forgive the greatest injury upon the least show of the parties sorrow and restore him to the degree of his former favour and though Politicians will thence collect him no prudent man Divines will conclude him a good Christian. Episcopacy in England being grievously wounded by malevolent persons King Charles the First conceived that the best Wine and Oil that could be powred into those wounds was to select persons of known Learning and unblameable Lives to supply the vacant Bishopricks amongst whom Dr. Prideaux was made Bishop of Worcester But alasse all in vain such the present fury of the Times He died of a Feaver 1650 and I have perused a Manuscript Book But alasse not made by Oxford but Worcester-shire Muses of Verses on his Funeral Amongst which I take notice of these Define mirari caecos errasse tot Ignes In promptâ—… causa est lux Prideauxus obit Mortuus est Prideaux scriptis post funera vivit Aufertur Letho Mitra Corona datur To these we may add the Chronogram which I meet with amongst the same Verses Iohannes PrIDeaVXVs 〈◊〉 VVIgornIae MortVVs est 1650. He was buried at Bredon in Worcester-shire August the 1â—…th Such as deny Bishops to be Peers would have conceived this Bishop a Prinâ—…e if present at his Interment such the Number and Quality of Persons attending his Funeral States-men Sir ARTHUR CHICHESTER Knight was descended of a right ancient Family dwelling at Rawley in this County He spent his youth first in the University then in the French and Irish Wars where by his valour he was effectually assistant first to plough and break up that barbarous Nation by Conquest and then to sow it with seeds of civility when by King James made Lord Deputy of Ireland Ind ed good Laws and provisions had been made by his Predecessors to that purpose but alas they were like good lessons set for a Lute out of tune uselesse untill the Instrument was fitted for them Wherefore in order to the civilizing of the Irishry in the first year of his Government he established two new Circuits for Justices of Assize the one in Connaught the other in Munster And whereas the Circuits in former times onely encompassed the English Pale as the Cynosura doth the Pole henceforward like good Planets in their several Spheres they carried the influence of Justice round about the Kingdom Yea in short time Ireland was so cleared of Theeves and Capital Offenders that so many Malefactors have not been found in the Two and Thirty Shires of Ireland as in Six English Shires in the Western Circuit He reduced the Mountains and Glinns on the South of Dublin formerly thorns in the sides of the English-Pale into the County of Wicklowe and in conformity to the English Custome many Irish began to cut their Mantles into Cloaks So observant his eye over the actions of suspected persons that Tyrone was heard to complain that he could not drink a full carouso of sack but the State was within few hours advertised thereof After he had been continued many years in his Deputy-ship and deservedly made a Lord King James recalled him home and loath to leave his abilities unimployed sent him Embassadour to the Emperour and other German Princes Being besieged in the City of Mainchine a place much indebted to his prudence for seasonable victualling it by Count Tilley he sent him word that it was against the Law of Nations to besiege an Embassadour Tilley returned that he took no notice that he was an Embassadour The Lord Chichester replied to the Messenger Had my Master sent me with as many hundred men as he hath sent me on fruitlesse Messages your General should have known that I had been a Souldier as well as an Embassadour King James at his return entertain'd him with great commendation for so well discharging his trust and he died in as great honour as any English-man of our age Anno Dom. 162. Capital Judges Sir WILLIAM HERLE Knight was made by King Edward the Third Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in Hillary Term the first year of his Raign and before the Term ended viz. Jan. the 29. was made Chief Judge of the Common Pleas by his own free consent as I have cause to conceive he standing fair in the Kings favour For whereas sixty marks was in that age the annual salary of that place the King granted him an augmentation of two hundred and forty marks a year so long as he kept that Office This was some four years for I find Sir John Stoner put into his place in the Fourth of the Kings Raign yet so that this Sir William was his Successor the year after such alterations being usual in that age I collect him to die in the ninth of King Edward the Third the mention of him sinking that year and is placed here because if not born at which is most probable he was owner of Illfracombe in this County the Mannor whereof was held by his issue till the Raign of King Henry the Seventh and I understand that a Family of his Name and I believe of his linage hath still a Worshipful existence in Cornwall Sir JOHN CARY Knight was born at Cockington in this County and applying himself to the