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
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
with the English Congregation After his return Queen Elizabeth profered him great preferment And it seems in the first of her Reign the Archbishop of Canterbury went a wooing to accept thereof viz. to 1. JOHN FECKENHAM refusing it upon a Popish account because he would not subscribe to the Queens Supremacie 2. NICHOLAS WOTTON Doctor of Law and Dean of Canterbury refusing it on a politique account suspecting the Queens short life and fearing alterations in the State 3. This WHITEHEAD who declined it out of his desire of privacy though some causelesly suspected him for disaffection to Church Discipline For he was by Queen Elizabeth offered the Mastership of the Hospital of the Savoy which he might have accepted without any subscription but would not affirming he could live plentifully on the preaching of the Gospel a rare example of Moderation He was a deep Divine and was chosen one of the Disputants Primo Elizabethae against the Popish Bishops His many Books still extant testifie his Learning and Religion Queen Elizabeth highly valued his company the rather because of his consciencious bluntness wherin one Repartee may be remembred The Queen who ever was Iniquior in Sacerdotes Maritatos said unto him Whitehead I love thee the better because thou art unmarried In truth Madam said he I love you the worse because you are unmarried He died Anno Dom 1571. NICHOLAS FULLER was as I have cause to conceive born in this County and when a Youth was Amanuensis or Scribe to Dr. Horne Bishop of Winchester Afterwards he attended as Tutor servant on Sir Henry Wallop to Oxford and returning thence was made Minister of Allington nigh Salisbury in Wiltshire where he had a Benefice rather then a Living so small the Revenues thereof But a contented mind extendeth the smallest Parish into a Diocess and improveth the least Benefice into a Bishoprick Here a great Candle was put under a Bushel or peck rather so private his place and imployment here he applyed his studies in the Tongues and was happy in pitching on not difficult Trifles but useful Difficulties tending to the understanding of Scripture He became an excellent Linguist and his books found good regard beyond the Seas where they were reprinted DRUSIUS the Belgian Critick grown old angry and jealous that he should be outshined in his own sphear foully cast some drops of Ink upon him which the other as fairly wiped off again He charged Master Fuller for being his Plagiary taking his best Notes from him without any acknowledgement thereof Master Fuller confest himself alwayes desirous of Drusius his works but never able such his poverty to purchase them and therefore he could not steal out of those books which his eye never beheld And not to be partial to my name-sake let the world judge whether Fuller his Miscelane be not as good as Drusius his Wheat Bishop Andrewes came to him as the Queen of Sheba to Solomon to pose him with hard Questions bringing with him a heap of Knots for the other to Untie and departed from him with good satisfaction he afterwards bestowed on him a great Living in this County which Master Fuller did not long enjoy He was most eminent for that Grace which is most worth yet costeth the least to keep it I mean Humility who in his Writings doth as fairly dissent from as freely concur with any mans opinions He dyed about the year of our Lord 1626. THOMAS JAMES was born in the Isle of Wight bred first in Winchester then at New-Colledge in Oxford and afterwards proceeded Doctor in Divinity He was chosen by Sir Thomas Bodley the Keeper of his inestimable Library in Oxford And on serious consideration one will conclude the Library made for him and him for it like Tallies they so fitted one another Some men live like Mothes in Libraries not being better for the books but the books the worse for them which they only soile with their fingers Not so Dr. James who made use of Books for his own and the publique good He knew the age of a Manuscript by looking upon the face thereof and by the form of the Character could conclude the time wherein it was written He was a Member of the Convocation held with the Parliament of Oxford Primo Caroli where he made a Motion that some might be Commissioned to peruse the Manuscript Fathers in all publique and private English Libraries that thereby the Forgery of forreign Popish Editions might be detected I believe his design had formerly been by him pursued for many years as appears by this passage in Mr. Camden Tho. James Oxoniensis vir eruditus vere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui se totum literis libris involvit jam publici boni studio in Angliae Bibliothecis excutiendis Deus opus secundet id molitur quod Reipublicae literariae imprimis erit usui He never attained higher preferment than the Subdeanary of Wells and dying 1628. was buried in the Chappel of New-Colledge in Oxford CHARLES BUTLER was bred Master of Arts in Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford and afterwards Beneficed in this County An excellent Musician who wrote a Book of the Principles of Musick in singing and setting with the twofold use thereof Ecclesiastical and Civil and a critical English man having composed a Grammar of our Language He also wrote a Book of Bees wherein as if he had been their Secretary he appears most knowing in the State-Mysteries of their Common-wealth whence one not unhandsomly on his Book Aut à consiliis Apibus Butlere fuisti Aut à consiliis est Apis ipsa tuis Butler he 'l say who these thy writings sees Bees counsel'd thee or els thou counselst Bees I behold these his Books as the Receptacle of the Leakage and Superfluities of his Study and it is no Trespass on Grace for one to walk and take a turn in the Field of Nature He was also a pious man a painful Preacher and a Solid Divine Witnesse his Excellent Book of the Marriage of Cousin Germans approved and commended by Doctor Prideaux as the best ever written on that Subject I conjecture he dyed about the year 1640. Romish Exile Writers RICHARD WHITE was born at Basing-Stoake in this County bred first in Winchester School then in New Colledge in Oxford In the beginning of Queen Elizabeth leaving the Land he lived first at Lovain then in Padua in Italy where he proceeded Doctor of the Laws Afterwards he became Regius Professor thereof at Doway for the space of thirty years and more He wrote many books and amongst the rest a Brittish and English History which hitherto I have not been so happy as to see save at the second hand as often cited by Mr. Selden which makes me believe much merit therein Surely he was better employed in the writing thereof then in the large Comment he hath made on the Aenigmatical Epitaph set up at Bononia Aelia Laelia Crispis
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
expressing her intention to confer it on Watson the foresaid Earl requested the contrary acquainting the Queen with the passage betwixt them how otherwise it would be two hundred pounds out of his way Nay then said the Queen Watson shall have it he being more worthy thereof who will give two hundred to decline then he who will give two thousand pounds to attain it I confess such who have read so much of the Corruption of the Earl of Leicester and heard so little of the Integrity of Watson will hardly credit this story which I am ready to believe and the rather because of this his Epitaph written on his Marble Monument in the Church of Saint Mary Overies D. Johannes Watson hujus Ecclesiâ—… Winton Praebendarius Decanus 〈◊〉 deinde Episcopus prudentissimus pater vir optimus praecipuè erga inopes misericors obiit in Domino January 23. anno â—…tatis 63. Episcopatus quarto 1583. Nothing else have I to observe save that there were three Watsons Bishops in the raign of Queen Elizabeth Thomas of Lincoln our John of Winchester and Anthony of Chichester though I believe little allied together States-men Sir THOMAS COVENTRY Knight was born at Croone in this County Eldest Son to Sir Thomas Coventry Knight one of the Justices of the Common Pleas. He was bred in the Inner Temple a student of the Laws and in the year 1618. was Treasurer of the said Temple and Atturney Generall to King James He was afterwards made Lord keeper of the Great Seal of England the first day of November in the first year of King Charles He was by the same King Created in the fourth of his raign April 10. Baron Coventry of Alesborough in this County An ingenious Gentleman in his History giveth him this Character in relation to his Keeper-ship that he injoyed that dignity fifteen years if it was not more proper to say that dignity enjoyed him This latter age affording none better qualified for the place Adding that he knew enough and acted conformable to his knowledge so that Captious Maliâ—…e â—…nds mute to blemish his fame To which we will only adde some few operative words taken out of his Patent when he was Created Baron Nos igitur in personâ Prâ—…dilecti per quam fidelis 〈◊〉 â—…stri Thomae Coventry Militis custodis magni sigilli nostri Angliae gratissima dignissima servitiâ—… quae idem consiliarius noster tam Prâ—…charissimo Patri 〈◊〉 Jacobo Regi 〈◊〉 Memoriae per multos anâ—…s quam nobis ab ipsis Râ—…gni nostri primis auspiciis fidelissimè prudentissimè praestitit impendit indiesque impendere non desistit nec non 〈◊〉 prudentiam strenuitatem dexteritatem integriâ—…tem industriam 〈◊〉 nos nostram coronam animo benigno regali intime recolentes constantiam fidelitatem ipsiâ—… Thomae Coventry Militis c. In cujus rei c. T. R. apud Westm. decimo diâ—… Aprilis Anno regni Regis Caroli 4. He died about the beginning of January 1639. before our Civill distempers began so that it is hard to say whether his Honourable Life or Seasonable Death was the greater favour which God bestow'd upon him I must not forget that it hath been observed that never Lord Keeper made fewer Orders which afterwards were Reversed then this Lord Coventry which some ascribe to his Discretion grounding most of his Orders on the Consent and Comprimise of the parties themselves interested therein whose hands so tyed up by their own Act were the more willing to be quiet for the future Writers on the Law Sir THOMAS LITLETON Knight Reader the Nimiety of my Cautiousness loath to prejudice the seeming right of any made me to bestow part of his Character on Staffordshire who since am convinced that he wholly and solely belongeth to this Shire as born at Frankley therein and I request the Reader to rectify some mistakes I formerly wrot by that which followeth He was a man remarkable in many respects First for his Extraction he was Son to Thomas Wescot Esquire and Elizabeth Litleton his wife who being a Double Inheritrix by her Father to the Litletons Mother to the Quatremains indented with Husband that her Heritable Issue should assume her Surname Say not her Husband might say Accepi dotem cognomen perdidi seeing it was done before his marriage by his free consent Besides we find even in Scripture it self Joab being constantly named the son of his Mother Zeruiah Secondly for his happiness that two great Kings had a great Sympathy to him who had an Antipathy each to other Henry the sixth whose Serjeant he was and rod Judge of the Northern circuit and Edward the fourth who made him a Judge and in his raign he rod the Northamptonshire Circuit Thirdly for his Exquisite skill in the Laws witness his Book of Tenures which though writ about two hundred years since yet at this day retaineth an Authentical reputation Insomuch that when in the raign of King James it came in question upon a Demuâ—…rer in Law whether the release to one Trespasser should be available or no to his Companion Sir Henry Hubbard and Judges Warberton Winch and Nicols his Companions gave Judgement according to the opinion of our Litleton and openly said that They would not have HIS CASE disputed or questioned Lastly for his happy posterity having left three families signally fixed and flourishing in this and the neighboring Counties of Stafford and Salop. And one saith very truely that these Quarter the Armes of many Matches after the best manner of quartering them other are scarce half-half-quartering them viz. they possess at this day good land on the same account Indeed the Lord Coke observeth that our Lawyers seldome dye either without Wills or Heirs For the first I believe it for our Common Lawyers will not have their Estates come under the Arbitrary dispose of a Civilian Judge of the Prerogative and therefore wisely prevent it For the second the Observation as qualified which Seldome may pass otherwise our Grand-fathers can remember Sir James Dier Lord Chief Justice and Periam Lord Chief Baron both dying without Issue His Book of Tenures hath since been Commented on by Sir Edward Coke his most Judicious Pen. Dic mihi num Textus vel Commentatio prestat Dicam ego tam Textus quam Commentatio prestat He died in the 21. year of King Edward the fourth and lyeth buried in the Cathedrall of Worcester having formerly constituted Doctor Alcock his faithfull friend and then Bishop of Worcestor Supervisor of his Will who saw it performed to all criticall particulars Souldiers RICHARD BEAUCHAMP Earl of Warwick was born at the Maâ—…or-house of Salwape in this County January the 28. 1381. King Richard the second and Richard Scroope then Bishop of Coventry afterwards Arch-bishop of York were his Godfathers A person so redoubted for Marshall Atchievements that the poeticall fictions of Hercules his labours found in him a reall
Footsteps therein But here is no such help to Trace the Footings of Truth Time having almost out-worn all impressions thereof I perceive though Judges leave more Land than Bishops they leave lesse Memorialls behind them of the time place and manner when and where born and dyed and how they demeaned themselves In the same Topick with Judges we have also placed such as have been Writers of our Common-Law and such conjunction we hope is no disparagement considering many of them were Capital Judges as Broke Dyer Coke c. and the rest learned Men of great repute in their Profession insomuch that the Judges themselves in several Cases have submitted to their Judgments And here I can but admire at the comparative paucity of the Books of our Common-Law in proportion to those written of the Civil and Canon Law Oh how corpulent are the Corpus'es of both those Lawes Besides their Shadows are far bigger than their Bodies their Glosses larger than their Text. Insomuch that one may bury two Thousand pounds and upwards in the Purchase and yet hardly compasse a Moity of them whereas all the Writers of the Common-Law except they be much multiplyed very lately with all the Year-Books belonging thereunto may be bought for threescore pounds or thereabouts which with some men is an Argument that the Common-Law imbraceth the most compendious course to decide Causes and by the fewness of the Books is not guilty of so much difficulty and tedious prolixity as the common and civil Lawes Yet is it most true that common Law-books are dearer than any of the same Proportion Quot libri tot librae holdeth true in many and is exceeded in some of them Yea should now an old common Law-book be new-printed it would not quit cost to the PRINTRR nor turn to any considerable account For the Profession of the Law is narrow in it self as confined to few persons and those are already sufficiently furnished with all Authors on that Subject which with carefull keeping and good using will serve them and their sons sons unto the third Generation So that a whole Age would not carry off a New Impression of an Ancient Law-book and quick return being the life of trading the tediousness of the sale would eat up the profit thereof All I will adde is this that That TAYLOR who being cunning in his Trade and taking exact measure of a Person maketh a suit purposely for him may be presumed to fit him better than those who by a general aim at randome make Cloaths for him In like manner seing our municipal Law was purposely composed by the Sages of this Land who best knew the Genius of our Nation it may be concluded more proper for our people and more applicable to all the Emergencies in this half-Island than the civil Law made for the general Concernment of the whole Empire by such who were unacquainted with the Particularities of our Land and Nation CHAPTER VIII Of Souldiers and Seamen with the necessity to encourage the Trade of Fishing SOULDIERS succeed though it almost affrighteth my Pen to meddle with such Martial Persons It is reported of the God of the Jews That he would have no share in the Pantheon at Rome except he might have and that justly too the whole Temple to himself So lately we have been so sadly sensible of the boisterousness of Souldiers one may suspect they will though unjustly justle all others out of the Book to make room for themselves But since their violence hath blessed be God been seasonably retrenched we have adventured to select some signal Persons of that Profession whose Prowesse made eminent impression on Forreign Parts so purposely to decline all medling with the dolefull and dangerous Distractions of our Times beginning our List in the Reign of King Edward the 3d. and concluding in the beginning of King Charles Seamen Surely Divine Providence did not make the vast body of the Sea for no other use than for Fishes to disport themselves therein or as some do conceit only for to quench and qualifie the drought and heat of the Sun with the moysture thereof but it was for higher intendmens