South that it might bring forth fruit therein and in exchange I could desire that some of our Southern delicacies might prosperously grow in their gardens and Quinces particularly being not more pleasant to the palate then restorative of the health as accounted a great cordiall The rather because a native of this County in his description thereof could not remember he ever saw Quince growing therein CHESTER is a fair City on the North-east side of the River Dee so ancient that the first founder thereof is forgotten much beholding to the Earls of Chester and others for Increase and Ornaments The Walls thereof were lately in good repair especially betwixt the New-tower and the Water-gate For I find how Anno 1569. there was a personal fight in this City betwixt the two Sheriffs thereof viz. Richard Massey and Peter Lycherband who shall keep peace if aged Officers break it who deservedly were fined for the forfeiting of their gravity to repair that part of the Wall It seems it is more honour to be keeper of a gate in Chester then a whole City elsewhere seeing Eastgate therein was committed to the câ—…ody formerly of the Earl of Oxford Bridgegate to the Earl of Shrewsbury Watergate to the Earl of Daâ—…by and Northgate to the Mayor of the City It is built in the form of a Quadrant and is almost a just Square the four Cardinal Streets thereof as I may call them meeting in the middle of the City at a place called the Pentise which affordeth a Pleasant Prospect at once into all Four Here is a property of building peculiar to the City called the Rows being Galleries wherein Passengers go dry without coming into the Streets having Shops on both sides and underneath The fashion whereof is somewhat hard to conceive it is therefore worth their pains who have Money and Leasure to make their own Eyes the Expounders of the manner thereof The
with him and was the first restorer of Learning in our Nation It is questionable whether he was a better Latinist or Grecian a better Grammarian or Physician a better Scholar or Man for his moral deportment By his endeavours Galen speaks better Latine in the Translation than he did Greek in the Original The last Volume whereof Linacer promised to dedicate to Arch-Bishop Warham and excuseth his failing therein by a Latine Letter which for several reasons I have here exemplified First for the quicknesse of conceit and purity of style therein Secondly because never formerly Printed Thirdly because there is but one Copy thereof writren with Linacers own hand prefixed to that numerical Book which he presented to the said Arch Bishop bestowed by my old Friend Doctor George Ent on the Colledge of Physicians Lastly because Doctor Christopher Merrick hath been pleased carefully to compare it with the Original Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino Domino Gulielmo Dei gratiâ Cantuariensi Archi-episcopo totius Angliae Primati Apostolicae sedis Legato Thomas Linacrus Medicus salutem cum debita dicit Observantia QUod tibi Archiepiscope Clarissime opus hoc sicuti promiseram non dedicavi sed ejus duntaxat exemplum ad Te misi nolis obsecro pro spectatâ humanitate Tuâ me magis aut promissi putare immemorem aut ejus levem habuisse curam quin id implere maximè cupientem facere tamen non potuisse Nam cùm in eâ sententiâ sic perstitissem ut ex ea me praeter unum nemo hominum dejicere potuisset is profectò nec alius eam mutavit Quippe Rex ipse cùm ex certorum hominum sermone qui nimio studio mei mea omnia nimio plus praedicant intellexisset è tribus partibus quibus tota Medicinae ars integratur hanc quae hoc codice continetur esse reliquam eam quoque veluti justam sibi nec à reliquis nuncupatione distrahendam vendicavit justitque Domino Iohanni Chambre observantissimo Paternitatis Tuae famulo tum praesenti atque audienti ut sibi eam inscriberem Itaque cùm Te perspicere non dubitem quantum apud me valere quamque legis instar haberi debeat ejus voluntas non difficulter ut spero à Te impetrabo id quod etiam magnis precibus contendo ut alio quopiam ex iis quae in manibus sunt opere studiosis ut opinor futuro non ingrato oppigneratam Tibi fidem reluere liceat Quod si concedes utrumque per Te simul fiet ut voluptate quam ex requisitis à tanto principe vigiliis meis concepi eâ fruar solicitudine quâ pro redimenda fide angebar eâ liberer Nec eò spectat Reverendissime Praesul haec tam sedula excusatio quasi ullas meas nugas sic censeam ut Tibi usquam expetitas expetendasve putem Sic eam potius intelligi postulo cum Tu mihi primus ad otium literarium beneficiis aditum aditum patefeceris justissimum existimâsse me Tibi ejus otii rationem aliquam esse reddendam ex qua me intelligeres non omnino id frustrà conterere Sed cùm id partim instituendis quibusdam partim his qualiacunque sunt ad usum studiosorum scribendis impendam hoc agere imprimis ut qui ex eo audientes legentésve fructum aliquem percipient Tibi quem non minimum ejus autorem ubique profiteor bonam ejus partem acceptam referant Quod utique tum in his quae jam edidimus velim faciant tum quae alias unquam scribam nedum quae Tibi nominatim modò vita supersit dicabuntur Diu valeas Pater Amplissime No Englishman in that age had so learned Masters viz. Demetrius Politian and Hermolaus Barbarus so noble Patrons viz. Laurence Medices Duke of Florence whilest he was beyond the Seas King Henry the Seventh and Eighth to whom he was chief Physician after his return into England so high born Scholars Prince Arthur with many Lords Sons his Contemporaries so learned Friends Erasmus Melancthon Vives c. This Linacer founded two publick Lectures in Oxford and one in Cambridge dutifully his respect to his Mother double above his Aunt for the study of Physick and that Students of that faculty of both Universities may meet the more conveniently together he founded the Colledge of Physicians in London I much wonder at what I find in good Authors that Linacer a little before his death turned Priest and began to study the Scripture with which he formerly was unacquainted in so much that reading the fifth sixth and seventh Chapters of Saint Matthew he vowed That either this was not the Gospel or We were not Christians which speech though much condemned by the Relater thereof is capable of a charitable sense as taxing mens Practice so much different from Gods Precepts He died Anno Dom. 1524. on the twelfth of October and lieth buried in Saint Pauls under a stately Monument built to his Memory by Doctor John Caius and a Phenix is erected on the top thereof Yea I may call these two Doctors the two Phenixes of their Profession in our Nation and justifie the expression seeing the later in some sort sprang of the Ashes of the former and Caius came not into general credit till after the decease of Linacer Writers THOMAS ASHBURNE was born at that well-known Market Town in this County and not in Stafford shire as both Bale and Pits mistake and became an Augustinian therein going afterwards to Oxford he was doctorated in Divinity He was a great Adversary to Wickliff and in that Synod wherein his Doctrines were condemned for Heresie by ten Bishops twenty Lawyers and four and forty Divines our Ashburne made up one of the last number Yet once he did some good or rather diverted much evil It happened that one Peter Pateshul an Augustinian preaching in London had some passages in favour of Wickliff which so displeased those of his own Order that they plucked him out of the Pulpit dragged him into the Covent of Augustines near Broadstreet intending more violence to his person This allarumed the Londoners amongst whom a considerable party of Wickliffites to rescue poor Pateshul who in their rage had burnt the Covent about the Friers ears had not our Ashburne with his prayers and tears seasonably interceded He flourished under King Richard the Second 1382. Benefactors to the Publick since the Reformation ELIZABETH HARDWICK was Daughter to John Hardwick of Hardwick in this County Esquire A Lady of an undaunted spirit and happy in her several Marriages to great persons First to Sir William Cavendish then to Sir William Saintloo and at last to George Earl of Shrewsbury She left two sacred besides civil Monuments of her Memory in this County one that I hope will not Her Tomb in All-Hallows the other that I am sure cannot be taken away as registred in the Court of Heaven Her
