of the Garter Governour of the Isles of Jersey and Gernsey and Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth who chiefly committed the keeping of Mary Queen of Scots to his fidelity who faithfully discharged his trust therein I know the Romanists rail on him as over-strickt in his Charge but indeed without cause for he is no unjust Steward who to those under him alloweth all his Masters allowance though the same be â—…ut of the scantest proportion Besides it is no news for Prisoners especially if accounting their restraint unjust to find fault with their Keepers meerely for keeping them And such who complain of him if in his place ought to have done the same themselves When Secretary Walsingham moved this Knight to suffer one of his Servants to be bribed by the Agents of the Queen of Scots so to compasse the better intelligence he would in no terms yield thereunto Such conniving at was consenting to and such consenting to in effect was commanding of such falshood Whereupon the Secretary was fain to go further about and make use of an Instrument at a greater distance who was no menial servant to Sir Amias He died Anno Dom. 15. And was buried in London in St. Martins in the fields where his Epitaph is all an allusion to the three Swords in his Arms and three words in his Motto Gardez la Foy Keep the Faith Which harping on that one string of his fidelity though perchance harsh musick to the ears of others was harmonioâ—…s to Queen Elizabeth Capital Judges JOHN FITZ-JAMES Knight was born at Redlinch in this County of right ancient and worthy Parentage bred in the Study of our Municipal Laws wherein he proved so great a Proficient that by King Henry the Eighth He was advanced Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. There needs no more be said of his merit save that King Henry the Eighth preferred him who never used either Dunce or Dâ—…one in Church or State but Men of Ability and Activity He sate above thirteen years in his Place demeaning himself so that he lived and died in the Kings favour He sate one of the Assistants when Sir Thomas More was arraigned for refusing the Oath of Supremacy and was shrewdly put to it to save his own Conscience and not incurre the Kings displeasure For Chancellor Audley Supream Judge in that place being loath that the whole burthen of Mores condemnation should lye on his shoulders alone openly in Court asked the advice of the Lord Chief Justice Fitz-James whether the Indictment were sufficient or no to whom our Judge warily returned My Lords all by St. Gillian which was ever his Oath I must needs confesse that if the Act of Parliament be not unlawful then the Indictment is not in my conscience insufficient He died in the thirtyeth year of King Henry the Eighth and although now there be none left at Redlinch of his Name and Family they flourish still at Lewson in Dorsetshire descended from Alured Fitz-James brother to this Judge and to Richard Bishop of London whose Heir in a direct line Sir John Fitz-James Knight I must acknowledge a strong encourager of my weak endeavours JOHN PORTMAN Knight was born of Wealthy and Worshipful Extraction at Portmâ—…ns Orchard in this County a fair Mannor which descended to him by Inheritance the Heir of the Orchards being matcht into his Family He was bred in the Study of the Common Law attaining to such eminency therein that June 11 the second of Queen Mary he was made Chief Justice of the Kings Bench continuing two years in the place and dying therein for ought I find to the contrary and a Baronet of his name and Linage flourisheth at this day with a great and plentiful Estate DAVID BROOKE Knight born at Glassenbury son to John Brook Esq. who as I read in Claréntiaux was Serjeant at Law to King Henry the Eighth Our David was also bred in the study of our Laws and in the First of Queen Mary was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer but whether dying in or quitting the place in the First of Queen Elizabeâ—…h I am not informed He married Katharine daugher of John Lord Shandois but died without Issue JAMES DIER Knight younger son to Richard Dier Esq. was born at Roundhill in this County as may appear to any by the Heralds Visitation thereof and doth also to me by particular information from his relations He was bred in the study of our Municipal Law and was made Lord Chief Justice of the 〈◊〉 Pleas Primo Eliz. continuing therein 24 years longer if my eye or Arithmetick faâ—…l me not than any in that place before or after him When Thomas Duke of Northfolk was Anno 1572 arraigned for Treason this Judge was present thereat on the same token that when the Duke desired Council to be assigned him pleading that it was granted to Humphry Stafford in the reign of King Henry the Seventh our Judge returned unto him That Stafford had it allowed him only as to Point of Law then in dispute viz. Whether he was legally taken out of the Sanctuary but as for matter of Fact neither he nor any ever had or could have any Councel allowed him a course observed in such Cases unto this day But let his own Works praise him in the Gaâ—…es is known for the place of publick Justice amongst the Jews Let his Learned Writings called his Commentaries or Reports evidence his Abilities in his Profession He died in 25 Eliz. though married without any Issue and there is a House of a Baronet of his name descended from an elder son of Richard father to our Judge at Great Stoughton in Huntington-shire well improved I believe with the addition of the Judges Estate Sr. JOHN POPHAM of most ancient descent was born at Huntworth in this County In his youthful dayes he was as stout and skilful a Man at Sword and Buckler as any in that age and wild enough in his recreations But Oh! if Quick-silver could be really fixed to what a treasure would it amount Such is wild Youth seriously reduced to Gravity as by this young man did appear He applied himself to a more profitable Fencing the study of the Laws therein atteining to such eminency that he became the Queens Attourny and afterwards Lord Chief Justice of England Being sent Anno 1600 by the Queen with some others to the Earl of Essex to know the cause of the confluence of so many Military Men unto his House the Souldiers therein detained him for a time which some did make to Tantamount to an imprisonment This his violent detention Sir John deposed upon his Oath at the Earls Trial which I note the rather for the rarity thereof that a Lord Chief Justice should be produced as witness in open Court In the Beginning of the reign of king James his Justice was exemplary on Theeves and Robbers The Land then swarmed with people which had been Souldiers who had never gotten or
would do very well on the shoulders of Sir Robert Naunton Secretary of State These words were complained of and Wiemark summoned to the Privy Councel where he pleaded for himself that he intended no dis-respect to Mr. Secretary whose known Worth was above all detraction Only he spake in reference to an old Proverb Two heads are better than one And so for the present he was dismissed Not long after when rich men were called on for a Contribution to St. Pauls Wiemark at the Councel-Table subscribed a hundred pounds but Mr. Secretary told him two hundred were better than one which betwixt fear and charity Wiemark was fain to subscribe He died Anno Domini 163. leaving one daughter who first was married to Paul Vicount Banning and after to the Lord Herbert eldest son to Philip Earl of Pembroke Capital Judges JOHN de METINGHAM was born in this County where Metingham is a Village in VVang ford Hundred not far from Bongey and was Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of King Edward the Third It is reported to his eternal praise that when the rest of the Judges 18 Edw. 3. were fined and outed for corruption this Metingham and Elias de Beckingham continued in their places whose innocence was of proof against all accusations and as Caleb and Joshâ—…a amongst the Jury of false Spies so these two amongst the Twelve Judges onely retained their integrity King Edward in the 20th of his reign directed a Writ unto him about the stinting of the number of the Apprentices and Attourneys at Law well worth the inserting D. Rex injunxit John de Metingham Sociis suis quod ipsi per discreâ—…ionem eorum provideant Ordinent numerum certum è quolibet Comitatu de melioribus legalioribus libentius add scentibus secundum quod intellexerint quod Curiae suae populo de regno melius valere poterit c. Et videtur Regi ejus Consilio quod Septies viginti sufficere poterint Apponant tamen praefati Justiciarii plures si viderint esse faciendum vel numerum anticipent The Lord the King hath enjoyned John de Metingham and his Assistants that they according to their discretion provide and ordain a certain number out of every County of such persons vvhich according to their understanding shall appear unto them of the better sort and most Legal and most vvillingly applying themselves to the learning of the Lavv vvhat may better avail for their Court and the good of the people of the Land c. And it seems likely to the King and his Councel that Sevenscore may suffice for that purpose However the afore-said Justices may add more if they see it ought to be done or else they may lessen the number Some conceive this number of sevenscore confined only to the Common Pleas whereof Metingham was Chief Justice But others behold it as extended to the whole Land this Judge his known integrity being intrusted in their choice and number which number is since much increased and no wonder our Land being grown more populous and the people in it more litigious He died Anno Domini .... Sir JOHN CAVENDISH Knight was born at Cavendish in this County where his name continued until the reign of King Henry the Eighth bred a Student of the Municipal-Law attaining to such learning therein that he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings or Upper Bench July 15 in the 46th of King Edward the Third discharging his place with due commendation untill his violent death on the fifth of King Richard the Second on this occasion John Raw a Priest contemporary with Jack Straw and Wat Tyler advanced Robert Westbroome a Clown to be King of the Commons in this County having no fewer than fifty thousand followers These for eighth dayes together in savage sport caused the heads of great persons to be cut off and set on Poles to kisse and whisper in one anothers ears Chief Justice Cavendish chanced then to be in the Country to whom they bare a double pique one because he was honest the other learned Besides they received fresh news from London that one John Cavendish his kinsman had lately kill'd their Idol Wat Tiler in Smithfield Whereupon they dragg'd the Reverend Judge with Sir John of Cambridge Prior of Bury into the Market-place there and beheaded them Whose innocent bloud remained not long unreveng'd by Spencer the Warlike Bishop of Norwich by whom this rascal rabble of Rebels was routed and ruined 1381. Reader be charitably pleased that this Note may till better information preserve the Right of this County unto Sir ROBERT BROKE a great Lawyer and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Queen Mary He wrote an Abridgment of the whole Law a Book of high account It insinuateth to me a probability of his birth herein because Lawyers generally purchase near the place of their Birth his Posterity still flourish in a Worshipful equipage at Nacton nigh Ipswich in this County Souldiers Sir THOMAS WENTWORTH of Nettlested in this County of a younger Family confessed by the Crescent in his Coat descended from the Wentworths of Wentworth-Woodhouse in York-shire was created Baron VVentworth by King Henry the Eighth He was a stout and valiant Gentleman a cordial Protestant and his Family a Sanctuary of such Professors John Bale comparing him to the good Centurion in the Gospel and gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from a Carmelite The memory of this good Lord is much but unjustly blemished because Calis was lost the Last of Queen Mary under his government The manner hereof was huddled up in our Chronicles least is best of a bad business whereof this the effect The English being secure by reason of the late conquest at St. Quintin and the Duke of Guise having notice thereof he sate down before the Town at the time not when Kings go forth to but return from battle of mid-Winter even on New-years-day Next day he took the two Forts of Rise-bank and Newnam-bridge wherein the strength of the City consisted but whether they were undermined or undermonied it is not decided and the last left most suspicious Within three dayes the Castle of Calis which commanded the City and was under the command of Sir Ralph Chamberlain was taken the French wading thorough the ditches made shallower by their artificial cut and then entering the Town were repulsed back by Sir Anthony Ager Marshal of Calis the only man saith Stow who was kill'd in the fight understand him of note †Others for the credit of the business accounting four score lost in that service The French re-entring the City the next being Twelfth-day the Lord Wentworth Deputy thereof made but vain resistance which alas was like the wriggling of a Wormstail after the head thereof is cut off so that he was forced to take what terms he could get viz. That the
Amirall of England and kept it until the day of his Death Afterwards Men were chequered at the pleasure of our Princes and took their turns in that Office For this cause I can make no certain Catalogue of them who can take with my most fixed Eye no steddy aime at them the same persons being often alternately In and Out of the Place whilst Officers protermino vitae may be with some certainty recounted Yet have we sometimes inserted some Memorable Amiralls under the Tiâ—…le of Statesmen and Vice-Amiralls under the Topick of Seamen because the former had no great knowledge in Navigation I say great it being improper they should be seamasters who in no degree were seamen and were imployed rather for their Trust then skill to see others do their Duty whilst the latter were allwayes persons well experienced in Maritine affairs Lord-Deputies of IRELAND Ever since King Henry the second conquered Ireland few of our English Princes went thither in person and none continued any long time there save King John and King Richard the second neither of them over-fortunate But that Land was governed by a Substitute commissioned from our Kings with the same power though sometimes under several names Lord Lieutenants Lord Deputies Lord Cheif Justiceâ—… These were also of a double nature for Some staid in England and appointed Deputies under them to act all Irish Affairs Others went over into Ireland transacting all things by presence not proxie Immediately deputed by the King to reside there We insist on this title as which is most constant and current amongst them Not of the Kings Bench or Common-Pleas but of all Ireland This power was sometime sole in a single person and sometimes 〈◊〉 in two together Thus these three Titles are in sense Synonima to signifie the same power and place Some erroniously term them Presidents of Ireland a Title belonging to the particular Governours of Mounster and Connagh It is true of Ireland what was once said of * Edom their Deputies were Kings No Vice-roy in Christendome Naples it self not excepted is observed in more state He chooseth Sheriffes and generally all Officers save Bishops and Judges and these also though not made by his commanding are usually by his commending to the King He conferreth Knighthood hath power of life and death signified by the Sword carried commonly before him by a person of Honour His attendance and House-keeping is magnificent partly to set a Copy of State to the barbarous Irish by seeing the difference betwixt the rude rabble routs runing after their native Lords and the solemnity of a regulated retinue partly to make in that Rebellious Nation a reverential impression of Majesty that by the Shadow they may admire the Substance and proportionably collect the State of the King himself who therein is represented Our English Kings were content with the Title of Lords of Ireland until King Henry the Eighth who partly to shew his own power to assume what style he pleased without leave or liberty from the Pope whose Supremity he had suppressed in his Dominions partly the more to awe the Irish wrote himself King thereof Anno Dom. 1541. from which Year we date our Catalogue of Lord Deputies as then and not before Vice-Royes indeed Indeed it was no more then needs for King Henry the Eighth to assume that Title seeing quod efficit tale magis est tale and the Commission whereby King Henry the Second made William-Fitz-Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland hath this direction Archiepiscopis Episcopis Regibus Comitibus Baronibus et omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia salutem Now though by the post-poning of these Kings to Arch-bishops and Bishops it plainly appears that they were no Canonical Kings as I may say I mean solemnly invested with the Emblems of sovereignty the King of Connagh the King of Thomond yet were they more then Kings even Tyrants in the exercise of their Dominions so that King Henry was in some sort necessitated to set himself King Paramount above them all CHAPTER VII Of Capital Judges and Writers on the Common Law BY CAPITAL JUDGES we understand not those who have power to condemn Offenders for Capital Faults as all the Twelve Judges have or any Serjeant commissioned to ride the Circuit but the Chief Judges who as Capital LETTERS stand in Power and Place above the rest viz. 1. the Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. 2. of the Common Pleas 3. the Chief Baron of the Exchequer and the Learned Antiquary Sr. Henry Spelman avoweth the Title of Capital Justicers properly applicable to these alone The Chief Justice of the Kings or Upper Bench is commonly called the Lord Chief Justice of England a Title which the Lord Chancellor accounting himself Chief in that kind looks on as an injurious usurpation And many alive may remember how Sr. Edward Cook was accused to K. James for so styling himself in the Frontespiece of his Reports Part the Tenth and Eleventh insomuch that the Judg was fain to plead for himself Erravimus cum Patribus as who could have produced plenty of Precedents therein 2. The chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Place beneath is in Profit above the former So that some have out of Designe quitted That to accept of This Amongst these was Sr. Edward Mountague in the Raign of K. Henry the eighth who being demanded of his Friends the Reason of his Self-degradation I am now saith he an Old Man and love the Kitching above the Hall the Warmest place best suiting my Age. The Chief Baron is chiefly imployed in the Exchequer to decide causes which relate to the Kings Revenue Their Brevia or Writts did commonly run with this Clause That the Judg should have and hold his PLACE quam diu se benè geserit so long as he well behaved himself on this Token That Sr. John Walter Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer being to be outed of his Place for adjudging the Loan-mony illegal pleaded for himself That he was guilty of no Misdemeanour who had only delivered his Judgment according to his Conscience Others are granted from the King durante nostro beneplacito to continue in their Office during his will and pleasure We begin the Army of our Judges for some Few like the Forlorne Hope advance higher about the time of King Edward the first It is impossible exactly to observe that Inn of Court wherein each of them had his Education especially some of them being so Ancient that in their times Lincolnes Inn and Greys Inn were Lincoln's Inn and Grey's Inn I mean belonged to those their Owners from whom they had their Names as being before they were appropriated to the Students of our Municipall Lawes Here I will condemn my self to prevent the condemning of others and confesse our Characters of these Judges to be very brief and defective Indeed were the Subject we treat of overstrewed with Ashes like the floor of Bells Temple it were easie to finde out and follow the