Chiefly That by sailing thereon there may be the continuing of Commerce the communicating of Learning and Religion the Last from Palestine the Staple thereof and the more speedy and convenient portage of Burthens seeing a laden Ship doth flie in comparison of the creeping of an empty Waggon Now to speak what Envy cannot deny Our Englishmen either for Fights or Discoveries whether for tame Ships Merchants Men or Wild Ships Men of War carry away the Garland from all Nations in the Christian World Learned Keckerman who being a German by birth was unbiased in his judgment and living in Dantz a Port of great trading whither Seamen repaired from all parts and writing a Book De re nautica may be presumed skilful therein alloweth the English the best Seamen and next to them the Hollanders And if the later dare deny the truth hereof let them remember the late Peace they purchased of the English and thank God that they met with so conscientious Chapmen who set no higher price thereon Yea Let the Dutch know that they are the Scholars to the English in some of their Discoveries For I find the four first Circumnavigators of the World thus qualified for their Nativities 1. Magellanus a Spaniard 2. Sr. Francis Drake an Englishman 3. Sr. Thomas Candish an Englishman 4. Oliver Noort an Hollander But be it known That the last of these had an Englishman Captain Mellis by name Pilot to conduct him Yet let not my commending of our English Seamen be misinterpreted as if I did not refer all successe to the goodnesse of God the grand Admiral of the World The praising of Instruments by way of subordination is no more detrimental to the honour of the Principal than the praising of the edge of the Axe is a disparagement to the strength of the Arm which useth it God I confesse by his Providence ordereth all by Land and by sea yea he may be said to be the first Shipwright for I behold the Arke as a Bird wholly hatcht but utterly unfledg without any feathers of Masts and Tackling it could only float and not sail yet so that therein was left pattern enough for humane Ingenuity to improve it to Naval perfection Yea God himself hath in Scripture taken signal notice of the dextrous in this nature on which account we finde the Tyrians or Men of Hiram praised for that they had knowledg of the sea when sent with the servants of Solomon to Ophir We begin our Catalogue of Seamen in the Raign of King Edward the 3d. before which time there were many good seamen in England but few good English-seamen our King using Mariners of the Hanse Towns But it is no good huswifery to hire Chair-women to do that which may as well and better be done by her own servants In the time
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-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
first into this County consult I pray the ensuing Epitaph in Ely Minster transcribed as my Son hath informed me by himself exactly from his Monument Premendo sustusit Ferendo vicit Secundum Redemptoris Mundi adventum expectat hic Marcus Steward Miles filius haeresque Simeonis Steward Armig. Nicholao Steward Armig. geniti qui patrem habuit Richardum Steward Armig. quem genuit Thomas Steward Armig. Johannis Steward militis filius cujus Pater erat Johannes Steward Miles ejus nominis in Angliâ primus qui cum Jacobo Roberti Scotiae Regis filio in Franciam tranfretans regnante tunc Henrico quarto vento eorum propositis opposito in Anglicano littore applicuerunt ubi diu post pro obsedibus custodiebantur Sed hic Johannes in amorem cujusdam virginis Anglicanae nomine Talmach incidens obtentâque Johannae Reginae veniâ cui ancilla inserviebat eam in conjugem cepit in fidemque Regis Henrici dum vixisset solenniter est juratus Hujus pater erat Alexander quem genuit Andreas Steward Miles Alexandri cognominati Ferocis filiorum natu minimus cujus pater erat Walterus Steward à Dun de vale in Scotiâ dictus Sed Primus in Genealogiâ hâc summonitus hic sepultus ex Annâ unâ filiarum Haeredum Roberti Huicke Armig. Reginae Elizabethae Medici pri marii varios habuit liberos quos omnes inadultos Fata rapuere praeter duos Marians scilicet Gulielmo Forster in Com. Berke militi nuptam Simionem Steward Militem Haeredem filiúmque suum moestissimum qui pii Officii singularisque erga Patrem Amoris gratiâ hoc posuit monumentum ubi inscriptum legas quòd cum multos Annos Bello Pace pro Patriâ feliciter egisset aetate tandem confectus militari singulo Auratis Calcaribus à Jacobo Rege Screnissimo ornatus senex pene octogenarius fatali Necessitati concessit 28. Februarii Anno salutis 1603. The Farewell It is hard for a Physitian to prescribe proper Physick to such a Patient who hath a Hot Liver and a Cold Stomack because what is Good for the One is Bad for the Other As hard it is for Weather to please the Concernments of this County whose Northern part being Moist and Fenny desires Fair weather â—…outh and South-eastern Dry and Heathy delighteth so much rain thâ—…t it can well digest save in harvest time one shower every Day and two every Sunday But the God of Heaven * who can make it rain on one place and not on another can fit tue Necâ—…ssity of Bâ—…th and I remitte them both to his Providence CHES-SHIRE CHES-SHIRE lieth in form of an Axe Wirral being the handle thereof having Lanca-shire parted with the river Mersey on the North a corner of York-shire on the North-East Darby and Stafford shires severed with mountains on the East Shrop-shire on the South Denbigh Flint-shire and the Irish Ocean on the West thereof The longest part advantaged with excursions is four and fourty the broadest twenty five miles This County was reputed a Palatinate before the Conquest and since continued in the same dignity It is much senior to Lancashire in that honour which relateth to Cheshire as the copy to the original being Palatinated but by King Edward the third referring the Duke of Lancaster to have his regal juridiction Adeò integrè liberè sicut Comes Cestriae c. And whereas Records are written in the common-Common-law Contrà Coronam dignitatem Regis in this County they run thus Contra dignitatem gladii Cestriae It aboundeth with all things necessary to mans life and it is observable that all the rivers and rivolets therein rise in or run through some meer or pool as Cumber-meer Bag-meer Pick-meer Ridley-pool Petty-pool c. so that Cheshire hath more lakes in this kind then all the neighbouring Counties affording plenty of Carps Tenches Trouts Eeles c. therein The Gentry of this County are remarkable upon a four-fold account 1. For their Numerousness not to be parallel'd in England in the like extent of ground 2. Their Antiquity many of their Ancestors being fixed here before the Norman-conquest 3. Their Loyalty especially against a Northern enemy heartily hateing a Scot understand it before the union of the two Kingdomes 4. Hospitality no County keeping better houses which because all growes on their own may be the better afforded One said pleasantly that it appeared to all people that the Cheshire Gentry were good house-keepers because they gave so many wheat-sheaves bread being the staffe of hospitality wheaten the best of bread in their Coats of Armes Indeed I have told no fewer then six and twenty called Garbs in Herauldry which are born in the several Coat-Armours of the Gentry of this County The Original whereof is sufficiently known to be out of conformity to Hugh 〈◊〉 the fifth Earl-Palatine of Chester who gave Azure six Garbs Or. And many of the Gentry of the County being his dependents had assigned them or did assume in their sheilds something in allusion thereunto Naturall Commodities Salt This is most Essentiall to mans Lively-hood without which neither Sacrifice was acceptable to God nor Meat is savory to Man It is placed on the Board with bread to shew that they are equally necessary to mans sustenance A General in our late wars soundly chid a Captain for his so soon surrendring of a Castle seeing he had store of Powder therein I had returned the Captain plenty of BLACK but no WHITE Powder at all And here it is Remarkable to Observe the defects which sundry places have herein 1. Some Countries have Salt without Flesh within many miles as in the South-part of Africa 2. Some have plenty of Flesh but no Salt to make use thereof as in many parts of Tartary 3. Some have Flesh and Salt but the Flesh utterly uncapable of seasoning as about Nombre de Dios and other places near the Meridian in America 4. Some have Flesh Salt and Flesh capable thereof but so unconscionably dear that Common people have little comfort therein as in France no Country having Salt most plentifull and for reason of State most excessive in the rate thereof These things considered we who have Flesh Salt Salt at reasonable prises and Flesh capable thereof have cause to professe O Fortunati nimium bona si sua norint Angligenae The manner of making of Salt in this County is so largely and exactly described by Mr. Camden that nothing can be added thereunto Cheese Poor men do eat it for hunger Rich for digestion It seems that the Ancient British had no skill in the making thereof till taught by the Romans and now the Romans may even learn of us more exactness therein This County doth afford the best for quantity and quality and yet their Cows are not as in other Shires housed in the Winter so that it may seem strange that the hardiest Kine should yield the tenderest cheese Some Esayed in vain
observe that when Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Metropolitical Visitation charged through and through every Diocesse in his own Province no resistance being of Proof against him all Opposers giving some trouble to him but disgrace to themselves soon suppressed by his high bloud strong brains full purse skill in Law and plenty of powerful friends in the English and Romish Court The difficulty which he underwent herein made the work easie to his Successors ever after He deceased July 31. Anno Domini 1396. Prelates ROBERT CHICHESTER Here I had been at a perfectlosse had I not met with a good Guide to direct me For I had certainly from his Sirname concluded him born at Chichester in Sussex according to the Custome of other Clergy-men But this single swallow which makes no Summer had a Flight by himself retaining his Paternal Name descended from a Noble and Ancient Family saith my Author* Still flourishing at Rawleigh in this County He was first Dean of Sarisbury then Anno 1128. Consecrated Bishop of Exeter highly commended by many VVriters for his Piety though the Principal thereof consisted in his Pilgrimages to Rome and procuring Reliques thence He bestowed much money in building and adorning his Cathedral and having sate therein two and twenty years died and was buried 1150 on the South side of the High Altar nigh a Gentleman of his own Sirname whose inscribed Arms are the best Directory to this Bishops Monument GILBERT FOLIOT was born at Tamerton Foliot in this County Abbot of Glocester Bale saith Exeter then successively Bishop of Hereford and London He was observed when a Common Brother of his Covent to inveigh against the Prior when Prior against the Abbot when Abbot against the pride and lazinesse of Bishops but when he himself was Bishop all was well and Foliots mouth when full was silent Whether because all things do rest quiet in their center or because Age had abated his juvenile Animosity or because he found it more facil to find faults in others then mend them in himself Indeed oft times meer Morosâ—…ness of Nature usurps the reputation of Zeal and what is but a bare disgust of mens persons passeth for dislike of their vices However our Foliot the lesse he had in Satyrs the more he had of Elegies afterwards secretly bemoaning the badnesse of the Age he lived in Hear a Passe betwixt him and a strange voice Satans Challenge O Gilberte Foliot Dum revolvis tot tot Deus tuus est ASHTAROT Foliots Answer Mentiris Daemon qui est Deus Sabaoth est ille meus He finds little favour from our Historians of his Age because they do generally Becketize whilst Foliot was all for the King being a professed Enemy to the not person but pride of that Prelate* This wise and learned Bishop died Feb. 18. 1187. ROBERT FOLIOT Arch-Deacon of Oxford was neer Cosen and therefore is placed Country man to Gilbert aforesaid He was bred first in England then in France where he got the Sirname of Robertus Melundinensis probably from the place of his longest abode He was first Tutor to Becket and Becket afterwards was Patron to him by whose procurement he succeeded his Kinsman in the See of Hereford He wrote several Books whereof One of the Sacraments of the Old Law is most remarkable Hitherto we have followed Bale with blind obedience until Bishop Godwin whom we rather believe hath opened our eyes in two particulars 1 That Robert de Melune Bishop also of Hereford was a distinct person from our Robert 2 That our Foliot was advanced Bishop after the death of Becket probably for the affection he bore unto him not the assistance he received from him His deah happened Anno 1186. Nor must we forget there was also one Hugh Foliot Arch-Deacon of Shrewsbury afterwards Bishop of Hereford of whom nothing remains but his Name and the date of his Death 1234. WILLIAM BREWER was born in this County or in Somerset-shire whereof William his Father was several years Sheriffe under King Henry the Second where we shall insist on the occasion of his Sirname Bishop Godwin informeth us that he was Brother to Sr. William Brewer Knight if there be not an errour therein seeing Two Brethren surviving their Parents together both of a Name are seldome seen in the same Family He was preferred Bishop of Exeter Anno 1224. A Great Courtier and employed in such Embassies proper for a Person of Prime Quality as when he was sent to conduct Isabel Sister to King Henry the Third to be married to Frederick the Emperour whom he afterwards attended to the Holy Land Returning to his See he set himself wholly to the adorning and enriching thereof founding a Dean and 24 Prebendaries allowing the later the Annual Stipend of Four Pounds which they receive at this day But I am lately informed that the Dean and Residenciaries of Exeter have since augmented the Salary of all the Prebendaries at large to twenty pounds a year Which Intelligence if false they are not injured if true they are courteously used This Bishop died Anno Domini 1244. WILLIAM de RALEIGH was born at that well known Town in this County preferred first Canon of St. Pauls then successively Bishop of Norwich and Winchester The last of which cost him much trouble his Election being stiffely opposed by King Henry the Third intending a Valentinian Uncle to the Queen for that Bishoprick whom the Monks of Winchester refused terming him Vir Sanguinum A man of Bloud Whether in that sense wherein David is so termed and on that account prohibited the building of the Temple because a Martial Man or whether onely because descended of high bloud whose Descent was all his Desert so that they ridgidly adhered to the election of Raleigh King Henry who seldome used to be angry and more seldome to swear sware in his anger That he would have his will at last or they should never have Bishop and how his Conscience came off vvithout Perjury herein his own Confâ—…ssor vvas best able to satisfie him Raleigh had beâ—…ides his own merits two good friends his Purse and the Pope the former procuring the later He presented his Holynesse with six thousaâ—…d Mark which effected his Work Here two persons were at once deceived the Pope not expecting so great a sum should be tendred him and Raleigh not suspecting he would take all but leave at least a morsel for manners But his hands will take what ever is tendred him if not too Hot or too Heavy Raleigh thus runin debt could never creep out thereof though living very privately and dying very penitently For when the Priest brought the â—…uchrist unto him lying on his Death-Bed Raleigh expressing himself in language like to that of John Baptist I have need to come to thee and comest thou to me would rise out of his Bed to meet him His death happened Anno Dom. 1249. RICHARD COURTNEY was one of