Study of the Laws was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the tenth year of King Richard the Second The greatest fault I find charged on him was Loyalty to his Lord and Master which if any dare call a disease I assure you it is a catching one among conscientious people On this honourable account this Judge lost his Office Goods and Lands in the first of King Henry the Fourth whose losses not long after providence plentifully repayed to his Posterity On this occasion A Knight Errant of Arragon comming into England and challenging any to tilt with him was undertaken by Sir Robert Cary son to Sir John aforesaid who vanquished the vain glorious Don So that King Henry the Fifth out of a sympathy of valour restored all his estate unto him This Judge dyed about the year of our Lord 1404. Sir WILLIAM HANKFORD was born at Amerie in this County a Mannor which from owners of the same name by their daughter and heir descended to the Hank fords bred in the study of the Laws till he became Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the first of King Henry the Fifth which place he adorned with great Learning and Integrity though doleful the manner of his death on this occasion Coming home discontented from London he expressed extream anger somewhat trespassing on his judicial gravity against his Keeper for that as he said his Deer were stolen and charged him to shoot any man in the Park whom he should find there and stood not being spoken unto and he would discharge him The next night being dark he presents himself and refusing to stand the Keeper according to his Injunction shot and killed him The stump of the Oak nigh which this sad accident
clear evidence to the contrary this Henry Marny Esquire shall pass with me for him who was then Servant afterwards Executor to the Kings Mother the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond The very same who afterwards was Knighted made Chancellor of the Dutchy and Created Lord Marny by King Henry the eighth and whose daughter and sole heir Elizabeth was with a fair inheritance married to Thomas Howard Viscount Bindon 14 JOHN CHRISTMAS Ar. Such will not wonder at his Surname who have read the Romans cognominated Jaâ—…arius Aprilis c. Yea Festus himself is well known in Scripture probably so called from being born on some solemn festivall the occasion no doubt of this Sheriffs Surname at the first If the name be extinct in Essex it remaineth in other Counties and the City of London where ...... Christmas Esquire a great promoter of my former and present endeavours must not by me be forgotten Henry VIII 6 WILLIAM FITZ-WILLIAMS Ar. I cannot exactly design his habitation but conceive it not far from Waltham Abby in the South west part of this County because he bequeathed 50. pounds to mend the High-ways betwixt Chigwell and Copers-hall He was afterwards Knighted by King Henry the eighth on a worthy occasion whereof hereafter in his Sheriffalty of North-hampton-shire in the 15. of King Henry the eight He bequeathed 100. pounds to poor Maids Marriages 40. pounds to the University c. and delivering a Catalogue of his Debtors into the hands of his Executors he freely forgave all those over whose names he had written Amore Dei remitto 25 BRIAN TUKE Knight He was Treasurer of the Chamber to King Henry the eight as appears by his Epitaph and dying Anno 1536. lyeth buried with Dame Grissel his wife deceasing two years after him under a fair Tombe in the North Isle of the Quire of Saint Margarets in Lothbury London Lealand giveth him this large commendation that he was Anglicae linguae eloquentiâ mirificus Bale saith that he wrot observations on Chaucer as also against Polidore Virgill for injuring the English of whom then still alive he justly and generously demanded reparations though since his unresponsable memory can make us no satisfaction Edward VI. 3 Sir JOHN GATES He was descended from Sir Geffry Gates Knight who as appears by his Epitaph in the Church of High-Eastern bought the Mannor of Garnets in that parish of one Koppenden Gentleman This Sir Geffry was six years captain of the Isle of Wight and Marshall of Callis and there kept with the Pikards worschipfull Warrys Reader it is the Language of his Epitaph And died Anno Dom. 1477. As for this Sir John Gates Knight descendant from the said Sir Jeffry he is heavily charged with Sacriledge in our Histories and ingaging with John Dudley Duke of Northumberland in the Title of Queen Jane he was beheaded the 22. of August the first of Queen Mary 1553. Queen Elizabeth 1 RALPH ROWLET Knight He married one of the learned daughters of Sir Anthony Cook Sister to the wives of the Lord Chancellour Bacon and Treasurer Cecill His family is now Extinct one of his daughters marrying into the then Worshipfull since honorable family of the Mainards and with her devolved a fair inheritance 12. JAMES ALTHAM Esq. His Armes casually omitted in our List were Pally of six Ermin and Azure on a Chief Gules a Lyon rampant Or. His Name-sake and direct Descendent