Scotland I lay at Alnwick in Northumberland one Sunday by the way and understanding from the Host of the house where I lodged that this Minister lived within three miles of that place I took my horse after dinner and rid thither to hear him preach for my own satisfaction I found him in the Desk where he read unto us some part of the Common-prayer some of Holy Davids Psalmes and two Chapters one out of the Old the other out of the New Testament without the use of Spectacles The Bible out of which he read the Chapters was a very small Printed Bible He went afterwards into his Pulpit where he prayed and preached to us about an hour and half His Text was Seek you the Kingdome of God and all things shall be added unto you In my poor judgement he made an excellent good Sermon and went cleaverly through without the help of any Notes After Sermon I went with him to his house where I proposed these several following Questions to him Whether it was true the book reported of him concerning his hair whether or no he had a new set of Teeth come whether or no his Eye-sight ever failed him and whether in any measure he found his strength renewed unto him He answered me distinctly to all these and told me he understood the News-book reported his hair to become a dark brown again but that is false he took his Cap off and shewed me it It is come again like a childs but rather flaxen then either brown or gray For his Teeth he hath three come within these two years not yet to their perfection while he bred them he was very ill Forty years since he could not read the biggest Print without Spectacles and now he blesseth God there is no Print so small no written hand so small but he can read it without them For his Strength he thinkes himself as strong now as he hath been these twenty years Not long since he walked to Alnwick to dinner and back again six North-country miles He is now an hundred and ten years of age and ever since last May a hearty body very chearful but stoops very much He had five children after he was eighty years of age four of them lusty lasses now living with him the other died lately his wife yet hardly fifty years of age He writes himself Machell Vivan he is a Scotish-man born near Aberdeen I forget the Towns name where he is now Pastor he hath been there fifty years Your assured loving friend Thomas Atkin. Windsor 28. Septem 1657. A most strange accident For waving the Poetical fiction of Aeson his Re-juvenescency in Medeas Bath it will hardly be paired To begin with Scripture Caleb or All-heart his professing himself as able for any action at eighty as forty years before speaketh no renovation but continuation of his strength And whereas David saith that his youth was renewed as an Eagles he is to be understood in a Metapborical yea Spiritual sense of the vigorousness and sprightfulness of grace in his heart seeing otherwise his great debilitation doth appear at seventy years scarce a moity of this mans a age As for the many miracles wrought by our Saviour though extending to the cleansings of Leapers Curing Diseases Casting out Divels yea Reviving the Dead yet they never countermanded nature in this kind by recruiting the strength of an aged person As for humane History I meet not with any to mate him in all particulars The nearest that treadeth on his heels is the Countess of Desmond married in the reign of King Edward the fourth and yet alive Anno 1589. and many years since when she was well known to Sir Walter Raleigh and to all the Nobles and Gentlemen in Mounster But chiefly to the Earls for there was a succession of them worn out by her vivacity of Desmond from whose expectation she detained her jointer The Lord Bacon casteth up her age to be an hundred and fourty at least adding withall Ter per vices dentisse That she recovered her Teeth after her casting them three several times All I will adde is this had this happened in foreign parts addicted to Popery near the shrine of some Saint superstition with her sickle might have reaped a great harvest thereby ........ ANDERSON a Townsman and Merchant of Newcastle talking with a friend on Newcastle-bridge and fingering his ring before he was aware let it fall into the river and was much troubled with the loss thereof untill the same was found in a fish caught in the river and restored unto him The same is reported by Herodotus in his third book of Polycrates a petty King and the Minion of fortune and may be an instance of the recurrency of remarkable accidents according to Solomons observation There is no new thing under the sun The names of the Gentry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the sixth 1433. Thomas Bishop of Durâ—…am Commissioners to take the Oaths Ralph Earl of VVestmerland  Thomas Lilborn Knights for the Shire  John Carington Knights for the Shire  Rob. Umfravile mil. Rad. Gray mil. Rob. Ogle senior mil. Rob. Ogle jun. mil. Johan Bertram mil. Will. Elmeden mil. Johan Midleton mil. Will. Svynbarn mil. Johan Maners mil. Math. Whitfeld mil. VVill. Carnaby Johan Fenwyk Johan Midelton Tho. Ilderton Rob. Raymes Tho. Haggerston Rob. Maners Laur. Acton Tho. Gray de Norton Tho. Blekensop Row Thirwall Ric. Fetherstanhalgh Gilb. Rotherford VVill. Muschaunce Gilb. Eryngton VVill. Clenell Johan Heron de Netherton Tho. Reed de Redesdale Roger. Ushere Tho. Midleton Joh. Ellerington Joh. Park Rich. Lilburne Tho. Elwick Joh. Eryngton Nic. Heron de Meldon Joh. Trewyk Joh. Chestre Lion Chestre Joh. Horsley de Horsley Jaco Buk de Morpath Observations The Fable is sufficiently known of the contest betwixt the Wind and the Sun which first should force the Travailer to put off his cloaths The Wind made him wrap them the closer about him whilst the heat of the Sun soon made him to part with them This is moralized in our English Gentry such who live South-ward near London which for the â—…stre thereof I may fitly call the Sun of our Nation in the warmth of wealth and pleanâ—…â—…f pleasures quickly strip and disrobe themselves of their Estates and Inheritance whilst the Gentry living in this County in the Confines of Scotland in the VVind of VVar daily Alarumed with their blustering enemies buckle their Estates as their armour the closer unto them and since have no less thriftily defended their patrimony in Peace then formerly they valiantly maintained it in War The Commissioners of this County did not over weary themselves in working when they returned these persons presenting no underwood yea no standels but only tymber-oaks men of great wealth and worship in this Shire as appears by the thinness of their number but one and twenty Sheriffs of Northumberland HEN. II. Anno 1 Odardus Anno
favour will be indulged to my Endevours for my many Infirmities To Come to particulars some seeming Omissions will appear to be none on better Enquiry being only the leaving of many persons which belong not to our land to their Forraign Nativities If any ask why have you not written of John a Gaunt I answer because he was John of Gaunt born in that City in Flanders Thus whilst our Kings possessed large Dominions in France from King William the Conquerour to King Henry the Sixth many eminent English men had their birth beyond the Seas without the bounds of our Subject Secondly I hope real Omissions will neither be found many nor material I hope I shall not appear like unto him who undertaking to make a Description of the Planets quite forgot to make mention of the Sun I believe most of those who have escaped our Pen will be found Stars of the Lesser Magnitude Thirdly I protest in the presence of God I have not wittingly willingly or wilfully shut the Dore against any worthy person which offered to enter into my knowledge nor was my prejudice the Porter in this kind to exclude any of what perswasion soever out of my Book who brought merit for their Admission Besides I have gon and rid and wrote and sought and search'd with my own and friends Eyes to make what Discoveries I could therein Lastly I stand ready with a pencel in one hand and a Spunge in the other to add alter insert expunge enlarge and delete according to better information And if these my pains shall be found worthy to passe a second Impression my faults I will confess with shame and amend with thankfulnesse to such as will contribute clearer Intelligence unto me These things premised I do desire in my omissions the pardon especially of two sorts concerned in my History first Writers since the Reformation having those before it compleatly delivered unto us who cannot be exactly listed First for their Numerousnesse and therefore I may make use of the Latine Distick wherewith John Pitseus closeth his Book of English Writers Plura voluminibus jungenda volumina nostris Nec mihi scribendi terminus ullus erit More Volums to our volums must we bind And when that 's done a Bound we cannot find Secondly for the scarcenesse of some Books which I may term Publici-privati juris because though publickly printed their Copies were few as intended only for friends though it doth not follow that the Writers thereof had the less Merit because the more Modesty I crave pardon in the second place for my Omissions in the List of Benefactors to the Publick for if I would I could not compleat that Catalogue because no man can make a fit garment for a growing Child and their Number is daily encreasing Besides if I could I would not For I will never drain in Print the spring so lowe but to leave a Reserve and some whom I may call Breeders for posterity who shall passe un-named in which Respect I conceive such Benefactors most perfectly reckoned up when they are Imperfectly reckoned up All I will add is this when St. Paul writing to the Philippians had saluted three by name viz. Euodias Syntyche and Clement he passeth the rest over with a Salutation General whose Names are in the Book of Life Thus I have indevoured to give you the most exact Catalogue of Benefactors but this I am sure what is lost on Earth by my want of Industry Instruction c. Will be found in Heaven and