resurgeret olim Effoderet Tumulum non puto Drake tuum Non est quod metuas ne te combusserit ulla Posteritas in aqua tutus ab igne manes Though Romes Religion should in time return Drake none thy Body will ungrave again There is no fear Posterity should burn Those bones which free from fire in Sea remain He died as I am informed unmarried but there is of his Alliance a Worshipful Family extant in this County in the condition of a Baronet Sir WALTER RAWLEIGH The sons of Heth said unto Abraham thou art a great â—…rince amongst us In the choice of our Sepulchres bury thy dead none shall withold them from thee So may we say to the memory of this worthy Knight repose your self in this our Catalogue underwhat Topick you please of States-man Sea-man Souldier Learned Wrirer and what not His worth unlocks our closest Cabinets and provides both room and wellcome to entertain him He was born at Budeley in this County of an Ancient Family but decaied in Estate and he the youngest brother thereof He was bred in Oriel Colledg in Oxford and thence comming to Court found some hopes of the Queens favours reflecting upon him This made him write in a glasse Window obvious to the Queens eye Fain wauld I climb yet fear I to fall Her Majesty either espying or being shown it did under-write If thy heart fails thee climb not at all However he at last climbed up by the stairs of his own 〈◊〉 But his Introduction into the Court bare an elder date From this occasion This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming cut of Ireland to the English Court in good habit his 〈◊〉 being then a considerable part of his estate found the Queen walking till meeting with a Plashy place she seemed to scruple going thereon Presently Raleigh cast and spred his new Plush Cloak on the ground whereon the Qâ—…een trod gently rewarding him afterwards with many Suits for his so free and seasonable tender of so fair a foot 〈◊〉 Thus an advantagious admission into the first notice of a Prince is more than half a degree to 〈◊〉 It is reported of the Women in the Balear Islands that to 〈◊〉 their Sons expert archers they will not when children give them their break-fast before they had hit the mark Such the dealing of the Queen with this Knight making him to earn his Honour and by pain and peril to purchase what places of credit or profit were bestowed upon him 〈◊〉 it was true of him what was said of Cato 〈◊〉 That he seemed to be born to that onely which he went about So dexterous was he in all his undertakings In Court in Camp by Sea by Land with Sword with Pen witnesse in the last his History of the World wherein the onely default or defect rather that it wanteth one half thereof Yet had he many enemies which worth never wanteth at Court his cowardly Detractors of whom Sir Walter was wont to say If any man accuseth me to my face I will answer him with my mouth but my tail is good enough to return an answer to such who 〈◊〉 me behind my baâ—…k Civilians JOHN COWEL was born at Yarnesborow in this County bred first at Eaton then in Kings-Colledg in Cambridg He was Proctor thereof 1586. Doctor of the Law Master of Trinity Hall Vice-Chancellour in the year 1603 and 1614 Doctor of the Arches Vicar General to Archbishop Bancroft Though Civil was his Profession such his skill in Common Law he was as well able to practice in Westminster Hall as Doctors Commons In his time the contest was heightned betwixt the Civilians and Common Lawyers Cowell being the Champion of the former whom King James countenanced as far as he could with conveniency Indeed great were his abilities though a grand Oracle of the Common Law was pleased in derision to call him Doctor Cow-heele and a Cow-heele I assure you well dress'd is good meat that a Cook when hungry may lick his fingers after it Two chief Monuments he hath left to Posterity his Book intituled Institutiones 〈◊〉 Anglicani and his Interprerer of the hard words in the Common-Law Indeed he had both the essentials of an Interpreter who was both gnarus and sidus Many slighted his Book who used it it being questionable whether it gave more information or offence Common Lawyers beheld it as a double trespasse against them first pedibus ambulando that a Civillian should walk in a Profession several to themselves Secondly that he should pluck up the Pales of the bard terms wherewith it was inclosed and lay it open and obvious to common capacities But an higher offence was charged upon him that he made the King to have a double Prerogative the one limited by Law the other 〈◊〉 which being complained of in Parliament his Book was called in and condemned Some other advantages they got against him the grief whereof hearts sunk down are not to be boyed up hastened his death Anno Domini 1611. and he lieth buried in Trinity-Hall Chappel ARTHVR DVCK was born of wealthy parentage at Heavy-tree in this County He was bred in Oxford Fellow of All-souls-Colledge and wrote the life of Arch Bishop Chicheley the Founder thereof in most elegant Latine Proceeding Doctor of Law he became Chancellour of Wells and London and Master of the 〈◊〉 designed also Master of the Roles had not an intervening accident diverted it One of most smooth Language but rough speech So that what the Comedian faith of a fair 〈◊〉 in Mean Apparel was true of him In ipsa inesset forma vestes formam 〈◊〉 Had there not been a masculine strength in his matter it had been marred with the disadvantage of his utterance He died on the Lords Day and in effect in the Church about 1648 Leaving a great estate to two Daughters since married to two of his Name and Kindred Writers ROGER the CISTERTIAN Lived neer the place of his birth at Ford Abbey in this County Here the judicious Reader will please himself to climb up the two following Mountains of extreams onely with his eye and then descend into the Vale of Truth which lieth betwixt them Leland Bale Cent. 3. Num. 23. Doctis artibus 〈◊〉 insolito quodam animi ardore noctes atque dies invigilavit Invigilavit fallaciis atque imposturis Diabolicis ut Christi gloriam obscuraret I believe that Bilius Bale would have been sick of the yellow Jaundies if not venting his choller in such expressions But to speak impartially the works of this Roger concerning the Revelations of Elizabeth Abbesse of Schonaugh and the Legend that he wrote of St. Ursula with her Thousands of Maids kill'd at Colen are full to say no worse of many fond falsities He lived mostly in the Low Countries and flourished 1180 under King Henry the Second JOHN de FORD was probably born at certainly Abbot of Ford in this County esteemed insignis Theologus in his age following the foot-steps of
his friend and Patron Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He travailed into Forrain parts which he did not as too many weed but gathered the Flowers returning stored with good Manners and stock'd with good Learning He endeavoured that all in his Convent should be like himself and Ford-Abbey in his time had more Learning therein than three Convents of the same bignesse He was Confessor to King John wrote many pious Works and dying was buried in his own Convent without any Funeral Pomp about the year 1215. RICHARD FISHAKER or FIZACRE Matthew Paris termeth him FISHACLE was saith 〈◊〉 born in Exoniensi Patria which I english in Devonshire He was bred first in Oxford then in Paris and became a Dominican Friar For his Learning and Preaching as highly esteemed as any of that age He was saith Learned Leland as fast linked in Friendship to Robert Bacon of whom hereafter as ever 〈◊〉 to Bacchius or Thesâ—…us to Perithous So that one may say ofthem there was two friends This Richard disdaining to survive Robert aâ—…oresaid hearing of his death expired in the same year 1248. and was buried at Oxford JOHN CUT 〈◊〉 was born at the Manor of Gammage in this County where his Name and Family do continue Owners thereof Now because that which is pretty is pleasing and what is little may be presumed pretty we will insert the short and indeed all the information we have of him In the time of King Edward the Third Johannes Rupe-Scissanus or de Rupe scissa Cutclif being a very sincere and learned man opposed himself against the Doctrine and Manners of the Clergy and wrote against the Pope himself I see Baleus non vidit omnia for Pitzeus it is no wonder if he be pleased to take no notice of a Writer of an opposite judgment to himself When we receive then will we return more Intelligence of this Authour RICHARD CHICHESTER was not born at Chichester in Sussex as his Name doth import but was an extract of that Ancient Family still flourishing at Raleigh in this County He became a Monk in Westminster seldome spending any spare time in vanity but laying it out in reading Scripture and good History He wrote a Chronicle from Hengisius the Saxon to the year of our Lord 1348. done indeed fide Historica His death happened about the year 1355. ROBERT PLYMPTON was born in Plypmton in this County and bred an Augustinian in the Town of his Nativity He was afterwards preferred Arch-Deacon of Totnesse conscientiously discharging his place for perceiving people extreamly 〈◊〉 he was another John Baptist in his painful preaching repentance unto them which Sermons he caused to be written and it is conceived they wrought a very good 〈◊〉 on the Devonians The time wherein he flourished is not certainly known NICHOLAS UPTON was born in this County of an Ancient Family still flourishing therein at ........... He was bred Doctor in the canon-Canon-Law and became Canon of Salisbury Wells and St. Pauls Humphrey Duke of Glocester the Me coenas General of goodnesse and learning had him in high esteem and gave him great rewards Hereupon Upton in expression of his gratitude presented his Patron with a Book the first in that kind of Heraldry and the Rules thereof a Book since set forth in a fair impression by Edward Bish Esquire a Person composed of all worthy accomplishments He flourished under King Henry the Sixth 1440. Since the Reformation RICHARD HOOKER was born at Heavy-tree nigh Exeter bred in Corpus Christi Colledg in Oxford and afterwards was preferred by Arch-Bishop Whitgift Master of the Temple whilst at the same time Mr. Walter Travers was the Lecturer thereof Here the Pulpit spake pure Canterbury in the Morning and Geneva in the Afternoon until Travers was silenced Hooker his Stile was prolixe but not tedious and such who would patiently attend and give him credit all the reading or hearing of his Sentences had their expectation over-paid at the close thereof He may be said to have made good Musick with his fiddle and stick alone without any Rosin having neither Pronunciation nor gesture to grace his matter His Book of Ecclestiastical POLITIE is prized by all generally save such who out of Ignorance cannot or Envy will not understand it But there is a kind of People who have a Pike at him and therefore read his Book with a prejudice that as Jephtha vowed to sacrifice the first living thing which met him these are resolved to quarrel with the first word which occurreth therein Hereupon it is that they take exception at the very Title thereof Ecclesiastical Politie as if unequally yoked Church with some mixture of City-nesse that the Discipline Jure Divino may bow to Humane Inventions But be it reported to the Judicious whether when all is done a Reserve must not be left for prudential Supplies in Church Government True it is his Book in our late Times was beheld as an Old-Almanack grown out of date but blessed be God there is now a Revoluion which may bring his Works again into reputation Mr. Hooker leaving London no inclination of his own but obedience to others put him on so publick a place retired to his small Benefice in Kent where he put off his Mortality Anno 1599 leaving the Memory of an humble holy and learned Divine Here I must retract after a Father no shame for a Child two passages in my Church History For whereas I reported him to die a Bachilour he had Wife and Children though indeed such as were neither to his comfort when living nor credit when Dead But Parents cannot stamp their Children from their Heads or Hearts Secondly his Monument was not erected by Sir Edwin Sandys a person as probable as any man alive for such a performance but by Sir William Cooper now li ving in the Castle of Hartford and let the good Knight have the due Commendation thereof JOHN REINOLDS was born in this County bred in Corpus-Christi-Colledge in Oxford of whom I have spoken plentifully in my Church-History NATHANIEL CARPENTER Son to a Minister was born in this County bred Fellow of Exeter-Colledge in Oxford He was right-handed in the Cyclopedy of all Arts Logick witnesse his Decades Mathematicks expressed in the Book of his Geography and Divinity appearing in his excellent Sermons called Achitophel As for his Opticks it had been a Master-piece in that kind if truly and perfectly printed I have been informed that to his great grief he found the written Preface thereof CaChristmass Pies in his Printers House Pearles are no Pearles when Cocks or Coxcombs find them and could never after from his scattered Notes recover an Original thereof He went over into Ireland where he became Chaplain to James Usher Arch-Bishop of Armagh and School-Master of the Kings Wards in Dublin A place of good profit great credit greatest trust being to bring up many Popish Minors in the Protestant Religion who under his Education grew
Death of Pope Urban But Pope Boniface his Successour restored him to all his honours and dignities sent him over into England to King Richard the Second with most ample Commendation Returning to Rome he lived there in all plenty and pomp and dyed September the seventeenth 1397. Pity it is so good a Scholar should have so barbarous an Epitaph scarce worth our Translation Artibus iste Pater famosus in omnibus Adam Theologus summus Cardi que-nalis erat Anglia cui patriam titulum dedit ista Beatae Ceciliaeque morsque suprema polum Adam a famous Father in Arts all He was a deep Divine Cardi-and nall Whom England bred S. Cicilie hath given His Title Death at last gave heaven He was interred when dead in the Church of St. Cicilie which intituled him when alive though no happiness an honour which no other English man to my observation of his Order ever Injoyed Prelates JOHN BRETON alià s BRITTON Dâ—… of the Lawes He meriteth a high place in this Catalogue and yet I am at a perfect loss where to fix his Nativity and therefore am forced to my last Refuge as the Marginal Character doth confess He was a famous Lawyer living in the Reign of King Edward the First at whose Commandement and by whose Authority he wrote a learned Book of the LAWES of ENGLAND the Tenor whereof runneth in the Kings name as if it had been penned by himself Take one instance thereof 12. Chapter VVe will that all those who are fourteen years old shall make Oath that they shall be sufficient and Loyall unto Us and that they will be neither Felons nor assenting to Felons and We will that all be c. This Style will seem nothing strange to those who have read Justinian his Institutions which the Emperour assumed unto himself though composed by others It is no small Argument of the Excellency of this Book that notwithstanding the great variation of our Lawes since his time that his work still is in great and general Repute Thus a good face conquereth the disadvantage of old and unfashionable Clothes He was preferred Bishop of Hereford in the Reign of King Henry the Third And although there be some difference betwixt Authors about the time wherein he lived and died some assigning a latter date I confide in Bishop Godwin his Successour in the same See computing his death to happen May 12. in the Third of King Edward the First Anno 1275. ADAM de ORLTON was born in the City of Hereford Proceeding Doctor of Law he became afterwards Bishop in the place of his Nativity This is he so Infamous in History for cutting off the life of King Edward the Second with his Ridling Unpointed Answer Edwardum Regem occidere nolite timere bonum est To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good It is hard to say which of these two were the Original and which the Translation It being equally probable that the English was Latined as that the Latin was Englished by such Authors as relate this transaction This mindeth me of a meaner passage sic Canibus Catulos which to refresh both the Reader and my self I shall here insert A Schoolmaster being shut out of his School at Christmass came to Composition with his Scholars and thus subscribed the Articles tendred unto him Aequa est conditio non nego quod petitis But being readmitted into his house He called all his Scholars to account for their Rebellion they plead themselves secured by the Act of Oblivion he had signed He calls for the Original and perusing it thus pointed it Aequa est Conditio non Nego quod petitis Thus power in all ages will take the priviledge to construe its own Acts to its own advantage But to return to de Orlton he made much bustling in the Land passing through the Bishopricks of Worcester and Winchester and died at last not much lamented July 18. 1345. JOHN GRANDESSON was born at Ashperton in this County a person remarkable on several accounts For his 1. High Birth his Father Gilbert being a Baron and his Mother Sybill Coheir to the Lord Tregose 2. Great Learning being a good Writer of that age though Bale saith of him that he was Orator animosior quà m facundior 3. High Preferment attaining to be Bishop of Exeter 4. Vivacity sitting Bishop in his See two and fourty years 5. Stout Stomack Resisting Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury vi Armis when he came to visite his Diocess 6. Costly Buildings Arching the Beautifull Roofe of his Cathedrall Building and endowing a rich Colledge of Saint Mary Otterey He was the bettter inabled to do these and other great Benefactions by perswading all the secular Clergy in his Diocess to make him sole Heir to their Estates He died July 15. Anno Domini 1369. THOMAS BRADWARDINE Arch-bishop of Canterbury See him more properly in Sussex RICHARD CLIâ—…FORD Bishop of London See him more conveniently in Kent Since the Reformation MILES SMITH D. D. was born in the City of Hereford which I observe the rather because omitted in his Funeral Sermon His Father was a Fletcher and a man of no mean Estate that Vocation being more in use formerly then in our Age. He was bred first in Brasen-Nose-Colledge then Chaplain of * Christ-Church in Oxford A deep Divine great Linguist who had more then a single share in the last Translation of the Bible as hereby will appear 1. More then fourty Grave Divines were imployed in several places on that work 2. When it had passed their hands it was revised by a dozen select ones 3. This done it was referred to the final Examination of Bish. Bilston and Dr. Smith 4. Doctor Smith at last was injoyned to make the Preface to the Translation as a comely gate to a glorious City which remains under his own hand in the University Library in Oxford Yet was he never heard to speak of the work with any attribution to himself more then the rest He never sought any preferment he had and was wont merrily to say of himself that he was Nullius rei praeterquam Librorum avarus Covetous of nothing but Books King James preferred him Bishop of Glocester 1612. wherein he behaved himself with such meeknesse that in all matters of doubt the byass of his inclination did still hang 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He wrote all his books with his own hand in that faculty not being short of the professours thereof and being seaventy years of age died and was buried in his own Cathedrall 1624. Souldiers ROBERT DEVEREUX Son of Walter Devereux Earle of Essex was born at Nethwood in this County November the tenth 1567. Whilst his Father as yet was onely Viscount of Hereford He was such a Master-piece of Court and Camp and so bright a Light therein that we will observe his morning fore-noon high-noon afternoon and night His morning began at his first coming to Court the gates whereof
