the English for abolishing her Adoration watcheth an Oppertunity of Revenge on this Nation And when her day 25 th of March chanceth to fall on the day of Christ's Resurrection some signal Judgment is intended to our State and Chuch-men especially Such co-incidence has hap'ned just fifteen times since the Conquest An. 1095. when King Rufus made a fruitless Invasion of Wales 1106. King Henry 1. subdueth Normandy and D. Robert his Brother 1117. the same King Henry forbideth the Popes Legate to enter England 1190. and King Richard 1. Conquereth Cyprus in his way to Palestine 1201. in King John's days The French invade Normandy 1212. King John resigneth his Kingdom to the Pope 1285. Nothing remarkable but Peace and Plenty 1296. in the Reign of Edward 1. War begun with Scotland which ended in Victory 1380. The Scots do much harm to us at Peryth Fair. 1459. Lancastrians worsted by the Yorkists in fight 1543. King Henry 8. entred Scotland and burnt Edenburgh Hitherto this Proverb has had but intermitting Truth at the most seeing no Constancy in Casualties But the sting will some say is in the taile thereof And I behold this Proverb born An. 1554. For then Queen Mary setteth up Popery and Martyreth Protestants 1627. 3. Car. 1. The unprosperous Voyage to the Isle of Rees 1638. 14. Car. 1. The first Cloud of Trouble in Scotland 1649. The first compleat Year of the English Common-Wealth or Tyranny rather which since blessed be God is returned to a Monarchy The next Concurrence will be in the Year 1722. But it matters not tho our Lady falls in our Lords lap whilst our Lord sits at his Fathers right hand if to him we make our Addresses by serious Repentance II. When Hemp is spun England is done I look upon both this and the former to be coyned by a Roman Mint-Master and even of the same Age. It is faced with a Literal but would be faced with a Mystical sense When Hemp is spun when that Commodity is spent and none left for Sails Cordage c. England whose strength consists in Ships would be reduced to a doleful Condition But know under HEMPE are couched the Initial Letters of Henry 8. Edward 6. Mary Philip and Elizabeth as if with the Life of the last the Happiness of England should expire which Time hath confuted Yet to keep this Proverb in Countenance it may pretend to some Truth because then England with the Addition of Scotland lost its Name in Great Britain by Royal Proclamation III. When the Black Fleet of Norway is come and gone England build Houses of Lime and Stone For after Wars you shall have none Some make it fulfill'd in 88 when the Spanish Fleet was beaten the Surname of whose King was Norway 'T is true the English afterwards built handsome Houses of Lime and Stone But the remainder After Wars you shall have none was proved false by the Civil Wars IV. England is the Ringing Island So called by reason of the most tuneable Bells which it affords V. When the Sand feeds the Clay England crys Well-a-day But when the Clay feed the Sand It is merry with England That is when the Season is very wet the Sandy Ground amounting to about a fifth part only of the English Soil is rendred fruitful yet cannot make any Compensation to the damage received in the Claiy ground being about four fifth parts of the whole and on the other side by reason of this Disproportion a drought never causeth a dearth in England VI. England were but a fling i. e. a slight thing Save for the crooked Stick and the grey Goose-wing That is the use of Archery On which they deservedly put a great Value because they were therein so much skill'd VII England is the Paradise of Women Hell of Horses Purgatory of Servants Law and Custom allows the Women desirable Advantages allowing the third of their Husbands Estates with the fairest respect and kindest usage As to Horses besides over-violent Riding Racing and Hunting they are Tormented in Carts and Waggons For Servants whether Apprentices or Covenant Servants we conceive the Proverb to be Erroneous since Apprentices are well used for their Money and other Servants for their Fidelity VII A Famine in England begins first at the Horse-Manger That is if Peaseor Oats Horse-Grain be dear it will not be long ere Wheat and Rye be so too VIII The King of England is the King of Devils That is the Mobile has as great an Ambition to be Worshipped by Christ's Vice-gerant as ever the Devil had to have our Saviour fall down before him But this is only a Conjecture and such a one as probably