their names are there recorded in that Register which will last to all Eternity As for my omitting many Rarities and Memorables in the respective Counties I plead for my self that mine being a general Description it is not to be expected that I should descend to such particularities which properly belong to those who write the Topography of one County alone He shewed as little Ingenuity as Ingeniousnesse who Cavilled at the Map of Grecia for imperfect because his Fathers house in Athens was not represented therein And their expectation in effect is as unreasonable who look for every small observeable in a General work Know also that a mean person may be more knowing within the Limits of his private Lands then any Antiquary whatsoever I remember a merry challenge at Court which passed betwixt the Kings Porter and the Queens Dwarfe the latter provoking him to fight with him on condition that he might but choose his own place and be allowed to come thither first assigning the great Oven in Hampton Court for that purpose Thus easily may the lowest domineere over the highest skill if having the advantage of the ground within his own private concernments Give me leave to fill up the remaining Vacuity with A Corrollary about the Reciprocation of Alumnus The word Alumnus is effectually directive of us as much as any to the Nativities of Eminent persons However we may observe both a Passive and Active interpretation thereof I put Passive first because one must be bred before he can breed and Alumnus signifieth both the Nursed child and the Nurse both him that was educated and the Person or Place which gave him his Education Wherefore Laurentius Valla though an excellent Grammarian is much deceived when not admitting the double sense thereof as by the ensuing instances will appear Passive Pro Educato Active Pro Educatore Cicero Dolabellae Mihi vero gloriosum te juvenem Consulem florere laudibus quasi Alumnum Disciplinae meae Plinie lib. 3. de Italia Terra omnium terrarum Alumna eadem parens numine Deum electa De finibus 122. b. Aristoteles caeterique Platonis Alumni Augustinus lib. 70. Civit. Jovem Alumnum cognominaverunt quod omnia aleret The Design which we drive on in this observation and the use which we desire should be made thereof is this viz. That such who are born in a Place may be sensible of their Engagement thereunto That if God give them ability and opportunity they may expresse their Thankfulnesse to the same Quisquis Alumnus erat gratus Alumnus erit A Thankful man will feed The Place which did him breed And the Truth hereof is eminently conspicuous in many Persons but especially in great Prelates before and rich Citizens since the Reformation BARK-SHIRE hath Wilt-shire on the West Hamp-shire on the South Surry on the East Oxford and Buckingham-shâ—…re parted first with the Isis then with the flexuous River of Thames on the North thereof It may be fancied in a form like a Lute lying along whose belly is towards the West whilst the narrow neck or long handle is extended toward the East From Coleshull to Windsor it may be allowed in length forty miles But it amounteth to little more then half so much in the broadest part thereof It partaketh as Plentifull as any County in England of the Common Commodities Grasse Grain Fish Foul Wooll and Wood c. and we will particularly instance on one or two
with great reputation He was afterwards a Commander in the French-war under King Edward the third where in despight of their power he drove the people 〈◊〉 him like sheep destroying Towns Castles and Cities in such manner and number that many years after the sharp points and Gable end of overthrown houses cloven asunder with instruments of war were commonly call'd KNOWLES HIS MITRES The last piece of his servrce was performed in suppressing Wat Tiler and his Rebells Then I behold aged Sir Robert buckling on his armonr as old Priam at the taking of Troy but with far better success as proving very victorious and the Citizens of London infranchized him a member 〈◊〉 of in expression of their thankfulness His Charity was as great as his Valour and he rendred himself no less loved by the English then feared of the French He gave bountifully to the building of Rochester-bridge founding a Chappel and Chantery at â—…he East end thereof with a Colledge at 〈◊〉 in Yorkshire where Constance his Lady was born endowing it with one hundred and eighty pounds per annum He died at his 〈◊〉 of Sconâ—…-Thorp in Norfolk in peace and honour whereas 〈◊〉 generally set in a cloud being at least ninety years of age for he must be 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 years old when Annoâ—…52 â—…52 he was a Generall under K. Edâ—… 〈◊〉 third and he 〈◊〉 untill the 〈◊〉 of August 1407. being buried in White-Friers in London to which he had been a great benefactour JOHN SMITH Captain was 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 County as Master Arthur Smith his Kins man and my School-master did inform me But whether or no related unto the Worshipfull Family of the Smiths at 〈◊〉 I know not He spent the most of his life in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First in Hungary under the Empeâ—… fighting against the Turks Three of which he himself killed in single Duells and therefore was Authorized by 〈◊〉 King of Hungary to bear three Turks-heads as an Augmentation to his Armes Here 〈◊〉 gave intelligence to a besieged City in the night by significant 〈◊〉 works formed in 〈◊〉 in legible Characters with many strange performances the Scene whereof is laid at such a distance they are cheaper credited then confuted From the Turks in Europe he passed to the Pagans in America where towards the latter end of the Raign of Queen Elizabeth such his Perills Preservations Dangers Deliverances they seem to most men above belief to some beyond Truth Yet have we two witnesses to attest them the Prose and the Pictures both in his own book and it soundeth much to the diminution of his deeds that he alone is the Herauld to publish and proclaime them Two Captains being at dinner one of them fell into a large relation of his own atchivements concluding his discourse with this question to his fellow And pray Sir said he what service have you done To whom he answered Other men can tell that And surely such reports from strangers carry with them the greater reputation However moderate men must allow Captain Smith to have been very instrumentall in setling the plantation in Virginia whereof he was Governour as also Admiral of New-England He led his old age in London where his having a Princes mind imprison'd in a poor mans purse rendred him to the contempt of such who were not ingenuous Yet he efforted his spirits with the remembrance and relation of what formerly he had been and what he had done He was buried in Sepulchres-Church-Quire on the South-side thereof having a ranting Epitaph inscribed in a table over him too long to transcribe Onely we will insert the first and last verses the rather because the one may fit Alexanders life for his valour the other his death for his religion Here lies one conquer'd that hath conquer'd Kings Oh may his soul in sweet Elysium sleep The Orthography Poetry History and Divinity in this Epitaph are much alike He on the 21. of June 1631. Physicians If this county hath bred no Writers in that faculty the wonder is the less if it be true what I read that if any here be sick They make him a posset and tye a kerchieff on his head and if that will not mend him then God be mercifull to him But be this understood of the common people the Gentry having the help no doubt of the learned in that profession Writers THOMAS ECLESTONE A Village in Broxtone Hundred was born in this County bred a Franciscan in Oxford Leland saith of him that under the conduct of prudence and experience he contended with many paces to pierce into the Penetrales of Learning He wrote a book of the succession of Franciscans in England with their works and wonders from their first coming in to his own time dedicating the same to not G. Notingham the Provinciall of his Order but to his friend and Fellow-Frier his mortified mind it seems not aiming at honour therein He wrote another Book intituled De impugnatione Ordinis suâ—… per Dominicanos Of the assaults which the Dominicans made on his Order These two sorts of Friers whipping each other with their Cords or Knotted Girdles to the mutual wounding of their reputations He died Anno Domini 1340. Since the Reformation RALPH RADCLIFFE was born in this County who travelling Southward fixed himself at Hitching in Hertfordshire where he converted a demolished house of the Carmelites into a Publique Grammar-school He here erected a fair stage whereon partly to entertain his Neighhours and partly to embolden his Scholars in pronuntiation many interludes were acted by them Pitz. praiseth him being a School-master that he confined himself to his own profession not medling with Divinity and yet amongst his books he reckoneth up a Treatise of the Burning of Sodome and another of the Afflictions of Job Nor must we forget his book entitled de triplice Memoriâ of the Threefold Memory which though I never met with any that saw it may probably be presumed of the Water Wax Iron Memory receiving things very somewhat very hardly easily  retaining them no a little long Time He flourished under the raign of King Edward the sixth Anno Domini 1552. and it is likely he died before the raign of Queen Mary JOHN SPEED was born at Farrington in this County as his own Daughter hath informed me he was first bred to a handicraft and as I take it to a Taylor I write not this for his but my own disgrace when I consider how far his Industry hath outstript my Ingenious Education Sir Fulk Grevill a great favourer of Learning perceiving how his wide soul was stuffed with too narrow an occupation first wrought his inlargement as the said Author doth ingeniously confess Whose merits to me-ward I do acknowledge in setting this hand free from the daily imployments of a manuall Trade and giving it his liberty thus to express the inclination of my mind himself being the procurer of my present Estate This