Requests and at last Secretary of State for twenty years together He was a very zealous Protestant and did all good Offices for the advancement of true Religion and died the eighth of Septemb. 1644. Capital Judges and Writers on the Law JOHN STATHOM He was born in this County in the Raign of King Henry the sixth and was a learned man in the Laws whereof he wrote an Abridgement much esteemed at this day for the Antiquity thereof For otherwise Lawyers behold him as Souldiers do Bows and Arrows since the invention of Guns rather for sight than service Yea a Grandee in that Profession hath informed me that little of Stathom if any at all is Law at this day so much is the practice thereof altered whereof the Learned in that faculty will give a satisfactory accompt though otherwise it may seem strange that reason continuing alwayes the same Law grounded thereon should be capable of so great alteration The first and last time that I opened this Author I lighted on this passage Molendinarius de Matlock tollavit bis â—…ò quod ipse audivit Rectorem de eadem villa dicere in Dominica Ram. Palm Tolle tolle The Miller of Matlock took toll twice because he heard the Rectour of the Parish read on Palme Sunday Tolle Tolle i. e. crucifie him crucifie him But if this be the fruit of Latine Service to encourage men in Felony let ours be read in plain English Sir ANTHONY FITZ-HERBERT Son of Ralph Fitz-Herbert Esquire was born at Norbury in this County He was first the Kings Serjeant at Law and was afterwards in the fourteenth of King Henry the eighth made one of the Justices of the Common Pleas so continuing until the thirtieth year of the said King when he died He wrote the excellent Book De Natura Brevium with a great and laborious Abridgement of the Laws and a Kalendar and Index thereunto Monuments which will longer continue his Memory than the flat blew Marble stone in Norbury Church under which he lieth interred Sea-Men Sir HUGH WILLOUGHBY was extracted from a right worthy and ancient stock at Riseley in this County He was in the last year of the raign of King Edward the sixth employed for the North-East passage and by the King and Merchants of London made Captain General of a Fleet for Discovery of Regions and places unknown Their Fleet consisted of three Ships the Bona Esperanza Admiral of one hundred and twenty Tun the Edward Bonaventure whereof Richard Chancelour Pilot-Major of one hundred and sixty Tun and the Good Confidence of ninety Tun. A large Commission was granted unto them which Commission did not bear date from the year of our Lord but from the year of the World 5515. because in their long Voyage they might have occasion to present it to Pagan Princes They departed from Debtford May 10. 1553. and after much foul weather steered up North-North-East But on the second day of August a tempest arose and their ships with the violence of the Wind were much shattered and the Bonaventure scattered from the other two ships which never after saw it again Sir Hugh holding on his course descried a Land which for Ice he could not approach lying from Synam an Island belonging to the King of Denmark one hundred and sixty leagues being in Latitude seventy two Degrees This was then called Willoughby-land as well it might seeing it had neither then or since any Owner or Inhabitant pretending to the propriety thereof It appeareth by a Will found in the ship which was the Admiral in the pocket of a person of quality how in January 1554. Sir Hugh and most of his Company were then in health though all soon after froze to death in a River or Haven called Arzina in Lapland We are bound in charity to believe them well prepared for death the rather because they had with them a Minister Mr. Richard Stafford by name one of the twelve Councellors to manage the design who read constantly every morning and evening the English Service to those who were in the Admiral with the Bible and Paraphrases thereon So that this may be termed the first reformed Fleet which had the English Prayers and Preaching therein However seeing Nocumenta Documenta and that the Ship-wrecks of some are Sea-marks to others even this Knights miscarriage proved a direction to others As for the Bonaventure which answering its name was onely found by losing it self it returned safe and performed afterwards most excellent service in opening the Traffick to Muscovy Thus as the last Dog most commonly catcheth the Hare which other Dogs have turned and tired before so such who succeed in dangerous and difficult enterprises generally reap the benefit of the adventures of those who went before them As for Sir Hugh and his Company their Discoveries did thaw though their Bodies were frozen to death the English the Summer following finding a particular account of all passages of their voyages remaining entire in the Ship wherein they perished Lapland hath since been often surrounded so much as accosts the Sea by the English the West part whereof belongeth to the King of Sweden but the East moity to the Muscovite They were generally Heathen as poor in knowledge as estate paying their Tribute in Furres whose little Houses are but great â—…oles wherein generally they live in the ignorance of Money Here let me insert a passage to refresh the Reader after this long and sad story of a Custom in this barbarous Country from the mouths of credible Merchants whose eyes have beheld it It is death in Lapland to marry a Maid without her Parents or Friends consent Wherefore if one beare affection to a young Maid upon the breaking thereof to her friends the fashion is that a day is appointed for their friends to meet to behold the two young parties to run a Race together The maid is allowed in starting the advantage of a third part of the race so that it is impossible except willing of her self that she should ever be overtaken If the Maid overrun her Suitor the matter is ended he must never have her it being penal for the Man again to renew the motion of Marriage But if the Virgin hath an affection for him though at the first running hard to try the truth of his love she will without Atalantaes Golden Balls to retard her speed pretend some casualty and make a voluntary hault before she cometh to the mark or end of the race Thus none are compelled to marry against their own wills and this is the cause that in this poor Countrey the married people are richer in their own contentment than in other lands where so many forced Matches make fained Love and cause real unhappinesse Physicians THOMAS LINACER Doctor of Physick was born in the Town of 〈◊〉 bred in Oxford whence he afterwards travelled beyond the Seas residing chiefly at Rome and Florence Returning into England he brought Languages along
may be said to have ushered him to the English Court whilest the Lady Lucy Countess of Bedford led him by the one hand and William Earl of Pembroke by the other supplying him with a support far above his patrimonial income The truth is Sommersets growing daily more wearisome made Villiers hourly more welcome to K. James Soon after he was knighted created successively Baron Viscount Villiers Earl Marquess Duke of Buckingham and to bind all his honours the better together the noble Garter was bestowed upon him And now Offices at Court not being already void were voided for him The Earl of Worcester was perswaded to part with his place of Master of the horse as the Earl of Nottingham with his Office of Admiral and both conferred on the Duke He had a numerous and beautiful female kindred so that there was hardly a noble Stock in England into which one of these his Cients was not grafted Most of his Neices were matched with little more portion then their Uncles smiles the forerunner of some good Office or Honour to follow on their Husbands Thus with the same act did he both gratifie his kindred and fortifie himself with noble alliance It is seldome seen that two Kings father and Son tread successively in the same Tract as to a Favourite but here King Charles had as high a kindness for the Duke as K. James Thenceforward he became the Plenipotentiary in the English Court some of the Scottish Nobility making room for him by their seasonable departure out of this Life The Earl of Bristoll was justled out the Bishop of Lincoln cast flat on the Floor the Earls of Pembroke and Carlisle content to shine beneath him Holland behind him none even with much lesse before him But it is generally given to him who is the little God at the Court to be the great Devil in the Countrey The Commonalty hated him with a perfect hatred and all miscarriages in Church and 〈◊〉 at Home Abroad at Sea and Land were 〈◊〉 on his want of Wisdom Valour or Loyalty John â—…elton a melancholy malecontented Gentleman and a sullen Souldier apprehending himself injured could find no other way to revenge his conceived wrongs then by writing them with a point of a Knife in the heart of the Duke whom he stabbed at Portsmouth Anno Dom. 1620. It is hard to say how many of this Nation were guilty of this murther either by publick praising or private approving thereof His person from head to foot could not be charged with any blemish save that some Hypercriticks conceived his Brows somewhat over pendulous a cloud which in the judgement of others was by the beams of his Eyes sufficiently dispelled The Reader is remitted for the rest of his Character to the exquisite Epitaph on his magnificent Monument in the Chappel of Henry the Seventh Capital Judges Sir ROBERT BELKNAP Being bred in the Study of the Laws he became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas October the 8. in the 48. of King Edward the third and so continued till the general Rout of the Judges in the wonder-working Parliament the eleventh of Richard the second when he was displaced on this occasion The King had a mind to make away certain Lords viz. His Unkle the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel Warwick Darby Nottingham c. Who in the former Parliament had been appointed Governors of the Kingdome For this purpose he called all the Judges before him to Nottingham where the Kings many Questions in fine were resolved into this Whether he might by His Regal power revoke what was acted in Parliament To this all the Judges Sir VVilliam Skipwith alone excepted answered affirmatively and subscribed it This Belknap underwrote unwillingly as foreseeing the danger and putting to his seal said these words There wants nothing but an hurdle an horse and an halter to carry me where I may suffer the Death I deserve for if I had not done this I should have dyed for it and because I have done it I deserve death for betraying the Lords Yet it had been more for his credit and conscience to have adventured a Martyrdome in the defence of the Laws then to hazzard the death of a Malefactour in the breach therof But Judges are but men and most desire to decline that danger which they apprehend nearest unto them In the next Parliament all the Judges were arrested in VVestminster-hall of high treason when there was a Vacation in Term time till their places were resupplied Sir R. Tresilian Cheif Justice of the Kings Bench was executed The rest thus named and reckoned up in the printed Statutes Robert Belknap John Holt John Cray William Burgh Roger Fulthorp all Judges and Knights with J. Locktan Serjeant at Law had their lands save what were intailed with their goods and chattels forfeited to the King their persons being banished and they by the importunate intercession of the Queen hardly escaping with their lives Belknap is placed in this County only because I find a worshipful family of his name fixed therein whereof one was High Sheriff in the 17. of K. Henry the 7. Provided this be no prejudice to Sussex the same Name being very ancient therein Sir ROBERT CATELIN descended from the ancient Family of the Catelins of Raunds in Northampton shire as doth appear by the Heralds visitation was born at Biby in this County He was bred in the Study of the Municipal Laws profiting so well therein that in the first of Q. Elizabeth he was made Lord Cheif Justice of the Kings Bench. His Name hath some allusion to the Roman Senator who was the Incendiary of that State though in Nature far different as who by his Wisdom and Gravity was a great support to his Nation One point of Law I have learned from him at the Tryall of Thomas Duke of Norfolk who pleaded out of Bracton that the Testimonies of Forreigners the most pungent that were brought against him were of no Validity Here Sir Robert delivered it for Law that in case of Treason they might be given in for evidence and that it rested in the Brest of the Peers whether or no to afford credit unto them He had one as what man hath not many Fancy that he had a prejudice against all those who write their Names with an alias and took exceptions at one in this respect saying that no honest man had a double name or came in with an alias The party asked him what exceptions his Lordship could take at Jesus Christ alias Jesus of Nazareth He dyed in the Sixteenth year of Queen Elizabeth and his Coat of Arms viz. Party per Cheveron Azure and Or 3 Lions passant Guardant counterchanged a Cheif Pearl is quartered by the Right Honourable the Lord Spencer Earl of Sunderland this Judges Daughter and Sole Heir being married to his Ancestor Some forty years since a Gentleman of his name and kindred had a Cause in the Upper-Bench to
Râ—…ward 〈◊〉 a Feild 〈◊〉 more safe and no less honourable in my Opinion Sir Ralph was of the second sort and the last which survived in England of that Order Yet was he little in stature tall not in person but performance Queen Eliz. made him Chanceâ—…our of the Dutchy During his last Embassie in Scotland his house at Standon in Herâ—…forashire was built by his Steward in his absence far greater then himself desired so that he never joyed therein and died soon after Anno 1587. in the 80 year of his age Howâ—…ver it hath been often filled with good Company and they feasted with great chear by the Hereditary Hospitality therein I must not forget how when this Knight attended his Master the Lord Cromwel at Rome before the English renounced the Papal power a â—…ardon wâ—…s granted not by his own but a Servants procuring for the Sins of that Famiâ—…y for three immediate Generations expiring in R. Sadlier Esquire lately dead which was extant but lately lost oâ—… displaced amongst their Records and though no use was made thereof much mirth was made therewith Capital Judges and Writers on the Law Sir THOMAS FROVVICK Knight was born at Elinge in this County son to Thomas Frowick Esquire By his Wife who was Daughter and Heire to Sir John Sturgeon Knight giving for his Armes Azure three Sturgeons Or under a fret Gules bred in the study of our Municipal Law wherein he attained to such eminency that he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas on the 39 of September in the 18 year of the Reign of King Henry the seventh Four years he sate in his place accounted the Oracle of Law in his Age though one of the youngest men that ever enjoyed that Office He is reported to have dyed floridâ juventute before full forty years old and lyeth buryed with Joane his Wife in the Church of Finchley in this County the Circumscription about his Monument being defaced onely we understand that his death hapned on the seventeenth of October 1506. He left a large Estate to his two Daughters whereof Elah the Eldest was married to Sir John Spelman one of the Justices of the Kings Bench Grand-Father to Sir Henry that Renowned Knight Sir WILLIAM STAMFORD Knight was of Staffordian extraction Robert his Grand-Father living at Rowley in that County But William his Father was a Merchant in London and purchased Lands at Hadley in Middlesex where Sir William was born August 22. 1509. He was bred to the study of our Municipal Lawes attaining so much eminence therein that he was preferred one of the Judges of the Common Pleas His most learned Book of the Pleas of the Crown hath made him for ever famous amongst men of his own profession There is a Spirit of Retraction of one to his native Country which made him purchase Lands and his son settle himself again in Staffordshire this worthy Judge died August 28 and was buried at Hadley in this Shire in the last year of the Reign of Queen Mary 1558. Writers JOHN ACTON I find no fewer then seventeen Actons in England so called as I conceive Originally from Ake in Saxon an Oake wherewith antiently no doubt those Townes were well stored But I behold the place nigh London as the Paramount Acton amongst them Our Iohn was bred Doctor of the Laws in Oxford and afterwards became Canon of Lincolne being very able in his own faculty He wrote a learned Comment on the Ecclesiasticall Constitutions of Otho and Ottob one both Cardinalls and Legats to the Pope in England and flourished under King Edward the First Anno 1290. RALPH ACTON was bred in the University of Oxford where he attained saith my Author Magisterium Theologicum and as I understand Magister in Theologiâ is a Doctor in Divinity so Doctor in Artibus is a Master of Arts. This is reported to his eternall Commendation Evangelium regni Dei fervore non modico praedicabat in medijs Romanarum Superstitionum Tenebris And though somtimes his tongue lisped with the Siboleth of the superstition of that age yet generally he uttered much pretious truth in those dangerous days and flourished under King Edward the second Anno 1320. ROGER TVVIFORD I find eleven Towns so named in England probably from the confluence of two fords thereabouts and two in this County He was bred an Augustinian Friar studied in both Universities and became a Doctor in Divinity In his declining age he applyed himself to the reading of the Scripture and the Fathers and became a painfull and profitable Preacher I find him not fixed in any one place who is charactered Concionum propalator per Dioecesin Norvicensem an Itinerant no Errant Preacher through the Diocess of Norwich He was commonly called GOODLUâ—…K and Good-Luck have he with his honour because he brought good success to others and consequently his own welcome with him whithersoever he went which made all Places and Persons Ambitious and Covetous of his presence He flourished about the year of our Lord 1390. ROBERT HOVVNSLOVV was born in this County at Hownslow a Village well known for the Road through and the Heath besides it He was a Fryar of the Order of the Holy Trinity which chiefly imployed themselves for the redemption of Captives Indeed Locusts generally were the devourers of all food yet one kind of Locusts were themselves wholesome though course food whereon Iohn Baptist had his common repast Thus Fryers I confess generally were the Pests of the places they lived in but to give this order their due much good did redound from their endeavours For this Robert being their Provinciall for England Scotland and Ireland rich people by him were affectionately exhorted their Almes industriously collected such collections carefully preserved till they could be securely transmitted and thereby the liberty of many Christian Captives effectually procured He wrote also many Synodall sermons and Epistles of confequence to severall persons of quality to stir up their liberality He flourished sayes Pitseus Anno Dom. 1430. a most remarkable year by our foresaid Author assigned either for the flourishing or for the Funeralls of eleven famous writers yet so as our Robert is dux gregis and leads all the rest all Contemporaries whereas otherwise for two or three eminent persons to light on the same year is a faire proportion through all his book De illustribus Angliae scriptoribus Since the Reformation WILLIAM GOUGE Born at Stratford-Bow in this County bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge where he was not once absent from publique service morning and evening the space of nine years together He read fifteen Chapters in the Bible everyday and was afterwards Minister of Blackfryers in London He never took a journey meerly for pleasure in all his Life he preached so long till it was a greater difficulty for him to go up into the Pulpit then either to make or preach a Sermon and dyed aged seventy nine years leaving
