no wonder if the streams issuing thence were shallow when the fountain to feed them was so low the revenues of the Crown being much abated There is no redemption from Hell There is a place partly under partly by the Exchequer Court commonly called Hell I could wish it had another name seeing it is ill jesting with edge tools especially with such as are sharpened by Scripture I am informed that formerly this place was appointed a prison for the Kings debtors who never were freed thence untill they had paid their uttermost due demanded of them If so it was no Hell but might be termed Purgatory according to the Popish erronious perswasion But since this Proverb is applyed to moneys paid into the Exchequer which thence are irrecoverable upon what plea or pretence whatsoever As long as Megg of Westminster This is applyed to persons very tall especially if they have Hop-pole-heighth wanting breadth proportionable thereunto That such a gyant woman ever was in Westminster cannot be proved by any good witness I pass not for a late lying Pamphlet though some in proof thereof produce her Grave-stone on the South-side of the Cloistures which I confess is as long an large and entire Marble as ever I beheld But be it known that no woman in that age was interred in the Cloistures appropriated to the Sepultures of the Abbot and his Monkes Besides I have read in the Records of that Abby of an infectious year wherein many Monkes dyed of the Plague and were all buried in one Grave probably in this place under this Marble Monument If there be any truth in the Proverb it rather relateth to a great Gun lying in the Tower commonly call'd long Megg and in troublesome times perchance upon ill May day in the raign of King Henry the eighth brought to Westminster where for a good time it continued But this Nut perchance deâ—…erves not the Cracking Princes EDWARD the first was born in Westminster being a Prince placed by the posture of his nativity betwixt a weak Father and a wilful Son Yet he needed no such advantage for foils to set forth his 〈◊〉 worth He was surnamed Longshanks his step being another mans stride and was very high in stature And though oftimes such who are built four stories high are observed to have little in their cock-loft yet was he a most judicious man in all his undertakings equally wise to plot as valiant to perform and which under Divine Providence was the result of both happy in success at Sea at Land at Home Abroad in VVar in Peace He was so fortunate with his Sword at the beginning of his raign that he awed all his enemies with his Scabbard before the end thereof In a word he was a Prince of so much merit that nothing under a Chronicle can make his compleat Character EDWARD sole â—…on to King Henry the sixth and Margaret his Queen was born at Westminster on the 13 day of Octo. 1453. Now when his Father's party was totally and finally routed in the battail at Teuks-bury this Prince being taken prisoner presented to King Edward the fourth and demanded by him on what design he came over into England returned this answer That he came to recover the Crown which his Ancestos for three desents had no less rightfully then peaceably possessed An answer for the truth befitting the Son of so holy a Father as King Henry the sixth and for the boldness thereof becoming the Son of so haughty a Mother as Queen Margaret But presently King Edward dashed him on the mouth with his 〈◊〉 and his Brother Richard Crook-back stab'd him to the heart with his dagger A barbarous murder without countenance of justice in a legal or valour in a military way And his blood then shed was punished not long after Here I am not ashamed to make this observation That England had successively three Edwards all Princes of Wales sole or eldest sons to actual Kings Two dying violent all untimely deaths in their minority before they were possessed of the Crown viz. 1 Edward Son to Henry 6. stab'd In the Seventeenth years of his age 2 Edward Edward 4. stifled Tenth 3 Edward Richard 3. pined away Eleventh The murder of the second may justly be conceived the punishment of the murder of the first and the untimely death of the last of whom more in Yorkshire a judgement for the murder of the two former EDWARD eldest son of Edward the fourth and Elizabeth his Queen was born in the Sanctuary of Westminster November 4. 1471. His tender years are too soft for a solid character to be fixed on him No hurt we find done by him but too much on him being murthered in the Tower by the procurement of his Unckle Protector Thus was he born in a spiritual and kill'd in a temporal Prison He is commonly called King Edward the fifth though his head was ask'd but never married to the English Crown and therefore in all the Pictures made of him a distance interposed forbiddeth the banes betwixt them ELIZABETH eldest daughter of King Edward the fourth and Elizabeth his Queen was born in Westminster on the eleventh of February 1466. She was afterwards married to King Henry the seventh and so the two Houses of York and Lancaster united first hopefully in their Bed and aâ—…terwards more happily in their Issue Bâ—…sides her dutifulness to her husband and fruitfulness in her children little can be extracted of her personal character She dyed though not in Child bearing in Child-bed being safely delivered on Candlemas day Anno 1503 of the Lady Katharine and afterwards falling sick languished until the eleventh of February and then died in the thirty seventh year of her age on the day of her nativity She lieth buried with her husband in the Chappel of his erection and hath an equal share with him in the use and honour of that his most magnificent monument CECILY second daughter to King Edward the fourth by Elizabeth his Queen bearing the name of Cecily Dutchess of York her grand mother and god mother was born at Westminster In her Child-hood mention was made of a marriage betwixt her and James son to James the third Prince of Scotland But that Motion died with her father Heaven wherein marriages are made reserving that place for Margaret her eldest sisters eldest daughter She long led a single life but little respected of King Henry the seventh her brother in law That politick King knowing that if he had none or no surviving Issue by his Queen then the right of the Crown rested in this Cecily sought to suppress her from popularity or any publick appearance He neither preferred her to any 〈◊〉 Prince nor disposed of her to any prime Peer of England till at last this Lady wedded her self to a Linconshire Lord John Baron Wells whom King Henry advanced Viscount and no higher After his death my Author saith she was re-married not mentioning her husbands name
occasion for this Proverb at the Originall thereof which then contained Satyricall truth proportioned to the place before it was Reformed whereof thus our great Antiquary It was altogether unpassable in times past by reason of Trees untill that Leofstane Abbot of St. Albans did cut them down because they yeilded a place of refuge for thieves But this Proverb is now Antiquated as to the truth thereof Buckingham-shire affording as many maiden Assizes as any County of equall populousness Yea hear how she pleadeth for her self that such High-way-men were never her Natives but fled thither for their Shelter out of Neighbouring Counties Saints St. EDBURG daughter unto Redwald King of the East-Angles embraced a Monasticall life at Alesbury in this Counâ—…y where her Body was deposited and removed afterwards to Edburgton now Edburton in Suffolk her Native Country It seems her person would make one County proud which made two happy Alesbury observing her Memory on the day of whilst Edburton was renowned for her Miracles By the way it seems wonderfull that in Scripture we onely meet with one PosthumeMiracle viz. the Grave-fâ—…llow of Elisha raised with the touch of his Bones whilst most of Popish miracles are reported born after the Saints death meerly to mold mens minds to the Adoration of their Reliques St. RUMALD was the same with St. Rumbald commonly called by Country people St. Grumbald and St. Rumwald as others spell him but distinct from another St. Rumwald of Irish extâ—…action a Bishop and Martyr whose Passion is Celebrated at Mâ—…chlyn in Braband This Criticisme Reader I request thee to take on my credit for thy own ease and not to buy the truth of so difficult a trisâ—…e with the trouble I paid for it Entring now on the Legend of his life I writ neither what I believe nor what I expect should be believed but what I find written by others Some make him Son of a British King which is sufficiently confuted by his own Saxon name More probable their tale who relate him Son to a King of Northumberland by a Christian daughter of Penda King of Mercia Being born at Kings Sutton in this County as soon as he came out of his Mothers womb he cryed three times I am a Christian. Then making a plain Consession of his faith He desired to be baptized chose his Godfathers and his own name Rumwald He also by his fingers directed the standers by to fetch him a great hollow-stone for a font which sundry of his fathers servants essayed in vain as much above their strength Till the two Priests hisâ—… designed Godfathers did goe and fetch it easily at his appointment Being Baptized He for three days discoursed of all the Common places of Popery and having confirmed their truth he bequeathed his body to remain at Sutton one year at Brackly two and at Buckingham ever after This done he expired Reader I partly guess by my own temper how thine is affected with the reading hereof whose soul is much divided betwixt severall actions at once 1. To frown at the impudency of the first inventors of such improbable untruths 2. To smile at the simplicity of the believers of such improbable untruths 3. To sigh at that well-intended devotion abused with such improbable untruths 4. To thank God that we live in times of better and brighter knowledge Now although St. Rumwald was born in this County he was most honoured at Boxley in Kent and thereon a story depends There was in the Church of Boxley a short Statue of St. Rumwald as of a boy-saint smal hollow and light so that a child of seven years of age might easily lift it The moving hereof was made the Criterion of womens chastity Such who paid the Priest well might easily remove it whilst others might tugg at it to no purpose For this was the contrivance of the cheat that it was fastned with a Pin of wood by an invisible stander behind Now when such offered to take it who had been bountifull to the Priest before they bare it away with ease which was impossible for their hands to remove who had been Close-fisted in their Confessions Thus saith my Author it moved more laughter then Devotion and many chast virgins and wives went away with blushing faces leaving without cause the suspicion of their wantonness in the eyes of the Beholders whilst others came off with more credit because with more coyn though with less chastity The certain time of his life is unknown but may be guessed about the year 680. Martyrs JOHN SCRIVENER was Martyred at Amersham Anno Dom. 1521. on whom an extraordinary piece of cruelty was used his own children being forced to set the first fire upon him for which the law Deut. 13. 6. was most erroneously pretended as will appear by the perusing thereof If thy brother the son of thy mother or thy son or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosome or thy friend which is as thy own soul entice thee secretly saying let us go and serve other gods Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him But thou shalt surely kill him thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death See we here how in the case of Idolatry one is to spare none related unto them either as Equalls or Inferiors But this Law injoines not children to accuse or execute their own parents as Scrivener his children were compelled to do A barbarous cruelty especially seeing the Civil law among the heathen Romans did provide that filius non torquetur in caput parentis A son shall not be examined on the rack to accuse his father in such cases wherein his life is concerned Others besides Scrivener were martyred and more Confessors 〈◊〉 in this small County Anno 1521. then in all England elsewhere for twenty years together Pâ—…elates RICHARD de WENDOVER a place well known in this Shire was Rector of Bromley in Kent where the Bishop of Rochester hath a Palace and that See being vacant he was lawfully chosen the Bishop thereof But Edmond Arch-bishop of Canterbury afterwards Sainted refused to give him consecration because he was rude and unlearned Hereupon Wendover appealed to the Pope whom he found his better friend because Edmond a bitter inveigher against Papal extorsions was a Foe unto him and so was consecrated Now none will grâ—…dge him his Place amongst our Worthies seeing what he lack'd in learning he had in holiness and such his signal sanctity that after his death he was by speciall Mandate of King Henry the third buried in the Church of Westminster as another Jehojadah for his publick goodness Anno 1250. JOHN BUCKINGHAM for so his Name is truly written alià s Bokingham and Bukingham took his Name and Nativity no doubt from Buckingham in this County a-la-mode of that Age. He was bred at the University of Oxford and although since by some causelesly slandered for want of Learning was a