She was youngest Daughter and Child to Ralph Earl of Westmerland who had one and twenty and exceeded her Sisters in honour being married to Richard Duke of York She saw her Husband kill'd in battel George Duke of Clarence her second Son cruelly murdered Edward her eldest son cut off by his own intemperance in the prime of his years his two sons butchered by their Uncle Richard who himself not long after was slain at the bartel of Bosworth She was blessed with three Sons who lived to have issue each born in a several Kingdom Edward at Bourdeaux in France George at Dublin in Ireland Richard at Fotheringhay in England She saw her own reputation murdered publickly at Pâ—…uls-Cross by the procurement of her youngest son Richard taxing his eldest Brother for illegitimate She beheld her eldest Son Edward King of England and enriched with a numerous posterity  Yet our Chronicles do not charge her with elation in her good or dejection in her ill success an argument of an even and steady soul in all alterations Indeed she survived to see Elizabeth her grand child married to King Henry the seventh but little comfort accrued to her by that conjunction the party of the Yorkists were so depressed by him She lived five and thirty years a widow and died in the tenth year of King Henry the seventh 1495. and was buried by her Husband in the Quire of the Collegiate Church of Fotheringhay in Northampton-shire which Quire being demolished in the days of King Henry the eighth their bodies lay in the Church-yard without any Monument until Queen Elizabeth coming thither in Progress gave order that they should be interred in the Church and two Tombs to be erected over them Hereupon their bodies lapped in Lead were removed from their plain Graves and their Coffins opened The Duchess Cicely had about her neck hanging in a Silver Ribband a Pardon from Rome which penned in a very fine Roman Hand was as fair and fresh to be read as if it had been written but yesterday But alas most mean are their Monuments made of Plaister wrought with a Trowell and no doubt there was much daubing therein the Queen paying for a Tomb proportionable to their Personages The best is the memory of this Cicely hath a better and more lasting Monument who was a bountiful Benefactress to Queens Colledge in Cambridge Saints BEDE And because some Nations measure the worth of the person by the length of the name take his addition Venerable He was born at Girwy now called Yarrow in this Bishoprick bred under Saint John of Beverly and afterwards a Monk in the Town of his Nativity He was the most general Scholar of that age Let a Sophister begin with his Axioms a Batchelor of Art proceed to his Metaphysicks a Master to his Mathematicks and a Divine conclude with his Controversies and Comments on Scripture and they shall find him better in all than any Christian Writer in that age in any of those Arts and Sciences He expounded almost all the Bible translated the Psalms and New Testament into English and lived a Comment on those Words of the * Apostle shining as a light in the world in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation He was no gadder abroad credible Authors avouching that he never went out of his Cell though both Cambridge and Rome pretend to his habitation Yet his Corps after his death which happened Anno 734. took a journey or rather were removed to Durham and there enshrined Confessors JOHN WICKLIFFE It is a great honour to this small County that it produced the last maintainer of Religion before the general decay thereof understand me Learned Bede and the firm restorer thereof I mean this Wickliff the subject of our present discourse True it is His Nativity cannot be demonstrated in this Bishoprick but if such a scientia media might be allowed to man which is beneath certainty and above conjecture such should I call our perswasion that Wickliff was born therein First all confess him a Northern man by extraction Secondly the Antiquary allows an ancient Family of the Wickliffs in this County whose Heir general by her match brought much wealth and honour to the Brakenburies of Celaby Thirdly there are at this day in these parts of the name and alliance who continue a just claim of their kindred unto him Now he was bred in Oxford some say in Baliol others more truly in Merton Colledge and afterwards published opinions distasteful to the Church of Rome writing no fewer than two hundred Volumns of all which largely in our Ecclesiastical History besides his translating of the whole Bible into English He suffered much persecution from the Popish Clergy Yet after long exile he by the favour of God and good Friends returned in safety and died in quietness at his living at Lutterworth in Leicestershire Anno 1387. the last of December whose bones were taken up and burnt 42. years after his death Disdain not Reader to learn something by my mistake I conceive that Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments had entred the Names of our English Martyrs and Confessors in his Kalender on that very day whereon they died Since I observe he observeth a Method of his own fancy concealing the reasons thereof to himself as on the perusing of his Catalogue will appear Thus VVickliff dying December the last is by him placed January the second probably out of a design to grace the new year with a good beginning though it had been more true and in my weak judgement as honourable for VVickliff to have brought up the rear of the old as to lead the front of the new year in his Kalender Prelates The Nevills We will begin with a Quaternion of Nevils presenting them in Parallels and giving them their Precedency before other Prelates some their Seniors in time because of their Honourable Extraction All four were born in this Bishoprick as I am informed by my worthy Friend Mr. Charles Nevil Vice-Provost of Kings in Cambridge one as knowing 〈◊〉 Universal Heraldry as in his own Colledge in our English Nobility as in his own Chamber in the ancient fair and far branched Family of the Nevils as in his own Study RALPH NEVIL was born at Raby in this Bishoprick was Lord Chancellour under King Henry the third none discharging that Office with greater integrity and more general commendation and Bishop of Chichester 1223. He built a fair House from the ground in Chancery Lane for himselfe and successors for an Inne where they might repose themselves when their occasions brought them up to London How this House was afterwards aliened and came into the possession of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln from whom it is called Lincolns Inne at this day I know not Sure I am that Mr. Mountague late Bishop of Chichester intended to lay claim therunto in right of his see But alas he was likely to follow a cold scent
West-Langton in this County bred a Carmelite in London but first brought up in Oxford He wrote a Book of their own ordinary Acts another called The Tryal of Henry Crump Doctor in Divinity another Book against the Errors of the said Doctor Crump Reader We are beholden to my Author for retriving this Writers memory which otherwise appears not in Leland Bale or Pits He flourished under K. Henry the fourth anno Dom. 1400. ROBERT DE HARBY was born at Harby in this County bred a Carmelite in their Covent at Lincolne He seems to be a Doctor in Divinity and surely was a great Adorer of the Virgin Mary writing many Sermons of her Festivities He flourished 1450. RICHARD TURPIN was born at Knaptoft in this County very lately if not still in the possession of that antient Family and was one of the Gentlemen of the English Garrison of Calis in France in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Such Soldiers generally in time of VVar had too much in time of Peace to little work to employ themselves therein Commendable therefore the Industry of this Richard who spent his spare hours in writing of a Chronicle of his time He dyed Anno Domini 1541. in the 〈◊〉 fifth year of the aforesaid Kings reign This I observe the rather that the Reader may not run with me on the rock of the same mistake who in my apprehension confounded him with Richard Turpin the Herauld first Blew-mantle and then created Winsor in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth Writers Since the Reformation HENRY SMITH Commonly called Silver-tongued Smith Preacher at St. Clemenâ—…s Danes But I refer the Reader to his Life writ by me at large and preposed to his Printed Sermons JOHN DUPORT D. D. Son to Tho. Duport Esquire was born at Shepshed in this County bred fellow then Master of Jesus Colledge in Cambridge once Proctour and thrice Vice-chancelour of that University He was one of the Translators of the Bible and a Reverend man in his Generation who bestowed the perpetual Advowsance of the Rectory of Harston on the Colledge Men generally in Scripture are notified by their Fathers seldome by their Sons as Simon of Cyrene father of Alexander and Rufus Persons no doubt of signal worth in that Age. Thus this Doctor is remarkable for his Son by Rachel Daughter to Richard Cox Bishop of Ely James Duport D.D. Fellow of Trinity Colledge and lately Greek Professor happy in the Education of many hopefull Pupils of Worship and Honour as they more happy in so able a Tutor His Father D. John Duport deceased 1617. WILLIAM BURTON Esquire son of Ralph Burton of Lindley in this County who had a more ancient Inheritance belonging to his name at Falde in Staffordshire a place remarkable because no Adder Snake or Lizard common in the Confines were ever seen therein as if it were a Land-Island and an Ireland in England This VVilliam was born at Lindley August 24. 