has need of a Fuller to reduce to a genuin Colour but I am told he is resolved not to meddle with it The German Emperour is termed King of Kings or free Princes the King of Spain King of Men because they willingly yield their Soveraign rational Obedience The King of France King of Asses And here 't is very likely the Devil has made the Ass two Appellations grating on not gratifying a well disciplin'd Ear. As to the first S. Gregory gave the English better Language when he said Angli veâ—ut Angeli English men were as Angels IX The English are the French mens Apes This is charged upon the English with some Truth Since they imitate the French in two particulars 1. In their Language Which if Jack could speak he would be a Gentleman 2. In their Habits accounting all fineness in Conformity to the French Fashion They learn their Fashions from them to whom by their Conquests they taught Obedience X. The English Glutton This Vice has been charged on the English which we are more willing to excuse than confess more willingly to confess than amend true it is England is as it were a large Cook-shop and it is no reason any should starve therein which justifies Moderation but does not excuse Excess XI Long-beards Heartless painted Hoods Witless Gay-coats Graceless make England Thriftless This tho false acquaints us with the English Habit in former Times The English were wont to nourish their Hair conceiving it more amiable to their Friends and terrible to their Foes Their Hoods were Colour'd or stain'd And Gallantry began to creep in with their Gay-coats This Proverb was made by the Scots when they obtain'd a Victory over the English in the Reign of Edward 2. XII He that England would win Must with Ireland first begin 'T is observed that Subjects at a great distance from their Prince are most apt to swerve from their Allegience being not so nearly influenced by the Beams of Majesty as others who besides the Sense of their Duty that inwardly perswades them to Obedience have Royal Terror without encamping as it were round about them to restrain them from Violence XIII In England a Bushel of March-dust is worth a Kings Ransome A dry March being Beneficial to Clay-ground of which England does most consist XIV England a good Land
Superstition favoured Learned Men more then Lazie Manks which may be the cause he was not solemnly Sainted with other Saxon Kings who did not so much deserve Since the Reformation Pet. Chapman born at Cokeham bred an Iron-monger in Lond. at his Death bequeathed five pounds a year to two Scholars in Oxford as much to two in Camb. and five Pounds a year to the poor of the Town of his Nativity besides sixty Pounds to the Prisons of Lond. c. The time of his Death is unknown Jo. Kendrick born at Reading bred a Draper in Lond. His State may be compared to the Mustard-seed from a small encreasing to a prodigious bigness If Benefactors were digested as David's Worthies Mr. Kendrick would be if not the last of the first the first of the second three His Charity began at his Kindred proceeded to his Friends and Servants to whom he left large Legacies concluded with the Poor on whom he bestowed above 20000 Pounds Reading and Newbury sharing the deepest therein as appears by his Printed Will He dyed 30 Sept. 1624. and is buried in St. Christophers Lond. to the Curate of which Parish he gave 20 Pounds a year for ever Rich. Wightwick Batchellor of Divinity was Rector of East-Isley in this County His Benefice not very great may appear a Bishoprick by his Bounty to Pembroke-Coll in Oxf. to which he gave 100 Pounds a year for 3 Fellows and 4 Scholars When he dyed is unknown Memorable Persons Tho. Cole commonly called the Rich Clothier of Reading He is reported a Man of vast Wealth maintaining 140 Menial Servants besides 300 poor People whom he set on Work insomuch that his Wains with Cloth filled the High-way from Reading to Lond. to the stopping of King H. I. in his Progress which King gratified Cole with a Standard-yard the length of his Royal-Arm but the Truth is was the Arm of E. I. which was the Adequation of a Yard This whole story is uncertain yet Cole may be accounted Eminent in this kind Jo. Winscombe commonly called Jack of Newbury was indeed the most considerable Clothier England ever beheld He kept 100 Looms in his House each of them managed by a Man and a Boy In the Expedition to Flodden-field against Ja. King of Scotland he marched with 100 of his own Men well Mounted to