ready for hearing being finally determined Whereon a Rhythmer When More some years had Chancelor been â—…o more suits did remain The same shall never more be seen Till More be there again Falling into the Kings displeasure for not complying with him about the Queens divorce he seasonably resigned his Chancellours Place and retired to his House in Chelsey chiefly imploying himself in writing against those who were reputed Hereticks And yet it is observed to his Credit by his great friend Erasmus that whilest he was Lord Chancellor no Protestant was put to death and it appears by some passages in his Utopia that it was against his mind that any should lose their Lives for their Consciences He rather soyled his Fingers then dirtied his hands in the matter of the holy Maid of Kent and well wiped it off again But his refusing or rather not accepting the Oath of Supremacy stuck by him for which he was 16. Months imprisoned in the Tower bearing his afflictions with remarkable patience He was wont to say that his natural temper was so tender that he could not indure a philip But a supernatural Principle we see can countermand yea help natural imperfections In his time as till our Memory Tower Prisoners were not dyetâ—…d on their own but on the Kings charges The Lieutenant of the Tower providing their Fare for them And when the Lieutenant said that he was sorry that Commons were no better I like said Sir Thomas Your Dyet very well and if I dislike it I pray turn me out of Dores Not long after he was beheaded on Tower hill 153. He left not above one hundred pounds a year Estate perfectly hating Covetousnesse as may appear by his refusing of four or five thousand pounds offered him by the Clergy Among his Latin Books his Utopia beareth the Bell containing the Idea of a compleat Common-wealth in an Imaginary Island but pretended to be lately discovered in America and that so lively counterfeited that many at the reading thereof mistook it for a real truth Insomuch that many great Learned men as Budeus and Johannes Paludanus upon a fervent zeal wished that some excellent Divines might be sent thither to preach Christs Gospel yea there were here amongst us at home sundry good men and Learned Divines very desirous to undertake the Voyage to bring the People to the Faith of Christ whose manners they did so well like By his only Son Mr. John More he had five Grandchildren Thomas and Augustin born in his Life time who proved zealous Romanists Edward Thomas and Bartholomew born after his Death were firm Protestants and Thomas a married Minister of the Church of England MARGARET MORE Excuse me Reader for placing a Lady among Men and Learned Statesmen The Reason is because of her 〈◊〉 affection to her Father from whom she would not willingly be parted and for me shall not be either living or dead She was born in Bucklers-bury in London at her Fathers house therein and attained to that Skill in all Learning and Languages that she became the miracle of her age Forreigners took such notice hereof that Erasmus hath dedicated some Epistles unto her No Woman that could speak so well did speak so little Whose Secresie was such that her Father entrusted her with his most important Affairs Such was her skill in the Fathers that she corrected a depraved place in St. Cyprian for whereas it was corruptly writen she amended it Nisi vos sinceritatis Nervos sinceritatis Yea she translated Eusebius out of Greek but it was never printed because I. Christopherson had done it so exactly before She was married to William Roper of Eltham in Kent Esquire one of a bountiful heart and plentiful Estate When her Fathers head was set up on London Bridge it being suspected it would be cast into the Thames to make room for divers others then suffering for denying the Kings Supremacy she bought the head and kept it for a Relique which some called affection others religion others Superstition in her for which she was questioned before the Council and for some short time imprisoned until she had buryed it and how long she her self survived afterwards is to me unknown THOMAS WRIOTHESLEY Knight of the Garter was born in Barbican Son to William Wriothesley York Herauld and Grandchild to John VVriothesley descended from an heir general of the ancient Family of the Dunsterviles King of Arms. He was bred in the University of Cambridge and if any make a doubt thereof it is cleared by the passage of Mr. Ascams Letter unto him writing in the behalf of the University when he was Lord Chancellour Quamobrem Academia cum omni literarum ratione ad te unum conversa Cui uni quam universis aliis se chariorem intelligit partim tibi ut alumno suo cum authoritate imperat partim ut patrono summo demisse humiliter supplicat c. He afterwards effectually applyed his Studies in our municipal Law wherein he attained to great eminency He was by King Henry the Eighth created Baron of Titchborne at Hampton Court January the first 1543. and in the next year about the beginning of May by the said King made Chancelor of England But in the first of King Edward the Sixth he was removed from that place because a conscienciously Rigorous Romanist though in some reparation he was advanced to be Earl of Southampton He dyed at his House called Lincolns place in Holborn 1550. the 30. of Iuly and lyes buryed at St. Andrews in Holborn WILLIAM PAGET Knight was born in this City of honest Parents who gave him pious and learned education whereby he was enabled to work out his own advancement Privy-Councellour to 4 successive princes which though of different perswasions agreed all in this to make much of an able and trusty Minister of State 1. King Henry the Eighth made him his Secretary and imployed him Embassador to Ch. the Emperor and Francis King of France 2. King Edward the Sixth made him Chancellor of the Dutchy Comptroller of his Houshold and created him Baron of Beaudesert 3. Queen Mary made him â—…eeper of her privy Seal 4. Queen Elizabeth dispenced with his attendance at Court in favour to his great Age and highly respected him Indeed Duke Dudley in the dayes of King Edward ignominiously took from him the Garter of the Order quarrelling that by his extraction he was not qualified for the same Bur if all be true which is reported of this Dukes Parentage he of all men was most unfit to be active in such an imployment But no wonder if his Pride wrongfully snatched a Garter from a Subject whose Ambition endevoured to deprive two Princes of a Crown This was restored unto him by Queen Mary and that with Ceremony and all solemn accents of honour as to a person who by his prudence had merited much of the Nation He dyed very old anno 1563 and his Corps as
deep that they cannot be foorded so narrow that they need not to be ferried over Hence come our so eminent bridges in so much that such structures are accounted amongst our English Excellencies However Palestine was subject with England to the same inconveniences of bad high-waies and thereâ—…ore in the List of Charitable Actours reckoned up by the Prophet he is accounted as a principal The restorer of paths to dwell in for indeed some waies may be said not-habitable being so â—…eep and dirty that they cut off all intercourse the End general of all mens dwelling together I will conclude this Topick of Bridges with this memoâ—…able accident Mawd Q to King Henry the first being to pass the River Ley about Stratford near the falling of the said River into the Thames was almost drowned in riding over it But this proved the bad cause of a good effect For hereupon she built the Beautiful Bridge there for the benefit of Travellers and the Village probably from a fair Arch or Bow therein received as some conceive the addition of Stratford Bow Far be it from me to wish the least ill to any who willingly would not have their fingers to ake or an hair of their heads lessned Yet this I could desire that some Covetous churls who otherwise will not be melted into works of charity may in their passing over Waters be put into Peril without Peril Understand me might be enâ—…angered to fright but not â—…urt that others might fare the better for their fears Such Misers being minded thereby to make or repair Bridges for publick Safety and convenience Alms-houses Because we live in an age wherein men begin to be out of charity with charity it self and there be many covetous not to say sacrilegious people whose Fingers itch to be Nimming the patrimony of the poor we will here present the Cavils of this against the charity of former ages herein Cavil 1. Show us the foundation of such Structures in Scripture either in the Old or New Testament As for the place with fiue porches wherein the impotent poor lay near the Pool of Bethesda it was of another Nature Alsmhouses therefore not being Jure Divino may lawfully be abolished Answer The Constitution of the Jewish was far different from our English Common-wealth wherein every one originally was a Freeholder of some proportion of land which though aliened reverted to the Owner at the year of Jubilee There needs not an express or particular precept for all our actions that general one He that hath pity upon the Poor lenaeth unto the Lord is bottome broad enough to build more Alms-houses on than all ages will afford Besides this precept we have the practice of the primitive Christians in the time of the Apostles parting with the propriety of all their estate and well then may we appropriate a part of ours for the releif of the Poor Cavil 2. The builders of them for the most part have been people formerly guilty of oppression who having lived like Wolves turn Lambs on their death-beds and part with their Fleece to people in want Having ground the faces of the poor they give the Toll thereof to build an Alms-house though too little to hold half the beggars which they have made Answer The aspersion cannot be fastned on many Founders so free from the same that malice may sooner break her own Teeth and Jawes too thâ—…n make impression on their reputation But grant the charge true in this sense Beatum est fuisse Blessed are they that have been BAD Aud such were some of you Let not envious man repine at that whereat the blessed Angels rejoyce the conversion of sinners and their testifying thereof by such publique expressions Cavil 3. Such Builders generally have a Pope in their Belly puffed up with a proud opinion to merit by their performances Answer When did the Caviller steal the Touch-stone of hearts for God I am sure would not lend it him who saith My Glory will I not give to another that he is so well acquainted with mens thoughts and intentions Charity saith the Apostle thinketh no evil whereas this Caviller thinks little good We are bound to believe the best of such Founders especially of such who lived Since the Reformation whereby the dangerous Error of merit was exploded Cavil 4. Grant them guiltlesse of Superstition they are guilty of Vain-glory. Witness the building of such houses commonly by high way sides whenas our Saviour saith Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth Answer The Objecter shall have leave to build his Alms house in what private place he please in the middle of a Wood if he shall think fitting But we know who saith Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven That they may see yours good works though not as finis operis yet as modus operandi thereby to provoke others to imitation Cavil 5. As some affirm of Tobacco that it causeth as much Rheume as it bringeth away Alms-houses do breed as many Poor as they relieve People in such places presume to be idle beholding Hospitals as their Inheritance wherein their old age shall be provided for Answer What is good per se ought not to be waved for what is ill per a dens This calleth aloud to the care and integrity of Feoffees intrusted to be wary in their elections Besides I must stick to mine old Maxime It is better that Ten Drones be fed then one Bee be famished Cavil 6. Such places are generally abused against the will of the Founders Statutes are neglected What is said of the Laws in Poland that they last but three dayes is as true of the short lived orders in Alms-houses Not the most indigent or who have been the most laborious but the best befriended reap the benefit thereof Answer I could wish that Alms-houses were the only places wherein Laws were broken But grant too much truth in the Cavil all will say from the beginning it was not so and I will hope Unto the end it shall not be so Cavil 7. Hospitals generally have the Rickets whose heads their Masters grow over great and rich whilest their poor bodies pine away and consume Answer Surely there is some other cure for a Ricketish body than to kill it viz. by opening obstructions and deriving the Nutriment to all parts of the same But enough of this unwelcome Subject whereof what is spoken is not to put new Cavils into the heads of any but to pluck old ones out of the hearts of too many who have entertained them If these our Answers seem not satisfactory to any Know that as a left handed man hath great odds in Fencing against one that is right handed So in Controversies of this kind Cavillers with their sinister inferences from mens frailties have a vast advantage over those who are of candid and ingenuous
favour will be indulged to my Endevours for my many Infirmities To Come to particulars some seeming Omissions will appear to be none on better Enquiry being only the leaving of many persons which belong not to our land to their Forraign Nativities If any ask why have you not written of John a Gaunt I answer because he was John of Gaunt born in that City in Flanders Thus whilst our Kings possessed large Dominions in France from King William the Conquerour to King Henry the Sixth many eminent English men had their birth beyond the Seas without the bounds of our Subject Secondly I hope real Omissions will neither be found many nor material I hope I shall not appear like unto him who undertaking to make a Description of the Planets quite forgot to make mention of the Sun I believe most of those who have escaped our Pen will be found Stars of the Lesser Magnitude Thirdly I protest in the presence of God I have not wittingly willingly or wilfully shut the Dore against any worthy person which offered to enter into my knowledge nor was my prejudice the Porter in this kind to exclude any of what perswasion soever out of my Book who brought merit for their Admission Besides I have gon and rid and wrote and sought and search'd with my own and friends Eyes to make what Discoveries I could therein Lastly I stand ready with a pencel in one hand and a Spunge in the other to add alter insert expunge enlarge and delete according to better information And if these my pains shall be found worthy to passe a second Impression my faults I will confess with shame and amend with thankfulnesse to such as will contribute clearer Intelligence unto me These things premised I do desire in my omissions the pardon especially of two sorts concerned in my History first Writers since the Reformation having those before it compleatly delivered unto us who cannot be exactly listed First for their Numerousnesse and therefore I may make use of the Latine Distick wherewith John Pitseus closeth his Book of English Writers Plura voluminibus jungenda volumina nostris Nec mihi scribendi terminus ullus erit More Volums to our volums must we bind And when that 's done a Bound we cannot find Secondly for the scarcenesse of some Books which I may term Publici-privati juris because though publickly printed their Copies were few as intended only for friends though it doth not follow that the Writers thereof had the less Merit because the more Modesty I crave pardon in the second place for my Omissions in the List of Benefactors to the Publick for if I would I could not compleat that Catalogue because no man can make a fit garment for a growing Child and their Number is daily encreasing Besides if I could I would not For I will never drain in Print the spring so lowe but to leave a Reserve and some whom I may call Breeders for posterity who shall passe un-named in which Respect I conceive such Benefactors most perfectly reckoned up when they are Imperfectly reckoned up All I will add is this when St. Paul writing to the Philippians had saluted three by name viz. Euodias Syntyche and Clement he passeth the rest over with a Salutation General whose Names are in the Book of Life Thus I have indevoured to give you the most exact Catalogue of Benefactors but this I am sure what is lost on Earth by my want of Industry Instruction c. Will be found in Heaven and their names are there recorded in that Register which will