1575. bred in Brazen-nose Colledge and wrote an Alphabetical Description of the Towns and Villages in this County with the Arms and Pedegrees of the most ancient Gentry therein The sparks of his Ingenuity herein have since set fire on Mr. Dugdale my worthy Friend to do the like to Warwickshire lately under one Sheriff with Leicester-shire and I hope in process of time they may inflame many others into imitation that so give me leave to match an English and Greek word together the County Graphy of our Land may be compleated ROBERT BURTON his younger Brother born Febr. 8. 1575. afterwards Student of Christs-Church Oxon and Batchellor of Divinity He wrote an excellent Book commonly called Democritus Junior of the Anatomy of Melancholy none to the Native to describe a Countrey wherein he hath piled up variety of much excellent Learning On whose Tomb is this Epitaph Paucis notus paucioribus `ignotus Hic jacet Democritus junior Cui vitam-pariter mortem Dedit Melancholia Scarce any Book of Philology in our Land hath in so short a time passed so many Impressions He died Rector of Segrave presented by his Patron George Lord Berkeley in this County about 1636. RICHARD VINES was born at Blazon in this County and bred in Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge where he commenced Master of Arts. Now although many healthfull souls in their age break out in their youth he was never given to any extravagancy Hence he was chosen School-master of Hinckley in this County a Profession wherein many a good Minister hath been and it is pity that any but a good man should be imployed Entring the Ministry after other intermediate places such as are his Censurers would be his Compurgators if privie to the weighty causes of his just removal he was fixed at last at S. Lawrence Jury in Lonâ—…on An excellent Preacher skilfull to cut out Doctrines in their true shape naturally raised to sew them up with strong stitches substantially proved and set them on with advantage on such backs who should wear them effectually applied He was one yea I may say one of sevenscore in the Assembly The Champion of their Party therefore called their Luther much imployed in their Treaties at Uxbridge and Isle of Wight His Majesty though of a different Judgement valued him for his Ingenuity seldome speaking unto him without touching if not moving his Hat Which by Master Vines was returned though otherwise blunt and unobservant with most respectfull Language and Gestures which I will not say was done by all his fellow Divines there present He was most charitably moderate to such as dissented from him though most constant to his own Principles witness his forsaking of his Mastership of Pembroke-Hall for refusing of the Engagement Such who charged him with covetuousness are confuted with the small Estate he left to his Wife and Children It seemeth that the sand in his hour-glass though sticking high on each side was but hollow in the middle for it sunk down on sudden Visible decays appeared in him a year before his death though rather in his Limbs than Parts Spirits than Spirit But alas the best Mind cannot make good Musick where the Instrument of the Body is out of tune his speech grew very low Not a week before his death preaching in S. Gregories a rude fellow cried out unto him Lift up your voice for I cannot hear you to whom Mr. Vines returned Lift you up your ears for I can speak no lowder Indeed his strength was much spent by his former pains so that some suppose had he wrought less he had lived longer He was buried Febr. the 7. 1655. in his own Parish Church where Mr Jacome modestly and learnedly performed his Funeral Sermon Much lamented as by many others so by his own Parish where he piously indeavoured to make them all of one piece who were of different colours and to unite their Judgements who dissented in Affections JOHN CLEVELAND was born in this County at Hinckley where his Father was Vicâ—…r
of the Carmelites in a Synode at Narbone deputed two English Provincials of that Order to the great grievance of our Lidlington refusing to subscribe to the Decisions of that Synode His stubbornesse cost him an Excommunication from Pope Clement the Fifth and four years Pennance of banishment from his Native Country Mean time our Lidlington living at Paris acquired great credit unto himself by his Lectures and Disputations At last he was preferred Provincial of the Carmelites in Palestine whence from Mount Carmel he fetched their Original and he himself best knew whether the Depth of his profit answered the Heigth of his Honour therein which I suspect the rather because returning into England he dyed and was buryed at Stanford anno Dom. 1309. NICHOLAS STANFORD He was born at that well-known Town once offering to be an University and bred a Bernardine therein The Eulogy given him by Learned Leland ought not to be measured by the Yard but weighed in the ballance Admirabar hominem ejus aetatis tam argute tam solido tamque significanter potuisse scribere I admired much that a man of his age could write so smartly so solidly so significantly Understand him not that one so infirm with age or decrepit in years but that one living in so ignorant and superstitious a generation could write so tercely flourishing as may be collected about the year of our Lord 1310. JOHN BLOXHAM was born at that Town in this County and bred a Carmelite in Chester I confess it is a common expression of the Country folk in this County when they intend to character a dull heavy blundering person to say of him he was born at Bloxham but indeed our Iohn though there first incradled had acuteness enough and some will say activity too much for a Fryer He advantagiously fixed himself at Chester a City in England nere Ireland and not far from Scotland much conducing to his ease who was supream prefect of his Order through those three Nations for two years and a half For afterwards he quitted that place so great was his employment under King Edward the second and third in several Embassies into Scotland and Ireland flourishing anno 1334. JOHN HORNBY was born in this County bred a Carmelite D. D. in Cambridge In his time happened a tough contest betwixt the Dominicans and Carmelites about Priority Plaintiffe Judges Defendant Dominican  Carmelite Iohn Stock or Stake rather so sharp and poinant his pen left marks in the Backs of his Adversaries Iohn Donwick the Chancellor and the Doctors of the University Iohn Hornby who by his preaching and writing did vindicate the seniority of his Order But our Hornby with his Carmelites clearly carried away the Conquest of precedency and got it confirmed under the authentique seal of the University However the Dominicans desisted not to justle with them for the upper hand until Henry the Eight made them friends by thrusting both out of the Land Our Hornby flourished anno Domini 1374 and was buried at his Convent in Boston BOSTON of BURY for so he is generally called I shall endevour to restore him first to his true name then to his native countrey Some presume Boston to be his Christian of Bury his Sirname But seeing Boston is no Font-name and Godfathers were consciencious in those dayes I appeal to all English Antiquaries in imposing if not Scripture or Saints names yet such as were commonly known the christianizing of Sirnames to baptized Infants being of more modern devise we cannot concur with their judgment herein And now thanks be to Doctor Iohn Caius who in the Catalogue of his Authors cited in the Defence of the Antiquity of Cambridge calleth him Iohn Boston of Bury being born at and taking his Sirname from Boston in this County which was customary for the Clergymen in those dayes though he lived a Monk in Bury Thus in point of Nativities Suffolk hath not lost but Lincoln-shire hath recovered a Writer belonging unto it He Travelled all over England and exactly perused the Library in all Monastaries whereby he was enabled to write a Catalogue of Ecclesiasticall Writers as well Forraign as English extant in his age Such his acuratness as not only to tell the Initiall words in Every of their Books but also to point at the place in each Library where they are to be had John Leland oweth as much to this Iohn Boston as Iohn Bale doth to him and Iohn Pits to them both His Manuscript was never Printed nor was it my happiness to see it but I have often heard the late Reverend Arch-Bishop of Armagh rejoyce in this that he had if not the first the best Copie thereof in Europe Learned Sir James WARE transcribed these Verses out of it which because they conduce to the clearing of his Nativity I have here Inserted Requesting the Reader not to measure his Prose by his Poetry though he dedicated it to no meaner then Henry the fourth King of England Qui legis hunc Librum Scriptorum Rex Miserere Dum scripsit vere non fecit ut aestimo pigrum Si tibi displiceat veniat tua Gratia grandis Quam cunctis pandis haec sibi sufficiat Scriptoris nomen Botolphi Villa vocatur Qui condemnatur nisi gratum det Deus Omen Sure it is that his Writings are Esteemed the Rarity of Rarities by the lovers of Antiquitys which I speak in Humble Advice to the Reader if possessed thereof to keep and value them if not not to despise his Books if on any Reasonable price they may be procured This Iohn Boston flourished Anno Dom. 1410. LAURENCE HOLEBECK was born saith my Author Apud Girvios that is amongst the Fenlanders I confess such people with their Stilts do stride over much ground the parcells of severall Shires Norfolk Suffolk Cambridg Huntington Northampton Lincolnshire But I have fixed him right in this County where Holebeck is not far from Crowland in Holland He was bred a Monk in the Abby of Ramsey and was very well skill'd in the Hebrew Tongue according to the rate of that Age. For the English-men were so great strangers in that Language that even the Priests amongst them in the Reign of King Henry the Eight as Erasmus reporteth Isti quicquid non intelligunt Haebraicum vocant counted all things Hebrew which they did not understand and so they reputed a Tablet which he wrote up in Walsingham in great Roman Letters out of the Rode of Common Cognizance Holebeck made an Hebrew Dictionary which was counted very exact according to those days I. Pitz doth heavyly complaine of Robert Wakefeild the first Hebrew Professor in Cambridg that he purloined this Dictionary to his private use whereon all I will observe is this It is resolved in the Law that the taking of another mans Sheep is Felony whilst the taking away of a Sheep-Pasture is but a Trespass the party pretending a right thereunto Thus I know many men so Conscientious that