shew that the Painful in Peace could be Valiant in War He Feasted King Hen. 8 and his first Queen Kath. at his own House yet extant at Newbury the Church of which he built from the Pulpit to the Tower Inclusively He dyed about 1520 some of his Name and Kindred of great Wealth in this County As to the Gentry in this County Will. Fachel or Vachel was right Ancient having an Estate in and about Reading And the Family of the Pusays is so Ancient that they were Lords of Pusay a Village near Faringdon long before the Conquest in the time of King Canutus holding their Lands by the Tenure of Cornage viz. by Winding of a Horn when the Enemies made their Approach which that King gave their Family and which their Posterity still Extant at this day do produce But generally the List of Sheriffs is the most Comprehensive Catalogue of the English Gentry Noted Sheriffs monarch R. I. Will. Briewere of mean Extraction yet he was such a Minion to King Rich. I. that he created him Baron of Odcomb in Somersetshire One Fulk-paynel gave this William the Town of Bridgwater that he might procure for him the King's favour which he had lost Seeing he left no Son partition was made of his Inheritance amongst his Daughters married into the Honourable Families of Breos Wake Mohun La-fert and Percy Phillip Son of Rob. and Alan de Marton joynt Sheriffs in this County Rog. Bishop of Covent Lich. Sher. in this County He was Surnamed de Molend monarch H. 3 aliàs Longespee and was Nephew to King Hen. III. Phil. de la Beach The Seat of this Family was at Aldworth monarch E. 2. where their Statues on their Tombs are yet extant They were most Valiant Men their Male issue was extinct in the next Kings Reign whose Heir General was marryed to the Ancient Family of Whitlock Th. Chaucer sole Son to Geffery Chaucer the Famous Poet monarch H. 4. from whom he inherited fair Lands at Dunning-Castle in this County and at Ewelme in Oxf. He married Maud Daughter and Coheir of Sir Jo. Burwash by whom he had Alice married to Will. de la Pole D. of Suffolk He lyeth buried under a fair Tomb in Ewelme Church with this Inscription Hic jacet Th. Chaucer Armiger quondam Dominus istius villae patronus istius Ecclesiae qui ob 13. Nov. An. Dom. 1434. Matilda uxor ejus quae ob 28. Apr. 1436. Th. Wickham Kinsman and next heir to Will. VVickham that famous Bishop of VVinchester monarch H. 5. who notwithstanding above 6000 pounds bequeath'd in Legacies left to Thomas 600 pound Lands a year As for his Arms viz. Arg. 2 Cheverons S. between 3 Roses G. The most ingenious Sir Isaac VVake conceiveth those Cheverons or Couples in Architecture given him in Relation to the two Colledges he built in Oxford and VVinchester Jo. Gowfere or Golofre monarch H. 6. the first who is Styled Esquire as he was Sheriff This Addition grew afterwards more fashionable for after that Jack Straw one of the Grandfounders of the Levellers was defeated the English Gentry to appear above the Mobile did in all publick Instruments insert their Native or acquired Qualifications Sir Jo. Howard Knight Son to Sir Rob. Howard monarch E. 4. soon after was Created a Baron by Edw. IV. and Duke of Norfolk by King Rich. III. as Kinsman and one of the Heirs of Anne Dutchess of York and Norfolk whose Mother was one of the Daughters of Th. Mowbray Duke of Norfolk Soon after he lost his Life in Bosworth-field in the Quarrel of him who had given him his Honour From him descended the Noble and Numerous Family of the Howards of whom four Earls viz. Arundel Notingham Suffolk and Barkshire and two Barons viz. Mowbray and Estrick sat in the last Parliament of King Ch. I. Verstegan the great Antiquary will have their Name to be Holdward that is Keeper of a Castle or Trust and they have well answered unto their Name Did not Th. Howard Earl of Surrey well Hold his ward by Land when in the Reign of King H. 8. he Conquered the Scots in Floddon-field and took James IV their King Prisoner And did not Charles Howard afterward Earl of Nottingham hold his ward by Sea in 88. when the Armado was defeated Humph. Foster Ar. Afterward Knighted lies Buried in St. Martins in the Fields Lond. with this Inscription Of your Charity pray for the Soul of Sir Humphrey Foster Knight whose body lies buried here in Earth under this Marble Stone who deceased 18 Sept. 1500. On whose Soul Jesu have mercy Amen Robert Harecourt Knight right Ancient is this
