more able child of more docility Docil the child Master of great ability At last he was prefered Bishop of Ely 1559. commendably continuing therein whatever causless malice hath reported to the contrary twenty one years and dying Anno Domini 1580. THOMAS BICKLEY was born at Stow in this County bred first Chorister then Scholar then Fellow in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford In the first of Edward the sixth his detestation of Superstition may rather be commended then his discretion in expressing it when before the publique abolishing of Popery at Evening-prayer he brake the consecrated Host with his hands and stamped it under his feet in the Colledge-chappel Afterwards he fled over into France living an exile at Paris Orleans all the reign of Queen Mary Returning into Eugland he became Chaplain to Arch-bishop Parker who preferred him Warden of Merton-colledge wherein he continued twenty years When pass'd the age of a man eighty years old he began the life of a Bishop and was rather contented then willing to accept the Bishoprick of Chichester * freely offered unto him Yet lived he eleven years therein and died ninety years of age April 30 1596. and had a most sumptuous funerall all the Gentry of the Vicinage doing their homage to the Crown of his old age which was foun'd in the way of truth He led a single life left an hundred pound to Merton-colledge and other moneys to pious uses JOHN KING was born at Warnhall nigh Tame in this County Robert King the last Abbot of Osney and first Bishop of Oxford being his great Uncle he was first Deane of Christ-church then Bishop of London being ful fraught with all Episcopal qualities so that he who endeavoureth to give a perfect account thereof will rather discover his own defects then describe this Prelates perfections He died Anno Dom. 1618. being buried in the Quire of Saint Pauls with the plain Epitaph of Resurgam and I cannot conceal this elegant Elegie made upon him Sad Relique of a blessed soul whose trust We sealed up in this Religious dust O do not thy low Exequies suspect As the cheap Arguments of our Neglect 'T was a commanded duty that thy Grave As little pride as thou thy self should have Therefore thy covering is an humble stone And but a word for thy inscription When those that in the same earth neighbour thee Have â—…ach his Chronicle Pedigree They have their waving Pennons and their flaggs Of Matches and Alliance formal Braggs Whenthou although from ancestors thou came Old as the Heptarchy great as thy name Sleepst there inshrin'd in thy admired parts And hast no Heraldry but thy deserts Yet let not them their prouder Marbles boast For they rest with less Honor though more cost Go search the world with your Mattokwound The groaning bosom of the patient ground Digg from the hidden veins of her dark womb All that is rare and precious for a tomb Yet when much treasure more time is spent You must grant his the Nobler Monument Whose faith standsore him for a Hearse hath The Resurrection for his Epitaph See more of the character of this most worthy Prelate in our Ecclesiasticall History anno 1620. wherein he died RICHARD MONTAGUE was born at Dorney where his Father was Vicar of the Parish within 3. miles of Eaton and so though not within the reach within the sight of that Staple Place for Grammar learning wherein he was bred Thence was he chosen successively Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge Fellow of Eaton Parson of Stanford Rivers in Essex Canon of Windsor Parson of Petworth elected Bishop of Chichester and at last of Norwich He spent very much in repairing his Parsonage-house at Petworth as also on his Episcopal house at Allingbourn near Chichester He was most exact in the Latin and Greek and in the Vindication of Tithes wrestled with the grand Antiquary of England and gave him a fair flat fall in the point of a Greek Criticisme taxing him justly for mistaking a God amongst the Aegyptians more then there was by making a Man amongst the Grammarians fewer then they should be He hath many learned works extant against the Papists some in English some in Latin and one called his Appello Caesarem which without his intent and against his will gave occasion of much trouble in the Land He began an Ecclesiasticall History and set forth his Apparatus and alas it was but an Apparatus though through no Default of his but defect of his Health sicknesse troublesome times and then death surprizing him Had it been finished we had had Church Annalls to put into the Ballance with those of Baronius and which would have swayed with them for Learning and weighed them down for Truth He dyed Anno Dom 1641. HENRY KING D. D. son to John King lately mentioned Bishop of London and his wife of the ancient family of the Conquests was born in this County in the â—…me town house and chamber with his father a locall Coincidence which in all considerable particulars cannot be parallel'd We know the Scripture-Proverb used in Exprobration As is the mother so is the daughter both wicked both wofull But here it may be said by way of thankfullness to God and honour to the persons As was the father so is the son both pious both prosperous till the calamity of the times involved the later Episcopacy Anno 1641. was beheld by many in a deep consumption which many hoped would prove mortal To cure this it was conceived the most probable cordiall to prefer persons into that Order not only unblameable for their life and eminent for their learning but also generally beloved by all disingaged people and amongst these King Charles advanced this our Doctor Bishop of Chichester But all would not do their Innocency was so far from stopping the mouth of malice that malice almost had swallowed them down her throat Since God hath rewarded his Patience giving him to live to see the Restitution of his Order David saith that the good Tree Man shall bring forth his fruit in due season so our Doctor varied his fruits according to the diversity of his age Being brought up in Christ-church in Oxford he delighted in the studies of Musiâ—…k and Poetry more elder he applyed himself to Oratory and Philosophy and in his reduced age fixed on Divinity which his Printed Sermons on the Lords-prayer and others which he preached remaining fresh in the minds of his Auditors will report him to all posterity He is still living Anno Domini 1660. Writers on the Law Sir GEORGE CROOK Knight son of Sir John Crook and Elizabeth Unton his wife was born at Chilton in this County in the second year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth bred first in Oxford then a double Reader in the Inner Temple Serjeant at Law and the Kings Serjeant Justice first of the Common-bench 22. Jacobi and then of the Upper-bench 4. Caroli His ability
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
the Abby Lands in Ireland for the Kings use a flower of the Crown which alone had made a Posey if continued thereunto But alas the Revenues of Abby Lands are as 〈◊〉 as their buildings nothing more than the rubbish thereof remaining in the Kings Exchequer He made a Law that no Children should be admitted to Church livings which importeth the frequency of that abuse in former times He perswaded O Neile O Brian c. to go over into England to surrender their lands into the Kings hands promising they should receive them again from him by Letters Patents with the Addition of Earls which was done accordingly At his desire the King conferred on them Houses nigh Dublin that residing there they might suck in Civility with the Court air These things thus setled he returned into England and died as I take it in the raign of King Edward the sixth Sir HENRY SIDNRY was son to Sir William Sidney of Pensherst in this County who by his own worth was advanced into the favour of Queen Elizabeth never a whit the lesse for marrying Mary Dudley sister to Robert Earl of Leicester he was by her made Knight of the Garter Lord President of Wales and for eleven years off and on Deputy of Ireland Now though generally the Irish are querelous of their Deputies what Patient for the present will praise his Chirurgion who soundly searcheth his sore yet Sir Henry left a good memory and the monuments of a good Governor behind him 1. He made Annaly a Territory in Loynsteresse by the Sept of Offerralles one entire Shire by it self called the County of Longford he likewise divided the Province of â—…onaght into six Counties 2. In a Parliament held the eleventh of Elizabeth he abolished the pretended and usurped Captain-ships and all extortions incident thereunto 3. He caused an Act to pass whereby the Lord Deputy was authorized to accept the surrenders of the Irish Seâ—…gniories and to re-grant estates unto them to hold of the Crown by English Tenures and Services 4. Because the inferiour sort of the Irish were poor and not Amesâ—…able by Law he provided that five of the best persons of every Sept should bring in all the persons of their surname to be justified by the Law 5. A Law was made that for the civil education of the youth there should be one Free Schoole at least in every Diocesse 6. To acquaint the people of Mounster and Conaght with the English Government again disused amongst them for two hundred years he instituted two Presidency Courts in those two Provinces 7. To augment the Revenues of the Crown he resumed and vested therein by the power of the same Parliament more than half the Province of Ulster upon the attainder of Shane O Neale 8. He raised Customs upon the principal Commodities of the Kingdom and reformed the abuses of the Exchequer by many good instructions from England 9. He established the Composition of the Pale in lieu of Purveyance and Sesse of Souldiers It must not be forgotten that he caused the Statutes of Ireland unto his own time to be printed and so saith my Author ex umbra in solem eduxit he brought them out of the shadow into the sun-shine Whereas formerly they were only in Manuscript a sad case that men should be obliged to the observation of those Laws scarce ever seen by one in an hundred subjected thereunto Being to leave Ireland Anno 1578. and now ready to go up into his Ship he took his leave thereof with the words of the Psalmist When Israel came out of Egypt and Jacob from a strange people rejoycing in heart that he came with a clear conscience from that dangerous employment He died at Worcester May the fifth 1586. and his Corps being brought to Pensherst were there solemnly interred amongst his Ancestors I will close his Life with this Encomium which I find in a Worthy Author His disposition was rather to seek after the Antiquities and the Weal-Publick of those Countries which he governed than to obtain lands and revenues within the same for I know not one foot of Land that he had either in Wales or Ireland Sir PHILIP SIDNEY Reader I am resolved not to part him from his Father such the Sympathy betwixt them living and dying both within the compass of the same year Otherwise this Knight in relation to my Book may be termed an Ubiquitary and appear amongst Statesmen Souldiers Lawyers Writers yea Princes themselves being though not elected in election to be King of Poland which place he declined preferring rather to be a Subject to Queen Elizabeth than a Soveraign beyond the Seas He was born at Pensherst in this County son to Sir Henry Sidney of whom before and Sisters Son to Robert Earl of Leicester bred in Christs Church in Oxford Such his appetite to Learning that he could never be fed fast enough therewith and so quick and strong his digestion that he soon turned it into wholsome nourishment and thrived healthfully thereon His homebred abilities travel perfected with forraign accomplishments and a sweet Nature set a glosse upon both He was so essential to the English Court that it seemed maimed without his company being a compleat Master of Matter and Language as his Arcadia doth evidence I confesse I have heard some of modern pretended Wits cavil thereat meerly because they made it not themselves such who say that his Book is the occasion that many pretious hours are otherwise spent no better must acknowledge it also the cause that many idle hours are otherwise spent no worse than in reading thereof At last leaving the Court he followed the Camp being made Governor of Flushing under his Uncle Earl of Leicester But the Walls of that City though high and strong could not confine the activity of his mind which must into the Field and before Zutphen was unfortunately slain with a shot in a small skirmish which we may sadly tearm a great battel considering our heavy losse therein His Corps being brought over into England was buried in the Quire of St. Pauls with general lamentation Sir FRANCIS WALSINGHAM Knight was born in this County wherein his Family long flourished at Chiselhurst though I read that originally they fetch their name from Walsingham in Norfolk He was bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge and gave the King of â—…pain his Bible to the Library thereof As a traveller many years beyond the 〈◊〉 he learnt experience as an Agent he practised it there and after his return a Secretary of State he taught it to many Emisaries imployed under him None alive did better ken the Secretary Craft to get Counsels out of others and keep them in himself Mâ—…rvellous his â—…agacity in examining suspected persons either to make them confesse the truth or confound themselves by denying it to their detection Cunning his hands who could unpick the Cabinets in the Popes Conclave quick his ears who could hear at London what
For being with some other by this General for want of provisions left on land after many miseries they came to Mexico and he continued a Prisoner twenty three years viz Two years in Mexico one year in the Contractation-House in Civil another in the Inquisition-House in Triana twelve years in the Gallies four years with the Cross of St. Andrew on his back in the Everlasting-Prison and three years a drudge to Hernando de Soria to so high a summ did the Inventorie of his sufferings amount So much of his patience now see the end which the Lord made with him Whil'st enslaved to the aforesaid Hervando he was sent to Sea in a Flemish which was afterward taken by an English ship called the Galeon-Dudley and so was he safely landed at Portsmouth Decemb. the second 1590. And I believe lived not long after Sir WILLIAM MOUNSON Knight was extracted of an Antient Family in this Shire and was from his youth bred in Sea-Service wherein he attained to Great Perfection Queen Elizabeth having cleared Ireland of the Spanish Forces and desiring carefully to prevent a Relapse altered the Scaene of the War from Ireland to Spaine from Defending to Invading Sir Richard Leveson was Admiral our Sir William Vice-Admiral Anno 1602. These without drawing a Sword Killed Trading quite on the Coasts of Portugal no Vessels daring to goe in or out of their Harbours They had Intelligence of a Caract ready to land in Sisimbria which was of 1600 Tun richly laden out of the East-Indies and resolved to assault it though it seemed placed in an Invincible Posture Of it self it was a Gyant in Comparison to our Pigmy Ships and had in her three hundred Spanish Gentlemen the Marquess de Sancta Cruce lay hard by with thirteen Ships and all were secured under the Command of a Strong and well fortified Castle But nothing is Impossible to Mars valour and Gods blessing thereon After a â—…aire dispute which lasted for some houres with Sillogismes of fire and sword the Caract was Conquered the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of Ten Hundred Thousand Crownes of Portugal Account But though the Goods gotten therein might be valued the Good gained thereby was Inestimable for henceforward they beheld the English with admiring eyes and quitted their thoughts of Invasion This worthy Knight dyed about the mid'st of the Reign of King Iames. Writers This County hath afforded many partly because so large in it self partly because abounding with so many Monasteries whereof two Mitred ones Crowland and Bardney the Seminaries of many Learned men Not to speak of the Cathedral of Lincoln and Embrio University of Stamford wherein many had their Education Wherefore to pass by Faelix Crowlandensis Kimbertus Lindesius and others all of them not affording so much true History as will fill a hollow quill therewith we take notice of some principal ones and begin with GILBERT of HOLLAND He took his name not as others from a single Town but a great part of ground the third part of this Tripartite County which in my apprehension argues his Diligence in preaching thereabouts But quitting his Native Land he was invited by the famous St. Bernard to go to and live with him at Clarvaulx in Burgundy where he became his Scholar Some will prize a Crum of Forreign Praise before a Loafe of English commendation as subject to partiality to their own Countrymen Let such hear how Abbot Trithemius the German commendeth our Gilbert Vir erat in Scripturis Divinis Studiosus egregie doctus ingenio subtilis clarus eloquio The Poets feigâ—… that Hercules for a time supplyed the place of wearied Atlas in supporting the Heavens so our Gilbert was frequently substitute to St. Bernard continuing his Sermons where the other brake â—…ff from those words in lectulo meo per noctes c. unto the end of the book being forty six Sermons in style scarce discernable from St. Bernards He flourished anno Dom. 1200. and was buryed at Gistreaux in France ROGER of CROULAND was bred a Benedictine Monk therein and afterwards became Abbot of Friskney in this County He was the seventh man in order who wrote the Life of Thomas Becket Some will say his six elder Brethren left his Pen but a pitiful portion to whom it was impossible to present the Reader with any remarkable Novelty in so trite a subject But know that the pretended miracles of Becket daily multiplying the last Writer had the most matter in that kind He divided his book into seven Volumes and was full fifteen years in making of it from the last of King Richard the first to the fourteenth of King Iohn But whether this Elephantine Birth answered that proportion of time in the performance thereof let others decide He flourished anno Domini 1214. ELIASDE TREKINGHAM was born in this County at a Village so called as by the sequents will appear Ingulphus relateth that in the year of our Lord 870. in the Month of September Count Algar with others bid battle to the Danes in Kesteven a Third part of this County and worsted them killing three of their Kings whom the Danes buryed in a Village therein formerly called Laundon but after Trekingham Nor do I know any place to which the same name on the like accident can be applied except it be Alcaser in Africa where anno 1578. Sebastian the Portugal and two other Morish Kings were killed in one Battle I confess no such place as Trekingham appeareth at this day in any Catalogue of English Towns Whence I conclude it either a Parish some years since depoulated or never but a Churchlesse Village This Elias was a Monk of Peterborough Doctor of Divinity in Oxford a Learned man and great Lover of History writing himself a Chronicle from the year of our Lord 626 till 1270. at what time it is probable he deceased HUGO KIRKSTED was born at that well known Town in this County being bred a Benedictine-Cistercian-Bernardine A Cistercian is a Reformed Benedictine a Bernardine is a Reformed Cistercian so that our Hugh may charitably be presumed Pure as twice Refined He consulted one Serlo an aged man and one of his own Order and they both clubbing their pains and brains together made a Chronicle of the Cistercians from their first coming into England anno 1131. when Walter de Espeke founded their first Abby at Rivaax in York-shire Our Hugh did write Serlo did indict being almost an hundred years old so that his Memory was a perfect Chronicle of all remarkable Passages from the Beginning of his Order Our Hugo flourished anno Domini 1220. WILLIAM LIDLINGTON was born say some at that Village in Cambridge-shire at a Village so named in this County say others with whom I concur because he had his Education at Stamford He was by profession a Carmelite and became the Fifth Provincial of his Order in England Monasteries being multiplyed in that age Gerardus a Frenchman Master General
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