ready for hearing being finally determined Whereon a Rhythmer When More some years had Chancelor been â—…o more suits did remain The same shall never more be seen Till More be there again Falling into the Kings displeasure for not complying with him about the Queens divorce he seasonably resigned his Chancellours Place and retired to his House in Chelsey chiefly imploying himself in writing against those who were reputed Hereticks And yet it is observed to his Credit by his great friend Erasmus that whilest he was Lord Chancellor no Protestant was put to death and it appears by some passages in his Utopia that it was against his mind that any should lose their Lives for their Consciences He rather soyled his Fingers then dirtied his hands in the matter of the holy Maid of Kent and well wiped it off again But his refusing or rather not accepting the Oath of Supremacy stuck by him for which he was 16. Months imprisoned in the Tower bearing his afflictions with remarkable patience He was wont to say that his natural temper was so tender that he could not indure a philip But a supernatural Principle we see can countermand yea help natural imperfections In his time as till our Memory Tower Prisoners were not dyetâ—…d on their own but on the Kings charges The Lieutenant of the Tower providing their Fare for them And when the Lieutenant said that he was sorry that Commons were no better I like said Sir Thomas Your Dyet very well and if I dislike it I pray turn me out of Dores Not long after he was beheaded on Tower hill 153. He left not above one hundred pounds a year Estate perfectly hating Covetousnesse as may appear by his refusing of four or five thousand pounds offered him by the Clergy Among his Latin Books his Utopia beareth the Bell containing the Idea of a compleat Common-wealth in an Imaginary Island but pretended to be lately discovered in America and that so lively counterfeited that many at the reading thereof mistook it for a real truth Insomuch that many great Learned men as Budeus and Johannes Paludanus upon a fervent zeal wished that some excellent Divines might be sent thither to preach Christs Gospel yea there were here amongst us at home sundry good men and Learned Divines very desirous to undertake the Voyage to bring the People to the Faith of Christ whose manners they did so well like By his only Son Mr. John More he had five Grandchildren Thomas and Augustin born in his Life time who proved zealous Romanists Edward Thomas and Bartholomew born after his Death were firm Protestants and Thomas a married Minister of the Church of England MARGARET MORE Excuse me Reader for placing a Lady among Men and Learned Statesmen The Reason is because of her 〈◊〉 affection to her Father from whom she would not willingly be parted and for me shall not be either living or dead She was born in Bucklers-bury in London at her Fathers house therein and attained to that Skill in all Learning and Languages that she became the miracle of her age Forreigners took such notice hereof that Erasmus hath dedicated some Epistles unto her No Woman that could speak so well did speak so little Whose Secresie was such that her Father entrusted her with his most important Affairs Such was her skill in the Fathers that she corrected a depraved place in St. Cyprian for whereas it was corruptly writen she amended it Nisi vos sinceritatis Nervos sinceritatis Yea she translated Eusebius out of Greek but it was never printed because I. Christopherson had done it so exactly before She was married to William Roper of Eltham in Kent Esquire one of a bountiful heart and plentiful Estate When her Fathers head was set up on London Bridge it being suspected it would be cast into the Thames to make room for divers others then suffering for denying the Kings Supremacy she bought the head and kept it for a Relique which some called affection others religion others Superstition in her for which she was questioned before the Council and for some short time imprisoned until she had buryed it and how long she her self survived afterwards is to me unknown THOMAS WRIOTHESLEY Knight of the Garter was born in Barbican Son to William Wriothesley York Herauld and Grandchild to John VVriothesley descended from an heir general of the ancient Family of the Dunsterviles King of Arms. He was bred in the University of Cambridge and if any make a doubt thereof it is cleared by the passage of Mr. Ascams Letter unto him writing in the behalf of the University when he was Lord Chancellour Quamobrem Academia cum omni literarum ratione ad te unum conversa Cui uni quam universis aliis se chariorem intelligit partim tibi ut alumno suo cum authoritate imperat partim ut patrono summo demisse humiliter supplicat c. He afterwards effectually applyed his Studies in our municipal Law wherein he attained to great eminency He was by King Henry the Eighth created Baron of Titchborne at Hampton Court January the first 1543. and in the next year about the beginning of May by the said King made Chancelor of England But in the first of King Edward the Sixth he was removed from that place because a conscienciously Rigorous Romanist though in some reparation he was advanced to be Earl of Southampton He dyed at his House called Lincolns place in Holborn 1550. the 30. of Iuly and lyes buryed at St. Andrews in Holborn WILLIAM PAGET Knight was born in this City of honest Parents who gave him pious and learned education whereby he was enabled to work out his own advancement Privy-Councellour to 4 successive princes which though of different perswasions agreed all in this to make much of an able and trusty Minister of State 1. King Henry the Eighth made him his Secretary and imployed him Embassador to Ch. the Emperor and Francis King of France 2. King Edward the Sixth made him Chancellor of the Dutchy Comptroller of his Houshold and created him Baron of Beaudesert 3. Queen Mary made him â—…eeper of her privy Seal 4. Queen Elizabeth dispenced with his attendance at Court in favour to his great Age and highly respected him Indeed Duke Dudley in the dayes of King Edward ignominiously took from him the Garter of the Order quarrelling that by his extraction he was not qualified for the same Bur if all be true which is reported of this Dukes Parentage he of all men was most unfit to be active in such an imployment But no wonder if his Pride wrongfully snatched a Garter from a Subject whose Ambition endevoured to deprive two Princes of a Crown This was restored unto him by Queen Mary and that with Ceremony and all solemn accents of honour as to a person who by his prudence had merited much of the Nation He dyed very old anno 1563 and his Corps as
Minister bred Fellow of Trinity-colledge in Oxford afterwards an eminent Preacher in London and Dean of ............ Hence he was preferr'd Bishop of Bristol and afterwards of Oxford and is still and long may he be living States-men Sir CHRISTOPHER HATTON was born I collect at Holdenby in this County of a family rather ancient then wealthy yet of no mean estate He rather took a bate then made a meal at the Inns of Court whilst he studied the Laws therein He came afterwards to the Court in a mask where the Queen first took notice of him loving him well for his handsome dancing better for his proper person and best of all for his great abilities His parts were far above his learning which mutually so assisted each other that no manifest want did appear and the Queen at last preferred him Lord Chancellour of England The Gown-men grudging hereat conceived his advancement their injury that one not thoroughly bred in the Laws should be preferred to the place How could he cure diseases unacquainted with their causes who might easily mistake the Justice of the Common-law for Rigour not knowing the true reason thereof Hereupon it was that some sullen Serjeants at the first refused to plead before him until partly by his power but more by his prudence he had convinced them of their errors and his abilities Indeed he had one Sir Richard Swale Doctor of the Civil-laws and that Law some say is very sufficient to dictate equity his servant-servant-friend whose advice he followed in all matters of moment A scandal is raised that he was popishly affected and I cannot blame the Romanists if desirous to countenanâ—…e their cause with so considerable a person Yet most â—…ue it is that his zeal for the discipline of the Church of England gave the first being and life to this report One saith that he was a meer Vegetable of the Court that sprung up at night and sunk again at his noon though indeed he was of longer continuance Yet it brake his heart that the Queen which seldome gave boons and never forgave due debts rigorously demanded the present payment of some arrears which Sir Christopher did not hope to have remitted but did onely desire to be forborn failing herein in his expectation it went to his heart and cast him into a mortal disease The Queen afterwards did endeavour what she could to recover him bringing as some say cordial broaths unto him with her own hands but all would not do Thus no Pullies can draw up a heart once cast down though a Queen her self should set her hand thereunto He dyed Anno Domini 1591. and is buried under a stately monument in the Qâ—…ire of Saint Pauls Sir WILLIAM FITZ-WILLIAMS born at Milton in this County married the sister of Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland Yea he himself was five times Lord Deputy of that Kingdome a sufficient evidence of his honesty and ability seeing Queen Elizabeth never trusted twice where she was once deceiv'd in a Minister of State She so preserved him in the power of his