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
returned For your Masters sake I will stoop but not for the King of Spains This worthy Patriot departed this life in the seventy seventh year of his Age August the 4th 1598. Capitall Judges Sr. WILLIAM de SKIPVVITH was bred in the study of the Laws profiting so well therein that he was made in Trinity Terme Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the thirty fifth continuing therein untill the fortieth of the Reign of King Edward the third I meet not with any thing memorable of him in our English Histories except this may pass for a thing remarkable that at the importunity of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster this Sr. William condemned William Wichkam Bish. of Winchester of Crimes rather powerfully objected then plainly proved against him whereupon the Bishops Temporalls were taken from him and he denied access within twenty miles of the Kings Court. I confess there is a Village in the East riding of Yorkshire called SKIPWITH but I have no assurance of this Judge his Nativity therein though ready to remove him thither upon clearer information Sr. WILLIAM SKIPVVITH Junior He was inferior to the former in place whom I behold as a Puisne Judge but herein remarkable to all posterity That he would not complie neither for the importunity of King Richard the second nor the example of his fellow Judges in the 10th year of that Kings Reign to allow that the King by his own power might rescinde an Act of Parliament Solus inter impios mansit integer Gulielmus Skipwith * Miles Clarus ideo apud Posteros And * shined the brighter for living in the midst of a crooked Generation bowed with fear and favour into Corruption I know well that the Collar of S. S. S. or Esses worn about the necks of Judges and other persons of Honor is wreathed into that form whence it receiveth its name Chiefly from Sanctus Simon Simplicius an uncorrupted Judge in the Primitive Times May I move that every fourth link thereof when worn may mind them of this SKIPVVITH so upright in his judgment in a matter of the highest importance Having no certainty of his Nativity I place him in this County where his name at Ormesby hath flourished ever since his time in a very worshipfull equipage Sr. WILLIAM HUSEâ—… Knight was born as I have cause to believe in this County where his name and Familie flourish in a right worshipfull equipage He was bred in the study of our Municipall Law and attained to such eminencie therein that by King Edward the fourth in the one and twentieth of his Reign he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. King HENRY the seventh who in point of policy was onely directed by himself in point of Law was chiefly ruled by this Judge especially in this question of importance It hapned that in his first Parliament many Members thereof were returned who being formerly of this Kings partie were attainted and thereby not legal to sit in Parliament being disabled in the highest degree it being incongruous that they should make Laws for others who themselves were not Inlawed The King not a little troubled therewith remitted it as a case in Law to the Judges The Judges assembled in the Exchequer Chamber agreed all with Sr. VVilliam Husee their Speaker to the King upon this Grave and safe opinion mixed with Law and convenience that the Knights and Burgesses attainted by the course of Law should forbear to come into the House till a Law were passed for the reversall of their attainders which was done accordingly When at the same time it was incidently moved in their Consultation what should be done for the King himself who likewise was attainted the rest unanimously agreed with Sr. VVilliam Husee that the Crown takes away all defects and stops in blood and that by the Assumption thereof the fountain was cleared from all attainders and Corruptions He died in Trinity Term in the tenth year of King Henry the 7th Sr. EDMUND ANDERSON Knight was born a younger brother of a Gentile extract at Flixborough in this County and bred in the Inner Temple I have been informed that his Father left him 1000 l. for his portion which this our Sr. Edmund multiplyed into many by his great proficiency in the Common Law being made in the twenty fourth of Queen Elizabeth Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. When Secretary Davison was sentenced in the Star Chamber for the business of the Queen of Scots Judge Anderson said of him that therein he had done * justum non juste and so acquitting him of all malice censured him with the rest for his indiscretion When H. â—…uff was arraigned about the Rising of the Earl of Essex and when Sr. Edward Coke the Queens Solicitor opposed him and the other answered Syllogistically our Anderson sitting there as Judge of Law not Logick checked both Pleader and Prisoner ob stolidos Syllogismos for their foolish Syllogismes appointing the former to press the Statute of King Edward the third His stern countenance well became his place being a great promoter of the established Church-discipline and very severe against all Brownists when he met them in his Circuit He dyed in the third of King James leaving great Estates to several sons of whom I behold Sr. Francis Anderson of Euworth in Bedfordshire the eldest whose son Sr. John by a second Wife Audrey Butler Neece to the Duke of Buckingham and afterwards married to the Lord Dunsmore in VVarwickshire was according to some conditions in his Patent to succeed his Father in Law in that honour if surviving him This I thought fit to insert to vindicate his memory from oblâ—…vion who being an hopefull Gentleman my fellow Colleague in Sidney Colledge was taken away in the prime of his youth Souldiers Sr. FREDERICK TILNEY Knight had his chief Residence at Bostone in this County He was a man of mighty stature and strength above the Proportion of ordinary persons He attended King Richard the first Anno Dom. 1190. to the Seidge of Acon in the Holy Land where his Atcheivements were such that he struk terror into the Infidels Returning home in safety he lived and died at Terington nigh Tilney in Norfolk where the measure of his incredible stature was for many 〈◊〉 preserved Sixteen Knights flourished from him successively in the Male line till at last their Heir generall being married to the Duke of Norfolk put a period to the Lustre of that ancient family PEREGRINE BERTY Lord Willoughby Son of Richard Berty and Katharine Dutchess of Suffolk Reader I crave a dispensation that I may with thy good leave trespass on the Premised Laws of this Book his name speaking his foraign Nativity born nigh Hidleberg in the Palatinate Indeed I am loath to omit so worthy a Person Our Histories fully report his valiant Atcheivements in France and the Netherlands and how at last he was made Governour of
I remember are buryed in Lichfield and not in the Vault under the Church of Drayton in Middlesex where the rest of that Family I cannot say lye as whose Coffins are erected but are very compleatly reposed in a peculiar posture which I meet not with elsewhere the horrour of a Vault being much abated with the Lightnesse and Sweetnesse thereof THOMAS WENTVVORTH was born his Mother coming casually to London in Chancery Lane in the Parish of St. Dunstans in the West Yet no reason Yorkshire should be deprived of the honour of him whose Ancestors long flourished in great esteem at VVent-worth-VVoodhouse in that County He was bred in St. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards became a Champion Patriot on all occasions He might seem to have a casting voice in the House of Commons for where he was pleased to dispose his Yea or Nay there went the affirmative or negative It was not long before the Court gained him from the Country and then Honours and Offices were heaped on him created Baron and Viscount Wentworth Earl of Strafford and Lord Deputy of Ireland When he went over into Ireland all will confesse he laid down to himself this noble foundation vigorously to endevour the Reduction of the Irish to perfect obedience to the King and profit to the Exchequer But many do deny the Superstructure which he built thereon was done by legal line and Plummet A Parliament was called in England and many Crimes were by prime persons of England Scotland and Ireland charged upon him He fenced skilfully for his Life and his Grand-guard was this that though confessing some Misdemeanors all proved against him amounted not to Treason And indeed Number cannot create a new kind so that many Trespasses cannot make a Riot many Riots one Treason no more then many Frogs can make one Toad But here the Dâ—…stinction of Acumulative and Constructive Treason was coyned and caused his Destruction Yet his Adversaries politickly brake off the Edge of the Axe which cut off his head by providing his Condemnation should not passe into Precedent to Posterity so that his Death was remarkable but not exemplary Happy had it been if as it made no Precedent on Earth so no Remembrance thereof had been kept in Heaven Some hours before his Suffering he fell fast asleep alledged by his friends as an Evidence of the Clearnesse of his Conscience and hardly to be parallel'd save in St. Peter in a dead sleep the Night before he was to dye condemned by Herod His death happened 1641. He hath an eternal Monument in the matchlesse Meditations of King Charles the First and an everlasting Epitaph in that weighty Character * there given him I looked upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose abilites might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed in the greatest Affairs of State c. God alone can revive the dead all that Princes can perform is to honour their Memory and Posterity as our Gracious Soveraign King Charles hath made his worthy Son Knight of the Garter LYONEL CRANFIELD Son to Randal Cranfield Citizen and Martha his Wife Daughter to the Lady Dennis of Gloucester-shire who by her will which I have perused bequeathed a fair estate unto her was born in Bassing-hall street and bred a Merchant much conversant in the Custome-House He may be said to have been his own Tutor and his own University King Iames being highly affected with the clear brief strong yea and profitable sense he spake preferred him Lord Treasurer 1621. Baron of Cranfield and Earl of Middlesex Under him it began to be young flood in the Exchequer wherein there was a very low Ebb when he entred on that Office and he possessed his Treasurers place some four years till he fell into the Duke of Bucks the best of Friends and worst of Foes displeasure Some say this Lord who rose cheifly by the Duke whose near Kinswoman he married endevoured to stand without yea in some cases for the Kings profit against him which Independency and opposition that Duke would not endure Flaws may soon be found and easily be made Breaches in great Officers who being active in many cannot be exact in all matters However this Lord by losing his Office saved himself departing from his Treasurers place which in that age was hard to keep Insomuch that one asking what was good to preserve Life was answered Get to be Lord Treasurer of England for they never do dye in their place which indeed was true for four Successions Retiring to his magnificent House at Copt-hall he there enjoyed himself contentedly entertained his friends bountifully neighbours hospitably poor charitably He was a proper person of comely presence chearful yet grave countenance and surely a solid and wise man And though their Soul be the fattest who only suck the sweet Milk they are the healthfullest who to use the Latine Phrase have tasted of both the Breasts of fortune He dyed as I collect anno 1644 and lyeth interred in a stately Monument in the Abby at Westminster Writers on the Law FLETA or FLEET We have spoken formerly of the Fleet as a Prison but here it importeth a person disguised under that name who it seems being committed to the Fleet therein wrote a Book of the Common Laws of England and other Antiquities There is some difference concerning the Time when this Learned Book of Fleta was set forth but it may be demonstrated done before the fourteenth of the Reign of King Edward the Third for he saith that it is no Murder except it be proved that the Party slain was English and no Stranger whereas this was altered in the fourteenth year of the said King when the killing of any though a Forreigner living under the Kings protection out of prepensed Malice was made Murder He seemeth to have lived about the End of King Edward the Second and beginning of King Edward the Third Seeing in that Juncture of Time two Kings in effect were in being the Father in right the Son in might a small contempt might cause a confinement to that place and as Loyal ubjects be within it as without it Sure it is that notwithstanding the confinement of the Author his Book hath had a good passage and is reputed Law to posterity CHRISTOPHER St. GERMAN Reader wipe thine eyes and let mine smart if thou readest not what richly deserves thine observation seeing he was a person remarkable for his Gentility Piety Chastity Charity Ability Industry and Vivacity 1. Gentility descended from a right ancient Family born as I have cause to believe in London and bred in the Inner Temple in the Study of our Laws 2. Piety he carried Saint in his nature as well as in his Surname constantly reading and expounding every night to his Family a Chapter in the Bible 3. Chastity living and dying unmarried without the least spot on his Reputation 4. Charity giving consilia and auxilia to all his People gratis
Indeed I read of a Company of â—…hysicians in Athens called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they would take no Money of their Patients and our St. German was of their Judgement as to his Clients 5. Ability being excellently skill'd in Civil Caxon and Common Law so that it was hard to say wherein he excelled Add to these his skill in scripture witnesse his Book called The Doctor and Student where the former vics Divinity with the Lâ—…w of the later 6. Industry he wrote several works wherein he plainly appeareth not only a Favourer of but Champion for the Reformation 7 Vivacity Lâ—…ving to be above eighty years old and dying anno Dom. 1593. was buryed at St. Alphage London near Criplegate WILLIAM RASTAL was born in this City Sisters Son to Sir Thomas More and was bred in the Study of our Common Law and whoever readeth this passage in Pitz. will thence conclude him one of the two Chief Justices of England Pitz. de Ang. Script Aetat 16. anno 1565. Factus est Civilium Criminalium causarum alter ex duobus per Angliam supremis Judicibus whereas in deed he was but one of the Justices of the Kings Bench yet his Ability and Integrity did capacitate him for higher preferment being also a person of Industry He wrote the Life and set forth the Works of his Uncle More made a Collection of and Comment on the statutes of England Great was his Zeal to the Roâ—…ish Religion flying into Flanders with the changing of his Countrey under King Edward the Sixth he changed the nature of his Studies but then wrote worse Books on a better subject I mean Divinity He undertook Bishop Juel as much his over match in Divinity as Rastal was his in the common Law The Papists are much pleased with him for helping their cause as they conceive and we are not angry with him who hath not hurt ours in any degree He dyed at Lovain 1565. and lyeth buryed with his Wife in the same Tomb and this Epitaph may be bestowed on him Rastallus tumulo cum conjuge dormit in uno Unius carnis Pulvis unus erit Know that Winifrid Clement his Wife was one of the greatest Female Scholars an exact Grecian and the Crown of all most pious according to her perswasion Souldiers No City in Europe hath bred more if not too many of late and indeed we had had better Tâ—…adesmen if worse Souldiets I dare not adventure into so large a Subject and will instance but in one to keep possession for the rest submitting my self to the Readers censure whether the Parties merit or my private Relation puts me on his Memorial Sir THOMAS ROPER Son of Thomas Roper Servant to Queen Elizabeth was born in Friday Street in London whose Grandfather was a younger Son of the House of Heanour in Derby shire Indeed Furneaux was the ancient name of that Family until Richard Furneaux marryed Isald the Daughter of ..... Roper of Beighton in the County of Derby Esquire and on that Consideration was bound to assume the name of Roper by Indenture Dated the Sâ—…venth of Henry the Sixth This Sir Thomas Going over into the Lowe Countries became Page to Sir John Norrice and was Captain of a Foot