Master Aylmer sate in the hind part whilst the Searchers drank of the Wine which they saw drawn out of the head or other end thereof Returning into England he was made Arch-Deacon of Lincoln and at last Bishop of London He was happy in a meet Yoke-fellow having a gratious Matron to his wife by whom he had many children and one son to which Arch-bishop Whitgift was Godfather and named him Tob-el that is The Lord is good in memorial of a great deliverance bestowed on this childs mother For when she was cast out of her Coach in London by a Mastiff casually seising upon the Horses she received no harm at all though very near to the time of her Travail Bishop Aylmer was well learned in the Languages a ready Disputant and deep Divine He was eighteen years Bishop of London and dying Anno 1594. in the 73. year of his age had this for part of his Epitaph which Bishop Vaugham sometimes his Chaplain afterwards his Successor made upon him Ter senos Annos Praesul semul Exul idem Bis Pugil in causa religionis erat Eighteen years Bishop and once Banish'd hence And twice a Champion in the Truths defence I understand it thus once a Champion in suffering when an Exile for religion and again in doing when chosen one of the disputants at Westminster against the Popish Bishops Primo Elizabethae except any expound it thus once Champion of the Doctrine against Papists and afterwards against the Discipline of the Non-Confromists none more stoutly opposing or more fouly belibelled of them God blessed him with a great estate the main whereof he left unto Samuel Aylmer his eldest son High-sheriff of Suffolk in the reign of King Charles and amongst his youngest sons all well provided for Doctor Aylmer Rector of Haddam in Hartfordshire was one of the most learned and reverend Divines in his generation JOHN TOWERS was born in this County bred Fellow of Queens-colledge in Cambridge and became Chaplain to William Earl of Northampton who bestowed on him the Benefice of Castle-Ashby in Northampton-shire He was preferred Dean and at last Bishop of Peterborough He was a good actor when he was young and a great sufferour when he was old dying about the year 1650. rich onely in Children and Patience Nothing but sin is a shame in it self and poverty as poverty especially since our Saviour hath sanctified it by suffering it is no disgrace Capital Judges and Writers on the Law RALPH DE-HENGHAM so named from a fair Market-town in this County was made Lord Chief-justice of the Kings-bench in Michaelmas term in the second year of King Edward the first when the King was newly returned from the Holy-land He sate 16. years in that place saving that one Winborne was for a year or two interposed and at the general purging and garbling of the Judges which happened in the 18. year of the aforesaid King when all the Judges except two John de Metingham and Elias de Bekingham were cast out by the Parliament for their corruption fined banished and imprisoned then this Ralph was merced in seven thousand marks for bribery and ejected out of his place Some will say let him wither in silence why do you mention him amongst the Worthies of our Nation I answer Penitence is the second part of Innocence and we find this Ralph after his fine payed made Chief-justice of the Common-pleas sub recipiscendi fiducia under the confidence generally conceived of his amendment He died the next being the 19. year of the raign of King Edward the first he lies buried in the Church of Saint Paul where he hath or had this Epitaph Per versus patet hos Anglorum quod jacet hic flos Legum qui tuta dictavit vera statuta Ex Hengham dictus Radulphus vir benedictus One must charitably believe that he played a good after-game of integrity and if injoying longer life he would have given a clearer testimony thereof WILLIAM PASTON Esq. son of Clement Paston Esq. and Beatrix his wife sister and heir to Jeffry Sommerton Esq. was born at Paston in this County He was learned in the laws of this Realm and first was Serjeant to King Henry the sixth and was after by him preferred second Judge of the Common-pleas I confess having confined our Catalogue to Capital Judges or Writers on the Law he falls not under our method in the strictness thereof But I appeal to the Reader himself whether he would not have been highly offended with me had I in silence passed over a person so deserving his observation He was highly in favour with King Henry the sixth who allowed him besides the ordinary salary assigned to other Judges one hundred and ten marks Reader behold the Standard of money in that age and admire with two Gowns to be taken yearly out of the Exchequer as by the ensuing letters Patents will appear Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Omnibus ad quos Praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali ut dilectus fidelis noster Willielmus Paston unus Justiti nostrorum de com Banco Statum suum decentius manu tenere expensas quas ipsum in officio pradicto facere oportebit sustinere valeat concessimus ei centum decem marcas percipiendum singulis annis ad scaccarium nostrum ad terminos Pasche Sancti Michaelis per equales Portiones duas robas per annum percipiendum unam videlicet cum Pellura ad festum Natalis Domini aliam cum Limra ad festum Pentecostes ultra feodum consuetum quamdiu ipsum Stare contigerit in officio supradicto In cujus rei Testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes teste meipso apud Westminst XV. die Octobris anno regni nostri octavo What Pellura is I understand Furr but what Limra is if rightly written I would willingly learn from another though some are confident it is Taffata I wonder the less at these noble favours conferred on the said William Paston Judge for I find him in grace with the two former Kings being made Serjeant by King Henry the fourth and of â—…is counsel for the Dutchie of Lancaster and in the reign of King Henry the fifth he was in such esteem with Sir John Falstofe Knight that he appointed him one of his Feoffees whom he enabled by a writing under his hand to recover debts from the Executors of King Henry the fifth This William Paston married Agnes daughter and heir of Sir Edmond Berrey by which marriage the Pastons rightly quarter at this day the several Coats of Hetherset Wachesham Craven Gerbredge Hemgrave and Kerdeston and received both advancement in bloud and accession in estate This said VVilliam Paston died at London August 14. 1444. and lies buryed in Norwich so that his corps by a peculiar exception do straggle from the Sepulture of their Ancestors who
come and learn of me Come we now to his sad Catastrophe Indeed the curious had observed that in the Scheme of his Nativity not onely the Dragons-tail was ready to promote abusive aspersions against him to which living and dead he hath been subject but also something malignant appears posited in Aquarius which hath influence on the leggs which accordingly came to pass For being twice imprisoned for what misdemeanor I know not by Radulphus the Emperor he endeavoured his escape out of an high window and tying his sheets together to let him down fell being a weighty man and brake his legg whereof he died 1595. I believe him neither so bad as some nor so good as others do character him all know how Separation is of great use amongst men of his profession and indeed if his pride and prodigality were severed from him he would remain a person on other accounts for his industry and experience in practical Philosophy worthy recommendation to posterity Writers FLORENCE of WORCESTER was probably born near certainly bred in that City one eminent in learning as any of his age and no less industrious Many books are extant of his making and one most usefull beginning at the Creation and continued till his death This he calleth Chronicum Chronicorum which some esteem an Arrogant Title and an Insolent defiance of all Authors before and after him as if as the Rose is flos florum so his were the Superlative Chronicle of all that are Extant But others meet with much modesty in the Title Chronicum Chronicâ—…rum as none of his own making but onely gathered both for Matter and Language out of others he being rather the Collector then the Originall Composer thereof He died Anno Domini 1119. JOHN WALLIS or WELSH is confessed natione Anglus which I observe to secure his nativity against Welch-claimes thereunto onely grounded on his Sur-name Yet I confess he might be mediatly of Welch-extraction but born in this County where the family of the Walshes are extant at this day in a worshipfull equipage where he became a Franciscan in Worcester Leaving Oxford he lived in Paris where he was common ly called Arbor vitae The tree of life Non absque insigni Servatoris blasphemia With no small blasphemy to our Saviour saith our Author But to qualifie the matter we take the expression in the same sense wherein Solomon calls a wholesome tongue a Tree of Life Yet might he better be termed the tree of knowledge of good and evil whose books amounting to no fewer then twenty volumes are not so practicall for their use as curious in their speculations In the ancient Libraries of Baliâ—…l and Oriel-Colledge most of his Manuscripts are reported extant at this day He died and was buried at Paris Anno Dom. 1216. ELIAS de EVESHAM was born in this County of good Parentage from whom as it seemeth by J. Bale he had expectancy of a fair estate This did not hinder him from being a Benedictine in the Abby of Evesham where he became a great Scholar and wrote an Excellent Chronicle Bale knoweth not where to place him with any certainty But Pitz not more knowing but more daring assigneth him to have flourished in the year 1270. WILLIAM PACKINGTON I confess two Villages the less and greater of this name in Warwick-shire and yet place this Packington here with no discredit to my self and greater grace to him For first I behold him as no Clergy-man commonly called from their Native Places but have reasons to believe him rather a Layman and find an Antient Family of his Name not to say Alliance still flourishing in this County He was Secretary and Treasurer to Edward the Black Prince and his long living in France had made the language of his Nurse more naturall to him then the tongue of his Mother Hence it was that he wrot in French the story of five English Kings King John Henry the third Edwards first second and third and a book of the Atchievements of the Black Prince He flourished Anno Dom. 1380. Since the Reformation Sir EDWIN SANDYS Son to Edwin Sandys D. D. was in all probability born in this County whilst his father was Bishop of Worcester He was bred in Cambridge and attained to be a most accomplished person I have known some pitifull in Affection but poor in Condition willing but unable to relieve one in greater want then themselves who have only gotten an empty Purse and given it to others to put their charity therein for the purpose aforesaid Such my case I can only present the Reader with a Place in this my Book for the Character of this worthy Knight but can not contribute any Coine of MEMOIRES or Remarkables to the furnishing thereof Only let me adde he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 right-handed to any great imployment and was as constant in all Parliaments as the Speaker himself being beheld by all as an Excellent Patriot faithfull to his Country without being false to his King in all transactions He was the Treasurer to the undertakers for the Western Plantations which he effectually advanced the Bermudaes the firmest though not the fairest Footing the English have in the West-Indies owing their happiness to his Care and Sandys Tribe is no contemptible Proportion therein He had a commanding Pen witness his work of the Religion of the Western World many in one Book so much matter is Stowed therein I have been informed that he bequeathed by his Will a Considerable Summe to the Building of a Colledge in Cambridge but Debts not coming in according to Expectation his good Intention failed in the performance thereof He died much lamented of all good Men about the year 1631. Romish Exile Writers RICHARD SMITH D. D. was born in this County bred in the University of Oxford where he became Kings Professor and was fit for that place in all things if as one of his own perswasion avoweth Non obstitisset Laterum debilitas Vocis exilitas The weaknes of his Sides and lowness of his Voice had no hindred him King Edward the sixth afterwards sent for Peter Martyr over to be his Professor in this University betwixt whom and Doctor Smith so great the Contest that waving all ingagements it is best to State it to the eye of the Reader as it is represented by Authors of both sides Pitz. de Script in Anno 1563. Petrum Martyrem apostatam Monachum Haeresis Zuvinglicanae sectatorem a Rege Edwardo sexto Oxonii in Cathedram Theologicam intrusum in publicis disputationibus haeresis convicit Cathedrâ—…m suam victor repetiit sed Rege obstante non impetravit In publick disputations he convicted Peter Martyr the Apostate Monke and a follower of the Zwinglian Heresie thrust in by King Edward the sixth into the Divinity Chair in Oxford and being Conquerer did require his own Chair to be restored him which he obtained not because the King
Statutes of Ruthland made in the year of King Edward the first This Lady Elizabeth at fourteen years of age was married to John the first of that name Earl of Holland Zealand c. And after his death remarried to Humfreâ—… Bohune Earle of Hereford and Essex High Constable of England by whom he had a numerous issue She died Anno Dom. 1316. and was buried in the Abby-Church of Saffron Walden in Essex Saints CONGELLUS or COMGALLUS I perceive a storm a coming and must provide a shelter against it The omitting this Writer will make Wales angry and the inserting him will make Ireland offended with me whom a good Antiquary makes the first Abbâ—…t of Banchor in this County and a better though living later first Abbot of Bangor nigh Nockfergus in Ireland What is to be done herein When the Controversie was started whether the Isle of Man belonged to England or Ireland it was adjudged to the later because no venomous Creature will live therein But this controverted nativity is not capable of that discrimination Indeed if the difference was betwixt Wales and England my Native Country concerning Congellus we would according to our premised principles freely resign him not daring to be so bold with an outlandish Interest let him stand here so long till better evidence be brought to remove him For if those be beheld as the worst of Felons who steal stragling Children in London streets from their Parents and spirit them over unto forraign Plantations high also is their robbery who deprive Countries of their true Natives as to their Memories after their deaths and dispose them elsewhere at their pleasures As for Congellus it is agreed on all hands that he was one of a pious life who wrote learned Epistles and being aged eighty five years died Anno Dom. 600. St. BENO was instructer to Saint Wenefride committed by her Father to his careful Education now it happened when the head of the said Wenefride was cut off by Cradocus Son to Alane King of North Wales for not yielding to his unlawful lust This Beno miraculously set it on again she living fifteen years after But if the tip of his tongue who first told and the top of his fingers who first wrote this damnable lye had been cut off and had they both been sent to attend their cure at the Shrine of Saint Beno certainly they would have been more wary afterwards how they reported or recorded such improbable untruths ASAPH was born in these parts of right honourable parentage and bred at Llan-Elvy in this County under Kentigernus or Mongo the Scotch Bishop in that place Here the said Kentigerâ—…us had a Convent consisting of 663. Monks whereof 300. being unlearned in the nature of Lay-Brethren were employed abroad in Husbandry as many busied about work at home the rest attended Divine service in the Convent so divided that some were always officiating therein Amongst these Asaph was eminently conspicuous for piety and learning in so much that Kentigernus being called into his own Country resigned both his Convent and Cathedral unto him Here this Bishop demeaned himself with such Sanctity that Llan-Elvy lost its name and after his death was called from him St. Asaph He was an assiduous Preacher having this Speech in his mouth Such who are against the preaching of Gods Word envy mans salvation Bishop Godwin confesseth himself ignorant of the certain time of his death though another not more knowing but more confident assigneth the first of May but with this abatement about 569. I say not out possibly a randome date may hap to hit the mark Here I would be thankful to them who should expound unto me that passage in J. Bale concluding the life of this Saint with these words Primus hic erat qui d Romano Pontifice Unctionem accepit He was the first who received Unction from the Pope of Rome This neither Pits owneth ready enough to steal out of Bale especially to improve what might sound to Papal advantage nor any other Romanist writing his Life whom I have seen so that it seems to me a Note 〈◊〉 scattered After the death of Saint Asaph his See stood void above 500. years until Jeffery of Monmouth was placed therein Prelates since the Reformation RICHARD PARRY D. D. was born at Ruthin in this County bred in Christ Church in Oxford whence he was preferred Dean of Bangor and at last Bishop of Saint Asaph consecrated Decemb. 30. 1604. Bishop Godwin passeth on him this Complement take it in the best derivation of the word from Completio mentis that he desireth being so near unto him in time and his Studies to be his equal in other Episcopal Qualities I crave the Readers leave to forbear any further Character of him Pictures present buildings presumed at great distance very small whilest such things which are supposed near the eye are made in a greater proportion Clean contrary I may sasely write largely on mens lives at far distance whilest as I may say I must make Landskips of those near hand and touch little on them who lived in later times Bishop Parry died Anno Dom. 16. ... Souldiers OWEN GLENDOWER-WYE was born in his ancient Patrimony of Glendower-Wye in this County then bred in London a Student in the Common Law till he became a Courtier and servant to King Richard the second After whose death this Owen being then on the wrong side of preferment retired to this his Native County where there arose a difference betwixt him and his neighbour the Lord Gre of Ruthen about a piece of Common which Owen by force recovered and killed the Lord Gre. There wanted not many to spur his posting Ambition by telling him that he was the true Heir to all North Wales and now or never the time to regain it That the injuries he had already offered the English were above pardon and no way left to secure himself but by committing greater There needeth no Torch to light Tinder where a Spark will do the deed and hereupon Owen brake out into open rebellion The worst was being angry with the King his revenge fell upon God burning down the fair Cathedrals of Bangor and Saint Asaph His destructive nature delighted in doing mischief to others though no good to himself King Henry the fourth found it more facile by far to depose King Richard than subdue this Owen who had taken Roger Mortimer Earl of March and next Heir to the Crown prisoner Writers ELVODUGUS surnamed Probus and no doubt it was true of him what was said of Probus the Emperor he was Vir sui nominis was a Cambrian by birth and this Country-man by habitation for he lived most of his days at Bangor Monachorum in that age the Cambridge and Oxford of all Britain He wrote many Books and particularly a Chronicle of his Nation which the envy of time hath denied to posterity He had many eminent men for his Scholars amongst
cured all Maladies and so in my apprehension gave a Supersedeas to the Practitioners in that Faculty and yet I find honourable mention made of Luke the beloved Physician But since I have wondred at my wondring thereat For that Communion of Goods was but tâ—…mporal for a short continuance and topical of a narrow compasse practised onely in Judea or thereabouts whilest the Churches amongst the Gentiles continued their propriety and particularly at Rome where Zenas had his Habitation and had work enough no doubt to exercise his Profession even amongst Christians themselves As for the Apostles they had not alwayes power at their own pleasure to work Miâ—…acles and cure diseases in all Persons no nor allwayes in themselves witnesse sick St. Paul receiving in himself the Sentence of Death but as they were directed for the glory of God and other occasions And therefore notwithstanding their miraculous Power St Luke might have plenty of Practice in his Profession Not was it probable that God the Authour of all Ingenuity would by the giving of the Gospel utterly extinguish any literal Calling which formerly had been publickly lawfully and needfully professed We have in our following Book given in the List of some Eminent LAVVYERS Civilians and Cannonists who have wrote on that Subject though we confess them very few in Number their Profession being lately undeservedly disgraced though now we congratulate the probability of the Restitution thereof to its former Dignity Sure I am in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth when an Embassadour was sent to Foreign PRINCES if it were an Affair of grand importance and more than a mere matter of magniâ—…ent complement some able Civilian as Doctor Hadden Dale Fletcher c. was joyned in Commission with the Noble-man imployed on that Embassie And as the Iron Doggs bear the burthen of the fuel while the Brasen-Andirons stand only for state to entertain the Eyes so the Negotiating part was loaded on the Civil 〈◊〉 whilest the Pomp-pageantry was discharged at the cost of the Noble-man Writers on Physick The Pâ—…ecept in the Apocrypha hath a Canonical Truth therein Honour the Physician for necessity sake and although King Asa justly received little benefit by them because of his preposterous addressing himself to them before he went to God and the. Woman in the Gospel troubled with the Issue reaped lesse ease by their Endeavours because God reserved her a Subject for his own Miraculous Cure yet in all Ages Millions have been cured by their Practice The Ancient Briâ—…tans who went without Cloathes may well be presumed to live without Physick Yet seing very Beasts know what is good for themselves the Dear the Cretan Dictamum and Toad his Antidote of plantaine sure they had some experimental Receipts used amongst them and left the rest to Nature and Temperance to cure The Saxons had those they termed Leaches or Bloud-letters but were little skilled in methodical practise Under the Normans they began in England and would we had ferch'd Physicians onely and not Diseases from France Yet three hundred years since it was no distinct Profession by it self but practiced by men in Orders witness Nicholas de Fernham the chief English Physician and Bishop of Durham Hugh of Evesham a Physician and Cardinal Grisant a Physician and Pope Yea the word Physician appears not in our Statutes till the days of King Henry the eight who incorporated their Colledge at London since which time they have multiplied and flourished in our Nation but never more and more learned then in our age wherein that Art and especially the Anatomical part thereof is much improved our Civil Wars perchance occasioning the latter We begin our Catalogue at Richardus Anglicus our first Physician flourishing Anno 1230. and continue to Doctor Harvey whom I may term Gulielmus Anglicus such honour he hath done England by his worthy Writings Thus wishing them all happy success in their Practice I desire a custome in France and other forreign parts naturalized in England where a Physician is liable to Excommunication if visiting a Patient thrice before he acquainteth a Priest of his sickness that so the Medicine for soul and body may go hand in hand together Chimistry Chimistry is an ingenious Profession as which by Art will force somewhat of worth and eminence from the dullest substance yea the obduras'st and hardest hearted body cannot but shed forth a tear of precious liquor when urged thereunto with its intreaties They may be termed Parcel-physicians every day producing rare experiments for the curing of many diseas es bu I must confess there occurs t few and of those few fewer Modern ones through the whole series of our Book Yet may we be said to have extracted the spirits I mean such as were eminent therein of this Profession being confident the judicious Reader will value one Jem before many Barly Corns and one Drop of a true extract before many Bottles of worthless water Chirurgery Necessary and ancient their Profession ever since mans body was subject to enmity and casualty For that promise A bone of him shall not be broken is peculiar to Christ. As for the other To keep them in all their ways that they dash not their foot against a stone though it be extended to all Christians yet it admitteth as other temporal promises of many exceptions according to Gods will and pleasure It seemeth by the Parable of the good Samaritan who bound up the Passengers wounds pouring in Oil and Wine that in that age ordinary persons had a general insight in Chirurgery for their own and others use And it is reported to the just praise of the Scotch Nobility that anciently they all were very dextrous thereat particularly it is written of James the fourth King of Scotland Quod vulnera scientissime tractaret He was most scilful at the handling of wounds But we speak of Chirurgery as it is a particular Mystery Professed by such as make a Vocation thereof Of whom we have inserted some eminent for their Writings or otherwise amongst Physicians and that as we hope without any offence seeing the healing of diseases and wounds were anciently one Calling as still great the Sympathy betwixt them many diseases causing wounds as Ulcers as wounds occasioning diseases as feavers till in process of time they were seperated and Chirurgions only consigned to the Manual Operation Thus wishing unto them the three Requisits for their practise an Eagles Eye a Ladies Hand ond a Lions Heart I leave them and proceed CHAP. X. Writers BEING to handle this Subject let not the Reader expect that I will begin their Catalogue from Fabulous Antiquity or rather fanciful Fabels For if the first Century of J. Bale or J. Pits their British Writers were Garbled four parts of five would be found to be Trash such as 1. Samothes Gigas 2. Magus Samotheus 3. Sarron Magius 4. Druys Sarronius 5. Bardus Druydius 6. Albion Mareoticus 7. Brytus Julius 8. Gerion