obnoxious to censure and deservedly punished by fine or otherwise for their misdemeanors have causelessely traduced the proceedings of that Court when they could not maintain their own innocence Saints WENFRIDE BONIFACE was born at Câ—…editon corruptly Kirton once an Episcopal See in this County bred a Monk under Abbot Woolâ—…hard in Exeter Hence he went to Rome where Pope Gregory the second perceiving the ability of his parts sent him to Germany for the converting of that stiffe-necked Nation This service he commendably performed baptising not fewer than a Hundred Thousand in Bavaria Thuringia Hassia Friesland Soxony c. But here I must depart from Bale because he departeth I am sure from Charity and I suspect from Verity it self Charity who according to his Bold and Bald Aâ—…ocaliptical Conjectures maketh him the Other Beast assending out of the Earth with two Horns And why so Because forsooth he was made by the Pope Metropolitan of Mentz and kept the Church of Colen in Commendam therewith Secondly Verity when saying that he converted men terrore magis quam Doctrinâ it being utterly incredible that a single man should terrifie so many out of their opinions And if his words relate to Ecclesiastical Censures with which Weapons Boniface was well provided such were in themselves without Gods wonderful improving them on mens consciences rather ridiculous then formidable to force Pagans from their former perswasions But if Bale which is very suspitous had been better pleased with the Germans continuing in their Pagan Principles than their conversion to corrupted Christianity he will find few wise and godly men to joyn with his judgment therein Yet do I not advocate for all the Doctrines delivered and Ceremonies imposed by Boniface beholding him as laying the true Foundation Jesus Christ which would last and remain but building much hay and stubble of Superstition thereon But he himself afterwards passed a purging fire in this life killed at Borne in Friesland with fifty four of his companions Anno Dom. 755. in the sixty year of his age after he had spent thirty six years six moneths and six dayes in his German imployment WILLIBALD descended of high Parentage was born in this County Nephew to St. Boniface aforesaid whom he followed in all respects later in time lower in parts lesse in pains but profitable in the German Conversion wherein he may be termed his Uncles Armour-Bearer attending him many a mile though absent from him at his death Herein he was more happy than his Uncle that being made Bishop of Eystet in Germany as he lived in honour so he died in peace Anno Dom. 781. Martyrs AGNES PIREST or PREST was the sole Martyr under the Raign of Queen Mary Wherefore as those Parents which have but one Child may afford it the better attendance as more at leasure So seeing by Gods goodnesse we have but this single Native of this County yea of this Diocesse we will enlarge our selves on the Time Place and Cause of her suffering 1. Her Christian Name which Mr. Fox could not learn we have recovered from another Excellent Authour 2. I am informed by the Inhabitants thereabouts that she lived at Northcott in the Parish of Boynton in the County of Cornwall but where born is unknown 3 She was a simple woman to behold thick but little and short in stature about fifty four years of age 4 She was indited on Monday the fourth Week in Lent An. Phil. and Mar. 2 3. before W. Stanford Justice of the Assize the same as I conceive who wrote on the Pleas of the Crown So that we we may observe more legal formality was usâ—…d about the condemnation of this poor Woman than any Martyr of far greater degree 5 Her own Husband and Children were her greatest persecutors from whom she fled because they would force her to be present at Masse 6 She was presented to James Troublefield Bishop of Exeter and by him condemned for denying the Sacrament of the Altar 7 After her condemnation she refused to receive any money from well affected people Saying She was to go to that City where Money had no mastery 8 She was burnt without the Walls of Exeter in a place called Sothenhay in the Moneth of November 1558. She was the onely person in whose persecution Bishop Troublefield did appear and it is justly conceived that Black-stone his Chancellour was more active than the Bishop in procuring her death Confessors This County afforded none either in or before the Raign of Q. Mary But in our Age it hath produced a most Eminent One on an account peculiar to himself JOHN MOLLE was born in or nigh South-Mollton in this County bred in France where he attained to such perfection in that Tongue that he made a Dictionary thereof for his own use After his youth spent in some military imployments of good trust he was in his reduced Age made by Thomas Lord Burgley and President of the North one of the Examiners in that Court Going afterwards Governour to the Lord Ross he passed the Alps contrary to his own resolution prizing his Fidelity to his charge above his own security No sooner were they arrived at Rome but the young Lord was courted and feasted Mr. Molle arrested and imprisoned in the Inquisition I hus at once did he lose the comfort of his Wife Children Friends own land and liberty being kept in most strict restraint Adde to all these vexations visits of importunate Priests and Jesuits daily hacking at the Root of his Constancy with their Objections till finding their Tools to turn edge at last they left him to his own Conscience What saith the Holy Spirit Revel 18. 4. Come out of Babylon my Teople But here alas was he who would but could not come thence detained there in durance for thirty years together How great his sufferings were is onely known to God who permitted his Foes who inflicted and himself who endured them Seeing no friend was allowed to speak with him alone He died in the 81. year of his Age about the year of our Lord 1638. Cardinals VVILLIAM COURTNEY was born probably at Okehampton in this County son to Hugh Courtney Earl of Devon-shire successively Bishop of Hereford Winchester and Canterbury The credit of T. Walsingham an exact Historian and born before Courtney was buried maketh me confident that the Pope made him a Cardinal and Ciaconius and Onuphrius two Italians confirm the same that a Bishop of London though mistaking his Name Adam for William was at this time rewarded with a Red Hat How stoutly he then opposed John of Gaunt Wickliffe his Patron in his Church of St. Paul is largely related in my Church History and I can add nothing thereunto For if the men of Laconia whose work was to study concisenesse punished him severely for speaking in Three what might have been said in Two Words Criticks will severely censure me for such tedious repetition Onely we may
according to the strictness of the Rules which we proposed to follow as not being of the number of those Bishops who may not unfitly be termed with Noah righteous in their Generations having seen two Sets if I may so speak of their Order but preferred to that Dignity since our late happy Revolution He is here fixed though no Native of this County because the fittest place I conceive it is happy when the Antidote meets the Poyson where it was first suck'd in seeing formerly treating in my Church History of this Cathedral I delivered his Character to his disadvantage very defectively JOHN COSEN D. D. was born in the City of Norwich bred in Cays Colledge in Cambridge whereof he was Fellow Hence was he removed to the Mastership of Peter-House in the same University One whose abilities quick apprehension solid Judgement variety of Reading c. are sufficiently made known to the world in his learned Books whereby he hath perpetuated his name to posterity I must not pass over his constancy in his Religion which rendereth him aimable in the eys not of good men only but of that God with whom there is no variableness nor shâ—…dow of changing It must be confessed that a sort of fond people surmised as if he had once been declining to the PopishPerswasion Thus the dim sighted complain of the darkness of the room when alas the fault is in their own eyes and the lame of the unevenness of the floor when indeed it lieth in their unsound leggs Such were the silly folk their understandings the eys of their minds being darkned and their affections the feet of their soul made lame by prejudice who have thus falsly conceited of this worthy Doctor However if any thing that I delivered in my Church History relating therein a Charge drawn up against him for urging of some Ceremonies without inserting his Purgation which he effectually made clearing himself from the least imputation of any fault hath any way augmented this opinion I humbly crave pardon of him for the same Sure I am were his Enemies now his Judges had they the least spark of ingenuity they must acquit him if proceeding according to the evidence of his Writing Living Disputing Yea whilest he remained in