place that sending over Walter Earl of Essex a person higher in honour to be Governour of Ulster it was ordered that the Earl should take his Commission from the Lord Deputy An intelligent pen alloweth him serviceable towards the reduction of that Kingdome in two eminent particulars First in raising a composition in Mounster then in setling the possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan one of the last acts of State tending to the reformation of the civil government perform'd in the reign of Queen Elizabeth His vigilancy was most conspicuous in the Eighty-eight when the routed Armado in its return did look dared not to land in Ireland except against their wills driven by tempest when they found the shore worse then the sea unto them I confess some impute the Irish Rebellion which afterwards brake out to this Deputies severity in imprisoning suspected persons for concealing Spanish goods though this onely gave the Irish a mantle for their intended wickedness He died Anno Domini 15 ... Sir ISAAC WAKE was born in this County whose father Arthur Wake Clerk was Parson of Billing Master of the Hospital of Saint Johns in Northampton and Canon of Christs-church and son to John VVake of Sancy-forrest Esquire of a most ancient and honorable family He was bred Fellow of Merton-colledge in Oxford Proctour and Oratour of that University he was afterwards Secretary to Sir Dudley Carleton Secretary of State and from his was advanced into the Kings Service and imployed Embassadour to Venice where he neglected his own commodity to attend his Majesties imployment the reason that he died rich onely to his own Conscience Coming from Venice he was appointed Leiger for France and designed Secretary of State had not death prevented him at Paris He was accomplished with all qualifications requisite for publique Employment Learning Languages Experience Abilities and what not King Charles hearing of his death commanded his Corps to be decently brought from Paris into England allowing the expences for his Funeral and enjoyning his neerest relations to attend the performance thereof These accordingly met his body at Bulloin in France and saw it solemnly conveyed into England where it was interred in the Chappel of the Castle of Dover Anno Dom. 16 ... Capital Judges and Writers on the Law MARTIN de PATESHULL Let him remain here till any shall show me a Town called Pateshulle in any other County of England which village in this Shire gave the name and afforded the habitation to that ancient family Though a Clergy-man he was in the first of King Henry the third made Justice of the Lower-â—…ench or Common-Pleas wherein he continued for twelve years and upwards as appeareth by the date of his death out of an excellent Author Eodem anno obiit Martinus de Pateshulle Decanus St. Pauli London 18. Cal. Decem. vir mirae prudentiae Legum Regni peritissimus He was the fourth Dean of Saint Pauls as reckoned up in Bishop Godwin his Catalogue In that age we see Clergy men were not onely trusted with the spirit I mean the equity but also with the letter of the Law being Judges in those Courts wherein were the most strictest proceedings Sir THOMAS de BILLING was born in this County where two Villages his namesakes near Northampton and had his habitation in great state at Ashwell in this Shire He was made Chief-Justice of the Kings-Bench in the sixth and so continued till the one and twentieth of Edward the fourth whose lands and those very large have since by the Lovels descended to the Shirlies Nothing else have I to observe of him save that he married for his second wife Mary the daughter and heir of Robert Nesenham of Conington in Huntingtonshire the Relict of William Cotton whose issue possess her inheritance at this day and she lieth intomb'd in VVestminster Sir
here or Sea-cole brought hither This minds me of a passage wherein Oxford was much concerned When Shot-over Woods being bestowed by King Charles the First on a Person of Honour were likely to be cut down the University by Letters laboured their preservation wherein this among many other pathetical expressions That Oxford was one of the eyes of the Land and Shot-over Woods the hair of the Eye-lids the loss whereof must needs prejudice the sight with too much moisture flowing therein This retrenched that design'd for the present but in what case those Woods stand at this day is to me unknown Buildings The Colleges in Oxford advantaged by the vicinity of fair Free-stone do for the genâ—…rality of their structure carry away the credit from all in Christendom and equal any for the largness of their endowments It is not the least part of Oxfords happiness that a moity of her Founders were Prelates whereas â—…bridge hath but three Episcopal Foundations Peter-house Trinity-hall and Jesus who had an experimental knowledge what belonged to the necessities and conveniences of Scholars and therefore have accommodated them accordingly principally in providing them the patronages of many good Benefices whereby the Fellows of those Colleges are plentifully maintained after their leaving of the University Of the Colleges University is the oldest Pembroke the youngest Christ-church the greatest Lincolâ—… by many reputed the least Magdalen the neatest Wadham the most uniform New-college the strongest and Jesus college no fault but its unhappiness the poorest and if I knew which was the richest I would not tell seeing concealment in this kind is the safest Hâ—…-college is most proper for Southern Exeter for Western Queens for Northern Brazen-nose for North-western men St. Johns for Londoners Jesus for Welsâ—…men and at other Colleges almost indifferently for men of all Countries Merton hath been most famous for School-men Corpus Chresti formerly called 〈◊〉 Gollegium for Linguists Christ-church for Poets All-souls for Orators New-college for Civilians Brazen-nose for Disputants Queens college for Metaphysicians 〈◊〉 for a laâ—…e series of Regius Professor's Magdalen for ancient St. Johns for modern Prelates and all eminent in some one kind or other And if any of these Colleges were transported into forreign parts it would alter its kind or degree at least and presently of a College proceed an University as equal to most and superiour to many 〈◊〉 beyond the Seas Before I conclude with these Colleges I must confess how much I was posed with a passage which I met within the Epistles of Erasmus writing to his familiar friend Ludâ—…vicus Vives then residing in Oxford in collegio Apum in the College of Bees according to his direction of his Letter I knew all Colleges may metaphorically be rermed the Colleges of Bees wherein the industrious Scholers live under the rule of one Master In which respect St. Hierom advised Rusticus the Monk to busie himself in making Bee-â—…ives that from thence he might learn Monasteriorum ordinem Regiam disciplinam the order of Monasteries and discipline of Kingly government But why any one College should be so signally called and which it was I was at a loss till at last seasonably satisfied that it was Corpus Christi whereon no unpleasant story doth depend In the year 1630. the Leads over Vives his Study being decayed were taken up and new cast by which occasion the Stall was taken and with it an incredible mass of Honey But the Bees as presaging their intended and imminent destruction whereas they were never known to have swarmed before did that Spring to preserve their famous kind send down a fair swarm into the Presidents Garden The which in the yâ—… 1633 yielded two Swarms one whereof pitched in the Garden for the President the other they 〈◊〉 up as a new Colony into their old Habitation there to continue the memory of this 〈◊〉 Doctor as the University styled him in a Letter to the â—…ardinal It seems theâ—… Bees were Aborigines from the first building of the Colledge being called Collegium Apum in the Founders Statutes and so is John Claymâ—…d the first President thereof saluted by Erasâ—… The Library If the Schools may be resembled to the Ring the Library may the better be compared to the Diamond therein not so much for the bunching forth beyond the rest as the preciousness thereof in some respects equalling any in Europe and in most kinds exceeding all in England yet our Land hath been ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much given to the love of Books and let us Fleet the Cream of a few of the primest Libraries in all ages In the infancy of Christianity that at York bare away the Bell founded by Arch-Bishop Egbert and so highly praised by Alevinus in his Epistle to Charles the Great but long since abolished Before the dissolution of Abbies when all Cathedrâ—…s and Convents had their Libraries that at Ramsey was the greatest Râ—…bbin spake the most and best Hebrew abounding in Iewish and not defective in other Books In that age of Lay Libraries as I may term them as belonging to the City I behold that pertaining to Guild-Hall as a principal â—…ounded by Richard Whâ—…ington whence three Cart loads of choice Manuscripts were carried in the raign of King Edward the sixth on the promise of never performed Restitution Since the Reformation that of Benet in Cambridge hath for Manuscripts exceeded any thank the cost and care of Mathew Parker Collegâ—…ate Library in England Of late Cambridge Library augmented with the Arch-Episcopal Library of Lambeth is grown the second in the Land As for private Libraries of Subjects that of Treasurer Burlies was the best for the use of a States-man the Lord Lumlies for an Historian the late Earl of Arundels for an Herald Sir Robert Cottons for an Antiquary and Arch-Bishop Ushers for a Divine Many other excellent Libraries there were oâ—… particular persons Lord Brudnels Lord Hat tons c. routed by our Civil Wars and many Books which scaped the execution are fled transported into France Flanders and other forraign parts To return to Oxford Library which stands like Diâ—… amongst her Nymphs and surpasseth all the rest for rarity and multitude of Books so that if any be wanting on any Subject it is because the world doth not afford them This Library was â—…ounded by Humphrey the Good Duke of Gloâ—…ster confounded in the raign of Edward the sixth by those who I list not to name re-founded by worthy Sir Thomas Bodley and the bounty of daily Benefactors As for the Kings Houses in this County Woodstock is justly to be preferred where the Wood and Water Nymphs might equally be pleased in its â—…uation Queen Elizabeth had a great affection for this place as one of her best Râ—…membrancers of her condition when a prisoner here in none of the best lodgings in the raigâ—… of her Sister Here she escaped a dangerous fire but whether casual or intentional God knoweth Here hearing