Company at sixteen years of age what afterwards his Martial performances were to avoid all suspicion of Flattery to which my Relation may incline me I have transcribed the rest out of the Original of his Patent Cum Thomas Roper Eques auratus è Secretioribus Concilliariis nostris in regno nostro Hyberniae jampridem nobis Bellicae virtutis Splendore clarus innotuerit Utpote qui quam plurimis rebus per eum in nuperrimo bello hujus Regni fortiter gestis praeclarum Nomen Strenui Militis prudentis Ducis reportavit Cujus virtus praecipuè in recessu in Provinciâ nostrâ Conaciae prope Le Boyle emicuit ubi paucissimis admodum equestribus ingentes equitum turmas per Regni Meditullia hostiliter grassantes fortiter aggressus Ita prudentiâ suâ singulari receptui cecinit ut non modo se suos sed etiam totum exercitum ab ingenti periculo Liberavit hostesque quam plurimos ruinae tradidit Qui etiam cum Provincia nostra Ultoniae bello deflagaverat ob exploratam animi fortitudinâ—…m ab honoratissimo Comite Essexiae exercitus tunc imperatore unius ex omnibus designatus fuit ad Duellum eum Makal uno ex fortissimis Tyronentium agminum ducibus suscipiendum nisi praedictus Makal duello praedicto se exponere remisset Cumque etiam praedictus Thomas Roper in nuperrimo Bello apud Brest in Regno Gallie se maximis periculis objiciendo sanguinem suum effundendo Fortitudinem suam invictam demonstravit Qui etiam in expeditione Portugalenci se fortiter ac honorifice 〈◊〉 ac etiam apud Bergen in Belgio cum per Hispanos obsideretur invictissimae fortitudinis juvenem in defensione ejusdem se praebuit Qui etiam in expugnationis Kinsalensis die primus 〈◊〉 juxta 〈◊〉 propissime constitutus fuerat Hispanesque ex eo oppido sepius eodem die 〈◊〉 fortissime felicissimeque ad maximam totius exercitus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profligavit Sciatis igitur quod nos intuitu praemissorum Dominum Thomam Roper millitem c. Whereas Thomas Roper Knight one of our Privy Councellors of our Kingdome of Ireland long since hath been known unto us famous with the Splendor of his Warlike vertue As who by the many Atchievements valiantly performed by him in the late War of this Kingdome hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier and a discâ—…eet Commander whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near Le Boyle in â—…ur Province of Conaught where with very few horse he undantedly charged great Troops of the Horse of the Enemy who in a Hostile manner forraged the very Bowels of the Kingdome and by his Wisdome made such a singular retreat that he not only saved himself and his men but also delivered the whole Army from great danger and slew very many of his Enemies Who also when our Province of Ulster was all on Fire with war being one out of many was for the tryed resolution of his mind chosen by the Right Honorable the E. of Essex then General of the Army to undertake a Duel with Makal one or the stoutest Captains in the Army of Tyrone had not the said Makal declined to expose himself to the appointed Duel And also when the aforesaid Thomas Raper in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest by exposing himself to the greatest perils and sheding of his own bloud demonstrated his courage to be unconquerable Who also iâ—… the voyage to Portugal behaved himself valiantly and honorably as also at Bergen in the Nether-lands when it was besiedged by the Spaniards approved himself a young man of 〈◊〉 valour in the defence thereof Who also in the day wherin Kinsale was assaulted was
in the raign of Queen Mary Writers NOTâ—…ELMUS of LONDON Having casually let slip his forelock I mean his Episcopal Capacity being successively Bishop of London and Arch-bishop of Canterbury under which he ought to be entred we are fain to lay hold on his hind-part that his memory may not escape us taking notice of him as a Writer In his Age shined a Constellation of three learned men Bede Alcuinus and our Nothelme whom the two former by their letters invited to writ a performance proper for his Pen the gests of Gregory the Great and the Disciples sent by him with Austin the Monk for the Conversion of Britain Nothelme the more effectually to enable himself for this work went to Rome obtained leave from Pope Gregory the second to peruse his Records then sent his compleated collections to Bede to be inserted in his Church history Bede in gratitude according to the courteous custome of the learned exchange dedicated to him his thirty questions on the Books of Kings His death happened Anno Domini 739. WILLIAM FITZ-STEPHENS was descended saith Leland of Norman Nobility but born in this City and bred a Monk in Canterbury He wrote many learned works and one in Latine of the description of London since commendably because rare to come by translated and added to the Survey of London Say not that London then was but the Suburbs to the London now for the bigness and populousness thereof seeing in Fitz Stephens time it accounted thirteen Conventual and an hundred and six and thirty Parochial Churches not producing so many at this day so that it seems though there be more Bodies of Men there be fewer Houses of God therein As for the populousness thereof in his time it was able to set forth sixty thousand Foot which I believe it may treble in our time It could also then raise twenty thousand Horsemen which would pose it at this day to perform But as railing Rabshekah made Jerusalem weaker not able to set two thousand Riders on horses so possibly Fitz-Stephens might make London stronger then it was I hope one may safely wish this City may be better in holiness as bigger in houses then it was when Fitz-Stephens flourished 1190. ALBRICIUS of LONDON Leland maketh him a Native of this City and signally learned though little is extant of his writings save a work of the Original of Heathen Gods Herein he sheweth how mankind having by error and ignorance left and lost the true God multiplyed Deities that a Mock-infinite viz. what was but Indefinite in number should supply his place who was Infinite in Nature Albricius flourished Anno Domini 1217. WILLIAM SENGHAM born of mean but honest Parents being one of a meek nature and quick wit was brought up in learning wherein he attained to great perfection He wrote many books and one de fide Legibus wherein Bale highly praiseth this passage There is no other law for the Salvation of men besides the Gospel of Christ our Lord. Now although this be but a plain expression of the common truth yet was it beheld as an Oracle in that ignorant age Thus a beam of noon-day might it be seen at mid-night would shine as the Sun it self besides these words were uttered in that age when impudent Friers began to obtrud on the world a fift forged Gospel consisting of superstitious ceremonies and called Aeternum Evangelium which did much mischief in the Church amongst credulous men This William is supposed by some an Augustinian Frier who flourished Anno Dom. 1260. LAURENTIUS ANGLICUS was certainly an English-man and probably a Londoner but brought up and living most of his time in Paris where he was Master of the Colledge which had an English-man for the sign thereof Hence I collect it for building little better then our ordinary Inns for entertainment where probably our Country men had their lodgings for nothing This Laurence being a learned and pious person stoutly opposed that mock Gospel commonly called Evangelium Aeternum with the Mendicant Friars the Champions thereof He wrote a smart book contra Pseudo-Praedicatores but afterwards being frightned with the Popes thunderboults and the Friars threatnings he cowardly recanted But what saith Solomon A just man falleth seven times the Vulgar Latine addeth in die in one day and riseth again as we hope this Laurence did who flourished Anno Dom. 1260. NICHOLAS LYRA was as Barnabas a Jew-Cypriot and Saul a Jew-Gilician a Jew-English man the first by Nation the second by Nativity He had the Râ—…bbins at his Fingers ends but conversed so long with that at last he was converted by some Franciscans to be a Christian and I behold Nicholas Conquerour of his People as his Font-name then given him as predictory of those Victories he afterwards got by his disputings and writings over his own Country-men Nor doth the Church of God more complain of Nicholas that Proselite of Antioch the last of the seven Deacons and first founder of the Nicholaitans whom God hated then it doth commend our Nicholas who vigorously confuted the Jews who expect the rising of the Sun in the afternoon waiting for Messias still to come I read how some fifty years before Henry the third founded a house called Domus Conversorum where now the Office of the Rolls is kept in Chancery-lane where Converted Jews were accommodated with Lodging and a small Salary But I believe Lyra made no use thereof contenting himself to live first in Oxford then in Paris a Franciscan Fryar and wrote Comments on all the Old and New-Testament whereof so different the Editions that I am certainly informed one is so bad one can hardly give too little and one so good one can hardly give too much for it Though sometimes he may be wide of the Mark and this Harp be out of Tune yet uncharitable their censure of Lyra Delirat whilst Luther highly praiseth him because his wanton wit did not gad after empty Allegories but with the good house-keeper stays at home keeping himself close to the Text in his literal interpretations Now though there were many Jewish Synagogues in England at York Cambridge Northampton c. yet the Old Jury in London equalling all the rest in numerousness Lyra his birth is here assigned with best assurance though dying in Paris about the year 1340. BANKINUS of LONDON not Bancks of London who taught his Horse reason to perform feats above belief but one of hgher Parts and worse employed Being an Augustinian Friar he set himself wholly to suppress the poor Wicklevicks and being ready to dispute against them in a publique Council was taken off in his full speed with the following accident worthy of the Readers observation Bale de Script Brit. Cent. 6. Num. 97. Sed terrae motus justissima summi Dei vindicta subito exortus diruptis Passim domorum edificitis immanes eorum impetus fregit ac vires infirmavit But an Earthquake by the just
revenge of the most high God suddenly arising by breaking asunder the buildings of the houses brake their cruel assaults and weakned their forces This if literally true deserved a down-right and not only so slenting a mention But hitherto meeting it in no other Author I begin to suspect it ment Metaphorically of some consternation of mind wherewith God's restraining grace charmed the adversaries of the truth Bankinus flourished under King Richard the second Anno 1382. ROBERT IVORY was saith Leland none of the meanest Natives of this City a Carmelite and President General of his Order D. D. in Cambridge He wrote several books and Prece Precio procured many more wherewith he adorned the Library of White-Fryars in Fleet-street He dyed November the fifth 1392. JULIANA BARNES was born ex antiquâ illustri domo Understand it not in the sense wherein the same was said of a certain Pope born in a ruinous Cottage where the Sun did shine through the Rotten Walls and Roof thereof But indeed she was descended of a respective Family though I not able to find the place am fain to use my Marginal Mark of greatest uncertainty She was the Diana of her Age for Hunting and Hawking skilful also in Fishing and wrote three books of these Exercises commending the practise thereof to the Gentry of England The City of Leyden is scited in the very bottom of the Low-Countries so that the water setled their would be soon subject to putrefaction were it not by Engins forced up that it might fall and so by constant motion kept from corruption Idleness will betray Noble mens minds to the same mischief if some ingenious industry be not used for their imployment Our Julian also wrot a book of Heraldry Say not the needle is the most proper pen for the woman and that she ought to meddle with making no Coats save such as Dorcas made for the widows seeing their Sex may be not only pardoned but praised for such lawful diversions No Gentleman will severely censure the faults in her 〈◊〉 but rather imitate Julius Scaliger who passing his verdict on all Poets and coming to do the like on Sulpitia a Roman Poetress living under Domitian thus courteously concludeth Ut tam 〈◊〉 Heroinae ratio habeatur non ausim objicere ei judicii severitatem She flourished Anno Domini 1460. under King Henry the sixth ROBERT FABIAN was born and bred in this City whereof he became Sheriff 1493. Treating his Guests with good chear and wellcome he doubled his dishes with pleasant discourse being an excellent Historian witness two Chronicles of his own writing 1. From Brutus to the death of King Henry the second 2. From the first of K. Richard to the death of K. Henry the seventh He was also an excellent Poet both in Latine French and English A Modern Master wit in the contest betwixt the Poets of our age for the Laurel maketh Apollo to adjudge it to an Alderman of London because to have most wealth was a sign of most wit But had the Scene of this competition been laid seven score years since and the same remitted to the umpirage of Apollo in sober sadness he would have given the Laurel to this our Alderman As for his Histories if the whole strain of them doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be indulged to him that followed the genius of his own education He died at London 1512. and was buried in the Church of All-hallows where he hath a tedious and barbarous Epitaph as commonly Reader I should be glad to have my observation confuted who hath worse Poetry then Poets on their Monuments After his death Cardinal Wolsey caused so many Copies of his Book as he could come by to be burnt because therein he had opened the Coffers of the Church too wide and made too clear discovery of the Revenues of the Clergy THOMAS LUPSET was born in this City and was related to most English and some forraign learned eminencies of his age 1. Bred a child in the house of Dean â—…olet 2. Under W. Lilly in St. Pauls School 3. Sent to Oxford where he became Greek Professor 4 Resigns his place to his friend Ludovicus Vives 5. Travailed into Italy and at Padua was familiar with C. Pole 6. Was known unto Erasmus who giveth him this Character Hujus ingenio nihil gratius nihil amantius 7. Intended Divinity diverted by Cardinal Woolsy 8. At Paris was Tutor to Th. Winter a ward to the Cardinal 9. Returning into England was known to King Henry the eight 10. Began to grow into his favour when cut off with a Consumption 1532. in the prime of his life He died in London and lieth buried in the Church of Saint Alphage nigh Cripplegate without a monument Since the Reformation JOHN RASTALL was a Citizen and Printer of London by marriage a kin to Sir Thomas More and when the said Sir Thomas and Bishop Fisher wrote in defence of Purgatory to prove it by Scripture Rastall undertook to maintain it by reason Surely he that buy 's the two former books deserveth to have this last given him to make him a saver Some will say the former two indeavoured to prove the fire and Rastall the smoak of Purgatory But to pass by his works in Divinity he 〈◊〉 a good Mathematician and made a Comedy of Europe Asia and Africa which my Author saith was very witty and very large and I can believe the later seeing he had three parts of the world for his subject and how long would it have been had America been added He wrote a book against John Frith but afterwerds convinced with his adversaries arguements recanted it of his own accord the cause why we have placed him since the Reformation He wrote a book of the terms of Law and made an Index to Justice Fitz Herbert yea I behold this John as father to Rastall the famous Lawyer of whom before He died and was buried at London 1536. EDWARD HALL We may trace him from his cradle to his coffin as followeth 1. He was a Citizen of Londâ—…n by his birth 2. He was bred a Scholar at Eaton 3. Thence he removed and was one of the Foundation of Kings-colledge 4. Thence he went to Grays-Inn and studied the Municipal-law 5. He became common Serjeant of London for the well discharging whereof he 6 Was advanced to be one of the Judges in the Sheriffs Court 7. Wrote an elegant history of the wars of York and Lancaster from K. Henry the fourth till the end of King Henry the eight 8. Died a very aged man 1547. He was as by some passages in his book may appear in that age well affected to the Reformation He lieth buried in the Church of Saint Sithes contracted I think for Saint Osiths where I cannot recover any Epitaph upon him WILLIAM FULKE D. D. was born in this City bred first Fellow of
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