France he was the Atlas of the Protestant Religion supporting the same with his Piety and Learning confirming the wavering therein yea dayly adding Proselytes not of the meanest rank thereunto Since the return of our gracious Soveraign and the reviving of swooning Episcopacy he was deservedly preferred Bishop of Durham And here the Reader must pardon me if willing to make known my Acquaintance with so eminent a Prelate When one in his presence was pleased with some Propositions wherein the Pope condescended somewhat to the Protestants he most discreetly returned in my hearing We thank him not at all for that which God hath always allowed us in his Word adding withall He would allow it us so long as it stood with his Policy and take it away so soon as it stood with his Power And thus we take our leave of this Worthy Prelate praying for his long life that he mâ—…y be effectual in advancing the settlement of our yet distracted Church Civilians RICHARD COSIN Doctor of Law was born at Hartly Poole a well known harbour for the safety and some observe a providence that he who afterwards was to prove the grand Champion of Episcopacy should amongst all the counties of England be born in 〈◊〉 â—…ishoprick His Father was a person of quality a Captain of a Company in Mustâ—…borough field whence his valour returned with victory and wealth when crossing the River Tweed O the uncertainty of all earthly happiness was drowned therein to the great losse of his Son Richard and greater because he was not sensible thereof as left an infant in the cradle His Mother afterwards married one Mr. Meddow a York-shire Genâ—…leman who bred this his Son-in-law at a Schoole at Scypton in the Craven wherein such his proficiency that before he was twelue years old little less than a wonder to me in that age from so far a Country he was admitted in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Some of his Friends in Queens Colledge in that University had a design to fetch him thence had not Doctor Beamont prevented the Plot in making him Scholar and Fellow as soon as by his Age Degree and the Statâ—…tes he was capable thereof He was a general Scholar Geometrician Musician Physician Divine but chiefly Civil and Canon Lawyer By Arch-Bishop Whitgift he was preferred to bâ—… first Chancellor of Worcester in that age a place non tam gratiosus quam negotiosus and afterwards Dean of the Arches wherein he carried himself without giving though many took offence at him Of these one wrote a Book against him called the Abstract abstracted saith my Author from all Wit Learning and Charity to whom he returned such an answer in the defence of the High Commission and Oath ex officio that he he put his Adversary to silence Others lay to his charge that he gave many Blank Licences the common occasions of unlawful marriages and the procurer herein is as bad as the thief robbing many a parent of his dear child thereby But always malice looks through a multiplying glasse Euclio complained Intromisisti sexcentos Coquos Thou hast let in six hundred Cooks when there was but two truely told Anthrax and Congrio so here was there but one which a fugitive servant stole from the Register to make his private profit thereby God in his sickness granted him his desire which he made in his health that he might be freed from torture which his corpulency did much suspect bestowing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon him a sweet and qutet departure pious his dying expressions I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1. The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. Come Lord Jesus come quickly Revel 12. and his last words was these Farewell my surviving friends remember your mortality and eternal life He gave forty pound to the building of a Chamber in Trinity Colledge and fifteen pound per annum for the maintenance of two Scholar-ships therein a good gift out of his Estate who left not above fifty pound a year clear to his Heir a great argument of his integrity that he got no more in so gainful a place Dying at Doctors Commons he was buried by his own appointment in Lambeth Church and Doctor Andrews preached his Funeral Sermon Amongst the many verses made by the University of Cambridge this with the allowance of poetical Licence came from no bad Fancy Magna Deos inter lis est exorta creatas Horum qui lites dirâ—…mit ille deest Cosinum petiere Dii componere tantas Lites quod vero jure peritus erat It must not be forgotten that Doctor Barlow afterwards Bishop of Lincoln was bred by Doctor Cosen at his charge in his own Family who in expression of his Thankfulness wrote
1550. few years before the beginning of Queen 〈◊〉 many being 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 armed by his useful 〈◊〉 It must not be forgotten how during my abode in Cambridge on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1626. a Book was â—…ound in the belly of a Cod brought into the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containing therein three 〈◊〉 whereof the 〈◊〉 and largest was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Crosse. It was wrapped about with Canvasâ—… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fish plundred plâ—…ndred out of the pocket of some Ship-wracked Seaman The Wits of the 〈◊〉 made themselves merry thereat one making a long Copy of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on whereof this Dystiâ—… I remember If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do bring us Books then we May hope 〈◊〉 Bodlyes Library But whilest the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves herewith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beheld iâ—… as a sad 〈◊〉 And some who then little looked for the 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 found it in that plâ—… This Book was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But no such Book 〈◊〉 in Bale though â—…y accurate to give â—…s a Catalogue of his Writings Whereby we 〈◊〉 it was the same made by this Richard 〈◊〉 to which another Treatise was annexed 〈◊〉 one to die made 〈◊〉 by our Tracy who himself 〈◊〉 about an hundred years since Sir THOMAS OVERBURY Knight Son to Sir Nicholas Overbury one of the Judges of the Marches was born at Borton on the Hill in this County bred in Oxford and attained to be a most accomplished Gentleman which the happiness of his Pen both in Poetry and Prose doth declare In the later he was the first writer of Characters of our Nation so far as I have observed But if the great parts of this Gentleman were guilty of Insolency and Petulancy which some since have charged on his Memory we may charitably presume that his reduced age would have corrected such juvenile extravagancies It is questionable whether Robert Carre Earl of Somerset were more in the favour of King James or this Sir Thomas Overbury in the favour of the Earl of Somerset until he lost it by disswading that Lord from keeping company with a Lady the Wife of another person of Honour as neither for his credit here or comfort hereafter Soon after Sir Thomas was by King James designed Embassadour for Russia His false friends perswaded him to decline the employment as no better than an Honourable Grave Better lie some dayes in the Tower than more months in a worse prison A Ship by Sea and a barbarous cold Country by land Besides they possessed him that within a small time the King should be wrought to a good opinion of him But he who willingly goes into a prison out of hope to come easily out of it may stay therein so long till he be too late convinced of another judgment Whilest Sir Thomas was in the Tower his Refusal was represented to the King as an Act of high contempt as if he valued himself more than the Kings service His strict restraint gave the greater liberty to his enemies to practise his death which was by poyson performed Yet was his Blood legally revenged which cost some a violent and others a civil death as deprived of their Offices The Earle was soon abated in King Jame's affection O the short distance betwixt the cooling and quenching of a Favourite being condemned and banished the Court. The death of this Worthy Knight did happen Anno Dom. 1615. JOHN SPRINT was bred a Student in Christ Church in Oxford and was afterward beneficed at Thornbury in this County a grave and godly Divine but for a long time much disaffected to the Ceremonies of the Church It happeened that Mr. Burton Arch-Deacon of Gloucester his Collegiate and Contemporary took him to task perswading him seriously to study the point which he promised and performed accordingly He put In the one Scâ—…le In the