now living at Markhall made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Charles the second addeth with his accomplished civility to the Honor of his Ancestors King James 1. HENRY MAINARD Kt. He was Father to William Maynard bred in Saint John's Colledge in Cambridge where he founded a Logick Professor created Baron of Wicklow in Ireland and Easton in this County whose Son William Lord Maynard hath been so noble an encourager of my Studies that my Hand deserveth to wither when my Heart passeth him by without a prayer for his good successe 15. PAUL BANNING Kt. and Bar. No doubt the same Person who afterwards was created Viscount Banning of Sudbury His Son was bred in Christ-Church of most hopeful parts descended from the Sackvils by the Mother-side and promising high Performance to his Country but alas cut off in the prime of the prime of his life He left two Daughters which though married left no Issue so that his large estate will be divided betwixt the children of his four Sisters Wives to the Marquess of Dorchester Viscount Grandison the Lord Dacres of the South and Henry Murrey Esq of the Bed-Chamber to King Charles King Charles 12. JOHN LUCAS Esq This worthy Person equalling his Extraction with his Vertues was at Oxford made Baron by King Charles the first I understand he hath one sole Daughter to whom I wish a meet Consort adequate to her Birth and Estate seeing the Barony began in this Lord is suspicious in him to determine The Battels Though none in this County the heart of the Eastern Association yet the siege Anno 1648. of Colchester must not be forgotten Know then that the Remnant of the Royalists routed in Kent with much difficulty recovered this County the Parliliaments Forces pursuing them March much farther they could not such their weariness and want of Accommodation bid Battel to their numerous Foes they durst not which was to run in the Jaws of ruine wherefore they resolved to shelter themselves for a time in Colchester Reader pardon a Digression Winchester Castle was by the Long-Parliament ordered to be made UNTENABLE but the over-officious malice of such who executed the Order wilfully mistaking the word made it UNTENANTABLE To apply the Distinction to 〈◊〉 All men beheld it as Tenantable full of faire Houses none as Tenable in an hostile way for any long time against a great Army But see what Diligence can do in few days they fortified it even above imagination Indeed the lining of the Wall was better than the faceing thereof whose Stone outside was ruinous but the in-side was well filled up with Earth which they valiantly maintained Nor was it General Fairfax they feared so much as General Famine that grand Conqueror of Cities having too much of the best Sauce and too little of the worst Meat Insomuch that they were fain to make Mutton of those Creatures which kill Sheâ—…p and Beefe of Cattel which never wore Horns till they were forced to submit to the worst but best they could get of Conditions Here those two worthy Knights Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle the one eminently a whole Troop of Horse the other a Company of Foot were cruelly sentenced and shot to Death whose bodies have since had a civil Resurrection restored to all possible outward Honour by publick Funerall Solemnities The Farewell I wish the sad casualties may never return which lately have happened in this County The one 1581. in the Hundred of Dengy the other 1648. in the Hundred of Rochford and Isle
much abused by the avarice and mis-imployment of the Governors thereof and charitably do presume that such faults if any are since or will be suddenly amended Since the Reformation JOHN HARINGTON the elder son to Sir James Harington was born at Exton in this County where their ancient Family had long flourished A bountiful House-keeper dividing his hospitality between Rutland and Warwick-shire where he had a fair habitation He was one of the Executors to the Lady Frances Sidney and a grand Benefactor to the College of her founding in Cambridge King James created him Baron of Exton and his Lady a prudent woman had the Princess Elizabeth committed to her government When the said Princess was married to Frederick Prince Palatine this Lord with Henry Martin Doctor of the Laws was sent over to the Palatinate to see her Highness setled at Hidleburgh and some formalities about her Dowry and Joynture performed This done as if God had designed this for his last work he sickned on the first day of his return and dyed at Wormes in Germany on St. Bartholomews day Anno Dom. 1613. The Lord John his son of whom in Warwick-shire did not survive him a year both of them signally eminent the one a pattern for all good fathers th' other for all gracious sons and pity it is the last had not issue to be a president to all grand-children but God thought it fit that here the Male-issue of that honourable Family should expire Memorable Persons JEFFEREY was born in the Parish of Okeham in this County where his father was a very proper man broad-shouldered