five parts which were used in Cathedrals many years after his death the certain date whereof I cannot attain JOHN DOULAND was as I have most cause to believe born in this City sure I am he had his longest life and best livelyhood therein being Servant in the Chappel to Queen Elizabeth and King James He was the rarest Musician that his Age did behold Having travailed beyond the Seas and compounded English with Forreign Skill in that faculty it is questionable whether he excell'd in Vocal or Instrumental Musick A chearful Person he was passing his days in lawful meriment truly answering the Anagram made of him JOHANNES DOULANDUS ANNOS LUDENDO HAUSI Christian the fourth K. of Denmark coming over into England requested him of K. James who unwillingly willing parted with him Many years he lived as I am credibly informed in the Danish Court in great favour and plenty generally imployed to entertain such English Persons of quality as came thither I cannot confidently avouch his death at Denmark but believe it more probably then their assertion who report him returned and dying in England about the year 1615. Benefactors to the Publique JAMES PALMER B. D. was born in this City and bred in Magdalen-colledge in Cambridge The Company of Carpenters in London gave him an exhibition towards his maintenance there or lent it him rather For since his bounty hath repaid them the Principle with plentiful consideration He was afterwards for many years the constant Preacher of Saint Bridgets in Fleetstreet the onely Church preferment he enjoyed I perceive thus craft and cruelty may raise a quick and great but plain frugallity especially if vivacious will advance a better and surer estate Though sequestred in these times what he had formerly gained in his place he hath since bestowed in building and endowing over against the New Chappel in Westminster a fair Almes-house for twelve poor people besides this many and great have his gifts been to Ministers poor widdows and wonder not Reader if they be unknown to me which were unknown to his own left-hand all this he did in his life time O it giveth the best light when one carrieth his Lant-horn before him The surest way that ones Will shall be performed is to see it performed Yea I may say that his poor people in his Almes-house are in some sort provided for not onely from head to foot but also from body to soul he constantly preaching to them twice a week He dyed Anno 1659. Memorable Persons EDMOND DOUBLEDAY Esquire was of a tall and proper person and lived in this City Nor had this large case a little jewell this long body a lazy soul whose activity and valour was adequate to his strength and greatness whereof he gave this eminent testimony When Sir Thomas Knevet was sent November 4. 1605. by King James to search the Cellar beneath the Parliament-house with very few for the more privacy to attend him he took Master Doubleday with him Here they found Gui Faux with his dark-lant-horn in the dead of the night providing for the death of many the next morning He was newly come out of the Divels Closset so I may fitly term the inward room where the powder lay and the train was to be laid into the outward part of the Cellar Faux beginning to bussel Master Doubleday instantly ordered him at his pleasure up with his heels and there with the Traytor lay the Treason flat along the floor by Gods goodness detected defeated Faux vowed and though he was a false Traitor herein I do believe him that had he been in the inner room he would have blown up himself and all the company therein Thus it is pleasant musick to hear disarmed malice threaten when it cannot strike Master Doubleday lived many years after deservedly loved and respected and died about the year of our Lord 1618. The Farewell Seeing the well-being yea being of this City consisteth in the Kings Court and in the Courts of Justice I congratulate the happy return of the one praying for the long continuance of the other yea may the Lawyers in Westminster-hall never again plead in their Armour as they did in the time of Wyats rebellion but in their peaceable Gowns and Legal Formalities Nor doth this Wish onely extend to the Weal of Westminster but all England For no such dearth in a Land as what is caused from a drought of Justice therein For if judgement do not run down as Waters and righteousness as a mighty Stream Injustice like an Ocean will drown all with its inundation NOR FOLK hath the German Ocean on the North and East thereof Suffolk severed by the river Waveny on the South-side Cambridge-shire parted by the river Ouse and a small part of Lincoln shire on the West it extendeth full 50. miles from East to West but from North to South stretcheth not above thirty miles All England may be carved out of Norfolk represented therein not onely to the kind but degree thereof Here are Fens and Heaths and Light and Deep and Sand and Clay-ground and Meddows and Pasture and Arable and Woody and generally woodless land so gratefull is this Shire with the variety thereof Thus as in many men though perchance this or that part may justly be cavelled at yet all put together complete a proper person so Norfolk collectively taken hath a sufficient result of pleasure and profit that being supplied in one part which is defective in another This County hath the most Churches of any in England six hundred and sixty and though the poorest Livings yet by some occult quallity of their good husbandry and Gods blessing thereon the richest Clergy-men Nor can there be given a greater demonstration of the wealth and populousness of this County than that in the late Act for an Assessment upon England at the rate of sixty thousand pounds by the Month for three Months Norfolk with the City of Norwich is rated at three thousand two hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence the highest proportion of any Shire in England And though Norfolk hath little cause to please and less to pride it self in so dear purchased pre-eminence yet it cannot but account it a credit to see it self not undervalued Natural Commodities It shareth plentifully in all English Commodities and aboundeth with the best and most Rabbits These are an Army of natural Pioners whence men have learned cuniculos agere the Art of undermining They thrive best on barren ground and grow fattest in the hardest frosts Their flesh is fine and wholesome If Scotish-men tax our language as improper and smile at our wing of a Rabbit let us laugh at their shoulder of a Capon Their skins were formerly much used when furs were in fashion till of late our Citizens of Romans are turned Grecians have laid down their grave gowns and took up their light cloaks men generally disliking all habits though emblemes of honour if also badges of age Their rich
Master Aylmer sate in the hind part whilst the Searchers drank of the Wine which they saw drawn out of the head or other end thereof Returning into England he was made Arch-Deacon of Lincoln and at last Bishop of London He was happy in a meet Yoke-fellow having a gratious Matron to his wife by whom he had many children and one son to which Arch-bishop Whitgift was Godfather and named him Tob-el that is The Lord is good in memorial of a great deliverance bestowed on this childs mother For when she was cast out of her Coach in London by a Mastiff casually seising upon the Horses she received no harm at all though very near to the time of her Travail Bishop Aylmer was well learned in the Languages a ready Disputant and deep Divine He was eighteen years Bishop of London and dying Anno 1594. in the 73. year of his age had this for part of his Epitaph which Bishop Vaugham sometimes his Chaplain afterwards his Successor made upon him Ter senos Annos Praesul semul Exul idem Bis Pugil in causa religionis erat Eighteen years Bishop and once Banish'd hence And twice a Champion in the Truths defence I understand it thus once a Champion in suffering when an Exile for religion and again in doing when chosen one of the disputants at Westminster against the Popish Bishops Primo Elizabethae except any expound it thus once Champion of the Doctrine against Papists and afterwards against the Discipline of the Non-Confromists none more stoutly opposing or more fouly belibelled of them God blessed him with a great estate the main whereof he left unto Samuel Aylmer his eldest son High-sheriff of Suffolk in the reign of King Charles and amongst his youngest sons all well provided for Doctor Aylmer Rector of Haddam in Hartfordshire was one of the most learned and reverend Divines in his generation JOHN TOWERS was born in this County bred Fellow of Queens-colledge in Cambridge and became Chaplain to William Earl of Northampton who bestowed on him the Benefice of Castle-Ashby in Northampton-shire He was preferred Dean and at last Bishop of Peterborough He was a good actor when he was young and a great sufferour when he was old dying about the year 1650. rich onely in Children and Patience Nothing but sin is a shame in it self and poverty as poverty especially since our Saviour hath sanctified it by suffering it is no disgrace Capital Judges and Writers on the Law RALPH DE-HENGHAM so named from a fair Market-town in this County was made Lord Chief-justice of the Kings-bench in Michaelmas term in the second year of King Edward the first when the King was newly returned from the Holy-land He sate 16. years in that place saving that one Winborne was for a year or two interposed and at the general purging and garbling of the Judges which happened in the 18. year of the aforesaid King when all the Judges except two John de Metingham and Elias de Bekingham were cast out by the Parliament for their corruption fined banished and imprisoned then this Ralph was merced in seven thousand marks for bribery and ejected out of his place Some will say let him wither in silence why do you mention him amongst the Worthies of our Nation I answer Penitence is the second part of Innocence and we find this Ralph after his fine payed made chief-Chief-justice of the common-Common-pleas sub recipiscendi fiducia under the confidence generally conceived of his amendment He died the next being the 19. year of the raign of King Edward the first he lies buried in the Church of Saint Paul where he hath or had this Epitaph Per versus patet hos Anglorum quod jacet hic flos Legum qui tuta dictavit vera statuta Ex Hengham dictus Radulphus vir benedictus One must charitably believe that he played a good after-game of integrity and if injoying longer life he would have given a clearer testimony thereof WILLIAM PASTON Esq. son of Clement Paston Esq. and Beatrix his wife sister and heir to Jeffry Sommerton Esq. was born at Paston in this County He was learned in the laws of this Realm and first was Serjeant to King Henry the sixth and was after by him preferred second Judge of the Common-pleas I confess having confined our Catalogue to Capital Judges or Writers on the Law he falls not under our method in the strictness thereof But I appeal to the Reader himself whether he would not have been highly offended with me had I in silence passed over a person so deserving his observation He was highly in favour with King Henry the sixth who allowed him besides the ordinary salary assigned to other Judges one hundred and ten marks Reader behold the Standard of money in that age and admire with two Gowns to be taken yearly out of the Exchequer as by the ensuing letters Patents will appear Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Omnibus ad quos Praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali ut dilectus fidelis noster Willielmus Paston unus Justiti nostrorum de com Banco Statum suum decentius manu tenere expensas quas ipsum in officio pradicto facere oportebit sustinere valeat concessimus ei centum decem marcas percipiendum singulis annis ad scaccarium nostrum ad terminos Pasche Sancti Michaelis per equales Portiones duas robas per annum percipiendum unam videlicet cum Pellura ad festum Natalis Domini aliam cum Limra ad festum Pentecostes ultra feodum consuetum quamdiu ipsum Stare contigerit in officio supradicto In cujus rei Testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes teste meipso apud Westminst XV. die Octobris anno regni nostri octavo What Pellura is I understand Furr but what Limra is if rightly written I would willingly learn from another though some are confident it is Taffata I wonder the less at these noble favours conferred on the said William Paston Judge for I find him in grace with the two former Kings being made Serjeant by King Henry the fourth and of â—…is counsel for the Dutchie of Lancaster and in the reign of King Henry the fifth he was in such esteem with Sir John Falstofe Knight that he appointed him one of his Feoffees whom he enabled by a writing under his hand to recover debts from the Executors of King Henry the fifth This William Paston married Agnes daughter and heir of Sir Edmond Berrey by which marriage the Pastons rightly quarter at this day the several Coats of Hetherset Wachesham Craven Gerbredge Hemgrave and Kerdeston and received both advancement in bloud and accession in estate This said VVilliam Paston died at London August 14. 1444. and lies buryed in Norwich so that his corps by a peculiar exception do straggle from the Sepulture of their Ancestors who
commanded the Taylor to cut his gown as full of holes as his Sheers could make which purged J. Drakes of his proud humour that he would never be of the Gentlemans fashion again HENRY the Eight 29 EDMUND WINDHAM He was a Gentleman of a fair Estate in this County great Birth and Aliance whose Grand mother was daughter to John Howard Duke of Northfolk but it seems somewhat given to his Passion This caused him in the 33. of this Kings reign to strike Master Clere a Gentleman of his own County in the Kings Tennis Court For this he was araigned in the great Hall at Greenwich before Master Gage Comptroler of the Kings Houshold and other Justices and one Quest of Gentlemen another of Yeomen passed upon him to enquire of the same stripe by whom he was found guilty and had Judgement to lose his right-hand Then was he brought in to solemn execution by Sir Willian Pickering Knight Martial and confessing his fault desired that the King of mercy would be pleased to take his left-hand and spare his right for therewith said he I may hereafter be able to do his Grace service The King informed hereof by his Justices granted his full Pardon neither to lose Hand Land nor Goods but restored him to his liberty See more of him in the third of King Edward the sixth EDWARD the Sixth 3 EDMUND WINDHAM Mil. Of him before in the twenty ninth of King Henry the eight he now made good his former promise to the Son which he made to his Father of using his right-hand in the service of his Sovereign For in this year Kets Rebellion began in this Couuty which this Sheriff endeavoured withal his power and policy to suppress till at last it proved a task beyond his strength to perform Queen MARY 1 THOMAS WOODHOUSE Mil. Though he be the first of his Surname whom we meet in our Catalogue I find many of his family anciently employed in State-affairs In a Manuscript-collection extant in the Library of Sir Thomas Cotton of persons summoned to Parliament by King Edward the third I read 1. Rex dilecto Clerico suo Roberto de Woodhouse Archidiacono de Richmund Thesaurario salutem Negotia nos statum regni contingentia c. vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes quod omnibus aliis praetermissis c. 2. John Woodhouse Esq was servant and one of the Executors to King Henry the fifth 3. Sir VVilliam VVoodhouse neer related to our Sheriff was Vice-Admiral of our English fleet at Musoleburrough-field 4. Philip VVoodhouse Esq was very active at the taking of Cadiz and Knighted there for his good service by the Earl of Essex And ever since there hath been a Military inclination in this family which hath manifested it self on several occasions Sheriffs of Norfolk alone Name Place Armes ELIZ. REG.   Anno   17 Tho. Townsend ar Rainham Az. a Cheveron Ermine betwixt 3 Escallops Arg. 18 Drugo Drury ar  Arg. on a Chief Vert the letter Tau betwixt 2 Mullets pierced Or. 19 Hen. Weston mil.   20 Basing Gaudy ar  Vert a Tortois passant Argent 21 Tho. Knivett mi.  Arg. a Bend within a border engrailed Sab. 22 Edw. Clere mil.  Argent on a Fefs Azu 3 Eaglets Or. 23 Arth. Heven nghaÌ„  Quarterly Or G. a Border Sab. charged with Escallop-shels Arg. 24 Will. Paston mil.  Arg. 6 Flower de luces Az. a Chief indented Or. 25 Will. Heydon m.  Quarterly Ar. G. a Cross ingrailed counterchanged 26 Hen. Woodhouse Kimberly Sab. a Cheveron ' 〈◊〉 3 Cinqueâ—…oils Ermin 27 Tho. Hogan ar Hen. Hogan ar ut prius Arg. a Cheveron ingrailed vary Or Gul. ' 〈◊〉 3 Hurts each charged with 3 Lions legs erased Argent 28 Nath. Bacon ar SUFFOL Gul. on a Chief Arg. 3 Mullets Sable 29 Clem. Paston ar ut prius  30 â—…oh Peiton mil.  Sable a Cross ingrailed Or. 31 Rob. Southwell   32 Hen. Dolney ar   33 Milo Corbett ar 〈◊〉 Or a Raven Proper 34 Hen. Gaudy ar ut pri s  35 Bâ—…sing Gaudy m. ut prius  36 Phil. Woodhouse ut prius  37 Tho. Clere ar ut prius  38 Hum. Guibon ar  Or a Lion rampant Sab. debrused with a Bend Gul. charged with 3 Escallops Arg. 39 Nich. Bacon mil. ut prius  40 Clem. Spelman m.  Sab. Platee proper 2 Flaunches Argent 41 Nath. Bacon ar ut prius  42 Ric. Jenkinson ar  Or 2 Bars Gemells Gul. ' 〈◊〉 3 Boars-heads and Necks Erased S. 43 Basen Gaudy m. ut prius  44 Arâ—…h Hemingham ut prius  45 Edm. Doyley 1. Jac.  Gul. 3 Bucks-heads cabosed Arg. JAC. REG.   Anno   1 Edm. Doyley ar ut prius  2 Hen. Spelman m. ut prius  3 Rad. Hare mil.  Gul. 2 Bars and a Chief indented Or. 4 Le'Stran Mordant  Arg. a Cheveron betwixt 3 Estoils Sable 5 Hen. Gawdy mil. ut prius  6 Hamo Le Strange HunstantoÌ„ Gul. 2 Lions Passant Argent 7 Tho. Barney mil. Parkhal R. Per Pale Gul. and Ermin a Cross engrailed Ermin 8 Chri. Gawdy mil. ut prius  9 Tho. Corbet ar ut prius  10 Tho. Lewer mil.   11 Jac. Calthrope m.  Checkee Or and Azu a Fess Erm. 12 Joh. Heveningham ut prius  13 Ric. Jenkinson ar ut prius  14 Aug. Palgrave m.  Azu a Lion Passant Argent 15 Anth. Drury mil. ut prius  16 Tho. Holland m.  Az. semy of Flower de luce a lion ramp Guardant Arg. 17 Hen. Beddingfeld  Ermin an Eagle desplayed Gul. 18 Tho. Heirne mil.   19 Will. YelvertoÌ„ ba.  Arg. 3 Lion cells rampant Gul. a Chief of the second 20 Rich. Berney bar ut prius  21 Le'Stran Mordant ut prius  22. Tho. Woodhouse ut prius  CAR. REG.   Anno   1 Tho. Holle arm  Or on a Cheveron S. 3 Unicorns-heads Erased Argent 2 Car. LeGroose m.  Quarterly Arg. and Azu on a Bend S 3 〈◊〉 Or. 3 Fran. Gawdy ar ut prius  4 Rob. Gawdy mil. ut prius  5 Rog. Townsend b. ut prius  6 Fran. Mapes ar   7 Tho. Pettus ar Recheath Gul. a fess Arg. ' 〈◊〉 3 〈◊〉 Or. 8 Jo. Hobart m. b. Blickling Sab. an Estoil with 8 points 'twixt 2 Flanches Ermin 9 Will. HeveninghaÌ„ ut prius  10 Joh. Wentworth ut prius  11 Edr. Barkham m.  Arg. 3 Pallets Gul. over all a Cheveron 12 Will. Paston ar ut prius  13 Edr. Asteley ar   14 August Holt 〈◊〉 ut prius  15   16   17 Tho. Guibon m. ut prius  18 Joh. Coke ar  Party per Pale Gul. and Azu 3 Eagles displayed Argent 19   20 Valen. Pell mil.   21  Â
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-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-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-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
WILLIAM CATESBYE was born in this County where his family long flourished at Asby Saint Leger He was first advanced by VVilliam Lord Hastinges by whose countenance he came to the notice then favour of Richard the third though ill requiting it when betraying him who caused his preferment Take his character transcribing in this kind is safer then inditing from an Author above exception This Catesbye was a man well learned in the Laws of this Land and surely great pity it was that he had not had more truth or less wit If any object that being neither Lord Chief-Justice Chief-Baron nor any VVriter on the Law He falleth not under my Pen by the Charter of Method prefixed to this Catalogue know that though formerly none he was eminently all Officers in every Court of Judicature all the Judges shaking at his displeasure Witness the Libel which Collingborn made and which cost him his life for the same The Rat and the Cat and Lovel the Dog Do govern all England under the Hog The time of his death is uncertain but because we find him not molested in the raign of King Henry the seventh which had he survived surely had happened it is probable he died before his Patron and Preferrer King Richard the third Sir RICHARD EMPSON It is pity to part them seeing Empson may be called the Catesbye to King Henry the seventh as Catesbye the Empson to King Richard the third both Country-men eminent for having odious for abusing their skill in Law active for the Prince injurious to the people This Sir Richard was Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster and from a Sieve-makers son at Towceter in this County where he was born came to sift the estates of the most wealthy men in England For King Henry the seventh vexed that he had refused Columbus his profer whereby the VVest-Indies being found out fortunately fell to Ferdinand King of Spain resolved to discover Indies in England and to this purpose made Empson Promotor General to press the Penal-Statutes all over the land Impowred hereby this prolling Knight did grind the faces of rich and poor bringing the grist thereof to the King and keeping the toll thereof to himself whereby he advanced a vast estate which now with his name is reduced to nothing He united the two houses of York and Lancaster in the Kings Coffers taking no notice of parties or persons for their former good service but making all equally obnoxious to fines and forfeitures But in the beginning of the reign of King Henry the eight he was arraigned condemed and beheaded August the 17. 1510. Say not that Princes if sacrificing their Ministers to popular fury will want persons faithfully to serve them seeing such exemplary justice will rather fright Officers from false disserving them for in fine no real profit can redoun to the Soveraign which resulteth from the ruine of his Subjects I must not forget how there was an old man in VVarwickshire accounted very judicious in Judicial Astrology of whom Sir Richard Empson then in his prime did scoffingly demand VVhen the Sun would Change to whom the old man replyed Even when such a wicked Lawyer as you go to Heaven But we leave him to stand and fall to his own Master and proceed EDWARD MONTAGUE son of Thomas Montague born at Brigstocke in this County was bred in the Inner-Temple in the study of the Laws until his ability and integrity advanced him Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in the thirtieth of Henry the eight He gave for his Motto Equitas Justiae Norma And although equity seemeth rather to resent of the Chancery then the Kings-Bench yet the best justice will be worm-wood without a mixture thereof In his Times though the golden showers of Abby-lands rained amongst great men it was long before he would open his lap scrupling the acception of such gifts and at last received but little in proportion to others of that age In the thirty seventh of King Henry the eight he was made Chief Justice of the common-Common-Pleas a descent in honor but ascent in profit it being given to old age rather to be thrifty then ambitious In drawing up the Will of King Edward the sixt and setling the Crown on the Lady Jane for a time he swam against the tide and torrent of Duke Dudley till at last he was carried away with the stream as in our Church History is largely related Outed of his Judges Office in the first of Queen Mary he returned into Northamptonshire and what contentment he could not find in VVestminster-hall his Hospital-hall at Boughton afforded unto him He died Anno 1556. and lieth buried in the Parish-Church of VVeekely Sir AUGUSTIN NICOLLS Son to Thomas Nicolls Serjeant at Law was born at Eckton in this County Now though according to the rigor of our Fundamental Premises he cometh not within our Cognizance under this Title yet his merit will justifie us in presenting his Character He was bred in the study of the Common-law wherein he attained to such knowledge that Queen Elizabeth made him a King James his own Serjeant whence he was freely preferred one of the Judges of the Common-Pleas I say freely King James commonly calling him the Judge that would give no money Not to speak of his moral qualifications and subordinate abilities He was renowned for his special Judiciary Endowments Patience to hear both parties all they could say a happy memory a singular sagacity to search into the material circumstances exemplary integrity even to the rejection of gratuities after judgment given His forbearing to travail on the Lords day wrought a reformation on some of his own Order He loved plain and profitable Preaching being wont to say I know not what you call Puritanical Sermons but they come neerest to my Conscience The speech of Caesar is commonly known Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori which Bishop Jewell altered and applyed to himself Decet Episcopum concionantē mori of this man it may be said Judex mortuus est jura dans dying in his calling as he went the Northern Circuit and hath a fair Monument in Kendall-church in Westmerland Sir ROBERT DALLINGTON Knight was born at Geddington in this County bred a Bible-clerk as I justly collect in Bennet-colledge and after became a School-master in Northfolk Here having gained some money he travailed over all France and Italy being exact in his observations and was after his return Secretary to Francis Earl of Rutland He had an excellent wit and judgement witness his most acurate Aporismes on Tacitus At last he was Knighted and preferred Master of the Charter-house where the School-master at his first entering wellcomed him with a Speech in Latine verse spoken by a School-boy but sure he was more then a Boy who indited it It is hard to say whether Sir Robert was more pleased or displeased with the last Distick therein Partem oneris vestri minimā ne despice curam Nec Pueros