from VVolstan de Paston who three years after the Conquest came into England to VVilliam Earl of Glandwill were all interred at Paston He lest rich revenues to John Paston Esquire his eldest son who married Margaret daughter and heir of John Mautby and no mean Estate to VVilliam his second surviving son who married Anne daughter to Edmond Duke of Somerset Sir EDWARD COKE Knight son of Robert Coke Esquire and of VVinefred Knightly his wife was born at Mileham in this County bred when ten years of age at Norwich-school and thence removed to Trinity-colledge in Cambridge After four years continuance there he was admitted into Cliffords-Inn-London and the year following entered a Studient of the Municipal-law in the Inner-Temple Such his proficiency therein that at the end of six years exceeding early in that strict age he was callâ—…d to the Bar and soon after for three years chosen Reader in Lyons-Inn Here his learned Lectures so spred forth his fame that crouds of Clients sued to him for his counsel and his own suit was the sooner granted when tendering his affections in order to marriage unto Briget daughter and Co-heir of John Paston Esquire She was afterwards his incomparable wife whose Portion moderately estimated Viis modis amounted unto thirty thousand pounds her vertues not falling under valuation and she enriched her husband with ten children Then began preferment to press upon him the City of Norwich chusing him Recorder the County of Norfolk their Knight to Parliament the Queen her Speaker therein as also successively her Solicitor and Attorney King James honoured him with Knighthood and made him Chief Justice first of the Common-Pleas then of the Kings-Bench Thus beginning on a good bottome left him by his father marrying a wife of extraordinary wealth having at the first great and gainful practice afterwards many and profitable Offices being provident to chuse good penny-worths in purchases leading a thrifty life living to a great age during flourishing and peaceable times born as much after the Persecution under Queen Mary as dying before our Civil Wars no wonder if he advanced a fair estate so that all his sons might seem elder brethren by the large possessions left unto them Some falsly character him a back-friend to the Church and Clergy being a grand benefactour to the Church of Norwich who gratefully under their publique seal honoured him with the ensuing testimony Edwardus Coke Armiger saepius in multis difficillimis negotiis Ecclesiae nostrae auxiliatus est nuper eandem contra Templorum Helluones qui dominia maneria haereditamenta nostra devorare sub titulo obscuro Concelatum dicunt sponte suâ nobis insciis sine mercede ullâ legittimè tutatus est atque eandem suam nostri defensionem in perpetuam tantaerei memoriam quam posterorum si opus fuerit magna cum industria scriptis redegit nostrae Ecclesiae donavit As for the many Benefices in his own Patronage he freely gave them to worthy men being wont to say in his Law-language that he would have Church-livings pass by Livery and Seisin not Bargain and Sale Five sorts of people he used to fore-design to misery and poverty Chemists Monopolizers Concelers Promoters and Rythming Poets For three things he would give God solemn thanks that he never gave his body to physick nor his heart to cruelty nor his hand to corruption In three things he did much applaud his own success in his fair fortune with his wife in his happy study of the laws and in his free coming by all his Offices nec prece nec pretio neither begging nor bribing for preferment His parts were admirable he had a deep judgment faithful memory active fancy and the jewel of his mind was put into a fair case a beautiful body with a comely countenance a case which he did wipe and keep clean delighting in good cloaths well worne and being wont to say that the outward neatness of our bodies might be a Monitor of purity to our souls In his pleadings discourse and judgements he declined all Circumlocutions usually saying The matter lies in a little room In all places callings and jurisdictions he commended modesty and sobriety within their boundaries saying If a River swells beyond its Banks it loseth its own Channel If any adverse party crossed him he would patiently reply If another punisheth me I will not punish my self In the highest Term of business he made Vacation to himself at his Table and would never be perswaded privately to retract what he had publikely adjudged professing he was a Judge in a Court and not in a Chamber He was wont to say No wise man would do that in prosperity whereof he should repent in adversity He gave for his Motto Prudens qui Patiens and his practise was accordingly especially after he fell into the disfavor of King James The cause hereof the Reader may find in our English Chronicles whilst we behold how he employed himself when retired to a private life when he did frui suo infortunio and improv'd his loss to his advantage He triumphed in his own innocency that he had done nothing illegally calling to mind the Motto which he gave in his rings when made Serjeant Lex est tutissima Cassis The Law is the safest Helmet And now he had leisure to peruse what formerly he had written even thirty books with his own hand most pleasing himself with a Manual which he called his Vade mecum from whence at one view he took a prospect of his life pass'd having noted therein most remarkables His most learned and laborious works on the Laws will last to be admired by the judicious posterity whilst â—…ame hath a trumpet left her and any breath to blow therein His judgement lately passed for an Oracle in Law and if since the credit thereof hath causelesly been questioned the wonder is not great If the Prophet himself living in an incredulous age found â—…ause to complain Who hath believed our Report it need not seem strange that our licentious times have afforded some to shake the authenticalness of the Reports of any earthly Judge He constantly had prayers said in his own house and charitably relieved the poor with his constant almes The foundation of Suttous-hospital when indeed but a foundation had been ruined before it was raised and crush'd by some Courtiers in the hatching thereof had not his great care preserved the same The Free-school at Thetford was supported in its being by his assistance and he founded a School on his own cost at Godwick in this County It must not be forgotten that Doctor Whitgift afterwards Arch-bishop of Canterbury was his Tutor who sent unto his Puple when the Queens Atturney a fair New Testament with this message He had now studied Common-law enough let him hereafter study the Law of God Let me adde to this that when he was under a cloud at Court and outed of his Judges place
of his Nativity Prelates JOCELINE of WELLS Bishop Godwin was convinced by such evidences as he had seen that he was both born and bred in Welles becomming afterwards the Bishop thereof Now whereas his Predecessors stiled themselves Bishops of Glaston especially for some few years after their first Consecration He first fixed on the Title of Bath and Wells and transmitted it to all his Successors In his time the Monks of Glassenbury being very desirous to be only subjected to their own Abbot purchased their Exemption by parting with four fair Mannors to the See of Wells This Joceline after his return from his five years Exile in France banished with Archbishop Langton on the same account of obstinacy against King John layed out himself wholely on the beautifying and enriching of his Cathedral He erected some new Prebends and to the use of the Chapter appropiated many Churches increasing the revenues of the Dignities so fitter called than Profits so mean then their maintenance and to the Episcopal See he gave three Mannors of great value He with Hugo Bishop of Lincoln was the joynt Founder of the Hospital of St. Johns in Wells and on his own sole cost built two very fair Chappels one at VVokey the other at VVells But the Church of VVells was the Master-piece of his Works not so much repaired as rebuilt by him and well might he therein have been afforded a quiet repose And yet some have plundered his Tomb of his Effigies in Brasse being so rudely rent off it hath not only defaced his Monument but even hazarded the ruin thereof He sat Bishop which was very remarkable more than thirty seven years God to Square his great undertakings giving him a long life to his large heart and died 1242. FULKE of SAMFORD was born in this County but in which of the Samfords there being four of that name therein none elsewhere in England is hard and not necessary to decide He was first preferred Treasurer of St. Pauls in London and then by Papal Bull declared Archbishop of Dublin 1256. Mr. Paris calleth him Fulk Basset by mistake He died in his Mannor of Finglas 1271 and was buried in the Church of St. Patrick in the Chappel of St. Maries which likely was erected by him JOHN of SAMFORD It is pity to part Brethren He was first Dean of St. Patrick in Dublin preferred probably by his Brother and for a time Eschaetor of all Ireland Indeed the Office doth male audire sound ill to ignorant eares partly because the vicinity thereof to a worse word Esquire and Squire are known to be the same partly because some by abusing that Office have rendred it odious to people which in it self was necessary and honourable For the name Eschaetor cometh from the French word Escheoir which signifieth to Happen or Fall out and He by his place is to search into any Profit accrewing to the Crown by casualty by the condemnation of Malefactors Persons dying without an Heir or leaving him in minority c. and whereas every County in England hath an Eschaetor This John of Samford being Eschaetor General of Ireland his place must be presumed of great Trust from the King and Profit to himself He was Canonically chosen and by King Edward the first confirmed Archbishop of Dublin 1284 mediately succeeding John de Derlington interposed his Brothet Fulke therein and I cannot readily remember the like Instance in any other See For a time he was Chief Justice of Ireland and thence was sent with Anthâ—… Bishop of Durham Embasâ—…adour to the Emperour whence returning he died at London 1294. and had his Body carried over into Ireland an Argument that he was well respected and buried in the Tomb of his Brother in the Church of St. Patricks THOMAS BECKINTON was born at Beckinton in this County bred in New-Colledge Doctor in the Laws and Dean of the Arches till by King Henry the Sixth he was advanced Bishop of Bath and VVelles A good 1 States-man having written a Judicious Book to prove the Kings of England to the Crown of France notwithstanding the pretenced salique-Salique-Law 2 Church-man in the then notion of the Word professing in his Will that he had spent six thousand Marks in the repairing and adorning of his Palaces 3 Towns-man besides a Legacy given to the Town where he was born he built at VVells where he lived a fair Conduit in the Market-place 4 Subject alwayes loyal to King Henry the Sixth even in the lowest condition 5 Kinsman plentifully providing for his alliance with Leases without the least prejudice to the Church 6 Master bequeathing five pounds a piece to his chief five Marks a piece to his meaner Servants and fourty shillings a piece to his Boys 7 Man He gave for his Rebus in allusion to his Name a burning Beacon to which he answered in his Nature being a burning and a shining light Witnesse his many benefactions to VVells Church and the Vicars therein VVinchester New Merton but chiefly Lincoln-Colledg in Oxford being little lesse than a second Founder thereof A Beacon we know is so called from Beckoning that is making signs or giving notice to the next Beacon This bright Beacon doth nod and give hints of bounty to future ages but it is to befeared it will be long before his signs will be observed understood imitated Nor was it the least part of his prudence that being obnoxious to King Edward the Fourth in his life time he procured the confirmation of his Will under the broad Seal of England and died January the 14 1464. RICHARD FITZ-JAMES Doctor at Law was born at Redlinch in this County of right ancient and worshipful extraction bred at Merton Colledge in Oxford whereof he became Warden much meriting of that place wherein he built most beautiful Lodgings expending also much on the repair of St. Maries in Oxford He was preferred Bishop first of Rochester next of Chichester last of London He was esteemed an excellent Scholar and wrote some Books which if they ever appeared in publick never descended to posterity He cannot be excused for being over busie with fire and faggot in persecuting the poor Servants of God in his Diocess He deceased Anno 1512. lyeth buried in his Cathedral having contributed much to the adorning thereof in a Chappel-like Tomb built it seems of Timber which was burnt down when the steeple of St. Pauls was set on fire Anno 1561. This Bishop was brother to Judg Fitz-James Lord Chief Justice who with their mutual support much strengthned one another in Church and State To the Reader I cannot recover any native of this County who was a Bishop since the Reformation save only John Hooper of whom formerly in the Catalogue of Martyrs States-men Sir AMIAS POULET Son to Sir Hugh grand-Child to Sir Amias Poulet who put Cardinal Wolsey then but a Schoolmaster in the Stockes was born at Hinton Saint George in this County He was Chancelor
setling Lands to maintain them 3 Safety which consisteth in good Statutes which here he wisely altered and amended He sat in his See 24 years and dying 1419 was buried under an Alabaster Tomb in his own Cathedral WILLIAM DUDLEY son of John Dudley the Eighth Baron Dudley of Dudley-Castle in this County was by his Parents designed for a Scholar and bred in University Colledge in Oxford whence he was preferred to be Dean of Windsor and afterwards was for six years Bishop of Durham He died Anno 1483 at London and lies buried in Westminster on the South side of St. Nicholas Chappel EDMUND AUDLEY Son to the Lord Audley of Heyley in this County whose sirname was Touchet I am informed by my worthy Friend that skilful Antiquary M â— Tho. Barlow of Oxford that this Edmund in one and the same Instrument writeth himself both Audley and Touchet He was bred in the University of Oxford and in processe of time he built the Quire of Saint Maries therein a new on his own charge adorning it Organâ—… 〈◊〉 which I think imports no more than a Musical Organ He was preferred Bishop first of Rochester then of Hereford and at last of Salisbury He died at Ramsbury August 23 1624 and is buried in his own Cathedral on the South side of the Altar in a Chappel of excellent Artifice of his own erection Not meeting with any Bishops born in this County since the Reformation let us proceed Lawyers Sr. THOMAS LITTLETON Knight Reader I have seriously and often perused his life as written by Sr. Edward Coke yet not being satisfied of the certainty of his Nativity am resolved to divide his Character betwixt this County and Worcester-shire He was son to Thomas Westcote Esq. and Elizabeth Littleton his wife whose mother being daughter and heir of Thomas Littleton Esq. and bringing to her husband a great Inheritance indented with him before marriage that her Virgin-sirname should be assumed and continued in his posterity He was bred Student of the Laws in the inward Temple and became afterwards Serjant and Steward of the Court of the Marshal-sea of the Kings Houshold to Henry the Sixth By King Edward the Fourth in the sixth of his Reign he was made one of the Judges of the Common Pleas and in the fifteenth of his Reign by Him created Knight of the Bath He is said by our Learned Antiquary to have deserved as well of our Common as Justinian of the Civil-Law whose Book of Tenures dedicated by him to Richard his second son who also studied the Laws is counted oraculous in that kind which since hath been commented on by the Learned endeavours of Sr. Edward Coke He married Johan one of the daughters and co-heirs of William Boerley of Bromsecraft Castle in Salop by whom he had three sons Founders of three fair Families still flourishing 1 William 2 Richard 3 Thomas Fixed at Frankley in this County where his Posterity is eminently extant Whose Issue by Alice daughter heir of Will. Winsbury remain at Pillerton-Hall in Shropshire Who by Anne daughter and heir of John Botreaux hath his lineage still continuing in Worcesier-shire This Reverend Judge died the 23 of August in the one and twentieth of King Edward the Fourth and lieth buried under a very fair Monument in the Cathedral of Worcester EDMUND DUDLEY Esq. was son to John Dudley Esq. second son to John Sutton first Baron of Dudley as a Learned Antiquary hath beheld his Pedegree derived But his descent is controverted by many condemned by some who have raised a report that John father to this Edmund was but a Carpenter born in Dudley Town and therefore called John Dudley who travailing Southward to find work for his Trade lived at Lewis in Sussex where they will have this Edmund born and for the pregnancy of his parts brought up by the Abbot of Lewis in Learning But probably some who afterwards were pinched in their purses by this Edmund did in revenge give him this Bite in his reputation inventing this Tale to his disparagement I must believe him of Noble Extraction because qualified to marry the daughter and heir of the Viscount Lisle and that before this Edmund grew so great with King Henry the Seventh as by the age of John his son afterwards Duke of Northumberland may probably be collected He was bred in the study of the Laws wherein he profited so well that he was made one of the Puis-née Judges and wrote an excellent Book compounded of Law and Policy which hitherto I have not seen intituled the Tree of the Common-wealth But what saith Columella Agricolam arbor ad fructum perducta delectat A Husbandman is delighted with the Tree of his own planting when brought to bear fruit Judge Dudley knew well how to turn a Land into the greatest profit of his Prince which made him implyed by King Henry the Seventh to put his penal Statutes in execution which he did with severity cruelty and extortion so that with Sr. Richard Empson Viis modis vitiis modis rather they advanced a mighty Mass of Money to the King and no mean one to themselves King Henry the Eighth coming to his Crown could not pass in his progress for complaints of people in all places against these two wicked Instruments who with the two daughters of the horse leach were alwayes crying give give and therefore he resolved to discharge their protection and to resign them to Justice so that they were made a peace-offering to popular anger 1510 and were executed at Tower-hill Sir THOMAS BROMLEY Knight Reader I request thee that this short note may keep possession for his Name and memory until he may be fixed elsewhere with more assurance He was in the first of Queen Mary Octob. 8. made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench holding his place hardly a year but whether quitting his Office or dying therein is to me unknown Souldiers JOHN BROMLEY Esq. branched from the Bromleys in Shrop-shire but born and living in this County at Bromley followed the fortunate Arms of King Henry the Fifth in France It happened that in a Battle near Corby the French according to their fashion furious at first fell so fiercely on the English that they got away the Kings Standard of GUIEN to the great dismay of our Army But Bromley's heart had no room for fear or grief anger had so wholely possessed it Insomuch that valiantly he recovered the Captive Standard and by his exemplary Prowess largely contributed to that dayes Victory Hereupon Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier conferred on him a yearly pension of fourty pounds during his life Afterwards in the sixth of King Henry the Fifth Anno 1418 he was not only Knighted by the King for his venturous Activity but also made Captain of Dampfront and Great Constable of Bossevile le Ross in France Yea and rewarded by the King with fourty pounds in Land a year to him and his