and chested though his son never arived at a full Ell in stature And here we may observe Pliny his observation not true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In plenum autem cuncto mortalium generi â—…inorem staturam indies fieri propemodum observatur rarosque patribus proceriores c. It seems that Families sometimes are chequered as in brains so in bulk that no certainty can be concluded from such alternations His father who kept and ordered the baiting Bulls for George Duke of Buckingham a place you will say requiring a robustious body to manage it presented him at Burleigh on the Hill to the Duchesse of Buckingham being then nine years of age and scarce a foot and half in height as I am informed by credible persons then and there present and still alive Instantly Jefferey was heightned not in stature but in condition from one degree above rags into Silk and Sattin and two tall men to attend him He was without any deformity wholly proportionable whereas often Dwarfs Pigmâ—…es in one part are Giants in another And yet though the least that England ever saw he was a proper person compared to him of whom Sabinus doth write in his Comment upon the Metamorphosis Vidit Italia nuper virum justa aetate non majorem cubito circumferri in caveâ Psittaci cujus viri meminit in suis scriptis Hieronymus Cardanus There was lately to be seen in Italy a man of a ripe age not above a cubit high carried about in a Parrets cage of whom Hierome Cardan in his Writings makes mention It was not long before he was presented in a cold baked Pye to King Charles and Queen Mary at an entertainment and ever after lived whiles the Court lived in great plenty therein wanting nothing but humility high mind in a low body which made him that he did not know himself and would not know his father and which by the Kings command caused justly his sound correction He was though a Dwarf no Dastard a Captain of horse in the Kings Army in these late civil wars and afterwards went over to wait on the Queen in France Here being provoked by Mr. Crofts who accounted him the object not of his anger but contempt he shewed to all that Habet musca suum splenum and they must be little indeed that cannot do mischief especially seeing a Pistol is a pure leveller and puts both Dwarf and Giant into equal capacity to kill and to be killd For the shooting the same Mr. Crofts he was imprisoned And so I take my leave of Jefferey the least man of the least County in England The Names of the Gentry of this County returned by the Commissioners in the twelfth year of King Henry the sixth William Bishop of Lincoln Commissioners to take the Oaths William de Souche de Harringworth chiv  Thomas Grenham Knights for the Shire  William Beaufo Knights for the Shire  Iohannes Basinges de Empyngham mil. Iohannes Colepepar de Exton mil. Henricus Plesington de Burley mil. Robertus Browne de Wodehead ar Robertus Davis de Tykencoat ar Iohannes Browne de Tygh ar Iohannes Plesington de Wissenden ar Thomas Flore de Oakham ar Franciscus Clerke de Stoke-dry ar Iohannes Chycelden de Brameston ar Iohannes Sapcoat de Keton merchant Robertus Whitwell de eadem gentleman Iohannes Clerk de Wissenden merch Willielmus Lewis de Oakham merch Iohannes Brigge de eadem merch Ioh. Basset de North Luffenham gent. Iacobus Palmer de eadem gent. Iohannes Palmer de eadem gent. Willielmi Sheffeild de Seyton gent. Iohannes Sadington de eadem gent. Rob. Sousex de Market Overton gent. Iohannes Vowe de Whitwell gent. Willielmus Pochon de Wissenden gent. Williâ—…lmus Swafeld de Braunston gent. Henricus Breton de Keton gent. Williâ—…lmus Uffingâ—…on de Pilton gent. Thomas Luffenham de Winge Sheriffs It remaineth now that we give in a List of the Sheriffs of this Shire and here Rutland conceiveth it to sound to her credit that whereas other Shires ten times bigger than this viz. Norfolk and Suffolk had but one Sheriff betwixt them this little County never took-hands to hold with a partner but had alwayes an entire Sheriff to it self though anciently the same person generally honourable discharged the Office for many years together as by the ensuing Catalogue will appear SHERIFFS From the year of King To the year of King Richard de Humet Tenth of Henry 2. Six and twenty of Henry 2. William Molduit six and twentieth of Henry 2. first of Richard 1. Anna Brigg dispensat first of Richard 1. second of Richard 1. William Albeney William Fresney second of Richard 1. nineth of Richard 1. William Albevine solus nineth of Richard 1. first of King John Benedic de Haversham first of King John second of King John Robert Malduit second of King John fifth of King John Ralph Normanvill fifth of King John twelfth of King John Robert de Braibro Henry filius ejus twelfth of King John second of Henry 3. Alan Basset second of Henry 3. twelfth of Henry 3. Jeffrey de Rokingham twelfth of Henry 3. thirty eight of Henry 3. Ralph de Greneham thirty eight of Henry 3. forty third of Henry 3. Anketyn de Markinall forty third of Henry 3. first of Edward 1. Peter Wakervill William Bovile first of Edward 1. nineth of Edward 1. Alberic de Whitleber