differences betwixt Christian Princes much time was spent a Mass of Money expended many lives lost some Honour atchieved but little Profit produced Going to Palestine he suffered Shipwrack and many Mischiefs on the coasts of Cyprus coming for England through Germany he was tossed with a worse Land-Tempest being in pursuance of an old grudge betwixt them taken Prisoner by Leopold D. of Austria yet this Caeur de Lion or Lion-Hearted King for so was he commonly called was no less Lion tho now in a Grate then when at Liberty abating nothing of his high Spirit in his Behaviour The Duke did not undervalue his Royal Prisoner prizing his Person at 10 years purchase according to the then yearly Revenue of the English Crown This Ransom of 100000 pounds being paid he came home first reformed himself and then mended many abuses in the Land He was afterwards shot with an Arrow in France 1199. Edmund Youngest Son to King Edward 1. by Queen Marg. was born at Woodstock Aug. 5. 1301. He was afterwards created E. of Kent and was Tutor to his Nephew King Edward 3. In whose Reign he was beheaded at Winchester March 19. for that he never dissembled his Brotherly affection towards his Brother deposed and went about when he was murdered before not knowing so much to enlarge him out of Prison perswaded thereunto by such as covertly practised his Destruction Edward Eldest Son of King Edward 3. was born at Woodstock and bred under his Father in Martial Discipline He was afterwards called the Black Prince from his Atchievements dismal and black as they appeared to the eyes of his Enemies whom he constantly overcame He married Joan Countess of Salisbury and Kent whose Garter which now flourisheth again hath lasted longer than all the Wardrobes of the Kings and Queens of England since the Conquest continued in the Knighthood of that Order This Prince died before his Father at Cant. An. 46. Aet An. Dom. 1376. whose Maiden success attended him to the Grave as never soiled in any undertakings He left 2 Sons Edward and Richard afterward King both born in France Th. of Woodstock Youngest Son of E. 3. and Queen Philippa was Earl of Buck. and Duke of Gloc. created by his Nephew King Rich. who summoned him to Parliament He married Isabel Daughter of Humphrey Bohun E. of Essex in whose Right he became Constable of England He observed the King too nearly and checked him too sharply whereupon he was conveyed to Calis and there Strangled By whose Death King Richard being freed from the causless fear of an Unkle became exposed to the cunning Plots of his Cosen German Henry Duke of Lancaster who at last deposed him This Th. founded a fair Colledge at Playsie in Essex where he was afterwards buried his Body having been since translated to Westminster Anne Beauchamp born at Cavesham was Daughter to Rich. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and married to Rich. Nevil Earl of Sarisbury and Warwick commonly called the Make-King In his own and her Husband 's right she was possessed of 114. Manners Isa her eldest Daughter was married to Geo. Duke of Clarence and Anne her younger to Edward Prince of Wales Son of H. 6. and afterwards to King Richard 3. Her Husband being killed at Barnet fight all her Land by Act of Parliament was setled on her 2 Daughters Being attainted on the account of her Husband she was forced to flye to the Sanctuary at Beauly in Hant-shire and thence to the North where she lived privately and in a mean condition Saints St. Frideswide was born in Oxford being Daughter to Didan the Duke thereof 'T is said that one Algarius a young Noble man was struck blind upon his attempting her Chastity She was afterwards Abbess of a Monastery erected by her Father in the same City which since is become part of Christs Church where her body lyeth buried An. 1. Eliz. the Scholars of Oxford took up the body of the Wife of Pet. Martyr who formerly had been disgracefully buried in a dung-hill and interred it in the Tomb with the dust of this Saint with this Inscription as Saunders affirms Here lyes Religion with Superstition and there was more than 800 years betwixt their several deaths St. Frideswide dying 739 and is remembred in the Romish Calender on 19 Oct. St. Edwold Younger brother to St Edmond King of the E. Angles so cruelly Martyred by the Danes and after his death Edwold being his right Heir declined the Crown and retired to Cornhouse-Monastery at Dorchester where he was interred and had in great veneration for his reputed Miracles after his death which happened 