would do very well on the shoulders of Sir Robert Naunton Secretary of State These words were complained of and Wiemark summoned to the Privy Councel where he pleaded for himself that he intended no dis-respect to Mr. Secretary whose known Worth was above all detraction Only he spake in reference to an old Proverb Two heads are better than one And so for the present he was dismissed Not long after when rich men were called on for a Contribution to St. Pauls Wiemark at the Councel-Table subscribed a hundred pounds but Mr. Secretary told him two hundred were better than one which betwixt fear and charity Wiemark was fain to subscribe He died Anno Domini 163. leaving one daughter who first was married to Paul Vicount Banning and after to the Lord Herbert eldest son to Philip Earl of Pembroke Capital Judges JOHN de METINGHAM was born in this County where Metingham is a Village in VVang ford Hundred not far from Bongey and was Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of King Edward the Third It is reported to his eternal praise that when the rest of the Judges 18 Edw. 3. were fined and outed for corruption this Metingham and Elias de Beckingham continued in their places whose innocence was of proof against all accusations and as Caleb and Joshâ—…a amongst the Jury of false Spies so these two amongst the Twelve Judges onely retained their integrity King Edward in the 20th of his reign directed a Writ unto him about the stinting of the number of the Apprentices and Attourneys at Law well worth the inserting D. Rex injunxit John de Metingham Sociis suis quod ipsi per discreâ—…ionem eorum provideant Ordinent numerum certum è quolibet Comitatu de melioribus legalioribus libentius add scentibus secundum quod intellexerint quod Curiae suae populo de regno melius valere poterit c. Et videtur Regi ejus Consilio quod Septies viginti sufficere poterint Apponant tamen praefati Justiciarii plures si viderint esse faciendum vel numerum anticipent The Lord the King hath enjoyned John de Metingham and his Assistants that they according to their discretion provide and ordain a certain number out of every County of such persons vvhich according to their understanding shall appear unto them of the better sort and most Legal and most vvillingly applying themselves to the learning of the Lavv vvhat may better avail for their Court and the good of the people of the Land c. And it seems likely to the King and his Councel that Sevenscore may suffice for that purpose However the afore-said Justices may add more if they see it ought to be done or else they may lessen the number Some conceive this number of sevenscore confined only to the Common Pleas whereof Metingham was Chief Justice But others behold it as extended to the whole Land this Judge his known integrity being intrusted in their choice and number which number is since much increased and no wonder our Land being grown more populous and the people in it more litigious He died Anno Domini .... Sir JOHN CAVENDISH Knight was born at Cavendish in this County where his name continued until the reign of King Henry the Eighth bred a Student of the Municipal-Law attaining to such learning therein that he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings or Upper Bench July 15 in the 46th of King Edward the Third discharging his place with due commendation untill his violent death on the fifth of King Richard the Second on this occasion John Raw a Priest contemporary with Jack Straw and Wat Tyler advanced Robert Westbroome a Clown to be King of the Commons in this County having no fewer than fifty thousand followers These for eighth dayes together in savage sport caused the heads of great persons to be cut off and set on Poles to kisse and whisper in one anothers ears Chief Justice Cavendish chanced then to be in the Country to whom they bare a double pique one because he was honest the other learned Besides they received fresh news from London that one John Cavendish his kinsman had lately kill'd their Idol Wat Tiler in Smithfield Whereupon they dragg'd the Reverend Judge with Sir John of Cambridge Prior of Bury into the Market-place there and beheaded them Whose innocent bloud remained not long unreveng'd by Spencer the Warlike Bishop of Norwich by whom this rascal rabble of Rebels was routed and ruined 1381. Reader be charitably pleased that this Note may till better information preserve the Right of this County unto Sir ROBERT BROKE a great Lawyer and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Queen Mary He wrote an Abridgment of the whole Law a Book of high account It insinuateth to me a probability of his birth herein because Lawyers generally purchase near the place of their Birth his Posterity still flourish in a Worshipful equipage at Nacton nigh Ipswich in this County Souldiers Sir THOMAS WENTWORTH of Nettlested in this County of a younger Family confessed by the Crescent in his Coat descended from the Wentworths of Wentworth-Woodhouse in York-shire was created Baron VVentworth by King Henry the Eighth He was a stout and valiant Gentleman a cordial Protestant and his Family a Sanctuary of such Professors John Bale comparing him to the good Centurion in the Gospel and gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from a Carmelite The memory of this good Lord is much but unjustly blemished because Calis was lost the Last of Queen Mary under his government The manner hereof was huddled up in our Chronicles least is best of a bad business whereof this the effect The English being secure by reason of the late conquest at St. Quintin and the Duke of Guise having notice thereof he sate down before the Town at the time not when Kings go forth to but return from battle of mid-Winter even on New-years-day Next day he took the two Forts of Rise-bank and Newnam-bridge wherein the strength of the City consisted but whether they were undermined or undermonied it is not decided and the last left most suspicious Within three dayes the Castle of Calis which commanded the City and was under the command of Sir Ralph Chamberlain was taken the French wading thorough the ditches made shallower by their artificial cut and then entering the Town were repulsed back by Sir Anthony Ager Marshal of Calis the only man saith Stow who was kill'd in the fight understand him of note †Others for the credit of the business accounting four score lost in that service The French re-entring the City the next being Twelfth-day the Lord Wentworth Deputy thereof made but vain resistance which alas was like the wriggling of a Wormstail after the head thereof is cut off so that he was forced to take what terms he could get viz. That the
Tattered Cowle a Shirt of Hair a Girdle of Hempe a Pair of Beads a Plain Crucifix and Picture of some Saint passed for all the wealth and Wardrobe of a Friar yet by hearing Feminine Confessions wherewith Wilton twitteth them and abusing the Key of Absolution they opened the Coffers of all the Treasure in the Land He wrot also a smart Book on this subject An validi Mendicantes sint in 〈◊〉 Perfectionis Whether Friars in health and Begging be in the state of perfection The Anti-Friarists maintaining that such were Rogues by the Laws of God and Man and fitter for the House of Correction then State of Perfection This Dean Wilton flourished Anno Dom. 1460. Since the Reformation WILLIAM HOREMAN was saith my Author Patria Sarisburiensis which in the Strictest sence may be rendred born in the City in the Largest born in the Diocess of Salisbury and in the Middle-sence which I most embrace born in Wiltshire the County wherein Salisbury is situated He was bred saith Bale first in Eaton then in Kings-colledge in Cambridge both which I doe not deny though propably not of the Foundation his name not appearing in the exact Catalogue thereof Returning to Eaton he was made Vice-Provost thereof where he spent the remainder of his 〈◊〉 He was one of the most Generall Scholars of his age as may appear by the Diffusiveness of his Learning and Books written in all Faculties Grammar  Of Orthography Poetry  Of the Quantities of penultime syllables History  A Chronicle with a Comment on some Index of most Chronicles Controversial Divinity A Comment on Gabriel Biel. Case  On the divorce of King Henry the eighth Hnsbandry  A Comment on Cato Varro Columella Palladius de Re Rusticâ Other books he left unfinished for which Bale sends forth a sorrowfull sigh with a Proh Dolor which his passion is proof enough for me to place this Horeman on this side of the line of Reformation He dyed April 12. 1535. and lieth buried in the Chappel of Eaton Masters of Musick WILLAM LAWES son of Thomas Lawes a Viâ—…ar Choral of the Church of Salisbury was bred in the Close of that City being from his Childhood inclined to Musick Edward Earl of Hertford obtained him from his Father and bred him of his own cost in that Faculty under his Master Giovanni Coperario an Italian and most Exquisite Musician Yet may it be said that the Schollar in time did Equal yea Exceed his Master He afterwards was of the Private Musick to King Charles and was respected and beloved of all such Persons who cast any looks towards Vertue and Honour Besides his Fancies of the three four five and six parts to Vyol and Organ he made above thirty severall sorts of Musick for Voyces and Instruments neither was there any Instrument then in use but he composed to it so aptly as if he had only studied that In these distracted times his Loyalty ingaged him in the War for his Lord and Master and though he was by Generall Gerrard made a Commissary on designe to secure him such Officers being commonly shot-free by their place as not Exposed to danger yet such the activity of his Spirit he disclaimed the Covert of his Office and betrayed thereunto by his own adventurousness was casually shot at the Siege of Chester the same time when the Lord Bernard Stuart lost his life Nor was the Kings soul so ingrossed with grâ—…ef for the death of so near a Kinsman and Noble a Lord but that hearing of the death of his dear servant William Laws he had a particular Mourning for him when dead whom he loved when living and commonly called the Father of Musick I leave the rest of his worth to be expressed by his own Works of Composures of Psalms done joyntly by him and his brother Master Henry Laws betwixt which two no difference either in Eminency Affection or otherwise considerable save that the one is deceased and the other still surviving Master William Laws dyed in September 164. Benefactours to the Publique T. STUMPS of the Town of Malmesbury in this County was in his Age one of the most eminent Clothiers in England of whom there passeth a story told with some variation of circumstances but generally to this purpose King Henry the eighth Hunting near Malmesbury in Bredon Forrest came with all his Court Train unexpected to Dine with this Clothier But great House-keepers are as seldome surprised with Guests as vigilant Captains with Enemies Stumps commands his little Army of Workmen which he fed daily in his house to fast one Meal untill night which they might easily doe without indangering their health and with the same Provision gave the King and his Court-train though not so delicious and various most wholesome and plentifull entertainment But more Authentick is what I read in the great Antiquary speaking of the plucking down of Malmesbury Monastery The very Minster it self should have sped no better then the rest but being Demolished had not T. Stumps a wealthy Clothier by much suit but with a greater summe of Money redeemed and bought it for the Iowns-men his Neighbours by whom it was converted to a Parish-church and for a great part is yet standing at this day I find one William Stumps Gentleman who in the one and thirtieth year of King Henry the eight bought of him the demeans of Malmesbury Abby for fifteen hundred pound two shillings and a half penny Now how he was related to this T. Stumps whether son or father is to me unknown It will not be a sin for me to wish more branches from such Stumps who by their bounty may preserve the Monuments of Antiquity from destruction Memorable Persons SUTTON of 〈◊〉 Tradition and an old Pamphlet newly vamped with Additions make him a great Clothier Entertaining King Henry the first and bequeathing at his death one hundred pounds to the Weavers of Salisbury with many other benefactions I dare not utterly deny such a person and his bountifull Gifts but am â—…ured that he is notoriously mis-timed seeing Salisbury had scarce a stone laid therein one hundred years after King Henry the first and as for old Sarum that age knew nothing of Clothing as we have proved before Thus these Mungrell Pamphlets part true part false doe most mischief Snakes are less dangerous then Lampries seeing none will feed on what is known to be poison But these books are most pernicious where truth and falshoods are blended together and such a Medly Cloth is the Tale-story of this Clothier MICHEL born at ........... in this County was Under-sheriffe to Sir Anthony Hungarford a worthy Knight Anno 1558. in the last year of Queen Mary Of this Master Michel I find this Character A right and a perfect godly man Under sheriffs generally are complained of as over-crafty to say no worse of them but it seems hereby the place doth not spoil the person but the person the