for his soul anâ—… the souls of his Relations within six weeks after his discease willing also that every Priest in Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge should have a share of that money c. He made Elizabeth his Wife and others his Executors the Earl of Essex the Lord Dinham Thomas Mountgomery Thomas Terryll supervisors of his Will beseeching them to help his Son Thomas and all his children He willed the Earl of Essex and the Lord Dinham should have a Butt of Malmsy Sir Thomas Mountgomery and Sir Thomas Terryll a Pipe of Red wine for their pains Thomas Darcy his son Esquire of the body to King Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth married Margaret one of the Dâ—…ughters and Heirs of John Harelton of Suffolk Esquire He dyed 25. of September 1485. as appears by his Epitaph on his Tombe in the Church aforesaid HENRY LANGLEY Esq. He lived at Langley-Wilebores in the Parish of Rickling in the Church whereof he lyeth buried with this Inscription Hic jacet Henricus Langley Armiger qui obiit xx Septemb. M. cccc lviii Margareta uxor ejus una filiarum Haredum Johannis Waldene Armiger quae obiit v. Martii M. cccc liii There is in the same Church a Monument for his Son the more remarkable because the last of his Family Here lyeth Henry Langley Esq. and dame Catherine his wife which Henry departed this life ii April M. cccc lxxxviii and Dame Katherine died .... the year of our Lord God ...... .... It is not usuall for the wife of an Esq. to be styled Dame except she was daughter to an Earl or Relict to a Knight This Hâ—…nry left three daughters portracted on his Marble Tombe betwixt whom his Inheritance was divided THOMAS HENENINGHAM His family flourisheth in Norfolk JOHANNES LEVENTHORP Jun. Ar. His posterity flourisheth in Hertford-shire THOMAS BARYNGTON Ar. He lived at Barington-hall in the Parish of Hatfield-Brad-Oake and lyeth buried in the Church with this Inscription Hic jacent Thomas Barington Armig. Anna uxor ejus qui quidem Thomas obiit v. Aprilis M. cccc lxxii Anna proximo die sequenti quorum Animabus propitietur Altissimus See here a sympathizing wife dying the next day after her husband of whom it may be said He first deceas d â—…he for few hours try'd To live without him lik'd it not and dy'd The family is of signall nativity enriched with large possessions in the raign of King Stephen by the Barons of Montfitchet and since received an accession of honour and estate by marrying with Winifred daughter and co-heir of Henry Pole Lord Montague son of Margaret Plantagenet Countess of Salisbury descended of the bloud Royall At this day there is a Baronet thereof with other branches of good account THOMAS BENDYSH Ar. Bomsted in this County was and is the habitation of his Family EGIDIUS LUCAS The name is honourable at this day and hath a seat with fair possessions near Colchester but how related to this Giles I know not Sure I am that it appeareth on a window in the North-side of the Church of Saxham-parva in Suffolk that Anno Domini 1428. five years before this return of Gentry one Thomas Lucas kneeling there with his wife in their Coat-Armours was Servant Secretary and one of the Council to Jasper Duke of Bedford and Earl of Pembroke THOMAS BARRET Was an Esquire of signall note and the ensuing nameless Manuscript will acquaint us with the Time of his death Thomas Barryt Squâ—…r to Kyng Harry the sixt oftentimes imployed in the French warrs under the command of John Duâ—… of Bedford as also John Duc of Norfolk being alway trew leige man to his Soveraign Lord the King having taken Sanctuary at Westminstre to shon the fury of his and the Kings enemyes was from these hayled forth and lamentably hewyn a peces about whilke tym or a lityl before the Lord Skales late in an evening entrying a Wherry Bolt with three persons and rawghing toowards Westminstre there likewise too have taken Sanctuary was discride by a woman where anon the wherry man fell on him murthered him and cast his mangled corpes alond by Saint Marie Overys As for the date of his death we may learn it out of his Epitaph on his Tombe in the Church of Saint Martins in the fields London Hic jacet Thomas Barret prenobilis Armiger qui quidem Thomas erat abstractus de sanctuario Beati Petri Westmonasterii crudeliter Interfectus per manus Impiorum contra Leges Anglie totius universalis Ecclesie privilegia jura Anno Domini 1461. Anno Illustrissimi Regis Edward quarti post conquestum primo Sub eodâ—…m quoque marmoreo Lapide Johannes Barret ejusdem Thome primogenitus sepelitur qui quidem Johannes obiit ..... die ..... Anno .... This family of the Barrets received much wealth by the daughter and heir of Bell house of Bellhouse an ancient and fair seat in the Parish of Avely in this County and some few years since determined in Sir Edward Barret Knight Lord Baron of Newburg in Scotland Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster A Hospitall house-keeper and founder