Augur 9. Aquila Septonius 10. Perdix Praesagus 11. Cambra Formosa 12. Plenidius Sagax c. Of these some never were men others if men never were Writers others if Writers never left Works continuing to our age though some Manuscript-Mongers may make as if they had perused them It is well they had so much modesty as not to pretend inspection into the Book of life seeing all other books have come under their Omnividencie We are content to begin our number at Gildas commonly surnamed the wise flourishing about the year 580. and are right gald to have so good a General to lead our Army of Writers taking it for a token of good success Now these Writers were either such who wrote before or since the Reformation of Religion The former again fall generally under a treble division as either Historians Philologists or Divines and we will insist a little on their several imployments Of Writers on Philology and Divinity Doctor Collens Kings Professor in Cambridge and that Oracle of Eloquence once founded his Speech made to entertain Strangers at the Commencement on the words of Saint Paul Salute Philologus and Olympas Under the former he comprised all persons persent eminent in Humane Learning under the later all skillful in Heavenly Divinity Indeed Philology properly is Terse and Polite Learning melior literatura married long since by Martianus Capella to Mercury being that Florid skill containing onely the Roses of learning without the prickles thereof in which narrow sense thorny Philosophy is discharged as no part of Philology But we take it in the larger notion as inclusive of all human liberal Studies and preposed to Divinity as the Porch to the Palace Having passed the Porch of Philology we proceed to the Palace of Divinity The Writers in this Faculty we distinguish into two sorts First Positive Divines such I mean whose works are either Comments on or else expositions of some portion of Sacred Writ Secondly School-men who have made it their business to Weave find Threads of nicer Distinctions Writers on History This is either Ecclesiastical or Civil Of both these England presenteth many but generally Moncks before the Reformation who too much indulging to Holy Fraud have farced their Books with many feigned miracles to the prejudice of truth However herein foreign Historians have been as guitly as English-men of the same Age witness the complaint of Mariana the Jesuit which one may justly wonder how it passed the Index Expurgatorius Quis enim negare possit Fastos Ecclesiasticos aliquando adulatione Temporum aut potius incuria hominum multis maculis contaminatos libris aliis quibus preces Ecclesiasticae ritusque sacrorum continentur multas fuisse inspersas confusasque fabulas commenta Addam nonnunquam in Templis reliquias dabias prophana Corpora pro sanctorum qui cum Christo in coelo regnant exuviis sacris fuisse proposita Est enim miserum negare non posse quid sit turpe confiteri at nescio quo pacto fictis saepe fabulis prae posteris mendaciorum nugis populus magis quam veritate ac synceritate capitur ea est mentis nostrae inanitas has sordes ubi semel irrepserunt in Ecclesiam sacrorum ritus libros Ecclesiasticos nobis fortassis dormientibus attrectare nemo audet mutive nemo ne impietatis suspicionem commoreat scilicet Religioni adversarius esse videatur Nor hath our Land been altogether barren of Historians since the Reformation having yielded some of as tall parts and large performances as any Nation in Christendome Besides these we have adventured to adde such as have been eminent in Poetry which may not unfitly be termed the binding of Proselites good behaviour tying it to the strict observation of time and measure Amongst these some are additioned with the Title of Laureat though I must consess I could never find the root whence their Bays did grow in England as to any solemn institution thereof in our Nation Indeed I read of Petrarch the pre-coetanean of our Chaucer that he was crowned with a Laurel in the Capitol by the Senate of Rome Anno 1341. as also that Frederic the third Emperour of Germany gave the Laurel to Conradus Celtes and since the Count Palatines of the Empire claime the priviledge solemnly to invest Poets with the Bays The branches hereof in all ages have been accounted honourable in so much that King James in some sort wav'd his crown in the two and twenty-shilling-pieces to wear the Laurel in his new twenty-shilling-pieces On the same token that a wag passed this jeast thereon That Poets being always poor Bays were rather the embleme of wit then wealth since King James no sooner began to wear them but presently he fell two shillings in the pound in publique valuation As for our English Poets some have assumed that style unto themselves as John Kay in his Dedication of The Seige of Rhodes to King Edward the fourth subscribing himself his humble Poet Laureat Others have in complement given the title to such persons as were eminent in that Faculty and nothing more usuall then to see their pictures before their Books and Statues on their Tombs ornamented accordingly However all this is done by civil courtesie or common custome no ceremonious creation in Court or University I write not this as if I grudged to Poets a whole grove of Laurel much less a sprig to incircle their heads but because I would not have any specious untruth imposed on the Readers belief Yet want there not those who do confidently averr that there is always a Laureat Poet in England and but one at a time the Laurel importing Conquest and Sovereignty and so by consequence soleness in that faculty and that there hath been a constant succession of them at Court who beside their salary from the King were yearly to have a tun of win as very essential to the heightning of fancy This last I conceive founded on what we find given to Geffery Chaucer Vigesimo secundo anno Richardi secundi concessum Galfrido Chaucer unum dolium vini per annum durante vitâ in portu Civitatis London per manus capitalis pincernae nostri But Chaucer besides his poetical accomplishments did the King service both in war and peace as Souldier and Embassadour in reward whereof this and many other boons were bestow'd upon him Musicians Musick is nothing else but wild sounds civilised into Time and Tune Such the extensiveness thereof that it stoopeth as low as bruit beasts yet mounteth as high as Angels For Horses will do more for a whistle then for a whip and by hearing their bells gingel away their weariness The Angels in Heaven imploy themselves in Musick and one ingeniously expresseth it to this effect We know no more what they do do above Save only that they Sing and that they Love And although we know not the Notes of their Musick we know what their Ditty is namely
the generall Granarie of the Land which then is dearer in other Counties and it is harder for one to feed foure than foure to feed one It is furthermore observed that a drought never causeth a dearth in England because though parching up the sandy ground the clay being the far greatest moiety of the Land having more natural moisture therein affordeth a competent encrease England were but a fling Save for the crooked stick and the gray-goose-wing But a fling That is a slight light thing not to be valued but rather to be cast away as being but half an Island It is of no great extent Philip the Second King of Spain in the reign of Queen Elizabeth called our English Ambassadours unto him whilst as yet there was Peace betwixt the two Crowns and taking a small Map of the World layed his little finger upon England wonder not if he desired to finger so good a Countrey and then demanded of our English Ambassadour where England was Indeed it is in greatness inconsiderable to the Spanish dominions But for the crooked stick c. That is use of Archery Never were the Arrows of the Parthians more formidable to the Romans then ours to the French horsemen Yea remarkable his Divine Providence to England that since Arrowes are grown out of use though the weapons of war be altered the English mans hand is still in Ure as much as ever before for no Country affords better materials of Iron Saltpeter and Lead or better work-men to make them into Guns Powder and Bullets or better marks-men to make use of them being so made So that England is now as good with a streight Iron as ever it was with a crooked stick England is the Paradise of Women Hell of Horses Purgatory of Servants For the first Billa vera Women whether Maids Wives or Widowes finding here the fairest respect and kindest usage Our Common-Law is a more courteous carver for them than the Civil-Law beyond the seas allowing Widows the thirds of their Husbands Estates with other Priviledges The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or highest seats are granted them at all Feasts and the wall in crowding most danger to the weakest in walking most dignity to the worthiest resigned unto them The Indentures of maid-servants are cancelled by their Marriage though the term be not expired which to young-men in the same condition is denyed In a word betwixt Law and Laws-Corrival Custom they freely enjoy many favours and we men so far from envying them wish them all happiness therewith For the next â—… Englands being an Hell for Horses Ignoramus as not sufficiently satisfied in the evidence alledged Indeed the Spaniard who keeps his Gennets rather for shew than use makes wantons of them However if England be faulty herein in their over-violent Riding Racing Hunting it is high time the fault were amended the rather because The good man regardeth the life of his beast For the last â—… Pugatory for servants we are so far from finding the Bill we cast it forth as full of falshood We have but two sorts Apprentices and Covenant-servants The Parents of the former give large summes of money to have their Children bound for seven yeares to learn some Art or Mystery which argueth their good usage as to the generality in our Nation Otherwise it were madness for men to give so much money to buy their Childrens misery As for our Covenant-servants they make their own Covenants and if they be bad they may thank themselves Sure I am their Masters if breaking them and abusing their servants with too little meat or sleep too much work or correction which is true also of Apprentices are liable by Law to make them reparation Indeed I have heard how in the Age of our Fathers servants were in far greater subjection than now adayes especially since our Civil Wars hath lately dislocated all relations so that now servants will do whatsoever their Masters injoyn them so be it they think fitting themselves For my own part I am neither for the Tyranny of the one nor Rebellion of the other but the mutuall duty of both As for Vernae Slaves or Vassals so frequent in Spain and forreign parts our Land and Lawes whatever former Tenures have been acknowledg not any for the present To conclude as Purgatory is a thing feigned in it self so in this particular it is false in application to England A famine in England begins first at the horse-manger Indeed it seldom begins at the horse-rack for though hay may be excessive dear caused by a dry summer yet winter-grain never impaired with a drought is then to be had at reasonable rates Whereas if Pease or Oates our horse-grain and the latter mans-grain also generally in the North for poor people be scarce it will not be long ere Wheat Rie c. mount in our Markets Indeed if any grain be very dear no grain will be very cheap soon after The King of England is the King of Devils The German Emperour is termed the King of Kings having so many free Princes under Him The King of Spain King of men because they willingly yield their Sovereign rational obedience The King of France King of Asses patiently bearing unconscionable burdens But why the King of England King of Devils I either cannot or do not or will not understand Sure I am S. Gregory gave us better language when he said Angli velut Angeli for our fair complexions and it is sad we should be Devils by our black conditions The English are the Frenchmen's Apes This anciently hath been and still is charg'd on the English and that with too much truth for ought I can find to the contrary dolebat Et dici potuisse non potuisse refelli it is to us a pain This should be said and not gain-said again We ape the French chiefly in two particulars First in their language which if Jack could speak he would be a Gentleman which some get by travell others gain at home with Dame Eglentine in Chaucer Entewned in her voice full seemly And French she spake full feteously After the scole of Stratford at Bowe For French of Paris was to her unknow Secondly in their Habits accounting all our fineness in conformity to the French-fashion though following it at greater distance than the field-pease in the Country the rath ripe pease in the garden Disgracefull in my opinion that seeing the English victorious Armes had twice charged through the bowels of France we should learn our fashions from them to whom we taught Obedience The English Glutton Gluttony is a sin anciently charged on this Nation which we are more willing to excuse than confess more willing to confess than amend Some pretend the coldness of Climate in excuse of our sharp Appetites and plead the Plenty of the Land England being in effect all a great Cookes-shop and no reason any should starve therein for our prodigious Feasts They alledge also that foreigners even the
advanced thee to be a Bishop before many reverend persons and able Divines His expression licking the Chancery hath left Posterity to interpret it whether taxing him for Ambition liquorishly longing for that Place Or for Adulation by the soft smoothing of flatery making his way thereunto Or for Avarice licking it so that he gained great if good profit thereby As for his expression little Cleark it is plain it referred not to his stature but dwarfness in learning However all this would not perswade him into a resignation of his Bishoprick though it was not long before he lost both it and his life by a fall from a skittish-horse Anno Domini 1254. I find no Bishop born in this County since the Reformation and therefore we may go on in our propounded method Capital Judges and Writers on the Law Sir JOHN COKEYN Knight Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the reign of King Henry the fourth founded a worshipfull Family at and imparted his Sirname to Cokeyn-Hatley in this County But being convinced that he was born at Ashbourn in Derbyshire I have reserved his character for that County EDMOND WINGATE Esq. was a Native of this County whose family flourisheth at Hartington therein He was bred in Greys 〈◊〉 in the Study of our Common-law whereof he wrote besides others a Book Intitled The Reason of the Common-law and is lately deceased Writers JOHN of DUNSTABLE so called from a Market-town in this County wherein he was born If hitherto the Reader hath not it is high time for him now to take notice of a person of such perfection Indeed at first my Pen feared famishing finding so little since surfetting meeting so much of this man For this John of Dunstable was John of all Arts as appeareth by his double Epitaph one inscribed on his Monument the other written on his memory But be it premised of both that we will not avouch the truth of the Latine or quantity in these verses but present them here as we find them with all their faults and his vertues on whom they were made On his tombe in Saint Stephen's Wallbrook London Clauditur hoc tumulo qui 〈◊〉 pectore clausit Dunstable I Juris Astrorum conscius ille ......... ..... .... 〈◊〉 pondere 〈◊〉 Hic vir erat tua Laus tua Lux 〈◊〉 Musica Princeps Quique tuas fulces per 〈◊〉 sparserat Artes .......................................................... Suscipiant proprium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sibi Cives The second made by John Wheathamsted Abbot of Saint Albans Musicus hic Michalus alter novus Ptolomaeus Junior ac Atlas supportans robore 〈◊〉 Pausat sub cinere melior vir de muliere Nunquam natus erat vitii quia labe carebat Et virtutis opes possedit unicus omnes Perpetuis annis celebretur fama Johannis Dunstable in pace requiescat hic sine fine What is true of the bills of some unconscionable Trades-men if ever paid over paid may be said of this hyperbolical Epitaphs if ever believed over believed Yea one may safely cut off a Third in any part of it and the remainder will amount to make him a most admirable person Let none say that these might be two distinct persons seeing besides the concurrence of time and place it would bank-rupt the Exchequer of Nature to afford two such persons one 〈◊〉 at once being as much as any will believe This Dunstable died an 1455. Sinee the Reformation GEORGE JOY was born in this County though the exact place be not expressed He was a great friend to Master Tindall and therefore perfectly hated by Woolsey Fisher and Sir Thomas Moor the perticulars of his sufferings if known would justly advance him into the reputation of a Confessor He translated some parts of the Bible into English and wrote many books reckned up by Bale notwithstanding many machinations against his life he found his Coffin where he fecht'd his Cradle in sua patria sepultus being peaceably buried in his native Country 1553. the last year of King Edward the sixth FRANCIS DILLINGHAM was born at Dean in this County and bred Fellow in Christ-Colledge in Cambridge He was an excellent Linguist and subtile Disputant My Father was present in the Bachillors-Scholes when a Greek Act was kept between him and William Alabaster of Trinity-Colledge to their mutuall commendation A disputation so famous that it served for an Aera or Epoche for the Scholars in that age thence to date their seniority He was afterwards chosen Anno 1607. to be one of the Translators of the Bible and being richly beneficed at Wilden in this County died a single man leaving a fair estate to his brother Master Thomas Dillingham who was chosen one of the late Assembly though for age indisposition and other reasons not appearing therein and for many years was the humble painfull and faithfull Pastor of Deane the place of his Nativity WILLIAM SCLATER was born at Layton-buzard in this County son to Anthony Sclater the Minister thereof for fifty years together who died well nigh an hundred years of age This William his son was bred in 〈◊〉 then in Kings Colledge in Cambridge where he commenced Bachillor and after many years discountinance Doctor of Divinity Hence he was invited to be 〈◊〉 at Walsal in Stafford-shire where he began his sermons afterwards printed on the three first Chapters of the Romans Afterwards John Coles Esquire of Sommerset-shire over-intreated him into the Western parts where he presented him Vicar of Pitmister Here he met with manifold and expensive vexations even to the Jeopardy of his life but by the goodness of God his own innocency and courage with the favour of his Diocesan he came off with no lesse honour to himself then confusion to his adversaries He was at first not well affected to the Ceremonies of the Church but afterwards on his profound studying of the point he was reconciled to them as for order and decency and by his example others were perswaded to conforme Constancy of studying contracted the stone upon him which he used to call flagellum studiosorum Nor was his health improved by being removed to a wealthier Living when John Lord Pawlet of Hinton at the instance of Elizabeth his Lady in whose inheritance it was a worthy favourer of piety and pious men preferred him to the rich Parsonage of Limpsam in Somerset-shire where indeed there was scarce any element good save the earth therein Whereupon for his own preservation he was re-perswaded to return to Pitmister there continuing till the day of his death which happened in the year of our Lord 1627. in the fifty one year of his age leaving many learned works behind him as his Comment on the Romans and on the Thessalonians Sermons at Pauls cross and the treatise of Tithes styled the Ministers portion with other posthume works some since set forth by more remaining in the hand of his son William Scalter Doctor of Divinity and Minister at London lately deceased