871. St. Edward the Confessor was born at Islip He was afterwards King of England whose Reign was attended with Peace and Prosperity Famous for the first founding of Westminster-Abbey and for many other worthy Atchievements He lived and dyed Single never carnally conversing with St. Edith his Queen which opened a Door for forreign Competitors and occasioned the Conquest of this Nation He died 1065. and lyeth buried in Westminster-Abbey Cardinals Robert Pullen or Bullen came over from Paris in the Reign of Henry 1. when Learning ran low in Oxford He improved his utmost power with the King and Prelates for the restoring thereof He is said to have begun to read the Scriptures at Oxford which were grown out of fashion in England Afterwards Pope Innocent courteously sent for him to Rome Celestine created him Cardinal of St. Eusebius 1144. Lucius 2. made him Chancellor of the Church of Rome He died about 1150. Th. Joyce or Jorce a Dominican and D. D. in Oxford became Provincial of his Order Afterwardes Pope Clement 5. created him Cardinal of St. Sabine He had 6 Brethren Dominicans who altogether were by one uncharitably resembled to the 7. Sons of Seeva which were Exorcists however they may be termed a Week of Brethren whereof this Rubricated Cardinal was the Dominical Letter There want not those who conceive great Vertue in the youngest Son of these seven and that his touch was able to cure the Popes Evill Th. flourished 1310. and he lyes buried in his Convent in Oxford Prelates Herbert Losing born in Oxford Son of an Abbot gave 1900 l. to King William Rufus for the Bishoprick of Thetford having also purchased his Fathers preferment Hence the Verse Filius est Praesul Pater Abbas Simon uterque both being guilty of Simony Herbert afterwards went to Rome no such clean washing as in the water of Tyber and returned thence as free from fault as when first born Thus cleansed from the Leprosie of Simony he removed his Bishoprick from Thetford to Norwich laid the first Stone and in effect finished the fair Cathedral therein and built 5 beautifull Parish Churches He died 1119. See Suff. Owen Oglethorp Pres of Magdalen Colledg Dean of Windsor and Bishop of Carlile in the Reign of Queen Mary crowned Queen Elizabeth which the rest of his Order refused to do and by her deprived for his ensuing
age would admit An 1. Ed. 6. 3. When the same after the Marian interruption was resumed and more refined in the Reign of Q. El. The first of these I may call the Morning Star The Second the Dawning of the Day The third the rising of the Sun As to the Prelats and Writers in Q. Maries days their inclinations are discovered in their Writings and by their Actions CHAP. XII Memorable Persons THE former Heads were like Private Houses but this Topick is like a publick Inn admitting all Comers and Goers having any extraordinary not vicious Remark upon them Such therefore who are over under or beside the Standard of Common Persons for strength stature fruitfulness vivacity c. are lodged under this Head under which I also repose such Mechanicks who have reached a clear note above others in their Vocation and Eminent improvers of Arts being Founders of that Accession which they add thereunto CHAP. XIII Of Lord Mayors of London AFter the Death of the King the Lord Majors Office and Authority continues a whole year whereas most other Offices determine with the Kings Death Younger Sons are raised to this Dignity by their own Vertue which affords an Illustrious Example and gives the greatest Encouragement to all well-disposed Youth Some Shires are destitute of this Honourable Office tho 't is probable they may come to arrive at the Priviledge of Majorality for Sir Richard Chiverton Skinner descended of a right Ancient and Worshipful Family having been lately the first in Cornwal has opened the door there for others to follow after him Some in London have refused the Office and Fined and thereby have Charitably increased the Stock of the City CHAP. XIV Why a Catalogue of the English Gentry in the Reign of H. 6. is inserted in this Book IN the days of H. 6 under pretence of routing out Felons Outlaws c. Opposition was made to the House of York which was the Occasion that a List of Gentry was made As to the Method of the Catalogue among the Commissioners the Bishop of the Diocess is first put after whom follow Earls Barons Knights of the Shire Note here that in the time of H. 6 de such a place was left off and the addition