of an Almes-house in Avely aforesaid He adopted Lennard Esquire son to the Lord Dacres by the daughter of the Lord North heir to his estate on condition he should assume the Surname of Barret Sheriffs of Essex and Herâ—…ford shire HEN. II. Anno 1 Rich. Basset Albericus de Verr. Anno 2 Rich. de Lucy Anno 3 Mauricus Anno 4 Anno 5 Mauricus de Tireter for 5 years Anno 10 Tullus-Bovilla Anno 11 Nich. Decanus for 4 years Anno 15 Nich. Decanus Steph. de Bell. Campo dimid Anno Anno 16 Rob. Mantellus for 12 years Anno 28 Oto filius Willielm for 6 years RICH. I. Anno 1 Oto filius Willielm Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Galf. filius Petri Anno 4 Galf. filius Petri Rich. Heriett Anno 5 Anno 6 Galf. filius Petri Simon Pateshalla Anno 7 Will. de Long. Campo Canc. Dom. Regis Anno 8 Reginall de Argento Anno 9 Regind de Argent Hug. de Nevil Hum. de Barton Anno 10 Hugo de Nevill Iohan. de Nevill JOHAN REX Anno 1 Hugo de Nevill Iohan. de Nevill Anno 2 Idem Anno 3 Rich. de Montfitchet Ioh. de Cornheard Anno 4 Rich. de Montfitchet Anno 5 Rich. de Montfitchet Ioh. de Cornheard Anno 6 Math. Mantell Com. for 4 years Anno 10 Ioh. Mantell Anno 11 Albic Willielm filius Fulconis Anno 11 Comes Albericus Idem Willielm for 4 years Anno 16 Math. Mantell Galf. Roinges Anno 17 Rob. Mantell fr. H. Matheus Mantell HEN. III. Anno 1 Anno 2 Will. Marescallus Ioh. de Cornerd Anno 3 Walt. de Udon Anno 4 Rob. Mantell Anno 5 Steph. de Segne Raâ—… filius Reginal Anno 6 Idem Anno 7 Steph. de Segne Petr. de S â—o Edward Anno 8 Rich. de Argentoem Will de
continued in the raign of Queen Mary under three several jurisdictions London under bloudy Bonner who made havock of all he could come at Southwark under politick Gardner who took wit in his anger of whom formerly This Westminster under John Fecknam Abbot thereof with power Episcopal a man cruel to none courteous and charitable to all who needed his help or liberality Confessors Rain which Country-people say goeth by Planets goeth by Providence * I caused it to rain upon one City and caused it not to rain upon another Persecution observeth the same method ordered by the same power and pleasure A shower of bloud fell upon London whilst Westminster the next City did escape So that I find neither Martyr nor Confessor therein Meeting with none before let us proceed to Prelates since the Reformation RICHARD NEILE was born in Kings-street in this City and was bred in Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge he was afterwards Vicar of Chesthunt in the County of Hartford presented thereunto by the honourable family of the Cecills he was the first and last Native of this City who became the Dean and so the supreme magistrate thereof Through many Bishopricks of Coventry and Lichfield Durham and Winchester he was at last preferred Arch-bishop of York being also Privy Counsellor to King James and King Charles He died Anno Domini 16. JOHN WARNER D. D. was born in the Parish of Saint Clements Danes within the Precincts of this City bred in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford at last preferred Bishop of Rochester This worthy Bishop perceiving the want of a fixed Font in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury bestow'd one upon it whether more curious or costly my Author could not decide it being both ways so excellent and exquisite A gift the more remarkable because the first which hath been offered by any private hand to that Church of later times But I suspect now this Font it self is washed away in the deluge of our late wars under the notion of superstition God hath given him a great Estate and a liberal heart to make use of it Keeping good Hospitality in the Christmas at Brumley as he fed many Poor so he freed himself from much trouble being absent when the rest of the Bishops subscribed their Protest in Parliament whereby he enjoy'd liberty in the restraint of others of his Order He was an able and active advocate for Episcopacy in the House of Lords speaking for them as long as he had any voice left him and then willing to have made signs in their iust defence if it might have been permitted him But it is now high time for me to put out my Candle when Day-light shines so bright I mean to desist from charactering of persons who are so perfectly known to so many alive I will only adde this eminent Prelate hath since seen the happy restitution of his order injoying again his former dignity who now is and long may be living 1661. Statesmen Sir FRANCIS BACON Knight youngest son to Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper was born in York-house Anno 1560. For being demanded his age by Queen Elizabeth he returned that he was two years younger then her Majesties reign He was bred in Trinity-colledge in Cambridge and there first fell into a dislike of Aristotles Philosophy as Barren and Jejune inabling some to dispute more to wrangle few to find out trueth and none if confining themselves to his Principles Hence it was that afterwards he traded so largely in experiments