last to all Eternity As for my omitting many Rarities and Memorables in the respective Counties I plead for my self that mine being a general Description it is not to be expected that I should descend to such particularities which properly belong to those who write the Topography of one County alone He shewed as little Ingenuity as Ingeniousnesse who Cavilled at the Map of Grecia for imperfect because his Fathers house in Athens was not represented therein And their expectation in effect is as unreasonable who look for every small observeable in a General work Know also that a mean person may be more knowing within the Limits of his private Lands then any Antiquary whatsoever I remember a merry challenge at Court which passed betwixt the Kings Porter and the Queens Dwarfe the latter provoking him to fight with him on condition that he might but choose his own place and be allowed to come thither first assigning the great Oven in Hampton Court for that purpose Thus easily may the lowest domineere over the highest skill if having the advantage of the ground within his own private concernments Give me leave to fill up the remaining Vacuity with A Corrollary about the Reciprocation of Alumnus The word Alumnus is effectually directive of us as much as any to the Nativities of Eminent persons However we may observe both a Passive and Active interpretation thereof I put Passive first because one must be bred before he can breed and Alumnus signifieth both the Nursed child and the Nurse both him that was educated and the Person or Place which gave him his Education Wherefore Laurentius Valla though an excellent Grammarian is much deceived when not admitting the double sense thereof as by the ensuing instances will appear Passive Pro Educato Active Pro Educatore Cicero Dolabellae Mihi vero gloriosum te juvenem Consulem florere laudibus quasi Alumnum Disciplinae meae Plinie lib. 3. de Italia Terra omnium terrarum Alumna eadem parens numine Deum electa De finibus 122. b. Aristoteles caeterique Platonis Alumni Augustinus lib. 70. Civit. Jovem Alumnum cognominaverunt quod omnia aleret The Design which we drive on in this observation and the use which we desire should be made thereof is this viz. That such who are born in a Place may be sensible of their Engagement thereunto That if God give them ability and opportunity they may expresse their Thankfulnesse to the same Quisquis Alumnus erat gratus Alumnus erit A Thankful man will feed The Place which did him breed And the Truth hereof is eminently conspicuous in many Persons but especially in great Prelates before and rich Citizens since the Reformation BARK-SHIRE hath Wilt-shire on the West Hamp-shire on the South Surry on the East Oxford and Buckingham-shâ—…re parted first with the Isis then with the flexuous River of Thames on the North thereof It may be fancied in a form like a Lute lying along whose belly is towards the West whilst the narrow neck or long handle is extended toward the East From Coleshull to Windsor it may be allowed in length forty miles But it amounteth to little more then half so much in the broadest part thereof It partaketh as Plentifull as any County in England of the Common Commodities Grasse Grain Fish Foul Wooll and Wood c. and we will particularly instance on one or two
prophecy or this prophetical menace to be not above six score yeares old and of Popish extraction since the Reformation It whispereth more then it dare speak out and points at more then it dares whisper and fain would intimate to credulous persons as if the blessed Virgin offended with the English for abolishing her Adoration watcheth an opportunity of Revenge on this Nation And when her day being the five and twentieth of March and first of the Gregorian year chanceth to fall on the day of Christs Resurrection then being as it were fortified by her Sons assistance some signal judgment is intended to our State and Church-men especially Such Coincidence hath hap'ned just fifteen times since the Conquest as Elias Ashmole Esquire my worthy friend and Learned Mathematician hath exactly computed it and we will examine by our Chronicles whether on such yeares any signal fatalities befell England A. D. Anno Reg. D. L. G. N. Signal Disasters 1095 W. Rufus 8. G 13 K. Rufus made a fruitless invasion of Wales 1106 H. first 6. G 5 K. Hen. subdueth Normandy and D. Robert his Brother 1117 H. first 17. G 16 He forbiddeth the Popes Legate to enter England 1190 R. first 2. G 13 K. Richard conquereth Cyprus in his way to Palestine 1201 K. John 2. G 5 The French invade Normandy 1212 K. John 13. G 16 K. John resigneth his Kingdom to the Pope 1285 Ed. first 13. G 13 Nothing remarkable but Peace and Plenty 1296 Ed. first 24. AG 5 War begun with Scotland which ended in Victory 1380 R. second 4. AG 13 The Scots do much harm to us at Peryth Fair. 1459 H. sixth 38. G 16 Lancastrians worsted by the Yorkists in fight 1543 H. eighth 34. G 5 K. Henry entred Scotland and burnt Edenburgh Hitherto this Proverb hath had but intermitting truth at the most seeing no constancy in sad casualties But the sting will some say is in the taile thereof and I behold this Proverb born in this following year 1554 Q. Mary 2. G 16 Q. Mary setteth up Popery and Martyreth Protestants 1627 Charles 3. G 13 The unprosperous Voyage to the Isle of Rees 1638 Charles 14. G 5 The first cloud of trouble in Scotland 1649 Â G 16 The first complete year of the English Common-wealth or Tyranny rather which since blessed be God is returned to a Monarchy The concurrence of these two dayes doth not return till the year 1722. and let the next generation look to the effects thereof I have done my part in shewing remitting to the Reader the censuring of these occurrences Sure I am so sinfull a Nation deserves that every year should be fatal unto it But it matters not though 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 When HEMPE is Spun England is Done Though this Proverb hath a different Stamp yet I look on it as Coined by the same Mint Master with the former and even of the same Age. It is faced with a Literal but would be Lined with a Mysticall sense When Hemp is Spun that is when all that necessary Commodity is imployed that there is no more left for Sailes and Cordage England whose strength consists in Shipping would be reduced to a Doleful Condition But know under HEMPE are Couched the Initial Letters of Henry the 8. Edward the 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 Brittain by Royal Proclamation When the Black Fleet of NORVVAY is come and gone ENGLAND Build Houses of Lime and Stone For after Wars you shall have none There is a Larger Edition hereof though this be large enough for us and more then we can well understand Some make it fulfilled in the eighty eight when the Spanish-Fleet was beaten the Sur-name of whose King as a Learned Author doth observe was NORVVAY Others conceive it called the Black Fleet of Norway because it was never black not dismall to others but wofull to its own Apprehension till beaten by the English and forced into those Coasts according to the English Historian They betook themselves to Flight leaving Scotland on the West and bending towards Norway ill advised But that necessity urged and God had Infatuated their Councells to put their shaken and battered bottoms into those Black and Dangerous Seas I observe this the rather because I believe Mr. Speed in this his Writing was so far from having a Reflexion on that I Question whether ever I had heard of this Prophecy It is true that afterwards England built houses of Lime and Stone and our most handsome and Artificiall Buildings though formerly far greater and stronger bear their date from the defeating of the Spanish Fleet. As for the Remainder After Wars you shall have none We find it false as to our Civil Wars by our woful Experience And whether it be true or false as to Forreign Invasions hereafter we care not at all as beholding this prediction either made by the wild fancy of one foolish man and then why should this many wise men attend thereunto or else by him who alwaies either speaks what is false or what is true with an intent to deceive So that we will not be ellated with good or dejected with bad success of his fore-telling England is the ringing Island Thus it is commonly call'd by Foreigners as having greater moe and more tuneable Bells than any one County in Christendom Italy it self not excepted though Nola be there and Bells so called thence because first founded therein Yea it seems our Land is much affected with the love of them and loth to have them carryed hence into forreign parts whereof take this eminent instance When Arthur Bulkley the covetous Bishop of Bangor in the Reign of King Henry the eighth had sacrilegiously sold the five fair Bels of his Cathedral to be transported beyond the Seas and went down himself to see them shipp'd they suddenly sunk down with the Vessell in the Haven and the Bishop fell instantly blind and so continued to the day of his death Nought else have I to observe of our English Bells save that in the memory of man they were never known so long free from the sad sound of Funerals of general infection God make us sensible of and thankfull for the same When the sand feeds the clay England cryes Well a-day But when the clay feeds the sand it is merry with England As Nottingham-shire is divided into two parts the sand and the clay all England falls under the same Dicotomie yet so as the sand hardly amounteth to the Fifth part thereof Now a wet year which drowneth and chilleth the clay makes the sandy ground most fruitfull with corn and
more able child of more docility Docil the child Master of great ability At last he was prefered Bishop of Ely 1559. commendably continuing therein whatever causless malice hath reported to the contrary twenty one years and dying Anno Domini 1580. THOMAS BICKLEY was born at Stow in this County bred first Chorister then Scholar then Fellow in Magdalen-colledge in Oxford In the first of Edward the sixth his detestation of Superstition may rather be commended then his discretion in expressing it when before the publique abolishing of Popery at Evening-prayer he brake the consecrated Host with his hands and stamped it under his feet in the Colledge-chappel Afterwards he fled over into France living an exile at Paris Orleans all the reign of Queen Mary Returning into Eugland he became Chaplain to Arch-bishop Parker who preferred him Warden of Merton-colledge wherein he continued twenty years When pass'd the age of a man eighty years old he began the life of a Bishop and was rather contented then willing to accept the Bishoprick of Chichester * freely offered unto him Yet lived he eleven years therein and died ninety years of age April 30 1596. and had a most sumptuous funerall all the Gentry of the Vicinage doing their homage to the Crown of his old age which was foun'd in the way of truth He led a single life left an hundred pound to Merton-colledge and other moneys to pious uses JOHN KING was born at Warnhall nigh Tame in this County Robert King the last Abbot of Osney and first Bishop of Oxford being his great Uncle he was first Deane of Christ-church then Bishop of London being ful fraught with all Episcopal qualities so that he who endeavoureth to give a perfect account thereof will rather discover his own defects then describe this Prelates perfections He died Anno Dom. 1618. being buried in the Quire of Saint Pauls with the plain Epitaph of Resurgam and I cannot conceal this elegant Elegie made upon him Sad Relique of a blessed soul whose trust We sealed up in this Religious dust O do not thy low Exequies suspect As the cheap Arguments of our Neglect 'T was a commanded duty that thy Grave As little pride as thou thy self should have Therefore thy covering is an humble stone And but a word for thy inscription When those that in the same earth neighbour thee Have â—…ach his Chronicle Pedigree They have their waving Pennons and their flaggs Of Matches and Alliance formal Braggs Whenthou although from ancestors thou came Old as the Heptarchy great as thy name Sleepst there inshrin'd in thy admired parts And hast no Heraldry but thy deserts Yet let not them their prouder Marbles boast For they rest with less Honor though more cost Go search the world with your Mattokwound The groaning bosom of the patient ground Digg from the hidden veins of her dark womb All that is rare and precious for a tomb Yet when much treasure more time is spent You must grant his the Nobler Monument Whose faith standsore him for a Hearse hath The Resurrection for his Epitaph See more of the character of this most worthy Prelate in our Ecclesiasticall History anno 1620. wherein he died RICHARD MONTAGUE was born at Dorney where his Father was Vicar of the Parish within 3. miles of Eaton and so though not within the reach within the sight of that Staple Place for Grammar learning wherein he was bred Thence was he chosen successively Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge Fellow of Eaton Parson of Stanford Rivers in Essex Canon of Windsor Parson of Petworth elected Bishop of Chichester and at last of Norwich He spent very much in repairing his Parsonage-house at Petworth as also on his Episcopal house at Allingbourn near Chichester He was most exact in the Latin and Greek and in the Vindication of Tithes wrestled with the grand Antiquary of England and gave him a fair flat fall in the point of a Greek Criticisme taxing him justly for mistaking a God amongst the Aegyptians more then there was by making a Man amongst the Grammarians fewer then they should be He hath many learned works extant against the Papists some in English some in Latin and one called his Appello Caesarem which without his intent and against his will gave occasion of much trouble in the Land He began an Ecclesiasticall History and set forth his Apparatus and alas it was but an Apparatus though through no Default of his but defect of his Health sicknesse troublesome times and then death surprizing him Had it been finished we had had Church Annalls to put into the Ballance with those of Baronius and which would have swayed with them for Learning and weighed them down for Truth He dyed Anno Dom 1641. HENRY KING D. D. son to John King lately mentioned Bishop of London and his wife of the ancient family of the Conquests was born in this County in the â—…me town house and chamber with his father a locall Coincidence which in all considerable particulars cannot be parallel'd We know the Scripture-Proverb used in Exprobration As is the mother so is the daughter both wicked both wofull But here it may be said by way of thankfullness to God and honour to the persons As was the father so is the son both pious both prosperous till the calamity of the times involved the later Episcopacy Anno 1641. was beheld by many in a deep consumption which many hoped would prove mortal To cure this it was conceived the most probable cordiall to prefer persons into that Order not only unblameable for their life and eminent for their learning but also generally beloved by all disingaged people and amongst these King Charles advanced this our Doctor Bishop of Chichester But all would not do their Innocency was so far from stopping the mouth of malice that malice almost had swallowed them down her throat Since God hath rewarded his Patience giving him to live to see the Restitution of his Order David saith that the good Tree Man shall bring forth his fruit in due season so our Doctor varied his fruits according to the diversity of his age Being brought up in Christ-church in Oxford he delighted in the studies of Musiâ—…k and Poetry more elder he applyed himself to Oratory and Philosophy and in his reduced age fixed on Divinity which his Printed Sermons on the Lords-prayer and others which he preached remaining fresh in the minds of his Auditors will report him to all posterity He is still living Anno Domini 1660. Writers on the Law Sir GEORGE CROOK Knight son of Sir John Crook and Elizabeth Unton his wife was born at Chilton in this County in the second year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth bred first in Oxford then a double Reader in the Inner Temple Serjeant at Law and the Kings Serjeant Justice first of the Common-bench 22. Jacobi and then of the Upper-bench 4. Caroli His ability