in his profession is sufficiently attested by his own Printed Reports Eight eminent Judges of the Law out of their knowledge of his great wisdome learning and integrity approving and allowing them to be published for the Common benefit He was against the Illegality of Ship-money both publickly in Westminster-hall and privately in his judgment demanded by the King though concluded to subscribe according to the Course of the Court by plurality of voices The Country-mans wit levelled to his brain will not for many years be forgotten That Ship-money may be gotten by Hâ—…ok but not by Crook though since they have paid taxes loins to the little finger and Scorpions to the Rod of Ship-money but whether by Hook or Crook let others inquire His piety in his equall and even walkings in the way of God through the several turnings and occasions of his Life is evidenced by his Charity to man founding a Chappel at Beachley in Buckingham-shire two miles at least distanced from the Mother-Church and an Hospitall in the same Parish with a liberall Revenue Considering his declining and decaying age and desiring to examine his Life and prepare an Account to the Supreme Judge he petitioned King Charles for a Writ of Ease which though in some sort denied what wise Mr. would willingly part with a good Servant was in effect granted unto him He dyed at Waterstock in Oxford shire in the eighty second year of his age Anno Dom. 1641. EDWARD BULTSTRODE Esq. born in this County bred in the studies of our municipall Laws in the Inner Temple and his Highness his Justice in North-wales hath written a book of divers Resolutions and Judgments with the reasons and causes thereof given in the Court of Kings-bench in the reigns of King James and King Charles and is lately deceased Souldiers Sir WILLIAM WINDSOR Knight I am confident herein is no mislocation beholding him an Ancestor to the right honourable Thomas Windsor Hickman Lord Windsor and fixed at Bradenham He was deputed by King Edward the third in the fourty seventh year of his reign Lord Lieutenant of Ireland which Country was then in a sad Condition For the King was so intent on the Conquest of France as a Land nearer fairer and due to him by descent that he neglected the effectuall reduction of Ireland This encouraged the Irish Grandees their O's and Mac's to Rant and Tyrant it in their respective seignieuries whilst such English who were planted there had nothing Native save their Surnames left degenerating by degrees to be Irish in their Habits Manners and Language Yea as the wild Irish are observed to love their Nurses or Fosters above their natural Mothers so these barbarizing English were more endeared to the interest of Ireland which fed then of England which bare and bred them To prevent more mischief this worthy Knight was sent over of whose valour and fidelity the King had great experience He contracted with the King to defray the whole charge of that Kingdome as appeareth by the instrument in the Tower for eleven thousand two hundred thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence per annum Now Sir William undertook not the Conquest but Custody of the Land in a defen sive war He promised not with a daring Mountebank to Cure but with a discreet Physician to ease this Irish Gout Indeed I meet with a passage in Froissard relating how Sir William should report of himself that he was so far from subduing the Irish he could never have access to understand and know their Countries albeit he had spent more time in the service of Ireland then any Englishman then living Which to me seems no wonder the Irish vermin shrowding themselves under the Scabs of their Bogs and Hair of their Woods However he may truly be said to have left that land much improved because no whit more impaired during those dangerous distractions and safely resigned his office as I take it in the first of K. Richard the second ARTHUR GRAY Baron of Wilton is justly reckoned amongst the Natives of this Shire whose father had his Habitation not at Wilton a decayed Castle in Hereford-shire whence he took his Title but at Waddon a fair house of his Family not far from Buckingham He succeeded to a small Estate much diminished on this sad occasion His father William Lord Gray being taken Prisoner in France after long ineffectuall soliciting to be because captivated in the publick service redeemed on the publick charge at last was forced to ransom himself with the sale of the best part of his Patrimony Our Arthur endeavoured to advance his estate by his valour being entered in Feats of war under his Martial father at the siege of Lieth 1560. where he was shot in the shoulder which inspirited him with a constant antipathy against the Scotch He was afterwards sent over Lord Deputy into Ireland anno 1580. where before he had received the Sword or any Emblemes of Command ut acrioribus initiis terrorem incuteret to fright his foes with his fierce beginning he unfortunately fought the rebels at Glandilough to the great loss of English blood This made many commend his Courage above his Conduct till he recovered his credit and finally suppressed the rebellion of Desmund Returning into England the Queen chiefly relied on his counsel for ordering our Land-forces against the Spaniards in 88. and fortifying places of advantage The mention of that year critical in Church differences about discipline at home as well as with foreign foes abroad mindeth me that this Lord was but a Back-friend to Bishops in all divisions of Votes in Parliament or Council-table sided with the Anti-prelatical party When Secretary Davison that State-Pageant raised up on purpose to be put down was censured in the Star-chamber about the business of the Queen of Scots this Lord Gray onely defended him as doing nothing therein but what became an able and honest Minister of State An ear-witness saith Haec fuse oratoriè animosè Greium disserentem audivimus So that besides bluntness the common and becoming eloquence of Souldiers he had a real Rhetorick and could very emphatically express himself Indeed this warlike Lord would not wear two heads under one Helmet and may be said always to have born his Beaver open not dissembling in the least degree but owning his own judgment at all times what he was He deceased anno Dom. 1593. Writers ROGER de WENDOVER was born at that Market-town in this County bred a Benedictine in St. Albans where he became the Kings Historian Know Reader that our English Kings had always a Monck generally of St. Albans as near London the Staple of news and books to write the remarkables of their reigns One addeth I am sorry he is a forrainer and therefore of less credit at such distance that their Chronicles were lock'd up in the Kings Library so that neither in that Kings nor his Sons life they were ever opened If so
Conjunction with other Doctors of the University By his Testament he gave the Rectory of Milton to the Colledge and dying on Saint Marks day 1610. lieth buried in a Vestery on the North-side of the Chappel JOHN GREGORY was born November 10. 1607. at Amersham in this County of honest though mean parents yet rich enough to derive unto him the hereditary infirmity of the gout which afflicted him the last twenty years of his life He was bred in Christ-church in Oxford where he so applied his book that he studied sixteen hours of the four and twenty for many years together He attained to be an exquisite Linguist and general Scholar his modesty setting the greater lustre on his learning His notes on Dr. Redleys book of Civil-law gave the first testimony of his pregnancy to the world and never did text and comment better meet together He was first Chaplain of Christ-church and thence preferred by Bishop Duppa Prependary of Chichester and Sarum and indeed no Church-preferment compatible with his age was above his deserts He died at Kidlington in Oxford-shire 1646. and was buried at Christ-church in Oxford I find a smart Epitaph made by a friend on his memory and it was in my mind as well valiantly consider the times as truly indited Ne premas Cineres hosce Viator Nescis quot sub hoc jaeent Lapillo Graeculus Hebraeus Syrus Et qui te quovis vincet Idiomate At nè molestus sis Ausculta causam auribus tuis imbibe Templo exclusus Et avita Religione Jam senescente ne dicam sublatâ Mutavit Chorum altiorem ut capesceret Vade nunc si libet imitare R. W. His Opera Posthuma are faithfully set forth by his good friend John Gurgain and deservedly dedicated to Edward Bish Esquire one so able that he could charitable that he would and valiant that he durst relieve Master Gregory in his greatest distress SAMUEL COLLINS son to Baldwin Collins born in Coventry a pious and painfull preacher prodigiously bountifull to the poor whom Queen Elizabeth constantly called Father Collins was born and bred at Eaton so that he breathed learned aire from 〈◊〉 of his nativity Hence coming to Kings-colledge in Cambridge he was succesâ—…ively chosen Fellow Provost and Regius Professor One of an admirable wit and 〈◊〉 the most fluent Latinist of our age so that as Caligula is said to have sent 〈◊〉 souldiers vainly to fight against the tide with the same success have any encountred the torrent of his tongue in Disputation He constantly read his Lectures twice a week for above fourty years giving notice of the time to his Auditours in a ticket on the School-dores wherein never any two alike without some considerable difference in the critical language thereof When some displeased Courtier did him the injurious courtesie to preferre him downwards in point of profit to the Bishoprick of Bristol he improved all his friends to decline his election In these troublesome times affording more Preachers then Professors he lost his Church but kept his Chair wherein he died about the year 1651. WILLIAM OUGHTRED was though branched from a right ancient Family in the North born in the Town bred in the School of Eaton became Fellow of Kings-colledge and at last was beneficed by Thomas Earl of Arundel at Albury in Surrey All his contemporaries unanimously acknowledged him the Prince of Mathematicians in our Age and Nation This aged Simeon had though no Revelation a strong perswasion that before his death he should behold Christs anointed restored to his Throne which he did accordingly to his incredible joy and then had his Dimittis out of this mortal life June 30. 1660. Romish Exile Writers THOMAS DORMAN was born at Ammersham in this County being nephew unto Thomas Dorman of the same town A Confessour in the reign of King Henry the eighth True it is this his Uncle through weakness did abjure let us pity his who desire God should pardon our failings but was ever a cordial Protestant He bred this Thomas Dorman juniâ—…r at Berkhamsted-school founded by Dr. Incent in Hartfordshire under Mr. Reeve a Protestant School-master But this Dorman turn'd tail afterwards and became a great Romanist running over beyond the seas where he wrote a book intituled Against Alexander Nowel the English Calvinist J. Pits doth repent that he affordeth him no room in the body of his book referring him to his Appendix He flourished Anno 1560. Memorable Persons JOHN MATHEW Mercer son to Thomas Mathew was born at Sherington in this County Lord Mayor of London Anno Dom. 1490. He is eminent on this account that he was the first Bachelar that ever was chosen into that office Yea it was above a hundred and twenty years before he was seconded by a single person succeeding him in that place viz. Sir John Leman Lord Mayor 1616. It seemeth that a Lady Mayoresse is something more then ornamentall to a Lord Mayor their wives great portions or good providence much advantaging their estates to be capable of so high a dignity Dame HESTER TEMPLE daughter to Miles Sands Esquire was born at Latmos in this County and was married to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet She had four sons and nine daughters which lived to be married and so exceedingly multiplied that this Lady saw seven hundred extracted from her body Reader I speak within compass and have left my self a reserve having bought the truth hereof by a wager I lost Besides there was a new generation of marrigable females just at her death so that this aged vine may be said to wither even when it had many young boughs ready to knit Had I been one of her relations and as well enabled as most of them be I would have erected a monument for her thus design'd A fair tree should have been erected the said Lady and her Husband lying at the bottom or root thereof the Heir of the family should have ascended both the middle and top-bough thereof On the right-hand hereof her younger sons on the left her daughters should as so many boughs be spread forth Her grand-children should have their names inscribed on the branches of those boughs the great-grand-children on the twiggs of those branches the great-great-grand-children on the leaves of those twiggs Such as surviv'd her death should be done in a lively green the rest as blasted in a pale and yellow fading-colour Plinie who reports it as a wonder worthy the Chronicle that Chrispinus Hilarus Praelata pompa with open ostentation sacrificed in the Capitol seventy four of his children and childrens children attending on him would more admire if admitted to this spectacle Vives telleth us of a Village in Spain of about an hundred houses whereof all the inhabitants were issued from one certain old man who then lived when as that Village was so peopled so as the name of propinquity how the youngest of the children should call him could not
Egmund Leland for a reason immediately following nameth him William of Stamford but Egremont is the Orthography of his name from a small Market-town yet a Barony of the late Earls of Sussex in this Shire where he was born Quitting this cold Country he took his Progress into the South and fixing himself at Stamford became an Augustinian Eremite and proceeded Doctor of Divinity Going beyond the Seas he was by the Pope made Episcopus Pissinensiâ—… some poor pitifull Bishoprick so that one would scarce trouble himself to find it out to have the profit thereâ—…f and therewith held the Suffragane-ship under Henry Beaufort Bishop of Lincoln Indeed that voluminous Diocess a full fourth part of England before Eli Peterborough and Oxford were cantoned out of it required a Co-adjutor Many are the learned works written by him and seeing he is Doubly qualified I thought fitter to repose him under the Topick of Writers then of Prelates being confident that he got more credit by his Books then profit by his Bishoprick He flourished under King Richard the second anno 1390. JOHN SKELTON was a younger branch of the Skeltons of Skelton in this County I crave leave of the Reader hitherto not having full instructions and preserving the undoubted Title of this County unto him to defer his character to Norfolk where he was Beneficed at Diss therein Since the Reformation RICHARD CRAKENTHORP D. D. was descended of an Ancient Family in this County as appeareth by their frequent being Sheriffs thereof He was bred Fellow of Queens-colledge in Oxford and afterwards in the first of King James went over Chaplain to the Lord Evers sent Embassadour to the King of Denmark and other prime Princes of Germany Here by use he got an easiness in the Latine tongue and correspondency with several persons of eminent Learning He was an excellent Logiciaâ—… witness his work in that kind and became Chaplain in Ordinary to King James Rector of Black-Notley in Essex greater preferments expecting him had not his death prevented it Pliny observeth that Posthume Children born after the death of their Father and Caesars understand such who are cut out of the womb of their Mother prove very happy in success What reason soever Naturalists assign hereof Divines justly impute it to Gods goodness graciously remembring those Orphans which cannot remember their own Parents The Observation may be applyed to the Books of this worthy Doctor set forth after his death one called Vigilius Dormità ns in defence of the Emperour Justinian and a generall Councill held by him Anno 553. set forth by his Brother George Crakenthorp the other being an answer to the Manifesto of the Arch-bishop of Spalato set forth by that Learned Antiquary Dr. John Barkham and both of these Books finding an universall and gratefull reception among the Learned and Religious I cannot certainly fix the date of his death and be it here solemnly entred that Westmerland shall be unprejudiced if he were born as a most credible person hath informed me at NewBiggin in this County SALKELD was a branch of a Right Worshipfull Family in this County bred a Divine beyond the Seas but whether 〈◊〉 or Secular Priest I know not Coming over into England to Angle for Proselites it seems his Line broke and he was cast into prison Hence he was brought out and presented to K. James by whose Arguments and a Benefice bestowed on him in Somersetshire he became a Protestant This he used in all companies to boast of that he was a Royall Convert Nobisque dedit solatia victor And was it not a Noble thing Thus to be conquer'd by a King Indeed His Majesty in some of his works styleth him the Learned Salkeld which the other much vaunted of often telling it to such who well knew it before for fear they might forget it His preaching was none of the best and he retained some Popish though not Opinions Fancies to the day of his death I have heard much of his discourse more of his own praise then to his own praise in my judgement But his true character may be taken out of the Book he wrot of Angells He died about the year 1638. GERARD LANGBAIN D. D. was born at Kirk-Banton in this County bred first Fellow in then Provost of Queens-colledge in Oxford A skilfull Antiquary ingenious industrious and judicious in â—…is Writings as by his Works will appear Who so shall read over the History of thâ—… Councill of Trent translâ—…ted out of Italian by Sir Nathaniel Brent will conceive it so compleat a Narration of all the concernments in that Council that nothing of consequence can be added thereunto Yet this his mistake will be confuted by perusing the Works set forth by Doctor Langbain of the dissent of the Gallican Churches from severall conclusions in that Council As his Brain was the Mother of some so was it the Midwife to other good books which he procured to be published Especially a book made by Sir John Cheeke concerning Rebellion and Loyalty seasonably reprinted in the beginning of our Civil Wars But alas such then was the noise of mens Animosities that the Still voice of Truth could not be heard amongst them More Excellent Tracts were expected from him particularly an Edition of Brian Twine with Additions concerning the Antiquity of Oxford when God was pleased almost in the midst of his days to put an end to his life Anno 1657. Benefactors to the Publick ROBERT EAGLESFIELD born in this County was a pious and learned man according to the rate of that age Chaplain and Confessor to Philippa Queen to King Ed ward the third He founded a fair Colledge in Oxford by the name of Queens-colledge for a Provost and twelve Fellows whom he ordered to sit in the Hall in purpura and that they should be attended on more Curiali He appointed that those of Cumberland and Westmerland should be proper for perferment in his Foundation rendring this reason why he reflected most on those Northern Counties Propter insolitam vastitatem melioris literaturae infrequentiam But prevented by death he finished not his intentions leaving onely to the Colledge the Mannor of Renwick in this County with the impropriation of Burgh under Stanmore and which I assure you was considerable most excellent Statutes To shew himself both Courtier and Scholar he ordered that in the Hall they should speak either Latine or French He bequeathed his Colledge to the honorary Patronage of the Queens of England and his Sur-name is still extant in this County in persons of quality but how to him related to me unknown He dyed about the year of our Lord 1370. Memorable Persons MAUD the Daughter of Thomas Lord Lucy Sister and Heir of Anthony Lord Lucy and Baron of Cokermouth the Widow of Gilbert Humfrevile Earl of Angus was the second Wife of Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland Who when she saw that she should dye without Issue gave to Earl Henry her husband the Castle and Honour of