other The Wo pronounced to such who preach 〈◊〉 the Gospel and dissert their Flocks on pretended scrupulosity The nature of Ceremonies when things indifferent are enjoyned by lawfull Authority Weighing both exactly in the ballance of his judgment he found the former to preponderate concluding it unlawful for any on such â—…count to leave or lose the exercise of his Miniâ—…erial Function Hereupon he not only conformed for the future 〈◊〉 also wrote a Book dedicated to Arch-Deacon Burton called Casâ—…der Angâ—…anus to perswade others to conformity He died as I am informed â—…bout thirty years ago JOHN WORKMAN was born about Lasbury in this County where his Father was a servant to Sir Tho. Escourt He was bred in Oxford and afterwards became for many years the pioâ—…s and painfull Preacher at Gloucester being conformable to Church Discipline both in judgement and practise and in very deed It happened that some pressed super-â—…nonical Ceremonies and such sesqui-Conformists made Mr. Workman turn first but a semiConformist and then by degrees to renounce all Conformity He was prosecuted by G. G. his 〈◊〉 for preaching to the disparagement of the Blessed Virgin Mary though he pleaded his words were only these That the Papists painted her more like a Curtesan than a modest Maid Hereupon he was silenced and not suffered to teach Schoole seeing Sheâ—… and Lambs differ not in hind but age At last his good Priâ—…nd Dr. Baud furnishing him with instructions he turned Phyâ—… and 〈◊〉 unable to preservâ—… his Pattents in liâ—…e he could well prepare them for death He died about the year 1636. We have put them in Parallels not so much because living at the same time in the same County as because the one from disliking came to approve the other from approving to dislike Conformity though both no doubt did follow the dictates of their consciences RICHARD CAPEL was born as I am informed in the City of Gloucester whereof his Father was Alderman and left him a good temporal estate he was bred Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford where he had many Pupils of good qualitie and among the rest Mr. William Pemble whose Books he set forth and as I remember finished his imperfect Comment on Zachary Leaving the Colledge he was presented by Mr. Stephens to a good benefice in this County where he made his excellent Book Of Temptations full fraught with practical Piety so that what judicious person soever readeth it will experimentally say unto him as once the Lawyer to our Saviour Master thou hast well spoken it carrieth in it such a Truth by the confession confession his Conscience One thing he hath irrefragably proved That there is no Temptation which a man is subject to but what might be suggested by our own corruption without any injection of Satan We have an English expression The Devil he doth it the Devil he hath it where the addition of Devil amounteth only to a strong denial equivalent to he doth it not he hath it not My opinion is if the phrase took not the original from yet is it applyable to our common and causeless accusing of Satan with our
I remember are buryed in Lichfield and not in the Vault under the Church of Drayton in Middlesex where the rest of that Family I cannot say lye as whose Coffins are erected but are very compleatly reposed in a peculiar posture which I meet not with elsewhere the horrour of a Vault being much abated with the Lightnesse and Sweetnesse thereof THOMAS WENTVVORTH was born his Mother coming casually to London in Chancery Lane in the Parish of St. Dunstans in the West Yet no reason Yorkshire should be deprived of the honour of him whose Ancestors long flourished in great esteem at VVent-worth-VVoodhouse in that County He was bred in St. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards became a Champion Patriot on all occasions He might seem to have a casting voice in the House of Commons for where he was pleased to dispose his Yea or Nay there went the affirmative or negative It was not long before the Court gained him from the Country and then Honours and Offices were heaped on him created Baron and Viscount Wentworth Earl of Strafford and Lord Deputy of Ireland When he went over into Ireland all will confesse he laid down to himself this noble foundation vigorously to endevour the Reduction of the Irish to perfect obedience to the King and profit to the Exchequer But many do deny the Superstructure which he built thereon was done by legal line and Plummet A Parliament was called in England and many Crimes were by prime persons of England Scotland and Ireland charged upon him He fenced skilfully for his Life and his Grand-guard was this that though confessing some Misdemeanors all proved against him amounted not to Treason And indeed Number cannot create a new kind so that many Trespasses cannot make a Riot many Riots one Treason no more then many Frogs can make one Toad But here the Dâ—…stinction of Acumulative and Constructive Treason was coyned and caused his Destruction Yet his Adversaries politickly brake off the Edge of the Axe which cut off his head by providing his Condemnation should not passe into Precedent to Posterity so that his Death was remarkable but not exemplary Happy had it been if as it made no Precedent on Earth so no Remembrance thereof had been kept in Heaven Some hours before his Suffering he fell fast asleep alledged by his friends as an Evidence of the Clearnesse of his Conscience and hardly to be parallel'd save in St. Peter in a dead sleep the Night before he was to dye condemned by Herod His death happened 1641. He hath an eternal Monument in the matchlesse Meditations of King Charles the First and an everlasting Epitaph in that weighty Character * there given him I looked upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose abilites might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed in the greatest Affairs of State c. God alone can revive the dead all that Princes can perform is to honour their Memory and Posterity as our Gracious Soveraign King Charles hath made his worthy Son Knight of the Garter LYONEL CRANFIELD Son to Randal Cranfield Citizen and Martha his Wife Daughter to the Lady Dennis of Gloucester-shire who by her will which I have perused bequeathed a fair estate unto her was born in Bassing-hall street and bred a Merchant much conversant in the Custome-House He may be said to have been his own Tutor and his own University King Iames being highly affected with the clear brief strong yea and profitable sense he spake preferred him Lord Treasurer 1621. Baron of Cranfield and Earl of Middlesex Under him it began to be young flood in the Exchequer wherein there was a very low Ebb when he entred on that Office and he possessed his Treasurers place some four years till he fell into the Duke of Bucks the best of Friends and worst of Foes displeasure Some say this Lord who rose cheifly by the Duke whose near Kinswoman he married endevoured to stand without yea in some cases for the Kings profit against him which Independency and opposition that Duke would not endure Flaws may soon be found and easily be made Breaches in great Officers who being active in many cannot be exact in all matters However this Lord by losing his Office saved himself departing from his Treasurers place which in that age was hard to keep Insomuch that one asking what was good to preserve Life was answered Get to be Lord Treasurer of England for they never do dye in their place which indeed was true for four Successions Retiring to his magnificent House at Copt-hall he there enjoyed himself contentedly entertained his friends bountifully neighbours hospitably poor charitably He was a proper person of comely presence chearful yet grave countenance and surely a solid and wise man And though their Soul be the fattest who only suck the sweet Milk they are the healthfullest who to use the Latine Phrase have tasted of both the Breasts of fortune He dyed as I collect anno 1644 and lyeth interred in a stately Monument in the Abby at Westminster Writers on the Law FLETA or FLEET We have spoken formerly of the Fleet as a Prison but here it importeth a person disguised under that name who it seems being committed to the Fleet therein wrote a Book of the Common Laws of England and other Antiquities There is some difference concerning the Time when this Learned Book of Fleta was set forth but it may be demonstrated done before the fourteenth of the Reign of King Edward the Third for he saith that it is no Murder except it be proved that the Party slain was English and no Stranger whereas this was altered in the fourteenth year of the said King when the killing of any though a Forreigner living under the Kings protection out of prepensed Malice was made Murder He seemeth to have lived about the End of King Edward the Second and beginning of King Edward the Third Seeing in that Juncture of Time two Kings in effect were in being the Father in right the Son in might a small contempt might cause a confinement to that place and as Loyal ubjects be within it as without it Sure it is that notwithstanding the confinement of the Author his Book hath had a good passage and is reputed Law to posterity CHRISTOPHER St. GERMAN Reader wipe thine eyes and let mine smart if thou readest not what richly deserves thine observation seeing he was a person remarkable for his Gentility Piety Chastity Charity Ability Industry and Vivacity 1. Gentility descended from a right ancient Family born as I have cause to believe in London and bred in the Inner Temple in the Study of our Laws 2. Piety he carried Saint in his nature as well as in his Surname constantly reading and expounding every night to his Family a Chapter in the Bible 3. Chastity living and dying unmarried without the least spot on his Reputation 4. Charity giving consilia and auxilia to all his People gratis