so that as Socrates is said to be the first who stooped Towring Speculations into Practical Morality Sir Francis was one of the first who reduced Notional to Real and Scientifical Philosophy He was afterwards bred in Grays-Inn in the Study of our Municipal Law attaining to great Eminency but no Preferment therein during the reign of Queen Elizabeth Imputable to the envy of a great Person who hindred his rising for fear to be hindred by him if risen and Eclipsed in his own profession Thus the strongest wing of merit cannot mount if a stronger weight of malice doth depress it Yet was he even then Favorite to a Favorite I mean the Earl of Essex and more true to him then the Earl was to himself For finding him to prefer destructive before displeasing Counsel Sir Francis fairly for sook not hâ—…s person whom his pity attended to the grave but practises and herein was not the worse friend for being the better subject By K. James he was made his Solicitor and afterwards his Atturney then priviledged contrary to custome to â—…it a member in Dom. Com. and at last Lord Chancellor of England His abilities were a clear conâ—…utation of two vulgar errors errors libells on learned men First that Judgement Wit Fancy and Memory cannot eminently be in conjunction in the same person whereas our Knight was a rich Cabinet fill'd with all four besides a golden key to open it Elocution Secondly That he who is something in all is nothing in any one Art whereas he was singular in singulis and being In at all came off with credit Such as condemn him for pride if in his place with the fift part of his parts had been ten times prouder themselves he had been a better Master if he had been a worse being too bountiful to his servants and either too confident of their honesty or too conniving at their falshood The story is told to his advantage that he had two Servants one in all causes Patron to the Plantiffe whom his charity presumed always injured the other to the Defendant pitying him as compelled to Law but taking bribes of both with this condition to restore the money received if the Cause went against them Their Lord ignorant hereof always did unpartial Justice whilst his men making people pay for what was given them by compact shared the money betwixt them which cost their Master the loss of his office Leading a private life he much delighted to study in the shade of solitariness and many useful discoveries in Nature were made by him so that he may be said to have left nothing to his Executors and all to his Heirs under which notion the learned of all ages may be beheld His vast bounty to such who brought him presents from great persons occasioned his want afterwards who in rewarding them so remembred that he had been Lord Chancellor that he forgot that he was but the Lord Verulam A Viscountry that began and ended in him dying issu'less it being remarkable that though we have had two Earls of several families of Saint Albans yet was there no Lord Verulam as if it were referved for that antient Roman Colony to be buried in its own reverend ruins and in this peerless Lords everlasting memory much admired by English more by out-landish men Distance diminishing his faults to be invisible to forreign eyes whilst we beheld his perfections abated with his failings He died Anno Domini 1626. in the
Manufactures Taunton Serges are eminent in their Kind being a fashionable wearing as lighter than Cloath yet thicker than many other Stuffs When Dionysius sacrilegiously plundred Jove his Statue of his Golden Coat pretending it too cold for Winter and too hot for Summer he bestowed such a vestimēt upō him to fit both Seasons They were much sent into Spain before our late War therewith wherein Trading long since complained of to be dead is now lamented generally as buried though hereafter it may have a resurrection The Buildings Of these the Churches of Bath and Wells are most eminent Twins are said to make but one Man as these two Churches constitute one Bishops See Yet as a Twin oft-times proves as proper a person as those of single Births So these severally equal most and exceed many Cathedrals in England We begin with Bath considerable in its several conditions viz. the beginning obstructing decaying repairing and finishing thereof 1 It was begun by Oliver King Bishop of this Diocess in the reign of Henry the Seventh and the West end most curiously cut and carved with Angels climbing up a Ladder to Heaven But this Bishop died before the finishing thereof 2 His Death obstructed this structure so that it stood a long time neglected which gave occasion for one to write on the Church-wall with a Char-coal O Church I wail thy woeful plight Whom King nor Card'nal Clark or Knight Have yet restor'd to ancient right Alluding herein to Bishop King who begun it and his four Successors in thirty five years viz. Cardinal Adrian Cardinal Wolsey Bishop Clark and Bishop Knight contributing nothing to the effectual finishing thereof 3 The decay and almost ruin thereof followed when it felt