sufficiency of Pasture Arable and Meadow with Stone Lime Marl and what not I write not this to tempt the Reader to the breach of the Tenth Commandement To covet his Neighbours house and one Line in the prevention thereof I have been credibly informed that the Duke of Medina Sidonia Admiral of the Spanish-Fleet in the 88. was so affected at the sight of this House though but beholding it at a distance from the Sea that he resolved it for his own possession in the partage of this Kingdome blame him not if choosing best for himself which they had preconquered in their hopes and expectation But he had catch'd a great Cold had he had no other Clothes to wear then those which were to be made of a skin of a Bear not yet killed Medicinal Waters I know none in this County which are reported to be Soveraign constantly for any diseases Yet I meet with one so remarkable a recovery that it must not be omitted However I remember his Good Counsell He that telleth a miraculus truth must always carry his Author at his Back I will onely Transcribe his words speaking of the good Offices which Angels doe to Gods Servants Doctor Joseph Hall then Bishop of Exeter since of Norwich in his Book called The Great Mistery of Godliness pag. 169. Of this kind was that no less then Miraculous Cure which at Saint Maderns in Cornwall was wrought upon a Poor Cripple whereof besides the attestation of many hundred of the Neighbours I took a strict and impartial Examination in my last Visitation This Man for sixteen years together was fain to walk upon his hands by reason the sinews of his legs were so contracted and upon Monitions in his Dreame to wash in that Well was suddenly so restored to his limbs that I saw him able both to walk and get his Own Maintenance I found here was neither Art nor Collusion The thing done the Author Invisible of God So Authenticall an Author without any other Assistance ad Corroborandum is enough to get belief in any save such surly souls who are resolved on Infidelity of what their own Eyes have not beheld The Wonders If the word be strained up to the height I confess Cornwall affordeth none at all but if it be slackned and let down a little there are those things which this Dutchy doth tender and we all willing to take for Wonders for discourse sake at the least viz. The HURLERS These are Stones competently distanced whom Tradition reporteth to be formerly Men Metamorphoz'd into Stones for Hurling a Sport peculiar to Cornwall on and so profaning of the Lords-day Thus unequally yoaking Scripture and Ovid together the Tale is made up betwixt them But seeing such Devotion is not durable which is founded on Deceit we protest against and reject this fiction the rather because the same Lawgiver who injoyned us Remember thou keepest holy the Sabbath day gave us also in Command Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour and we will not accept a false Doctrine to make a true use thereof Yet surely conformable to the Judgement of those Times was this Tradition made and thence one may collect that boisterous Exercises or Labours rather so far from refreshing the weary that they weary the refreshed are utterly inconsistent with the conscientious keeping of that Day and deserve heavy Punishments for profaning thereof Otherwise we really believe these Stones were Originally set up for Limits and Bounds or else a Monument erected in Memory of some Victory here atchieved Main Amber Main is in Cornish the Stone and Amber as some conceive of Ambrosius that valiant Brittan erected probably by him on some Victory atchieved against the Romans or some other Enemies This is a Master-piece of Mathematicks and Criticall Proportions being a great stone of so exact position on the Top of a Rock that any weakness by touching it may move it and yet no force can remove it so justly is it poised I have heard in common discourse when this Main Amber hath been made the Embleme of such mens dispositions who would listen to all counsel and seem inclined thereunto but are so fixt that no reason can alter them from their first resolution But know Reader that this Wonder is now Unwondred for I am credibly informed that some Souldiers of late have utterly destroyed it Oh how dangerous is it for Art to stand in the way where Ignorance is to pass Surely covetousness could not tempt them thereunto though it did make one to deface a fair Monument in Turkey on this occasion A Tombe was erected near the high-way according to the Fashion of that Country on some person of quality consisting of a Piller and on the Top thereof a Chapiter or great Globe of stone whereon was written in the Turkish Tongue The Brains are in the Head This passed many years undemolished it being Piaculum there to violate the concernment of the dead untill one not of more Conscience but Cunning then others who had passed by it resolved to unriddle the meaning of this Inscription breaking the Hollow Globe open he found it full of Gold departed the richer not the honester for his discovery Sure I am if any such temptation invited the Souldiers to this Act they missed their mark therein Their pretence as I understand to this destructive design was Reformation some People as they say making an Idol thereof which if true I pitty the destroying of Main Amber no more then the Stamping and Pulverizing of the brasen Serpent by King Hezâ—…kiah But I cannot believe so much Stupidity in Christians they took much pains by cutting off the Stone to dislodge it from its Center in how few minutes may envy ruin what art hath raised in more hours and now Cornwall hath one Artificial wonder fewer then it had before Except any will say that to keep up the number the unexampled Envy of these Souldiers may be Substituted in the room thereof And let them sink in Obscurity that hope to swim in Credit by such mis-atchivements Proverbs By Tre Pol and Pen You shall know the Cornishmen These three words are the Dictionary of such Surnames which are originally Cornish and though Nounes in sense I may fitly terme them Prepositions 1. Tre a Town Hence Tre-fry Tre-lawney Tre-vanion c. 2. Pol signifieth an Head Hence Pol-wheel 3. Pen a Top. Hence Pen-tire Pen-rose Pen-kevil c. Some adde to these a fourth inchoation viz. Car which I guess to signify a rock as Carmino Carzew c. but I dare not make additions but present it as I find it in my Author To give one a Cornish Hugg The Cornish are Masters of the Art of Wrestling so that if the Olympian Games were now in fashion they would come away with the victory Their Hugg is a cunning close with their fellow combitant the fruits whereof is his fair fall or foil at the least It is figuratively appliable to the deceitfull dealing
yellowness of their water as this vail is so named either because gilded with flowers in the spring or because being the best of Molds as Gold is of Mettalls Here I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Master Camden his cautious commendation of this County Secunda 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter Angliae Provincias acquiescere haud facile est contenta It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be accounted the Second shire for matter of fruitfulness But the foresaid Authour in his whole book never expresseth which is the first too politick to adjudge so invidious a preheminence And thus keeping the uppermost seate emptie such competitour Counties are allowed leave to put in their several claimes which pretend to the prime place of fertility Reader I am sorry that having not hitherto seen the Cathedral of Hereford I must be silent about the building in this County Natural Commodities Wooll Such as are ignorant of the qualities thereof may inform themselves therein from the common Proverbs 1. VVhite as VVooll a Scripture phrase though there be thereof black by nature 2. Soft as VVooll and therefore our Judges antiently in the Parliament-House sat on Wooll packs as well for the easier repose of their age as to minde them to maintain this staple commodity in its legal priviledges 3. As warm as VVooll And one said merrily VVooll must needs be warm as consisting all of double letters Our English garments from head to foot were formerly made thereof till the beginning of the Reign of K. Henry the Eighth when velvet caps becoming fashionable for Persons of prime Quality discomposed the proverb If his cap be made of VVooll as formerly comprising all conditions of people how high and haughty soever Great the plenty of Wooll in this County and greater Gods Goodness that generally our Northern Lands are well stored therewith The Frier rather descanted then commented and his interpretation not so much false as improper for the place Dat nivem sicut Lanam He giveth Snow like VVooll That where most Snow falls those places if habitable are best provided with VVooll It is well his wanton wit went no further He scattereth his hoare frost like ashes Freezing * Countries affording most Fewel to burn so careful is Providence in dispensing necessaries to mankinde As for the Wooll in this County it is best known to the honour thereof by the name of Lempster Ore being absolutely the finest in this County and indeed in all England equalling if not exceeding the Apulian or Tarentine in the South of Italy though it cost not so much charge and curiosity in the carefull keeping thereof For good Authors inform us that there the Sheepherds put in effect a Fleece over their Fleece using to clothe their sheep with skins to preserve their Wooll from the injury of earth bushes and weather How well this requiteth their cost I know not but am sure no such trouble is used on our sheep here Salmons A daintie and wholesome fish and a double riddle in nature first for its invisible feeding no man alive having ever found any meat in the maw thereof Secondly for its strange leaping or flying rather so that some will have them termed Salmons à saliendo Being both bow and arrow it will shoot it selfe out of the water an incredible heighth and length I might adde the admirable growth thereof if true what is confidently affirmed that it increaseth from a spawn to a full grown fish within the compasse of a year Plenty of these in this County though not in such abundance as in Scotland where servants they say indent with their Masters not to be fed therewith above thrice a weeke Some will say Why Salmons in Hereford-shire which are common to other Counties It is answered in other Counties suitably with the Buck they are seasonable onely in Summer whereas here with Buck and Doe they are in season all the year long This Countie may say Salmo non aestate novus nec frigore desit Salmon in Summer is not rare In Winter I of them do share For the River of Wy affords brumal Salmons fat and sound 〈◊〉 â—…hey are sick and spent in other places The Wonders There is a little Fountain called Bone-Well nigh Richards Castle in this County the Water whereof is alwayes full of Bones of little Fishes or as others conceive of little Frogs Seeing it seems such their smalnesse they are hardly to be distinguished It addeth to the Wonder because this Spring can never be emptied of them but as fast as some are drawn out others instantly succeed them To this permanent let us add two transient wonders on the credit of excellent Authors when a battle was fought in this County Anno Dom. 1461. betwixt Jasper E. of Pembrooke and James Butler Earl of Ormond on the one side and K. Edward the Fourth of the other three Suns appeared together in the Firmament Such a triple Sun one real two representations were seen in heaven a little before the Roman Empire was rent betwixt three Competitours Galba Otho and Vitellius as also since when the Kingdome of Hungarie was Cantoned betwixt John Vayvode Ferdinand afterwards Emperor and the great Turke such Meteors being sometimes prognosticks of so many severall pretenders at once to the same Sovereignty Inquiring into the natural cause hereof we find it to be nothing else but the Image of the Sun represented in an equal smooth thick and watery Cloud not opposite thereunto for then it would make the Rain-bow nor under the Sun for then it would make those circles called Crowns or Garlands but on one or either side thereof in a competent or moderate distance For if it be too far off then the beams will be too feeble to be reflected if too near the Sun will disperse it but in such a middle distance wherein many Suns may appear as a mans face is expressed in all pieces of a broken glasse To this wonder add a second of Marcley-Hill which An. Dom. 1575. rouzed it self as it were out of its sleep Yea in some sort it might seem to be in labour for three dayes together shaking and roaring all that while to the great terrour of all that heard or beheld it It threw down all things that opposed it and removed it self into an higher place The best use we can make of such accidents is to fear and not fear thereat with a reverential awe to God no servile dread of the thing it self Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea Proverbs Blessed is the Eye That is betwixt Severn and Wye Some will justly question the Truth hereof True it is the Eyes of those Inhabitants are entertained with a pleasant Prospect yet such as is equalled by other places But it seems this is a prophetical promise of Safety to such that live secured within those great rivers as if priviledged from Martial impressions But alas