Perin in Cornwall The Angel Gabriel was very much beholding to him for instituting an Annual Festival unto Him observed as I humbly conceive only in his own Cathedral or own Diocesse at the most and least people shoâ—…ld complain of the dearnesse of their Devotion he left good Land to defray the cost of that Solemnity He is much blamed for compassing the Mannour of Bishops-Clift to his Church by indirect means to which I can say nothing but only observe that this small City within eighty Years did afford three eminent Prelates whereof two Episcopi in Patria the Natives thereof which will scarcely be paralell'd in any Place of the same proportion He died Anno 12. Writers JOSEPHUS ISCANUS was born at this City anciently called Isca from the River Isk now named Eske running thereby A golden Poâ—…t in a leaden Age so terse and elegant were his Conceipts and expressions This our English Maro had for his Mecenas Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury But I revoke my words and desire to turn Maro into Cornelius Nepos under whose name the Dutch-men have lately printed a Poem made by this Josephus debello Trojano It soundeth much to a Mans honour even to be mistaken for another Man of eminency for though there may be much of error in the mistake there must be something of truth in the error especially with the judicious Yea in such case a general conformity betwixt the Persons is not enough to build the mistake on without some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as here the affinity of phrase and fancy betwixt these two Poets This 〈◊〉 Nepos under whose name the Poems of this Josephus were printed flourished in the time of Tully Indeed I finde not any Poems made by him though having to that purpose perused all Scaliger de Arte 〈◊〉 as a most probable Authour But most sure it is that this Cornâ—…lius was most judicious in that Art because Valerius Catullus dedicated his Poem unto him as best able to pâ—…sse a learned censure thereon this Josephus Iscanus flourished under King John Anno 1210 being Arch-Bishop of Burdeaux I have nothing more to observe of him save what with the Readers pardon I cannot omit viz. that this Josephus alwayes minded me of another Josephus Iscanus I mean Joseph Hall lately Bishop of Exeter a witty Poet when young a painfull Preacher and solid Divine in his middle a patient Sufferer in his old age of whom God willing more in due place WILLIAM of Exeter was born in this City bred a Doctor of Divinity in Oxford and afterwards became 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 in the place of his nativity Now in his age fome Franciscan Friers so praised the perfectiou of Poverty that they touched the Popes Coppy-hold of Inheritance For if Poverty was so essential to Piety Papal pomp and plenty must needs argue prophaneness In confutation hereof this William of Exeter undertook William of Ockam though indeed impar congressus betwixt them for Exeter a fair City did not more exceed Ockam a smal village in Surrey in beauty and building than that Ockam William excelled this Exeter William in parts and Learning however what he wanted in brains he had in a good back to assist him and William of Exeter with John the three and twentieth Pope of Rome was able to undertake any Authour of that age He flourished in the Year of our Lord 1330. under the Raign of King Edward the third Since the Reformation RICHARD MARTYN was born in this City and bred partly in the Court partly in the Inns of Court and at last â—…etook himself to the Study of the Law He was accounted one of the highest Witts of our Age and his Nation King James being much delighted with his facetiousnesse a quality which with other of his Abilities commended him to be chosen Recorder of London He is eminent as for many Speeches so especially for that he made in Parliament in the tenth year of King James when account was taken of Forty Gentlemen in the House which were not twenty and some of them not sixteen years of age Formerly said this Râ—…order Martyn it was the custome of Old men to make Lawes for Young ones But now Nature is invaded and inverted seeing Young men enact Lawes to govern their Fathers He had an excellent Pen and wrote very much and the more the pitty that they are suppressed from publick use his death happened about the year 1616. WILLIAM MARTIN Kinsman to the aforesaid Recorder was born in this City and bred a Student in the Lawes of the Land He wrote a short and clear of the Kings of England since the conquest I have been credlbly informed that King James took some exceptions at a Passage therein sounding either to the derogation of his own Family or of the Scotch Nation which he took so tenderly that Mr. Martin was brought into trouble for the same and though he wethered out the Kings displeasure and was reconciled to his Majesty yet he never râ—…covered his former chearfulnesse It seems that a Princes Anger is a disease which though cured is not cured grief for the same being conceived to hasten his death which happened about the year 1616. WILLIAM TUCKER was born in this City bred fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford and after became Doctor in Divinity Canon of Sarisbury Arch-deacon of Barnstable and Dean of Lichfield The purity of his Latine Pen procured his preferment writing and dedicating a Book to Queen Elizabeth de Charismate of our Kings of England their gracious healing the Evil being the best that I have seen on that Subject vindicating such cures from all imposture unlawfull Magick and from some French Writers bold usurpations who lay claim to it as originally belonging to their Kings alone Whereas under correction I conceive that the word Soveraign which properly importeth the Supream Majesty doth also in our English Tongue in a secondary sence signiâ—…ie what is cordial to cure and heal Diseases or sores ever since such sanative power hath been annexed to the Crown of England This Doctor may be said to have worn half a Miter seeing his Congee de-lire was signed if not sent to elect him Bishop of Glocester but afterwards by Order fâ—…om King James it was revoked on what occasion I list not to enquire I conjecture the date of his death was much about the Year 1617. JOHN BARKHAM born in this City was bred in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford whereof he was Fellow Chaplain afterwards to Archbishop Bancroft and Parson of Bocking in Essex Much his Modesty and no lesse his Learning who though never the publique Parent of any was the carefull Nurse of many Books who otherwise had expired in their Infancy had not his care preserved them He set forth D. Crackenchorp his Posthume Book against Spalato and was helpfull to John Speed in the composing of his English History yea he wrote the whole Life of the Raign of King John which is the King of all the
without the Brittleness thereof soon Ripe and long Lasting in his Perfections He Commenced Doctor in Physick and was Physician to Queen Elizabeth who Stamped on him many Marks of her Favour besides an Annuall Pension to encourage his Studies He addicted himself to Chemistry attaining to great exactness therein One saith of him that he was Stoicall but not Cynicall which I understand Reserv'd but not Morose never married purposely to be more beneficiall to his Brethren Such his Loyalty to the Queen that as if unwilling to survive he dyed in the same year with her 1603. His Stature was Tall Câ—…plexion Cheerfull an Happiness not ordinary in so hard a Student and retired a Person He lyeth buried in Trinity Church in Colchester under a plain Monument Mahomets Tombe at Mecha is said strangely to hang up attracted by some invisible Load-stone but the Memory of this Doctor will never fall to the ground which his incomparable Book De Magnete will support to Eternity Writers GERVASE of TILBURY born at that Village in this County since famous for a Câ—…mpe against the Spaniards in 88. is reported Nephew to King Henry the second But though Nepos be taken in the Latitude thereof to signify Son to Brother Sister or Child I cannot make it out by the Door and am loth to suspect his coming in by the Window This Gervase may be said by his Nativity to stand but on one foot and that on tip toes in England being born on the Sea side at the mouth of Thames and therefore no wonder if he quickly convayed himself over into Forraign Parts He became Courtier and favorite to his Kinsman Otho the fourth Emperour who conferred on him the Marshal-ship of the Arch-bishoprick of Arles which proveth the Imperiall Power in this Age over some parts of Province an office which he excellently discharged Though his person was wholly conversant in Forraign Aire his Pen was chiefly resident on English Earth writing a Chronicle of our Land and also adding illustrations to Gâ—…ffrey Monmouth He flourished Anno 1210. under King John ADAM of BARKING no mean market in this County was so termed from the Town of his Nativity Wonder not that being born in the East of England he went West-ward as far as Sherborn where he was a Benedictine for his education it being as usuall in that age for Monkes as in ours for Husbandmen to change their soil for the seed that their grain may give the greater encrease He was a good Preacher and learned Writer and surely would have soared higher if not weighed down with the ignorance of the age he lived in whose death happened Anno 1216. RALPH of COGSHALL in this County was first Canon of Barnewell nigh Cambridge and afterwards turn'd a Cistertian Monke He was a man Incredibilis frugalitatis parsimoniae but withall of great learning and abilities These qualities commended him to be Abbot of Cogshall the sixth in order after the first foundation thereof where he spent all his spare hours in writing of Chronicles and especially of additions to Radulphus Niger Afflicted in health he resigned his place and died a private person about the year 1230. ROGER of WALTHAM was so called from the place of his Nativity I confess there be many Walthams in England and three in Essex but as in Herauldry the plain Coat speaks the bearer thereof to be the best of the house whiles the younger Brethren give their Armes with differences so I presume that Waltham here without any other addition of Much Waltham Wood-Waltham c. is the Chief in that kind viz. Waltham in this County within twelve Miles of London eminent in that Age for a wealthy Abby The merit of this Roger being saith Bale tersè nitidè eleganter eruditus endeared him to Fulke Basset Bishop of London who preferred him Canon of Saint Pauls He wrot many worthy works flourishing under King Henry the third Anno Domini 1250. JOHN GODARD wherever born had his best being at Cogshall in this County where he became a Cistercian Monke Great was his skill in Arithmetick and Mathematicks a Science which had lain long asleep in the World and now first began to open it's eyes again He wrot many certain Treatises thereof and dedicated them unto Ralph Abbot of Cogshall He flourished Anno Dom. 1250. AUBREY de VERE extracted from the right Honorable Earls of Oxford was born saith my Authors in Bonaclea Villa Trenovantum Three miles srom Saint Osith by which direction we find it to be Great Bentley in this County Now although a witty Gentleman saith that Noble-men have seldome any thing in Print save their Cloths yet this Aubrey so applyed his studies that he wrote a Learned Book of the Eucharist In his old age he became an Augustinian of Saint Osiths preferring that before other places both because of the pleasant retireness thereof and because his kindred were great Benefactors to that Covent witness their Donation de septem Libratis terrae thereunto This Aubrey the most learned of all Honorable Persons in that Age Flourished Anno Domini 1250. THOMAS MALDON was born at Maldon no mean Market Town in this County anciently a City of the Romans called Camulodunum He was afterwards bred in the University of Cambridge where he Commenced Doctor of Divinity and got great reputation for his Learning being a Quick Disputant Eloquent Preacher Solid in Defining Subtle in Distinguishing Clear in Expressing Hence he was chosen Prior of his own Monastery in Maldon where he commendably discharged his place till the day of his death which happened 1404. THOMAS WALDENSIS was son to John and Maud Netter who declining the Surname of his Parents took it from Walden the noted place in this County of his Nativity so much are they mistaken that maintain that this Waldensis his name was Vuedale and that he was born in Hant-shire In some sort he may be termed Anti-Waldensis being the most professed Enemy to the Wicklevites who for the main revived and maintained the Doctrine of the Waldenses Being bred a Carmelite in London and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford he became a great Champion of yet Vassall to the Pope witness his sordid Complement consisting of a conjunction or rather confusion and misapplication of the words of Ruth to Naomi and David to Goliah Perge Domine Papa perge quò cupis ego tecum ubicunque volueris nec deseram in Authoritate Dominorum meorum incedam in armis eorum pugnabo He was in high esteem with three succeeding Kings of England and might have changed his Coul into what English Miter he pleased but refused it Under King Henry the fourth he was sent a solemn Embassadour 1410. about taking away the Schismâ—… and advancing an Union in the Church and pleaded most eloquently before the Pope and Segismund the Emperour He was Confâ—…ssor and Privy Councellour to King Henry the fifth who died in his
the people thereabout if in point of Profit their tongues would not cross their hearts as this New-Forrest did Whereof hereafter Natural Commodities Red Deer Great store of these were lately in New Forrest so called because Newly made by K. William the Conqueror Otherwise ten years hence it will be six hundred years old Indeed as Augustus Câ—…sar is said to have said of Herod King of Judaea that it was better to be his Hog than his Childe So was it most true of that King William that it was better to have been his Stag than his Subject the one being by him spared and preserved the other ruined and destroyed Such was the Vastation he made of Townes in this County to make room for his game And it is worth our observing the opposition betwixt the Characters of K. EDGAR K. WILLIAM Templa Deo Templis Monachos Monachis dedit agros Templa adimit Divis fora Civibus arva Colonis And now was the South-West of this County made a Forest indeed if as an Antiquary hath observed a Forest be so called quia foris est because it is set open and abroad The Stags therein were stately creatures jealous revengeful insomuch that I have been credibly inform'd that a Stag unable for the present to master another who had taken his Hinde from him waited his opportunity till his enemy had weakned himself with his wantonness and then kill'd him Their Flesh may well be good whose very Horns are accounted Cordial Besides there is a concave in the neck of a green-headed Stag when above his first crossing wherein are many worms some 2. inches in length very useful in Physick and therefore carefully put up by Sir Theodore Mayerne and other skilful Physicians But I beleive there be few Stags now in New-Forest fewer Harts and not any Harts-Royal as escaping the chase of a King though in time there may be some again Hony Although this Countie affordeth not such Lakes of Honey as some Authors relate found in hollow Trees in Muscovy nor yieldeth Combes equal to that which Pliny reporteth seen in Germany eight foot long yet produceth it plenty of this necessary and profitable Commoditie Indeed Hantshire hath the worst and best Hony in England worst on the Heath hardly worth five pound the Barrel best in the Champian where the same quantity will well nigh be sold for twice as much And it is generally observed the finer the Wheat and Wooll both which very good in this County the purer the Hony of that place Hony is useful for many purposes especially that Hony which is the lowest in any Vessel For it is an old and true rule the best Oyle is in the top the best Wine in the middle and the best Hony in the bottome It openeth Obstructions cleareth the Breast and Lights from those humors which fall from the head loosneth the belly with many other soveraign qualities too many to be reckoned up in a Winters day However we may observe three degrees or kinds rather of Hony 1. Virgin Hony which is the purest of a late Swarm which never bred Bees 2. Chaste Hony for so I may term all the rest which is not Sophisticated with any addition 3. Harlot Hony as which is adulterated with Meal and other trash mingled therewith Of the first and second sort I understand the Counsel of Salomon My Sonne eat Hony for it is good good absolutely in the substance though there may be excess in the quantitie thereof Wax This is the Cask where Hony is the Liquour and being yellow by Nature is by Art made white red and green which I take to be the dearest colours especially when appendant on Parchment Wax is good by Day and by Night when it affordeth light for Sight the clearest for Smell the sweetest for Touch the cleanliest Useful in Law to seal Instruments and in Physick to mollifie Sinewes ripen and dissolve Ulcers c. Yea the Ground and Foundation of all Cere-cloath so called from Cera is made of Waxe Hoggs Hantshire Hoggs are allowed by all for the best Bacon being our English Westphalian and which well ordered hath deceived the most judicious Pallats Here the Swine feed in the Forrest on plenty of Acorns Mens meat in the golden Hogs food in this iron Age which going out lean return home fat without either care or cost of their Owners Nothing but fulness stinteth their feeding on the Mast falling from the Trees where also they lodge at liberty not pent up as in other places to stacks of Pease which some assign the reason of the fineness of their flesh which though not all Glorre where no bancks of lean can be seen for the Deluge of fat is no less delicious to the taste and more wholsome for the stomack Swines-flesh by the way is observed most nutritive of mens bodies because of its assimilation thereunto Yet was the eating thereof forbidden to the Jewes whereof this Reason may be rendred besides the absolute Will of the Law-giver because in hot countries Mens bodies are subject to the Meastes and Leprosies who have their greatest repast on Swines-flesh For the Climate of Canaan was all the year long as hot as England betwixt May and Michael-mass and it is penal for any Butchers with us in that Term to kill any Pork in the Publick Shambles As for the Manufacture of Clothing in this County diffused throughout the same such as deny the goodness of Hant-shire Cloath and have occasion to wear it will be convinced of its true worth by the price which they must pay for it The Buildings The Cathedral in Winchester yeildeth to none in England for venerable magnificence It could not be Opus unius saeculi perfected by the contributive endeavours of several successive Bishops whereof some lie most sumptuously interred in their Chappel-like-Monuments On the walls of the Quire on each side the dust of the Saxon-Kings and ancient Bishops of this Church were decently Intombed many hundred years after by Richard Fox Bishop of this See till in the beginning of our Civil Wars they were barbarously thrown down by the Souldiers Josephus reports what some hardly believe how Herod took many talents of Treasure out of the Sepulchre of David sure I am they met with no such wealth here in this Mine of Mortality amongst the ashes which did none any injurie and therefore why Malice should scratch out that which did not bite it is to me unknown As for Civil Structures Basing built by the first Marquess of Winchester was the greatest of any Subjects House in England yea larger than most Eagles have not the biggest Nests of all Birds of the Kings Palaces The Motto Love Loyaltie was often written in every window thereof and was well practised in it when for resistance on that account it was lately levelled to the Ground Next Basing Bramsell built by the last Lord Zouch in a bleak and barren place was a stately
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
interfectis eundem Regem captivavit ipsum potenter in Angliam ductum Patri suo praesentavit Henricum etiam intrusorem Hispaniae potentissime in bello devicit Petrum Hispaniae Regem dudum à regno suo expulsum potenti virtute in regnum-suum restituit Unde propter ingentem sibi probitatem actus ipsius triumphales memoratum Principem inter regales Regum memorias dignum duximus commendandum Thus have I not kill'd two Birds with one bolt but revived two mens memories with one Record presenting the Reader according to my promise with the Character of this Prinâ—… and Style of this Writer speaking him in my conjecture to have lived about the raign of King Richard the second Since the Reformation Sir THOMAS WIAT Knight commonly called the Elder to distingish him from Sir Thomas Wiat raiser of the Rebellion so all call it for it did not succeed in the raign of Queen Mary was born at Allyngton Castle in this County which afterwards he repaired with most beautiful buildings He was servant to King Henry the eight and fell as I have heard into his disfavour about the business of Queen Anna Bollen till by his innocence industry and discretion he extricated himself He was one of admirable ingenuity and truly answered his Anagram Wiat A Wit Cambden saith he was Eques auratus splendide doctus It is evidence enough of his Protestant Inclination because he translated Davids Psalms into English meter and though he be lost both to Bale and Pits in the Catalogue of Writers yet he is plentifully found by Leland giving him this large Commendation Bella suum merito jactet Florentiâ—… Dantem Regia Petrarchae carmina Roma probat His non inferior Patrio Sermone Viattus Eloquii secum qui decus omne tulit Let Florence fair her Dante 's justly boast And Royal Rome her Petrarchs numbred feet In English Wiat both of them doth coast In whom all graceful eloquence doth meet This Knight being sent Embassador by King Henry the eight to Charles the fifth Emperour then residing in Spain before he took shipping died of the Pestilence in the West Country Anno 1541. LEONARD DIGGS Esquire was born in this County one of excellent Learning and deep judgement His mind most inclined him to Mathematicks and he was the best Architect in that age for all manner of buildings for conveniency pleasure state strength being excellent at fortifications Lest his learning should die with him for the publick profit he Printed his Tectonicon Prognostick general Stratiotick about the ordering of an Army and other works He flourished Anno Dom. 1556. and died I believe about the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth Nothing else have I to observe of his name save that hereditaâ—…y learning may seem to run in the veins of his family witnesse Sir Dudley Diggs of Chilham Castle in this County made Master of the Rolls 1636. whose abilities will not be forgotten whilest our age hath any remembrance This Knight had a younger son Fellow of All Souls in Oxford who in the beginning of our Civil Wars wrote so subtile and solid a Treatise of the difference betwixt King and Parliament that such Royalists who have since handled that Controversie have written plura non plus yea aliter rather than alia of that subject THOMAS CHARNOCK was born in the Isle of Thanet in this County as by his own words doth appear He discovereth in himself a modest Pride modest stiling himself and truly enough the uNLETTERED SCHOLAR Pride thus immoderately boasting of his Book discovering the mysteries of the Philosophers Stone For satisfying the minds of the Students in this Art Then thou art worthy as many Books as will lie in a Cart. However herein he is to be commended that he ingeniously confesseth the Persons viz. William Byrd Prior of Bath and Sir James a Priest of Sarisbury who imparted their skill unto him This Charnock in the pursuance of the said Stone which so many do touch few catch and none keep met with two very sad disasters One on New-years day the omen worse than the accident Anno 1555. when his work unhappily fell on fire The other three years after when a Gentleman long owing him a grudge paid him to purpose and pressed him a Souldier for the relieving of Calice Whence we observe two things first that this Charnock was no man of estate seeing seldom if ever a Subsidy man is pressed for a Souldier Secondly that though he practised Surgery yet he was not free of that Society who by the Statute 32 Hen. 8. are exempted from bearing armour But the spight of the spight was that this was done within a Month according to his own computation which none con confute of the time wherein certainly he had been made master of so great a treasure Such miscarriages frequent in this kind the friends of this Art impute to the envy of evil spirits maligning mankind so much happinesse the foes thereof conceive that Chymists pretend yea sometimes cause such casualties to save their credits thereby He was fifty years old Anno 1574. and the time of his death is unknown FRANCIS THINNE was born in this County and from his infancy had an ingenuous inclination to the Study of Antiquity and especially of Pedignees Herein hee made such proficiency that he was prefer ROBERT GLOVER Son to Thomas Glover Mildred his Wife was born at Ashford in this County He addicted himself to the Study of Heraldry and in the reward of his pains was first made a Pursuivant Porcul THO. MILLES Sisters Son to Robert Glover aforesaid was born at Ashford in this County and following his Uncles direction applyed himself to be eminent in the Genealogies of our English Nobility JOHN PHILPOT was born at Faulkston in this County and from his child-hood had a genius enclining him to the love of Antiquity He first was made a Pursuivant Extraordinary by the Title of Blanch-Lion then red towards the end of the raign of Q. Elizabeth to be an Herald by the Title of Lancaster A Gentleman painful and well deserving not only of his own Office but all the English Nation Whosoever shall peruse the Voluminous Works of Raphael Hollinshed will find how much he was assisted therein by the help of Mr. Thinne seeing the Shoulders of Atlas himselfe may bee weary if sometime not beholding to Hercules to relieve him He died 15. lis and then Somerset Herald When the Earle of Derby was sent into France to carry the Garter to K. Henry the third Mr. Glover attended the Embassage and was as he deserved well rewarded for his pains He by himselfe in Latine began a Book called the Catalogue of Honour of our English Nobility with their Arms and Matches Being the first Work in that kind He therein traced untrodden paths and therefore no wonder if such who since succeeded him in that subject have found a nearer way