and Sollicitor to king Charles From these places he was preferred to be Chief Justice of the common-Common-Pleas when he was made Privy Counsellor thence advanced to be Lord Keeper and Baron of Mounslow the place of his Nativity He died in Oxford and was buried in Christ Church Anno 1645. Souldiers Sir JOHN TALBOT was born as all concurring indications do avouch at Black-Mere in this County the then flourishing now ruined House devolved to his Family by marying the Heir of the Lord Strange of Black-Mere Many Honourable Titles deservedly met in him who was 1 Lord Talbot and Strange by his Paternal extraction 2 Lord Furnival and Verdon by maryage with Joan the daughter of Thomas de Nevil 3 Earl of Shrewsbury in England and Weisford in Ireland by creation of King Henry the Sixth This is that terrible Talbot so famous for his Sword or rather whose Sword was so famous for his arm that used it A Sword with bad Latin upon it but good Steel within it which constantly conquered where it came insomuch that the bare fame of his approach frighted the French from the Siege of Burdeaux Being victorious for twenty four years together successe failed him at last charging the enemy neer Castilion on unequal termes where he with his Son the Lord Lisle were slain with a shot July 17. 1453. Hence forward we may say Good night to the English in France whose victories were buried with the body of this Earl and his body enterred at White-Church in this County Sir JOHN TALBOT son to Sir John Talbot aforesaid and Vicount Lisle in right of his Mother Though he was slain with his Father yet their ashes must not be so hudled together but that he must have a distinct commemoration of his valour The rather because a Noble Pen hath hinted a parallel betwixt him and Paulus Aemilius the Roman General which others may improve 1 Aemilius was overpowred by the forces of Hannibal and Asdrubal to the loss of the day 2 Corn. Lentulus intreated Aemilius sitting all bloodied upon a stone to rise and save himself offering him his horse and other assistance 3 Aemilius refused the proffer adding withall That he would not again come under the judgment of the people of Rome 1 The same sad success attended the two Talbots in fight against the French 2 The Father advised the son by escape to reserve himself for future fortune 3 His son crav'd to be excused and would not on any termes be perswaded to forsake his father In two considerables Talbot far surpass'd Aemilius for Aemilius was old grievously if not mortally wounded our Lord in the flower of his youth unhurt easily able to escape Aemilius accountable for the over-throw received the other no wayes answerable for that daye 's mis-fortune being as we have said the 17 of July 1453. Learned Writers ROBERT of SHREWSBURY Take Reader a tast of the different Spirits of Writers concerning his Character Leland's Text. Eadem opera religionem celebrabat literas With the same endeavour He plied both Religion and Learning Bale his Comment Per religionem fortassis Monachatum intelligit per literas Sophistica praestigia It may be he meaneth Monkery by Religion and by Learning Sophistical fallacies I confess he might have imployed his pains better But Bale proceeds de Consultis Ruthenis consulting not the Russians as the word sounds to all Criticks but the Men of Ruthin in Wales He wrote the Life and Miracles of S. Winfride flourished Anno 1140. DAVID of CHIRBURY a Carmelite was so named from his Native place in the West of this County bordering on Mountgomery-shire A small Village I confesse yet which formerly denominated a whole hundred and at this day is the Barony of the Lord Herbert He was saith Leland whom I take at the second hand on the trust of John Pits Theologiae cognitione clarus And going over into Ireland was there made Episcopus Dormorensis Bishop of Drummore as I take it He is said to have wrote some Books though not mentioned in Bale and which is to me a wonder no notice taken of him by that Judicious Knight Sr. James Ware So that it seems his Writings were either few or obscure Returning into England he died and was buried in his Native County at Ludlow in the Convent of the Carmelites Anno Dom. 1420. Since the Reformation ROBERT LANGELAND forgive me Reader though placing him who lived one hundred fifty years before since the Reformation For I conceive that the Morning-star belongs rather to the Day then to the Night On which account this Robert regulated in our Book not according to the Age he was in but Judgement he was of may by Prolepsis be termed a Protestant He was born at Mortimers-Clibery in this County eight miles from Malvern-Hills was bred a Priest and one of the first followers of J. Wickliffe wanting neither Wit nor Learning as appears by his Book called The vision of Pierce Plowgh-man and hear what Character a most Learned Antiquary giveth thereof It is written in a kind of English meeter which for discovery of the infecting corruptions of those times I preferre before many of the more seemingly serious Invectives as well for Invention as Judgement There is a Book first set forth by Tindal since exemplied by Mr. Fox called The Prayer and complaint of the Plowghman which though differing in title and written in prose yet be of the same subject at the same time in the same Language I must referre it to the same Authour and let us observe a few of his strange words with their significations 1 Behotef 1 Promiseth 2 Binemen 2 Take away 3 Blive 3 Quickly 4 Fulleden for 4 Baptized 5 Feile times 5 Oft times 6 Forward 6 Covenant 7 Heryeth 7 Worshipeth 8 Homelich 8 Household 9 Lesew 9 Pasture 10 Leude-men 10 Lay-men 11 Nele 11 Will not 12 Nemeth for 12 Taketh 13 Seggen 13 Do say 14 Swevens 14 Dreams 15 Syth 15 Afterwards 16 Thralles 16 Bond-men It 's observeable that Pitzaeus generally a perfect Plagiary out of Bale passeth this Langland over in silence and why because he wrote in oppositum to the Papal Interest Thus the most Light finger'd Thieves will let that alone which is too hot for them He flourished under King Edward the Third Anno Dom. 1369. THOMAS CHURCHYARD was born in the Town of Shrâ—…wesbury as himself doth affirm in his Book made in Verse of the Worthines of VVales taking Shropshire within the compass making to use his own expression Wales the Park and the Marches to be the Pale thereof Though some conceive him to be as much beneath a Poet as above a Rbimer in my opinion his Verses may go abreast with any of that age writing in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth It seems by this his Epitaph in Mr. Camdens Remains that he died not guilty of much Wealth Come Alecto lend me thy Torch To find a Church-yard in
precious extraction to King James reputed a great preserver of health and prolonger of life He is conceived by such helps to have added to his vigorous vivacity though I think a merry heart whereof he had a great measure was his best Elixar to that purpose He died exceeding aged Anno Dom. 164. JOHN BUCKRIDGE was born at Dracot nigh Marleborough in this County and bred under Master Mullcaster in Merchant-Taylors school from whence he was sent to Saint Johns-colledge in Oxford where from a Fellow he became Doctor of Divinity and President thereof He afterwards succeeded Doctor Lancelot Andrews in the Vicaridge of Saint Giles Criplegate in which Cure they lived one and twenty years a piece and indeed great was the Intimacy betwixt these two learned Prelates On the ninth of June 1611. he was Consecrated Bishop of Rochester and afterwards set forth a learned Book in opposition of John Fisher De potestate papae in Temporalibus of which my Author doth affirm Johannem itaque Roffensem habemus quem Johanni Roffensi opponamus Fishero Buckerigium cujus argumentis si quid ego video ne à mille quidem Fisheris unquam respondebitur He was afterwards preferred Bishop of Ely and having Preached the Funerall Sermon of Bishop Andrews extant in Print at the end of his works survived him not a full year dying Anno Dom. 163. He was decently Interred by his own appointment in the Parish-church of Bromly in Kent the Manner thereof belonged to the Bishoprick of Rotchester States-men EDWARD SEIMOR and THOMAS SEIMOR both Sons of Sir John Seimor of Wolfull Knight in this County I joyn them together because whilst they were united in affection they were invinsible but when devided easily overthrown by their enemies Edward Seimor Duke of Sommerset Lord Protector and Treasurer of England being the Elder Brother succeeded to a fair Paternal inheritance He was a valiant Souldier for Land-service fortunate and generally beloved by Martiall men He was of an open nature free from jealousie and dissembling affable to all People He married Anne Daughter of Sir Edward Stanhop knight a Lady of a high mind and haughty undaunted spirit Thomas Seimor the Younger Brother was made Barron of Sudley by offices and the favours of his Nephew K. Edward the sixth obtained a great Estate He was well experienced in Sea affairs and made Lord Admirall of England He lay at a close posture being of a reserved Nature and was more cunning in his Carriage He married Queen Katharine Parr the Widdow of King Henry the eighth Very great the Animosities betwixt their Wives the Dutchess refusing to bear the Queens Train and in effect justled with her for Precedence so that what betwixt the Train of the Queen and long Gown of the Dutchess they raised so much dust at the Court as at last put out the eyes of both their husbands and occasioned their Executions as we have largely declared in our Ecclesiasticall History The Lord Thomas Anno 154. The Lord Edward Anno 154. Thus the two best Bullworks of the safety of King Edward the sixth being demolished to the ground Duke Dudley had the advantage the nearer to approach and assault the Kings Person and to practice his destruction as is vehemently suspected Sir OLIVER SAINT JOHN Knight Lord Grandison c. was born of an ancient and honourable family whose prime seat was at Lediard-Tregoze in this County He was bred in the warrs from his youth and at last by King James was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland and vigorously pursued the principles of his Predecessours for the civilizing thereof Indeed the Lord Mountjoy reduced that Country to obedience the Lord Chichester to some civility and this Lord Grandison first advanced it to considerable profit to his Master I confess T. Walsingham writeth that Ireland afforded unto Edward the third thirty thousand pound a year paid into His Exchequer but it appears by the Irish-records which are rather to be believed that it was rather a burden and the constant revenue thereof beneath the third part of that proportion But now the Kingdome being peaceably settled the income thereof turned to good account so that Ireland called by my Author the Land of Ire for the constant broiles therein for 400. years was now become the Land of Concord Being re-called into England he lived many years in great repute and dying without issue left his Honour to his Sisters son by Sir Edward Villiers but the main of his estate to his Brothers son Sir John Saint John Knight and Baronet Sir JAMES LEY Knight and Baronet son of Henry Ley Esquire one of great Ancestry who on his own cost with his men valiantly served King Henry the eighth at the siedge of Bullen was born at Tafant in this County Being his fathers sixth son and so in probability barred of his inheritance he indeavoured to make himself an Heir by his Education applying his book in Brasen-nose-colledge and afterwards studying the Laws of the Land in Lincolns-Inn wherein such his proficiency King James made him Lord Chief Justice in Ireland Here he practised the charge King James gave him at his going over yea what his own tender Conscience gave himself namely Not to build his Estate on the ruines of a miserable Nation but aiming by the unpartial execution of Justice not to enrich himself but civilize the People he made a good Progress therein But the King would no longer lose him out of his own Land and therefore recalled him home about the time when his fathers inheritance by the death of his five elder brethren descended upon him It was not long before Offices and Honour flowed in fast upon him being made by King James King Charles 1. Aturney of the Court of Wards 2. Chief Justice of the Upper Bench 18. of his raign Jan. 29. 3. Lord Treasurer of England in the 22. of his raign Decemb. 22. 4. Baron Ley of Ley in Devonshire the last of the same Month. 1. Earl of Marleburg in this County immediately after the Kings Coronation 2. Lord President of the Councell in which place he died Anno Domini 1629. He was a person of great gravity ability and integrity and as the Caspian Sea is observed neither to ebb nor flow so his mind did not rise or fall but continued the same constancy in all conditions Sir FRANCIS COTTINGTON Knight was born nigh Meer in this County and bred when a youth under Sir ........ Stafford He lived so long in Spain till he made the garbe and gravity of that Nation become his and become him He raised himself by his naturall strength without any artificial advantage having his parts above his learning his experience above his parts his industry above his experience and some will say his success above all so that at the last he became Chancellour of the Exchequer Baron of Hanworth in Middlesex and upon the resignation of Doctor Juxon Lord Treasurer of England gaining also
Agent in yea a principall procurer of the Foundation of the University and Colledge of Dublin where Dermitius son of Mercard King of Lemster had formerly found a Convent for Canons Regular and the first Honorary Master thereof being then Arch-bishop if not Chancellour of Ireland to give the more credit and countenance to thaâ—… Foundation He died Aprill 5. Anno 1605. and was buried in the Church of Saint Patrick having been Arch-bishop from his Consecration eight Months above two and forty years Reader I must confess I admired hereat untill I read that Miller Magragh who dyed Anno Domini 1622. was Arch-bishop of Cassell in Ireland ten months above one and fifty years GEORGE MOUNTAINE was born in this County at ......... and bred in Quéenscolledge in Cambridge where he became Fellow and Proctor of the University He was Chaplain to the Earl of Essex whom he attended in his Voyage to Cales being indeed one of such personall valour that out of his gown he would turn his back to no man he was afterwards made Dean of Westminster then successively Bishop of Lincoln and London whilst residing in the latter he would often pleasantly say that of him the Proverb would be verified Lincoln was and London is and York shall be which came to pass accordingly when he was removed to the Arch-bishoprick of York wherein he died thorough which Sees never any Prelate so methodically passed but himself alone He was a good Benefactour to the Colledge wherein he was bred whereon he bestowed a fair piece of plate called Poculum Charitatis with this Inscrip tion Incipio I begin to thee and founded two Scollerships therein Capitall Judges Sir WILLIAM GASCOINGE was born at Gauthorp in Harwood parish in the mid-way betwixt Leeds and Knaresburgh and afterwards was Student of the Law in the Inner Temple in London Wherein he so profited that being Knighted the sixth of King Henry the fourth he was made Chief Justice of the Kings-bench November 15. and therein demeaned himself with much integrity but most eminent for the following passage It happened that a servant of Prince Henry afterwards the fifth English King of that Christian name was arraigned before this Judge for fellony whom the Prince then present endeavoured to take away coming up in such fury that the beholders believed he would have stricken the Judge But he sitting withouâ—… moving according to the Majesty he represented committed the Prince prisoner to the Kings-bench there to remain untill the pleasure of the King his Father were farther known Who when he heard thereof by some pickthank Courtier who probably expected a contrary return gave God thanks for his infinite goodness who at the same instant had given Him a Judge who could minister and a Son who could obey justice I meet in J. Stow with this Marginall note William Gascoinge was Chief Justice of the Kings-bench from the sixth of Henry the fourth till the third of Henry the fifth and another Historian maketh King Henry the fifth in the first of his raign thus expressing himself in relation to that Lord Chief Justice For which act of Justice I shall ever hold him worthy of the place and my favour and wish all my Judges to have the like undaunted courage to punish offenders of what rank soever Hence our Comedian fancy will quickly blow up a drop in History into a bubble in Poetry hath founded a long scene on the same subject Give me leave for my love to truth to rectifie these mistakes out of authentick records First Gascoinge was made Judge not in the sixth but first of King Henry the fourth on the first of November Secondly he died December 17. in the fourteenth of King Henry the fourth so that in a manner his sitting on the bench ran parallel to the Kings sitting on the throne This date of his death is fairly written in his stately Monument in Harwood Church GUâ—…DO de FAIRFAX A word of his Surname and Family Fax and Vex are the same signifying Hair Hence Mathew Westminster calleth a Comet which is stella â—…rinita a Vexed Star and this Family had their Name from Beautifull Bushy Hair I confess I find in Florilegus writing of the Holy War Primum Bellum Christianorum fuit apud Pontem Pharfax fluminis The first Battle of the Christians was at the Bridge of the River Pharfax but cannot concur with them who hence derive the Name of this Family But where ever it began it hath continued at Walton in this County more then four hundred and fifty years for Nineteen Generations Charles a Viscount now living being the Twentieth But to return to Sir Guiao Fairfax Knight he was bred in the study of the Common Law made Serjeant thereof and ever highly favoured the house of York in those Civil distempers Hence it was that he assumed a White-rose bearing it in his Coat of Armes on the shoulder of his Black Lyon no difference as some may suppose but an evidence of his affection to that Family Yet was he by King Henry the seventh advanced Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-bench supplying the Intervall betwixt Sir William Hussey and Sir John Fineaux The certain date of his death is to me unknown ROGER CHOLMLEY Knight He is placed in this County with moderate assurance For his Father as I am instructed by those of his Family lived in this County though branched from Cheshire and much conversant in London being Lieutenant of the Tower under King Henry the seventh By his Will he bequeathed a Legacy to Roger his Naturall Son then Student of the Laws the self same with our Roger as Proportion of time doth evince He applyed his studies so effectually that in the 37. of King Henry the eight in Michaelmas terme he was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer and in the sixth of Edward the sixth Chief Justice of the Kings-bench In the first of Queen Mary July 27. he with Sir Edward Mountague Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was committed to the Tower for drawing up the Testament of King Edward the sixth wherein his Sisters were dis-inherited Yet Sir Rogers activity amounted no higher then to a Complyance and a subscription of the same He afterwards was enlarged but lost his Judges Place living some years in a private condition When William Flower was burnt in Westminster Sir Hugh being present though called by Master Fox but plaine Master Cholmley willed him to recant his Heresy which I impute rather to his Carnall Pity then Great Affection to Popery He built a Free-school of brick at High-gate about the year 1564. the Pension of the Master being uncertain and the School in the disposition of six Governours and I believe he survived not long after and have some ground for my suspicion that he dyed without Issue Sir CRISTOPHER WRAY Knight was born in the spatious Parish of Bedall the main motive which made his
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