saved is a penny gained the preserver of books is a Mate for the Compiler of them Learned Leland looks on this ◅ong as a Benefactor to posterity in that he saved many Hebrew books of the Noble Library of Ramsey Say not such preserving was purloyning because those books belonged to the King seeing no conscience need to scruple such a nicety Books though so precious that nothing was worth them being in that juncture of time counted worth nothing Never such a Massacre of good Authours some few only escaping to bring tidings of the Destruction of the rest Seeing this Yong is inserted by Bale and omitted by Pits I collect him to savour of the Reformation As for such who confound him with Iohn Yong many years after Master of Pembrook-Hall they are confuted by the different dates assigned unto them this being his Senior 30 years as flourishing Anno Dom. 1520. JOHN WHITE brother to Francis White Bishop of Ely was born at Saint Neots in this County bred in Caius Colledge in Cambridge wherein he commenced Master of Arts. He did not continue long in the University but the University continued long in him so that he may be said to have carried Cambridge with him into Lancashire so hard and constant in his study when he was presented Vicar of Eccles therein Afterwards Sir Iohn Crofts a Suffolk Knight being informed of his abilities and pittying his remote living on no plentiful Benefice called him into the South and was the occasion that King Iames took cognizance of his worth making him his Chaplain in Ordinary It was now but the third moneth of his attendance at Court when he sickned at London in Lumbard-street dyed and was buried in the Church of S. Mary Woolnoth 1615. without any other Monuments save what his learned works have left to posterity which all whohave either learning piety or Ingenuity do yea must most highly cōmend Sir ROBERT COTTON Knight and Baronet son to Iohn Cotton Esquire was born at Cunnington in this County discended by the Bruces from the bloud Royall of Scotland He was bred in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where when a youth He discovered his inclination to the studie of Antiquity they must Spring early who would sprout high in that knowledge and afterwards attained to such eminency that sure I am he had no Superiour if any his equal in the skill thereof But that which rendred him deservedly to the praise of present and future times yea the wonder of our own and forreign Nations was his collection of his Library in Westminster equally famous for 1. Rarity having so many Manuscript Originals or else copies so exactly Transcribed th◅t Reader I must confesse he must have more skill then I have to distinguish them 2. Variety He that beholdeth their number would admire they should be rare and he that considereth their rarity will more admire at their number 3. Method Some Libraries are labyrinths not for the multitude but confusion of Volumes where a stranger seeking for a book may quickly loose himself whereas these are so exactly methodized under the heads of the twelve Roman Emperours that it is harder for one to misse then to hit any Author he desireth But what addeth a luster to all the rest is the favourable accesse thereunto for such as bring any competency of skill with them and leave thankfulness behind them Some Antiquaries are so jealous of their books as if every hand which toucheth wo◅ld ravish them whereas here no such suspition of ingenious persons And here give me leave to register my self amongst the meanest of those who through the favour of Sir Thomas Cotton inheriting as well the courtesie as estate of his Father Sir Robert have had admittance into that worthy treasury Yea most true it is what one saith That the grandest Antiquaries have here fetcht their materials Omnis ab illo Et Camdene tua Seldeni gloria crevit Camden to him to him doth Selden owe Their Glory what they got from him did grow I have heard that there was a design driven on in the Popes Conclave after the death of Sir Robert to compasse this Library to be added to that in Rome which if so what a Vatican had there been within the Vatican by the accession thereof But blessed be God the Project did miscarry to the honour of our Nation and advantage of the Protestant Religion For therein are contained many privaties of Princes and transactions of State insomuch that I have been informed that the Fountains have been fain to fetch water from the stream and the Secretaries of State and Clerks of the Council glad from hence to borrow back again many Originals which being lost by casualty or negligence of Officers have here been recovered and preserved He was a man of a publick spirit it being his principal endevour in all Parliaments wherein he served so often That the prerogative and priviledge might run in their due channel and in truth he did cleave the pin betwixt the Soveraign and the Subject He was wont to say That he himself had the least share in himself whilest his Country and Friends had the greatest interest in him He died at his house in Westminster May the 6. Anno Domini 1631. in the 61. year of his Age though one may truely say his age was adequate to the continuance of the ◅reation such was his exact skill in all antiquity By Elizabeth daughter and co-heire of William Brocas Esquire he had onely one son Sir Thomas now living who by Margaret daughter to the Lord William Howard Grandchild to Thomas Duke of Norfolke hath one son Iohn Cotton Esquire and two daughters Lucie and Francis The Opera posthuma of this worthy Knight are lately set forth in one Volume to the great profit of posterity STEPHEN MARSHALL was born at God-Manchester in this County and bred a Batchellour of Arts in Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge Thence he went very early a Reaper in Gods Harvest yet not before he had well sharpned his Sickle for that service He became Minister at Finchfield in Essex and after many years discontinuance came up to Cambridge to take the degree of Batchelour of Divinity where he performed his exercise with general applause In the late long lasting Parliament no man was more gracious with the principal Members thereof He was their Trumpet by whom they sounded their solemn Fasts preaching more publick Sermons on that occasion then any foure of his Function In their Sickness he was their Confessor in their Assembly their Councellour in their Treaties their Chaplain in their Disputations their Champion He was of so supple a soul that he brake not a joynt yea sprained not a Sinew in all the alteration of times and his friends put all on the account not of his unconstancy but prudence who in his own practice as they conceive Reconciled the various Lections of Saint Pauls precept serving the Lord and the Times And although some severely
they will not take twenty lines together from any Author without acknowledging it in the Margin conceiving it to be the fault of a Plagearie Yet the same Criticks repute it no great guilt to seize a whole Manuscript if they can conveniently make themselves the Masters though not Owners thereof in which Act none can excuse them though we have had too many Precedents hereof This Laurence died Anno Dom. 1410. BERTRAM FITZALIN Finding him charactered Illustri stemmate oriundus I should have suspected him a Sussex man and Allied to the Earls of Arundell had not another Author positively informed me he was patria Lincolniensis bred B. D. in Oxford and then lived a Carmelite in the City of Lincolne Here he built a faire Library on his and his freinds cost and furnish'd it with books some of his own making but more purchased He lived well beloved and dyed much lamented the seventeenth of March 1424. Writers since the Reformation EDMUND SHEFFEILD descended from Robert Sheffeild Recorder of London Knighted by King Henry the Seventh 1496 for his good Service against the Rebells at Black-Heath was born at Butterwick in the Isle of Axholm in this Country and was by King Edward the sixth Created Baron thereof Great his Skill in Musick who wrote a Book of Sonnets according to the Italian fashion He may seem Swan like to have sung his own Funeral being soon after Slaine or Murthered rather in a skirmish against the Rebells in Norwich first unhorsed and cast into a ditch and then Slaughtered by a Butcher who denyed him Quarter 1449. He was direct Anchester to the hopeful Earl of Moulgrave PETER MORVVING was born in this County and bred fellow of Magdalen Colledg in Oxford Here I cannot but smile at the great Praise which I Pitz bestoweth upon him Vir omni Latini sermonis elegantia bellè instructus qui scripta quaedam tum versu tum Prosa tersè nitidèque composuisse perhibetur It plainly appeareth he mistook him for one of his own perswasion and would have retracted this Caracter and beshrewed his own fingers for writing it had he known him to have been a most Cordial Protestant Nor would he have afforded him the Phrase of Claruit sub Philippo et Mariâ who under their Reigns was forced for his Conscience to fly into Germany where he supported himself by Preaching to the English Exiles I find not what became of him after his return into England in the Reigne of Queen Elizabeth ANTHONY GILBY was born in this County and bred in Christs Colledge in Cambridge where he attained to great skill in the three learned languages But which gave him the greatest Reputation with Protestants was that in the Reign of Queen Mary he had been an Exile at Geneva for his Conscience Returning into England he became a feirce fiery and furious opposer of the Church Discipline established in England as in our Ecclesiasticall History may appear The certaine date of his death is to me unknown JOHN FOX was born at Boston in this County and bred Fellow in Magdalen Colledg in Oxford He fled beyond the Seas in the Reign of Queen Mary where he set forth the first and least edition of the Book of Martyrs in Latine and afterwards returning into England inlarged and twice revised the same in our own language The story is sufficiently known of the two Servants whereof the one told his Master he would do every thing the other which was even Esop himself said he could do nothing rendering this reason because his former fellow servant would leave him nothing to do But in good earnest as to the particular subject of our English Martyrs Mr. Fox hath done every thing leaving posterity nothing to work upon and to those who say he hath overdone somthing we have returned our answer before He was one of Prodigious Charity to the poor seeing nothing could bound his bounty but want of mony to give away but I have largely written of his life and death in my Church History THOMAS SPARKS D. D. was born at South Sommercot in this County bred in Oxford and afterwards became Minister of Bleachley in Buckingham-shire An Impropriation which the Lord Gray of Wilton whose dwelling was at Whaddon hard-by Restored to the Church He was a solid Divine and Learned man as by his Works still extant doth appear At first he was a Non-conformist and therefore was chosen by that party as one of their Champions in the Conference of Hampton Court Yet was he wholy silent in that Disputation not for any want of Ability but because as afterwards it did appear he was Convinced in his Conscience at that Conference of the lawfullness of Ceremonies so that some accounted him King James's Convert herein He afterwards set forth a book of Unity and Uniformity and died about the year of our Lord 1610. Doctor TIGHE was born at Deeping in this County bred as I take it in the University of Oxford He afterwards became Arch Deacon of Middlesex and Minister of Alhallowes Barking London He was an excellent Textuary and profound Linguist the reason why he was imployed by King James in translating of the Bible He dyed as I am informed by his Nephew about the year of our Lord 1620. leaving to John Tighe his Son of Carby in this County Esquire an Estate of one thousand pounds a year and none I hope have cause to envy or repine thereat FINES MORISON Brother to Sir Richard Morison Lord President of Munster was born in this County of worshipfull extraction and bred a fellow in Peter-house in Cambridge He began his Travels May the first 1591 over a great part of Christendome and no small share of Turky even to Jerusalem and afterwards Printed his Observations in a large book which for the truth thereof is in good Reputation For of so great a Traveller he had nothing of a Traveller in him as to stretch in his reports At last he was Secretary to Charles Blunt Deputy of Ireland saw and wrote the Conflicts with and Conquest of Tyrone a discourse which deserveth credit because the Writers cye guide his pen and the privacy of his place acquainted him with many secret passages of Importance He dyed about the year of our Lord 1614. Benefactors to the Publique Having formerly presented the Reader with two Eminent ones Bishop Wainfleit Founder of New Colledge and Bishop Fox Founder of Corpus Christi in Oxford He if but of an ordinary appetite will be plentifully feasted therewith so that we may proceed to those who were Since the Reformation WILLIAM RATCLIFF Esq And four times Alderman of the Town of Stamford died Anno Dom. 1530. Gave all his Messuages Lands and Tenements in the Town to the Maintenance of a Free-School therein which Lands for the present yeild thirty pounds per Annum or there-abouts to a School-Master and Usher I am informed that an Augmentation was since