Cinque foil Or. 13 Edw. Trafford a. ut prius  14 Fran Holt arm  Arg. on a Bend Engrailed S. 3 Flower de Luce of the first 15 Rich. Holland a. ut prius  16 Will. Boothe ar  Arg. 3 〈◊〉 heads Erased and Erected S. 17 Fran Holt arm ut prius  18 Rich. Bold arm  Argent a 〈◊〉 Rampant S. Io-zeenge of the Field Sables 19 Roâ—… Dalton ar   20 Johan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Party per Pale 〈◊〉 Az. and Or 6 Martlets counter chang'd Arg. a Mullet Sable 21 Rad Ashton ar *   22 Edw. Trafford m. ut prius  23 Joh. Byron miles  Argent 3. Bendlets Gules 24 〈◊〉 Holland ut prius  25 Joh. Atherton ar ut prius  26 Edwar. Trafford ut prius  27 Tho. Preston ar ut prius  28 Richard Asheton ut prius  29 Johan Fleetwood ut prius  30 Tho. Talbot ar ut prius  31 Rich. Mollineux ut prius  32 Rich. Bold ar ut prius  33 Jac. Asheton ar ut prius  34 Edw. Fitton ar  Az. on a Bend Arg. 3. Garbs O. 35 Richard Asheton ut prius  36 Radulp. Asheton ut prius  37 Tho. Talbot arm ut prius  38 〈◊〉 Holland ut prius  39 Rich. Molleneux ut prius  40 Richard Asheton ut prius  41 Rich. Houghton ut prius  42 Robert Hesketh ut prius  43 Cut. Halsall m.  Arg. 3. Griffins Heads Erazed A 44 Edward Trafford ut prius  K. James   Anno   1 Nic. Moseley mil.  S. a Chev. betw 3 Pick axes arg 2 Thom. Baker mil.   3 Edw. Fleetwood a. ut prius  4 Rich. Ashton mil. ut prius  5 Rob 〈◊〉 ar ut prius  6 Edw. Trafford m. ut prius  7 Roger. Nowell a.  Arg. 3. Cups covered S. 8 Johan Fleming a.   9 Cut. Halsall m. ut prius  10 Rob. Bindlose a. Borwick Quarterly per Fess indented G. on a Bend Or. 11 Rich. Shiâ—…born a.   12 Edw. Stanley ar  Arg. on a â—…end Az. 3. Stags heads caboshed Or. 13 Rolan Moseley a ut prius  14 Edw. Trafford m. ut prius  15 Ric. 〈◊〉  S. 3 Weavers Shuttles Argent 16 Leonar Ashawe a   17 Edw. Moore ar  Vert. ten Trefoiles 4. 3. 2. and 1. Argent 18   19   20   21   22   23   24 K. CHARLES  Courteous Reader do not behold these Vacuities as the Effect of my Lazinesse Nor will I excuse my self by accusing of others The rather because In gratuitisnulla est Jnjusticia it was no wrong in any to deny what was bounty in them to bestow on me But know all my Industry and Importunity could not procure the seasonable sight of the Records of this County not kepâ—… aâ—… the rest in the Exchequer but in a proper place by themselves thereby to supply the Begining and Finishing of this our Catalogue 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   The Batails At Preston in Andernesse August 17. 1648. Duke Hambleton resolving to play an Aftergame of Loyalty entred England with an Army more numerous then well Disciplined Most beheld him as one rather cunning than wise yet rather wise than valiant However he had Officers who did Ken the War-craft as well as any of our Age. He would accept of no English Assistance so to engrosse all the work and wages to himself Some suspect his Officers trust was undermined or over-moneyed rather whilst others are confident they were betrayed by none save their own security Indeed the common Souldiers were perswaded that the conquest would be easy rather to be possessed then purchased their Van and Rear were many miles asunder and they met the resistance of Major General Lambert before they expected it Hâ—… at Preston gave the Scotch Army such a Blow as setled or stund it though it reeled on some miles more Southward into Staffordshire where at Ulceter the Duke was taken prisoner and utterly defeated As for the Defeat of James Earl of Derby in this County at the end of August anno 1651. it amounted not to a Battle which properly is the Engagement of two formed Armies Whereas the forces of the Earl were sâ—…attered before fully 〈◊〉 red to a firm consistency Yet this had been a Battle if not prevented by the Vigilancy of Coll. Lilburn and others whose seasonable Service to the Parliament was not so great in it self as in the most considerable consequences thereof The Farewell I am informed that Pillyn-Mos is the Fountain of Fewell Turfe in this County and is conceived inexhaustible by the Vicinage May it prove so But if it should chance to fail may Gods Grace which the vulgar in their profane Proverb unequally yoak therewith I say may Gods Grace never be drained to those that stand in need thereof And because this County may be called the Cock-pit of Conseience wherein constant Combates betwixt Religion and Superstition may the Contest betwixt them prove like the Morning Twilight wherein after some equal Conflict betwixt them the Light gaineth the final Conquest of the Darkness One word more to this Shire and I have done Let me be the Remembrancer that Hugh of Manchester in this County wrote a Book in the Reign of K. Edward the first Intituled De Fanaticorum Deliriis Of the Doteages of Fanaticks At which time an Impostor had almost made Elianor the Queen mother mad by reporting the Posthume-miracles done by her Husband King Henry the Third till this our Hugh setled her judgement aright I could wish some worthy Divine with such Lancashire doth abound would resume this Subject and shew how Antient and Modern Fanaticks though differing much in their wild Fancies and Opinions meet together in a mutual madness and distraction LEIGESTERSHIRE LEICESTER-SHIRE This County is though not exquisitely circular in the form whilst Leicester the Shire-Town is almost the exact Center thereof and the River Soare Diameter-like divides it into two equal halfes Having Lincolne and Rutland-shire on the East Darby and Nottingham-Shire on the North Warwick-Shire on the West and Northampton-Shire on the South It extendeth from North to South thirty and three miles measured from the utmost Angle but exceedeth not twenty seven in the Breadth thereof Here 〈◊〉 avoid all offence we 〈◊〉 collect the Quality of this Soyle from a * Native thereof Who may be presumed exact in this Quadri-Partition South-West North West North East South-East Rich ground
they will not take twenty lines together from any Author without acknowledging it in the Margin conceiving it to be the fault of a Plagearie Yet the same Criticks repute it no great guilt to seize a whole Manuscript if they can conveniently make themselves the Masters though not Owners thereof in which Act none can excuse them though we have had too many Precedents hereof This Laurence died Anno Dom. 1410. BERTRAM FITZALIN Finding him charactered Illustri stemmate oriundus I should have suspected him a Sussex man and Allied to the Earls of Arundell had not another Author positively informed me he was patria Lincolniensis bred B. D. in Oxford and then lived a Carmelite in the City of Lincolne Here he built a faire Library on his and his freinds cost and furnish'd it with books some of his own making but more purchased He lived well beloved and dyed much lamented the seventeenth of March 1424. Writers since the Reformation EDMUND SHEFFEILD descended from Robert Sheffeild Recorder of London Knighted by King Henry the Seventh 1496 for his good Service against the Rebells at Black-Heath was born at Butterwick in the Isle of Axholm in this Country and was by King Edward the sixth Created Baron thereof Great his Skill in Musick who wrote a Book of Sonnets according to the Italian fashion He may seem Swan like to have sung his own Funeral being soon after Slaine or Murthered rather in a skirmish against the Rebells in Norwich first unhorsed and cast into a ditch and then Slaughtered by a Butcher who denyed him Quarter 1449. He was direct Anchester to the hopeful Earl of Moulgrave PETER MORVVING was born in this County and bred fellow of Magdalen Colledg in Oxford Here I cannot but smile at the great Praise which I Pitz bestoweth upon him Vir omni Latini sermonis elegantia bellè instructus qui scripta quaedam tum versu tum Prosa tersè nitidèque composuisse perhibetur It plainly appeareth he mistook him for one of his own perswasion and would have retracted this Caracter and beshrewed his own fingers for writing it had he known him to have been a most Cordial Protestant Nor would he have afforded him the Phrase of Claruit sub Philippo et Mariâ who under their Reigns was forced for his Conscience to fly into Germany where he supported himself by Preaching to the English Exiles I find not what became of him after his return into England in the Reigne of Queen Elizabeth ANTHONY GILBY was born in this County and bred in Christs Colledge in Cambridge where he attained to great skill in the three learned languages But which gave him the greatest Reputation with Protestants was that in the Reign of Queen Mary he had been an Exile at Geneva for his Conscience Returning into England he became a feirce fiery and furious opposer of the Church Discipline established in England as in our Ecclesiasticall History may appear The certaine date of his death is to me unknown JOHN FOX was born at Boston in this County and bred Fellow in Magdalen Colledg in Oxford He fled beyond the Seas in the Reign of Queen Mary where he set forth the first and least edition of the Book of Martyrs in Latine and afterwards returning into England inlarged and twice revised the same in our own language The story is sufficiently known of the two Servants whereof the one told his Master he would do every thing the other which was even Esop himself said he could do nothing rendering this reason because his former fellow servant would leave him nothing to do But in good earnest as to the particular subject of our English Martyrs Mr. Fox hath done every thing leaving posterity nothing to work upon and to those who say he hath overdone somthing we have returned our answer before He was one of Prodigious Charity to the poor seeing nothing could bound his bounty but want of mony to give away but I have largely written of his life and death in my Church History THOMAS SPARKS D. D. was born at South Sommercot in this County bred in Oxford and afterwards became Minister of Bleachley in Buckingham-shire An Impropriation which the Lord Gray of Wilton whose dwelling was at Whaddon hard-by Restored to the Church He was a solid Divine and Learned man as by his Works still extant doth appear At first he was a Non-conformist and therefore was chosen by that party as one of their Champions in the Conference of Hampton Court Yet was he wholy silent in that Disputation not for any want of Ability but because as afterwards it did appear he was Convinced in his Conscience at that Conference of the lawfullness of Ceremonies so that some accounted him King James's Convert herein He afterwards set forth a book of Unity and Uniformity and died about the year of our Lord 1610. Doctor TIGHE was born at Deeping in this County bred as I take it in the University of Oxford He afterwards became Arch Deacon of Middlesex and Minister of Alhallowes Barking London He was an excellent Textuary and profound Linguist the reason why he was imployed by King James in translating of the Bible He dyed as I am informed by his Nephew about the year of our Lord 1620. leaving to John Tighe his Son of Carby in this County Esquire an Estate of one thousand pounds a year and none I hope have cause to envy or repine thereat FINES MORISON Brother to Sir Richard Morison Lord President of Munster was born in this County of worshipfull extraction and bred a fellow in Peter-house in Cambridge He began his Travels May the first 1591 over a great part of Christendome and no small share of Turky even to Jerusalem and afterwards Printed his Observations in a large book which for the truth thereof is in good Reputation For of so great a Traveller he had nothing of a Traveller in him as to stretch in his reports At last he was Secretary to Charles Blunt Deputy of Ireland saw and wrote the Conflicts with and Conquest of Tyrone a discourse which deserveth credit because the Writers cye guide his pen and the privacy of his place acquainted him with many secret passages of Importance He dyed about the year of our Lord 1614. Benefactors to the Publique Having formerly presented the Reader with two Eminent ones Bishop Wainfleit Founder of New Colledge and Bishop Fox Founder of Corpus Christi in Oxford He if but of an ordinary appetite will be plentifully feasted therewith so that we may proceed to those who were Since the Reformation WILLIAM RATCLIFF Esq And four times Alderman of the Town of Stamford died Anno Dom. 1530. Gave all his Messuages Lands and Tenements in the Town to the Maintenance of a Free-School therein which Lands for the present yeild thirty pounds per Annum or there-abouts to a School-Master and Usher I am informed that an Augmentation was since
Saint John's then Master of Pembroke hall in Cambridge His studies were suitable to his years when young a good Philosopher witness his book of Meteors afterwards his endeavours ascended from the middle region of the aire to the highest heavens when he bâ—…came a pious and solid Divine Now the Romanists seeing they could no longer blind-fold their Laitie from the Scriptures resolved to fit them with false spectacles and set forth the Rhemish Translation which by Doctor Fulke was learnedly confuted though he never attained any great preferâ—…ent in the Church Here it is worth our pains to peruse the immediate succession of Masters in Pembroke-hall because unparallel'd in any English Foundation Edm. Grindall Archp. of Cant. Mat. Hutton Archp. of York Jo. Whitgift Archp. of Cant. Jo. Young 〈◊〉 of Rochester William Fulke D. D. Lanc. Andrews Bp. of Winchester Sam. Harsnet Archp. of York Nic. Felton Bp. of Eely Here though all the rest were Episcopated Doctor Fulke was but Doctor Fulke still though a man of great merit This proceeded not from any disaffection in him to the Hierarchie as some would fain suggest but principally from his love of privacy and place of Margaret-Professour wherein he died Anno Dom. 1589. EDMOND SPENCER born in this City was brought up in Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he became an excellent Scholar but especially most haypy in English Poetry as his works do declare In which the many Chaucerisms used for I will not say affected by him are thought by the ignorant to be blemishes known by the learned to be beauties to his book which notwithstanding had been more salable if more conformed to our modern language There passeth a story commonly told and believed that Spencer presenting his Poems to Queen Elizabeth She highly affected therewith commanded the Lord Cecil Her Treasurer to give him an hundred pound and when the Treasurer a good Steward of the Queens money alledged that sum was too much then give him quoth the Queen what is reason to which the Lord consented but was so busied belâ—…ke about matters of higher concernment that Spencer received no reward Whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the Queen in her Progress I was promis'd on a time To have reason for my rhyme From that time unto this season I receiv'd nor rhyme nor reason Hereupon the Queen gave strict order not without some check to her Treasurer for the present payment of the hundred pounds she first intended unto him He afterwards went over into Ireland Secretary to the Lord Gray Lord Deputy thereof and though that his office under his Lord was lucrative yet got he no estate but saith my Author Pâ—…culiari Poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est So that it fared little better with him then with William Xilander the German a most excellent Linguist Antiquary Philosopher and Mathematician who was so poor that as Thuanus saith he was thought fami non famae scribere Returning into England he was robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had and dying for grief in great want Anno 1598. was honorably buried nigh Chaucer in Westminster where this Distick concludeth his Epitaph on hâ—…s monument Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis Nunc moritura timet te moriente mori Whilst hâ—…iu didst live liv'd English poetry Which fears now thou art dead that she shall die Nor must we forget that the expence of his funeral and monument was defrayed at the sole charge of Robert first of that name Earl of Essex JOHN STOW son of Thomas Stow who died Anno 1559. grand-child to Thomas Stow who died 1526. both Citizens of London and buried in Saint Michaels in Cornhill was born in this City bred at learning no higher then a good Gramar-scholar yet he became a painful faithful and the result of both useful Historian Here to prevent mistake by the homonymie of names I request the Reader to take special notice of three brace of English writers 1. Sir Thomas commonly with the addition of De la More who lived under and wrote the life of King Edward the second 1. John Leland bred in Oxford the most exquisite Grammarian of his age who flourished Anno 1428. 1. John Stow a Benedictine Monke of Norwich Anno 1440. who wrote various Collections much cited by Caius in his history of Cambridge 2. Sir Thomas More the witty and learned Chancellour of England 2. John Leland bred in Cambridge the most eminent Antiquary under K. Henry the eight 2. John Stow this Londiner and Historian I confess I have heard him often accused that as learned Guicciardine is charged for telling magnarum rerum minutias he reporteth res in se minutas toys and trifles being such a Smell-feast that he cannot pass by Guild-hall but his pen must tast of the good chear therein However this must be indulged to his education so hard it is for a Citizen to write an History but that the fur of his gown will be felt therein Sure I am our most elegant Historians who have wrote since his time Sir Francis Bacon Master Camden c. though throwing away the basket have taken the fruit though not mentioning his name making use of his endeavors Let me adde of John Stow that however he kept tune he kept time very well no Author being more accurate in the notation thereof Besides his Chronicle of England he hath a large Survey of London and I believe no City in Christendome Rome alone excepted hath so great a volume extant thereof Plato was used to say that many good laws were made but still one was wanting viz. a law to put all those good laws in execution Thus the Citizens of London have erected many fair monuments to perpetuate their memories but still there wanted a monument to continue the memory of their monuments subject by time and otherwise to be defaced which at last by John Stow was industriously performed He died in the eightieth year of his age April 5. 1605. and is buried at the upper end of the North-Isle of the Quire of Saint Andrews-Undershaft His Chronicle since continued by another whose additions are the lively embleme of the times he writeth of as far short of Master Stow in goodness as our age is of the integrity and charity of those which went before it GILES FLETCHER was born in this City son to Giles Fletcher Dr. in law and Embassadour into Russia of whom formerly in Kent From Westminster-school he was chosen first Scholar then Fellow of Trinity colledge in Cambridge One equally beloved of the Muses and the Graces having a sanctified wit witness his worthy Poem intituled Christs Victory made by him being but Bachelour of Arts discovering the Piety of a Saint and Divinity of a Doctor He afterward applied himself to School-Divinity cross to the grain of his Genius as some conceive and attained to good skill therein When he preached at Saint Maries his