in part the Hammers which knocked down all Abbyes True it is the Commissioners profered to sell the Church to the Towns-men under 500 Marks But the Towns-men fearing if they bought it so cheape to be thought to cozin the King so that the purchase might come under the compasse of concealed lands refused the profer Hereupon the Glass Iron Bells and Lead which last alone amounted to 480 Tun provided for the finishing thereof were sold and sent over beyond the Seas if a ship-wrack as some report met them not by the way 4 For the repairing thereof collections were made all over the Land in the reign of Queen Elizabeth though inconsiderable either in themselves or through the corruption of others Onely honest Mr. Billet whom I take to be the same with him who was designed Executor to the Will of William Cecil Lord Burghley disbursed good sums to the repairing thereof and a Stranger under a fained name took the confidence thus to play the Poet and Prophet on this Structure Be blithe fair Kirck when Hempe is past Thine Olive that ill winds did blast Shall flourish green for age to last Subscribed Cassadore By Hempe understand Henry the Eight Edward the Sixth Queen Mary King Philip and Queen Elizabeth The Author I suspect had a Tang of the Cask and being parcel-popish expected the finishing of this Church at the return of their Religion but his prediction was verified in a better sense when his Church 5 Was finished by James Montague Bishop of this See disbursing vast sums in the same though the better enabled thereunto by his Mines at Mynedep so that he did but remove the Lead from the bowels of the Earth to the roof of the Church wherein he lies enterred under a fair Monument This Church is both spacious and specious the most lightsome as ever I beheld proceeding from the greatness of the Windows and whiteness of the Glass therein All I have more to add is only this that the parable of Jotham Judg. 9. 8. is on this Church most curiously wrought in allusion to the Christian Sirname of the first Founder thereof how the Trees going to choose them a King profered the place to the OLIVE Now when lately one OLIVER was for a time Commander in Chief in this Land some from whom more Gravity might have been expected beheld this Picture as a Prophetical Prediction so apt are English fancies to take fire at every spark of conceit But seeing since that Olive hath been blasted bottom his Root and Branches this pretended Prophecy with that observation the reason is withered away As for the Cathedral of Wells it is a greater so darker than that of Bath so that Bath may seem to draw devotion with the pleasantnesse Wells to drive it with the solemnity thereof and ill tempered their Minds who will be moved with neither The West Front of Wells is a Master-piece of Art indeed made of Imagiry in just proportion so that we may call them Vera spirantia signa England affordeth not the like For the West end of Excester beginneth accordingly it doth not like Wells persevere to the end thereof As for the Civil Habitations in this County not to speak of Dunstar Castle having an high ascent and the effect thereof a large prospect by Sea and Land Mountague built by Sir Edward Philips Master of the Roles is a most magnificent Fabrick Nor must Hinton St. George the House of the Lord Poulet be forgotten having every stone in the Front shaped Doule-wayes or in the form of a Cart-nail This I may call a Charitable Curiosity if true what is traditioned That about the reign of King Henry the Seventh the owner thereof built it in a dear year on purpose to imploy the more poor people thereupon The Wonders VVockey Hole in Mendip-hills some two miles from VVells This is an undergroundConcavity admirable for its spacious Vaults stony Walls creeping Labyrinths the cause being un-imaginable how and why the Earth was put in such a posture save that the God of Nature is pleased to descant on a plain hollowness with such wonderful contrivances I have been at but never in this Hole and therefore must make use of the description of a Learned eye Witness Entring and passing through a good part of it with many lights Among other many strange Rarities well worth the observing VVe found that water which incessantly dropped down from the Vault of the Rock though thereby it made some little dint in the Rock yet was it turned into the Rock it self As manifestly appeared even to the judgment of sense by the shape and colour and hardnesse It being at first of a more clear and glassie substance then the more ancient part of the Rock to which no doubt but in time it hath been and will be assimulated And this we found not in small pieces but in a very great quantity and that in sundry places enough to load many Carts From whence I inferre that as in this Cave so no doubt in many other where they searched the Rocks would be found to have increased immediately by the dropping of the water besides that increase they have from the Earth in the Bowels thereof which still continuing as it doth there can be no fear