204. This hope of Comfort came to his Lord-ship thereby that if it pleased God to impart any mercy to him as his mercy endureth for ever it was by the especial Ministry of this Man who was the last of his Coat that was with him in his sickness He was a principal means of recovering Durham house unto his See This house was granted by King Edward the sixth to the Lady afterwards Queen Elizabeth only for term of life and lay long neglected during her Raign till Bishop James about the sixth of King James regained it and repaired the Chappel which he found not only Profaned but even defaced to his great cost and furnished it very decently He once made so compleat an Entertainment for Queen Elizabeth that Her Majesty commended the order and manner thereof for many years after This maketh me the more to admire at what I have heard reported that when King James in his progress to Scotland Anno 1617. passed through the Bishoprick of Durham some neglect was committed by this Bishops Officers for which the King secretly and sharply check'd this Bishop who layed it so to heart that he survived the same Reproof not a full twelvemonth JOHN RICHARDSON was as he told me born in this County of a Family of good worship and great antiquity therein After his hopeful education in Country Schools he was bred in the University of Dublin where he was Graduated Doctor in Divinity and afterwards was made Bishop of Ardagh in Ireland In the late Rebellion he came over into England continuing for many years therein Episcopal Gravity was written in his Countenance and he was a good Divine according to the Rule Bonus Textuarius bonus Theologus no man being more exact in Knowledge of Scripture carrying a Concordance in his Memory Great was his paines in the Larger Annotations especially on Ezechiel For let not the Cloaks carry away the credit from the Gowns and Rochet in that Work seeing this Bishop might say Pars Ego magna fui and Doctor Featly with others of the Episcopal Party bare a great share therein Our Saviour we know lived on the Charity of such good People as ministred unto him and yet it may be collected that it was his constant custome especially about the feast of the Passover to give some Almes to the poor So our Bishop who was relieved by some had his Bounty to bestow on others and by his Will as I am Informed he bequeathed no inconsiderable Legacy to the Colledge in Dublin He died Anno 1653. in the 74. year of his Age. States men Sir THOMAS EGERTON Knight was extracted from the Ancient Family of the Egertons of Ridley in this County bred in the Study of the Municipal Laws of our Land wherein he attained to such eminency that Queen Elizabeth made him her Solicitor then Master of the Rolls and at last Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. in the 38. year of her Raign 1596. Olaus Magnus reporteth that the Emperour of Muscovia at the Audience of Embassadours sendeth for the Gravest and Seemliest men in Musco and the Vicinage whom he apparelleth in Rich Vests and placing them in his presence pretendeth to Forraigners that these are of his Privy-council who cannot but be much affected with so many Reverend aspects But surely all Christendome afforded not a Person which carried more Gravity in his Countenance and Behaviour then Sir Thomas Egerton in so much that many have gone to the Chancery on purpose only to see his Venerable Garb happy they who had no other business and were highly pleased at so acceptable a Spectacle Yet was his Outward Case nothing in comparison of his Inward Abilities Quick Wit Solid Judgment Ready Utterance I confess Master Camden saith he entred his Office Magna expectatione Integritatis opinione With a great expectation and opinion of Integrity But no doubt had he revised his Work in a second Edition he would have afforded him a full-faced commendation when this Lord had turned his expectation into performance In the first of King James of Lord Keeper he was made Lord â—…hauncellour which is only another Name for the same Office and on Thursday the seventh of Novemb. 1616. of Lord Elismer he was created Viscount Brackley It is given to Courts whose Jurisdictions do border to fall out about their bounds and the Contest betwixt them is the hotter the higher the Spirits and Parts of the Respective Judges Great the Contention for many years together betwixt this Lord of Equity and Sir Edward Cook the Oracle of Justice at Westminster-hall I know not which of them got the better sure I am such another Victory would if this did not have undone the Conqueror He was attended on with Servants of most able parts and was the sole Chancellor since the Reformation who had a Chaplain which though not immediatly succeeded him in his place He gave over his Office which he held full twenty years some few days before his death and by his own appointment his body was brought down and buried at Duddleston in this County leaving a fair Estate to his Son who was afterwards Created Earl of Bridgwater When he saw King James so profuse to the Scots with the grave Fidelity of a States-man he sticked not often to tell him that as he held it necessary for his Majesty amply to remunerate those his Country-men so he desired him carefully to preserve his Crown-lands for his own support seeing he or his Successourâ—… might meet with Parliaments which would not supply his Occasions but on such Conditions as would not be very acceptable unto him It was an ordinary Speech in his Mouth to say Frost and Fraud both end in Foul. His death happened Anno Dom. 1616. Capitâ—…l Judges Sir HUMPHRY STARKEY was born with most Probability in this County where his Name is in good hath been in a better Esteem and Estate He in the Study of our Laws so profited that after some intermediate Dignities he was preferred Chief Baron of the Exchequer I cannot with certainty fix his admission into that Office Confused Times causing Confused Dates but with as much certainty as we can collect we conclude him preferred to that place 1. Henrici 7. We need enquire no farther into his ability finding him by so wise and frugal a King imployed in a place belonging to his Coffers who though he was sometimes pleased to be remiss in matters which concerned his Subjects was ever carefull in things wherein his own Emolument was interested Wonder not that we have so little left of this Judge his Actions because Empson and Dudly Loaders grinding more then the Chief Miller were such Instruments whose over-activity made all others seem Slugs in that Court It doth sound not a little to the praise of our Starkey that whereas that Age was justly complaining of the Extortions of the Kings Officers nothing of that nature no hearing best hearing in this kind is
of the same Hand under the new name of a Subsidie Indeed it was pity that the Father of the Diocess should want any thing which his Sons could contribute unto Him He highly favoured the Templars though more pitying then profiting them as persons so stiffly opposed by the Pope and Philip King of France that there was more fear of his being suppressed by their Foes then hope of their being supported by his Friendship He was present in the Councel of Vienna on the same token that therein he had his place assigned next the Arch-bishop of Triers and that I assure you was very high as beneath the lowest Elector and above Wortzbury or Herbipolis and other German Prelates who also were Temporal Princes But now he is gone and his pompe with him dying at Cawood 1315. and buried in the Chappel of Saint Nicholas leaving the reputation of an able Statesman and no ill Scholar behind him MICHAEL TREGURY was born in this County and bred in the University of Oxford where he attained to such eminency that he was commended to King Henry the fifth fit to be a forraign Professor This King Henry desiring to Conquer France as well by Arts as Armes knowing that learning made Civil Persons and Loyall 〈◊〉 reflected on the City of Cane honoured with the Ashes of his Ancestors in Normandy and resolved to advance it an University which he did Anno 1418. placing this Michael the first Professor in the Colledge of his Royal Erection Hence King Henry the sixth preferred him Arch bishop of Dublin in Ireland wherein he continued 22. years deceasing December 21. 1471. and is buried in the Church of Saint Patrick in Dublin I am sorry to see the Author of so many learned books disgraced on his Monument with so barbarous an Epitaph Praesul Metropolis Michael hic Dubliniensis Marmore Tumbatus pro me Christum flagitetis Allowing him thirty years old when Professor at Cane he must be extreamly aged at his departure JOHN ARUNDLE was born of right ancient Parentage of Lanhearn in this County bred in the University of Oxford and was by King Henry the seventh preferred Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield anno 1496. thence translated to his Native Diocese of Exeter 1501. Impute it to the shortness of his continuance in that See that so little is left of his Memory not enough to feed much less Feast the Pen of an Historian He dyed at London anno 1503. and lyeth buryed saith my Author in St. Clements not acquainting us whether Clements East cheap or Clements Danes but I conclude it is the latter because the Bishops of Exeter had their Inne or City-house now converted into Essex-house within that Parish Capital Judges and Writers on the Law There passeth a pleasant Tradition in this County how there standeth a man of great strength and stature with a black Bil in his hand at Polston-bridge the first entrance into Cornwall as you pass towards Launceston where the Assizes are holden ready to knock down all the Lawyers that should offer to plant themselves in that County But in earnest few of that profession have here grown up to any supereminent height of Learning Livelyhood or Authority Whether because of the far distance of this County from the Supremer Courts or because of the multiplicity of petty ones nearer hand pertaining to the Dutchy Stannerie's and other Franchises enabling Atturneys and the like of small reading to serve the peoples turne and so cutting the profit from better-studyed Counsellers Some conceive that Sir Robert Tresillian chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in the fifth of King Richard the Second to be this Country-man though producing no other evidence save Tre the initial syllable of his Surname as a badge of Cornish extraction However we have purposely omitted him in this our Catalogue partly because not claimed by Mr. Carew in his Survey for their Countryman partly because no Worthy as justly executed by Act of Parliament for pronouncing their Acts revocable at the Kings pleasure As for one Cornish man though neither Writer nor actual Judge his worth commands us to remember him namely WILLIAM NOY born in this County was bred in Lincolns-Inn a most sedulous Student constantly conversant with ancient Records verifying his Anagram WILLIAM NOY I Moyl in Law He was for mâ—…ny years the stoutest Champion for the Subjects Liberty untill King Charles entertained him to be his Attorney after which time I read this Character of him in an History written by an ingenious Gentleman He became so servilely addicted to the Prerogative as by Ferretting old penall Statutes and devising new exactions he became for the small time he enjoyed that power the most pestilent Vexation to the subjects that this latter age produced However others behold his Actions with a more favourable eye as done in the pursuance of the place he had undertaken who by his Oath and Office was to improve his utmost power to advance the profit of his Master Thus I see that after their Deaths the Memories of the best Lawyers may turn Clients yea and sue too in forma Pauperis needing the good word of the Charitable Survivors to plead in their behalf He dyed anno Domini 163. Let me add this passage from his mouth that was present thereat The Goldsmiths of London had and in due time may have a Custom once a year to weigh Gold in the Star-Chamber in the presence of the Privy Councill and the Kings Attourney This solemn weighing by a word of art they call the Pixe and make use of so exact scales therein that the Master of the Company affirmed that they would turn with the two hundereth part of a grain I should be loath said the Attorney Noy standing by that all my actions should be weighed in those Scales With whom I concur in relation of the same to my self And therefore seeing the Ballance of the Sanctuary held in Gods hand are far more exact what need have we of his mercy and Christs merits to make us Passable in Gods presence Souldiers King ARTHUR Son to Uther-Pendragon was born in Tintagel-Castle in this County and proved afterward Monarch of Great Britain He may fitly be termed the British Hercules in three respects 1. For his illegitimate birth both being Bastards begotten on other mens wives and yet their Mothers honest women deluded the one by Miracle the other by Art-Magick of Merlin in others personating their husbands 2. Painfull life one famous for his twelve labours the other for his twelve victories against the Saxons and both of them had been greater had they been made less and the reports of them reduced within compass of probability 3. Violent and wofull death our Arthurs being as lamentable and more honourable not caused by Feminine Jealousie but Masculine Treachery being murdered by Mordred near the place where he was born As though no other place on Britains spacious earth Were
they might prove profitable as by Arch-bishop Grindall limited and regulated Being really blind more with grief then age dying at sixty four he was willing to put off his clothes before he went to bed and in his life time to resigne his place to Doctor Whitgiff who refused such acceptance thereof And the Queen commiserating his condition was graciously pleased to say that As She had made him so he should die an Arch bishop as he did July 6. 1583. Worldly wealth he cared not for desiring onely to make both ends meet and as for that little that lapped over he gave it to pious uses in both Universities and the founding of a fair Free-school at Saint Bees the place of his nativity HENRY ROBINSON D. D. was born in Carlile bred Fellow and at last Provost of Queens-colledge in Oxford and afterwards 1598. was consecrated Bishop of the place of his nativity When Queen Elizabeth received his Homage She gave him many Gracious words of the good Opinion which She conceived of his Learning Integrity and Sufficiency for that place Moreover adding that She must ever have a care to furnish that See with a worthy man for his sake who first set the Crown on Her Head and many words to the like purpose He was a Prelate of great gravity and temperance very mild in Speech but not of so strong a constitution of body as his countenance did promise And yet he lived to be a very old man He dyed Anno Dom. 16 ... RICHARD SENHOUSE D. D. was born of worshipfull parentage at Netherhall in this County A valiant man in his younger days and I have heard that in his old age he felt the admonitions of his youthfull over-violent exercises He was bred Fellow of Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge and became an Excellent Preacher his Sermons losing no lusture by his good utterance and gracefull delivering of them He was Chaplain to King Charles whilst Prince and Preached his Sermon at His Coronation He was preferred Bishop of Carlile enjoying the place but a short time He dyed Anno Domini 1626. Capitall Judges and Writers on the Law Sir RICHARD HUTTON was born at Perith of a Worshipfull Family his elder Brother was a Knight and bred in Jesus Colledge in Cambridge He intended his Studies for Divinity till disswaded by the importunity of his friends amongst whom George Earl of Cumberland most eminent he became Barrister in Grays-Inn But in expression of his former affection to Divinity he seldome if ever took Fee of a Clergy-man Afterwards being Recorder of York he was Knighted and made Judge of the Common-Pleas In the Case of Ship-money though he was against the King or rather for the Commons yet His Majesty manifested not the least distast continuing to call him the Honest Judge This person so pious to God and charitable to his poor Members was dissolved about the beginning of our National misery Thus God before he new ploweth up a land with the furrows of a Civil War first cutteth down his old crop and gathereth them like ripe sheaves into his barn He dyed at Serjeants-Inn and was buried at his earnest desire without any Funerall Sermon save what his own vertues preached to posterity at St. Dunstons in the West on the 27. day of Febr. Anno Dom. 1638. Sir JOHN BANKS was born at Keswick of honest parents who perceiving him judicious and industrious bestowed good breeding on him in Grays-Inn in hope he should attain to preferment wherein they were not deceived After he was called to the Bar for some years he solicited suits for others thereby attaining great practicall experience He afterwards might laugh at them who then did smile at him leaving many behind him in learning whom he found before him in time untill at last he was Knighted by K. Charles made first his Atâ—…urney then Chief Justice of the common-Common-pleas dying in the midst and heat of our Civil dissentions He ordered by his Will the Copy whereof I have received from my good friend that his body should be buried under some plain Monument at the discretion of his Executors and after an Epitaph mentioning the severall places he had held This Motto to be added Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam It must not be forgotten that by his said Will he gave to the value of thirty pounds per annum with other Emoluments to be bestowed in Pious uses and chiefly to set up a Manufacture of Course Cottons in the Town of Keswick which I understand hath good and is in hopes of better success Civilians GEORGE PORTER was born at Weery-hall in the Parish of Bolton in this County of gentile extraction He was afterward Fellow of Queens-colledge in Cambridge Doctor and Professor of Civil-law therein for above thirty years so that he might have been made Comes Imperii primi ordinis according to the constitution of Theodosius the Emperor allowing that honour to Professours in that faculty Cum ad viginti annos observatione jugi ac sedulo docendi labore pervenerint He was of a pitifull nature and we commonly called him for I had oft the honour to be in his mess The Patron of infirmities whose discourse was always defensive and charitable either to excuse mens failings or mitigate their punishments He was valiant as well as learned and with his sterne looks and long sword frighted three thieves from setting upon him He dyed Anno Domini 163. and Doctor Collins who with Saint Chrysostome was in laudatoriis hyperbolicus Preaching his Funerall Sermon endeavoured to heighten his memory to his soul mounting it above the skies for his modesty and learning Writers JOHN CANON Some will have him so called because Canon of some Cathedral Church and if so there were Hundreds of John Canons besides himself others because he was Doctor of Canon Law which leaves as great a Latitude as the former for hundreds with equall right to justle with him for the same Surname I have cause to conceive untill I shall be clearly convinced to the contrary that he was born at Canonsby in this County By being set by for brevities sake Bilious Bale bespattereth him more then any of his Order Hear how he ranteth He turned a Minotaure I should say Minorite and with his Thrasonicall Boasting c. But I am not bound to believe him the rather because Trithemius a Forraign Judicious and Moderate Writer giveth him great commendation Whence I collect that his worth was not like a Candle in the House onely burning at Home in England but a Torch blazing abroad beyond the Seas the University of Paris and other places taking signall notice of his Learning He flourished under K. Edward the second 1320. WILLIAM EGREMONT He hath almost lost his true Surname amongst the various writing thereof Bale calleth him Egumonde though no such place in all England Pits reduceth it to a Saxon Name and calleth him