house of the Earl of Arundel at High-gate and was buried in Saint Michaels Church in Saint Albans Master Mutis his grateful servant erecting a Monument for him Since I have read that his grave being occasionally opened his scull the relique of civil veneration was by one King a Doctor of Physick made the object of scorn and contempt but he who then derided the dead is since become the laughing stock of the living Writers SULCARD of WESTMINSTER was an English-man by birth bred a Benedictine Monke He was one of an excellent wit meek disposition candid behaviour and in great esteem with King Edward the Conâ—…essor What Progress he made in learning may easily be collected from what is recorded in an old Manuscript In Westmonasterio vixerunt simul Abbas Eadwinus Sulcardus Coenobita Sed Sulchardus doctrina major erat He flourished Anno Domini 1070. under King William the Conquerour GILBERT of WESTMINSTER bred first Monkc then Abbot thereof He gave himself to the study of humane learning then of Divinity and through the guidance of Anselme Arch-bishop of Canterbury attained to great knowledge in the Scriptures Afterwards he studied in France visited Rome in his return from whence he is reported to have had a disputation with a learned Jew which afterwards he reduced into the form of a Dialogue and making it publique he dedicated it to Saint Anselme He dyed Anno 1117. and was buried in Westminster MATHEW of WESTMINSTER was bred a Monke therein and as accomplished a Scholar as any of his age Observable is the grand difference betwixt our English history as he found it and as he left it He found it like Polyphemus when his eye was bored out a big and bulky body but blind Memorable actions were either presented without any date which little informed or too many dates which more distracted the Reader Our Mathew reduced such confused sounds to an Articulate and intelligible voice regulating them by a double directory of time viz. the beginnings and deaths of all the Kings of England and Arch bishops of Canterbury He wrote one History from the beginning of the world to Christ a second from Christs Nativity to the Norman Conquest a third from thence to the beginning of King Edward the second augmenting it aâ—…terwards with the addition of his life and King Edward the thirds He named his book Flores Historiarum and if sometimes for it is but seldome he presenteth a flower less fragrant or blasted bud the judicious Reader is not tyed to take what he tenders but may select for his own ease a Nosegay out of the choicest flowers thereof He dyed about the year 1368. Since the Reformation BENIAMIN JOHNSON was born in this City Though I cannot with all my industrious inquiry find him in his cradle I can fetch him from his long coats When a little child he lived in Harts-horn-lane near Charing-cross where his Mother married a Bricklayer for her Second husband He was first bred in a private school in Saint Martins Church then in VVestminster school witness his own Epigram Camden most reverend Head to whom I owe All that I am in Arts all that I know How nothing's that to whom my Country owes The great renown and Name wherewith she goes c. He was Statutably admitted into Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge as many years after incorporated a honorary Member of Christ-church in Oxford where he continued but few weeks for want of further maintenance being fain to return to the trade of his father in law And let not them blush that have but those that have not a lawful calling He help'd in the building of the new structure os Lincolns-Inn when having a Trowell in his hand he had a book in his pocket Some gentlemen pitying that his parts should be buried under the rubbish of so mean a Calling did by their bounty manumise him freely to follow his own ingenuous inclinations Indeed his parts were not so ready to run of themselves as able to answer the spur so that it may be truly said of him that he had an Elaborate wit wrought out by his own industry He would sit silent in learned company and suck in besides wine their several humors into his observation What was ore in others he was able to refine to himself He was paramount in the Dramatique part of Poetry and taught the Stage an exact conformity to the laws of Comedians His Comedies were above the Volge which are onely tickled with down right obscenity and took not so well at the first stroke as at the rebound when beheld the second time yea they will endure reading and that with due commendation so long as either ingenuity or learning are fashionable in our Nation If his later be not so spriteful and vigorous as his first pieces all that are old will and all that desire to be old should excuse him therein He was not very happy in his children and most happy in those which died first though none lived to survive him This he bestowed as part of an Epitaph on his eldest son dying in infancy Rest in soft peace and Ask'd say here doth lye Ben Johnson his best piece of Poetry He dyed Anno Domini 1638. And was buried about the Belfry in the Abby-church at VVestminster Masters of Musick CHRISTOPHER TYE Doctor of Musick flourished in the reign of King Henry the eight and King Edward the sixth to whom he was one of the Gentlemen of their Chappel and probably the Organist Musick which received a grievous wound in England at the disolution of Abbyes was much beholding to him for her recovery such his excellent skill and piety that he kept it up in credit at Court and in all Cathedrals during his life He translated the Acts of the Apostles into verse and let us take a tast of his Poetry In the former treatise to thee Dear friend Theophilus I have written the veritie Of the Lord Christ Jesus VVhich he to do and eke to teach Began untill the day In which the Spirit up did him fetch To dwell above for Aye After that he had power to do Even by the Holy Ghost Commandements then he gave unto His chosen least and most To whom also himself did shew From death thus to revive By tokens plain unto his few Even forty days alive Speaking of Gods kingdome with heart Chusing together them Commanding them not to depart From that Jerusalem But still to wait on the promise Of his Father the Lord Of which ye have heard me ere this Unto you make record Pass we now from his Poetry being Musick in words to his Musick being Poetry in sounds who set an excellent Composition of Musick of four parts to the several Chapters of his aforementioned Poetry dedicating the same to King Edward the sixth a little before the death of that good Prince and Printed it Anno Domini 1553. He also did compose many excellent Services and Anthems of four and
happiness Writers RALPH FRESBOURNE was born in this County bred a Souldier Scholar Travailer being a man of great estate and at last turn'd a Frier He attended Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans into the Holy-land Here he came acquainted with the Friers living on Mount Carmel which were then much molested with the inrodes of Pagans Our Ralph pitying their condition and much taken with their sanctity and as some say miracles brought them over with him into England and built them an house at Holme nigh Alnwick in Northumberland In loco Carmelo Syriae non dissimili saith my Author In a place not unlike to Carmel in Syria Thus pence are like shillings and as Carmel had an Hill with the river Kishon running under it a Forrest beside it and the Mid-land-Sea some three miles from it so this had the river Alne a Park adjoyning and the German-Sea at the same distance But Northumberland was but a cold Carmel for these Friers who soon got themselves warmer nests in Kent Essex London and where not Multiplying more in England then in any other Country as Mantuan observeth and hath not ill expressed Cur apud Anglorum populos ita creverit audi Anglicus in Syrias veniens exercitus olim Achonem Tyrii positam prope litora ponti Quae priùs occurrit subit is oppresserat armis Hear why that they so much in England thriv'd th' English earst in Palestine arriv'd The City Acon on the shore of Tyre As next at hand with arms did soon acquire And after some verses interpos'd Ista duces tanta intuiti miracula secum In patriam duxere viros quibus arma negabant In laribus sedem Assyriâ—… templa domosque Construxere novas Pauc is it a fâ—…ruit annis Relligio quasi virga solo depact a feraci Et veluti palmes robur translata recepit The Captains seeing so great wonders wrought These Friers with them into England brought What war deni'd at home they here anew Churches and Houses built In years but few Increasing twig-like set by happy band Or tree transplanted to a fruitful land This Ralph wrote Books of pious exhortations and Epistles and after he had been fourteen years provincial of his own Order died and was buried at Holme aforesaid Anno Domini 1274. JOHANNES SCOTUS We have formerly asserted the very Scociety of this Scotus his nativity to belong to England and have answered the objections to the contrary He was born at Dunston a village in the Parish of Emildon in this County as appeareth by a writing in a book of his in Merton-colledge wherein he was bred He was a Franciscan by Order and of such nimble and solid parts that he got the title of Doctor subtilis Hitherto all School-men were like the world before the building of Babel of one language and of one speech agreeing together in their opinions which hereafter were divided into two Regâ—…ments or Armies rather of Thomists and Scotists under their several Generals opposing one another Scotus was a great stickler against the Thomists for that sinful opinion that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin which if so how came she to rejoyce in God her Saviour He read the Sentences thrice over in his solemn Lectures once at Oxford again at Paris and last at Colen where he died or was kill'd rather because falling into a strong fit of an Apoplexy he was interred whilst yet alive as afterwards did appear Small amends were made for his hasty burial with an handsome monument erected over him at the cost of his Order otherwise whether as Scot Scholar or Franciscan he had little wealth of his own in the Quire before the High Altar On his Monument are inscribed the names of fifteen Franciscans viz. three Popes and two Cardinals on the top and ten Doctors whereof six English on the sides thereof all his Contemporaries as I conceive He died Anno Dom. 1308. Benefactors to the Publick STEPHEN BROWN Grocer son of John Brown was born at Newcaste upon Tine in this County afterwards Knighted and made Lord Mayor of London 1438. In which year happened a great and general famine caused much by unseasonable weather but more by some Huckstering Husbandmen who properly may be termed Knaves in grain insomuch that wheat was sold for three shillings a bushel intollerable according to the standard of those times and poor people were forced to make bread of fern roots But this Sir Stephen Brown sent certain ships to Dantz whose seasonable return with Rye suddenly sunk grain to reasonable rates whereby many a languishing life was preserved He is beheld one of the first Merchants who in want of Corn shewed the Londoners the way to the Barn-door I mean into Spruseland prompted by charity not covetousness to this his Adventure He may be said that since his death he hath often relieved the City on the like occasion because as Symmachus well observeth Author est bonorum sequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum ROBERT WOODLARKE was born saith my Author at Wakerly in this County True it is in my late Church History I have challenged him for Northamptonshire Because there is no VVakerly in Northumberland Because there is a VVakerly in Northamptonshire But on second thoughts I resige him clear to this County loth to higgle for a letter or two misprinted perchance in the name of a Town This VVoodlarke was the last of the first Original Fellows and third Provost of Kings-colledge in Cambridge He bought three tenements in Miln-street and by a Mortmain procured from King Edward the fourth erected of them a small Colledge by the name of Saint Katharines-hall As is the man so is his strength great matters cannot be expected from so private a person who never attained to any Prelatical preferment who was bountiful to his Foundation to the utmost of his ability Herein he stands alone without any to accompany him being the first and last who was Master of one Colledge and at the same time Founder of another This his Zoar hath since met with many worthy Benefactours who have advanced it to be considerable both in buildings and revenues The date of his death I cannot with any certainty affix Memorable Persons MACHELL VIVAN is a Scotish-man by his birth but because beneficed in this County so many years shall by the Readers leave pass for an English-man so far as to be here inserted The rather because he will minister to the present and future ages just matter of admiration as by the perusing of the ensuing letter from my credible friend well know in London where his surviving Father was not long since the Prime Magistrate thereof will appear There is an acquaintance of mine and a friend of yours who certified me of your desire of being satisfied of the truth of that relation I made concerning the old Minister in the North. It fortuned in my journey to
Anno 46 Rad. Cussell Anno 47 Idem Anno 48 Idem Anno 49 Rad. de Aungers Ioh. de Aungers Anno 50 Rad. de Aungers Anno 51 Will. de Duy Steph. de Edwarth for 5 years 56 Steph. de Edwarth Walt. de Strichesley EDW. I. Anno 1 Walt. de Strichesle Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Idem Anno 4 Hildebrandus de London for 6 years Anno 10 Ioh. de Wotton for 8 years Anno 18 Rich. de Combe Anno 19 Idem Anno 20 Tho. de S to Omero for 5 years Anno 25 Walt. de Pevely Anno 26 Idem Anno 27 Idem Anno 28 Ioh. de Novo Burgo Anno 29 Idem Anno 30 Ioh. de Hertingerr Anno 31 Idem Anno 32 Idem Anno 33 Hen. de Cobham Anno 34 Ioh. de Gerberge Anno 35 Idem EDW. II. Anno 1 Andreas de Grimsted Anno 2 Alex. Cheverell Ioh. de S to Laudo Anno 3 Idem Anno 4 Will. de Hardene Anno 5 Adam Walrand Anno 6 Adam Walrand Iohan. Kingston Anno 7 Idem Anno 8 Iohan de Holt Phus. de la Beach Anno 9 Phus. de la Beach Anno 10 Idem Anno 11 Walt. de Risum Anno 12 Idem Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Ioh. de Tichbourn Adam Walrand Anno 15 Idem Anno 16 Anno 17 Adam Walrand Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Idem EDW. III. Anno 1 Adam Walrand Anno 2 Phus. la Beach Anno 3 Ioh. Manduit Anno 4 Idem Anno 5 Idem Anno 6 Anno 7 Ioh. Manduit Will Randolph Anno 8 Iohan. Tichbourn Iohan. Manduit Anno 9 Gilb. de Berewice Reg. de Pauley Anno 10 Idem Anno 11 Petr. Doygnel Gil. de Berewice Anno 12 Iohan. Manduit Anno 13 Idem Anno 14 Idem Anno 15 Tho. de S to Mauro Rob. Lokes Anno 16 Iohan. Manduit Anno 17 Idem Anno 18 Idem Anno 19 Iohan. Roches Anno 20 Idem Anno 21 Ioh. de Roches Tho. Semor Anno 22 Rob. Russell Anno 23 Idem Anno 24 Idem Anno 25 Nullus Titulus in hoc Rotulo Anno 26 Tho. de la River Anno 27 Idem Anno 28 Idem Anno 29 Ioh. Everard Anno 30 Tho. de Hungerford for 5 years Anno 35 Hen. Sturmy for 6 years Anno 41 Walt. de Haywood for 5 years Anno 46 Will. de Worston Anno 47 Hen. Sturmy Anno 48 Ioh. Dauntesey mil. Anno 49 Ioh. de la Mare mil. Anno 50 Hugo Cheyne Anno 51 Idem Edward III. 35 HENRY STURMY They were Lords of Woolfhall in this County and from the Time of King Henry the second were by right of Inheritance the Bayliffs and Guardians of the Forrest of Savernake lying hard by which is of great note for plenty of good game and for a kind of Ferne there that yeildeth a most Pleasant Savour In remembrance whereof their Hunters-horn of a mighty bigness and tipt with silver is kept by the Seymours Dukes of Somerset unto this day as a Monument of their Descent from such Noble Ancestors Sheriffs Name Place Armes RICH. II.   Anno   1 Pe. de Cushaunce m Will de Worston   2 Rad. de Norton  Virt a Lion rampant Or alibi Argent 3 Idem   4 Lau. de Sco. Martino Hug. Cheyne   5 Nich. Woodhull   6 Bern. Brokers mil.   7 Ioh. Lancaster   8 Idem   9 Ioh. Salesbury   10 Idem   11 Hug. Cheyne   12 Idâ—…m   13 Rich. Mawardin   14 Ioh. Roches   15 Rob. Dyneley   16 Ioh. Goweyn   17 Rich Mawardin   18 Ioh. Moigne   â—…9 Tho. Bonham   20 Rich. Mawardin   â—…1 Idem   22 Idem   HEN. IV.   Anno   1 Ioh. Dauâ—…tesey Dantesey Az. a Dâ—…agon Lyon Rampant comhatant Arg. 2 Will. Worston Ioh. Gawayne   3 Will. Cheyne   4 Walt. Beauchamp  Varry 5 Walt. Beauchamp ut prius  6 Wal. Hungerford m.  Sable 2 Barrs Arg. 2 Plates in Chief 7 Râ—…d Grene   8 Walt. Beauchamp ut priâ—…s  9 Rob. Corbet  Or a Raven Proper 10 Will. Cheyne mil.   11 Ioh. Berkley mil  Gules a Cheveron betwixt 10 Crosses Formee Arg. 12 Tho. Bonham   HEN. V.   Anno   1 Elias de la Mare  Gules 2 Lions â—…assant Gardant Argent 2 Hen. Thorpe   3 Tho. Calsten   4 Râ—…b Andrewe   5 Will Findern   6 Will. Sturâ—…y mil. Woolf-hâ—…ll Argent 3 Deme-Lions Gules 7 Tho. Ringwood   8 Will. Darell  Az. a lion Rampant Oâ—… Crowned Argent 9 Idem   HEN. VI.   Anno   1 Will. Darell ut prius  2 Rob Shotesbâ—…ook 〈◊〉   3 Wil. Findern   4 Walt Pauncefott  Gules 3 Lions rampant Arg. 5 Ioh. Stourton ar Stourton Sa. a Bend Or betwixt 3 fountains proper 6 Will. Darell ar ut prius  7 Ioh. Pawlett ar  Sable 3 swords in Point Argent 8 Ioh. Bainton Brumham Sable a Bend lozenges Argent 9 Davi Sherrington   10 Ioh. Seymor Woolf-hall Gul. 2 Aâ—…gels-wings paleways inverted Or. 11 Walt. Strickland   12 Ioh. Stourton mil. ut prius  13 Steph. Popham mil.  Arg. on a Cheif Gul. 2 Bucks-heads Caboshed Or. 14 Edw. Hungerford ut prius  15 Wil. Beauchamp m. ut prius  16 Ioh. Stourton mil. ut prius  17 Ioh. Lisle mil.  Or a Fess betwixt 2 Chev. Sa. 18 Ioh. Saintlo mil.   19 Ioh. Norris  Quarterly Az. and Gul. a Fret Or with Fess Az. 20 Rich. Restwold  Argent 3 Bends â—…able 21 Will. Beauchamp ut prius  22 Ioh. Bainton ut prius  23 Ioh. Basket  Az. a Cheveron Erm. betwixt 3 Leopards-heads Or. 24 Rich. Restwold ut prius  25 Will. Stafford  Or a Cheveron Gul. on a Canton Ermine 26 Will. Beauchamp m. ut prius  27 Ioh. Norris ut prius  28 Phil. Barnard   29 Ioh. Seymor mil. ut prius  30 Ioh. Nanson   31 Edw. Stradling Dantesey Paly of 6 Arg. Az. on a Bend G. 3 Cinquefoyls Or. 32 Ioh. Willoughby   33 Geo. Darell   34 Reg. Stourton mil.   35 Hen. Long ar  Sab. a Lion ramâ—…nt betwixt 8 Crosses crossed Arg. 36 Ioh. Seymor ar ut prius  37 Hug. Pilkenham   38 Ioh. Feiris ar   EDW. IV.   Anno   1 Geor. Darell ut prius  2 Reg. Stourton mil. ut prius  3 Idem   4 Rog. Tocotes mil.   5 Geor. Darell mil. ut prius  6 Tho. de la Mare ut prius  7 Châ—…i Wâ—…ey   8
Lampreys but of excess in eating them and I am confident the Jews might surfet of Manna it self if eating thereof above due proportion Perry This is a Drink or a Counterfeit Wine made of Pears whereof plenty in this County though such which are least delicious for tast are most proper for this purpose Such the Providence of Nature to design all things for mans service Peter Martyr when Professor in Oxford and sick of a Feaver would drink no other liquor though it be generally believed both cold and windy except corrected with spice or some other addition Salt I have twice formerly insisted hereon and doe confess this Repetition to be flatly against my own Rules laid down for the regulating of this work save that the necessity of this Commodity will excuse it from any offence I beheld England as a long well-furnish'd Table and account three principal Salt-cellars set at distance thereon Worcester shire I fancy the Trencher Salt both because it is not so much in quantity though very considerable and because it is whiter finer and heavier then any other Châ—…shire I conceive deserveth to be reputed the Grand-salt-cellar placed somewhat beneaâ—…h the middle whilst the third is the Salt of New-castle set far North at the lower end of the Table for the use of those who otherwise cannot conveniently reach to the former The usefulness of this not-duely-valued-blessing may be concluded from the Latine word Salarium so usuall in antient and modern Authors which importeth the entertainment or wages of Souldiers antiently paid chiefly if not only in Victuals and taketh its name by a Synecdoche fr om Sal or Salt as of all things most absolutely needfull without which condiment nothing can be wholesome nutriment I read in a modern Author describing his own County of Che-shire and measuring all things to the advantage thereof that There is no Shire in England or in any other Country beyond the seas where they have more then one salt-well therein neither at Droitwich in Worcester-shire is there more then one whereas in Che-shire there be four all within ten wiles together Here let me enter this Caveat in preservation of the right of Worcester-shire that many salt-fountains are found therein but stopped up again for the preservation of woods so that the making of salt at one place alone proceeds not from any Natural but a Politick restriction Nor must I forget how our German-Ancestors as Tacitus reports conceited such places where salt was found to be nearest to the heavens and to ingratiate mens pâ—…ayers to the gods I will not say founding their superstition on the mis-apprehension of the Jewish-worship Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt The Buildings I am sorry I have never seen the Cathedrall of Worcester so that I cannot knowingly give it a due commendation and more sorry to hear that our late Civil Wars have made so sad an Impression thereon The Market-towns are generally handsomely built and no Shire in England can shew a brace of them so neat and near together as Beaudley and Kiddermister in this County being scarcely two miles asunder Saints Saint RICHARD born at Wich alias Droitwich from which he took his name was bred in Oxford afterwards at Paris lastly at Bononia in Italy where for seven years together he heard and read the Canon-law Having thus first plentifully laid in he then began to lay out in his Lectures in that University and returning Home became Chancellor of Oxford then of Canterbury till at last chosen Bishop of Chichester He was a great Becketist viz. a stout opposer of Regal Power over Spiritual Persons on which and other accounts he wrot a Book to Pope Innocent the fourth against King Henry the third These his qualities with the reputation of his holy life so commended his memory to the notice of Pope Urban the fourth that seven years after his death viz. Anno 1260 he canonized him for a Saint It seems men then arrived sooner at the maturity oâ—… Popish Saintship then now a days more distance being now required betwixt their death and canonization As for their report that the Wiches or Salt-pits in this County were miraculously procured by his prayers their unsavory lye hath not a graine of probability to season it it appearing by antient Authors that salt-wâ—…ter flowed there time out of mind beâ—…ore any sweet-milk was given by Mother or Nurse to this Saint Richard This County affording no Martyrs such the moderation of Bshop Pates let us proceed to Cardinals JOHN COMIN or Cumin It must cost us some pains but the merit of the man will quit cost to clear him to be of English extraction For the proof whereof we produce the testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis his contemporary and acquaintance who saith he was Viâ—… Anglicus natione Hereby the impudent falsehood of John Demster the Scotish Historian doth plainly appear thus expressing himself Johannes Cuminus ex nobilissimo Comitum Buchaniae stemmate ortus Banfiae natus falsissimè inter Anglos reponitur cum ipse viderim quaedam ipsius nuper Parisiis scripta quibus suorum Popularium causam Pontifici Lucio commendavit in bibliotheca Pauli Petavii Senatoris Parisiensis John Cumin descended from the most noble stock of the Earls of Buchan born at Banfe is most falsely set down amongst the English seeing I my self lately saw some of his writings at Paris in the Library of Paulus Petavius Senator of Paris in which he recommended the cause of his Countrimen to Pope Lucius In plain English this Scotish Demster is an arrant rook depluming England Ireland and Wales of famous Writers meerly to feather his own Country therewith so that should he according to the Jewish Law be forced to make four-fold restitution for his felony he would be left poor enough indeed Besides Alexander Comin was Created first Earl of Buchan by King Alexander the second who began to raign Anno Dom. 1214. whereas Comin by the testimony of Demster himself died 1212. and therefore could not properly descend of their stock who were not then in being I cannot certainly avouch him a Worcester-shire man but know that he was bred a Monke at Evesham therein whence he was chosen the King procuring it à clero Dublinensi consonè satis concorditer Arch-bishop of Dublin He endowed Trinity-Church in Dublin with two and twenty Prebends and was made by Pope Lucius Cardinal of Saint Vellit in Italy HUGH of EVESHAM so called from the place of his Nativity in this County applyed himself to the Study of Physick with so good success that he is called the Phoenix in that Faculty Great also was his skill in the Mathematicks and especially in Astrology Some questions arising at Rome about Physick which consequencially were of Church government Pope Martin the fourth sent for our Hugh to consult with him who gave such satisfaction to his Demands that in requitall he Created him Cardinal