itcrum tedeat esse tuam Do not the least part of your trust disdain Nor grudge of Boys to take the care again He lived to be a very aged man past seventy six and died Anno Domini 162. JOHN FLETCHER Son of Richard Fletcher D. D. was as by proportion of time is collectible born in this County before his Father was Bishop of Bristol or London and whilst as yet he was Dean of Peterborough He had an excellent wit which the back-friends to Stage-plays will say was neither idle nor well imploy'd For he and Francis Beaumont Esquire like Castor and Pollux most happy when in conjunction raised the English to equal the Athenian and Roman Theater Beaumont bringing the ballast of judgement Fletcher the sail of phantasie both compounding a Poet to admiration Meeting once in a Tavern to contrive the rude draught of a Tragedy Fletcher undertook to kill the King therein whose words being over-heard by a listener though his Loyalty not to be blamed herein he was accused of High Treason till the mistake soon appearing that the plot was onely against a Drammatick and Scenical King all wound off in merriment Nor could it be laid to Fletcher's charge what Ajax doth to Ulysses Nihil hic Diomede remoto When Diomede was gone He could do nought alone For surviving his partner he wrote good Comedies himself though inferiour to the former and no wonder if a single thread was not so strong as a twisted one He died as I am inform'd in London of the plague in the first of King Charles 1625. Sir HENRY MONTAGUE Knight third son to Sir Edward Montague Knight grand-child to Sir Edward Montague Knight Lord Chief-Justice of the Kings-bench was born at Boughton in this County One skilful in mysterious arts beholding him when a School-boy foretold that by the pregnancy of his parts he would raise himself above the rest of his family which came to pass accordingly He was bred first in Christs-colledge in Cambridge then in the Middle-Temple where he attained to great learning in the Laws and passed through many preferments viz. 1. Sergeant at Law 2. Knighted by King James July 22. 1602. 3. Recorder of London 4. Lord Chief-Justice of the Kings-Bench November 18. 1616. 5. Lord Treasurer of England Decem. 16. 1620. 6. Baron of Kimbolton 7. Viscount Mandevile 8. President of the Council Septem 29. 1621. 9. Earl of Manchester 10. Lord Privy-Seal He wisely perceiving that Courtiers were but as counters in the hands of Princes raised and depress'd in valuation at pleasure was contented rather to be set for a smaller sum then to be quite put up into the box Thus in point of place and preferment being pleased to be what the King would have him according to his Motto Movendo non mutando me he became almost what he would be himself finaly advanced to an Office of great honour When Lord Privy-Seal he brought the Court of Requests into such repute that what formerly was called the Almes-basket of the Chancery had in his time well nigh as much meat in and guests about it I mean Suits and Clients as the Chancery it self His meditations on Life and Death written in the time of his health may be presumed to have left good impressions on his own soul preparatory for his dissolution which happened 164. Writers JOHN of NORTHAMPTON in Latine Johannes Avonius was born in the Town of Northampton in ipso Insulae umbilico saith Bale and is not mistaken in his proportion This mindeth me of a village in this County sufficiently known commonly call'd Navesby whose Orthography Criticks will have Navelsby as in the middle of England This John became a Carmelite in his native Town and so addicted himself to the Study of Mathematicks that he became one of the most eminent in that age for practical experiments He was Author of a work which he called The Philosophers Ring This was not like The Philosophers Stone a thing meerly imaginary nor yet was it a work of the Cyclopedy of Arts as the sound may seem to import but it was in plain truth a perpetual Almanack I say Almanack which word though many make of Arabick extraction a great Antiquary will have it derived from the Dutch Al-mon-aght that is to say Al-mon-heed the regard or observation of all Moons However this work of John was beheld as a Master-piece of that age and since commented upon by other Writers He flourished Anno Domini 1340. ROBERT HOLCOT was born in a Village of this County so named bred in the University of Oxford and afterwards became a Dominican in Northampton A deep Scholar and yet commended to be prudent in rebus agendis and accounted one of the greatest School-men in that age Nor was he onely a Candle or domestick light confin'd within the walls of his own Country but his learning was a publick Luminary to all Christendome as appears by the praise which Trithemius bestoweth upon him Vir in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimus secularium literarum non ignarus ingenio praestans clarus eloquio declamator quoque sermonem egregius Scripsit multa praeclara opuscula quibus nomen suum posteris notificavit He died at Northampton of the plague Anno 1349 before he had finished his Lectures on the seventh of Ecclesiastes I say of the plague which at that time so raged in England that our Chroniclers affirm scarce a tenth person of all sorts was left alive Insomuch that the Churches and Church-yards in London not sussicing for their interments a new Church-yard was Consecrated in West-smithfield wherein fifty thousand were buried who at that time died of the pestilence ROBERT DODFORD was born in a Village so called in this County where the Wirlyes Gentlemen of good account have long had their habitation so named as I take it from a Ford over the river Avon and Dods Water-weeds commonly called by children Cats Tales growing thereabouts He was bred a Benedictine Monke in the Abby of Ramsey and applied himself to the Study of the Hebrew Tongue wherewith the Library of which he was Keeper in that Convent did much abound He wrote Postills on the Proverbs and other Sermons which the envy of time hath intercepted â—…rom us He is said to have flourished about the year 1370. by Bale though Pitz on what account I know not maketh him more ancient by an hundred years PETER PATESHULL was no doubt born in that Village not far from Northampton bred a Augustinian in Oxford however falling afterwards into some dislike of his Order he procured from Walter Dysse Legate to Pope Urbane the sixth a Dispensation to relinquish it and was made the Popes Honorary Chaplain Afterwards by often reading the works of Wickliffe but especially his book of Real Universals he became of his judgement and after the death of Wickliffe preached and promoted his doctrine he wrote an Exposition of the Prophesie of Hildegardes a Stinging
their Consciences As wise as a man of Gotham It passeth publickly for the Periphrasis of a Fool and an hundred Fopperies are feigned and fathered on the Town-folk of Gotham a Village in this County Here two things may be observed 1. Men in all Ages have made themselves merry with singling out some place and fixing the staple of stupidity and stolidity therein Thus the Phrygians were accounted the fools of all Asia and the Anvils of other mens wits to work upon serò sapiunt Phryges Phryx nisi ictus non sapit In Grecia take a single City and then Abdera in Thracia carried it away for Dull-heads Abderitanae pectora plebis habes But for a whole Countrey commend us to the Boetians for Block-heads and Baeotium ingcnium is notoriously known In Germany auris Baetava is taken by the Poet for a dull Ear which hath no skill in witty conceits 2. These places thus generally sleighted and scoffed at afforded some as witty and wise persons as the world produced Thus Plutarch himself saith Erasmus was a Baeotian and Erasmus a Batavian or Hollander and therefore his own copy-hold being touch'd in the Proverb he expoundeth auris Batava a grave and severe Ear. But to return to Gotham it doth breed as wise people as any which causelesly laugh at their simplicity Sure I am Mr. William de Gotham fifth Master of Michael-house in Cambridge Anno 1336. and twice Chancellor of the University was as grave a Governor as that Age did afford And Gotham is a goodly large Lordship where the ancient and right well respected Family of St. Andrews have flourished some hundreds of years till of late the name is extinct in and lands divided betwixt Female co-heirs matched unto very worshipful persons The little Smith of Nottingham Who doth the work that no man can England hath afforded many rare workmen in this kind whereof he may seem an Apprentice to Vulcan and inferiour onely to his Master in making the invisible Net who made a Lock and Key with a Chain of ten links which a Flea could draw But what this little Smith and great workman was and when he lived I know not and have cause to suspect that this of Nottingham is a periphrasis of Nemo Ou T is or a person who never was And the Proverb by way of Sarcasm is applied to such who being conceited of their own skill pretend to the atchieving of impossibilities Martyrs I meet with none within this County either before or in the Marian dayes imputing the later to the mild temper of Nicholas Heath Archbishop of York and Diocesan thereof Yet find we a Martyr though not in this yet of this County as a Native thereof here following THOMAS CRANMER was born at Arse lackton Speed calls it Astackton in this County and being bred in Jesus college in Cambridge became Archbishop of Canterbury and at last after some intermediate failings valiantly suffered for the Truth at Oxford An. Dom. 1556. March 22. Two hungry meals saith our English Proverb makes the third a gluttâ—…n This may also be inverted Two glutton meals require the third an hungry one fasting being then necessary lest Nature be surcharged If the Reader hath formerly perused Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments and my Ecclesiastical History Cranmer his story is so largely related in those two books there is danger of his surfet if I should not now be short and sparing therein onely one memorable passage omitted by Mr. Fox and that 's a wonder I must here insert out of an excellent Author After his whole body was reduced into ashes his heart was found intire and untouch'd Which is justly alledged as an argument of his cordial integrity to the truth though fear too much and too often prevailed on his outward actions So that what the Holy Spirit recorâ—…eth of King Asa was true of him Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his dayes though good man he was guilty of many and great imperfections The like to this of Cranmer is reported of Zuinglius Quòd cadavere flammis ab hostibus tradito cor exuri non potuerit His foes making this a sign of the obduration and hardness of his heart his friends of the sincerity thereof And thus saith my moderate and learned Author Adeo turbat is odio aut amore animis ut fit in religionis dissensionibus pro se quisque omnia superstitiosè interpretatur Their minds being so disturbed with hatred or love as it comes to pass in dissentions of Religion every one interprets all things superstitiously for his own advantage The best is our Religion wherein it differs from Romish Errors hath better demonstration for the truth thereof than those Topical and Osier accidents lyable to be bent on either side according to mens fancies and affections Prelates since the Reformation WILLIAM CHAPPELL was born at Lexington in this County and bred a Fellow in Christs college in Cambridge where he was remarkable for the strictness of his Conversation No one Tutor in our memory bred more and better Pupils so exact his care in their Education He was a most subtile Disputant equally excellent with the Sword and the Shield to reply or answer He was chosen Provost of Trinity college in Dublin and afterwards Bishop of Corke and Rosse Frighted with the Rebellion in Ireland he came over into England where he rather exchanged than eased his condition such the wofulness of our civil wars He dyed Anno 1649. and parted his Estate almost equally betwixt his own Kindred and distressed Ministers his charity not impairing his duty and his duty not prejudicing his charity Capital Judges Sir JOHN MARKHAM descended of an ancient Family was born at Markham in this County and brought up in the Municipal Law till being Knighted by Edward the Fourth he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the place of Sir John Fortescue These I may call the two Chief Justices of the Chief Justices for their signal integrity For though the one of them favoured the House of Lancaster the other of York in the Titles to the â—…rown both of them favoured the House of Justice in matters betwixt party and party It happened that Sir Thomas Cooke late Lord Mayor of London one of vast wealth was cast before hand at the Court where the Lord Rivers and the rest of the Queens Kindred had pre-devoured his Estate and was onely for Formalities sake to be condemned in Guild-hall by extraordinary Commissioners in Oyer and Terminer whereof Sir John Markham was not the meanest The Fact for which he was arraigned was for lending money to Margaret the Wife of King Henry the Sixth this he denyed and the single testimony of one Haukins tortured on the Rack was produced against him Judge Markham directed the jury as it was his place and no partiality in point of Law to do to find it onely Misprision of treason whereby Sir Thomas
I will therefore crave leave to transcribe what followeth out of a short but worthy work of my honoured friend confident of the Authenticall truth thereof The Fight was very terrible for the time no fewer then five thousand men slain upon the place the Prologue to a greater slaughter if the dark night had not put an end unto that dispute Each part pretended to the victory but it went clearly on the Kings side who though â—…e lost his Generall yet he kept the Field and possessed himself of the dead bodies and not so oâ—…ely but he made his way open unto London and in his way forced Banbury Castle in the very sight as it were of the Earl of Essex who with his flying Army made all the hast he could towards the City that he might be there before the King to secure the Parliament More certain signs there could not be of an absâ—…lute victory In the Battel of Taro between the Confederates of Italy and Charles the eight of France it happened so that the Confederates kept the Field possest themselves of the Camp Baggage and Artillery which the French in their breaking through had left behind them Hereupon a dispute was raised to whom the Honour of that day did of right belong which all knowing anâ—… impartiall men gave unto the French For though they lost the Field their Camp Artillery and Baggage yet they obtained what they fought for which was the opening of their way to France and which the Confederates did intend to deprive them of Which resolution in that case may be a ruling case to this the King having not onely kept the Field possest himself of the dead bodies pillaged the carriages of the enemy but forcibly opened his way towards London which the enemy endeavoured to hinder and finally entred triumphantly into Oxford with no fewer then an hundred and twenty Coâ—…ours taken in the Fight Thus far my friend Let me adde that what Salust observeth of the Conspirators with Cateline that where they stood in the Fight whilst living they covered the same place with their Corpes when dead was as true of the Loyal Gentry of Lincoln-shire with the Earl of Linsey their Country man Know also that the over-soon and over-far pursuit of a flying Party with Pillaging of the Carriages by some who prefer the snatching of wealth before the Securing of Victory hath often been the Cause why the Conquest hath slipped out of their fingers who had it in their hands and had not some such miscarriage happened here the Royalists had totally in all probability routed their Enemies The Farewell I cannot but congratulate the happiness of this County in having Master William Dugdale now Norrey my wrothy Friend a Native thereof Whose Illustrations are so great a work no Young Man could be so bold to begin or Old Man hope to finish it whilst one of Middle-Age fitted the Performance A well chosen County for such a Subject because lying in the Center of the Land whose Lustre diffuseth the Light and darteth Beames to the Circumference of the Kingdome It were a wild wish that all the Shires in England where described to an equall degree of perâ—…ection as which will be accomplished when each Star is as big and bright as the Sun However one may desire them done quoad speciem though not quoad gradum in imitation of Warwickshire Yet is this hopeless to come to pass till mens Pains may meet with Proportionable Incouragement and then the Poets Prediction will be true Sint Maecenates non desint Flacce Marones Virgiliumque tibi vel tua Rura dabunt Let not Maeceâ—…asses be Scant And Maroes we shall newer Wanâ—… For. Flaccus then thy