a vain labour according to the Rule in Logick frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora But seeing the owner of that House had his harmless humour therein and paid dear no doubt to his Workmen for the same There is no cause that I or any other should find fault therewith The Buildings I have presented the Portraicture of the Church of Lichfield in my Church-History with the due praise of the neatness thereof But now alas the Body thereof is become a very carcase ruined in our late Civil Wars The like Fate is likely to fall on the rest of our Cathedrals if care be not taken for their reparations I have read of Duke d'Alva that he promised Life to some Prisoners but when they petitioned Him for food he returned he would grant them life but no meat by which Criticism of courteous cruelty the poor people were starved If our Cathedrals have only a Bare Being and be not supplied with seasonable repairs the daily â—…ood of a Fabrick soon will they be famished to nothing As for the Close at Lichfield I have been credibly informed that the Plague which long had raged therein at the first shooting of Canon at the Siege thereof did abate imputed by Naturalists to the violent purging of the Air by the Bullets but by Divines to Gods goodness who graciously would not have two Miseries of War and Plague afflict one small Place at the same Time Pass we now to Civil Buildings in this Shire TUTBURY CASTLE is a stately place and I dare take it on the credit of an excellent Witness that it hath a brave and large Prospect to it in it and from it Northward it looks on pleasant Pastures Eastward on sweet Rivers and rich Meadowes Southward on a goodly Forest and many Parks lately no fewer than twelve belonging thereto or holden thereof It was formerly the Seat of the Lord Ferrars Earl of Derby and how it was forfeited to the Crown is worth our observing Robert de Ferrars Earl of Derby siding with Simon Mumford against King Henry the Third was fined at fifty thousand pounds to be paid Pridie Johan Baptist. next following I know not whether more to admire at the suddeness of payment or vastness of the Sum seeing an hundred thousand pounds was the Randsom set by the Emperour on our King Richard the First and it shaked all the Coâ—…ers of England in that Age without the help of Church-plate to make it up Well these Lords following were the security bound for the Earls true payment at the time appointed 1 Henry son to Rich. King of the Romans 2 Will. Valence Earl of Pembroke 3 John de Warren Earl of Surrey 4 Will. Beauchampe Earl of Warwick 5 Sir Roger de Summary 6 Sir Thomas de Clare 7 Sir Robert Waâ—…ond 8 Sir Roger Clifford 9 Sir Hamond le Strange 10 Sir Bartholomew de Sudeley 11 Sir Robert Bruse all being then Barons of the Land But Earl Robert unable to advance the money at the time appointed and unwilling to leave the Lords his Bail under the Kings lash surrendred his Lands and Tutbury Castle amongst the rest to the clear yearly value of three thousand pounds into the Kings hands redeemable when he or his Heirs should pay down on one day fifty thousand pounds which was never performed The English Clergie much pittied John the son of this Earl Robert who presented a petition to the Pope informing his Holiness that the English Clergie were willing to give him money by way of Contribution to redeem his Estate but durst not because commanded to the contrary under the pain of the Popes curse And therefore he craved his Apostolical Indulgence therein Something I find was restored unto him but Tutbury was too sweet a morsel to return being annexed to the Dutchy of Lancaster John of Gaunt built a fair Castle there walled on three sides by Art and the fourth by its natural steepness DUDLEY CASTLE must not be forgotten highly and pleasantly seated and in the reign of King Edward the Sixth well built and adorned by John Dudley Duke of Northumberland whereon a story worth the reporting doth depend The afore-said Duke deriving himself who truly not yet decided from a younger Branch of the Lord Dudley thirsted after this Castle in regard of the name and the honourableness of the House some having avouched that the Barony is annexed to the lawful possession thereof whether by purchase or descent Now finding John Sutton the Lord Dudley Grand-father to the last Baron a weak man exposed to some wants and intangled with many debts he by the help of those Money-Merchants wrought him out of his Castle So that the Poor Lord turned out of doores and left to the charity of his Friends for subsistance was commonly called the Lord Quondam But after the execution of that Duke Queen Mary sympathizing with Edward the son of this poor Lord which Edward had married Katharine Bruges her maid of Honour and sister to the Lord Shandois restored him to the Lands and Honour which justly belonged to his Father Proverbs In April Doves flood Is worth a Kings good DOVE a River parting this and Derby-shire when it overfloweth its Banks in April is the Nilus of Staffordshire much Battling the Meadowes thereof But this River of Dove as overflowing in April feeds the Meadowes with fruitfulness so in May and June choakes the sand grain'd with Grit and Gravel to the great detriment of the owners thereof Wotton under Weaâ—…er Where God came never It is time that this old prophane Proverb should die in mens mouths for ever I confess in common discourse God is said to come to what he doth approve to send to what he only permits and neither to go nor send to what he doth dislike and forbid But this distinction if granted will help nothing to the defending of this prophane Proverb which it seems took it's wicked original from the situation of Wotton so covered with Hills from the light of the Sun a dismal place as report representeth it But were there a place indeed where God came never how many years purchase would guilty consciences give for a small abode therein thereby to escape Divine Justice for their offences Saints Authors do as generally agree about a grand Massacre committed by the Pagans under Dioclesian on the Brittish Christians in the place where Litchfield now standeth I say they as generally agree in the fact as they disagree in the number some making them Two hundred others five others seven And one Author certainly he was no Millenary in his Judgement mounts them to just 999. Indeed many were martyred in those dayes both in Brittain and elsewhere whose names and numbers are utterly unknown so true is the expression of Gregory the Great Ipse sancti Martyres Deo numerabiles nobis arenam multiplicati sunt quia quot sint a nobis comprehendi non possunt novit enim