buried in that Covent Anno 1326. Since the Reformation WILLIAM PEMBLE was born in this County where his Parents had no plentifull Estate but their wants were supplied as to this their Sons education in Learning by the bounty of John Barker of Mayfield in this Shire Esq. as by the following passage may appear written by Mr. Capel his worthy Tutor You are the man who supported the Vine that bore this and many other excellent grapes His studies had shrunk and withered even then when they were about to knit had it not been for you and your Exhibitions who have raised up an able Scholar a learned Divine a well studied Artist a skilfull Linguist and which is the soul of all a very godly Minister So then if I have miss'd Master Pembles native County yet I shall be excused by the known Proverb Non ubi nascor sed ubi pascor Sussex affording him his most effectuâ—…l maintenance He was bred in or if you will he bred Magdalen-hall in Oxford that house owing its late lustre to his Learned Lectures the gravest in the University not disdaining their presence thereat He was an excellent Orator indeed as who spake nonex ore sed ex pectore many excellencies being in him but above all this was his Crown that he unfainedly sought Gods Glory and the good of Mens Souls He died in the flower of his Age as he was making his Lectures on the Prophesie of Zachary finishing but nine chapters of fourteen Anno Dom. of a burning feaver THOMAS CHUNE Esquire living at Alfriston in this County set forth a small Manuall intituled Collectiones Theologicarum Conclusionum Indeed many have much opposed it as what book meeteth not with opposition though such as dislike must commend the brevity and clearness of his Positions For mine own part I am glad to see a Lay-Gentleman so able and industrious His book was set forth 1635. THOMAS MAY was born in this County of a worshipfull but decayed Family bred Fellow-commoner in Cambridge in Sidney colledge where he seriously applyed himself to his studies He afterwards lived in Westminster about the Court He was an Elegant Poet and translated Lucan into English Now though Scaliger be pleased to say Hypocritically of Lucan Non canit sed latrat yet others under the Rose as judicious allow him an excellent Poet and loseing no lustre by Mr. Mays translation Some disgust at Court was given to or taken by him as some will have it because his Bays were not gilded richly enough and his Verses rewarded by King Charles according to his expectation He afterwards wrote an History of this State in the beginning of our Civill Wars and being my self for my many writings one under the Authority of the Tongues and Pens of others it ill becometh me to pass any censure on his performance therein Sure I am if he were a Biassed and Partiall writer he lieth buried near a good and true Historian indeed I mean Mr. Camden in the West-side of the North Isle of Westminster Abby dying suddenly in the night Anno Dom. 1652. in the 55. year of his Age. JOHN SELDEN son of Thomas Selden was born at Salvington within the parish of East Terring in this County and the ensuing inscriptions being built three stories high will acquaint us with his age and parentage The lowest is written on the top stone of his sepulcher being five foot deep in the ground Hic inhumatur corpus Johannis Seldeni The second is inscribed on a blew marble stone lying flat on the 〈◊〉 in the Temple Church J. Seldenus J. C. Hic situs est The third is graven on the wall in a monument of white and black marble Johannis Seldenus Heic juxta situs natus est decimo sexto Decembris MDLXXXIV Salvintoniae qui viculus est Terring occidentalis in Sussexiae maritimis parentibus honestis Joannae Seldeno Thomae filio è Quinis secundo Anno MDXLI nato Et Margareta filia haerede unica Thomae Bakeri de Rushington ex Equestri Bakerorum in Cantîo familia filius 〈◊〉 cunis superstitum unicus Aetatis fere LXX annorum Denatus est ultimo die Novembris Anno salutis reparatae MDCLIV per quam expectat heic Resurrectionem faelicem He was first bred in Hart-hall in Oxford then in the Inner Temple in London where he attained great skill in the Law and all Antiquity His learning did not live in a Lanâ—… but traced all the Latitude of Arts and Languages as appears by the many and various works he hath written which people affect as they stand affected either by their Fancy or Function Lay-gentlemen preser his Titles of honour Lawyers his Mare Clausum Antiquaries his Spicelegium ad Edmearum Clergy-men like best his book de Dis Syris and worst his History of Tythes Indeed the body of that History did not more offend them in point of profit then the preface thereof in matter of credit Such his insolent reflections therein Nor will it be impertinent here to insert a passage of consequence which I find in a Modern Author of good Intelligence Master Selden was no friend to Bishops as constituted and established in the Church of England For being called before the High Commission and forced to make a publique acknowledgment of his error and offence gived unto the Church in publishing a book entituled The History of Tithes it sunk so deep into his stomack that he did never after affected the men or cordially approved the calling though many ways were tryed to gain him to the Churches interest To this his publique acknowledgment I can say nothing this I know that a friend of mine imployed on a fair and honest account to peruse the Library of Arch-bishop Laud found therein a large letter written to him and subscribed with Master Seldens own hand wherein he used many expressions of his Contrition much Condemning himself for setting forth a book of that nature which Letter my aforesaid friend gave back again to Master Selden to whom I assure you it was no unacceptable present But that which afterwards entituled him to a generall popularity was his pleading with Master Noy for a Habeas Corpus of such Gentlemen which were imprisoned for the refusall of the Loane Hence was it that most men beheld Master Selden as their Common Councell and them selves as his Clients conceiving that the Liberty of all English Subjects was concerned in that Suit He had very many Ancient Coynes of the Roman Emperours and more modern ones of our English Kings dying exceeding wealthy Insomuch that naked charity both wish'd and hoped for a good new Coat at his hands but mist of its Expectation The Arch-bishop of Armagh to whom he was always most civill and respectfull preached his Funerall Sermon The Large Library which he left is a Jewell indeed and this Jewell long looked to be put into a New Cabinet when one of the Inns of Court on which it was
his Grand-Child Robert Earl of Essex to have died in the same year of his age or to have lived longer let others decide Writers AMBROSE MERLIN was born at Carmarthen a City so denominated from his Nativity therein This I write in conformity to common Tradition and he who will not errare cum vulgo must pugnare cum vulgo my own judgement remonstrating against the same finding the City called Mariadunum in Ptolomy before Merlins Cradle was ever made if Merlins Cradle was ever made His extraction is very incredible reported to have an Incubus to his Father pretending to a Pedigree older than Adam even from the Serpent himself But a Learned Pen demonstrateth the impossibility of such Conjunctions And let us not load Satan with groundless sins whom I believe the Father of lyes but in a litteral sense no Father of Bastards Many are the pretended Prophesies of Merlin whereof the British have a very high esteem and I dare say nothing against them only I humbly tender to this Nations consideration a modest Proverb of their own Country Namyn Dduw nid oes Dewin that besides God there is no Diviner Yet I deny not but the Devil can give a shrewd conjecture but often the deceiver is deceived Sure I am Merlins Prophesies have done much mischief seeing such who pretended skill therein that they could unfold his meaning though for my part I believe they must have the Devils key who open the Devils lock put Owen Glendower on his Rebellion against King Henry the fourth perswading him the time was come wherein he should recover the Welsh Principality which caused the making of those cruel Laws with Draco's written in blood against the Welsh which no tender Englishman can read without regret There want not those who maintain Merlin to be a great Chymist and those we know have a Language peculiar to themselves so that his seeming Prophesies are not to be expounded historically but naturally disguising the mysteries of that faculty from vulgar intelligence The best Prophesie I meet with in Merlin which hit the mark indeed is what I find cited out of him by Giraldus Cambrensis Sextus maenia Hiberniae subvertent Regiones in Regnum redigentur The Sixth shall overturn the walls of Ireland and reduce their Countries into a Kingdom This was accomplished under King James the sixth when their Fastnesses Irish Walls were dismantled and Courts of Civil Justice set up in all the Land But enough of Merlin who is reported to have died Anno The Farewell How this County with the rest of Wales hath preserved its woods in our unhappy Civil Wars is to me unknown yet if they have been much wasted which I suspect I wish that the Pit-Coal which in some measure it affordeth may