Country-field Shall unto thee a Virgil yield And then would our Little divided World be better described then the Great World by all the Geographers who have written thereof VVESTMERLAND WESTMERLAND hath Cumberland on the West and North Lancashire on the South Bishoprick and Yorkshire on the East thereof From North to South it extendeth thirty miles in length but is contented in the breadth with twenty four As for the soil thereof to prevent exceptions take its description from the pen of a credible Author It is not commended either for plenty of Corn or Cattle being neither stored with arable grounds to bring forth the one nor pasturage to breed up the other the principal profit that the people of this Province raise unto themselves is by clothing Here is cold comfort from nature but somewhat of warmth from industry that the land is barren is Gods pleasure the people painfull their praise that thereby they grow wealthy shews Gods goodnâ—…ss and calls for their gratefulness However though this County be sterile by general Rule it is fruitfull by some few exceptions having some pleasant vales though such ware be too fine to have much measure thereof In so much that some Back-friends to this County will say that though Westmerland hath much of Eden running clean through it yet hath little of Delight therein I behold the barrenness of this County as the cause why so few Frieries and Convents therein Master Speed so curious in his Catalogue in this kind mentioning but one Religious house therein Such lazy-folk did hate labour as a house of Correction and knew there was nothing to be had here but what Art with Industry wrested from Nature The Reader perchance will smile at my curiosity in observing that this small County having but four Market Towns three of them are Kirkby-Stephens Kirkby-Lonsdale Kirkby-Kendale so that so much of Kirk or Church argueth not a little Devotion of the Ancestors in these parts judiciously expressing it self not in building Convents for the ease of Monks but Churches for the worship of God The Manufacture Kendall Cottons are famous all over England and Master Camden termeth that Town Lanificii gloria industria praecellens I hope the Townâ—…men thereof a word is enough to the wise will make their commodities so substantiall that no Southern Town shall take an advantage to gain that Trading away from them I speak not this out of the least distrust of their honesty but the great desire of their happiness who being a Cambridge-man out of Sympathy wish well to the Clothiers of Kendall as the first founder of our Sturbridge-fair Proverbs Let Uter-Pendragon do what he can The River Eden will run as it ran Tradition reporteth that this Uter-Pendragon had a design to fortifie the Castle of Pen-Dragon in this County In order whereunto with much art and industry he invited and tempted the River of Eden to forsake his old chanell and all to no purpose The Proverb is appliable to such who offer a rape to Nature indeavouring what is cross and contrary thereunto Naturam expellas Furcâ licet usque recurret Beat Nature back 't is all in vain With Tines of Fork 't will come again However Christians have not onely some hope but comfortable assurance that they
years together assistant to the English Arch Priest demeaning himself commendably therein he wrote many books and one whose title made me the more to mind it Vitam Martyrium D. Margaretae Clithoroae Now whether this D. be for Domina or Diva for Lady or Saint or both I know not I take her for some Gentlewoman in the North which for some practises in the maintenance of her own Religion was obnoxious to and felt the severity of our Laws This Mush was living in these parts Anno 1612. Benefactors to the Publick THOMAS SCOT was born at Roâ—…heram no obscure market in this County waving his paternall name he took that of Roâ—…heram from the place of his Nativity This I observe the rather because he was according to my exactest enquiry the last Clergy-man of note with such an assumed Surname which Custome began now to grow out of fashion and Clergy-men like other men to be called by the name of their fathers He was first Fellow of Kings-colledge afterwards Master of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge and Chancellour of that University here he built on his proper cost saving something help'd by the Scholars the fair gate of the School with fair walks on each side and a Library on the East thereof Many have mistaken this for the performance of King Richard the third meerly because his Crest the Boar is set up therein Whereas the truth is that Rotheram having felt the sharp Tuskes of that Boar when imprisoned by the aforesaid King for resigning the Great Seal of England to Queen Elizabeth the relict of King Edward the fourth advanced his Armes thereon meerly to engratiate himself He went thorough many Church preferments being successively Provost of Beverly Bishop of Rochester Lincoln and lastly Arch-bishop of York nor less was was his share in Civil honour first Keeper of the Privy Seal and last Lord Chancellour of England Many were his Benefactions to the Publique of which none more remarkable then his founding five Fellowships in Lincoln colledge in Oxford He deceased in the 76. year of his age at Cawood of the plague Anno Domini 1500. JOHN ALCOCKE was born at Beverly in this County where he built a Chappell and founded a Chantry for his parents He was bred a Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge and at last became Bishop of Ely his prudence appeared in that he was preferred Lord Chancellour of England by King Henry the seventh a Prince of an excellent palate to tast mens Abilities and a Dunce was no dish for his diet His piety is praised by the pen of J. Bale which though generally bitter drops nothing but honey on Alcocks Memory commending him for a most mortified man Given to Learning and Piety from his Child-hood growing from grace to grace so that in his age none in England was higher for holiness He turned the old Nunnery of Saint Radigund into a new Colledge called Jesus in Cambridge surely had Malcolm King of Scots first founder of that Nunnery survived to see this alteration it would have rejoyced his heart to behold Leudness and Laziness turned out for Industry and Piety to be put in their place This Alcock died October 1. 1500. And had Saintship gone as much by merit as favour he deserved one as well as his name-sake Saint John his predecessor in that See Since the Reformation The extent of this large Province and the distance of my Habitation from it have disabled me to express my desires suitable to the merit thereof in this Topick of Modern Benefactors which I must leave to the Topographers thereof hereafter to uspply my defaults with their diligence But let me forget my self when I doe not remember the worthy charitable Master ....... Harrison inhabitant of the Populous Town of Leeds so famous for the Cloath made therein Methinks I hear that great Town accosting him in the Language of the Children of the Prophets to Elisha Behold now the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us The Church could scarce hold half the inhabitants till this worthy gentleman provided them another So that now the men of Leeds may say with Isaack Rehoboth God hath made room for us He accepted of no assistance in the building of that fair Fabrick but what he fully paid for so that he may be owned the sole Founder thereof But all his Charity could not secure him from sequestration in our Troublesome Times All I will adde is this as he hath built a House for God may God in Scripture Phrase build a House for him I mean make him fruitfull and fortunate in his posterity Memorable Persons PAULINUS DE LEEDS born in this County where there be three Towns of that name in one Wapentake It is uncertain in which of these he was born and the matter is of no great concernment One so free from Simony and far from buying a Bishoprick that when a Bishoprick bought him he refused to accept it For when King Henry the second chose him Bishop of Carlisle and promised to increase the Revenue of that Church with three hundred mark yearly rent besides the grant of two Church livings and two Mannors near to Carlisle on the condition that this Paulinus would accept the place all this would not work him to imbrace so wealthy an offer The reasons of his refusall are rendred by no Author but must be presumed very weighty to overpoise such rich proffers on which account let none envy his name a Room in this my Catalogue He flourished about the year of our Lord 1186. WILLIAM DE LA POLE born at Ravensrode in this County was for wealth and skill in Merchandize inferiour to none in England he made his abode at Kingston upon Hull and was the first Mayor of that Town When K. Edward the third was at Antwâ—…rp and much necessitated for money no shame for a Prince always in War to be sometimes in want this William lent him many thousand pounds of gold In recompence whereof the King made him his Valect equivalent to what afterward was called Gentleman of the Bed-chamber and Lord Chief-Baron of his Exchequer with many other honours Amongst which this was one that he should be reputed a Banneret not that he was really made one seeing the flourishing of a Banner over his head in the field before or after a fight was a ceremony essentiall thereunto but he had the same precedency conferred upon him I find not the exact date of his death but conjecture it to be about the year 1350. Lord Mayor Name Father Place Company Time 1 William Eastfield William Eastfield Tickell Mercer 1429 2 John Ward Richard Ward Howdon Grocer 1484 3 William White William White Tickhill Draper 1489 4 John Rudstone Robert Rudstone Hatton Draper 1528 5 Ralph Dodmer Henry Dodmer Pickering leigh Mercer 1529 6 William Roch John Roch Wixley Draper 1540 7 Richard Dobbes Robert Dobbes Baitby Skinner 1551 8 William Hewet Edmund Hewet Wales
Soon after more then 60. Royalists of prime quality removed themselves beyond the Seas so that hencefor ward the Kings affairs in the North were in a languishing condition The Farewell As I am glad to hear the plenty of a courser kind of Cloth is made in this County at Halifax Leeds and elsewhere whereby the meaner sort are much imployed and the middle sort inriched So I am sorry for the generall complaints made thereof Insomuch that it is become a generall by word to shrink as Northern Cloth a Giant to the eye and Dwarf in the use thereof to signify such who fail their Friends in deepest distress depending on their assistance Sad that the Sheep the Embleme of Innocence should unwillingly cover so much craft under the woo◅ thereof and sadder that Fullers commended in Scripture for making cloth white should justly be condemned for making their own Consciences black by such fraudulent practices I hope this fault for the future will be amended in this County and elsewhere For sure it is that the transporting of wooll and Fullers-earth both against Law beyond the Seas are not more prejudiciall to our English cloathing abroad then the deceit in making cloth at home debasing the Forraign estimation of our Cloth to the unvaluable damage of our Nation YORK is an Antient City built on both sides of the River Ouse conjoyned with a Bridge wherein there is one Arch the highest and largest in England Here the Roman Emperors had their residence Severus and Valerius Constantius their death preferring this place before London as more approaching the Center of this Island and he who will hold the Ox-hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot in the middle thereof What it lacketh of London in Bigness and Beauty of Buildings it hath in Cheapness and Plenty of Provisions The Ordinary in York will make a Feast in London and such Persons who in their Eating consult both their Purse and Palate would chuse this City as the Staple place of good chear Manufactures It challengeth none peculiar to it self and the Forraign Trade is like their River compared with the Thames low and little Yet send they course Cloth to Ha◅orough and have Iron Flax and other Dutch Commodities in return But the Trade which indeed is but driven on at York runneth of it self at Hull which of a Fishers Town is become a Cities fellow within three hundred years being the Key of the North. I presume this Key though not new made is well mended and the Wards of the Lock much altered since it shut out our Soveraign from entering therein The Buildings The Cathedrall in this City answereth the Character which a forraign Author giveth it Templum opere magnitudine toto orbe memorandum the work of John Romaine Willam Melton and John Thoresbury Successive Arch-bishops thereof The Family of the Percyes contributing Timber of the Valvasors Stone thereunto Appending to this Cathedrall is the Chapter-house such a Master piece of Art that this Golden verse understand it written in Golden Letters is ingraved therein Ut Rosa Flos Florum sic est Domus ista Domorū Of Flowers that grow the Flower 's the Rose All Houses so this House out-goes Now as it follows not that the Usurping Tulip is better then the Rose because preferred by some Forraign Fancies before it so is it as inconsequent that Mod◅h Italian Churches are better then this Reverent Magnificent Structure because some humorous Travailors are so pleased to esteem them One may justly wonder how this Church whose Edifice Woods designed by the Devotion of former ages for the repair thereof were lately sold should consist in so good a condition But as we read that God made all those to pity his Children who carried them captive so I am informed that some who had this Cath◅drall in their command favourably reflected hereon and not onely permitted but procured the repair thereof and no doubt he doth sleep the more comfortably and will die the more quietly for the same Proverbs Lincoln was London is and York shall be Though this be rather a Prophesie then a Proverb yet because something Proverbiall therein it must not be omitted It might as well be placed in Lincoln shire or Middlesex yet if there be any truth therein because Men generally worship the Rising Sun blame me not if here I onely take notice thereof That Lincoln was namely a far Fairer Greater Richer City then now it is doth plainly appear by the ruins thereof being without controversie the greatest City in the Kingdome of Mercia That London is we know that York shall be God knows If no more be meant but that York hereafter shall be in a better condition then now it is some may believe and m◅re doe d◅sire it Indeed this Place was in a Fair way of Preferment because of the convenient Scituation thereof when England and Scotland were first United into GreatB◅itain But as for those who hope it shall be the English Metropolis they must wait untill the River of Thames run under the great Arch of Ouse-bridge However York shall be that is shall be York still as it was before Saints FLACCUS ALBINUS more commonly called Alcuinus was born say some nigh London say others in York the later being more Probable because befriended with his Northern Education under Venerable Bede and his advancement in York Here he so pl◅d the well furnished Library therein much praised by him that he distilled it into himself so great and generall his knowledge Bale ranketh him the third Englishman for Learning placing Bede and Adelme before him and our Alcuinus his Humilt◅y is contented with the place though he be called up higher by the judgements of others Hence he travailed beyond the Seas and what Aristotle was to Alexander he was to Charles the first Emperour Yea Charles owed unto him the best part of his Title The Great being made Great in Arts and Learning by his Instructions This Alcuinus was the Founder of the University in Paris so that whatsoever the French brag to the contrary and slight our Nation their Learning was Lumen de Lumine nostro and a Tapor lighted at our Torch When I seriously peruse the Orthography of his Name I call to mind an Anagram which the Papists made of Reverend Calvin bragging like boys for finding of a Bees when it proves but a Hornets Nest I mean Triumphing in the sweetness of their conceit though there be nothing but a malitious sting therein CALVINUS LUCIANUS And now they think they have Nicked the Good man to Purpose because Lucianus w◅s notoriously known for an Atheist and Grand Scoffer at the Christian Religion A silly and spirefull Fancy seeing there were many Lucians worthy Persons in the Primitive ◅imes amongst whom the chief one Presbyter of Antioch and Martyr under Dio◅sian so Famous to Posterity for his Translation of the Bible Besides the same literall allusion is