setling Lands to maintain them 3 Safety which consisteth in good Statutes which here he wisely altered and amended He sat in his See 24 years and dying 1419 was buried under an Alabaster Tomb in his own Cathedral WILLIAM DUDLEY son of John Dudley the Eighth Baron Dudley of Dudley-Castle in this County was by his Parents designed for a Scholar and bred in University Colledge in Oxford whence he was preferred to be Dean of Windsor and afterwards was for six years Bishop of Durham He died Anno 1483 at London and lies buried in Westminster on the South side of St. Nicholas Chappel EDMUND AUDLEY Son to the Lord Audley of Heyley in this County whose sirname was Touchet I am informed by my worthy Friend that skilful Antiquary M â— Tho. Barlow of Oxford that this Edmund in one and the same Instrument writeth himself both Audley and Touchet He was bred in the University of Oxford and in processe of time he built the Quire of Saint Maries therein a new on his own charge adorning it Organâ—… 〈◊〉 which I think imports no more than a Musical Organ He was preferred Bishop first of Rochester then of Hereford and at last of Salisbury He died at Ramsbury August 23 1624 and is buried in his own Cathedral on the South side of the Altar in a Chappel of excellent Artifice of his own erection Not meeting with any Bishops born in this County since the Reformation let us proceed Lawyers Sr. THOMAS LITTLETON Knight Reader I have seriously and often perused his life as written by Sr. Edward Coke yet not being satisfied of the certainty of his Nativity am resolved to divide his Character betwixt this County and Worcester-shire He was son to Thomas Westcote Esq. and Elizabeth Littleton his wife whose mother being daughter and heir of Thomas Littleton Esq. and bringing to her husband a great Inheritance indented with him before marriage that her Virgin-sirname should be assumed and continued in his posterity He was bred Student of the Laws in the inward Temple and became afterwards Serjant and Steward of the Court of the Marshal-sea of the Kings Houshold to Henry the Sixth By King Edward the Fourth in the sixth of his Reign he was made one of the Judges of the Common Pleas and in the fifteenth of his Reign by Him created Knight of the Bath He is said by our Learned Antiquary to have deserved as well of our Common as Justinian of the Civil-Law whose Book of Tenures dedicated by him to Richard his second son who also studied the Laws is counted oraculous in that kind which since hath been commented on by the Learned endeavours of Sr. Edward Coke He married Johan one of the daughters and co-heirs of William Boerley of Bromsecraft Castle in Salop by whom he had three sons Founders of three fair Families still flourishing 1 William 2 Richard 3 Thomas Fixed at Frankley in this County where his Posterity is eminently extant Whose Issue by Alice daughter heir of Will. Winsbury remain at Pillerton-Hall in Shropshire Who by Anne daughter and heir of John Botreaux hath his lineage still continuing in Worcesier-shire This Reverend Judge died the 23 of August in the one and twentieth of King Edward the Fourth and lieth buried under a very fair Monument in the Cathedral of Worcester EDMUND DUDLEY Esq. was son to John Dudley Esq. second son to John Sutton first Baron of Dudley as a Learned Antiquary hath beheld his Pedegree derived But his descent is controverted by many condemned by some who have raised a report that John father to this Edmund was but a Carpenter born in Dudley Town and therefore called John Dudley who travailing Southward to find work for his Trade lived at Lewis in Sussex where they will have this Edmund born and for the pregnancy of his parts brought up by the Abbot of Lewis in Learning But probably some who afterwards were pinched in their purses by this Edmund did in revenge give him this Bite in his reputation inventing this Tale to his disparagement I must believe him of Noble Extraction because qualified to marry the daughter and heir of the Viscount Lisle and that before this Edmund grew so great with King Henry the Seventh as by the age of John his son afterwards Duke of Northumberland may probably be collected He was bred in the study of the Laws wherein he profited so well that he was made one of the Puis-née Judges and wrote an excellent Book compounded of Law and Policy which hitherto I have not seen intituled the Tree of the Common-wealth But what saith Columella Agricolam arbor ad fructum perducta delectat A Husbandman is delighted with the Tree of his own planting when brought to bear fruit Judge Dudley knew well how to turn a Land into the greatest profit of his Prince which made him implyed by King Henry the Seventh to put his penal Statutes in execution which he did with severity cruelty and extortion so that with Sr. Richard Empson Viis modis vitiis modis rather they advanced a mighty Mass of Money to the King and no mean one to themselves King Henry the Eighth coming to his Crown could not pass in his progress for complaints of people in all places against these two wicked Instruments who with the two daughters of the horse leach were alwayes crying give give and therefore he resolved to discharge their protection and to resign them to Justice so that they were made a peace-offering to popular anger 1510 and were executed at Tower-hill Sir THOMAS BROMLEY Knight Reader I request thee that this short note may keep possession for his Name and memory until he may be fixed elsewhere with more assurance He was in the first of Queen Mary Octob. 8. made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench holding his place hardly a year but whether quitting his Office or dying therein is to me unknown Souldiers JOHN BROMLEY Esq. branched from the Bromleys in Shrop-shire but born and living in this County at Bromley followed the fortunate Arms of King Henry the Fifth in France It happened that in a Battle near Corby the French according to their fashion furious at first fell so fiercely on the English that they got away the Kings Standard of GUIEN to the great dismay of our Army But Bromley's heart had no room for fear or grief anger had so wholely possessed it Insomuch that valiantly he recovered the Captive Standard and by his exemplary Prowess largely contributed to that dayes Victory Hereupon Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier conferred on him a yearly pension of fourty pounds during his life Afterwards in the sixth of King Henry the Fifth Anno 1418 he was not only Knighted by the King for his venturous Activity but also made Captain of Dampfront and Great Constable of Bossevile le Ross in France Yea and rewarded by the King with fourty pounds in Land a year to him and his
One hundred thousand pounds towards maintaining the war then on foot against the Turks This vast donation makes some suspect this Sir George for a Knight who by this might have been Eques Auratus though indeed never more than Sir Priest and Canon of Bridlington Returning into his native Country and desiring to repose his old age no Philosophers Stone to quiet retirement he was dispensed with by the Pope to leave his Canons place as too full of employment and became a Carmelite-Anchorite at Boston in Lincolnshire where he wrote no fewer than 25. Books though his Compound of Alchimy carrieth away the credit of all the rest It presenteth the Reader with the twelve gates leading to the making of the Philosophers Stone which are thus reckoned up in order 1. Calcination 2. Solution 3. Separation 4. Conjunction 5. Putrefaction 6. Congelation 7. â—…ibation 8. Sublimation 9. Fermentation 10. Exaltation 11. Multiplication 12. Projection Oh for a Key saith the Common Reader to open these Gates and expound the meaning of these words which are familiar to the knowing in this mystery But such who are disaffected thereunto what Art hath not enemies demand whether these gates be to let in or let out the Philosophers Stone seeing Projection the last of all proves but a Project producing nothing in effect We must not forget how the said Sir George beseecheth all men wheresoever they shall meet with any of his Experiments written by him or that go under his name from the year 1450. to the year 1470. either to burn them or afford them no credit being written according to his esteem not proofe and which upon trial he afterwards found false and vaine For mine own part I believe his Philosophy truer than his Chimical Divinity for so may I call his Work wherein he endeavours to equal in merit for mankind the compassion of the Virgin Mary with the passion of Christ. He died about the year of our Lord 1492. and some of his Works are since exactly set forth by my worthy and accomplished Friend Elias Ashmole Esqire in his Theatrum Chimicum Britannicum THOMAS JOHNSON was born in this County not far from * Hull bred an Apothecary in London where he attained to be the best Herbalist of his age in England making Additions to the Edition of Gerard. A man of such modesty that knowing so Much he would own the knowledge of Nothing The University of Oxford bestowed on him the Honourary degree of Doctor in Physick and his loyalty engaged him on the Kings side in our late Civil Warre When in Basing House a dangerous piece of service was to be done this Doctor who publickly pretended not to Valour undertook and performed it Yet afterwards he lost his life in the siege of the same House and