of Knight or Squire was assumed tho not generally in all places CHAP. XV. Of Sheriffs SHeriff is a Reeve or Overseer of a Shire in Latin Vicecomes or Deputy of an Earl or Count who anciently presiding over a County gave names both to the Place and deputed Jurisdiction In the year 888. K. Alfred first divided England into Shires The Clerk of the Peace for each County in Mich. Term presents to the Lord Chief Justice six or more names of able Persons for the Office of Sheriff of whom three are presented to the King who pricks one to stand Sheriff for the County His Power is to suppress Riots secure Prisoners distrain for Debts execute Writs return Knights and Burgesses for Parliament empannel Juries attend the Judge see the Execution of Malefactors c. By 4. H. 4 5. Sheriffs are to abide within their Counties 'T is observed by some that anciently the Office of Sheriff was Honos sine onere in middle times Honos cum onere and in our days Onus sine Honore a burden without honour CHAP. XVI Of the Coats of Arms of Sheriffs ARms seem to have been Jure Divino to the Jews and their use is great both in War and Peace without them an Army neither has Method nor strikes terror and in peace Arms distinguish one Man from another Arms assumed according to one's fancy are but personal but Arms assigned by Princes are Hereditary The plainer the Coat is the more Ancient and Honourable two Colours are necessary and most highly honourable tho both may be blazoned with one word as Varrey formerly born by the Beauchamps of Hatch in Wiltshire and still quartered by the Duke of Somerset three are very honourable four Commendable five Excuseable more disgraceful One said of a Coat that it was so well Victualled that it might endure a Siege such was the Plenty and Variety of Fowl Flesh and Fish therein Or and Azure are the richest Argent and Sable the fairest Coats The Lion and Eagle are the most Honourable the Cross the most Religious bearing a Bend the best Ordinarie being a Belt athwart as a Fess is the same about the middle Herbs Vert being natural are better then Or. There are Reasons rendred for some bearings Thus whereas the Earls of Oxford anciently gave their Coat plain quarterly Gules and Or they took afterwards in the first a Mallet or Star Argent because the Chief of the House had a Falling-Star as is said alighting on his Shield as he was fighting in the Holy-land Now for the Arms of Sheriffs we have added them ever since the first of King Richard 2. I will conclude this Discourse with a Memorable Record Claus 5 H. 5. Membr 15 in the Tower The King to the Sheriff Health c. because there are divers Men as we are informed which before these times in the Voyages made by us have assumed to themselves Arms and Coat-Armours where neither they nor their Ancestors in times past used such Arms c. and Propound with themselves to use and exercise the same in this present Voyage which God willing we intend to make And altho the Omnipotent disposeth his favours in things Natural as he pleaseth equally to the Rich and Poor yet We willing that every one of our Liege Subjects should be Esteemed and Treated in due manner according to the Exigency of his State and Condition We Command thee that in every place within thy Bailiwick where by our Writ we have lately shewn you cause to be Proclaimed that no Man of what State Degree or Condition soever he be shall take upon him such Arms or Coats of Arms save he alone who doth possess or ought to possess the same by the right of his Ancestors or by Donation and grant of some who had sufficient power to assign him the same and that he that useth such Arms or Coats of Arms shall on the day of his Muster manifestly shew to such Persons assigned or to be assigned by us for that purpose by vertue of whose gift he enjoyeth the same those only excepted who carried Arms with us at the Battle of Agincourt under the penalties not to be admitted to go with us in our aforesaid Voyages under his Command by whom he is for the present retained and of the loss of his wages as also of the rasing out and breaking off the said Arms called Coat-Armours at the time of his Muster aforesaid if they shall be shewn upon him or found about him And this you shall in no case omit Witness the King at the City of New Sarum June the Sâ—cond CHAP. XVII Of the Alterations and Variations of Surnames SUrnames of Families have been altered and new Names assumed chiefly for Concealment in time of Civil