out of and far from any publick Road in a corner of the County so that Bediford Bridg is truly Bediford Bridg intended solely for the convenience of that Town 2 It is very long consisting of twenty four Peares and yet one William Alford another Milo of Bediford carried on his back for a Wager four Bushel Salt-water-measure all the length thereof 3 It is very high so that a Barge of sixty Tuns may passe and repasse if taking down her Masts betwixt the Peares thereof 4 The Foundation is very firmly fixed and yet it doth or seem to shake at the slightest step of a Horse 5 The Builder of so worthy a Work is not the more the pity punctually known Yet Tradition the best Authour where no better is to be had maketh that finished by the Assistance of Sir Theobold Greenvill the Goldneyes and Oketenets Persons of great Power in those parts Peter Quivill Bishop of Exeter granting Indulgencies to all such as contributed to the forwarding thereof As for the Houses of the Gentry in this County some may aâ—…tract none ravish the Beholder except it be Wenbury the House of the Heales near Plimouth almost corrival with Greenwich it self for the pleasant Prospect thereof The Wonders Not to speak of a River about Lidford whose stream sinketh so deep that it is altogether invisible but supplying to the Eare that it denies to the Eye so great the noise thereof There is in the Parish of North-Taunton near an House called Bath a Pit but in the Winter a Pool not maintained by any spring but the fall of rain water in Summer commonly dry Of this Pool it hath been observed that before the death or change of any Prince or some other strange accident of great importance or any Invasion or Insurrection though in an hot and dry season it will without any rain overflow its Banks and so continue till it be past that it prognosticated Be the truth hereof reported to the Vicenage the most competent Judges thereof seeing my Authour who finished his Book 1648. reporteth that it over-flowed four times within these last thirty years Some will be offended at me if I should omit the Hanging Stone being one of the Bound Stones which parteth Comb-Martin from the next Parish It got the name from a Thief who having stoln a Sheep and tyed it about his own neck to carry it on his back rested himself for a while upon this Stone which is about a foothigh until the Sheep struggling slid over the Stone on the other side and so strangled the man Let the Lawyers dispute whether the Sheep in this case was forfeited to the Kings Almoner as a Deo-Dand It appeareth rather a Providence then a Casualty in the just execution of a Malefactor To these Wonders I will add and hazard the Readers displeasure for the same The Gubbings So now I dare call them secured by distance which one of more valour durst not do to their Face for fear their fury fall upon him Yet hitherto have I met with none who could render a reason of their Name We call the Shavings of Fish which are little worth Gubbings and sure it is they are sensible that the Word importeth shame and disgrace As for the suggestion of my worthy and learned Friend borrowed from Buxtorfius that such who did inhabitare Montes Gibberosos were called Gubbings such will smile at the Ingenuity who dissent from the truth of the Etymology I have read of an England beyond Wales but the Gubbings-Land is a Scythia within England and they pure Heathens therein It lyeth nigh Brent-Tor in the edg of Dartmore It is reported that some two hundred years since two Strumpets being with child fled hither to hide themselves to whom certain lewd Fellows resorted and this was their First Original They are a Peculiar of their own making exempt from Bishop Arch-Deacon and all Authority either Ecclesiastical or Civil They live in Cotts rather Holes than Houses like Swine having all in common multiplied without Marriage into many Hundreds Their Language is the drosse of the dregs of the Vulgar Devonian and the more learned a man is the worse he can understand them During our Civil Wars no Souldiers were quartered amongst them for fear of being quartered amongst them Their Wealth consisteth in other mens goods and they live by stealing the Sheep on the More and vain it is for any to search their Houses being a Work beneath the pains of a Sheriff and above the Power of any Constable Such their Fleetnesse they will outrun many Horses Vivaciousnesse they out live most men living in the Ignorance of Luxury the Extinguisher of Life They hold together like Burrs offend One and All will revenge his Quarrel But now I am informed that they begin to be civilized and tender their Children to Baptisme and return to be men yea Christians again I hope no Civil peoplâ—… amongst us will turn Barbarians now these Barbarians begin to be civilized Proverbs To Devon-shire ground It is sad when one is made a Proverb by way of derision but honourable to become proverbial by way of imitation as here Devon-shire hath set a Copy of Industry and Ingenuity to all England To Devon-shire land is to pare off the surface or top-turffe thereof then lay it together in heaps and burn it which ashes are a marvailous improvement to battle barren ground Thus they may be said to Stew the land in its own liquor to make the same ground to find compost to fatten its self An Husbandry which where ever used retains the name of the place where it was first invented it being usual to Devonshire land in Dorset-shire and in other Counties A Plimouth Cloak That is a Cane or a Staffe whereof this the occasion Many a man of good extraction comming home from far Voiages may chance to land here and being out of sorts is unable for the present time and place to recruit himself with Cloaths Here if not friendly provided they make the next Wood their Drapers shop where a Staffe cut out serves them for a covering Ho may remove Mort-Stone There is a Bay in this County called Mort-Bay but the Harbour in the entrance thereof is stopped with a huge Rock called Mort-Stone and the People merrily say that none can remove it save such who are Masters of their Wives If so wise Socrates himself with all men who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under Covert-feme as I may say will never attempt the removal thereof First hang and draw Then hear the cause by Lidford Law Lidford is a little and poor but antient Corporation in this County with very large priviledges where a Court of the Stanneries was formerly kept This Libellous Proverb would suggest unto us as if the Towns-men thereof generally mean persons were unable to manage their own Liberties with necessary discretion administring preposterous and preproperous Justice I charitably believe that some Tinners justly
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
about three years viz. from the seventh of July in the 22. year of King Henry the Sixth being the year of our Lord 1544. until the 25. year of that Kings raign This Lord built Sudeley Castle in this County which of Subjects Castles was the most handsome Habitation and of Subjects Habitations the strongest Castle King Edward the Fourthâ—…ent â—…ent for him with such summons that this Lord conjectured and that truly enough that it was but a Preface to his imprisonment whereupon going to London and resting himself on a Hill whence he did behold his own Castle It is thou Sudeley it is thou said he and not I that am a Traytor and so resigned the same at last into the hand of the King to procure his own liberty So true it is what Solomon saith The ransome of a mans life are his riches but the poor heareth not rebuke I find not the certain date of his death Capital Judges and Writers on the Law ANTHONY FITZ-HERBERT for a long time Justice of the Common Pleas was as a good Antiquary will have it born about Dean Forrest in this County but is by another no whit his inferiour on better evidence referred to Derby-shire where formerly we have placed his Nativity Yea I have been informed from excellent hands the Natives of this County that no Capital Judge of the three Great Courts though many of the Marches was ever born in this County yet are they here as litigious as in other places Sure I am that Gloucester-shire did breed if no Judge yet a Plaintiff and Defendant of the primest quality which betwixt them with many alternations traversed the longest suit that ever I read in England for a suit was commenced betwixt the Heirs of Sir Thomas Talbot Viscout Lisle on the one party and the heirs of Lord Barkley on the other about certain possessions lying in this County not far from Wotton-under-edge which suit begun in the end of King Edward the Fourth was depending until the beginning of King James when and was it not high time it was finally determined But the long barrenness of this County in Judges may be recompenced with fruitfulness at last the rather because Gloucestershire at this day sheweth two eminent ones Mr. Justice Adkins and Mr. Justice Hales which grace the Court of the Common Pleas with their known ability and integrity EDWARD TROTMAN Son of Edward Trotman Esquire was born at Cam nigh Duresly in this County bred a Student of the Law till he became a Bencher in the Inner Temple He wrote an Abridgement of Sir Edward Coke his eleven Volumes of Reports for the benefit of those who had not money to purchase or leisure to peruse them at large Yea such as have both may be profitted thereby for in my owne profession and in the Book of Books even those who are best acquainted with the Chapters make also use of the Contents This Gentleman in his Title page ingeniously wisheth that his Compendium might not prove Dispendium to the Reader thereof And I verily believe he hath had his desire being informed that his endeavours are well esteemed by the Learned in that profession He was buried in the Temple Church May 29. Anno Dom. 1643. Souldiers Sir WILLIAM TRACY of Todington in this County was a Gentleman of high Birth State and Stomach much in favour with King Henry the second on whom he was a daily attendant One fact hath made his Memory call it famous or infamous because he was the first and forwardest of the four Knights who at the encouragement if not command at leastwise at the connivance if not encouragement of the aforesaid King Imbrewed their hands in the blood of Thomas Becket In his old age he went into Devon-shire where he had large possessions as may appear by so many Towns bearing his surname 1. Wollocomb-Tracy 2. Bovi-Tracy 3. Nimet-Tracy 4. Bradford-Tracy c. It is reported that he intended a penitential Pilgrimage to Jerusalem but setting to Sea was ever crost with adverse Winds He is conceived to lie buried in the Parish Church of Mort in Devonshire dying about the year of our Lord 1180. Seamen This is scarcely a Maritine-shire rather bordering on the Severn than on the Sea having therein no considerable Haven Bristol being beheld as a City entire of it self and therein eminent Seamen cannot be expected yet one Family herein hath been most fortunate in such voyages having their chief Seat at Lydney in the Forrest of Dean which hath afforded WILLIAM WINTER Knight and Vice Admiral of England famous in his Generation for several performances 1. Anno 1559. being then but Machinarum classicarum praefectus English it as you please he frighted the French in Edenborough Frith assaulting their Fort in the Island of Inchkeith 2. Anno 1567. he was sent with Sir Thomas Smith with the sound of the Trumpet and shooting of some Cannons to demand the restitution of Callis of the French King 3. Anno 1568. he conducted a great Treasure of the Genoan Merchants safely into the Netherlands in despight of the French opposing him 4. Anno 1576. he with Robert Beale Clerk of the Councel was employed into Zeland to demand the restitution of our Ships which they had either taken or did detain 5. Anno 1588. he did signal service in the station appointed him coming in though not in the heat in the coole of the day when the Spanish Fleet was fallen towards the shore of Zeland and were sadly sensible of his valour I conceive him not to survive long after because if in life he would have been in action and if in action I should have found him in Cambden's Elizabeth And therefore from no mention I conclude no motion that about this time he departed Besides others of this Family unknown to me and justly referred to this County as their chief habitation And were the phrase as proper of Men sailing as Fishes swimming in the Sea I should say that Lydney-House hath brought forth a shole of Mariners So happy have they been in Sea voyages One wondring how the English durst be so bold as to put to Sea in all weathers it was returned that they were provided to saile in all seasons having both Winters and Summers on their side The more the pity that this worthy Family of the Winters did ever leave the Element of Water to tamper with Fire especially in a destructive way to their King and Country Writers OSBERNUS CLAUDIANUS or Osbern of Gloucester was bred a Benedictine Monk in the famous Convent in that City He was learned saith Leland Praeter iliius aetatis sortem above the Standard of that age He was a good Linguist Philosopher Divine he used to give clearness to what was obscure facility to what was difficult politeness to what was barbarous Nor wanted he a becoming facetiousness in his Dialogues He wrote many Books dedicating them to Gilbert Foliot Bishop of Hereford as a
of Cardinal Wolsey was personated and wherewith that Prelate was so offended that Fish was fain to fly and live two years beyond the Seas There he made and thence sent over into England a small but sharp Treatise called The Supplication of Beggars termed by Master Fox a Libel understand him a little Book Otherwise prizing and praising it for a Master-piece of Wit-learning and Religion discovering the Superstition of that age This by Queen Anna Bollen was presented to King Henry the Eighth who therewith was so highly affected that he sent for the Author home and favoured him in great proportion However many nets were laid by the Popish party against him especially by Sir Thomas More his implacable Enemy yet Fish had the happinesse to escape the hands of Men and to fall into the hand of God more immediately Dying of the Plague 1531. and lieth buried at St. Dunstan in London Sir JAM HALES was born did live was richly landed in this county one of the Justices of the common-Common-Pleas a man of most signal Integrity When the rest of the Judges frighted at the frowns of the Duke of Northumberland subscribed the disinheriting of the Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth he onely refused as against both Law and Conscience Yet afterwards in the first of Queen Mary he fell into the displeasure of Bishop Gardiner which like Juniper coals once kindled hardly quenched for urging the observation of some Lawes of King Edward the Sixth For this he was imprisoned hardly used and so threatned by his Keeper that he endeavoured to have killed himself which being after let at liberty he afterwards effected drowning himself in a small water near his house fear and melancholly so much prevailing upon him Mr. Fox concludeth the sad Poem of his final estate with this Distich Cū nihil ipse vides propria quin labe laboret Tu tua fac cures caetera mitte Deo Seing nought thou ◅eest but faling in the best Mind thy own matters leave God the rest We must look on his foul Deed with anger and yet with pity on the doer thereof Frown on the one and weep for the other For seeing he had led a right godly life and had suffered so much on the account of his Conscience I hope that his station in this place will not be cavilled at by any charitable persons He died Anno Dom. 1555. Cardinals JOHN KEMP son to Thomas Grand-child to Sir John Kemp Nephew to Sir Roger Kemp both Knights was born at Wie in this County where he built a fair Colledge for Seculars bred also in Merton Colledge in Oxford successively Bishop of Rochester Chichester and London afterwards Arch-Bishop of York and Canterbury Cardinal first by the Title of Saint Balbine then of Saint Rufine in Rome all his preferments are comprehended in the old following verse Bis Primas ter Praesul erat ◅is Cardine functus He had another honour to make up the Distich being twice Lord Chancellour of England so that I may add Et dixit Legem bis Cancellari us Anglis Such are mistaken who report him the first raiser of his Family to a Knightly degree which he found in that Equipage as is aforesaid though he left it much improved in Estate by his bounty and some of his name and bloud flourish in Kent at this day He died a very old man March the 22. Anno 1453. RICHARD CLIFFORD His Nativity may bear some debate Herefordshire pretending unto him But because Robert Clifford was his brother in the first of King Henry the Fourth High Sheriff of this County and richly landed therein I adjudge him a Cantian and assign Bobbing as the most probable place of his birth His worth preferred him Bishop of London 1407. and he was sent by King Henry the Fourth as his Embassadour to the Council of Constance I could hold my hand from ranking him under the Topick of Cardinals confident that no ingenious person would take exception thereat For first he was one in Merit and Desert Secondly in general Desire and Designation Thirdly though no actual Cardinal he acted as a Cardinal when joyned to their Conclave to see fair play amongst them at the choosing of a new Pope Yea some mentioned him for the place who counting it more credit to make than be a Pope first nominated Cardinal Columna and he clearly carried it by the name of Martin During his abode at Constance he preached a Latine Sermon before the Emperour and Pope He answered his name de clivo forti or of the strong Rock indeed viz. Davids being a most pious person returning home he lived in good esteem with Prince and People until his death which happened 1421. being buried nigh the present Monument of Sr. Christopher Hatton Prelates RALPH of MAYDENSTAN I presume this the ancient Orthography of Maydston a noted Town in this County the rather because I met with no other place in England offering in sound or syllables thereunto An Author giveth him this short but thick commendation Vir magnae literaturae in Theologia Nominatissimus Insomuch that in the Reign of King Henry the Third 1234. He was preferred Bishop of Hereford This Prelate bought of one Mount-hault a Noble-man a fair house in and the Patronage of St. Mary Mount-hault commonly but corruptly called Mount-haw in London leaving both to his successours in the See of Hereford Know Reader that all English Bishops in that age had Palaces in London for their conveniency wherein they resided and kept great Hospitality during their attendance in Parliament Now although the School-men generally hold that Episcopacy is Apex consummatae Religionis then which Nihil amplius Nothing higher or holyer in this life and though many Friers have been preferred Bishops as a progressive motion both in Dignity and Sanctity Yet our Ralph was of a different judgement herein This made him in the year 1239. turn his Miter into a Coule and become a Franciscan first at Oxford then at Glocester where he died about the year 1244. HENRY de WINGHAM a well known Town in this County was by K. Henry the Third preferred Chancellour both of England and Gascony Dean both of Totten-Hall quaere where this place is and Saint Martins and twice Embassadour into France It happened that one Ethelmar wom-brother to King Henry the Third was then Bishop of Winchester A person who properly comes not under my pen First for his Foreign nativity Secondly so much as he was English he was an UNWORTHY wanting Age Ability and Orders to qualifie him in that place Hereupon the Monks of Winchester indeavouring to eject him chose Wingham a man of Merit and Might in the Court to be their Bishop which honour he wisely refused fearing to incur the Kings displeasure It was not long before his Modesty and Discretion were rewarded with a peaceable in sted of that litigious Bishoprick when chosen to London 1259. But he enjoyed his See
was whispered at Rome And numerous the spies and eyes of this Argus dispersed in all places The Jesuites being out-shot in their own Bow complain'd that he out-equivocated their equivocation having a mental reservation deeper and farther than theirs They tax him for making Heavenâ—…ow â—…ow too much to Earth oft-times borrowing a point of conscience with full intent never to pay it again whom others excused by Reasons of State and dangers of the times Indeed his Simulation which all allow lawful was as like to Dissimulation condemned by all good men as two things could be which were not the same He thought that Gold might but Intelligence could not be bought too dear The cause that so great a States man left so small an estate and so publick a person was so privately buried in Saint Pauls Anno Dom. 1590. His only Daughter Frances was successively matched to three matchlesse men Sir Phili Sidney Robert Earl of Essex and Richard Earl of Clanricard Capital Judges and Writers on the Law Sir JOHN FINEUX was by all probability born at Swinkfield in this County as I am informed from my good friend Mr. Thomas Fineux a descendant from him a place saith Mr. Cambden bestowed on his Ancestor by T. Criol a great Lord in Kent about the raign of King Edward the second I learned from the same Gentleman that he was eight and twenty years of age before he betook him to the study of the Law that he followed that profession twenty eight years before he was made a Judg and that he continued a Judge for twenty eight years whereby it appears that he lived fourscore and four years This last exactly agrees with Sir Henry Spelman making him continue Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench from the eleventh of King Henry the seventh until the seventeenth of King Henry the eight He was a great Benefactor unto Saint Augustines in Canterbury whose Prior William Mallaham thus highly commendeth him in a Manuscript Instrument Vir prudentissimus genere insignis Justitia praeclarus pietate refertus Humanitate splendidus charitate foecundus c. Now though some will say his Convent may well afford him good words who gave them good deeds yet I believe this Character of him can in no part be disproved He died about the year 1526. and lies buried in Christ Church in Canterbury who had a fair habitation in this City and another in Herne in this County where his Motto still remains in each window Misericordias Domini cantabo in Aeternum Sir ROGER MANWOOD born at Sandwich in this County applyed himselfe from his youth to the study of the Common Law wherein he attained to such eminency that by Queen Elizabeth he was preferred second Justice of the Common Pleas in which place he gave such proof of his ability and integrity that not long after in Hillary Term in the 21. of Queen Elizabeth he was made chief Baron of the Exchequer discharging that office to his 〈◊〉 Commendation full fourteen years till the day of his death He was much employed in matters of State and was one of the Commissioners who sate on the Trial of the Queen of Scots His Book on the Forest Laws is a piece highly prized by men of his Profession In Vacation time his most constant habitation was at Saint Stephens in Canterbury where saith my Author the poor inhabitants were much beholding to his bounteous liberality He erected and endowed a fair Free Schoole at Sandwich the place of his Nativity and