was to my knowledge generally lamented of those who were of an opposite judgement But let us bestow this Epitaph upon him Hic Johnsone jaces sed si mors cederet herbis Arte fugata tua cederet illa tuis Here Iohnson lies could Physick fence deaths dart Sure death had bin declined by his art His Death happened Anno Dom. 1644. Wâ—…iters ALPHRED of Beverley born therein a Town termed Urbs or City by Bale or thereabouts and bred in the University of Cambridge Hence he returned to his native place where he was made Treasurer of the Convent â—…ence as some will have it commonly called Alphredus Thesaurarius others conceiâ—…g this his Topical relation too narrow to give him so general a Name will have him sâ—… stiled from being so carefull a storer up God send more to succeed him in that Office of memorable Antiquities Indeed with the good Housholder he brought out of his Treasury things new and old writing a Chronicle from Brutus to the time of his own death which happened Anno 1136. GULIELMUS REHIEVAILENSIS or WILLIAM of RIEVAULX was so named from the place of his Nativity in this County being otherwise a Monk of Rushford His Learning was great according to that age and his genius enclined him most to History whereof he wrote a fair Volumne of the things done in his own age himself being an eye witnesse of a great part thereof For though generally Monks were confined to their Cloisters more liberty was allowed to such persons whose Pens were publickly employed And when Monks could not go out to the news news came home to them such was their intelligence from Clergy men who then alone were employed in State Offices It was no wonder that the writings of this William did but had been a miracle if they did not savour of the superstition of the times He dedicated his Book to Ealread Abbot of Rievaulx and died Anno Dom. 1146. EALREAD Abbot of Rievaulx lately named was one eminent in his generation for Piety and Learning He was most intimate with David King of Scotland and had the rare felicity to adventure on desperate differences betwixt great persons and yet above humane hope to compleat their agreement He had Saint Augustines Confessions both by heart and in his heart yet generally he is accounted the English Saint Bernard and wrote very many Books whereof one De Virginitate Mariae and another De Abusionibus Claustri shewing twelve abuses generally committed in that kind of life Yet as Saint Paul honoured widows that were widows indeed he had a high esteem for Monks who were Monks indeed so addicted to a solitary life that he refused all Honours and several Bishopricks proffered unto him He died in the 57. year of his age 1166. and after his death attained with many the reputation of a Saint WALTER DANIEL was Deacon to Ealread aforesaid and it is pity to part them Leland saith that he followed his Abbot Sanctâ Invidiâ Give me leave to english it with holy emulation and they who run in that race of Vertue neither supplant such who are before them nor justle those that are even with them nor hinder those who come behind them He trod in his Masters foot steps yet so that my Author saith Non modo aequavit sed superavit writing a Book on the same subject De Virginitate Mariae He flourished Anno 1170. under King Henry the second and was buried in his own Abby ROBERT the SCRIBE but no Pharisee such his Humility not Hypocrite such his Sincerity was the fourth Prefect of Canon Regulars at Bridlington in this County He had his surname from his dexterity in writing not a little beneficial in that age Erasmus ingeniously confessing that his Father Gerard got a handsome livelihood thereby But our Robert in fair and fast writing did reach a Note above others it being true of him what was said Nondum lingua suum dextra peregit opus The Tongue her task hath not yet done When that the Hand her race hath run And he may be said to have had the long Hand of short Hand such the swiftness of his Pen though I confesse
found in the name of ALCUINUS LUCIANUS Thus these Nominall Curiosities whether they hit or miss the Mark equally import nothing to Judicious Beholders He was made first Abbot of Saint Augustines in Canterbury and afterward of Saint Martins in the City of Towers in France and dying Anno 780 he was buried in a small Convent appendant to his Monastery He is here entred under the Topick of Saints because though never solemnly canonized he well deserved the Honor His Subjects said to David Thou art worth ten Thousand of us and though I will not ascend to so high a Proportion many of the Modern Saints in the Church of Rome must modestly confess that on a Due and True estimate our Alcuinus was worth many Scores of them at least so great his Learning and holy his Conversation SEWALL had his Nativity probably in these Parts But he was bred in Oxford and was a Scholar to St. Edmund who was wont to say to him Sewald Sewald thou wilt have many Afflictions and dye a Martyr Nor did he miss much of his mark therein though he met with Peace and Plenty at first when Arch-bishop of York The occasion of his Trouble was when the Pope plenitudine potestatis intruded one Jordan an Italian to be Dean of York whose Surprised Installing Sewald stoutly opposed Yea at this time there were in England no fewer then three Hundred Benefices possessed by Italians where the People might say to them as the Eunuch to Philip How can we understand without an â—…nterpreter Yea which was far worse they did not onely not teach in the Church but mis-teach by their lascivious and debauched behaviour Asfor our Sewald Mathew Paris saith plainly that he would not bow his Knee to Baal so that for this his contempt he was excommunicated and cursed by Bell Book and Candle though it was not the Bell of Aarons Garment nor Book of Scripture nor the Candle of an Unpartiall Judgement This brak his heart and his Memory lyeth in an Intricate posture peculiar almost to himself betwixt Martyr and no Martyr a Saint and no Saint Sure it is â—…ewall though dying excommunicated in the Romish is reputed Saint in Vulgar estimation and some will maintain that the Popes solemn Canonization is no more requisite to the making of a Saint then the Opening of a Manâ—… Windows is necessary to the lustre of the Sun Sewald died Anno Dom. 1258. Bale who assumeth liberty to himself to surname Old-writers at his pleasure is pleased to Addition this worthy man Sewaldus Magnanimus Martyrs VALENTINE FREESE and his Wife were both of them born in this City and both gave their lives therein at one Stake for the testimony of Jesus Christ Anno Domini 1531. Probably by order from Edward Lee the cruell Arch-bishop I cannot readily call to mind a man and his wife thus Marryed together in Martyrdome And begin to grow confident that this Couple was the first and laâ—… in this kind Confessors EDWARD FREESE brother to the aforesaid Valentine was born in York and there a Prentice to a Painter He was afterwards a Novice-Monke and leaving his Convent came to Colchester in Essex Here his hereticall Inclination as then accounted discovered it self in some sentences of Scripture which he Painted in the Borders of Cloths for which he was brought before John Stoaksley Bishop of London from whom he found such cruell usage as is above belief Master Fox saith that he was fed with Manchet made of Saw-dust or at the least a great part thereof and kept so long in Prison Manicled by the wrests till the Flesh had overgrown his Irons and he not able to kembe his own head became so distracted that being brought before the Bishop he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man A sad sight to his Friends and a sinfull one to his Foes who first made him mad and then made mirth at his madness I confess distraction is not mentioned in that list of losses reckoned up by our Saviour He that left his House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake c. But seeing his wits is nearer and dearer to any man then his wealth and seeing what is so lost may be said to be left no doubt this poor mans distraction was by God gratiously accepted on his enemies severely punished and to him mercifully rewarded We must not forget how the wife of this Edward Freese being big with child and pressing in to see her husband the Porter at Fulham gave her such a kick on the belly that the child was destroyed with that stroke immediately and she died afterwards of the same Prelates JOHN ROMAN so called because his Father was born in Rome though living a long time in this City being Treasurer of the Cathedrall therein and I conjecture this John his Son born in York because so Indulgent thereunto For generally Pure