but why saith Bishop Godwin Rationem non capio and I will not hope to understand what he could not He was bred a Franciscan and was chosen very young for that place their General the nineteenth in succession Anno Domini 1339. Afterwards he was made Bishop of Massile then Arch-Bishop of Ravenna next Patriarch of Grado and by Pope Innocent the sixth was made Cardinal Anno Domini 1361. But being extremely aged he was so unhappy that before the Cardinals Cap could come to him he was gone out of this world Many Books he wrote of his Lectures Quodlibets but chiefly he is eminent for his Comment on Saint Austin De civitate Dei He died at Padua in Italy and was therein buried in the Church of Saint Anthony Prelates MARBOD EVANX I had almost read him Evans a noted name in Wales was born in this Country and bred in the study of all Liberal Sciences In his time the Danes wofully harassed the Land which caused him to ship himfelf over into little Britain in France the inhabitants whereof may be termed Cosin-Germans to the Welch as Sons to their younger brethren much symbolizing with them in manners and language Here Marbod though abroad was at home worth is the worlds Countriman and his deserts preferred him to be Episcopus Redonensis Bishop of Renes Praelatus non Elatus such his humility in his advancement We may conclude him a general Scholar by the variety of his works writing of gems and precious stones and compounding profit and pleasure together in his book called Carmina Sententiosa much commended Italian praise of British Poetry is a black swan by Lilius * Giraldus an Italian in his life 's of Poets We will conclude all with the Character given unto him by Giraldus Cambrensis Marbodus bonarum literarum magister eruditus colores rhetoricos tam verborum quam sententiarum exornationes versibus egregiis declaravit He flourished 1050. WALTER de CONSTANTIIS Who would not conclude him from his Surname born at Constance on the Boden Zee in Switserland But we have a Constat for his British Nativity He was preferred first Arch-Deacon of Oxford then Bishop of Lincoln then Arch-Bishop of Rohan by King Richard the first A man of much merit besides his fidelity to his Soveraign whom he attended to Palestine through many perils by Sea and by Land 〈◊〉 somuch that there want not those who will have him named De Constantiis from the Expressive Plural relating to his Constancy to his Master in all conditions No doubt he had waited on him in his return through Austria and shared with him in the miseries of his Captivity if not formerly remanded into England to retrench the Tyranny of William Longcampt Bishop of Ely which he effectually performed He had afterwards a double Honour first to interr King Richard at Font-Everard then to invest K. John with the Principality of Normandy as being the Prime Prelate therein His death may be collected about the year 1206. CADUCANUS a Welsh-man by birth was a very skilful Divine and Bishop of Bangor Leaving his Bishoprick he became a Cistercian Monk in Monasterio Durensi sive Dorensi which for the present I am unwilling to English Here I find two learned Antiquaries the one the lender the other the debtor I had almost said the one owner the other stealer much divided in their judgements about this his retrograde motion from a Bishop to a Monke the one commending the other condemning him herein J. Leland cited by Bale J. Bale Rarum hoc equidem exemplum est ut quis optimas fortunas macra commutet tenuitate This indeed was a rare example that one should willingly exchange the best fortunes for a lean meannesse Qui EpiscopatuÌ„ appetit ait Paulus perfectum opus desiderat Non sic de monachatu otioso quum sit plantatio quam non consolidavit Pater coelestis Whoso desireth a Bishoprick desireth a good thing saith St. Paul It cannot be said so of Monkery which is a plant whâ—…h the Heavenly Father hath not planted It is past my power to comprimise a difference betwixt two so great persons in so great a difference at so great a distance onely to hold the ballance even betwixt them give me leave to whisper a word or two First for Leland whereas he calleth the Bishoprick of Bangor Optimas fortunas it was never very rich and at the present very troublesome by reason of the Civill Wars so that Caducanus turning Monk in most mens apprehension did but leave what was little for what was less As for John Bale he himself under King Edward the sixth was Bishop of Ossory in Ireland and flying thence in the days of Queen Mary did not return in the raign of Queen Elizabeth to his See but contented himself rather with a Canons place in the Church of Canterbury so that by his own practise a Bishops place may on some considerations be left and a Private though not Superstitious life lawfully embraced The best is even Bale himself doth consess of this Caducanus that after â—…e turned Monk Studiorum ejus interea non elanguit successus He was no less happy then industrious in his endeavours writing a book of Sermons and another called speculum Christianoâ—…um He dyed under the raign of King Henry the third Anno Domini 1225. Since the Reformation HUGH JOHNES born in Wales was bred Batchelour of the Laws in the University of Oxford and made Bishop of Landaff which See it seems for the poorness thereof lay Bishopless for three years after the death of Bishop Kitchin May 5. 1566. Memorable no doubt on other accounts as well as for this that though this 〈◊〉 be in Wales he was the first Welch-man who for the last three hundred years viz. since John of Monmouth elected 1296. was the Bishop thereof He was buried at Matherne November 15. 1574. Doctor ......... PHILIPS was a native of Wales had his education in Oxford and was afterward preferred to be Episcopus Sodorensis or Bishop of Man Out of his zeal for propagating the Gospell he attained the Manks tongue and usually preached therein Know by the way Reader that the King of Spain himself notwithstanding the vastness of his Dominions had not in Europe more distinct languages spoken under his command then had lately the King of great Britain seven tongues being used in his Territories viz. 1. English in England 2. French in Gersey Guernzey 3. Cornish in Cornwall 4. Welch in Wales 5. Scotch in Scotland 6. Irish in Ireland 7. Manks in the Isle of Man This Doctor Philips undertook the translating of the Bible into the Manks tongue taking some of the Islanders to his assistance and namely Sir Hugh Cavoll Minister of the Gospell and lately if not still 〈◊〉 of Kir-Michael He perfected the same work in the space of twenty nine years but prevented by his death it was never put to
press I know not whether the doing hereof soundeth more to the honour of the dead or the not Printing thereof since his death to the shame of the living seeing surely money might be procured for so general and beneficiall a design Which makes some the less to pity the great pains of the Ministers of the Isle of Man who by double labour read the Scriptures to the peoplé out of the English in the Manks-tongue This singularly learned hospitable painfull and pious Prelate died Anno Dom. 16 ... Physicians ROBERT RECORDE was born in this Country ex Claris Parentibus bred in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Physick His soul did not live in the Lane of a single science but traversed the Latitude of Learning witness his Works In Arithmetick not so absolute in all numbers before his time but that by him it was set forth more Compleat Astrology he Practicall part whereof hath so great an influence upon Physick Geometry whereof the wrot a Book called the Path of Geometry and that easier and nearer then any before Physick of the Judgements of Urines and though it be commonly said Urina meretrix yet his judicious rules have reduced that Harlot to Honesty and in a great measure fixed the uncertainty thereof Metals his Sight may seem to have accompanied the Sun-beams into the Bowells of the Earth piercing into those Penetralls in his discoveries of and discourses on Gold and Silver wherewith I believe him well stored Brass Tin Lead and what not What shall I speak of his skill in Anatomy Cosmography Muâ—…ick whereof he read publique Lectures in Oxford As for his Religion say not this is of no Concernment in a Physician I conjecture him to be a Protestant First because he wrot of Auricular Confession and de Negotio Eucharistiae each whereof is a Noli me tangere for a Romish Lay-man to meddle with according to Popish principles Secondly because so largely commended by Bale But I dare conclude nothing herein having not hitherto seen his Treatises in Divinity He flourished under K. Edward the sixth about the year 1550. THOMAS PHAIER was born in Wales and bred I believe first in Oxford then in London a generall Scholar and well versed in the Common Law wherein he wrot a book De natura Brevium of the Nature of Writs Strange that he would come after Justice Fitz-herbert who formerly had written on the same Subject But probably Phaiers Book having never seen any who have seen it treateth of Writs in the Court of Marches whereto Wales was then subjected and where the Legal Proceedings may be somewhat different from ours in England But the Study of the Law did not fadge well with him which caused him to change his Copy and proceed Doctor in Physick Now though he made none he out of French did translate many usefull books 1. Of the Pestilence and the cure thereof 2. Of the Grief of children 3. Of the Nature of Simples 4. The Regiment of Nuturall Life He had also his Diversion some excursion into Poetry and translated Virgil his Eneads Magna Gravitate saith my Author which our Modern Wits will render with great Dulness and avouch that he instead of a Latine Virgill hath presented us with an English Ennius such the rudeness of his verse But who knoweth not that English Poetry is improved fifty in the Hundred in this last Century of years He died and was buried in London about the year of our Lord 1550. ALBANE HILL was Britannus by birth I confess Britannus doth not clearly carry his Nativity for Wales except it were additioned Cambro-Britannus But according to our peaceable promise premised let him pass for this Country-man The rather because so many Hills and Mountains too therein He was bred a Doctor of Physick professing and practising most beyond the Seas more famous in Forraign Parts then in his Native Country I find two eminent Outlandishmen viz. Josias Simler an Helvetian of Zurich and Bassianus Landus an Italian of Placentia charactering him to be Medicus Nobilissimus ac optimus in omni disciplinarum genere optime versatus and that he wrot much upon Galen and the Anatomicall part of Physick so that we may say with the Poet Ut littus Hilum Hilum omne sonarct The shoar resounded still Nothing but Hill and Hill I find no time affixed wherein he flourished but according to the received Rule Noscitur è socio he may from his Contemporaries be collected in full Lustre Anno 1550. and it is remarkable that Wales had three eminent Physicians Writers all in the same Age. Writers Be it premised that as I should be loth by my lasiness to conceal so with all my Industry I conceive it impossible to compleat their Characters For as the Venetian Courtezan after she had put off her lofty attire and high Chippines almost pares away her self into nothing such the slender account given us of these Writers that after some set forms and Commendations of Course common to all Persons be first defalked the remainder will be next to nothing But it is no fault of me the Cistern if I be empty whilst my fountain is dry seeing I spill nothing by the Leakage of my Neglect but faithfully deliver all the intelligence I find as followeth PETROK was a Welch-Irish-Cornish-Man He had his birth in Wales but breeding in Ireland according to the Mode of that Age wherein all British sailed over into Ireland as the English in after ages did into France there to have their Education in all learned Sciences Who would have thought to have found Helicon amongst the Bogs as indeed it was at that Time Petrok after twenty years reading good Authours there came over into Cornwall and fixed himself nigh the Severn Sea in a small Oratory called Petrok-Stowe the station or abiding place of Petrok now corruptly Pad-Stowe where many eminent Scholars were brought up under him He wrot a book of Solitary life whereto he was much addicted I confess Petrok is somewhat degraded as entred under the Topick of Writers who is reputed a Saint and I remember a handsome Church in Exeter dedicated to his Memory who flourished Anno 560. GILDAS the FOURTH for there were three before him viz. Gildas Albanius Gildas Surnam'd Sapiens of whom before Gildas Cambrius and this our Gildas who laggeth last in the Teame of his Name-sakes But the second of these is worth all the rest were there four hundred of them whom I behold as a Sun indeed shining with the Lustre of his own desert whilst two of the others are but so many Meteors about him some suspecting them no realities in Nature but meerly created by mens sight-deception and the reflection of the Memory of the true Gildas This our fourth Gildas is made a Welch-Scotch-Irish-Man Wales sharing in him two parts of three viz. his Birth and Death the largest part of his life belonging to Ireland where he studied Many the
consigned his Servant John Charleton born at Apple in Shropshire a vigorous Knight to marry her creating him in her right Bâ—…ron of Powis Thus was he possessed of his Lady but get her Land as he can it was bootless to implead her uncles in a Civil Court Action was the only Action he could have against them and he so bestirred himself with the assistance of the Kings Forces that in short time he possessed himself of three of her uncles prisoners and forced the fourth to a composition Yea he not only recovered every foot of his Wives Land but also got all the Lâ—…nds of her uncles in default of their issue male to be settled upon her I wish that all Ladies injured by their potent Relations may have such Husbands to marry them and match their adversaries These things hapned about the yeare of our Lord 1320. Know Reader there were four John Charletons successively Lords of Powis which I observe rather because their Homonymy may not occasion confusion JULINES HERRING was born at Flambere-Mayre in this County 1582. His Father returned hence to Coventry to which he was highly related Coventry whose Ancestors for the space of almost two hundred years had been in their course chiefe Officers of that City Perceiving a pregnancy in their Son his parents bred him in Sidney Colledge in Cambridge he becamê afterwards a profitable and painful Preacher at Calk in Derby-shire in the Town of Shrewsbury and at Rendbury in Cheshire being one of a pious life but in his judgement disaffected to the English Church-Discipline I could do no less than place him amongst the memorable Persons otherwise coming under no Topick of mine as writing no Books to my knowledge 〈◊〉 hiâ—… Life written at large by Mr. Samuel Clark I say Mr. Clark whose Books of our modern Divines I have perused as Travellers by the Levitical Law were permitted to pass thorow other mens Vinyards For they must eat their fill on conditions they put no Grapes up in their Vessels I have been satisfied with reading his works and informed my self in Places and Dates of some mens births and deaths But never did nor will whatever hath been said of me or done by others incorporate any considerable quantity of his Works in my own detesting such Felony God having given me be it spoken with thanks to him and humility to man plenty of my own without being plagiary to any Author whatsoever To return to Julines Herring whose Christian name is very usual in the Country amongst people of quality in memory of Julius Palmer in the Marian Days martyred and a Native of that City he being prohibited his preaching here for his non-Conformity was called over to Amsterdam where he continued Preacher to the English Congregation some years well respected in his place and died in the year of our Lord 1644. The Farewell And now being to take our leave of this County the worst I wish the Inhabiâ—…ants thereof is that their Horses excellent in their kind whereof before may to use â—…he Counâ—…-mans expression Stand well being secured from all Infectious and peâ—…lential Diseâ—…ses â—…he rather because when God is pleased to strike this Creature not unfitly termed mans wings whereby he so swiâ—…tly flyeth from one place to another for dispatch of his occasions it is a sad presage that he is angry with the Riders and will without their seasonable Repentance punish their sins with some exemplary judgment MONMOUTH-SHIRE MONMOUTH-SHIRE I may fiâ—…ly call this an English-Welsh County for though it lie West of Severn yea of 〈◊〉 it self and though the Welsh be the common Language thereof yet it doth wear a double badge of English relation First whereas formerly all Welsh Counties sent but one Knight to the Parliament this had the priviledge of two Conformable to the Shires of England Secondly it is not subject to the VVelsh Jurisdiction but such Itinerant Judges as go Oxford Circuit have this County within the compass of their Commission Manufactures Caps These were the most ancient general warm and profitable coverings of mens heads in this Island It is worth our pains to observe the tenderness of our Kings to preserve the trade of Cap-making and what long and strong strugling our State had to keep up the using thereof so many thousands of people being maintained thereby in the land especially before the invention of Fulling-Mills all Caps before that time being wrought beaten and thickned by the hands and feet of men till those Mills as they eased many of their labour outed more of their livelihood Thus ingenious inventions conducing to the compendious making of Commodities though profitable to private persons may not always be gainful to the publick to which what employes most is most advantageous as Capping anciently set fiâ—…teen distinct Callings on work as they are reckoned up in the Statute 1. Carders 2. Spinners 3. Knitters 4. Parters of Wooll 5. Forsers 6. Thickers 7. Dressers 8. Walkers 9. Dyâ—…rs 10. Battellers 11. Shearers 12. Prâ—…ers 13. Edgers 14. Liners 15. Band-makers And other Exercises No wonder then if so many Statutes were enacted in Parliaments to encourage this Handicraft as by the ensuing Catà logue will appear 1. Anno 22. of Edward the fourth Cap. 5. That none thicken any Cap or Bonnet in any Fulling-Mill upon pain to forfeit forty shillings 2. Anno 3. of Henry the eighth Cap. 15. That no Caps or Hats ready wrought should be brought from beyond the Seas upon the forfeiture of fourty shillings Yet because notwithstanding this Statute some still presumed to import forraign Wares it was enacted 3. Anno 21. of Henry the eighth Cap. 9. That such outlandish Hats should be sold at such low prices as are specified in the Statute meerly to deter the Merchant from importing them because such their cheapness that they would turn to no accompt 4. Anno 7. of Edward the sixth Cap. 8. Fulling-Mills beginning now to take footing in England the Statute made the 22 of Edward the fourth was revived to stand and remain in full force strength and effect 5. Anno 8. of Queen Elizabeth Cap. 11. Fulling-Mills still finding many to favour them the pains and profit of Cap-making was equally divided betwixt the Mills and the Cap-makers it being enacted That no Cap should be thicked or fulled in any Mill untill the same had first been well scoured and closed upon the Bank and half footed at least upon the foot-stock 6. Lastly to keep up the usage of Caps it was enacted the 13. of Queen Eliz. Cap. 19. That they should be worn by all persons some of worship and quality excepted on Sabboth and Holy-days on the pain of forfeiting ten groats for omission thereof But it seems nothing but Hats would fit the Heads or humors rather of the English as fancied by them fitter to fence their fair faces from the injury of wind and weather so that the 39 of Queen Elizabeth this Statute was repealed Yea the Cap accounted