Books imputed to him of the Wonders and first inhabitants of Britain of King Arthur and his unknown Sepulehre so that now we can teach Gildas what he knew not namely that King Arthur was certainly buried at Glassenbury He wrot also of Percevall and Lancelot whoâ—… I behold as two Knights Combatants and presume the former most victorious from the Notation of his Name Per sevalens prevailing by himself Our Author is charged to be full of Fables which I can easily believe for in Ancient History if we will have any thing of truth we must have something of falsehood and abating onely Holy-writ it is as impossible to find Antiquity without Fables as an old Face without Wrinckles He flourished Anno Dom. 860. BLEGABRIDE LANGAURIDE Philip Comineus observeth that to have a short Name is a great advantage to a Favorite because a King may readily remember and quickly call him If so the writer aforesaid is ill qualified for a Favorite But let him then pronounce his own Name for others will not trouble themselves therewith He attained to be a great Scholar Doctor of both Laws and Arch-deacon of the Church of Landaft He to the honour of his Country and use of Posterity translated the laws of Howell the most modest King of Wales and flourished 914. SALEPHILAX the BARDE This Mungrell name seemeth to have in it an Eye or Cast of Greek and Latine but we are assured of his Welch extraction In inquiring after his works my success hath been the same with the painfull Thresher of Mill-dew'd wheat gaining little more then Straw and Chaffe All the grain I can get is this that he set forth a Genealogy of the Britains and flourished about the year 920. GWALTERUS CALENIUS may we not English him Walter of Calen was a Cambrian by his Nativity though preferred to be Arch-deacon of Oxford He is highly prized for his great learning by Lealand and others This was he who took the pains to go over into Britain in France and thence retrived an Ancient Manuscript of the British Princes from Brutus to Cadwalader Nor was his labour more in recovering then his courtesie in communicating this rarity to Jeffrey of Munmouth to translate the same into Latine Nor was this Walter himself idle continuing the same Chronicle for four hundred years together untill his own time He flourished Anno Dom. 1120. under King Henry the first GUALO BRYTANNUS born in Wales was from his Infancy a servant to the Muses and lover of Poetry That he might injoy himself the better herein he retired into a private place from the noise of all people and became an Anchorite for his Fancy not Devotion according to the Poet Carmina secessum scribentis otia quaerunt Verses justly do request Their writers privacy and rest Here his pen fell foul on the Monks whose covetousness in that age was so great that of that subject Difficile est Satyram non scribere 'T was hard for any then to write And not a Satyre to indite He wrot also Invectives against their wantonness and impostures and yet it seems did it with that Cautiousness that he incurred no danger Indeed he is commended by John of Sarisbury and others Quod esset Prudens Doctus He flourished Anno Domini 1170. under King Henry the second WILLIAM BRETON was born saith Bale and Pitz. the later alledging one Willot for his Author in Wales bred a Franciscan at Grimsby in Lincoln-shire I will not quarrell his Cambrian extraction but may safely mind the Reader that there was an ancient family of the Bretons at Ketton in Rutland next Lincoln-shire where this William had his education But let this Breton be Brito believing the allusion in sound not the worst evidence for his Welch originall sure it is he was a great Scholar and deep Divine the Writer of many books both in Verse and Prose and of all his Master-piâ—…ce was an exposition of all the hard words in the Bible which thus begins Difficiles studeo partes quas Biblia gestat Pandere sed nequeo latebras nisi qui ma â—…festat Auxiliante Deo qui câ—… vult singula praestat Dante juvamen eo nihil insuperabile restat c. Hard places which the Bible doth contain I study to expound but all in vain Without Gods help who darkness doth explain And with his help nothing doth hard remain c. Such the reputation of his book that in the controversie betwixt Standish Bishop of Saint Aâ—…aph and Erasmus unequal contest the former appeals to Brâ—…tons book about the interpretation of a place of Scripture This William died at Grimsby Anno Domini 1356. UTRED BOLTON was born saith Lealand ex Transabrinâ Gente Now though parts of Salop Worcester and Gloucester-shire with all Hereford shire be beyond Severn yet in such doubtfull Nativities England giveth up the Cast rather then to make a Contest to measure it Troublesome times made him leave his Country and travail to Durham where he became a Benedictine He had a rare Naturall Happiness that the Promptness and Pleasantness of his Parts commended all things that he did or said This so far ingratiated him with the Abbot of his Convent that he obtained leave to go to Oxford to File his Nature the Brighter by learning Hither he came in the heat of the difference betwixt Wickliffe and his Adversaries Bolton sided with both and with neither consenting in some things with Wickliffe dissenting in others as his conscience directed him William Jordan a Dominican and Northern Man was so madded hereat that he he fell foul on Bolton both with his Writing and Preaching Bolton angry hereat expressed himself more openly for Wickliffe especially in that his smart Book Pro Veris Monachis for True Monkes or Monkes Indeed parallel with Saint Pauls Widdows indeed which were to be honoured showing what Sanctity and Industry was required of them Hereat the anger of Jordan did Overflow endeavouring and almost effecting to get Bolton excommunicated for an Heretick This Learned Man flourished under King Richard the second 1330. JOHN GWENT was born in Wales bred a Franciscan in Oxford till he became Provinciall of his Order throughout all Britain He wrot a Learned Comment on Lombard his Common Places and is charactered a Person qui in Penitiore recognitae Prudentiae Cognitione se vel admirabilem ostenderet Here endeth Lealand his writing of him and beginneth Bale his railing on him pretending himself to the truest Touchstone of Spirits and trying Men thereby Yet doth he not charge our Gwent with any thing peculiar to him alone but common to the rest of his Order telling us what we knew before that all Mendicants were acted with an ill Genius being Sophisters Cavilers c. this Bee being no more guilty then the whole Hive therein He dyed at Hereford in the Verge of his Native Country 1348. JOHN EDE was saith Bale genere Wallus by
by the Romans an emblem of liberty is esteemed by the English except Faulconers and Hunters a badge of servitude though very useful in themselves and the Ensign of constancy because not discomposed but retaining their fashion in what form soever they be crouded The best Caps were formerly made at Monmouth where the Cappers Chappel doth still remain being better carved and gilded than any other part of the Church But on the occasion of a great plague hapning in this Town the trade was some years since removed hence to Beaudly in Worcester-shire yet so that they are called Monmouth Caps unto this day Thus this Town retains though not the profit the credit of Capping and seeing the Child still keeps the Mothers name there is some hope in due time she may return unto her All I will adde is this if at this day the phrase of wearing a Monmouth Cap be taken in a bad acception I hope the inhabitants of that Town will endeavour to disprove the occasion thereof Saints Saint AMPHIBALUS a Citizen of Carlion See the Saints in Hereford shire Saint AARON was a wealthy Citizen of Carlion in this County who for the testimony of the Christian Faith was martyred under the Tyrant Emperor Dioclesian By the way we may observe the names of the three first British Martyrs as to their Language 1. Alban Of Latine Originall 2. Amphibalus  Greek  3. Aaron  Hebrew  It seems that the Christian Britons at the Font quitted their Native names as barbarous and imposed on their Children those of the learned Languages This Aaron was martyred Anno Dom. 303. Saint JULIUS It is pity to part so fast friends both being Citizens of Carlion Yea they were lovely in their lives and in their deaths they were not divided both suffering martyrdom together and therefore like Philip and Jacob one day is assigned to their Memories in the Kalendar Nor must I forget how Carlion the place of their aboad though now a small Town was once a great City stretching so far oâ—… both sides of the River that Saint Julians a house of late of Sir William Herberts was sometimes within the City though now about a mile South-West thereof being a Church dedicated anciently to the Memory of this Saint Julius Cardinals GEFFERY of Monmouth is by some very firmly avouched to have been created a Cardinal but by what Pope and with what Title uncertain but my worthy Author justly suspecteth the truth hereof alledging that Popes in that age advanced few Forraigners at so great a distance to that Title except their merits to the See of Rome which appears not to this Jeffery were very great Let me adde that it is improbable so much honour should be done unto him whilest living who was so solemnly disgraced after his death whose Books extant in his life were afterwards by the Court of Rome publickly prohibited See him therefore in this Shire under the Title of Writers JOHN of Monmouth so called from the place of his Nativity D. D. and Canon of Lincoln was chosen Anno 1296. Bishop of Landaff The manner whereof was remarkable for when Robert Kilwarby complained to Pope Celestine how that Cathedral had been for seven years without a Bishop caused either by the troublesomness of those Times or the exility of revenue thereof his Holiness remitted his Election wholly to the discretion of this Arch-Bishop to conferre that vacant See on whomsoever he pleased The Arch-Bishop knowing all eyes intent on his Integrity herein resolved on a Welsh-man by his birth as most proper for and acceptable in the place and on one of merit for the Function Both Qualifications met in this John of Monmouth as British by his birth and alliance and Charactered to be Doctus Pius Theologus One of his Successors in that Bishoprick acknowledgeth that he was Multimodis sedi suae Benefactor and more particularly that he procured the Rectory of Newland in the Forrest of Dean to be appropriated thereunto But one Bishop Anthony Kitchin by name more unlanded Landaff in one than all his Predecessors endowed it in four hundred years This John dying April 8. 1323. was buried in Saint Maries Chappel whose Epitaph in French is hardly legible at this day on his Marble Monument WALTER CANTILUPE was Son to William the elder Lord Cantilupe whose prime residence was at Abergavennie in this County One of high birth higher preferment made by King Henry the third Bishop of Worcester and highest spirit In his time the Popes Legate came into England and complained of mâ—…ny Clergy-men keeping their livings against the Canons intending either to force such irregular Incumbents into avoydance so to make room for the Popes Favourites or else to compound for their continuance at his arbitrary price But our Walter would not yield to such extortion Indeed he was one of a keene nature and his two-edged spirit did cut on both sides against The Pope The King Telling Rusland his Legate coming hither 1255. that he would preferre to be hang'd on the Gallows rather than ever consent to such expilation of the Church Siding with the Barons he encouraged them in their Civil Warres promising Heaven for their reward though this doctrine cost him an excommunication from the Pope Lying on his death-bed he was touched with true remorse for his disloyalty and upon his desire obtained absolution He died February the fifth 1267. whom I behold as Uncle unto Thomas Cantilupe the Sainted Bishop of Hereford Souldiers RICHARD de CLARE was born as from all concentred probabilities may be conjectured at Strigule-Castle in this County and had the Title of Earl of Strigule and Pembroke He was otherwise surnamed Strongbow from drawing so strong a Bow and had Brachia projectissima saith my Author though I can hardly believe that Reacher which another writeth of him that with the palms of his hands he could touch his knees though he stood up right More appliable to him is the expression of Tully Nihil egit levi brachio being a person of effectual performance It hapned that Mac Murugh Lord of Leinster in the year of our Lord 1167. being expelled his Territory for several Tyrannies by the Lords of Meth and Conaght repaired to our King Henry the second and invited him to invade Ireland But that politick King fearing if failing in success to forfeit the reputation of his discretion would not engage in the design but permitted such Subjects of his who had a mind Militare propriis stipendiis to adventure themselves therein Amongst these Richard Strongbow was the principal going over into Ireland with twelve hundred men too great for an Earls Train yet too little for a Generals Army to make a National Invasion yet so great his success that in a short time he prossessed himself of the Ports of Leinster and Mounster with large lands belonging thereunto insomuch that King Henry grew jealous of his greatness remanded