King James 9 HENRY SLINGSBY Mil. The Armes of this Antient and Numerous Family to large too be inserted in our List are as followeth Quarterly the First and Fourth Gules a Cheveron between two Leopards-heads and a Hutchet or Bugle Argent The Second and Third Argent a Griffon Surgeant Sable supprest by a Fess Gules 11 GEORGE SAVILL Mil. Bar. This is the last mention of this Numerous Wealthy and Antient Family which I find in this Catalogue and here Reader to confess my self unto thee my expectation is defeated hoping to find that vigorous Knight Sir John Savill in this Catalogue of Sheriffs But it seems that his constant Court-attendance being Privy-Councellour to King Charles priviledged him from that imployment untill by the same King he was Created Baron Savill of Pomfraict as his Son since was made Earl of Sussex I hear so high commendation of his house at Houley that it disdaineth to yield precedency to any in this Shire King Charles 12 JOHN RAMSDEN Mil. The Reader will pardon my Untimely and Abrupt breaking of this Catalogue for a reason formerly rendred Onely let me adde that the Renowned Knight Sir Marmaduke Langdale was Sheriff 1641. He without the least Self-attribution may say as to the Kings side of Northern Actions Pars Ego magna fui But as for his Raising the Siege of Pomfraict felt before seen by the Enemy it will sound Romanza-like to Posterity with whom it will find Plus famae quam fidei No wonder therefore if K. Charles the second Created him a Baron the Temple of Honour being of due open to him who hath passed through the Temple of Vertue The Battles Many Ingagements as much above Skirmshes as beneath Battles happened in this Shire But that at Marston-moor July 2. 1644. was our English Pharsalian Fight or rather the Fatall Battle of Cannae to the Loyal Cavaliers Indeed it is Difficult and Dangerous to present the Particulars thereof For one may easier doe right to the Memories of the Dead then save the Credits of some Living However things past may better be found fault with then amended and when God will have an Army Defeated Mistakes tending thereto will be multiplied in despite of the greatest care and diligence Know then that Prince Rupert having fortunately raised the Siege at York drew out his Men into the Moor with full intention to fight the Enemy Discreet Persons beholding the Countenance of the present affairs with an unpartiall Eye found out many Disswasives for the Prince to hazard a Battle 1. He had done his Work by relieving York let him Digest the Honour thereof and grasp at no more 2. His wearied Souldiers wanted refreshing 3. Considerable Recruits were daily expected out of the North under Colonel Clavering Adde to all these that such were the present Animosities in the Parliament Army and so great their Mutuall Disatisfactions when they drew off from York that as a prime Person since freely confest if let alone they would have fallen foul amongst themselves had not the Prince preparing to fight them Cemented their Differences to agree against a Generall Enemy But a Blot is no Blot if not hit and an Advantage no Advantage if unknown though this was true the Prince was not informed of the differences aforesaid However he did not so much run out of his own Ambition of Honour as answer the Spur of the Kings Command from whom he had lately received a Letter still safe in his Custody speedily to fight the Enemy if he had any Advantage that so he might spare and send back some Supplies to his Majesties perplexed occasions at Oxford Besides the Prince had received certain Intelligence that the Enemy had the Day before sent away seven thousand Men now so far distanced that they were past possibility of returning that day The former part hereof was true the latter false confuted by the great Shout given this day in the Parliaments Army at the return of such forces unto them But now it was too late to draw off the Parliament forces necessitating them to fight A Summers Evening is a Winters Day and about 4. a Clock the Battle began Some causelesly complain on the Marquess of New-castle that he drew not his men soon enough according to his Orders out of York to the Prince his seasonable succour Such consider not that Souldiers newly relieved from a Nine weeks Siege will a little Indulge themselves Nor is it in the power of a General to make them at such times to March at a Minutes warning but that such a Minute will be more then an Hour in the length thereof The Lord Generall Gorâ—…ng so valiantly charged the left Wing of the Enemy that they fairly forsooke the Field Generall Lâ—…slie with his Scottish ran away more then an York-shire mile and a Wee-bit Fame with her Trumpet sounded their flight as far as Oxford the Royalists rejoycing with Bonfires for the Victory But within few days their Bays by a mournfull Metamorphosis were turned into Willow and they sunk the lower in true sorrow for being mounted so high in Causeless Gladness For Cromwell with his Curassires did the work of that Day Some suspected Colonel Hurry lately converted to the Kings party for foul play herein for he divided the Kings Old Horse so valiant and victorious in former fights into small Bodies alledging this was the best way to break the Scottish Lanciers But those Horse always used to charge together in whole Regiments or greater Bodies were much discomposed with this new Mode so that they could not find themselves in themselves Besides a right valiant Lord severed and in some sort secured with a Ditch from the Enemy did not attend till the foe forced their way unto him but gave his men the trouble to pass over that Ditch the occasion of much disorder The Van of the Kings foot being led up by the truely honorable Colonel John Russell impressed with unequall numbers and distanced from seasonable succour became a Prey to their Enemy The Marquess of New-castles White-coats who were said to bring their Winding sheet about them into the field after thrice firing â—…ell to it with the But ends of their Muskets and were invincible till mowed down by Cromwells Carassires with Jobs Servants they were all almost slain few escaping to bring the Tidings of their overthrow Great was the Execution on that Day Cromwell commanding his Men to give no quarter Various the numbering of the slain of both sides yet I meet with none mounting them above six or sinking them beneath three thousand I remember no Person of honour slain on the Kings side save the hopefull Lord Cary eldest Son to the E. of Monmouth But on the Parliaments side the Lord Didup a lately created Baron was slain on the same Token that when King Charles said that he hardly remembred that he had such a Lord in Scotland one returned that the Lord had wholly forgotten that he had such a King in England
the artificial Tower thereof or for the Organs These were formerly most famous the more because placed in a Parochial no Cathedral Church for beauty bigness and tunableness though far short of those in worth which Michael Emperor of Constantinople caused to be made of pure Gold and beneath those in bigness which George the Salamitan Abbot made to be set up in the Church of his Convent whose biggest Pipe was eight and twenty foot long and four spans in compass The first Organ which was ever seen in the West of Europe was what was sent Anno 757. from Constantine the Grecian Emperor to Pipin King of France And their general use in Churches began about the year 828. I read that the form of this instrument was much improved by one Bernard a Venetian who was absolutely the best Musician in the World with addition of many Pipes thereunto What is become of Wrexham-Organs I know not and could heartily wish they had been removed into some Gentlemans house seeing such as accuse them for superstitious in Churches must allow them lawful in private places Otherwise such Moroso's deserve not to be owners of an articulate voice sounding thorough the Organ of a Throat But to return to the buildings in this County Holt Castle must not be forgotten How well â—…t is now faced and repaired without I know not I know when it was better lined within than any Subjects Castle I believe in Europe at that time viz. when in the possession of William Lord Stanley When the ready mony and plate therein besides Jewels and rich Houshold-stuff amounted unto forty thousand Marks got by the plunder of Bosworth field But as the River Dee running by this Castle is soon after swallowed up in the Irish Ocean so it was not long before this vast treasure upon the Owners attainder was confiscated into the Coffers of King Henry the seventh Prelates LEOLINE being born in the Marches he had a double name to notifie him to posterity One after the Welsh-mode à Patre Leoline ap Llewelin ap Yuyr the other according to the custom of the English Clergy à Patria Leoline de Bromfield a most fruitful tract of ground in this County Under King Edward the first Anno 1293. he was consecrated Bishop of Saint Asaph and deserved right well of that See by his manifold Benefactions appropriating some Churches to his Chapter As for a portion of Tithes in the Parish of Corwen appropriated to the Fabrick of the Church he reduced it to its former estate The first and last instance for Precedent I dare not call it which I have met with of a Church legally appropriated which reverted to its presentative propriety Had King Henry the eighth at the dissolution of Abbies followed this example the Church had been richer by many pounds the Exchequer not poorer by a penny I find also that he asked leave of King Edward the first to make a Will which may seem very strange whether it was a Court-complement or ex gratia cautela or because Welsh Bishops in that age might not Testamentize without Royal assent By his Will he bequeathed much of Plate rich Vests and Books to the Canons of that Church and his Chaplains dying Anno Dom. 1313. Since the Reformation GODFREY GOODMAN was born of wealthy Parentage in this County bred under his Uncle of whom hereafter in Westminster School then in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge where he commenced Doctor of Divinity successively preferred Pâ—…ebendary of Windsor Dean of Rochester and Bishop or 〈◊〉 He is 〈◊〉 joyned to the Prelates before though he lived long 〈◊〉 the Reformaâ—…on because he agreed with them in Judgement dying a professed Romanist as appeareth by his Will Yet the Adversaries of our Hierarchy have no cause to triumph thereat who 〈◊〉 charge Popish compliance on all his Order being able to produce of two hundred Bishops since Queen Elizabeth but this only instance and him a person of no great eminency not only disavowed by his fellow Prelates but imprisoned in the late Convocation for his erronious Opinions Indeed in this Discourse he would be constantly complaining of our first Reformers and I heard him once say in some passion That Bishop Ridley was a very Odde man to whom one presently returned he was an Odde man indeed my Lord for all the Popish party in England could not match him with his equal in Learning and Religion To give Goodman his due he was a harmless man hurtfull to none but himselâ—… pitiful to the poor hospitable to his neighbours against the ruining of any of an opposite judgement and gave the most he left to pious uses He was no contemptible Historian but I confesse an under-match to Doctor Hackwell But I remember the Ring bequeathed to me in his Will with the Posie thereof Requiem Defunctis and therefore I will no longer be troublesome to his Memory who was made Bishop 1624. and some seven years since deceased in Westminster almost 80. years of age Writers since the Reformation VVILLIAM SALESBURY was born in this County where his family flourisheth at this day This Gentleman out of a love to his Native language Amor patriae ratione valentior omni composed a short English and Welsh Dictionary first privately presented to and approved by King Henry the eighth being a Tuthar by his Fathers side of Welsh extraction and then publickly printed Anno Dom. 1547. Some captious spirits will quarrel the usefulness thereof seeing the Welsh did not want and the English did not wish a Book of that natnre But let them know that it is useful for both Nations to the English for attaining to the VVelsh for retaining that Language Attaining For being an original Tongue an Antiquary is lame without it which I find by my own defect to understand the few of many remaining Monuments of that Nation Retaining That Tongue as well as others by disuse being subject not only to Corrupâ—…ion but Oblivion by the confession of the Natives of that Countrey Indeed all Dictionaries of Languages are very useful VVords bringing Matter to the Tongue and as Plato well observed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Name or Word is an instrument of Instruction and ushereâ—…h Knowledge into our Understanding However seeing nothing can be begun and finisht at once Salesbury his Book as the first in this kind did rather essay than effect the work and since hath been completed by others He died about the year 1560. Benefactors to the Publick since the Reformation Sir THOMAS Son of RICHARD EXMEW was born at Rythin in this County Being bred in London a Goldsmith he thrived therein so well that Anno 1517. he was Lord Mayor thereof besides other Benefactions in his own Country and to Saint Mary Magdalen in Milk-street London where he lies buried He made the Water Conduit by London-wall at More-gate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Pindar begins his Poems Water is a
him home and commanded him to surrender his acquests into his hands which done he received them again by re-grant from the King save that Henry reserved the City of Dublin for himself This Strongbow is he who is commonly called Domitor Hiberniae The Tamer of Ireland though the Natives thereof then and many hundred years after paid rather â—…erbal submission than real obedience to our English Kings Yea some of their great Lords had both the power and Title of Kings in their respective Territories witness the Preface in the Commission whereby King Henry the second made William Fitz. Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland Archiepiscopis Episcopis Regibus Comitibus Baronibus omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia Salutem Where Kings are postposed to Bishops which speaketh them Royolets by their own ambition and by no solemn inauguration This Earl Richard died at Dublin 1177. and lieth buried in Trinity Church therein Sir ROGER WILLIAMS born of an ancient Family at Penrosse in this County was first a Souldier of Fortune under Duke D'Alva and afterwards successfully served Queen Elizabeth having no fault save somewhat over-free and forward to fight When a Spanish Captain challenged Sir John Norris to fight a single Combat which was beneath him to accept because a General This Roger undertook the Don. And after they had fought some time both Armies beholding them without any hurt they pledged each other a deep â—…raught of Wine and so friendly departed Another time at midnight he assaulted the Camp of the Prince of Parma nigh Venloe slew some of the enemies and pierced to the Tent of the General as highly blamed by some for rashness as commended by others for his valour He bravely defended Slufe whilest any hope of help WILLIAM HERBERT Earl of Pembroke with Sir Richard Herbert his Brother were both undoubtedly born in this County but whether or no at Ragland Castle is uncertain Both valiant men and as fast Friends to King Edward the fourth as professed Foes to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick They gave the last and clearest evidence hereof in the Battel of Banbury where we find it reported that these two leading the Army of the Welsh with their Poll-Axes twice made way through the Battel oâ—… the Northern men which sided with King Henry the sixth without any mortal wound There passeth a tradition in the Noble Family of the Herberts of Chierbury that this Sir Richard their Ancestor slew that day one hundred and forty men with his own hands which if done in charging some censure as an act of impossibility if after a rout in an execution as a deed of cruelty But others defend both truth and courage therein as done in passing and repassing through the Army Indeed Guns were and were not in fashion in that age used sometimes in sieges but never in field service and next the Gun the Poll-Ax was the mortal Weapon especially in such a Dead hanâ—… as this Knight had with which Quot icti tot occisi He is reported also to be of a Giants stature the Peg being extant in Mountgomery Castle whereon he used to hang his Hat at dinner which no man of an ordinary height can reach with his hand at this day However both these brave brethren circumvented with the subtilty of their Foes Odds at any time may be bet on the side of treachery against valour were brought to Banbury beheaded and buried the Earl at Tinterne and Sir Richard at Abergaveny in this County Writers JEFFREY of Monmouth was born in and named from Monmouth He was also called ap Arthur from his Father as I suppose though others say because he wrote so much of King Arthur but by the same proporâ—…ion Homer may be termed Achillides and Virgil the Son of Aeneas Yea this Jeffrey by an ancienter title might be sirnamed ap Bruit whose story he asserteth He translated and compiled the various British Authors into one Volume I am not so much moved at William Newbourough calling this his book Ridicula sigmenta as that Giraldus Cambrensis his Countryman and as I may say Con-sub-temporary should term it Fabulosam historiam Indeed he hath many things from the British Bards which though improbable are not ipso facto untrue We know Herodotus nick-named by some Pater Fabularum is by others acknowledged to be Pater Historiarum The truth is that both Novelants and Antiquaries must be content with many falshoods the one taking Reports at the first rebound before come to the other raking them out of the dust when past their perfection Others object that he is too hyperbolical in praising his own Countrey A catching disease seeing Livy mounts Italy to the skyes and all other Authors respectively and why should that be mortal in our Monmouth what is but venial in others And if he be guilty in Mis-timing of actions he is not the onely Historian without company in that particular However on the occasion of the premisses his book is prohibited by his Holiness whilst the lying Legend is permitted to be read without controul Thus Rome loves questuosa non inutilia figmenta Falshoods whereby she may gain Some conceive it to be his greatest fault that he so praiseth the ancient Church in Britain making it Independent from the See of Rome before Austin the Monk came hither One maketh him a Cardinal which is improbable whilest it is more certain that he was Bishop of St. Asaph and flourished Anno 1152. THOMAS of Monmouth was probably born certainly bred and brought up in the chief Town of this County Nor doth it move me to the contrary because Pits calls him an Englishman Monmouth in that Age being a Frontier Garrison peopled with English Inhabitants It happened at this time many Jews lived in Norwich where their habitation was called Abrahams Hall though therein not practising the piety of that worthy Patriarch He out of conformity to Gods command sacrificed his one and onely son they contrary to his will in his Word crucified the child of another William by name His Sepulchre was afterwards famed for many miracles whereof this Thomas wrote an History and dedicated it to William de Turbes Bishop of Norwich though he lived above six score miles from the place of those strange performances But probably the farther the better Major è longinquo reverencia and miracles are safest reported and soonest believed at some competent distance He flourished Anno 1160. under King Henry the Second Benefactors to the Publick HENRY PLANTAGENET first Duke of Lancaster was born in Monmouth castle the chief seat of his Barony He is commonly sirnamed de torto collo or the wry-neck and by others the good Duke of Lancaster by which name we entitle him it being fitter to call men from what was to be praised than what to be pâ—…tied in them not from their natural defects but moral perfections His bounty commends him to our mention in this place being head of