died in the 35. of Queen Elizabeth Anno Dom. 1593. Sir HENRY FINCH Knight was born in this County of Right Worshipful Extraction their ancient sirname being Herbert a Family which had and hath an hereditary happinesse of Eminency in the study of the Laws He was Sergeant at Law to King James and wrote a Book of the Law in great esteem with men of his own profession yet were not his studies confined thereunto witnesse his Book of The calling of the Jews and all ingenious persons which dissent from his judgement will allow him learnedly to have maintained an error though he was brought into some trouble by King James conceiving that on his principles he advanced and extended the Jewish Commonwealth to the depressing and contracting of Christian Princes free Monarchies He was father unto Sir John Finch Lord Chief Justice and for a time Lord Keeper and Baron of Foreditch who is still alive Souldiers Kent hath so carried away the credit in all ages for Man-hood that the leading of the Front or Van-guard so called from Avant-guard or Goe on guard because first in marching in former times hath simply and absolutely belonged unto them I say absolutely for I find two other Shires contending for that place The best is it is but a Book-Combate betwixt learned Writers otherwise if real such a division were enough to rout an Army without other Enemy But let us see how all may be peaceably composed It is probable that the Cornish-men led the Van in the days of King Arthur who being a Native of Cornwall had most cause to trust his own Country-men But I behold this as a temporary honour which outlasted not his life who bestowed it The men of Archenfeld in Hereford-shire claimed by custom to lead the Van-guard but surely this priviledge was Topical and confined to the Welsh Wars with which the aforesaid men as Borderers were best acquainted As for Kent Cantia nostra primae cohortis honorem primos congressus hostium usque in Hodiernum diem in omnibus praeliis obtinet saith my Author Reader It may rationally be concluded that the ensuing Topick had been as large in this as in any County in England seeing it is bounded by the Sea on the East and South sides thereof had not the Author departed this life before the finishing of the same Seamen WILLIAM ADAMS was as his own Pen reporteth born at Gillingham in this County and take the brief account of his Life being the first Englishman who effectully discovered Japan Twelve years he lived at home with his Parents Twelve years he was Apprentice and Servant to Nich. Diggins a brave Seaman for some time he was Master of one of the Queens Ships Ten years he served the English Company of Barbary Merchants Fourteen years as I collect it he was employed by the Dutch in India For he began his Voyage 1598. Pilot to their Fleet of five Sail to conduct them to Japan and in order to the settlement of Trade endured many miseries He who reads them will concur with Cato and repent that ever he went thither by Sea whither one might go by Land But Japan being an Island and unaccessible save by Sea our Adams his discretion was not to be blamed but industry to be commended in his adventures He died at Firando in Japan about 1612. Civilians NICHOLAS WOTTON Son to Sir Robert was born at Bockton-Malherb in this
from VVolstan de Paston who three years after the Conquest came into England to VVilliam Earl of Glandwill were all interred at Paston He lest rich revenues to John Paston Esquire his eldest son who married Margaret daughter and heir of John Mautby and no mean Estate to VVilliam his second surviving son who married Anne daughter to Edmond Duke of Somerset Sir EDWARD COKE Knight son of Robert Coke Esquire and of VVinefred Knightly his wife was born at Mileham in this County bred when ten years of age at Norwich-school and thence removed to Trinity-colledge in Cambridge After four years continuance there he was admitted into Cliffords-Inn-London and the year following entered a Studient of the Municipal-law in the Inner-Temple Such his proficiency therein that at the end of six years exceeding early in that strict age he was callâ—…d to the Bar and soon after for three years chosen Reader in Lyons-Inn Here his learned Lectures so spred forth his fame that crouds of Clients sued to him for his counsel and his own suit was the sooner granted when tendering his affections in order to marriage unto Briget daughter and Co-heir of John Paston Esquire She was afterwards his incomparable wife whose Portion moderately estimated Viis modis amounted unto thirty thousand pounds her vertues not falling under valuation and she enriched her husband with ten children Then began preferment to press upon him the City of Norwich chusing him Recorder the County of Norfolk their Knight to Parliament the Queen her Speaker therein as also successively her Solicitor and Attorney King James honoured him with Knighthood and made him Chief Justice first of the common-Common-Pleas then of the Kings-Bench Thus beginning on a good bottome left him by his father marrying a wife of extraordinary wealth having at the first great and gainful practice afterwards many and profitable Offices being provident to chuse good penny-worths in purchases leading a thrifty life living to a great age during flourishing and peaceable times born as much after the Persecution under Queen Mary as dying before our Civil Wars no wonder if he advanced a fair estate so that all his sons might seem elder brethren by the large possessions left unto them Some falsly character him a back-friend to the Church and Clergy being a grand benefactour to the Church of Norwich who gratefully under their publique seal honoured him with the ensuing testimony Edwardus Coke Armiger saepius in multis difficillimis negotiis Ecclesiae nostrae auxiliatus est nuper eandem contra Templorum Helluones qui dominia maneria haereditamenta nostra devorare sub titulo obscuro Concelatum dicunt sponte suâ nobis insciis sine mercede ullâ legittimè tutatus est atque eandem suam nostri defensionem in perpetuam tantaerei memoriam quam posterorum si opus fuerit magna cum industria scriptis redegit nostrae Ecclesiae donavit As for the many Benefices in his own Patronage he freely gave them to worthy men being wont to say in his Law-language that he would have Church-livings pass by Livery and Seisin not Bargain and Sale Five sorts of people he used to fore-design to misery and poverty Chemists Monopolizers Concelers Promoters and Rythming Poets For three things he would give God solemn thanks that he never gave his body to physick nor his heart to cruelty nor his hand to corruption In three things he did much applaud his own success in his fair fortune with his wife in his happy study of the laws and in his free coming by all his Offices nec prece nec pretio neither begging nor bribing for preferment His parts were admirable he had a deep judgment faithful memory active fancy and the jewel of his mind was put into a fair case a beautiful body with a comely countenance a case which he did wipe and keep clean delighting in good cloaths well worne and being wont to say that the outward neatness of our bodies might be a Monitor of purity to our souls In his pleadings discourse and judgements he declined all Circumlocutions usually saying The matter lies in a little room In all places callings and jurisdictions he commended modesty and sobriety within their boundaries saying If a River swells beyond its Banks it loseth its own Channel If any adverse party crossed him he would patiently reply If another punisheth me I will not punish my self In the highest Term of business he made Vacation to himself at his Table and would never be perswaded privately to retract what he had publikely adjudged professing he was a Judge in a Court and not in a Chamber He was wont to say No wise man would do that in prosperity whereof he should repent in adversity He gave for his Motto Prudens qui Patiens and his practise was accordingly especially after he fell into the disfavor of King James The cause hereof the Reader may find in our English Chronicles whilst we behold how he employed himself when retired to a private life when he did frui suo infortunio and improv'd his loss to his advantage He triumphed in his own innocency that he had done nothing illegally calling to mind the Motto which he gave in his rings when made Serjeant Lex est tutissima Cassis The Law is the safest Helmet And now he had leisure to peruse what formerly he had written even thirty books with his own hand most pleasing himself with a Manual which he called his Vade mecum from whence at one view he took a prospect of his life pass'd having noted therein most remarkables His most learned and laborious works on the Laws will last to be admired by the judicious posterity whilst â—…ame hath a trumpet left her and any breath to blow therein His judgement lately passed for an Oracle in Law and if since the credit thereof hath causelesly been questioned the wonder is not great If the Prophet himself living in an incredulous age found â—…ause to complain Who hath believed our Report it need not seem strange that our licentious times have afforded some to shake the authenticalness of the Reports of any earthly Judge He constantly had prayers said in his own house and charitably relieved the poor with his constant almes The foundation of Suttous-hospital when indeed but a foundation had been ruined before it was raised and crush'd by some Courtiers in the hatching thereof had not his great care preserved the same The Free-school at Thetford was supported in its being by his assistance and he founded a School on his own cost at Godwick in this County It must not be forgotten that Doctor Whitgift afterwards Arch-bishop of Canterbury was his Tutor who sent unto his Puple when the Queens Atturney a fair New Testament with this message He had now studied Common-law enough let him hereafter study the Law of God Let me adde to this that when he was under a cloud at Court and outed of his Judges place
the lands belonging to the Church of Norwich which formerly he had so industriously recovered and setled thereon were again called into question being begged by a Peer who shall pass nameless Sir Edward desired him to desist telling him that otherwise he would put on his Gown and Cap and come into Westminster-hall once again and plead there in any Court in Justification of what he had done He died at Stoke Poges in Buckingham-shire on Wednesday the 3. of September being the 83. year of his age whose last words were Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done Sir THOMAS RICHARDSON Knight was born at Mulbarton in this County his father being Minister thereof He was bred in the study of our Municipal-law and became the Kings Serjeant therein Afterwards on the 28. of November 1626. he was sworn Chief Justice of the common-Common-Pleas that place having been void ten months before But coming now to our own times it is safest for me to break off Virgil I remember put a period to his Eclogue with Et Hylax in limine latrat VVe 'l Verfifie no more For do but hark Hylax doth bark at th' entrance of the Dore. Seeing many will be ready to carp it is safest for me to be silent whilst his Brass Monument on the South-side of VVestminster Abby thus entertaineth the Reader Deo Om. Thomae Richardsoni Iceni Equitis Aurati Humanum Depositum Ille Juris Municip omnes gradus exantlavit Conventus tertii ordinis ann Jacobi Regis 21 22. Prolocutor extitit Fori civilis Communium Placitorum vocant Supremum Magistratum quinquennium gessit Ad summum tandem primarii per Angliam judicis Tribunal A Rege Carolo evectus expiravit Anno aetatis 66. salutis MDCXXXIIII Tho. Richardson fil unicus Eques Aur. Baro Scotiae designatus Patri incomparabili posuit This Judge married for his second Lady Elizabeth Beaumont the sister as I take it of Mary Countess of Buckingham and the Relict of ........ Ashburnham Knight She was by King Charles Created Baroness of Craumount in Scotland and though issueless by the Judge the Honour descended to his Grand-child Souldiers ROBERT VENILE Knight one I confess whose name I never heard of till meeting with this memorable Note in a Modern Historian And here must not be forgotten Robert Venile Knight a Norfolk man who when the Scots and English were ready to give battle a certain stout Champion of great stature commonly called Tournboll coming out of the Scots Army and challenging any English man to meet him in a single combate this Robert Venile accepteth the challenge and marching towards the Champion and meeting by the way a certain black Mastife dog which waited on the Champion he suddenly with his sword cut him off at the loyns and afterwards did more to the Champion himself cutting his head from off his shoulders This put me with blushing enough that one so eminent in himself should be altogether to me obscure upon the inquiry after this valiant Knight but all my industry could not retrive him in any author so that he seems to me a kin to those spirits who appear but once and finally vanish away Sir OLIVER HINGHAM was born richly landed and buried in Hingham an eminent Market-town in this County A right valiant man whom King Edward the third left Governour of Aquitain in France an honorable but difficult place being to make good a great Country with a few men against a fierce and numerous enemy Yet he gave a good account of his trust When the French lay before Burdeaux the Citizens thereof to abuse the enemies hopes set open their gates displaying the Golden-lilies the French-armes on their Towers as if they were theirs the French were no sooner securely entred but brave Oliver Captain of this City and Warden of the whole Country for King Edward gave them such an entertainment that they drank not so much Claret-wine in the City as they left Bloud behi nd them This happ'ned in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Edward the third This Sir Oliver liv'd many years after and was made Knight of the Garter and lies buried at Hingham under a fair tomb of free-stone curiously wrought with his resemblance in his Coat-Armour having a Crowned Owle out of an Ivy-bush for his Crest lying upon a Rock beholding Sun Moon and Stars because a great Travailer all lively set forth in metal with four and twenty mourners about his monument JOHN FASTOLFE Knight was a native of this County as I have just cause to believe though some have made him a French-man meerly because he was Baron of Sineginle in France on which account they may rob England of many other Worthies He was a Ward and that the last to John Duke of Bedford a sufficient evidence to such who understand time and place to prove him of English extraction To avouch him by many arguments valiant is to maintain that the sun is bright though since the Stage hath been over bold with his memory making him a Thrasonical Puff and emblem of Mock-valour True it is Sir John Oldcastle did first bear the brunt of the one being made the make-sport in all plays for a coward It is easily known out of what purse this black peny came The Papistsâ—…ailing â—…ailing on him for a Heretick and therefore he must also be a coward though indeed he was a man of arms every inch of him and as valiant as any in his age Now as I am glad that Sir John Oldcastle is put out so I am sorry that Sir John Fastolfe is put in to relieve his memory in this base service to be the anvil for every dull wit to strike upon Nor is our Comedian excusable by some alteration of his name writing him Sir John Falstafe and making him the property of pleasure for King Henry the fifth to abuse seeing the vicinity of sounds intrench on the memory of that worthy Knight and few do heed the inconsiderable difference in spelling of their name He was made Knight of the Garter by King Henry the sixth and died about the second year of his reign Sir CLEMENT PASTON Knight fourth son to Sir VVilliam Paston son to Sir John Paston a famous Soldier and favorite to King Edward the fourth sent by him with the Lord Scales to conduct the Lady Margaret the sister of the King to her husband Charles Duke of Burgundy son to VVilliam Paston the Judge was born at Paston in this County When a youth he was at the burning of Conquest in France and afterwards by King Henry the eight was made Captain of one of his ships of war and in a Sea-fight took a French Gally and therein the Admiral of France prisoner called the Baron of Blancard whom he brought into England and kept at Castor nigh rarmouth till he had payed 7000. crowns for his ransome besides the spoil of the Galley wherein he had a cup and two snakes of gold which were the
Or over all a Cross ingrailed Ermin 4 Ioh. Corbet Barr. Stoake Or 2 Ravens in Pale proper a border ingrailed Gules 5 VValt Acton ar Aldenhâ—…m Gu. 2 Lions passant Arg. between 9 Crosses croslets Fitched Or. 6 Hum. VValcot ar VValcot Ar. a Chever inter 3 chess-Rooks Er. 7 Tho. Iâ—…eland arm Abrington Gul. 6 fleur de Luces Argent 8 Phil. Eyton Mil. Eyton Or a Fret Azure 9 Tho. Thynne Mil. Caus Castle Barry of 10 Or and Sable 10 Ioh. Newton arm Heytleigh ut prius Arg. a Cross Sable fleury Or. 11 Rob. Coâ—…bet arm   12 Paulus Harris mil. ut prius  13 VVil. Pierpoint ar Tong-Castlâ—… Arg. a Lion Ramp Sab. in an Orbe of Cinquefoiles Gules  14 Rich. Lee  Gules a Fess Coâ—…ponee Or and Az. betwixt 8 Billels Argen 15 Rog. Kinnaston ar ut prius  16 Th. Nicholas arm Shrewsbury  17 Ioh. VVelde ar VVillye  18 Bellum nobis   19 hoc fecit   20 inane   21   22 Rob. Powel ar Tâ—… Park Arg. 3 Boars-heads coâ—…pee Sable RICHARD the Second 9. NICHOLAS de SANDFORD This ancient Name is still extant at the same place in this County in a worshipful equipage Wellfare a dear token thereof For in the List of such as compounded for their reputed delinquency in our late Civil VVars I find Francis Sandford of Sandford Esq. paying four hundred fifty nine pounds for his composition Yet I believe the Gentleman begrudged not his mony in preservation of his own integrity acting according to the information of his conscience and the practice of all his Ancestors I understand that the said Francis Sandford was very well skill'd in making VVarlike Fortifications HENRY the IV. 1 JOHN CORNWALL Miles A Person remarkable on several accounts 1 For his high Extraction descended from Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Almains as his Arms do evidence 2 Prosperous Valour under King Henry the Fifth in France there gaining so great Treasure as that therewith he built his fair house at Amp-hiâ—… in Bedfordshire 3 Great Honour being created by King Henry the Sixth Baron Fanhop and Knight of the Garter 4 Constant Loyalty sticking faster to King Henry the Sixth than his own Crown did faithfully following after the other forsook him 5 Vigorous vivacity continuing till the reign of King Edward the Fourth who dispossessed him of his Lands in Bedford-shire 6 Chearful disposition pleasantly saying That not He but his fine House at Amp-hill was guilty of high Treason happy that he could make mirth at his misery and smile at the loosing of that which all his Frowns could keep no longer Know Reader that if this J. Cornwal shall which I suspect not prove a distinct person from this his Kinsman and Namesake none will blame me for taking here a just occasion of speaking of so eminent a Man who elsewhere came not so conveniently under my Pen. EDWARD the Fourth 2 ROGER KINASTON Ar. I cannot satisfie my self in the certain Arms of this ancient Family much augmented by match with HORD finding them giving sundry all good and rich Coats in several Ages but conceive they now fix on Ar. a Lion ramp Sa. RICHARD the Third 1 THOMAS MITTON He in obedience to King Richard's commands apprehended the Duke of Buckingham the Grand Engener to promote that Usurper in the house of Humphry Banaster who for the avaricious desire of a thousand pounds betrayed the Duke unto the Sherif 3 GILBERT TALBOT Mil. He was son to John Talbot second Earl of Shrewsbury of that name In the time of his Sherivalty Henry Earl of Richmond afterwards King Henry the Seventh marching with his men to bid battle to King Richard the Third was met at Shrewsbury by the same Sir Gilbert with two thousand men well appointed most of them Tenants and Retainers to his Nephew George fourth Earl of Shrewsbury then in minority whence forward and not before his Forces deserved the name of an Army For this and his other good service in Bosworth-field King Henry rewarded him with fair Lands at Grafton in VVorcester-shire made him Governour of Calis in France and Knight of the Garter and from him the present Earl of Shrewsbury is descended I conceive it was rather his son than himself to whom King Henry the Eight fearing a sudden surprise from the French wrote briefly and peremptorily That he should instantly fortifie the Castle of Calis To whom Governour Talbot unprovided of necessaries as briefly as bluntly replyed That he could neither fortifie nor fiftifie without money Queen ELIZABETH 45 ROGER OWEN Miles He was the son of Sir Thomas Owen the Learned and religious Justice of the Common Pleas who lieth buried on the South side of the Quire of Westminster Abbey This Sir Roger most eminent in his Generation deserved the Character given him by Mr. Camden Multiplici doctrinâ tanto Patre dignissimus He was a Member of Parliament Vndecimo Jacobi as I take it when a great Man therein who shall be nameless cast a grieveous and general Aspersion on the English Clergy This Sir Roger appeared a Zelot in their defence and not only removed the Bastard Calumny from their doores at which it was laid but also carried the Falshood home to the true Father thereof and urged it shrewdly against the Person who in that place first revived the Aspersionâ—… King JAMES 14 ROWLAND COTTON Miles Incredible are the most true relations which many eye-witnesses still alive do make of the Valour and Activity of this most accomplished Knight So strong as if he had been nothing but bones so nimble as if he had been nothing but sinewes CHARLES the First 2 RICHARD NEWPORT Miles Signal his Fidelity to the king even in his lowest condition by whom he was deservedly rewarded with the Title of Baron of High-Arcol in this County being created at Oxford the 14 of October 1642. His sonne Francis Lord Newport at this day honoureth his honour with his Learning and other natural accomplishments Farewell May this Shire by Divine Providence be secured from the return of the Sweating sicknesse which first began and twice raged in the Town of Shrewsbury The Cure was discovered too late to save many yet soon enough to preserve more thousands of Men viz. by keeping the Patient in the same posture wherein he was seized without Food or Physick and such who so weathered out the disease for twenty four hours did certainly escape SOMERSET-SHIRE hath the Severn-sea on the North Glocestershire on the North-east Wilts-shire on the East Dorcet-shire on the South and Devonshire on the West Some will have it so called from the Summerlinesse or temperate pleasantnesse thereof With whom we concurre whilst they confine their Etimologies to the Air dissent if they extend it to the Earth which in winter is as winterly deep and dirty as any in England The truth is it is so named from Sommerton the most ancient Town