daily be increased for the supply of their fewell CARNARVON This County hath the Irish Sea on the West Anglesea divided by Menaifreâ—… on the North Denby shire on the East and Merionith shire on the South This I have observed peculiar to this County that all the Market are Sea Towns being five in number as noted in the Maps which no other County in England or Wales doth afford The Natives hereof count it no small credit unto them that they made the longest resistance against and last submitted unto the English And indeed for natural strength it exceedeth any part of this Principality so that the English were never more distressed than in the Invasion thereof I am much affected with the ingenuity of an English Nobleman who following the Camp of King Henry the third in these parts wrote home to his friends about the end of September 1245. The naked truth indeed as followeth We lie in our Tents watching fasting praying and freezing we watch for fear of the Welsh-men who are wont to invade us in the night we Fast for want of meat for the half peny loaf is worth five pence we Pray to God to send us home again speedily we Freeze for want of winter garments having nothing but thin linnen betwixt us and the wind Yet is this County in it self sufficiently plentiful though the Welsh had the wit to keep â—…ood from the English and Snow-don-Hills therein are commended by my * Author for fertility of wood cattel fish and fowl Smile not Reader to hear of Fish in so high Mountains which have plenty of Pools interposed Wonders Giraldus Cambrensis telleth us how there is a Lake in Snowden Hills in this County which hath a floating Island therein But it seemeth that it either always swimmeth away from such who endeavour to discover it or else that this vagrant wearied with long wandring hath at last fixed it self to the Continent He telleth us also of Monoculous Fishes though not fully acquainting us how their one eye is disposed Whether Polyphemus-like in the midst of their head or only on one side The truth is these One-eyed Fishes are too nimble for any men with two eyes to behold them Proverbs Craig Eriry or Snow don will yield sufficient Pasture for all the Cattell of VVales put together Some will say this cannot be literally true except the Cattel of VVales be few beneath and Snow-don-hills fruitful above all belief The best is the time is not expressed how long these hills will suffice for their pasture But let us not be so morose but to understand the meaning of this expression importing by help of an Hyperbole the extraordinary fruitfulness of this place Diange ar Gluyd a boddi ar Gonway That is to scape Clude and be drown'd in Conway parallel to the Latine Incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charibdin However that Pilot is to be pitied who to shun Scylla doth run on Charibdis because those rocks were neer and a narrow passage betwixt them whereas the two Rivers of Clude and Conway are twenty miles a sunder affording men scope enough to escape them but little or much in such cases are the same with indiscreet persons Princes EDWARD the Fourth but first surviving son of King Edward the First and Queen Eleanor was born at Carnarvon in this County April 25. 1284. No Prince ever ascended the English Throne with greater or used it with less advantage to himself First though his Father had in a manner surprised the Wâ—…lsh to accept him for their Prince pleading his royal extraction birth in VVales in ability to speak a word of English and innocence that none could tax him with actual sin Yet I find them not for his Fathers fallacy to think the worse of his Son sic juvat esse deceptos and generally they accepted him as preferring that a Prince should be put with wit rather than with violence upon them In England he succeeded to a wise and victorious Father who happily had hit the expedient to be both beloved and feared by his Subjects leaving the land in so good a posture for government that touch the wheele and it would turn in the right
Ireland in the 33 of King Hen. 8. * Sir John Davis in his discovery of Ireland pag. 251. * J. Wareus de script Hibern pag. 136. * Camb. Eliz Anno 1578. * Psal. 114. 1. * Doctor Powel in his Hist. of 〈◊〉 Epist to the Reader * Fragment regal in his Charact. * Camb. Brit. in Norfolk * In his Remains pag. 118. * In his Glossary Veâ—…bo Justiciarius * Will. Somner in his Antiq. of Cant. * Lambert in his perambulation of Kent pag. 131. * Sir Hen. Spelman in Gloss. Verbo Justiciarius * Camb. Brit. in Kent * Michael Cornubiensis see Cornwall title Souldiers * Camb. Brit. in Herefordshire * Joan. Sarisb de nugis curial 6. cap. 18. * Purchase his Pilgrims * Hollinsheads Chron. pag. 1403. * From the mouâ—…h of Mr. Râ—…msey Minister of Rougham in Norfolk who mâ—…rried the Widow of Mr. Giles Fletcher Son to this Doctor * In his Volumne of Engl sh Navigation pag. 473. * Camb. in his Eliz. Anno 1583. when he was Agent in Muscovy as afterward Embassador * J. Pits in Ang. Scrip. 1248. * Pitz. in Ang. script Anno 1260. * Bale de scrip Cent. 4 Num. 27. * Bale de sâ—…rip Brit. Cent. 4. Num. 7. 〈◊〉 in Anno 1265. * Luk. 2. 26. †Bale Ib. AMP. * De script Brit. Cent. 5 Num. 20. * Funeral Monvments pag. 206. * In our Description of Oxsordshire in in this Princes life * In Brit. in Kent * In suis Noe-uiis * Wevers Fun. Mon. pag. 853. * In his Breviary pag. 298 * Theatrum Chymicum Brit. pag 476. * In his Breviary of Philosophy cap. 4. * Out of his Epitaph on his Monument * Weavers Fun. Mon. * Ralph Brook York Augustine Vincent Windsor Herald * Brit. in his description of 〈◊〉 * Villare Cantianum pag. 25â—… * Stows Chro. pag. 281. * Stows Survey of London * Idem pag. 88. * Dr. willet in his Catalogue of good worâ—…s since the Reformation * 〈◊〉 Survey of London pag. 93. * On her Monument in Westminster Abbâ—… * Cambden in his Annoâ—…89 â—…89 Mills in his Catalogue of Honour pag. 10 6. * See Memoâ—…able Persons â—…n Buckinghamshire * Sands in his Nores on the eighth Book of Ovids Metamorph pag. 162. * Hartib his Legacy pag. 6. * Burozo is but our English Burrouâ—…h barbarously latinized and the same with Burgo * In the fifth of King Henry tâ—…e eight Villare â—…anum pag. 320 * Stows Chro. page 391. * Inter Bundel Indâ—…nt de Guerra a ud Pelles W. st * Stows Ann tis pag 480. * Mary Beaumont or Villers extraordinarily created Countess of Buckingham * Camb. Brit. de Cant. * By Mr. Somner in his Description of Canterbury pag. 37. * Lambert in his Perambulation of Kent pag. 37. S. N. * Bale de scrip Brit. Cent. 3. Num. 87. Math. Panker in the Life of Langton * In Glossario vâ—…rbo Heptateuchus * Gen. 4. 22. S. N. * Somner in his Catalogue of the Arch-Deacons of Cant. * Somner in his Survey of Cant. pag. 15. * Sir George Paul in the Life of Arch-Bishop Whitgift * Cambd. Brit. in Rutland * Idem in Lancashire Speed I think mistaken says but 28. * Stapleton in his Life * 2 Sam. 3. 1. * Cambd. Brit. in Lancashire * Stows Survey of London pag. 638. * Chaucer in his Prologue * In his Ilinerary * Camdens Br. in Lancâ—…shire a Gen. 12. 11. b Gen. 24. 16. c Gen. 29. 17. d 1 Sam. 25. 3. e 2 Sam. 13. 1. f 1 King 1. 4. g Ester 2. 7. h Luke 1. 6. i Luke 2. 19. k Mat. 15. 28. l John 12. 3. m Acts 16. 4. * Cam. Brit. in Lancashire * Acts 22. 3. * Acts 22. 27. * J. Bale descrip Brit. cent 8. n. 83. Fox Act. Monum * J. Bale ut pri * See my Church History 10th Book 17th Cenâ—… page 47. * Fox Acts and Mon. J. Bale Descr. Brit. cent 8. numb 87. * In his Exam. of J. Fox his Mareyrs * Fox Acts and Monum page 1561. * Idem ibid. * In his Exam. of â—…oxes Mart. * Pitz. p. 792. * Godwin in his Bishops of Ely and Cambdens Br. in the Description of Huntington * 2 King 9. 34. * Bale de script Brit. cent 9. num 3. * Bale Pitz. and Bish. Godwin in the Bishops of Chichester See Martyrs in Suffex * Parkers Scel Cant. M. S. in the Masters of S. Johns * Others make this of far later Date * Bale de script Brit. pagina penult * Cam. Eliz. in Anno 1569. * Cam. Brit. in Bi. of Durham * Ouâ—… of a Manuscript of the Great Antiquary Mr. Dodesworth * Bishop Carleton in the Life of Mr. Gilpâ—… * Item Ibidem * Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Exeter * So I find in the Manuscript of Mr. Dodsworth and so Mr. Richard Line this Arch-bishops servant lately deceased did inform me * Psal. 140. 3. * Sir James VVare de prâ—…sulibus Lageniae pag. 40. * The other Viscount Ely son to Archbishop Loâ—…ius * Mr. James Chaloner in his 〈◊〉 of the Isle of Man pag. 7. * Weavers Funeral Monuments Page 234. * Paulus Jovius * Soows Chro. page 495. * Pitz de scrip in anno 1294. * Bale de scri Brit. Cenâ—… 4. Num. 62. * Bale de scrip Brit. 1430. * Leland * Bale de scrip Brit. cent 8. Numb 47. * Ambrosius 〈◊〉 and Jocobus Bergomensis Speeds Chron. pag. 717. * Bale de scri Brit. Cent. 9. num 86. * Idem ut prius * Parker in his Skellet 〈◊〉 M.S. in the Masters of Sâ—… John * In my Holy-State and Church History * See the Latine Life of his Nephew Dr. Whitaker near the beginning * In his Epitaph on his Mon. in Pauls * Luke 1. 4â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Acts 18. 25â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. N. * In his Advancement of Learning * Theatrum Chemicum pag. 480. * See Sir Edw. Kellys life in Worcester-shire * In his Brit. in Lancashire * Psal. 68. 20. * Gen. 48. 14. * See the Particulars justified in his life at large written by my worthy Friend Edw. Bagshaw Esq. * Job 42. 15. Pitz. de Ang. Scrip. pag. 787. Pitz. de Ang. scrip Etate 17. pag. 808. * See his one foot out of the Snare * In the life of Mr. Bolton Bish. Godwin in the Bishops of Lincoln * Both these Notes were taken out of a Manuscript of Mr. Roger Dâ—…worth * John Huntley H. Wrigley Esquires * Pat. 24. of Heb. 6. Me mb 14. * Mr. Clark in his Lives of modern divines p. 450. Mr. Stanly Gower Minist of Dorchester who penned his Life full of many observables * Idem Ibidem * By â—…ollonel Waite * Vide supra pag. 14. Titulo Writers * Bale de scrip Brit. cent 4. N. 62. Pitz. De Ang. Script Anno 1294.