Pute Italians preferred in England transmitted the gain they got by Bills of Exchange or otherwise into their own Country and those outlandisâ—… Mules though lying down in English Pasture left no Hairs behind them Whereas this Roman had such Affection for York that being advanced Arch-bishop he began to build the Body of the Church and finished the North Part of the Cross-Isle therein Polydore Virgil praised him no wonder that an Italiaâ—… commended a Roman for a Man of great Learning and Sincerity He fell into the disfavour of King Edward the first for Excommunicating Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham and it cost him four thousand marks to regain his Princes Good Will He died Anno Domini 1295. And let none grudge his Buriaâ—… in the best Place of the Church who was so Bountifull a Builder thereof ROBERT WALBEY born in this City was therein bred an Augâ—…stinian Friar he afterwards went over into France where he so applied his studies that at last he was chosen Divinity Professor in the City of Tholouse he was Chaplain to the black Prince after his death to his Father K. Edward the third Now as his Mr. injoyed three Crowns so under him in his three Kingdoms this his Chaplain did partake successively of three Miters being first a Bishop in Gascoine then Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland afterwards Bishop of Chichester in England not grudging to be degraded in Dignity to be preferred in profit At last he was consecrated Arch-bishop of York and was the first and last Native which that City saw the least of Infants and in his Time when Man the greatest therein Yet he enjoyed his place but a short time dying May 29. Anno Domini 1397. Since the Reformation THOMAS MORTON was born Anno 1564. in the City of York whose father Richard Morton allyed to Cardinall Morton Arch bishop of Canterbury was a Mercer I have been informed the first of that calling in that City sure of such repute that no Mercers
tract of its self But this Edward first estranged himself from his Subjects and in effect subjected himself to a stranger Pierse Gaveston his French Minion and after his execution to the two Spencers who though Native English-men were equally odious to the English for their insolence Hence it was that he first lost the love of his Subjects then of his Queen the vacuity of whose bed was quickly filled up then his Crown then his Life Never any English Kings case was so pitiful and his person less pitied all counting it good reason that he should give entertainment to that woe which his wilfulness had invited home to himself His violent death happened at Berkley Castle Septemb. 22. 1327. Saints There is an Island called Berdsey justly reduceable to this County lying within a mile of the South-West Promontory thereof wherein the Corps of no fewer than twenty thousand Saints are said to be interred Estote vos omnes Sancti Proud Benhadad boasted that the dust of Samaria did not suffice for handfuls for all the people that followed him But where would so many thousand Bodies find Graves in so petty an Islet But I retrench my self confessing it more facile to find Graves in Berdsey for so many Saints than Saints for so many Graves States = Men. JOHN WILLIAMS was born at Aber-Conwy in this County bred Fellow of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge Proctor of the University Dean of Westminster Bishop of Lincoln Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and lastly Arch-Bishop of York In my Church History I have offended his Friends because I wrote so little in his praise and distasted his Foes because I said so much in his defence But I had rather to live under the indignation of others for relating what may offend than die under the accusation of my own conscience for reporting what is untrue He died on the 25. day of March 1649. Prelates since the Reformation RICHARD VAUGHAN born at Nuffrin or else at Etern in this County was bred Fellow in Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge and was afterwards successively Bishop of Bangor Chester and lastly of London a very corpulent man but spiritually minded an excellent Preacher and pious Liver on whom I find this Epigram which I will endeavour to English Praesul es ô Britonum decus immortale tuorum Tu Londinensi primus in Urbe Brito Hi mihi Doctores semper placuere docenda Qui faciunt plus quam qui faciendae docent Pastor es Anglorum doctissimus optimus ergo Nam facienda doces ipse docenda facis Prelate of London O immortal grace Of thine own Britons first who had that place He 's good who what men ought to do doth teach He 's better who doth do whâ—…t men shold preach You best of all preaching what men should do And what men ought to preach that doing too Here to justifie the observation Praesul must be taken for a plain Bishop and primus accounted but from the conversions of the Saxons to Christianity For orherwise we find no fewer than sixteen Arch Bishops of London before that time and all of the British Nation He was a most pleasant man in discourse especially at his Table maintaining that Truth At meals be glad for sin be sad as indeed he was a mortified man Let me add nothing could tempt him to betray the Rights of the Church to sacrilegious Hands not sparing sharply to reprove some of his own Order on that account He died March 30. 1607. being very much lamented HENRY ROULANDS born in this County bred in the University of Oxford was consecrated Bishop of Bangor Novemb. 12. 1598. We have formerly told how Bishop Bulkley plundered the Tower of Saint Asaph of five fair Bells now the bounty of this Bishop bought four new ones for the same the second Edition in Cases of this kind is seldom as large as the first whereof the biggest cost an hundred pounds He also gave to Jesus Colledge in Oxford means for the maintenance of two Fellows He died Anno Dom. 1615. The Farewell The Map of this County as also of Denby and Flint-shire in Mr. Speed is not divided as other Shires in England and Wales with Pricks into their several Hundreds which would have much conduced to the compleating thereof whereof he rendreth this reason That he could not procure the same though promised him out of the Sheriffs Books fearing lest the riches of their Shire should be further sought into by revealing such particulars He addeth moreover This I have observed in all my Survey that where least is to be had the greatest fears are possessed I would advise these Counties hereafter to deny no small Civility to a painful Author holding a Pen in his hand for fear a drop of his Ink fall upon them for though juyce of Lemmon will fetch such spots out of Linnen when once printed in a Book they are not so easily got out but remain to posterity DENBIGH-SHIRE DENBIGH-SHIRE hath Flint-shire Cheshire and Shrop-shire on the East Montgomery and Merionith-shires on the South Carnarvonshire divided by the River Conwey on the West being from East to West thirty one from North to South twenty miles The East part of this County towards the River Dee is fruitful but in the West the industrious Husbandman may be said to fetch his bread out of the fire paring off their upper Turfs with a Spade piling them up in heaps burning them to Ashes and then throwing them on their barren ground which is much fertilized thereby Natural Commodities Amelcorne This English Word which I find in the English Cambden is Welsh to me Let us therefore repair to his Latine Original where he informeth us that this County produceth plenty of Arinca Here the difficulty is a little changed not wholly cleared In our Dictionaries Arinca is Englished 1. Rice but this though a frequent name of many in this Country is a grain too choice to grow in Wales or any part of England 2. Amelcorn and now having run round we have not stirred a step as to more information of what we desired a kind of At last with long beating about we find it to be RYE in Latine more generally called Serale Plinles Pen casts three dashes on this Grain being it seems no friend to it or it to him 1. Est tantum ad arcendam famem utile Good only to drive away famin as not pleasant at all 2. Est licet farre mixtum ventri ingratissimum as griping the Guts 3. â—…ascitur quocunqne solo any base ground being good enough to bear it However whatever his forraign Rye was that which groweth incredibly plentiful in this County is very wholsome and generally in England Rye maketh moistest bread in the dryest Summer for which cause some prefer it before Wheat it self Buildings The Church of Wrexham is commended for a fair and spacious building and it is questionable whether it claimeth more praise for