else quite forgotten any other vocation Hard it was for peace to feed all the Idle mouthes which a former war did breed being too proud to begge too lazy to labour Those infected the Highwayes with their Felonies some presuming on their multitudes as the Robbers on the Northern Rode whose knot otherwise not to be untyed Sr. John cut asunder with the Sword of Justice He possessed King James how the frequent granting of pardons was prejudicial to Justice rendring the Judges to the contempt of insolent Malesactors which made his Majesty more sparing afterward in that kind In a word the deserved death of some scores preserved the lives and livelyhoods of more thousands Travellers owing their safety to this Judges severity many years after his death which happened Anno Dom. 16. Souldiers JOHN COURCY Baron of Stoke-Courcy in this County was the first Englishman who invaded and subdued Ulster in Ireland therefore deservedly created Earl thereof He was afterward surprised by Hugh Lacy corrival for his Title sent over into England and imprisoned by King John in the Tower of London A French-Castle being in controverfie was to have the Title thereof tried by Combate the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy being a lean lank body with staring eyes prisoners with the wildnesse of their looks revenge the closenesse of their bodies is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because enfcebled with long durance a large bill of fare was allowed him to recruit his strength The Monsieur hearing how much he had eat and drank and guessing his courage by his stomack oâ—… rather stomack by his appetite took him for a Canibal who would devoure him at the last course and so he declined the Combate Afterwards the two Kings desirous to see some proof of Courcy's strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him â—…ourcy looking about him 〈◊〉 grimme countenance as if he intended to cut with his eyes as well as with his arms sundered the Helmet at one blow into two pieces striking the Sword so deep into the wood that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly Had I said he failed of my design I would have killed the Kings and all in the place words well-spoken because well taken all persons present being then highly in good humour Hence it is that the Lord Courcy Baron of Ringrom second Baron in Ireland claim a priviledge whether by Patent or Prescription Charter or Custome I know not after their first obeisance to be covered in the Kings presence if processe of time had not antiquated the practice His devotion was equal to his valour being a great Founder and endower of Religious Houses In one thing he fouly failed turning the Church of the Holy Trinity in Down into the Church of St. Patrick for which as the Story saith he was condemned never to return into Ireland though attempting it fifteen several times but repell'd with foul weather He afterwards went over and died in France about the year 1210. MATTHEW GOURNAY was born at Stoke-under-Hamden in this County where his Family had long flourished since the Conquest and there built both a Castle and a Colledge But our Matthew was the honour of the House renowned under the reign of King Edward the Third having fought in seven several signal set Battails viz. 1 At the siege of d'Algizer against the Sarazens 2 At the Battail of Benemazin against the same 3 Sluce a Sea-fight against the French 4 Cressy a Land-fight-against the same 5 Ingen Pitch'd fights against the French 6 Poictiers Pitch'd fights against the French 7 Nazaran under the Black Prince in Spain His Armour was beheld by Martial Men with much civil veneration with whom his faithful Buckler was a relique of esteem But it added to the wonder that our Matthew who did lie and watch so long on the bed of honour should die in the bed of peace aged ninety and six years about the beginning of King Richard the Second He lieth buried under a fair Monument in the Church of Stoke aforesaid whose Epitaph legible in the last age is since I suspect defaced Sea-men Sir AMIAS PRESTON Knight was descended of an Ancient Family who have an Habitationat Cricket nigh Creukern in this County He was a Valiant Souldier and Active Sea-man witnesse in 88. when he seized on the Admiral of the Galiasses wherein Hugh de Moncada the Governour making resistance with most of his Men were burnt or killed and Mr. Preston as yet not Knighted shared in a vast Treasure of Gold taken therein Afterwards Anno 1595 he performed a victorious Voyage to the West-Indies wherin he took by assault the I le of Puerto Santo invaded the I le of Coche surprised the Fort and Town of Coro sacked the stately City of St. Jago put the Town of Cumana to ransome entred Jamaica with little loss some profit and more honour safely returned within the space of six months to Milford Haven in Wales I have been informed from excellent hands that on some dis-tast he sent a Challenge to Sr. Walter Raleigh which Sr. Walter declined without any abatement to his Valour wherein he had abundantly satisfied all possibility of suspicion and great advancement of his Judgement For having a fair and fixed Estate with Wife and Children being a Privy Counsellor and Lord Warden of the Stannereys he thought it an uneven lâ—…y to stake himself against Sr. Amias a private and as I take it a single person though of good birth and courage yet of no considerable Estate This also is consonant to what he hath written so judiciously about Duels condemning those for ill Honours where the Hangman gives the Garland However these two Knights were afterwards reconciled and Sr. Amias as I collect died about the beginning of the reign of King James Learned Writers GILDAS sirnamed the WISE was born in the City of Bath and therefore it is that he is called Badonicus He was eight years junior to another Gildas called Albanius whose Nativity I cannot clear to belong to our Brittain He was also otherwise sur-stiled Querulus because the little we have of his Writing is only a Complaint Yet was he none of those whom the Apostle condemneth These are Murmurâ—…s Complainers c. taxing only such who either were impious against GOD or uncharitable against men complaining of them either without cause or without measure whilst our Gildas only inveigheth against the sins and bemoaneth the sufferings of that wicked and woful age wherein he lived calling the Clergy Montes Malitiae the Brittons generally Atramentum seculi He wrote many Books though we have none of them extant at this day some few fragments excepted inserted amongst the Manuscript Canons but his aforesaid History This makes me more to wonder that so Learned a Critick as Dr. Gerrard 〈◊〉 should attribute the Comedy of Aulularia
straitly forbidding any other of what Degree or Quality soever to be interred therein But only the Will of the King of Heaven doth stand inviolable whilest those of the most Potent earthly Princes are subject to be infringed Saints JUSTINIAN was a Noble Briton by birth who with his own inheritance built a Monastery in the Island of Ramsey in this County where many Monks lived happily under his discipline until three of them by the Devils instigation slew this Justinian in haâ—…red of his sanctity about the year of Christ 486. His body was brought with great veneration to Menevia and there interred by Saint David himself and since much famed with supposed Miracles Writers GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS whose Sir-name say some was Fitz-Girald say others was Barry and I believe the latter because he saith so himself in his Book De vita sua and was born at Tenby in this County His Father His Mother William de Barry an Englishman Angaâ—…eth the daughter of Nesta daughter of Rhese Prince of South-Wales He was Nephew to David the second Bishop of St. Davids by whom he was made Arch-Deacon of Brecknock He was wont to complain that the English did not love him because his Mother was a Welsh-woman and the Welsh did hate him because his Father was an English-man though by his excellent writings he deserved of England well of Wales better and of Ireland best of all making a Topographical description of all three But acting in the last as a Secretary under King John with great industry and expence Yea he was a great Traveller as far as Jerusalem it self and wrote De mirabilibus terrae Sanctae so that he might be styled Geraldus Anglicus Hibernicus Hierosolymitanus though it was his mind and modesty only to be Cambrensis One may justly wonder that having all Dimensions requisite to preferment his birth broad acquaintance deep learning long life living above seventy years he never attained to any considerable Dignity Hear how betwixt grief and anger he expresseth him self concerning his ill success at Court Irreparabili damno duo ferè lustra consumens nihil ab illis preter inanes vexationes 〈◊〉 veris promissa suscepi Indeed for a long timè no Preferment was proffered him above a beggerly Bishoprick in Ireland and at last the See of S. Davids was the highest place he attained Whilest some impute this to His Planet the malignant influence whereof hath blasted men of the most merit Pride some men counting it their due for preferment to court them and that it is enough for them to recive too much to reach after it Profitableness to be employed in meaner places Some having gotten an useful Servant love to wear him out in working and as Gardiners keep their hedges close cut that they may spread the broader maintain them mean that they may be the more industrious Giraldus himself tells us the true reason that he was ever beheld oculo novercali because being a Welsh-man by the surer side and then such the Antipathy of the English they thought no good could come out of Wales Sad that so worthy a man should poenas dare Patriae Matris suae Being at last as we have said made Bishop of Saint Davids he went to Rome and there stickled for an exemption of that his See from Canterbury whereby he highly offended Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury But Giraldus after long debates being rather over-born with Bribes than over-come in Cause returned re infecta died and was buried in his own Cathedral about the year 1215. The Farewell I know not what better to wish this County than that the Marle a great fertilizer of barren ground which it affordeth be daily encreased especially since Corn is in all probability likely to grow scarcer and scarcer that their land through Gods blessing being put in heart therewith may plentifully answer the desires of the Husbandman and hereafter repair the Penury of this with the Abundance for many succeeding years RADNOR-SHIRE RADNOR-SHIRE in British Sire Maiseveth in form three square is bounded on the North-West with Hereford-shire and on the South side separated by the River Wye with Breckneck-shire and on the North part thereof with Montgomery-shire Nature may seem to have chequered this County the East and South parts being fruitful whilest the North and West thereof lying rough and uneven with Mountains can hardly be bettered by the greatest pains and industry of the Husband man Yet is it indifferently well stored with woods and conveniently watered with running Rivers and in some places with standing Meers Mr. Cambden telleth us that there is a place therein termed Melienith from the Mountains thereof being of a Yellowish colour which stretcheth from Offa Dike unto the River Wye which cutteth overthwart the West corner of this Shire where meeting with some stones which impede its motion on a sudden for want of ground to glide on hath a violent downfall which place is termed Raihader Gowy that is the Fall or Flood-gates of Wye Hereupon he supposeth it not improbable that the English men forged that word for the name of this Shire terming it Radnor-shire Princes HENRY of MONMOUTH so called from that well known Town wherein he was born hath his Character fixed here because formerly passed over in its proper place through the posting speed of the Press He was Son to King Henry the fourth by Mary one of the Daughters and Heirs of Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Herefoâ—…d and whom he succeeded on the Throne being the fifth of that name and began his raign March 20. Anno 1413. He cannot be excused from extravagancies in his Youth seeing the King his Father expelled him his Council substituting his younger Brother the Duke of Clarence President in his steed for the same Yet as those bodies prove most healthful which break out in their youth so was his soul the sounder for venting it self in its younger days For no sooner was his Father dead but he reclaimed himself and became a glory to his Country and a constant terror to his Enemies Yea he banished all his idle Companions from Court allowing them a competency for their subsistence When the Lord Chiefe Justice who had secured him when Prince for striking him for the commitment of some of his lewd Companions begg'd his Pardon for the same he not only forgave him but rewarded his Justice for distributing it without fear or partiality In his raign a Supplication was preferred that the Temporal Lands given to pious uses but abusively spent might have been seized to the King This was wisely awarded by Chichley Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by putting the King on the design of recovering France Yea this King by his valour reduced Charles the sixth King of France to such a condition that he in a manner resigned his Kingdom into his hand And here the French men found him as good or rather worse as his promise which he made to
Provost of Kings Colledge in Cambridge Which he reteined with the Bishoprick of Chichester to which he was consecrated 1543. A most pertinacious Papist who though he had made some kind of Recantation in a Sermon as I find it entred in king Edward the Sixth his own Diary yet either the same was not satisfactory or else he relapsed into his errours again for which he was deprived under the said king and restored again by Queen Mary He died Anno Dom. 1556. Prelats since the Reformation WILLIAM DAY was brother to the aforesaid George Day I find no great difference betwixt their age seeing George Day was admitted in Kings Colledge Anno 1538. VVilliam Day was admitted in the same Colledge Anno 1545. Yet was there more than forty years betwixt the dates of their deaths George Day died very young Bishop of Chichester Anno Dom. 1556. VVilliam Day died very old Bishop of VVinchester Anno 1596. But not so great was the difference betwixt their Vivacity as distance betwixt their Opinions the former being a Rigid Papist the later a Zealous Protestant Who requesting of his Brother some Money to buy Books therewith and other necessaries was returned with this denial That he thought it not fit to spend the goods of the Church on him who was an enemy of the Church However this William found the words of Solomon true And there is a friend who is nearer than a Brother not wanting those who supplyed his necessities He was Proctor of Cambridge 1558 and afterwards was made by Queen Elizabeth who highly esteemed him for his Learning and Religion Provost of Eton and Dean of Windsor two fair preferments parted with Thames but united in his person The Bishoprick of Winchester he enjoyed scarcely a whole year and dyed as aforesaid 1596. Statesmen Sir THOMAS BROMLEY was borne at Bromley in this County of a right ancient Family I assure you bred in the Inner Temple and Generall Solicitor to Queen Elizabeth He afterwards succeeded Sir Nicholas Bacon in the Dignity of Lord Chancellor Aprill 25. 1579. Now although it was difficult to come after Sir Nicholas Bacon and not to come after him Yet such was Sir Thomas his Learning and Integrity being charactred by my Authors Virjuris prudentia insignis That Court was not sensible of any considerable alteration He possessed his place about nine years dying Anno 1587 not being 60 years old Hereby the pregnancie of his parts do appear seeing by proportion of time he was made the Queens Solicitor before he was 40 and Lord Chancellor before he was 50 years old Learning in Law may seem to run in the veins of that name which since had a Baron of the Exchequer of his Alliance Sir CLEMENT EDMONDS was born at Shrawardine in this County and bred Fellow in All-Souls Colledge in Oxford being generally skilled in all Arts and Sciences Witness his faithfull Translations of and learned Illustrations on Caesars Commentaries Say not that Comment on Commentary was false Heraldry seeing it is so worthy a work that the Authour thereof may pass for an eminent instance to what perfection of Theorie they may attain in matter of War who were not acquainted with the Practick part thereof being only once employed by Queen Elizabeth with a dispatch to Sir Francis Vere which occasioned his presence at the Battail at Newport For he doth so smartly discusse pro and con and seriously decide many Martiall Controversies that his judgement therein is praised by the best Military Masters King Iames taking notice of his Abilities made him Clerke of the Council and Knighted him And he was at last preferred Secretary of State in the vacancy of that place but prevented by Death acted not therein He died Anno 16. and lies buried at Preston in Northamptonshire where he purchased a fair Estate which his Grandchilde doth possess at this day Capitall Judges and Writers on the Law EDMUND PLOWDEN was borne at Plowden in this County one who excellently deserved of our Municipall Law in his learned Writings thereon but consult his ensuing Epitaph which will give a more perfect account of him Conditur in hoc Tumulo corpus Edmundi Plowden Armigeri Claris ortus Parentibus apud Plowden in Comitatu Salop. natus est à pueritia in literarum studio liberaliter est educatus in provectiore vero aetate Legibus juris prudentiae operam dedit Senex jam factus annum aetatis suae agens 67. Mundo valedicens in Christo Jesu sanctè obdormivit die sexto mensis Februar Anno Domini 1584. I have rather inserted this Epitaph inscribed on his Monument on the North side of the East end of the Quire of Temple Church in London because it hath escaped but by what casualty I cannot conjecture Master Stow in his Survey of London We must add a few words out of the Character Mr. Camden gives of him Vitae integritate inter homines suae professionis nulli secundus And how excellent a medly is made when honesty and ability meet in a man of his Profession Nor must we forget how he was Treasurer for the Honourable Society of the Middle-Temple Anno 1572. when their magnificent Hall was builded He being a great advancer thereof Sir JOHN WALTER son to Edmund Walter Chief Justice of South-Wales was born at Ludlow in this County and bred a Student of our Common-Laws wherein he atteined to great Learning so that he became when a Pleader eminent when a Judge more eminent when no Judge most eminent 1 Pleader The Character that Learned James Thuanus gives of Christopher Thuanus his Father being an Advocate of the Civil Law and afterwards a Senator of Paris is exactly agreeable to this Worthy Knight Ut bonos a calumniatoribus tenuiores a potentioribus doctos ab ignorantibus opprimi non pateretur That he fuffered not good men to be born down by slanderers poor men by more potent Learned men by the ignorant 2 Judge Who as when ascending the Bench entering into a new temper was most passionate as Sir John most patient as Judge Walter and great his gravity in that place When Judge Denham his most upright and worthy Associate in the Western Circuit once said unto him My Lord you are not merry Merry enough return'd the other for a Judge 3 No Judge Being outed of his place when Chief Baron of the Exchequer about the Illegality of the Loan as I take it He was a grand Benefactor though I know not the just proportion to Jesus Colledge in Oxford and died Anno 1630. in the Parish of the Savoy bequeathing 20 l. to the Poor thereof EDWARD LITLETON born at Mounslow in this County was the eldest son to Sir Edward Littleton one of the Justices of the Marches and Chief Justice of North-Wales He was bred in Christ-Church in Oxford where he proceeded Batchelor of Arts and afterward one of the Justices of North-Wales Recorder of London